"Which is what they get paid to do," she said. "You've had one hell of a week, Rol."

"Least I'm still alive." His face became serious. "Not everybody here been that lucky."

"No, not everyone," she said. "I'm very sorry for the men you lost."

Thibodeau was silent a moment. Then he nodded slowly.

"Like you said, helluva week, an' not just for us on this base." He moistened his lips with his tongue. "You hear 'bout that train wreck near the coast?"

"It's been on the news, yes," she said. "A horrible accident."

"Blood's been spillin' everywhere round these parts lately," he said. "All I'm waitin' for now's the frogs, gnats, boils, an' whatever else gonna come down."

She shook her head.

"I'm not religious," she said. "But the things we're talking about, I can't believe they're caused by the finger of God."

Rollie gave her a neutral sort of shrug.

"'Less maybe it's His way a' givin' us the finger," he said. "Them reports you heard mention how that li'l girl's doin'? You know the kid I mean...."

"Daniella Costas," Megan said. "Latest is that she's fine. With one of her parents, I think."

"Bon," he said. "I was her father, I'd wait till the engineer's all recuperated, then kill him with my bare hands."

"He claims it wasn't his fault."

"Who's he blamin'?"

"Not who, what," she said. "Mechanical failure."

Rollie looked thoughtful a moment, then shrugged again.

"Anyways," he said. "Ain't that I could ever mind a visit from you, but I been wonderin' what this one's about since they told me you were on your way."

"Roger thought I could help out until you're back on your feet," Megan said. "But I had my own reasons for wanting to come see you in person, Rollie. And one of them was to give you what's in this bag."

"You sayin' I really do rate a get-well present?"

She nodded. "A very special one. Something I know you'd really appreciate."

He looked at her in silence. A nurse in a white uniform dress and crepe-soled shoes swished up to the door, poked her head briefly into the room, then continued on down the hall.

Megan waited until she was gone, then reached into the shopping bag.

"Pete Nimec told me you've been wanting your Stetson," she said. "And that the doctors won't let you wear it yet."

His shoulders became slightly more erect.

"You bring it here to me from my quarters?" he said.

She shook her head.

"I'd never go against hospital rules." She pulled an object in loose wrapping tissue out of the bag and gently placed it on his lap.

"Whatever it is, it sure's shaped like a hat," he said, glancing down at it.

"Well, they didn't mention any brand of headware besides a Stetson per se," she said, and smiled. "Why don't you go ahead and see if this makes a decent substitute."

His brows furrowing, he removed the tissue paper.