Chapter Text
Trinity remembers it clearly as day, that night.
She was doing some shots in a bar near her apartment after finally finishing her final examinations and found her name on the list of graduates. As much as she should be celebrating right now, she has a different problem in her hands.
Her apartment. It was rundown and it was enough to handle 2 years of being assigned in clinical rotations but she just couldn’t take it anymore. Creaky floorboards, near an alleyway that is too suspiciously noisy at night, water is always out, heating is fucked. It was cheap, she knew that and it was alright considering she worked in her rotations for only a part of the year then went back to university in another state.
But now, she is matched in PTMC which was across the state in Pittsburgh. She still had the limited budget, even a little more now that her mother had given her but since Pittsburgh is in a much more crowded area and in downtown, rent prices there were too high for her liking.
“Sorry, I’m not interested.” Trinity looks at the man beside her who was wearing a suit that was way too formal for a dingy bar like this one. Trinity looked at the girl, who was absolutely hot that pouted and turned away.
“She’s hot, why’d you reject her?” Trinity speaks up and she gets a glimpse of the blonde hair with big blue eyes. Must be a year younger than her.
The man gave out an amused smile, “She’s not exactly my type.” He simply replies as he sips through his glass of a dark liquid, Trinity guesses it might be rum and coke, and then smokes the cigarette in his hand right after.
“What, big breasts, skinny waist, brown eyes with brown hair don’t fit in your type?” Trinity says as she downs another shot.
“She’s not packing at least 8 inches.” The man remarks and Trinity slams the shot glass on the counter, choking slightly as the burn in her throat and the sudden revelation catches her off guard.
“Holy fuck, I am so sorry.” Trinity says, actually sorry for the assumption but the man only laughs, “My gaydar is usually accurate so I—“
The man laughs, not in a way that offended Trinity but in a way that made her feel calmer, “That’s fine, don’t worry about it.” Trinity sees the genuine smile on the man’s face. “Dennis Whitaker.” The man offers his hand.
Trinity was a bit skeptical to offer it back. This was a man, a gay man, who looked a bit formal in a dingy bar and was smoking, a glass of rum and coke in his hand. She figures that she can give him her name anyway. If her gaydar wasn’t as accurate as she thought it was, she knew she always had a gut feeling when things were wrong but it seemed like she thought of it as nothing and not alarming.
“Trinity Santos.” Trinity takes the offered hand and the man, Dennis, smiles.
“Nice to meet you.” Dennis said and looked down at the various shot glasses in front of her. “Rough night?”
“More like a rough year.” Trinity grumbles as she orders another shot. “I don’t even know why I keep ordering when I’m flat out broke.”
“Benefits of being in your 20s, Trinity.” Dennis remarks, “If you’re doing all of that then it must be rough.”
Trinity downs the offered shot of tequila and looks at the man, “So, what do you do, Dennis Whitaker?” She asks. She figures she can have the upper hand if she’s the one asking the questions and she does have a resting bitch face with an aggressive personality, if this man was off vibes then it would scare him off.
“FBI Agent.” The man simply said and the bartender immediately refills the near empty glass of the man with more rum and coke. “If you don’t believe me,” He pulls out a badge and Trinity can see it clear as day.
“What if it’s fake?” Trinity questions and Dennis barks a laugh.
“Feel free to report me then.” Dennis smiles. “If you also think the name is fake, the cameras here in the bar can give you leverage in turning me in.”
Trinity catches sight of the camera that perfectly catches both of their faces, it was glowing red and even if the bar was dingy, they can surely afford a camera that looks a bit more expensive than she’s ever seen before.
Dennis was right though. If something happened to Trinity then there was proof, the man literally just gave it away. If the name and the badge were fake, his face wasn’t. Trinity tries not to overthink if the man used some special effects to make his face different. She thinks that’s too much work to be put on if he’s finding his next victims at a place like this.
“I will then, Agent.” Trinity says, a bit hesitant, “I thought FBI agents tend to be secretive?”
“That’s the CIA and Secret Service, Trinity.” Dennis says as he smokes another puff in his lungs, “I went ahead and said it before you saw the gun in my holster.”
Trinity looks down and sees a gun, tightly pressed against his hip and looks up at the man. “The government gave a baby-faced man a gun?” Dennis barks out a loud laugh.
“I mean, I was trained by SWAT and have my firearms certification so yes, they did.” Dennis amusingly said. “What do you work for, Trinity Santos?”
Trinity at this point was 8 shots in. She wasn’t a lightweight but at that point, her tongue was looser than she wanted it to be, “Student doctor for now, will be graduating next month.”
“Amazing. Congratulations.” Dennis smiles at her, “However, you’re drinking because you’re sad rather than happy though. Mind sharing that with me?”
Trinity looks at the man who continues smoking and not making eye contact with her. It was good, Trinity never liked intense eye contact with men that she met anywhere, not especially in bars that was two blocks away where a murder occurred just a week ago.
