The Clinic [Chapter 12]
Title: The Clinic (I wish the title was more snazzy)
Chapter: 12/14
Pairing: Junsu/Zhang Liyin, Yunjae
Characters: DBSK, ZLY, some SJ & SNSD, Junho
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, hospital!AU
Summary: A hospital AU in which Junsu is an obstetrician who gradually falls in love with his nurse Liyin. Meanwhile his anaesthetist Jaejoong struggles with his one-sided love for the paediatrician Yunho. With a little help from Yoochun and Changmin, will they manage to sort out the misunderstandings between them?
A/N: This was the first fic I ever wrote, and it's based on my actual observations of a OB/GYN clinic in a hospital medical centre, so hopefully it's pretty accurate.
Chapter 12
“WHAT?” Junsu’s voice went all high-pitched and squeaky as Changmin merely continued eating his kimchi jigae.
Junsu calmed himself down a little, gripping the sides of his chair tightly. “I’m sorry, but why on earth would you think that Liyin-ssi would be considering working for the hospital? I am her employer!”
Changmin put down his spoon for a moment. “Because unlike you guys, I actually work for the hospital, and I listen out for this kind of thing. Besides, Tiffany mentioned it to me, and you know she knows all the inside info, with all those friends in the administration.”
Junsu shook his head firmly. “I don’t believe she would just leave to become…what would she become? A nurse in the delivery suite? Day surgery? Or the operating theatre?”
“She could work in any of those areas, and you know it. Donghae says the theatre needs more staff anyway. And for all you know, they might be willing to offer her more than what you’re paying her now. As for working hours, the shifts are open to negotiation and swapping occasionally.”
Changmin almost felt sorry for his friend, who looked utterly at a loss for words. He leaned back in his chair, the picture of nonchalance. “I know she’s a good nurse, but you can always find someone else. There actually are many nurses in the hospital side who might like a change in environment.”
The other doctor shook his head emphatically. “I don’t want to get anyone else!”
Changmin sighed deeply, as if Junsu was being particularly slow. “Why do you care so much? It’s not that inconvenient to find a new-”
“I- I care!” He sputtered out incoherently. “I need her more than the hospital does…” He trailed off lamely, and the younger doctor stared intensely at him.
“What does she mean to you, hyung?”
When Junsu didn’t answer, Changmin decided to ask him a different question. “Let me put it this way. The hospital can pay her more, let her expand her social circle, and gain new experiences that she can’t at your clinic. Why would she want to stay?”
Junsu remained silent as he asked himself that very question. Seeing how he appeared to be losing any confidence he previously had, Changmin quickly dropped the accusing voice and reached over to grab his hand. Junsu looked up at his friend in agony, and Changmin’s heart softened, as did his tone.
“Give her a reason to stay.”
--
As the half-conscious patient was wheeled out of the operating theatre, Jaejoong bowed quickly to the nurses before exiting the theatre room, tearing the surgical mask off.
Yoochun hurried after him, catching up to him despite the long strides Jaejoong was taking. “Hey, wait up, what’s the hurry?”
Jaejoong smiled briefly before continuing at his earlier pace. “Sorry, I have another case to handle now. I told you about the LSCS right after this operation in Theatre 12, remember?”
Yoochun mentally cursed himself for forgetting. “What about after that?”
Jaejoong thought for a while. “Then I have another one in Theatre 8. I remember being rather busy today, so I don’t have time to talk until after the last one, at 5.30.”
Yoochun frowned at him. “I don’t remember you ever having taken so many cases on in one day alone. Why don’t you take a break?”
But the other doctor didn’t seem to have heard the question, and continued on his way to the other theatre, lifting a hand to say goodbye before he disappeared into the room.
--
Go Ara looked up to see Yoochun standing at the counter expectantly. “Oh, Dr. Park, do you need something? Dr. Kim’s invoice for this morning’s operation will be sent to the patient, if you’re wondering about that.”
