Spencer shoots a look to Joel the second Nora holds out the sling, as if he expects his husband to defend him in some way that involves not having to wear the sling at all, but squints when all Joel offers is certain betrayal. He slowly pushes himself from the bed, huffing out a humorless laugh in lieu of a painful groan as he lets his legs dangle over the edge. He has to pause for a moment, eyes squeezing shut when the pain in his shoulder flares with a flash of heat he should have expected from all the movement, but he hadn't been prepared. He bites down on his lip hard, glad for the fact that Joel can't see his face right now; but Nora can see him, and Spencer offers her a small, grateful smile when he opens his eyes again to see the sympathetic expression on her face. She doesn't say anything, doesn't give him up, and for that, Spencer reaches out for the sling without protest.
Nora bats his hand away, coming closer to help slip it on for him, and she observes the way Joel's straightened himself out with an arched eyebrow and a hum of vague approval. "Better than how you were, anyway. Honestly, between the two of you, I don't know how we've had time for any of our other patients." She turns her attention back to Spencer, furrowing her brow as she finishes settling the sling into place as puts her hands on her hips. "What is this for the both of you, visit three? Four?"
Spencer shrugs his good shoulder, glancing back at Joel with a soft smile. It's true that they've been through more together in the past six months than he's been through alone in two and a half years, but Spencer wouldn't change any of it. He wishes he could go back far enough to find Joel in Shediac, to keep him from summoning that demon and having to carry it with him for so long, but aside from the fact that it simply isn't possible, Spencer knows that even if he could, it would change so much about where they are now. A small part of him wonders what might have happened if Amy hadn't died, if Joel might be happily married and expecting a child with her instead; and it's not that he's jealous of what could never be, he doesn't know how he could possibly be jealous of a girl who'd so tragically lost her life, but there are so many paths that either of them could have taken that might have led anywhere but here.
He wants to be able to take all of Joel's pain away, would rather carry it all himself, even if Joel wouldn't allow it. His husband already knows that, knows that Spencer would do absolutely anything for him, no matter how big or small, but it's in times like these that he thinks life could be so much easier if he, too, were a witch. He could have already brewed up a healing potion, might have been able to heal them both with a touch, might have been able to get rid of that demon much more quickly but in reality, it's all he can do not to wince from the bruising of his back and the pain in his shoulder every time he makes too sudden a movement. Joel loves him for who he is, has never asked Spencer to change, and that's one of the many reasons Spencer loves him so much. He's never felt like he has to put on an act or be anyone else for his husband, Joel always puts him perfectly at ease when it comes to being himself. It's just that sometimes, like when he's watching Joel in pain, Spencer thinks that being himself just isn't enough.
He's sure that Joel would reprimand him for thinking that way but he can't help it. He's a husband, he's going to be a father, it's his job to protect his family. He has to think that way because he'd lost one once already. It's good, in a way, because it drives him to be a better man for Joel every day, makes him want to be stronger so that he doesn't have to see his husband in a hospital bed again. As long as he's doing that, as long as he knows he's still trying, Spencer thinks he'll be okay. They'll be okay.
"I'll do my best to keep him out of trouble after he gets released," Spencer says, letting his smile grow wider at Joel before he turns back to Nora. "He'll be on lockdown. No bungee jumping, no skydiving, none of that. He's much stronger than me, though, so I don't know how effective I'll be."
Nora rolls her eyes, though she looks moderately amused. "Promises, promises, I'll believe it when I don't see either of you for anything more than a checkup in the next couple years." Her expression softens into something fonder, and Spencer hasn't known her very long but she's been here for nearly every time he's been admitted to the hospital and there's something about her that puts him slightly more at ease in this place he hates so much. She's kind and patient, but she cares. It shows in the way she lightly pats Joel's knee and the way she gently squeezes Spencer's arm. If Joel's going to be in the hospital for a few days, Spencer thinks, they're lucky to have her.
