After Patch is recovered alive, Saint moves into the hospital around him. She sleeps in a chair, eats in the canteen with staff, and refuses to leave except when doctors make her. Saint keeps pressing her head to Patch's chest because she trusts the physical proof of his breathing more than the machines beside him.

Norma repeatedly urges Saint to go home, return to school, or resume church, but Saint refuses every appeal. Saint clings to a single resolve: now that Patch is back, she will not look away and risk losing him again. For six days and nights, while Patch lies cold and unconscious on mechanical air, Saint maintains her vigil.

Norma brings changes of clothes, but Saint rejects the dresses and insists on wearing her dungarees. Saint wants to look exactly as she did the last time Patch truly saw her, showing how fiercely she is holding on to their bond and to the moment before everything changed.

On the second night, a code is called and an alarm sounds, sending doctors and nurses rushing into Patch's room and shutting Saint out. Terrified that Patch might die after surviving the fire, Saint protests desperately. Norma physically pulls Saint into the prayer room while Saint breaks down.

Norma tells Saint that having Patch back should strengthen her faith. Instead, Saint answers with anger and bitterness, saying that God started the fire and now wants credit for ending it. The chapter closes with Saint's fear for Patch turning into open spiritual rage.