Work Text:
Emma sat at the nursing station, charting while she listens to the chatter of her coworkers. She enjoyed the buzz of the emergency department, the chatter she would hear— and the gossip she’d pick up. Trinity was horrible about letting things go in the ED, her voice traveled even when she tried to whisper. Especially right now.
“Yeah, he spent all of Sunday at Amy’s again. This time he was fixing her sink and installing a new washer and dryer for her.”
Her tone was sardonic, and Emma is completely focused on the conversation now. Tingles of anger and jealousy pricking at her skin. Who the fuck is Amy. Why was Dennis spending an entire afternoon installing household appliances and playing handy-man.
“I talked to him about this. Told him before I left to tell her that he was done with it.”
Done with it? Before she realizes it she is on her feet, popping up beside Robby, Trinity catching her eyes which were darkened with anger. A look that was very unusual on her face.
“Done with what?”
Her tone is saccharine sweet, a scarily plastic smile plastered on her face. Trinity took a deep breath in, realizing that this was no longer casual work gossip. She honestly looked a little scared, analyzing Emma’s tight, fake expression.
“Oh, y’know. Huckleberry is handy, and there was this patient last year. She lost her husband and ever since he goes over to her farm and helps with chores and whatever else she needs. He goes over there almost every weekend…”
Emma’s eyes go wide, she worked almost every Sunday… He always said he spent his Sunday doing chores… He never mentioned that he was doing some other random woman’s dirty work.
“I did not know. That’s so interesting. Since last year you say?”
Trinity detects the danger in her tone and watches as Robby glances between them both confused. He says nothing and walks away, deciding to leave the kids to their drama.
“Yeah.. Last year.”
“And it never got brought up?”
She sounds betrayed, like Trinity was keeping some dirty secret from her.
She was betrayed, confused that Dennis would keep this from her… That he would sneak around with another woman. There was another woman. A pit grew in her stomach, full of anticipation and disgust.
“It isn’t important Em..”
“Dr. Santos, it’s pretty fucking important.”
Trinity’s eyes go wide, not only at the use of her last name, but at the profanity which fell from her lips.
“Emma, it’s really nothing. He just likes being helpful. Amish farm boy, he only knows physical labor.”
“Amish?”
“Are you shitting me.”
Trinity throws her hands up and rolls her eyes. At that moment, like divine intervention she catches Whitaker walking behind Emma.
“Dr. Whitaker!”
Her voice is far louder than it should be, his head snapping over as Emma’s turns to look behind her, causing the two of them to make eye contact. Whitaker meeting her fiery gaze with a wide eyed fawn look. He quickly walks over to the pair, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“Heyyy guys, is everything okay?”
Emma inhales sharply through her nose turning to look at him.
“I don’t know. Who the fuck is Amy?”
Her tone is sharp, and her volume is loud. Dana’s head snaps to them and her eyes narrow in on the trio, making a direct path over to them. Her mouth is tight, ready to break up any fight that might be breaking out in her ER.
“She’s no one, just some patient I help out. Why?”
He sounds genuinely confused, clueless as to why this was such a big deal to her. The anger radiating off of her almost insulting.
“Some patient? You install washers for some patient? Help her every week?! Never brought it up over the last eight fucking months? Is that why you never answer my work updates on Sundays. I bet it is. You hid going to a single woman’s house and doing husband things for her. That is-”
“Nolan. Whitaker. You’re needed in Trauma 6. Go.”
Dana’s voice breaks the two apart, Emma nodding and going silent as she goes to the room— Whitaker trailing behind her like a lost puppy. Trinity tries to follow and Dana stops her, directing her to some patient who needs checked on the other side of the department. She did not need this exploding in front of everyone. Especially with the rigid edge of Emma’s words, cutting through the air like a knife. A very sharp knife.
The room was empty, and Whitaker is relieved that they don’t have to tend to a patient with the boiling anger rolling through her body.
“That’s fucking ridiculous.”
Her voice is softer now, her face looks as if it was made of stone. He tries to grab her hand but she scoffs and pulls it away.
“Emma… I didn’t think it was a big deal. I was just helping her… Her husband had a tragic accident. Full thickness burns on 95% of his body. How was I supposed to tell her no?”
