Work Text:
Dennis had thought he was done for when Santos tried to convince him to go home with her. He thought she would report him. The fact that he had made it this long without getting caught was a miracle. But when he showed up for his next shift, no one said anything. No one looked at him differently. No security guard came to the eighth floor to arrest him. Which meant Santos hadn't told. He knew he needed to talk to her, convince her he was fine, but she scared him. Hopefully she would just forget she saw anything and that would be that.
-c-
It took Trinity three days to convince herself that she hadn't imagined Dennis living on the 8th floor. Another day to figure out which man to tell. She knew Jack was home right now and from the light on in the front office, awake.
Jack sighed softly, tilting his head to listen to the person pacing outside his and Mike's shared office. He'd give them another couple minutes before he opened the door and took the decision to talk to him away. If he had to guess, it was about the shooting. Between him and Mike, they had checked on every single one of their kids in the immediate aftermath. But he had done this enough to know that emotions would come up later.
This had been Mike's damn idea to begin with. Running a family style home for residents and medical students. Some stayed a year while they worked out other housing solutions, some stayed their entire residency. The hospital helped pay for the house now but in the beginning, it was just him and Mike. The kids paid rent based on finances and honestly, most of them stayed for free. The idea had been to give medical students and residents a safe place to live and a support system that understood what they were going through. It was designed to give them the best chance of success.
The hesitated knock on the office door was a relief. He really hadn't wanted to confront a young adult today. “It's open.” Jack called, raising an eyebrow at the younger woman who finally stepped into their office. Trinity had handled the shooting extremely well, they knew she had to be struggling. But Jack had been pretty sure she wouldn't reach out. The young woman was a completely different person here than she was at the hospital. “Trinity?”
“Whitaker is living in the hospital.” She rushed out, taking a deep breath when he just looked at her. Trinity knew Jack would help, he was more stubborn than Robby.
“I'm not going to ask how you know this or how long you have known this. Where in the hospital is he staying?” As much as Jack had hoped she was finally reaching out, this was more Trinity's speed, taking care of others.
“8th floor. I tried to get him to come here but he refused. He said he couldn't afford rent.” Trinity sighed softly, dropping into the chair Jack had gestured too. She hadn't wanted to sit. Sitting meant he was going to try to talk to her and she didn't want to talk. She just wanted to help Dennis.
“I'll take care of Dennis.” Jack studied her for a moment, knowing how careful he had to be. She was just starting to trust them, he didn't want to rock that trust. “I need you to write up your REBOA case and all of the mdm that went into it.”
“Jack.” Trinity groaned, shaking her head. He had already told her to never do that again without an attending present, she didn't want to have to write the report. “Why?”
“It's a good case study and good practice. Let's us know what you were thinking.” Jack shrugged, glancing at the clock. While that was true, it would also help her process some of the trauma, if she wasn't willing to talk to them. He was just going to give her time.
-c-
Jack had to wait until shift change to go up to the hospital. He hadn't told Mike why he was coming, just that there was something he needed to take care of. He had already set up one of the empty rooms for Dennis. The young man was coming home with them whether he liked it or not and then Jack would have Mike loop Kiara in so she could help him with getting financial assistance.
Dennis had just sat down on his bed, picking up the text book he was trying to finish when a knock came at the door. He swore softly but quickly moved to answer it. He didn't want someone bursting in on him. Hopefully this was someone who would believe he had just came here to study. “Dr. Abbott! What are you doing here?”
“Whitaker. I should be asking you the same. You living here?” Jack had stepped forward so that Dennis had to open the door wider, using his arm to keep it open. It was obvious that Dennis had been living here a while. There were several textbooks on the dresser beside a small stack of flinched sandwiches. The room looked lived in but it was also very clear that Dennis didn't own much.
“No sir. Just needed a quiet place to study.” Dennis answered automatically. He did not want to let Abbott into his room but he knew the longer he was in the hallway, the more likely someone passing would notice that the floor wasn't as empty as they thought it was. He stepped back finally, giving the attending space to enter if he chose.
