Work Text:
Joe was making his usual round at the hospital, thinking about what to do on Christmas day, when a noise coming down from the hallway caught his attention. While walking towards the noise, Joe really hoped it wasn't a burglar or drug user searching for a fix because he didn't feel in the mood for trouble. When Joe saw a door, which was usually locked, was open, he placed a hand on his gun.
"Let me see your hands," Joe ordered. "And turn around. Slowly."
"I come in peace. I promise," A voice replied in the dark. "I was searching for the light switch when I knocked over something."
"Stay where you are," Joe ordered. "Got it?"
"Yes," The voice replied. "As I said before, I come in peace."
Joe took his flashlight, and it didn't take long before he found the light switch. When the light was turned on, Joe took a look at the person in front of him. It was a man his age with green eyes, his hair pulled back in a ponytail, holes in his ears, and he wore a nurse uniform.
"Lower your arms," Joe said. "And show me your worker ID card."
The man handed his worker ID card, which said "Nicky Smith". It was a terrible picture of the true beauty standing in front of Joe if you asked him. Joe scanned the ID card and could tell Nicky was working in the ER.
"Here," Joe said as he handed the ID card back. "What are you doing here?"
"Polly, another nurse, hid a birthday gift in here for another nurse named Maxi. I was asked to find it," Nicky replied. "We are going to celebrate Maxi's birthday as soon as we get a break."
Joe nodded as he watched Nicky search for the birthday gift.
"Sounds festive," Joe replied. "So, have you worked here long?"
"Only a year," Nicky replied. "And you?"
"Pretty much the same," Joe replied. "Any luck in finding the birthday gift?"
"Yes, here it is," Nicky replied. "The curse of only being 5 feet and 4.5 inches has struck once again, so I just need to find something to stand on because I can't reach it."
Nicky looked around him to find something to stand on.
"Let me," Joe offered. "I'm taller than you."
"Thanks," Nicky replied with a smile. "Very kind of you."
Joe took the birthday gift on the shelf and handed it to Nicky.
"Thank you," Nicky said with the most beautiful smile Joe had ever seen. "What is the name of my saviour? Just so I can ask Santa to put him on the nice list."
"Joe Jones," Joe replied. "And thanks for the thought."
"You're welcome," Nicky replied. "If you are near the ER today, there will be a slice of cake with your name on it."
"I remember it," Joe replied. "Better get back to my round."
"And I work," Nicky replied. "Nice meeting you, Joe."
"Likewise," Joe replied. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Nicky replied. "Better lock the door again."
After locking the door, Nicky walked in the direction of the ER while Joe looked after Nicky for a moment before returning to his round.
Joe hadn't planned to go near the ER today, mainly because it was Pete's area, but when Pete's wife called and said his mother was going to another hospital, Joe told Pete to go because the ER was near his area and he saw no problems in covering it alone. And there were still four other guards at work, so Joe could always call for help if needed. Pete promised to make it up to Joe.
"Just a moment," Joe said when his phone rang. He was in the middle of eating a sandwich. "Yes?"
"This is Nurse Polly from the ER," Polly replied. "The prison called, and they are bringing two prisoners in who have been fighting. They say they got everything under control, but could I ask you to be here too? We think it will make people feel more secure."
"On my way," Joe replied. "Be there in five minutes."
When Joe arrived at the ER, he saw Nicky sitting at a desk working on something.
"Nicky?" A nurse asked. "Can this be true?"
The nurse handed Nicky a piece of paper, who looked over it.
"No," Nicky replied. "Take a blood sample, and if the numbers are still off, call me."
The nurse nodded before she left. Then Nicky looked at Joe with those green eyes Joe knew he could write poetry about.
"Hi, Joe," Nicky said. "Are you here for the cake?"
"Sadly, no," Joe replied. "Your friend Polly called and asked me to be here when they bring in the prisoners."
"That explains the two rooms being prepped," Nicky replied. "Promise to take care, Joe. I would hate if something happened to you."
Nicky didn't know why he said that. They barely knew each other.
"Promise," Joe replied. "And so goes for you when you are in there."
Joe also didn't know why he said that. They barely knew each other.
"I work with the children," Nicky replied. "So, the only risk I'm in is to catch a cold."
