Done as an exercise into Renee's character. First person POV through Renee's eyes.

I could just barely make out Curie's face above me, I blinked, trying to focus. It didn't do much to help. My head ached and I winced. A moan. Me.

"I'm 'ere, my love." Curie stopped rummaging in her bag and looked at me. I felt her fingertips graze my cheek. "You will be fine."

I knew I would be just fine. I always am. Panic gripped my chest and I reached for her hand, but pain lanced through my arm. A choked cry tore from my lips and my vision wavered. What the hell…?

"Don't move." Curie pinned my arm down. "Your arm is injured."

Thanks for the newsflash.

I tried to sit up and her hand moved to my shoulder. "I just said not to move," she chided.

"Y-you—" I coughed. Ugh, that hurt. "You okay?"

"I am un'urt. A few cuts and bruises." She continued sifting through her bag for something; Stimpaks, hopefully.

I heard another whimper and realized, embarrassed, it was me. God, but my head hurt. And my arm was starting to throb something awful. I tried to clench my hand but pain blasted through my wrist. I grimaced. "B-broken…" I gasped. I'd recognize that burning anywhere.

Curie glanced down at me. "Mm-hm." She held up a vial of Med-X and flicked it a few times, much like the other doctors. "'Old still."

I barely felt the pinch as she stabbed my forearm. This time I didn't bother trying to hide my moan as I shifted. Just where the hell was I, anyway? Last I knew we were fighting and then, well… "What…"

"Do not worry, zhe Raiders are gone." Curie worked at getting my glove off. "After you caused zhose two cars to explode, zhey retreated quite quickly."

Though I knew she was trying to be stoic and professional, I could still hear in her voice she was impressed. Or irritated. Probably irritated that she had to—oh fuck, that hurt…!

"Shh, relax, breathe…" She yanked my glove off and put it to the side.

I felt sick to my stomach and my head pounded. Oh god, I wanted to puke. I coughed again. The Med-X dulled the pain a little but my wrist still burned. I could feel the bones grinding as Curie cradled it in her hands. "Cures, p-please…"

She pushed my sleeve up and I groaned. Every movement hurt. I squeezed my eyes shut as my stomach rolled again. She pressed near the break and I jerked with a cry. Some fucking help the Med-X was.

I felt her fingers at my cheek again. Curie swiped away some errant tears and I heard her say something but couldn't make it out. I forced my eyes open. Everything looked fuzzy and warped, and I could barely find my wife.

Curie gripped my hand and tugged my wrist back into place. I felt the bones snap and click and couldn't help a scream. The pain spread up my arm. God it hurt. It hurt. It fucking hurts…!

"I know, I know, zhe 'ard part is over."

My chest heaved. I felt the ground beneath me shifting and rolling. My heartbeat was in my ears and fucking hell, ow, fuck, that hurt more…

Curie tied the splint down around my hand. She moved my fingers and I moaned. Oh god. "S…stop…" I begged. Please.

"Nearly done."

I felt another pinch and a rush of cold spread through my body. Stimpak. It eased the pain to a more bearable level but now I was left feeling vaguely numb. Tired. My head still hurt.

"My love?"

My eyes cracked open. Curie loomed over me and I tried to focus on her. Her gorgeous eyes. Hazel-blue. Almost looked like they glowed. Warm. Kind. I loved her eyes. I loved…

"Can you hear me?"

I tried to nod. She rested my injured wrist on my stomach. Her hand at my cheek again. I nuzzled into her palm. She always had such warm hands, gentle hands. I loved holding them. Loved wrapping my fingers around hers, and kissing her fingertips.

"Renee…"

"Mm?" I forced my eyes open again. My eyelids felt so heavy. Exhausted. Head hurt. Still heard my heartbeat between my ears.

"I'm going to tend to your ozher injuries."

"Mm-kay…" Other injuries? I didn't have anymore…

I felt some stinging on my leg as she cleaned out a gash. I could only assume some shrapnel from the cars cut me. Heh. Assume. I remembered a joke my father told me once when we were driving. He loved that pickup. It was a nice truck…

Light flashed across my eyelids and I groaned. I didn't want to get up yet, I still felt exhausted and my bed was warm. I turned my head with a wince. Oof, but my neck was stiff.

