"Even if you're not here when he comes back, you won't be away for long," Roxie said. She brushed back a lock of her hair and grinned easily. "Most people tend not to stay away from me for too long." Another sentence she'd never used in a non-flirtatious capacity before. "Besides, if you're really as worried as I think you are about your supernatural issue, you'll find that there's lots of help here in the city for whatever your ailment is."

She nodded, then. "It's a nice thought, him needing me, but we both know that's not true. He's a strong, resilient man. I'm just...a friend."