under construction

"it's like you have no faith in me anymore! i actually have a genuine question this time,"

"no, i will not take over the care of that patient that just rolled in for you,"

"so, you don't love me anymore?"

dana snorts, lowering her glasses and picking up the chart again before she slips away from me, "'course i love ya, kid, just too busy with my own cases to take over caring for that guy too when he's already got you,"

"i'll help you with your charting! i just need a little help connecting with him, please?"

dana's eyes soften, a hand reaching out to pat my shoulder reassuringly, "you've got this, kid. dad just probably wants to get out of here quick and easy already, so just focus on getting him proper treatment, yeah? your bedside manners are the best 'round here anyway,"

i groan, looking up to the high heavens. dana's laughter as she walks away just forces me to bury my face in my hands and ask, to no one in particular, "why, lord? why me?"

"what's your problem?" i hear someone slip into the spot dana was in just a few moments ago beside me. my heart starts to thunder in my chest when i saw who it was.

doctor cassie mckay. older than me, really nice - i wondered sometimes if she regretted being nice enough to me on my first day that i always wanted to stick around with her and any of her cases as much as possible. i still think about the protein bar she handed me mid-shift on my first day while dana was dealing with another case and i was on the verge of breaking the glass on the vending machine.

"dana doesn't wanna take over the care of the guy in south 15," i sigh, maybe a little too dramatically, but hey, it caught her attention.

"south 15?" she glances over towards there, "samira's broken arm guy?"

"mhmm," i drum my nails against the counter anxiously.

"why do you wanna swap out?"

"i don't know if he's loopy from the meds, or if it's just his - extremely pleasant personality -"

"right, now say that again, but this time, try not to look like you smelled something bad and are about to throw up, yeah?" cassie flashes me a smile and i just about melt into a puddle.

"he's not a bad guy, i swear," i sigh again, letting my forehead droop onto the counter, "it's totally on me, it's been a bit of a struggle to get a grasp on him, y'know? build rapport etcetera, etcetera,"

"you?" she muses, and i could hear the doubt dripping heavily from her tone, "little miss social butterfly?"

"don't hate on me, it comes in the job specs - one must have a pleasing personality in this line of work," i straighten up and cross my arms over my chest, turning my gaze up to the screen above the nursing station.

cassie hums in response, clicking away at her chart and i let the silence tick for a while before speaking again, "…you know what i could use just about now?"

"no?" cassie shoots me a look, pausing in her charting, "and i'm scared to know,"

"a situationship that going south so that's what i'm thinking about instead of work," i say like it was a sudden, life-changing realization.

cassie huffs out my name, half a scold, but also half amused, "no, not after the last absolute disaster you told me about,"

"i've learned! i know better now! i am a new and improved, changed woman"

"funny," the older doctor rolls her eyes but her half smile never quite leaves her lips, "you're usually craving your little sweet treats instead of actively looking for another traumatic event,"

"hey, you're being kinda mean right now, you might need that sweet treat more than i do," i frown, nudging her leg with the tip of my shoe when i look up in contemplation, "but, a sweet treat does sound like a brilliant idea though,"

"i am not being mean, just trying to look out for you. and honestly, after this shift, i am gonna need a pick-me-up," cassie rolls her shoulders, gently massaging one of them before leaning her side against the counter so she was looking right at the side of my face. she lets the silence linger between us as she regards me with eyes narrowed in concern, "...so what's his story?"

my head lazily to the side, meeting her stare for a split second while i ponder for a moment on how i should respond, then i look away again, voice lowering, "he's a single dad, was installing the bouncy house for his son's birthday, took a wrong step and stumbled out, came here and left his son with his mother and the guests at home so he wouldn't have to miss out on the party," i deflate slightly, mimicking her stance and propping my elbow up on the counter so i could lean my cheek on my fist, "i told him i had to step out to grab some stuff for his cast, and i was about to go do that, but i just - don't know how to make him feel better, even just a little bit. he seems really bummed about missing it and it feels like the more i open my mouth, the more bummed out he gets,"