Yoochun smiled in thanks at her efficiency. “Actually, I was looking for him, is he in now?”
She shook her head. “He’s at…” She returned to her computer screen, which from what Yoochun could see, looked like a table utterly crammed with text. “He’s doing an operation now that started at 11.30am, and ought to end by 1.30pm latest.”
Yoochun glanced at his wristwatch. “Well, then he ought to be back in half an hour or so, right? I don’t mind coming back again.”
But Ara scrolled down the screen and looked at him. “He’s got another operation scheduled for 2pm, so I don’t think he’ll be coming back. He still needs that half hour in between to fill out the paperwork.”
He leaned over the counter to peer at the screen. “Is that his schedule of operations?” Ara scrolled back up and down to show him Jaejoong’s schedule for the previous few days, each day looking as jam-packed full of operations as the next.
“Wait. Are you saying that this is his normal schedule? That’s like six or seven a day! How can there be that many operations for him to be doing, considering the number of anaesthetists in this building?”
Ara looked a little taken aback at his outburst. “Well, it wasn’t always this busy, he only began gradually taking up more cases since November, and then suddenly increased them at around Christmas. And he offered to cover for another two doctors who weren’t going to be in the country during this period, so that’s why his schedule looks like this.”
Yoochun still had a disbelieving look on his face, and Ara continued. “So he’s been doing operations for a lot more doctors he didn’t work with before, and so they’re more inclined to ask him to do the anaesthesia if their regular anaesthetists aren’t free.”
And it’s also because Jaejoong’s damn good at his job, no doubt, Yoochun thought darkly.
“Added to the fact that he does almost all the cases for Dr. Kim Junsu and Dr. Kim Jongwoon, he’s practically living in the theatre.” She didn’t sound too happy about it.
“Does he get his regular meals?”
At that, Ara sighed and a worried expression formed on her face. “He often works through the lunch period, and sometimes takes cases close to dinner time as well. I tried offering to buy him lunch and delivering it to him, but he said he didn’t want to trouble me…”
So Jaejoong was working himself to the bone and not even eating properly. It was worse than he’d imagined. “Do you perhaps know why he’s been so immersed in work these past two months or so? Surely he doesn’t need the money.”
Ara looked even more uncomfortable. “Certainly not, Dr. Park. Even though he jokes that he’s getting richer by the day, I think there must be some other reason for his sudden…enthusiasm for work. It’s like it’s become his life now.”
Yoochun looked back at the computer screen again. “Then can you tell me what time his last case is?”
She looked closer, and compared it to the written schedule beside her. “He took on a last-minute case just now, scheduled for 6pm. I think it’s a possible emergency caesarean.”
Looking at his face, she added, “Maybe you could talk to him right after that. I don’t think it’s very likely for someone else to suddenly ask for him again today.”
Yoochun nodded grimly and thanked her, before striding out of the clinic determinedly.
--
“You actually told him that?” Changmin nodded smugly at Yoochun, who clapped his hands approvingly. “Good way to egg him on. But won’t it all be for nothing if he goes and asks her, and she denies everything?”
“I think that by the time they realise it was a plot by us, he’ll be forced to explain himself, and hopefully they’ll confess to each other and live happily ever after.”
Yoochun raised an eyebrow. “You’re secretly a romantic at heart, aren’t you?”
The younger man punched him hard on the shoulder. “Don’t be ridiculous. Anyway, what headway have you made with Yunjae?”
Yoochun’s smile vanished and he lowered his voice. “Jaejoong’s been overworking himself the past month. I think it got worse after Yunho asked Stephanie out, and he’s not even eating properly anymore.”
Changmin whistled. “What a way to start the year. So that’s why we haven’t been really eating out together much these days.”
Then someone called his name, and they both turned to see a cross-looking man heading towards them. “Dr. Shim, shouldn’t you be on duty now?”
Changmin looked at his watch, and shook his head. “I’m not on for another 20 minutes.”
