"Well, I do love being a medical mystery."

(He refrains from making commentary about being able to join a travelling show. He has standards.)

"I'll call the doctor. We're planning to keep you for a few more days after you wake up for observation."

fuckfuckfuckFUCK. He cannot let that show on his face.

"If I'm healthy, there's not much need to keep me here, is there? I have a doctor in London who could observe me."

"Well, you might get sick on the train," she says reasonably.

Why does the medical system have to be so reasonable right now. "I could call ahead, let them know to wait for me? It's not that dangerous to fall asleep on the train."

"We wouldn't recommend that."

Ideally he wouldn't escape this hospital. Ideally he is going to leave in the normal bureaucratic manner. But he takes comfort in the fact that he could just-- leave. Even if it requires out running several nurses.

"Could I call my doctor, if that's possible?"

(His "doctor" is Terrence-- who has a PhD, which is close enough, and is the friend most likely to help him get out of a hospital unless it was an incredibly awful idea.)

"Yes."

A few minutes later, Terrence is on the phone.

"Ter-- Dr Markham, I need your help. I'm stuck in a hospital."

"Oh! Uh - good to hear your voice again, Mr. Jing. Um. What do you need?"

"To not be in this hospital? --I could just leave of course, but I'd rather not be chased down by a bunch of angry doctors going 'If you die, it's not our fault!'"

"...I don't think they're going to follow you."

Terrence gets his compassionate self in order. "Do you want me to come out there?"

"I'm pretty sure I can take a train. Just-- maybe check the incoming train for unconscious people who have made bad risk assessments."

Terrence huffs a laugh, fondly. "I will meet you at the train station in town. Try to get on the last car so that I know where to haul you out of, should you need hauling."

"I solemnly swear to be on the last car-- Doctor."

After Jing Yi has gotten home and been thoroughly thanked by Evie, who missed him ✨ so much ✨, everyone else gets together in his and Terrence's flat to catch him up on what even happened.

"So, I'm hoping the fact we are all in London implies that the Roby things have been handled?"

Yes, it was so easy. Fun, even.

Sal laughs very bitterly.

"Roby escaped with the nurse!"

"Roby and one of the nurses killed another nurse, faked Roby's death, and pinned the murder on Valentine. Things are not even slightly handled." She is, quite audibly, pissed about it.

"Why are we in London then? Shouldn't we be... actually no, we shouldn't be chasing down Roby, that is probably a terrible idea and I'm blaming me saying that on the mysterious coma."

What is it with Jing Yi and never reading the room?

Strictly speaking it's better he isn't in a coma-- good for him. But he is objectively agonizing to talk to. Oscar's gritting his teeth a little.

"It is! It is a terrible idea! It's also what we're planning on doing."

"We have a party invitation that includes his current location and when the whole gang is planning their next ritual."