“Can she have water?” Jax raced around the room to get her water bottle. “She needs a straw.” She spun the top off so frantically, it flew up into the air and landed on the floor.

Gretchen raised her hand and waved off Jax’s concern and water. Her coughing fit was over, and she was smiling again, even with red and watery eyes. She held Jax’s hand again. Amanda left the room in search of a straw.

Jax was so content seeing her alive, she didn’t care how awkwardly she had to twist her body so Gretchen could hold her right hand. She held her breath the moment she felt three little squeezes. She searched Gretchen’s face for more, but she saw nothing in Gretchen’s heavy eyes.

Gretchen’s eyes suddenly flew open, and she started looking around the room. She tried to sit up and whimpered in pain.

“Whoa, whoa, slow down,” Jax said, encouraging Gretchen to lie back and relax again. “What’s wrong?” Jax read Gretchen’s full, dry lips as she mouthed a name. “Caleb is with Wyatt.”

Gretchen looked at her skeptically.

Jax considered the expression a gift. “It’s fine. Carly said it’s good practice.”

“Car—” She started coughing again, but this time she caught her breath more quickly.

“Carly is smart, I know.”

“They should be back any minute,” Amanda said, reentering the room with a hospital cup filled with ice and water, and a straw. “Here you go.” She sat on the other side of Gretchen’s bed and held the cup to Gretchen’s lips. Gretchen drank slowly, one sip at a time, and smiled serenely when she was done.

Jax knew Gretchen was probably going crazy with questions, or maybe she knew she had been near death and didn’t care about the details. “We should probably call Dr. Melendez in.” She tried to stand up, but Gretchen wouldn’t let her go. She held up two fingers, and Jax assumed she was asking for two more minutes. “We shouldn’t wait.”

Gretchen touched Jax’s face. She ran her fingers into her hair as Jax looked at Amanda from the corner of her eye.

“I’ll get Dr. Melendez.” Amanda left the room.

“I think Dr. Melendez has a crush on your sister,” Jax whispered. She shifted uncomfortably as Gretchen continued to trace her cheekbones and nose and then the faint dimple of her chin. “I know Amanda isn’t interested or even into women, but I think she should go for it anyway. When will she ever get a chance with a doctor again?” Jax knew she was rambling, but Gretchen’s reaction was the last thing she expected. She didn’t think she’d feel her touch ever again. “Even your mother would push her—”

Gretchen placed her finger against Jax’s chattering lips. The current that traveled between them felt like old times.

Gretchen wrapped her hand around the back of Jax’s neck and pulled her down so their foreheads could touch. She held Jax’s face in both hands the best she could, considering the IVs and monitor leads.