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Dennis never thought he could feel belonging in this lifetime. Being disowned for coming out as gay, not wanting to be a pastor, moving out of his hometown, surviving medical school unhoused, he was content with being alone.
That was until he started in PTMC, found the family who stepped up. Trinity who gave him a home and a sister, Dana who gave him the love of a mother, the rest of his colleagues who became his friends and showed him what it truly feels like to live his life. Finally, there was Michael. The person that made him feel like he was on top of the world, allowed him to see a different type of love that he never thought he could have.
It took them some time to settle the tension between them. Ultimately, he had to make the first move, unable to handle the pressure, he went in expecting a hard rejection and a trip to HR but instead he ended up ass up and face down on Robby’s bed (which is still the best night of his life).
Now, he spends his days experiencing new things, learning new skills, making mistakes because he is human but gaining knowledge from those mistakes. Feeling content for the first time in this lifetime.
🩺
“Jake! Come down already or you’ll be late for summer class again!” Robby yells from the bottom of the stairs, shaking his head side to side. “Babe, give him some time, teen remember?” Dennis says, giving Robby his coffee.
Jake knows about them, quite some time now. It was a bit of a mess in the beginning, Jake having to finally open up again with Robby and then having to accept Dennis into his life wasn’t a smooth process but they made it, a little cluster they like to call family.
“Thank you, Den! Always happy to see someone on my side!” Jake beams at him with a hug and gives Robby a stink eye. “What? I don’t get a hug?”
Jake shrugs, taking the plate Dennis hands him and basically inhaling the food as soon as he sits down.
“Dude, slow down. We’re not starving you are we?” Dennis laughs, finishing on packing lunches for everyone. “No—no, just, you guys are sickly lovey-dovey today.” This gets a laugh out of both Dennis and Robby. “Sorry, sweet child of mine, we’ll try to be less lovey-dovey around you.” Robby supplies then hurriedly giving Dennis a kiss on the cheek.
The day Jake found out about their relationship was a doozy.
It was a stressful day to say the least, any day in the ED was stressful but today took Dennis for a toll. Both of them were eager to go home. As soon as hand-offs were done, they practically ran towards the older’s truck. Separately of course.
Decompressing for them means having each other’s tongue down the other’s throat which usually leads to Dennis being a moaning mess under Robby.
Nearly breaking his door, Robby finally got it opened. Pushing the younger against it as soon as it closed and kissing him like there's no tomorrow. Each kiss was rough, eager, teeth clashing, lip biting, “Hngh— please.” Dennis didn’t know what he was asking for, just for Robby to do something. “I got you, baby.”
Then, there was a “What the fuck?” and plates breaking.
Jake was standing there like a statue, mouth wide open mid chew, the plate he was holding was now scattered on the ground. Robby made a move first after a beat of silence, “Jake, buddy, we’ll explain but first step away from the ceramics, we don’t want you stepping on them okay?” The teen couldn’t fathom to answer and simply nodded. Robby and Jake’s relationship just started to go back to normal. They didn’t want to add this into the mix yet, and wanted to wait a little longer until they told the teenager. But, life works in unexpected ways.
The two adults got to work, cleaning up the broken dish and making sure Jake didn’t step on any of it. Eventually, they were sitting in the living room across from the boy.
“Isn’t he your student?” Jake blurted out, looking pointedly at Robby. “Well, he was. He’s a second year resident now.” he answered, quite a boring answer if you asked Dennis.
The two continued to speak like so, before Dennis got tired of being ignored. “He is here too, you know?” he says between the two.
“I can answer all your questions too, Jake. I know this is tough for you but I hope you can try to understand our situation and communicate with me as well.” Dennis of course, used his patient voice which worked wonders with Jake.
Jake apologized to him after that. However, the night was still young and the teen’s questions never faltered. They explained how they got together and how everything was consensual (Jake calling Robby a pussy for not making the first move), telling him PTMC’s HR , Trinity and Jack were the only ones who knows about their relationship.
