Strand took advantage of Alex's conversation and fussing to check Brooklyn's knee, gently wrapping one hand around her leg to lightly probe the space behind and test the swelling with careful pressure.

"You did exactly the right thing, Brooklyn." he assured her once he was done, withdrawing his hand and offering her a small smile of his own. "That was incredibly smart. You're very brave and very clever--just like Harry Houdini."

Looking her in the eye, he reached out to gently try to smooth her tangled hair back from her forehead.

"And you've just made a daring escape from danger, like he used to do." he finished, then glanced at Alex. "Knee's a little swollen. Might have twisted it, but nothing's broken. I think the scrape and bruising is the worst of it."