Chapter 3:

City, I told them softly

“Jase? Are you awake?” Fosher says, poking his head into the blindingly white room. When there’s no answer, he shuffles in and takes a seat at his lieutenant’s bedside.

The lanky brunet looks small and vulnerable under the fluffy down comforter a nurse found for him, crisp bandages covering his head wound and, although they’re not visible with the aforementioned comforter practically smothering him, Fosher knows there are similar ones on his arms and chest and back, because he was the one who kept pressure on them on the too long flight from the Range to Lahny, having surrendered the ship to Gary on account of barely being able to stand.

Jase sighs softly and burrows deeper, and Fosher watches a red spot begin to appear on the bandage as Jase shifts his head.

He tries to convince himself he doesn’t feel guilty, and, predictably, it doesn’t work.

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Scene 3-I

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