Work Text:
Joe and Nicky both worked night shifts at the hospital. Joe as a security guard, while Nicky was a nurse in the ER. They were also married. They would work from 7 PM to 7 AM four days a week, and they were lucky enough that they could work at the same time, leaving them with three full days together. After each night shift, they would meet at their favourite diner and eat pancakes before going home to sleep for a couple of hours. Sometimes Nicky would get there before Joe or Joe before Nicky, but no matter what, they would wait for the other one before eating. This morning, Joe got there first, and he knew from the chatter at work there had been a big accident that night, so it was expected that Nicky would be late.
Betty: "Morning, Joe. You're usual corner is ready for you."
Joe: "Morning, Betty. Thanks. How are things at home?"
Betty: "My Mike, he has been drafted for UCLA. He is growing up so fast."
Joe: "That's fantastic. Congrats, Betty, to you both. You must be proud of him."
Betty: "I'm beyond proud. Mike says I shouldn't fuss, but I can't resist, so tonight I'm going to throw a BBQ for the family. Something Mike can't wait for."
Joe: "One day, Mike will look back on it all and be happy you fussed over him. I know that as a son myself."
Betty: "I hope so. Better get back to work. Call me when you're ready for pancakes. Do you want juice while you wait?"
Joe: "No thanks, I'm waiting for Nicky. As always."
Joe sat down at the table in their usual corner. They had sat at this table for as long as Joe had known Nicky. Next year, it would be seventeen years. Back then, Nicky was just nineteen, while Joe had been three years older. Two shy young people who blushed every time they tried to say something. It was only thanks to Betty that they ended up having a conversation that day. Betty placed a stack of pancakes in front of them, and they started to talk about the best way to eat pancakes. Since then, they never stopped talking together because there was still so much to talk about.
Joe looked out of the window and saw Nicky outside. He was speaking on his phone with someone. Just as Nicky entered the diner, Joe was already waiting at the door ready with a big warm hug and kiss.
Nicky laughing: "Yusuf, you're being silly, so please put me down."
Joe had swung Nicky around.
Joe: "Well, you already knew I was silly when you said yes to marry me. I better do it again."
Joe swung a laughing Nicky around once again before pulling him over to their table in the corner.
Joe: "If you need to talk about the accident, you know I will listen."
Nicky got the look on his face that told Joe everything about the accident.
Nicky: "I know, maybe later. I need to process it first."
Joe took Nicky's hands in his and kissed them.
Joe: "Take the time you need. Do you need me to distract you from your thoughts? I got a great story from my night shift."
Betty placed pancakes, fruit, and juice on the table.
Nicky: "Thanks, Betty. I have been thinking of pancakes for most of the night. The vending machine at work was broken again."
Betty: "And here I thought Joe always made you a packed lunch."
Nicky: "Usual, yes, but our fridge broke down yesterday. We didn't have the time to shop for a fridge or food before work."
Betty: "If you still don't have the time for shopping today, call the diner. Louis is having the night shift here, and I'm sure he will be happy to help. Just say I told him to do."
Joe: "Thanks, Betty. We'll remember that."
Betty turned around when someone shouted her name.
Betty: "Work is calling. Let me know if you need more to eat."
Joe and Nicky promised. Joe then gave Nicky two pancakes before taking two himself. While Joe loved pouring the entire bottle of syrup on his pancakes before adding fruit, Nicky loved eating bananas and Nutella to his pancakes.
Nicky: "Tell me the story from your night shift."
Joe nodded and started to tell but realized he had his mouth full of pancakes.
Joe: "Sorry, I was also a victim of a broken vending machine."
Nicky smiled.
Joe: "Someone tried to smuggle a pony into the hospital disguised as a service dog."
Nicky: "No, you're kidding me."
Joe shook his head.
Joe: "If you don't believe me, ask Bernie. It was him who had to get the pony out of the hospital."
Nicky: "Better start all over. Why was there a pony at the hospital in the first place?"
Joe ate the rest of his pancakes before licking his fingers.
Joe: "A lovestruck teen wanted to impress a girl he is in love with by smuggling the pony into her room. The girl had broken her hip in an accident last week and was missing her pony, so her boyfriend thought bringing the pony to her was a great idea. At first, things were going well until the boyfriend couldn't get the pony out of the elevator. And because he panicked, he pressed the elevator panel's red button, shutting down all the elevators in Block C. He confessed it all on the spot when we got to him."
Nicky: "Poor kid. What did you do with him?"
Joe: "We sent him home with the pony after he had cleaned the elevator. And I also emailed my boss, asking him politely not to take further action against the boy because he seemed to regret it all. Plus, when the girl's father showed up, the boy was clearly in big trouble for taking the pony without asking for permission."
Nicky placed a hand over Joe's hand.
Nicky: "You did the right thing, Joe. Did Bernie agree with you about your decision not to call the police?"
