A Life Debt Repaid

“Are you alone?” Ryan asked with considerable exertion.

His voice was so soft Sam barely heard him, and he had to drop to a crouch to hear him clearly.

“Mom and Dad are worried, but they’re too old,” Sam quickly said. “The doctor also stopped US from visiting for another couple of days, so I sent them to the hotel. I’ll call them now if you want to see them.”

Ryan shook his head slightly, instead asking, “What did the doctor say about me?”

“Your vitals are fine,” Sam assured him. “But there’s organ damage so you need to recover here in the ICU for a while. Don’t worry-you have the best medical staff here. You’ll get better.”

“Am I disfigured?” Ryan asked.

Sam did a double take.

“I can’t see-you’re totally covered in bandages,” Sam said earnestly before adding. “Your eyes, mouth, and ears are showing, but those are fine.”

“Am I missing limbs?” Ryan then asked.

paused, surprised that Ryan

their survival, and then their physical condition. After all, it would be easy to be

“Sam.”

Ryan’s eyes when

Sam lied, going against his own conscience-the doctor had told him not to tell Ryan about his condition, since it would

him for even a moment,

were hesitating,” Ryan said, his tone feeble but agitated.

repeated. “You’re

‘Swear it.”

swear,” Sam said, bracing him against his

Ryan’s changing mood, which was bad, since he was not supposed

you won’t get to stay with Quinn,” Ryan suddenly said

his own life,

stern. “I won’t swear on anything with the lives of my loved ones,