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Ornstein couldn't see Tempest taking care of the patrons currently in the restaurant, so he assumed that today he worked in the kitchen. Tempest always helped out where he was most needed. He said that he quite liked having contact with their patrons, so he didn't want to be stuck only in the kitchen, as much as he enjoyed cooking.
Ornstein didn't take a seat and instead headed to the kitchen, to check how Tempest was doing first. His food could wait. It was much more important to him to see his boyfriend first.
Once Ornstein had entered the kitchen, he expected Tempest to stand at the stove, being focused on cooking but instead he found Tempest sitting on a chair in the corner, face scrunched up in what looked like pain.
“Little Storm, what's wrong?”, Ornstein asked as he hurried over. Tempest was known to be clumsy so maybe he had fallen down and hurt himself. Though he currently seemed to hold his stomach.
“Ah, Ornstein.”, Tempest said, his voice weak and missing any of its usual gusto, “I suddenly got a stomach ache, so I wanted to sit down for a moment...”
“That has been an hour ago and he still hasn't recovered.”, Mrs Breeze, Tempest's mother, chimed in, “Ornstein, maybe you can talk some sense into my stubborn son.”
“I told you it will be fine, Mom.”, Tempest said but Ornstein noticed in an instant that he was not well.
“Little Storm.”, Ornstein said, “If you are having lingering pain, then we should head to the hospital. To at least be sure that it isn't something bad.”
And if it was something bad, they already were at the right place for treatment.
“But... but the restaurant is full today and Mom needs-”, Tempest suddenly interrupted himself and clasped a hand over his mouth, “Oh... being nauseous all of a sudden...”
“You are literally not able to do anything right now.”, Mrs Breeze scolded her son, “Go with Ornstein and let him take you to the hospital. I am not losing my son because he decides to be stubborn about being in massive pain.”
“Your mother is right, little Storm.”, Ornstein said, “Come. If you really are fine, you can go back to work once you are healthy again. Because one thing is for sure, you are not feeling well.”
“...I was really hoping for it to go away...”, Tempest said, hanging his head low, “Alright... I am coming with you. Just... let's take a bucket or so, I am not thrusting my stomach right now...”
“Maybe you have food poisoning.”, Ornstein mused as he helped Tempest up. After they said their goodbyes to Mrs Breeze and snatched a bucket from the closet (just in case), Ornstein helped Tempest to walk to his car and then drove towards the hospital.
“And the pain came out of nowhere?”, Ornstein asked when they stopped at a red light.
Tempest nodded: “Yes... it just was... there... but I didn't feel nauseous at first... only now.”
“Can it really be food poisoning then?”, Ornstein wondered. In his experience food poisoning started with extreme nausea and not pain, that came later. Tempest had expressed surprise about Ornstein being able to get food poisoning because he sometimes ate such weird food combinations that his stomach should be completely immune. Ornstein had told Tempest that food poisoning was caused by bacteria and not bad tastes.
Sometimes it was really fun to “torture” Tempest by requesting food combinations that would even make pregnant people with weird food cravings recoil in horror.
However, it was not the time and place for it right now. Tempest's condition seemed to worsen. He wasn't throwing up, but he seemed to still be nauseous and Ornstein had the feeling that his face was reddened by fever.
“We are at the hospital soon.”, Ornstein said, “And then we'll find out what ails you.”
“Good...”, Tempest said, “Because each minute away from the stove is a wasted minute.”
“Sometimes you really should think about working less.”, Ornstein scolded his boyfriend. Not that he was much better. He sometimes stayed massive amounts of overtime looking through the crime cases to figure out new clues.
It was weird to see Tempest so quiet. As well as seeing him in obvious pain. He was always so active and joyful and never stood still. That was why Ornstein called him his little Storm. Of course he had seen Tempest in pain before but that had been because of accidents.
“I think that is the first time I am seeing you sick.”, Ornstein said as they stood at a red traffic light.
“I have gotten sick in the past.”, Tempest said, “I just got injured more... and most of the time, it was nothing but a cold or a little stomach ache... that is why I thought that...”
“You thought it would go away on its own.”, Ornstein finished the sentence for him, “I made similar mistakes in the past. I have 't gone to the doctor when I felt the first warning signs of an UTI and then regretted it. I thought it would heal on its own but it didn't. It was a pretty miserable week for me...”
“I can imagine.”, Tempest grimaced as he held his stomach, “Oh, ow, the pain is getting worse...”
“We are almost there, little Storm.”, Ornstein said, following the signage to the hospital. Five minutes later they drove into the parking lot. Ornstein organized the parking ticket while Tempest stayed in the car.
“Do you need help walking over to the building?”, Ornstein asked as he came back to the car. Tempest shook his head and then slowly climbed out of the car.
“I didn't know it was possible to have a stomach ache that badly...”, he said.
“It also looks bloated.”, Ornstein pointed out, “As if you ate too much.”
