Chapter Text
🩺~D~🩺
Seated on a wheeled stool next to a patient's bed, Dennis Whitaker readies his IV supplies. The sounds of the ER started to blur together hours ago as he settled into the routines he’d grown accustomed to over the past few months. Well as settled as one could be in the ever-changing environment of the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center emergency department, lovingly nicknamed “The Pitt”.
He could see why the nickname stuck. Despite the obvious connection to Pittsburgh, it was embarrassingly easy to get overwhelmed and feel stuck under pressure. The blinding artificial fluorescents were the only light he saw most days.
He never thought he’d miss the blazing sun of Broken Bow, Nebraska, but he should probably start to take his current lack of vitamin D more seriously.
Note to self- He thinks. -Buy some supplements whenever I can afford it.
Shit, who was he kidding? He’d have to find times to get outside and get it the old-fashioned free way. Whenever that would be.
Could he start walking to his shifts? Nope, too far from Trinity’s, and he couldn’t afford the bus fare even if he got off a few stops early to walk.
He inhales deeply, Proverbs 11:25 and Luke 6:38 echoing in his mind as he inserted the IV into Mrs. Lewis’s left arm. 'The generous will prosper, those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Give, and it will be given to you.'
“…..Soon?” A pause before Mrs. Lewis adds “Doctor?”
“So sorry, Mrs. Lewis, I was focused on your IV. Could you repeat that, please?” He feels his ears warm as the older woman gently pats his cheek. “And it’s student doctor still,” he adds with an awkward smile, adjusting the IV bag to ensure it’s hung properly.
“You’re such a handsome young man, and humble too. I was just asking if you were heading home soon?”
“No, Ma'am, I’ve got another-” he checks his watch, vaguely registering the slight change in the usual hospital hum of background noise. “-7 hours to go.”
“That’s too bad! I’ve got a granddaughter about your age, we’re getting dinner later, I was hoping to introduce you…”
“Oh, that’s very… Kind…Mrs. Lewis, but my work here keeps me so busy…” He shrugs apologetically.
The subtle shift in the ER noise registers more fully as his pulse spikes.
Did Dr. Robby finally show up? He was supposed to be here hours ago, but Dennis had been admittedly a little disappointed when he clocked in this morning, and his attending was notably absent.
When he’d asked Dana for the third time this morning, she said he was fine, but apparently, there'd been a car accident in front of him on his way to work, and the EMTs had called to say he was helping on the scene. Dr. Abbot had agreed to stay on until he arrived.
Not that there was anything wrong with Dr Abbot, he was knowledgeable, a great mentor, Dennis was just… more used to Dr Robby’s guidance. It just wasn’t the same without him here, and to be honest, it was throwing him off his game a little.
It takes a second to pull himself from the thought of said guidance as he registers that Mrs. Lewis is still talking.
“She’s so beautiful, just have a look at her picture, and I’m sure you’ll change your mind.” With a wink, she holds up her phone screen where a stunning brunette in her early twenties smiles, holding a smiling baby who wears a '#1 Aunty' onesie.
“She’s beautiful,” he hums in polite agreement, smiling as he fiddles with the IV bag again, just to have something to do with his hands. He wasn’t lying; the woman was beautiful, he just… wasn’t interested, for reasons he tried not to linger on.
“She’s great with her niece, as you can see, she’d make a great wife and mother.”
“I… I’m sure she will, Mrs. Lewis,” he manages after a surprised cough.
“Just think, with her hair and your eyes, your babies would be so cute!”
“I…ah.. Mhm..” his cheeks heat as he flounders for something appropriate to say.
Sorry, I’m not interested?
It’s not you or your granddaughter, I promise, it’s me, really?
I don’t even think I want kids because the thought of procreating with a woman makes me nauseous?
Do you happen to have a grandson, though? Nope, definitely not.
The hair on his arms raises, and he quickly swivels his chair back towards Mrs. Lewis, startled at the third presence in the room. His face flushes further as he risks a glance up at his attending’s smirking face.
Dennis stands abruptly, bumping the IV pole in his hurry, which he quickly stabilizes, internally cursing his clumsiness.