Yoochun grinned cheekily. “Sorry for stealing your best MO, Youngwoon-hyung, but we’ve got stuff to discuss.”
Youngwoon slapped Yoochun on the back, and the doctor choked, jerking forward from the impact. “Good to see you too, Dr. Park. Anyway, don’t be late, Dr. Shim, or I’ll have your head for it.”
Changmin scowled at Youngwoon’s back as the older man walked off. “I’m never late; I don’t know why he keeps saying that.”
“Keeps you on your toes, kiddo. And that’s why you’re the best they’ve got here.” Even though his tone was light, Yoochun meant it. The A&E was occasionally understaffed, and they were lucky to have Changmin there as an MO, with his precision and efficiency.
“I’ll be going to the OT now to catch Jaejoong before he manages to land himself another case. See you.”
Changmin nodded, clasping the older doctor’s hand before they parted.
--
Yoochun was getting rather annoyed at how Jaejoong kept plying him with questions about himself, managing to turn around all of Yoochun’s careful queries about him to something about the other doctor instead. After telling Jaejoong just what funny thing Changmin had said the other day, he decided he’d get straight to the point.
“I hear you’ve been taking more and more cases on, until your entire day is full. What’s with this sudden enthusiasm for work?”
Jaejoong smiled. “Are you suggesting that I wasn’t enthusiastic about my job in the first place? I’m just trying to make more use of my time.”
Yoochun leant over the table. “Making more use of your time isn’t the same as putting your cases back-to-back so that you barely even have time to eat.”
His serious tone made Jaejoong’s smile falter slightly. “Don’t worry, I know how much I can take before I collapse and Changmin has to see me at the A&E.”
Yoochun took a sip from his glass. “Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you, or do I have to beat it out of you?”
“Look, nothing’s wrong with me, Yoochunnie. I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’m really fine, and I’m not overworked.” Jaejoong looked at him sincerely, grasping his hand lightly, but
Yoochun’s face only grew grimmer. “Hyung, I know you better than you think. It’s about Yunho-hyung, isn’t it?”
Jaejoong refused to look at him, shaking his head stubbornly. “There’s nothing wrong between Yunho and I, okay? We’re friends; the whole I-liked-him thing is over and done with.”
Yoochun sighed. “If it was really over, you wouldn’t be acting like this just because he asked some girl out.” He said it as gently as possible, and Jaejoong looked startled at his friend’s perception. “Did you know she rejected him?”
If possible, Jaejoong’s eyes widened even further. “She rejected him? Is she crazy? He’s perfect!” He couldn’t help but exclaim, and Yoochun nodded seriously.
“And do you know why?”
Jaejoong took a sip of his soju. “I…I don’t really see how it’s any of my business. It’s her preference.”
Yoochun felt like screaming at Jaejoong’s pretence of indifference, and looked at his watch. “Well, it’s getting late; I’d better be heading home.” Tossing a couple of bills onto the bar counter, he slid off the chair and put his coat on.
Just before he walked off, he turned around to face the other man. “It won’t hurt to just ask her. She’d tell you why.”
Jaejoong could only stare at the other man’s retreating back, knuckles whitening as his hand tightened around the glass.
Notes:
1. even though infectious disease specialists don't generally perform surgery, the idea is that the patient is one of Yoochun's who was referred to someone else for surgery, and Jaejoong was the anaesthetist.
2. I have no idea how the workings of nurses in hospitals are, this is all made up. Changmin's lying, anyway.
3. I'm pretty sure Ara oughtn't be showing Jaejoong's schedule to Yoochun, but let's just assume it's because they're such great friends, and she's concerned for Jaejoong too.
4. the "potential emergency caesarean" refers to the kind which is undertaken when the mother is supposed to deliver the child naturally but it takes too long for dilation or other problems, and the obstetrician advises a C-section instead.
