#the emts came in and asked me some questions and checked me out and i was 100% fine

[coweggomelet]

i’ve got a funny story about passing out actually

i was in i wanna say 7th grade health class and all of a sudden my lower back starts hurting really bad. i don’t know what’s causing it, just that it hurts, so i leave to go to the nurse

i get ten steps down the hallway and all of a sudden my ears start ringing really loud, i can’t see very well, and i feel all wobbly. this obviously means i’m dying, or spontaneously getting cancer, or something equally bad. and because everyone’s in class still, i’m in an empty hallway, leaning against the wall cause i feel like im gonna fall over

after a moment, i realize that im going to lose consciousness. i don’t think of it in terms like that cause i’m 12 but i know something bad is happening, and that something bad (i.e. death, horrible illness, or extremely premature heart attack) happening in an empty hallway where no one will see or help me is also bad

so, brilliantly, i think “i’d better go back to my class, where there’s a teacher”. i turn around, clinging to the wall with both hands as i continue to fade, my vision nearly gone, ears ringing like a bomb just went off next to me, fighting off the faint as much as i can. somehow, i get to the door of my classroom, and despite barely being able to see basic shapes and colors, i open it

at this point, i’m clinging onto a tiny handheld of consciousness with a quivering pinky. i had used all of my 12 year old willpower to get myself here, and now that i’d opened the door, i was around people and could let go

so i take one step through the door and fall flat on my face on the classroom floor. i was unconscious before i hit the ground

according to reports, everyone in my class immediately freaked out. id walked out to go to the nurse, and barely a minute later had walked back in and taken a nosedive onto the linoleum. my eyes had even rolled back in my head

naturally most of my classmates came to the conclusion that i had died in front of them

i regained consciousness, mostly lucid, after like 20ish seconds to a classroom full of several crying girls, a couple boys freaking out, and my health teacher standing at the front of the room looking like someone had hit him in the stomach with a bat

i was not allowed to even sit up, which i found very annoying. nobody listened to me when i said i was fine. i was also not allowed to walk to the nurse, which was even more annoying. my health teacher had one of the boys from my class fucking wedding style carry me down to the first floor where the nurse’s office was while another boy held the door for us

my mom came and got me and i was perfectly fine, the pain had even gone away

and that, folks, was my first ever period

Feel free to tell me more about it

[zegrasdrysdale]

“who did this to you?”

with jamie drysdale

part of the 1k celly event

summary : after an encounter with an ex that leaves her with some bruising and feeling unsafe, she finds herself in Jamie's apartment, where her best friend is there for her like he always is

warning(s) : mentions of abuse / an abusive event, a past toxic relationship, oc made up for the plot

author’s note : i felt v inspired to write something for jamie so here y'all go

༺──────────────༻

She shouldn't have come out tonight. That's the only thing she can think of as she sits on the back of an ambulance. Her friend is talking to authorities while her face, wrist, and hand get checked out. Her ex-boyfriend is cuffed and being put in the back of a police car.

Her cheekbone stings and she can barely see out of her left eye. Her wrist is sore from landing on it awkwardly when she fell, and her hand hurts from being able to land one punch in self defense. She spoke to the same authorities as she was making sure her hand wasn't broken from that punch she landed.

The officer she spoke to made it clear that she wasn't in the wrong. He started everything when he came up to her and harassed her. She gave him several chances to walk away when he approached her. All she did was gently push him away from her when he got too close, and he started going off on her. That's how she ended up with a bruised face, busted up hand, and sore wrist.

It was all worth it though because she's been waiting for her asshole ex to finally go to jail for what he did to her during their relationship. She has all the pictures and proof they would need to put him away for awhile when she sends it to authorities.

For now though, she needs to go home and shower. She feels gross since her ex put his hands on her. Plus, a warm shower sounds like a dream.

Her friend comes over to her when she's done talking with the officer. The EMT looks between them as he finishes up his exam.

"I don't see a reason to go to the hospital tonight," he explains. "The cut on your cheek is superficial so it doesn't require stitches. I don't suspect any broken bones but if things feel like they're not getting any better by next week then head to an Urgent Care or the emergency room. Your neuro function is intact so I don't suspect brain injury. Ice and heat on your wrist and hand, and maybe even ice your cheek and eye to keep swelling down. Over the counter meds like Ibuprofen should be strong enough to keep pain at bey but again, if it gets too painful or things don't improve, seek medical help. Any questions?"

Both girls shake their heads. "Thank you," she tells the EMT. "Glad I'm not going to the hospital tonight."

The EMT packs up the medical kit. "I wouldn't drive until the swelling around your eye goes down," he suggests.

"I drove us here today so no worries," her friend replies. "Thanks for checking her out and keeping her out of the hospital."

He nods and the girls head to the car. She looks at her friend as they approach her car. The duo get in and heat immediately greets both of them as soon as the car is turned on. She hums at the warm air. It was too cold outside in her tiny dress and now broken heels.

She looks out the window as the police car with her ex drives off.

Her ex-boyfriend is probably not happy that he's going to jail, but he'll probably get out on bail until whatever happens next. The thought of him getting out of jail makes her stomach do somersaults. She gets very nervous going back to her apartment all by herself.

As her friend pulls out of the parking lot, she asks, "Can you drop me off at Jamie's instead of my place?"

"Yeah, sure," her friend replies. "Don't feel like going back to your own apartment?"

She shakes her head and looks out the window at the passing buildings. "I don't feel very safe going there by myself," she explains. "Security isn't exactly the best."

"I get it. I'll take you to Jamie's. I was thinking about doing that for the same reason."

The car ride gets quiet after that comment. She plays with her fingers and rubs her wrist when it gets too painful.

She thinks back to the events of the night and thinks that maybe she provoked him. She did shove him away from her so maybe it is her fault that she ended up in this position. It's always her fault anyway. It was always her fault when they were together so why would now be any different?

It wouldn't be any different.

Fifteen minutes after they leave the bar, the car pulls up to Jamie's apartment building. She thanks her friend for the ride and gets out. Shaking from the cold and the night's events, she pushes the buzzer to his apartment.

Hopefully he lets her in because it's kind of late. She has to push the button for a second time and slowly begins to lose hope that he's up.

"Who is it?" Jamie's voice suddenly comes from the intercom.

"It's me," she replies. "It's cold. Can I come up?"

The door in front of her buzzes and she lets herself into the building. She takes the elevator up to the fifth floor. She makes her way down the hallway to Jamie's apartment.

She only has to knock three times before the door swings open.

Jamie's eyes widen as he takes in her appearance. The sight of him is enough to make her lip wobble as she holds back tears. He reaches up and gently cups her face. His thumb grazes the cut on her cheek.

"Who did this to you?" he asks, voice soft. "Oh my God."

"I'm okay," she tells him. "Bruised and in a little pain but I'm okay. No broken bones, no concussion. It was Evan. I went out tonight with a friend and he was there and he-" She cuts herself off. "He got too close and I pushed him away and he attacked me."

"Come here."

He pulls her into his arms and envelopes her in a hug. She buries her face in his chest, ignoring the sharp pain that accompanies her action. Her tears begin to flow, wetting his t-shirt.

The door shuts behind her. Jamie's fingers run through her curls as he just holds her.

Neither of them speak, but his hug is enough to make her feel safer than she ever has. Since their breakup, she's been terrified that Evan was going to pull something like this. She never got a restraining order because that meant she would've had to actually file a report, and that would've only pissed him off.

Being here with Jamie though, she feels incredibly safe. His arms are her home. They've always been her home. She's always wanted them to be her home.

"Let's get you changed and into bed," Jamie says. "I'm sure you want to get into something more comfortable. Plus, you look a little cold. and my bed is nice and warm."

She pulls back and looks up at her best friend. Jamie reaches up to gently dry her cheeks, avoiding the cut and bruises on her face. She leans into his touch and Jamie doesn't move his hands. She wishes she could see out of both her eyes because all she wants to do is look at Jamie.

Feelings have always been there for him. She's had some kind of feelings for Jamie for years, but it was recently when she realized that she loved him. The only place she wanted to be was here after Evan attacked her at the bar.

Her first thought when Evan was landing punch after punch was how much she wished Jamie was there to protect her. He probably wouldn't have gone after her had Jamie been there.

"Thank you for letting me crash here," she whispers. "I know it's kind of a burden with your schedule-"

"You'll never be a burden," Jamie interrupts. "You could've shown up here at three in the morning on a game day and I'd still be up and opening the door for you. You're more important than hockey, and you always will be."

Her vision gets blurry all over again as she looks up at him. "I don't deserve you," she tells him, voice cracking in the process. Jamie tries to say something but she shakes her head. "I don't, Jamie. You've always been here for me despite your crazy life. You've always made time for me no matter where you are or what's going on in your life."

"Because you're my best friend," he explains. "And I-" Jamie cuts himself off, shaking his head. "You're more important than anything that's going on in my life."

The tears fall over and roll down her cheeks. Jamie's thumbs wipe them away. "Really?"

"Really," he softly tells her. "I would drop whatever I was doing to make sure you're okay. I mean it, okay. I'd even leave practice if you called and said you needed me somewhere, even if it meant that I got benched the next game. It kills me that I wasn't there to protect you tonight. I could've prevented this."

That's what she's wanted to hear. She's been waiting for those words to pass his lips. "I wanted you there tonight," she admits. "All I wanted after was you. Jamie, I wish you could've been there to protect me, but you're protecting me now by letting me be here."

He tucks a loose curl behind her ear. "You're welcome to stay as long as you want," he tells her. "Stay until you feel safe going back to your apartment by yourself. Hell, I'd be okay if you moved in if that would help you feel safer."

She nods and sucks on her bottom lip. "Thank you."

"That's what I'm here for," Jamie whispers. "Let's go get you changed, okay? We can talk more when you're more comfortable. I'll go grab you something to wear from my closet."

She nods for a second time and Jamie lets her go to go get her some clothes. Her eyes follow him before her feet begin to move. She follows him into his bedroom and he digs through his closet to grab something for her to sleep in. She leans against the doorframe.

Jamie tosses a t-shirt and pair of gym shorts onto the bed. "I'll let you get changed," he tells her. "Come out when you're done and I'll make you something to eat or get you a snack. Whatever you want, okay?"

"Okay," she agrees. "Thanks."

He nods and pushes past her to leave the room. She grabs his wrist as he walks by. Jamie stops in his tracks and looks at her, eyebrows raised in question.

Without an exchanged word, she pulls him toward her gently. Jamie looks down at her while her eyes scan his face. She reaches up and cups his stubbled jaw, tracing his cheekbones with her thumbs. Her heart races in her chest as she gets on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek, dangerously close to the corner of his mouth. She lingers longer than she should before she pulls back and flattens her feet.

Seconds seem like hours as the two of them look at each other in the doorway of Jamie's bedroom. Neither of them have moved in a little bit. She doesn’t think she wants to move at this point.

Jamie makes the first move though. He returns the same cheek kiss and she closes her eyes, taking in his touch. She turns her head before he can pull back. His face is super close to hers, and he doesn’t move.

He mumbles something then crashes his lips to hers in a kiss that makes her head spin. Her fingers slide into his hair and cradle the back of his head.

She used to dream of his kisses when her feelings for him started to develop years ago. She had sweeter dreams where they would share soft kisses. There also were dreams where she would wake up and need a cold shower to calm herself down.

This is nothing like those dreams. She imagined their first kiss thousands of times, but she never imagined it would happen like this. It’s soft, yet heated. He’s being so careful not to hurt her.

That’s Jamie Drysdale.

The kiss is short, but it makes her want more. Just not tonight. It’s already been a long night.

“Get some sleep,” Jamie tells her. “I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

“Stay.”

“Not tonight. I want to make sure you’re safe first.”

“I’d be safer with you here with me,” she admits. “Don’t sleep on the couch. Stay with me. Jamie, please.”

He thinks about it for a second before he nods. “Okay. I’ll stay.”

If Jamie is going to do anything, it’s be there for her. He’s always there for her, no matter what.

And that’s what she loves most about him.

༺──────────────༻

MASTERLIST | 1K CELLY EVENT

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[thebeast-dennis-etcetera]

Dream Fever

Gibbs X Reader One-Shot

Prompt: You have a dirty dream about Gibbs and try to play it cool.

Mentions: Sexual acts, death

Mostly angst/tension/no smut

————

Anxiously, you tap your pencil on your desk, grabbing the attention of Bishop and McGee.

“Y/N? You good? You’ve been pretty distracted all morning,” McGee asked, concerned.

“Yeah I’m fine. Just a little too much coffee I guess.”

Except you weren’t fine. You were busy replaying last nights dream in your head. The dream that included a certain grey haired agent. The reason for the dream?

It could’ve been the way you saw Gibbs interrogate your suspect yesterday. Or the way he walked into a room like it was a runway show. Regardless, it was keeping you from doing your job correctly and you weren’t sure you’d even be able to look your boss in the eyes today.

“Grab your gear. Dead Naval officer in Norfolk,” Gibbs spoke, walking into the bullpen and grabbing things from his desk. Quickly, you grabbed your bag and practically raced into the elevator before anyone else could accompany you, let alone Gibbs.

You chose to sit in the back seat with Bishop on the car ride there but couldn’t help but steal glances at Gibbs through the rear view window. He only caught you looking twice, both times, you immediately looked out the window, a redness forming at your cheeks.

“Hey, what’s up with you,” Bishop asked as you two walked toward the crime scene, McGee and Gibbs walking ahead, out of ear shot. You were pretty close with Bishop, you two sharing a lot of commonalities so you decided to tell her.

“I had a dream about Gibbs last night and it won’t leave my head.”

Her jaw dropped and she had to keep herself from laughing out loud.

“Shut up Ellie. It’s not funny. I can’t even look at him in the eye.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry. But why Gibbs? Is he your type?”

“I don’t know. Something about his tough yet caring exterior just seems to do something for me. You know I’m into older men.”

“True. What was the dream about?”

“Well he called me into the elevator for some reason and then did the whole stopping it in between floors. There wasn’t much talking but a lot of kissing and-

“Hey! You two done gossiping over there?!” Gibbs yelled, causing the both of you to rush over. He gave you a stare that you completely avoided by staring at the floor and eventually walked over to the cop that called in the death.

“So you said you there was a witness that might’ve saw the suspect fleeing?” You asked.

“Yeah, she said it was a guy wearing a black hoodie and jeans. Didn’t get a good look at his face though.”

Just as you were about to ask another question, you felt the presence of Gibbs standing right beside you, overwhelming your senses and making you completely lose your train of thought.

“Where is she so we can ask her a few questions,” he asked for you.

“Getting checked by the EMT’s. I guess your guy also tried attacking her as well once she saw him.”

You followed behind Gibbs, appreciating that runway walk he had and let him do all the talking with the witness as you just wrote everything down and occasionally gave him a once over.

Back at the squad room, you all began gathering all of your evidence when you found something interesting.

“Hey McGee. What non profit did you say our Petty Officer donated to?”

“Um, just WWF and PETA once a month. Why?”

“Well I was looking through his financial records and found a reoccurring payment starting in July to a Riker Humanitarian Organization.”

Both McGee and Gibbs came over but Gibbs decided to lean over your shoulder to get a better look at the computer screen, hand supporting himself right beside yours. You never really noticed how big his hands were until now and found yourself staring at them, remembering how they caressed and squeezed your body in your dream.

“Y/N? What am I looking at?” Gibbs asked slightly irritated as you snapped out of it. You clicked on the payment tab, sending Bishop a “help me” look at the same time which she only grinned at. She was loving how uncomfortable all of this was making you.

“Three thousand seems a bit steep for a humanitarian donation boss. You think his wife knew anything about it?” McGee asked.

“You and Bishop go find out. Talk to the wife. See what she knows.”

“I can go too if they want some more help,” you offered, not wanting to be alone with Gibbs.

“It doesn’t take 3 people to ask a few questions Y/N. You stay here. See what else you can dig up.”

You watched Bishop get up and giving you a wave and mouth good luck to you before following after McGee, making you die inside.

After a bit of more searching through the victims records, you didn’t find anything. Looking over at Gibbs, he had his glasses on and was staring intently at the case file in front of him. The glasses were a nice touch to his look. Made his facial features a little softer and only made you pay more attention to his icy blue eyes.

You hadn’t realized how long you had been staring until he looked up at you, catching you red handed.

“Can I help you Agent Y/L/N?”

“Huh?”

“Why do you keep staring at me?”

Not being able to come with an appropriate answer, you stuttered for words.

“Uh, I don’t- I think I’m gonna go see if Abby has anything for us.”

Thoroughly flustered for the upteenth time that day, you left a confused Gibbs and scurried downstairs to the lab.

“Abby. You gotta help me,” you pleaded, walking through her doors and seeing her typing away on her computer.

“Is it about your Gibbs dream?”

“What? How did you- Dammit Bishop.”

“Hey, I think it’s cute. Gibbs barely gets romantic admirers and I could totally see him being your type.”

You covered your face with your hands and groaned. “I don’t to want to be his romantic admirer Abbs! He’s my boss!”

She shrugged and continued typing on her computer. “I’m just saying, there’s nothing wrong with dreaming about Gibbs. He’s a dreamy guy. If you like that gruff, quiet, brooding type.”

“Just tell me something about him that would be a turn off so I can just think about that instead of my dream.”

“Dream about what?” Gibbs asked from behind us, making the both of us jump. Oh God, please tell me he didn’t hear anything before your last few words.

“Y/N had a dream about someone and is trying not think about it,” Abby snitched.

“Abigail! Shut up!”

She smiled as your cheeks got tomato red. “Anyone we know?” Gibbs asked, stepping closer. I could’ve died right then and there.

Before Abby could say another word, you interrupted. “No! It’s nothing. Just a stupid dream, it doesn’t matter.”

He gave you that look that usually gives your suspects when interrogating them. The one where he looks into your eyes, then your lips, then back at your eyes again. Your breathing increased ten fold and you wouldn’t have been surprised if he noticed.

Thankfully he seemed to drop it and walk over next to Abby and ask her about the case. You have to remember to kill both her and Bishop.

>>>>

Once McGee and Bishop had come back from questioning the wife, you were all surprised to see them also come in with the suspect you had been looking for.

“Y/N. With me in interrogation,” Gibbs ordered while walking away. By now, McGee also had that dumb grin on his face so your sure Bishop had told him about the whole situation as well. You just flipped them both off while leaving to follow after Gibbs.

The suspect ended up not being any help. And neither were you. Anytime Gibbs got frustrated with him and started raising his voice, you just stared, not realizing that you didn’t ask one question during the entire conversation. “Y/N. Elevator. Now,” he said after you both exited the room. Shit.

