A/N: I'll have you know I've actually drafted an outline for this plot. This is nigh unheard of for me. Also, thanks to the research I've done, I discovered the sharp pain in my chest I woke up with the other day was a spontaneously partially collapsed lung. Scary shit.
-Five days earlier-
Shinra settled into the sofa, a bowl or freshly popped corn nestled between his legs. He had been waiting for this evening the entire week. He grinned at his fiancé sitting next to him, hugging a large comfortable pillow to her chest. The headless woman leaned against him, sending pleasurable tingles through his skin.
"Do you remember what episode we were on?" Shinra asked, picking up the remote from the armrest, "Ah right, the finale! Don't worry, I'm sure they won't actually execute Ned," the doctor continued, answering his own question. He hit the play button on the remote, snuggling as close as Celty would allow.
The orchestral opening credits were suddenly interrupted by the shrill sound of Celty's phone ringing. The dullahan palmed the device, glancing at the screen before answering the call.
"Celtyyyy," Shinra pouted, "we agreed not to let work interrupt our Friday night movie time…" Celty listened to the caller and Shinra felt her stiffen suddenly next to him. That's never a good sign… The headless woman ended the call, quickly tapping out a message for Shinra.
That was Shizuo. He said it was an emergency. He has someone who is very injured.
"Why not call an ambulance?" Shinra asked, brow furrowing. He could already guess the answer to that question though, given Shizuo's tendency to throw heavy objects at people and his already tenuous relationship with the law.
I don't know, but he sounded strange. I'm worried. Celty flashed Shinra this message as she stood up, causing Shinra let out a sigh of disappointment.
"Celtyyy…" Shinra complained again, following her to the entryway.
I'll make it up to you. Celty replied, fitting her helmet on top of the smoke billowing from her neck. Shinra couldn't help the grin that split his face at thought of his beloved Celty making this up to him by-
DON'T GET ANY WEIRD IDEAS! The dullahan tapped out, furiously, smoke curling from under the helmet in what Shinra knew to be a flustered blush.
"I shall eagerly await your return!" Shinra called out after Celty as she led her motorcycle to the elevator, a huge smile still secure on his face. The elevator door closed with a ding and the doctor felt his smile slip from his lips. Emergency huh?
He made his way back to the living room, sighing as he clicked off the Blu-ray player and TV. This is going to be bad. I can feel it. He made his way to the back room of his apartment, clicking on the light to his patient room. With another defeated sigh, Shinra began to check over his first aid supplies, trying to ignore the apprehension building in his chest. Maybe it won't be as bad as I think…
Who was he kidding? Of course it was going to be bad. No one called an underground doctor on a Friday night with an emergency if it was anything other than really, really bad. It was his life. The life he had chosen.
I just have to try to stay positive. Keep smiling. No matter what, I still have Celty. That's all that matters.
-DRRR-
Lights blurred together as Celty leaned hard into a tight turn, left leg nearly parallel to the ground. The wind tore at her tight clothing and she was surprised to find herself shiver. Dullahans were much more resilient to natural climates than humans, but this evening seemed to be especially cold. Maybe she just missed the warmth of a body nestled next to her on the couch. I do feel bad about leaving Shinra, but…
The sounds of traffic sirens caused her to perk up, suddenly hyper-aware. She relaxed slightly when she realized they were coming from way off somewhere else. The Traffic Police Force was the last thing she needed to deal with now. Celty steered her mount next to the chain link fence, following it out of the residential area and into the industrial district. She didn't have to go far before she made out a lone figure standing next to the railway line on the opposite side of the fence.
Using a drainage culvert as an improvised ramp, Celty and Shooter easily cleared the fence and skidded to a stop, kicking up a spray of gravel. Shizuo glanced at her and for a moment she was struck by the expression on his face. He seemed conflicted. Not angry necessarily, which would be normal enough for the blond, not relieved or guilty or even frustrated, but some strange amalgamation of all three.
It was then that Celty noticed the figure lying behind him next to the tracks. It only took a moment for her to recognize the familiar black coat and dark hair. Oh no… She took in the way his arm was bent the wrong way, the irregular shape of his chest and stuttered breathing… Shit… Celty glanced back at her friend. This explains a lot but… She pulled out her phone, composing a question.
"I know, I know. But I really don't want to talk about it tonight, okay?" Shizuo spoke tiredly, interrupting her mid-message. Celty glanced at Izaya's far-too-still body quickly before acknowledging that questions could wait. Though transporting the informant back might be tricky unless… Celty hesitated only a moment before asking:
Do you want to come with?