“So, uh, do I have to call you dad as well?” He questions one last time while making a face. “Oh, god, no.” Dennis answered quickly, a bit panicked, he didn’t want that for the both of them. “I mean, no need for that Jake, you can call me by my name. But, just know that I’ll always be here to support you. Don’t hesitate to come to me, okay? Especially, when your dad is in one of his moods.” This earns him a “Hey!” from Robby and a slap on the arm.
Dennis smiles at the memory, since then Jake stays with them when he can plus they’re closer to his summer school and his mom is away on a work trip so it works out. “Alright boys, enough. We gotta get going or all of us will be late.” He scolds (lovingly) and forcibly handing them their respected lunches before putting the dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
The ride to Jake’s school was filled with comfortable silence with passing commentary of what movie they should see on Friday for their weekly movie night. Reaching the school in no time, the teen bids them goodbye with the biggest grin and a “Bye dads!”
Dennis cackles, “Your son, by the way!”
They drive off towards PTMC, it was quick, less than a ten minute drive but they still manage to make that time theirs. By the time Robby parked his truck, Dennis was all bagged up and ready to go. “Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast, Den. I need my kiss.”
Dennis rolls his eyes and gives his man a wet, sloppy kiss. “Good now, big boy?” he smirks.
“Absolutely.” Robby shows him a toothy smile.
They decide that Dennis should head in first, Robby will follow five minutes after. “Good morning for you, I suppose?” The new voice speaking right into his ear startled him, making him jump like a bunny.
“What the fuck, Trin! Don’t do that!” he pushed out, right hand above his chest. “Scared the shit outta me.”
“Oh, huckleberry, this is why I love you,” she puts an arm around his shoulders, ultimately dragging him inside, “Hopefully your mood doesn’t diminish as soon as we enter this hell.”
They separate after hand-offs, Dennis taking Shen’s patients and Trinity taking Parker’s. The hours fly by steady, but not fast enough. However, the ED is kind of quie—, no, slow, today. No big traumas coming in just your typical lacs, fevers, stomachache but, it is the middle of August and therefore, patients are extra cranky due to the heat.
It wasn’t until nine hours into their shift when things became a bit hectic for the day shift. Dennis and Robby getting pulled into separate car crash patients. A guy ran through a red light and unfortunately hit another car and grazed through a couple of pedestrians causing them massive road rash from the fall.
Trinity and Victoria were leading the med students with assisting the roll of pedestrians coming in. “What do we have?” Trinity asks the paramedic as they step off the vehicle, “Nineteen year old male, massive road rash on the left arm and thigh, almost got hit by one of the cars, skidded on the road trying to avoid getting hit, he's the last one on the scene. He was talking and responsive earlier but a little out of it now, due to shock.”
“Jake?!” Trinity’s eyes went wide, unable to process the scene in front of him. Victoria took initiative after Trinity stopped moving, “Lets get him to South 10 for now, both of the trauma rooms are actively being used.” Just as they reach the room and Trinity gains her senses back, something seems to trigger Jake. Within a second, he was crying, shaking and flailing around, almost hurting himself further.
“No! Don’t touch me! I want my dad!” It was chaos, Jake was screaming from the top of his lungs, every nurse, doctor or security trying to restrain him was either getting pushed away or screamed at.
Dana dashed towards the altercation as soon as she heard the first scream, “What is happen— Jake?” She looked at Trinity, asking for information through that singular look.
“We were going to get him in South 10 but he just started freaking out. He’s been yelling for Robby but he’s deep in trauma.” Clearly, the staff had also started to feel anxious, Robby will absolutely send wrath to the ED once he finds out.
“Get me my dad! Please!”
“Hon, Robby can’t come right now, just let us help you.” Bless Dana for being such a brave woman. She reached out towards the teen, getting closer than anyone else.
“No! I said don’t touch me!
“My dad! Please!”
“Jake, honey, Robby can’t—”
“Dennis! Dennis!” Suddenly, everyone froze. Why the hell was Jake asking for Dennis? Then a shift before another outburst. “I want Dennis!” Jake kept shouting for Dennis over and over again.
