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Thursday.
Six weeks and four days.
By Saturday afternoon he'd be out of Dennis' life and the young student doctor could continue focusing on finishing school and maybe considering a different specialty than Emergency Medicine.
He'd reserved a table at a nice restaurant, none of the ones they'd been to before. He got Dennis a nice watch, very understated but it was water and shock resistant because he knew the boy was prone to being in the midst of catastrophe.
A parting gift would soften the blow, because he knew that it was getting dangerous. It wasn't as casual anymore and he really didn't want to deal with a reminder of how disappointing he could be as a partner.
He'd seen the looks Dennis had given him. The eager hands that clung to his skin when they weren't having sex.
He'd told the young man that it was nothing more than a stress reliever. After that first shift, he'd stumbled upon him and Santos at the supermarket. He saw them arguing about cereal at the register, and he'd smiled because they looked like they would fight physically just as if they were siblings.
Later in the day, he'd gone for a coffee at one of his favorite places, just to be interrupted mid-article with a shy smile and his subordinate holding a to-go cup, while showing a ratty tote bag full of books.
They'd shared the table, and he'd answered all the questions Dennis had asked. He had enjoyed way too much staring at the young man until he blushed and mumbled he'd understood what he'd read.
They had met several times there, and suddenly they'd taken walks in a nearby park. It was almost like a routine, and it had indeed helped take his mind off things that he really didn't want to think about.
Then, it had been a beer hangout after another grueling shift. Santos had organized a girls' night at her place, and Dennis had been included even if it really meant he was going to be holed up in his room while the girls gossiped and drank outside.
He couldn't tell what prompted him to offer Dennis an outing for the night. The boy had looked at him with his big sad eyes that held a little glint for him.
They'd walked back and he'd told Dennis to go into the guestroom and take a shower if he wanted, while he called for takeout. Then, he'd also taken a shower and gotten comfy clothes for sleeping.
Dennis had been really quiet during dinner, but he'd chalked it up to the boy being nervous about doing something wrong in his house and being kicked out again.
When they finished eating, he'd asked if Dennis needed anything and the boy was so funny thanking him endlessly for everything, and suddenly he had an armful of an eager subordinate, kissing him like his life depended on it.
Somehow they made it to the guestroom, not his room, and he couldn't stop himself. He tried stopping Denis, but those damn eyes had him saying "just this once" even when he understood it'd be more than that.
Dennis had made him breakfast the next morning. The boy was gone but the little Post-It on the microwave door was kept in one of the books on his bedside table.
The hearty breakfast had rendered him speechless. No one had cooked for him in a long time, but that farm-grown boy was talented.
They didn't talk about it the next shift. There were no glances from Santos or the other girls, less from Dana. He acted as if nothing had happened and Whitaker did too.
That was until he heard him going "not again" and Santos herself came to him asking if he'd be kind enough to let Dennis sleep at his place.
He'd acted nonchalant, or at least he faked it too well. And then, they were alone in his house again.
They'd eaten, he'd been on the couch watching a documentary while Dennis studied on the kitchen counter, when he heard soft snoring. The boy was asleep on top of his open book.
He'd smiled and he'd been careful waking him up. Feeling the sleepy body lean on him while they went to the guestroom made him things he'd not felt in a long time.
They didn't have sex that night, but they did sleep in the same bed. Dennis had clung to him and the dreams weren't as horrible. He was woken up with a mouth on his cock, and well, he'd ordered breakfast for them.
They didn't talk about it again. But then, Garcia became a fixture in Santos' daily life so more often than not, Dennis looked at him during the shift as if asking for mercy to spare him from torture and he folded every time.
Officially, they hadn't started dating until Dennis asked if it was okay for him to tell Trinity. Just so the girl stopped bothering him about his ginormous crush on him.
He had told her himself, as casually as he could while she stayed behind for charting. She had not been surprised but she hadn't taken it the best.
And then, the weeks had flown by. Whitaker, during shift, had been chirper and confident and the same kind doctor who followed procedures and used the advice he'd given him before.
He knew everyone saw right through the young student, and his mood affected way too many people, but the nurses and their colleagues had limited themselves to acting as if they hadn't noticed anything. He didn't let himself be too lenient with his subordinate, but if he groped Whitaker a little just to see him flustered, then so be it.
So now he was off-shit, sitting at the kitchen counter, eating a soggy sandwich and staring at the small box with the watch. Just two more days and he'd be available for the taking. After all, Dennis was nearing his final exams and all his time would be used for studying. Javadi had offered to host him at her house and the boy had reluctantly agreed.
