For a moment she didn’t speak. Move. Breathe. “What’s the condition?”

“Basically, they think you need a break. Time for your mind to heal.”

She scoffed. “They think I’m crazy?” She paused. “They’re discharging me because they think I’m suicidal, don’t they?”

“You know ODPMC can apply to a multitude of things. It’s a catchall, but . . . yeah. That word was mentioned.”

“You have got to be kidding me.” Fingers knotted the blanket over her legs. “Why? How would they come to that conclusion? I’ve been unconscious!”

“The nurse witnessed your nightmares, as did your father. They’ve had to sedate you several times since your arrival to keep you from tearing out your stitches and . . .”

“And?”

“And, you may have muttered some things that could have been interpreted as a wish to die.”

Her mouth opened. Then shut. “I don’t remember any of that, but I certainly don’t have any wish to die. And taking what I said while I was unconscious as fact isn’t even ethical, is it?” She pressed fingers to her eyes. “What exactly is the official diagnosis?”

“PTSD and possible desire to self-harm.”

“Unbelievable.” She dropped her hand and lasered him with a hard look. “How do you know all of this anyway? I thought my medical information would still be protected even here.”

“The general told me. He didn’t share how he got it and I didn’t ask.”

“I see.” She smirked. “So he left you to do the dirty job of filling me in.” A scoff escaped her and she looked away. However, he thought he might have seen a sheen of tears in her eyes. “He finally found a way,” she whispered. “Writing me out of his will couldn’t get me to stay out of the Army, so he’s resorted to this.”

Gavin leaned closer. “Your father didn’t—”

“Make no mistake,” she said sharply, “this is the general’s doing. I’m no more suicidal than he is.” The PTSD might be another story, but she wasn’t ready to face that idea yet. She slammed a hand on the bed and winced, but that didn’t stop the growl that came from her. “Oooh, I can’t believe he’d stoop so low.” She paused. “Then again, yes, I can. I actually should have known something was up when I opened my eyes and saw him sitting there. But I’d hoped—”

“Hoped what?”

“Nothing. I’m an idiot.”

“Come on, Sarah, you know as well as I do, there has to be some basis to this. The Army doesn’t just offer up discharges without some kind of documentation.”

Her laugh held no humor. “They do if it comes in the form of an order from a lieutenant general. What do you think? You think I’m suicidal?”