The blue tint of the fluorescents and her position--supine, elevated, focal--gave the scene a religious aspect. A fat needle stuck out an inch below her left clavicle, and a web of blackening blood glittered on her side. Her brilliant green eyes were cloudy, or maybe it was just the lighting. Tim heard the shuffle of boots walking in unison--the approach of the guards--but he couldn't tear his eyes off his wife. One of the doctors glanced up, then stepped away, moving toward them. He shot his gloves on the way through the doors and stepped between Bear and the guards. "I got it fellows." When he pulled down his mask, Tim recognized him as the doctor who'd treated him last year. As the guards backed off, the doctor shot Bear a stern look. "Behave yourself and you can stay back here. Don't go in that room." He took Tim's arm and drew him into an empty exam room. He started with details and hard facts--a good read on what Tim required right now. "She took a blast from a twelve-gauge, double-aught buck.