“Are you investigating the murder from the alleyway?” Trinity asks, not answering his question.
“Yep. Was a federal crime since the same methodology was found in another victim in another state.” Dennis casually says, “I shouldn’t even be telling you that when it’s an ongoing case.”
”And yet you did.” Trinity says and Dennis smiles.
“You’ll find that information out in the news tomorrow morning anyway.” Dennis replies as he takes out another stick and smokes it. “I just realized that I shouldn’t be smoking in front of a doctor.” Dennis says as he tries to extinguish the light but Trinity shakes her head.
“Nah, you’re fine. You’re a grown up and you can make your own decisions.” Plus, Trinity vaped but decided to leave it in her place. “Anyway, yeah, rough year.” She brings back the conversation when it seemed like Dennis didn’t have any more input to give. So he’s smart, knew when to pry and when to ask questions. Trinity thinks to herself.
“Feel free to spin your yarn, student doctor.” Dennis simply says, giving Trinity the option if she wants to say anything or not. And yet Trinity goes.
She tells him about her problems, the one with her mother, the apartment, the residency, PTMC, and Dennis kept nodding and not even bothering to cut her off.
Her memories, even if she remembers that specific part, become a blur. She woke up the next day with a splitting headache in a panic when she realized that she’s not home.
She’s…in a 5 star hotel?
She looks around, she sighed when she still finds her clothes stuck to her body, although now uncomfortable against her skin. She tried to find if she was aching somewhere but everything seemed normal, not a piece of clothing out of place for her and all her belongings were still in the bag sitting on the bedside table. The other bed is not even touched, it seemed like the only thing that had a semblance of someone staying here was her and the bed that was ruffled, which was the one she was laying down on.
And the card by the bedside table. With a note.
‘Trinity Santos,
You passed out in the bar after some more drinks. However, I didn’t know your address so I just booked a hotel nearby. I had to carry you so my apologies for that. If you ever need some help, call me and I’d be happy to provide.
I also left some money in case you need to get a cab back home. I hope $500 will also fit you with some breakfast.
It was really nice to meet you and a pleasure to talk to you last night. Stay safe.
SSA Dennis Whitaker’
Trinity smiled at the somewhat elegant cursive of his handwriting. She picks up the card and reads it.
Dr. Dennis Rossi Whitaker, PhD
Supervisory Special Agent
Behavioral Analysis Unit
Federal Bureau of Investigation — Pittsburgh Field Office
And then below that was his contact information, a phone number and an email address. She decides to pocket it anyway. She looks around the room and decides to make use of the fancy hotel room and get a shower. She figures she can get home with a cab and some fast food for breakfast.
When she does turn on the television before heading on to her shower, she sees the morning news. It was the same guy, Dennis Whitaker, from last night in the dingy bar. In front of the FBI field office here in Pittsburgh, just down town, giving a brief press conference about the murder he mentioned he knew from last night.
Huh, so he is the real deal. Trinity thinks as she pockets the card safely in her wallet before proceeding to shower.
🚨
Trinity didn’t even bother contacting Dennis back but she did keep the card safe and sound in her wallet. It took her 4 weeks to come and contact Dennis.
“Whitaker.” Dennis picks up on the first ring.
“Hey, it’s me. Trinity Santos.” Trinity said and she swallowed the lump in her throat. “Can I see you? I kinda need some help.”
Dennis, in record time, meets her in a nearby coffee place by her apartment, an address that she provided. Dennis ordered some coffee for the both of them and he sat down in front of her, still in that crisp suit but now, brown in color.
“Hey, I’m glad you got home safe.” Dennis starts which makes Trinity laugh.
”It’s a little too late for that actually.” Trinity says which makes Dennis chuckle.
“Yeah but at least the sentiment is there, no?” Dennis replies before taking a sip of his coffee and Trinity simply nods. Dennis seemed to realize that Trinity didn’t know where to start with the conversation so he speaks up for her. “You said that you needed help? Is there anything I can do?” Dennis looks at her with concerned eyes and it makes Trinity want to laugh.
People normally didn’t look that concerned and eager to help after only a conversation in a bar. But then again, people also normally don’t contact that same person after 4 weeks of no communication and are entitled to help. It goes both ways.
“I feel a bit entitled to ask but I wanna know if you have a spare room?” Trinity quietly says and Dennis nods, hand gesturing for her to continue before he says anything else. “You know my situation and all and I saw that you work in the Pittsburgh field office which is less than 15 minutes away from PTMC where I’ll be doing my residency. I kinda need a place to stay.”
Trinity felt bad. She wasn’t someone who asked people for help, the only child in an Asian household with a single mother who travelled for work. She knew how to be independent for her age and she’s 28 years old, she felt disgusted by what she’s even asking but she’s desperate and Dennis seems like the real deal. She’ll take her chances. A roof over her head with warm food is way better than a bruised ego anyway.