“Javadi, get Whitaker. Now.” Victoria didn’t hesitate and ran towards one of the trauma rooms. All the cells in her body were buzzing with anxiety, till it wasn't. She spots Dennis stepping out of the room, alongside Langdon, evidently just finished with the patient.
“Hey, you did good there. Thanks to you, the patient will live.” He never really had conversations with Langdon aside from when they’re working on the same patient together. “We saved that patient, Dr. Langdon. Maybe it's time to stop doubting yourself.” Dennis gave him a small smile, trying to step away promptly. He’s still a little awkward with him.
“Dennis, wait!” Javadi’s frantic state made both men stop. “I need you to come with me now, he needs you.” Dennis’ brows meet in the middle from confusion, who needs him?
“Huh? What do you mean? Who needs—”
A devastating cry cuts him off, “Dennis! Please!” He knew that voice like he knew Robby’s.
He books off running before he could even register himself. Both Langdon and Victoria are right on his tail. As soon as he turns the corner, he sees Jake, still flailing while being pinned down on the gurney. He could practically hear his own heart break, the boy was crying hysterically. His body continued to act on its own, persisting on protecting Jake.
“Jake!” He cried out. For the second time today, everyone around the situation froze, but this time so did Jake.
“Dad!” The teen wailed not soon after, and in a second, Dennis had him around his arms.
“I’m here sweetheart, you’re safe.” It was like a mantra with the way Dennis repeated it, forgetting they were in the middle of practically everyone in the ED.
“Whit, we need to calm him down so we can check him out. I’m going to give one milligram of diazepam, alright?” Trinity spoke against the confusion. They acted quickly when Dennis nodded. Within a minute, they had Jake on an IV pushing fluids and diazepam, enough to calm him down but not to knock him out. Though Jake wouldn’t let him go, the kid was gripping his hand so tight like he was afraid Dennis would suddenly disappear into the air. But Dennis wasn’t any better, he gripped back just as hard.
There were less people now, Trinity, Dana, Perlah, Langdon and Victoria were left. Jake had ultimately worn himself out and had been sleeping as they fixed him up. They’ve done the routine so far, blood work, debridement, and preventing infection. Although, Dennis is still on high alert. What actually happened to Jake?
“I want a CT scan for him. I need to know he isn't bleeding from the inside.” Dennis spoke gently, locking eyes with Trinity. “Yeah, okay. I’ll put it in the order.”
“Whitaker, why the hell did Jake call you dad?” The question came from Langdon, it seems like everybody was waiting to ask the same question based on how eager they all looked at him. But, it seems like he still has some luck on his side as Robby bursts into the room, or maybe not. “What the fuck is happening?” He was panting, anxiety evident on his face. Shoving almost anyone who came in his way.
“Robinavitch! Calm down!” It was Dana, raising her voice. Robby was spitting out too many words within a minute, demanding what happened, what tests were done, going absolutely nuts.
“Michael, enough.” The stillness that followed after Dennis uttered out the two words was uncanny. It felt like even the machines stopped for a couple of seconds.
“What matters right now is that Jake is safe. It’ll be better if we hear it from him anyways when he wakes up. Right now, Perlah is going to be bringing him to CT.”
“I’m coming with—”
“No, I will. You have a department to run.” For a quick second, it was just the three of them in the room till a collective,
“What the fuck?” from everyone and Trinity in the corner shaking her head disappointingly side to side.
“You dumb asses, I knew you’ll air out the laundry one of these days.”
“You knew?” Javadi’s shock is more obvious on her face. Trinity immediately shut her questions down with a look. Robby nods once before speaking once again, “Okay. Okay. Perlah, take them to CT, please. Everyone else go back to your patients.”
Soon Dennis and Perlah were rolling Jake out of the room and into the elevator, leaving Robby alone with all the questions.
“Robby—,”
“Nope. Get back to work or else Gloria’s going to be on my ass.”
“Too late for that Robinavitch.” Dana didn’t back down, eyeing him down until she disappeared.
“Fuck.” Robby sighed out as he rubbed his face.