-DRRR-
How did I end up here? Shizuo wondered, clutching the back of the bike's seat with his left hand as Celty accelerated down a straight stretch of road. With his other hand he supported a bundle of tightly wrapped shadows that Celty had encased Izaya in, with hope that it would support his battered frame from any more damage. The bike was a pretty smooth ride, all things considered, but there was only so much one could do when one was doubling and tripling speed limits, weaving dangerously close to traffic. In truth, Shizuo was glad for the distraction of the harrowing race down the streets of Ikebukuro. It prevented his mind from turning to other thoughts.
Like how close he had come to becoming a murderer.
Like how he had decided to let Izaya live.
Like that brief flicker of fear in the flea's eyes.
Like how easy it would be to crush Izaya right now, or even drop him and never have to worry about anything ever again…
Maybe Celty needed to drive a little faster. Shizuo felt his hands clench slightly and refused to look down at the bundle he held. He focused his attention straight ahead, looking over Celty's shoulder and trying to anticipate the stomach-clenching weaves and turns the dullahan made.
In an instant that simultaneously took forever, Shizuo found himself in front of the tall apartment building that Celty and Shinra called home. The next few moment passed in a blur as Celty quickly lifted the shadow encased Izaya from the bike and transported him to the elevator, Shizuo following awkwardly behind.
What am I even doing here? Shizuo wondered, shifting from foot to foot, hand absently going to his pocket for a cigarette before his mind remembered Shinra didn't allow him to smoke inside. They arrived on the tenth floor.
"Celty!" The excited voice of the strange underground doctor that Shizuo sometimes called friend called out, the man himself rounding the corner to greet them. "I didn't expect you to be so quick! Ah! Shizuo! What's the emergency that you called-" Shinra's smile vanished. His face paled visibly as his eyes fell on the form Celty was carrying. Shizuo didn't meet his gaze, but it didn't matter. The doctor wasn't looking at him right then anyway.
Shinra took a shaky breath and seemed to compose himself. When he spoke, it was with a calm authority of a man who knew every second counted.
"Celty, please bring him to the back room. Shizuo, follow me." The blond glanced up sharply, but Shinra had already turned away, leading Celty to the bedroom-turned-hospital in the back of the apartment. Shizuo frowned, deciding whether to protest or just leave.
"If you leave me here, then you have killed me-"
"Tch." He fought down the rising frustration, debating whether to slip into The Calm or not.
For some reason… I can't help but think I might still try to kill him if I did… It was a strange thought. Hadn't he decided not to kill Izaya? What about his triumph over his own violent urges? It just seems like the simplest solution… Shizuo's frown deepened. What-
"Shizuo." The calm way Shinra called his name surprised him. Gone was Shinra's excitable personality, goofy nature and carefree attitude. In its place was this professional, collected person. For the first time, Shizuo could actually believe Shinra when he said he was a qualified medical professional.
Shizuo entered the medical room, sniffing at the antiseptic smell. It reminded him of his own childhood spent in hospitals with a plethora of broken bones, pulled muscles and ripped tendons. His eyes wandered over the shelves, stocked with IV drip bags, neatly organized vials and various other medical equipment he vaguely recognized before resting on the figure lying on the cot.
He blinked in surprise.
In some part of his mind he had registered that he had seriously injured Izaya, but displayed under the clinical white lights, without that infuriating smirk to disguise the truth, Shizuo fully realized just how badly he was hurt.
Izaya's face nearly matched the white sheets he lay on, save for the right side of his head matted with blood in various stages of drying covering his already swollen eye. His chest seemed oddly misshapen and stuttered instead of expanding the way it should.
"Scissors please," Shinra asked, softly taking the requested tool without even looking as Celty passed them to him. With careful, precise snips, the doctor cut through Izaya's shirt, peeling the dark material from his chest. Shizuo swallowed thickly at the irregular ridges or Izaya's ribs concaved in a brutal patch of bruised and bloodied skin that stretched from his right armpit down to his hip.
"Stethoscope," Shinra requested quickly. Shizuo began to edge out of the room, but without looking up, Shinra called to him. "Shizuo I need you to prepare an IV. I need a large bore IV with three 18 gauge needles. Celty, I have some O negative in the fridge behind you."
"Ah…" Shizuo hesitated, "I don't…"
"The green needle from the drawer over there. Cannula tubing is below. I'll need the medical tape as well." Shinra didn't even spare the blond a glance, his face a mask of concentration as he carefully probed Izaya's chest. "Flail chest, doubtlessly pulmonary contusions as well…" The doctor muttered, moving a hand to Izaya's neck to check for pulse. "Celty, do you remember how to attach the EKG?" Celty nodded, and Shinra seemed to somehow know without even looking at her.
Shizuo moved past the dullahan, opening the drawer Shinra had indicated. Inside were an array of needles, neatly arranged. Gingerly selecting three of the needles with green plastic at the end, Shizuo moved to the lower drawer, filled with bundles of plastic tubing. What the hell am I doing here? He wondered for the umpteenth time this evening. He still didn't have an answer.
