Work Text:
It happened to be a rare day off after a 13 day long string of shifts at the pitt. You had crashed after coming home with Jack yesterday morning and tried to absorb as much sleep as possible. Unfortunately he couldn’t stay long with you as he had to head back to the pitt for a double, covering for someone on day shift.
Normally, you would spend a day off lounging around the apartment and indulge in self-care. This time you had an urge to deep clean the whole place.
You and Jack work a lot and when you're home you guys relax as much as possible before returning to the hospital.
House work gets done but nothing extensive, until today.
Currently you are in the kitchen attempting to declutter and organize the kitchen cabinets. You and Jack collectively had accumulated enough dishes to last a lifetime. Some of it had to go. So, you were hoping to have it done to surprise him when he gets home later.
You just finished three cabinets and opened the next. Wow. You felt like the task was never ending but you had to persist.
You try to reach a smaller box of dishes but can barely reach. Fingertips brushing the box, you finally pull on the end to maneuver it down when suddenly it tips over faster than you expected.
There’s no time for you to brace for the impact and the box of heavy glass dishes falls right onto your head. Fuck that hurts. The dishes crash to the floor shattering everywhere.
The pain radiates through your head, causing tears to brim your eyes. With a shaky hand you reach up to assess the damage.
You lightly touch before flinching hard enough to make the pain pulse. Looking down at your hand and fingers, there’s no blood that you see.
Huh, okay that’s better than I thought. You double–no–triple check the spot to make sure you didn’t miss anything.
You really should head down to the E.R. to have it checked just in case but with no bleeding, it should be fine. Right? Nothing tylenol and an ice pack couldn’t fix. Problem was, you were so focused on the cleaning task that you forgot to do both.
Dating a trauma doctor and being a nurse yourself, you knew you should’ve gone in. Jack would have had a fit had he been here and you would’ve been at The Pitt before you could even blink. He had no shortage of stories of when things like that went wrong.
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Jack had been telling you of a patient who had waited too long to come in for a head injury which had led to irreversible damage. After explaining everything he attempts to drive the point home.
‘𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘺, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺. 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘐'𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭. 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯.’
‘𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵?’ he pleaded with you.
You roll your eyes lightly but smile looking at him ‘𝘐 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘑. 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭.’
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Oh how you wish you had kept that promise today.
You continue cleaning, trying to ignore the slowly increasing throb in your head.
Three hours later, you're feeling worse.
Sharp throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, light sensitivity and sluggish movement are the symptoms that are now raising an alarm to you.
Jack would scold you if he knew you were driving to the hospital in this condition but he's not here to take you and an ambulance is too excessive. You send Jack a quick text that you’re on your way.
After making it to ptmc, you slowly make your way into the Pitt. The blinding, stabbing pain in your head made it difficult to see where you were going.
You walk up to the nurses station area looking for Dana but don’t see her around. You don't see anyone you know around. You check your phone again. No response from Jack. Quickly you send another text hoping he’ll see it soon.
Just then a nurse you don't recognize goes to walk by before you stop him “Excuse me?” you say wincing in pain “would you be able to help me? I just need to see Doctor Ab-”
“What's the issue?” he cuts you off.
You furrow your brows, or try to, at his unfriendly demeanor.“I-um dropped some heavy dishes on my head earlier and the pain is getting worse. I think I might hav-”
“You’re here for a bad headache?” he looks at you, the annoyance clear in his tone.
“No? I just told you I dropped heavy, glass dishes on my head. I also feel dizz-” you’re cut off again.
The guy drops his arms on the counter disinterested “Look lady, I don't know if you can see but look around. Everyone in the room is here for something. I can guarantee you it's all probably worse than a bad headache.”
You're absolutely appalled at his interaction with you. Usually you would put someone like him in his place for talking to anyone like this but you barely have the energy to advocate for yourself in the moment.
“Look nurse…” you try squinting to see his name badge. Bradford. “...nurse Bradford. I understand how the emergency room works but if you could just find my boyfr-” you’re interrupted once again.
“Im not going to find anyone. I suggest you go sit down and wait for your name to be called. If you can't do that then you can leave or I’ll have you escorted out.” he says standing up fully.
Staring at Bradford you know you can't risk getting kicked out and untreated with what's starting to seem like a pretty nasty concussion. You nod “yeah okay” and you proceed to give him your info and make your way to a chair to wait.
god, Jack, where are you?
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It's now been at least two hours and your name still hasn't been called. Your symptoms are getting worse in addition to a full body sweat and light tremors wracking your body. You don't have the strength to ask someone on a wait time or for help.
Lay down, yeah I just need to lay down.
Before you can even finish the thought, you feel your eyes start to flutter close.
You don't even realize you've slumped to the side onto the chair beside you.
You can't keep your eyes open.
The last thing you remember before they finally close is how much you wish Jack was here right now.Then everything goes black.
Lights out.
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Not even 10 minutes later Trinity Santos is doing a walk through of the E.R. Making sure things are running as smoothly as they can in an emergency department
Being on day shift meant you always saw Trinity and after your first few months working, you guys became joined at the hip. She always had your back and you hers.