When Saturday arrived, he'd woken up with a backache. He'd slept poorly, shifting on the bed, looking for a warm plump body that wasn't there anymore. He'd given up on sleeping in his own bed, after being so much in his own guestroom, but now the room felt strange.
He'd spent the day lazying around for once, catching up with some articles and ordering groceries to have something in his pantry. He hadn't worried about cooking, but Dennis had made sure he ate properly every day, even if sometimes the boy himself ate just leftovers.
When the date time was close, he showered and trimmed his beard. He wore nice pants and even put on a suit jacket. He'd considered the tie but at the last moment he decided it might be too much and he was already suffocating.
He saw Dennis arrive dressed in a new shirt, and well-pressed pants. The boy looked delectable, the chain in his neck glinting with the dimmed lights of the restaurant. The hostess took him to Robby and he stood up smiling at both.
Thankfully the place wasn't crowded yet, and he'd chosen one of the best spots, with artificial foliage that covered their space. People around them didn't need to see something unpleasant. And now he was starting to think that maybe he should've chosen another place.
They ate dinner and the boy still looked like an angel every time he saw him. He wanted to have a good experience with a break-up... Which was something weird to think at his age.
They were almost done with dessert, and he had smiled way too much with Dennis, when the server brought out the wine. After the man left, he cleared his throat.
"I brought you this."
The young man's eyes grew even bigger. He saw him open the box and gasp.
"Now that you'll be a doctor, you should have a good watch."
"You didn't have to do this, I haven't finished yet."
"I have no doubt you'll do great."
"I don't know what to say."
"No need to say anything."
"This is so thoughtful of you, I— Thank you, really. What brought this on?" The young man closed the box again and waited for him to start talking. Well, time to face the music.
"We've spent a nice time together, and you're a great person. I know you'll accomplish great things as a doctor."
"That means a lot."
The happiness on the young man's face was making him nervous, but he had to cut it off quickly and as painlessly as possible.
"There's a lot ahead of you, and I am grateful you have shared something of your life with me,"
"Mi—"
"But we have to break up."
The smile that died on that angelic face would haunt him.
"What?"
"I think it's best to do it now when we can end things on a good note."
The eyes that a moment ago were sparkling with joy now were looking more like they usually did, full of sadness and that was new for him. The other usually looked like they knew it was coming.
"You're an amazing young man and you have the world at your feet, so it's only natural to move on. Your exams are coming and then you'll actually be a doctor and you'll be even more popular than you're now."
"What are you talking about?" The light-haired man looked at him in a way that told Robby if he wasn't careful, it could end in disaster.
"Dennis," he started in a soft voice.
"Don't say my name like that."
"I'm sorry, but it's for the best."
"The best for whom?"
"For both of us."
"...I don't really like that you're talking as if you're deciding for me."
"It's not like that."
"Then don't say it."
He saw the watery eyes looking at the small fancy box on the table, as if it would explode. He took a deep breath and decided to continue.
"Look, this wasn't meant to be serious at all."
It was like he had slapped the young man. He saw the first tear fall from those big eyes that had made him feel invincible and sheltered many times before.
He was worried Dennis would storm off after throwing the wine on his face, or that he would yell at him and hit him with the watch. He had expected it, as he'd had practice before.
None of that happened.
The young man lowered his head and his shoulders slumped.
The silence dragged for the longest minute.
"I'm sorry." The light-haired man whispered, loud enough for him to catch it.
He saw Dennis stand up without looking at him, and then walk out of the restaurant.
Just him, the wine and the box on the table.
It was for the best. Absolutely. Dennis couldn't see it yet, but he would. And Michael would be there, waiting for when they could talk again and be part of his life, seeing him flourish as he deserved even if it didn't include him.
He realized his fists hurt from where he'd been clenching them hard under the table.
The server was standing at the edge of the space, like standing guard with his back to him. He called out for the check and drank the two glasses of wine. The box just made him want to throw it against the wall, but he decided to take it home with him.
He'd ask Santos to give it to Dennis.
When he was back at his place, he went to his own room. He sent a text to the housekeeper to deep clean the guestroom first thing in the morning.
The silence was too loud. His thoughts weren't merciful either. He recited the latest regulations and the most recent articles he'd read, but the only thing he could picture instead of words was the utter desolation on Dennis' face.
He would be fine.
It was fine.
It had to be fine.