Phoenix's expression shifts and he takes a deep breath. "He's alive. Surgery went well. The bullet's out. No spinal damage."
The relief hits me so hard my arms give out and I drop back against the pillows. The ceiling blurs and I blink rapidly because I amstillnot doing this right now.
"He's two floors up," Phoenix continues. "Separate room. They've got him on enforced bed rest."
"I need to see him."
"You need torest. Your oxygen levels?—"
"Phoenix."
He stops.
"I need to see him."
Raf stirs on the floor. His dark eyes open, instantly alert in the way of someone who hasn't actually been sleeping deeply. He takes one look at my face and sighs.
"She's going to discharge herself," Raf says flatly.
"I'm going to discharge myself," I confirm.
"You arenot," Phoenix says, drawing himself up to his full massive height. "The doctors said your lungs?—"
"My lungs arefine."
"Your lungs are full ofsmoke."
"Your lungs are going to be full of my silicone dick if you try to stop me," I mutter, already prying the IV tape off.
Ow. OW OW OW.
I rip the IV out of my left arm. I'm stupid enough from sleep and whatever they gave me that I was kind of hoping blood would spray dramatically like in the movies, but all I get is a pathetic little dribble.
"Bells.Bells.Please?—"
"I'll sign whatever form. AMA, right? Against medical advice?" I pull the second IV and a thin line of blood tracks down my forearm. I press the bedsheet against it. "Where are my clothes?"
"Destroyed," Raf says, rising to his feet. He rubs his jaw and winces at the bruise. "You were covered in blood and soot. The nurses cut everything off."
"So I'm going in the gown. Everyone already knows I'm a fucking girl."
"Bells…" Phoenix tries again.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed. The tile is freezing against my bare feet. The room does its spinning thing again and I grip the mattress edge until it stops, my knuckles white.
Phoenix hovers, both hands out, ready to catch me.
I stand.
My knees hold.
Barely.
"You're insane," Raf says. But he's moving toward the door, which means he's already accepted the inevitable.
"Tell me something I don't already know."
Phoenix scrubs both hands through his hair, making it wilder than it already is. "At least let me get a wheelchair."