A dangerous night for people and vehicles, and it had been four hours since he sent word he was lending his medical aid to a horrible accident out in the city.
He was probably in no condition to administer such by this point in the day; I well knew what inclement weather did to him. I was not so tactless as to go after him, but nor was I going to sleep without ascertaining he at least came home.
Don't wait up for me, indeed.
The door closed. I counted the stair-treads, refusing to insult him by popping out to make sure he got all the way up them.
When, however, I numbered only eight before the weary steps stopped for longer than six seconds, I changed my mind. I found him half-way up collapsed against the wall, breathing heavily, drenched beyond belief, and reeking of blood and dirty rainwater.
Tired eyes opened as I descended, and he wearily reached up a shaking hand for my help, for once swallowing pride in the face of necessity. That was far more alarming than his obvious exhaustion.
"What would you have done if I hadn't decided to wait up on you?" I growled, allowing him to lean heavily upon me as we ascended.
A faint smile. "I knew you would anyway," he admitted blearily.