I feel well enough to sit up, but this is still nothing short of miserable.

"Thanks for taking care of me, Regina. It seems like everywhere I turn, I'm knocking into something."

"Just doing my job."

(Then I'm glad she's here.)

Regina and I fall into a somewhat awkward silence, but I'm not really sure what to talk about.

(I don't know anything about her except for the doctor part. Sh's pretty and looks older than me. And she and Killian seem to get along, I guess. She's been so calm and collected this entire time. It's like she immediately knows how to deal with every emergency. It's really impressive. Maybe she can give me some tips.)

"You seem to be handling being stranded pretty well. Are you sure it's your first time?"

Regina looks at me with her usual serious face and my heart sinks. I was really hoping that would be the conversation starter I needed, but it looks like my little attempt at humor fell flat.

"The alternative is to panic, and that wouldn't help anyone. It may be my first time on a deserted island, but I know that much."

I laugh, and when I do, a small grin plays on Regina's lips. She wasn't ignoring my joke, she was joking along with me in her own Regina way.

(Which happens to be very charming. I'm starting to really like her dry sense of humor.)

"If I seem calm, it's because my that how my medical training taught me to respond."

"I don't think I could ever make it through med school. I could barely dissect a frog in high school. But I sure wish I could burrow some of your composure. Think they offer a crash course in that?"

"Not that I know of. How are you holding up? Besides, the various injuries, of course."

I blush a little at her teasing. But if she feels comfortable enough to tease me, that means she's opening up a little, right?

"I guess I still can't really believe we're stuck here. It all feels surreal, like I'm watching it happen to someone else. And then when I do stop and remind myself that this is really happening, I start to panic. I'm glad the guys are going to get food, but that's basically all we've got going for us. We still don't know how long we'll be here, or if we'll be able to survive for however long it takes someone to find us."

(Wow, I didn't realize how much this was worrying me until I started talking. Then I just word vomited it all out.)

I'm about to apologize for venting, but Regina speaks first.

"Well, this is the one time I'd encourage you to be optimistic."

"We've got no supplies, shelter, or fresh water. Do you have something for me to be optimistic about?"

"Not really. But pessimism dehydrates you faster."

I laugh again.

"Is that your professional opinion?"

"I'd even say it's doctor's orders."

"In that case, I appreciate your medical insight."

I can't help but smile at her, and I'm pleased to see that she gives me a little smile back.

"Let me see your wound. This island is probably teeming with infectious agents."

"Nature was a lot more appealing before I started finding out all the ways it could kill me."

"Never go to medical school, then. You'll find out that everything can kill you."

If I hadn't been looking Regina right in the eye, I would have missed the twinkle of amusement there, a subtle tug on the edge of her mouth.

(Wait, she's joking. That was a joke.)

A giggle escapes me, a little louder than I meant it to be. After everything that's happened today, I really needed to laigh at something.

"That's inspiring."

"I thought so. Now stretch your leg out."

She hikes up my skirt again without hesitation and warmth rushes up the back of my neck. There's nothing unprefessional about Regina's touch, but it's not every day a beautiful woman gets a full view of my legs.

"Hmm."

"That doesn't sound like a good 'hmm'."

"There's a lot of irritation and some swelling. Without desinfectant and a proper bandage, that's inevitable."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"That depends. Can you stand up?"

"I can try."

A twinge of pain goes through my leg as I carefully get to my feet, but the wave of dizziness that knocked me down earlier seems to be giving me a break.

"Good. Then we're going back to the beach. Saltwater might be useless to drink, but it's not terrible for disinfecting wounds."