Chapter 4 – Weekend

Back to the story! XD

Same warnings, same disclaimer, different day, different chapter.

No, Ichigo did not take Byakuya Kuchiki home with him after going to Seireitei. Oh, he wanted to, damn skippy! He also didn't pull the man into the bar's men's room to suck what was sure to be an extraordinarily elegant cock … or molest him on the train as he accompanied a drunk but completely cute Sensei home (like a gentleman would) … or drag him back into the alley where Dr. Aizen had given Ichigo that surprise-attack blowjob and pass it on … or crawl onto the man's lap in the back seat of his chauffeured car and sliiiide "Little Byakuya" into Ichigo's all-too-willing ass … OR any of the other hot scenarios that had flashed like lightning through his head as the warm hand had caressed his thigh.

That surprise Aizen bj had sobered Ichigo up, more's the pity, because with sobriety comes intelligence, responsibility, and sensibility. Shit. Byakuya Kuchiki had just broken up with his wife … she'd only moved out two days ago. He had to be in a state, even though outwardly he was as calm and serious as he always was. And although Ichigo was more than willing to provide comfort services (that's already been made pretty plain, yes?), he had to tread carefully when it was with someone he worked with. Most especially someone he worked with who also just happened to be Rukia's new brother. That was a pretty sticky scenario, no matter how you looked at it, given his history with the volatile little black-haired woman.

So instead, he'd laced his fingers through the doctor's, under the table, unseen by anyone else. He'd exchanged secret 'looks' with the other man – that incredibly handsome man. They had 'accidently' drunk from the same glass, and Byakuya's little smile told Ichigo he was more than aware that Ichigo had helplessly thought indirect kiss as the doctor's lips touched the rim. When Byakuya's hand had strayed even higher on Ichigo's thigh, along with the thrill and the semi, the orange-haired man thought, why? Why would Byakuya be coming on to him now? Had he had a revelation about his sexuality? Had his marriage been a sham from the get-go? Too many questions.

So, Ichigo had politely declined the invitation to the after-party at the Kuchiki residence, pleading a busy Saturday ahead. (Which wasn't exactly untrue.) He'd given Sensei a heated glance before leaving, one that hopefully had said, this isn't over. Then he'd bid everyone at the table farewell, kissed the girls and just barely managed to dodge a kiss from Renji (who was a rollicking tart when hammered), and walked away with a cheerful wave.

He didn't see Mr. Sexy Blue-Hair anywhere. Apparently the man had already left. Tamping down a sensation of disappointment (he didn't need complications like that in his life!) he'd caught the next-to-the-last train and made it home in one piece – alone.

…

Saturday was rainy, cold, and dreary as hell. It didn't make much difference to Ichigo, snug inside his dimly-lit apartment, sipping coffee as he went about his chores for the day. Clean the bathroom, check. Kitchen, check. Vaccuum, check. Make a shopping list for later in the day – and don't forget those ice cream sandwiches and that oolong tea that Stark likes – check.

He went about his day, keeping busy, only letting up to have lunch or have a cigarette. He didn't let his mind dwell on Ulquiorra … but every once in a while something would remind him of one of his beloveds, and he would smile – either externally, with his lips, or internally, with his heart. They were never far from his mind.

Later, the rain had let up – perfect timing to leave and get the shopping done. Afterward, as he sat at the edge of the river with his groceries in three bags at his feet, he couldn't help but think of Starrk, who could actually arrive at any moment – he was notorious for his horrible time estimation skills - and Starrk's ex-lover, Kira Izuru. Kira. One of the beloveds, one of the ones who hadn't made it. Ichigo stared at the black rushing water and fell into memory.

…

The first patient to die under Ichigo's care.

Izuru Kira, aged 28, had suffered a catastrophic brain hemorrhage and was not expected to survive. An automobile accident, which account for a huge percentage of head injuries, was the cause of Kira's original injury. His vehicle was hit head-on by a drunk driver, and Kira was the unlucky victim of seatbelt failure. He was ejected through the windshield of his Honda Accord and landed some 80 feet away in a concrete drainage ditch. The driver of the other vehicle was killed.

