Nick wasn't expecting anything, save for Tripod to glance at him with that single eye of his, refusing to budge from his vigil at the foot of the bed. Maybe that low level of expectation is one reason Nick is so surprised to hear the ruckus from the room. He cannot push that door open fast enough as he steps inside, his eyes landing on the floor and the woman who lies there. Like her, he opens his mouth to say something, but words just don't come; barely a whisper of a syllable gets through his throat before he's on his knees, trying to help her off the floor. He tries again, wanting to believe.

"Rey? Can you hear me?"

And the unspoken question: is it really you?