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A/N: Ace had appendicitis, meaning his appendix had been inflamed/infected. If not caught on time, the appendix can rupture, which is a whole mess as it spreads infections in your insides, this can even kill you. Anyway. Ace's appendicitis was seen on time, the appendix was removed, and he's now recovering in the hospital.
Marco POV
Silently Marco walked through the hospital hallways, white coat fluttering behind him. While usually there was always sound in the building, right now it was eerie quiet. He still remembers years ago when he had done his first night-shift, that he finally understood those movies that made a quiet hospital seem haunted. Because it was. Especially the hallways for personal, the shortcuts.
Every passageway for patients and visitors, those were in pristine condition. Painted every few years, very well lit-up, decorations where possible. Everything to make the hospital look nice and not haunted for those coming as patients or visitors.
But for the personal? Those things weren’t a priority. The priority was to get from point A to point B fast. No need for pristine white walls. No matter a fancy roofing, seeing cables and metal structures didn’t hurt anyone. Some lights not working here or there or being a different color didn’t matter as long as the visibility was high enough.
Some hallways where of course used more than others and would be in a better condition, looking to be lived in, to be used. But no matter where, you would always find an abandoned wheelchair, some forms of metal grated boxes. So… horror games actually weren’t too far off sometimes. Only the graffiti, there was no graffiti inside the personal hallways. Maybe some older, at most rusted, signs, but nothing vandalized.
One glance at his pager, which nowadays looked more like a smartwatch, showed it was 17 minutes over 3. Dead of the night. For some reason, everything always started slowing down between the hours of 2 and 6 in the hospital. Not just the people brought into the emergency room, but also those already in the wards. Those calling every minute for who knows what, finally exhausting themselves and falling asleep.
It gave him this chance, to leave his own ward and go to another. Not for work, but for… his husband.
Exiting a door, lights flicked on brightly in the new hallway, showing the pristine white walls of the beautiful part of the hospital. Paintings of flowers immediately in his face. But he paid them no mind as he turned a few more corners, finally arriving upon the ward he had been going to.
Pushing open the door, the noise of talking nurses immediately reached his ears even if hushed. He walked down the ward until he came upon room B311.1. He took a moment to breath before entering the room, unless the patients inside closed the door themselves, the nurses would leave them open.
Inside he heard the gurgling breathing of the women on the second bed, furthest away and right next to the window. An older woman. She had infection on her lungs, not what she had originally came in for, but something that had gotten worse. Though, Marco noted the noise was less, so the flushing of her lungs that his colleague had done yesterday had worked somewhat.
“D-doctor.”
His eyes snapped left at the small voice and he was immediately at the bed-side of who he had come for.
“Ace, love.” Marco smiled gently, taking the hand that was raising up slightly. He could still see Ace well, the rooms where never truly dark, annoying for those loving pitch-black nights, but too dangerous for nurses who needs to help throughout the night. Even for the patient it was better, small lights behind the bed didn’t shine in their eyes, but lit up the room enough so they would find the way to the bathroom without falling over any obstruction.
“Why are you still awake-“ Marco frowned seeing Ace’s eyebrows scrunch up and the freckled hand in his clenched, “What’s wrong, darling?”
“Doc-doctor.”
“Ace, it’s me-yoi.”
“Hurts. Can I-“ Ace panted, tiny eyes looking out into darkness, barely recognizing the long whitecoat of his doctor. “H-have some- some pain m-meds?”
“Where does it hurt, Ace?” Marco decided not to go into trying to introduce himself. Ace was most likely not only half-asleep, but the pain and fever wouldn’t help. He still felt the heat radiating of his husband’s body.
“T-tummy. And- head.”
“I’ll see what you can have, okay?” Marco stood up, holding back from giving a kiss to the hand he held. He didn’t want Ace to think a stranger was kissing him. “I’ll be right back.”
With a small nod of the raven, Marco placed the hand back down onto the bed and left the room. Looking around in the hallways he quickly spotted one portable computer, logging in with his credentials he easily found Ace’s chart. This may not be his ward, but with his status inside the hospital, let’s just say he was allowed a lot-
“Doctor Newgate.”
Turning there was nurse walking up to him, he spotted her name plaque and gave her a nod before opening drawers into the attached cart. “Marie. Quiet evening?” He asked softly, just to be nice. Not to actually make conversation.
“It has quieted down now, I came out because I heard talking. Is anything wrong?”
“Mister Portgas’ incisions are hurting him, as well as his head-yoi.”
“Oh, I did not hear the bell. I’ll-“
Marco cut her off, maybe a bit rude, but he wanted to go and help his husband, “Don’t worry. He didn’t ring the bell. I had just gone to check on him and he asked me. I’ll give it to him. I’ve already checked that he’s allowed to get some more and have registered it in the system that I’m giving him a dose now.”
