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Marcus Andrews was a very well known man. That had happened due to his great abilities in surgery, along with the clout that came with becoming the hospitals first African American chief of surgery and president.With that attention and praise came his ego. His pride, ego- his dignity, all of them seemed to make him who he was as a senior doctor. A massive pain in the ass that nobody could stand. Doctors Lim and Melendez especially.
They had known him through their residency, and they knew him now- the nurses weren’t fond of him either, with the exception of Dalisay Villanueva, who was slowly getting to know him more personally as time went on.What had happened was something nobody could predict- yet it was incredibly amusing. Hilarious even.Marcus Andrews had been found in his office in a bit of a compromising and vulnerable state. He was about a two feet tall (if they were being generous) and could barely speak or walk. At first, they had thought it was a pediatric patient or someone’s child that had wondered into the large office- but after a blood test was sent into the lab and some very loud, squeaky adult words had left the little boy..They knew who he was.Marcus Andrews is upset- he can’t get away from these damn people! It’s not as if he can run.. he could barely walk while leaning against something for support.He can toddle- which is good enough for now, but he’s slow, not able to get away from the grabbing hands and cooing voices.
Neil Melendez was grinning widely as he watches Marcus get carried back over, Audrey Lim somehow avoiding getting kicked in the stomach- Marcus is fussy, he’s tiny. Nobody is sure how to act. This is something that’s never happened before- they’ve avoided this getting out to the news, thankfully-”We sent the blood test to the lab to confirm it, but we both know..” Audrey says, amused as Marcus slowly stops fighting and simply huffs, a pout on his lips.He’s glaring up at them stubbornly, his button up- which was quite big, being his only form of modesty, protecting his body from the cold hospital air.He refused any help to get changed- so they planned to do it when he eventually fell asleep.
Marcus had trouble with his words. Every time he tried to speak embarrassment stopped him.His voice was so small and squeaky, his words mispronounced and slurred like he was a real child for the first time. He couldn’t exactly pronounce much anyways- when he had tried to explain who he was it came out as a series of slurred words that they could barely understand and some babbles.This was torture. Humiliation. He was going to die of embarrassment.“Yes we do. Don’t we?” Neil looks down at Marcus and tickles under the others chin, causing Marcus to squeal and try to squirm out of the secure arms holding him.. he whines, before he breaks out into some soft giggles and swats the hand away.That wasn’t fair!He wasn’t ticklish while big- but right now they weren’t even giving him a chance to fight back!”Yes. Dalisay brought some clothes and a diaper up for him, Glassman is already preparing some lie to the press and finding another surgeon to fill his place. We’ve also been assigned permanent babysitting duty.” Audrey explains, balancing Marcus on her hip- he hated to admit he was almost.. comfortable with the exception of the cold.Marcus had seen the onesie Dalisay brought, fluffy and warm and would cover him head to toe- yet it was still breathable and didn’t have a gross feeling to it.. what he really hated was its design, and the diaper he’d have to wear under it.”No.” Marcus whines.. he doesn’t wanna be around these idiots nearly 24 hours a day! He wants to be working, doing surgeries, talking with patients- anything that’s not this. Being pampered and babied.. he wasn't a baby! He was a grown man in an.. unfortunate.. situation.”Awh, the baby speaks.” Melendez mocks. Marcus wouldn’t exactly be advanced at this point- but simple words and a few steps with the support of a table were perfectly normal.. they wished he had gone younger, then he would’ve really had to suck his pride and ego up as he was taken care of.”No!” Marcus fusses louder- trying to push Audrey away.. he was successful, but he ended up being handed away to Neil, who was grinning widely.
“Yes!” Neil chuckles.”You’re shivering, little dude, are you cold?” He asks- he was concerned, he wouldn’t have asked if he wasn’t, but if he kept teasing the boy, Marcus would stop fighting eventually.”hmph.”
“that’s.. not exactly helping your case, buddy.” The Latino muses fondly, but based on the way the little boys eyes were drooping and his head kept bobbing, he could assume the poor guy was exhausted.It was reasonable- with the sudden change in his body, the fact that he had been awake for at least 12 hours before this happened, and a toddlers need for well over eight hours of sleep.“Audrey, the clothes are right there.” Neil whispers as he points in the direction of the clothing- earning another fussy noise from the smallest in the room.The onesie was rather adorable- which is probably why Marcus wasn’t exactly happy with wearing it.
It’s a soft green color and was footie onesie, covering his body from his feet to his neck. It’s decorated with different cartoon frogs, each having a different expression. It was soft but still breathable, with grips on the feet to help the boy stand and toddle without slipping.Then, she hands him the diaper. Which was going to end up being everyone’s least favorite part of this arrangement- Marcus was to sleep dazed to really process it.He only knows when he’s sat down, and it makes him fuss due to the lack of warmth.. it’s cute.The onesie looks especially adorable when it’s on the little boy.
“take a picture.” Audrey says with a grin.”I already know.” Neil laughs.—Marcus wakes up the next morning and is quick to realize the many things happening with his body and around him.
The first is that there’s something gross and mushy between his legs- the diaper, which he probably used much to his embarrassment .The second is that he’s in his own house, not the hospital. It’s warm and cozy, and he’s cuddled up under the blankets- in his bed.. which wasn’t empty.