🩺
“Who said we shouldn’t bet on those two again?” Ahmad questioned no one in particular. There were a bunch of them in the central hub, gossiping. Jake’s now back in South 10 with Robby and Dennis. The two were ultimately delaying talking to their coworkers.
“I think I did?” Jack Abbot will never pass up a gossiping session, some may say he’s a ghost that appears just to sip some tea. But today, Robby had asked the man to come in early and he just got lucky.
“But only because I would win all your money.” He continues and gives everyone a cocky shrug.
“Abbot, you knew and didn’t tell me?! HR is gonna go nuts if they ever find this out?!” Dana was going haywire, how did this go over her head?
“Oh, they already know.” Trinity and Jack said in unison. Granted, it should be Dennis and Robby telling them this but their track record isn’t great when it comes to confrontation.
"Alright people, enough chit chats, get back to work!" Dr. Abbot is officially clocked in.
Hours later, Jake is finally ready to get discharged. Aside from his road rash, his tests passed with flying colours. No concussion, blood tests came back normal. His agitation was all shock and adrenaline.
“I’m sorry I aired out the relationship.” Jake was playing with fingers, peeling off the skin beside his thumb. “Hey, hey, what did I say about that Jake?” Robby nods at his skin picking.
“Jake, it’s okay. None of it was your fault.” Dennis was the calming energy he needed, holding his hand to stabilize him. “Don’t worry about anything aside from healing, okay? Michael talked to your mom already, she’ll come get you once she’s back from her trip. Just give her a ring later.”
Jake smiled after a while giving both Robby and Dennis some relief.
“I, I stayed there.” The teen started to explain,
“I helped everyone I could, just like how you guys taught me and, and I guess the adrenaline broke me once I got here."
Robby couldn’t help but hug Jake after his explanation, “And we are so proud of you for doing that Jake. You helped save a lot of people.”
They have a little moment before Dana and Donnie come knocking at the door. “Hey kid, how you feelin’?” She shows Jake one of her comforting smiles, it works instantly.
“I’m okay.”
“Good good. I’m gonna need your dads alright? Donnie’s going to help you get ready to get outta here.” Safe to say, Dennis was red as a tomato after that sentence.
Heading towards the central hub, everyone is practically waiting with excitement, eager to ask questions about everything.
Oh questions they did get,
‘Who asked who?’
‘HR knew before us?’
‘Dennis actually tamed you, boss?’
‘Seven-week itch no more?’
Dennis did most of the talking and answering but Robby’s arm never left his partner’s waist throughout the— situation, confrontation?—clearly showing everyone who Dennis belongs to.
🩺
A few more hours later and the three are finally back at home. Too exhausted to cook anything, they opted to order from their favourite restaurant.
“Hmm, this is soo good!” Jake was praising every bite (give him a break, this was his second meal of the day).
The three of them talked for what feels like a lifetime, going over what happened during the accident to how to properly take care of his injury. Jake also got a hold of his mom, assuring her he is being taken care of.
“Alright, kid. Let’s get you to bed. Your dad here is about to pass out too.” Robby jokes, pointing at Dennis.
“Oh boy, work tomorrow will be a blast.” Dennis adds, laughing hysterically.
Shortly after, Jake was sleeping peacefully in his room while the couple got ready to do the same.
“I was so worried earlier, Mike.” Dennis was laying on top of Robby’s chest, drawing circles on it while he spoke, “When I saw him, my world stopped. He was asking, screaming for me.”
“I know, baby. You did well, very well. I’m so thankful you were there for him.”
"He actually called me dad." Dennis was barely holding in the tears. Tears of happiness.
"Yeah, he did." Robby said proudly.
For them, Jake was their missing puzzle piece. They were secure when they finally got together but when Jake came, life felt extraordinary. A family they both longed for finally at the grasp of their hands.
They weren’t perfect at all, they still have their issues to work on but this was enough to keep them going.
“I love you, baby. So much.” Robby had spoken after a while, lifting Dennis’ face to give him a sweet kiss.
“I love you too, Michael.”