"In a way, it is good to know that you are in no way near the prisoners," Joe replied as he saw police cars and ambulances stop outside the ER. "See you soon, Nicky. Save the cake for me."
It took the better of four hours before the police left with the prisoners. When asked where Joe could find Nicky, he was told Nicky was taking a break. Joe found Nicky sitting at a table in the corner, reading a book. If you asked Joe, there was a look of sadness and loneliness on Nicky's face. It was a look Joe knew all too well.
"Hi," Joe said. "Room for one more?"
"For you always," Nicky replied with the smile, Joe already knew he was in love with. "Or are you here for the cake?"
"You mostly," Joe replied as he sat down opposite Nicky. "Sorry, not used to flirting."
"You're doing very well because I like it," Nicky replied. "Let me get the cake. Do you want coffee?"
Nicky closed his book before standing up.
"No thanks," Joe replied. "Coffee and my stomach aren't the best friends in the world."
"I know the feeling," Nicky replied. "I got tea, or what about water..."
"Tea is fine," Joe replied. "So, I know you like tea and books. Are you sure you aren't English?"
Nicky laughed. It was a beautiful sound if you ask Joe.
"Not slightly. I'm from the Italian part of New York," Nicky replied. "And you? Where are you from?"
"Rotterdam, Holland, but that was a long time ago," Joe replied. "I'm still searching for a place to call home."
Nicky placed the tea and cake in front of Joe. The tea smelled of mint, while the cake smelled of chocolate.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you sad," Joe said. "Not during Christmas."
"You didn't make me sad, Joe," Nicky replied as he sat down again. "I don't know if you believe me, Joe, but I know what you are talking about when you say you're still searching for a place to call home."
Joe took a sip of the tea before he took a bite of the cake.
"I'm gay," Nicky said. "And being gay can cost you everything, even your friends and family you thought would love you no matter what."
Joe stopped eating and looked at Nicky to see if he was lying, but all that was written on Nicky's face was honesty.
"That is why I prefer my cat, Arance," Nicky said. "She doesn't judge me, only when I forget to feed her salmon."
They didn't say anything for a while.
"My story is pretty much the same as yours, Nicky," Joe said. "That is why I work through all the holidays I can. To forget how lonely I'm."
Nicky ran a finger over Joe's knuckles. It was a gentle touch that made Joe feel things he had never felt before.
"I also do the same thing," Nicky replied. "Listen, I still got two hours of work left. Why don't we go to the diner across the street and talk? Spend some time and maybe fight the loneliness together. Or is it a crazy idea, given we barely know each other?"
"I would love that," Joe replied. "But I still got three hours of work left."
"Not a problem," Nicky replied. "I'll wait for you as long as it takes."
When Joe left work three hours and twenty-two minutes later, he doubted if Nicky was waiting, but when he entered the diner, he found Nicky sitting in the corner reading.
"Joe," Nicky said with a wide smile. "You made it."
"Yeah," Joe replied. "Sorry I'm late, but work took longer than planned. Some drunken idiot decided to run naked through the ER naked."
"I know how it feels to work over," Nicky replied. "Come, sit down."
Nicky pattered on the chair next to Joe. When Joe sat down, their knees touched each other because of the small table.
"Maxi texted me about the naked man," Nicky said. "And how you heroically tackled him before he could make it into the waiting room."
"I don't know if I would use the word "heroically" about my work," Joe replied. "I only did my job, as you would have done."
"True," Nicky replied. "But the last time I tried to tackle someone during a football match, I ended up in the mud. Another time, the curse of only being 5 feet and 4.5 inches struck again."
It had been ages since Joe had laughed the way he did right now. It came from deep inside of him and made his stomach hurt in a good way.
"I have never eaten here," Joe said as he took the menu card. "Can you recommend something?"
"Their omelettes are the best in town," Nicky replied. "And so goes for the pancakes."
"I trust you on that," Joe replied. "Let's order something to eat. I'm starving."
"So am I," Nicky replied. "I ate my packed lunch hours ago."
After ordering the food, they sat a bit in silence, exchanging shy smiles.
"This is a good omelette," Joe said, impressed. "Thanks for recommending this place to me."
"You're welcome," Nicky replied. "So, tell me, if you want, when you're not working, what do you use your time on?"
"I know you might not believe it because most people don't," Joe replied. "But I love to paint and write poetry."
