Archive of Our Own

"There's gotta be something you can do, to make sure he comes back!?" Dana had all but begged.

It broke Jack's heart to see her like that, especially as he had felt that desperation rising since the first time the Sabbatical had been mentioned, and especially during their shift. Then Whitaker had expressed his concern, and McKay, and Mohan and Al Hashimi. Pretty much everyone who worked with him. It was out of hand. Caleb didn't need much convincing. His own concerns only amplified by Jack's and everyone else's.

"You really want to put him on an involuntary psych hold?"

"I'm worried if I don't, it'll be the last any of us see of him." The admission cracked in his throat and Caleb just solemnly nodded.

Dr Michael Robinavitch was now officially a patient and would be put under a psych hold. Jack reluctantly volunteered to tell him. Lured into one of the bays Jack stood in front of the door looking guilty.

"I'm sorry Robby, I can't let you leave."

Robby was putting on his sunglasses, jacket on, closing his locker with nothing left in it. He smiled sarcastically not quite looking at Jack. "God, what now? I’m two hours off, Jack, I'm out of here."

Jack felt sick to his stomach. But he motioned for him to follow him. Knew he would. "Come on just through here." He let him into room 9, one of the more private rooms, but there was no patient inside. He shut the door and stood in front of it giving him a pointed look.

"Are you fucking serious?" Robby took his shades off, pinching his nose and following with the same foul attitude he had given everyone all day. He got to the room and turned around when he saw no patient. "I’m not waiting for whatever department they've been bounced-," he stopped. He knew Jack, knew his face his posture, the fact he was stood in front of the door. He swallowed but looked angry. "What?"

"It's you, Mike." He said softly, voice breaking in a way that it never did. He cleared his throat and took a deep steadying breath. "You're the patient. I'd sit down if I were you."

"I'd fucking better be fucking joking if I were you?" He almost stuttered, barely keeping his sentence in structure as he squared up to Jack, taller than his dear old friend. "On what grounds? Am I having a stroke? What is this?"

Jack's gaze was steady, challenging. He may be shorter, but he was stronger than Robby, if it came to needing that. He hoped not. "Involuntary psych hold." He said with more authority than he felt.

"Ohoho," Robby laughed, meanly. "No."

"Robby, it's an involuntary psych hold. We're not exactly giving you the choice." Jack said exasperated. "Look I didn't want to do this to you but it's gotten to the point where you haven't given me a choice! I'm not letting you fuck off and kill yourself."

Robby started shaking his head as Jack spoke. "There is- no way-," He was talking over him for a moment. He put his hands on his ears not to hear him, like a child. Like he had been recently, the last ten months. "No, don't embarrass yourself, or me. Move." He walked up to him, almost chest to chest, a few inches taller. "Move." He said again with attitude.

Jack shook his head. "Not a chance. Caleb is on his way down. Sit down Robby." He told him firmly but not unkindly. He would not move he would not budge. Robby could hit him, scream at him, but he wasn't going to let him die.

"You fucking called Caleb? You-You're serious about this?" Robby thought for a moment, panic obviously building in him, and then for the first time tried to grab Jack and rough house him out of the way, weakly. A man who hadn't been eating properly for months.

"Yeah I'm fucking serious about this!" He exclaimed. Pushing his hands away with one quick shove. He expected it. He expected and knew and even Caleb had warned him. It still hurt to have Robby try and throw him out the way. "People care about you. I care about you. You've forced my hand, brother. You'd do the same for me, even if you might not think it right now."

Robby couldn't say anything or argue, but he couldn't swallow his anger either, trying again to force Abbot out of the way. "I'm not doing this, get put of my way. What, you gonna call security? Sedate me?" He shouted, gaining unwanted attention.

"If I have to, yeah." Abbot said with complete seriousness that he didn't think Robby was expecting. "Don't make me do that route though."

Very close to Jack's ear, not backing up from trying to leave, he spoke lowly. "I cannot let you psych hold me in front of my fucking staff."

"Then why don't you sit down and calm down. I'm not making a scene here." He said slowly, low in his voice, glancing up to meet his eyes.

Robby was still for a moment, right up against him, an intimidating height. He hit the wall by Jack's side hard, definitely hurting his hand, and circled the room he was trapped in. Some acceptance washing over him but he was so angry. He sat not on the chair but the patient bed and put his head in his hands. Suddenly he was crying. In front of Jack, confirming he was not himself.

