Chapter Text
Taehyung sighs as he walks down the hallway. His shift was over and he was more than ready to go home and fall asleep in the mattress he so painstakingly chose so that he could in some way compensate for the amount of naps he was required to take while on his shifts. Afterall, he was a nurse and he just couldn’t allow for lack of rest to affect his capacities. His composure and mental stability was important for the wellbeing of his patients.
Luckily, this last shift had been calm, and quiet. A word no one dared to say out loud in fear of calling upon the wrath of whoever looks over the hospital staff. Almost as if the fact that they decided to make helping people their profession means that if they are taking a break, then they aren’t doing their job properly. But they need rest! They are still human.
So Taehyung finds himself not caring when he feels relief crash upon his mind as he nods to the person taking over the next shift, replacing him for the time being. He’s going home and he’s gonna love it.
“Hey, Taehyung.” The mentioned turned around and gazed upon the tired eyes of his fellow nurse, a comrade in this healthcare world. “Going home, I see.”
A grin makes its way onto Taehyung’s lips at the look of disdain on Seokjin’s face. He was still halfway through his own shift and wouldn’t make it home for the next couple of hours.
“Glad to know that my displeasure amuses you.” Seokjin huffs.
“It always does, hyung. Particularly because it’s always nice to return the favor, you know?” Taehyung’s grin widens as Seokjin’s eyes narrow. “If you can’t take the heat, then don’t play with fire, hyung. Can’t complain about my happiness when you rub yours in my face whenever you get the chance.”
Seokjin sighs, “I suppose not. Remember to eat something before going to bed, no matter how small. Don’t want to have to attend to you because you collapsed trying to get out of bed just because you stupidly prioritized sleep over food.”
“Don’t worry.” Taehyung 's smile is soft around the edges. No matter how much Seokjin looms over him and the other nurses to guarantee that the job is being well done, he always frets over his coworkers the same way he does patients. Always making sure that everyone is well taken care of and doing well. Even if that wellness is just the best they can do and be during a crappy week. He remembers how happy everyone got when they learned that Seokjin was actually married, happily so. To know that this angel that roams the hallways of the hospital has someone to take care of him as Seokjin does for them, was like a wave of relaxation passed through them. If someone deserves love and care and attention, it’s Seokjin. “I know not to do that. Not anymore, at least.”
“You better!” Seokjin props his hands on his hips, “Don’t want to have to take up an extra shift just because you ignored my instructions.”
“Nurse Seokjin?” It’s in that moment that Seokjin is called to look over a patient, their conversation now over.
“I’ll see you later, hyung.”
“See you later, Tae.”
Taehyung looks on as Seokjin is guided on the results of the tests requested on one of his patients before turning around and making his way out of the hospital’s main building, greeting those he walks past that are still on shift.
Regardless of the stress and lack of sleep that can sometimes come with the job of being a nurse due to a bigger situation or just being understaffed, Taehyung very much adores his job. He’s always found himself enjoying the little smiles and ‘thank you’s people offer when they are aided, makes him feel nice to see that even if for just a moment he was capable of making their day better. Taking up a part-time job as a server when he took a gap-year to figure out what it was he wanted to do with his life - whether keep studying or just go fully into the workforce - made him understand that having a positive influence on others brought him a sense of satisfaction with his own life that made him wonder if maybe he could turn this feeling into a career.
And with that, he decided that for him, becoming a nurse would be the right path. It was a lot of studying and work on his internship and residency, but it was all worth it because at least for now, that satisfaction was still there and the happiness he felt once he relaxed and took a look at how his life is going was natural and obvious. And really, what more can you ask for if not for life to feel as if everything is working out?
Taehyung is satisfied.
