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It starts with Robby being an idiot.
It starts with Robby being an asshole.
They can frame this in every shape or form they want, take the day into account, the ghost of Adamson hanging over the ED, Santos accusing Frank of diverting drugs - and yes, she has her part of responsibility in what will come from it all - but the truth is: the one at fault here is Robby.
It's Robby who forgets Frank has to take benzos before his annual heat. Robby who screams at him so sharply that Frank is thrown into a full body flinch. Robby who takes the pills without looking any further at it and throws him out like unwanted trash.
And everything that goes down afterward is on Robby.
Xxxx
No one sees it coming. No one expects it. They know Frank’s heats are bad. Know that they leave him crippled and in pain.
Know it, yes, but not on an intimate level. Barely on an intellectual level.
Know it, only because that's the reason he is allowed to keep it to one heat a year, not dysregulating his system too much to make it a health risk but not being asked to endure more just for the sake of enduring. That's why he is granted sick leave for it, and treatments to make his suffering bearable. Or at least not hospital-worthy.
In truth, they know it like one knows that pyelonephritis is one of the most painful things a person can live through without ever having gone through that pain themselves.
Which means they know jack shit. If one really thinks about it.
Maybe that's why they miss it. Because Frank always has his heats under control, and because yeah, it hurts, that sucks,but they don’t actually know how much it sucks and because Pittfest happens and they are stretched too thin. Pulled in every direction and exhausted. Because the day has just been awful and Robby is breaking and Mel is tired after donating blood on top of doing her job and Dana has been punched and McKay just thought she was going to be taken into custody and Leah is dead!
They don't see it. Even when Frank sits on Jake’s stretcher, still advocating for Robby despite everything.
They don't see it.
But Jake does.
Jake sees a pale omega, swaying, sweating, eyes losing their focus, holding onto his gurney for support and he screams.
“ROBBY!!!”
Forgetting his anger. Forgetting his pain, his loss. He screams. And there is terror in his voice.
Then, and only then, does it hit them.
The smell.
The acrid, burning scent of an omega in pain.
Jack is there first, sliding an arm around the R4 to stop him from collapsing, shivering in dread when the man’s head comes lolling listlessly on his shoulder. Shen just behind him, pen already out to test Frank's pupils. “What's going on? Langdon, what's happening?”
“Just…” the man is panting against him, words slurring and a deep flush appearing at the base of his neck. “Heat’s starting… missed m’benzos doses. Two.”
Robby freezes, the weight of the vial in his pocket suddenly turning into a thousand pounds.
“What?! What do you mean you miss-where are-Fuck, never mind. It's too late anyway. You, Whitaker, right? Call OCU, tell them we have an omega with a Heat Intolerance Syndrome and a history of chronic pain and chronic injury going into Stage 2. Shen…”
The other attending is putting Frank’s arm over his shoulder before Jack needs to say anything. By the time they have him upright McKay and Jesse are here with an empty gurney, Ellis following not far behind with the oximeter.
Robby watches them work, rooted to his spot, entirely incapable of making himself move. Incapable of bearing the weight of his responsibility in what is happening.
He stands, a pillar of salt, in the middle of his ED as Jesse installs an IV line and Mel brings fluids that Ellis hooks up to the gurney, already preparing their colleague for a transfer. Dana slithers in between Shen and Jack to come hold one of Frank’s hands and caress his sweaty brow, broadcasting a calming scent in an effort to soothe her sick pup. “Shhh, it’s going to be okay. We’re going to take care of you. You’re okay sweetheart.” She croons, a tortured expression on her face as they lose Frank to the pain.
Amongst the hubbub, Jack is speaking in a low voice with Frank, asking who he can call, if Frank’s alphas contacts are still the same. A nod from the sick omega and he is ordering McKay to call Park and Garcia, whichever she manages to have first.
Whitaker doesn’t even bother to hang their phone up before announcing the Omega Care Unit is ready to take him in. They all move at once, one calling the elevator, another pushing the gurney, yet another checking Frank’s constants, no one completely able to not do something.
All but Robby.
In his hand is the vial of benzos he took from Frank’s locker, the resident’s name on it as well as the date of issue. From the other side of the room, Trinity Santos, alpha, brash, slightly too arrogant, looks at him with the same guilt reflected in her eyes.
Xxxx
Frank is settled in one of the OCU’s medicalized Heat Room, made as comfortable as they can with unfamiliar blankets and pillows and hooked up to all sorts of machines; IV and an oxygen mask kept securely in place. But at least he is out of the ED’s rigid stretchers, propped up under softer materials in the best hospital-sanctioned equivalent of a nest. The OCU’s specialists tut at his state, a judgemental downturn to their lips as they have the Emergency physicians trickle out of the room, only just stopping themselves from asking why the omega was not brought to them earlier.