Jack let him pace let him do what he needed to. He left it a minute as he started to cry and then slowly approached putting a kind but firm hand on his shoulder. "Robby, you know I love you. You might hate me right now, and that's fine. Be angry, hate me. I did this because I was scared for you. We all were. And we all love you and want you around."

"I don't," Robby’s voice broke, sobbing quietly, waving his hand dismissively. He couldn't say more than that. Not for a while. Caleb was probably stuck waiting for the lift. "I- am embarrassed. Whole departments watching," he sniffed and sat like a child, not looking at Jack now, wiping his face. "I'm gonna be fired." He laughed.

"No you're not and I chose this room because it's private. No one is watching." Jack reassured him. He put his arm around his shoulders, rubbing his back soothingly. "Which means you can really let go and cry if you want."

Robby held his face, shaking his head, half laughing, definitely crying.

"I can't do this- What- what, I'm going to sleep here? In a fucking psych ward? Take up a bed from somebody who actually needs it?" He wiped his wet face, but sobbed into his hand again quietly. Shoulder shaking under Jack's hand. Outside Dana paced nervously by the station. She felt sick, she knew what was happening in that room, in 03. She was knocked out of thought by Santos, eager to leave.

"Where's an attending? Need a sign off."

"Busy I'll sign off on it." Dana put her glasses back. Santos sighed in relief. "Can we go now?" "I guess so."

Dennis was with her but was looking over at the room he'd watched Jack and Robby go into. He was fidgeting. "You go ahead, Trin." He said in that soft firm voice that was getting him very far with patients. "I'll get a ride home."

He glanced at Dana as if asking if they were still in there, and like the all knowing mother of the ED that she was, she nodded. Dennis couldn't resist, going towards the door. He didn't hear shouting, just Jack's reassuring voice. He knocked, then slowly entered, being careful not to open the door any more than necessary.

"Hey..." he said softly. "My shift just finished, I wanted to come in...for Robby." He said to Jack. As a visitor as a friend or whatever Robby decided they were today.

"I'm not doing a song and dance, I'm going." Santos told him tiredly, and grabbed her jacket from under the desk. Dana gave Dennis a sympathetic smile but she was too caught up in handover to stop or advise him not to. Robby assumed Caleb had opened the door and tensed up under Jack's shoulder. He was shaking, a lot. He sniffed, his breath jogging, feeling shielded in front of Jack from Caleb? behind him.

"I can't do this-," He began to say again quietly, thumb at his lips. He had never looked so small. He heard Dennis and felt relief it wasn't Caleb but he still was too ashamed to look up. His breathing came a little jagged and loud. Jack looked over his shoulder, staying stood by the bed Robby sat on. "Hey. Robby's staying." He said, seriously, softly, giving a sad sort of smile to Dennis.

"Michael, do you want Dennis to sit with you? That would really free me up to go and check on things, it's handover." Jack said softly. Robby held his face, hiding as much as he could, giving both a shake and a nod.

"I need to know you're not going to throw our Whitaker over and leave." Jack chewed his lip, stepping back, letting Dennis in, in fact taking his shoulders and guiding him in place. Robby responded well with body blocking like that, it gave him somewhere to hide.

"Dennis, you do not let him leave." He said softly. "I will be just outside, talking to Shen at the desk. You're in my eyesight, Robinavitch."

"Fuck off," Robby's voice sounded broken, high pitched, not looking up at either of them but giving the middle finger to Jack, who took it. Better than physical violence.

Dennis nodded, but didn't say anything as Jack left. When he was gone he put his bag down and put his hand on Robby's shoulder. Tentatively at first, and then more firmly when he wasn't immediately rejected. He stroked up his shoulder to his hair running a hand through it, once slowly and then again, a movement and gesture he knew soothed him. "You don't have to say anything." He said softly. "I just wanted you to know I was here for you."

"S'fucking embarrassing," Robby said quickly, daring to look up at him. An angel, a soft and baby faced saviour who had stood like this with him before. He held his gaze as a broken man and laughed to himself, eyes down again, thankful to be able to lean his sweaty forehead on Whitaker's stomach now.

"No it's not." He said stroking his hair still leaning down to press a kiss to the top of his head while no one could see. "You wouldn't say that if it was me, or if it was Jack, or Dana...you'd tell us to get the help we needed." he was calmed, soothed and reassured by Robby's head against his stomach.

Robby was nodded, thank God he seemed to be accepting it. Jack held doubts on that though, he quietly very rapidly explained to Shen and Dana, and that he was just waiting on Caleb, who he now dialled at the desk. Caleb knew Robby would be difficult, and was organising a room upstairs in psych. Making sure everything was clear, and that they had a security guy as a big as Robby around. He really expected a fight, despite the good news he was sitting waiting semi-willingly. Robby exhaled shakily.