“Doc- Doctor Robby.. I-” Dennis stutters before Robby cuts him off, eyebrows raised slightly before breaking their eye contact to smile at Mrs. Lewis.
“He’s right, she's stunning! He’d be lucky to have her, and I’m sure their babies will be adorable." Robby winks at her. "You’ll have to excuse us, though, Mrs. Lewis. I need student Doctor Whitaker’s help with another patient for a moment.”
“Of course, Doctor!!” She replies brightly, patting Dennis’s cheek once more as his mouth opens and closes, unable to manage anything intelligible. The older doctor's firm hand grasps his shoulder and pulls him towards the curtain.
“Come back and see me before I’m discharged, and I’ll give you her number, handsome!” She calls.
“Oh…uh, sure.. yes th-thank you, Mrs. Lewis, for sure,” he stammers as clearly as he can. When did it get so freaking hot in here? Was the hospitals ventilation system broken again?
“So… when’s the wedding?” Robby asks with a low laugh and a firm slap of his hand on Dennis’s right shoulder. Instead of releasing him, his hand lingers, firmly gripping him while they walk.
For some reason, Dennis is acutely aware of how warm his hand is, despite the layers of fabric separating them. It’s a fleeting thought that he quickly pushes aside.
As they round the corner, Robby’s hand slides from Dennis’s right shoulder nearest him across to his left, as he leads, or more accurately herds Dennis towards the nurses' station.
The weight and warmth of Robby’s arm settle across Dennis’s back and shoulders, firm pressure steering his movements without thought. The gesture is so automatic that the attending doesn’t even seem to register the contact. Dennis briefly wonders if this is how the sheep on his farm must feel when their shepherd dog herds them into the pen at night. He has the same sense of blind faith.
“When’s your wedding date, Kid?” He teases again, and Dennis jolts as he realizes he hadn’t answered, too lost in his thoughts.
“I.. I’m sorry, I didn’t know what to say. That was a new one for me,” Dennis mumbles quickly, an awkward laugh escaping. He’s abruptly halted by the firm grip of his attending as they reach their destination.
The warmth of Robby’s arm leaves his shoulder as quickly as it had arrived. Dennis is left feeling a little off balance, confused as he’s simultaneously grateful for the return of his bodily autonomy and desperate for the return of the others' direction.
It was sometimes easier to just let Robby lead him. It turned his brain off for a millisecond that always felt like the briefest but clearest gasp of air before he’s treading water on his own again, slipping under, drowning under the weight of his responsibilities.
“Thank God you’re here, Robby, Whitaker can finally stop asking when you’re showing up. Think you had the kid a little worried,” Dana says, sparing them a glance, eyes gleaming with mischief, before her attention returns to her computer screen.
“Nah, the kid’s been pretty busy with wedding planning. I think he just wanted our opinions on some details, seating charts and whatnot.” Robby smirks, eyes fixing on the board above them, scanning, assessing, cataloguing.
“You’re getting married?” Dana asks in surprise, looking up through her glasses from where she’s seated at the nursing station desk, eyebrow raised as she glances between them.
“What? No-No, it’s just a patient she-” Dennis starts, panicked words coming out in a rush. It was definitely too hot in here now. Dennis internally curses the hospitals cheap ventilation system as he panics.
“You’re marrying a patient?” Dana interrupts. Her eyebrow raising impossibly higher into her blonde hairline as she attempts to hide a laugh. Dennis’ face and neck flush, the warmth erasing the cold lingering on his skin in the absence of Robby’s touch.
“What? No, I- I’m not marrying anyone. I-”
“Mrs. Lewis in 5 has been planning his wedding with her granddaughter, you didn’t get an invite?” Robby playfully quips, much to the delight of Dana.
“I’ll start looking for some baby names then, shall I?” Dana laughs.
“NO! No I.. It’s really not like that,” Dennis interjects a little too loudly, drawing the attention of Princess and Perlah, who shoot them a confused look across the room.
Both Dana and Robby burst out laughing. The latter grips Dennis’s right shoulder again before patting him on the back. The contact is so sudden and rough, Dennis stumbles a full step and a half forward, dangerously close to colliding with the desk. Robby’s arm shoots forward, banding across the front of Dennis’s chest and neck to try and right him, but overcorrecting, causing Dennis to stumble backwards into his chest with a breathy “Oof”.
