Chapter Text
Inwardly Robby knew he shouldn’t be taking the offer. Patient boundaries and all– not getting too close with a patient. But who was he to say no to a polite Southern woman?
And so, here he was driving down the dirt roads of a long-abandoned stretch of road that clearly kicked up dirt and such, for once wearing a helmet as he really did not want to get any dust in his eyes. Out of his scrubs and in a more casual look–really just jeans, a shirt stained with oil, and a leather jacket paired with boots. It was simple. The wind whipped at his exposed fingers, him looking side to side at the fields and the rundown barns and such. Eventually the sign of Whitaker Farms came into view, around 50 miles out.
He made it in less than an hour, the revving of the motorcycle spooking some of the cows out front grazing, a calf or two bolting and stumbling. He slowed his motorcycle down and turned onto the driveway, where an old, rusted Ford F-150 with dark red paint sat, alongside a broken down Mustang missing three tires on the grass.
Mrs. Whitaker had her brown hair all in an updo bun, wearing working clothes that included short overalls and a shirt, tied in the back.
Robby cut the motorcycles engine off, propping the kickstand down and swinging one leg over to stand and just as he took his helmet off Mrs. Whitaker had came over to him.
“Robby, oh ‘m delighted t’see ya came! Dennis is busy wit’ the horses, poor soul workin’ in this heat.. I told him you were comin’!” Of course she’d drop the doctor prefix. He was off-duty.
“Really? He really is a farmboy, huh…” A slight hint of admiration was in his voice– and Mrs. Whitaker clearly caught on with the glare she gave.
“C’mon, I’ll bring ya to ‘im and I’ll fix y’all some tea.” She turned and walked off without a word, leaving Robby to settle his helmet on the motorcycle and catch up.
Dennis in the meanwhile was back near the stables, in a button-up light flannel, paired with dirtied jeans and boots. He had his arm raised with his hand wrapped around a horse mane brush, quietly brushing it. It definitely looked like he belonged there– not in some medical center treating patients sunrise to sunset. Even with the bandages covering the still healing hand, only the middle through thumb visible, it was obvious that he was… well, skilled at it.
The horse huffed and snorted as a new person began to approach, it digging at the ground.
“Hey, sh, sh.” Dennis shushed the horse with a few gentle pats, before he turned his head over his shoulder and nearly yelped. He caught it before he did. “D– Doctor Robby!”
Robby was standing right there, his hands in his pocket. A slight hand raise. “Y’can call me jus’ Robby. Not on shift. Y’mom invited me over.”
Dennis didn’t know if he wanted to die of embarrassment or let himself get obliterated by this absolute HUNK of a man.
“AH, right, yeah, she… has the tendency to do that…” He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, before patting the horse twice and watching as it trotted away, tail swishing.
“You trained ‘em well.”
Dennis turned around before hearing what Robby had actually said. It took a few seconds for it to register, but Jesus Christ, that comment really made Dennis want to pounce. Considering the state of the world, though, and how most people see large age-gaps…
Well, a twenty year old dating a forty-eight year old wouldn’t be the craziest thing in the Whitaker family.
“Yeah, I… lived on a farm my entire life, and… kind of got used to it.” Dennis fidgeted slightly with his hands, his gaze falling down slightly.
Robby crossed his arms, briefly glancing over his shoulder as he hummed in approval. He knew Mrs. Whitaker–of whom he’d yet to get the name of–would most likely be finishing up the tea by now, so taking the awkward silence to his advantage, he spoke up.
“Y’know, you mom’s makin’ tea. Suppose she’s jus’ about done by now?” He offered.
And just like that Mrs. Whitaker settled a bet she didn’t know she started.
The house seemed a lot bigger on the outside, but with a primarily closed off floorplan, it wasn’t too luxurious. Honestly, if Robby was being honest to himself, he preferred the quiet farm over the bustling ER he had to go to every single day.
Mrs. Whitaker set down two glasses of tea, infront of Robby and Whitaker. It was followed by consecutive thanks– per formality.
“Thanks, ma.” Dennis was first,
followed by Robby, “Thank y’ma’am.”
“I’ll be up in ma study room if y’all boys need anythin’.” Mrs. Whitaker had a knowing glint in her eyes as she smiled and departed, leaving the two males alone in the kitchen.
It was definitely intentional with the way Robby’s eyes followed Mrs. Whitaker as she left before he turned them back to Dennis, leaning subtly forward before clasping his hands around the cup of tea.
“So I heard you wanted to go into med school?” He inquired.
Dennis looked flustered, pausing with widened eyes before looking away, a noticeable flush creeping up.
“Uh, yeah… I, ehm, told Dr. Abbot that… how did you know?”
“Grapevine. Y’know, there’ll be a shadowin’ opportunity, biyearly. Get’cha enough time to go through school. By the time you’re finished… you could help?” The offer Robby was making– really tempting. “I could pay, four years. Get’cha through college at least.”
Dennis merely nodded because he could not get the words out. He didn’t trust his voice.
“Have’ta ask your mom, though. Don’t think she’d mind.”
“Mhm.” Dennis took a gulp of his tea to calm him the fuck down. “She, uh… wants me to be a doctor.”
“Really?” Robby almost sounded surprised.
It was confirmed with a nod, and he leaned back in his chair, eyeing Dennis with newfound curiosity.
“Huh. Tell me, kid– y’really into the medical career?”
Dennis nodded again.
Robby smirked.
“Well, I got time. I’ll help ya get int’college, alright?”
…maybe falling for a guy that was more than double his age was a score.