"Is this break up worthy?" He asked Dennis' abdomen.

Dennis laughed quietly. "No? Why would I break up over this?" he said completely dismissing the idea. "You're stuck with me through this I guess." He said trying for a little humour, rubbing down his back and back up to his hair again. He kissed the top of his head once more just staying with him holding him. After what felt like a very long time, the door opened again. Quite wide for Caleb's wheelchair so Dennis stayed in front of Robby so no one else could see.

"Hey man, feeling calmer?" Jack asked kindly. "He been like that the whole time?" He asked quietly to Dennis. Dennis just nodded slowly.

"Hi Michael," Caleb said, sad but not surprised it'd gotten to this point.

"Poor you." Robby told him harshly. Yet more evidence of how needed it was. Robby lifted his head when Dennis shifted, seeing Caleb roll in. His tensed up right away again. He didn't say hello but nodded, but sucked his lips in. A tension building again. He was quiet for too long and got up off the bed, suddenly taller than Dennis again.

"No, I can't do this, sorry."

Jack immediately stepped in front of the door, Caleb wheeled out the way a bit anticipating things getting a bit physical and not wanting to be collateral damage. "You have to, come on buddy." Dennis put a surprisingly firm hand on his chest. Not deterred by Robby being bigger than him. He dealt with patients bigger than Robby daily.

"Stay." he said quite firmly. "You can do this." He said the last bit quieter.

"Have to- have to what, talk to you? Talk about my fucking feelings?" Robby folded his arms, body all tight with tension, glancing at Dennis when he touched him, undid his folded arms by surprise alone. He touched his face. Shook his head, and edged to the door where Jack was.

"Can we, what, schedule a cry party another time? I'll promise to come?" He looked at Dennis again, surprised he was being bold enough to touch him, stop him.

Dennis swallowed thick looked sad and shook his head. "We're too worried for your...wellbeing." Dennis said carefully, boldly. Jack was pleasantly surprised, maybe the kid was good for Robby after all. "Den is right, you can't promise me that when you walk out that door that you'll be back at all, you can't even look me in the eye when I ask it."

"I already had concerns, Michael, you know that." Caleb said. "Why don't you come upstairs where we can talk without friends and colleagues around and go from there?" He offered.

"One step at a time, I'm off now I'll stay with you as long as you need me to be." Dennis offered hand still firm on his chest.

Robby shook his head, bringing his hands up to cup his ears again, flexing in a nervous way. Caleb had expertly phrased it in a way that reassured Robby.

"I'm taking the fucking stairs." He went to the door aggressively, giving Jack a dark look when he had his hand on the door handle, angry he couldn't just yank it open.

"I'll walk him up." Dennis said looking at Jack's cautious face. Clearly concerned he'd do a runner if he wasn't taking the lift up with Caleb.

"It'll look like we're just leaving together then, that’s not unusual." He offered knowing he didn't want to make a scene.

"I'll follow you up." Jack added looking like he wasn't convinced that Dennis would be able to handle it, not if Robby decided he didn't want to get out of there. "I'll meet you upstairs." Caleb said, showing him some trust, wheeling himself out first.

Robby made a face of sarcastic amusement again. When he finally could open the door he opened it so hard it slammed, walking out a little fast towards the stairs. He could feel Jack's heat following him just as fast, not making eye contact with anyone, certainly not Dana who he knew was in on this. He pushed the fire escape doors to the stairs and began to climb up, aggressive. He only slowed when he got to the third floor where psych was, getting nervous, again. He hesitated in the doorway to the start of the ward. almost making Dennis walk into him, looking to Jack who he had tortured climbing up the stairs. He was a little out of breath.

Dennis had to rush to follow him up, but was glad that he went straight up. Up to psych stopping at the doors to the ward not going any further. Dennis almost slammed into him, he'd been rushing. He looked up to Robby and gave him a small smile, touching the back of his hand with his own.

"What would you tell me to do?" he reminded him. Trying to get him to put it in the perspective of if he was caring for someone else. He gave his hand a little squeeze of reassurance but didn't try and hold his hand. Robby would do it if he wanted that comfort. He hoped. Jack caught up.

"Shit man, couldn't have spared a thought for the crippled." he joked. "I'll come in with you, just to take the lift down."