"well, sunshine, sometimes, all people need is someone to listen, not try to fill the silence," she reaches out to rub my upper arm in a way that should have felt comforting but just gave me something to cry about to my friends for months to come.

i crack a bit of a smile, lifting my head, "i know, tryin' to work on that," i lift my head, staring towards the room, "he tried his best so his son could have an awesome party and he can't even even be there for it," my eyes fall to the random shapes i was beginning to trace on the counter, "i wonder if anyone's told him he's doing a good job at being a dad,"

cassie and i both go silent again for a few beats.

"...if no one has, then i'm sure he'd appreciate it if you did," cassie says softly and when i look up at her, there was an encouraging smile on her face, "you've got a way of making people feel better with your little comments,"

"...thanks, cass," i smile shyly, looking away. this had upgraded from needing a voice message to a full-blown brunch with my friends to debrief.

"well, go get 'em," cassie starts to pull away after a gentle pat on my back.

i don't know what possessed me, but i turn, barely catching the hem of her jacket to grab her attention with a soft call of her name.

"hmm?" she turns back, a soft smile still on her lips.

"you're a great mom," i say softly, "and you're doing an awesome job at being a doctor,"

her smiles fades just a bit, but it brightens back up all the same when what i said clicks in her head. cassie straightens up, adjusting her jacket before she slips a protein bar from her pocket into my hand, her voice sounds calmer, more vulnerable when she speaks again, "you're not so bad yourself, sunshine, keep it up."

"but you aren't fine though,"

"and you think forcing conversation is going to magically make me fine?"

"right. sorry," i return my focus to the tv screen, uselessly flipping through the rows and rows of movies and shows for something else to watch, the silence filling the space between us. jason had moved to the other end of the sofa, still deep in thought. prior to that, he was pressed up right beside me with an arm slung over my shoulders and no amount of jabs whining about how hot it was and how he was built like a furnace could make him move away. however, at some point during the movie, he had pulled away, and i remember staring at the back of his head like he had grown a second one. i also had to hold back a laugh when he had leaned forward, hunched over with his elbows on his knees, hands folded together, and his brows were knitted together while he stayed fixated on the tv screen, staring it down like it had just stolen his firstborn child (or his helmet, which is synonymous to his firstborn child, who are we trying to fool).

my lips quirk upwards when i glance over at him, the memory of what had transpired just a few moments ago flashing through my mind, and despite how amusing the visual had been, i couldn't help but feel just a tad bit bad for even thinking of introducing to the movie. i had been so focused on his reaction that i myself didn't have much space to think about how it would usually be tugging so hard at my heartstrings - for the first time, i didn't cry watching it since the first time i ever saw it.

"...anything else you wanna watch?" i hum, poking jason's thigh with my socked toe, "heard the new season of -"

"why would you show me that movie?"

i blink, staring back at him, "what?"

"that - 'it's a wonderful life', my ass," he scoffs, "it was not a wonderful life,"

"but the ending -"

jason was fully facing me, one knee bent on the couch, "just because the ending ended with a happier resolution doesn't erase the absolute shit that went on throughout the movie!"

i make an amused noise, albeit sounding like i was choking on my laughter (which i was doing because of the expression on jason's face), "i'm not discrediting what he's been through, what he's done -"

jason makes a noise of disbelief, reaching for his phone and opening god knows what, his fingers practically flying over the screen.

"honey, what are you doing?" i laugh, completely giving up on looking for another movie to watch and my mission to find something to occupy his mind that wasn't george bailey.

