“No, Simi,” Ash said sternly. “You can’t keep the baby. His mother would miss him.”

She pouted. “But he want to go home with the Simi. He said so.”

“No, Simi,” Ash repeated.

She huffed at him. “No Simi, no food. Nag, nag, nag. Does your daddy nag you, too?” she asked the boy.

“Nope,” he said as he pulled at one of the black and red horns on top of her head.

Ash sighed. “Simi, take the baby back inside.”

She moved to stand before Ash. “Okay, gimme a kiss and I’ll go.”

Ash looked extremely uncomfortable as he glanced at Gallagher, then back at her. “Not in front of the Hunter, Simi.”

She made a strange animal-like noise as she looked at Gallagher. “The Simi wants a kiss, akri. I’ll wait all century. You know I will.”

To say Ash looked peeved was an understatement. He leaned over and kissed her quickly on the brow.

She beamed proudly, then trotted off with the child.

“Who is that?” Gallagher asked. “Or should I say, what is that?”

“In short, she’s not your concern.” Ash rubbed his hand over his forehead as if he were in pain. “Where were we?”

“I asked why you were giving me temporary duty in New Orleans.”

“Because Talon could use a hand.”

“I wonder what Talon would say?”

“He would tell you not to piss me off.”

Gallagher gave a half laugh at that. “All right then. I’ll take it under advisement.”

Ash watched the woman in the room with the kids. “You can camp with the Peltiers at Sanctuary. Right now I better go before one of those kids ends up on a milk carton.”

Gallagher watched as Ash rushed into the room to take a little girl from the elf and then set the child aside. The elf danced away and moved on to another child.

Shaking his head at the oddity, Gallagher headed for the elevator to go back below and check on his patient. The nurse told him she would be fine. Gallagher let out a relieved breath.

The nurse stood up and patted his arm. “Come on,” the woman said, inclining her head toward the back. “She wants to thank you.”

“I don’t need any thanks.”

“Sug, we all need thanks. C’mon.”

Before he could stop himself, he let the nurse lead him back to a small emergency room that had curtained walls. The petite brunette sat up on her stretcher with an oversized bandage on her neck. Her large green eyes were a bit dazed, but they brightened as soon as she looked up to see him. The nurse left them alone.

“Are you the man who saved me?” she asked.

Feeling awkward, he nodded.

The girl fidgeted with the blanket that covered her. “Thank you. Really.”

“My pleasure. I’m just glad I found you when I did.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Gallagher turned to leave. “Well, I need…”