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“I also want the full written protocol. Ingredients, risks, stop conditions, prior outcomes, and how you distinguish calm from suppressed distress.”

I love this woman.

The thought arrives without fear.

Pepper is an alligator wearing a bow, deceptively sweet until someone mistakes sweetness for softness. She’s brilliant without needing anyone else to feel stupid beside her. Kind without becoming easy to use. She will sit in my lap because she needs comfort, correct me when I overstep, interrogate a doctor, and somehow make all of it feel like the same honest version of herself.

“I can send that,” Dr. Sawyer says.

Theo clears his throat. His voice still comes out too low. “If it works, he stays solid?”

“We don’t know yet,” the doctor says.

“But he stays.” He sounds as if the words tear on the way out.

Pepper looks at Theo. Frustration crosses her face before she can hide it.

Theo rises onto one knee and cups her cheek. “Both of you. I want both of you to stay.”

Pepper leans into his palm. “Wanting doesn’t make it so, Theo.”

The old bond pulls again. My fingers vanish.

Pepper’s breath catches. She presses her forehead to mine. “I’m here.”

Theo climbs onto the sofa behind us. One arm braces around Pepper. His other hand covers the old bite at my shoulder. His purr deepens. Pepper’s arms circle my neck. I wrap myself around her. Pepper’s scent fills my lungs. Theo’s body holds firm behind us. We breathe together. Color returns slowly to my fingers.

Through the phone, Dr. Sawyer asks what changed. Theo tells her my fingers went transparent and are returning now.

“Give us a minute.” Pepper lowers the phone away from us without ending the call.

My hand returns beneath hers.

“Welcome back,” she whispers.

Theo kisses the side of her head. I kiss her temple. For a few breaths, we sit there and let our bodies settle to Theo’s purr.

Right now counts. Even this one.

When Pepper brings the phone back between us, Dr. Sawyer’s voice is composed. “The frequency will continue to increase,” she says. “I recommend that you come to the clinic tonight. At minimum, I would like baseline bloodwork and imaging.”

“No bond-dampening drugs,” I say.

Theo’s arm tightens around us, but he doesn’t answer for me.

“I’ll review the written protocol,” I continue. “I’ll keep logging. We can discuss non-invasive testing tomorrow.”

“Ezra, at the current rate of change, time is a significant factor in my ability to help you.”

“I understand.”

“Do you?” The question lands harder than her polite tone suggests.

“Yes.”

I look at Pepper.

Then at Theo.