Izuru-san arrived per ambulance at Karakura General ER at 2238 hours (10:38 pm). He was unconscious, bleeding from numerous lacerations and both ears, and had sustained a violent blow to the head – along with numerous peripheral fractures, namely: bilateral femurs, right distal radius, and seven ribs. He arrived strapped to a backboard, intubated, large bore IV in the left forearm. The patient was posturing … the series of repeated "curling in" movements of both arms and shoulders that denote a serious brain injury. He was stabilized, taken to the OR where his fractures were repaired, and taken straight from the Operating Room to the ICU. Here it was noted that he was leaking cerebral-spinal fluid from his left ear as well as blood.

When Kira finally arrived at 3C, three weeks later, there was virtually no hope. But his family refused to take him off the ventilator. His father had been dead since Kira was four years old, and he was all his mother had left. By her side the whole time was Starrk Coyote, Kira's companion and best friend, lover and future husband. He was devastated – the two had been together since junior high school. When Ichigo first met him, his eyes were so swollen from crying that he looked as though he'd been beaten. He hadn't slept for four days and was practically manic. He could barely speak, was shaking like a leaf … he hadn't shaved or bathed or eaten in days.

Kira had been settled in to Room 13 during the day shift, so by the time Ichigo arrived for the midnight shift he was resting comfortably, respirator whooshing softly next to his bed, the monitors beeping softly as they kept a watchful eye on Kira's bodily functions. Renji had given Ichigo report and passed the torch, especially as far as Coyote-san was concerned. The man needed to take care of himself, even as the dedicated team of nurses at 3C were caring for Kira.

Ichigo entered Room 313 and put his shoulder bag down on his desk, dimming the lamp that stood there. His room was full now … the other two patients had included Jinta Hanakari (another success story … a young boy in a diabetic coma who had been successfully reversed after 2 months on 3C) and Mayuri Kurotsuchi (who had eventually been moved by his family to a hospital in America at the insistence of his paternal grandfather). He said hello to them one by one, in a soft voice, checking their monitors with quick glances as he leaned in to whisper greetings. Then he turned to his new patient in the last bed.

Walking around the Japanese screen, the first thing to impress itself on Ichigo was Kira's eyes. The pressure inside his skull (despite burr holes being drilled in a return to the OR) was pushing them outward, making them bulge. His face was puffy and pasty-white, only a few strands of blond hair escaping from one side of the bulky bandages around his head. Ichigo walked up to him, leaned over his new patient and said, "Good evening, Kira-chan … I'm Ichigo, your over-night nurse. I'm so sorry you are here." And petted his cheek softly. "Let's see what we can do for you tonight."

Ichigo had spotted the bundle of wrinkly clothes and messy brown hair in the chair off to the side of Kira's bed, but had supposed the man was asleep. He was proven wrong. "He – he can't hear you," a shaky voice croaked.

Ichigo looked at the shadowy figure beyond Kira's supine form and said in a calm and quiet voice, "Are you certain about that?" He paused as he looked at Kira again. "I'll be with you in one moment, sir," he said, glancing at the man in the chair, and resumed checking Kira's condition. Vital signs were stable, if in the low range of normal. Renji had been busy on his shift … Kira's nails were clean and filed … his urine and bm bags were almost empty … and his dressings were clean, dry, and intact. He did raise the head of Kira's bed slightly, carefully turning his head a bit to the side, and did trach care. "There," he said soothingly, smoothing the warm soft blankets over Kira's chest. "We won't be able to turn you until I get some help in here, but I will, soon." He patted Kira's shoulder and then looked again at the mess of a man in the chair.

"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki, I'll be Kira-san's nightshift nurse," he said, walking over to the man and bowing slightly. "Would you happen to be Coyote-san?"

Starrk struggled to his feet. "Yeah," he said, his voice rough and scratchy. "Kurosaki-san … what … I mean, do you think he can hear us?" His puffy eyes, open mere slits, slid over to look at Kira, then back to Ichigo.

"I prefer to think so," Ichigo said. He walked up to Starrk and put an arm around his shoulders. "Come. Sit down over here. I'm going to call in a sitter and we'll get you taken care of."

He held back. "I … I can't leave! What if he …." His face crumpled as he stammered to a stop. What if he wakes up? What if he dies? The sentence could have gone either way. He didn't finish.

"Coyote-san … please. Please. Sit here." Then Ichigo called Ishida and got him to come watch over his room for a while. "If there is any change whatsoever in Izuru-san's condition, call us back immediately, please."

"Of course," Uryuu replied, bowing to Starrk, who was weeping silently.