I felt warm fingers thread through my hair and knew Curie had to be nearby. My eyes fluttered open and I squinted against the light. "Cures?" My voice cracked. Ugh.

"It is so good to see your eyes again." She smoothed my brow with her thumb. "Are you feeling any better?"

I blinked. My head rested in her lap and we seemed to be inside a half-collapsed building. I looked around. "I… I guess. How long was I out?"

"A few hours." She shifted and continued to run her fingers along my hair. "When you 'ave regained some strength we should relay to zhe Institute. So zhey can properly tend to your wrist."

"Ngh…" I weakly lifted my arm. The splint was heavy and I tried to wiggle my fingers. Pain crackled through my hand. I flinched, whimpering.

She reached to inspect it. "Hm. Seems to 'ave continued swelling."

"It hurts." I let it drop back to my stomach. "Thanks. For, you know…"

"Mais oui, but of course. I am just glad you are not badly injured." Curie shifted again and placed her hand on mine where it laid on my belly. "Besides zhe obvious."

I smiled. "I'm glad you're okay too."

She returned my smile. "Rest now."

"Hey, Cures?"

"Hm?"

I pushed myself up and kissed her. She squeaked in surprise. "I love you." I gazed up at her, my eyes flicking back and forth between hers. God, but I could look at her forever.

A cute blush crept into her cheeks and she pushed me back down. "I said to rest." She looked away from me.

"Oh, you should be used to me by now, Mrs. Jones." I chuckled as she glanced at me sideways.

She huffed. "Why must you tease me so…"

"I know you like it." I settled my head across her thighs and closed my eyes again.

Curie mumbled something but I didn't catch it. I did feel her press a kiss to my forehead and felt her trail her fingers along my throat and jaw.

"I love you too, mon amour."

"Aw man, so I can't even sign it?"

"There's nothing there to sign, kiddo. But I guess if you want to try…"

Shaun instead began coloring some of the plastic honeycombs in with his marker. I watched him with a smile. "Easy there."

"I'm being careful!"

Curie held my other hand as we sat on the couch. When we returned from the Institute, Shaun immediately wanted to know why we were late in getting home, and why I sported a splint on my hand and a sling around my neck. When I explained what happened, and after assuring him I would be fine, he of course shifted into wanting to decorate it.

Charlemagne sat at our feet, half-asleep. I nudged him. "Were you a good boy for Shaun, Charlie?"

The snup wagged his tail and hissed.

"Charlie came to school with me!" Shaun capped his marker. "There."

"Thanks, sweetie." I saw he'd colored some of the drab white plastic black, making a pattern around my thumb. I pulled him close and kissed his head.

Shaun climbed up on the couch and hugged Curie. "Thanks for keeping Mom safe."

"Of course, mon petit chou." She returned the hug, nuzzling his hair. "Though I believe it was your mother doing most of the protecting."

I leaned back and crossed my legs. "Hey now, we both came back alive, and that's the important part."

"Hm. I suppose so." Curie flashed me a smile before gazing back down at our son. "'Ave you had lunch?"

"Not yet." He perked up. "Are you gonna make something?"

"I will 'ave to, seeing as your mother cannot cook at zhe moment."

I shrugged and shifted my arm in the sling. "Sorry, hon."

"Come, let us find somezhing to eat."

"Yeah!" Shaun shot up and into the kitchen.

Curie followed behind. I swung my legs up on the couch and stretched out. "Guess it's just you and me, huh Charlie?"

He got to his feet and stretched before jumping up next to me. He settled between my legs. I sighed and relaxed, feeling the tension melt away from my shoulders. It felt nice to relax. Just as I was about to doze off, I heard a crash from the kitchen, followed by a curse in French.

"What does that mean, Curie?"

"N-never mind zhat!"

I looked at Charlie, who was staring back at me. "It's good to be home, isn't it?"

He yawned.

"Yeah, that's just about how I feel, too."