The work is a welcome distraction, a chance to catch their breath and let him focus on the task. Stephen unravels the bandages around her stump, sets the fabric aside, and then carefully examines the elbow-turned-stump; more meticulous than usual, more on edge about any signs of this going wrong again. He looks for any inflammation or thready red veins. Tests some of her sensitivity, a gentle touch against the skin to feel if it’s hot to the touch.

He delays a moment to let Ness examine her own wound (with a strict warning to not press too hard, remembering experiments with a particular cuff), letting her indulge whatever clinical curiosity she has, getting to map the progress of the healing.

Once they’re both satisfied, he starts to replace it with clean bandages, concluding, “It’s looking good. No signs of infection, and healing well.”