HERMAPHRODITE

▪️▪️▪️CH. 58▪️▪️▪️

While Jimin was gone to get Jin, Namjoon and Yoongi, Hoseok busied himself cleaning up the surgery while the new parents took the opportunity to acquaint themselves with their new son. Once everything was clean and tidy, Hoseok went to the linen store and fetched fresh sheets. He quickly changed Jungkook's hospital bed, putting the soiled sheets down the laundry chute before returning to the operating room pushing the freshly made up bed. The pair looked up when Hoseok returned.

"I want to check you to see how the bleeding is going, Kookie, and clean you up a little. I'll need to put a pad or something of that nature on you to absorb any further blood."

"I thought the bleeding would have stopped once Jimin did the C-section," said Kookie.

Hoseok chuckled. "No, Kookie. The bleeding doesn't stop, actually it will continue for a while yet, just how long in your case, we don't know." Seeing the confusion on both men's faces, Hoseok explained. "When a woman gives birth and the baby and placenta have been removed from the uterus, the thick lining of the uterine wall is no longer needed so it sheds itself. In other words, you're going to have an immediate menstrual period, Jungkook. In women it can last up to six weeks..."

Kookie visibly paled. "You mean I could be bleeding for six weeks?"

"That we don't know. Given that your cycle is irregular and the number of days you bleed for varies, it would suggest that you won't bleed for that long; I'm guessing possibly a couple of weeks or so." While Hoseok was explaining, he was also making up a bottle of formula for the infant. With the milk now ready, he brought it over. "Taehyung, why don't you feed Hye-Seong while I finish cleaning Kookie up and put a pad on him, then he can move back into the hospital bed and I'll take you through to the recovery section as the others will be back soon and I'm sure you don't want to be still in the OR when they get here."

Hoseok took the baby from Jungkook and settled him into his father's arms.

Jungkook turned to watch, a smile on his face, as Tae cradled the infant in his arms and took the offered bottle of formula.

"Now, Kook; let's get you cleaned up and sorted out."

Kookie submitted himself to the care of his hyung, glad that he was still numb from the waist down, although it did pose a few problems. Unable to feel anything, Jungkook had a hard time getting his legs to move. Hoseok assisted him to roll to his side so he could wash him down with warm water and while it was embarrassing to a point, it also felt better afterwards to be clean again. A pad was settled into place, along with a pair of briefs and after checking the dressing to his stitched belly, Hoseok assisted him into a pair of pajamas. With the clean up over, all that remained was to get Kookie transferred from the operating table and back into his own bed.

"Right, let's get you back out into the recovery area and comfortable before the rest of the group arrives," Hoseok said as Jungkook was now safely back in his hospital bed. He released the brakes and began to push the bed back out. "You wait there," he said to Taehyung, who was still sitting in the wheelchair. "I'll come back for you in a moment."

Taehyung nodded and watched the pair exit the operating room. Moments later Hoseok was back and deftly wheeled Taehyung back out and parked him next to Jungkook. Kookie was sitting up, the top of the bed raised and the pillows fluffed up to support him. He looked tired and flushed, but happy.

"How is Hye-Seong doing? Nearly finished with the bottle?" asked Hoseok.

"Yes," replied Tae. "There's a little bit left but I think he's had his fill."

"Good." Hoseok turned to Jungkook. "Once you're settled back in the ward I'll get you to give him a breast feed. Usually we have new mother's feed pretty much right away, but in your case it would be better to wait a little, that's why I mixed up some formula."