The Uke Flu
Chapter Twenty Two: Tripped
The first thing that Hiroki saw when he opened his eyes was Nowaki's handsome face. His giant usually amiable countenance, however, looked terribly concerned.
"Hiro-san, are you alright?"
Nowaki gently stroked his forehead. Hiroki's first thought was that he would very much like to close his eyes and drift back off to unconsciousness beneath this warm hand. But then a word intruded and changed everything
TWINS!
Hiroki batted Nowaki's hand away and suddenly realized that somehow he had replaced his partner on the ultrasound table. Not long after he'd fainted, Nowaki and Kimura had lifted him up on to the cushioned surface so the he would be more comfortable.
"I'm fine!" Hiroki tried to sit up, only to have to stop halfway up, as vertigo threatened to overwhelm him. He closed his eyes against the spin. "Nowaki, you should be the one laying down resting, not me."
"Oh, I'm good, Hiro-san. It's you I am worried about at the moment."
Hiroki dizzily squinted at Nowaki who was now standing before him, completely dressed again. Nowaki offered him a reassuring smile though the young doctor's eyes actually looked themselves a quite a bit dazed.
TWINS!
It was a lot to take in.
"Let me go get you some water, Kamijou-san." Kimura quietly left the room.
"Where's Dr. Suzuki?" Hiroki put a still shaky hand to his temple. By the gods my head aches.
"He went to get you a cold pack for your head, Hiro-san. You knocked it pretty hard when you fainted."
"I did not faint!" Hiroki barked. That would be just too humiliating.
"Oh?"
"I tripped."
"Standing still?" A new smile curled the corners of Nowaki's mouth.
"Stop being so cheeky, Brat!"
Hiroki grimaced and pushed himself up further. Looking Nowaki, now he could fully open his eyes again, he was suddenly concerned. The man looked pale.
"Nowaki, are you really okay? I can move over so you can sit down."
Normally, Nowaki would have remained standing, but he was really feeling pretty tired. And he was sure if he hadn't already been lying down when they received the news, he might have "tripped" himself. He nodded in acceptance of Hiro-san's offer.
Hiroki swung his legs off with a groan and finally pulled himself completely upright. Nowaki came and sat down next to him, he took his partner's hand in his and they sat quietly side by side, not looking at each other.
TWINS!
After a few minutes, the silence was broken; Dr. Suzuki, scurried in. "Ah, Kamijou-san, you have returned to us, I see. How are you feeling?"
"A bit dizzy but fine. My head hurts like hell though."
"Well, that was quite a nasty knock you had when you fainted."
"Tripped." Nowaki corrected, smiling slightly again.
"Oh?..." Looking between the two men Dr. Suzuki suddenly understood. "Oh…. Yes, yes, of course. Please, excuse me, Kamijou-san." His eyes sparked with amusement; he did like this couple.
Dr. Suzuki gave Hiroki the pack. "Now, bear with me just a moment here, I need to check and make sure you didn't get a concussion when you fell."
Hiroki gratefully accepted the icepack and put it on the tender knot that was rapidly growing on the back of his head. He submitted quietly to the doctor's examination.
Satisfied, Dr, Suzuki clapped his hands together.
"Well, Kamijou-san, it doesn't seem that you have a concussion, or if you do it is very mild. Fortunately, when you leave here you will be in the capable hands of your own good Doctor." Stepping back, Dr. Suzuki regarded the couple intently for a moment. "Do you gentlemen mind if I ask you a personal question?"
Hiroki immediately looked at the Physician suspiciously, but Nowaki nodded.
"Have you told anybody about your situation yet?"
"No," Nowaki answered slowly. "We wanted a chance to adjust to the news a bit and make sure that everything really seemed to be going okay before we told anyone." Hiroki nodded in agreement.
"Well, if I might, Kusama-san, Kamijou-san," Suzuki hesitated. "I have been giving your case quite a bit of thought since I first saw you Kusama-san. I must say I am quite relieved by your news. You see, given the specifics of your particular pregnancy, especially now as multiple births with the flu are also relatively uncommon, I suggest that you continue to keep it quiet for a bit.
"I mean, if word gets out, it's bound to cause a stir. I am not sure if a media frenzy would be in the best interest of your health right now and, as the amounts of the vaccine are currently somewhat limited, we don't want to cause a run on the supply available to ukes that a seme panic might cause.
"In the meantime, I've been in contact with a number of my colleagues and I am checking into whether or not there have been any other similar situations reported elsewhere."
Hiroki and Nowaki considered the significance of Dr. Suzuki's concerns. They'd had a small taste of media attention when Nowaki had made the initial diagnosis for Misaki and word had gotten out about the young man's condition.
Neither of them had cared for the intrusion into their carefully constructed life or the visibility that it had brought. Both had been quite relieved when the timer on Nowaki's fifteen minutes of fame expired and that honor had been passed on to the specialists who ended up treating Misaki for the term of his Flu pregnancy. Neither had any desire to relive that experience either. Hiroki and Nowaki looked at each other and then nodded in agreement towards Dr. Suzuki.
"Splendid," the physician exclaimed. "Then, Kusama-san, I'd like to suggest that we move your visits, for the time being, to my private practice. The receptionist can make the appointment and give you all the necessary directions, etc."
