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It was a quiet day in the ER, for once. As monotonous as it was, it meant those who weren't busy dealing with those in the waiting room could get some work done. Recently, the ER had a delivery of equipment and PPE and the boxes were left in a corner of the ward. Thank you, delivery man. It was easy enough for Robby to handle on his own, being able to move the boxes of gloves and masks with ease, but there was a box at the back. A big, heavy box that Robby couldn't quite wrap his arms around properly to lift. Not to mention his back and hips protested the lift.
Damn you, age.
He was hesitant to ask for help, as he is with most things in his life. But he didnt want to admit defeat with this box. Besides, it needed to be moved from the ward before it became a safety hazard. He didn’t need to give Gloria another reason to be up his ass. So, with a sigh, he turned and saw Whitaker walking around aimlessly. It was a little strange since the other med students were sitting at a desk working on their course work while it was quiet but at least it gave Robby someone to ask. And it wasnt the most embarrassing thing Whitaker has ever had to do for him. Say, I don't know, finding Robby in the pedes room having a panic attack and having to calm him down through the weird religious bond they shared.
So, as Whitaker walked by, Robby let in an inhale.
"Whitaker, you busy?" He let out, looking down at the student who was about a head shorter than him.
"Uhm, I guess not. Are you okay?" Whitaker asked, his curious eyes zipping around Robby's face for any signs of stress or worry.
"I'm fine, I just need a hand with this box. It needs to go into the storage room but its pretty heavy," Robby hummed, looking between the box and the young man. "You could take one side and I could take the other, if you don't mind."
Whitaker's eyes seemed to light up at the request, like he's been waiting for a damsel in distress to make him prove himself. "I've got it!" He beamed
Before Robby could ask, he watched Whitaker walk over to the box and bend at the knees. Putting his hands under the box he used the strength in his arms to pull the box back onto his chest and pushed up with his legs to stand. He leaned back slightly to share the weight between his back and arms. But low and behold, he was holding the box without a struggle.
"Just help me get there." Whitaker chuckled, the box big enough to cover his face.
Robby was stuck speechless for a few seconds, blinking at Whitaker, but he shook it off and helped Whitaker to the storage room safely without hurting himself or anyone else walking by.
Whitaker puts it down the same way he picked it up, bending at the knees and gently placing it on the floor. Finally, Robby could get the air trapped in his lungs out into the world.
"Where... did you learn to lift like that?" The older doctor finally asked, watching Dennis stand up without even a groan.
"I lived on a farm for the first 18 years of my life. Helped my dad every day I wasn't at school. He taught me a thing or two about lifting." Whitaker explained with a slight flush to the cheeks, as if he were more embarrassed to explain where he got his strength from rather than being tired out from the lifting.
No kidding, Robby thought. Whitaker had an unshakeable strength about him. Both mentally and physically. No matter how inactive he was, he'd always have the strength he gained from all the work back at the farm.
"Right... good to know." Robby nodded. At least he knew who to go to for any heavy lifting.
"What, you weren't struggling with that box, were you?" Whitaker teased, feeling slightly relaxed standing in the storage room talking.
Robby scoffed. "Hey, not everyone lived on a farm lifting hay bales and... doing whatever farmers do," He smirked, but reminded himself not to have too much fun. He was still Whitaker's attending and needed to act as such. "Now, get back out there. I'm sure you've got some more work to do."
Whitaker's eyes widened with the realisation and gave a determined nod. "Right." He said, before turning and leaving Robby alone in the storage room.
That little mouse may not be so little after all...
Robby left the storage room, going to Dana to see if she had any patients that needed checking up on. But not without a small peek at Whitaker's arms as he walked past.
It was so surprising. Whitaker didn't look strong. Maybe the box was just lighter than what Robby's body was making it out to be. Was he really getting that old? Robby didn't want to believe that was the case just yet. Believing that Whitaker was just that strong was much more comforting.
And fun to think about.
...
What?
