Twins Power
Pairing: Dr. Jack Abbot x mom!wife!reader x twins!toddlers Warnings: mild angst, high fevers, sick children, needles, IVs, fluff ending Summary: A midnight fever transforms an ordinary bedtime into every parent's worst nightmare, leaving you with no choice but to rush your four year old twins, Luca and Lily, to the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center.
Disclaimer: This story is pure fiction and written solely for entertainment purposes. 🎀 based on this request 🎀
It was 2 AM. Your head throbbed in time with Lily’s relentless and exhausting whimpers.
The field trip to the local farm earlier that day had been a cute disaster of heat, animals and pollen, but by bedtime, it had mutated into something worse.
A spiking fever of 103.4°F, a fiery red rash creeping up Lily's neck, and a terrifyingly lethargic demeanor that left you with no choice. You had thrown coats over their pajamas, scooped them up, and driven to the one place you hoped you wouldn’t have to visit tonight.
"Mama, it hurts," Lily sobbed into your neck, her body radiating heat. One of her little hands was clamped in a death grip around her tattered Jellycat bunny, its ears damp from her tears.
"I know, baby. I know. The doctor is going to help make it stop," you murmured, rocking her back and forth in the hard plastic waiting room chair. Your arms felt like lead.
Next to you, four year old Luca pressed himself tightly against your side. He wasn't crying, but his knuckles were white where he held his book. He was trying desperately to tune out the chaos of the ER; the blaring ambulance sirens outside, the coughs of a man three seats down, the hurried footsteps of the staff. He stared hard at the cartoon pictures, his lips moving silently as he tried to read the words he’d memorized.
For the sixth time, you pulled out your phone and hit dial.
Hello, this is Dr. Abbot-
You cut it off, swallowing the lump of frustration and fear in your throat. Jack was on the night shift, but the ER was absolutely slammed. You knew how it went; when the department red lined, personal phones were non-existent. But right now, you didn’t care about hospital protocols. You just wanted your husband.
"Mrs. Abbot?"
You snapped your head up. Lena, the night shift charge nurse, was standing there with a clipboard, her eyes widening in recognition as she looked at you, then down at the twins in their matching pajamas.
"Lena," you breathed, a wave of relief washing over you.
"Oh, honey, what are you doing here? Is it Lily?" Lena instantly dropped into a crouch, pressing the back of her hand to Lily's flushed forehead. She cursed softly under her breath. "She’s burning up. Come on, let’s get you guys out of this waiting room right now. I'm putting you straight into Exam Room 4."
You gathered Lily in one arm and grabbed Luca’s small, trembling hand with the other, following Lena through the double doors into the chaotic centre of the ER.
The noise doubled. Trays clattered, monitors beeped frantically, and doctors shouted orders. Luca clung to your coat, burying his face in your hip, while Lily just wailed, terrified by the commotion.
"Jack is in the middle of a trauma in Bay 2, maybe that's why he hasn't answered," Lena explained hurriedly as she guided you down the hallway. "But as soon as he's—"
"Daddy!"
A desperate scream tore from Lily’s throat, cutting through the ambient noise of the corridor.
You froze. A few yards ahead, the doors to Trauma Bay 2 swung open. Jack stepped out, tearing off a pair of bloody surgical gloves and tossing them into a biohazard bin. His hair messy and his scrubs disheveled.
Before you could tighten your grip, Lily’s adrenaline kicked in. She wriggled violently out of your arms, her bare feet hitting the cold floor. Dropping her Jellycat bunny, she ran toward him, her tiny pajama clad frame shaking with shuddering sobs.
"Daddy! Daddy, it hurts!"
Jack snapped his head toward the sound of the voice, his entire body going rigid.
"Lily?" his voice cracked. "Princess, what are you doing here?"
He didn't care who was watching. He scooped her up and Lily collapsed against him.
"H-Hurts, daddy, all hurts." she cried against him.
"Okay, I’ve got you, princess. Daddy’s here." Jack choked out, his eyes instantly tracking over her flushed skin.
He looked up, his gaze finding yours across the hallway. The sheer panic and heartbreak in his eyes mirrored your own, the heavy weight of the night crashing down on both of you in the middle of the crowded ER floor.
