Here We Go Again

It had been a long road to get where he was today.

Long nights, frustrations… maybe a few sessions of crying into his pillow, while his wife rubbed his back. Tadashi would not divulge that information to anyone else, however.

All that mattered now was today. Putting on scrubs he had been so eager to get a chance to wear.

"Alright, that should do it."

He hurried out of the bedroom, stopping near the kitchen as Honey Lemon glanced over to him. He held his arms out, a grin on his face.

"What do you think?"

"Aww!" Honey Lemon, hurried over kissing his cheek. "You look great! Oh, photo! Photo!"

He yelped a little as she pulled him into place as a picture was snapped via her phone. She took a look at it before taking another, kissing his cheek as the camera went off.

"Perfect."

Tadashi smiled sheepishly.

"Honey…"

Honey Lemon grinned before pulling out an insulated bag from the fridge.

"Here, got your lunch in the bottom and dinner in the top. I know this is gonna be a long shift."

"Yeah. First day as a real doctor…" Tadashi took a deep breath to steady his nerves.

There had been a few limits set. He couldn't blame the hospital for those limits… but he was nervous just the same.

The biggest limit was Baymax was not allowed his first month of internship.

"You gotta stand on your own, not just using the robot as brilliant as it is. We're looking forward to Baymax working the ward but not yet."

"Yessir."

"You're gonna do great." Honey Lemon squeezed his shoulder. "Just don't overwork yourself."

"I can say the same." He brought his arms around her quickly. "I love you."

"Love you too."

Tadashi brought a hand to the small bump she had on her abodemen.

"And I'm gonna miss our kiddo too."

"You'll have all the time in the world to be all cuddly later." She giggled. "Now, go before you're late." She shoved him lightly towards the door. "I already told Hiro to forget about calling you for hero things."

"Thank you!" He grabbed his backpack, giving a wave before hurrying out.

It's really begun.

oooooo

Orientation went by quickly and before Tadashi knew it, he was being lead with the other interns through the hospital… Albeit, he hadn't taken note entirely of everyone. Everything had gone by so fast he was a smidge overwhelmed.

"Oh my gosh, really? I'm stuck in the same pack as you?"

Tadashi glanced behind him, raising an eyebrow.

"You have to be kidding me."

Ikeda laughed, elbowing him.

"Stuck together again, eh?"

Tadashi rolled his eyes, grinning. Things really had changed since college. They had gone to separate medical schools but it seemed fate wanted to drop Ikeda in on his life again.

"Long as we don't go back to what happened back at SFIT."

"No, no, swear it won't!" Ikeda held his hands up in the "I'm unarmed" position. "I'll be better this time."

"Good." He smirked. "May the best doctor not be dead tired at the end of the day."

"Don't worry. I won't."

Some things… never change.

oooooo

Halfway through his second shift, Tadashi was heading to a patient's room for a quick vital check as ordered by the attending doctor he was working under.

However, before he could get there, a hand reached out in front of him from one of the empty exam rooms. He gasped, taking a step back.

"What the…?"

"Um… Hi?"

Tadashi followed to where the limb had come from, his eyes narrowing into a warning glare.

The very sheepish face of his younger brother met his stern look. Hiro was partially in his armor, but Tadashi noted he had blood trailing down from his forehead to his chin. There was also a good sized cut on the limb out in front of him.

"... Get in there."

He closed the door behind him as he shoved Hiro towards the exam table.

"What the heck did you do?" He asked, already washing his hands. "Also, where the heck is Baymax? He should've had you patched up."

"Kat's sick, so, at home." Hiro shed off the rest of his upper armor. "So, I thought, who else to go to but my dear big brother?"

Tadashi rolled his eyes before checking Hiro over, feeling through his hair for the originating cut, as Hiro winced. "And this is gonna need sutures. Tilt your head back."

Hiro fell quiet, just letting Tadashi do what he needed, though he did flinch when he felt the side of his abdomen.

"Ouch!"

"Aaand that's a cracked rib… No, make that two. Hiro, seriously, the heck?"

"M'fine…" He winced.

"No, you're not. I'm gonna have to get an x-ray."

"Can't you just sneak a portable one in here? I know they bought the one you invented and patented."

"They… did." Tadashi pinched the bridge of his nose. "Unbelievable…" The first day on the job and he had to treat Hiro of all people. HIRO.

Hiro frowned.