She’s just about to turn back to the nurses station in search of something to do when she sees a figure in chairs that catches her attention.
It looks like they’re slumped over, awkwardly. She can’t tell if the person is sleeping or potentially needs help. Airing on the side of caution she makes her way over.
She’s not even within 5 feet of the slumped body before she recognizes it’s you. “Shit!” She races over, kneeling in front of you.
After sitting you up as best she can, she quickly assesses you. You’re breathing but not conscious, you’re sweating a lot, your body shaking slightly and there’s a decent sized knot near the top of your head.
“Sweets hey, hey I’m here. Can you hear me y/n?” She’s lightly tapping your face for any kind of response.
The sound of sneakers hitting the floor grabs her attention as Dana rushes over with worry. She had seen your name on the waiting list but that you never made it to a room.
“What happened?” She questions Trinity with worry in her tone.
“I don’t know. I didn’t even know she was here. She was slumped over in the next seat and I thought she was just another patient. Maybe even just sleeping.Her breathing isn’t the greatest but she’s breathing. She’s also been unconscious and unresponsive. Not sure for how long.”
Dana wiped a hand down her face “okay. I’ll get some help and you page Abbot. I’m assuming he has no idea she’s here. Quickly.”
She then grabs a gurney and 3 more residents, Dennis, Samira, and Frank. With their help they get you on and rush you to a room.
As a full assessment and vitals are hurriedly being taken. The curtain is pulled back from the other side “Okay guys, what’s all the commotion in he-“ Doctor Robby stops mid sentence at the sight of you, still. Too Still. Not only are you his best friend's girl, you’re like the little sister he never had.
He quickly rushes over, needing to assess you for himself despite it already being done. Shining his own pen light into your eyes “Pupils reactive. Okay. Why was she even here? Has anyone told Abbot?” He scans the room of his colleagues.
“The intake form said injury to head. No specific cause—but it generalizes it as a bad headache. No symptoms listed. Nothing. Something’s not right Robby.” Dana reads over the form nurse Bradford had filled out.
Trinity chimes in “I paged Abbot but he’s not responding.”
Robby shakes his head “O-okay. Someone find the nurse who filled out that form and I’ll go grab Jack. Trinity…” he looks directly at her “do not leave her side until me or Jack are in this room. Not for a moment. This is your most important patient right now.”
Nodding her head adamantly she moves closer to you. She wasn’t planning on leaving you anytime soon.
“And did we get a head CT ordered yet?” He questions
“Already done. We’re just waiting on them.” Frank answers.
“Page them again.” Robby says frustrated as he goes in search of Jack.
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It had already been a long day for Jack. Not only having finished a long night shift previously but only getting a few hours of sleep before going in for another double.
The only thing getting him through is knowing he’ll be going home to you in a few hours. Although he would’ve preferred to have you wrapped around him in bed right now.
It had been busy for the last few hours and he had no chance to check his phone or sit down for a breather. So, when he sees Robby run in the empty exam room, he braces for the information of an incoming trauma.
“Abbot, brother. Why the fuck have you not been answering your phone or pager?” Robby questions as he catches his breath.
“I don’t know, no one’s tried to call me” furrowing his eyebrows, Jack goes to grab his phone. “It’s been silent all ni-“ he stops short. His phone isn’t in his pocket. Or his pager. He feels around his person and still nothing.
“Umm I must’ve left it somewhere, I don’t know. What’s-” he’s cut off by Robby’s urgent tone.
“Jack, we need to go now. Please.”
The way Robby pleads is enough to cause a sense of dread. He nods quickly and they both set off in a jog back to your room.
Jack moves to enter the room but Robby stops him with a hand on his shoulder. “Before we go in there I have to tell you something and you can’t lose your shit.”
“What do you mean? I’m not promising shit right now "Jack says, attempting to bypass Robby’s hand. He grips Jack's shoulder harder “Jack…”
Sensing there’s more at play here Jack stands still “Who is it Robby…” he questions. There’s a million answers but only a few he feels would provoke this reaction from his best friend. And that’s what scares him.
“It’s y/n. It’s your girl…”
Everything stills. Jack feels like he can’t take the next breath. No. No, not his girlfriend. Anyone but her.
He quickly moves the curtain aside and walks in. The sight he’s met with sends his whole world crashing down.
There you are, his normally bright and bubbly girl whose smile he swears could cure any illness, looking lifeless. Your skin is washed of its normal color, drenched with sweat. You look….gone. The only thing convincing him you’re still here is the steady beat of the heart monitor you’re hooked up to.
“Wh-what happened?… what the fuck happened?” He questions bitterly trying to not let the tears fall.
Trinity recounts the events of finding you, Dana too.
Jack gently holds your head in his hands “I’m so sorry sweetheart. I’m so fucking sorry…” he whispers against your forehead a few tears slip and hit the side of your face.
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An hour later, CT scan done and vitals rechecked, it comes back that you had suffered a severe concussion and due to delayed care, it was presenting at its worst. Hence the profuse sweating and body tremors.
