[His arms go around her immediately, hugging her lightly to his chest, stroking the ends of her hair. Right away . . . he feels better. Things he didn't even know were wrong in the first place feel easier to bear now.

And he really is plenty healthy and whole, not flinching even a little at the contact.]

Yeah, I promise! They didn't do anything to me. The guys—the people in my group, they protected me, so I got out just fine.