Reinette was pushed back as if struck by a physical blow, her back caught against one ornately carved bedpost. All of her air was pushed out out by the force of it, but as she struggled for more it was fresh, and she managed to find strength from that.

And a certain amount of anger.

"It will kill you if I do not," she argued, starting to crawl back towards his prone form, before changing her mind. She turned instead and from behind her she yanked free one of the finely made sheets from her bed. She could hear the Doctor spasming with the pain again, bone striking floor.

Crawling back towards him Reinette braced herself before pulling his exhausted form up against her chest once more. Then taking the sheet she wrapped it tightly around both their chests, lashing it closed with several tight knots. Her time with her embroidery found new purpose. "I am not leaving you Doctor," she said plainly, fighting for level voice. "You might as well become accustomed to my presence."

She might have been making several points then.

He was near limp from exerted effort, and it made Reinette ache how his limbs might have belonged to a child's doll. She lifted his hands up to her temples once more.

We try this again.