When I regained consciousness, the first message that my nerve cells sent to my brain was: pain.

I hurt everywhere. Even breathing was painful. Especially breathing. It didn't take me long to remember what happened. Steel's blows had broken my clavicle and possibly a few ribs. But, dear God, Steel was dead. The security guard - who evidently hadn't been killed after all - shot at least six bullets at his torso.

So the voice that I was now hearing, which sounded like coming from a very great distance, could not be Steel's.

And yet, the voice that was calling my name with a distinct worried note sounded so much like his own. Now it also sounded clearer and nearer, so I was probably almost fully conscious. Well, only one way to find out who that voice belonged to; I forced my eyes open, and looked at the face that was hovering over me.

Relief flooded first my brain and then my heart, for that was, without any doubts, Steel's handsome face.

I croaked his name, disbelievingly, and I was rewarded by his beautiful half-smile. Behind him I could see Sapphire and the security guard. I was lying on a bunk in what probably was the guards' relax area.

But when I tried to raise my head, all my nerve endings sent a twinge of pain so intense, I moaned and had to close my eyes, fighting unconsciousness again.

What was Steel saying, now? I had problems hearing him, too focused on controlling the pain. I tried to concentrate on his voice.

"I'm so sorry, detective. Believe me, it wasn't me; it was the afterimage. He ambushed me in a deserted alley of the warehouse, and when I realized he was behind me, it was too late. When his body connected with mine, I immediately lost consciousness, and I didn't regain it until Sapphire found me and somehow revived me. You see, the killer took my appearance to be able to catch you and Sapphire off guard and get the better of you. But Mr. Withtaker, here, saved the day by shooting him and scaring the afterimage away."

I was so relieved, I couldn't believe my own ears. I asked him, in a weak voice: "Are you... all right? You're not... hurt?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm not hurt. Unlike you. You have several broken bones, and possibly a concussion, and I can see that breathing is painful."

I nodded, biting my lower lip. The security guard spoke for the first time: "We should take her to the hospital. Those broken ribs could pierce a lung."

I was frustrated; I knew that those bones would take weeks, if not months, to mend, and I couldn't afford to waste all that time.

As if reading my thoughts, Steel said: "I can help you heal faster. Do you remember when I helped you recover from your sickness after you met your younger self?"*

I did remember, so I nodded, looking at him questioningly.

He explained: "One of our elemental abilities allows us to heal faster. We usually cannot pass on that ability to human beings, but once again you prove to be a very unusual specimen. You seem receptive to my touch, so I think I could help you mend those bones in a matter of a couple of hours."

I was astonished, but my answer was steadfast: "Let's do it."

Steel briefly looked at his partner, meaningfully pointing his chin at the security guard, and Sapphire immediately escorted the man out. Soon the reason became clear.

Steel explained: "I need to directly touch your body to reach the broken bones, so now I will remove your clothes."

I panicked at his proposal, not out of prudery, but because I knew that taking my clothes off would be exceedingly painful. Any minor move sent pangs of pain to my collarbone. Fortunately somebody removed my bullet-proof vest while I was unconscious, sparing me a lot of pain to take it off, but I was still wearing a sweater and a polo shirt.

Once again he read in my eyes what I was thinking, and said: "Don't worry, I will do my best not to hurt you. Do you trust me?"

Unhesitatingly, I said: "You know I do."

"Good." I thought he would pull another one of his elemental tricks, but he just produced a very earthly pair of scissors and started cutting my clothes.

'There goes my favorite sweater', I thought, saying goodbye to that beloved garment.

Slowly, with infinite caution, he cut my clothes all the way down to the cuffs, and ever so gently removed them.

I started shivering, out of cold and shock, and possibly because I was laying in front of Steel with nothing but my bra covering my torso. That was the least romantic situation I could think of, though, so it probably really was just cold and shock affecting me.

But as soon as he put his hands on my body - one on my broken clavicle and one over my cracked ribs - I felt a pleasant warmth spread out to my whole torso.

It was initially very soothing, but it gradually became more painful. I could feel the fragments of the broken bones slowly move toward each other, creaking, and eventually touch. The pain was even worse than before. I yelled, begging Steel to stop.

But he didn't stop, and said, in an apologetic tone: "Sorry, detective, I can't stop now. I know it hurts, but soon you will feel better. Now the fragments are getting aligned, but as soon as they start healing you won't feel so much pain."

I trusted him once again and, gritting my teeth, I held on. I tried to concentrate on the feeling of his warm hands on my skin, wishing the circumstances were totally different.

After a while the pain gradually subsided, leaving my newly mended bones tingling. It actually took less than two hours, but it still felt like a very long time. When Steel removed his hands, we were both drenched in sweat and exhausted.

He covered me with a blanked and said, in a very tired voice: "Now get some sleep. We both need to rest. I will stay here with you until you wake up."

Thankfully, I closed my eyes and immediately went dead to the world.

*Author's note: Steel is referring to my story "Stunt's Logs – Part Two".