He'd taken another pill by then, when the pain had started to seep back in, so it took him a second to figure out what the noise was. When he realized it was the door, he looked down at his foot with a grimace. Well, at least he wouldn't feel much of it. He shifted off the bed and walked--hobbled, really--to the door.

He was pleased to see Carol, at least for a moment, until he saw her face. She looked seriously unhappy, and his stomach clenched in instinctive response. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"