[ The wet look in Vance's eyes makes Robbie feel like garbage for insisting on checking the arm out. Again, he wonders how that man could look Vance in the face and hit him. This time, it makes him so angry that he can't find his voice to answer right away, and, instead, he gets up and takes the top sheet off Vance's bed.

Robbie rips a long, wide strip of material free and goes back to wear Vance is still trying hide in the corner. How long was that a coping mechanism? No, don't wonder about it. ]

Yeah, I'm from your future, but I'm not that far in the future.

[ Discussions of future science and questionable inevitability will be left for later. ]

If I put your arm in a sling, you think you could walk with me to Medbay? It's three hallways and a lift. Or I can carry you.