Laurel looked at him quietly for a moment after hearing the question, and although his tone sounded light, she could see the intention behind it. Chris rarely asked for things directly, and the way he leaned slightly forward as he spoke almost made it seem as though he had already anticipated her answer.
"You should stay in the fortress," Laurel replied after a short pause, her voice calm and steady. "Your condition hasn't completely stabilized yet, and if something happens outside the walls, I won't be able to treat you immediately."
Chris straightened slowly, the faint playful look on his face fading into something more thoughtful as he studied her expression. "You say that like I'm fragile," he said with a small smile that did not quite reach his eyes.
"You are," Laurel replied without hesitation, though the tone of her voice carried no mockery, only a quiet matter-of-fact certainty. "At least for now."