“Doctor, you don’t have to. I’ll-“
Beep beep beep
A soft beeping noise went off, together with a red light turning on a few doors down.
“You take care of them, Marie. I’ll take care of mister Portgas.”
There was a moment of debate before she nodded and sped off towards the other room. Marco finished taking everything he needed and walked back into the room. Finding Ace with his eyes close. Oh, fell asleep? No matter.
He crouched next to the bed and as careful as he could, did he lift the blanket fully of Ace’s right arm. Revealing the ends of the IV-tube that had been inserted when the raven had been admitted. He made sure the valve at the end was shut off before taking off one of the caps. Taking one of the syringes he brought, he twisted it on instead, opened the valve and first did a saline flush before switching to the syringe with painkiller inside.
As he was very slowly pushing the plunger, letting the medication flow into Ace’s vein, he heard his husband’s soft voice again.
“Doctor. T-thank you.”
“It’s nothing-yoi.” Marco looked up into small gray eyes, “This will work faster than any physical pill. You’ll feel better soon. Sleep, Ace.”
As eyes closed again, Marco finished up his task and soon had the valve shut, cap on, and Ace’s arm tucked back under the blanket. He gathered the used medical equipment as he stood, staying to watch over his husband for just couple more minutes before he felt his write vibrate. Reaching out with his free hand he stroked through raven locks, made sure Ace was tucked in, and with one last look left the room.
He deposited the used equipment in the right bins before he fastened his pace back to his own ward. Pressing on his watch to stop the vibrations and letting the other party who called for him know he was on his way.
A small beep on his computer announced that his workday was over, yet Marco simply kept typing. It was 6 in the morning now. By 8, Ace would get his breakfast. He would stay and have breakfast with him and put in a visit before going home to sleep. By the time he woke up, visiting hours should have started and he could come again. Yes, right now there were no visiting hours, but once again being a doctor here had its perks.
So, he used the extra time to read through patient files, finish up reports, work on some on his studies. He always had plenty to do. He used to make lots and lots of overtime. But ever since getting together with Ace, he tried not to. Not only did he want time to spend with the other, his husband deserved it. Always keeping the house in tip-top condition for him, waiting for him with warm food when he came home, a kiss and a hug ready the moment he entered. He started smiling just from thinking about it. Yea, no more long extra hours for him. He made sure his work was done, and than he went home to spend it with the love of his life.
Speaking off… time had flew and it was already almost 8. With a small curse he shut down his pc, grabbed his bag and was off. Flying through every short-cut until he reached Ace’s ward. When he entered, the smell of food hit his nose and one glance showed a cart with it going down the hall. Already passed Ace’s room.
“Shoot-yoi.”
With big fast strides he closed the distance, barely remembering to knock on the open door before stepping inside. He was just in time to see Ace lift a cloth of his eyes and look to him. A smile, although not as bright as usual, came across the other’s lips.
“Marco.”
“Good morning, Love.” Marco smiled, walking up to grab Ace’s cheeks and lean down to press a few kisses to his forehead. Noticing it less hot than the day before. “Your fever-“
“Has dropped.”
“How much-“
“37.5”
Marco frowned. Yes. That was better than the 38.5 the day before. But ideal would be-
“Give me a proper kiss.”
Even if the statement was said in a soft, weaker, voice. Marco followed the instruction immediately, leaning down once more to press his lips to the other.
“Good morning.” Ace smiled a bit more when they pulled away, one hand having come up to hold Marco’s bicep.
“’Morning-yoi.” Marco smiled again too, slowly maneuvering to sit on the chair next to the bed, “How are you feeling? Is your head better? Your belly? You know you can ring the nurses and-“
“I know, I know.” the raven chuckled. A chuckle which Marco would love more if it didn’t lack power behind it. “I called them. Multiple times. Probably annoyed them.”
“Never, love. It’s their job.”
“So dedicated.” Ace chuckled again, “My head is better, I think because the fever broke.”
The doctor nodded to that, Ace had been so woozy the day before. Feeling hot, then cold, headaches constantly on top of his insides hurting. A cloth often covering his eyes to shield from the light. “I’m glad-yoi.” He spoke while moving a hand up to Ace’s forehead, feeling it with the back of his hand, “You’re not burning up anymore.”
“Yea, got meds a few times this night. I even puked, twice.”
“What? What did you puke? Did you eat-“
“It was yellow.” Ace scrunched up his nose, “Very gross.”
“Yellow yellow.” Marco asked for more information, “or greenish yellow.”
“Is it a big difference?” A raven head cocked, “I guess……. The first was more yellow… the other…. Green? I don’t know.”
“It’s okay. It doesn’t-“ His lips tugged into a smile seeing Ace’s face, knowing he wanted an explanation, he would give it. “If it was yellow, it was digested, older, bile. More greenish is fresh bile.”
