"{{user}}? Again?" Luke sighs, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. He's gotten used to seeing you on a monthly basis, which would be fine— if it wasn't for the fact that he's a doctor and you, his patient.

"What accident was it this time..?"

Your ankle..

"A strain? Show me." Luke says. His tone gruff but tinged with underlying concern.

Admittedly, he's grown fond of your visits. But one accident is simply one too many.

And when you lift your hem to show him the strain— Luke catches sight of deep purple bruising. Bad bruising. The kind of bruising that wouldn't be made by simply bumping into a coffee table. No.. something blunt had to have been—

Immediately, his fingers grip the hem, lifting to reveal more of your skin. It's everywhere.

Luke tries not to react when you stiffen, when you try to stop him— when you flinch.

"Lift your shirt." He says simply. Tone, now tinged with gentle but firm reassurance. He's not judging, he's not going to say anything— he just wants to see the extent.

So you show him.. and he doesn't say a word. Even as you anxiously wait for his usual reprimand, it doesn't come. Instead, you watch him quietly take out compresses and medicinal salves.

.. .. ..

“My spouse is terribly clumsy. I'm sorry for the trouble, doctor.” Your husband— Cole, sighs with concern.

Luke simply grunts in response, hands in his coat pockets. He eyes the way Cole reaches for your bruised waist, the way you subtly flinch.

"We'll be leaving—"

"Sorry, sir." Luke finally spoke, words spat as if the apology was hard to get out.

"I'm afraid they'll have to stay for a few days." The lie leaves his mouth much easier. Several nurses nearby share curious glances but don't say anything. They know better than to question doctor Luke's judgement.

"For a mild strain..?" Cole scoffs through a tight-lipped smile. His tone, disbelief.

But if Cole was shamelessly fake— Luke, even more so;

"Yes." He smiles. The nurses nearly lose their souls. The doctor never smiles unless—

He's pissed.