"Actually, I'm not," Re-l said, irritated at being pigeon-holed. "I was educated in all the natural sciences, but my work was in the investigation of people, not the world."

She couldn't stay annoyed, though, not when the subject was so interesting. And it was easy to let your guard down when all the other person wanted to make was a blanket. It was a shame about the antiseptic cream, but the water had done a lot of good.

Then she made the obvious connection. The gun slipped from her hands.

"That ability is from your dream world." The enormity of the revelation swallowed her up, and she felt dizzy. Her vision clouded over, just for a moment. "They're real."

She raised her fingers to her mouth, a gesture she was totally unaware of. It didn't matter, suddenly, that she didn't know where Vincent and Pino were. It didn't matter that she couldn't see them, that they weren't here for her. It didn't matter that she was alone. They existed somewhere. It was enough.

She steadied herself, breathing slowly to calm her heart, and swallowed.

"I should finish your arm," she said finally, stooping to pick up her gun.