Surprise, Surprise!

"I... didn't know... you had a car," Francis managed. Alfred tapped at the oxygen mask (after all, one could never be too careful and Alfred was not going to not be prepared for any worsening of his condition) and gave him a grin.

"Work vehicle. Small, fast, and carries equipment. It practically hides out in my office because I don't use it too much. Kinda surprising people here don't need to be rushed to my office or something more often, yeah?"

This was not what Alfred expected to happen to him this day, but considering his job he was always ready for the unexpected. It did not mean he expected it, it just meant he was ready to deal with it if it happened. Thankfully Francis seemed to either get the point that he should just focus on breathing and not talk, or just decided he felt more like breathing right now and continued to be quiet. Now that he had Francis taken care of and ready to go, he went to turn his attention to Gilbert.

"You okay?" he asked, walking over and setting a hand on Gilbert's shoulder.

"I nearly killet him!"

"But he's not dead! It is going to be fine... you did not mean to."

"Oh, ant dat makes it so much better!" Gilbert retorted sarcastically, pulling away from Alfred's grip. "Just... take care of him, right? Just do dat."

"Planning on it," Alfred nodded. He let Gilbert leave, because he knew that trying to keep him around would probably make the German freak out more, and Alfred had a patient to care for. He returned back to the car and stared back to where he had Francis lying down. "Ready for some home treatment?"

Something which must have been a laugh escaped his patient and Alfred started up the car to head for home. Another reason it would be better to have his own house. Alfred preferred going home at night, since he could walk to work and to anyone's house. Ergo, overnight patients stayed in his house. Arthur was usually okay with that, but Alfred had a feeling that Arthur would be a little less happy with Francis being there. Then again, Arthur might just drop it because Francis nearly died. Here was to hoping!

Though it did put into perspective why Arthur hated Alfred bringing anyone home with him.

Alfred pulled right up to the side of the road when he saw Maddox walking toward the house. Quickly he opened the door and called out. "Maddox! Can I get a little bit of help?"

"Does it include wax and potpourri?" Despite his monotone question, Maddox came over. Even Maddox would not drag out his jokes when Alfred was driving his ambulance. The Asian helped him move Francis out of the car. Alfred always felt as if someone was laughing at him when he was in this situation. Maddox was helping him carry Francis. Maddox was not really that strong, just agile. So this was the one time Maddox might have a look on his face which was not impassive, but Alfred could not enjoy it because of the situation and by the fact he was not going to compromise his patient just so he could see Maddox's face.

Damn.

"Alfred? Is that you?" he just barely heard from another room as Maddox and he took Francis to the guest room.

"Me, Maddox, and–"

"Maddox and I," both Maddox said and Arthur called from wherever he was in the house. Francis chuckled again, while Alfred grimaced.

"And a friend!" Alfred shot back as he opened a door. He heard some coughing and immediately thought that Arthur was really trying too hard to cover up laughing at him. How mean.

As soon as Francis was properly settled Maddox left and Alfred set up everything else. He would take the other bed and stay up... it was going to be a long night and hopefully it would have been for nothing because hopefully there would be no recurrence.

"Alfred? What happened?"

The fact that he was in this room ought to have told Arthur enough, that he had a patient. Arthur was used to that sort of thing, even if he could be the most empathetic person on the planet at those times and Alfred was certain he had to treat two patients. But the sound that escaped Arthur when he stepped foot in the room said that he was not expecting this and the coughing that followed afterward was definitely not covering up anything.

"Mom?"

Subconsciously he pushed Francis back down when the man tried to sit up and then moved over to Arthur. Arthur batted him away, covering his mouth with his hand (instead of his arm, like they had often argued over) and leaning back against the wall.

"I'm... it's nothing..." Arthur said between coughs.

Alfred just barely shot a glance back over toward Francis. Despite how out of it he was, the look on his face was plain. Alfred should have seen this.

"Come on... you need to sit down. I'll make you tea."

"But... what happened? Francis..." More coughs.

Now he had two patients, but not for any of the reasons he might have thought of.


Notes:

Good thing Alfred did not call Francis dad. That might have given Arthur his own anaphylactic shock.

No one shoot me. I am no doctor, I do my research, but I try not to go too deep in detail with things I am rather blank on. So if I have totally messed something up about dealing with Francis' current condition, I would love a heads up. Thank you.

And just to let you all know, I am not getting any alerts again. I do not know if that means it will let me upload the chapter if the problem is not solved. Of which I guess I will find out when I try and upload the next chapter.