#little a casual misdirection that will definitely NOT come back to bite anybody.

[comfort-questing]

15. "I did good, right?"

the doctors' orders were to keep them calm, and not bring up anything upsetting; so she took a moment to steel herself at the door, and make sure that as little of the day as possible showed in her reflection in the hallway window.

she had to take another moment to organize herself once she stepped into the room, because she hadn't expected them to look so fragile there in the bed. in sleep, the familiar lines of fear and tension relaxed in their face, the mussed bright hair falling loose and softening the edges. their bandaged arm was outside the covers, fingers limp, and the bruise on their forehead had begun to fade a little.

she sat down on the chair next to the bed, squinting in the slanted sunlight through the window, and hugged her knees to her in sudden disquiet.

they didn't wake immediately, though they stirred a little as she sat down, but not long after their eyelids fluttered open. "you're here, then."

"yeah."

"it worked, didn't it? the - the plan. we got them back, didn't we?" their voice was shaky, uncertain. "I - I can't remember much, at the end."

getting shot four times and passing out from blood loss a quarter-hour later would do that, she figured. she shrugged, with careful ambiguity.

"it's all right. you just think about getting better now. we were so worried - "

their eyes found hers with sudden intensity, their mouth twisting. "but it worked, didn't it. please tell me. is everyone all right, are Nara and Jon - I - I did good, right?"

they were trying to sit up, fumbling to get their good arm underneath them; she leaned forward, quickly, bold in her worry. they folded back at her slight pressure, which was probably the most frightening thing of all yet.

"everyone's all right," she said. the words were ashy in her mouth. "just waiting on you now."

for a long moment they paused, then let their breath out in a sigh. "oh - I'm - so glad. I was - scared."

she nodded, and tried to smile. their hand was unsteady in her grasp.

"just - get better soon, all right?"