“Hello, Simon. Goodbye, Simon,” she grinned back. “That doctor you spooked begs me to use my superior firepower to throw you out. I know you officers and gentlemen have business, but it’s time to wrap it up. Or so the medical monitors indicate.” She glanced at Miles. A frown flickered across her easy-going features, a hint of steel.

Illyan caught it too, and bowed. “We’re quite finished, m’lady. No problem.”

“So I trust.” Chin lifted, she watched him out.

Miles, studying that steady profile, realized with a sudden lurch just why the death of a certain tall aggressive redhead might still be wringing his gut, long after his reconciliation to other casualties for which he was surely no less responsible. Ha. How late we come to our insights. And how uselessly. Still, a tightness eased in his throat as Countess Vorkosigan turned back to him.

“You look like a defrosted corpse, love.” Her lips brushed his forehead warmly.

“Thank you, Mother,” Miles chirped.

“That nice Commander Quinn who brought you in says you haven’t been eating properly. As usual.”

“Ah.” Miles brightened. “Where is Quinn? Can I see her?”

“Not here. She is excluded from classified areas, to wit this Imperial Military Hospital, on the grounds of her being foreign military personnel. Barrayarans!” That was Captain Cordelia Naismith’s (Betan Astronomical Survey, retired) favorite swear word, delivered with a multitude of inflections as the occasion demanded; this time with exasperation. “I took her to Vorkosigan House to wait.”

“Thank you. I . . . owe a lot to Quinn.”

“So I gather.” She smiled at him. “You can be at the long lake three hours after you delude that doctor into releasing you from this dismal place. I’ve invited Commander Quinn along—there, I thought that might motivate you to pay more serious attention to recovery.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Miles eased down into his covers. Sensation was beginning to return to his arms. Unfortunately, the sensation in question was pain. He smiled whitely. It was better than no sensation at all, oh yes.

“We will take turns, feeding and spoiling you,” she envisioned. “And . . . you can tell me all about Earth.”

“Ah . . . yes. I have a great deal to tell you about Earth.”

“Rest, then.” Another kiss, and she was gone.