You silently followed after him, dreading what was about to happen. You didn’t even look at Bishop and McGee as the both of you passed them to the elevators. He let you in first and walked in behind, letting the doors close and move both of you up a few seconds before pressing the emergency stop button.

“What’s going on with you Y/L/N? Is this dream really that distracting?”

You had no idea what to say. You just kept your eyes glued to the wall behind him, trying to ignore the intimate lighting and how similar this situation was becoming to your dream.

“How many times have you dreamt about this person?”

Oh jeeze. To Bishop and Abby, it was only one dream but in reality, it was probably like 5.

“Is this why you’re being weird with me all day?”

He stepped closer, making you instinctively take a step back, finally getting you to look him in the eye.

“Is the dream about me?”

You didn’t say a word but you didn’t have to. Gibbs was smart. He knew how to read body language. And you were giving all the tell tale signs of nervousness and attraction.

He looked down at your lips and back up at your eyes like earlier and you swallowed hard.

Finally, he stepped back and pressed the emergency button, bringing the lights back on and giving you a chance to take a huge breath. Just as the doors opened, he turned to you.

“We’re not done here.”

[specialagentlokitty]

911 x reader - conditions

Hi! Can I request a platonic reader x 911 (any group of people you’d write for) where reader faints or seizes in front of them due to a condition. Just some comfort pls❤️ - Anon💜

You knew it was coming, you could feel to coming and you looked around so a safe and comfortable place.

“(Y/N)?” Chim asked.

He watched as you walked around, not seeming to hear him.

You looked at the steps leading upstairs and decided that wasn’t the best way to go, so you simply sat down and rested your back against the wall.

“Hey you good?” Hen asked walking over.

You looked up going to speak but you couldn’t and both her and Chim crouched down in front of you concerned.

“Do we cal cap?” Chim asked.

Hen nodded her head, grabbing your wrist to check your pulse.

“Their heat rate is really fast.” She whispered back.

Chim nodded, informing Bobby about what was going on and you looked between the pair of them and you raised your hand, tapping your jacket.

Hen frowned a little and you sighed, tapping it again.

“I don’t get what you’re trying to tell me.” She frowned.

You fought the on coming attack, and kept looking around and when you saw Bobby and Buck come running through you sighed.

You tapped your jacket again knowing one of them would understand.

“What’s in their pocket?” Buck asked.

Hen reached through to the inside of your jacket and pulled something out and stood up to read it.

And you stopped fighting it and you passed out, slumping to the side and chim quickly caught you, resting your head on his lap.

“So it’s a medical condition?” He asked.

“Yeah, that’s what it says. Says they don’t need an ambulance but if they’re not awake soon it is advised to call one.”

“Well we’ve got the two best EMTs here, so it’s a good place to faint I suppose.” Bobby mumbled.

They all looked at you, and Bobby sighed.

“We can’t leave them there, put them on the couch.”

Buck lifted your up very carefully and they cleared the couch for him to set you down on it and they all stood around looking at you.

“Hey what’s going on?” Athena asked.

“(Y/N) fainted.” Bobby said.

She rushed over looking down at you and Hen handed the papers to her.

“You know that sure would explain a lot. I was on the phone to them and it went quiet for a few minutes, I just thought they were doing something.” She said.

You were out for a few more minutes before you finally came too again, and your eyes slowly opened as you grumbled a little.

“How’re you feeling sleeping beauty?” Hen asked.

“Like a sack of rocks.”

They laughed a little and Hen and Chim both gave you a quick check over before confirming you were okay.

“Can you sit up?” Bobby asked.

You nodded and slowly shuffled up and he handed you a glass of water to drink.

“So is there like a trigger for it?” Buck asked you.

“Not really, sometimes my heart just spikes and it causes me to faint. I can tell it’s coming though.”

They asked a few more questions before deciding to just sit with you.

You rested your head on Bobby’s shoulder and you sighed a little.

“I need to walk around.”

“Don’t go too far.” Athena said.

You nodded and stood up, and you just stood there for a second and everyone looked at you.

“Bad idea…” you mumbled.

“Jesus Christ!” Athena yelled.

You had fainted again, and your body dropped and Bucky and Bobby quickly caught you and laid you back on the couch.

They looked down at you and they all smiled and shook their heads at you, deciding they weren’t going to let you stand up next time

[trixter-god]

Just for shits and giggles here’s a very old self insert fanfic i wrote in high school instead of doing my homework.

It’s in first person (I know I’m sorry) and I don’t think the “main characters” name is ever actually said… lmao.

Richard Grayson X random female (me duh) Jason’s also makes an appearance <3

It’s very short so if you’re bored give it a look.

The moon was full, the night was loud and my head was pounding. Being hung upside down is not the best way to spend your Friday nights. I look to the fight below me. Nightwing and the Redhood were back to back fighting off the goons. Pretty much owning them actually. Batman raced off about 10 minutes ago after the joker to who knows where.

“Hey boys, as much as I like hanging out, My leg is starting to fall asleep'' I yelled. Nightwing and Red Hood both looked over to my detection then to each other. Redhood kicked a goon into another before racing his way to me. Throwing something in my detection. I close my eyes knowing what’s coming. A small snap and I’m falling. My head stops protesting as I feel myself rush to the ground. Holding a scream, two fit arms brace my fall. My head pulses in shock and the pounding seems harder. “Are you alright?” nightwing says, rushing next to hood. The goons laid in piles on the floor. I give him a glare while I’m lower on my feet. “Besides my head wanting to come off my shoulders and the fact that I can barely feel my legs, I'm fine.” My words were then, like always, used against me as an unknown pain shot through my leg. My leg gives out, sending me back into red hood arms. Gently I try to stand only for the pain to return.

“Okay maybe not” Red Hood transfers me into Nightwings arms, most of my weight lying now on my right foot and nightwing.

“Hanging upside down probably pulled your ankle out of socket” Red Hood grumbles in agreement as he takes his time detangling me from the rope while nightwing keeps me grounded. I rested my head on his shoulder. The dizziness of being upside down for that long was finally catching up with me.

“Go for nightwing” His right hand came up to meet his ear. I could tell he was keeping his voice light to not cause me any more pain. Hood Finnish off the ropes now using them to tie up some of the forgotten guards.

“She’s safe and sound” Nightwing hummed effectively.

I shifted my weight seeing if I could stand my own. Another sharp pain runs up my leg. Deciding that was not going to happen I relaxed in defeat. Resting my head in the crook of his neck I closed my eyes not realizing how tired I truly was. Must have been the adrenaline. Nightwing continues to replay what I had witnessed upside down over to I assume Batman. His voice was light and clam but I could hear his heart betting a mile a minute.

“We’re on it,” dick said after a good pause. “ you wake down there” he quips as he pulls me up bridal style. He smelt like sweat, kevlar and Vanilla. “No” I half mumbled, wrapping my hands around his neck. “We’ll let you rest when you get to the hospital” nightwing informed. I rolled my eyes playing with the zipper on the back of his collar. “Let’s move,” Hood said at the door nightwing did like he was told to and raced after Red Hood. I was given the civilian runaround answering random questions they asked until I was reluctantly placed on a stretcher and loaded into the ambulance. Nightwing gave one last wave to me before the doors were shut, leaving me in professional hands. Doctors spoke and prodded my body to check for concussions or breaks. I answered the same basic questions as before as I drifted off the sleep with the permission of the EMT.

I woke to the sound of solf beeping and the hard kick of an air conditioner starting up. Slowly opening my eyes. I let myself process where I was. It was dark in the room, the only light coming from a lamp over in the corner. Walls were a sickly white with a matching ceiling. It smelled of cotton and lemon cleaner, Gotham General Hospital. My eyes adjusted to the little light enough to read the bright red clock numbers from across the room. It was almost 5 in the morning meaning I had been out for at least four hours grimacing at the thought of how long I have been here for I rubbed my eyes now, aware of the weight that is pinning my right hand down.

Dark hair seemed to disappear into the shadows of my blanket as an unseen hand held my own. I wondered lightly how it would have looked to the EMTs that brought me in to have seen Dick Grayson racing through the door. lightly wiggling my captured fingers was just enough to stir the oldest Wayne as he turned his head to smile up at me.

“Hey.” His voice is a little raspy from sleep.

“Hey.” I repeated back to him with a smile.

His tawny skin seemed to glow in the darkness as it did in the city lights.

[wuahae]

congratulations cat my beloved !! 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽

“mingyu + 2:08 am + the kitchen” for the milestone event 🩷

[2:08] / the kitchen

-

peering through the glass to check for anyone inside the apartment, you lift the window slowly, pane sliding quietly against the frame. the motion is jilted, your breath catching as a particularly harsh motion has you wincing, hand flying to your side as you try to ride through the wave of pain.

fuck. this really wasn't how you pictured your night to go.

it was supposed to be a simple job—stop the drug deal, get in, get out, go home. you'd done it hundreds of times before, everything was practiced motions from the moment you got to the scene. that was, until the backup that came later made very clear that this wasn't just a solo op, and you were in way out of your league.

it's really the only explanation you have as to how you've ended up here—on the run, bleeding out, and sneaking into mingyu's apartment through his kitchen window at two in the morning. (in retrospect, one of those was not like the other, but you'd rather go back to that drug deal and take your beating eyes closed than to hear jihoon's extremely blatant and obvious "i told you so" when he inevitably hears about this whole debacle. if it was happening sooner or later, you choose later.)

opening the window was the only thing you managed to do somewhat gracefully, because your next step weaving your leg through the window has you half-stumbling half-crashing onto the floor of his kitchen. you try to stiffle the yelp of pain that tries to shoot out of your mouth, but you only manage to quiet it down to a low grunt instead. the light flickers on in his bedroom, unsurprisingly, and you brace yourself for what's about to come next.

there's a beat, and then two, and then mingyu comes rushing out into the kitchen, the silhouette of his favorite lamp held up threateningly. "who's there!"

"hey—" you hold your hands up in surrender, the leather of the mask pressing against your cheeks more than it seemed to before. "calm down, i'm not gonna—"

"what do you want, money?" mingyu shakes the lamp in emphasis. "i don't have anything worth much in here, i just have an airfryer!"

"no, can you just—"

"you can't take my airfryer!"

"that's not what i—"

"what am i doing, i'm calling the cops—"

"mingyu!"

he stops, eyes widening. a breath. "how do you know my name?"

frustration curdles in the back of your throat. you think about strangling out some lame excuse, all of which would probably just end up with you in a worse situation than before, so you just let out a sigh, slipping off your mask. "it's me."

as soon as your unveiled eyes meet his, mingyu falters, the hand holding the lamp dropping to his side, the panic in his eyes vanishing only to be replaced with shock—shock? confusion? hurt? betrayal? it's hard to tell in the dark.

(it's months of lies and deception and blatant secrets washing over him, all at once. that's all it took for him to look at you like a stranger—one flimsy leather mask.)

you know he has so many thoughts flitting through his mind, so many questions to ask you. of course he does, how could he not? but instead of grabbing onto any of the emotions flashing in his eyes and throwing them back in your face, mingyu instead says: "you're bleeding."

ah. you'd almost forgotten about that small thing in the middle of everything else.

mingyu scans your body silently, pursing his lips and knitting his brow, before grabbing one arm and slinging it over his shoulder, leaning your body against his as you hobble your way into his bathroom—first door to your right.

you end up sat on the edge of his tub, top half of your uniform stripped off to reveal the worst of the damage on your upper body, your head a little too light and vision a little too fuzzy to be normal as mingyu takes out his supplies. (that's why you came to his apartment, right? because he was an emt? because he would know what to do?)

there's a tense silence, one briefly interspersed with the practiced motions of a needle and thread and your restrained hisses of pain as mingyu stitches your open wound back together. it's awkward and stiff and not at all what you're used to with mingyu—for the first time, his apartment seems cold, and you hate it.

"don't worry," you try, after he's finished with the sutures. mingyu reaches for the bandages, and you resist the urge to cringe at how nonchalant you sound. "i made sure no one was following me before i came here."

mingyu's lips press into an even thinner line (you didn't even know that was possible) before making a small noise of acknowledgment. anything you had planned to say after that snuffs out before the matches even gets the chance to get lit. he finishes up fixing the big, gaping wound at your side quickly after that, moving onto the smaller cuts and bruises littered throughout the rest of your body.

and after what seems like forever of the same, frozen quiet, mingyu finally asks: "who else knows?"

it catches you offguard, hearing him speak so suddenly. and then you swallow your tongue, teetering on a narrow line—how much could he know? how much could you tell him without him piecing out other secrets by himself? "jihoon," you eventually decide on. you figured at least that would be okay to tell him, right? it wasn't as if you told him any secrets that weren't already yours. "that's it."

mingyu lets out a wry laugh, short and slightly bitter, and you wonder how many new sides of mingyu you'll bear witness to tonight. he feigns disinterest, focusing on treating the cut on your cheek, but the alcohol swab dabs a little too harshly for the act to be convincing.

"you know," mingyu says distantly, peeling the plastic off the back of the bandaid. "usually you're supposed to tell your best friend about these sorts of things." you brace yourself when he places it on your cheek, but he smooths out the bandaid out with his thumb, gentler. "or could you not trust me enough?"

you whip your head to him the second he finishes placing it on your cheek, the brief touch gone in a flash. "don't do that," you bite out. "you know i couldn't tell you."

"if not that, then what else?" mingyu counters. "you seemed perfectly fine letting jihoon in on your big secret."

you really don't have the energy to explain to him the absolute mess that was jihoon finding out about your secret identity, nor could you go on to explain how at the time you really had no choice but to let jihoon join you. but that required jihoon developing a secret identity of his own, splitting his life into two, becoming so encompassed in necessary lies that everything else would become tangled in between. it happened to him, and it happened to you, and that was the last thing you'd ever want for mingyu.

"that's different."

"right."

you snap, words flying out. "if i knew you were going to react like this, then i never would have come!"

"then why did you come!"

"i—" you start, heat lying beneath the syllable, but it dies almost as soon as you speak. why did you come? reasonably speaking, you could have gotten help from jihoon, his verbal lashing be damned, or you very well could have made it back home and stitched yourself up without bleeding out completely. but you didn't—instead, you hauled yourself through mingyu's kitchen window because (your head buzzes)... because—

"i didn't know where else to go," you tell him, but that's not quite right either. you had other options, this was just the one you chose.

mingyu blinks, and you can tell he catches your lie from how he draws in a breath, quiet, only to release it tiredly. he's been catching you in too many lately, but like all the others, he doesn't press you on it. mingyu pulls away, skin brushing against yours, and you know this is it.

you're watching as your blood washes down the tub drain, remnants of the dirt and gunpowder from your uniform falling all over his tile floor, and all you really want to do is have this be over with. but you know if you do, if you let him pull away and shut him out again, mingyu would carry that festering hurt with him into everything moving forward. it would be the end of this—whatever this was.

(and really, wasn't this the point? didn't you come here because you were tired of shutting him out, of lying to him? you want your honesty to mean something, for once.)

"hold on, i—" your hand shoots out, grabbing him by the wrist in a sort of panic and desperation you didn't think you had in you. "the real reason i came was...i didn't want to be anywhere else but here. with you."

mingyu stops. he doesn't say anything else, just continues tending to your wounds. mingyu avoids your eyes, and somehow the rejection feels worse than the wound you came in with.

"thanks," you say quietly, after he's finished getting you patched up. you're back at the kitchen, pushing open the window. you couldn't leave through his front door like this—not when you were more vigilante than friend to him now. you're not even sure what to say to him anymore, the hurt wedging the distance between you. "sorry about the bathroom. if the blood stains let me know."

turning to the window, an apology threatens to creep its way up your throat, a last ditch effort to mend the gap. "and if it means anything anymore, i'm s—"

"wait," mingyu interrupts, and you freeze. he grows quiet again, grappling over his next words. "i... have you eaten yet?"

your eyes widen, turning back to him, window abandoned. "what?"

he rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, shifting his gaze to the kitchen. "it's been a long night for you, i'm sure. i can make you some ramen, if you want." he hesitates, before offering. "you should stay for the night."

you must be gaping, because mingyu starts to ramble, talking about how he has a set of spare clothes if you need it—of course you need it, you're covered in dirt and oh! you probably need to shower too and he can totally sleep on the couch tonight so—

"mingyu," you gently interrupt. maybe he feels it too, the way you'll scatter away like a wounded dove if you both leave it like this. it's why the offer feels like an olive branch—a forgiveness, an apology. and so you grasp onto it gently, letting him guide you back home.

"okay," you accept quietly. mingyu's shoulders sag in relief. "i'll stay."

[vermont-writes-fanfic]

Getting Hurt While Protecting Them

Prompt: How do the Detriot Become Human characters react to you getting hurt while trying to protect them

Request: No

Warnings: Mentions of drugs, Mentions of abuse (Alice & Todd), mentions of blood, injury,

Characters: Kara, Marcus, Connor, Hank

A/N: This is something I had sitting in my writing binder for a little while and I thought I'd just go ahead and shore it here lol, if you come across it than please enjoy and leave feedback! The Deviant version will be next in line!

Kara

It was during a visit to your brother Tod's house, you were their to drop off some money. You knew he was addicted to the new drug on the market, Red Ice, so you had offered to help him pay his bills and hand him some money to take care of Alice in hopes that he would get back on his feet. As you were getting out of the car you heard a scream and rushed in to see a frightened Alice hiding behind Kara, a high Tod in front of them with a look that you weren't to happy about. He raised his hand to swing and before he even layed a finger on her you were in front of Kara taking the blow. You could almost hear the wind displaced by his handd as it swung down on your cheek,hard. As the sting of the slap subsides and the warmth of blood pooling to the surface of the area begins the taste of metal hits your tongue and you spit it out into a stray napkin giving your brother a vicious glare. As you turned and made sure Alice was okay, Kara examined you. As you turned to her to ask if she was okay she nodded, perplexed almost. You couldn't help but notice her LED flickering as she looked at you.

Marcus

You were a friend of Karl's, and made it a point to frequently visit him. Always kind, the type one would expect Karl to hang around, you encouraged Marcus to act freely and of his own accord rather than the order of others. One night, Leo - Karl's son- came around asking for some money. You offered it but on the orders of Karl, Marcus prevented you from funding any of the activities Leo got up to. Already not a fan of the android, Leo ignored him and took to trying to guilt trip his father instead while advancing closer to him. Marcus stepped between the two of them causing Leo to pause in his steady advancements towards his father. Leo, aggravated by the androids interferance, shoved Marcus out of the way but Marcus wouldn't have it. Before Marcus could even caculate the outcomes Leo to a step sending a large part of his body into a rage withdrawal induced punch. You, at the last few moments stepped between them takin the blow instead. Quickly realizing his mistake, Leo turned tail and rushed out of the area down the stairs and out the door while Marcus checked Karl's vitals.