Then Dr. Suzuki looked at Hiroki. "Unfortunately, Kamijou-san, I am afraid that with you 'tripping' like that, I'm not comfortable assisting you today with that other matter we discussed. I suggest you wait a day or two, just to be safe and then come back in." Suzuki smiled benignly.
"I'll plan to see you in a few weeks then, Kusama-san." With that Dr. Suzuki offered the couple a quick bow and dismissed himself.
Nowaki turned to Hiroki. "What 'other matter' was Sensei referring to, Hiro-san?" His expression was once again worried. "Are you okay?"
Hiroki had the sudden urge to move the icepack from the knot on his head and use it to cool the heat in his face. Looking at Nowaki, he was overwhelmed by the urge to be honest.
"Errmm, Nowaki… I asked Dr. Suzuki when I was out in the hall with him, if he would give me the "Uke Flu" vaccine today before we left."
Confusion spread over Nowaki's face at this disclosure. "What do you mean, Hiro-san? Why would you need to get the shot twice? Once is more than enough."
"Well, you see, Nowaki… I,uh… I never got the vaccine the first time." Hiroki said this softly, looking away. He turned back after he confessed and found himself suddenly very nervous about the change of expression in Nowaki's eyes.
"I mean I came here, like I planned," Hiroki added quickly, growing flustered. "When I had the appointment originally and they had everything ready… But… then I didn't get it."
Nowaki dropped his eyes. Hiroki's admission started a confusing mix of emotions to begin swirling inside him.
Nowaki remembered their fight the day Hiro-san had left to get the vaccine. He had been heartbroken by his partner's decision and the man had known this. Nowaki couldn't believe that Hiro-san hadn't told him.
"Why, Hiro-san? That was almost a month ago." His usually light voice was heavy. "You've been keeping this from me this entire time?" He remembered Hiroki's reaction when he first told him about his condition, how he had been accused of withholding the truth about his pregnancy.
"You make it sound like a big deal, Nowaki." Hiroki started to get defensive. "I didn't tell you because I just figured I'd go back and get it later, and I didn't want you getting all emotional about it. Besides nothing has changed, this was really essentially the same thing; I'm still getting the shot, just at a different time. Things have just been so crazy lately I didn't have a chance to get back to it, yet."
"But a whole month, Hiro-san? We haven't been using any protection, what if you had the flu too and we both got pregnant? Do you want three babies?" The news of the twins had made a bigger impact on Nowaki than he'd initially thought and this coupled with Hiro-san's deception really jarred him.
Hiroki was about to snap that he still wasn't sure how he felt about even one, but stopped himself. Instead he chided Nowaki. "Come on, that's ridiculous. If I had the flu, I think I'd know. I'm not an idiot."
Nowaki's expression darkened considerably, again he remembered their earlier argument. "So, what you said the other day was true. Hiro-san. Just because I didn't figure it out right away you really do think I'm an idiot."
Oh, shit! Hiroki grimaced at his ill-chosen words. "No, Nowaki, I'm sorry. That's not what I meant at all. You have to know that."
Nowaki didn't say anything but the hurt was still apparent in his deep blue eyes.
"Nowaki."
"Hiro-san, I have a lot of thoughts in my head right now…" Nowaki struggled to keep himself together. "I… I don't want to talk about this here. I just want to go home and lay down… I need some time to think."
Hiroki did not want to have a scene there, in the examination room, and it was obvious that Nowaki was very distraught.
"How about if I call a taxi so that we don't have to take the train home?" He offered both as another attempt at an apology and as a gauge, trying to ascertain how angry Nowaki really was with him.
"Fine." Nowaki frowned. "You call. I'll go talk to the receptionist." He got up off the table and shuffled out without looking back.
Hiroki frowned himself as he watched the man head out the door. .
Nowaki hadn't made any protest about not taking the train. He didn't tell him he was fine, tell him they didn't need to spend the extra money, or that it would take four times as long to get back across the city in a cab. Hiroki knew by this response, or lack thereof, that his giant was really upset.
He got out his phone and called for a cab. Before anyone picked up on the other end Hiroki shifted the icepack, the ache in his head had suddenly just gotten worse.
New AN:
Thank you everyone for the thoughtful feedback. your comments, critiques (and of course compliments) are always appreciated! A little under the weather today, so I have been lying low and getting this stuff back up.
Warning...Angst ahead.
Alcuzey, I see you made it over here and have gotten this far. So it can't be too terrible.
Lionfish13, you're hilarious. I promise, K&K's kids will be much cuter than any alien... even an ewok.
Roocie, glad you're happy with the twins... should I tell the Egoist's you're available for babysitting?
FujoshiNinjaNumber6, Don't think it's happiness Hiroki is feeling... BTW, slick MPREG senses.
Barettachante, Koi, thank you so much. Always love to hear from you and glad it meets your approval. Yeah, I agonized over it for days, in part because I just couldn't stomach the idea of a rectal birth. YOWCH! Bellybutton struck me as so much more civilized.
Silent Stare, Twins indeed. Taking one for the team, our dear Nowaki is (oops... suddenly went into Yoda mode there). I do believe there will be more Romantica glimpses in up ahead in a bit. Got to get Days Without Sun done so I can start the squeequel: Misaki's Uke Flu adventure.
Clobojojo- again, thanks for the reviews. Look out for a Sex/Love Pistols cameo at some point BTW.
Thanks for all the reviews. They make my day like nobody's business.