Hope I haven't been too medically inaccurate! Please leave your thoughts and comments! btw, I especially like people quoting a part they liked and then commenting on it. just in case you'd like to make me happy by commenting but don't know what to say :D
Chapter: 12/14
Pairing: Junsu/Zhang Liyin, Yunjae
Characters: DBSK, ZLY, some SJ & SNSD, Junho
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, hospital!AU
Summary: A hospital AU in which Junsu is an obstetrician who gradually falls in love with his nurse Liyin. Meanwhile his anaesthetist Jaejoong struggles with his one-sided love for the paediatrician Yunho. With a little help from Yoochun and Changmin, will they manage to sort out the misunderstandings between them?
A/N: This was the first fic I ever wrote, and it's based on my actual observations of a OB/GYN clinic in a hospital medical centre, so hopefully it's pretty accurate.
Chapter 12
“WHAT?” Junsu’s voice went all high-pitched and squeaky as Changmin merely continued eating his kimchi jigae.
Junsu calmed himself down a little, gripping the sides of his chair tightly. “I’m sorry, but why on earth would you think that Liyin-ssi would be considering working for the hospital? I am her employer!”
Changmin put down his spoon for a moment. “Because unlike you guys, I actually work for the hospital, and I listen out for this kind of thing. Besides, Tiffany mentioned it to me, and you know she knows all the inside info, with all those friends in the administration.”
Junsu shook his head firmly. “I don’t believe she would just leave to become…what would she become? A nurse in the delivery suite? Day surgery? Or the operating theatre?”
“She could work in any of those areas, and you know it. Donghae says the theatre needs more staff anyway. And for all you know, they might be willing to offer her more than what you’re paying her now. As for working hours, the shifts are open to negotiation and swapping occasionally.”
Changmin almost felt sorry for his friend, who looked utterly at a loss for words. He leaned back in his chair, the picture of nonchalance. “I know she’s a good nurse, but you can always find someone else. There actually are many nurses in the hospital side who might like a change in environment.”
The other doctor shook his head emphatically. “I don’t want to get anyone else!”
Changmin sighed deeply, as if Junsu was being particularly slow. “Why do you care so much? It’s not that inconvenient to find a new-”
“I- I care!” He sputtered out incoherently. “I need her more than the hospital does…” He trailed off lamely, and the younger doctor stared intensely at him.
“What does she mean to you, hyung?”
When Junsu didn’t answer, Changmin decided to ask him a different question. “Let me put it this way. The hospital can pay her more, let her expand her social circle, and gain new experiences that she can’t at your clinic. Why would she want to stay?”
Junsu remained silent as he asked himself that very question. Seeing how he appeared to be losing any confidence he previously had, Changmin quickly dropped the accusing voice and reached over to grab his hand. Junsu looked up at his friend in agony, and Changmin’s heart softened, as did his tone.
“Give her a reason to stay.”
--
As the half-conscious patient was wheeled out of the operating theatre, Jaejoong bowed quickly to the nurses before exiting the theatre room, tearing the surgical mask off.
Yoochun hurried after him, catching up to him despite the long strides Jaejoong was taking. “Hey, wait up, what’s the hurry?”
Jaejoong smiled briefly before continuing at his earlier pace. “Sorry, I have another case to handle now. I told you about the LSCS right after this operation in Theatre 12, remember?”
Yoochun mentally cursed himself for forgetting. “What about after that?”
Jaejoong thought for a while. “Then I have another one in Theatre 8. I remember being rather busy today, so I don’t have time to talk until after the last one, at 5.30.”
Yoochun frowned at him. “I don’t remember you ever having taken so many cases on in one day alone. Why don’t you take a break?”
But the other doctor didn’t seem to have heard the question, and continued on his way to the other theatre, lifting a hand to say goodbye before he disappeared into the room.
--
Go Ara looked up to see Yoochun standing at the counter expectantly. “Oh, Dr. Park, do you need something? Dr. Kim’s invoice for this morning’s operation will be sent to the patient, if you’re wondering about that.”
Yoochun smiled in thanks at her efficiency. “Actually, I was looking for him, is he in now?”
