Back at the hospital, Luke met him near the elevators. "She's had a quiet afternoon," he said. "They've run some tests, but nothing new they need to tell you urgently. Claire stopped by and asked whether you'd eaten. I told her I'd personally witnessed you leave for a meal."
"Did she believe you?"
"Not remotely."
Jack laughed, and Luke looked startled by the sound. They walked together toward bed twelve carrying the photograph and the music box. As Jack entered, Leah pointed out a small change in the data the team was following. Several results suggested Lily's circulation might be improving. It was early, and there were still important uncertainties, but the next assessment would help clarify whether her heart was beginning to take on more work.
Jack approached Lily and placed the photograph where staff said it would be safe. "I went home today," he whispered. "Your rocket's waiting. I didn't touch the purple windows because that's your job. And Rose kept the plants alive, which is more than either of us usually manages."
He sat down, brushed a strand of hair from Lily's forehead, and began reading about Mars. She did not respond, but the silence no longer felt quite as empty. Jack had seen the rocket, eaten at his own kitchen table, and returned. The world outside still existed, and one day he wanted to carry his daughter back into it.
Two days later, Lily underwent another assessment under the careful supervision of the cardiac team. Jack waited outside with Luke and Rose, each of them occupying a different corner of the small family room. Luke tapped his knee. Rose held a paper cup of coffee that had gone cold. Jack kept the letter from Lily in his pocket and touched it whenever the silence grew too large.
The assessment went better than the previous one. Dr. Shaw emerged to explain that Lily's heart had tolerated a carefully monitored reduction in support for part of the evaluation and that the latest images showed signs of improved pumping function. There were still serious risks, and the team would not attempt to remove the support until they were confident the improvement could be maintained. But the findings were genuinely encouraging, and Shaw did not try to hide that fact behind excessive caution.
Jack stared at him. "You mean it's healing?"
"We have evidence that it may be recovering," the surgeon replied. "That's what we've been hoping to see."
Luke let out a breath that sounded almost like a laugh. Rose covered her mouth with both hands. Jack remained still for several seconds, afraid that moving too quickly would somehow disturb the fragile news. Then he asked the question he had learned to ask before allowing hope to run ahead.
"What's the next thing she has to get through?"