Ichigo had taken Starrk to the men's locker room, stripped him, and pushed him into the shower, practically having to wash the crying man. He did wash his hair, he shaved him, and got him into some fresh clean scrubs. Then he dragged him to the cafeteria and teased the staff into giving him a tray full of food to take back to the room. The only time he showed any energy whatsoever was when they were on their way back to Room 313 … and then it was only his complete and utter fatigue that kept him from running.

"Thank you, Ishida-san," Ichigo said when they returned. Uryuu bowed again to Starrk, told him there had been no change, and left. "Here … sit here, sir," Ichigo said, and helped the man sit at the desk. "Please eat, Coyote-san," he begged. "You will need your strength, yes?"

In the end, Starrk had eaten some of the pudding, a roast beef sandwich (or at least part of one), and several bottles of oolong tea. While he ate, Uryuu came back and helped Ichigo carefully turn Kira to a half-lateral position, left side "down", bolstering him with pillows, keeping a watchful eye on his monitor the entire time. After Uryuu left, Ichigo turned Mayuri and Jinta. Then he walked back over to Starrk, who was by now standing at Kira's bedside again.

"Coyote-san—"

"Please. Call me Starrk." His affect was entirely flat. He stared at Kira, holding his hand.

"Starrk-san … you must rest. Come. This couch is very comfortable. I will take good care of Kira and if there is any change, anything at all, I will wake you." Ichigo carefully took Starrk's arm and led him over to the couch that stood to the left of the door, opposite the nurse's desk. He opened the closet and removed a fresh pillow and blanket. Starrk sat down, staring at the still figure on the bed.

"One minute … we were planning to fly to America to get married. And the next …." Tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. Ichigo sat down next to him, nodding sympathetically. "I … I can't sleep," Starrk said. "I just can't sleep, it's been days, I don't know how long. I've tried. But … every time I close my eyes … every time … I keep seeing …."

"Shh," Ichigo murmured, and put an arm around the grieving man's shoulders. "I know, Starrk-san. But he is safe here … he is in no pain … and you are here by his side. I will awaken you if anything happens. I promise." Starrk Coyote turned to Ichigo and buried his face in Ichi's chest, arms clenched tight around his middle. He cried some more while Ichigo rubbed his shoulders and patted his back … and then within five minutes, had fallen asleep.

…

After the third EEG, Dr. Kuchiki had to make it clear to Kira's mother that he was, essentially, brain-dead. The machines were keeping his body functioning, but her son was no longer 'there'. Starrk Coyote insisted that Ichigo be there when the machines were turned off … so they did it at midnight, during one of Ichigo's shifts. Starrk and Kira's mother held each other even as they clung to Kira's right hand, unable to keep from hoping that a miracle might occur - that the once-vibrant blond would open his eyes and ask for a Mountain Dew.

Ichigo knew better. They could comfort each other at the moment, it was Ichigo's job at this point to send Kira off with loving care. He leaned in close from the dying man's left side. "Safe journey, Kira-chan," he whispered, his forehead pressed to Kira's left temple. The bulging eyes were gone, instead he now looked like a pale golden beauty with aristocratic features.

"Kira … my son," his mother moaned as she wept.

"We love you, Kira," Starrk said, his voice rough with anguish, squeezing his lover's hand.

"Yes," Ichigo affirmed quietly, near Kira's ear. He'd cared for Kira for three weeks and had grown to love his charge, as always happened. "We love you." Then he backed off to give the family their alone time with Kira, standing at the foot of the bed in case he was needed.

Dr. Kuchiki bowed to Starrk and Kira's mother, then turned and placed a hand on Kira's chest for about 10 seconds. After a quick nod of his head, he turned to the ventilator and turned it off. He disconnected it from Kira's neck and stepped back. The machine's swooshing had ceased. The beeping of the monitor began to slow, then it began to race frantically as Kira's wounded brain stem reacted to the lack of oxygen in Kira's blood. Soon enough it slowed again. Slower. The man never drew a single breath. When the machine began to alarm Dr. Kuchiki silenced it.

Kira's mother and fiance stayed near him, petting him, crying, whispering to him. Ichigo held himself rigid, maintaining his professional demeanor. When the machine showed a flat line, Dr. Kuchiki stepped forward again to listen to Kira's chest with his stethoscope. He straightened, removed it, and put a hand on Kira's mother's shoulder. He shook his head.

He was gone.