Jack stepped inside but didn't let the door shut, they weren't staying there long. “You cannot live at the hospital, Dennis. There is a place for residents and medical students to stay if they need it.”
“I can't afford the rent at any of those places.” Dennis knew he wasn't supposed to work during his rotations, but he was looking for a job to do during his days off. He needed the income. He had read all the pamphlets on student housing and all the options. He just couldn't afford them. He had almost made it through med school floating place to place. It was just one more year and then he would be getting paid.
Clearly the kid hadn't heard the rumors about their house. Which shocked Jack a bit since all of their current residents were doing emergency medicine. “I have a place you can stay and we can work out logistics later. But you cannot live in the hospital.” Jack stated firmly, meeting the younger man's eyes when they flew to his. “This isn't an option, Dennis. You cannot stay here and we have an extra room.”
“I can't paid.” Dennis shook his head, taking a step back.
“We don't expect you to.” Jack stated softly, leaning against the wall. He kept his arms loose by his side, wanting the young man to feel safe. He wasn't quite sure what trauma Dennis had been through but he could tell it was trauma.
“What's the catch?” There was always a catch, always a price. Nothing came for free. Dennis knew that very well.
Jack was aware of what Dennis was really asking and he chose to ignore it for now. Most of their new residents moved in in June, since rotations started july 1st. They all signed the housing contract and learned their rules at the same time. But the residents they acquired during the year always asked the same question. What do you get out of it?
It broke Mike's heart every time but Jack understood the defense mechanism intimately. It was better to ignore it for now and prove that their house was a safe space. “We have a housing contract, it outlines rules and expectations. There are four med students and residents currently in our house. We have a spare room. Pack your things please.”
Dennis had this feeling that even if he argued, he wasn't getting out of this. It only took him a minute to load his textbooks, a change of clothes, and two sets of scrubs into his backpack. He grabbed his toothbrush, shampoo, and deodorant from the bathroom, shoving them into his backpack. “Okay.”
“Is that everything?” Jack asked calmly, glancing at the sandwiches Dennis quickly shoved in his bag before scanning the empty room.
He grabbed his phone charger, shoving it into his pocket. “I travel light sir.” Deniss shrugged, not meeting the intense gaze of Jack's eyes.
Jack kept his reaction inside, it wasn't the first time he had heard that either. Which meant they needed to take Dennis shopping, probably before Kiara could get him a stipend. The younger man was going to need the basics. The community closet one of their former residents had started would help for now. “If you are ready then, let's go.”
The fact that Jack didn't make a big deal out of it made him feel a little better. Dennis knew he was an adult and adults weren't supposed to need help, so he got by with what he could. But that meant he ate stolen sandwiches and washed his two pairs of underwear in the sink. He got by, no one noticed.
The house was enormous. Two stories with several rooms and what looked like a small house connected to it. “You live here?” Dennis asked without thinking. Of course Jack lived here, he wouldn't have brought him to a stranger's house.
“We live in the connected apartment. The house itself is for residents and students, although we do host mandatory family dinner once a month in the main kitchen.” Jack answered quietly, letting the young man look for a moment before guiding him to the front door. They lived in the apartment so they had a bit of privacy, a space away from their residents. And there were things about his and Mike's relationship that were no ones business. “Kitchens fully stocked, everything in the main kitchen is for everyone. If you want personal snacks or drinks, there is a minifridge in each room. Alcohol stays in your room. No drugs. Would you like the tour first or to see the housing contract first?”
Dennis blinked, breathing in the smell of some type of pasta when Jack had opened the front door. He ducked his head when his stomach rumbled, stealing a glance at Jack. At least the man wasn't looking at him with pity. Actually, he hadn't shown him any pity earlier either. Just quiet understanding. As much as he wanted to know what was in the contract, he kept telling himself that he wasn't staying.
