"You know anyone magic enough to help with the surgery and keeping the pain at bay and me conscious?" It's one of the only ways he feels like he can do it, after the abduction. "I don't trust doctors right now, not alone," he says roughly. "Not after everything, and I'm gonna have to be knocked out."

He speaks with an edge of frustration and it drives him onwards, bearing in to kiss Alex hard, instead of thinking about what he can't do.