…

Starrk Coyote didn't sleep, during the whole time Kira was in Room 313, unless Ichigo was there. He insisted that he couldn't sleep without Ichigo. Once he wrapped his arms around the oranget, he would be sound asleep within a few minutes.

So, occasionally, Starrk made what he called a 'Pilgrimage to the God of Sleep', and made the trip back to Karakura to visit Ichigo in order to - yes – sleep with him. For real. But this time, Ichigo was in for a surprise.

XXX

Starrk Coyote actually arrived early Sunday morning. Ichigo, since his schedule was opposite most of the rest of the world, was getting ready to go to bed when the doorbell rang. Who would be at his door this early on a Sunday morning? Nobody but Starrk Coyote … unless it was his family come to try to coerce him into going to church. Not likely.

The door opened to reveal the tall handsome brunet, leaning against the door jamb, looking like he could use about 5 days' worth of straight snooze-time. Then again, he almost always looked like that. "Ichigo," he said with a lazy grin. "Finally." He laughed lightly, although the undercurrent of relief was obvious.

"Bring your blankie with you this time?" Ichigo replied, keeping it light.

"Sort-of," the other man teased. He leaned forward and grabbed Ichigo for a bro-hug.

"Now … I can't say that makes me feel any good," a deep soft voice said from the hallway. Another man stepped into view. He was tall, with silver-white hair and eyes that were slitted closed by the wide, closed-mouthed grin he wore. Ichigo felt a tingle in his nether regions that he quickly subdued. (Jesus, what was wrong with him lately!)

"You're not my blankie, Gin," Starrk said, turning to the man, his arm still around Ichigo's shoulders. "You're my pacifier." He laughed softly. The tall man's grin became even more pronounced.

"Open wide," he teased, and both men snickered like twelve-year-olds discovering porn.

Ichigo felt a slight blush taint his cheeks. Whoa. He smiled at the two of them, and then offered a hand to Gin. "Ichigo Kurosaki. Pleased to meet you, Mr. …?"

"Gin Ichimaru," he said through a chuckle, and shook Ichigo's hand. "So you are the God of Sleep," he continued, opening his eyes slightly to look Ichigo up and down.

"Well, that's what this idiot thinks," Ichigo elbowed Starrk in the side.

"Ichigoooo," Starrk whined. "I haven't slept a wink since last time …."

"I beg to differ," Gin cut in.

"… and I wanted you to meet Gin, too. He's … he's my new partner." Starrk slid an arm around Gin's waist.

"Fiancé," Gin cut in again, holding up one finger.

"Wow! That's great!" Ichigo clapped Starrk on the shoulder. "C'mon, let's not stand in the hall and talk, come in, come in!"

…

Gin Ichimaru had a dry naughty wit that had Ichigo near to tears from laughing. Glad he'd stocked up on oolong tea, they spent a little over an hour drinking and talking. Ichigo learned that Starrk had met Gin after the man had caught sight of him trying to nap in a seaside park. Then he'd stalked him, basically, arranging little surprise encounters in which Gin would always pretend to be just as amazed as Starrk at the 'chance occurrences' that kept throwing them together.

Finally Starrk had become suspicious, he'd demanded an explanation – and Gin Ichimaru had responded with one of the most fervent, heartfelt declarations of love that Starrk had ever even heard of. Starrk had replied that he did not love Gin … and the silver-haired man had backed off immediately, saying he would be patient and wait, as long as it took, just please give him permission to keep trying. He refused to give up. Starrk was moved. For the first time since losing Kira, he felt something stirring in his heart.

But soon it was almost 9 a.m., and that meant Ichigo the mid-shift worker had to get to sleep. Starrk was happy to hear it. "Got 'em?" he asked Ichigo, following him into the bedroom.

"Of course!" Ichigo said. He opened the closet doors, pawed through stacked clothing on one of the shelves, and came out with a pair of flannel pajamas, white with green shamrocks all over them.

"Don't tell me … those are the 'lucky pjs'," Gin said, grinning.

"Wait til you feel how soft they are," Starrk said through a yawn. "Ichigo, the magic is already working."

"I'm sleepy too," the orange-haired man replied. He looked at Starrk, then glanced at Gin. Normally – that is, pre-Gin – Ichigo would put on the lucky pajamas, and then he and Starrk would get into bed. Starrk would snuggle Ichigo and they would talk about Kira until Starrk finally went to sleep. Ichigo would get up to go to work but Starrk would still be sleeping. Sometimes he would still be sleeping when Ichigo left for work again, the next night! But now … what was Starrk planning? "So …" he began. "What, er … what do you want to do?"

