It was about time, to be honest. Everyone else had gotten their fair share of unwarranted suffering. That Doc somehow managed to make it this far mostly unscathed is more luck than any sort of preparation or foreknowledge.

"Well I thought I'd put up my feet for once and be waited upon for a change," Doc tries to joke with as good-natured of a smile as he can manage.

"It's not nearly as bad as it looks, Malcolm. I'll be back on my feet tomorrow. I promise you." He does so hate to be the cause of other peoples' worries. That isn't allowed. It's supposed to be the other way around.