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Especially the ones who were gone. And she definitely didn’t want her mentioning her husband again. “Please don’t talk about her,” Caroline whispered, clutching the sheet on the bed and taking a few deep breaths to calm herself.
    Natalie put her hand on Caroline’s, keeping it there until she released the sheet from her grip. “I won’t.” She squeezed Caroline’s hand. “I’m sorry you’ve had to go through so much.”
    Caroline shook her off. “I don’t want to talk about it. Any of it. Stop trying to trick me into opening up.”
    “I’m not. I just wanted to let you know that I’m here.” She stood up. “Can I go get Jack?”
    Caroline opened her eyes again. How could she find a convincing way to get Natalie to listen to her? “I really don’t want to see him. I mean it. I don’t know what kind of rights I have in this hospital, but I’d prefer he not be allowed in here.”
    “Can you maybe indulge him for a minute? He’s been bugging me every time I’ve stepped out of this room. It’s not my place to say anything about your relationship with him, but he’s been quite concerned about your condition.”
    That meant any efforts she made to avoid Jack would ultimately be useless. Shit. “I’d rather see Gabe and the others first.”
    “Jack is going to be very unhappy about this.”
    Huh. She was going to listen to her? “But you’re going to do it?”
    Natalie grinned at her. “Only because I’m desperate for you to like me. I need more girlfriends. There’s too much testosterone in this place sometimes.”
    “Maybe I do like you. You don’t know.”
    “If you do, you might want to think about working on your social skills. Most people are going to have a hard time reading you and they’ll probably err on the side of staying the hell away.”
    That was perfectly fine with Caroline. “How long do I have to remain here? Doesn’t this base have barracks or something?”
    Natalie’s grin faded. “Overnight should be sufficient. I ran some blood work and I’m waiting on some of the results. And you have a mild concussion.” She stared at Caroline’s hands. “I assume you haven’t had spectacular medical care lately.”
    At least she hadn’t stared at her face. Caroline wasn’t about to give Natalie the rundown. “I’m alive. I guess that’s all that matters.”
    “Jack can explain the policies we have in place once you’re discharged. You’ll probably get a top notch housing assignment.”
    Natalie finally seemed to have caught on to the fact that Caroline wanted her own space. “I don’t care about that. I don’t like hospitals.”
    “Does anyone? Besides people like me?” Natalie patted her knee. “It’s okay to smile, you know.”
    Caroline rubbed her forehead. “Can you please go get the guys?”
    “All right,” Natalie said. “But don’t forget this favor I did for you. Jack’s still coming in, though. I won’t be able to keep him out. He is the boss, after all. You just get to see the others first.”
    She’d happily take that concession. He’d learn soon enough where he stood. “Great.”
    *              *              *              *              *
    Jack got up as soon as he saw Natalie scoot out of Caroline’s room. “Is she -?”
    “She just woke up.” Natalie glanced at Jack before eyeing the other men sitting nearby. “Sir, may I speak with you for a moment? In private?”
    That wasn’t a good sign. Jack let her lead him to an unoccupied room. “What is it?”
    Natalie rubbed her chin. “She doesn’t – wow, I don’t know how to say this.”
    His heart sank. Surely she would have asked him to sit down for bad news. “Is she okay?”
    “She’s fine. Her broken bones need to heal and she’ll be in some pain for a while but all her tests have come back borderline normal. Although I think she needs to gain at least fifteen pounds to be on the safe side. She – she doesn’t want