The hospital buzzed with tension as Dr. Im Nayeon was admitted for early labor, her due date creeping closer than anticipated. Despite being a seasoned doctor, the shift from caregiver to patient had shaken her in ways she hadn't anticipated. As she was wheeled into her room, she barked orders and tried to maintain control, but her usual tough demeanor faltered under the weight of uncertainty.
Sana, who was helping to settle Nayeon into her room, noticed the faint tremor in her voice and tried to offer comfort. "You're going to do great, Dr. Im," she said with a soft, encouraging smile.
Nayeon shot her a glance, her tone sharp but her eyes betraying her. "Stop coddling me. I've done this before." But it was clear she wasn't just worried about herself. Her husband, Bambam, was supposed to be by her side. He had promised her he wouldn't miss it for the world. But now, as the contractions grew stronger, there was no sign of him.
Just down the hall, in the emergency department, chaos erupted. Bambam had been rushed in after a severe car accident on his way to the hospital. He had suffered a major head injury that required immediate brain surgery. Jin, the hospital's top neurosurgeon, was called in to lead the operation. Dr. Kim Taehyung, still a resident but with a sharp mind and steady hands, was assigned to assist.
"This is a critical case," Jin told Taehyung as they scrubbed in, their faces set with grim determination. "The head trauma caused internal bleeding. We need to relieve the pressure in his brain fast. If we don't act now, he could lose brain function."
Yoongi, who had been tasked with monitoring the situation, listened to the conversation with growing dread. He was torn-Nayeon was in labor just a few doors down, expecting her husband any moment, and yet Bambam's life hung in the balance. How could he tell her the truth? How could he let her know that while she was giving birth, her husband was fighting for his life in the OR?
Yoongi's mind raced, his heart pounding as he considered his options. Jin snapped him back to reality. "Yoongi, I need you in here. We're prepping for surgery. We don't have time to waste."
Nodding, Yoongi followed Jin into the OR, his gut heavy with guilt. He knew Nayeon would be asking for updates soon, and he wasn't ready to face that. The team worked swiftly to prepare Bambam for the procedure, the severity of the situation weighing heavily on all of them.
Meanwhile, in Nayeon's room, the contractions were coming fast, and her patience was wearing thin. She kept glancing at the door, waiting for Bambam to walk in. But each time the door opened, it was only nurses or residents, none of them bringing the news she desperately needed.
"Where is he?" Nayeon demanded, her voice strained as another wave of pain hit her. "He should be here by now."
Yoongi, who had been in and out of her room to check on her progress, forced a smile, his heart sinking deeper. "I'm sure he's on his way, Dr. Im," he said, trying to sound calm, but inside, he was breaking. He knew that Bambam's fate was in the hands of Jin and Taehyung, and the outcome of the surgery was still uncertain.
"You're lying," Nayeon hissed through gritted teeth, her eyes narrowing. "Something's wrong. Tell me where he is, Yoongi."
He faltered, unable to meet her gaze. "I... I can't say. I'll check again." He quickly exited the room, cursing under his breath. He wasn't ready to give her the devastating news, not while she was in labor. How could he add to her stress now?
Inside the OR, the surgery on Bambam was underway. Jin worked with steady precision, while Taehyung assisted, his hands never faltering. The clock ticked loudly in the background, each second feeling like a lifetime. They had managed to stop the internal bleeding, but the damage to Bambam's brain was significant. There was no way to know if he would wake up-or what condition he would be in if he did.
"Pressure's dropping," Taehyung said, glancing at the monitors.
Jin's jaw clenched. "We need to move fast. Keep his vitals stable."
Back in Nayeon's room, her labor had reached its peak. Sana and another resident, Seulgi, stayed close, guiding her through the contractions. But Nayeon wasn't having it. She was losing her grip on her composure, her mind split between the agony of childbirth and the growing dread that something had happened to Bambam.
"Yoongi!" she shouted, her voice cracking as another contraction ripped through her. "I know something's wrong! Where is he?"
Yoongi stood frozen at the door, his heart breaking as he stepped forward, kneeling beside her bed. "Dr. Im, listen... I need you to focus on the baby right now," he said softly, his voice steady despite the turmoil he felt inside. "Bambam... he was in an accident on the way here."
Nayeon's eyes widened, her breath hitching. "What? No... No, that can't-"
"He's in surgery right now," Yoongi continued, swallowing hard. "Dr. Jin and Dr. Kim Taehyung are with him. They're doing everything they can."
Tears filled Nayeon's eyes as the reality of the situation hit her. "I need to see him," she gasped, trying to sit up, but the pain of the contractions kept her pinned to the bed.
"No," Yoongi said gently but firmly, holding her hand. "You need to focus on the baby. You're almost there. Bambam... he'd want you to stay strong for the baby."
Nayeon squeezed his hand tightly, her breathing labored as she struggled between the pain of labor and the anguish of knowing her husband's life was hanging by a thread. "I can't... I can't do this without him," she sobbed, her tough exterior completely shattered.
"Yes, you can," Yoongi whispered, his voice filled with conviction. "You're Dr. Im Nayeon. You can do anything. And Bambam's fighting, just like you are. Now, you need to finish this. For him."
With Yoongi's words grounding her, Nayeon closed her eyes and pushed through the pain. Moments later, the sound of a baby's cry filled the room, and Nayeon collapsed back against the bed, tears streaming down her face. Sana quickly swaddled the newborn and placed the baby on Nayeon's chest, but the joy was bittersweet.
As Nayeon held her baby, her heart ached for Bambam, praying that he would survive, that he would wake up and meet their child.
Hours later, Jin emerged from the OR, his face tired but composed. He found Yoongi waiting in the hall, the weight of the day evident in his posture.
"How is he?" Yoongi asked, his voice low.
Jin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We stopped the bleeding, but the damage was extensive. It's too early to tell if he'll wake up or what state he'll be in if he does."
Yoongi nodded grimly. "I need to tell her."
Jin placed a hand on Yoongi's shoulder. "She's strong. She'll get through this. And so will you."
Yoongi made his way back to Nayeon's room, where she lay cradling her newborn, her face a mix of exhaustion and fear. He sat beside her, taking a deep breath before speaking.
"They did everything they could," Yoongi said softly. "He's stable for now, but... we don't know if he'll wake up."
Nayeon's eyes filled with tears again, and she looked down at her baby, her heart breaking. "He needs to wake up," she whispered. "He needs to see our baby."
Yoongi stayed by her side as she wept quietly, the weight of the day crashing down on them both.
