Chase felt like the load on his back was progressively getting lighter with every step he took. He closed the door behind them and discussed treatment options with her, got her to swear that she wouldn't take any aspirin, and booked her for exploratory surgery just in case the ulcers had reached the point where they couldn't be helped with meds.

When she left, she left with a smile on her face, prescriptions and appointments in hand. She left with the possibility that her life was going to be her own. Chase felt good about it at the same time as he felt the crushing fear that none of this was actually real. "If this is a dream," he murmured, aware the Doctor was nearby, close enough to hear, "I don't want to think about it being real. I'd rather delude myself into thinking this was it, that this was reality."