"Why did you do that?" He questions once he is satisfied with what he had examined.

"I coulnd't very well just let the prick hurt you now could I?"

"Hm..." He doesn't respond, as if he is registering something.

Connor

Chasing Deviants was always a work out, it was better than the situation at hand though. A Deviant andriod had a knife held to Hank's throat while his 'friend' was running at Connor. You knew you needed Connor so when you realized what the deviant was going for, Connor's Thirium pump, you dove right in front of the attack. The hand sunk into your flesh leaving you out of breath right before its hand dug deeper into your skin and tore a sizable chunk from your stomach leaving you in pain. With the deviant distracted however, Connor was able to pin it down to thee ground and hand cuff it with the spares Hank had given him. At some point, to cope with pain, you had sat down and Connor came over to you and helped you up helping you head to the EMTs, the entire time his face looked off.

"Why are you looking at me like that Connor?"

"You are hurt, that deviant was not going to hurt you. "

"It was going for where your thorium pump is, we needed you functioning fully."

"I have several minutes before I cease to function without my Thirium pump, you did not need to interact in a way that was detrimental to your health."

"Instinct Connor, it was instinct to help us all okay? Just take it as face value, I sacrificed a chunk of my body to catch some Deviants and keep you safe."

"Besides, isn't that kind of trauma the thing that causes deviancy in androids?"

"I have no signs of deviancy."

"Sometimes I wish you did..."

Hank

You and Hank had partners for years and with Connor, injuries to humans such as yourself are more than prone to happening. He just came home from Jimmy's Bar, heavily drunk, when he was called to ,and entered, the crime scene. A deviant suspect snapped and engaged in a fist fight with it's owner before fleeing into the basement where it was now cornerd by you, Hank, and Connor. To save Hank from a long winded speech and the rest of the office from Hank and Fowlers less than civil disagreements, you stepped in front of Hank getting between him and the deviant. It took every chance and engaged in a fightt with you forcing you to take several blows before you could pin it down with the help of Connor. Seeing you bruised and bloodied was enough to sober him up, and the moment you three were back in the car he sent a long drawn out lecture about just how stupid your descision was.

"Do you have any idea how fucken stupid that was? What if that thing beat ya to death?"

"How about a thank you for saving your drunk ass from a deviant and Fowler?"

A beat of silence is followed by a sharp fatherly glare as you smirk and speak again.

"No? You just gonna ignore that?"

Hope you liked it! Feel free to request stuff!

[adminbryantsaki]

Relaxing in the Bath

Shouta Aizawa x Neurodivergent! Reader

(I do not own Shouta Aizawa/Eraserhead. He belongs to Horikoshi Kohei. If this isn’t your cup of tea, blend of spices, or brew of coffee, move on. Reader discretion is advised.)

TW: Minor car accident, minor injuries, hospital trip, overstimulation, sensory calm down, autistic meltdown from overstimulation, reader has compression sleeves and noise cancelling headphones. Neurodivergent awareness, stripping down to take a bath, bath with male partner. WC: 2,148

(photo taken by me of a sunrise)

A vehicle serves to miss a concrete wall, pressure from the seatbelt holding you in presses into your collarbone, you hear Shouta curse under his breath as he turns the steering wheel to avoid wrecking the car against the concrete wall that held up the parking garage that the two of you were trying to park in after a long journey to your destination of the day. He assessed himself before touching your arm to pull you out of the trance that you had been locked in as you were processing everything that had just happened.

“Are you okay? Are you injured?” You heard Shouta’s voice sound. You turned your head to him and shook your head ‘no’; but you did tell him that the seatbelt had pressed into your shoulder hard. He nods and pulls his phone out to call for an ambulance and the police to come. You look at him with wide eyes. “We’re fine. We’ve traveled far and we should just unpack the car and get some rest. We’re both tired and I just want to sleep. I don’t want to go to a hospital.” You told him.

“Its still an accident. Even though its minor. The car is still drivable and the bumper is bent up but still attached to the vehicle. We still need to get checked out. I know you don’t like the hospital and I don’t like it either. But it’s the right thing to do.” He told you. Your eyes widened and you shook your head. "You can go to the hospital. I need to stay here and unpack the car." You spoke as tears pricked at the corners of your eyes. "I know that's what you want to do, sweetheart but you need to get checked out too." He told you and kissed your head. You nodded and unbuckled yourself from the car to get out as Shouta made the call. A couple people already staying in the resort came down to make sure that the two of you were okay and that the car was okay. You needed to use the bathroom so you went up with your keycard and went into the room to relieve yourself. You wanted to stay in the room but you held onto your backpack and went onto the balcony to see the flashing lights and the emergency medical team coming off the ambulances and into the parking garage. You sprinted out of the room and rode back down the elevator to catch Shouta instructing the medical team to go into the elevator as that’s where you had gone. He caught your eyes and walked up to you. “Hey, Y/n. We’re going to take a ride on the ambulance to the hospital, okay? I’m going with you and I’m not going anywhere, alright? I’ll stick with you for the whole trip.” Shouta spoke and held your hand as he followed the EMTs to the ambulance and helped you in.

You got to ride in the back of the ambulance with Shouta in a chair not too far from you. As you rode, you asked the medical team questions after they took in your information and your list of symptoms and current symptoms and conditions you have so the people working at the hospital would know how to treat you. You and Shouta arrived at the hospital and got checked out. Once given the all clear, told that you might have some bruising and would need to rest up for the next few days, you got a taxi cab back to the resort. You helped Shouta unload the car and get all you needed into the room. You sorted the food into the fridge before you showered on your own to help yourself unwind and get the smell of the hospital and the trip off your skin before you crashed in the bed next to Shouta as he was watching a show to relax before sleeping. The next morning you stiffly got out of bed and nudged Shouta awake. “I’m going to go for a walk down to the lake. I’ll be right back.” You told him.

“Okay, be safe. I’ll make coffee for us by the time you get back.” He said quietly. You nodded and kissed him before you got up and got changed to go for a walk. You came back a little while later and set your backpack down on the ground and took your shoes off, flinging them into a distant corner of the room. Shouta stood up and walked to the front hall where he found you sitting on the ground and peeling your compression sleeves off and chucking them in the same direction that you had tossed your shoes. He sat with you and put a hand on your back.

“Hey, welcome home, Y/n. How was your walk?” He asked. You told him the cool things you saw and pulled a rock you had found on the road and showed it to him and he looked at the rock and told you that he found it cool as well. You rubbed your arms and leaned into him. Shouta let you move closer to him as he could tell you were overstimulated and needed help to calm down from the events of last night that were still lingering in the back of your mind. You leaned against his chest and he rubbed your back, he asked you what you needed from him and you said that you just wanted to sit there for a moment and listen to the rumble in his chest that sounded when he spoke and he nodded, humming a tune as you pressed yourself against his chest.

He held you close for as long as you needed until you pushed yourself away from him and went into your shared room to pick out the clothes you wanted for the evening and carried them to the master bathroom. Shouta stuck close to you and followed you into the bathroom.

“May I help you bathe?” He asked. You turned to face him and you nodded, giving him permission to help you out with cleaning yourself from the dirt, dust, and sweat from the day. Water was also a calming sensation for you so after a long day like what you had today would be a good thing to help you unwind. 

“Do you want a bath or a shower?” He asked. You hummed thoughtfully before responding. “Bath.” You spoke as you worked at taking your clothes off and tossing them to a far corner of the bathroom. Shouta went to the bathtub and turned the faucets on, stopping the tub, and letting it fill.

“Do you want my scent or yours?” He asked as he looked at the body washes that you brought with you to bathe with. “My scent please.” You spoke as you covered yourself with a towel and plunged your arms as far as they would go into the tub as it filled up with water. Shouta squeezed out some of the liquid soap into the tub and stirred it around with your help to make some bubbles. You purred and enjoyed the warmth of the water as Shouta stood up and took his shirt and shorts off, leaving his underwear on to your preference when you didn’t want to fool around in the shower or bathtub.  He tested the water before he slid into the water with his back against the end of the tub opposite the faucet.

“Alright, honey, time to get in too.” He spoke and you whimpered. You know that the water would be nice but you needed to ease yourself in to not overstimulate yourself again. You slowly pulled your arms out before you stood up and took your towel off, revealing you had your bathing suit on only to make it fair to Shouta since he had to cover up, you stepped into the tub one foot at a time and he braced your legs as you slid down into the tub and leaned up against him. Once you were settled, you laid against his chest for a few minutes until he began to run his fingers through your hair gently.

“May I wash your hair?” He asked. You whimpered but nodded. “Be gentle. Head is sensitive.” “I know, my love. I’ll do my best to be careful.” He spoke and had you sit up and away from him a little bit. You crossed your arms and leaned forward, almost away from him as he grabbed your shampoo and conditioner from the ledge of the tub where you had placed them when you first unpacked and got settled in the room. He began to wash your hair gently and massaged your scalp which you liked very much. You purred and leaned into his touch as he massaged at the ridges in your skull.

“You must have a bad headache, honey. I hope I’m not hurting you.” He spoke as he lightened the pressure of his massage on your scalp which you pushed his hands down on your head firmer. “Feels good. Don’t stop.” You told him and placed your hands back into the water in front of you as you played with the bubbles in the water.

He continued to massage your scalp until you had relaxed enough that you were almost limp against him. He wrapped his arms around you and let you lay against him between his arms. “Do you want to bathe yourself or can I?” He asked. “I want to do it.” You told him in a slightly childish tone.

“Alright, Y/n. I need you to sit up so you can bathe yourself.” He instructed. You hesitated and sat up. You grabbed your puff and body wash before you washed your body with Shouta’s help to wash your back. Shouta helped you rinse off and let you soak for a few minutes longer before the water began to grow cold. He rubbed your arm gently and helped you sit up.

“I know you don’t want to leave the water but I don’t want you to get sick from the cold. How about this, I’ll make us some hot chocolate and warm up your favorite blanket in the dryer for a few minutes while you get changed, okay?” He suggested you looked up at him and nodded a little when he mentioned hot chocolate. “Okay. I’ll wait for my blanket too.” You spoke as Shouta helped you out of the bathtub and wrapped you in a towel that was fluffy and warm before leaving you be to get changed so he could do the things that he said that he would do.

Once you were changed, you plopped yourself in front of the dryer that had a window to see inside the dryer. You watched your blanket go around in circles for the ten minutes that your husband set the dryer for. Shouta chuckled when he found you in front of the dryer watching your blanket spin and get warm while you waited and he handed you a mug with hot chocolate and marshmallows in it and you accepted the warm drink and took a sip.

Shouta sat next to you and you leaned into him as you felt the warming sensation of the hot chocolate spread throughout your body. You closed your eyes to rest for a moment until the buzzing sound of the dryer brought you back and you set your mug down before immediately pulling the door of the dryer open and shoving your upper body into the warm blanket in the dryer, letting out a satisfied humming noise. Shouta smiled and rubbed your back as you nuzzled the blanket.

“Should I leave you here with the blanket alone for a few minutes?” He asked teasingly. You rolled your eyes and looked back at him before shaking your head no. You pulled the blanket out and wrapped the soft and warm material around yourself before you stood up and carried your mug back to the bedroom where you set it on the nightstand and climbed into the bed and fixated the blanket around yourself so you were comfortable. Shouta followed you into the bedroom and crawled into his sleeping bag and moved to cuddle next to you. You turned on the T.V. and found a movie which the two of you enjoyed for the rest of the evening. The End.

[kiss-theggoat]

Didn’t Think I’d Leave You All Alone on the Subway, Did You? PT. 2

Ghostface x Reader

Word Count: 1.6k

Summary: It’s been a month since you were attacked on the subway, and you thought you were safe from the Ghostface killer. But a threatening phone call proves you wrong. (Reader has female anatomy, but no pronouns used)

Warnings: Violence, a little smutty this time (somewhat non-con, reader is a little into it, a little not), Ghostface is obsessed with you

You laid your head down against the armrest of your sofa, sighing and pressing buttons aimlessly on the remote. Nothing on the TV interested you, and you were bored of the mindless scrolling you’d been doing for the past hour on your phone. It was almost 11 P.M. at this point, and all you’d done was eat leftovers and lay down. You groaned as you sat up, your abdominal muscles still sore from your injury.

You made your way into the kitchen, flipping the light switch on in order to search your cabinets for something to snack on. You were in the mood for… something sweet. You hummed a song as you opened your fridge, spotting a leftover piece of chocolate cake from one of your best friends birthday parties. Perfect. You took the plate out, got a fork, and leaned against the counter, eating thoughtlessly while staring out the sliding glass doors into your backyard.

Your entire body jolted as you heard your phone ring on the couch. You set your fork down and shuffled into the living room, where your phone lit up. Unknown Caller. You furrowed your brow, but let it ring. It’s probably a scam, and you were in no mood. You turned your heel to go back to your cake, but noticed that your phone immediately began to ring again. Maybe it was important?

You grabbed your phone and clicked the green button, holding it up to your ear.

“Hello?”

“Nice to see you again.”

You’d recognize his voice from anywhere. Raspy but smooth, and threatening all at the same time. Your hands went clammy, face pale, and you immediately flashed back to the memories. Laying face down on the dirty subway floor, open wound seeping your life into the ground of New York. Watching him walk away, mocking you. Losing consciousness, only regaining it when an EMT placed an oxygen mask over your face.

You heard a breathy chuckle over the line. “Aww, cat got your tongue?”

You tried to sound confident, brave, but your sentence came out shaky and terrified. “What do you want,” you stuttered.

“To finish what I started. But, it’s such a nice night, I figured we’d have some fun first.”

Your whole body spun, mentally checking your locks. The blinds in your kitchen were open, where you were just eating. A shiver went down your spine as you slowly crept towards your sliding glass door. It was locked, thank god, but you knew if he was out there, he had a beautiful view of you inside.

“If you shut those blinds, I will slit your throat before you can even tell me to stop.” He growled, making your hand stop inches away from the fabric. You peered outside, and knew that with the lights on, he could see you better than you could see him.

“Okay… I won’t shut the blinds.” You said softly, cursing yourself again for sounding so scared. You instead took a step to the side, hitting the light-switch to the kitchen. Next to it was the porch light, which you also switched on. Now, you were in the dark and knew he couldn’t see you as well as he could before. You heard him laugh.

“Hm, smart one. Should we test that?”

“Test what?”

“Your smarts. I want to play a little game. I ask you a question, you get it right and I leave you alone. You get it wrong…”

You peered outside, squinting. Wherever he was hiding, it was a damn good spot.

“What if I don’t want to play?”

“Then you forfeit. You forfeit, you die.”

You gulped, crouching down to be hidden behind your kitchen cabinets and talking barely above a whisper, you responded. “Not really a fair game, is it?”

“Nothing ever is. Your first question is easy. What shirt were you wearing the last time we saw each other?”

The hangnail on your thumb began to bleed as you yanked it with your teeth. “It was a…uhm…a”

“Oh come on, don’t tell me you’re stumped on question one? Maybe this won’t be as fun as I thought!” He cackled.

“A…white button up. I was coming home from work.”

“Very good!” He sounded excited, his voice jumping an octave as if he were encouraging a child. “Question number two…. A little harder this time. When was the last time I was inside your home?”

Your blood turned to ice. Your eyes widened as your hand covered your mouth. Tears welled in your eyes and your heart hammered against your ribs. You’d been in the hospital for the last few weeks, so there was no telling how many times he had broken in. You began to slowly crawl out of your kitchen, staying as low to the ground as you could.

“That isn’t fair. I haven’t been here.” You whispered. You finally made it around your wall into the living room, where the lights were on but the blinds were closed.

“Ohh, yeah, you’re right, I’m sorry,” he clicked his tongue, pretending like he actually felt sorry for you. “Good thing I’ve prepared an alternate question. Which room…of your house am I currently in?”

You stopped moving, hands trembling and blood rushing past your eardrums loud enough to distort his voice. The fear that ran through you was inhumane. The only thing that gave you some sort of comfort was knowing that if he was inside, you could run outside. You stood up as quick as your body would let you and sprinted towards your back door. Your socks slipped against the tile but you panted as you shakily flipped the lock, throwing the door open with all your strength. Your phone had long been left behind on the floor, and you sprinted out onto your porch, ready to jump into the sanctuary of your yard when you felt strong arms wrap around your waist and fling your body back towards the door like a rag doll. Your shoulder hit the door frame before you landed on the ground, half in your house and half out. The bottom guard of the back door painfully dug into your ribs but you scrambled to push yourself away from him. His boots thumped against the creaky wood as he walked towards you.

You flipped onto your stomach and went to push yourself upwards before you felt the cold and rough tread of a boot press against the skin between your shoulder blades, pushing you painfully back to the floor. You groaned as you tried to squirm away from his grip.

“No answer…” he sucked his teeth disapprovingly, “means you forfeit.”

You started screaming as loud as you could. Not knowing what else to do, a scream seemed like the best answer, and it was, until his hands wrapped tight around your throat, suffocating your shriek into a pathetic gasp.

He grabbed your shoulder with one hand, other still on your throat, and flipped you on your back. He was on you in an instant. He straddled your thighs, keeping them still while his hands gripped your wrists, holding them right above your head. He leaned down and his cold mask touched the side of your face.

“If you scream, I will tear your vocal cords out with my teeth…” He whispered, gravelly voice sounding so much more threatening in person than on the phone.

You panted as a result of the struggle, closing your eyes tight. You didn’t want to look at him, and you were convinced all he had left to do was finish what he started. Instead of a cold knife, you felt a hand on your chest, near your collar bone. Your eyes slowly opened to the sight of his, more like the ghostly masks, eyes that bore into yours.

One hand held both of your wrists and the other wandered your smooth skin beneath the loose t- shirt you’d chosen to wear for bed. He started at your clavicle and slowly made his way down to your chest, grabbing at you and playing with you as he pleased. You turned your head away from him, conflicted at the way his touch made you feel. On one hand he was terrifying. A strong man seemingly made to kill, hunting you like a predator chasing wounded prey. On the other hand, the way he so easily restrained yet caressed your skin had your heart racing for another reason.