Robby couldn't joke or laugh with Jack, sparing him a glance. Maybe he hated him. He held his ears again in the doorway, seeing Caleb on the other side through the glass, opening the door, which panicked him a little more.

The four of them stood in the doorway. Robby made a nervous movement. A stallion about to bolt, Dennis thought. 

"I'm fucking chief attending, I can't- I can't be here, surely this can't be on my record?" He sounded.. reasonable, almost.

"Michael," Caleb began patiently. "You're not the first chief attending to ever need help and you won't be the last. Even Adamson got therapy. The best aren't the best because they deal with everything on their own."

Dennis touched his back, a warm firm familiar hand on his body.

"It says more that you're taking the steps to try and care for yourself, than if you didn't." He said. "And I don't think you walked yourself up here only because Jack and I forced your hand. So just accept that the people who love you want to help you."

"Smart boy you got there, Robinavitch, I'd take the advice. We're behind you brother."

Adamson rang in Robby's ears. He looked effected just hearing his name again, after so long... It caught his breath a little and he swallowed, holding himself again in the doorway. He rubbed one hand, held his ribs with the other. He leant in the doorway, delaying it, noting how patient they were being with him. Way past Dennis' finishing time. But he couldn't quite step fully onto the ward, glancing at a passing nurse quite nervously, half hiding behind the hand on his face.

"So.. so what you keep me in a room for 72 hours up here?"

"I think we should just go talk in one, for now, Robby." Caleb said, and again.. the way he said it tempted him. He wondered if he looked vulnerable as he wordlessly moved with him to go to one. Embarrassed, eager to be out of sight of people faster. But his stomach sank a little more when they got to the room, it was all calming shades, a bed was in it, set up and clean and with nothing a patient could harm themselves with. An on suit bathroom.

"Fuck me, this is a prison room, I- no." He shook his head again, walking into Jack in the doorway and giving him an aggressive dirty look. A guilty glance at Whitaker.

Abbot stayed still. A solid wall to protect him and block him in.

"It's not a prison room. It's just a room." Jack said meeting his eyes. "You got this, turn around walk back in there and talk you know you should." He was being very firm. Which was definitely needed but Dennis watched feeling like he knew Robby was about to fly off the handle. "It's just a private room, Robby it's not a cell. You're just talking to Caleb."

"I don't know how you fucking got me up here." He held his head, turned in a small circle and stayed stood by Jack, despite being exhausted. Sitting down, laying down, would be great. But he couldn't, too pent up on adrenaline. He eyed Caleb who schooled his expression. He knew Robby's triggers, and how Jack was handling him was perfect, tough. No sympathy, Robby would hate that.

Robby closed his hands over his nose and mouth for a moment, about to fly off when Caleb spoke. "I'll just ask and be honest. Have you thought about harming yourself?" Robby wouldn't look at him. Wouldn't answer. He ran his hands through his hair and nodded.

Dennis had to hold it together but inside his heart was shattering. He suspected, fuck he pretty much knew it but to see Robby admit it made him want to take him and tuck him up with him and never let go. His fists clenched and he wrapped them against his thigh in his anxious effort to not intervene. Jack didn't feel dissimilar, the admission only strengthening his resolve to stay exactly where he was.

"Ok," Caleb said very neutrally. No judgement just accepting his answer.

"Have you made plans to harm yourself?"

Robby was smiling the whole time, that dark dark washing over him that Jack saw so clearly. He held his face, nodding, and started to sink against the wall to sit on the floor. All his behaviour, a red flag. Jack eyed Caleb but said nothing, also finding it hard to see Robby this way. He held a hand at his mouth casually, still across the door.

Now Robby couldn't see him, Dennis turned away, covered his face and eyes, shaking. He leant against the wall by Jack fighting back tears. Silently Jack reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "Ok, and have you had thoughts to and made any plans to take your own life?"

Robby broke into a quiet, high-pitched sob. Very softly crying into his hands on the floor. He had no front left, nothing left to guard himself from being seen like this, this way. Just as he had been, on the floor in paeds last year when he first met Dennis Whitaker. He sobbed for about twenty seconds.

"Yep." He admitted, ashamed. So deeply ashamed, with Jack right there, with Dennis right there.

Dennis had to bite his hand to not vocalise his choked cry. The worst bit was hearing that confirmed and that voice he'd heard once before. Jack squeezed tighter. Just about holding it together. Caleb did not judge, he offered him a kind and understanding smile.