“Right, tour first.” Jack decided, nudging him toward the first hallway. “Mike and I have an office down here, if you need anything you just knock. That's the library, that door is the community closet, which we'll go through later. Door at the end goes to mine and Mike's apartment.” He pointed to each in turn before turning back to the entry way. “Common area is through here- Tori, get your ass off the table. We've talked about this.”
Dennis blinked rapidly, eyes widening when Victoria moved from sitting on an end table to an armchair. No way she lived here. She had a family, he'd met her scary mother.
Victoria snorted, flopping down in the armchair. “I thought you were at work!”
“Which isn't an excuse!” Mike yelled from the kitchen, popping his head around the corner and raising an eyebrow. So Dennis was the reason Jack had gone in on his day off. Kid looked scared but he always looked scared.
“Ignore them.” Jack rolled his eyes, gesturing toward the kitchen. “Main kitchen and dining room is through here. We try to rotate cooking and cleaning so no one is too overwhelmed after a shift. Eat anything in the kitchen you want, if you use the last of something, put it on the list on the fridge and whoever is ordering groceries will get it.”
This was a lot. He could never pay for rent and free access to food. “What's that smell?” Dennis asked instead, his stomach grumbling again.
“Lasanga. Both vegan and meat. It'll be ready by the time Jack finishes the tour.” Mike answered, glancing toward the younger man again.
His stomach was going to betray him. Dennis swallowed, following Jack out of the kitchen and up a staircase.
“Three bedrooms and a bathroom in each wing.” Jack led the way to the left side of the stairs. He took a key out of his pocket, opening the door at the end of the hall. “This is your room.”
It was probably the biggest bedroom he'd ever slept in. It wasn't just that there was a full size bed and a closet. There was also a full sized desk, a dresser, a minifridge and microwave…it was a fully equipped room. The bed was even made already. “I can't afford this place.” Dennis stated after a moment, not taking the key Jack offered.
“We will discuss details after dinner, but this is your room kid. Regardless of whether you can pay or not.” Jack was going to have Mike join him in that conversation, so they could start getting Kiara involved. He had a feeling this kid was going to fight them. He wouldn't be the first.
Dennis opened his mouth to argue but his stomach growled again. He could stay for one meal. He knew he couldn't afford to live there, but a hot meal sounded nice.
-c-
He knew he should have escaped sooner. Dennis had not been expecting Mohan and Santos to live there. The fact that Victoria also seemed to live there really threw him. And while dinner had been interesting, he had thought he could escape before Jack cornered him. Dennis hadn't expected Robby to guide him into an office and give him a contract to read.
Jack entered their office slowly, not wanting to startle the younger man. “How's it going in here?”
Dennis scowled, staring down at the contract. “What's the catch?”
Mike took a deep breath, glancing at his partner. The kid wasn't going to have any problems with their rules but Mike was fairly sure he would have trouble accepting help. “There isn't a catch. We have a few rules but that's it.”
“What kind of rules?” Dennis knew it was better to know going in than to be surprised later on. He knew nothing in life was actually free, he needed to know the catch, what they wanted in return.
“No drugs. Alcohol stays in your room and please do not give it to Victoria. You can bring guests home but please be courteous. Dinner is mandatory once a month and we do biweekly check ins. If you have a problem with someone, we handle it at home, not work. And lastly, the hospital stops at the front door. Everyone is equal here, so we use everyone's first names.”
Mike listed, watching the younger man's face. The confusion would have been adorable if he didn't understand the reason for it.
Those weren't really rules. That was common sense and good roommate etiquette. “That's it?” Dennis raised an eyebrow, picking up the housing agreement again. The only thing he disagreed with in the housing statement was applying for aid. He didn't qualify and most of the deadlines had already passed.
“That's it.” Jack answered quietly, catching Mike's eye. “Mike will set you up with Kiara, she can help you get a stipend and living expenses.”
“We will show you the community closet so you can get what you need.” Michael added, knowing that they were overwhelming the young man.
“I have everything I need.” Dennis argued, shaking his head. He couldn't accept any more help.