The cold air from your open back door traced your curves as he slowly pushed your shirt up over your breasts, only the moonlight illuminating your radiant skin. Your chest heaved, which he liked to see. He reached down, unsheathing his blade, and brought it back up to your chest, where he traced the soft steel down in between the cups of your bra. You shuddered at the feeling. Knowing that this weapon had stabbed you only a month ago just inches below where it lay now gave you goosebumps. The fresh scar on your belly gleamed in the moonlight, reminding him of his handiwork.

He shifted his weight, legs now sliding down your thighs and calves. At this point, your hands were free, but now that he had his knife out, you had no intention of moving them. He sat his full weight down on your ankles, making you wince. The gloves covering his fingers were rough as they traced up your thigh and began to sneak beneath your pajama shorts, leaving heat in their wake.

“Yesterday…” he whispered, his voice raising pins and needles on your skin.

You looked into his ghostly eyes with a look of horror. You watched helplessly as he slipped his hands under the waistband of your shorts.

“What…”

“The answer.”

It hit you. That’s the last time he was here. He had been here yesterday and you hadn’t noticed. He let out a groan as he leaned down, inhaling the sweat and fear off of you.

“I watched you sleep…” his hand grazed your inner thigh and subconsciously, you spread them. “You always leave your bathroom window unlocked.”

[medig]

A Tale of Woe, Ep. 32: The New New Girl

(previous episodes)

"Claire.. tell me how you got here, you don't seem.. like someone who should be locked up in a mental hospital"

["sorry ma'am, just doing my job, the handcuffs are for your own protection.."]

"It's a funny story, Beth. About 6 months ago I checked the wrong box on some health insurance forms I was filling out for work. In the mental health section, I clicked something by accident, answered ‘yes’ to a question I should have answered ‘no’. I changed it back, but it was too late, someone had already seen it. The next day when I was sitting at my desk my boss came over with some cops and EMTs and told me I had to go with them right away, the next thing you know they put me in an ambulance and whisked me over here, and I've been here ever since. Do you remember anything yet, about how you got here?"

"Sort of. Stuff is coming back slowly. The last thing I remember, I was at my friend's party. I don't remember past a certain point in the night. Next thing I know I wake up here, and nobody will tell me anything. I can only guess I drank too much and went 'crazy' and someone called 9-1-1, and they came and got me and brought me here, just like you. But I don't remember doing or saying anything to make people think I was insane. I don't even think I was that drunk, I don't even feel very hungover."

"Nobody here cares if you're sane Beth. And nobody here wants to cure you, if there was anything wrong with you. They'll make you worse if they can. I wasn't crazy when I came here, but I might be now! These people want to keep you here, for as long as they can, because it's fun for them, you're just a toy here for them to mess with..."

"Oh God Claire I want to go home! How can I get out of here?"

"If I knew the answer to that I wouldn't be here either. All I can say is, don't trust any of the people who work here. Especially Dr. [Redacted]! I swear if that man was not a doctor he'd be a serial killer."

"You're scaring me more and more. So what do they do at this 'hospital', what are the treatments like?"

"Well, you already saw what group therapy is like here - you’re supposed to talk about your problems but you're not allowed to say anything bad about this place which is the problem. Then there's the drugs. Lots of drugs. Mostly unrelated to whatever mental illness you’re supposed to have. Finally there's what my friend Mystique said would called Desensitization if they did it right, except they do it really really wrong "

"W-what is that?"

"Well, do you have any fears? Phobias? Things that make you squirm? They're going to figure them out, or make a good guess, and then do whatever it is to you, supposedly until you get used to it."

"Can I ask... what is your.. thing?"

"Well, uh.. It's kinda hard to talk about, it's so.. well nothing dangerous, it's just so humiliating.. the only person I talk to about it is Mystique"

"Oh please tell me!"

[".. think warm thoughts, Claire, this thermometer is mighty cold.."]

"They take my temperature, with that kind of thermometer. You know, the kind that goes in back there. Way more often than could possibly be neccessary. And all my drugs all go in that way. Suppositories, like people give babies. I'm not even allowed to have pills! I don't even know what medications I'm on. For all I know it's all placebos, and the way they give it to me is the whole point. And they monitor how often I go to the bathroom, and if I don't go enough... oh God.. the enemas ..ugh.. <sound of trying not to throw up> and the whole time I swear they make a point of talking about it, because that that makes it that much more embarrassing.. like they think it's fun.."

"Oh that sounds horrible.. Is.. Is that what they're gonna do to me?"

"Maybe. Ive heard if they can’t think of anything they start out with little bit of my kind of treatment until they come up with something. Most patients 'graduate' up to something else pretty soon, but they're sticking with it for me because I 'love' it so much <shudder>. Are they letting you wear panties by any chance?"

"No! No bra, no panties, this gown is open in the back. Been like this since I got here."

"Yeah there's a pretty good chance I'm right about what they're planning to start with'"

"<whimper> I'm doomed.. "

"Oh I’m so sorry to have to tell you all this.. we'll do what we can for you, Myst and me. She's been here over a year and knows way more about this place, she even fooled them into wasting their time doing things that don't really bother her. I wish Mystique was here right now. I wonder where she is.."

[fantasies-fairytales-n-fics]

Code Blue Ch. 25- Code Green

Summary: Long chapter. Josie and Orlando arrive at the hospital and the evening goes from bad to worse with all kinds of drama.

*Warnings* language, angst, mob mentions, trauma, mental illness, self-harm, domestic dispute, infertility, anxiety

Stories Stories Stories Masterlist

Chapter characters: Lee, Josie, Orlando, David, Britt, Sami, Jimmy

Salem, Massachusetts

February 27, 2023

Salem General Hospital- 7pm

The ambulance arrived at the hospital and the EMT's took Orlando inside with you right on their tail. Lee had texted and said he was about 15 minutes away which made you feel better knowing you would soon be in his arms after the nightmare you had just endured.

The police were already there waiting to question Orlando again when he was more coherent. You held his hand and talked to him for a moment before they took him back to a room.

"Hey, how are you feeling? Are you in any pain?" you asked him with a shaky voice.

Orlando smiled at you and told you no, but you knew better. He saw your worried expression and wanted to be strong for you, so he slightly fibbed so you wouldn't be so scared. He knew that fib was nothing compared to what he had to soon lie about, all to keep you safe....and that meant Ethan would go free... and you still wouldn't be safe. Orlando knew Ethan had been into some bad dealings for quite some time and the threat he made against you would and could very well be carried out if he were to be charged and sent to prison so he figured if he kept his brother happy, Ethan would eventually calm down about everything. There was also the matter of his mother and how she would react if her son was sent away because of her other son who had already tore their family apart. It was truly a no win situation but he was going to do what he thought was best for you. He couldn't bear the thought of you being hurt because of him, or at all.

"I know you're lying. It's ok to admit if you're hurting Orlando."

He didn't even get to answer as a doctor came to assess him. After a brief update from the EMT's, the doctor then spoke to you.

'Are you his wife?"

'Oh...n..no. I..I'm his friend." you answered, shocked that he didn't even know who Orlando was. New doctor maybe?

"I'm sorry. You'll have to wait down here if you're not family."

"What? Wait, where are you taking him? I need to go with him, I told him I wouldn't leave him!"

He ignored you and told a nurse to take him up to ten and he would be in shortly, then walked off.

"Seriously???" you miffed. "I'll be right there Orlando." you assured him and reluctantly let go of his hand as they wheeled him off to the elevator.

Where the hell was Britt or Amy, you thought, then took out your phone and began texting both of them. Within a minute as you paced about, Amy responded that she wasn't working and then Britt finally replied and said she was up on ten with David, coincidentally where they were taking Orlando. God, you hadn't seen Dave in so long.

Without even thinking, you found yourself on the highly feared elevator, closing your eyes and holding your breath the entire time as you clutched the hand rail, picturing Lee beside you.

As the doors opened, you bolted out, releasing your breath and saw Dave headed in your direction, obviously looking for you.

"Dave! Oh my god!" you panted and threw your arms around him.

"Josie, sweetheart, you're shaking. What's going on??" he asked as he held you so tightly. "Britt told me you were on your way up here. Are you alright?"

"No..no I'm not. They brought Orlando up here and the doctor wouldn't let me go with him."

"Yeah, I just saw them taking him into a room. Josie what the hell happened?"

"His brother Ethan is what happened. Please tell me you're going to be taking care of him??? I don't like that other doctor. I think he's missing a heart"

"Hey, don't worry. He's in good hands and once then get him stable, they'll let you see him."

"Can't you go check on him? Tell him I'm right outside and that Lee is on his way? Just so he feels better?"

Dave's eyes became curious. "Yeah Josie, sure....I..I um... didn't realize you you and Dr. Bloom...or Dr. Pace were...that close. But ten again I haven't heard from you since Jason's funeral over a month ago. I take it you and I over?" he said with a grin.

Dave was always a pretty reserved guy, so his comment slightly threw you. You understood it though because you had made up that lie to Lee about you and Dave dating...and you had also neglected your friendship with him ever since then and you had never done that before.

"I know...I'm so sorry. It was so very stupid and insensitive of me to do that. SO much had and has been going on...I'm sorry, I'm just spewing out such lame excuses and..."

"Josie...it's alright. Life happens. I get it. So are you and Lee....a..thing now?"

"Jo!" Lee called to you as he got off the elevator.

The sound of his voice was pure music to your ears. As you whipped around, Lee was right there, desperately pulling you into his arms, cradling your head in his hand as he closed his eyes with an intense sigh of relief. He then leaned back and kissed your forehead and gently but vigorously rubbed each side of your face.

"Baby, are you alright? Tell me you weren't hurt."

"I'm ok, I swear. It's Orlando that's hurt pretty badly and they won't let me see him yet. Maybe they'll let you...since you're a doctor here?? Dave, can Lee go in??"

David stared at you for a moment, realizing from your loving meet and greet with Lee, that his question was confirmed.

"I'm sorry. I wish that he could, but with his suspension and all..."

"Hey, it's ok man. I called Orlando's sister. She and Jimmy are on their way."

"I'm going to go check on him like you asked." Dave said with a light smile and left.

"Lee, is that a good idea after what happened with Jimmy? Sam was really cruel to Orlando. I saw it."

"Despite their differences, Sami loves him. Can we...go talk for a moment? Somewhere not so crowded."

He led you around the corner into the hall and you could feel it. He was upset that you went over there and understandably had a lot of questions.

"Jo..." he simply said and stared down at the floor, then finally brought his eyes to you and spoke softly. "What were you thinking? Going there alone?"

"I...I tried to call you first, but you didn't answer and..I could feel something was wrong. Orlando had left me a voicemail earlier and he just didn't sound right. It was like he was desperately needing to talk to someone, but I could hear it in his tone. Lee, there was fear....and I called him back tonight and he tried to say he was fine, but then I heard Ethan shouting at him...and then he just hung up. I called again but he wouldn't answer and so I texted him. Shortly after, he texted back and that's when I could truly tell something was wrong, by what he said, but I now believe it wasn't even him because I called again and Ethan answered his phone. He tried to tell me Orlando was fine and up in a room with a girl and that he had saw your post, which I then looked and saw Orlando supposably gave it an angry reaction...but Lee, you and I both know he isn't that petty."

"Are you so sure about that? Look what he did with Megan."

'Yeah I know, but also look how incredibly sorry he was...I don't know Lee. But I'm telling you, Ethan did this. I mean, you even believe he tried to run us off the road. Like...I just feel Orlando was trying to warn me about something, but chickened out. You know Ethan better than anyone Lee. Is he capable of this?? Hurting his own brother like that?"

Lee stared off down the hall momentarily. "I've seen it before, his anger."

"At Orlando??"

"I have...and at me, but this? Stabbing him? Jo, did you see it happen?"

"Well...no but Lee...how else did it happen? Orlando was too out of it to say anything and Ethan had the audacity to say Orlando did this to himself. I'm sorry, but that's bullshit."

"I guess we wait to see what Orlando says. I wish he would have called me and not you. You should not have been anywhere around Ethan..."

"He didn't call you because he thinks you hate him... Lee, what are you not telling me. I can see it all over your face. You're worried about something. Talk to me...please. I'm not your enemy... Let me in...I love you."

Lee caved at your words and kissed your forehead again, the pulled you against him, wanting to tell you everything so badly.

"I love you so much Jo. What I am worried about is you...and Orlando. Of course I don't hate him."

"Then please tell him that. I really think he needs to hear it and know that you're in his corner. You...don't believe he hurt himself, do you?"

"I don't want to. I just know that he has had a lot of mental problems and I can't judge him or anyone. Look at the things I have done when I was not in my right mind."

"So...you think that it's possible?"

"I pray it's not true because this will really impact his life...his career even. I know how that goes first hand as you also know. Everything now depends on his statement. Come on, let's go see if there's any updates."

You obliged and went with him, knowing damn well Lee was holding back on something. Something that terrified him.

As you and Lee came around the corner, Sam and Jimmy were speaking with Britt, who's eyes fell in shame when she saw the two of you.

"Jimmy, hey man!" Lee enthusiastically said as they both shared a manly back patting hug. "Glad to finally see you. Hey Sam. You guys, this is Josie...my girlfriend." he then said with a cute smile at you and squeezed your hand. To hear him say it officially to someone else made the butterflies wake up.

"Hey." she softly said, looking very agitated. "Thanks for calling me Lee. Sorry we couldn't make it to the funeral. You can see why, all thanks to Orlando."

She glanced up at her husband's rainbow colored bruising that consumed one of his eyes.

"Nice to meet you Josie...Sam, come on. Give the kid a break. It was an accident." Jimmy said in defense of his brother in law.

"How many breaks do you think he should have Jim? And now Ethan is in jail because of him. I need some coffee while we wait." she snapped and walked off to the waiting room.

Something about Britt's reaction caught your immediate attention at the mention of Ethan's name.

'Any update on Orlando?" Lee asked her.

"Uhh...yes, he's....um, Dr. Conrad is with him currently down in radiology. That's all I can offer at this time."

"I better go sit with my wife. You guys want to come?" Jimmy asked.

"Britt...can I talk to you for a minute?" you asked as she hesitated making eye contact with you. "Lee, you go ahead. I'll be right there."

"Sure baby."

He kissed your forehead again and left with Jimmy. Britt then tried to escape.

"I really need to get back to my rounds Josie."

"Oh noooo you don't." you retorted and pulled her into the hall.

"Josie, seriously, if this is about the other night, how many more times can I apologize? I drank too much and said things i shouldn't have."

"Nope not about that. What do you about Ethan?"

"Who?"

"Oh cut the shit Britt. I saw your face. You know something, now spill it."

"I don't want involved in it Josie. I think it's now obvious that he's bad news."

"And you're going to tell me why that is? I'm not leaving until you do. I swear I will follow you around all night if I have to."

"Ok ok! God. I just...the other day, at the funeral...I..I knew he looked familiar but..I couldn't place him then. But when she just said his name..."

"Britt?? Tell me!"

"I've seen him with Jason before ok?? and...the Zacchara's."

You spaced out for a moment in disbelief, then your hand made it's way to cover your mouth as your eyes widened.

"Oh..my god....are...you sure???"

"Yes...I mean, he had shorter hair then, but I know it was him. It was on the Haunted Star and there was some gambling event going on. He was into it big time. A high roller."

"My father's boat...where the hell was I??"

"Off with Gerry somewhere as usual. I don't know."

"Josie...Lee was with him. So was that big mouth brother of his. Gavin?"

"Gordon..." you whispered in complete shock.

"Yeah, that's it. But that's all I know. I never had any reason back then to think anything of it....until now."

"Yeah except that Lee was there and the Zacchara's are one of the families....and not exactly friends with Jason and Sonny."

"Look, Jason's business was his business. I didn't question him because you know as well as I do that he would never tell us anything. Lee, I can assure you was not involved in any of that world. Just there having a good time. That's all I know Josie. I really have to go."

Britt left and you just stood there reeling over this new confusing information for a few minutes, then went to find Lee to hopefully get more clarity on this from him. You knew Lee didn't know Jason but that didn't mean he didn't know what Ethan was involved in....and judging by Lee's behavior earlier, you suspected he did know....and that there was more to his and Ethan's relationship than what was revealed.

You joined Lee, Sam and Jimmy in the waiting room as they were all talking. Lee noticed your sullen face and he took your hand as you sat down beside him.

"Jo? Everything alright?"

"Yeah..we can talk later."

He half smiled, sensing that it wasn't going to be a pleasant talk.

"I really should go and see Ethan so I can hear his side of things." Sam randomly said.

"Come on Sam." Jimmy said. "Ethan's a big boy and he made his bed. Orlando is hurt and lying in a hospital bed."

She didn't like that response at all and became visibly upset.

"Yeah, just like he hurt you and put you in a hospital bed. Ethan wouldn't do this Jim. Orlando has serious problems and people get hurt because of him, including himself....and Mum, fuck...how do I tell her any of this?"

"Look, I know Orlando has problems but that night...he didn't know it was me. It was just...blind rage. It could have been anyone."

'Well...I'm beginning to see where half of Orlando's problems stem from. Thank you Jimmy, for defending him. At least someone sees the truth." you bluntly said and stormed out.

Lee's eyes grew in shock as he sucked in a heavy breath and exhaled, then he abruptly stood up. "I'm uh...going to go check on her and Orlando too."

You wandered into a small empty waiting room down the hall, sat down with your head in your hands and internally screamed. Sure, you didn't know everything about Orlando, but this, you just knew.

"Hey."

You popped your head up to see Dave leaning on the doorway, looking at you with his benevolent blues.

"Dave...how did..."

"I could hear you screaming internally from down the hall......annnd, I...saw you come in here." he said with a soft smile. "You ok?"

"I'll be fine. Did you get to speak to Orlando??"

"They gave him a sedative for the pain and to calm him, but he's fighting it. He's pretty worried about something."

"I'm pretty sure I know what that is. What about his injuries?"

"I can't discuss that with you, you know that."

"Ok, then get me and Lee in to see him. Please. He'll calm down if he has someone there he trusts and is on his side."

"I would, but the police are waiting too."

"Well, you said he's sedated right? So, he's still not in any shape to speak with them. Please, David. Don't let them see him. Get us in there first. I'm worried he'll tell them something he will regret."

"I'll see what I can do."

Dave left, almost running into Lee as he did so.

"Jo."

You got right up and went to him, wrapping your arms around his waist and snuggling into his chest.

"I'm so sorry Lee. You must be so embarrassed by my little tantrum back there. Sam just makes me so mad! She cares more about Ethan sitting in jail than she does about Orlando lying in a hospital bed, bloodied and beaten."

Lee held you tight and slightly rocked you. "I know. It's just how Sami is. Don't be sorry. Your passion is one of the many things I love about you Jo."

