Chapter Text
Two months later, Jessie entered the Pitt on her own two feet for the first time. Glancing around at everything, she trailed along behind Robby. He led her to the Hub, where Dana and a few other staff were working. Only Dana and Doctor Abbot looked up.
"Hey, kiddo," the nurse greeted, opening her arms for a hug. In the short time she had known that Robby had a child, she appointed herself godmother and made sure she checked up on the young teen frequently. "How you doing?"
"It's a milestone day," Robby shared proudly, setting his backpack on the counter.
"Last of my surgeries," Jessie explained more with a crooked grin, still in Dana's arms.
"We've gotta check her in with surgery upstairs before I start my shift," Robby finished. "That work okay with you, Jack?"
The night shift attending nodded. He hadn't had as much contact as Dana, but he still had a soft spot for the girl. "Crush that surgery, kid." He smacked knuckles with her and she giggled.
"You're gonna do great," Dana rubbed the girl's arm comfortingly. Jessie straightened, feeling better.
"Dad? Do we have time to do the thing now?" She motioned to the ED at large. "Absolutely. Princess is right there, she was one of your nurses," he nodded to the nurse working on the far side of the hub. She looked up at the sound of her name. "Princess, this is my daughter Jessie."
"Ooh, Robby-ita," she smirked. "You're looking much better."
"Thank you for helping to save me when I got shot," Jessie said shyly.
"Of course. You can thank me by sharing some hot gossip about your dad with us." Jessie opened her mouth to reply-
"No, she cannot," Robby shut the nurse down with a laugh. He turned to do a quick survey of the massive hall. "I'm not sure if... oh, yes, there she is. Yeah, come on." He turned and walked toward a resident coming out of the locker bay. "Doctor McKay? Do you have a moment before you start your day?"
"Yeah, of course. What's up?" McKay slung her stethoscope over her neck and held onto the ends.
"You have a patient who would like to say some words." Robby grandly stepped aside and nudged a timid Jessie forward.
"Um, hi, Doctor McKay. I'm Jessie Robinavitch. You helped my dad save me on the day of the CAPA shooting."
"Yeah, I remember," McKay smiled, soft and encouraging, at the teen. "How are you doing? We don't usually get to see our patients after they recover."
"Um, I'm pretty good," she glanced at Robby, who just nodded at her. "I just wanted to say thank you. Dad says you're why he could focus instead of freaking out about me."
"Of course, sweetheart. I've got a kid too, a little younger than you, so I know how important you are to your dad. You mean the world to him."
Robby hid a smile and nodded in agreement. Jessie leaned up against him for a brief side hug. "I know. He only tells me every day," she rolled her eyes.
Doctor McKay laughed lightly. "Well, good. Don't forget to reciprocate sometimes. You sticking around for the day, or do you have to get to school?"
Jessie shrugged. "I have one more surgery today upstairs."
"Which we will be late to, if you stop to make friends with every doctor and nurse in my department," Robby gently reminded his daughter.
"Well, we'd love to see you back here as a guest and not a patient sometime," Doctor McKay smiled warmly one more time.
Father and daughter turned back to the hub. Arriving at the same time was student doctor Whitaker. "Good morning Doctor Robby."
"Hey, Whitaker," Robby replied, picking up his backpack again.
Jessie repeated, "Whitaker?" and looked up at her father.
He sighed and looked at his watch. "Yes, and yes. Make it quick."
Whitaker looked puzzled, but Jessie leaned around Robby and said, "I'm Jessie. You helped my dad save me during the CAPA shooting and he's letting me say thank you."
"Dad? Oh," Whitaker's eyes widened and he briefly glanced at Robby before looking back at the girl. "Um, yeah. You're welcome. So, CAPA, does that mean you're an artist?"
"She's gonna be a dancer like me," smiled Dana.
"No," Jessie tilted her head with a small smile at her father. "I'm gonna be a doctor."