Abby is called, sending the beta into a panic. She promises to be here as soon as possible, already gathering their usual heat items as well as some of Tanner’s and Penny’s clothes. By the time there is only Jack and Dana left, Park the Shark has arrived in the Unit, changed into street clothes. He barely acknowledges anyone’s presence, going straight into the room to discard his shoes and climb into the nest, folding himself neatly to spoon Frank from behind.
Alpha pheromones flood the room, projecting safety and security. Frank, half-unconscious and already completely out of it, relaxes minutely, his body wracked with tremors, his distress a thick and cloying smell triggering any alpha who would dare to step inside.
Pain management and a mild sedation are implemented, even though they all know it won't be enough.
It is never enough.
Decades upon decades of disregarding omegas' needs and inputs means that they are now helpless in the face of a syndrome that is becoming more and more prevalent and they are scrambling to course correct. Entire units being created to research omega's physiology and find treatments that are actually adapted to their need, stupid and archaic laws that no one followed anyway being rescinded, papers being pushed by the dozen as long as they speak of Omegas’ Health.
It is not enough.
For now it is all they have.
Xxxx
The morning after finds Robby outside of the Heat Room Frank is being kept in.
He knows he is allowed to enter, that he is on Frank’s list of trusted persons (though that might change before long, a small voice hisses in his head, after the bullshit he pulled yesterday). The little lady who follows the R4’s care was even excited to see him come, gushing about how good it was that the young man would also have the presence of another omega.
Robby, ever the coward, had not had the courage to tell her he had to be the worst possible choice in that case.
He had hated his designation from the moment he had presented, fresh out of his first heat and furious at the universe for doing that to him. For making him an omega in a world of alphas and betas. Where every other question would be about how was he expecting to build a family while practicing medicine or why did he not have children already? He’d raged and railed at the unfairness of it all and done his damn best to never be associated with any of the habitual omega stereotypes.
Even now, years down the line, with omegas finally recognized for their own worth and age freeing him from the burden of heats, Robby could not completely rid himself of the long-held hate that had festered within him.
It was the main reason his tryst with Frank had not worked out. The man had never cared that Robby did not exhibit any of the “soft” attributes or interests that could tie him to his secondary gender, but he had drawn the line at Robby mocking his.
The chief attending is aware of how cruel it had been, to criticize Frank’s desire for children and his love for flowers and soft mornings spent cuddling under the covers, especially in light of his inability to have a “proper” heat. Even then, he had been ashamed of his behavior, disgusted at himself. But he had preferred to let Frank go rather than apologise.
And now they want him to enter that room and soothe the ailing omega. As if he has any idea how to do that! As if he hasn’t spent his entire life rejecting this part of himself.
“For fuck’s sake Robinavitch, grow a pair and stop making that man wait. Not everything has to be about you, you know.”
The unexpected sound of Park’s voice has him jumping. He turns around, spooked and suspicious.
“I’d thought you would be with him” he comments, gesturing towards the door. The big man just shakes his head.
“We’re taking it in shifts. I was here all night. Now it’s Garcia’s turn. I’ll get home to catch up on some sleep before coming back tonight.”
“Did, errr, did they say how long he is going to be in for?”
Robby can’t stop fidgeting under Park’s gaze, conscious that the man is evaluating him, looking for holes to poke and prode, for failures to be revealed. As if he is not entirely made of the sums of his mistakes.
“Get inside, Robby. You don’t have to be an omega. But at the fucking least be his friend, you owe him that much, don’t you think?”
And he turns around and stalks toward the exit doors, yawning widely.
Robby has his hand on the door handle before he realizes what he is doing. Then, he is inside, nose burning at the acrid scent of a distressed omega attacks his senses.
At first, he doesn’t recognize the room. Colorful sheets and large pieces of fabrics have been hung all over the place, muting the bright and impersonal off-white of the hospital. An oil burner is working over time to trickle the scent of oranges and citruses, a smell he knows reminds Frank of summer days and moments in the backyard with his children.
Pushed against a wall, the large nest is full to the brim with personal blankets, pillows, throws and pieces of clothing. Amongst the smells, Robby identifies those of his staff, warming his heart at the idea that everyone has been contributing to make their omega’s coworker feel a little safer. (He and Jack will have to take stock of their people, this is bound to have triggered many protective instincts).
On the counter closest to the nest are strewn bottles of water and juice, chocolate boxes, a half-eaten protein bar and several assortments of cakes and biscuits boxes. Not the peak of nutrition, but good enough for a quick dip in energy. An electric kettle has been plugged into one of the room’s sockets and a bowl still containing a quarter of an instant soup is resting on the table amongst what look like powdered drinks, electrolytes and sugar sachets.
And in the middle of the nest is Frank.
Still hooked up, still being pumped full of fluids, which is enough of a sign that they can’t get enough nutrients into him orally, still sporting the oxygen mask.
His eyes are closed, though he is not unconscious. Robby can see the sliver of white that is still peeking out, the pain and the raging of his hormones keeping him awake despite the treatments or the alpha and beta rumbling around him.
