I spent the next month in Janie's care and being closer to Janie was the best thing to ever come out of me being shot. She was always there when I freaked out over coughing out the sputum, holding my hand tight when the drainage tube was taken out of my chest, reminding me to take in deep breaths when everything was too much for me to handle. Countless nights were spent with me waking up in a cold sweat, seeing Jackson's cold, rotting face staring back at me, Sala reaching out for me to save her in the blood-covered woods, Mark being beaten over and over again while I stood and watched, Cierra trying to hold herself together after being chopping into little bits, Hugh screaming at me before the gun went off. Janie always responded to my call button, and she would take over if someone got there first. Many of the dark hours of the night were spent talking and listening to the other ramble about something that they loved or remembered vividly, just to keep the terrors away for a little while longer. Janie had a deep passion for baking, tales of her golden sugar cookies and sweet strawberry cakes lulled me into a sweet slumber.

The day came when it was time for me to start walking after weeks spent being on bedrest, I held my hands tightly in hers, shaking like the room was ten degrees. Janie pulled me up from the bed's edge and brought me close to her chest. My chin just able to rest on the top of her head, I let out a shaky breath as she began to step back from me a little.

"This is great! You're doing so well Posy, most people can't make it this far on their first try," Janie's eyes shone with pride, her smile beaming with joy. I let out a nervous chuckle.

"I can't believe that I made it this far, my legs feel like they are about to give out from beneath me," Janie shook her head and stepped closer to me again, she smelled like peach tea and strawberries in the summer.

"I won't let you fall," she whispered, avoiding my eyes. My knees buckled and I started to crumple to the floor. Janie grabbed me from under my arms and held me up as high as she could. Once I was put back onto the bed, she started apologizing frantically, I had never seen her this upset before. I attempted to sit up and reach for her. I never wanted to make someone so caring and kind to worry so much, but everything went black. I hear a faint screech, but it sounded so far away that I thought nothing of it.

When my eyes fluttered open again, Janie was sitting next to me in the old, rickety chair. I started to sit up when she noticed that I was awake, she rushed over to my side and gently pushed me down.

"Why didn't you eat your breakfast? Or take your meds?" Janie wasn't on the mealtime crew, so she had no idea how easily this could be overlooked. I bit my lip and looked away. Anywhere was better to look at than seeing the hurt in her eyes. Eating anything reminded me of all the meal times we would spend together, with Mark making awful jokes, Hugh grabbing everyone a pastry, Sala and Hunter arguing over silly little nothings, Cierra stealing my juice every day, and Jackson grumbling over how we were taking too long. No words could come out of my mouth, the painful memories kept all of the words stuck in my throat, making it harder to breathe. I had started to hyperventilate when Janie grabbed my chin and brought her face close to mine. I looked right into those deep, golden-brown eyes and only saw pure determination. "You need to eat properly and take your medication if you want to recover from being shot." She stood up and walked over to the table on her right, picking up her clipboard and beginning to fill it in. A long sigh came from the bottom of my chest as I tried to blink tears back. I could not fathom why the tears had started flowing, but seeing Janie so hurt by something that I did struck my core in an unexpected way. She finished filling in her paperwork and turned to start leaving when my hand caught her sleeve.

"I'm..." my voice dropped off into incoherent mumbling. Janie gave me a half-smile and brushed my hand off.

"I'm going to go get you some food and those meds you were supposed to take. Do you know how off schedule you are?" I bit my lip again, I couldn't meet her eyes.

"A week." Anger flared up in her face, I wanted to fall to the floor to start praying and begging for forgiveness. She gave me a curt nod and turned on her heel. I looked to the ceiling and stared at it until my eyes burned. After that, Janie took it upon herself to be the one to give me all of my meals and medicine; the healing process sped up extremely quickly after that.

When the time came for me to be released, walking was almost as easy as it had been before. There was a slight shake in my left hand, but it wasn't so bothersome that I was given the option to avoid work. Janie handed me a black pantsuit with a kiss on the cheek.

"I better not see you back here with another life-threatening injury. Papercuts are the only acceptable wound on you," she whispered almost to herself. Janie turned away and ran off before anything else could be spoken. I stood there with my jaw almost to the floor. One of the other nurses came over and asked if I need help getting changed. My mouth snapped shut with an audible pop while shaking my head no. I walk over to the restrooms and change into the clothes Janie had brought me. A small note card was in the pants pocket. You are to attend the Reconciliation meeting. Two agents will escort you there. Be ready for pickup by 1315 hours and bring what was collected from the mission. Five minutes to the dot before the scheduled pickup time. I made my way to the front of the infirmary, dropping off the used dressing gown in the wastebasket before walking out the doors. Two men approached me and I nodded in their direction, beginning to follow them to the uppermost level of the compound.