Chapter Text
sometimes life plays a sick joke on you
Work- life balance is something you need. If you don’t, this work will kill you. It's something Whitaker figured out fast. The realization came to him on the hospital floor seeing his boss breakdown. to him robby was the kind of man who stood strong and never let things get to him. and now he knows that robby is the kind of man who remembers every patient he could not safe. and will still hold himself accountable for all their lives. For a man who was very reserved he now found comfort in the nervous but steady presence Whitaker gave him. for he now took every chance to touch Whitaker . His shoulders ,back and nape of his neck. Whitaker did not mind the touches. He actually quite enjoyed them.
‘’ dr. Whitaker, I want you to check up on Zack central 7. If everything is alright you can start the discharge paperwork’’ robby gives his shoulder a soft squeeze. for something robby did often it still gave Whitaker that tingling feeling. like a highschool boy in love for the first time. Whitaker got up from his position at the desk and found his way to central 7.
‘’ so how are we feeling here?’’ giving the curtain a little tough revealing a man in his mid 50s. ‘ ’ Hey doc, ready to go home and enjoy my wife's cooking’’ a smile formed on the older man's face while holding the hand of his wife. ‘’ I hear the food wasn't to your taste then’’ Whitaker let out a soft laugh. Today had been relatively quiet except for the bone fractures and santos poking fun at him . The evening shift started to slowly come into work. and dr. abbot taking over from dr. Robby.
‘’ brother, good to see you’’ robby took in abbott for a hug. ‘’ How bad are we talking today?’’ Abbott gave him a few taps on the back before releasing himself from the hug. ‘’ We are talking about an easy day. We have a few patients. In central 11 is a woman 23 with a light concussion. She stopped vomiting and still feels nausea, overall stable. west 14 a man 66 came in with a heart attack will be transferred to the ICU in a few minutes.’’ Robby goes over all the patients with Abbott.
Whitaker found his way out the ambulance bay. It was the fastest way to the bus stop. he was not in the mood to walk all the way around. taking out his phone to text santos.
*messages*
s: Chinese takeout ?
w: won’t be back tonight, get takeout without me.
s: seeing that imaginary man of yours. must be rough getting off on nothing.
w: jesus you can just say you'll miss me tirn.
s: nah too boring
He put the phone back in his pocket as he got off the bus. whitaker hears a familiar voice behind him ‘’ need a ride handsome’’ it was his imaginary man as santos had called it, but for him it was michael. ‘’ Where too, home ?’’ giving robby a kiss, robby’s beard tickled his chin a feeling he had come to love. work- life balance is something they had perfected not too long ago. somewhere between touches and hard days. the confession from robby had come natural. They had decided to keep it secret to avoid HR disasters. not being able to tell santos or abbott had been a hard decision but ultimately the best choice.
Once home they became one with the couch. Robby held on to Whitaker while he had lazily placed his head on Robby's chest. The tv gave a soft glow and background noise as the two talked. ‘’ I swear Michael, if you keep touching me like that people will figure it out.’’ Whitaker's hand makes little circles on Robby's stomach. Robby let out a low groan ‘’ after shift there is so little time to hold you, no one will know’’ Whitaker chuckles and gives Robby a soft kiss. He didn't even have to wait a second to feel him kiss back. ‘’I heard santos was giving you a hard time today’’ his fingers found the blonde curls. ‘’ It wasn't that bad, I think she is just a bit down that I'm not at the apartment as much anymore. i mean im most of the days at yours.’’ he starts to fidget with the hoodie stings. Robby takes his face to make him look into his eyes. ‘’ Our, my place is as much yours as mine. Don't ever forget that. ‘’ he let go of his face. With a groan, Robby lifts himself off the couch simultaneously turning off the tv. The room goes dark except for the few candles that are burning. Something Whitaker insisted on having so robby bought them. Whitaker eyed him from the couch. Not that he was still watching tv but it was also not quite time for bed, unless robby was already tired . but to his surprise the man didn't announce that he was tired but instead made it to the record player. placing his favorite on the player. The sound filled the room as he made his way back to the couch. His hand softly gripped the arm of Whitaker to pull him up from the couch. with a little restraint from Whitaker who was tired but still went along ‘’ what now you big goof’’ whitaker snorts ‘’ oh you love me. humor an old man with a little dance’’ robby wasn't always like this. Not that he wasn't in a good mood. But most days there would be a heaviness to him. so seeing him was like a treat, and something he would not pass up. The dance moves were nothing fancy. Just a bit of shuffling side to side with a twirl here and there. But there had been a lightness in the air and laughter that felt long awaited. That night sleep was easy and long, curled in each other.
Saturday off was a once in a blue moon thing and now they both had it off. It was like the universe threw them a bone.
the slight wind that made the curtains move letting sun slip through. Whitaker shifts in bed turning to face the man he came to love. Robby may be a bit older and he did fear the day robby would go. The gray, although sexy, did not help this fear. His hand softly traced the lines of the man's face. desperately trying to engrave this in his mind. ‘’Morning, sleep well?’’ Robby's voice made him snap back. ‘’ morning’’ followed by a soft kiss. Robby's arms wrapped around him. For a moment it was just them and the sound of birds and trees rustling in the wind. The sun was just hot enough. Whitaker doesn't know how long they just layed there taking in each other.
