Chapter Text
„Dr Valtersen?“ He hears a soft female voice breaking through his subconscious.
„Dr Valtersen, there is a visitor for you.“ And a gentle touch of a hand down his right shoulder activates the well-developed reflex. He wakes up in a second. „What patient? Is it Vangard? “ He asks with his right eye still closed, looking more like a teenage boy rather than a full-grown man.
You see, Isak is used to it. He hates it every time, but he's accepted this never-ending situation, that his so deserved sleep will always come second to his patients' needs and that Mr Vangard with severe angina has been his primarily concern for the last 10 hours. Not to mention Isak's own stupidity in agreeing (again) to cover Sana's night shift, after her baby caught a cold that morning. And also let's not forget that Christmas is just around the corner, which means more casualties and more work and less sleep and the list just goes on and on.
So yes, he's ready for action, ready to solve any medical problem there is and even face Mrs Vangard, who always seems to ask Isak about what kind of hair products he uses or how he stays in such a good shape, rather than being concerned for her husband's health.
„Not a patient, Doctor, a visitor.“ Nurse Emma gently points out while Isak slowly gained his full awaken state. „ A boy, around 12 years old.„
„Huh? “ Isak is still confused.
„He's... well...he seems quite upset... he just stormed inside and demanded to see you. It is a bit weird. I mean... I don't know very much about your personal life, not that that’s my business.” Emma seemed uncomfortable. “But, I didn't realize...”
„Emma, what in the devil's name you are talking about? “ Isak hated being confused. „My personal life, what the hell?? “
„Doctor, the boy was shaking and demanded to see his stepdad, Dr Isak Valtersen. “
Oh... And just like that, the story took a totally different turn.
6 months ago
The lights were flickering, reflecting the happiness of the crowd gathered together. The big balcony on the top floor of their apartment building was packed with people, a big barbecue in the middle and a half-eaten chocolate sign on a strawberry cake that said Happy 30th Isak.
Eskild was particularly proud of that cake, while Linn was walking around with a big chef’s hat and a big apron that had the title “Norway’s best barbecue boss”, making sure everyone stayed hungry if necessary, because the meat had to be perfect.
The life of the party, Magnus of course, tried to win over a nurse of two, while Mahdi and Jonas stood beside the birthday man, who was leaning against the side wall, very unlike himself, almost like he wanted to observe everything but not be a part of it.
“I don’t see Peter.” Jonas points out, expecting for Isak to explain the details, which always seemed like deflecting the real truth about his love life than facing it.
“That’s because he’s not here.” Isak said it in the same tone.
“And why is that?” Mahdi tried.
“Because we broke up.”
“Oh, I’m sorry buddy…” Jonas tried but Isak’s laughter cut him out.
“No, you’re not, Jonas. You couldn’t stand him.”
“That’s not true…” Jonas seemed offended. “ I loved the guy! He had a great book collection about all the greatest dictators in history.”
“Let me guess, Bush was there.” Mahdi snorted.
“Damn straight.” Jonas smiled.
“That was Emil, you moron.” Isak answered sounding tired.
“Oh, yeah…what happened to him?”
“The same thing that happened to Peter.” Isak said it, looking nowhere in particular.
“Dude…” Mahdi tried.
“Guys, I really don’t want to talk about it. Can’t we just enjoy ourselves?”
“We are, man, this party is awesome.” Jonas points out. “You are very happy to have a Eskild in your life.
“Yo, Linn!” they hear Magnus shouting in the distance. “We are hungry, have mercy!”
“The ribs are ready for exactly 6 minutes.” She answered calmly.
“Ah, Linn.” Mahdi smiled. “You do live with some interesting characters.”
“I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
And this time Isak sounded genuine. And it’s the truth. His roommates, in addition to his three best friends are his family, and the life he has outside the hospital walls. But the hidden notion that often hits him in the morning after he wakes up, isn’t about the happiness and the life full of friends, it is the sickening feeling in his stomach that he will have to spend yet another year alone, without that someone. And even worse feeling than that… that it will all be his fault.
