Lams oneshots

Hospital (A)

I'm so sorry about disappearing for awhile, the guy who was supposed to be playing my best friend's boyfriend in the school play was too flaky with rehearsals so he got kicked out of the club and I had to be both cast a crew. It was super tiring with a lot of late nights, but also incredibly fun <3

Alexander processed the sound of the machines before his surroundings. His eyes were closed and part of him yelled to keep them that way, claiming that Alex can't possibly be where he thinks he is if he doesn't acknowledge his surroundings. Sadly, that's not how life works.

Alex took a deep breath through his nose and opened his eyes, rubbing them to force focus. Then rubbing them again to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, ignoring the thumping pain in his right eye. He clenched his jaw, a sharp sting shooting through it.

The rhythmic beeping of the machine next to him sped up as he came to terms with the white walls and tubes sticking out of his arm. His chest tightened and his throat closed in on itself, the beeping pounding his ears and causing shivers down his back.

Alexander took short, sharp breaths and nearly cried when the door slammed open, two doctors and three nurses busting in at the sound of his heart monitor. He clenched his fists and began curling in on himself. All Alex wanted was to melt away. He tried to make himself smaller but only then did he realize that his one arm was in a sling and the other, along with his legs, were tied to the bed.

The group froze at the sight of their patient, his condition wasn't exactly as they expected. A freckle faced nurse pushed his way from the back of the crowd and ran to Alex's side before finishing his sentence, "May I, Doctor?".

"By all means, Nurse Laurens."

Alex choked out a few words, "You-you gotta get me out of here. I can't do hospitals. I just can't, okay?" Sharp, short breaths escaped his lips in huffs and he squeezed his eyes shut.

The nurse looked back at the group as if asking for privacy and they reluctantly obliged. He immediately unplugged Alexander's heart machine to stop the dreaded noise.

Laurens spoke softly, "Look at me, sir. Don't focus on where you are, focus on me. I need you to breathe." He placed a gentle hand on Alexander's arm.

After a few minutes of gathering courage, Alex managed to peak open his eyelids. Tears streamed down his cheeks and his breathing remained rushed and forced. He mumbled something along the lines of "I can't do this, please, I can't."

Laurens felt a sting in his chest and scanned his brain for ideas, since grounding was clearly not the right coping mechanism right now. He peaked at the chart resting on Alex's bed and then, against protocol, undid his patient's arm strap.

"Listen to me, Alexander. Focus on my voice." He gently placed his hand in Alex's, "Squeeze my hand if you need to, but focus on me. I'm just trying to help you."

Alex nodded but continued to subconsciously mumble, tears leaving tracks on his bruised face as his breathing got worse. He pulled his hand to his chest, yanking Laurens along with it.

Laurens sat on the side of the bed, just catching himself before falling on to his patient. He stopped himself from flinching and cupped Alex's hand with the hand he wasn't depriving of Oxygen. There was a painful crunch but it was nothing the nurse couldn't endure.

"Breathe with me, Alexander. You're going to be okay, focus on your breathing. Inhale for eight and exhale for eleven, are you ready?"

Alex nodded and they breathed together for a minute or so until he could do the technique without shaking.

"There we go." Laurens smiled, casually slipping his injured hand from Alexander's and replacing it with his other hand. That one was held much more gentle now that Alex was calming down. "Keep focusing on your breathing, regulating it. I'll answer questions whenever you're ready, I'm not going anywhere."

Alexander closed his eyes and worked his way back to a normal breathing rate, thinking of the nurse's hand in his and his soft eyes and gentle smile. Hospitals are hell, but not everyone in them are Devils.

Eight minutes flew by before Alex opened his eyes, scared but desperate for answers. He started with a typical sarcastic question, "How'd you know I'd have questions?"

"Honestly, you were so drugged earlier that there's no way you remember."

Alex scoffed out a short laugh, "How long do I have to stay here?"

Laurens pulled his hand from Alex's and grabbed his patient's chart from the post on the end of his bed. He laid it on the bed and flipped through the pages before putting it back and declaring, "Another night or so-"

"Another?" Alex's eyes widened, "How long have a been here?"

"A little over 24 hours, you were out for quite a bit."

Alexander remained quiet for a few moments before sighing and asking the inevitable, "So what happened?"

"From what I've been told, you were jumped by anti-immigrant, excuse my language in a professional setting, assholes. We're not sure how long you were laying on the ground before you were found and brought here. You were half awake and ended up punching one of the doctor's in the face, hence the restraints I'm not supposed to take off of you."

Alexander scoffed, his jaw clenching for a second before the pain made him relax it. "So what's wrong with me?"

Laurens thought for a moment, visualizing Alexander's chart and translating the scientific terms, "Broken arm, cracked rib, and your face is pretty banged up. You've also suffered some head trauma; a concussion but nothing severe enough for you to slip into a coma."

Alex nodded, rage boiling in his stomach before his restless mind suppressed it by noticing the colors starting to form on his nurse's hand.

His eyes glazed over with guilt, "Did I- did I break your hand?"

Laurens shrugged without looking down, "It's alright if you did, it's not like you meant to. I'm just glad you can breathe."

The room was silent for a few moments until Laurens spoke up again, "You have a few people waiting to see you, should I bring them in?"

Alex perched an eyebrow, "Who?"

Laurens creased his eyebrows in thought for a few seconds, "Your foster parents, three young ladies, and the man who found you- I believe his last name is Jefferson."

Alexander let out an amused scoff and nodded, "One last question first."

"Shoot." Laurens smiled.

"Why'd you jump at helping me calm down?"

Laurens shrugged, "My mom was prone to panic attacks." He paused, "Why do you hate hospitals so much?"

Alex smirked, "Sorry, nurse, but you have to be a level four friend before unlocking that back story."

Laurens laughed, a sweet sound that danced in Alex's ears, "Then maybe I can get to know you better over dinner when you get out of here? I bet the doctors won't mind me keeping you company after my shift either. You're technically not actually my patient."

"Deal."

Laurens nodded and got up to retrieve Alexander's friends and family, "See you later, then."

"Yeah, definitely." he smiled.