As Bridget roamed the clinic, checking the output on the monitors, opening cabinets to make a list of new supplies needed, and anything else she could do to occupy her time, it felt as if she’d never left.

Only this time, she wasn’t here just in her capacity as a doctor, she was also the worried partner, waiting anxiously for any change in her mate’s state.

It wasn’t a good feeling.

Remembering how she’d envied the waiting immortals, she was assailed by guilt. The anxiety was intolerable. But then, their transitioning mates hadn’t had Turner’s disadvantages.

Roni had been sick, but he was very young, and his disease had been simple viral pneumonia, something his immune system had no problem curing. It had just taken time, and the kid had been impatient.

Andrew hadn’t been young when he’d attempted transition, but he’d been perfectly healthy.

The others had all been in the safe zone of young and healthy. Nathalie had been a little on the older side, but apparently her robust health had been enough to see her safely through it. Either that or superb genes.

“What are you doing?” Julian asked as she pulled out yet another drawer of rolled up bandages.

“I’m making a list of supplies. We are running low on a few things.”

He put his hand on her forearm. “No, we are not. Hildegard double checks every Monday and orders whatever is missing.”

“So why are we low? You didn’t have any patients to use things on.”

With a sheepish expression on his handsome face, Julian scratched his head. “I started volunteering once a week in a free clinic. They are low on everything, so I took some supplies from here.” He lifted a hand to stop her admonishment. “I asked Kian’s permission first, and he approved it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He shrugged. “I’d just started, and I didn’t know if I’d be able to handle it.”

“And?”

“It’s okay. Better than the hospital that’s for sure. I mostly deal with simple everyday stuff like fevers and coughs and scraped knees and twisted ankles. There is no drama. The serious cases are taken to an emergency room.”

Bridget smiled. “I remember when you couldn’t stand the sight of blood.”

“I’m over that.”

“I figured.”

Julian rubbed his fingers over his jaw. “From what you’ve told me about the other transitioning Dormants, I expected people to hold a vigil for Turner. But there is no one out in the corridor.”

“I didn’t tell anyone he is transitioning. No one other than you and me knows. Carol might suspect, but she didn’t ask, and I didn’t volunteer the information. The other Dormants didn’t go into transition right away.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

“It just didn’t feel right.” Bridget sighed. “Well, that’s not the entire truth, and you deserve better from me. We both know that Victor’s chances of making it through this aren’t good. But he is a fighter, as you said, so he is going to hang on for a long time. I don’t want people camping out in the corridor for days or weeks. On the other hand, their support and well-wishing might help him. Any suggestions as to what should I do?”

Talk about a reversal of roles.

Up until this crisis, Julian had been the one to come to her for advice. Her leaning on him was something new, and it felt right for some reasons and wrong for others. It felt right because Julian was a grown, accomplished man, and by accepting his support she was expressing her pride in him and her trust in his abilities.

Except, she was his mother and would always be, which meant that she was supposed to be the giver and he the receiver, not the other way around.

“I can ask someone to organize daily well-wishing sessions in the café. And I can also send people group texts with updates.”

“Those are all good ideas, but my problem is how to tell people that I don’t want them camping out in the corridor. I don’t want to offend anyone.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Julian patted her shoulder. “I’ll talk with Anandur and have him come up with a plan. He can spread a rumor that you don’t want people to see you stressing out.”

“That’s not a rumor. That’s the truth.”

“I know. But coming from you it might be perceived as standoffish. Our clan’s yenta would know how to put the right spin on it.”

The image of Anandur hunched over and wearing an old woman’s clothes brought a much-needed smile to Bridget’s lips.

“Sounds good.” She pushed away from the counter she’d been leaning on. “I’d better go check on my patient.”

“Are you planning on spending the night here?”

“Of course.”

“Do you need me? I can stay with you if you don’t want to be alone.”

“I’m not alone. I’m with Victor.”

Julian cast her a pitying look. One day, when Fates willing he found his mate, he would understand. “You can go.” She stretched on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I’ll call you if I need you.”

“I’ll bring you food first. When was the last time you ate?”

“Hours ago. But I’m not hungry.”

“Right. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Thanks. Bring me coffee, will you?”

“No problem.”

Her phone rang just as she was about to enter Victor’s room. Reflexively, she pulled it out of her coat pocket and looked at the display.

Crap, she couldn’t refuse a call from Kian, and she would have to tell him that Victor was transitioning. Her short reprieve was over.

“Bridget here.”

“How is Turner doing? Are you back at his place?”

“No. I’m down at the clinic.” Bridget sighed and moved the phone to her other ear. “He is transitioning.”

“Already? When did it start?”

“He never woke up after your bite.”

There was a moment of tense silence. “Did I accidentally overdose him?”

“No, he didn’t go into stasis. He is running a high fever, his blood pressure is up, and so is his heart rate. All the signs of a transitioning Dormant.”

“That’s good, right?”

“It’s too early to tell.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

She was about to tell him there was nothing, but then she remembered that there was. “Don’t tell anyone yet. I don’t want people camping in the corridor overnight.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah. Julian is going to text updates, and he is thinking of organizing daily well-wishing sessions in the café.”

“It sounds to me like you’re anticipating it will take a long time.”

“I am. Andrew’s transition took several days. Victor is older.”

“What are you going to tell people?”

“About the camping out in the corridor?”

“Yes.”

“That it is not safe to impede access to the clinic in case of emergency.” The idea had just popped into her head, but it was as good an explanation as any. What if someone got injured and needed to be wheeled into the clinic?

Kian chuckled. “Do you want me to take the blame? I can tell everyone that I’m no longer allowing it.”

“No. Just tell them what I told you. It's a new medical emergency procedure. The corridor outside the clinic needs to remain clear at all times.”

“Yes, ma'am.”