polite nod, then stepped forward to examine Tad.
“I’m Dr. Fairsight, and I’d like to ask your friends to leave the room, so I can examine you now. But before you go, the two of you were there, weren’t you?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
“Yes, we were, though we were outside. But we can tell you everything we know,” I said.
Ten minutes later, after Caitlin and I gave her a rundown of our experiences, the doctor asked us to step outside. “Nearby magical signatures may interfere with my examination,” she explained.
Caitlin and I sat on a bench in the hallway. For all I knew, it could have been the one that I had sat on, waiting while my mother died.
“I hope…” Caitlin started to say, then pressed her lips together.
“He’ll be okay,” I said softly, giving her a sideways glance. “He’s not in danger now.” I hoped I was right, but I wanted to give her some comfort.
She flashed me a glimmer of a smile. “Thanks. I’ve worked with these guys since Tad first opened Conjure Ink. He’s a geek, but he’s got a heart of gold and is one of the nicest guys you could meet.”
I wanted to encourage her to break her engagement. It was obvious she was in love with Tad, but I held my tongue. There was time enough to discuss emotions later.
As we were sitting there, one of the nurses stopped in front of us. “Would you like coffee?” she asked. “The cafeteria is still open, and there are vending machines down the hall and around the corner.”
I thanked her. That was when I remembered that she had been on duty the night my parents died. I caught her gaze and held it, and saw a tiny spark of recognition in her eyes. “I think you were on duty here when my parents were brought in about five months ago. They had been in a car crash. My father was brain-dead and my mother…she died here.”
The light in her eyes flared. “Oh, yes, I remember. I’m so sorry—we did everything—”
“I know, and it’s all right. I just wanted to thank you for doing your best to help them. I know you don’t get thanked often enough for all you do.” I held out my hand and she took it. “Please, go do what you need to do. We’ll be fine right here.”
As she hustled off, Caitlin turned to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were dealing with such rough memories.”
“My parents were in a terrible car crash. My father was brain-dead by the time the ambulance got here. My mother was bleeding internally and they couldn’t stop it. I hate hospitals,” I added, shivering.
“I’m sorry. I’ve never lost anybody who matters to me.” Caitlin stood. “I think I’d like a cup of coffee. Would you? I can get it, them, if you’ll stay here and wait.”
“Thanks. Cream and two sugars, please.” I watched her head down the hall toward the vending machines, and at that point, my cell went off. It was Ari. “Hey, we’re still at the hospital.”
“What the hell happened?”
I ran down the day for her. “It was a clusterfuck of epic proportions. I’m going to head home after we talk to the Otherkin doctor.”
“I am so glad I didn’t come out there. Seriously, this job should offer hazard pay.” Ari sounded more worried than I had heard her sound in a long time. “I meant what I said—think very carefully about whether—”
“Hold on,” I said as Dr. Fairsight entered the waiting room, Dr. Banks behind her. They were headed my way. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call you in a few minutes.” I stood as the two doctors approached. “Did you find anything?”
Dr. Fairsight nodded. “Tad asked that I talk to you and your friend—where is she?” She looked around for Caitlin.
“She went to get us some coffee. She’ll be right back—in fact, there she is.”
Caitlin was coming down the hall, two cups of coffee in hand. She handed one to me, then we all sat down, the doctors sitting on the central ottoman that served as both extra seats and a coffee table.
“So here’s what I found,” Dr. Fairsight began. “Mr. Warren—Hank—is suffering from a drain on his magical reserves. For someone who works magic like he does, his energy reserve is remarkably low. He’s still unconscious. I think that, in order to protect his life energy, Hank went inward and built up a wall. He allowed the