“I do have a spare room and it’s actually 5 minutes from PTMC. I can house it for you if you need it.” Dennis seemed genuine and Trinity was actually shocked that he agreed.
”You serious?” Trinity snorts, “Like you’d actually just allow me, some girl you met at a bar and a lesbian who got drunk and you had to pay a huge amount—“
”Not really huge.”
“Huge amount of money in a hotel room and gave me 500 bucks for a cab and breakfast? Are you really stupid or just really nice?” Trinity says and Dennis keeps quiet.
Dennis sighs, “Trinity, I’m a behavioral analyst which means that I profile sickos for a living. And I’m reading you and no alarm bells are going off. Plus, I can actually look up your background in the database to back me up. If it all comes clean then I can do this for you.” Dennis said and Trinity narrows her eyes at him.
“Why?” Trinity asks and Dennis gives her a sad smile.
“I used to be in your position too and luckily, someone was able to take me in. It comes back full circle, you know? At least now, I can do the same for someone who needs it.” Dennis truthfully says and Trinity wants to know more but she’s not that entitled to demand a backstory of this man.
Trinity stays quiet and weighs her options. She’s desperate and she can’t take another day in that apartment of hers so she says yes.
That weekend, Trinity packed her bags and Dennis waited for her downstairs for her to officially move into his apartment. Dennis, with Trinity’s permission, had a background check for her which was very thorough too. Dennis told her that he has dogs in the house. She’s alright with it anyway, especially when she saw the adorable pictures that he had of them. A gorgeous retired K9 German Shepard and a golden retriever whom he adopted when he failed training as a medical alert dog.
She’s a cat person if she’s being honest but her heart melted when she heard of what their backgrounds were like. It was a good thing too especially when the two welcomed her immediately and snuggled with her on the couch.
“Holy shit, agents really get paid big huh?” Trinity said when her eyes roamed to the apartment.
It was two floors and Dennis had it renovated. The building had its own security which was tight, expensive enough that it had a functioning elevator and a receptionist. He lived on the 10th floor of the building so Trinity awed at the view of the Pittsburgh skyline through a portion of big windows by the living area.
“Maybe. It was an investment anyway. I’m not going anywhere else.” Dennis offhandedly comments as he makes them some tea.
Dennis had taste, it wasn’t plain like those in the magazines. Trinity can see a vintage vinyl record player beside a small shelf with some vinyls of varying genres. It seemed like Dennis was those types who listened to music he enjoyed regardless of its time and artist.
Dennis also seemed to like darkened colors which contrasted greatly with the neutrals of the place. Dark green curtains that were automatic, black countertops, brown couch, blankets of varying colors, a bookshelf that housed some framed pictures and antiques. Some artworks on the wall as well. It looked very homely, like it was made for it to be one. Trinity didn’t know if it was only a cover or Dennis really thought of it as his own.
It was big and Trinity could get used to it.
“Here is your room.” Dennis opens the door and Trinity awed at the size. Queen size bed with white linen sheets and a dark blanket over, a walk in closet, attached bedroom that even had a hot tub with a vanity unlike in Trinity’s previous apartment where she had to balance all her make up on top of the toilet because it was just a basin sink. She had a desk and even a window nook by the big windows with green curtains up. She didn’t read much but maybe she can get behind that. Some bookshelves and more free space that Dennis said she can go and decorate as she wishes. She didn’t have a television in her room but she can get used to that when there was one downstairs.
“One rule. You do not go to the room beside this one. That’s my office and I tend to bring back home cases. It also has some very gory pictures of crime scenes since I have an evidence board. Just sparing you of the trauma.” Dennis jokes as they pass by that specific room. His office was sandwiched between Trinity’s room and Dennis’ room which was directly near the opening to the stairs.
“I have a college student who walks the dogs on a schedule.” Dennis informed as they walked downstairs, the stairs overlooking the entire downstairs area, an open floor plan as it seemed and she loved it. “I also work as a professor in the University of Pittsburgh in criminology and psychology so some students who need money on the side, I give them that job.”
That was smart. Desperate students who needed something flexible but still earned some money, it was a great way since there was a direct bus station 5 minutes near the building that can directly take you to the university. Dennis did say that the student wasn’t his student, he didn’t like giving jobs to students he taught since it felt a bit unfair.
The more Dennis talked, the more Trinity knew she could trust him. He seemed like an upstanding citizen and was very careful in his life. Trinity knew she was safe when Dennis went on to lecture her about the very tight security system he had placed.
“Enter the code and you have 10 seconds to get in or else the police will be notified. No cameras in the bedrooms and bathrooms but there is a camera that overlooks the entire living room. I have a gun in safe and if you want to use it just in case, I can give you the code after you learn how to shoot.” Dennis nonchalantly says and Trinity is baffled.
“Holy shit, do all FBI agents do this?” Trinity asks and Dennis laughs.
