Uppercut {a pedro pascal au}

nine

it's been a minute since i posted a chapter, been busy with uni and working part time :((

i have the next chapter written as well but updates will be sporadic, sorry

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Maisy

The elevator's door slides open with a ding and I'm greeted by the organized chaos that is the pediatrics ward. The waiting area is bright with blues and greens on the walls and paintings of sea animals moving between the colors. It's whimsical, and yet, it is still a hospital.

I wipe my clammy hand on my jeans and walk up to the nurses station, Malakai slung over my hip.

He's been fighting a sickness over the past few days, and his temperature hasn't gone down.

He was fussy and uncomfortable all morning. His throat is swollen and his nose has been running non-stop. I tried everything to alleviate some of his discomfort; shushing him, giving him a lukewarm bath, offering plenty of fluids, using the air humidifier, all to no avail. By midday, I was so worried I called Pedro.

He was panting when he picked up. "Yes?" he spoke into the receiver, his tone curt.

We've both gone three nights without getting a full night of sleep, taking turns taking care of Malakai.

And now I was disrupting his workouts because I couldn't do my job of caring for his son.

"I think I should take Malakai to the doctor's," I said.

We agreed to meet at the hospital and hang up.

Now in the hospital's pediatrics ward, I sign Malakai in, handing the nurse a hardcopy of the authorization form that allows me to be present during Malakai's treatment, which Pedro signed in advance should a case like this arise.

Malakai and I take a seat on one of the teal chairs that faces a television that plays cartoons. I bounce him a little in hopes of soothing him.

I'm trying to comfort him, but from what I've learned over the last few days, the only person he wants when he doesn't feel well is his dad.

"You're okay, Malakai. Shh." I run a hand over his back before lightly pressing his head into my shoulder, hoping it'll force him to rest.

It doesn't. He wails his little lungs, his cry deafening next to my ear.

"Dadda," he sobs, his innocent eyes rimmed in red as he frantically looks around the busy waiting room. "I want Dadda!"

"I know. I know. He'll be here soon."

He doesn't stop, somehow finding the lung capacity to scream even louder.

I can almost feel all the other moms and dads' eyes on me, judging me.

I know how to entertain Malakai, how to figure out what he needs, whether that's food, sleep, or a diaper change. But I have no idea how to help him when he's this sick or upset.

I stand and start pacing with Malakai in my arms. The bouncing doesn't seem to settle him as he wails louder. "I know, Bug. I'm sorry. A doctor will see us soon and you'll be better."

What feels like hours but is probably just minutes, a nurse approaches us. "A doctor will see Malakai now."

I grab Malakai's diaper bag and follow the nurse.

We're rounding a corner when a deep voice calls my name. "Maisy! Wait!"

I turn to see Pedro rushing toward us, wearing his gym clothes. "Hey, hi," he says when he reaches us. "Sorry I took so long. I got here as fast as I could."