#translator

He shook his head. “She keeps going in and out of consciousness — stats are fine but she’s a Jane Doe”

“Shit” you muttered “Okay I can help. Which room is she in?”

He lead the way to room 11. “thank you, for this, I really appreciate it”

“Of course anytime — is it that obvious English isn’t my first language?” You teased as you approached the room.

“No, not at all but sometimes you say like a cute phrase and the accent pops ou—“

Your cry interrupted his sentence. “Mama?” Jane Doe was your mom. “wh— what happened?” You looked at him then back at her. 

You shook her but she was unconscious again. In your native language you said through tears “mama wake up, c’mon wake up”

You looked at her stats they were fine — it had to be her sugar levels. You felt yourself panicking and your heart rate was racing with every second. “mama talk to me what happened”

You turned around to abbot and in your native language you said through tears “it must be her diabetes I need a sugar monitor, please”

“Sweetheart, you’re not speaking in English. What is it? Tell me” He approached, placing a hand gently on your shoulder. You were struggling to breathe now, pain shooting through your chest. “Just breathe, okay? One deep breath for me. That’s it — just another one.”

“She’s diabetic” you spat out.

“Hun, try again in English please” he said softly.

You shook your head. “She’s diabetic, type 1, have you checked her sugars?”

“On it” the nurse said, already moving toward the monitor.

You started pacing around the room — why didn't she call you? Why has she not said anything? What exactly happened? Where was she found?

“Low” she said “I’ll start a glucose drip”

“Thank you” Abbot said. “She’s gonna be fine okay? I just need you to be fine now. You look like you’re about to pass out”

You nodded, you indeed felt like you were about to black out “it’s my mom Jack it’s my mom” you cried and he didn’t hesitate to hug you. The words slipped out before you could stop them — Jack. You immediately felt embarrassed.

He murmured “It’s gonna be fine okay?”

“I hope so” you tutted at yourself then said in English and muttered “sorry”.

“It’s nice hearing you speak a different language” he pulled back and gave you a small smile.

You met his with a similar one “sorry I can’t switch between the two quickly” 

“So this is your mom, huh?” He moved you over gently to the chair next to her bed. You nodded

“She’s pretty”

“Dr Abbot, are you hitting on my mom?”

He let put a chuckle “no… but I can see where you get your looks from”

You felt your cheeks flush. You whispered “thank you”

Your mom was now waking up slowly, mumbling gibberish.

“I’m here, mama, I’m right here. You’re okay” you held her hand and cried. “How are you feeling?”

“My sugars dropped at the supermarket” she said quietly “I don’t remember anything else, everything happened quickly”

“It’s okay, you’re with me now.” You forced a smile “are the sugars coming back up?" You asked the nurse and she nodded.

“Sugars are back to normal and stats are looking better — she’s stable sweetheart” Abbot said quietly. 

“Sugars are fine okay? Get some rest. I’ll be back” you gave her a kiss on the forehead and rushed out the room, Abbot following.

“Is she alright? What did she say?” He asked as he tried to match your quick steps. 

“Uh… sugars dropped, she’s fine” you quickly said walking out of the ER doors.

“Where are you going?” He asked, matching your pace. 

“Sorry Dr Abbot I think I need a minute” and you ran down the alleyway into the darkness, letting out small sobs not realising he was behind you still.

You put one hand on your chest trying to calm the anxiety down. The shock of seeing her in a hospital bed and how scared she must have been not being able to communicate with anyone. You heard his footsteps behind you, approaching you slowly. You wiped your tears as best as you could before turning around to face him. 

“I’m okay, I just need a minute” you whispered.

“Take as long as you need” he said softly “anything I can do do to help?”

You shook your head and gave him a tired smile.

“Must be exhausting…” he said quietly “taking care of people here, then going home to another full time job…”

You nodded — his words felt heavy as they lingered in your mind. It was indeed another full time job. 

Children of immigrants never stopped working. You were her full time translator, advisor, personal assistant, carer… all of it. You wouldn’t change it for the world, no. But you were indeed tired. 

“How old where you when you came here?”

“A teenager” you sniffled. “Young enough to miss out on a fun childhood but old enough to learn the language quickly and become the head of the family”

“And since then you haven’t had a day of rest…”

You let out another cry and he didn’t hesitate to pull you into him for anothernhug. “I can help” he whispered “anything you need, I’ll be there okay?”

“It was scary seeing her like that — she’s the only person I ever have in this life and—“

“Sweetheart English please?”

“Fuck” you muttered as you pulled back. 

“I mean I don’t speak your language but that couldn’t have translated to just… fuck” he joked, a smile spreading across his face. 

“Sorry I was ranting. My head is all foggy” The emotional weight hit you all at once, and now you realised that Dr. Abbot had seen you at your most vulnerable. You suddenly felt exposed, embarrassed. You always kept things professional. “I should get back”.

