<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">Jethro jerked awake when he heard that blessedly familiar voice -- nearly jumped out of his chair when he felt her fingers squeeze his.  "Kate.  Thank God."  He leaned over her, brushed the hair back from her face.  "It's so good to hear your voice."<br/>
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It took him a moment to realize what she was saying -- that she couldn't hear him.  Panic gripped him even as he summoned the doctors, and kept up a reassuring monotone.  "We're going to get you help, Katie, I promise.  Just stay with me, okay?"<br/>
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The doctors tried to push him out of the way -- they'd tried before -- and he consented to move as far as the foot of her bed, resting one hand on her ankle through the blankets.  "I'm right here, Kate."  He enunciated carefully, not knowing if she could read lips or not, but needing to reassure them both.  "I'm not going anywhere."</span></span>