This time when Daisy turns at the end of her lap, she pauses, and sighs. Raking her hand back through her hair, leaving it all in disarray, she once again bites down all her growing cynicism about their odds and walks back over to Max. She wraps an arm around his back and bumps her head against his arm.

"I know." Another sideways headbutt. "And you're more than the emotional support puppy. There's just nothing we can do until we know what's going on. It's driving me batty too."