Chapter Text
It started how it usually did, with a call to the front desk. This wasn’t the line for warm-hearted families looking to add one more to their home. No, it was the medical line, which only rang as a warning of sorts. Soon a new resident would be entering their lives, most likely in a heart-breaking state and in need of a lot of love and care. That was the main purpose of the hybrid rehabilitation center after all.
The phone only rang once before Taehyung picked it up, he didn’t even get the greeting out before a frantic voice started speaking.
“Code 13, spiking fever, unstable vitals. ETA 6 minutes. We’ll need a cooling suite ready on arrival. We’ve started fluids.”
“Confirmed! We’ll have the emergency entrance ready for you.” Taehyung hung up quickly, ripped his scrawled note with all the information, and ran towards the emergency entrance. He popped his head into the staff room and only had a second to glance at Namjoon and Hobi standing by the coffee machine. “Code 13 coming in hot! We need the cooling suite setup!” Taehyung ducked out without waiting for a response and started running again, tail whipping behind him.
Taehyung reached the entrance and propped the doors open, checking the area was clear. He could hear the siren getting closer and started prepping a gurney and IV stand. Namjoon arrived behind him and immediately helped him set the wheels. “Hoba is getting the room ready. Did they give you any more information on what to expect?”
“They started saline, but not much more details. A fever spiking and a code thirteen…” Hybrid mutilation, it hung in the air between them as their hands worked to get as much ready as possible, rolls of bandage being prepared in case they’re needed.
“That’s a grim prognosis.” Namjoon’s brow furrowed and his ears fell flat against his head.
It was a gross practice in a world where humans were able to get away with such things, where hybrids were frequently treated as lesser, and “cutting” for aesthetics still wasn’t called what it should be. But neither of them had time to dwell on the sad state of things, the ambulance pulled up to the doors and they were pulling the back door open.
The paramedic in the back started to wheel the patient out. It was just a teenage boy, with what would have been attractive boyish features marred by his face clenched in pain. His shirt was cut open at the top and a bag of ice sat on his chest and a wet towel on his head. Any help to get his body temperature down was needed. His lymph nodes were noticeable swollen on his neck and his face flushed. The distinct lack of ears on his head was just as telling as the putrid scent that plumed around him. The odor alone indicated he was already one foot in the grave.
Namjoon stuck the heart monitor onto his chest and replaced the ice bag, and Taehyung clamped the oxygen monitor to his finger. “No bleeding?” Namjoon glanced up at the paramedic, as the three of them rushed the gurney inside.
“No, we think it’s an old case. Healed over. The smell is a dead give away though.”
Taehyung nodded, as the doors pushed open. Hobi and Jin were working around the cooling chamber, “It’s ready, let’s get him in.”
Namjoon and Jin lifted the boy up and slid him into the chamber. If they could just get his fever down, they might be able to save him. Taehyung brushed the boy’s hair off his face. They would just have to pray now.