"What's the old saying, doctors and cops are never off duty?" Michael laughed, rubbing at the bridge of his nose before settling back in his chair. "It's my own fault for giving them my cell number, but it's a small town, small clinic, and usually it's just a parent looking for reassurances that everything's all right. I don't mind it all that much." He eyed his phone then continued, "most of the time."

He looked away, then over at Eli. "How are you feeling? No lingering issues from the shoulder wound?" He paused, grinned. "This is your friend talking, not the doctor."