Turnabout
"Doc, what happened?" Steve said in a concerned voice from the doorway of small hospital room.
Bergman was sitting up in the bed, supported by several pillows, but still not very comfortable. He shifted and groaned at the interruption. His wife sat at his side, her hand holding onto his. The attractive middle-aged woman looked up and smiled as the two detectives entered, her kind eyes lighting her weary expression.
"Hi Steve, Danny," she said, rising from her seat. "I'll give you men some time to yourselves." She kissed her husband, smoothing out his thick grey hair then nodded at the detectives as she left the room.
"Doc?" Danny asked, still wondering what had happened.
Bergman grumbled and looked annoyed. "New maintenance crew in the morgue…decided to wax the floor and didn't post the appropriate warning signs," Doc said in disgust. "I walk in first thing this morning and sail across the length of the room, splitting my head open on the corner of the exam table on my way down, spraining my wrist, not to mention wrenching by back."
"Sounds painful," Danny commented.
"That's the understatement of the year," Bergman said under his breath.
"Sorry to hear that, Doc," Steve said. "But your assistant is filling in for you at the morgue until you're back on your feet and he assures me that his work will be first-rate."
"He's good, Steve, but he still has a lot to learn," Doc replied, trying to sit up a bit higher. "I'm not ready to retire yet..." Bergman moved a little too quickly, and an intense spasm of pain shot through his back causing him to gasp and grab for the bed rail with his good hand. Steve gripped his arms to steady him.
"Easy, Doc. You okay?" Steve asked, suddenly alarmed. "Danno, maybe you should go find Dr. Hanson."
"No, don't bother the man, I'm fine," Doc said with a sigh, settling into the pillows again and closing his eyes.
Steve glanced at his second-in-command, meeting his mildly amused expression. They shared the same thought: Now who's the difficult patient?
"You're sure?"
"Yes, Steve, I'm sure."
"Okay, Doc, we're going to get back to work," Steve said, patting the coroner's shoulder.
"Bye, Doc," Danny said as he followed his mentor toward the door.
Bergman watched the two younger men for a moment. Before they left the room, the physician in him took over.
"Do you think the two of you can stay out of trouble while I'm flat on my back?" Doc called out.
"We'll do our best," Steve answered with a grin.