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“What’s that I hear about you hugging dynamite?”

“Ha.” Cody grunted, the best she could do.

“How’s the headache?”

“Getting a bit worse.”

“A bit, you say? Like going nuclear?”

“Yeah,” Cody admitted.

“Feeling a bit sick too?”

“A lot.”

“Aw,” Janet said in commiseration and pinched her lightly on the cheek. She then turned to Kim and proceeded to speak to her as if Cody were not there. “She’s definitely concussed.”

“Yes, I thought so.”

“We’ll take care of the cuts and bruises, check for additional wounds, and internal blast injuries. I do not anticipate any complication, but we’ll still keep her overnight—”

“No,” Cody said as firmly as she could manage.

“Overruled,” Janet declared and once again spoke only to Kim. “Don’t worry, okay? I’ll fix her up as good as new.”

“Thanks, Janet,” Kim nodded. “She was a little quirky when I got her, but I like her like that just the same.”

“Bet you do,” Janet laughed.

“Still here, you two. Still awake and hearing every word,” Cody groaned.

Ellie flashed her a sympathetic smile from the front seat but also did nothing to intervene. Cody resigned herself to being prodded and analyzed over the next however long this would take. She hoped it would include a few perks.

“Be great if I could have something for the headache,” she told Janet as she helped her out of the car.

“I’ll give you the good stuff, Detective, as soon as we get you admitted. Now, sit down for me.”

Appalled, Cody squinted hard at the wheelchair on offer.

“I can walk,” she assured, only to pitch forward when Janet briefly let go of her.

“I beg to differ,” the surgeon stated ironically. “Sit down. Don’t argue with me or make me force you.”

Oh, hell…Cody dropped into the chair with a little flare of temper for show and immediately regretted it when it made her eyeballs throb even more. She unconsciously shot out a hand to the side. Kim took it and squeezed.

“I’m here. I’m coming with you,” she promised.

“Chop, chop, ladies,” Janet instructed. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

???

Her bedside manner bordered on rude, but Kim played along with it because she realized it was intentional. Their antics made Cody laugh in spite of her injuries, so it was fine. It also became clear that with Janet in charge, waiting times were annihilated, paperwork expedited, and the best care expertly delivered.

“You’re very welcome.” Janet grinned as Kim thanked her, then added with a dramatic and wistful sigh; “It’s a shame she doesn’t need brain surgery; that’s really where I’m at my best.”

Fortunately, indeed, Cody only required light treatment for smoke inhalation and a line of three stitches on her forehead. Janet placed a clear mask over her face while she put them in.

“Shut up and breathe deeply in and out,” she advised when Cody looked like she might protest. “We need to re-oxygenate your lungs. This’ll do it.”