“Dennis, everything you own fit in a backpack. If nothing else, you need more scrubs. We do have one more rule. If you need help, ask for help. We aren't going to turn you away.” Michael stated firmly.
If he signed this, he would have a place to stay. At least until they got tired of him. Dennis wasn't naive enough to think they wouldn't get tired of him. He picked up the pen, signing his name before setting the paper back on the desk. He was still sure there was a catch but he was tired.
Jack offered him the key again, meeting his eyes until the kid finally accepted it. “Good. Now follow me.”
Dennis hesitated before following the older man back into the hallway and passed the small library, a library he was definitely going through later. He entered what had probably been an extra office at one point, raising an eyebrow. There were racks of clothes, shelves of bedding and hygiene supplies, labeled bins that he could only guess at.
“You need more than a spare set of clothes. Socks, underwear, pajamas, and scrubs are in the bins. Everyday clothes are on the racks. There is a set of clean towels in your room but there are extra here. Laundry room is stocked with detergent, but all other necessities are here. Comforters, blankets, extra sheets. You need it, we have it. This is for everyone, take what you need.” Jack instructed firmly, picking up a tote bag off a rack and handing it to the younger man.
“I can't. I have plenty.” Dennis shook his head, taking a step back. “I'm fine, really.”
“Kid, you went through five pairs of scrubs your first day. You need extra scrubs at the least.” Michael commented from the doorway, making sure not to block it. “Jack, I need a word with you when you are done.”
He honestly thought Dennis might do better unsupervised. “Of course. You got this, kid?” Jack asked, taking the nod for what it was before following Mike back to their office. He had a feeling this wasn't a conversation he was going to enjoy.
Dennis took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment now that he was alone in the room. He gave himself a few minutes to calm down before opening his eyes and studying the room. He could just go up to his room and pretend like he had gotten things. But he really did need another change of clothes. The fact that most of this looked new didn't really surprise him.
He hesitated, moving toward the bins. It only took a moment to find the right size scrubs. Dennis set two pairs to the side before rifling through one container of underwear and socks. He felt bad taking a new package of each and he would pay them back. Right now new underwear would be a godsend. He picked up the tote bag Jack had tried to give him, sliding the new clothes inside before studying the hygiene shelves. He added a box of toothpaste and a bottle of body wash to his bag before grabbing a pair of jeans in his size. That was more than enough. He could never repay all of this.
-c-
“We are leaving in ten minutes if you need a ride!” Samira called, ignoring the look Mel gave her. She knew Trinity was on nights this week but the rest of them weren't and Victoria liked to take her sweet time getting to one of their cars. Usually hers. Mel needed quiet before a shift.
Victoria came barreling down the stairs, making a dash to grab her lunch and coffee from the kitchen. They were never late but Samira fussed every day regardless. Dennis had been at the top of the stairs but had hesitated. “Dennis! Samira hates being on time!” Victoria yelled, ignoring the looks the older two residents gave her. She had lived here as long as Samira had and they tended to give each other a hard time.
He groaned softly, finally making his way down the stairs. Dennis blinked when Mel handed him a thermos of coffee and a container of food. “Thank you?”
“We take care of each other.” Mel shrugged, picking up her keys now that everyone was awake and downstairs. “See you there.”
“You're riding with us, Dennis.”Samira stated, picking up her keys. “Vic! Move it!” She rolled her eyes, nudging the younger girl toward the door. It took longer than she wanted to get these two in her car and heading to the hospital.
“How long have you lived there?” Dennis asked after a few minutes of silence. He thought Victoria had headphones in but he knew Samira didn't.
“We've both been at the house for three years. Trinity and Mel joined us in June.” Samira answered quietly, glancing at him in the mirror. “It's one of the safest places I've ever lived. Jack and Robby are good people and they care a lot.”
Dennis wasn't sure if he should believe her or not. He wanted to but he hadn't felt safe in years. He took a deep breath, opening the car door when they pulled into the parking garage. They had a shift to work. He could deal with everything else later.