"Well, I know what I want to do," Gin said, snickering.

"Ichi," Starrk said, with a mildly warning glance at his fiancé, "I needed Gin to see that this thing you and I do is, well … innocent. Is it okay if, uh … I guess there's really no other way to say it. Is it okay if we all sleep together? Just sleep."

"Darn," Gin said under his breath.

Ichigo looked at his alarm clock. Almost 9:30! "Okay, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to change into those pajamas, brush my teeth, and get into bed. You guys decide what you're doing and who's sleeping where and all that … but I gotta get some sleep."

Starrk yawned so hard his eyes watered. Gin's gaze softened as he watched Starrk rub his eyes like a little boy. "C'mon," he said, his voice low and brimming with love, "let's go to sleep, ne?"

With that, Ichigo turned and went into the bathroom, the pjs tucked under his arm. When he came out, Starrk was wearing a pair of pale blue pajama pants, also flannel, but Gin was in a pair of blood-red silk ones. Turning his eyes away from two sculpted torsos, Ichigo swallowed and climbed into bed. Starrk was right behind him. He crawled in next to Ichigo, once again wrapping his arms around Ichigo and snuggling in close. Gin got in bed next to Starrk and spooned him from behind. Starrk's head was tucked into Ichigo's armpit, practically, and Gin's head was on Ichigo's shoulder. Ichi swallowed again. Gods, he thought. This is … not the same.

Starrk sighed, his body relaxing. "Missed you, Ichigo," he murmured, squeezing. His right leg was on top of Ichigo's. Gin's breath tickled onto Ichigo's neck. Fighting to maintain, Ichigo patted Starrk's arm and closed his eyes. They opened again when Starrk breathed, "I miss Kira, too."

"Yes," Ichigo said.

Gin kissed the back of Starrk's head.

Starrk: "Do you still think about him all the time, Ichi? Still … talk to him, like you used to?"

"Yes."

Silence for a moment. Then Starrk said, "That … comforts me."

Gin kissed the back of Starrk's head again, murmuring soothing words, petting his hair. All was quiet then, and for once, Ichigo fell asleep before Starrk did.

…

He awoke once during the "night", hearing soft moans and sounds from the other side of the bed. Starrk and Gin, kissing, murmuring, holding each other. Ichigo smiled sleepily. He had a feeling that he would not be getting many more 'pilgrimage visits' in the future. He snuggled down in the blankets and went back to sleep.

…

Sunday night, and Ichigo was going in early, as requested by Orihime on Friday, in order to get filled in on the new patient in room 313. He would have two patients from now on, until Shinji or the new man woke up. That was the only way he could look at it. He walked up the stairs to the third floor and entered the men's locker room. Oh shit. Standing in front of his locker, wearing only a pair of low-rise black boxer briefs – Byakuya Kuchiki. His black hair was down, streaming down past his shoulder blades. His pale skin was glowing with health, muscles rippling as he turned at the waist to see who had come in. When he noted it was Ichigo, his eyes darkened and he gave one of those little tight-lipped smiles. "Kurosaki," he said, turning the rest of the way around.

Ichigo's pupils dilated as he gazed on male perfection. He stood there, speechless and motionless, as Byakuya approached, ambling over in a hipshot manner that bespoke a person completely at home in his body. "We have some talking to do, do we not? But now is not the time for that, is it."

Ichigo mutely shook his head. He had to get changed and go to work.

"We will talk. But in the meantime, I wish to give you something to think about." He took the two steps that brought him flush up against Ichigo, and wrapped his arms around the younger man. He pressed his long lean body up against the red-haired male's, molding himself to the hard young body, fully aware of the effect he was having. "Kurosaki," he murmured, "turn your face up to me."

Ichigo did it. How could he not? Lips on his. Warm, insistent, skillful. A hand cupping the back of his head, the other clutching him tight to that naked chest. Ichigo had an instant boner that made him feel rather faint. Or it could be the thorough mouth-ravishing he was getting. Either way, Byakuya felt it through those jeans and began a sensuous motion with his hips, rubbing his awakening member against Ichigo's hardness.