“I have a girlfriend usually works, Dennis.”
He sighs, nodding his head. “I know sweet-”
“Don’t.”
“I know. But this started before you worked here. Before I ever knew you. She’s just a friend, I was just trying to be helpful… I grew up on a farm, she has land and animals and she has an infant and I just wanted to help her because she needed it. Last Sunday I went to her house and installed her new washer and dryer because hers broke and she couldn’t figure out the hookups. She can’t afford to hire someone, she’s a single mom. I… Emma I’m really sorry that I didn’t tell you but I just didn’t think to.”
She sniffs, nodding slowly. She sucks her teeth and blows out a puff of air.
“You never thought to mention that every single week you go to some lady’s house. Unless, of course I have that week off. That you’re spending an entire day with another woman? While I’m working. It seems like a secret. Dennis I thought you were different than that.”
He scoffs, looking at her, his eyes wild in offense.
“What are you implying?”
“What are you hiding?”
They stare at each other, pursed lips and unwavering eye contact. Emma’s lip wobbles and she bites it, swallowing roughly.
“I don’t appreciate you hiding things from me. On some level you hid it. Even if you didn’t think to mention it. Every Sunday morning when I asked what you were doing and you vaguely responded ‘oh nothing, just chores’ you were hiding something. I don’t appreciate that I had to overhear Trinity and Robby talking about your farmhouse mistress that he told you to stop helping two weeks before we got together. Learning that you were fucking Amish? That’s not even what this is about but. You’re hiding shit from me Dennis. It’s weird.. I’m done talking about this.”
He goes to open his mouth but she has already stormed out of the room, running into Trinity on the way out.
“Watch where you’re going Santos.” She mumbles, rolling her eyes and walking away. Sunshine turned into Storm Clouds.
Trinity looks at her, wild with confusion as she walks into the room which Whitaker is still standing in, looking like he was just punched in the gut.
“Trin I fucked up.”
She inhales and nods, patting him on the back.
“Yeah.. Yeah you did.”
“I didn’t know she had an angry option… I didn’t think that this was possible.”
“She’s human Den… And you hid your.. whatever, from her for almost a year. What if she went and like… Cleaned some guys house for a year without telling you? Even if it was just a friend. You can’t keep hiding shit from her. Like. You need to tell her about your past. If you want to keep her around you have to let her in. You really have to. Especially because I let it slip and I can’t keep accidentally doing that dude.”
His head fell to her shoulder and he let out a groan.
“I know I fucked up. But now I don’t know how to fix it. And I don’t want her to look at me like I’m broken. I can’t let her know. What if I ruin it all.”
“Because hiding it all made things so good.”
He lifts his head and huffs, nodding his head.
“It’s Wednesday… Think she’s still gonna come over?”
“She fucking better, we were gonna have wine and rom-com night!”
“Don’t high-jack my girlfriend!”
“Don’t hide shit from her and I won’t have to!”
He rolls his eyes and leaves the room, watching as Emma turns away from the nurses station. He tries to go after her, but a car accident case rolls into the ED and he is whisked into another trauma case.
The rest of his shift seems to drag, Emma shooting him cold glares all night. Anytime they have to work on the same case the room is silent besides when they need to speak with the patient. She is visibly pissed off all night, a scowl where her usual smile is, her eye brows slightly furrowed, chewing on her bottom lip as she thinks. Guilt weighs heavily in his stomach, making him feel sick. He just wants to fix this. He just wants to make it right. He approaches her from behind, causing her to jump and turn around.
“Hey, Emma. Are you still coming over?”
“Yeah. Trin and I are having a wine night. Why?”
Her icy tone penetrates his chest, his stomach flipping.
“Just wanted to know if you were still going to come over. I know I messed up, I just wanted to make sure that… that nothing changed. I guess.”
For a moment, her heart pangs. She recognizes the fear in his eyes. She was angry, sure. But she wasn’t going to give up because of it. Because of some farm girl he honest to God did chores for. Even in his mistakes he was serving someone. She shakes her head and squeezes his arm gently before removing her hand.
“Don’t want to talk about it. I’ll be over. You’re not invited to the movie night though.”
