Nurse reader part 2.
@thyrisblog
Big blue eyes are peering at you with the saddest look you’ve seen on Johnnys face since he’s been in your care.
“Please?” His voice cracks.
“Jus’ make sure he did’nt run off no where…”
Your chest tightens, you hated when a patient pleaded with you.
Hated it because it always worked.
Your little heart just couldn’t take it.
“Of course,” you reply quietly.
“I’ll find him, you just try and relax.”
Johnny nods, soft. Like if he moves too much he’ll fall apart.
Your focus moves to the man beside Johnny.
Dark clothes, heavy boots, wide shoulders.
He keeps his attention on Johnny like you’re not in the room at all.
“If either of you need anything, don’t hesitate.” You point to the blue button to Johnnys left.
“It’ll ring me.” You chime.
Johnnys gaze follows your finger. He nods, in that way of saying thank you without being able to trust his own voice.
You give him one last look of reassurance before turning to leave.
…
You only make it a few steps out when your eyes land on your target.
John Price.
He’s standing at the vending machine, looking all too puzzled by the snacks held hostage by glass and metal.
Glaring at them like they have answers.
He stands there a long time, searching for something no machine could give him.
“Mr Price?”
It’s meant to be soft, careful.
It sounds wrong.
He doesn’t look at you.
Not right away, like you’re a reminder of all he’s done.
You continue anyway.
“Johnny wanted me to come find you.”
His jaw works.
“Did he?”
He questions, slowly turning to look at you.
His arms crossed over his chest. Shoulders all too tight.
“He cares about you.”
You smile, the words coming out easily.
Something shifts in his expression, small.
Like you struck a nerve.
Price shifts on his feet. Plunging his hands in his pockets like he was looking for something to hold onto.
His eyes flick down to his boots.
“He… shouldn’t.”
His words come out low. Painful to admit.
You take a step closer before you can stop yourself.
“John.”
The name hangs in the space between, sounding almost too personal.
Then his eyes meet yours.
And you see it.
Not anger.
Fear.
The kind that sits in someone’s chest and grows roots.
The kind that becomes a part of you.
“I know what grief looks like, I work with it everyday. But, I’ll remind you.”
You smile so kindly, his chest aches.
“your friend is alive.”
His eyes find yours but he isn’t really looking at you.
Looking through you.
You smile up at him nonetheless.
“Stop living in a reality where he isn’t.”
Price snaps out of his daze.
He finds you, eyes widening like you just appeared.
Then down at your scrubs, like that can remind him of your position.
Then back up.
“You weren’t there.”
Low.
But under it, there’s something else.
“If I was… faster, if I didn’t—“
His breath catches.
Price looks around again, shaking his head like there’s something he just can’t get over.
“He shouldn’t be here…”
Now you pause. Taking a breath.
“He survived.”
You remind him gently.
“That’s all that matters.”
Price looks away, fast. Too fast.
“And he needs you…”
You add more quietly.
“Not this version of you who’s already said goodbye.”
You press your lips to a line, a small frown tugging at them down.
He speaks again before you get to.
“You don’t get it.”
You shake your head softly. Taking another step closer.
“No. Maybe not all of it.”
You pause, your throat feeling tight.
“You need to talk to Johnny. I mean it, he needs you.”
You breathe out. Your eyes moving up to Price.
You turn, ready to move away allowing him to make his own decision—
His eyes find you.
Your lilac scrubs.
His mouth opens, words trying to work when he finally blurts out.
“Wait.”
You stop in your tracks.
Footsteps approach you from behind, heavy and unhurried.
Price moves closer to you, enough you can feel the warmth radiating off of him.
“Walk with me?”
It’s quiet, softer than before.
A hint of regret in his blue eyes.
You glance up at him, giving him a small graceful smile.
His expression is hard but his eyes are anything but.
“Yeah.”
You move to his side at a respectable distance.
You barely catch it, the movement so small.
But Price moves angling his body just slightly, like a shield for you down the halls. Making sure no one bumps into you, like it’s instinct.
Even when he’s falling apart, he knows how to do one thing.
Protect.
