Joel hadn't realized just how badly he'd needed to hear that until the words are actually being said and he feels tears pricking his eyes. He blinks a few times, glad Spencer can't see him like this and he knows it doesn't matter, Spencer is never going to judge him for anything, least of all his tears, but he doesn't want to worry him, not right now. They're both exhausted physically and mentally and what they need right now is rest. Spencer doesn't need to spend the night reassuring him and truthfully, Joel doesn't think he needs to be reassured. There's no doubt in his mind that Spencer will be here for him every step of the way, including tonight, when he knows closing his eyes is likely to bring nightmares or flashbacks, memories of all the awful things that had happened today. He isn't thinking about it now, but he knows he will. And he knows it will be awful.
And he knows Spencer will be here for him, he knows he isn't going to leave, but at the same time actually hearing him say it out loud comes as a welcome comfort and Joel lets the warmth of the words fold around him, he lets them reassure and relax him. When he wakes up tomorrow, Spencer will be with him and he'll have an easier time tonight knowing that. They won't both be able to sleep in this bed, not with the injuries they've both sustained, but he's hoping he can convince one of the nurses to bring a cot and maybe he'll even be able to get them to lower his rail and push the cot up against the hospital bed. It's not the same as being at home with Raleigh in her room and Huxley repeatedly jumping on Joel's feet whenever he moves in the night, but it's significantly better than the alternative, which is having to sleep in here alone.
He's about to say as much when the door opens and Nora comes in with a sling in her hand, looking at Spencer disapprovingly. It's such an absurd expression given everything else that's happened to them tonight that Joel can't help but laugh a little, shifting around in the bed because he knows Spencer is about to be forced to get up so she can put the sling on for him and Joel feels a little guilty that they've been lying like this, Spencer's shoulder probably aching. It's rare that he lets himself take so much comfort from his husband without worrying about the state of his well being and he looks over at him, offering a small smile and a shrug.
"Do what she wants, maybe we'll have an easier time convincing her to let you stay," he murmurs.
"I know you're not planning on going anywhere tonight and I also know you promised the doctor you would take the sling when you leave, which is a pretty sneaky way of getting out of having to put it on," Nora says, brandishing the sling at Spencer like it's a weapon. "Sit up right now, we're getting this on and then we talk about possible sleeping arrangements."
It seems that she knows it's already a lost cause, that there's no way she can win against the two of them, but Joel thinks Spencer putting his sling on is a fair trade. Especially since, had he known he was supposed to be wearing one, Joel woul have insisted himself that he go get it a long time ago.
"And you shouldn't be lying like that," she tells Joel, shooting him a glance. "You have a broken rib, you're just going to make matters worse by twisting your torso like that. Lie straight or I'll have Bruce come in here and make sure everything is still aligned."
Joel manages another little smile, but he shifts himself on the bed again, moving his hips until he's lying in a straight line. "Better?" he asks and she shoots him another glare as she moves to help Spencer into the sling.
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And he knows Spencer will be here for him, he knows he isn't going to leave, but at the same time actually hearing him say it out loud comes as a welcome comfort and Joel lets the warmth of the words fold around him, he lets them reassure and relax him. When he wakes up tomorrow, Spencer will be with him and he'll have an easier time tonight knowing that. They won't both be able to sleep in this bed, not with the injuries they've both sustained, but he's hoping he can convince one of the nurses to bring a cot and maybe he'll even be able to get them to lower his rail and push the cot up against the hospital bed. It's not the same as being at home with Raleigh in her room and Huxley repeatedly jumping on Joel's feet whenever he moves in the night, but it's significantly better than the alternative, which is having to sleep in here alone.
He's about to say as much when the door opens and Nora comes in with a sling in her hand, looking at Spencer disapprovingly. It's such an absurd expression given everything else that's happened to them tonight that Joel can't help but laugh a little, shifting around in the bed because he knows Spencer is about to be forced to get up so she can put the sling on for him and Joel feels a little guilty that they've been lying like this, Spencer's shoulder probably aching. It's rare that he lets himself take so much comfort from his husband without worrying about the state of his well being and he looks over at him, offering a small smile and a shrug.
"Do what she wants, maybe we'll have an easier time convincing her to let you stay," he murmurs.
"I know you're not planning on going anywhere tonight and I also know you promised the doctor you would take the sling when you leave, which is a pretty sneaky way of getting out of having to put it on," Nora says, brandishing the sling at Spencer like it's a weapon. "Sit up right now, we're getting this on and then we talk about possible sleeping arrangements."
It seems that she knows it's already a lost cause, that there's no way she can win against the two of them, but Joel thinks Spencer putting his sling on is a fair trade. Especially since, had he known he was supposed to be wearing one, Joel woul have insisted himself that he go get it a long time ago.
"And you shouldn't be lying like that," she tells Joel, shooting him a glance. "You have a broken rib, you're just going to make matters worse by twisting your torso like that. Lie straight or I'll have Bruce come in here and make sure everything is still aligned."
Joel manages another little smile, but he shifts himself on the bed again, moving his hips until he's lying in a straight line. "Better?" he asks and she shoots him another glare as she moves to help Spencer into the sling.