Or was satisfied might very well be the best way to describe his current situation. Because right now, Taehyung isn’t on the way home for a, hopefully, warm meal, nice shower and comfy bed. No. Right now, he’s cradling a guy he doesn’t know on his lap as he pages one of the registered nurses to say he requires medical assistance. There’s too much blood to take the situation as anything other than an emergency, nevermind the loss of consciousness as soon as the guy came into contact with him. Maybe it was the knowledge that someone that could help was nearby so he could now relax.
“Taehyung!” Came a shout, together with the sound of scrambling feet as the staff came to lift the guy up on a gurney so that they could transport him through the emergency room doors to get him treated and ready for whatever test would be needed to provide the appropriate treatment. “What happened?! Are you okay?”
The questions came but the answers didn’t. He didn’t know what happened. “I’m okay.” He knew at least that.
“Who’s the guy?” The nurse was now guiding him back into the hospital, to check up on him and get some information that could affect the help the guy could need.
“I don’t know. I was just leaving when he started approaching me. Or, well, the hospital. He was approaching the hospital. I was the one that went to him.” Taehyung recalled. “He was limping and looking really bad, so I thought he might need help. There- there was blood, quite a bit, so I called you out rather than try and carry him in myself. Especially with him knocked out.”
“You did the right thing.” The nurse reassured. Nurse or not, suddenly encountering something like this outside of the environment of the hospital, where there is immediate help at hand, is different. “You can go wash up in the showers and then go home. Unless any new information comes to mind, then you’ll have no obligation to stay around. You can go rest, I know you just got off shift.”
As much as Taehyung was valuing the idea of rest just minutes before, now he was more interested in making sure things went well. “No. No, no. No need.” He trusts his peers to take care of the guy, but he doesn’t trust himself to not cling to the moment for as long as he remains away from the hospital. “I’ll gladly take a shower, but I think I’d rather stay around. You know…”
The nurse pats his back, a glint to her eyes showcasing that she understood. “Just don’t overwork. Take a bed to rest up and go to the cafeteria for a proper meal.” Taehyung was no longer listening, just walking inside ready to get some clean clothes and wash up.
And that is how the hours pass.
Taehyung goes on with life while in the hospital, bored but not allowed to work because “It’s not your shift yet, Tae!”
Seokjin was very much not pleased to have noticed that Taehyung had not gone home but instead was wandering around the hospital, trying to waste time while waiting for news from the attendants of the guy he encountered.
A dislocated shoulder, lesions to the face and upper body, a cut on his right leg. His hands were also injured but unlike the remainder of his body, they seemed like defensive wounds, showcasing that it could have been just a bad fight. They’d have to wait for him to wake up to find out more.
And that was taking time. Too much time, in Taehyung’s opinion. He wasn’t worried, the guy was in pain and injured until he found him. That should have tired him out. Combine that with the pain killers, the guy was having a much needed sleep. But the issue was that Taehyng wasn’t. He tried to sleep, but he just kept waking up, the beds at the hospital not the most comfortable for Taehyung. So he kept himself to taking naps, as much as his body and head would allow. He ate, walked around, talked with the staff and patients to check on everything, trying to just fill the time and keep himself in good shape. Or as good as it can be when you confine yourself to the hospital you work at right after finishing your shift.
The guy didn’t have any ID on him, so Taehyung was thinking that maybe he had been jumped and mugged. An awful situation but at least he’s getting help now. Help that Taehyung can now properly participate in.
He took over someone’s shift when they had a family emergency so he was working again. A shorter shift, since the other nurse had already worked part of it, but that’s for the best really. Taehyung feels fine but not to the point of believing he’d be able to manage a whole shift at the moment. But the guy was nice enough to wake up not long after he started working again.
Taehyung thought about how the guy’s timing was just perfectly coinciding with his day. Appears when Taehyung is there to help him, and wakes up when Taehyung is there to watch him do so. He’s changing his IV drip, to get some fluids in his body, when the guy shifts in bed. Taehyung looked over to him, waiting to see if the painkillers had cleared out or if he was waking up.
The second possibility was the correct one.