Ichigo moaned. It felt so good. How long had it been since he'd had actual sex? At the moment it felt like forever. Byakuya licked Ichigo's lips, then licked and kissed his cheek, down to his jaw, and onto his neck, still moving his hips in that timeless manner. Ichigo stole a look down to see that those little boxer briefs could no longer contain Byakuya's erect penis – the head had worked its way out past the waistband. Flared, dark pink, just beginning to leak fluid from the slit. Ichigo's breath gusted out as his abdominal muscles contracted. Byakuya gave another nudge with his hips that sent that gorgeous head sliding up onto Ichigo's t-shirt-covered belly.

Ichigo yanked the t-shirt up and out of the way, tucking the hem into his mouth. He reached for his fly but Byakuya was too fast for him … he ducked his head and took one of Ichigo's nipples in his mouth, sucking it hard, nipping with his teeth, then sucking it again with enthusiasm. Ichigo gasped, hands in soft silky black hair, on the verge of coming in his jeans.

With an apologetic kiss to both Ichigo's nipples, Byakuya raised his head again and smiled as he pulled Ichigo's t-shirt out of the orange-head's mouth. "I am sorry," he said huskily, "I had no intention of letting it go that far. I know that you are just coming on duty." He kissed Ichigo again, but this one was not the sensual onslaught the first one was. "Forgive me."

"Y-yes," Ichigo said. He leaned his forehead against Byakuya's chest and swallowed hard. "Sensei … if you really want to talk with me? We can't do any of that, er … beforehand."

"But of course, after is fine?" Byakuya asked, humor tracing his voice.

Ichigo swallowed. He couldn't argue with that. It wouldn't matter what they talked about, he'd wanted Byakuya Kuchiki for too long. Remember, he reminded himself – you have questions you want answers to. He smiled up at the doctor.

Who looked back at him, eyes piercing. "There now. We will have our talk, soon. Get changed, I will not molest you further." He backed away a step, then turned and went back to his own locker.

Ichigo unlocked his locker with shaking hands. Son of a BITCH. He took a deep shaky breath and heard a quiet chuckle behind him. Changing quickly, he spied on the good doctor in his locker mirror as he dressed in street clothes. "Be careful heading home, sensei," Ichigo said, shutting his locker door.

"Of course. Have a good night, Kurosaki."

The way he said his name! Gawd.

…

Time to get report on the new patient in Ichigo's room. The weekend evening RN, Luppi Antenor, met with Ichigo in the lounge over a cup of coffee. "Hi, Ichi," Luppi said, waving as he saw the other nurse walk in.

Ichigo freshened up his coffee and grabbed an apple cinnamon danish from the lounge stash, then sat down next to Luppi so that they could speak about the new patient in low tones, keeping the HIPAA privacy regulations in mind. He took out a pen and tapped it on the table. Luppi flopped his notebook and a patient chart onto the tabletop and eyed Ichigo's danish.

"Yer gonna get fat as a cow eating shit like that," he muttered, eyes on the sweet enviously.

"Have a bite, shortie," Ichigo said, smiling innocently.

"Fuckin' orange-headed twit," Luppi returned, grouchily.

Ichigo snickered. Luppi, although he looked little and sweet and borderline-angelic, was actually a sarcastic, bad-tempered guy, quick with an arrogant insult when the occasion warranted it. But he was a fantastic nurse with tireless energy, and the patient's families loved him.

"I'm trying to put some weight on," Ichigo said, knowing exactly what was coming.

Luppi gaped. "You … are the meanest prick I've ever met." He couldn't even sit next to that danish without it going straight to his thighs.

"Sorry, sorry!" Ichigo said, grinning.

"Gimme." Luppi leaned forward, his mouth open. "Ahhh …." He took a little tiny nibble when Ichigo lifted the danish to his mouth. "Ohhh … I think I just came in my scrubs." His face was a lesson in ecstacy.

"TMI, dude," Ichigo said. "Whoops," he said, glancing at the clock. "Time's wastin'. Gimme the scoop."

"Wait. First tell me why you look like you do."

"Huh?"

"Flushed. Slightly dewy. Like you just fuckin' came in your scrubs." His face was impish, his tone rakish. Luppi Antenor loved gossip. Ichigo kept that in mind every time he was near the little black-haired nurse.

"Hey … I'm not immune to an apple cinnamon danish," Ichigo said, tapping his pen on the table again.

