The rennervate hit him like a bucket of cold water, and Noble was sputtering awake even as he heard his mother's Chicky. Noble squeezed her hand although whether it was to affirm her words or to verify that this was really happening, he couldn't say. He straightened in his chair and blinked, trying to clear the sleep from his eyes as rapidly as possible, feeling as if he'd been asleep for a very long time except that was impossible. There was a horrible smell hanging in the air and Grace was sobbing and Ford was right there and there was Verity behind Grace. There was just a lot happening, all of a sudden. "I'm fine, I'm fine," Noble said, and just because he had not quite caught up with what was going on didn't mean that he couldn't try to reassure them — he was too overwhelmed by everyone's proximity and tried to catch Ford's eyes, hoping he could convey I need everyone to back off with just a look.

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