“The doorknob twisted. “I’m coming with you.”I ran over and held it shut. “No, you are so not. We can’t carry your unconscious body around the Center. Besides, I need you here. If something goes wrong, I can’t handle you getting hurt.”“Wait, so it’s okay if I get hurt?” Jack asked.“Yes,” I snapped at the same time as Lend and Arianna.“As long as you’re sure, then,” Jack muttered.”

“Come on Nina, you can’t avoid doing things just because you’re afraid you will get hurt.”“I’ll fall. I always fall and I don’t do it gracefully. I land hard and I usually break something. I’m a walking disaster just waiting to happen. Don’t you understand?”“I understand Nina, but this time it’s different.”“Why? How could this time possibly be any different than the others?”“It’s different, because this time I’m here to catch you.”

“You can’t keep messing me around like this. It’s been going on too long. I can’t take it anymore. I get sick every time you come around. Then I get sick when you leave. You’re like a disease to me.”

“I'm sorry that you are hurting. It’s because of me that you are even here in the first place. I offered to get those passes so I could get to know you. There is something about you that feels so comforting and familiar, and I’m not sure why.”

“We've got a problem!" I shouted."No, I heard that. I mean, what's the problem now?""I have the solution!" Jack interrupted."What?" I sat up, all ears."Bells!""What?" Lend and I asked at the same time."Get her a kitty collar with bells on it. That way you can hear her coming and get someplace where you won't be hurt by collapsing immediately into sleep.”

“A little while later Jack walked into the kitchen at the bar and saw Preacher scowl his greeting. Bravely, Jack walked up to the counter. “Hey, man,” he said. “You wereright, I was wrong, and I’d like us to get back on the same team.”“You sure this team of mine isn’t too much trouble for little you?” Preacher asked.“Okay, you about done? Because this really hurts and I’m trying not to deck you rightnow.”