“Yes, I did. Where were you?”
“I went over to see Stoner. He’s at the Navy air base. I had a hell of time bumming a ride.”
“How is he?”
“Looks like you.”
“Oh, thanks.” She pushed up on her elbows; Zen reached over and slid her pillow, then realized he could adjust her bed by the control. He fiddled with it, getting her to about a thirty-degree angle.
“My dad was here, and Danny,” said Breanna. “My mom. Did you meet her?”
Zen shook his head. “I talked to her on the phone twice. She didn’t remember anything I told her. Pretty dizzy for a doctor.”
Breanna smiled weakly. “That’s my mom. Opposite of my dad.”
“Yeah.”
“I saw Chris die. I couldn’t save him.”
“You couldn’t.”
“Collins and Dolk. They’re gone too.”
Zen took her hand.
“And Curly’s missing. Fentress.” Her eyes welled up, but as she started to cry she laughed too. “Remember all your nickname for him?”
“I was a bastard to the poor kid.”
“You made him a good pilot. I couldn’t save them, Jeff. I tried. I did.”
“Sometimes you can’t.” Zen leaned over and kissed her. Breanna’s lips were warm, but the exposure to the salt water made them feel like sandpaper, and he could see her wince even though he barely brushed against them.
“Sorry,” he told her.
“It’s okay, babe.” She patted his hand.
“Listen, I saw you and Stoner in the raft,” he said. “I saw you and two tangled together. I thought — look, I’m an asshole, but I thought you were in love with him or something. Last fling on earth. I went a little crazy.”
Pain creased her face.
“I know you’re not in love with him or anything,” he said. “And that you didn’t. I’m sorry. It was just the idea of losing you, you know? I’m sorry.”
“That’s good, baby,” she said, drifting back toward sleep. “You know I love you.”
“I do,” he said.
Her eyes closed. Zen sat back in his wheelchair, his hand still gripping hers. Exhausted by the last few days, he slipped off to sleep as well.