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Major wasn't scheduled to report to work until later, so he hung around the morgue with Ravi. So much had happened in the last few days, they needed a good chance to catch up, to really delve into each other's souls and see what was there.

But he couldn't get his mind off Natalie, and the vision he'd had of her. She had been so scared, but still so brave and smart, convincing Janko to call that number. The number! He had given it to Clive to look up, but he still had it in his phone. Maybe—

"Major?"

He realized that he hadn't answered Ravi's last question. "Sorry. I was thinking about Natalie. Do you think I should text that number? I don't know. I'm worried that it could put Natalie in danger." He wanted to try to reach her; how he wanted to. But he was so afraid to mess things up for her in case they weren't already, or make them worse if they were already bad.

"I think you should wait to see if Clive has any luck tracing it," Ravi told him.

"I need to find her before things go south for me." Even as he thought of what could happen, he took a deep breath. Yes, lungs still clear. It was becoming a habit, and he didn't like it. A constant reminder of his mortality, of the ticking clock. "Or take the cure and lose my memory," he added softly.

"Well, maybe you won't lose your memory."

Major turned his head to look at Ravi. "You think Blaine's faking the memory loss?"

"Actually, I was thinking of getting my memory cure dialed in—if you can hold on long enough—but I wouldn't put anything past Blaine."

There was a bitterness in his roommate's tone that was unusual, even given the subject matter. They all hated Blaine, but this was different. Darker.

At Major's inquiring look, Ravi muttered, "Sorry. Any mention of Blaine hurtles me into the abyss."

Major didn't ask, but he wanted to. Clearly Ravi could hear the question, even unspoken as it was.

"Peyton left me a message saying she wants to talk."

Ah. Blaine and Peyton. Who always had been drawn to the bad boys, and now had been saved by just such a one, charming and fascinating and seeming so completely fixable. And now she was going to throw Ravi over for a guy like that? Ravi who was tall and good-looking and sweet and just the best guy ever? Major sat up, completely disgusted with Peyton and girls everywhere. "She wants to talk?" he said indignantly. "What does that even mean?"

"Well, I'm fairly certain it means she wants to … talk."

Major was dumbstruck. How could she leave Ravi hanging like that? He moved down to sit on the arm of the couch closer to his roommate. "Okay, is she the single most selfish person on the planet? She literally made you Eskimo brothers with Satan. She doesn't deserve face time with you!"

"She doesn't?"

"She slept with Blaine, which, first of all, ew. Second of all, I can't even."

"Oh." Ravi nodded with sudden comprehension. He got it. Major was so pleased they were on the same page. Sitting back in his chair, Ravi asked, carefully, "Do you think, perhaps, you might be reacting a bit more dramatically than usual due to your recent meal?"

How could he think that? Here was Major trying to feel what Ravi felt, and all Ravi could think of was brains? "It's actually called being supportive," Major told him. "You should maybe try it sometime." Then he heard himself. Poor Ravi, reeling from what Peyton had done to him, and now Major was going to snark at him? "Oh, my god, was that just so super bitchy? I am so sorry."

Ravi was staring at him open-mouthed, clearly stunned by the depth of Major's feelings. "Oh, good god."

"It just really hurts me when someone hurts you, you know? You're like my best friend ever. For real. Wait—we're totally best friends, right?"

There was a pause while about six different expressions fought it out on Ravi's face, but finally he managed a smile. "Yes."

Major gave a sigh of relief. "Great. That's all I needed to know. Hey, you mind if I use your laptop? I really have to catch up on my Instagram. And, hey, maybe we can run out later? I could use … a Coke. And maybe some candy. Like those gummy fruit rings? God, those sound so good right now."

"Yeah. Sure. Why don't I go out now? I'm about due for my break. If anyone comes in, just … don't talk to them." Ravi hurried out of the office, leaving Major to look after him with affection. What a great guy.

He got some tunes going, lightening up the morgue, and sat there eating candy and singing along, feeling the lyrics in his soul. These songs could have been written just for him, and for his friends. He couldn't believe how he had never noticed it before!

Liv and Clive came back, and Liv winced at the noise. "Oof! How about turning it down a couple hundred decibels, sparky? I don't think Miley Perry Gomez wants her fans going deaf."

Miley Perry Gomez? Who said things like that? "Oh, my god, you are so embarrassing!" Major snapped at her. "Stop trying to be funny."

"Lower the music, young man."

"It's not even that—"

"Major."

"I'm just tryi-"

"Don't make me ask you again!"

There was no winning with her. God. He reached for the dial. "Whatever. I'm turning it down."

Ravi and Clive looked at each other. "So, this is happening," Ravi said. He sounded pained. Yeah, Liv could do that to a person.

"It took me twenty minutes to get out of the parking lot because Liv insisted on checking my oil."

"In here it's been all selfies and sour gummies and Demi Lovato."

Major drank his soda and didn't bother to defend his music. What did Ravi know? He was British.

"How'd you make out at the bank?" Ravi asked Clive.

"We came up empty."

"And this guy right here?" Liv clapped Clive loudly on the back. "You cannot believe how good he is at interviewing people."

"We talked to all of Stan's coworkers. Everybody loved him."

"What did they say he was again?" Liv asked.

"Enthusiastic and supportive."

"The memory on this guy!"

Ravi and Clive exchanged looks again. "See, I know what's happening right now, with the brain, but it still freaks me out," Clive said.

"Oh, if anyone can get used to it, it's you," Liv told him.

Clive ignored her. "I guess I'll start looking into his friends at Knights of Columbus and his bowling league."

Major got up and grabbed his jacket.

"Where are you off to, kiddo?" Liv asked.

"I have mercenary training. God!" Could he not just go to work without being hassled?

"Don't text and drive!"

"Stop trying to control me!" He stormed off, his good mood gone. So much for all that sugar. Maybe he'd stop for some more gummies on the way to work.