"Uh-huh. I'll let that go … for now," Luppi said, grinning. He launched into report, checking his notes. "Patient's name is Szayel Aporro Grantz, aged 27, height 6'1", weight 165 pounds, allergic to Penicillin, Sulfa, and Aspirin. Came in to Karakura Gen ER via ambulance three weeks ago, unconscious due to unknown etiology. Here's where it gets ugly: labs showed thyroid hormone levels all over the place, and elevated sodium. Patient's body core body temp was 92.4 degrees Fahrenheit, he displayed lower body edema, and his family said he'd been 'acting strange' and having headaches. Several of the 'strange' episodes sounded a lot like seizures."

"Uh-oh," Ichigo said.

"Yeah. Diagnosis was myxedema coma due to long-term hypothyroidism. He's got the hair loss and skin symptoms, and the family said he'd put on a good 20 pounds over the past few months.

"Damn," Ichigo said. "It's already rare in the first place, but in a young male …."

"Yeah," Luppi said again. "So they did a couple scans and found out he had a pituitary tumor on the anterior lobe. Surgery was performed through the sphenoid sinus, considered successful. They've called in an endocrinologist to try to get his T3 and T4 thyroid hormone levels regulated and back to normal again. So far …" he shrugged.

"What do they think triggered the coma?" Ichigo asked.

"Self-medicating with oxycodone," Luppi said. "For one of his headaches."

Ichigo nodded. That'd do it. "They got a prognosis?"

"Well … I looked into it. It can take a month or longer just to get the thyroid levels regulated again. And the long-term functioning of the pituitary gland is still anybody's guess. So …." Luppi shrugged. Uncertainty came with the territory on 3C.

"How's his heart?" Ichigo asked.

"Hanging in there," Luppi said, showing Ichigo the latest EKG. "Here's the most recent labs, too. See T3? Crazy, huh?"

"Yeah." Ichigo looked them over. "He making urine all right?"

"He's on Lasix for the edema, so he's making plenty. Had an output of 1030 mLs on my shift alone. Next page has the history." He was leaning over, looking over Ichigo's shoulder at the chart. "The swelling in his face and neck has receded a lot, he's not yet got a trach, so he's been intubated since the pituitary surgery. Breathing's good. GI tract's moving okay."

"Good."

"Anyway, they're replacing T3 and T4, the endocrinologist is working it daily. Hopefully …."

"Yeah." Ichigo was still reading.

"Family … well … I'll just let you find that out on your own." Luppi grinned. "It's time for me to get outta here."

"Wait. Who's the doc?"

"Kuchiki."

Ichigo nodded.

"Any more questions, fatty?"

"Yeah … you gonna keep getting uglier or will that finally level out?" Ichigo grinned.

"Ugly! Me? Hah! I'm the cutest thing you've ever seen, asshole, and don't you ever fucking forget it." Luppi stood up and picked up his notebook. Then he grabbed Ichigo's danish and took a huge bite out of it.

"Heh!" Ichigo said, laughing.

"I deserve that, due to the trauma of your 'ugly' remark!" Luppi said, his voice muffled around danish.

Ichigo laughed some more. "Here, take it. Finish it." He held it out.

"Get thee behind me, Satan," Luppi said, and then grinned, waved goodbye, and hurried out of the lounge.

…

"Hello, Shinji," Ichigo said, leaning over the blond man, hand to his cheek. "You are lookin' good tonight … guess Shortie gave you the whole spa treatment." He smiled into Shinji's open eyes. "You know I love you, right?" he added, smiling into those beautiful brown eyes. He put a couple drops of artificial tears in them to keep them from drying out. "I'll be back in a bit, and get your CPM machines set up."

He walked around the tall screen to the next bed. This was not Ulquiorra's bed, this was the one that had been empty for the past month. A soft lamp glowed on the table next to the bed. Ichigo's eyes were immediately drawn to the man's hair: it was pink. A soft, bubble-gum pink. Shoulder-length, wispy, a bit on the brittle side at the moment but that was most likely due to his hormone problems. Ichigo walked up to the side of the bed and leaned over. The man's eyes were closed. "Szayel-san … I'm Ichigo Kurosaki, your nightshift nurse. I'm so sorry you are here." He checked the monitors quickly. Okay so far. "Look at that gorgeous pink hair," he said quietly, then chuckled. "We should start a club. Szayel-san, you and I are going to get along just fine." He brushed a strand of pale pink hair off Szayel's face.

