Tormented | LisRene AU

Chapter 1

Irene Bae was tired of hearing her name over the intercom. There always seemed to be an emergency right when she was finally getting two minutes to herself. Any of the other doctors or surgeons in this hospital could handle the emergencies but, for some reason, they always felt like Irene should be there. Whether it was for moral support or actual knowledge of a skill, it did not seem to matter.

Siwon was still pushing her to take the interim chief position for the night shift, but Irene was hesitant. Changing shifts would require an entire lifestyle adjustment. She had spent the past two years working day shift. One selling point for the night shift, as Siwon kept bringing up, was that her mother would not also be working during those hours. Working separate shifts would definitely strengthen their relationship. Both Bae doctors had very strong opinions as everyone in the hospital knew.

The people who worked the night shift were another bonus. They were hardworking, selfless, annoying, and Irene's best friends. Even though their friend group worked separate hours, and a lot of hours, they tried to see each other outside of the hospital as often as possible. Irene was the only one who did not currently work the night shift.

Rosé, Bambam, and Lisa were all ex-military doctors. They had each spent, at least, five years in active duty. It was how the three of them met. Trusting each other with their lives in Afghanistan had practically made them siblings. Yeri was a fourth year attending but fit in well with them. She trained in combat as if she was also in the military. The only one who did not participate in their fight club was Irene.

"Look who decided to slum down here with us," Bambam called from across the nurses' station.

Irene rolled her eyes as she looked around for Siwon. The night shift staff were starting to arrive for the night. Donghae was walking in beside Bambam with their bags thrown over their shoulders. She admired their easy smiles in the wake of all the chaos happening in the waiting room not far from where they walked.

"Incoming," someone shouted. A stretcher was rolled in from the ambulance bay. Rosé was straddling a man's chest as she applied pressure to his wound. Blood leaked through her fingers. "His car crashed into a tree. Had a giant piece of glass in his chest. Found him on my way here. Speaking of, I need someone to get my motorcycle towed here. It's still on the side of the road."

"I told you to let me ride with him in the ambulance," Lisa said as she casually followed behind the stretcher. The woman had a straw in her mouth as she shrugged. "It's your problem now."

Irene really should have known not to come to the emergency wing at this time of night. It was always chaotic and stressful but, if she planned on taking this job, she would have to get used to it.

Rosé spotted Irene as the paramedics pushed the stretcher toward an open room down the hall. Rosé smiled from where she was still on top of the man. "I knew you'd take the job, Irene," she said. "Can you go get my motorcycle?"

"No," Irene replied to Rosé's back.

Lisa walked over to Irene as Rosé was wheeled out of sight. She leaned against the counter of the nurses' station. Irene leaned her back against it. The people in the lobby were loud as nurses walked between the rows to find the most critical cases. She looked over at Lisa whose eyes were on her.

"I'm assuming you aren't surprised either," Irene said, raising her eyebrows at the woman.

"No, I'm not," Lisa said. She smirked. "You always had a hard time resisting me."

Irene rolled her eyes, for what felt like the millionth time, and scoffed. "I'm not the one who knocked an entire shelving rack over in the supply room," she said. She looked at Lisa more seriously now. "That was a long time ago, Manoban."

"Don't worry, Irene," Lisa said, pushing herself away from the counter. "I'll wait for you to come to me this time."

Irene could not come up with a reply before Lisa was gone to change for her shift. That was going to be another part of the shift she did not particularly enjoy. Working with Lisa was easy but dealing with her any other time was hard. Their history made it difficult.

But that was a long time ago after all. She had a boyfriend now. She was different from the woman she used to be when her and Lisa were together.

"Dr. Bae," Siwon said, walking toward her with his arms wide. His smile was so friendly, and Irene would bet he could sell anything to anyone. Including herself. "Please tell me you come bearing good news."

"Well, I came to tell you that I do want the job," Irene answered. "As long as you hire Taeyeon as chief nurse for the night shift, too."

"Done," Siwon replied, much to her surprise.

Rosé was rolling up her scrub sleeves as she turned the hall from the ER rooms. She put her chin in her hand and pouted as she took the spot Lisa had just occupied.

"Yeri! Want to ride my motorcycle?" Rosé called.

The attending had just walked through the double doors. Yeri did not even bother answering Rosé as she continued toward the locker room to change.

"You all suck!" Rosé shouted.

Irene laughed as the nurses around them turned to see who had caused the commotion. Most, when they saw it was Rosé, went about their business once more.

"I don't start until tomorrow," Irene said, looking around the lobby.

Lisa came out of the locker rooms, now dressed in scrubs, and went into one of the ER rooms. Irene heard different monitors going off when Lisa opened the door. Irene started for the room and stepped inside.

"I thought you worked all day today?" Lisa asked as she listened to the patient's heart.

"I did," Irene said. "I just came to make sure everything was okay."

Lisa put her stethoscope around her neck as she looked down at the woman lying in the bed. She reached over to reset the monitor and the heart patterns returned to normal. Irene did not want to disturb the woman who seemed lost in thought. They had dated long enough for Irene to see that Lisa was working through something.

"Pulmonary hypertension," Lisa whispered suddenly, snapping her fingers as she started for the door again. "Overweight. High blood pressure. Of course."

Irene followed her into the hallway. "Can I help?" she asked.

Lisa was rushing down the hall but glanced back to see Irene trying to keep up. She smirked and turned to walk backwards. "You don't start until tomorrow," she said, pointing a finger at her.

She had the urge to snap it off Lisa's hand. Irene stopped walking and put her hands on her hips. "You're so annoying, Lisa," she said.

The woman turned back around to avoid running into someone. Lisa called over her shoulder, "That's Dr. Manoban to you, boss."

When she got back to the nurses' station, Rosé was on the phone with a towing company. She was trying to get a discount for being an army doctor by using guilt. It was obviously unsuccessful from the tone of her voice.

Irene walked to the stairs. She still needed to grab her things from the general surgery unit she was leaving tomorrow. All Irene wanted right now was her bed.

"See you tomorrow, Irene," Bambam shouted. "Hope you're ready for the night shift."

The elevator dinged as someone stepped off. On a normal day, Irene would take the stairs but she was abnormally exhausted. Once inside, she fell back against the rail and her head leaned back against the wall.

This was definitely going to be the hardest job Irene ever had.