What if.

The Recovery

Ed opened his eyes squinting as his eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, where was he? He groaned there was a sharp pain in his lower torso, he looked down at himself seeing a bandage wrapped around his lower abdomen, there was an IV attached to his arm, he looked over to the end of his bed where lee and Jim were standing, Lee was the first to notice Ed was awake "oh good, you're awake, how are you feeling?" she said walking over to the side of his bed Jim followed closely behind her "you were in pretty rough shape when we found you" Jim said, Ed studied his face, was that-was that, concern in Jim's face? "I'll be alright" Ed said quietly his lower abdomen still hurt from where he'd been stabbed, Ed winced as he positioned himself upright as best he could "the doctor said it would take about ten days for you to recover completely, don't worry we'll cover for you, I'm sure Essen will understand" Jim said smiling softly "thanks" Ed replied, starting to feel a bit better, at least he'd get a break from work.

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Jim woke the next morning after visiting Ed to a note on the bedside table next to him "had to leave early see you at work ~Lee" Jim sighed and begrudgingly got out of bed, last night had been eventful. Although Ed had said that he didn't see the attackers face, it seemed like he'd been hiding something, Jim shook the thought and started to get ready he headed out to the car and headed to work

He arrived at work and headed inside, Comissioner Essen saw him "hey Jim, have you seen Ed anywhere we need him on a case" she said looking up at him, seeing the concern on his face she asked "are you alright? You look worried." She said "Ed won't be coming in today, he was mugged last night, me and lee found him on the ground just about dead" he said a serious look coming over his face "oh no, Is he alright?" She asked now looking concerned as well "yeah, doctor said he'd been alright but he has to stay there for at least 10 days" Jim said as they started to walk over to his desk, when they arrived Jim sat down and Essen waved them good bye "hey, you look stressed, what's up?" Harvey asked, noticing the distress on his face "let's just say last night was eventful for me, and not in a good way" Jim sighed leaning back in his chair "what do you mean?" Harvey asked tilting his head to the side, Jim took a deep breath and told him what had happened with Ed night.

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Kristen's day had been awfully quiet, almost to quiet, normally she couldn't go a day without Nygma coming in and giving her a headache from his talking. But now that he wasn't there it felt almost...lonely, her silence was interrupted by her boyfriend walking in "hey babe" he said walking over to the desk Kristen was sitting at, towering over her. He always made her feel so afraid, why did he have to do that "hi Tom" she said, she stood up to  walk past him, but he graves her wrist squeezing it tightly ensuring there would be a bruise "where you going?" He said glaring, he spun her around and pressed her against the locker.

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11 Days later:
Ed opened his eyes wincing at the bright light coming from his window, today he started work again. Although the time off had been much needed, but it was painful from the multiple times he'd been punched and stabbed, he still had bruises around his torso and there was still gauze wrapped around his stomach, he got up and headed toward the kitchen when a thought had struck him "what if Tom had hurt Kristen while he was away" his stomach lurched at the thought, he quickly made some toast and ate it he then shuffled to his dresser and pulled out the clothes he needed, he changed and then headed out, ignoring the pit in his stomach at the idea of facing Tom again.