Ratchet lurches forward, catching her as she twists and supporting her head and side as she heaves over the edge of the gurney in long, wracking spasms. He helps settle her when she finishes, cool, absent fingertips pushing her damp hair from her face as he looks helplessly down at them both, keeping Verity partway upright with a hand curled around her shoulders and head to prop her up.

"You don't think I'd call some pushover for backup against you, do you?" he says, his mouth barely twitching into a smile as his thumb brushes very gently against her uninjured temple. "June knows what she's doing. You're going to be fine."