"Boss? Where did you go shopping this time? How did you end up bringing home a minor?"
The pink Anywhere Door had barely dissolved into motes of light when Selene's voice rang out through the lobby, edged with teasing and suspicion.
Dave still hadn't recovered from the dizziness of crossing through space. He took a sharp breath of Gotham City's distinctive air, laced with acid rain and rusty sewer fumes, and nearly coughed himself unconscious.
He rubbed his eyes and looked toward the speaker.
Behind the triage desk, Selene sat with her long legs crossed, deftly toying with a folding dagger. Its blade spun through the dim light, flashing dangerous silver.
Her eyes, sharp as a wildcat's, swept over him as though assessing which of his organs would fetch the highest price.
Beside Selene, Maggie held a thick copy of the Handbook of Clinical Diagnosis. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Yang Ming, and she quickly closed the book and came over.
"Doctor Yang, you're back." Maggie's voice was soft and gentle, like a clear spring, instantly soothing Dave's racing heart.
"Yeah, I'm back." Yang Ming casually took off his windbreaker, speckled with muddy water, hung it on the coat rack, and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Why is it just you two? No business at the clinic today?"
"What business? Gordon's cops patrol the streets every day. We haven't even seen a thug with a stab wound."
Selene curled her lips, and the dagger vanished into her sleeve with a swish.
"By the way, where's Sister Retsu? Why didn't she come back with you?"
"There are two lunatics from Asgard staying in New York. Sister Retsu needs to keep them in line. If I brought her here, I'm afraid they'd completely flatten my clinic, which just got turned