It makes something warm tug in your chest. You can’t help the small smile that slips onto your face.
He looks down at you, catching it.
His brows furrow.
Like he doesn’t understand why you’re smiling at all.
You can see the gears turning in his head.
Hesitation in his eyes.
“Captain?”
You offer.
It’s the first time you’ve said it outloud.
The title feels right.
His voice is rough when he answers.
“I don’t know what to say.. to him.”
The words are quiet.
But heavy with the guilt of someone who’s planned a hundred goodbyes in his head.
You stop near Johnnys door.
You look at Price, giving him your full attention.
“You apologize, first.”
You look up at him.
“For walking out, for leaving.”
He shifts.
You continue softer.
“Then.. just talk. About the weather, about the shitty hospital food... anything.” You pause. “Just be yourself.”
Price stares at you like he doesn’t know how to do any of that.
“Go back in there.” You encourage. Pushing the air towards him in gesture.
His hand hesitates before it lands on the door.
His grip tightening.
Knuckles white around the handle.
“You can do this.”
He nods.
Stepping inside.
The door shuts behind him with a click.
You watch the door, waiting for something to happen.
Nothing does.
You force yourself to turn away.
Moving to the nurse station, you take the clipboard with shaky hands.
Your attention being pulled back to the door.
You can hear muffled voices, no shouting, just low chatter.
…
Hours later, you return before your shift ends.
Knocking softly on the wooden door.
You get no response but you need to do final checks before you go home.
You walk inside carefully.
The only sounds of the room being the shuffling of your scrubs and the soft beeping of Johnnys heart monitor.
You find Price sitting at Johnnys side.
The only other person in the room.
He looks exhausted.
Deep bags under his eyes.
His face tilts up to look at you.
“Everything okay?”
You whisper, thinking you won’t get much a response as you check Johnnys arm.
“Yeah— tired.”
You nod.
“You can sleep.. you know.”
“Can’t.”
Short.
His arms cross over his chest.
Looking at anything but you.
You move past Johnnys bed and sit next to price without invitation.
He stiffens.
“You gonna keep punishing yourself?”
You ask, knowing your pushing.
You shouldn’t even be here.
You’re still on the clock, going into overtime with every second that passes.
Still you stay, even when price hesitates to answer.
His focus stays on Johnny. Watching the subtle rise and fall of his chest.
“He’s.. like m’boy.”
Your chest tightens at his tone.
His voice dropping.
“And.. I made him feel..”
He trails off gesturing to Johnny who lays peaceful.
His hand drops to his knee, slapping without humor.
He laughs dry and weak, leaning his head back until he’s staring at the ceiling.
You swear you see wetness forcing in his lash line.
“I.. coulda lost him..”
You stay quiet as a tear rolls down his cheek.
He wipes it quicker than it fell.
“I’m a mess.”
He exhales.
Finally you move, your hand finding his arm. A small smile drawn on your lips.
“You were scared.”
He looks over at you, face contorted, warring with himself.
“And that’s okay.. you almost lost someone close to you,” you pull your hand back, gesturing to Johnny.
“But.. he’s still here—“
“I know.”
He cuts in.
You sigh.
Instead of replying you stand up, grabbing an extra blanket from the cabinet a few paces away.
You return to price, holding it out like an offering.
“Get some sleep… you need it.”
His hand twitches at his side before he reaches for the blue blanket.
He swallows, looking down at the fabric like it’s something more.
“Thanks…”
You nod.
You hesitate before you take a step back.
Pausing at the door again.
“Price..”
You know you shouldn’t…
The words leave you despite your professional judgment.
“Everything will be okay.”
The door shuts softly behind you.
Price sits with Johnny a while longer, just watching him.
Replaying your words in his head before he pulls the blanket over his legs.
Leaning back in the chair.
“Everything will be alright.. Johnny.”
He repeats.
Reaching for Johnnys rough hand.
Giving it a single squeeze, letting go before he holds on too tightly.
Johnnys lip quirks, his eyes still closed.
Price catches it.
“Told ya… they’n Angel..”
AN: love love love this shit. Hope you do too <3