He looks at her confused, his eyebrow quirked upwards.
“What do you mean? I live there. “
“And you have a bedroom. Trin and I are going to have girls night. You had girls night with Amy. So you can have Dennis night.”
With that, she walks away, her ponytail swishing behind her. Dana gives Emma a proud smile and nods at him.
“How long have you two been going steady?”
“Going stead- oh. Uh. We’ve been seeing each other for eight months now. I think.”
“Eight months and you didn’t tell her about farm girl… You’re a stupid man Dr. Whitaker. Brilliant doctor but a stupid man.”
He chuckles and nods, her bluntness refreshing despite being insulted.
“I know, Dana. I know. I’m going to fix it.”
“You better. She’s a peach.”
“I know. Trust me. I’m probably going to be in the doghouse for a little bit but… I think we will be okay. I hate that this is how people find out that we’re together but, it had to come out at some time.”
Dana laughs, which throws him off, causing his head to cock to the side.
“Oh honey, everyone already knows. You guys are not secretive. Well, YOU are. Apparently. But you guys are always talking, her hand is always on your arm or yours on hers. Just two obvious love birds. Now go, time to switch shifts.”
—-
He walks into his apartment, Emma and Trinity somehow already set up on the couch with a box of wine sitting on the coffee table— sharing a blanket with Fifty First Dates playing on the T.V. He goes over to where they’re sitting and drops a kiss to the top of Emma’s head which causes her to whip her head around and give him the stink eye.
“I told you it was Dennis night, we’re watching a movie.”
Trinity chuckles and turns to look at him, mouthing a sarcastic ‘Sorry’ and smirking.
“You highjacked my girlfriend.”
Emma rolls her eyes and scoffs in correction.
“No. YOU played husband for some random lady and didn’t tell your girlfriend about it. So go, have fun. Maybe ask Amy if she has any chores to do.”
He doesn’t even try to defend himself, nodding and throwing his hands up.
“I already texted her that I couldn’t help her out anymore. Didn’t even call, just texted. I’m gonna let you guys enjoy girls night.”
He goes into his room without another word and uses his laptop to watch the same movie, wanting to talk about it with them in the morning. He listened to their laughter, louder as the night (and more wine) went. His phone lit up with Amy’s text. A simple
Why?
My girlfriend is uncomfortable with the idea of me spending copious amounts of time with someone I didn’t mention for almost a year.
YOU HAVE HAD A GIRLFRIEND FOR ALMOST A YEAR?!?!?!
Yes?
And you still have one?
Yes. Thankfully, yes.
Goodbye Dennis
His phone glows with the time: 12:58. The living room had gone silent about thirty minutes before, and he peaks his head out— expecting to see them asleep on the couch, heads stacked on each other. He is surprised when the living room is empty, a dim glow peeking from Trinity’s doorway.
She high jacked his girlfriend.
Emma looked over at Trinity, wine buzzing through her veins. She grins, leaning back into the pillows.
“In the morning I’ll act like nothing happened. He’s actually so sorry it’s kind of hard to still be mad at him..”
“Yeahhhh, he has that effect on people. He really didn’t mean anything by it. Emma he loves you so much.”
She smiles warmly, sighing “I know. He’s perfect. I think I want to marry him.”
“Please. You are gonna marry him and have little hucklebabies and it is going to be the best thing ever. But tonight you are mad at him because he effectively lied to you for the entire duration of your relationship.”
Emma huffs at the reminder, rolling onto her back and pulling the blankets up to her chin.
“Fuck him.”
“Yeah. Fuck him!”
Trinity grins, knowing that in the morning she will give him a cup of coffee and a kiss. Knowing that tomorrow he will ask them how the movie went and he will cook them breakfast because they have a hangover. Knowing that for the rest of eternity she gets to remind him of that time he accidentally cheated on Emma, and that he will forever dig himself into a hole trying to defend it.
She grins, knowing that Huckleberry found his forever. That he’d be okay.
He had found his safety, tucked safely beside her, occupying the left side of her bed, already asleep against the pillows. She looked over at the sleeping woman and realized that this was the family she had always prayed for. That maybe she had found ‘forever’ too.