You tilted your head back and stared up at him with sad eyes. "I also feel a little guilty too. I mean...her husband was badly hurt...and...if that were you...I know I'd be the same way. If someone ever hurt you Lee, I'd..."

Your words were ceased by a soft full kiss, sending your wide awake butterflies fluttering up into your chest.

"God I've wanted to do that from the moment I got here tonight." Lee whispered against your lips. A tiny whimper snuck out of your mouth as you pulled his lips back to yours and for a few moments, you both forgot where you were as Lee backed you up against the wall.

You could feel someone was there, in which you opened your eyes and could just see over Lee's shoulder. Dave had come back.

"Sorry. I...I didn't want to..interrupt." he said, noticeably discomfited by what he saw.

"Dave...I...ummm...did you...see Orlando?"

"Yeah, he's uh...he's asking for you....the police will be held off until tomorrow. I can't go into detail. Orlando can fill you in. I uh...gotta run. See ya...later."

"Dave wait...."

You ran up to the doorway but the heartbroken doctor kept going.

"Damn it." you sadly huffed.

"I'm sorry Jo...I shouldn't have went so crazy with the PDA.."

"No, god no Lee. It's not your fault. Please go crazy with it." you giggled and kissed him again. "I...I just wanted to tell him myself. Oh well. I can't do anything about it now. I'll talk to Dave later. Let's go see Orlando."

As you and Lee came up to his cubicle, you could hear the conversation between him and a nurse.

"Dr. Bloom. I have your admittance and consent for surgery papers right here for you to sign."

"And how shall you say I do that when I'm right handed and my right hand is shit?"

"Your left hand will do just fine. I am a witness."

""I don't need surgery. Just stitch it."

"Dr. Bloom. Respectfully, you're a doctor. Surely you're aware that this type of would cannot be stitched. I cannot force you to have surgery, but if you do not, you will lose full use of your hand."

Reluctantly, Orlando signed it in big capital letters. "Tell Nurse Teresa if she can't read that, she needs fucking glasses. The kind that make your eyes bug out of your head."

You and Lee looked at each other and silently laughed.

"Annnnd he's back..." Lee chuckled as you both went inside the curtain.

Orlando's eyes fattened at the sight of Lee.

"Your gown is there in that closet. I'll leave you to your company and they'll be back to prep you in about an hour." the Nurse explained to Orlando.

"I know that...I work here remember?"

The Nurse rolled her eyes and left, making Lee chuckle some more.

"Hey banando, come here man. That's if you're not too stoned to stand up."

Watching Lee embrace his best friend had your eyes stinging with tears. No matter their spats, they would always care for each other and that was just so beautiful to you.

"Soooo, this is how I am forgiven? By ending up in the hospital.." Orlando grinned.

"Who said I forgive you?" Lee smirked. "Just fucking with you man. Of course I forgive you. You can thank Jo here for that."

Orlando looked at you with sullen eyes and came over to you.

"I'm so sorry for all of this and I do not even have words for what you did for me."

"You're ok. Well, mostly....That's all that matters. Just give me a hug and I'll be happy." you replied as your tears finally fell.

Orlando softly smiled and pulled you to him with his good hand.

"Thank you." he whispered into your ear.

Sam and Jimmy then walked in and Orlando's somewhat happy face fell flat at the sight of his sister's angry face and his brother in law's bruised one.

"Jimmy man...I am so damn sorry..."

"It was an accident man. How many times do I gotta say it? We're good ok? Now I just want you to be good."

"So, are you going to say Ethan did this and send him to prison? You got Mum all worried again." is all Sami could manage to say.

"What the hell did you tell her?"

"Oh you mean how you and you're....whatever she is put Ethan in jail?"

Your mouth dropped open at this bitch's nerve and Lee jumped right on it.

"Hey, Sam...don't do that. Jo saw Orlando was hurt and she did the right thing. At some point in your life, you're going to have to see the truth on things, so don't go blaming my girlfriend or my best friend for Ethan's fuck ups."

"Lee, thanks man but don't bother. I'm going to go call Mum so I don't have to stand here and listen to my own sister berate me today. Feel free to leave Sam. I have everyone I need here." Orlando snapped and walked out to the payphone.

She and Jimmy then began arguing with Lee trying to calm them, so you crept over to the doorway to watch Orlando in case he needed help, but you stayed back far enough to give him privacy....although you could still hear him and he didn't know it.

"Hey Mum. I'm alright, don't worry. A little surgery and I'll be good as new. No Mum..it will be fine. It was all just a big misunderstanding. An accident. Ethan will be free soon enough once I get to speak to the police. Yes, tomorrow I think. It will all be alright. Try not to worry anymore ok? I'll call you later when I can. I love you too Mum. bye."

Orlando hung up and lightly jumped when he saw you.

"Did I just hear you tell your Mother that it was an accident and that Ethan would soon be free?"

"What??" Lee said as he had just came out to find you.

"Look, I don't want to get into this right now with either of you. I am fine now. I thank you both so much for coming, but you can go now."

"Like hell." Lee snapped.

"Lee man, this is my business. Let me handle it."

"You look me in the eyes right now and tell me Ethan did not do this to you, because it is no accident when someone stabs someone."

"I never said anyone stabbed me. Look, I was drinking and fucking around with his knife, you know, the finger game. I missed."

"You mean to tell us that you were playing five finger fillet. I saw the wound Orlando. There were three punctures and last time I checked, you are right handed, which is the hand that is injured. So you accidentally stabbed yourself THREE times with your LEFT hand." you asked in extreme disbelief.

"Ok Josie...you got me. You heard Ethan. I did it to myself. I'm off my fucking meds and I hurt myself. I do it a lot. Is that better?"

"Lando man. Don't do this. Don't throw your career away for Ethan, because you know that's what will happen if you tell them you intentionally hurt yourself. He ain't worth this man! Look at the mess I'm in over my poor choices."

"That ain't the same and you know it Lee. You're being investigated for medical negligence."

"The hell it isn't. Some of my poor choices involved Ethan just as your poor choices do because you're protecting him for some unknown fucking reason."

"I'm not protecting him, I'm...you know what. I'm done here. I need to go change."

"You see?? I knew this was your fault!" Sam said as he followed him back into his room, in which Orlando went in the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

"Leave him the fuck alone already! I do believe he told you to leave." you shouted at her.

"I'm sorry, just who the hell do you think you are??"

"I'm someone, unlike you, that actually cares about him. Jesus, no fucking wonder his mind is a god damn mess. You and Ethan are toxic!"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you fucking Lee and not Orlando...or ARE you?"

That did it. You lunged at her but were swept right off your feet by Lee's arms around your waist while Jimmy held Sam back.

"Oh looks like I hit a nerve!" She shouted.

"Yeah, the I'm gonna kick your ass nerve!" you shouted back, struggling to free yourself from Lee's unbreakable grip.

'Enough!!" Orlando barked as he came out of the bathroom with another door slam. "Jimmy, man, get her out of here and don't bring her back."

"Sam! Let's go. Now!" Jimmy snapped as he stood in front of her.

She scowled at him and stormed out in tears. You jerked your arm free as Lee finally let you go.

"Why the hell did you stop me!?"

"Oh I don't know Jo, maybe so you didn't end up in a cell beside Ethan!"

"Ok, well I've had enough of this night. You can both go. I'll be fine. I'm going to the chapel for a bit to clear my fucking head before it explodes." Orlando vexed and left.

"Hey, I'm coming with you man." Lee called out. "Jo...I need you to go home."

"What??? I'm not leaving? He's going to have surgery soon and I'm not leaving you. Lee, I'm sorry I got all bent out of shape but she had it coming."

"Hey, look at me baby." he softly said and took your face in his hands. "I'm not mad. You're right, She did deserve it. Just let me stay here with him and try to talk some damn sense into him. I'll stay here through his surgery and after so he's not alone. I swear to you I will call you if anything is wrong. Just let me spend a little time with him by myself. I know him better than anyone and I'm going to do my best to try and get through to him about Ethan."

"I understand that. I..I just don't want to leave you. I can let you go be with him. I'll stay in the waiting room. I rode a fucking elevator to get up here tonight, I'll have you know."

"Jo, no. Please baby. Go home and get some rest. It's late and you have moving to do in the morning remember? I will still meet with you for lunch if all goes well here and you can come see him, and we can then go to the farm like we planned. Jo...please. For me. You've been through enough tonight. I will feel so much better knowing you're at home. Ethan's in jail so you'll be safe. I've got until tomorrow to get the truth out of Orlando, so just let me try."

"Is...there a reason I wouldn't be if he were out??"

Lee knew he shouldn't have said that part. "I just meant that, I don't know what Ethan is thinking right now."

"You mean that you are worried that he blames me for this."

"Jo...I'll call you when he's out of surgery."

"Deflecting. Typical. You know...I'm a hell of a lot smarter than you give me credit for and I know you're keeping something from me. That's what I wanted to talk to you about because I though we agreed about no more secrets...but...I guess it will have to wait."

You picked up your purse and marched out.

"Jo, babe!" Lee called after you but you ignored him and kept going, in tears.

"Fuck!" he shouted and then took off after Orlando.

"Josie!" Dave shouted as he saw you about to leave and came trotting up behind you.

You quickly tried to wipe your tears but he saw you.

"Heyy, why are you crying?? and...leaving?"

"Dave, I'm fine."

"No you're not. Sit down...please." he asked and placed his hand on your arm to guide you to the couch in the lobby.

You reluctantly sat down and he sat across form you.

"What happened? Talk to me. You know, we always used to talk...about everything. I miss that josie. I miss you." he said and leaned down to take your hands into his.

"I know. I miss you too, but..."

"But what?"

"There's just so much going on and I just want to go home. That's all."

"Like...with Lee? You two...are together now huh?"

"Dave, I reeeeally don't want to talk to you about Lee."

"I thought, besides my sister, that I was your best friend. I suppose...he is now?"

"David...don't do this. Not now."

"I just asked a simple question Josie. What's so hard about that? To tell me about your life?"

"Because I'm in love with him..." you blurted out in frustration.

Dave released your hands and sat back up with a look of shock and disbelief.

"I...see..."

"Dave, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to just spit it out like that."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. You can't help who you love. I should know."

His beeper went off and he checked it. "I need to go. I hope you will be happy. That's all I've ever wanted for you. Bye Josie."

Dave got up and left with pure anguish in his eyes, leaving you feeling like total shit and worried you may now lose him, for he pretty much just admitted how he felt about you, which you've always suspected. You adored him but you just didn't have those kinds of feelings for him. It was all Lee. It had always been Lee even before you knew him.

Lee entered the empty chapel and sat down beside Orlando and then just told him his own truth about Ethan's voicemails and what happened at the funeral reception.

"Now do you understand man. You can't let Ethan get away with this. He's dangerous. I just never realized how much until now."

"No, you don't understand Lee. I've made up my mind and what you just told me made it a hell of a lot easier and showed me I'm doing the right thing."

"The right thing? And what is that? Lando man, come on. I'm your best friend. Tell me what's going on."

"And I'm your best friend. You've been through enough shit too ya know. You and Josie both. If I don't....man things will just get worse, so just leave this alone."

"I think you know that's not even an option. You're going to throw away everything you've worked so hard for and for what? Ethan?? I know damn...oh... I mean darn...sorry up there." Lee said in panic as he glanced up at the cross. "I know you didn't do this to yourself and you'll never convince me otherwise, or anyone else for that matter. If you're this determined to go through with it, then at least go with your first lie, that you accidentally did it. God, I cannot believe I'm sitting here in a church, conspiring with you."

"Then don't. I don't want you or Josie involved in my messes."

"I think it's a little too late for that don't you? I mean, did you not just hear what I told you about his messages? and what he told Josie at the reception?"

"Look, I don't need you here. Just go back to Josie and live happily ever after ok?"

"Man, don't do that. You knew, you've known for how long how I feel about her."

"And?? What's your point Lee?"

Lee sighed and closed his eyes. "I...I'm in love with her...and she's in love with me."

"So I've seen."

"I know you didn't make that reaction on my post either. Ethan had this all worked out to his advantage so he could blame you for his jealousy."

"I came here to be alone...but since I can't, I'll just go back to my room. I'm not changing my mind. You're wasting your time. Go home Lee."

Orlando got up and walked out, but Lee followed him.

"I know why you're doing this! You're not protecting him, you're protecting her. He threatened her didn't he? If you put him in prison. I'm right aren't I? and you're also doing this because....you're in love with her."

Orlando froze as he listened to Lee spell out the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help him God, and then, he just kept walking.

You got home to a dark house. "Mom??" you called out as you turned on all the lights, for you hated the dark. There was no answer. "Meggggan??" you then called out as your rolled your eyes. No answer to that either.

You then found a note on the kitchen table form your mom that said she was out and would be back soon.

"Where the hell would she go at this time of night?" you muttered to yourself as you read it.

You then went up to your room and poured another glass of the wine you were drinking during your bath and downed it and then got undressed, putting on a robe.

You were way too wound up to even attempt to sleep, so you put on some music and sat on the bed with your laptop while you drank some more wine.

Immediately, you found Ethan's page through Orlando's, but of course it was all private. You blocked him and set yours to private as well so he couldn't stalk you from someone else's account like he did tonight. Before you did that, you noticed Lee hadn't done the same, which you guessed he didn't do it because Ethan would just cause more trouble over it.

Now that you took care of that, you began typing.

"I liked you before I even had a chance to brush my hand against yours that day in the hospital. I was attracted to your soul before I had a chance to kiss your lips that night in your car. I fell for your mind before I knew your body that night at the lake house. I loved you in such a short time because I waited a lifetime for you.....Forever I will love you now."

Lee sat in the waiting room while they prepped Orlando. He wasn't going to leave even if Orlando didn't want him there. In his boredom, he got online. What he really wanted to do was call you so he could hear your voice and tell you how sorry he was, for he just couldn't take knowing you were upset with him. But he decided to let you cool off and he didn't want to wake you if you were sleeping.

Lee then saw your post and he instantly teared up.

"Right back at ya baby girl." he commented and then posted a song on your page.

"Forever my Jo."

When you saw his reply and the song, you smiled so big and gave it a heart reaction, then hit play and finished off your wine. After it was over, you went to brush your teeth and try to go to bed. As you placed the toothpaste on the brush, your heart skipped a beat when you saw your birth control pills laying there...that you forgot to take for almost 5 days. With everything going on, you literally had forgotten. You weren't sure why you became worried because the only reason you even took them was solely for lighter periods and cramping. You weren't sexually active before Lee and it wouldn't have mattered if you were because after an accident you had when you were with Gerry, you were told you couldn't have children. A single gunshot took that away from you. One of the cons of having a cop for a boyfriend and a mob related brother.

Now you realized why you slightly freaked out. Being with Lee and being so happy, you had also forgotten of your inability to conceive...but Lee didn't know. What would he think? How would he feel? Surely he would want kids again someday, for you saw how he was with them and how much he loved Jacob. That night at his other house with Dash. Watching them together, Lee was so good with him and you remembered how it triggered you.

So many thoughts swirled through your mind now. Would Lee even want another child after Jacob? That was the main thought. Could or would he ever be able to love another child in that way? How could you ever even tell him about this? Would he still want you if he did want more kids and knew you couldn't give them to him?

There went your anxiety and you began to cry. You told yourself over and over that Lee loved you and it wouldn't matter, but how could you really know? It's not like that had never been a deal breaker for anyone before. But Lee, he was different wasn't he? He loved you more didn't he? All of his beautiful words and actions, they had to mean that he did, didn't it?

You couldn't take it anymore and climbed into bed, eventually crying yourself to sleep, for you also had a secret.

@redeemer46

[tkeyahwrotethis]

Eleven: I Told Him Black Lives Matter, Imma Riot.

I just became a nurse and decided working the night shift was for me. After working a long ass shift my Nurse Supervisor told me we were having a floor meeting to discuss some new protocol so I wound up staying an extra 15 minutes after my shift. I was EXHAUSTED, to say the least. I hopped in my car and jumped on the highway. Of course, there was that weird morning rush hour traffic of the night shift getting off work and the day shift rushing to get into work. I noticed a black Acura truck speeding behind me in my rear view mirror. I thought okay maybe he’s not paying attention but he’ll stop soon or stop short. Then I thought maybe he’s not getting off at this exit with stand-still traffic and he’ll change lanes going at that pace. Then at full speed, he crashed into my back and deployed my airbags. I was screaming and completely out of control of my car I could barely see because all my airbags exploded. My head hit every hard surface there was and my seatbelt constricted me for dear life. I didn’t know what to do or how to feel I was screaming and crying and then my car finally came to a stop I wiggled my fingers and my toes. I touched my face and then checked my hands to see if there was any blood. There wasn’t. A police officer was the first one to open my door. He helped me out of my car and got on his phone I can’t even remember what he was saying it all felt like a blur. I survived my first car accident. I’m alive. 

Once I realized that I was safe and okay. I was filled with RAGE. My first car, which I worked so hard to afford is completely totaled. I didn’t even know who was in the driver’s seat and I didn’t care. I charged at his car and grabbed at his shirt ripping it, punching and scratching his face, and screaming at him,” YOU STUPID ASSHOLE YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME!! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US !! I HATE YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO ME!! LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO MY CAR! TO OUR CARS!! I HATE YOU!! I HATE YOU!!”  In one swoop the police officer grabbed me with his big strong arms and threw me over his shoulders while I was hysterically crying and screaming I HATE HIM!! I HATE HIM!! LET ME GO!!! PUT ME DOWN!!

The police officer sat me down on the grass by the guardrail. He was so tall & squatted down in front of me so that we were at eye level. His eyes were really blue and piercing. He was firm and kind when he told me I could not attack the man who hit my car. Look at the extensive damage on your car and now look at you, you survived a terrible accident unscathed. You should be happy and you should be thankful for your life. Adrenaline was coursing through me but I was able to finally catch my breath. The ambulance finally came and a very short Spanish lady EMT with a long curly ponytail said she had to assess me. The cop told her to make it quick so he could ask me some questions about the accident. The cop said he would be sitting in on the assessment and made casual conversation with her while she took a pair of scissors and cut off my Grey’s Anatomy scrubs from my body. I felt a bit uncomfortable because she told me to lie still just in case I had a concussion but I could feel his eyes on my body. I was just in my panties, bra, and socks. The officer’s partner knocked on the ambulance door. His partner was a tall beautiful Asian man. He asked me if there were any belongings I could think of that he could grab for me because the tow truck had just arrived to take my car.  My phone and my purse, please! I told him. He came back and brought me my belongings. The officer in the ambulance with me asked the EMT to hang out with his partner while he asked me a few questions alone. She seemed reluctant to leave me behind, but she did. I felt exhausted after working the night shift and getting into a car accident. The officer made sure the ambulance doors were closed and he caressed my left foot. I looked at him very puzzled. Then he snatched my sock off my left foot exposing my pedicured pink toes. He put the sock in his pocket. I was extremely confused and then alarmed when he squatted down and smelled my foot. I had just gotten off working a 12-hour shift like wtf was he doing inhaling the scent of my foot like that? He never took off my other sock. He took out some handcuffs and I started panicking as he handcuffed one of my wrists. I started kicking and yelling asking what did I do?? Am I under arrest for something?  He calmly asked me if maybe I SHOULD be under arrest for something… maybe perhaps for assaulting the man who hit my car right in front of an officer. I started crying I told him that's not fair. He said he could forget what he saw IF I did a favor for him.

