Blaze nodded back.

Kale sighed a little, "Did I miss anything important?" he asked, shifting slightly to see how far he could move. It wasn't much but he did seem to be much better.

"I think just the usual sort of stuff for this place," Blaze replied.

Kale nodded again and fell silent for awhile. "I'm bored." he suddenly complained, looked at Blaze.

"Then maybe you'll think twice next time before getting shot," Blaze replied, crossing her arms.

Kale snorted a little, "Yeah, yeah, yeah..." he replied, shifting slowly, "I'm not used to having someone with me."

Blaze didn't seem to think that a worthy excuse, but she didn't argue with him.

Kale stared at her for a moment, he didn't seem very comfortable. He was silent for awhile longer. "... Sorry... if I scared you." he muttered as if unsure if that was what he should say

Blaze blinked, also looking a little unsure. "... You did what you thought you needed to," she replied after a moment.

Kale thought about that for a moment, then nodded, "What I needed to do." he revised.

"In your opinion," Blaze reiterated.

Kale raised an eyebrow but didn't retort. "I guess we don't have to worry about me going off spying for awhile." he mused, choosing a more positive train of thought.

Blaze didn't seem mad. But she didn't say anything else either. Maybe she didn't know how to express her thoughts.

Kale seemed to be rather at a loss for words as well. They sat in silence for awhile. "We're... still dating, right?" Kale suddenly asked.

"... What do you mean?" Blaze asked, confused.

"I don't know..." Kale muttered, "Don't things like this break couples up or something?" he asked, unsure.

Blaze was silent for a long time, and then she asked quietly, "... Are... you breaking up with me?"

Kale blinked, "No. Are you going to break up with me?"

Blaze cussed a little, something about causing physical harm to someone injured in a hospital bed if he broke up with her. "Then what am I waiting for?" she asked him. "... Both of us are probably gonna get shot up plenty before this is over. It's part of what we do. So why would you hogging the first few change my mind?"

Kale shrugged very slightly, "I don't know... don't women usually freak out over stuff like this? Then again, you aren't typical I guess..." he mused.

Blaze looked more confused. But she didn't ask.

Kale muttered something under his breath, "How many meds am I on?" he suddenly asked. Quite a few.

Blaze started listing them.

Kale let out a long sigh, "Perhaps I should just go back to sleep..." he muttered.

Blaze didn't agree or disagree.

Kale closed his eyes, "Hopefully I make more sense when I wake again." he told her before slowing his breathing down and trying to fall back asleep.

So Blaze went back to reading.

After a few more hours, a sweaty Laurel quietly slipped into Nic's rooms again.

Rosen was chilling under the oak tree, waiting for Laurel to return.

Nic was up and about, but it looked like he hadn't fully woken up yet as he debated taking a shower.

Laurel smirked at Nic, "Morning sleepyhead." she teased as she wiped some sweat from her brow.

Nic scratched his head, messing up his hair some more. "... You look like you need a shower more than I do," he noted.

Laurel snorted, "I don't stink, I never stink. I'd drive away the crowds if I did." she chuckled.

"... I said look," Nic clarified.

Laurel blinked, "Oh... you don't like sweaty women?" she suddenly teased. Maybe she was spending too much time around Rosen...

That thought seemed to cross Nic's mind. He chose not to reply. He dug through one of his drawers, messing up what Laurel had folded neatly. He pulled out his old scarf for a moment before putting it back and taking out a clean socks.

Laurel slowly walked over to him and picked up the scarf gently, "... What's your brother like?" she asked as she stared at the knitting.

Nic took some time to think about it. "Kind," he decided.

Laurel ran her fingers over the knitting, "... older or younger?"

"Younger," Nic replied.

Laurel smiled a little sadly, "Are you a better older sibling than I was?"