“I have barely eaten anything today.”, Tempest said, “I was not hungry.”
That was a clear warning sign. Ornstein sometimes had days in which he barely could eat stuff because his body suddenly was violently refusing to put anything into his mouth but Tempest never had eating troubles like that. In fact, Ornstein had to explain to him that sometimes he was physically unable to eat for what felt like no reason at all.
Even though Tempest was able to walk on his own, he was slow and so Ornstein slowed down as well to be able to pick him up anytime should it get too much for Tempest. In fact, Tempest asked for help once they reached the main entrance of the hospital which meant climbing some stairs. Ornstein picked Tempest up and carefully carried him upwards the stair then gently sat him down.
“How are you doing?”, he asked. Tempest just shrugged and then went back to hold his stomach. At least he hadn't thrown up yet, though his face looked kinda green, as if it could happen any moment.
Finally they were inside and Ornstein asked for directions to the emergency ward. He was glad that he wore his uniform. Without it, Ornstein was almost incapable of talking to people. In civil Tempest was the one doing all the talking. It probably looked hilarious to people if he, who was over six feet tall, let his small, five feet tall boyfriend do all the talking.
However, Tempest was clearly in pain. Ornstein would have gotten it together and talked to the clerk even if not in uniform. He knew he had anxiety disorder and he knew that he couldn't help it, but he didn't want his disorder to dictate every single part of his life.
“Are you still fine or do you want to be carried?”, Ornstein asked as Tempest stopped on the way. Hospitals were big and ample and it felt like they were walking forever.
“...That would be appreciated, thank you, Ornstein.”, Tempest groaned.
Ornstein didn't need another invitation. He picked his small boyfriend up and carried him until they found the emergency ward. There they only needed to register Tempest with his name, age, gender and what kind of pain he experienced. However, because Tempest was still awake and coherent, they were sent into the waiting room.
“Guess you are not emergency enough for them.”, Ornstein grumbled as he sat down with Tempest.
“I am not bleeding out and I don't seem to keel over.”, Tempest murmured, “Yes, it hurts and I feel bad... but I get why I have to wait. I simply have to rough it out.”
Still... maybe they could give him some pain killers? Ornstein considered standing up to ask someone but he also didn't want to leave Tempest. Maybe he should distract Tempest somehow? But with what? He seemed to be in too much pain to chat much... but then Ornstein's gaze fell on a bunch of coloured pencils and some paper. Clearly they were meant for waiting kids but with no kids around...
He quickly got some and started drawing. The meals that Tempest cooked. Tempest himself. The scenery he could see through the window. Of course with such a limited colour palette it was very very basic, but the process seemed to calm down Tempest and it also distracted Ornstein from his worries.
“I look forward to getting back to my own art.”, Tempest murmured somewhen when Ornstein sketched a stew.
“You don't even know what ails you yet.”, Ornstein said, “And you already think about returning to the stove. I and Mrs Breeze will make sure that you stay in bed until you are healthy again.”
“Then I simply have to work doubly as hard once I am allowed to.”, Tempest murmured.
“And getting sick again?!”, Ornstein said, ready to scold Tempest a little more when his number was called. Ornstein stood up and offered his hand to Tempest. Tempest took it and let himself pull to his feet.
The both of them walked into a small doctor's office where a doctor was waiting for them. Tempest was asked a few questions about his pain. At one time the doctor asked Ornstein what his relationship to Tempest was. Ornstein felt far more nervous than before, a result of the worry about Tempest and having to socialize for so long already. Gladly Tempest answered for him and said that they are boyfriends. Ornstein was allowed to stay for moral support.
The doctor did some tests that seemed to be pretty painful to Tempest but he also wanted to order a blood test. Tempest held Ornstein's hand while he got pricked by the needle. Then the both of them were sent outside again to wait for the result of the blood test.
“...I was so nervous in there.”, Ornstein murmured once they sat on the chairs, “Even though it is you who are sick.”
“It's fine, Ornstein, I know you are not good at this.”, Tempest said, “Asking for the directions earlier probably was your limit.”
Ornstein let his head hang and then slowly nodded. Even though he was wearing his uniform, he was not on duty. He was too aware of it. So his anxiety was starting to take over.
“...So I barely heard anything the doctor said.”, Ornstein admitted, “What is the blood test for?”
“He suspects appendicitis.”, Tempest said and then groaned from the pain, “And I think he's right, that surely would explain the pain. And... everything else. Ouch.”
Ornstein felt his breath stop at the news. Tempest seemed to take this much much better than he did.
“But... doesn't that mean you need surgery?!”
“Wouldn't be the first time.”, Tempest said, “The first time we met I got shot, remember? And honestly, I just want it to be over. It sucks being sick.”
“You are taking this too lax. You are not immortal anymore.”, Ornstein said and then gasping, they shouldn't talk about this in public. They both remembered a past life. A life in a land that had been wrecked by the mistakes from its rulers. A life in which Ornstein had been a knight and Tempest had been...