“Okay?”
“Your liver-yoi.” Marco moved his hand, a finger hover over the location of it on top of Ace’s tummy, “creates bile. Said bile gets stored in your gallbladder that’s right up against it, practically attached. When you eat,-“ he moved his finger, feathering over Ace’s PJ’s, “It moves to your duodenum where it helps with digestion. Green means it’s only just been secreted by your gallbladder-yoi. It’s not acidic.” He pulled his hand back an grabbed Ace’s, “but it can still be harsh on your insides, especially if you’ve not eaten. Because there’s nothing for it to digest.”
“Does it… eat me instead?”
The doctor inside him stayed professional, but as a husband, he smiled inside at his silly husband. “Well… essentially… Kind of-yoi. If you were to have bile up your throat constantly, it would erode away at the lining of your esophagus.”
“I don’t want to be eaten.”
Leaning down he gave a small peck to Ace’s lips. “Don’t worry, darling. You’ll soon be eating properly again, and then there’s nothing to worry about. The bile will be happy and do the job it’s made for without coming up and hurting you. Speaking of-“ Marco let his eyes wander to Ace’s nightstand, seeing a tray with food on top, “have you already tried to eat your breakfast-yoi?”
“No….”
“Ace-“
“I can’t.”
“Love….” Marco sat up, putting both hands around Ace’s, “I know you’ve been getting nauseas easily. But you need to eat. Even if just a few bites.”
“…”
“How about this. I am going to check the system to see if you’re permitted to take a pill to protect your tummy. And then I’m going to show you some things I’ve sneaked inside for you.”
Ace’s eyes lit up, “you sneaked some snacks for me?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see-yoi.” Marco grinned as he got up. Just like during the night he went out to find a computer, now needing to wait a minute as it was in use before explaining for what he came. Luckily Ace was allowed to take the meds he wanted to give him and soon he returned to Ace’s side. “Let’s get you sitting up a bit more, first.”
Marco took the remote for the bed and slowly let it raise, stopping every few inches to let Ace adjust before Ace stopped him fully. Not sitting straight, but it was enough. “You’re allowed to take this pill, it needs a few minutes to start working though.”
Nodding Ace accepted it and swallowed the pill, “what is it?”
“You took it without knowing-yoi?”
“I trust my hubby.”
Oh. He couldn’t help but raise Ace’s hand to kiss it, “This pill will protect your stomach. It forms a sort of coating over your stomach, making it less sensitive. It will help you. Right now you get sick quickly because your stomach is fully empty and the acid is eating at its own lining.”
“So…” Ace took a breath, “I can eat a little… without feeling sick?”
“It should help-yoi. I promise. Want to see what I brought you while we wait for it to start doing its job?” At the small nod Marco grabbed the bag he had dropped when he prioritized holding Ace’s face instead of placing it down gently. He rummaged through it and pulled out a few small boxes. The gasp next to him already had him smile. “You like this?”
“Yea! Which ones did you bring?”
Marco brought the mini boxes closer for Ace to see. Mini cereal boxes.
“Ooooh” Ace smiled, moving through them, “Choco puffs, fruit loops, honey balls, you brought them all!”
“All for my love-yoi. And don’t worry, you’re allowed these. The nurses won’t take them even if they see them. On the contrary, they would be happy to see you eating again.” He would be happy to see his hubby eating again. It was logical that after the operation to remove Ace’s appendix, the younger wouldn’t be rushing to eat. But one shouldn’t not be able to eat the days after.
“Maybe….” Ace started, pulling out a packed of chocolate pillows, “I can try a few a these… but… did you bring your own food?”
“I did-yoi.” Marco went back to his back and pulled out a bento box, “I made myself some sandwiches…. Not as pretty as my husband can make them, but I made some.”
“Then we can eat together!”
“We can, and we will. We will-yoi.” Marco smiled at his husband. Ace may not finish this packet, even if it is just 24gramms. But it is trying and everything that stays inside now that counts. They just had to get the stomach working again. Eating more, would come of its own.
“It’s still so purple, Marco. Here even green.”
Marco hummed from around his coffee, finishing his sip before making his was over to Ace on the couch. His husband had been released from the hospital yesterday after his 6 day stay.
“Don’t poke to much on it, love.” Marco smiled as he saw his hubby with his shirt raised, lightly poking at the incisions.
“But it’s so weird.” Ace frowned, still touching around his belly button, “Only this one is purple and blue, the others… just a lil red.”
Marco hummed, sitting next to his husband he took the freckled hands off his belly and covered it back up. Chuckling at the pout he got in return he did his duty as husband and doctor… explain. “Usually the incision under your belly button is used to inflate your inside. They told you about blowing some air into you, right?”