For a moment he didn’t say anything, just stood almost admiring you. He nodded, not wanting to push further. “Can I come with you?”

“Yes please, I’m in no state of be a doctor right now”

“I can’t wait to ask her more about you” he said jokingly as you walked back towards the ER.

Your jaw dropped slightly “I still need to translate it you know”

“I’ll find another way” he teased.

You walked back to the room and found your mom on the bed, showing pictures of you to the nurse on her phone.

“Oh no, no!” You said rushing over “mama, put that away!”

“I’m showing your friend here some childhood pictures”

“Put it away do NOT embarrass me!” 

“What? What’s she saying?” Abbot asked looking confused. 

“Nothing… she’s fine” you said quickly. 

“Mama” you snapped your fingers then motioned for her to put the phone away.

“Oh my God is it baby pictures??” He asked and he rushed over to her side. He put two fingers in front of his eyes as if to say I want to see.

“Absolutely not give it here!” You rushed over to his side now and snatched the phone out of his hand. 

“He’s handsome” she teased, pointing at him “what’s his name?”

“Mama this is Dr Abbot” you said to her first then turned around to him and said “mom this is Dr Abbot” 

“Hello!” She said pointing at her self “mama”

“Very pleased to meet you” he put his hand out to shake hers. “She’s a brilliant doctor. You should be very proud”

She looked at you then back at him.

“He said I am a good doctor”  

“Ah yes… very good doctor” she smiled at him then back at you “where is the other doctor you always talk about?”

Your eyes widened then quickly shook your head.

His eyes glanced between you and her. “Wh— what’s she saying?” 

“Nothing” you smiled, quickly trying to change the subject “Can she stay here until I finish my shift then I’ll take her home? 

“Sure thing. But first I gotta see them baby photos”

“Nope” you quickly said. “Mama are you okay to stay here until my shift is done then I can take you home?”

“Of course yes, I can make everyone a hot drink while you work”

“No, mama it doesn’t work that way. This is a hospital”

“But they’re your friends and you could all do with something comforting” 

“And you’re a patient so stay here and don’t move” you sighed. 

“You’re a terrible translator” Abbot added teasingly then noticed the worry on your face “Why are you upset?”

“She wants to make everyone a hot drink while we work. She doesn’t understand the severity of the situation. It’s like she doesn’t care she’s here”

“Okay can you translate this?”

You nodded.

“I can’t let you use our facilities unfortunately but maybe one day you can meet your daughter’s friends outside of here. But for now you need to rest and sleep. As your doctor, I’m ordering you to”

You smiled then translated to your mom. 

“Thank you doctor” she replied in English. 

“Please, call me Jack” he added and your eyes widened. 

“Jack?” She looked between you and him “You are… Jack?”

Oh God, your mind was screaming. Something was about to unfold. 

“I’m Jack, Jack Abbot”

“Ahhhh” she exclaimed. “I know” 

“You… know?” He looked between you and her. 

You put your hand out as if to say I have no clue what she’s saying. 

“Tell me” he grabbed the stool and sat next to her with a smirk on his face.

“You...Jack” she said “very nice doctor” 

“Oh me? Who said that?” He shrugged, gesturing as if to say, who?

You wanted the ground to open up and swallow you whole. Now. 

She pointed at you.

Great. Your mom was now spilling all your secrets. 

“Tell me, it’s okay” he teased as he looked at you then back at her. 

“You… good doctor and she… “ she gave him a thumbs up. 

What the fuck?

“Mama let’s maybe stop? He doesn’t need to know”

“You didn’t tell me this is Jack!” 

Jack looked at you once he heard his name. 

“He’s so handsome and he has beautiful white curls. You forgot to mention the big arms”

“Mama!!!” You groaned “stop it!” “fuck” “stop it!!”

“Stop what?” He laughed, clearly enjoying the sight of you flustered.

“Stay out of it” you snapped. “Mama I need to go see other patients. Get some rest”

“Can you invite the handsome doctor over? I can make him some food and maybe you can finally marry”

“No one is getting married!” You said it in English “Fuck!!!” “Stop okay! Drop it!” 

Your heart was about to explode.

“Who’s getting married?” Abbot now asked, with a big grin on his face.

“Doctor” your mom said looking at him.

You slapped a hand over your face, mortified.

“Tell me” he smirked “I’m all ears”

“You…” she pointed at him “come” she pointed at her self “for food”

“You are inviting me over for food?” He pointed at his mouth as if to say to eat?

“Ah, yes… food” 

“I would love to”

“Yes! yes… love” she pointed at you and laughed.

Abbot looked at you, a mix of shock but excitement in his eyes. 

All your secrets had now spilled, and not even in a language he spoke.