“The gun in the safes? Yeah, pretty much. But the tight security, maybe not. I’m just being cautious.” Dennis said. “My guns are in my bedroom in a safe and I have a rifle in my office so you don’t need to worry about anything. I keep those locked anyway.”
”Okay, noted.” Trinity puffed out her chest in this, feeling more and more safe. It was like a triple layered security. The receptionist didn’t allow just anyone to come in, they had to surrender an ID and had multiple cameras of different angles. Add that with tight security in the actual apartment and the guns, Trinity really did feel safe in here.
“I can leave a card, if you need it. I will give you the code and use it as you wish. If you want to go grocery shopping or such, then go ahead.” Dennis said as they walked through the kitchen and pantry. “I tend to stock up on snacks too for the student if she needs some food. Small thing but it’s fine.”
“God, I feel like a sugar baby.” Trinity jokes when Dennis hands her a card.
“Well, you did tell me that you know how to do basic chores. But I do hire someone to clean if I felt like I’m too busy and they’re from an agency. You’re like a friend now, don’t think of yourself as such.” Dennis smiles which Trinity reciprocates.
“Alright, friend.” Trinity laughs and looks at Dennis, “What do you want for dinner?”
🚨
It was a good few months to say the least. Great, even.
Dennis attended her graduation when Trinity grumbled about how her mom can’t go because of some business trip. Trinity was glad that she had at least a familiar face in the audience. They celebrated with some steak in a restaurant and ice cream before bed, but they actually ended up sleeping together on the couch while a sitcom was playing.
Dennis was there when Trinity opened up and cried about her first shift. Dennis was glad that she could be vulnerable to him, especially when he made some assumptions about Trinity and her past based on some passing comments she made prior. Her childhood, her dead best friend, the molestation, all of it, Trinity said combined with what she felt in that first shift.
Dennis thought that she would come to regret opening up to him but it seemed like she was relieved since it has been awhile since she can actually be open to somebody. That was the 4th month into this arrangement and they’ve become best friends, though, not outwardly admitting to it.
Trinity was used to some days where Dennis didn’t come home. He mostly did consults in the field office and assisted there, alongside with his work as a professor. But if it was actually needed, he went into the field, that being he had to go to another state for a case.
Trinity met Andrea, Dennis’ assistant from the bureau who sometimes hand delivered cases to their home and she had the code. Dennis reassured her that only both of them, Andrea, the dog walker and the cleaning agency knew of the code. Plus, there was only one attempt at opening it and if the code was wrong, it called the police. Thankfully, it has never happened yet.
Dennis eventually also opened up. It was in the 8th month mark of the friendship. A case involving the murders of fathers in another state and basically told Trinity about everything from his past. From his murdered family, to an agent in Quantico adopting him, him taking his last name as his middle name, officially having Agent David Rossi as his father, and what prompted him to take the field office route rather than staying in Quantico.
“I was abducted, tortured for 3 days straight. Thought it was nothing, thought it was the job but the next thing I knew I wanted to resign. The bureau didn’t agree and we had to negotiate. I still had to solve cases, be my best because I was one of their best. I knew too much and it was too dangerous to let me go. Eventually we came to an agreement that I would be in a field office, take more office hours and if necessary, I would go out in the field which is still way too much than I expected but at least I’m not going to another state every week.” Dennis said over a cup of bourbon. “At least I get to stay home, so much more than before.”
That night ended with Trinity hugging Dennis on the couch as they fall asleep.
They traded off chores. Sometimes Trinity would do both of their laundry and then fold if she had a day off, sometimes it was Dennis since he can just take case files home anyway. They both cooked but it was more for Dennis who always had a meal ready for Trinity since he goes home by 6, an hour earlier. Breakfast was Trinity’s job, she starts her day at 7 in the morning while Dennis started his at 8, so she got up early. They sometimes do groceries together, but sometimes only alone. They had a list stuck to the fridge anyway and a shared notes page just in case.
Trinity updated the first aid kit in the apartment which Dennis was thankful for. It was her job now too. She sometimes would properly steam and fix up his suits that he wore to work, sometimes even fixing up his go-bag if he had already used it. Dennis would keep some of her favorite coffee, matcha, snacks and energy drinks in the pantry for her to take to work if she needed it.
Trinity sometimes walked the dogs with the dog walker. Trinity and Dennis sometimes do it together. They would sometimes go for a run together or go to the gym. Shopping as well in thrift stores and sometimes in malls too. Dennis had to pay for streaming services eventually when he noticed that Trinity watched shows or movies as downtime.
It was going well. They kept teasing and bantering. Trinity urged the man to grow out his bangs and is now a proper modern mullet. Dennis taught her how to spot specific behaviors and she used it to her advantage, immediately clocking suspicious cases in the hospital which Robby and her co-workers commended her for. They shared each other’s location at all times. It was going great.
“Are you interested in meeting my co-workers?” Trinity brings up during dinner one day and Dennis looks up. “I mean, you are my best friend and it’s been over a year already. They sometimes ask me if I’m actually a lesbian since you keep appearing in my social media posts.”
