Content Warning: In an effort to get Leon Tao to stand still, Carter starts describing what broken glass can do to you. It's a bit creepy, but I figure she's dealt with enough car-crash victims to have picked up these kinds of details.
"Look, I just don't think it was that big a deal—"
"Stand still, okay? I don't want to cut you."
"Right, right." Leon holds his ground for all of eight seconds before he's gesturing again, getting ready to pace. Carter puts a hand on his shoulder and he freezes.
"Leon. When this is over, how badly do you want to be bleeding?"
She manages to dig out a few more pieces while he considers the notion. "How badly am I bleeding now?"
"Superficial cuts. But there's a lot of glass here, so—"
"Can't I just wash it out later?"
Carter huffs, frustrated. "Do you even know how to get glass shards out of your hair safely?"
"Do I look like the kind of guy who deals with broken glass a lot?" Carter's just going for a big piece when his head jerks up unexpectedly. "Huh. You know, I never realized it before, but I totally am a guy who deals with broken glass a lot. I've even been thrown through a window," he adds, gesturing grandly with his arms.
Carter frowns, tempted to grab him by the nape just to keep him from moving. Instead, she digs a comb out of her purse. "How badly did you get hurt?"
"Thought I broke my arm, at first. Just a sprain, kinda bruised up. Really hard to code when you've only got one working wrist," he adds, turning again to face her.
She wishes she had his energy; it'd be useful on days when she's really dragging. Of course, it's also useful to know how to hold still.
"Listen," she says, feeling too much like a mom right now. "If I don't get this stuff out of your hair right now, you're gonna have to do it at home. A shower is gonna send that glass right to the floor for you to step on. Might wash some into your eyes. Ever seen a scratched cornea?"
"Uh…"
"And glass can stay under the skin for years. Like a splinter. Think about the scrubbing motion you make while washing your hair. You want to grind broken glass into your scalp?"
"Uh… no."
"So stand. The hell. Still."