Jean-Claude lays back onto the bed, conserving his energy as much as he can so that those who need it more right now can have it. Still, his fingers brush across Asher's back, idly tracing along the muscles as he thinks. If he concentrates, he can also feel the itching in the back of his mind that represents a knot of mindless fear. Knowing that Nathaniel felt it as well clears up a great deal.

Ah, he answers. I think I begin to understand what has happened to us all. Not how or why, mind you, but what.