Page 20 of Shielding Instinct

“A minute ago, here in this room.” Hawkeye shuffled to the edge of his seat and leaned closer.

“No,” Petra said. “I don’t remember that.”

“Okay. I’ll tell you what she said. Ready?” He lifted his brows and waited.

“I don’t know.” Petra felt very small. Very fragile. Had she had a stroke? She took a moment and wiggled her fingers and toes. She bent and kicked her legs and jiggled her arms.

She wasn’t paralyzed.

“I’m not going to tell you anything bad right now.” Hawkeye’s voice was rumbly and deep. It brought to mind Tibetan singing bowls and how Petra liked the big ones that shook the marrow of her bones like his voice did.

Petra pressed her lips together and nodded, working very hard to stay focused on Hawkeye’s words.

“Your brain looks fine. They’ve ruled out a stroke.”

“No stroke.” She mouthed the words because her voice couldn’t wrap around the syllables to give them volume.

“No stroke.” He smiled with his eyes—warm and maybe a little charmed.

Was that possible? Could he be charmed by her confusion?

She wiggled her hand by her eye.

“All the concerns are not off the table,” he said. “They don’t have an explanation for your pupil, which looks the same as it did on the plane.” He held up the plastic bag with what looked like prescription eye drops. “I have this. You’re supposed to take it with you tomorrow morning when you have an appointment with the eye doctor to see if he can come up with a diagnosis.”

“So, we leave the hospital?” Did they do that? Did they let people with wonky eyes go off to fend for themselves?

“I’m wondering about phone calls.” Hawkeye’s words were spoken clearly, slowly. Petra had time to put them together in a sentence and find meaning.

“To next of kin?” She tried for sarcasm to lighten the mood. But the look on his face made her immediately regret saying that. “I’m sorry you’re being kind, and I’m being—”

“Scared. It’s understandable. I was wondering if you had plans to meet someone on the island and if I should reach out to them on your behalf, so they don’t worry. Boyfriend?”

“I’m not in a relationship. I was coming with a friend, but she got too sick to fly. Speaking of friends, we have people in common.”

“Yeah?” His thumb painted soothingly over her hand.

“Rowan Kennedy and Avery Goodyear-Kennedy.”

“Right,” Hawkeye said. “How did you make that connection?”

“I’m good friends with Avery, and I wanted the scuttlebutt on your team since you were going to be on my flight. And she said she knew you.”

Hawkeye nodded. “Do you remember when you talked to her?”

“At the airport, I sent her a picture of you guys standing outside with your K9s. And she gave me names and basics.”

“Girl talk.”

“Yeah, well, we’re both women, but I guess. Because of your caps, she couldn’t tell who was who. But she did recognize Max and Cooper.” She paused. “Have we already had this conversation?”

“We did.” A smile wiggled the corners of his mouth. “You’re loopy from the meds they gave you. I was asking if you know anyone here. There’s an open question about your health status.”

“Not stroke, thank goodness.”

“And I’m concerned about you sleeping alone.”

“Seriously? That’s your play? I have an alien baby pupil without a diagnosis, and you want to have a sleepover?”

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