The door to Exam Room 4 clicked shut, muting the hallway chaos, but the tension inside the room was palpable.
Jack had Lily up on the examination table, but she was having none of it. The high fever made her sensitive, irritable, and completely uncooperative.
Every time Jack tried to bring the stethoscope near her chest, she shrieked, kicking her legs and thrashing against the paper lining of the table.
"No! No, Daddy, don't wanna!" she wailed, her face purple, tears soaking the front of her pajamas. She was clutching her Jellycat bunny to her chest like a shield, burying her nose into its plush fur.
"Lily, baby, please. Daddy just needs to listen to your lungs," Jack pleaded. He reached out to gently hold her shoulder, but she twisted away, sobbing harder. "Hey, look at me, princess. Look at Daddy. I need you to take a big breath for me."
"No! Go 'way! Mommy help!"
Across the room, you sat holding Luca tightly on your lap. He had abandoned his book on the counter; his small hands were now hooked securely into the collar of your shirt. He was staring at his sister with wide eyes, his own chest heaving in sync with her jagged breaths.
"Mama?" Luca whispered, his voice trembling as he leaned his head back against your shoulder. "Is Lily gonna be okay?"
"She's going to be fine, baby," you murmured, kissing the top of his head, though your eyes were locked on Jack’s stressed jawline. "Daddy is looking at her. He's going to fix it."
Luca shook his head, his tiny brow furrowing. "My tummy feels hot, Mama. Right here." He pressed a small hand against his center. "Like Lily's. She feels real bad. I can feel it."
The twin connection had always been something you joked about when they were toddlers, how they’d wake up at the exact same second or cry when the other fell, but tonight, looking at Luca’s pale face, it wasn't a joke.
He was absorbing her distress, carrying the ghost of her fever in his own quiet way.
Jack caught Luca's words and glanced over his shoulder. The sight of his son looking so small and frightened, paired with Lily’s hysterical crying, made a muscle twitch in his jaw.
He looked back at Lily and gently tried to check the lymph nodes in her neck.
"Don't!" Lily screamed, slapping at his hand with a sudden burst of frantic feverish energy. She kicked out, her foot catching Jack squarely in the chest.
Jack didn't even flinch at the impact, but he dropped his hands, letting out a defeated breath. He ran a hand through his hair, turning to look at you with absolute desperation in his eyes.
"Baby, her heart rate is too high, and I need to get blood draws, but she won't even let me look at her throat," Jack said, his voice dropping to a low whisper so he wouldn't scare her further. He looked completely helpless, a man torn between his medical training and his paternal instinct to just hold his crying daughter and make the world stop hurting. "I don't want to have to restrain her, but she’s burning up, and I need answers."
"Let me try," you said softly, trying to sound steady in the middle of the room’s rising panic.
Carefully easing Luca off your lap, you gave his hand a squeeze. "Stay right here with your book for a second, okay, buddy?" He nodded solemnly, sitting on the edge of the chair and hugging the book tight against his chest, his eyes never leaving his twin.
You walked over to the exam table and gently stepped into Jack’s space. He looked at you and stepped back just enough to let you through.
"Hi, my beautiful girl," you cooed. You didn't try to touch her right away. Instead, you smoothed down the ears of her bunny. "Bunny is so brave today, Lily. But Bunny told me he’s really tired, and he wants to rest."
Lily’s screaming hitched into little hiccups. She looked at you through tear soaked eyes. "B-Bunny is tired?"
"So tired," you murmured, gently scooping Lily up into your arms. The heat radiating off her small body struck you, making your chest tight with a surge of adrenaline. You sat down on the edge of the exam table, rocking her against your chest, burying your face in her hair. "You can hold Bunny, but you need to calm down so he can rest. We need you to take a big breath. Like we're blowing out birthday candles. Ready? Let's do it together."
Lily copied you, a shaky breath rattling in her chest. Slowly, the rigid tension in her muscles began to melt, her heavy head dropping onto your shoulder. She stopped fighting.
Jack didn't waste a second. He stepped back in. With you holding her still and whispering reassurances into her ear, he was finally able to check her throat, listen to her lungs, and gently feel the rash.