She shook her head. “He’s at…” She returned to her computer screen, which from what Yoochun could see, looked like a table utterly crammed with text. “He’s doing an operation now that started at 11.30am, and ought to end by 1.30pm latest.”
Yoochun glanced at his wristwatch. “Well, then he ought to be back in half an hour or so, right? I don’t mind coming back again.”
But Ara scrolled down the screen and looked at him. “He’s got another operation scheduled for 2pm, so I don’t think he’ll be coming back. He still needs that half hour in between to fill out the paperwork.”
He leaned over the counter to peer at the screen. “Is that his schedule of operations?” Ara scrolled back up and down to show him Jaejoong’s schedule for the previous few days, each day looking as jam-packed full of operations as the next.
“Wait. Are you saying that this is his normal schedule? That’s like six or seven a day! How can there be that many operations for him to be doing, considering the number of anaesthetists in this building?”
Ara looked a little taken aback at his outburst. “Well, it wasn’t always this busy, he only began gradually taking up more cases since November, and then suddenly increased them at around Christmas. And he offered to cover for another two doctors who weren’t going to be in the country during this period, so that’s why his schedule looks like this.”
Yoochun still had a disbelieving look on his face, and Ara continued. “So he’s been doing operations for a lot more doctors he didn’t work with before, and so they’re more inclined to ask him to do the anaesthesia if their regular anaesthetists aren’t free.”
And it’s also because Jaejoong’s damn good at his job, no doubt, Yoochun thought darkly.
“Added to the fact that he does almost all the cases for Dr. Kim Junsu and Dr. Kim Jongwoon, he’s practically living in the theatre.” She didn’t sound too happy about it.
“Does he get his regular meals?”
At that, Ara sighed and a worried expression formed on her face. “He often works through the lunch period, and sometimes takes cases close to dinner time as well. I tried offering to buy him lunch and delivering it to him, but he said he didn’t want to trouble me…”
So Jaejoong was working himself to the bone and not even eating properly. It was worse than he’d imagined. “Do you perhaps know why he’s been so immersed in work these past two months or so? Surely he doesn’t need the money.”
Ara looked even more uncomfortable. “Certainly not, Dr. Park. Even though he jokes that he’s getting richer by the day, I think there must be some other reason for his sudden…enthusiasm for work. It’s like it’s become his life now.”
Yoochun looked back at the computer screen again. “Then can you tell me what time his last case is?”
She looked closer, and compared it to the written schedule beside her. “He took on a last-minute case just now, scheduled for 6pm. I think it’s a possible emergency caesarean.”
Looking at his face, she added, “Maybe you could talk to him right after that. I don’t think it’s very likely for someone else to suddenly ask for him again today.”
Yoochun nodded grimly and thanked her, before striding out of the clinic determinedly.
--
“You actually told him that?” Changmin nodded smugly at Yoochun, who clapped his hands approvingly. “Good way to egg him on. But won’t it all be for nothing if he goes and asks her, and she denies everything?”
“I think that by the time they realise it was a plot by us, he’ll be forced to explain himself, and hopefully they’ll confess to each other and live happily ever after.”
Yoochun raised an eyebrow. “You’re secretly a romantic at heart, aren’t you?”
The younger man punched him hard on the shoulder. “Don’t be ridiculous. Anyway, what headway have you made with Yunjae?”
Yoochun’s smile vanished and he lowered his voice. “Jaejoong’s been overworking himself the past month. I think it got worse after Yunho asked Stephanie out, and he’s not even eating properly anymore.”
Changmin whistled. “What a way to start the year. So that’s why we haven’t been really eating out together much these days.”
Then someone called his name, and they both turned to see a cross-looking man heading towards them. “Dr. Shim, shouldn’t you be on duty now?”
Changmin looked at his watch, and shook his head. “I’m not on for another 20 minutes.”
Yoochun grinned cheekily. “Sorry for stealing your best MO, Youngwoon-hyung, but we’ve got stuff to discuss.”
