More insights.

June felt something brush through her hair. She stirred and opened her eyes to see Meredith staring beatifically at her. June's head sat in her lap and Meredith was stroking her hair. The events of the previous evening came back in a instant.

"How long was I out?" she asked sharply, sitting up. They were sitting on the bed in the same room.

Meredith shrugged. "About five hours," she said nonchalantly.

"And you didn't sleep at all?" June asked incredulously. Meredith didn't look even slightly tired.

"Of course I did!" Meredith said with a grin. "I just have a good sense of how time is passing when I'm asleep. I guess it's sort of halfway between meditation and sleep. I feel amazingly rested, though."

"On five hours of meditation."

"Yeah!" Meredith replied. She actually seemed healthier now. She exuded energy and excitement and her skin was flushed. "I don't know, I guess not having any worries or anxiety has its perks."

June sighed wearily. "Well, it's real fuckin' annoying. I'm tired, Mere. Why did you wake me up?"

"You started waking up on your own," Meredith said. "I was stroking your hair the whole time."

"I thought you were asleep!"

Meredith shrugged. "...slash meditating. Anyway, now that we've had some rest we need to talk about getting out of here."

June rolled her eyes. "I thought you didn't care."

Meredith put her hands on June's knees. "Of course I care! You and I don't deserve to be in this awful dungeon. Nobody does."

"Well, whoever stuck us in here does." June put her hands over Meredith's.

"No," Meredith said. "Don't you see? Yes, they've done a bad thing to us, but to respond in kind-"

"Oh, shut the fuck up!" June said, shoving her friend. Meredith tumbled off the couch and hit her head with a loud thump.

June rushed to her side. "Oh, my God, Meredith! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you!"

"It's fine!" Meredith grinned. "No harm done. Seriously."

"But doesn't it hurt?"

Meredith stood up, dusted herself off, and sat next to June again. "Of course it does," Meredith said. "I'm fully aware of the pain, but I can just ignore it. You've heard about those monks that can stay awake for surgery because they're so grounded and in control of themselves? I'm like them, but even more."

"So you, like, can just choose not to get mad?" June asked incredulously. Meredith nodded.

"Great," June replied as she hit her with a sharp backhand. Meredith fell back again, this time catching her fall so she didn't hit her head. A trickle of blood crossed her frowning lips as she got back to her feet.

"So you can choose not to get mad at that?" June asked with a shit-eating grin.

Meredith wiped her nose and stood, fixing June with a neutral stare. "I understand why you did it. I didn't like it and I'd really prefer you didn't hit me again."

"Would you hit me back?" June asked again.

"Definitely not. I don't know if I'd even defend-"

June interrupted her with another slap. Meredith rubbed her cheek thoughtfully, tears in her eyes.

"I guess that answers that. Sorry, Mere. All done slapping you around for now. I just wanted to get a handle on what they did to you."

Meredith smiled amicably. "No hard feelings, I completely get it. I would have done the same thing in your shoes. It's valuable data."

"Plus it feels good to take out my anger on someone who can't fight back," June told her.

"I'll bet," Meredith said pleasantly. "Man, I'm glad I'll never have to feel impotent rage again."