“Shit -sorry Whitaker, we’re just teasing you,” he chuckles, the warmth of his breath fanning down and across Dennis’s ear. That, coupled with the pressure of his arm against his neck, sends a shiver racing an electric path down his spine. The strange sensation has his eyes fluttering shut, involuntarily, mouth slightly open in shock.
“Just teasing you, Whitaker, you okay?”
Dennis nods quickly, swallows roughly and can feel the pressure of Robby’s arm against his throat as he does. His mouth is suddenly dry, and he feels a little panicked. He grips Robby’s arm with shaking fingers. This seems to remind Robby, who’s distractedly looking back up at the board, that he's still holding him, and he drops his arm. Dennis lurches forward and sidesteps quickly, separating their bodies with almost comical speed.
“R-right sorry, so sorry, Doctor Robby.” His voice is an embarrassed, breathy squeak that he wishes he could take back instantly. His face feels too hot, and he’s mortified by the realization that his face is probably flushed.
He must think I’m so fucking childish, how embarrassing. He thinks as his heart gives a painful squeeze. Pull yourself together, Dennis or no one will take you seriously.
Dana and Robby exchange amused looks as she reaches across the desk to ruffle Dennis’s mussed hair.
“Besides, Kid, you’re kind of unavailable these days,” she says affectionately.
“What? No? I’m not… seeing anyone.” Dennis's eyes are wide as he stares at Dana, a deer in the headlights, before his gaze whips involuntarily to the smug face of his attending, then quickly back to Dana.
Dana laughs as Robby pats his shoulder teasingly again, eyes twinkling with humour.
“Okay, noted, but she’s talking about the job, Whitaker. The expression ‘married to your work’ tends to apply to med students.” Robby smiles.
“Ah.. right sorry I-“
“Dr. Robby, Perla needs your help with the patient in #3.” Trinity interrupts, suddenly appearing before glancing at Dennis with an expression that screams 'Are you serious?’
“No problem, Dr. Santos. Dana, get these two started on the electrocution in #8. I’ll catch up.” Robby's still smiling, seemingly amused by the whole exchange. Dana nods in confirmation, smiling, and turns to grab the file.
“You’re such a Huckleberry,” Trinity laughs beside him, leaning against the desk as Robby disappears behind the curtain of #3. “Did you seriously just tell our attending you’re single? You’re so fucking obvious it’s adorable - pathetic, but adorable.”
“Shut up, Trinity, I did not.”
“You kind of did, Kid,” Dana interrupts with a smirk as she slides the chart over, sharing a knowing look with Trinity.
“See? Dude, you’re so obvious,” Trinity adds, sharing a knowing look with Dana before Dr. Abbot calls her across the room to take over for him so he can finally go home.
“I- I didn’t mean… It’s not like that. I.. I don’t like Dr. Robby, it’s really not like th-” Dennis stammers before Dana interrupts with a small smile and shake of her head, clearly taking pity on him.
“Save it, Kid, it’s like that for everyone. Robby tends to have that effect on everyone at some point. Don’t worry, you’ll grow out of it; everyone does! For me, it lasted two days; for most, it’s a week tops. It’s an adrenaline thing,” she shrugs.
“It’s not uh-that but um thanks Dana.” Dennis can only nod curtly through an awkward laugh before he makes a hasty escape to his patient in #8.
He cleans and dresses Mr. Samir’s burns, Dana’s words, her implication echoing in his head louder than the chaos of the ER around him. He tries his best to focus on the task, the pressure of the gauze, the rhythm of his breaths, the steady rise and fall of the unconscious man’s chest.
I don’t like Dr. Robby, he tells himself firmly. Admiration made sense. Respect made sense. Gratitude for good teaching made sense. Everything else was to be managed, something he could keep contained if he tried hard enough. Even if this were… that, Dana would be right; she always was. ‘Everyone likes him at first, it’s just an adrenaline thing,’ she had said. Therefore, whatever this was-or wasn’t- would fade. This has to fade. He’d just have to give it a few days, a week tops.