“Eventually.”
She touched his face.
Not asking.
Just overwhelmed.
Bear allowed it.
“My God.”
He smiled through wet eyes.
“You were the first person who ever held me because you wanted to.”
Margaret shook her head.
“I was your nurse.”
“You stayed four hours after shift.”
“How do you know?”
“File.”
She stared at the picture.
Bear continued.
“Notes say you refused to leave until county services arrived.”
Margaret laughed softly.
“I was stubborn.”
“Apparently.”
Richard stood silent.
Bear looked toward him.
Then back to Margaret.
“When Olivia said Mrs. Holloway earlier, I thought maybe.”
“I wasn't sure.”
“Then you started arguing with everybody.”
Margaret laughed.
“That confirmed it?”
“Helped.”
She looked at the photograph again.
“You knew before I asked?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you say something?”
Bear shrugged.
“What was I supposed to say?”
“Hey, remember the screaming baby from fifty-eight years ago?”
“Sixty.”
“Don't add years.”
He smiled.
Margaret wiped her face.
Richard finally spoke.
“Mr. Callahan.”
Bear looked at him.
Richard's voice had changed.
Quieter.
“I owe both of you an apology.”
Margaret looked up.
“For what?”
“I focused too narrowly.”
“You focused on paperwork.”
“Yes.”
“That’s your job.”
“Not all of it.”
Bear said nothing.
Richard looked at Margaret.
“We still need a safe plan.”
She sighed.
“I know.”
“But.”
Richard looked toward Bear.
“If Mr. Callahan is willing to provide transportation and remain with you overnight, the physician can determine whether that satisfies your discharge condition.”
Margaret stared.
Bear answered first.
“Yes.”
Richard looked at him.
“I haven't finished.”
“Still yes.”
“You understand she needs monitoring.”
“Yes.”
“Fall precautions.”
“Yes.”
“Return immediately for recurrent symptoms.”
“Yes.”
Margaret looked at Bear.
“You don't even know where I live.”
He smiled.
“I have GPS.”
She slapped his arm lightly.
“Smart mouth.”
Richard almost smiled.
Then Bear's expression became serious.
“Can she see Michael first?”
Richard nodded.
“I’ll arrange it.”
Margaret looked at him.
“Thank you.”
He walked away.
Olivia returned several minutes later with a wheelchair.
Margaret stared at it.
“No.”
Olivia smiled.
“Hospital rule.”
Margaret looked at Bear.
“Don't you dare.”
He held up both hands.
“Not involved.”
Olivia said:
“You're going to Michael’s room.”
Margaret considered.
Then sat.
Bear took the handles.
Olivia stopped him.
“Transport will push.”
Bear stared.
Margaret smiled wickedly.
“Rules.”
He sighed.
“Fine.”
A transporter arrived.
They moved toward the elevators.
Bear walked beside Margaret.
The doors opened.
Inside, mirrored metal reflected them.
Tiny old woman.
Huge biker.
Richard at the nurses’ station watching.
Olivia smiling.
Margaret looked at Bear.
“You really carry that picture everywhere?”