When Caleb met his eyes Caduceus smiled, as much relief on his part as it was reassurance. And as Caleb counted Caduceus began to unwind the bandages around his forearms, nodding his head every so often as though counting were a difficult task that Caleb was mastering, but every little bit of praise went a long way, he knew.
"Good, Bren," he said softly, putting one of the bandages aside with the shirt, running his fingers lovingly up and down Caleb's scarred arm. "You're doing so well." He started on the other, unwinding it slowly, putting it to the side, stroking his arm. He smiled when the number finally reached one hundred, keeping hold of one of Caleb's hands as he shuffled back on the bed.
"Stand slowly, your legs might hurt. And then come to me. If you want to take any more of your clothes off please do. You can get comfortable." Caduceus leant against the pillows and waited for Caleb to join him when he was ready, arms open to welcome him. "Do you think you can drink a little bit of water for me? Just a few sips. It'll help." There was water beside the bed, neither of them would have to move far for it.
Finally they settled, Caduceus' arms wrapped around Caleb, holding him against his chest, fingers stroking gently up and down his back. "Is there anything you want to talk about right now? About what happened with Trent, or what happened after you died? There's no rush, whenever you're ready. It can wait until breakfast, or a few days, but I'd like you to tell me, I don't want you to think you have to dwell on things on your own, even if it's not something you think I'd want to hear."
Some petty, mean little bead of a though popped in the back of Caduceus' head, remembering Essek, remembering how besotted with Caleb the elf was, and how it was obvious to him at least that there was something building there between the two of them. Of course, Essek was powerful and he taught Caleb things. He was handsome, Caduceus supposed, and he was more helpful to Caleb's path to his potential in that way than Caduceus was. If in that time things had bore fruit between them then there was nothing he could do. Caleb was here with him now, and Caduceus was at peace with that, even if he was coming to terms rapidly with his first genuine feelings of jealousy.
It was absolutely not about that now, though. Caleb had been terrified when he'd woken up, and there was stuff there that would need to be unpacked and processed when Caleb was ready.