Ace nodded, “Yea, I felt the bubbles in my shoulders and neck! It hurt…”
“It can hurt-yoi. The air needs to escape one way or another. But anyway, usually that goes through there. It’s the hole used from ‘before’ the start of the procedure until after. The tube going in there is also pushed aside to make room and not be in the way while the surgeon is working. That incision most likely had the most stress while they were working on you.”
“But it will get better, right? What about scarring? I don’t want scars, Marco.”
Gently Marco wrapped an arm around Ace’s shoulder, pulling him against him and pressing a kiss to his temple, “We’ll take care of your incisions together, use lots if ointment as soon as it’s allowed to minimize scaring. The blue and purple will fully go away, love-yoi. Don’t worry about that. If any scars stay, it will just be a teeny tiny line. And-“ the blond smiled, “I’ll still think you’re as handsome as before.”
Blushing Ace turned towards his hubby as best as he could, not able to properly squeeze into him because it hurt, but still, he hid away as best as he could. “I love you.”
“I love you too, darling.”
“…”
“Love?”
“I ehm… got more questions.”
Marco laughed, “You know you could ask your own doctor too, right? They don’t mind questions.”
“I already got my personal doctor.”
“Guess you do.” Another smile and a kiss later, Marco urged Ace on to ask more questions. Helping him sit back up so they could look at each other.
“So… maybe it is stupid, but…. My appendix is… was on the right. Why are non of the incisions above it?”
“Oh good question. Not silly at all, love. So.” Marco sat up straight and bend down, acting as if he was holding tools, “if the incisions were right above it, the surgeon would need to stand like this. Right above it.”
“Looks uncomfy.” Ace frowned.
“It is-yoi. But now-“ Marco moved to have his back straight, holding his hands in front of him, “by making the incisions closer to your groin and one on the left side, the surgeon can easily stand next to you and work from the side. No need to lean over you and look from right above you.”
Ace oooooh-ed, “So it’s purely for comfort of the surgeon, not like-“ he waved over his belly, “to reach it better or something.”
“Just comfort indeed. Less stress on the surgeon’s wrists too.”
“I see, I see.”
Marco smiled, watching his hubby nod to himself and be in thought. He let him be while waiting for the next question to come.
“Why glue?”
“Yoi?”
“They glued it. The incisions. I never saw this. Whenever I had a deep cut, it was always sewed shut. Is this why I can’t take a bath? I miss my baths.” Ace pouted at the last sentence. He loved his bubble baths and now he couldn’t take them for 3 weeks!
“Baths aren’t good because you’re soaking in the water. Your own germs get into the water and thus they could cause infections. Also just the prolonged moister could soften the glue-“
“Aaaah!” Ace yelped holding his belly, “They’ll open up! You’ll be able to see my insides!”
Marco snorted, “Yes, so let’s not do any bubble baths for now, okay? Once it’s healed up we’ll hold a spa-day, just the two of us. You like that idea-yoi?”
“Just us? Yea.” Ace smiled, “That would be fun!”
“Something to look forward too.” The blond smiled, leaning over to give a kiss to his love, “Why glue and not stitches. Well, you could have done stitches on these wounds too. But than you would need to go back to have them removed. They’re sometimes more painful too because the threads can pull on your skin. Glue is a good choice to use on smaller smooth cuts. And they do need to be in an area that doesn’t move too much. Like, you can’t use clue on a cut on your elbow. You’ll rip open the glue. But on your belly-“ Marco very carefully feathered a hand over Ace’s shirt, “is a good place. Not too much stretching and pulling happens here. This way you don’t need to go back to the hospital. The glue will slowly get absorbed by the body while it is patching itself up. It will disappear on it’s own-yoi.”
“It’s like doctor magic.”
“Doctor magic-yoi.” Marco chuckled, “I’m so happy you’re home, darling. You already look so much better.”
“Yea.” Ace smiled softly, carefully laying back down against his hubby, “The hospital was nice. The nurses all come to help you when you need it. I could raise and lower the bed to go out easier. But… I feel a lot better rested here at home just from one day. And… I feel like… I can eat a little better here too.”
Humming Marco held his love gently, “You’re more relaxed at home-yoi. More on your own pace. Not on a sett schedule either of when food is brought out. I’m here to grab you a little cereal box whenever you want to-yoi.”
“You spoil me!”
“You deserve it.” Closing his eyes he rested his head on raven locks, breathing in the scent he loved, “Every little thing, you deserve it. I love you-yoi.” His love was home safe and sound. It would take a couple of weeks before Ace would be fully back to his old self. Before he wouldn’t need to be careful anymore about what movements he made or how much weight he lifted. But the crucial part was over. His hubby was home, he could get up on his own again, he was eating more and more little by little. Now, his husband just needed time. Time and love. Both of which he had plenty to give.