"it isn't even christmas," he mutters to himself, "and you made me watch it,"

i sit up straighter, more chuckles spilling from my lips as i try to soothe my boyfriend with a palm up and down his back, "my love -"

"don't distract me," he deadpans, turning back to facing forward, "i'm trying to write a long, scathing review,"

" jason todd! "

the first few times i slept over when the relationship got serious, i would wake up from the sound of the radio, or maybe from the fact that there was no longer someone in the bed beside me, or maybe something else entirely. the sound from the living room wasn't obnoxiously loud, per say, but a history of frequently partaking in the enjoyment of creepy movies and podcasts would make me feel just a touch unnerved at the sound of staticky, disembodied voices i didn't recognize. back then, i left jack to his own devices and tried to will myself back to sleep; sometimes he would crawl back into bed before i could and i returned to dreamland with his arms around me. at some point, however, the relationship got more serious, and as a result, i began to care a bit more, so i would get up and join him for a while and eventually fall back asleep curled up beside him on his sofa while he kept an eye and ear on the radio.

then, began the gentle prodding. offhand remarks asking why he wouldn't not listen to it for his peace of mind, passed over concern about how many hours of sleep he was getting, not to mention the little comments i made about hearing him and his radio from the bedroom. that last bit is probably why jack shut the door when he left the bedroom the last time he retreated to the living room, and why he did it tonight.

jack hears the bedroom door creak open, lowering the volume of the radio when he sees me stumble down the hallway towards him. i slump against the wall to watch jack for a second, then i sigh. my man did not have healthy coping habits.

"what's got you up and about this time?" there's a hint of a smile despite the gruff tone of his voice.

"what's got me up and about, old man, is the same burning questions that's got me up and about a lot of the time - what the hell are you still doing up? it's your day off, it is - whatever time it is right now -" i step close enough for jack to be able to reach out, tugging me closer by the hem of my shirt, "- come back to bed,"

"you know me, honey," he murmurs, standing and letting his lips press against the side of my neck in an attempt to soothe me, arms sliding around my midsection, "somedays, it's harder to fall asleep,"

"yeah, yeah," i roll my eyes, "which is ironic, because at your age -"

he pauses, arms going just a tad bit slack, "...at my what?"

"age," i deadpan, unphased while i turn my head to meet his gaze, "at your prehistoric dinosaur age, grandpa, you need more sleep, so come back to bed. did you hear me that time? should i say it a little louder?"

"okay - attitude unnecessary," jack snorts, the noise accompanied by a fond shake of his head and a pinch to my side, "you really are somethin' else, doll,"

"well, the lord said someone's gotta keep you on your toes old man," i pat his shoulder, trying to ignore the shivers travelling up my spine when his hand rubs up and down my back, sliding under my shirt that i could feel his warm, calloused palms on my skin. my voice comes out a bit softer, "so, you wanna come back to bed with me or...?"

"let me hold you for a spell, doll, don't rush me," the sensation of his scruff scratching at my neck sends more shivers through my body.

"something you can do in bed? comfortably?"

"the great thing about holding you is that i can do it anywhere i want," jack muses, trailing more kisses wherever he could reach before pulling away to look at me, one hand cupping my cheek.

"...what?" i ask softly, nuzzling my cheek against his palm, "staring at me like a weirdo again,"

"just indulge me for a second," jack chuckles, thumbing over my cheek, "i'm staring because i think you are... absolutely breathtaking to look at,"

"yeah?" i grin, "and what do you think about my absolutely vibrant personality?"

jack lets out a laugh, bending enough for his hands to slide down my body and hook onto the backs of my thighs to pick me up, peppering kisses along my jawline and all over my face, sending me into laughter, "no comment,"

"no comment?" i echo, wiggling about to attempt an escape from the onslaught of affection he was raining down on me without falling flat on my ass on the varnished wood floor.

"no comment," he says with finality, "you and i need sleep. we can talk about your vibrant personality tomorrow,"

"great - now you want to sleep?"

