Joel can tell something is wrong in the way Spencer won't meet his gaze and he looks at him curiously, then glances down at his own chest, wondering if it had been the sight of the bruising that had done it. He knows how much he worries when Spencer is injured, how much he's worrying right now over Spencer's shoulder, over the fact that he's hit his head again -- and more than that, that Joel is the one responsible -- but he's always surprise when Spencer worries in turn. Not because he doesn't think Spencer is the type to worry about him and not because he's never had anyone worry about him, but it's been such a long time. His parents have lived in another part of the state for such a long time that he's simply not used to it. He doesn't expect it. And it's silly, he doesn't want Spencer to worry, he doesn't want him to feel bad about everything that's happened, but it warms him a little all the same. It means he isn't alone in this anymore, it reminds him that he's here with his husband, that he doesn't have to heal alone and when Spencer reaches for his hand, Joel squeezes it very gently, a soft smile on his lips.
"I understand," Nora says, her own voice a little more gentle than it had been even moments before. She begins to put the sheets on the cot, tucking the corners in carefully as he's sure she's been trained to do and for a long moment there's just silence in the room. Then she clears her throat and, without looking up from her task at hand, says, "It really does look worse than it is, Spencer. I want you to hear me. Your husband, despite insisting on squiggling around like he has ants in his pants, is going to be just fine and I don't want you to doubt that for a second. I don't want to come by to check on you both later and find you awake and watching him because you're worried something bad is going to happen. You both need your rest, but besides rest, everything will be fine."
She says it in such a firm tone that Joel almost can't help but believe her. He wants to protest about her accusation that he's squiggling around, but he realizes it's true and he promises himself he'll try to do his best to keep that to a minimum. She's gone out of her way for them both time and time again tonight and he doesn't want to make any of this more difficult on her than it has to be. He knows he isn't a good patient, but from now on he's going to try to be.
"There," she says as she puts the pillow down on the cot and then gives it a firm pat. Then, without waiting for any further instruction, she comes around to the other side and presses the button to lower Joel's bed until it's the same level as the cot. "Now I better not come in here later and find you two up to anything either. Because I will separate you."
But as she says it, she lowers the rail on that side of Joel's bed and pushes the cot up next to it, essentially creating a larger bed for the two of them. It's not their bed at home and Joel knows he won't be able to move much, he won't be able to wrap himself around Spencer like he usually does and he won't wake up with his legs tangle with Spencer's, but this is good. This is far more than he expected to be given and he nods, smiling thankfully.
"We really appreciate it," he says. And he thinks maybe he should promise that they'll be goo, but he has a feeling she might not quite believe them and will maybe to come back to check on them extra if he starts making claims she doesn't believe. They'll have to do something for her and maybe even for Bruce once they're discharged, he thinks. Something nice, even if it's just some flowers or the fruit basket he'd been talking about earlier.
"You better," she says, but she's smiling as she pats the cot for Spencer. "Be good, both of you."
no subject
"I understand," Nora says, her own voice a little more gentle than it had been even moments before. She begins to put the sheets on the cot, tucking the corners in carefully as he's sure she's been trained to do and for a long moment there's just silence in the room. Then she clears her throat and, without looking up from her task at hand, says, "It really does look worse than it is, Spencer. I want you to hear me. Your husband, despite insisting on squiggling around like he has ants in his pants, is going to be just fine and I don't want you to doubt that for a second. I don't want to come by to check on you both later and find you awake and watching him because you're worried something bad is going to happen. You both need your rest, but besides rest, everything will be fine."
She says it in such a firm tone that Joel almost can't help but believe her. He wants to protest about her accusation that he's squiggling around, but he realizes it's true and he promises himself he'll try to do his best to keep that to a minimum. She's gone out of her way for them both time and time again tonight and he doesn't want to make any of this more difficult on her than it has to be. He knows he isn't a good patient, but from now on he's going to try to be.
"There," she says as she puts the pillow down on the cot and then gives it a firm pat. Then, without waiting for any further instruction, she comes around to the other side and presses the button to lower Joel's bed until it's the same level as the cot. "Now I better not come in here later and find you two up to anything either. Because I will separate you."
But as she says it, she lowers the rail on that side of Joel's bed and pushes the cot up next to it, essentially creating a larger bed for the two of them. It's not their bed at home and Joel knows he won't be able to move much, he won't be able to wrap himself around Spencer like he usually does and he won't wake up with his legs tangle with Spencer's, but this is good. This is far more than he expected to be given and he nods, smiling thankfully.
"We really appreciate it," he says. And he thinks maybe he should promise that they'll be goo, but he has a feeling she might not quite believe them and will maybe to come back to check on them extra if he starts making claims she doesn't believe. They'll have to do something for her and maybe even for Bruce once they're discharged, he thinks. Something nice, even if it's just some flowers or the fruit basket he'd been talking about earlier.
"You better," she says, but she's smiling as she pats the cot for Spencer. "Be good, both of you."