"Am… I gonna be okay?"

"You are, just have to set the bones in place and make sure you rest… or if they're too out of place, we might have to manually repair them…"

Hiro leaned away from Tadashi a bit.

He never liked that look Tadashi got, whenever he started talking about treatments, especially when he trailed off into mumbling like he was now.

"Maybe I'll just head home and bug Baymax. I shouldn't be here. It's your first day." He was already gathering up his armor, trying to carefully snap the chest piece back into place. "Really, I'm being a burden right now."

"Hiro…"

"No, no, let me! I'll take a super or something."

"Hiro."

Hiro grimaced, looking back at his sibling.

Tadashi had a look of utter rage as he made his way over to his sibling.

Even if they were both adults now, that look still made him stop.

"Sit. Down." He pointed back to the table. "Stay there, while I get you something to change into so we don't blow your secret."

Hiro swallowed hard.

"Y-Yessir."

Geeze on the job for five hours and he's already honing that look.

Tadashi had to work quickly but quietly, grabbing what he needed. Before Hiro knew it, he was in a set of Tadashi's spare clothes and being wheeled down the hall in a wheelchair.

Part of him wondered if Tadashi was going too far… but he decided he got himself into it, he was going to trust his older brother.

Besides… This isn't the first time.

"Hey, least it's not a dislocated shoulder right?"

"Yeah…" Tadashi let out a sigh, his shoulders relaxing. "Sorry, just kind of went into doc mode."

"It's okay. Sorry for this."

"Don't. If you ever need medical care and it's too severe to handle at home or emergency care I'm here for ya. I mean it."

"Tada-nii…"

Tadashi smiled reassuringly.

"I promised I'd be the kind of doctor you'd feel safe with, right?"

"Yeah…" Hiro smiled back.

"Then I'm gonna do that job."

Hiro leaned his head back, closing his eyes.

"Do your worst then."

"Oh, I intend to."

oooooo

A few hours later and Hiro was being discharged quietly. Luckily, he didn't need surgical correction for his rib injuries but he was still cautioned to take it easy.

Not to mention that he had to call someone to give him a ride home… or rather, Tadashi had and didn't tell him.

"And no more wrist band so Kat doesn't freak." Tadashi snipped the ID band off of his sibling, pocketing it. "Take it easy on those ribs for a week. Office duty only."

"Got it."

"And no sparring."

"Got it."

"And Hiro?"

Hiro looked back to his brother. Tadashi squeezed his shoulder.

"Thanks for trusting me."

Hiro smiled, bringing a hand over his brother's.

"You always got my back."

Tadashi smiled softly… before amusement danced in his eyes.

He snorted, covering his mouth, pointing to behind Hiro.

They were in the lobby, just waiting for Hiro's ride. Hiro followed where Tadashi was pointing and groaned, putting a hand to his face.

There were bright police lights with a single car… and a very familiar face standing outside of the car, leaning on it.

"Oh. My. Gosh, Tadashi no!"

"Tadashi yes."

"You… You didn't." Hiro whined a little. "You DIDN'T!"

Tadashi gently nudged Hiro towards the door.

"I called the best person I could think of to take ya straight back to Kit-Kat."

"But, Uncle Katashi, really!?"

Katashi raised an eyebrow, holding up a hand in greeting.

"Hello, here to take a felon back to his wife?"

Hiro groaned, putting his face in his hands.

"Someone just kill me already."

"Nope." Both Tadashi and Katashi retorted.

"Make sure he takes it easy."

"I will see you Sunday?"

"Of course." Tadashi chuckled, waving as Hiro got into the car, giving him a look of utter betrayal. "See you at your follow up, Hiro."

"Shut. Up." He hissed before the door was closed on him. "Hey!"

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of family embarrassment."

Tadashi laughed, heading back inside as Katashi drove away.

For an unconventional first day… he wouldn't have had it any other way.

Just a few more hours than I'm home free.

Ikeda nodded to him as he walked by.

"Quiet night isn't it?"

Tadashi froze up, looking to him with a mortified look.

"You didn't…"

"Did what?"

"Ikeda… You're never supposed to-"

Their pagers, went off as they hurried down the hall.

"I DIDN'T MEAN IT!"

"NEVER SAY IT'S A QUIET NIGHT WHEN IT'S QUIET!"

More like five more hours till home free.

Wouldn't have it any other way, though.