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Alex hadn’t even known where to begin. She’d tried to tell Karter that she had no fighting experience, but he’d just shrugged and walked away, claiming that it wasn’t his problem.

She’d looked at her massive partner, certain he wouldn’t fight a defenceless girl. Her confidence had vanished the moment his massive arm had come flying towards her. She’d practically watched her life flash before her eyes.

Surprisingly enough, Alex had managed to duck the first blow, and the second as well. Her reflexes had mapped their own instinctive, adrenaline-filled reactions, and without even knowing how, she’d ended up kicking her leg out towards his torso.

The massive boy had grunted in surprise when her foot connected with his abdomen, but that hadn’t stopped him from latching onto her ankle and twisting her leg away from him. Her whole body had spun through the air, leaving her to slam head-first onto the ground.

She couldn’t remember anything after that, so she figured she must have been knocked unconscious.

Fletcher listened and took notes as she described the details to him.

“That sounds about right,” he agreed. “At least there’s no memory loss this visit.”

Alex bit back a sarcastic retort and watched as the doctor walked over to a medical supply cabinet and pulled out a glass vial. When he handed it to her, she eyed the bright green liquid warily.

“It’ll help with the pain,” he told her.

Trusting him, Alex downed it in one go. She was pleasantly surprised by the minty taste, and even more delighted when the throbbing drums disappeared almost immediately, along with her splitting headache.

“Wow,” she marvelled, sniffing the glass container. “What was that?”

“Standard issue pain reliever,” Fletcher answered. “You’ll learn how to make a batch in your Medical Science class so you can look forward to hearing about it from Professor Luranda. I’m sure you don’t want the lecture twice.” He winked at her and she smiled back in gratitude.

“So,” she started, looking around the now familiar room, “when can I get out of here?”

Fletcher chuckled. “Not a fan of hospitals, Alex?”

She smiled at him to show that she didn’t have anything against him specifically.

“She lives!”

Alex turned at the interruption and found Jordan and Bear standing in the doorway.

“Way to go, Alex! Your first day here and you’ve already been to the Med Ward twice!” Bear called out. “That’s got to be some kind of record. Right, Fletch?”

“One day the two of you will learn to appreciate the sanctity of this Ward and not disrupt my patients.” Fletcher spoke sternly to the boys, but Alex could see a hint of a smile behind his strict expression.

“One day,” Jordan mused, “we just might.” He grinned at Alex. “But not today.”

Fletcher mock-sighed and motioned for them to enter the room.

“As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted,” Fletcher threw a warning glance at the two boys who perched themselves haphazardly on the end of Alex’s bed, “I suppose it will be all right if you leave, so long as you wait a few hours before sleeping.”

She nodded and was pleased when she felt no stabbing pain this time.

“Jordan, Bear, you’re responsible for making sure she remains awake. Think of it as punishment for disturbing my peace and quiet.”

Bear snorted. “This place is like a morgue, Fletch. The disruption can only be good for you.”

Alex crossed her arms, waiting for someone to come to her defence and say that spending time with her wasn’t a form of punishment.

Jordan must have caught her expression since he hastily said, “But, err, if wehadwrongly disturbed your peace and quiet, you should know that asking us to look after Alex isn’t a punishment.”

Bear looked at his friend in confusion before finally catching on. It was probably the elbow to the ribs that did it. “Right,” he agreed, wincing a little as he rubbed his side. “It’s like giving a kid candy instead of broccoli after he breaks your favourite porcelain vase.”

Alex, Fletcher and Jordan all looked at him with varying expressions of bemusement.

“What I mean is,” Bear continued, trying to explain himself, “you’re not punishing us, but rewarding us. We’d be hanging out with Alex anyway.”