His turn to be silent; watching her with slightly feverish but more concerned, searching eyes. A soft return of her grip. He was still lucid; not so compromised that he couldn't make any calls. And he knew…

Slowly, he moved their joined hands, to guide and rest hers on his ribs. His mattress-side hand came up near her face, poised to slide his arm under the arch of her neck. His body language said Come here… but what he said aloud, very softly, was, "May I?"