‘’How about going to the market today? We could do some shopping and enjoy the sun. I heard they have the lemonade you keep talking about. You know the one that reminds you of home.’’ Robby says as he plays with the blond curls. All he got back was a low hum. but that was all he needed to have to know that his love wanted to go. robby rolled out of bed pulling on some jeans and a white t-shirt . slowly making his way down the stairs after giving Whitaker a kiss on his forehead. The young man took a bit longer to get out of bed ultimately choosing to go down stairs after smelling the coffee and breakfast.
Robby often wondered what Whitaker saw in him. He was old ,wrinkles forming everywhere and his body no longer holding the shape of his younger years. It did scare him, leaving Whitaker all alone one day. It was one of the main reasons he took so long asking him out. although he knew whitaker had the same fear. they talked about it more times then he can count the pros outweighing the cons. so they made it work just the two of them.
he felt a pair of hands feeling him up from behind and slowly an added weight that pressed him against the kitchen counter. He let out a low chuckle. ‘’ what ya making? is it one of those breakfast burritos ?’’ Robby sets down the plates and loosens the grip around his waist. to turn and face Whitaker, giving the young man a long kiss. ‘’ Yeah. Can you grab the coffee cups.’’
As they sat down Whitaker took out his phone to text Santos .
*Message*
w: ( foto of breakfast)
breakfast with my imaginary man.
s : shit you hungry having two plates just for you.
do i get a photo of mystery man of do i have to start guessing
w: just a date, nothing special. ttyl
Whitaker sets down his phone again. looking up at robby to see him smiling at him. ‘’what?’’
Robby just smiles bigger ‘’ Nothing just enjoying you’’ and starts to eat his breakfast. ‘’ Want to take the motorcycle?’’ Whitaker had started to like the motorcycle more and more even though it still worried him that robby didn't wear his helmet. ‘’ no, I think we should take the car so we can bring back stuff from the market.’’ Robby really liked the idea of taking the motorcycle. especially in this weather it just could not take stuff back. and since they plan on some shopping the car has to do.
the car ride had been sweet songs and open windows. Whitaker sings every love song and robby fumbles with most songs. Robby had his hand placed on Whitaker's thigh and now again drew circles with his thumb. ‘’ So we need bread since we're out. and maybe some fruit. oh i also want some small cakes for dessert tonight.’’ Whitaker had one knee propped up to his chest so he could write down all the things he wanted to buy. ‘’ We should also get some meat. I want to make you some dinner tonight.’’ he added the request to the list as he felt a little squeeze. He looked up from his list to see robby smile and whisper a ‘’ i love you ‘’
bread was first because whitaker insisted it would sell faster. ‘’brown ? you like brown bread right?’’ Whitaker was already ordering the brown as it suddenly clicked. robby was awfully silent. ‘’ ohh you dont like brown bread. your a white bread kinda guy bet you dont even eat the crust.’’ at this point whitaker just stared to have a full on laughing fit. robby just took the bread from the seller. put the bread into the bag and turned to face whitaker. He just hoisted him over his shoulder. whitaker panicked for a second ‘’ha who is laughing now hu’’ as robby let out a deep laugh followed by a softer laugh from whitaker. He plopped him down on a chair next to a table. grabbing both sides of his face giving the love of his life a long kiss. ‘’ Alright lets have lunch now’’ he dug into his bag pulling out some sandwiches and some drinks. ‘’ So that's where the bread went hu’’ Whitaker opened the foil. ‘’ Yes, I made it this morning before breakfast. ‘’Whitaker was already mid-bite as he turned back to face robby who was just staring at him. ‘’ wh-what?’’ swallowing the bit of sandwich he had in his mouth. and then he spots it. on the table next to the drinks in front of robby a red velvet box. inside two rings made of gold catching the light. He looks back at robby eyes open in surprise. Robby took the box in his hand and crouched down on one knee with surprising ease. ‘’ Dennis, I am so lucky to have you. from the day i met you. to the days i still get to share with you. I have loved you and still love you and want to love you for all my days. i know i am not the youngest anymore but i want to spend as long as i can with you as my husband’’ and then it dawned on him that the man who he loved so much ,is proposing at the place that is the closest resemblance of home he can get. ‘’ yes, michael yes’’ robby pulled whitaker in for a hug and then for a million kisses.
The rest of the day was a bit of a blur. but the moment he laid down in bed back at santos apartment and staring up at his hand with a ring on it. It all came back. Robby had asked him to marry him and he said yes.
work had been hectic cases left and right. He had seen robby once and no more. since they were both busy. Lunch was the first moment they both sat down. Whitaker didn't say anything but when he caught a glimpse of the ring around Robby's neck his eyes betrayed him a little. for they smiled more than any other moment. At that moment Dana walked in eyes darting from Whitaker to Robby.
‘’dr. robby we need you in T1’’ robby shot up following dana ‘’ be sweet to that boy’’ robby looked at dana with much confusion ‘’ what?’’ dana just looked disappointed ‘’ he clearly has a crush on you. Don't be harsh with him if he tells his feelings to you’’ robby let out a strained chuckle. ‘’ i wont ‘’
After their shift they found themselves signing marriage papers. Whitaker decided to keep his own last name and at Robby's last name. ‘’ now you are Dennis Whitaker Robinavitch’’ who knew something so easy and small could make such an impact.