"Another case closed," Ed thought happily as he searched the road signs. Granted, the case hadn't been easy- it was even violent at times- but in the end nobody was seriously injured, and the evil was dispersed. Now all that was left to do was find the motel where he and Lorraine would spend the night, then they'd be back home with Judy the next day.
"I think we turn here," Lorraine said as she glanced up from the map.
"Which exit?"
Lorraine pointed. "The second from the-" Lorraine suddenly cut herself off as she sucked in a sharp breath.
"Honey?"
"Second from the light," Lorraine finished, her eyes squeezed shut. "You're almost there,"
Ed began to wonder if his wife was experiencing another vision until he saw her favoring her right wrist. In the midst of all the commotion that morning Lorraine had been thrown against the wall by the spirit. At the time Ed had been worried whether or not she'd suffered a concussion (she hadn't), but now he was wondering if she'd sustained injuries when she fell. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied. "My wrist is just sore from the fall, that's all,"
"Should we stop by a pharmacy?"
Lorraine shook her head. "I think at this point sleep will do me better," Ed was going to suggest otherwise when he saw the motel from a distance. "See?" she smiled knowingly.
Ed carried both their luggage and checked them into the motel. As soon as they got to their room, they immediately got ready for bed. It had been a long day, and rest was at the forefront of their minds.
Sleep came almost immediately for the couple, but about five hours later Ed woke to the sound of water running in the bathroom sink. Turning onto his side, he opened his eyes to find the space next to him empty and a light shining beneath the closed bathroom door. Now wide awake with curiosity, Ed got out of bed and knocked on the door. "Lorraine?" he asked. "Are you okay?"
"Sorry," Ed heard her respond, "I didn't mean to wake you,"
Noting how Lorraine hadn't answered the question, Ed slowly opened the door to find her standing at the sink, a washcloth wrapped around her wrist. "What's going on?"
Lorraine sighed and removed the cloth. "I woke up about thirty minutes ago," she admitted, "I'd been laying on my right side, and the pain in my wrist had gotten worse,"
Ed's eyes bulged at the sight. A spot on her wrist had turned a light shade of purple. "Let me see," Ed gingerly took Lorraine's hand in his and brushed his thumb over the spot, stopping only when Lorraine winced.
"I'll take you to a hospital," Ed decided, "We need to-"
"No," Lorraine said, gently but firmly. "This isn't urgent,"
"You're in pain," Ed said.
Lorraine smiled despite herself. Ed tended to imagine the worst-case scenarios when it involved her or Judy's well-being. "If this is broken, it's a hairline fracture at worst,"
Ed debated pushing the matter, but he decided she was right. First chance he had, he'd take her to urgent care.
"Let me get you some ice from a machine," Ed decided. "That should do a better job easing the pain,"
Now it was Ed's turn to sigh as he stood outside and filled the bucket with ice. There were times when Lorraine's stubbornness drove him crazy, but then again isn't that one of the many reasons he fell in love with her? That ability to push through obstacles when she needed to? Still, that didn't mean he couldn't care for her until she was able to see get medical attention.
Coming back to the room, Lorraine sat cross-legged on the bed as Ed wrapped the washcloth around the ice and placed it on her wrist. "That's pretty cold," she commented.
"Not as bad as what you went through yesterday with that fall," Ed said, using his free hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You were really brave yesterday,"
Lorraine took Ed's free hand in hers. "As were you,"
"I wasn't the one who took the tumble,"
"It comes with the job,"
Ed smiled. "I'm so lucky to have you as both my wife and coworker," he said. "It's just…" He looked down at the wrist he was icing. "…I wish there was more I could do to prevent things like this from happening,"
Lorraine squeezed Ed's hand in understanding. "Our job is to help those in need," she said. "We have only two hands, and when we're in the middle of a case, they're usually assisting those who need help. These kinds of things happen,"
Ed shifted his position so that he was sitting directly next to Lorraine. "Well then," he said as he kissed her forehead, "For now, let me help you,"