Chapter Text
It was about 10 P.M.
The front desk was being handled by Security, who seemed to be handling the bizarre anomalies well enough, considering the taser and gun were both still full/charged and ready.
The Head Nurse was responsible for the more difficult shifts, such as when there were ambulances - or when they were expected to arrive - and late nights when others needed sleep. She was currently dealing with a person in Room 6, pressing the buttons according to the pattern...
Blue, pink, yellow, pink... She pressed all four and waited by the computer to receive the data.
Dehydration... Low blood sugar. That was easy enough, she just needed an IV drip and some maple syrup. After this the cat planned to go to room 8 and complete the surgery expected there.
She picked up the syrup, holding it in one paw as she looked around.
There were two hiders waiting by Room 7, as the Head Nurse paused, before walking up to them to aggravate them, and then outwalk them.
Once that was done, she managed to get the IV drip and treat the patient in Room 6, when Security shouted out to her.
S: "There's a fire in Room 3, can you handle that please?"
HN: "I've got it!"
There was no one in the room, and for that matter, no source for what caused it, but she managed to get rid of the fire...
Finally.
No more distractions! She could handle the person in Room 8 and then Room 7.
...
Room 8 was empty.
The Head Nurse's ear twitched slightly.
No, someone was definitely in there earlier. She remembered the vivid red glowing light signalling someone was in there.
Even now she could hear something, someone, moving in there. But she was supposed to be the only one handling the patients... It was only supposed to be the Head Nurse and Security here, so who would be in that room?
Her paws reached for the taser in her pocket, her white fur prickling up in slight fear, but she was used to this, right?
Well... Not to an anomaly treating a patient, but... She's seen most of these things before, so there was nothing to worry about...
The Head Nurse opened the door sharply, holding out the taser, only to see...
A certain colleague whose nurse hat was peeking out from behind the table she was trying to hide behind.
The Head Nurse let out an audible sigh, her body's tension melting as she walked over to the table, resting a paw on the Nurse's hat, making the other jolt up.
HN: "You're supposed to be at home. What do you think you're doing here at this hour?"
N: "W-Well- uhm- I heard that you were missing someone today b-because they were sick so I-"
HN: "And you didn't ask to stay for their shift?"
N: "Well- I did... Uhm- and they said I could if you were struggling..."
HN: "... You could've told me that you were going to help me this shift."
The Head Nurse watched her tail flop between her legs, as the cat sighed, putting a paw to her fuzzy face...
HN: "You're not in trouble. I'm just... Annoyed, since you scared me."
The Nurse looked up to her, hopeful, as the other turned away, ignoring the purring building in her throat, her ears going back in annoyance. She had to ignore her colleague's puppy dog eyes... Before feeling the other's paw tap her shoulder.
HN: "Hm?"
N: "Security's calling you."
The Head Nurse looked over to her, before realising Security actually was calling her, as she ran out of the room and to Security, who stared at her with a raised brow.
S: "I was just calling you for coffee..."
HN: "Ah- right, thank you."
Would've been nice for the Nurse to tell her it wasn't urgent matters...
... Coffee.
If the Nurse had been here for so long unaccounted for... How was her sanity?...
The Head Nurse stared into her reflection in the cup, the grey splotches of fur patterned around her face, and her naturally tired looking eyes...
She groaned to herself, before clearing he throat.
HN: "You know the Nurse is here, right?"
S: "Oh, yeah, of course, she'd come here about 10-ish minutes before your shift started."
Of course he knew without telling her...
HN: "And she's been getting coffee too?"
S: "Come to think of it... I don't think she has. I can make one for her now, if she won't come by herself."
HN: "... Right, I'll bring her by."
The Head Nurse seemed more irritated now, sipping her coffee as she walked down the halls, to Room 7, where the Nurse was finishing treating someone and they were healing up.
She grabbed the other by the collar of her shirt, hearing the dog yelp as she herself huffed, dragging the Nurse to the Front Desk.
N: "What was that for?..."
HN: "Tell me what your sanity is at, Nurse."
The authority in her tone made the Nurse freeze, the other watched her freeze up.
N: "... 32?..."
HN: "Stars... Did you plan on just fainting or dying on us?..."
N: "I just forgot, okay? That's all-"
HN: "Don't say that you just "forgot". That's practically impossible, you can feel it draining lower, so don't give me any excuse."