Robby shook his head. He walked over to the main area, talking to Dana then spending the rest of his shift bouncing between patients, having his obligatory toilet break, chatting to Myrna despite her rude comments, thinking about Whitaker's strength, helping a patient—
He needs to stop thinking about Whitaker. Once was too much. But now he kinda can't stop. It doesn't help that he's everywhere. Asking questions. Giggling with Santos. Constantly changing those damn scrubs. Why can't he keep his clothes on for longer than an hour? It was stupid to think about since it wasn't Whitaker's fault. He wasn't asking to get peed on, or get blood all over himself but having his uniform stick to that average looking body every other hour due to whatever fluid soaking it was making it hard for Robby to focus.
After what felt like hours, (mainly because it was) the shift finally concludes. Robby waited for Abbot's team to trickle in and began sending his team home, saying hello to Jack and having their usual banter before finding himself at the park nursing a beer with his crew.
"Hey, guys!" A voice calls out by the path. It was Santos, with Whitaker. Of course. They were roommates. And practically inseparable due to that fact. It made Robby itch with a jealousy he never knew he had until today.
The team welcome Santos and Whitaker with beaming smiles, handing the pair beers and saving them seats to sit at as the team wound down from the shift. It wasn't a stressful shift, but every shift deserved a calm ending regardless of how tumultuous it was. Robby was quietly drinking his beer until he was invited into the conversation by none other than Whitaker.
"And I helped Dr. Robby with moving some boxes, too." Whitaker hummed, the team looking at Robby with a curious brow.
"What, the big boss can't handle a few boxes now?" Langdon chuckles, earning a scoff and a roll of the eyes from Micheal.
"Relax. It was one box. And it was damn heavy, too," Robby explained, looking over at the ward mouse. "Looks like our farm boy hasn't lost his strength."
That earns a chuckle from the small crowd, and an air of challenge rose with Langdons next words.
"Oh, yeah? Who's the heaviest here? I'm sure Whitaker wouldn't be able to lift them." He hummed, clearly not understanding the implications of asking about people's weights.
Luckily, no one found it offensive and began looking around. Until eyes landed on Robby.
"Oh, come on! I'm not that heavy! Besides, I don't think Whitaker would want to lift me." Robby mumbled, a heat rising in his cheeks that he hoped could be explained by the chill of the night.
"You're the tallest, Robby. I'm sure that puts you somewhere at the top of the list." Langdon points out.
Finally, Dennis speaks. "I mean... if it'll prove whether or not I've lost my strength, then..." He trails off, looking at Robby for permission.
The group begin buzzing with excitement, all waiting with eager smiles on Robby's go ahead. With a begrudging sigh, he stood.
"Fine. But make it quick. I'm only doing this because to let him prove himself. Not because I want to." Robby groaned, and Dennis stood infront of him.
Blue eyes raked over his body, clearly to size him up. But the intimacy of it all made Robby's brain go to mush. The beer he was drinking was a good excuse, though. And before he knew it he had a pair of arms around his waist and he was being hauled onto Whitaker's shoulder like he was a sack of potatoes. Robby blinked for a few moments, processing that he was currently dangling over his med students shoulder.
The tired team cheered at the sign of strength. The timid looking boy was more than he let on with the way he carried his attending over his shoulder so easily. Clearly, this was stroking Whitaker's practically nonexistent ego, so Robby was at least glad he could make Whitaker feel good about himself.
With a pat of Dennis' shoulder, he let out, "Okay. Put me down or I'm gonna throw up." He chuckled, to which Whitaker complied instantly.
Being dangled nearly upside down with beer in his belly wasn't the nicest feeling, but at least his team was now distracted with this newfound discovery.
"Me next!" Santos let out, and Whitaker knelt down so she could sit on his shoulders and stood up seamlessly.
The team watched as Santos laughed as Whitaker ran them around the park, like two kids having the time of their lives.
"How do they have so much energy?" Robby let out, more to himself than anyone else.
"Eh, I'm sure it'll catch up to them eventually." Langdon quipped.
Robby let out a hum in response, watching Whitaker in his excited freedom. He was like a dog with the zoomies finally being given the chance to run about outside. It was adorable. And the way his strength came so effortlessly made Robby's insides twist with something he didn't know he still had inside of him.
Robby let out a soft chuckle to himself.
"What's up with you?" Dana asked, who had found herself sitting beside the doctor and drinking her own beer.
"I may be getting old, but... I'm still learning something new about myself every day."