"Michael, this is just like taking care of a heart or a liver or a leg injury. I am here to help you as much as you are there to help your patients. Will you let me help you?" He asked. Somehow Dennis and Jack switched to holding hands, squeezing each other tightly, as the two people closest to Robby. The only other person as close was Duke.

Robby laughed his tears out, nodding, still hiding under his palms. He choked on a sob a little.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry." He apologised, for his state. For his tears, for being difficult the whole way up, for having a plan to kill himself, for upsetting everyone else. Disappointing everyone else. He said sorry again but it came out silently. He sobbed into his knees, too old for this position, his ass and his thighs were numb already but he didn't care, couldn't move. He looked up blearily to Dennis, seeing how upset he was, seeing his tears too.

"Hey, no apologies." Caleb said quickly, kindly.

Dennis wiped his tears away quickly, taking a breath to be brave. He looked to Robby and gave him a small smile. Jack gave him one too.

"We're only sad because you are." Jack said. "And we don't want to see you this sad."

"Do you want me to stay a while?" Dennis offered. "No pressure, either way. Whatever you need."

"You're up here because people want you to be here. Not just in this ward, I mean alive. And I know it'll take some time to process that and work through that, but please take comfort in that people love you, Michael." Caleb said. "If you want company or not is up to you."

Robby sniffed and sat quietly for a while, hands on his face in some way to shield himself, uselessly. He nodded after a long time.

"Dennis. Jack needs to be downstairs." His voice came gruff and broken. He made one small hand signal with his fingers for Dennis to come to him. On the floor. Caleb looked slightly hesitant for Jack to step away, making eye contact with him, silently communicating.

Jack just gave him a small nod, he glanced at Caleb. "Call if you need me."

He said and then slowly, quietly left. He had no doubt that Dana was waiting for an update. Dennis came in and sat next to him, pressed against his side. He put his hand into his and squeezing. He was smiling, pleased that he wanted him there.

Robby half cried again. Eventually, as Caleb spoke softly about his care plan for the next 72 hours, he reached to grip Dennis' hand. His own was shaking a lot. He held it on his own knee, bought it up to his face when he wiped his tears, nodding.

"I don't have anything with me." Robby said quietly, he didn't have any questions.

"I can go get your things." Dennis said softly. "No rush, whenever you're ready for me to." he said leaning into him for that comfort and support. He rubbed his thumb back and forth over his hand.

Caleb nodded.

"I'll leave you for a minute to process. I'm just down the hall if you need me." He left and then it was just the two of them.

Robby lifted his arm but didn't move, he wanted Dennis to come into him, to tuck him to his chest. He kissed the side of his warm sweet face, all beard, and tears. "I'm really sorry." His voice almost break again, keeping him close like that, still sitting on the floor.
"I'm sorry." He wiped his face with his spare palm.

Dennis turned his head to kiss him gently, reaching up to wipe his tears too. Whatever Robby needed he could be right now.

"Don't apologise. No one chooses to feel this way." He said so kind and empathetic as always.

"I'm not going anywhere in your life so just worry about making the best of the help Caleb's offering." He sat quietly with him for a while until Robby felt calm enough for Dennis to go get him some things. Caleb came in to talk to him before he finished his shift and agreed to stay until Dennis was back. Dennis got downstairs and made eye contact with Jack.

Just before Dennis left, without being prompted, Robby handed over all the pens from his scrubs pocket and his badge, shaking his head. He decided to just sit on the bed as Caleb prepared a more in depth form of questions to ask him, notes to make. Creating a personal goal. Three floors beneath Robby's shaking hands, Jack made eye contact with Dennis.

He stepped out of a trauma bay to talk to him with his gloved hands in the air to remain sterile. "Hey, did he do it? He staying?" He asked, relief washing over him with Dennis' answer.

"Okay, hey, you did a great job with him. He's going to be okay, this will all.. be okay. It's Robby."

Jack smiled, "Are you going to his place? I'll pay for the uber in a minute when I can, um, grab him.. pyjamas with no ties, underwear, some shower stuff." Jack turned back to his patient, torn. He wanted to tell Dennis more, reassure him, but he had to step back into the room.

"Just- things. Thank you." He thanked him, as if he was doing him a favour. It was Dennis' boyfriend he was doing this for, really.

"Yeah, right of course." Dennis said as if he was doing the favour. As if he didn't have his own key and slept there more than at his place with Santos.

Dana had heard and pulled Dennis aside. "I'll get the uber, Jack can pay me back if he wants to that bad." "Shouldn't you be going home too?"