"yes, it is a bad view," i laugh, throwing a look at her over my shoulder before fixing my attention back on the paper i was writing, "i haven't gotten around to washing up yet, i've been actually locked in on this thing all day,"

"fine, you caught me, i was plotting how i can kidnap your laptop without you noticing,"

"yeah - well, you're supposed to be resting, 'mira, it's already late enough as it is, you came home later than usual, and you've got a shift tomorrow, bright and early," my eyes shift from the screen of my laptop towards samira and where she lay on the new sofa we bought together - as friends. a stinging reminder to myself not to fall in love with your best friend, ever.

"you look like you need the rest more than i do," she mumbles sleepily, letting out a yawn she hid behind the sleeves of her sweater.

"which is impossible, because one of us works a 12 hour - sometimes more - high demand job and the other writes papers whenever they feel like it all from the safety and comfort of their apartment - trust me, i'm asleep most of the time you're gone," the room fills with the sound of my typing, "i'm just spending more time on the project today because someone fucked up the methodology and i need to fix it up before we submit a soft copy to the boss for checking in 3 days,"

"sounds like you've got time," she muses with a singsong tone.

"nice try, bad influence," i shoot her a look, sticking my tongue out playfully, "i'd prefer to get it done now so i have a reason not to open it when the groupchat is blowing up and everyone else is panicking about not having their section done the day before we have to send it,"

"how responsible," samira snorts sarcastically, shifting around 'til she was staring up at the ceiling, letting out a loud sigh.

my typing pauses and when i glance over at her, she didn't even turn over to glance at me. samira always joked about being able to feel me staring at her, even at the airport when i see her before she sees me in the crowd, or the mall foodcourt when we were still in university. she always turned to look at me to catch my eye immediately then she would always hold my gaze until i looked away first, and even then, out of the corner of my eye, there she was, still gazing right at me. in turn, i would always joke that it was a very useful feature in our friendship when i would both catch sight of something in public that i was definitely going to talk about with her later. but in all honesty, it always made my stomach curl in the best and worst way when i realize her eyes hadn't left me at all, that they would search for me and then linger.

i clear my throat to attempt to catch her attention, followed by a soft cough when samira still didn't budge. she seemed lost in thought - very lost.

i turn back to my laptop once again, proceeding with what i was working on, and after a moment, i speak up, "you alright?"

"hmm?" that was when samira turned her head to regard me with a slightly confused expression, "did you say something?"

"i was asking if you were alright," i huff, "clearly, you aren't,"

"i'm good, kind of,"

the way she seemed to deflate just the tiniest bit made my heart clench.

a few clicks later, i was closing my laptop and walking over to the sofa, "scoot over,"

"huh?" samira asks with a raised eyebrow, pushing herself up into a sitting position, making space for me to plop down beside her, "didn't you have that thing -"

"i might just about shoot myself in the leg if i need to stare at the excel sheet any longer, my vision was going all blurry - honest to god, the rows were moving,"

the way her brows furrow when i looked at her after saying that told me she definitely didn't believe me, but she didn't say anything, just getting comfortable and laying her head beside where mine was.

that ugly vintage clock she saw at a thrift store and just had to get and pay a whole paycheck to get repaired ticks in the corner, the sound of her breathing mingling with it. i could smell her fancy shampoo and it smelled right, on her, better on her than it ever did on me, and the apartment started to feel like home again.

"'mira -" my head turns to her and the words die on my throat when i see she was already staring at me. i swallow thickly, unable to look away. for all her ability in being able to pinpoint if my eyes ever fell on her for longer than a split second, i did not share that skill. if i was being honest, it was often that things like that would happen - i would turn and she would already be staring, half-smiling, and when i looked away i wouldn't be able to shake off the feeling of the strange weight of a stare on my back.

"...yeah?" she nudges me with her elbow.

i blink about 62 times before looking away, "anything you wanna talk about?"

samira stiffens, voice coming out a little softer, "what makes you think there's anything i wanna talk about?"

"seemed like a long shift," my eyes lift to meet hers again with a shrug, "you seem even more run down than usual, even if you spent a few extra hours back at the hospital,"

samira opens her mouth to argue.