Holding the needles and tubing at arm's length as if they would bite him, Shizuo moved awkwardly next to Shinra.
"Uh…"
"On the tray next to me," Shinra said, picking up the scissors again, "I need the medical tape, too."
"…right,"
"Sorry about this, Izaya," Shinra muttered snipping through the sleeve of the unconscious man's jacket. He grimaced when he reached Izaya's elbow, putting the scissors down. "Fracture of the ulna," Shinra muttered, turning the arm carefully. Shizuo moved away quickly, looking around the counter for the medical tape the doctor had mentioned.
"Right arm it is then," Shinra said aloud, moving to the other side of the cot.
"Uh…" Shizuo cleared his throat, awkwardly, suddenly reminded again of just how much damage he had caused.
It was strange.
He was so used to destroying things; it felt a little surreal to be on the other side of things.
Trying to put a broken thing back together.
"Supracondylar humerus fracture," Shizuo detected a note of near-exasperation in Shinra's voice and glanced guiltily at the underground doctor who stood on the far side of the cot, scissors in hand, examining Izaya's other arm, bent and swollen to nearly twice it's normal size. Celty looked up from sticking adhesive pads on the informant's chest and Shizuo turned away, not meeting her questioning look.
"Fine. The saphenous vein then," Shinra didn't waste time, moving to the end of the bed and removing Izaya's shoe and sock. He cut quickly up the pant leg, Izaya's jeans parting under the surgically sharp blades. Shizuo turned away, focusing all of his attention on finding the elusive medical tape, deciding he really didn't need to see any more.
A squeal sounded from the machine Celty was fiddling with until she adjusted it, resulting in a rhythmic beeping. Shizuo jumped for a moment, glancing again at the pale figure lying on the bed, wires running from his bruised and battered chest, and somehow wondered how someone so nefarious could suddenly seem so vulnerable. Claims of monsters and deities aside, Izaya was still human.
"Shizuo, the tape, please," Shinra said firmly, holding his hand out to the blond. Shizuo looked down to his own hands, surprised to find himself holding the requested item. Numbly, he passed the tape to Shinra, wondering if he would be allowed to leave yet.
The doctor deftly secured the three needles in Izaya's upper leg with the tape, attaching the flexible hose to the ends. Celty passed him the IV pole without being asked and Shizuo once again wondered what purpose he really served here.
"Decreased heart rate, deviated trachea…" Shinra was mumbling again, moving towards Izaya's head, "Tension pneumothorax brought on by the flail chest… We need to intubate, but first…" Shinra grabbed a syringe from the shelf, ripping off the plastic cover with his teeth and to Shizuo's shock, stabbed the needle into Izaya's chest. There was a soft hiss of air.
"Celty, we need to insert a chest tube. Shizuo, I need a laryngoscope from the last cupboard on the right." Shizuo was starting to get fed up with requests he didn't understand in a language that couldn't possibly be Japanese.
"Look, why don't I just get out of the way? Celty can-"
"No," Shinra interrupted, "I'm going to need her to leave,"
"What?" Shizuo and Celty both looked sharply at the underground doctor who was grimly adjusting the IV. "Celty I'm going to call in that favor Jin from the blood bank owes me. I need you to pick up ten units of blood at Ikebukuro General Hospital. Fast." There was a frozen moment in the room before Celty nodded once, sharply and hurried from the room.
"Shinra, I can't-" Shizuo began helplessly, regretting every decision that had led up to this point.
"Laryngoscope, Shizuo," Shinra answered, removing a scalpel from its sterile packaging. The bartender opened the cupboard looking hopelessly through the assortment of medical tools that he could only guess the purposes of.
He was interrupted by the rhythmic beeping machine when it suddenly stopped beeping rhythmically and started wailing again.
It was the first crack in Shinra's mask of calm efficiency.
Shinra's eyes widened with panic, looking up from what he was doing to the wailing machine.
"Shit…he's crashing…"
-DRRR-
-Present Day-
Shinra rubbed his forehead, as if the motion would dispel the memories. He had lived through his own personal hell this past week.
He was one man.
One doctor, even a highly trained one such as himself was no substitute for a team of emergency medical professionals. Celty was wonderful, to be sure, and he couldn't ask for a more sexy nurse, but she couldn't replace an EMT.
Shinra looked over to the other side of his bed, smiling fondly at his fiancé who was sleeping soundly. Even so, he would give up anything, absolutely anything for this moment here and now. Stretching his arms above his head Shinra suddenly frowned when he heard a noise from the room next door. Izaya, I swear if you are trying to get out of bed I will personally break your legs. Hearing the distinctive rattle of the IV pole in motion, Shinra sighed and sat up, swinging his legs out of bed. He picked his glasses up from the bedside table, settling them on his nose.
