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Abby heard the soft knock on the hospital room door. Lying on her side facing away from the door, she turned too swiftly and winced from the pain in her ribs.
“Come in,” she called out through a wheeze as she clutched her side.
Loki was by her side in a flash, leaning over her, helping bring her to her back, and propping her up on the layers of pillows beneath her. Her eyes blinked up at the florescent light of the ceiling. Then they flicked over to his face, hovering beside her with worry lines on his forehead. Dark circles ringed eyes that had turned a shade of deep indigo. He caressed the hair off her cheek.
“Hey, babe,” he greeted. She almost cried out from the pain of seeing him, showing such gentleness and care.
She swallowed around the lump in her throat and rasped, “Hey.” H