"please don't lie and say it's fine, something is clearly on your mind - you need rest and you aren't getting it if you're like this,"

"like this?" she lets out a soft laugh.

"you know what i mean, samira,"

we both look away, the room once again filled with the soft ticking of that damned clock and a car passing by outside on the street.

"...i don't know what to do,"

"...about?"

"my mom, my career," she scoffs and there was just a tinge of hurt, "mom - she sold the house in new jersey and is going off on some adventure with her boyfriend and she refuses to hear me out, and today - robby - he -"

by the time her voice cracks and the tears start spilling from her eyes, i have my palm pressed against her back, rubbing soothing circles on her back as she hiccups, "i - i don't - i don't know what to do -"

"you don't have to talk now, honey, breathe," my free hand presses against her chest, over where her heart was starting to thunder.

"i - i was ready," she exhales raggedly, "but i didn't - i didn't want to leave you,"

my eyes soften, "it's okay, samira, we can talk about this later -"

"i don't want to leave you," she just about sobs, reaching for the hand i had on her chest, squeezing the life out of it, "i'm not going to leave you,"

"'course you're not," i smile reassuringly, squeezing her hand just as tightly, "you're my best friend,"

somehow, she looks just a little more crestfallen at that.

"you don't understand," she sniffles.

"what don't i understand?" my hand lifts to wipe away her tears.

"i love you,"

my heart stops, my stomach starts doing sommersaults.

"i love you too, samira," i swallow thickly as i brush the hair from her face, "you know that." but truthfully, she doesn't know the half of it, is what i remind myself with a heavy heart.

"no - i love you," samira says a little more firmly, "i've loved you ever since we graduated and you went off on your own and i went into med school. ever since we renewed our lease even though we agreed to move out and go our separate ways after university. i was scared - really scared, and i thought by leaving to go back to new jersey with my mom, i - i could pretend -" she trails off, shaking her head and looking down for a split second before meeting my gaze again, a new fire in her eyes, "but now, i realized that maybe the world is telling me not to run away from it."

oh.

there were no words to verbalize how i was starting to feel, nothing to describe the absolute flood of emotions that washed all over me, the warmth that was crawling up from my stomach to my chest.

"but if i've made you uncomfortable -"

i press a fingertip over her lips, "stop talking and breathe for a few, genuinely, your heart's beating a thousand miles a minute,"

she still stares up at me with those eyes. those beautiful doe eyes, soft and expectant, an unfamiliar glint of nervousness in them from the anticipation of what i was going to say, her grip still tight on the one i had on her chest tightly. the kind of eyes i could get lost in forever, and eventually find home in.

i couldn't resist the urge to smile wider, releasing her hand so both of mine could move to cup her face, "don't worry, you're not the only one," i smooth my thumbs over the swell of her cheeks, "i love you, samira, just the way you love me too."

trinity santos:

+ take me out of falling action; female reader; making up after an argument / comfort ig?

+ glove puppets; female reader (pediatrics nurse); fluff

parker ellis:

+ first impressions; female reader; fluff

jack abbot:

+ thought #1; g/n reader; fluff

emery walsh:

+ thank god i kissed you back; female reader; fluff

+ complaints; female reader; fluff

sister beatrice:

+ left unlocked; female reader; angst

+ together again; female reader; hurt-comfort

marauder's era:

+ we'll be alright; remus lupin x sirius black x reader, angst no comfort

+ warmth; (separate) sirius black, james potter, remus lupin x reader; fluff

+ mini thought #1; remus lupin x reader; fluff

+ displays of affection; (separate) sirius black, james potter, remus lupin x reader; fluff

+ relief; (separate) sirius black, marlene mckinnon, remus lupin x reader; fluff

+ party first meets; (separate) regulus black, evan rosier, barty crouch jr. x reader; fluff

+ the better part of reality; lily evans x reader; reverse comfort

+ touch; marlene mckinnon x female reader; fluff + angst

"oh - no - no need, doctor king, thank you," i sputter, cheeks warming at the realization of what melissa was staring at intently, a convenient draft chilling the side of my neck where a deep red mark bloomed on my skin. i lift the collar of my shirt, trying to cover it up a little better. when i looked back towards melissa, she was staring at my neck in concern, still holding out the form towards me.