When faced with thinking and re-thinking about his life’s choices, and birthday parties tend to do that to a person, Isak always draws the same conclusion: all the men he dated had two things in common. They all liked Dr Isak Valtersen, respected internist in Oslo General Hospital, great looking man and even greater title to put beside their names when they talk about him to their parents, or enter a fine restaurant. And second, they all created their personal mission to arrange their lives so that it would eventually lead them to marriage. Isak always felt he didn’t have to put any effort in the relationship. Everything he wanted, he got it. And if he really liked the other person, he would tell them, how he feels unequal and entitled and wants to contribute to the relationship and to work as much as the other person, but all they got out of Isak’s wishes was that they loved him more than he loved them. Peter was the one who actually said it out loud and how Isak doesn’t appreciate himself enough, and how THAT was the main problem.
He would probably contemplate about this a bit further, while watching Magnus steal another piece of the meat off the grill, but the loud sound of someone crashing into a metal secured his attention.
“Omg…” Noora let out a worried sound. “That poor boy..:”
“That poor boy?!?! “ Christopher sounded shocked “Noora, that poor car! It’s the same model as Isak’s and even has….” but he didn’t finish, only looked at Isak with a worried face while people started to gather on the edge of their balcony.
The image they were all seeing was this: Isak’s brand new silver Audi A3 Cabriolet, with a severe front dent and multiple scratches, and a boy around 12 years old, kneeling on the payment trying to pick up his bike that was also severely damaged from the impact.
“He’s trying to get away!” Magnus shouted while Jonas already started running down the fire escape stairs.
Both of them got there just in time to prevent the boy from escaping, although “the escape" was actually slowly dragging his legs with severe scratches on both of his knees and pulling his bike in the same slow motion. He had tears in his eyes but apart from that, he didn’t look alarmed at all.
“Hey, kid!” Jonas yelled, “Wait up.” But he didn’t.
“Hey, you!” Magus passed Jonas and stopped the boy from moving by putting his arm firmly on the boy’s shoulder.
“You are not going anywhere, buddy. Do you have any idea what has just happened?”
The rest of the party was coming down the stairs, Isak somewhere in the middle of them, so he didn’t have a clear view of anything, apart from the voices.
“Don’t you touch him!” a loud yell, although “yell” was actually a desperate breath let out by a young man who came running around the corner.
“Alex, Alex are you ok?” The man came around the boy, gently touching his face “Did you hurt yourself, your arms, legs?”
The boy was starting to get upset. “Now you care!” he shouted and continued to walk away.
“
The guy finally turned around and approached the crowd, looking closely at the damage on the car, his face paler by the second. He was clearly calculating the damage cost and potential law suit when someone said:
“You’ll need to pay for the damage, dude. That’s a brand new car.”
“Yes, of course.” The man agreed in a low whisper, embarrassed and somewhat tired.
“Chris, that’s enough.” Isak finally stepped out, and started walking towards the boy, who still continued to walk away slowly, like a surviving soldier after the battle.
“I have a fucking over-prices insurance” And he stood on the boy’s way, giving him his best doctor’s smile.
“Ma name is Isak and I am a doctor. Can I please take a look at your injuries?”
Boy was now starting to shake, his wounds probably burning. He didn’t say yes, but he didn’t say no either.
“Ok, you didn’t say no, so I am just going to take a quick look.” And Isak quickly examined his arms, elbows and eventually his right knee that was bleeding a bit too much for a scratch.
The boy kept quiet, but still.
“Now, Alex, it is Alex, right?” Isak asked him, but the boy was now looking sideways, like he was afraid he’ll hear he will bleed out from out of his wounds.
“Alex, the good news is, you don’t seem to have any fractures. Your bike saved you from at least 3 weeks in bed rest.” Isak tried with a light joke, not wanting for the boy to run away.
“But the bad news…” and Alex looked him straight into his eyes
“The bad news is you have a bad cut on your right knee, and you do need stitches. As it happens, I am the master of stiches that leave no scars, so if your dad would only agree for you to come inside…”
Isak turned around wanting to introduce himself to the man who kept strangely quiet the whole time he was examining the boy.
When their eyes met, Isak found out that it was a really good thing he asked a couple of colleagues from work to his birthday party. Because apart from the boy, there were two grown man, in the state of shock that kept them from moving. And that must be a medical emergency.
“Even?!?!”
“Isak.”