35. Bother
"I'm such a problem child…" Tonks sighs, picking at a loose thread on the hospital sheet. "Three broken ribs, broken clavicle, a concussion, minor lacerations, and spell damage. Klutziest auror to ever battle her own balance and lose." A laugh escapes her mouth, but the halfhearted attempt at levity fails to chase the darkness from her eyes, and she winces. A darkness, Remus notes, that's been there since that night in the Department of Mysteries.
She blames herself for falling. For letting Bellatrix through. Letting her get to Sirius.
"And now, look…" She reaches one trembling hand to brush his fringe out of his eyes, even though it must be an effort to do so against the pain in her ribs. He's sure his eyes must look as tired and bloodshot as they feel. "I'm making you lose sleep. God, Remus, I'm so sorry. The last thing you need is to be here wasting time on me so close to the moon…"
He catches her hand and weaves their fingers together, smoothes her hair back from her face. He doesn't care how tired he is. She needs this more right now.
"'Dora, I'm not going anywhere."