The Doctor looked down at his clipboard, flipped to the last page and uncapped his felt tip pen once more. "Just a few more questions...then I'll leave you alone until we prepare the examination room for the remaining tests."

The Sniper gave a derisive snort and nodded once.

The Doctor started jotting down another note, and asked "Next of kin?"

The gravity of the situation finally spilled over into the Sniper's chest. His breath caught in his throat as his face crumpled in resignation. That he would prefer to leave this cell in a body bag than gamble with whatever the procedure had in mind was a frightening thought for a man who'd only lived 34 years, day to day, week to week, with no regard to any future beyond the next job. He thought there would be a calm in facing the spectre of death once he was given his first glimpse.

And yet he only felt the hollow, painful realization that an easy death may be the one blessing he could never have.

"….not any more."

The striking melancholy of those 3 words made the Doctor stop writing. He didn't look up.

The Sniper gave one last roll of the dice. "….but I have a friend."

The Doctor glanced up, and the look of pity turned to faint hope. "And….would they come looking for you if you fail to show up after a long time?"

He paused, holding the Doctor in his gaze. "...more than likely." His voice was less defeated than his eyes.

The white haired man exhaled lightly. "Is that a promise…? Or a threat?"

The other man's yellow eyes narrow slightly. "Maybe it’s a threat."

The Doctor looked back down to his clipboard, finished the note, and surreptitiously tipped the board up. "Sounds more like a promise. But for your sake…I hope its a good promise. Because a threat here isn't going to buy you any time."

Will he look? asked the backwards written note.

It's pointed, but he can't tell if the Doctor is hopeful...or mocking him.  He exhaled faintly, his eyes deflecting dejectedly  "Hope so."

His face remained stoic, but his eyes visibly wilted in mild disappointment and he scribbled out the last backwards note.

me too