Trinity posts both of them at times. At first it was just a figure, sometimes his hands, sometimes his arms and then eventually his face. People had a betting pool if she actually was a lesbian. She felt so offended and just said that it was her best friend and that she was allowed to have friends outside of work.
“I mean, sure. I know all about them already anyway.” Dennis said with a hidden meaning. As someone who is very overprotective over Trinity, he had background checks through all the staff and thankfully, no one was really that suspicious. He had it done when Trinity talked about a certain senior resident who blew up on her on her first day. Jackass. “Maybe if everyone is free then? I don’t mind.”
“Hm, maybe if both of us are free anyway. Your schedule is way too unpredictable.” Trinity said, knowing that sometimes Dennis was called even at the quiet hours of the night because he had an urgent case. She remembered the first time and thought someone was breaking in but sighed in relief when it was just Dennis, fixing his cuffs in the living room at 1:30 in the morning, already with a case file in hand.
“Just tell me and I’ll try my best.” Dennis laughs.
🚨
It didn’t take long anyway.
Trinity was an R2 now and was growing exceptionally tired too. More responsibility on her hands means more energy and more knowledge being put front. Effort too when she has medical students being assigned to her on the first day.
“Trin, what’s your best friend’s name?” Mel brings up and shows a story that Trinity posted the night before.
Dennis had a rough shift and needed way too much alcohol in his system so she took a picture of him hanging on the couch, drunk off his ass and her with a smug grin, captioned ‘Missed this loser. Don’t go away that long ever again’ since Dennis had two cases in the same state for 2 weeks. Trinity got a bit lonely.
That morning, Dennis had a killer headache and she whipped up some leftover chicken soup for him with some Tylenol before heading to work.
“Dennis.” She simply said as she continued to chart. Night shift was about to come in anyway so she had to finish it before Al-Hashimi and Robby could breathe down her neck. Al-Hashimi was only supposed to be a substitute anyway but she became a part of the family by the end of Robby’s sabbatical.
“Why have you never introduced him to us?” Samira, her everloving crush, had mentioned as she joins the conversation by the central hub. Not knowing that some of her co-workers were already slightly treading in closer to hear the conversation.
“I mean, he’s not a doctor and has crazy hours anyway so you haven’t had the chance to meet. But he’s really nice and really cool too.” Trinity was informed that she can’t just bring up that she knew an FBI agent especially when Dennis was made aware of how fast gossip spread. Even if being an FBI agent wasn’t as secretive as the CIA or Secret Service, she had to be more secretive because you never know who’s listening.
“What are we talking about?” Parker joins into the conversation as well as the rest of the day shift and night shift who were ready for hand offs. ”Is this about Trinity’s male best friend?”
“Yeah! So suspicious too.” Javadi mentions off hand and Trinity rolls her eyes.
“For the last time, we are not in a lavender marriage and I am not straight. I am a proud lesbian and he’s a proud gay too.” Trinity grumbles.
“Alright, as much as you all like to gossip—“ Robby cuts in.
“You also like gossip.” Dana butts in with a grin and the chief attending rolls his eyes.
“You all like to gossip, huddle with night shift. Then hand-offs can start.” Robby said and everyone took their places.
“Okay so, day shift has done great work, we have the beds and—“ Robby starts off, Al-Hashimi and Abbot beside him before he is cut off.
“Excuse me.”
A voice cuts through the group and they all look behind to see a young man, baby faced but in a very crisp and an expensive looking suit hugging his frame—as if tailored for him, blue eyes that is supposed to captivate you in but has a dangerous intent behind it in you look closely, an aura that is confident yet quiet.
The man pulls out a badge and opens it.
“Supervisory Special Agent, Dennis Rossi Whitaker, FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit. May I have a word?” The man, Dennis, says and Trinity raises an eyebrow.
“Huckleberry, what the fuck are you doing here?” Trinity brings up, confused and a bit alarmed and Dennis places a firm hand on her shoulder to let her know that she should keep quiet. She steps back a little as Dennis moves forward.
“Dennis? Is this your best friend?” Shen asks.
“You’re best friends with an FBI agent?” Samira continues.
“I need to talk about who is in charge. I would like to assume that that is you, Dr. Michael Robinavitch?” Dennis’ eyes look at the chief attending.
“Yes, that is me.” Robby starts off slowly and eventually puts out his hand, “Dr. Robby, please.”
”Dr. Robinavitch.” Dennis sternly emphasizes which earns a raised eyebrow from the chief attending. “You have an incoming trauma in 2 minutes. Our unsub is a prime suspect in the murder of various women in multiple states. I need to inform you that we need to interrogate him as you give him treatment.” Dennis says as he pulls out a warrant and gives it to the chief attending who looks over it with the two attendings by his side hovering closely.
“You cannot interrogate as we treat. We have way too many hands and we need to focus.” Robby says sternly, despite being quite fascinated with the man in front of him. Robby couldn’t deny that the man, Agent Whitaker, had some looks.