“I was not immortal, I was dead.”, Tempest replied in a whisper, “Well, undead. But I was not truly alive. We got a second chance, Ornstein, I can live with having surgery.”
“Right, you are right.”, Ornstein took a deep breath. Did his sick boyfriend really just need to calm him down?
“I am sorry.”, he said, “You are really brave about this. I should be too. It isn't even me who needs surgery.”
“If it is appendicitis.”, Tempest said, “It could also be something else.”
Ornstein stopped talking and instead gently stroked Tempest's shoulders. It wasn't too long until they were called in again. It turned out, it truly was appendicitis and Tempest would need to have surgery along with having to take antibiotics against the inflammation. And because appendicitis could easily turn into an emergency, Tempest would have surgery as soon as possible.
Ornstein mentally cancelled all plans he had for today. He would stay in the hospital. Even if he would have to sit in the waiting room and eat food from a shitty canteen, he would not leave until Tempest's surgery was done. He knew that was unhealthy. He knew that he probably should leave Tempest into the capable hands of the doctors but he couldn't.
He would just sit at home and worry himself sick. So he could sit in the hospital instead and at least get answers straight away.
Before he even knew it he had said it aloud. That he would wait. And even though he was told that it would take hours upon hours he insisted on staying. He then was given directions to a cafe that was open twenty-four hours in the hospital. After Ornstein went with Tempest as long as he was allowed to, he made his way there.
And then the waiting started. There wasn't much Ornstein could do. He ordered a cup of tea and some cake and spent hours on this tiny meal. He scrolled through his phone. He updated Mrs. Breeze on the situation. She answered him saying that she was thinking it would have been something like appendicitis and that she very much appreciated that Ornstein would wait but she also told him to not overdo it.
“My Sunshine is strong and I know he can do it.”
That was what stood in her message. Ornstein agreed. Tempest was strong. The strongest person he ever met. The one who had never given up despite dying over and over and over again. The one who had never gone hollow.
Ornstein wasn't strong. He was worrying a lot. He lost his hope and his passion. He couldn't protect his friends or his partner. And here he was sitting, once again, completely unable to do anything to help the one he loved.
All he could do was trust that it would be okay. That it would be fine.
Even though appendicitis was such a common sickness that the surgery for it was considered standard he couldn't stop being nervous. There was always something that could go wrong. Ornstein blamed his anxiety for these thoughts. He knew they were intrusive. He knew he had to ignore them. Tempest would be okay and he knew he would be okay.
Finally, after what must have been hours of waiting, the sun certainly had long gone down in the meantime, a nurse was fetching him.
Tempest was done with the surgery and was about to wake up. He surely would be happy if the first thing he saw was his boyfriend's face and not the cold and empty hospital ceiling. Ornstein followed the nurse without saying a word, fidgeting with his hands. He was brought to a room in which he could see Tempest's lying in a bed, his rusty red hair and small body giving him right away.
Ornstein sat down on a chair next to the bed, looking at his still unconscious boyfriend. It took around half an hour more in which Ornstein barely moved, before Tempest started to stir.
Ornstein had waited for so long already that he had completely lost the feeling of time. He didn't mind anyway, he wanted to make sure that Tempest was alright and then he could go home. He probably would need some time off tomorrow but right at this moment he didn't care about his own health.
A couple more minutes passed while Tempest woke up. Finally he opened his eyes, blinking a few times.
“Little Storm?”
Ornstein's voice felt hoarse after barely having talked for hours. Tempest slowly turned his head until he looked at Ornstein.
“...Have you waited this whole time?”, he murmured.
Ornstein nodded.
“You idiot.”, Tempest said, voice quiet and a little blurry, “You are making yourself sick.”
“I... I had to make sure that you are fine.”, Ornstein said, “I wouldn't have been able to get any rest at home. I had to stay.”
“Not that you are the next one who gets sick.”, Tempest said, “Thank you, Ornstein, thank you for being worried about me.”
Tempest smiled at Ornstein, that big smile that he loved so much. That had stolen his heart the first time around. Even though it wasn't as big as usual. After having surgery, Tempest was pretty worn out.
“Is there anything you need?”, Ornstein asked after a couple of minutes of silence between them.
“That you go home and rest.”, Tempest said, “Oh, and tell my Mom to get me some clothes. That hospital gown is awfully uncomfortable.”
“I will.”, Ornstein said. Though it felt weird to just stand up and leave so he lingered for a while longer.
“You are still here, Ornstein.”, Tempest said after a while.
“...I am going home soon.”, Ornstein said, “Just... just let me stay for a little while longer.”
“...With how you act I wonder who is the one who just had surgery?”, Tempest chuckled. He allowed Ornstein to stay though. It felt nice having him near. As long as he would go home eventually.
It had been nice to wake up in a hospital bed and see a familiar face first. Tempest was sure that his recovery would be a swift one now.