"A hot bath doesn't do as much as the healers suggest it might." Dory commented without considering the potential negative impact of his criticism. He had simply grown so weary of the same ideas that all provided minimal relief from the ache that wouldn't leave him. Hot baths, rest, elevation, even mild pain tonics only took the smallest edge off, and after months of hearing the same thing he merely had little patience left for the empty words. Then, without considering again, he added offhandedly, "Opium - dangerous as it is - that helps a bit more."

He looked at her then - really looked for what felt like the first time in years. She seemed colder now, or perhaps just more tired, but she remained just as beautiful under soft light as she used to. He frowned then, that familiar ache of missing her suddenly roaring its ugly head as fiercely as the dragon had. That wasn't a road they could go down again, not with how disastrous the ending had been last time. Not when he'd already permanently lost Winnie too.

"I'm sorry." Dory then said, his frown deep and his expression sincere. "I didn't mean that as an insult to your healing skills."

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