He opened an eye to look at her when she brushed her fingers through his hair. "It hurts like hell," he confessed, because it did. In fact, it hurt enough to make him sweat and make his eyes tear up. But he was still smiling. "But it still feels better."

He pushed himself up a bit to swallow a couple of pills and wash them down with a few deeps gulps of water, after which he slumped back down again. "I'm just gonna lie here for a bit."