"Not until the other charge nurse who can cover me gets in." She said patting his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it, kid, thanks for taking care of our Robby." Dennis gave a little smile and waited with her for the uber. He was at Robby's place before long and found it felt...a bit hollow. Not just because he'd only been here once before without Robby and it hadn't been for long, but because it physically felt empty.

When he checked, the fridge had been emptied of food, the pantry cupboards, pictures had been taken off the wall and Dennis found them put away in a box haphazardly tucked under the bed. The bed had been made, and everything had been cleaned. Like a show home. It wasn't the lived in apartment Dennis had enjoyed visiting.

Robby really had meant to... Dennis allowed himself the time to break down. To sob, because Robby hadn't wanted to come back. It took him a while to calm down enough to finish packing his things. He grabbed a book as well that he knew Robby had been reading, some pyjamas with no strings and clean day clothes too, carefully choosing things which had nothing he could use to harm himself on, googling for anything he should be careful of. He took another Uber back to the hospital, texting Jack on the way.

Place was empty. Like a show-home.

What did it mean to be the boyfriend of somebody who didn't want to be alive? Did it mean anything? A deeper failing? It was something Caleb would answer for him in a heartbeat with reassurance and official support. But alone in his empty apartment the questions were loud.

Jack met him at the door, eager, already rushed off his feet.

"Hey, I have Shen around, I can come up a moment. Good timing." He sighed, leading Dennis straight to the lift.

"You must be exhausted." He looked at him… a quiet, horrid tension between them. "Thank you, for.. everything, with Michael. You did all the right things, kid."

"Thanks...and you know thank you too, you were the one that finally did what we all thought we needed to." He said so earnest and genuine.

 "I just...would do pretty much anything to help him." He said with a sigh leaning his head back.

He wanted to ask Jack, who he felt comfortable with, if he could be considered good for Robby if Robby was with him and didn't want to live, but before he could get the courage to get the words out, they arrived and walked in silence to Robby's room.

Dennis knocked and Caleb opened the door.

"Oh sorry, are we interrupting?" He asked, giving Robby a smile glad to see him still there.

"No, no, I was just leaving for the night. Wanted to make sure we'd been over everything urgent before I left."

"But not meee." Robby sung softly, noticing when he looked up that Dennis' demeanour had sunken into itself. He looked upset, despite bringing his things.

"Take the bag with you, of course." Caleb said softly to Dennis, looking at the plastic bag. Jack had to take another breath.

"So.. He has the bed for a couple of days?" Jack asked Caleb quietly, and earned a look to suggest it was longer than that. That Robby would probably not pass another screening at the end of the 302 hold he was under. Robby was a little out of it, sat on the blue-mattress of the bed in the small room now, his back against the wall, his shoes off. Caleb had taken the shoelaces out of them, and reality had set in that he was really in a psych ward. But he also looked very relaxed.

"You give him something?" Jack asked Caleb again quietly, following him out of the room, leaving Dennis inside.

"Yeah," He could be heard saying 'he asked for it, I think-' but then the door slipped closed.

Robby looked at Dennis with half lidded eyes.

"Locked in a room with a psych patient, mm. You scared now?" Robby asked hollowly, all his energy evaporating by the minute.

"I don't think you could ever scare me." Dennis said at last, forcing his voice lighter than it felt. He'd gotten good at that working in this department.

He reminded himself that he loved this, taking care of people on their worst day. He took out Robby's things putting them away for him and then putting the plastic bag in his own bag. He turned to Robby and climbed on the bed next to him, to lay beside him just for a bit.

"Hey," he said quietly. "Wish i could stay with you."

Robby could barely keep his eyes open, nodding at Dennis. He breathed out heavier for medication in his blood, something to indeed, help him sleep off as much of the night as possible and truly relax. He had wanted it.

His hand clumsily found Dennis' and slid to hold his wrist like he would do at home, in private. He rubbed his thumb over it, and lay down with him with a slight shift, too tired and too apathetic to get changed.

"Me too."

Dennis lay with him, head on his shoulder, like he would at home. He stayed awake thinking of Robby and the day they'd had and the night he was still having.

Even when Robby fell asleep, he stayed, until Jack came up again.

"Hey kid, you should go home and get some rest." He said gently. Dennis didn't argue, but he was sniffling as he slid out of Robby's hold and grabbed his bag, making sure he'd left nothing that could be used to harm.

"Uh can you...tell him when he's up that'll come up as soon as I can tomorrow? And to text if he doesn't want me to come."

"You sure you're cool with all this, it is a lot." Jack said hand on his back as he walked him out.

"I can handle it.”