“She is my patient right now,” he said, very quietly, and the quiet was worse than a shout.

“And I do not abandon my post. You will not try to move her again until I tell you she’s ready. Do you understand me?”

Sterling opened his mouth. Dr. Evans caught his arm and shook his head slowly, and when Evans looked back at Sarge, something in his face had changed all the way through — the tiredness burned off, replaced by something closer to awe. “Let him stay, Sterling,” he said. “Just — let him stay.”

Sterling looked around the room, found no ally in it, turned on his heel, and walked out.

The doors swung shut behind him and sealed the quiet back in.

I slumped against the counter, my heart slamming.