Youngwoon slapped Yoochun on the back, and the doctor choked, jerking forward from the impact. “Good to see you too, Dr. Park. Anyway, don’t be late, Dr. Shim, or I’ll have your head for it.”
Changmin scowled at Youngwoon’s back as the older man walked off. “I’m never late; I don’t know why he keeps saying that.”
“Keeps you on your toes, kiddo. And that’s why you’re the best they’ve got here.” Even though his tone was light, Yoochun meant it. The A&E was occasionally understaffed, and they were lucky to have Changmin there as an MO, with his precision and efficiency.
“I’ll be going to the OT now to catch Jaejoong before he manages to land himself another case. See you.”
Changmin nodded, clasping the older doctor’s hand before they parted.
--
Yoochun was getting rather annoyed at how Jaejoong kept plying him with questions about himself, managing to turn around all of Yoochun’s careful queries about him to something about the other doctor instead. After telling Jaejoong just what funny thing Changmin had said the other day, he decided he’d get straight to the point.
“I hear you’ve been taking more and more cases on, until your entire day is full. What’s with this sudden enthusiasm for work?”
Jaejoong smiled. “Are you suggesting that I wasn’t enthusiastic about my job in the first place? I’m just trying to make more use of my time.”
Yoochun leant over the table. “Making more use of your time isn’t the same as putting your cases back-to-back so that you barely even have time to eat.”
His serious tone made Jaejoong’s smile falter slightly. “Don’t worry, I know how much I can take before I collapse and Changmin has to see me at the A&E.”
Yoochun took a sip from his glass. “Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you, or do I have to beat it out of you?”
“Look, nothing’s wrong with me, Yoochunnie. I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’m really fine, and I’m not overworked.” Jaejoong looked at him sincerely, grasping his hand lightly, but
Yoochun’s face only grew grimmer. “Hyung, I know you better than you think. It’s about Yunho-hyung, isn’t it?”
Jaejoong refused to look at him, shaking his head stubbornly. “There’s nothing wrong between Yunho and I, okay? We’re friends; the whole I-liked-him thing is over and done with.”
Yoochun sighed. “If it was really over, you wouldn’t be acting like this just because he asked some girl out.” He said it as gently as possible, and Jaejoong looked startled at his friend’s perception. “Did you know she rejected him?”
If possible, Jaejoong’s eyes widened even further. “She rejected him? Is she crazy? He’s perfect!” He couldn’t help but exclaim, and Yoochun nodded seriously.
“And do you know why?”
Jaejoong took a sip of his soju. “I…I don’t really see how it’s any of my business. It’s her preference.”
Yoochun felt like screaming at Jaejoong’s pretence of indifference, and looked at his watch. “Well, it’s getting late; I’d better be heading home.” Tossing a couple of bills onto the bar counter, he slid off the chair and put his coat on.
Just before he walked off, he turned around to face the other man. “It won’t hurt to just ask her. She’d tell you why.”
Jaejoong could only stare at the other man’s retreating back, knuckles whitening as his hand tightened around the glass.
Notes:
1. even though infectious disease specialists don't generally perform surgery, the idea is that the patient is one of Yoochun's who was referred to someone else for surgery, and Jaejoong was the anaesthetist.
2. I have no idea how the workings of nurses in hospitals are, this is all made up. Changmin's lying, anyway.
3. I'm pretty sure Ara oughtn't be showing Jaejoong's schedule to Yoochun, but let's just assume it's because they're such great friends, and she's concerned for Jaejoong too.
4. the "potential emergency caesarean" refers to the kind which is undertaken when the mother is supposed to deliver the child naturally but it takes too long for dilation or other problems, and the obstetrician advises a C-section instead.
Hope I haven't been too medically inaccurate! Please leave your thoughts and comments! btw, I especially like people quoting a part they liked and then commenting on it. just in case you'd like to make me happy by commenting but don't know what to say :D