Jack hasn’t left your side since entering the room. Trinity too, sitting in the chair on the opposite side of your bed.
It’s quiet until the silence is broken by a loud voice “I’m not sure why I’m being questioned about random patients. I see a lot every day so I’m not sure what you’re asking of me?”
Jack lifts his head as nurse Bradford walks in followed by Robby and Dana.
Robby points to your intake form and then to your unconscious body. “The form says you helped this woman. My issue is there’s little to no information about what she came in for, what caused it and any symptoms she listed.” he states in a harsh tone.
Bradford looks to where Robby points “Her? She’s still here? Look she came in demanding to see someone and not waiting her turn. She said she dropped something on her head or something but she looked fine. It sounded like a bad headache and I told her that and she wouldn’t accept that answer until I told her security would get involved if she didn’t calm down. What’s her deal no-“ he doesn’t get to finish the rest as Jack rises slowly from his seat beside you.
“Her deal?…” his tone filled with an unsettling anger at what he just heard.
He gets in Bradford’s face “Her deal is that she came in for a severe concussion due to a head injury. Her deal is that instead of receiving any immediate care or empathy, she was sat in chairs for a long ass wait where she became unconscious. Her deal is that you failed to realize you’re the reason a fellow nurse who works here is suffering the aftermath of an injury left untreated. Her deal..”
Jack gets impossibly close “is that she’s my girlfriend. So, assford, I suggest you get the fuck out of my sight and don’t come anywhere near her, her chart, or anything that has to do with her.”
With eyes wide, Bradford silently nods and quickly exits the room.
“FUCK” Jack shouts in frustration, head in his hands.
“Jack buddy it’s-“ Robby starts to say
“NO—no. Don't say it’s okay because it’s not. I wasn’t there for her. She tried calling me. Multiple times. I didn’t have my phone or pager on me. She tried asking for help and got shit. I could’ve saved her this. I could've helped- I could’ve-“ the tears fall freely now, his heart breaking in the process.
Robby brings him in for a hug. “Brother” he tries to console him “she’s here now. She’s breathing. She’s getting the rest she needs and she’s got the best damn doctors on the job. She’s still here and that’s what matters. Blaming yourself does nothing, especially when you couldn’t control anything.”
Jack hugs him tighter and sniffles “Okay. But I’m not leaving her right now. I’m sorry but I can’t work knowing she’s here.”
Robby chuckles softly “I expect nothing less. Don’t worry, we’ve got everything handled.”
With a pat on the back Robby exits the room leaving you and jack alone with the silent hope of you waking up soon.
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Pain. That’s the first thing you feel as you start coming around .
Your body feels like it’s filled with lead. You open your eyes slowly, sticking slightly.
You’re met with dimmed lights.
What?
There’s barely any light except a sliver coming from under the door and through the curtains of the window.
You then notice your hand is heavy. Looking to your right you see him asleep. Jack. Your heart sighs in relief. When did he get here? Your head rolls to the other side to stretch your neck and there you see Trinity. Oh bless her heart, love that girl.
You then realize you’re safe. The pain is still there in your head but you’re not sweating anymore. Your body isn’t shaking like a leaf. And your world isn’t swaying or blurry.
Turning your head back towards Jack you gently squeeze his hand “Jack. Baby wake up”
He stirs slightly, eyes blinking open. He looks up at you, not expecting you to be awake. “Sweetheart, hey. Hey sweet girl.” He gets up quickly laying his hand against your cheek, thumb rubbing back and forth.
“How do you feel? Do you need water? Pain meds? Are you hungry?” He rushes out trying to find out what you need first.
“I’m okay baby.” You say smiling softly at your favorite worrier. “Maybe some water but other than that just you.”
You hear another voice speak up from your left “Hey girl, it’s good to see you awake.” Trinity says squeezing your hand. “ I’ll be back later but don’t hesitate to call any of us. Love you and I’ll text you later” She offers a relieved smile and steps out to return to her shift.
“Seems I’m popular today” you say quietly with a half smile. “I missed you J.”
Jack just stares at you with the same half smile “I missed you more sweetheart. So much…so please believe me when I say how fucking sorry I am for not answering my phone. I-“ the guilt eats at him.
You squeeze his hand as firmly as you can “Jack, it’s okay. I don’t blame you for anything today. So don’t blame yourself either.”
“If you’re up for it can you tell me what happened?” He asks softly
You recount the events from this morning. Dropping the dishes. Forgetting meds and ice. Waiting too long to go in. The interaction with Bradford. Right up until everything goes dark.
“Really it’s my fault for not coming in as soon as it happened. I know I promised I would that ti-“ you’re hushed by Jack's voice.
“No sweetheart. Don’t do that. You may have waited but you came in regardless. You did everything right as best as you could. You’re okay now and that’s all I’m grateful for” he softly kisses your intertwined hands.
“I love you Jack” you squeeze his hand again.
He leans over to give you a soft but firm kiss “and I love you sweet girl. Get some more rest. I’m here now. I’ve got you.”