"you sure? it - it looked pretty serious, i'm sure we can do it quickly -"

"i'm sure, mel, thank you," the warmth in my cheeks intensify and i hurriedly take the filled out form from melissa, avoiding her gaze, "it's fine, i promise, it's not a big deal and it doesn't hurt,"

"what doesn't hurt?" doctor santos slides by the nurses' station, eyes fixed on a chart.

"she's got a bruise on her neck -"

my arms shoot out, accompanied by my loud shushing that just drew more attention to us.

"a bruise on her neck? what did it look like?"

"uhm - red, turning purple - it was rather large -"

"doctor king, i am begging you to stop talking," i squeeze my eyes shut when i caught a glimpse of a knowing smile spread across trinity's face, "and you -" i open one eye to jab a finger towards her, "- don't start,"

"hey, i didn't say anything," the latter muses, watching me as i fix up the papers i had, silent for only a moment before she doesn't try very hard to resist the urge to tease me. "so, you seal any deals lately?"

"you are the worst,"

"only to you,"

"i'm not telling you jackshit, trinity,"

"c'mon!" trinity grabs her chart before trailing after me and mel, bless her heart, watches after us in slight confusion before shrugging and returning to her own tasks, "after listening to you yearn for - months, i deserve some consolation price,"

"i don't know what you want me to say, trinity," i laugh, stepping into the elevator.

trinity sticks a hand out to keep the doors open, eyeing me with a look that was begging for me to spill the beans on my 'secret escapade'. i shake my head, pressing on the button to the floor i needed to get to.

"at least tell me if it was with -"

"doctor santos," a voice sounds from behind her and i see trinity stiffen visibly, but after a split second her grin turns mischievous, lowering her hand and stepping aside to allow whoever was behind her to step into the elevator.

"doctor walsh," trinity gives emery a polite smile that seemed just a tad bit too coy, "good consult?"

"sure," emery smirks, looking at me out of the corner of her eye while i eyed the ground like it was the most fascinating thing in the universe, "heading up to prep the OR so it's ready for the patient, so i'll have to trouble you with letting the elevator get back in service if you two are finished talking?"

"all yours," trinity shrugs, "we can continue our conversation later,"

i glance over at emery just as she gives trinity a nod and the doors start to close. the elevators rumble to life and i am suddenly very conscious of how claustrophobic the elevator was.

"what was that about?" emery shoots me a look, "with doctor santos?"

"oh, you know trinity," i shrug.

"i don't," her lips curve upwards, "not that well,"

"she was just - teasing me about something,"

"oh?"

"don't worry about it,"

emery hums in acknowledgement. her eyes fall on something on my face and she turned to face me. when she lifts her hand and moves it towards me, i jump back like a frightened animal, "hello?" my eyes narrow, "what?"

doctor walsh rolls her eyes and her hand moves towards my shirt collar, tugging it upwards, "something tells me i know exactly what doctor santos was teasing you about,"

the warmth in my cheeks flare up tenfold and i swat her hand away, facing forward and adjusting my collar myself, "i told you -"

"excuse me, don't even try to pin this on me," emery laughs, "you said you were gonna wear a collared shirt,"

"i was, and you put it too high up - my collars don't go that high! i gave you a point a to point b of where you could leave them,"

"didn't have any complaints last night,"

"doesn't mean i can't complain now!"

ruby was a little girl that arrived at the ed at around 2:14 pm. she presented with a cough and a fever that persisted for a few days resulting from a bug that had gone around her school. the administration was a little late in disseminating that information to the parents and that was why they were here. at least, that was what was told to me before i was sent down with some syrups for her to try to bring down the fever and ease the cough.