"I'll be back, my sweet Celty," Shinra crooned, smiling softly at the love of his life. Padding softly out of his bedroom, he made his way to the adjacent room.
Expecting the worst, Shinra was surprised to see Izaya still laying in the cot, eyes closed.
"You're not sleeping," Shinra told him flatly. Izaya opened one eye and smirked.
"Aren't you observant?"
"Mm," Shinra hummed in agreement, picking up his penlight from the nearby table. Despite Izaya's protests, Shinra insistently checked his pupil dilation, shining the light first in his left eye, then the right, trying to be mindful of the bruised skin surrounding it.
"Satisfied?" Izaya grumbled, blinking rapidly.
"Your pupils are reactive, even with the morphine…" Shinra trailed off, tapping his chin, thoughtfully.
"What?" His friend complained, noting the look in Shinra's eye. The underground doctor studied Izaya, noting the drawn look on his face, the clenched jaw, in spite of the smirk, the beading sweat on his forehead.
With a sudden motion, Shinra ripped the blanket off of Izaya, flourishing it like a matador in a bull fight.
"Hey!" Izaya yelled, "that's hardly fair! How am I supposed to hold on?" He nodded indicating his casted right arm, supported in a sling and the slightly more mobile left arm, restricted by a splint. Shinra's eyes narrowed and he reached under Izaya's legs, bare below the hospital gown that only came to his knees, ignoring the informant's protests.
"What I'd like to know, is how you managed to pull these out," Shinra replied holding up the three IV needles that were definitely not where they were supposed to be. Shinra felt a brief moment of guilt at the humiliation that flashed in his friend's eyes. Despite his job, or maybe because of it, Izaya valued his own privacy a lot and Shinra had just tread all over it.
Izaya grinned then, and part of Shinra hated how easily he saw through it. It was the fake smile of someone pretending they were in control when everything in their life had spiraled so completely out of control.
"Seriously, you know I'm trying to help you, right?" Shinra sighed.
"Hmm," Izaya responded indifferently closing his eyes and offering a one-armed shrug. Shinra shook his head and began to clean up the needles, disposing of them in a sharps container. He moved to the sink, washing his hands.
"Don't you think this needs to end?" Shinra asked suddenly, his voice serious.
"Hm?"
"This rivalry with Shizuo. I told you, didn't I? I really don't want to see one of my friends dead and that's where this is heading. Where it almost ended up." Izaya was quiet for long enough that Shinra turned to look at him.
"Shizu-chan…" Izaya murmured, his eyes distant. Suddenly his eyes snapped open, locking with Shinra's. "I don't want anything to do with him," he pronounced.
Shinra didn't miss the way his friend's voice shook even though he pretended to.
"Well," the doctor sighed, "I was hoping you could get along, but at this point that might be best." Shinra said, tidying his counter space and arranging his medical instruments.
Syringe.
Bottle of morphine.
That was strange. Where was…?
"Who all knows I'm here?" Izaya's voice was suddenly tight with worry. He had more than enough enemies who wouldn't want to pass up an opportunity like this.
"Don't worry," Shinra answered, tapping the syringe to get the air bubbles out, "Only me, Celty and Shizuo."
"Shizu-chan knows I'm here?" Surprise. Worry. Maybe a hint of anxiety?
"He and Celty brought you here," Shinra replied, nodding in satisfaction at the syringe.
"…"
Shinra moved over to Izaya's side with the syringe. Izaya eyed it, coldly.
"I don't want it," Izaya scowled, "You know I hate how opiates mess with my head."
"You're going to heal more slowly if your body is constantly fighting the pain." Shinra shrugged, "and since you decided to remove your IVs, this is going to be unpleasant. I'm sorry in advance."
Izaya tensed suspiciously.
"What do you-" Shinra grabbed Izaya's leg, pinning it down and plunged the injector into the fleshy part of his upper thigh. Izaya yelped, partly in pain, partly in surprise and partly in indignation.
"Damnit Shinra," Izaya hissed, glaring at the doctor. Izaya's frustration at his own lack of ability was starting to wear on him; Shinra could see his eyes shine with a suspicious amount of moisture. Disposing of the injector and washing his hands again, Shinra gave Izaya time to compose himself.
"I really am trying to help you," Shinra lectured half-heartedly, "I've been working very hard to keep you alive, you know." Shinra dried his hands, tossing out the paper towel.
"Trust me." Shinra murmured.
He turned to face his friend.
Izaya's eyes were already closed and this time the doctor knew it to be genuine.
Shinra sighed and walked over to the bed, replacing the blanket. Glancing again to his instrument tray, he reached under Izaya's pillow and wasn't terribly surprised to find his missing scalpel.
He hesitated a moment before replacing it under the pillow.
Shinra sighed. Izaya didn't trust anyone.
A/N: Sorry about the medical abomination I've created. I still struggle writing Izaya, but thank you all for your kind words.