“Two days does make you weak,” Maisie said, like she’d gone two days without food before. The younger guy nodded in agreement.

“Beto, go make him a sandwich. There’s some meat and cheese in the fridge. Maisie, get him some water.”

They both immediately obeyed the order, leaving him alone with the doctor.

“Listen,” Dr. Lopez said, pulling over a chair and sitting down in it. “I know that you’ve had a hell of a time. But you’re safe here, okay?”

He was having trouble thinking straight through the brain fog, but safe seemed like the entirely wrong word to use in these circumstances.

“Maisie said…” He sat up very slowly, blinking. “She said that she gave me temporary immunity from the virus.”

Dr. Lopez nodded.

“That’s not possible, is it?” Lennon asked. “There isn’t a vaccine. If there was, you’d all be out of here.”

Dr. Lopez laughed. Lennon wasn’t sure which part was funny.

“There is no vaccine that provides long-term protection from the virus, no,” Dr. Lopez said. “The virus mutates quickly, so that has been a challenge. But you’ve heard of passive immunity?”

“Yes? Uh, something about antibodies?” His head still felt too fuzzy to put thoughts together.

“Right. I have had some success using antibodies to provide immediate, short-term protection from the virus. I’ve actually been talking to the CDC about letting some volunteers from beyond the wall visit us in here, using what I just gave you as protection.”

He blinked. “Seriously?”

“Still early talks. But now you’re here, so we’re giving it a go after all.”

“Are you sure it actually works?”

“I’m sure. It would have been better if you’d been given it before arriving in the Q, but we got it to you very quickly. You can thank Maisie for that.”

She had just walked back into the room with a glass of water, and Dr. Lopez smiled at her. She handed it to Lennon.

“Thank you.” He took several long gulps. It tasted off, but he knew for a fact that the water in the quarantine zone was safe to drink. They’d all have died years ago otherwise.

He wiped water from his chin as he lowered the glass. “And thank you for…” He gestured at his arm.

“Sticking a needle in your arm against your will?” she guessed.

“Yes. Sorry I was difficult, it’s just that you’re very…scary.” The last word slipped out before he could stop it. Shit. He still couldn’t think.

But the expression that crossed her face was absolute delight. She grinned, lightly swatting Dr. Lopez’s shoulder.

“Did you hear that? He thinks I’m scary!”

Beto walked in, holding a plate with a sandwich on it. “Maisie, he’s from the other side of the wall. He’s probably terrified of all of us.” He handed the plate to Lennon.

“Well, he only said that I was scary,” Maisie countered.

Lennon took the plate and inhaled the sandwich in only a few bites. The bread was fresh, and the sandwich was made with a thick slab of chicken and cheese.