When it came time for the blood draw, you blocked Lily's view, pressing her face into your neck while Jack placed the needle. Lily cried out, a sharp heartbroken sound, but she didn't thrash.
"We're going to do some tests, ultrasounds, and the labs will be in an hour."
It felt like hours, though it was only forty five minutes, before Jack read the results, and the tension in his shoulders visibly shifted.
He approached you and, as he passed by a sleepy Luca he gently placed a hand on his head.
"The labs came back," Jack said, his voice quiet. He pulled up a stool and sat directly in front of you, taking Lily's limp hand in his. "It’s a severe bacterial infection, likely from something she came into contact with at the farm, compounded by an allergic reaction that triggered the rash. That’s why the fever spiked so fast."
You let out a breath.
"You can treat her, right, love? Give her medicine? Can we go home?"
Jack shook his head. "No. Because her fever is so high and she's dehydrated, I want her on continuous IV antibiotics and fluids overnight. Lena is already arranging a pediatric room upstairs for us. We're keeping her."
The word keeping felt wrong.
You just wanted to take your babies home.
You had managed to stay strong for the last hours, but the reality of spending the night in a hospital room broke through your defenses.
You tried to nod, tried to say okay, but your jaw trembled. You reached down to adjust the blanket over Lily, who had finally drifted into a restless medical sleep, and your hands were shaking so violently you couldn't grip the fabric.
A tear spilled over your lashes, tracking down your cheek.
Jack noticed instantly. He reached out, his hands wrapping completely over yours, capping the tremor.
"Hey, doll," he whispered, standing up. "She’s going to be okay. We caught it. We know exactly what it is, and we know how to fix it. But she need to stay a few hours."
"I was so scared, Jack," you choked out, your voice barely audible. "You weren't answering, and i didn't want to bother you neither, but she was so hot, and Luca was very anxious about coming here, you know how he feels about hospitals and I—"
"I know. I'm so sorry I wasn't there," Jack interrupted you, his own voice cracking as he tightened his grip on your trembling hands, kissing your forehead. "But I'm here now. I'm signing off my shift. I'm going upstairs with you, and I'm not leaving the room until they discharge her."
-
The pediatric room felt.. calm, some way. The steady sound of the monitors was finally pulling everyone into a sense of calm.
On the small pull out couch against the far wall, you sank deeply into the cushions, pulling a thin hospital blanket up to your chin. The absolute exhaustion of the night had finally caught up to you. Your muscles ached from hours of carrying the weight of a sick child.
You rested your head back, watching the scene unfold by the bedside.
Lily was tucked into the hospital bed, her color slowly returning to a normal pale. Her breathing was deep and even, one hand still draped over the ear of her Jellycat bunny.
Jack'd pulled a recliner right up against the edge of the hospital bed so he could stay within arm’s reach of his daughter.
Luca, having endured the terrifying night, was on his father's lap, looking over the bed rail. He had been so brave all night, and now that the danger had passed, he refused to leave his sister's side.
"She's sleeping," Luca whispered.
"She is, bud," Jack said as he reached up, gently lifting Luca so he could sit safely on the mattress edge, tucked against Lily’s side. "She’s resting, Lu. The medicine is doing its work."
Luca reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he brushed a stray hair away from his sister’s forehead. He didn't pull away; he seemed to be checking the temperature for himself, satisfied that the fire was gone. Then, he did the sweetest thing: he carefully slid his own little hand into Lily’s, locking their fingers together.
"I knew what she was feeling... bad. Twin power," Luca whispered, a small proud smile touching his lips.
Jack let out a smile. He reached over, covering their joined hands with his own large, steady one. "Yeah, buddy. Twin power. She knows you're here. That’s why she’s resting so well."
"Is she having good dreams now, Daddy?" Luca whispered.
Jack leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to the top of Luca’s head, his hand sliding up to rub his son's back. "I think she is. Especially since you're holding her. You're keeping the bad dreams away."
Luca nodded seriously, accepting the job of taking care of his sister.