I narrowed my eyes at him and told him no. Let me go! I haven’t done anything wrong! He got a little bit red in the face he probably never heard the word no in his life before. I noticed his gun and got a bit scared. He pulled my sock out, shoved it in my mouth, and told me not to say another word. Tears silently fell out my eyes as I gagged from my work sock being jammed in my mouth. He took the scissors, cut off my panties and bra, and left my one sock on my right foot of course. He told me he’d take the sock out of my mouth if I behaved, and to nod if I understood. I nodded my head and he took the sock out and put it back in his pocket. He grabbed my cheeks and told me to open my mouth I did it and he hawked up something nasty and spit it into my mouth. He covered my mouth with the palm of his hand and told me to swallow it. Suddenly I knew how he tasted. Then before I had time to process what he was doing to me, he licked my neck slowly up my face, up my forehead to my hairline. I’m sure he could taste the fear in my sweat and now he knew how I tasted as well. He spit on the hand that was handcuffed to the ambulance stretcher and told me he wanted to use my hand as a favor to him. I jerked him off with my hand in the handcuff and after he came he told me to lick up the mixture of his cum and spit and swallow it and I obeyed. He uncuffed me and gently dressed me in a hospital gown. He threw away my cut-up underwear and threatened me not to tell anyone what happened. I promised I wouldn’t. He opened the doors and told the EMTs I was ready to go to the Emergency Room to get treated for my injuries from the accident. I rode in the ambulance back to my job where my coworkers frantically asked me a million questions about the accident which seemed so far away from what I just endured. After I was released from the hospital to go home I felt different, happy to be alive, aware of my existence, and terrified of things I couldn’t control like car accidents… and men. 

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Honor in Crisis

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam, NTT, Titans, JLI, Arrowfam, Flashfam, GL Corps, Infinity Inc

Summary: Every chapter will focus on one character specifically and then I'll update their statuses in order.

This is a no powers au/fix-it fic for Heroes in Crisis. I wanted to focus on the characters and their healing. I decided that'd be easier to put some of these characters in a fic like this and work on it more from a real-world perspective. I DO want to say that I do not believe healing is linear so don't plan on a clear-cut happy ending. I'd say (and idk for sure) we're gonna eventually get a bittersweet ending for certain characters but nothing tragic.

Chapters: 8/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Kole Weathers, Lilith Clay, Eddie Bloomberg, Michael Carter, Michelle Carter, Rani Carter, Grant Emerson, Roy Harper, Grant Wilson, Joseph Wilson, Thaddeus Thawne, Bart Allen, Helen Claiborne, President Thawne, Todd Rice, Alan Scott (DCU), Damon Matthews

Relationship(s): Damon Matthews/Todd Rice

Additional Tags: No Powers AU, Canon Divergent AU, Fix-It Fic, Angst, TW // Suicide Attempt , TW // Domestic Violence Mention (Siblings) , TW // Referenced Child Abuse , TW // Kidnapping , TW // Child Abduction

Chapter Eight: Emesis (Thad Thawne)

Thad lay on his side, staring at the wall while a nurse checked his vital signs. The wall had a peculiar pattern, speckles so close they made designs and spots in some areas. Thad honed in on a collection of spots that looked like a face. "Hi, my name's Nurse Aya. Can you tell me what your name is?" Nurse Aya asked. Thad met eyes with her and took a shaky breath.

"Thad," he answered, "I feel sick." The nurse grabbed an emesis bag and helped him hold it to his mouth while he threw up. Thad had only been in the hospital for fifteen minutes. The EMTs injected him with something that slowed him down, but it made him so sick to his stomach that he thought he'd come down with the flu. The nurse threw the emesis bag in a medical waste trash can, and she checked his temperature. He apologized to her and tried to explain that he didn't have a weak stomach.

"They had to give it to you to get you to calm down," Nurse Aya whispered. Thad looked around.

"Is my brother okay?" Thad questioned.

Nurse Aya regained eye contact and waited for him to calm down. "Your brother is fine. Your brother is fine," she repeated, "Right now, what's important is that you get some rest while you wait for the doctor."

Thad nodded. "My twin's okay?" Thad whispered. Nurse Aya nodded.

"He's alright," Nurse Aya reassured. Thad recalled a fight that happened less than thirty minutes before his hospitalization. He couldn't remember what it was about, but he knew he'd hurt Bart. It was a bloody mess, and he convinced himself that everyone hated him for it. That's why no one came to visit him. He was sure of it.

A man entered the hospital room and waved. "Thaddeus?" the doctor questioned. Nurse Aya excused herself, and Thad nodded. "I'm Dr. Xochipepe. So I feel compelled to ask you if you prefer Thaddeus or some short and sweet form of Thaddeus."

"Thad or Theo's fine," Thad whispered.

"Okay, well, you can call me Dr. Xochi. Zo-chee," he sounded the name out for Thad.

Thad nodded, waiting for the doctor to run tests, but he didn't. "Your brother insisted on telling me you were manic," Dr. Xochi stated, "Would you describe the events preceding your hospitalization as part of a manic episode?"

Thad understood the question, but thinking took so much effort. All he wanted to do was sleep. "I've fought my brother tons of times... But this time, I almost—." Thad looked down at his shirt and rolled onto his back. "His blood's all over me... Does he need anything?"

"He's going home with your uncle tomorrow afternoon... And your cousin said she needed to pick up something for you to wear. You care for each other. I can tell... Thad, have you ever been in residential treatment?" Dr. Xochi questioned.

Thad was hospitalized once before, but he was younger then. A lot younger. Thad nodded and shut his eyes at the thought of it. Then Helen came to get him. And she was safe and warm and everything he'd never had. "I hurt myself when I was a kid because I wanted to get away from my grandpa," Thad answered. Familial kidnapping. The hospital was cold and impersonal. He swore he'd never end up in a place like that again.

And hurting himself was an understatement. Thad jumped out of a car on the freeway, shattering his elbow and hitting his head. When he woke up, he was too frightened to explain why, so he lied. "How long ago was that?" Dr. Xochi asked.

"I was thirteen. That doesn't have anything to do with this. I didn't hurt Bart because I was scared. I don't remember why I hurt him, but I wasn't scared of him," Thad explained. He shut his eyes in the hopes that Dr. Xochi would go away. "I'm not going home tonight, am I?"

"I'm afraid not," Dr. Xochi replied. He asked a handful of common sense questions before asking the difficult questions. "Do you feel like you might want to harm anyone still?"

Thad thought about his question for a long time. "I don't want to... But I think the damage is done. I've never done anything this terrible before. I don't know how any of them could ever forgive me," Thad mumbled, "I wouldn't forgive myself if I were them." Thad lay down again and tried to find the face in the wall. When he couldn't, he shut his eyes again. Thad didn't want to talk anymore. He wanted it all to fade away. Thad hadn't slept in days. He hadn't wanted to. Now, all he wanted was sleep.

"Thad?" Dr. Xochi asked. Thad pressed his face into the pillow.

Thad started crying softly into his pillow. "I don't want to talk anymore. I need some time," Thad mumbled. Dr. Xochi made a soft noise and distanced himself.

Thad curled into a ball and thought about Bart's head cracking against the pavement. It permeated his dreams. Pursued him in nightmares. He didn't sleep long as they woke him and transferred him to the inpatient facility.

It was pitch black outside, but this facility seemed different from the rest. Thad started signing paperwork, and after they checked him in, they offered him a change of clothes. He showered and changed before climbing into bed in the room they assigned him. His roommate lay staring at the ceiling, but he never turned to acknowledge Thad. That was fine. He didn't want to be noticed.

Thad's guilt would've kept him awake if it weren't for the sleeping pill the nurse gave him. His body ached, and his head hurt. Eventually, the pain became an afterthought as his body gave way to fatigue. He ran a bruised hand through his hair and enjoyed a dreamless slumber until he awakened with a jolt to his screaming roommate. Thad turned to the other boy and watched as the nurses did nothing. After nearly a minute of uninterrupted screaming, his roommate laid down and went back to sleep as if it were nothing.

Thad hugged his knees, visibly shaken up by what he'd witnessed. He couldn't go back to sleep after that, so he sat in place until it was time to get out of bed.

[spaghettificationandpretzels]

The Reaper and the Death Angel Part 11

The fire hasn't caught yet, but it's getting there.

Part 10

Contains: Drug overdose, Gemma being Gemma, Jax can't express himself, follows the plot of the pilot, discussion about combat, war and killing in war.

Your song for this chapter, you don't need to listen to it.

2.4K Words

Comment if you want to be tagged

Abel is here.

"I need an ambulance, there's a woman here who is 30 weeks pregnant, hemorrhaging, signs of IV drug use and a suspected methamphetamine overdose."

Gemma walked through the open door to find you crouched over Wendy's body, you looked up at her, terrified.

"If the ambulance doesn't get here in time we need to prepare for the worst."

At that moment, Gemma had never hated Wendy more.

Gemma watched you work over Wendy while you waited for the ambulance.

"I need to write her vitals down, find me a marker, not a pen." It was the first time she heard you leave off please and thank you. She ran off and a few seconds later, came back and handed you the uncapped marker.

You were moving at a hundred miles a minute, you were writing numbers on Wendy's arm then feeling her stomach. Your head lifted up when you heard the sirens.

"Go flag down the ambulance. I'll go with Wendy, you go get Jax." Gemma did what you told her, your whole demeanour made it clear she should listen.

The paramedics walked in and you were talking to them, she had no idea what you were saying but it sounded medical. She saw on EMT look at the writing on Wendy's arm then back at you.

"You served?" You sort of shook your head.

"Eight years, civilian attachment to Recon."

The man gave you a nod of acknowledgment and went to help get Wendy on the stretcher.

"Tell Jax as little as possible, I would have been able to tell you more about Abel's condition but I don't have my kit here. He needs to get to the hospital as soon as he can, there may be decisions he needs to make."

The doctors were waiting at the door when the ambulance arrived, they pulled Wendy out of the back and took her right to the OR. You pulled the intake nurse aside to give them her medical history.

"She has been a meth user on and off. She hasn't been in contact with the Father in weeks and as far as we know, she only started using recently but judging by the track marks, that might not be true. The Father hasn't received any medical bills for important check-ups either." The nurse wrote this all down and asked some more questions.

"I'm acquainted with Dr Jessie Dale, she's the best neonatal surgeon in the state. I give her a call and see if she can help, when I hear about the baby's condition all get her to called the treating doctor." The nurse nodded and walked away, you imagine to tell the doctor what you told her.

Thirty minutes later the treating doctor, Dr Nameed, came out to speak to you.

"Are you Dr l/n?" You stood up and offered him your hand to shake.

"We performed an emergency C-section, the baby has a heart defect, congenital and gastroschisis. We give him 20% at best." he handed you the chart and you looked it over.

"Dr Jessie Dale will be calling you in a hour or two to discuss the case, she won't be able to come in but she will consult until either the parents ask her to stop or the baby no longer needs care." The doctor looked relieved but didn't say anything, but he left you to sit outside Wendy's room to wait for Jax and Gemma.

****

Jax and some of the other guys came running in a little while later, Jax practically ran into your arms before looking behind you into Wendy's room.

"The baby?" You put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's not good Jax. She has been using heavily for weeks, her doctors haven't heard or seen from her and haven't been doing any prenatal care. Abel has a genetic heart defect, but he's also got gastroschisis, a tear in his abdomen, that and the preterm birth are from drug use. It's far too early to say if he has any intellectual deficits." Jax looked so frightened and sad.

"Right now his odds are about 20%, I've put a call into a professional friend of mine, one Dr Jessie Dale, she's the best in the state. We will know more when she calls his doctor."

Gemma came up next to you and handed Jax something.

"I found one of these thumbs bag in her stuff, Hairy Dog." Jax looked over at the guys and started to walk off.

"Don't do anything stupid Teller, your Son needs you here with him." Jax didn't even hear you.

****

You waited with Abel for hours, somewhere around 6:00PM, Gemma came by to relieve you. "Go home y/n." You looked up at her with tired eyes.

"Dr Dale is optimistic, she thinks that if they fix Abel's heart and abdomen now he might stand a better chance. The surgical team will be here soon." You got up and gave her a hug before returning home.

You were sitting at the kitchen bench when the doorbell rang, when you checked the security camera, you saw it was Jax.

"Can I come in?" He looked like a mess and you could smell blood on him.

"Sure, why aren't you with your Son?" he couldn't find the words to reply.

"Do you need me to put on some oatmeal?" He nodded softly, just as you turned away he spoke.

"I killed a man tonight." You ran your hand over your head.

"We can talk that it if you like? Maybe I can give some insite." He gave you the same sad nod. He sat down at the bench, looking like his brain was too far away from him.

"Did you do it for purpose or for pleasure?" He looked at you funny.

"Purpose, he was shooting at me. Why would I kill someone for pleasure?" The reasons occurred to him just after he had finished speaking.

"It was kill or be killed, you did what you had to do. There's no reason to feel guilty about it." Your tone was short and straight to the point. Jax was a little taken aback but it.

"I would have thought you would find killing wrong no matter what. I mean, with your job being about identifying murder victims." You shook your head.

I got your letter today

And I miss you all so much, here

I can't wait to see you all

And I'm counting the days, here

"I was embedding in one of the most violent units in the US military, I was given a gun and a K-Bar just like the rest of the guys, I got my hands wet all the time. I've killed a lot of people Jackson, the only reason I can sleep at night is that each person had to die to save my own life or the lives of my teammates." You put the bowl of oatmeal in front of him.

I still believe that there's gold

At the end of the world

And I'll come home to Illinois

On the day after tomorrow

"I wasn't even working with them the first time I killed someone, I was eighteen and working at a dig site. This twenty-something comes in with a machete telling me that he'd kill me if I didn't leave now, then he lunged toward me. I gave him every chance to walk away and he didn't take it, so I did what I had to do."

Jax was listing intently.

And it's so hard and it's cold here

And I'm tired of taking orders

And I miss old Rockford town

Up by the Wisconsin border

What I'll miss, you won't believe

Shovelling snow and raking leaves

And my plane will touch down

On the day after tomorrow

"After that it was as easy as breathing, if I had to kill someone, I did. My hesitation the first time could have gotten me killed, now if I can't run or disable them, I do what I need to do."

I close my eyes every night

And I dream that I can hold you

They fill us full of lies, everyone buys

About what it means to be a soldier

"I bought the lie that I would be helping people by working with an active combat unit, I believed that if I tried hard enough, if I was the best, I would never have to hurt another person, but I did have to hurt other people."

I still don't know how I'm supposed to feel

About all the blood that's been spilled

Will God, on His throne, get me back home

On the day after tomorrow?

"I'm still human, I still see their faces when I close my eyes but I don't feel guilt. I did what I had to do and there were no other options. If you're going to stay in the Club while all of this is going on, you have to get used to it. You have to be sure that each bullet that comes out of your gun and each swing of that knife is necessary, or the reget will kill you, I've seen it happen."

You can't deny the other side

Don't want to die any more than we do

What I'm trying to say is, don't they pray

To the same God that we do?

Tell me, how does God choose?

Whose prayers does He refuse?

Who turns the wheel? Who throws the dice

On the day after tomorrow?

"They're people just like us Jackson, if you take a life without needing to you give away a bit of what makes you a person each time, sooner or later you won't have anything to give away."

I'm not fighting for justice

I am not fighting for freedom

I am fighting for my life

And another day in the world here

I just do what I've been told

You're just the gravel on the road

And only the lucky ones come home

On the day after tomorrow

"I said yes because I wanted to help people, and when the bullets started flying, I was just another grunt with a gun and the ability to kill without question. It stopped becoming about justice and freedom and become about getting me and my guys back home safe."

And the summer, it too will fade

And with it brings the winter's frost, dear

And I know we, too, are made

Of all the things that we have lost here

I'll be twenty-one today

I've been saving all my pay

And my plane will touch down (ooh, ooh)

On the day after tomorrow

"It was easier over there than at home, I knew exactly how to behave because there was only one factor in making a decision and that's will this get my teammates or me killed."

And my plane, it will touch down (ooh, ooh)

On the day after tomorrow

"You had to do it, you'll be fine." Jax had finished his oatmeal, he was looking much better.

"Now you're going to have a shower and get changed, there are some spare clothes you can wear. And then you're going to see your Son, it's not up for debate."

****

Jax washed and dressed in record time and you drove him to the hospital. You walked him up to the NICU and stopped to talk to the doctor.

"Everything went well, he's going to be here for a while but it's looking up from here." Jax visibly sighed, and then he wrapped you in a hug.

"Thank you y/n, I can't ever express how much you've done for me." You hugged him back, hard and encompassing.

"You've got a kid to meet, don't stand here hugging me." Jax pulled away with a short laugh and you walked him inside. As he crested the doorway, he started crying.

"He's perfect Jackson." Jax rubbed his eyes, and you put an arm over his shoulder.

It was a few days later when you saw Jax again, Wendy had somehow managed to get more meth into the hospital so he was busy going from her room to Abel's and then there was dealing with the Club.

"You guys are going to be just fine."

****

"Can I bounce something off you?" You nodded and he sat down.

"Is it about the guns being stolen?" He looked at you surprised but he didn't say no.

"We know it was The Mayans, but the guy I shot was a member of the Nords, we're pretty sure Darby, their leader, is in with Alvarez. He's wanted Charming for years and The Mayans have hated us since the 90s. Clay won't listen to reason, he wants to go at Alvarez hard. The rest of us want to resolve this before it ends up being another war." You crinkled your eyes in thought.

"Could that be why they shot Crazy Sal? His heroin sales could have been competition for the Nords. They take him out and the Nords promise to do the same when Alvarez calls. They probably looked after Darby when he was inside, which means he's indebted to them." Jax looked at you like you were the smartest person in the world.