"hey, perlah," i greet the familiar face at the nurses' station, leaning against the counter, "i'm here for the 6 year old? ruby?"

"you sure took your sweet time getting here," she teased, sliding a chart over towards me.

"one of my patients just got out of surgery and would not let me out of his sight," i laugh softly, scanning the chart, brows furrowed, "had to wait for him to fall back asleep,"

perlah lets out a soft laugh too, "well, better hurry up and get to ruby so your patient upstairs won't wake up without you there - she's in south 15,"

"got it, thanks perlah," i smile, walking away while looking down at the chart.

now, remember how i said i had to remind myself to think extra quickly on my feet while navigating the floor and staying out of people's way? on this particular incident, i did not, and my shoulder ended up colliding with someone else's, my fingers just barely catching the chart that slipped from my grasp but thankfully whoever it was i bumped into managed to catch it.

"careful!"

"shit - sorry, sorry, and -" i sigh, taking the chart and looking up, "thank you, i guess, and sorry, again," i gently smack my mouth, "well, that's a dollar in the curse jar upstairs,"

the doctor i bumped into looks unimpressed, crossing her arms over her chest and her gaze falls on the chart, eyes narrowing, "that's my patient's chart,"

"oh," i look down at the area for the doctor's name, "doctor...santos," i look back up at her, quickly giving my name, "i'm the nurse from pedes, i came to give ruby her syrup and wait with her while they prep her room upstairs for observation - did they not - run it by you?"

she visibly relaxes at that, nodding, "yeah - yeah they did, she's in south 15,"

"thanks," i give her another smile, one that felt a bit more awkward, "sorry, again, i tell myself to pay more attention here and stay out of everyone's way -"

"don't worry about it," doctor santos gives me a tight-lipped smile, looking me up and down in a way i could not decipher, "just - keep your eyes up when you're walking around. if you'll excuse me, i've got other patients,"

"got it, i'll -" doctor santos walks past me and i watch her until she disappears into the crowd, "- update you on ruby later," i more or less finished that statement to myself, "nice meeting you too," i sigh, walking towards south 15 and definitely not reading the chart 'til i reached the door and stopped walking.

my knuckles rap against the door lightly, "knock, knock," i scan the room, giving ruby's parents a smile before standing beside ruby's hospital bed, "hi, ruby, i'm gonna be your nurse upstairs and they asked me to come down here and spend some time with you while they prepare your room," i give her my name before sliding into the seat beside her bed. "you've been feeling pretty bad, huh?"

ruby replies with a nod and a sniffle.

"i like your bunny," i nod at the stuffed animal she was hugging, "what's his name?"

"her - her name is bun-bun," ruby replies softly.

"her - got it," i shift a little closer, "bun-bun looks very cute,"

the kid smiles a little wider at that.

"now, ruby, before we go upstairs, i have some medicine you need to take, okay?" i pull out the bottle from my pocket, her chart on the table beside me, "it'll help you feel a bit better,"

ruby's lower lip wobbles and my heart just about breaks.

"it's just a little spoon -"

"no," she replies with a shaky voice, shoulders tensing up as she tries to curl away.

"it is not as bad as it sounds, ruby, pinky swear," i hold out a pinky to to ruby, "i can get you pudding from the cafeteria after, we've got strawberry, chocolate -"

"no!" the little redhead says stubbornly, looking away from me, "it's yucky,"

"honey, you have to take your medicine if you want to get better, you can't be sick for your cousin's birthday party, remember?" ruby's mother stands closer, resting her hand on ruby's shoulder.

"mommy, it's yucky!" ruby starts to cry and i pocket the bottle for now.

"it's okay, ruby," i offer a hand, palm side up, "there - no more medicine for now, 'kay?"

ruby's tears don't stop falling and that was when i got an idea.