"It's their problem if they don't believe you," Nicky replied. "And you're in luck; I love to look at paintings and read poetry. Can I see some of your works one day, Joe?"
Joe stared at Nicky. This was the first time anyone had ever taken an interest in his paintings or poetry.
"Uhmm," Joe said. "I got my sketchbook in my backpack."
"Please, Joe," Nicky replied. "I would love to see your work."
Joe handed Nicky his sketchbook. While Nicky looked through the sketchbook, Joe thought about how fast he could get out of there if Nicky didn't like it.
"You're truly gifted, Joe," Nicky said with an honest smile. "This one is my favourite."
Nicky turned the sketchbook around and showed Joe the sketch of two fennecs with their tails intertwined, sitting on a dune watching the sun going down.
"I love fennecs ever since I saw one in Egypt," Nicky said. "Ten years ago, I travelled through North Africa. I always wanted to go back again."
"I also saw fennecs as a child in Tunis," Joe replied. "But unlike you, I never saw any reason to return after..."
Joe stopped speaking for a moment.
"I would rather not speak about it since it's Christmas," Joe said. "It's too depressing."
Nicky closed the sketchbook and placed it on the table before he ran a finger over Joe's knuckles. The touch was still as gentle as it had been back at the ER.
"I understand and respect it," Nicky said. "We save the ghosts of the past until we are both ready to talk about them."
"Sounds like a plan," Joe replied. "So, what do you do after work?"
"I love my books and baking," Nicky replied. "And then, I also use a lot of my time helping young people at the youth centre. I'm the one who has the sex talk with young gay men and helps them with tests, condoms, and whatever they need."
"That's admirable, truly," Joe replied. "I wish there were more like you in the world."
"Thanks," Nicky replied with a shy smile. "And please don't laugh, but another thing I love is Japanese manga - especially Hayao Miyazaki's works."
"I have to admit I don't know what you're talking about, Nicky," Joe replied. "The only thing I love from Japan is my Nintendo."
Nicky found his phone and showed Joe pictures from Hayao Miyazaki's movies.
"Oh, he is great," Joe said. "Maybe I should see one of his movies one day."
"I promise you won't be disappointed," Nicky replied. "What else do you do besides poetry and painting?"
"Trying to get my old Buick Skylark from 1970 to drive again," Joe replied. "My plan is to rebuild the car from scratch and then take her on a road trip throughout Europe one day."
"I have to be honest with you," Nicky replied. "I don't know anything about cars."
"That's okay," Joe replied. "If you want, I can show you the car one day."
"I would love, too," Nicky replied. "Now, I want to hear your honest opinion about my chocolate cake."
"You baked that?" Joe asked, and Nicky nodded. "That was a bloody great cake. The best I had in years."
Joe praised Nicky's chocolate cake, and he hoped to taste more of Nicky's baked goods one day. Then they talked about their favourite bands, and both agreed they didn't like "Last Christmas". They talked for hours, and slowly, they both realized that finding someone who understood the other one felt so good. They laughed at each other's terrible jokes.
"I'm sorry, Nicky," Minnie said. She was working at the diner. "But we're closing in five minutes because of Christmas."
"That's okay," Nicky replied. "Merry Christmas to you, Minnie."
"Merry Christmas, Nicky," Minnie replied. "And to your friend, too."
A couple of minutes later, they stood out on the street.
"Listen, Joe," Nicky said a bit nervously. "I was wondering, do you want to come over for Christmas dinner? I would really love to talk with you some more because it feels so good. I understand if you say no because of other plans."
"I would love to eat Christmas dinner with you," Joe replied with a yawn. "I just need to sleep first."
"So do I," Nicky replied. "Could I ask for your number so I can text you the address?"
Nicky held out his phone with a shy smile. Joe took the phone and added his number to Nicky's contact list.
"Here you go," Joe said. "Should I bring something?"
"Just you and maybe a bottle of wine," Nicky replied. "I eat at 7 PM."
"More than fine with me," Joe replied with a smile. "See you there, then."
"Yes, we do," Nicky replied with a smile. "Can't wait."
When they walked home, they both hoped that maybe they got their biggest Christmas wish fulfilled: a new friend who could help with the loneliness they both were struggling with. What they didn't know on that day was that with time, their blooming friendship would involve into something more beautiful - namely, a love they only dared dream about.