“With all due respect, I will not follow your orders. A missing woman who is on the brink of death is on the line here. We need information on where he’s keeping her.” Dennis says with a glare.
“Whitaker!” The man looks back before Robby can make a retort and someone who is heavily injured is wheeled in. An agent runs to Dennis who shakes his head. “He won’t speak.”
“Alright, let’s treat this man but please, Agent Whitaker, work your way around us not through us.” Robby frustratingly said and almost everyone comes into the trauma bay.
The EMT makes their report and transfers the unsub to the bed. Dennis glares at the cocky and arrogant as he refuses to speak. The doctors and nurses work on the patient but Dennis bites his lip.
“Where the fuck is Marjorie?” Dennis’ sharp tone is filled with hatred which sends shivers on everyone’s spine. “Cramer, you either tell me or I will have to interrogate you while you’re in the bed.”
“You do what the fuck you want and I’m not speaking.” Cramer, the unsub, speaks as he closes his eyes.
“Who’s the suit?” Walsh and Garcia come in and Dennis narrows his eyes towards them, not even bothering for a response, too focused on getting something out of the unsub.
“FBI agent.” Robby spats out, hating the fact that law enforcement always thinks that the ED is their turf so he already has some disdain for Trinity's best friend.
Dennis stays silent as James Cramer smugly stares at him despite being heavily injured. Dennis goes through the profile, he goes through the MO, the victimology, the history of the unsub.
Dennis smirks, leans closer, way too close to be considered as sterile in the sterile field that is setting up. “You took the lives of hundreds, all because your mother was a whore?”
Everyone heard that and turned to the FBI agent with a small smirk on his face, “How did it feel to jack off while you watched through the cracks of the closet, watching your mother being fucked like a prostitute by another man you don’t know? Did you like it? Did you ejaculate? Maybe you did because you killed and raped women that looked just like your mother right?”
Cramer’s face becomes red with anger and Dennis smirks, jackpot.
“How did it feel when you had sex with your mother’s corpse?”
Cramer proceeded to thrash around, luckily enough the doctors and nurses were quick enough to avoid despite the sudden words leaving the agent’s mouth. Dennis steps around and wraps his hand around Cramer’s neck, pinning him down in one swift move, lightly pressing the carotid which makes the unsub gasp.
“You fucking try. I’ve got you, you sick fuck. You will spend your days in prison, in solitary and someone will fucking kill you. I will make sure you get the fucking death penalty because holy fuck, the hundred lives you took need it. Now tell me, where the fuck is Marjorie!? Where is she?!” Dennis yells and it was as if everyone is being suffocated by the tense air in the trauma bay.
“Agent Whitaker!” An agent comes into the trauma bay and whispers something to Dennis who clenches his jaw. Dennis looks at the piece of paper in the agent’s hand and begins to read off of it.
Dennis looks at Cramer and smirks, “Jack Miller, Michael Thompson, Kevin O’ Connor,”
”What the fuck are you doing?” Cramer gasps out but Denis ignores him.
“Anthony Martinez, Robert Jenkins, David Brooks—“
Cramer attempts to thrash out again, a bit more violently but thankfully, Robby had ordered an immediate 4 point restraint when he first attempted.
“David Brooks! I need information on his address! Now! Hit it, now!” Dennis yells to the agent who runs around with a phone to his ear for the order.
“I want to see you again, Cramer. I will fucking go to your execution and watch with a fucking smile as you take your last breath. You know how entertaining it is? Watching the sick fucks I fucking caught being killed. Fuck, it is exhilarating.” Dennis sickly smiles at him, “I will fucking make sure of it. You will not die on your own terms, you will die by my hand.”
Dennis unwraps his hand on the neck of the unsub who gasps for air. Dennis nods at Robby who seemed to snap out of his trance, he starts ordering his doctors and nurses, who also seemed to move in silence. Not unlike the organized chaos of their usual trauma bay cases.
Dennis stands in the foot of the bed as they work on Cramer who was sedated, already opening him up because there were no available operating rooms.
“Marjorie isn’t at Brooks’ address.” The same agent comes inside and Dennis snaps his head towards him.
“What?!” Dennis yells out. Cramer had an accomplice who mainly assisted in burying the bodies in the dump site, not actively engaging in the kill and torture. If David Brooks, the accomplice, didn’t have Marjorie, then where the fuck was she?
Dennis begins to be in a trance, he goes back to the profile, the case, everything that flashes through his eyes as if it will be the one thing that he will see and remember before he dies. He then remembers a key statement Cramer said when he was caught, before Dennis shot him and got injured when he fell down.
“If I’m going down, I’m taking everybody with me.”
Dennis looks at Cramer and begins to laugh lightly, eventually hysterically and everyone in the room looked at him like he was crazy. “Holy fuck, Cramer, you sick fuck.” Dennis says as he pulls out his phone and calls the head of the SWAT team.