Abby is the first to spot him, raising her disheveled head in a confused move, sniffing at the air until her eyes land on him. Garcia follows her movements, to the same results. They both go still at the sight of him and Robby is tempted to turn around and flee. Garcia’s growl stops him. Not an alpha growl, but a warning. Don’t you dare come this far to turn your back on him now.
Then Abby is chirping at him, encouraging him. “Robby, come one. Come here. He wants you here, he needs you here. Come lay with us.”
The attending takes one step, then another. Unsure, reluctant, so full of doubts and self-hatred that there is no way in the world the two women are not picking up on it! Garcia’s scent changes, turning heavier, not just for Frank anymore, but also for him and Robby wants to bristle! He wants to snarl and bite and tell her he doesn’t need her, he has done very well for himself on his own thank you very much!
At that moment, Frank’s distressed scent takes a turn, picking up on the other omega in the room and calling sharply out to him, a whine escaping from under the mask and Robby folds, crossing the distance left in three long strides and dropping to his knees in front of his resident.
His friend.
His omega.
Mate, pack, family. His own inner omega chants, urging him to push his nose into the crook of Frank’s neck and nuzzle at his swollen glands, stopped only by his own sense of decency and decorum. Until Abby manhandles him to settle against his resident, awkwardly folding his lanky frame to be able to sooth the younger man without disturbing all the tubes coming and going into his body.
Mate, pack, family. His inner omega croons as he is gathered into small arms, sandwiched between Frank and his beta wife, Garcia’s hand coming to rest on his forearm.
Robby doesn’t know what he is supposed to do. But for the first time in his life, he relinquishes his iron control and lets his instincts speak for him. And maybe it’s not perfect, maybe it’s a bit clunky and weird and rusty, but the general idea is still there. He lets the feeling of caring, loved, cherished bleed through his pheromones and watches in wonder as Frank goes a little bit more lax under his influence.
Xxxx
Frank stayed hospitalized for a total of five days. By the end of the third he is pronounced out of Stage 2, thankfully barely having dipped into Stage 3 very early on in his admission and flirting a bit too closely with the risk of going into seizures for their sake. But ultimately escaping that fate, and everyone lets a breath of relief loose at the news.
Tanner and Penny are finally allowed to visit now that the worst is over and their presence does wonders for the omega’s health as he starts improving drastically once he can cuddle with his pups. Garcia and Park continue to relay each other by his side and the ED’s staff still volunteer clothes so that he can be surrounded by familiar scents.
Robby does his best to spend as much time with him as he can. Though he never says anything to Abby or Garcia about the benzos incident. His guilt is an everpresent ball of tar that suffocates him.
No one asks how Frank, usually so good and so careful with his heats, could miss two doses of his medication and degrade so quickly. No one asks. And Robby says nothing. But underneath it all, his remorses eat away at his stomach.
Jack looks at him like he knows, like he has put the clues together, and still Robby says nothing.
Then it is time for Frank to go home and finish recuperating there. Now that his heat is over and he is back on suppressants, he is already bouncing up the walls and Robby gives it less than a week before the young man begs him to let him come back. The relief at seeing him well and whole enough to trick him into agreeing to anything as long as Frank’s name is on it.
He knows they will have to talk about what happened in the locker room. That Robby must apologise for his part in his predicament. That he has to step up, when it comes to him. To stop hiding behind his own self-hate and use it as an excuse to hurt others.
But for now, he lets Frank recovers, secure in the knowledge that the man still wants him around, still care for him, and focuses on what he can ensure here, in the ED, reminding everyone that secondary gender have no bearing on their capabilities as doctors and he better not see an alpha let their prejudices and self-importance influence their behavior towards betas and omegas.
Xxxx
When Frank steps back into the ED, there is an unmistakable loss of tension. Like everyone had been waiting for his reappearance to let go of their fear.
He spends his first day being directed hither and thither by colleagues relieved to have the omega back in their midst, Jesse going as far as rubbing his nose against his neck and Shen unmistakably scenting him. The women are more discreet but Robby catches Dana rubbing their wrist together and Javadi anxiously hovering around him until he engulfs her into a hug, lathering her with his own, now healthy scent.
Snacks and sweets keep on appearing all throughout the day, to a point where he hands some of it to his patients with an embarrassed smile.
Yet he says nothing. Accepting the care being lavished onto him with a patient sort of acceptance, grateful but also kind of stunned by the attention.
Robby can proudly say he is the one to surprise him the most when he offers to walk him back after the end of their shift like the gentleman he never is, making the younger omega blink and blush at him in a way he hasn’t done in a long time.
There is still suspicion there, as Frank waits for the other shoe to drop, for Robby to revert back to his toxic tendencies but the man takes it in stride. He has more than earned that suspicion, he can work with it if that means Frank is giving him the chance to prove he wants to change.
To truly be someone his best resident can rely on.