"I'm still not great, wanted a chance to talk to you, in case."
"You should be resting," James said.
"If I rest any more I'll die."
"I thought they were helping you?"
"There are limits."
"So, what do you want to talk to me about?"
"About me, about you, about us, I suppose, then if I get better we can pretend I didn't."
"I'd rather it not be an 'if'."
"It might still be an if," Ava murmured.
"Still. So, what did you want to say? Or ask?"
"I just wanted to say you are worth more than you think, you're loved more than you think and I am glad I got to know you."
"I..." James ducked his head and swallowed. "There are far better people to have known, I'm not.. I..." He rubbed his forehead. "Just, do me a favour, don't bloody give up."
"I'm tired James, beyond sleep."
"I know." He wasn't sure he did, not the same way anyway, but the words slipped out. "But there's a lot of people who seem to care about you, enough to try really hard to make sure you were remembered."
"They shouldn't have made that effort for me."
"But they did," James said. "You have so many people that care about you, that what you around."
"And I'll try to stay around"
James inclined his head in a short nod, tiredness seeping through him again.
"You need sleep, and I need to let Callie go," Ava murmured
"Just don't give in, ok? I get the feeling that's what those fuckers are waiting for anyway," he muttered.
Callie slumped as Ava released her hand.
"You alright?"
"I know I let her, but I hate when they do that." Callie muttered
"It's happened before?"
"Few times, not just Ava."
"Is it just you, or can they.. with others?"
"My type of angel, yes," Callie replied. "With permission."
"Your type?"
"Very flexible mind," Callie replied
"What does that mean?"
"Mine, I have to be malleable to make other people be the same."
"Can that be dangerous?"
"If you let the wrong one in," Callie replied
James glanced past her at Ava. "I should go."
"I'll let you say goodbye," Callie rose unsteadily and wobbled off
"I assumed she wasn't awake..." James muttered.
Ava was sleeping, curled up on herself now she was healed enough.
James stiffly rose from the seat, looking at her sleeping form. "I have to go now. Hopefully, I'll see you soon," he muttered and moved towards the door.
"You don't have a romantic bone in your body do you?" Callie asked
James opened his mouth to say something but stopped, frowned and then spoke. "Like I said to her, there are far better people to know." He slid past her and headed for the front door.