"You need to let Darby know you know without telling him outright, I'm sure you can think of something." Jax thought for a moment and then laughed.

"Maybe we should ask you to prospect next, you sure seem to know what you're doing. Maybe you can get people's heads on straight." You shook your head at him.

"I don't think they'd let me in on account of my lack of a dick." Jax laughed.

"You always know what to say don't you?" He leaned his head on your shoulder.

"I try." You lifted your hand and ran it over his head.

"You know nothing that happened to Wendy and Abel is your fault, right? You did all you could for both of them, now all you can do is be a good Father to Abel and a good friend to Wendy." He lifted himself off of you and put a hand on your chin.

"Now I do." He was looking from your lips to your eyes and back again, you saw his tongue dart out the wet them.

They were so pink and plump

Just as he leaned in the kiss you, you heard someone call out and the spell was broken.

"Call me if you anything, yeah?" You nodded and pulled away from him, he grabbed your fingertips in his hand.

"Of course Jackson, thank you for trusting me with all of this"

As you walked away from him, a beautiful and terrifying thought crossed his mind.

Don't go, I love you.

I'm finally liking this series.

Part 12

[princehrry-writings]

Angel with a Shotgun

here we go. this popped into my head after i watched a tiktok about angel shots. if you go on a date and don't feel safe for any reason, please please please find a safe way to remove yourself!! asking for an angel shot is a great way to do that!!

WARNING: tw mentions of implied SA, stalking, harassment, police, EMT's, hospitals, alcohol, being drugged, swearing,

please don't read this if any of this stuff makes you uncomfortable. i don't get graphic with anything but still, put yourself first and be safe!! i love you <3

wordcount: 1907

Harry Styles x Reader

masterlist

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.

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It started off as a normal night. Y/n had met this guy in class and he’d asked her out for drinks. She didn’t get any bad vibes from him, none of her friends had heard anything bad about him, so she deemed him a suitable guy to go have a fun night with.

She’d met him at a bar just off campus and was having a really great night! The pair were dancing and talking and laughing, genuinely enjoying herself for the first time in a long time on a first date.

In Y/n’s experience, usually guys were creeps and girls never decided she was what they were looking for, so she had a hard time in the dating world. This guy, Jack his name is, seemed ok. Keyword being seemed.

She should have known. When he asked to meet her at a bar all the way across town, she should have put it together that he wasn’t what she was looking for. He didn’t put up too big of a fight when she insisted they meet at the bar closer to campus, that way she would know people there and be in a familiar place if she needed to get away from him quickly.

When he started making comments that were off putting to her, things she doesn’t really want to repeat in fear of actually vomiting all over the table, she starts looking for a way out. He keeps trying to play footsie with her under the table and is getting visibly frustrated at her lack of participation, so she tells him she’s going to get them another round of drinks after finishing the one that was already on the table and quickly exits the booth before he can protest.

Harry had been watching from across the room at the bar, seeing this couple who looked like they were on a first date. He watched as they laughed and talked, getting to know each other. But as the night went on, it seemed the woman was getting more and more uncomfortable.

He had told his coworkers to keep an eye out for the two in case anything was to go down, and when he sees her get up and make her way over to his bar, he has a feeling he knows where this is going.

“What can I get for you, love?” He asks her, leaning over the counter to hear her better. She sniffles a little, and takes a deep breath. Leans in before timidly asking.

“Can I get an angel shot?”

Harry’s senses are quickly kicked into gear and he nods, gesturing to his coworker that he’s gonna get this taken care of before meeting her on the other side of the bar. What neither of them had realized was that 1. Jack was walking up to them and 2. he had slipped something into her drink apparently because suddenly she could barely hold her own body weight. Harry caught her before she hit the ground and Jack rushed over, playing the part of concerned boyfriend but the bartender saw right through it.

“Sir, I’m gonna have to ask you to back up.” He tells the man, authority very present in his voice. Jack doesn’t take well to this, eyebrows furrowing and voice lowering in defense.

“S’cuse me mate, but I’m gonna take my girl home. She’s had a few too many, f’you know what I mean.” He chuckles and goes to scoop her up. Harry stops him, putting a hand on the guy's chest, stepping between the girl and this guy.

“You'll do no such thing. This girl has obviously been roofied and it’s you she was running away from. The only thing you’ll be doing tonight is talking to the police, who are making their way in right now to do with you what they will.” Harry says, watching the color drain from this bloke's face. He turned around, ready to make a full run for it but was stopped by not only the police but also a crowd of other guys who heard what was going down and were ready to step in if assistance was needed.

“I didn’t do anything wrong here! She was trying to take advantage of me!” He cries as he’s put in handcuffs and taken away.

“Yeah, it’s obvious the one who’s passed out cold because she was drugged was trying to take advantage of you.” Harry yells after him before turning around and scooping the girl into his arms. Due to the commotion and the presence of not only police but also paramedics, the premises was cleared and the bar was shut down for the night. Harry held the passed out girl close to his body, having had his coworker fetch his jacket from the break room to keep her warm now that the club wasn’t filled with body heat, and waited for the paramedics to come in for her.

When they come in and place her on the gurney, she starts to stir. Little whines and groans escape from her and the EMT’s check her vitals, deeming her stable and letting Harry know she’s going to be ok. He decided to follow to the hospital just so she has a familiar face when she wakes up and has someone to explain her situation that isn’t a scary doctor.

. *

.

It’s a few hours of unrestful sleep at her bedside and his co-worker showing up with a change of clothes for him when she finally starts to come to.

Groaning and reaching up to hold her head but realizing her arms are too heavy to move, she rasps out, “Where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital,” Harry explains, wanting to reach out and hold her hand but not wanting to startle her, “You’re ok but the doctors wanted to keep you overnight for observation.”

“You’re the bartender I asked for the angel shot aren’t you?” She questions after a pregnant pause. He hums a confirmation and she looks over his face a few times, before tears well in her eyes.

“What happened?” A few tears fall from her eyes. She can’t remember much after leaving the table, just the sight of green eyes and curly brown hair nodding at her when she asked for the shot. The rest is pretty much a blur, just random flashes of scenes she can’t quite make out in her head.

“You came over and asked me for the shot and then a few minutes later you passed out. The bloke you were with slipped something in your drink. And unless something happened at the table that I didn’t see, then nothing else happened. Do you remember anything happening at the table?” He explains, hoping her answer is no.

He’d learned her name from the EMT’s who checked your ID once you were loaded into the ambulance but he didn’t know the name of the man she was with. He realizes she doesn’t know his name either.

“No, was just being a sleazy dick. I don’t know how he could have slipped me something, I didn’t get up before I went to you. Must’ve turned my head for a bit too long. God, I should’ve known this was gonna happen!” She groans but he shakes his head.

“You can’t blame yourself for this, darling! He’s a sleazeball, a no good lowlife. S’not your fault.”

“What’s your name?” She voices, peering into his pretty green eyes.

“M’Harry,” he smiles, timidly reaching for her hand, rubbing his thumb soothingly across the soft skin.

“Thank you for staying with me Harry! For helping me…” Y/n says quietly. He shakes his head with a small smile.

“No need to thank me, pet. Would do it over and over again.”

Her smile, while tired and defeated, was enough to show him her gratitude. She feels a weight lift off her chest, hearing that nothing bad happened after she got to him.

She knows it’s probably just nightingale syndrome, but Y/n thinks Harry is terribly adorable. With his messy brown curls and tired green eyes that make it look like he hasn’t slept in ages. She thinks she could see herself going out with him, which is an odd thought considering what happened last night. You’d think that would be enough to turn her off to men for good, but there's just something about him. But now isn’t the time to bring any of that up.

“I’ll call a nurse, tell em’ you’re awake.” He voiced, making his way to the door after gently placing her hand back on the bed.

. * .

“Ms. I’m just calling to let you know the restraining order has gone through. You won’t have to worry about him anymore.”

Y/n felt a weight lift off her chest. After months of being harassed and stalked, she would finally be left alone. Harry leaned in, pressing a kiss to her cheek, stroking the loose hair out of her face.

“S’ finally over, lovie. It’s all over!.” He whispered in her ear, pulling her closer to him, rubbing up and down her thighs. She felt tears spring to her eyes, tears of relief, tears of joy, but also tears of sadness because the last few months had been some of the hardest of her life. She was ready to move on and be done with this nightmare.

When Jack had found out Y/n and Harry got together after that night, it’s like it activated something inside him. Like he thought she was just playing hard to get and he had to literally stalk her to get her attention. He seemed to think she was playing a game. Somewhere in his twisted little mind he had the audacity to think she actually wanted him.

He’d sit right next to her every single class period and would get up and move next to her when she tried to get away with him. He’d show up at her house, sitting across the street just watching her front door, he’d call her phone and text her, he’d wait outside her other classes and follow her around campus. She complained to her university, told them what was going on and they didn’t really do anything. She went to campus security and they brushed it off because “She wasn’t in any danger. He just wants to get to know you.”

So she finally was forced to file a restraining order. Her case was still open, from when he got arrested that night at the bar. They're charging him with second degree assault and criminal harassment because apparently she’s not the only girl he’s done this to. Many other women had spoken up since news of that night had spread around campus. Yet still, the university did nothing.

Harry stood by you every step of the way, picking up the shattered pieces on hard days. He wanted to beat the shit out of this guy and he would if it wouldn’t interfere with the case. He knew you needed him and he didn’t want to chance anything.

There was a pregnant silence between the two lovers. Just letting the silence wash over them, letting themselves breath freely without this weight suffocating them, they basked in it.

It wasn’t completely over, because there was still a trial, but he wouldn’t be coming around without getting arrested again.

That was enough for Y/n to breathe easy.

[fullmarvelheart]

When Saving an Avenger

Paring: Bucky x paramedic!Reader

Summary: After a long day on the job, your roommate drags you out to get some drinks. Drinks turns into HYDRA attacking the bar which turns into an Avenger bleeding out at your feet. More specifically James “Bucky” Barnes, and damn is he hotter up close. Surely this is going to be the only time you’re saving the man’s life, right? 

Word Count: 5,879 (oops, bit of a long one here)

Warnings: +18 ONLY, some angst, mentions of minor/major accidents, possible death (not a main character), minor/major injuries, what comes with being an EMT/paramedic, mentions of drinking/alcohol, swearing, pining?, mentions of attempted suicide

A/N: I’ve had this idea for a fic for a while now and I’m happy to be able to finally share it! Took a bit to write out completely but I’m glad it’s done! I hope you all enjoy it! Please leave feedback! Note: I am not an EMT so not everything is 100% accurate. Though, I have tried to google and research as much as I can. That being said, there’s still a lot I don’t know about the life of an EMT. All mistakes are my own. The gif used is not my own, credit to the original owner.

There will be a part 2 to this fic!

Main Masterlist

A heavy sigh left your lips as you let your head fall back softly. Your shift had barely begun, and you knew today was going to be a long day. Right as you walked into the firehouse and towards were you stowed your medical gear, the alarm rang. It turned out to be a small, minor accident. However, one of the victims was complaining about neck pain. So, you and the EMT you rode with checked her out and advised her to go a hospital if it didn’t get better or got worse.

The second alarm came when you were on your way back from the accident. There was a major pileup on one of the highways and the emergency services on the scene were requiring more medical help. You ended up having to rush a seven-year-old boy to the emergency room. And by the time you got him there, he had flatlined twice and was still in critical condition.

“You okay, Y/L/N?” Your partner, Noah, asks from the driver’s seat of the ambulance.

“I want a drink. A nice, strong, drink.” You groan.

“It’s only 11:30 in the morning.” Noah chuckles.

“Exactly.” Is your retort. “I know days on the job are going to be worse than others, it’s part of the job, but geez he was just a kid.”

Noah sighs sadly besides you. “I know. Some days, some days I question why I do this. But then after the bad days, there’s always something that makes it all seem worth it.”

“Yeah, I know. But it’s the bad days that happen more often.”

Seven calls later, and it was the end of your shift. Nothing got worse, per say, but nothing got better. By the time you made it to your apartment, you were ready to down a bottle of whatever alcohol you had and pass out watching some movie. However, your roommate/best friend had other ideas.

“So, Noah shot me a text during your lunch break saying you were ready to drown yourself in alcohol for the night. Get dressed into something nice. We’re going out.”

You groan and protest, just wanting to sleep at this point. But because you were arguing with your best friend, they knew just how to convince you. Forty-five minutes later, after a quick shower and changing into your favorite outfit to wear out with a purse for your emergency kit, you two left the apartment. You never left home without that kit.

When the bright neon sign for your favorite bar comes into view, a small sense of comfort washes over you and your shoulders immediately relax making you realize just how tense you were. You used to come here during your college years, so much so that people know you by name. But, because of your job, you rarely get a chance to see them. It’s a nice little trip down memory lane.

The bell over the door chimes as you step foot in Jodie’s Bar. The familiar smell of stale beer, the sound of old ‘80s music, and the bright light from the one TV that never is loud enough to hear still greets you as you enter feeling like you never left college.

“Hey! Looks who’s back!” Rose, the bartender and owner’s wife, calls as soon as she sees you.

“Hi, Rose.” You sigh, happily yet tiredly.

“Long day?” She chuckles.

“You have no idea.” You sigh while your friend chuckles beside you.

“While in that case,” Rose starts, mixing some drink for you, “You should need this.” The drink is slid over to you smoothly and you can’t hide your smirk at her.

“Show off.” You chuckle before taking a sip. The familiar taste of your favorite drink and the slight burn from the alcohol melts some of the tension you carry in your body and you give her a grateful smile.

She sends you a wink before heading over to deal with some other costumer. 

“Feeling better?” Your roommate asks while you down the rest of the drink in one go.

“Honestly, yeah. I needed this. Thank god I don’t have a shift tomorrow.” You laugh.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see the re-run of whatever game was playing on the TV switch to something else. Noticing your sudden lack of attention, your friend follows your gaze.

“Rose, turn up the TV.” She calls without looking away.

The sound is turned up and the music and talking stops.

“Officials are saying the incident broke out at 11th Street but has already moved into downtown Manhattan. There are claims that the Avengers are already on the scene, but police recommend civilians to stay indoors until-”

The rest of the report is forgotten about the second the windows shatter. You duct, cover your head as shards of glass go flying in every direction. You’re knocked to the ground by people fleeing and have to fight to stand back up. When you finally do, it’s silent except for the sound of crunching glass under shoes. You look towards the window but freeze at the sight of a group of men with big guns walking in the opened hole in the wall. Your eyes fall to the red octopus emblem that’s on the left breast on their tac suits. 

“Hello sweetheart.” One croons as he gives you a sickening once over.

Luckily for you, something in the street causes the group to turn away and you take the distraction to run for cover. As you slide behind the bar, where Rose is hiding as well, the sound of bullets soaring through the air around you, and an ongoing fight fill up the once silent bar for what your sure is a few hours but are really a few minutes. 

The sounds fade and you briefly hope it’s over. However, not a second later, someone start firing again followed by someone cursing rather loudly. Suddenly, something comes falling from the bar top causing you and Rose to yelp in fear. After groaning in pain loudly, the man who apparently dove behind the bar looks over to you two before muttering a frustrated ‘shit’. Bullets shatter the remaining glasses of alcohol on the shelves as the other one left continues firing. 

“I’m out, and I’m trapped with two civilians.” The man behind the bar mutters into what you think is an earpiece. He moves to prop himself against the bar, but winces in pain and that’s when you notice the streaks of blood he left on the tile floor. You look up at him in horror as he begins to shift himself towards the open end of the bar, and that’s when you recognize him as one of the Avengers.

“Rose, do you still have that loaded gun hidden back here?” You ask quietly as your training kicks in.

She nods then shakily pointing to a cabinet across from you. You reach over and yank it open, ignoring the falling glass around you. 

“Sergeant Barnes.” You call, albeit quietly.

When his head snaps over to you, you slide the loaded gun across the space between you two. Once he grabs it, the bullets die off and the sound of a magazine dropping is heard. Without wasting time, he pops up and shoots only once. 

“All clear.” He huffs, assumingly into to his earpiece. 

The bar falls silent as you watch Barnes tiredly lower his arms before all but collapsing on the floor, the gun falling from his grip as well. 

“Rose, go out the back.” You instruct as you stand up to go look for your kit.

She does so without hesitation, and you see the Sergeant trying to stand himself up.

“Don’t you dare move.” You basically hiss, not out of malice though, just urgency. “Just, just wait right here.”

You move around to the front of bar you used as hiding place, ignoring the dead bodies, the amount of blood on the floor, and the sound of broken glass crunching under your heels. As you rifle around the debris, in hopes of finding your purse, you hear muffled groans from behind you.

“Sit back down!” The sound of his body flopping, followed by a frustrated yet pained groan has you smiling just a bit.

“I’ll be fine.” He groans, as you imagine him sitting up. “I’ve had worse.”

“I don’t care if you’ve had worse,” You see your purse and practically rip it open, “Sit your ass back down. God, you have no idea how many people I’ve wanted to say that to during my shifts.” You grumble as you round the corner to see him half propped up on the wooden surface.

God he’s hot. Focus!

You don’t let his lack of response, if an eyeroll isn’t included, affect you as you get to work. This is nothing compared to some responses you’ve dealt with before.

“Take your top off.” You tell him as you rifle through your kit.

“At least buy me a drink first.” He complains playfully yet complies. When he settles back, with a groan, he turns his attention back to you at the sound of you snapping your gloves in place. “Has anyone told you that you have a bad bedside manner, doc?” He quips.

“Most of the people I work with aren’t in the position to talk about bedside manners.” You tell him matter-of-factly as you exam his many wounds, including two produced by bullets that are still in his body, while trying to ignore how beautiful he is. Those abs though! Focus!! “You have two bullets still inside you. Usually, I’d recommend a hospital at this point, but I don’t know how soon an ambulance can get here.”

“I don’t need an ambulance.” He argues.

“Men.” You grumble. “You have ten stab wounds, four of those are really deep and bleeding a lot. And four bullet wounds, two of which decided to stay with their new friend. And that’s just the ones I can see. I don’t care if you’re a super soldier or not, you need medical attention.” You cut him off as he goes to argue.

He goes to speak, again, but stops suddenly. You notice his jaw clench as he looks somewhere behind you then his eyes close in frustration.

“Stark says to patch me up the best you can, and he has a med evac on the way.” He grumbles, though he doesn’t look like he’s bothered by the idea of staying with you longer. Just the guy talking in his ear.

“I can work with that, Barnes.”