The third realization.. Audrey Lim and Neil Melendez were sharing the bed.. with eachother, and himLim and Melendez were on either side of him, both of them peacefully asleep.Marcus had an idea- he could try his best to be secretive, but with how clumsy he was in this state he was sure it wouldn’t work..
Still, it was worth-“where are you going, little guy?” Neil yawns. Marcus curses internally and whines externally. He shouldn’t have to tell Melendez- who was sleeping in Marcus’ bed, where he was going!”Dont give me that look. Come here.” Neil is exhausted- Marcus had been sleeping since six that afternoon and they had been scared to wake him up.. it was currently five in the morning. The little one had gotten some sleep, compared to his babysitters that was.Marcus didn’t listen and proceeds to try and climb off the bed. He’s underestimating how high it is off the floor- and before Neil can scramble over to save him from his own stupidity.. Marcus falls.He squeaks, before that squeak turns to a whine.. which turns into a cry..Which turns into a wail.”fuck!” Neil curses, Audrey startles awake by the sound- Marcus wasn’t even aware of why he had started crying. He bumped his head- big deal, so why was he throwing a fit over the minor pain?
His body instinctively reaches out to Melendez, as much as Marcus hates it.
“Awh.. and you need a diaper change. You’re a mess this morning, little guy.”
“I’ll get the changing supplies.” Audrey Lim croaks.. Marcus buries himself against the Latino.He hated this.. why was it kind of comfortable?
”Next time, why don’t you listen?” Neil Mutters, and with tear filled eyes, Marcus looks up. His lower lip is jutted out in a pout.. but he wants to retort with a comeback.”No..” Is the only word he can get out before his eyes flutter shut.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Marcus Andrews loudly whines and wiggles around in a car seat.. the harness is clipped around his chest- the strap is also adjusted between his legs, and he nearly smacks Audrey across the face because of his flailing..”Marcus.” She warns, noticing how he was very unhappy- many baby’s didn’t like car seats and it certainly didn’t help the fact that he had the mentality of an adult. He felt he was to big for this, that he was still a grown man.. when in fact he was no more than a little boy at the moment.”no! Am A’dut!” He shrieks, becoming more unhappy as he hears the click of the straps being secured.. Neil Melendez sends his wife a look, sighing. Marcus wails, kicking his feet and hitting the back of Neil’s chair- he was going to be driving.They had to get him to the hospital..He needed his vaccines, a few other shots, and just a basic check-up to confirm everything they knew.“No, you’re not.” Audrey says sternly, gently swatting his legs to remind him not to kick the seat, and before he could begin to scream, she pushes a pacifier into his mouth.. he slowly settles, sucking it as a few soft whimpers escape him.. he hated that he already had accepted it, that he let it calm him down like he was a baby.”Mhmm..amma.” He babbles softly, his eyes starting to flutter shut. He’s been awake since the early morning hours.. it certainly didn’t help the fact that he’s refused to be put down for a nap. He’s refused to play, refused to watch anything, he’s just been pissed.luckily, he dozes off as they pull out of the driveway.Unfortunately, he wakes up when he’s unclipped from the seat.”No..” He whines, lower lip trembling and poking out. He’s so clearly upset, a little fussy, but he looks adorable.. a little bonnet covering his head full of curly hair while those big brown eyes look up at Audrey.”No what, little dude?” Neil muses, grabbing the stroller from the trunk and adjusting it to fit Marcus.. the baby only clung more to Audrey.”no shot.” He sniffles, and even though he’s embarrassed, he hopes that his begging may convince them.”I know it’s scary bubba, but we all have to do them.” Audrey smiled, settling him in the stroller and securing him, before pulling the sun shield out to give the sensitive babies skin some protection.
“No..” He grumbles, kicking for a moment before giving up.
Audrey and Neil smile fondly, sharing a look before walking into San Jose’s Pediatric clinic. They felt like a family.—Marcus is screaming as he’s carried out of the clinic, Neil holding the notes the pediatrician had typed up for them after the appointment.Marcus was officially known as Marcus Lim-Melendez (with Andrews being his middle name) to avoid any suspicion outside of the hospital- and the doctors had the clinic had believed it.
“Shh.. Hey..” Audrey bounces him in her arms, his right and left legs having a few bandaids on them each. He was so small- and his legs hurt!
“NO!” He cries, clinging to her..A vulnerable moment. One that was shared between the now family.. the little boy was theirs, small and needy.. desperate for comfort and terrified of needles.”Marcus.. how about some ice cream? I think you deserve it for being such a brave boy.” Neil smiles, crouching down so he was face to face with the little boy- he gives a gentle smile, hoping it would offer some comfort.”Ice cream?” He whispers, looking up eagerly, tears still spilling from his eyes.”Mhm.. chocolate, vanilla, whatever you want.” The Latino grins, keeping a calm expression to make sure the upset little one would be able to regulate his own emotions.”cookies n’ cream!” Marcus smiles-“Alright.. cookies and cream.” Neil smiles back.. the rest of the day is calm, and Marcus is content.. he even plays with some of the toys they bought him.