"Ow."

"Ray?"

"Fucking tripped over your fucking eskimo shoes and fucking skinned my fucking knee."

"I'm sorry." Benny scooped him up from the corner and carried him easily to the bed, but didn't let him down.

"Ow." Ray grumbled softly.

"Shall I kiss it better?"

"I don't believe you said that."

Benny dropped his head to where Ray's knee hung over his arm, His lips stung against the scrape.

"Ow."

"I'm . . ." This time he kissed Ray's mouth, whispered into it, "Sorry."

And somehow, when the time came, Ray found himself able to bear putting weight on his knee after all.