Joe: "Yes, because we have all been young and done stupid things. What I wonder mostly about is how did the boy get the pony to the hospital and into the costume."
Nicky: "Some questions in life will never be answered, but given that we live in a rural area, it isn't unusual to see horses and ponies in town."
Joe: "True. Now that you mentioned we live in a rural area, Owen said we could borrow his cabin this weekend."
Nicky: "Oh, that sounds good. I could use a couple of days under the open sky."
Joe: "So do I."
Nicky smiled before he looked out of the window.
Joe: "Nicky?"
Nicky looked at Joe.
Joe: "The call before. Was it Hannah?"
Nicky: "Yes. She asked if I wanted to go to Africa for a year."
Another reason why they worked so many hours was because they were saving up for their next journey together. They would work for two years and then take a year off unless Nicky was asked to go with Médecins Sans Frontières to a war zone or a catastrophe. If that happened, Joe would also go and work security there. Where Nicky went, Joe would follow and vice versa. It had been so ever since they first started to date. Back then, Nicky was still in medicine school while Joe was a sergeant and moved to town to serve in the army there, while Nicky was born in town. Nicky had planned to move closer to medicine school, but because Joe was on a contract with the military for three years and couldn't move with Nicky, Nicky didn't mind commuting the hour and fifteen minutes it took when they moved in together after only four weeks of dating. Something Joe to this day, was eternal grateful for, that Nicky did. And ever since Joe left the army, he always said yes to wherever Nicky wanted to go because of what he did for Joe back then.
Joe: "Then let's go. People need your help."
Nicky: "Thanks, but it's a group effort."
Nicky looked out of the window again. Joe took Nicky's hand in his.
Joe: "What's on your mind, Sweet One?"
Nicky looked at Joe.
Nicky: "I want this to be our last trip for Médecins Sans Frontières. I want to start the family we have talked about for so long."
Joe: "I love that idea, but I don't think that a diner is the place to have the talk about family."
Joe yawned, which made Nicky yawn, too.
Joe: "Once we have slept the day away, we will talk about Africa and the future."
Nicky: "You have forgotten something. You got an appointment with the dentist at 2 PM."
Joe: "I had hoped you had forgotten all about it."
Nicky stood up and reached out his hand, which Joe took with a smile.
Nicky: "I promise to go with you and hold your hand."
Joe: "Thanks, I'm going to need it."
They looked for Betty, who was talking with another customer.
Nicky: "See you next tomorrow, Betty."
Joe: "And good luck with Mike tonight."
Betty: "Thanks, boys. Sleep well, and remember to call Louis if you need a packed lunch for work tonight."
When they got outside the diner, Nicky snuggled into Joe.
Nicky: "Oh, yes, the fridge. I forgot all about it."
Joe: "I think we should call Louis and deal with the fridge when we got a whole day for it."
Nicky yawned.
Nicky: "Sounds like a plan. I'm tired. Carry me home to our bed."
Joe: "As you wish."
Nicky actually didn't mean that Joe should carry him home because they lived only two minutes from the diner, but Joe threw Nicky over his shoulder.
Nicky, laughing: "Joe, put me down."
Joe: "First, when we reach our bed. Do you mind unlocking the front door?"
Joe turned around so Nicky could do it.
Joe: "Morning, Mrs Henderson."
Nicky looked over his shoulder and saw their neighbour.
Nicky: "Morning, Mrs Henderson. I see that your apple tree has been very productive again this year."
Mrs Henderson: "Morning, boys. Yes, I promised my grandchildren they could have the first apples. And you're more than welcome to have some, too."
Joe: "We would love to. When we get back from the dentist later this afternoon, we will stop by."
Mrs Henderson moved on after telling them they were welcome as always.
Joe: "How goes it with the door? Or are you planning on sleeping on the street?"
Nicky: "It's open. Can I come down now?"
Joe: "Not before we reach our bed."
Joe stepped inside their flat while Nicky locked the front door. Then Joe walked over to their bedroom.
Nicky: "I know you're an incurable romantic, but I need to use the bathroom before I go to bed."
Joe: "Fair point, but know I'm putting you down in protest."
Joe placed Nicky on the floor before kissing him.
Joe: "Once we have slept, I'm going to do something wonderful to you."
Nicky: "Can't wait. Love it when you do wonderful things to me."
Ten minutes later, they lay in their bed. As usual, Nicky was lying in Joe's arms with his back pressed against Joe's chest. Nicky turned his head a bit so they could share a goodnight kiss.
Nicky: "Night, Tereso. Sleep well. I love you."
Joe: "Night, Habibi. Sleep well. I love you."
As usual, Joe didn't fall asleep before Nicky was sound asleep. Then Joe pressed his nose against the spot on Nicky's neck that was reserved only for him before he closed his eyes.