He runs his thumb over her knuckles, tracing the bones in her fingers with a delicate touch, once more putting the feeling of her flesh to memory.

(It never left, but a refresher course isn't something Doc's going to turn down, right now.)

His eyes wander from their hands to the empty space beside her in the bed, and then to her face.



"Y'mind if I laid down 'gain?"

A beat.

"...promise not t'read the whole time."