"hey, ruby," i stand, walking over to the cart of supplies, slipping a felt tip pen from my pocket, "can i introduce you to my friend? maybe he'll help you feel better about taking your medicine,"

i don't see her reaction as i face the cart with my back to her and her parents. it was a dumb idea, but it usually worked with some of the younger patients. i blow up a glove, somehow managing to form it into a bunny, then i drew a face on it.

unbeknownst to me, doctor santos was watching me through the glass.

"ta-da!" i turn with a flourish, presenting my work of art to ruby, "this is my friend - erm - roberto," i settle back to the seat beside her bed, from the corner of my eye, i see her mother sit back down next to ruby's father, assessing my glove puppet with amusement. ruby, on the other hand, was quite enraptured, the arm around her stuffed bunny slowly going slack as she reaches for roberto, "if you hold him in your hand, he can try to make the medicine not taste as yucky anymore, like - an emotional support friend"

"...really?" ruby asks, a bit skeptical, and for a moment, her grip on bun-bun tightens.

"works for me," i shrug, "but you won't know unless you try it out, right?"

ruby thinks for a moment, then she nods. she clutches roberto with both of her little hands, bun-bun discarded beside her momentarily. i pour out the medicine into a spoon while she watches, still apprehensive of whether or not my trick was gonna work.

"ready?" i ask, "if it'll help, you can squeeze your eyes really, really tight, and when i say go, open your mouth and i can give you your medicine, okay?"

ruby is silent for a moment, then she does as i said, and her medicine dilemma was over quickly. her face scrunches for a moment, before she opens her eyes, smacking her lips, and i smile, "so, what do you think? did roberto help?"

ruby nods, looking down at the glove puppet shyly.

"take good care of him, okay?" i give roberto a tap, "you can keep him with you when you take your medicine, and even when you go home so your medicine won't taste so yucky, okay?"

"okay," ruby's nose wrinkles at what i assume was the aftertaste, "it still tastes plenty yucky,"

i smile, "would you like some pudding, miss ruby?

"yes please,"

"chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla?"

"chocolate please,"

"you got it," i smile wider, then i look to her parents, "mom? dad? pudding?"

they both shook their heads and i stand up, "right - well, i'm gonna do a quick pudding run and i will be back as quickly as i can," i clasp my hands together, "they're prepping her room upstairs so she can stay a bit for easier observation and i will take you guys upstairs when they page,"

"thank you so much," ruby's father smiles tiredly, and i exit the room with a polite nod to allow ruby's mom and dad return to standing by her side, each murmuring their own praises that she was able to take her medicine and the little girl proudly holds up roberto.

"you're good with her," comes doctor santos' voice, sliding up to walk beside me.

"well, good with kids comes with the territory," i laugh, pulling my handsanitizer from my pocket, the scent wafting up as i smear it on my hands, "and i hated syrups too, taste and texture - can't blame ruby for not liking the idea,"

doctor santos huffs out a laugh with a look over her shoulder towards ruby's room, "yeah, wasn't a fan of syrups either,"

"...anything else i can help you with?" i pause in my steps by an empty section of the floor, facing her with an expectant look on my face, "before i go get ruby's pudding,"

"no, i just wanted to - apologize for how short i was with you earlier, busy day, it slipped my mind that they were sending someone down," she sighs, rubbing her forehead with her palm.

"oh, don't worry about it," i laugh, "i didn't take it to heart if that was what you're worried about,"

doctor santos lets out a soft laugh and a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, but she perks up slightly after a moment, "you gotta teach me how to make those glove things,"

i laugh again, "trade secret," i tease, turning and starting to walk down the all towards the cafeteria, "maybe one day!"

later, sometime after i had taken ruby upstairs, doctor santos would find a glove puppet on top of ruby's chart, sitting neatly on the little spot she claimed as hers for the shift, and a note, my phone number scrawled on messily on top of a few words:

would love to teach you how to make them :). call me.