Taehyung watched as the guy opened his eyes, slowly blinking as he came to consciousness. He glanced over at Taehyung, and then diverted his gaze over the room, figuring out the situation he was in. His eyes seemed to widen, as if gaining clarity of the circumstances and he looked back at Taehyung. Wanting to make sure he was calm, Taehyung gave him a soft smile, a quiet ‘hi’ making its way through his lips.
“How do you feel? Any pain? I can check if we can give you more painkillers now.” Taehyung watched as the guy opened his mouth to speak before a cough came out instead. Taehyung was moving with practiced grace, used to moving around the hospital rooms after years of working there. He took a plastic cup and filled it with water. “Your throat is most likely dry, have some water.” He aided the guy to a more seated position to make drinking easier.
After some struggle and wincing, the guy took the cup and drank it, a sigh escaping him once he was done. He passed the cup back to Taehyung and smiled, “Thank you,” voice hoarse, he looked around once again, “Am I in the hospital?”
Taehyun nodded, “Yes, I encountered you while leaving and brought you in to get you some help. You seemed to be in a bit of trouble.”
The guy simply grinned in response, leading Taehyung to narrow his eyes in response. “You seem to be doing just fine for someone who was attacked. I found you limping around in the back of the hospital, looking close to passing out. Actually passing out. And now you’re here, no name, injured, and smiling.”
The guy laughs lightly before he gives a small bow, the stiffness of his body not allowing for more than that at the moment, “Thank you so much for your care, I truly appreciate it.” He straightened back up and looked at Taehyung again. “I don’t know how I’d be doing right now if you hadn’t come around when you did.”
“What’s your name?”
“Jeongguk.” Was the answer.
“And why did we end up here, Jeongguk? We didn’t find any ID on you, were you mugged? Should we call the cops?” Taehyung made the necessary questions to figure out their next move. They considered calling the police before, but with Jeongguk still asleep, nothing much would come from it, nevermind the fact that Jeongguk could feel uncomfortable facing cops first thing after waking up.
Jeongguk perked up, “No, there’s no need for the police. I’m fine.” Taehyung gave him a doubtful look so Jeongguk made sure to reinstate, “I’m fine, really, don’t worry.”
“It’s my job to worry.” Taehyung countered. “Are you sure, Jeongguk? I won’t force you to talk to them, but you should get help as soon as possible.”
Jeongguk looked behind Taehyung just then, before beconning him closer. “Listen, I really can’t talk to the cops. At all.” Taehyung frowned, “I wasn't mugged, I was fighting.” A lifted brow, “Underground fighting.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.” Was what Jeongguk affirmed, an awkward smile playing on his lips. “If the cops find out I’ll get into trouble. More than I already am in, at least.” He motions down to his body, making a comment of the current state of his body, injured.
Taehyung saw how that would make sense. He’s pretty sure street fighting is illegal and Jeongguk could get in big trouble if found out, but it still felt fishy. “So what you’re telling me is, that all this,” He waved his hand over Jeongguk’s body, “was a result of a fight?” Jeongguk nodded, “Really?” The nodding became more intense. Taehyung sighed. Something felt off but he couldn’t really force Jeongguk to talk neither to the cops nor to him, so he let it go. “Okay then. If that’s the story, that’s the story.”
Jeongguk gave him a big grin, so innocent looking for someone that apparently was a street fighter and was currently laying in a hospital bed, covered in bruises.
Taehyung sighed and went to the foot of the bed to update the chart on how he’d given the patient a new IV drip bag. “I’ll call the doctor to come and do a more thorough check on you and ask more questions. Anything you need, you press that button right there,” he pointed, Jeongguk following the movement with his eyes, “The one with the bell symbol. A nurse will come check on you and see what you need.”
“Thank you.” Was Jeongguk’s soft response. And with that and a last look at him, Taehyung put the chart back down and left to call the doctor.
This truly was an interesting night. It would seem that even thinking the Q-word will bring forth comotion.