“I need everyone out of Brooks’ now! Get out, now! Out! Everybody out!” Dennis yells and hangs up. Dennis turns to the agent and smirks, “I need SWAT to go to the dump site. Marjorie is fucking buried alive. Now!” Dennis turns back to the doctors and nurses operating on him and smirks. Cramer was a smart man, and Dennis had the absolute delight in ensuring that Cramer won’t get the last laugh, Dennis was.
“SWAT ETA 2 minutes. We have a back up.” The agent informs and Dennis narrows his eyes.
“David Brooks was an escape. He’s going to kill Marjorie just like how he killed his mother. Buried alive and when she’s dead, then he’s going to have sex with her dead body. Let’s just hope she’s alive.” Dennis said as he went through the case in his head again while looking at the open body of the unsub.
The doctors and nurses keep quiet, only speaking up when updating for vitals and procedures. Dennis hears a message in his ear piece. “Copy. Update us.”
“Multiple explosives in Brooks’ place went off. No one was hurt but they’re calling in crime scene techs because they found some remains on the house.” Dennis updated and the agent nodded. “Go and get me updates from the burial site. I’ll call my technical analyst to hopefully cross match some of the victims in the data base. Let’s just pray Marjorie pulls through.”
The agent leaves the trauma bay and Trinity looks at Dennis with worried eyes. Trinity never knew what Dennis was like at work, he kept it a secret while Trinity didn’t mind telling him how she was in the ED. He has never heard Dennis yell like that or be frustrated like that, always a calm and collected man so she was worried for him.
Minutes pass by and Cramer is officially stable, at the same time, the agent comes through the doors with a smile on his face. “Marjorie is alive. She’s being taken to St. Paul’s hospital. Her mother is also on the way.”
Dennis lets out a shaky breath and nods, “Go to her and get her chart. Have her cleared and contact Judge Erickson for the case. She’s going to oversee this.”
“Understood, Agent Whitaker.”
Dennis looked at the band of doctors and nurses, “I will need a detailed medical report. An officer will come by and guard his room during his stay.” Then leaves the trauma bay.
There was still silence and everyone kept side-eyeing Trinity who was also confused at the sudden turn of events, and another side of Dennis that she didn’t know about.
“I’ll go and update the chart.” Parker said after the deafening silence with a soft smile directed to Trinity and Trinity nodded to her as appreciation.
“He’s not…normally like that. I don’t know, sorry.” Trinity quietly says and Robby sighs.
“You’re not in the same place of work as him. So maybe that’s why.” He quietly reassures her, still being haunted by the revelations that left Dennis’ mouth then leaves the trauma bay, leaving Trinity in her lonesome.
🚨
Handoffs happened. Overtime for an hour because of the trauma Dennis bought in. The rest of the staff were still in the break room and still in silence. They thought they have seen it all but seeing what human beings are capable of doing just from the mouth of an FBI agent, it makes them think all the more of what horrors Dennis has seen in his line of work.
They’ve worked with law enforcement before, Robby or everyone knows how stubborn they are and how they walk into their territory as if it was their own and can override it. Everyone hates it, even Trinity hates it.
Trinity has never heard of the cases that Dennis works on. She wants to ask if it is just as dramatic and extreme as in true crime documentaries or crime drama shows but he just laughed it off and let her indulge in her wild imagination. Trinity stays silent in the break room while quiet conversations are exchanged through her co-workers.
“There you are.” Everyone looks at the door to find a tired Agent Dennis Whitaker entering the break room. He takes a deep breath and stands in front of everyone. “I would like to apologize for my behavior an hour ago. That’s not the normal me and I just need Marjorie to come back to her mother by the end of the day.” Dennis apologized and everyone can see how rugged he is, how tired he is and yet relieved at the idea of a daughter going back to her mother.
No one wanted to speak but Trinity slams her hand on the table and points at Dennis, “What the fuck? This is what you deal with on a daily basis? And you’re this scary FBI agent with a big job who thinks that you can just waltz in and demand control of the room?” Trinity starts as she paces.
“Trin—“
”I have told you countless times how some officers ruin shifts for us, what is your fucking reason other than getting the job done for displaying that infront of us!?” Trinity was feeling frustrated, she knows that the colleagues have the same sentiments as her.
Dennis didn’t speak for a moment as he took in Trinity and her panting for an explanation and the rest of the staff watching with equal parts disdain and curiosity. Dennis smiled sadly, “The victims all looked like you.” He quietly admits which takes Trinity by surprise.
“What?” Trinity breathes out.
“All of them were women. Dark hair, green eyes, mid to late 20s, outgoing, fierce, extroverted, well their friends and family claimed they were all like that.” Dennis said and sighed. “Trinity, I’m your best friend and I love you even if we don’t say it enough. I knew I cared for you when the first case I had that matched that demographic after we became friends, those cases that landed on my desk, it took me a minute to process it before proceeding. It’s like how you get a bit more personal with a patient because they’re going through the same thing as you and the line just, blurs.” Dennis rambles.
