Harry put on his most strained politeness. "And what life would that be?"

"The one you get to start now," she retorted.

"Oh, goodie." He could feel the sarcasm dripping back down his throat as he pointed his eyes up to the sky again. "I get to start all over again... Hey," he looked back down at the doctor, his eyes burning with anger, "you think you can bring my dad back to get loaded and kick the shit out of me again too, or is that beyond even your wonderful abilities?"

Dr. Alessi blew back a little, stunned by the force of his emotion, then retook herself, speaking calmly and addressing him directly. "Nobody ever said it was easy, Harry... but I guess that's how it looks when it's always about you, doesn't it?"

"Meaning what?"

"I didn't save your life. You certainly didn't save your life. Neither one of us cares about you nearly enough to even bother."

He cocked his head slowly, eyeing her carefully now. "So who did?"

Dr. Alessi simply looked at him, dropping her arms out of her fold and taking a step back. As she turned to leave, she tossed a last comment over her shoulder.

"Maybe it's not about you, Harry. Maybe it's not about you at all."

"I didn't... know... what you liked, so I... I kind of got a little of everything." Diane stammered as she spoke, looking everywhere but at him.

"I'm sure it's fine," Sam replied, trying not to sound dismissive. But how could he not simply accept anything she said? She was here... now. He would have eaten glass if that's what she brought.

What is this? No... no. I know what this is, I just... What is this?

She spared him a glance that shot through his soul. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired," Sam replied, feeling an uncharacteristic ribbon of euphoria slide through him. He thought for a second and realized it was because he'd told her the truth. Silently wagering that the man who normally inhabited this body had never felt that, he dropped himself onto the nearest flat surface.

She deposited the two paper bags she was carrying onto a desk and took slow steps towards him as she spoke. "What were you doing in that warehouse?"