Ripley's POV

Carter blinked up blearily at Ripley. The lights in his hospital room were blindingly bright.

"Good morning," she said softly.

"Are you...?" His voice was raspy. He seemed too tired to finish his sentence, instead content to let it trail off and hang in the air.

"I'm fine. And you're gonna be okay, too," Ripley reassured.

Carter smiled and closed his eyes again.

"I've got to go," Ripley said softly.

She turned to leave, but Carter's ...