From the couch, you let out a breath. Jack’s gaze drifted away from the bed, his eyes searching the room until they found yours. He saw the dark circles under your eyes, the way your shoulders finally relaxed against the cushions, completely spent.
He didn't speak, he didn't want to break the fragile quiet, but the look he gave you was filled with gratitude.
He mouthed a silent, 'I love you,' his eyes promising that he had the watch now. You could finally sleep.
You nodded, and mouthed an 'I love you,' back.
When the morning light filtered through the hospital blinds, the room was filled with the sound of plastic clattering, tiny giggles, and a familiar deep laugh.
You blinked against the light, shifting the scratchy blanket, and looked over at the bed.
Lily was sitting propped up against a mountain of pillows, the flushed fever entirely gone from her cheeks. She was in a fantastic mood, her eyes bright as she happily swung her unencumbered leg. Luca had abandoned his chair and was curled right up on the mattress beside her, the two of them sharing a massive hospital breakfast tray.
"Look, Lulu! A smiley face!" Lily chirped, pointing a syrup covered finger at a pancake.
"I like the bacon better," Luca replied, stuffing a piece into his mouth. The tattered Jellycat bunny was currently sitting between them, acting as a guest at their breakfast party.
Your heart swelled at the sight.
"Morning, my sleepyhead."
The voice came from beside you. You turned your head to find Jack sitting on the couch. At some point during the early morning hours, he must have slipped away from the bedside to join you, curling his frame around yours to keep you warm. His arms were wrapped securely around your waist, pulling your back flush against his chest. He looked exhausted but the sheer relief radiating off him was palpable.
"Morning, handsome," you rasped. You shifted, turning in his embrace so you could look up at him. "How long have they been up? How is she?"
"About an hour," Jack murmured, leaning down to press a warm kiss to your cheek. His hands slid under the blanket, rubbing soothing circles into your lower back to work out the knots from the stiff couch. "The pediatric team came in at six. Her vitals are perfect, the rash is fading, and her bloodwork is clearing up. We're getting discharged after lunch."
"Thank you," you whispered, wrapping your arms around him, burying your face in the crook of his collarbone. "For taking care of her. For being here."
Jack tightened his grip on you, burying his face in your messy hair, inhaling deeply. "You're the one who calmed her down, sweetheart. You were incredible. I'm just sorry I wasn't there from the start."
"You're here now," you murmured, pulling back just enough to look into his eyes. He leaned in, his lips meeting yours in a slow, tender, deeply affectionate kiss, a quiet celebration that the storm had passed.
"Eww, Daddy and Mommy are kissing!"
A high pitched giggle broke the silence. You both pulled apart, laughing, to see Lily and Luca staring at you from the bed.
Jack didn't let you go, keeping you tucked securely against his side as he looked over at the twins with a bright smile. "Well, Mama deserves all the kisses of the world. And as soon as you two finish those pancakes, you're next."
The twins erupted into giggles, turning back to their breakfast tray, completely happy to have their world back to normal.
True to Jack’s word, the discharge papers were signed and ready after lunch. You left the hospital with Luca for a while, to change into something clean and to dress Lily in new clothes after they removed her IV. Inside the room, the atmosphere shifted the moment a knock sounded at the door.
A nurse entered, holding a small tray with medical tape remover, gauze, and a colorful bandage. "Hi there, Lily! I'm just here to take that little straw out of your arm so you can go home."
The moment Lily saw the tray, her eyes went wide. The residual trauma of the frantic night rushed back all at once. She scrambled backward on the hospital bed, her back hitting the headboard as she tucked her arm tightly against her chest.
"No! No more needles! Daddy!" she cried, her voice cracking as tears instantly flooded her eyes. She reached out blindly with her free hand, grabbing the ear of her Jellycat bunny and squeezing it like a lifeline. "I want Mama! No needles!"
"Hey, princess, come here," Jack said instantly. He stepped right up to the side of the bed and climbing onto the mattress with her. He pulled her trembling body directly into his lap, wrapping his arms around her so she felt completely safe. "There are no more needles, Lily. I promise you. The nurse is just taking it off."
"It's gonna hurt!" she sobbed, burying her face into Jack’s shirt.