“I don’t tell you about my cases because holy shit, it is horrible. Too gruesome for someone like you who claims that they’re tough. I’m numb to fucked up cases, I see psychopaths every single day, this is just a regular Tuesday for me. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect me because I’m just human after all.” Dennis finishes with a smile. “So, you do not get to know about my cases. There is a reason why the office always stays locked anyway.”
“Oh please, I can handle gore. I like horror movies.” Javadi snorts at this statement while Trinity glares at her.
Dennis has an amused expression on his face, “Trinity, I am doing undercover work in pedophile rings. Do you really want to see children being sold on the internet?”
Trinity had a horrified look on her face, “You, what?! I never knew that!”
Dennis shrugs, “I pose as a buyer and I profile from that and VCACs catch the unsub and it’s all good to go.” He says as if he didn’t just traumatize a group of doctors and nurses.
“Do you have a specialty in the Bureau?” Jack pipes up which earns a glare from Robby. “What? I’m curious.”
“I do.” Dennis smiles, “It is not required for a behavioral analyst to have specialties but I do have some. I specialize in obsessional crimes, sex crimes and counter terrorism. I also do major consultation work for white collar crimes and violent crimes against children division.”
“Oh wow, that is pretty diverse.” Samira comments, “And how old are you?”
“I’m only 27.” Dennis smiles.
“He has a PhD in psychology and is taking another one for criminology!” Trinity pipes up with a proud expression. ”Dr. Whitaker.” Trinity wraps an arm around his shoulders.
“Trinity please, in here, that actually means something.” Dennis muses with a smile but catches the hesitant look of Robby. He cleared his throat and looked at the man.
“Dr. Robinavitch. I would like to apologize again for my behavior. I am not going to promise that it won’t happen again unless I have a case here, hopefully I do not, ever.” Dennis says and the chief attending stays silent.
“At least you bought a warrant.” Robby says flatly and stands up. “Finish hand offs and day shift, get out, now.” He finally says in a stern voice before leaving the break room.
Dennis looks back at his figure and sighs, “Sorry, it seemed like I made an enemy out of your boss.” Dennis smiled but Trinity smirked.
“He’s always grumpy. Don’t you worry, my boy.” Trinity pats his head. “I’ll do handoffs and we can go home?”
Dennis nods, “I have the bureau car, I’m taking it home.” Dennis eyes the other 5 girls (Samira, Mel, Javadi, Joy and Emma) who smiled at him, “Maybe you can join in and I’ll drop you all off?”
Dennis gets properly introduced to the rest of the girls that Trinity has been talking about for the past months. Eventually, they do get back to hand offs while Dennis waits at the central hub, observing everything in.
“So,” Dennis looks at the charge nurse who smirks, “I’m assuming you’re the reason why Santos has a knack on getting real good at finding suspicious cues in suspicious cases.” This makes Dennis smile, not noticing the pointed stare of the chief attending at his figure.
”You must be charge nurse Dana Evans. It is very nice to meet you.” Dennis shakes her hand. “Yes, she got curious about profiling so why not indulge in it, no?” Dennis lets out a small laugh.
“A credit to you then. Hasn’t missed a point at all.” Dana said and Dennis lightly nods his head, as if bowing in appreciation. “It is very nice to finally meet you. Santos has said many good things about you.”
“Likewise, Ms. Evans.” Dana laughs at the formality.
“No need to be formal, just call me Dana.” Dana waves him off but he huffs a laugh.
“My apologies, Ms. Evans.” Dennis sternly emphasizes which earns a shocked expression from the charge nurse but she settles down eventually, nodding and going back to hand offs.
“Huck! We’re ready!” Trinity, along with the band of girls behind her said. Dennis smiles at them. ”Can we get Chinese before going home for dinner? I’m too lazy to cook.” Trinity whines, linking arms with Dennis who smiled.
“Of course.” Dennis said and turned to the rest of the staff, “Thank you all for your help. I very much appreciate it. May all of you have a good night.” Dennis receives some responses to some of the staff but he simply turns back around, leading the women to the car.
🚨
”Stop pouting, Robinavitch.” Dana comments when the FBI agent and the band of girls with him leave their sight.
“I am not pouting!” Robby defends himself but doesn’t even bother facing the charge nurse.
“He is so pouting.” Al-Hashimi comments with a laugh, an amused expression on her face.
Dana turns to the man and removes her glasses, “He’s just doing his job. If you were in his shoes, you would do the exact same thing. He had a deadline and he’s desperate.” Dana sternly reminds the chief attending who rolls his eyes.
“He’s just grumpy because he has control issues.” Lena comments and Abbot high-fives her.
Robby rolls his eyes and stays silent, gripping the strap of his backpack slung over his shoulder.
Such a waste of a pretty face, Robby thinks to himself as he huffs and leaves the department.