“I probably took a few trips when I was healing from the chopper crash, too.”

“Do you remember all that?” Ava asked.

“Only parts of it. They kept me knocked out for quite a while because of the pain. But I slept a lot then, too. So being tired from what happened to you is your body telling you to slow down because it’s trying to heal.” Then he leaned over and kissed the side of her cheek. “And by the way, since you’re a nurse, I shouldn’t have to remind you of that.”

Ava sighed. “Duly noted, Dr. Knox. If you need me, I’ll be right here.”

Hunt waited until she closed her eyes, then went back into the living room. But instead of turning on the television, he sat down within the silence.

It took a few moments for him to realize how he was feeling. His knuckles were sore and skinned from the fight. He was shaken to the core by how close he’d come to losing her, and all it had done was shift him back into a kind of PTSD.

He took a few cleansing breaths, and then he closed his eyes and began focusing on one small sound at a time until he had identified each one. It was something he’d done often after they’d finally released him from the hospital and mustered him out. When he’d been alone and still gaining strength. Before he’d found the job he had now. Then, the fear within him was so strong. Everything had made him jumpy. He was convinced he would never be the same.

So he had created this game. Each time he heard a sound, he had to sit and listen to it over and over until he had it identified, and once he knew what it was, it was no longer an unknown, so he was no longer afraid—like he had defeated an enemy.

It was his subconscious reminding him that if he knew what it was, it no longer held any power over him. And so he began it again now, listening, identifying, defeating the unknown—until he could feel the calm settling within him.

And it was good.

* * *

Karen was at the house early the next morning. She was carrying a plate of hot cinnamon rolls when Hunt opened the door.

“Morning, Karen. Ava is just now getting into the shower. She’s moving a little slow.”

“These will perk her up,” Karen said. “They’re her favorite. I don’t suppose you’d want any before you leave?”

Hunt grinned. “If you’re willing to share, I’m not going to refuse.”

Karen took them to the kitchen, wrapped up a couple in tinfoil and then handed them to him as he picked up his coffee.

“Call if you need me…for any reason,” Hunt said. “My number is on the counter and in Ava’s phone.”