"I know it hurts"
Henry swallowed the bile at the back of his throat as he tried to both block the city's lights from his sensitive eyes and ease the tension that had been forming at his temples all day.
It was this case. VFF and the stolen military weapons would be enough to give anyone a headache. And it had given Henry a massive one. It had persisted through the night despite the Tylenol and ibuprofen he'd thrown at it and had lasted through the day as well. The pressure had continued to build until he was seeing bright colors and the whole world felt like it was tipping on his side. Henry hadn't had a migraine in years, but this was one for the record books.
He'd made it home, thankful for once that his children were either out or asleep. Trudging up the stairs, he tried to block out the fact that even his own steps on the stairs were making his head feel like someone was taking a sledgehammer to it. He just wanted his bed and sleep.
Elizabeth was there waiting for him with a cold, damp rag in one hand and soft pajamas in the other. Without a word, she helped him shed his clothes in the dark room and put the pajamas on.
She guided him to their bed gently and tucked the rag under his chin.
"MMM—- thank..." he tried, wincing.
"Shh... I know it hurts. Rest, Henry" she whispered.
He fell into a deep sleep while she rested in the chair next to the bed, holding his hand.