Ten minutes late, Saphron came back into the room, carrying a small green bottle and a spoon.

Addressing Reno, she said, "Take off your shirt."

"Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself?"

She scowled. "I want you to take it off so I can see how bad your bruises are, you perv."

"Oh." He reached up to remove his shirt, but winced. "I can't do it. It hurts too much."

"Here, let me do it." Saphron put down the spoon and the bottle on the coffee table, and perched on the edge of the couch.

She started to undo his top button, but glanced up. "Okay so far?"

"Yeah."

She continued slowly, carefully, to undo the buttons, being sure not to hurt Reno. Once she was done, she pulled the two halves of his white shirt apart, and sucked in her breath in surprise.

The Turk's chest was a map of cuts and bruises, some fresh and some older. Pale scars, small and large, marred his torso, standing out against his porcelain skin like a diamond in a box of Cracker Jacks.

Unconsciously, Saphron brushed her slender fingertips across a large indigo bruise near Reno's navel. He blanched, and she pulled her hand away.

"How did you get all these?" She asked.

"After I got beaten up, I was pushed off a roof and fell ten stories."

"You're kidding."

Reno smiled wryly. "Let me give you some advice. Smashing your spine into cement at twenty miles an hour hurts."

"I'll have to remember that." Saphron reached down to the coffee table and picked up the bottle. "I have to give you two spoonfuls of this."

Reno's face paled. "What is that?"

"Medicine."

"I really don't need that. Reeeealy don't."

"Yes, you do." She picked up the spoon, and poured a little of the green liquid into the utensil.

"Oh, come on, I don't need any medicine! And that stuff tastes like crap!"

"You'll take it anyway."

"Nuh uh. No I won't. Not on your-"

Saphron spun around and stuffed the spoon into Reno's open mouth. He swallowed involuntarily, and then started to cough.

"Blech! Yeuch! That stuff tastes horrible! Oh my god, that is disgusting!"

"Don't be such a baby." Saphron muttered, putting the stopper back in the emerald green bottle and standing up. She walked back into the kitchen.

It was six thirty on Friday night.