“It’s Bucky.” He corrects with a small hint of a smile.  

You nod back, mirroring his smile, not being able to say anything.

Ten minutes later and the sound of a loud engine breaks through your concentration. You can barely process the medics taking Bucky away without even a slight hint of appreciation for keeping the Avenger alive. You didn’t even tell him your name.

You find your roommate several buildings away getting checked over by paramedics. When you reach them, the two of you bring the other into a bone-crushing hug, glad that you both are relatively okay.

By now you definitely needed to drown yourself in a bottle of alcohol. And maybe have an appointment with your vibrator to deal with the new man of your fantasies later. No, no too soon. Too weird.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One Month Later

“NOAH! WHERE’RE THOSE CUPCAKES YOU PROMISED ME YESTERDAY?!” You yell on your way to the break room, after searching the rest of the station for your partner. You receive amused glances from the rest of your coworkers as you stomp through the halls.

When you open the door, you gasp at the sight of your wide-eyed partner who holds a half-eaten cupcake in hand with frosting all over his face. Like the man-child he is.

“YOU-” You start, before the alarm cuts you off. “You’re so lucky. Those were my favorite too.” You growl before you make your way to your gear, a sheepish Noah at your heels with the rest of the cupcake in his mouth.

While the firemen of the station are still trying to throw their suits on, Noah is the first to pull out of the garage, sirens blaring. You’re shocked when you see a second and third ambulance pull out after you and you feel a sinking feeling in your gut. Whatever this is, it’s not going to be good.

You see it blocks away, before you’re even in front of it. Smoke billows out the top of Stark Tower, and if you squint, you think you can see flames dancing around the top. You feel your heart racing in your chest as you pull in front of the building

“Noah! I want you and the four that followed us to attend to those on the sidewalks. There could be some that were critically injured from the falling debris.”

“What about you?” He calls as you jump out of the vehicle.

“I’m going in. Firefighters can only do so much.” 

“But-”

“Do it, Noah!” Without much else, you grab your med kit and find yourself rushing towards the front door.

“Woah, woah, woah!” One of the police officers guarding the police line stops you. “Where you think you’re goin’?”

“They need a medic inside that building, I’m going.” 

“Not by yourself, you ain’t.”

“I’m a paramedic! It’s my job! We don’t have time for this!” You try to argue.

“Look, sweetheart, wait til the fire department shows up. You ain’t goin’ in there alone.”

You’re starting to get really annoyed. However, you’re unable to express such as Tony Stark’s Iron Man lands a few feet away from you and the officers.

“I need a medic, now.” He instructs with his helmet still on.

Knew it. “How can I help?” 

“You’re a medic?” He questions hesitantly.

You scoff, slightly offended. “I am, Mr. Stark. The name’s Y/N Y/L/N. Now, what do I need to do?”

“Grab on.” He states, walking towards you and opening his arms slightly.

You wrap your arms around his neck as his wrap around your back, tightly. Not a second later, your feet no longer touch the ground, and you feel the wind whipping through your hair. Your eyes squeeze shut on their own and after what feels like only a few seconds, you’re back on something solid.

You have to peel your eyes open as he lets you go, though the smoke immediately burns them.

“This way.” He calls as he starts walking through the halls, of what you’re sure is at the top of the building, and around the debris. “Some of our med staff was injured during the blast, the others are overwhelmed with all the casualties.”

“Show me where I need to go, and I’ll take the rest from there.” You calmly say, adjusting the strap of your med kit on your shoulder, before you cough out the smoke in your lungs.

Before you turn the next corner, you can hear a series strained grunts and painful cries. You and Stark pick up the pace, but you falter slightly when you see the source of all the noise. Captain America and the man known as the Falcon, who are both injured but with nothing major, are on either side of a heavy beam trying to lift it off of, none other than, Sergeant Barnes. You can see him struggling to push the object off with his metal arm, with little success, and you can feel your heart squeeze at his sounds of pain. Damn it, here we go again.

You barely register Stark switching places with Mr. Wilson, but when they get the beam high enough to wiggle him out, you jump into action to help Wilson pull him out. With the adrenaline running through you, you fall into work mode almost seamlessly.

“You need to get as many people out of here as possible.” You call out to Stark while you drop to your knees beside Barnes. “I can only do so much by myself. Get the more critically injured out first. Be careful with them. I’ll try to help as many more as I can.”

Stark and Wilson nod before taking off to search the building while the Captain stays behind with you. You hear a groan from besides you and turn to find Barnes once again trying to sit up. 

“Stay.” You command as you and the Captain gently push him back down. “Super solider or not, you’re not invincible. And you sound like you’re in a lot of pain.”

You reach into your kit, pull out a pair of gloves and snap them on, then start to check him over. 

“You’ve said that before.” He notes, though there’s a noticeable strain in his voice. “How come you’re always the one fixing me up, doc.” He tries to joke but ends up wincing when you examine a particular spot on his ribs.

“Right place, right time.” You lift up his shirt to find severe bruising around his ribs, where the beam likely fell. Damn, but those pecs though. NO, focus!

“Still haven’t bought me that drink.” He tries quipping, though it comes out as a faint wheeze. “Or given me your name.”

“Not now, Bucky.” You hiss, going to check his vitals while the Captain just watches with confusion. “Damn it.” You swing your stethoscope around your neck. “He has several broken ribs and what sounds like a punctured lung. He needs a med evac, now.” 

“It can’t be that bad, doll.” Barnes wheezes again, struggling to breathe right, as you quickly rifle through your kit, while you do your best to ignore how that nickname had your heart fluttering. Damn that nickname too.

“Can you do anything for him here?” The Captain asks ignoring the man in question, but still clearly worried.

“Yes,” You start as you feel for the decompression device in your bag, “But he needs a hospital very soon.” You pull the large, sterile, needle out and prep it, much to the men’s horror. “Barnes, don’t move, don’t talk.”

You insert the needle of the chest tube between the second and third ribs, and Barnes immediately takes in an instinctual lungful of air. You secure it with medical tape to hold in place before wrapping gauze around his ribs to keep them secured. You glance up to face the Captain and find his face comically pale. 

“You need to keep him from moving too much.” You tell him sternly, making sure he’s listening. “If he does, he’ll injure himself worse. He needs to be air lifted out of here, properly. I don’t trust Stark not to jostle him around too much. Do you understand?” When he nods, you turn to look at Barnes who’s just staring up at you with an emotion you can’t place as you pack up your bag. 

“Don’t die on me, okay?” You plead with a small smile, looking into those beautiful cerulean blue eyes of his, while throwing the strap over your shoulder and getting up to find the next person to help. “And the name’s Y/N.”

You don’t even notice Bucky watching you leave, wishing you’d stay with him as he replays your name on a loop in his head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Week Later

This is it, this is your breaking point. You’re sure of it as you sit in the farthest corner of the locker room with your knees tucked into your chest. The cold of the tile floor doing nothing to ground you as you had hoped. Today had been the worst day on the job that you could remember. Even Noah couldn’t find something positive to think about after what you two had witnessed during your shift.

Right off the bat, you were called to the scene of a major accident. Your patient, despite the pain she was in because of her injuries, would likely live. Others, that you saw once you pulled up, you knew wouldn’t be that lucky, if there was a chance at all. It set a somber mood for the day, and a feeling in your gut told you it was only going to get worse. And it did.

The next call you got was an attempted suicide. You got her to the ER in time for her to live, but what made it worse was that she was only thirteen. And on your last call, you didn’t make it to the hospital in time. You couldn’t save them, and that cut deeper than anything you had seen during the time before that. The guilt felt like too much all at once. You felt as if you could have saved them, though the reality was that you did everything you knew how to.

The station chief took you and Noah off duty after that last call, and you had been in the same position ever since you got back, not willing to move. You can feel the wet patches on your knees from where the fabric of your pants caught your tears, tears that dried up a while ago.

The sound of footsteps approaching on the tiled flooring has you curl your knees up impossibly closer to you. You don’t think you could handle talking to anyone. You don’t want to cry anymore. 

A man sighs softly, but you catch it, before you hear them moving to sit down. You only know they’re next to you when you feel their body heat.

“You okay, kid?”

“No.” Comes your muffled reply from your knees.

He sighs and you two fall into a comfortable silence. 

“Would you like to, uh, to talk about it.” Stark asks unsurely.

“I don’t even want to think about it.” You sniffle.

“Well then,” He hesitates for a second, “If you don’t want to talk about the bad. Then what about the good? What made you want to take this job?”

You pause. Maybe it was because of the really shitty day you were having, or the many shitty ones, it seems, but you had trouble remembering why you even signed up for this.

“Well... I mean, I always wanted to, uh, help people.” You slowly begin to lift your head up while you think about it. “I, uh,” You sniffle as you wipe your face off, even though it stings from the rawness your tears had caused, “I never wanted to be like, I don’t know, like a pediatrician, or a general physician. Sure, that’s kinda cool and all, but it was never were the action was. I did know that I would never want to work the ICU, and the emergency department is too crowded and chaotic. So, um, I guess that’s why? And full med school was just too expensive to try. I don’t know, I just, I-...” You sigh, hating how little you’re making sense.

“You wanted to feel like you were making a difference, but not stuck in the same place?” He suggests.

“Sorta, I guess. I’m, uh, not in the best mind space to really answer, I guess.” You try to joke, though it falls flat.

“Hey, you save lives more than we do. That’s not an easy job at all. And sometimes, there’s nothing you can do.” You frown at his words, though you hear the sentiment, but apparently Stark’s not done. “But for those you do help, do save, you make a difference in their life, you might just not know it.”

“I guess.”

“Oh! Hey, and if it counts for something, you managed to save the Ice Queen twice and he seems to be more than grateful. Plus, you know, the others in the tower you helped and all.”

“How’s he doing?” You ask, hoping you don’t sound too hopeful. 

“Eh, he was released two days ago and should be able to get back to work in a few more days.”

“Good, good.” You reply absentmindedly. “What did you mean by ‘more than grateful’?”

He smirks at you a little and you see something sparkle in his eye that you can’t place. Your curiosity only grows when he shrugs.

“Anyways, there is a reason why I came to see you.”

“What?” You’re completely caught off guard by the change in conversation and find yourself blinking at him confusedly. 

“I’m hosting an event at the Compound to honor the work the emergencies services do. And it just so happens that our guests of honor will be those that came to our aid. Black tie attire is required. From you, I just need to know dress size and preferred color. No 'buts’.”

“I-”

“Don’t worry about the other details. Your boss has them, as well as a way to contact me. Just give him the info about the dress.”

“Mr. Stark-”

“Tony.” He corrects. “I hope to see you there, Y/N.” 

He stands up and begins to leave as you watch him, stunned.

“Oh! And if you really are thinking of leave the force, the team could really use someone with your skill set. You don’t have to say anything, just think about it.”

You feel your jaw hang loose as he casually saunters away as if he didn’t just leave you in a state of utter mental chaos. What did he mean when he talked about Bucky? Why were you so curious? A party? Did he just give you a job offer? There were too many questions, too many big questions given to you all at once. 

You spent the rest of the day just trying to comprehend each question. However, you didn’t notice that you had stopped thinking and dwelling on the horrific events you had witnessed earlier that day.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday Night (Party Day)

You take in a deep breath as you look at the y/f/c outfit that Tony had custom made for you. The limo with the rest of station was arriving soon, but you couldn’t shake your nerves. Your roommate couldn’t make it as your ‘plus one’ so you were going by yourself. Not that you minded, you just needed the extra encouragement for some reason.

The ding of your phone from Noah’s text has you moving again, and after grabbing the matching purse (which of course had your kit) and your phone, you were out the door and making your way to your lavish ride that was sitting outside your apartment.

“You seriously didn’t bring your med kit, did you?” Noah comments the second you slide in, eyeing the size of your purse. 

“Given my track record with the Avengers, it won’t hurt.” You snark, not even looking at him to know he was rolling his eyes.

“What do you mean by ‘track record’ Y/L/N?” One of the firefighters, Clarissa, asks coyly with her arm perched on her date’s shoulder.

“Nothing.” You try to deflect.

“Y/N/N here has saved an Avenger twice. Though, hasn’t mentioned who.” Noah states, looking at you with an accusatory glare, which you sent right back.

“And I won’t be telling you any time soon.” 

“So, how’s everyone’s shifts been treating them?” Jake, another EMT and friend of yours, asks taking the focus off you. 

As people start talking about their hectic work life, you send him a thankful smile which he returns with a wink.

“What about you Y/L/N. How’ve you been doing?” Clarissa asks in regard to the incident several days ago, the same day Tony Stark paid you a personal visit.

“Hasn’t gotten any better.” You tell her with a sad smile. And the truth was it hadn’t.

A whole twenty-four hours after the worst shift of your career, and you and Noah were called back into work. While nothing had gotten particularly worse, they weren’t getting better. You had maybe one call out to a minor accident against the rest which varied from major accidents to major injuries. Overall, you were starting to feel burnt out when you didn’t want to retire. Not yet at least.

“I’m, uh, I’m actually thinking of leaving soon.” Noah says sheepishly besides you. The limo falls silent as you stare in disbelief at your partner. 

He hadn’t mentioned anything prior to that. You were completely stunned. What hope did you have for yourself if the most optimistic person on the force, if your friend, was leaving. A somber air filled the vehicle before Clarissa was changing the topic, one that eventually had mostly everyone laughing hysterically. You, however, were lost in your head thinking. More specifically thinking more and more about Stark’s offer.

When you arrive at the Compound, you marvel at all the expensive cars lining the drive, the decorations, the setup of the party, and most of all, the actual building itself. Tony Stark was definitely one for style. 

You are surprised by the amount of people that had shown up, or the lack there of. Where you had been expecting a lot of people, with little elbow room, shouting, and loud music had turned out to be a quiet intimate type gathering with casual music, quiet laughter, and personal conversations. And it was because of those conversations that you hear, very clearly, when a kid no older than eighteen rushes over to Stark and urgently tells him that Mr. Barnes had been hurt in the kitchen. 

Stark, who had seen you the moment you walked in, coyly turns towards you. 

“Medic.” He calls out, without of hint of urgency, making direct eye contact with you.

You groaned so loudly that people around you gave you strange looks.

“BARNES, I SWEAR TO GOD!” You shout, much to the surprise and disbelief of your squad, and the other partygoers you’re sure, as you begin stomping towards the kitchen.

You throw the doors to the kitchen wide open as you storm through, much to the amusement of Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers who stand next to a certain sheepish looking super soldier.

“Less than a minute! I’ve been here less than a minute and you’re already injured!” You complain incredulously while grabbing your kit from your purse, missing how one of the three men give you a complete once over.

“You look beautiful, doll.” You have to admit to yourself that the shy smile he gives you is completely adorable, and the compliment has butterflies flutter in your stomach, though you only roll your eyes. 

“Flattery won’t get you that better bedside manner you say I lack.” You sass, slamming the kit and your purse onto the counter. “What did you do this time to prove you’re not an invincible super soldier?” You huff. 

He holds out his right hand, and immediately hisses in pain. The skin of his palm appears very red, and you notice small blisters forming already. You groan slightly to yourself as you gently grab his hand, careful to not touch the affected area. 

“How the hell did you manage to give yourself a second-degree burn?” You ask, mostly thinking out loud.

“There was a pan in the oven that the kid needed to get out. Some special recipe or something he wanted to make for his aunt. And I, uh,” He falters slightly when you look at him with a raised eyebrow. “I, um, went to grab the pan since heat doesn’t really affect me that much.” He says looking down at his metal hand. “But I forgot to use the metal arm.”

“How’d you do that?” You ask, obviously confused.

“I’m, uh, right-handed.” He replies sheepishly, blushing, giving you a small smile.

You chuckle slightly as you open your kit to find what you need.

“If I wasn’t still annoyed by you being reckless, I’d say that’s incredibly adorable.” You tell him, gently applying the ointment to the burns. “You just got out of the hospital, for fucks sake. I know you’re a badass Avenger and all, but I think they need to think about wrapping you in bubble wrap or something.”

“I’m not that bad.” He replies incredulously, making you grip his hand tighter as he reels back in offense. 

“Noted!” You hear Tony call from behind you.

You chuckle as you hear Sam and Steve snicker to themselves, ignoring the glare Bucky’s sending them.

“By the way, it’s you who owes me a drink, several at this point.” You casually comment, as you focus on wrapping gauze around his hand.

“Yeah?”

“Mhmm.” You hum. “I mean, I have saved your ass a couple times.” You tease playfully, looking up at him while you drop his hand. The heated look in his eyes has a shiver running down your spine and your tongue running over your lips to wet them, all playfulness gone as you stare into those beautiful blue eyes of his. That smug smirk he wears doesn’t help at all. 

“I guess you have a point, doc.” He hums thoughtfully, smirk still in place.

You clear your throat, taking a step back, and crossing your arms. “Have one of the one staff doctors give that a look. The ointment I used is only for pain relief, and you need those blisters treated.” He nods, dropping eye contact with you when you pop the bubble of tension.

“We’ll make sure he actually goes up there.” Steve says from behind him.

You smile at him before looking back at the now shy super soldier in front of you.

“Don’t hurt yourself on the way, Bucky.” You half-heartedly tease with a small smile.”

“No promises, doll.” He chuckles. “And if I do, I know the best person to go to to fix me up.” He states, looking at you shyly.

“Hopefully I’ll just see you at the party soon, Barnes.” You smile, before turning to leave.

“See you there, Y/N.” You hear quietly from behind you.

Your stomach flips and a bright grin pulls at your lips as you exit the kitchen, suddenly too nervous to turn back around.

As the night continued, and the teasing from your squad died down, your mind kept replaying how Noah was going to be leaving, Stark’s offer, and how it felt around the Avengers. You had to admit though, helping those in Stark Tower after the explosion, being in the heart of the action, and not helping only a single person felt better than your actual job. Of course, you loved helping people, but it left a greater impact when you couldn’t help a person or were too late to even try to help.  As a paramedic, you were limited to one person typically if multiple ambulances showed up on a scene. Here, here you would be helping more than just one at a time. And maybe, just maybe, you’d be able to help civilians out in the field too.

You were interrupted from your daydream as a hand rested on your shoulder causing you to jump. Your drink sloshed around in your glass from your sudden movement. 

“Woah, sorry kid. Didn’t mean to startle you.” Tony says with a hand raised in mock surrender. 

“Sorry, I guess I was just too far in my head.” You shrug slightly.

“May I ask what you were thinking about?” 

You hesitate for several moments, though you know your mind has already made a decision. You sigh quietly.

“What are the terms of you offer?”

Part 2