"You mentioned something about sleeping arrangements, I believe," Spencer says, chuckling at the mock irritation he can see written all over Nora's face. "Usually, I prefer a king-sized bed and sheets with a very high thread count, but I suppose that I can make an exception for whatever you can get me. Uncomfortable cafeteria chair included, I'd make it work. I don't care what I sleep on, I'm just not going to leave Joel."
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Nora bats his hand away, coming closer to help slip it on for him, and she observes the way Joel's straightened himself out with an arched eyebrow and a hum of vague approval. "Better than how you were, anyway. Honestly, between the two of you, I don't know how we've had time for any of our other patients." She turns her attention back to Spencer, furrowing her brow as she finishes settling the sling into place as puts her hands on her hips. "What is this for the both of you, visit three? Four?"
Spencer shrugs his good shoulder, glancing back at Joel with a soft smile. It's true that they've been through more together in the past six months than he's been through alone in two and a half years, but Spencer wouldn't change any of it. He wishes he could go back far enough to find Joel in Shediac, to keep him from summoning that demon and having to carry it with him for so long, but aside from the fact that it simply isn't possible, Spencer knows that even if he could, it would change so much about where they are now. A small part of him wonders what might have happened if Amy hadn't died, if Joel might be happily married and expecting a child with her instead; and it's not that he's jealous of what could never be, he doesn't know how he could possibly be jealous of a girl who'd so tragically lost her life, but there are so many paths that either of them could have taken that might have led anywhere but here.
He wants to be able to take all of Joel's pain away, would rather carry it all himself, even if Joel wouldn't allow it. His husband already knows that, knows that Spencer would do absolutely anything for him, no matter how big or small, but it's in times like these that he thinks life could be so much easier if he, too, were a witch. He could have already brewed up a healing potion, might have been able to heal them both with a touch, might have been able to get rid of that demon much more quickly but in reality, it's all he can do not to wince from the bruising of his back and the pain in his shoulder every time he makes too sudden a movement. Joel loves him for who he is, has never asked Spencer to change, and that's one of the many reasons Spencer loves him so much. He's never felt like he has to put on an act or be anyone else for his husband, Joel always puts him perfectly at ease when it comes to being himself. It's just that sometimes, like when he's watching Joel in pain, Spencer thinks that being himself just isn't enough.
He's sure that Joel would reprimand him for thinking that way but he can't help it. He's a husband, he's going to be a father, it's his job to protect his family. He has to think that way because he'd lost one once already. It's good, in a way, because it drives him to be a better man for Joel every day, makes him want to be stronger so that he doesn't have to see his husband in a hospital bed again. As long as he's doing that, as long as he knows he's still trying, Spencer thinks he'll be okay. They'll be okay.
"I'll do my best to keep him out of trouble after he gets released," Spencer says, letting his smile grow wider at Joel before he turns back to Nora. "He'll be on lockdown. No bungee jumping, no skydiving, none of that. He's much stronger than me, though, so I don't know how effective I'll be."
Nora rolls her eyes, though she looks moderately amused. "Promises, promises, I'll believe it when I don't see either of you for anything more than a checkup in the next couple years." Her expression softens into something fonder, and Spencer hasn't known her very long but she's been here for nearly every time he's been admitted to the hospital and there's something about her that puts him slightly more at ease in this place he hates so much. She's kind and patient, but she cares. It shows in the way she lightly pats Joel's knee and the way she gently squeezes Spencer's arm. If Joel's going to be in the hospital for a few days, Spencer thinks, they're lucky to have her.
"You mentioned something about sleeping arrangements, I believe," Spencer says, chuckling at the mock irritation he can see written all over Nora's face. "Usually, I prefer a king-sized bed and sheets with a very high thread count, but I suppose that I can make an exception for whatever you can get me. Uncomfortable cafeteria chair included, I'd make it work. I don't care what I sleep on, I'm just not going to leave Joel."