"I'm going to hold you the whole time," Jack murmured. He gently coaxed her arm out, holding her hand firmly but gently, keeping her fingers locked in his so she couldn't pull away or look at what the nurse was doing. "Do you remember the story Luca was reading last weekend? About the animals going to the sea?"
Lily gave a hiccuping nod against his chest.
"What color was the boat?" Jack asked softly, his thumb rubbing the back of her hand, creating a soothing friction to distract her.
"R-Red," she whispered.
"That's right. And who was on the boat?" Jack kept his voice low and conversational, nodding to the nurse, who moved with efficiency. She applied the tape remover, peeling back the plastic dressing smoothly.
"A bear," Lily snuffled, her grip tightening on Jack’s fingers as she felt the tape lift. "And-And a... a p-pig."
"And a pig. Good job," Jack praised, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. He could feel her tiny heart racing against his ribs, but she wasn't thrashing. "Look at that, almost done, brave girl."
The nurse smiled warmly, pressing a bright pink patterned bandage over the tiny puncture site. "All done! You were so brave, sweetie."
Lily blinked, sniffing hard as she looked down at her arm. The scary tube was gone. She let out a breath and looked up at Jack, her eyes still watery but the panic entirely gone. "Stings. Didn't hurt."
"See? Daddy told you," Jack smiled as he wiped a tear from her cheek. He squeezed her tight, rocking her for a long moment. "You're all done, princess. Let's wait for Mom and Luca for come back so we can go home."
A few minutes later, the door pushed open. "We're back!" Luca announced proudly, stepping into the room first.
You followed close behind, carrying a tote bag. You had slipped home for forty five minutes while Jack handled the discharge paperwork, giving you and Luca just enough time to wash off and change out of your rumpled clothes. Now, you were holding a pair of clean, tiny denim overalls and a bright yellow t-shirt for Lily, a replacement for her pajamas.
The moment the door opened, Lily snapped her head around. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs, looking entirely renewed.
"Mama! Look!" Lily squealed, scrambling off the mattress before Jack could even catch her.
She sprinted across the room, her bare feet pattering against the linoleum floor, and skidded to a halt right in front of you. She thrust her left forearm directly into your face, pointing proudly to a bright pink heart patterned bandage.
"The nurse gave me a heart band!" Lily beamed, all the terror of the needle completely forgotten. "And Daddy held my hand the whole time and it didn't even hurt, and the bad straw is gone!"
"Oh, wow! Look at that," you laughed, dropping to your knees so you were eye level with her. You gently pressed a kiss right next to the bandage, making her giggle. "That is the cutest bandage I’ve ever seen. You are so brave, my girl."
Jack stepped up behind her, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. He caught your eye over Lily's head, a soft smirk playing on his lips. He gave you a subtle nod that let you know the IV removal had been a success, despite the initial tears.
"I'm brave too, right Mama?" Luca asked, tapping your arm. He was wearing his favorite superhero shirt now. "I kept the bad dreams away last night with twin power."
"The bravest," you promised, pulling him into a one armed hug.
"Yeah! Twin power!" Lily cheered. She suddenly grabbed Luca’s hand, her mood completely doing a 180 from the crying toddler of the night before. Now that she was free of the wires and the fever, her baseline four year old energy was back. "Luca! Come look at the big truck out the window! Hurry!"
"A truck?!" Luca’s eyes went wide.
Before you or Jack could even utter a word of caution, Lily dropped her Jellycat bunny onto the floor, spun on her heel, and the two of them bolted out the open door of the hospital room, their laughter echoing down the hallway toward the playroom windows.
You stayed on your knees for a second, staring at the empty doorway, then slowly stood up. You looked at the tattered bunny on the floor, then turned to look at your husband.
Jack stood there, a stray piece of medical tape stuck to his pants, his hair wildly messy, and his shoulders slumped in utter exhaustion.
He stared at the empty hallway, blinked, and then let out a chuckle.
"Well," Jack murmured, rubbing the back of his neck as he walked over to scoop up the abandoned stuffed animal. "Her energy levels seem back to normal."
"Yeah," you laughed softly as he wrapped his arms around your waist and you wrapped yours around his neck. "I think she’s officially fine."
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