There was a shuffling sound behind him, and Ichigo realized that someone had been sleeping on the couch. He turned and looked as a long muscular arm snaked out to reach for the small lamp on the table next to the couch. "Well … maybe I'll join this hair club, too," said a gruff familiar voice. The light flicked on.

Mr. Sexy Blue Hair from Seireitei. Ichigo felt like he was about to pass out. His mouth hung open and his heart lurched in his chest.

Grimmjow stood up, revealing that he was shirtless, faded blue jeans hanging low on his hips. Ichigo could see two of his favorite things: those angled lines that delineated a buff man's lower abdomen, pointing like a sexy arrow to the male groin. Luscious. Grimmjow stretched, then scuffed over to Szayel's bedside. He looked at Ichigo over the supine unmoving form of the pink-haired male. Ichigo looked back at him, practically paralyzed with surprise.

"He's my brother," Grimmjow said in a low voice.

You're at work. You're a professional. Act like it! Ichigo reprimanded and reminded himself. They didn't look like brothers, but that didn't mean anything. "I see," he said, his voice just as low. "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki, I'll be taking care of your brother during the week, midnights."

"Grimmjow Jaegerjaques," the tall blue-haired man said. He raked a hand through his hair as he looked at Szayel, then he looked back at Ichigo, those incredible blue eyes locked on warm brown ones. "I knew I'd be seein' you again … but I sure didn't think it'd be like this."

Ichigo nodded. "I'm sorry your brother is here. But we'll take very good care of him. Dr. Kuchiki is very very skilled. Your brother's chances of recovery are better here than anywhere else in the country."

"I know. That's why I insisted he be brought here. And I'm glad it's Kuchiki and not Aizen." Grimmjow's lips sneered a bit when he said the doctor's name.

Ichigo forced himself to ignore it and concentrate on his job. He glanced down at Szayel. "How's he been this evening?"

"What do ya mean, how's he been?" Grimmjow practically snarled the words. "Fuckin' look at him!"

"Please keep your voice down," Ichigo said firmly. "We aren't alone here."

"What the fuck? These guys … they're not gonna … coma …." Grimmjow was sputtering.

"My room, my rules. Voices kept down. The unwritten rule in my room is that the assumption is that the patients can hear … whether they can react or not. Understood, Jaegerjaques-san?" Ichigo was proud of his firm but professional tone.

Grimmjow looked at him. He looked at Szayel … and noticed that Ichigo was holding his brother's hand, the other resting on Szayel's forearm comfortingly. "All right," he said finally. "Your rules."

"Arigato," Ichigo said. "Now, I have work to do for your brother. You may stay if you wish, but be advised that I will be talking with him – and Shinji-san - as the evening progresses. You're welcome to return to sleep on the couch, too … up to you, Jaegerjaques-san."

Grimmjow grunted in reply. He returned to the couch and sat down, taking out his phone and pressing buttons. Ichigo let out a silent sigh and turned back to his patient. "That's your brother, huh? The resemblance is amazing, you two could be twins," he said to Szayel, chuckling. He patted his cheek and re-did the tape on his ET tube, using paper tape that would be less irritating to the man's hormone-ravaged skin.

From the couch, Grimmjow watched and listened, his anxiety and fear partially soothed by Ichigo's caring, good-humored manner with Szayel. He spoke once more, as Ichigo finished getting Shinji's passive motion machines set up again. "Why? It's nighttime … why don't you let 'em, well … sleep?"

Ichigo smiled. "When you're in a coma, there is no night and day," he explained. He sat down to chart, picking up his coffee cup and taking a sip.

"You get a break at all?" Grimmjow asked from the shadowy couch.

"Yes … in about a half-hour," Ichigo replied before thinking.

"I'm goin' with ya. And we're gonna talk … away from my brother." That deep slightly-husky voice. Ichigo stopped tapping on the keyboard, turning his head to glance over at the figure on the couch.

Great. Another talk. With another amazing-looking male he wouldn't mind getting to know better. But he was Szayel's brother. Ichigo frowned. Did that mean … he pondered the ethics of wanting to fu— er, get to know your patient's brother better. Shit. He'd have to ask Renji, much as he didn't want to. But if anybody knew about "relationships" with family members, it'd be the redhead.

"Of course, Jaegerjaques-san," he said out loud. "We can go get a cup of coffee."

XXX

End Chapter 4

Thanks for reading! Finally putting things in motion here. Hope you enjoyed!

More soon! XD

Ahvienda