She hissed. The Head Nurse seemed quite upset that her colleague had been ignoring her own health for the sake of helping patients.
Ron from Accounting was just staring at them, awkwardly, as was Security, as this was happening right outside the door of the Front Desk. The Head Nurse didn't care, as she dragged the Nurse again, to the coffee machines.
HN: "Drink. Now."
N: "Fine... Jeez..."
The Head Nurse's ears were back with anger, as she glared at the Nurse.
The Nurse drank the coffee, all of it, as she sighed, before the Head Nurse took off the Nurse's hat.
N: "Hey- wait- what are you doing?"
HN: "You need to go home. Sleep. Your next shift is tomorrow morning, is it not?"
N: "I... Yes, Head Nurse. It is."
HN: "Security, what time is it?..."
S: "It's closing time now anyway, Head Nurse, it's 11:30 P.M."
HN: "Thank you."
She took off her own hat, holding both of them, but instead of dragging the Nurse, bringing her along by her paw.
HN: "How are you getting home?"
N: "... Bus?"
HN: "Bus? The buses don't run past 11 P.M. Nurse."
N: "I know... I just took the bus to get here, I was probably going to sleep near the hospital until-"
The Head Nurse unlocked her car, staring at the other, as her eyes widened. She wasn't suggesting... Right?
HN: "Come on, get in. You can sleep at my house for tonight."
N: "No- that's too much- you can just go home, I'd be alright, I swea-"
Before she could protest further, the Head Nurse gently pushed her inside the car and closed the door and getting in herself, turning on the engine.
HN: "D'ya want to play some music? I'm open to anything."
She turned around, seeing the coral dog being slightly flustered, her darker pink ears seeming to be a bit warm, as condensation built up on her side of the car.
The Nurse looked a mess, but that was cute. She seemed so embarrassed just for needing help. Not like she would've taken it if the Head Nurse didn't force her to.
On the way home, the Nurse put on some of her own music, and they found they had somewhat similar music taste.
It was nice.
When they got to the driveway, the Nurse just stared up at the house. It was big - for the Nurse's standards anyway.
It was raining outside, so they both got a little bit soggy. The Head Nurse suggested they both take showers, and the Nurse agreed. She was given the option to choose between one of the Head Nurse's pyjamas, whatever she wanted...
She didn't care too much, just grabbing whatever was closest, as the Head Nurse watched her.
...The Nurse could've sworn her colleague's eyes were... Less dilated, the last time she checked...
The Head Nurse had her shower in her own room, while the other showered in the separate bathroom...
Her sensitive ears could hear thee Head Nurse's hairdryer blowing, as she herself got out of the shower and shook herself off.
They were required to have small - or no - tails for the job of being a nurse, and such tail could be hidden away so as to not be a bother... The Nurse's tail was very small, and neat, but since it was soggy, it was dripping on the floor, as she dried that next, before getting into the pyjamas.
It was a bit loose on her, she could feel the breeze through the shirt, as she shivered slightly, before returning to the Head Nurse's room.
The Head Nurse's pupils dilated again as soon as the Nurse entered, before the Head Nurse patted beside her on the bed.
N: "So, where am I gonna sleep?"
HN: "Here. In my bed, with me. You're visibly quivering and I don't want you catching a cold."
N: "But that's-"
HN: "Doesn't matter, lie down and sleep, pup."
N: "Huh?-"
HN: "... Apologies- Simply just a slip up, you should get some rest... I think I need some too..."
The Head Nurse seemed embarrassed by what she'd called the Nurse... It was inappropriate and probably breaking boundaries, impolite too.
The Nurse was confused, more than anything, but she lay down in the bed, curling up slightly, as she felt the Head Nurse's body slip in beside her.
... They were in the same bed.
They were planning on sleeping together in one bed. As "colleagues".
The Nurse could feel the Head Nurse's every twitch, every breath. Nothing about this was just colleagues.
She slowly flipped around to face the Head Nurse, who was half asleep just beforehand, now startled, (she felt her jump and make the bed springs bounce slightly,) stare back at the Nurse.
They stared at each other for a bit, before the Nurse just... Kissed her - on the cheek, anything more than that might be a bit TOO much - as she heard the other purr, before kissing her on the cheek, and nuzzling into her chest.
HN: "Please sleep now, Nurse."
N: "Mhm... Good night..."
This is a problem for tommorrow.
They'll talk about it tommorrow...