Phil stood watch over his nephew for what felt like an eternity, legs and back aching from the two hours locked in place.  There was no way of knowing how long Jason had been like this before Phil first noticed.  Every few minutes he took note of the boy’s breathing and pulse, then lifted his eyelids to check the pupils.  After hours of stasis, fear and concern grabbed Phil by the throat, throttling what hope remained.  He knew Jason might need medical attention—if not now, then certainly soon—but admitting him into a hospital made him a stationary target.  That was a risk Phil was not yet ready to take, and he knew Jason would agree if the roles were reversed.

Unwilling to leave for even a moment, Phil called for room service for himself and Jason.  It was a...

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