Ramis sat on the hard bench outside the interrogation rooms, pressing an ice pack to his swollen jaw. The hallway lights felt too bright, and every little sound seemed louder than it should — phones ringing somewhere down the hall, the coffee machine humming, cops talking in low voices. His ribs hurt every time he breathed, and his knee was throbbing like crazy. The warehouse fight kept replaying in his head: the punches, the railing, Lila collapsing against him with that creepy smile.
'Shit,' he thought, closing his eyes. 'I finally get into a real scrap and my damn knee almost quits on me. Dad's gonna blame himself.'
Footsteps came down the hallway — soft, steady heels on the tile. Ramis opened his eyes.
The woman walking toward him was pretty in a real way. She looked around twenty-four or twenty-five, with curly dark auburn hair tied back in a loose ponytail. A few strands had fallen loose around her face. She had warm hazel eyes and a calm, friendly expression. She wore a simple white blouse, dark jeans, and carried a small medical bag.
"Ramis Walker?" she asked, stopping in front of him. Her voice was soft but confident. "I'm Dr. Sophia Kane. Your dad asked me to take a quick look at you before you head home. He said you got pretty banged up tonight."
Ramis sat up a little straighter, even though it hurt. "Yeah, that's me. You're the doctor on call?"
She gave him a small, genuine smile and set her bag down. "Pretty much. Let me see those cuts." She gently tilted his chin up to check the split lip and the scratches on his cheek. Her fingers were cool and careful. "These aren't too deep. No stitches needed."
When she asked to see his ribs, Ramis lifted his shirt. The bruises were already turning dark along his side. Sophia pressed lightly with her fingertips. He sucked in a sharp breath.
"Sorry," she said quietly. "Just checking. Take a slow breath for me?"
He did. For a second their eyes met, and Ramis felt something warm stir in his chest. 'She's got nice hands.'
"Ribs are bruised but not broken," she said, pulling her hands back. She took out a fresh ice pack and some cream. "Now the knee?"
Ramis rolled up his pant leg. The old scar stood out, red and pained. Sophia touched around it carefully.
"This old injury doesn't like being pushed so much," she said softly. "You really strained it tonight."
"Can't exactly slow down right now," Ramis replied with a tired half-smile. "This case is moving fast."
Sophia spread the ointment with slow, steady strokes. Her touch felt good. Ramis became very aware of how close she was, the way her blouse moved when she leaned in. His body reacted before he could stop it. 'Come on, you just got beat up and now you're getting turned on?'
She looked up and caught him staring. A light blush touched her cheeks. "You're lucky you didn't do more damage. Ice it, keep it elevated, and try not to chase any more bad guys for a couple days, okay?"
Ramis let out a small laugh. "No promises. This Sandman thing isn't slowing down."
Sophia finished wrapping the bandage and stood up, but she didn't leave right away. She leaned against the wall across from him. "Your dad mentioned a little about the case. Sounds messed up. You're the smart son who helps the department, right? The one who wanted to be a cop but couldn't because of the knee?"
"Yeah," Ramis said. "Private investigator now. It keeps me close." He paused. "Kane… you related to Elias Kane? We picked him up earlier."
She shook her head, smiling a little. "Common last name, there is no relation. I'm just the one who patches up guys like you when they push too hard."
They looked at each other for a moment. The hallway felt quieter.
"Look," Ramis said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know I look like shit right now, but… when this case calms down a bit, can I buy you a cup of coffee?"
Sophia raised an eyebrow, amused. "You're asking me out while you're covered in bruises? That's bold, Walker." She bit her lip lightly. "Tell you what. You actually rest that knee like I told you, and I'll think about it. Sound fair?"
"Fair enough," Ramis said, smiling for real this time.
She handed him her card. Their fingers brushed. "My number's on there. Doctor's orders — ice the knee before bed."
"Thanks, Sophia."
She gave him one last warm look before walking away. Ramis watched her go, noticing the natural sway of her hips.
'Damn. In the middle of all this death, someone like her shows up.'
Marcus appeared a minute later, looking worn out. "Sophia take care of you? Good. We're done with Crowe for tonight. But before you go home… your mom called. She's making dinner and expects both of us. No excuses."
Ramis groaned softly. "Dad, it's almost 3 AM."
"She doesn't care," Marcus said with a tired chuckle. "She said if you don't show up, she's coming down here herself. You know how she gets when she's worried."
Ramis sighed but smiled. His parents still doted on him like he was a kid sometimes. "Fine. Let's go."
---
They drove to the family house in a quiet neighborhood on the east side of Eldridge City. The lights were still on when they pulled up. As soon as they walked in, Elena Walker appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
She was in her late forties, elegant even at this hour, with sharp features and the same green eyes Ramis had inherited. When she saw the bruises on her son's face, her expression softened with worry.
"Ramis…" She walked over and gently touched his cheek. "Look at you. Sit down. Both of you."
The smell of warm food filled the house — Elena had made simple chicken soup, fresh bread, and some pasta. Nothing fancy, but it felt like home.
They sat at the dining table. Elena fussed over Ramis, making sure he had extra soup and didn't strain his knee. Marcus ate quietly, watching his wife and son with quiet affection.
"You two need to be more careful," Elena said, her voice soft but firm. "I know this Sandman case is big, but I don't like seeing my boy come home looking like this."
Ramis reached over and squeezed her hand. "I'm really okay, Mom. We got a solid lead tonight."
Elena looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. "Just… come home for dinner more often. Both of you. That's all I ask."
They ate together, talking about small things — the weather, an old neighbor's dog, anything except the case. For twenty minutes, the heavy weight of the Sandman felt far away. Ramis felt the familiar comfort of being their only child, still loved and worried over no matter how old he got.
After dinner, Elena hugged him tightly at the door. "Ice that knee. And call me tomorrow."
"I will. Love you, Mom."
"Love you more, baby."
On the drive back to his apartment, Ramis stared out the window, stomach full and body sore. His phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number:
Sophia: Make sure you ice that knee before you sleep. Doctor's orders 🙂 — Sophia
Ramis smiled and typed back: Already on it. Thanks for tonight. Coffee soon?
He leaned his head back against the seat. Tomorrow they would chase Dr. Elias Reed.
But tonight, between his parents' warm kitchen and a pretty doctor's gentle hands, Ramis felt a small bit of light in all the darkness.