Work Text:
Robby was leaning casually against the brick wall at the side of 'The Bourbon Room'.
He was scrolling on his phone and waiting for Jack to arrive, midway through a depressing news article when he heard a low whistle.
He looked up to see Jack. He blinked. Jack looked like he'd stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine.
"Look at you, brother," Jack said when his leering whistle ended. "Don't you clean up good?"
Robby rolled his eyes and shut his phone screen off. A tinge of red crept up his neck. "It's just a suit, Jack." he said as his friend smoothed his hand over his lapel then lightly tugged the collar of Robby's shirt open further, his knuckles lightly grazing skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
"Who said I was talking about the suit?" He said lowly, cuffing him on the arm.
Robby cleared his throat and then turned attention back on his friend...who looked divine.
"Anyway, what about you? You're one to talk."
Jack smirked, straightened up and tugged his jacket. Cocky as usual.
"What about me?" He said as if he wasn't aware of how damn good he looked.
Robby took a second more to look at what Jack was wearing, mentally restraining himself from reaching out to touch.
"Don't be that asshole pretending to have no self awareness. You're wearing that shirt way too well to play dumb."
He didn't mention how the dark forest green suit made Jack's eyes glow warmer. How his steel curls framed his face and tied it all together impeccably, or how Jack standing this close suddenly made his hands itch. Maybe that was the new aftershave.
Jack flexed a little, the crisp shirt pulled tight over his toned chest. "Honestly, I think I needed to size up in the shirt but I also wasn't going shopping for a work event."
"It's not a work event."
Jack glowered at him, "we're about to meet up with about twenty people from work. That's a work event."
"Oh don't be so tetchy. It's a retirement party. You just happen to work with the guy."
"Barely." Jack said.
"Barely, he says." Robby shook his head. "Milton loves you. Thinks you're the bees knees."
Jack looked irked. He shoved his hands into his pockets. "Robby, the guy calls me 'son' every time we meet. He's about ten years older than me."
Robby laughed. It was true. Dr Hank Milton definitely had a soft spot for Jack Abbot.
"He thanks me for my service about once a week!"
"Oh hush." Robby said fondly, Jack was cute when he was embarrassed. "He's a great guy and he thinks you're brilliant for some unfathomable reason. Go easy on him, he's probably excited you said yes to the invitation to his retirement party. Probably told all the other Ortho doctors that you were coming to his farewell..."
Jack grumbled.
"Go in there. Shake his hand. Make his night."
"Or..." Jack said, grabbing Robby's hand in his.
"...you and I could bail. We could go down town, I'll buy you a steak or something, make a night of it? Just us."
Robby tried to ignore the heat of Jack's hand on his. He was always trying to find ways to make it just them. At this rate they were months away from becoming the antisocial old guys club.
"As genuinely tempting as that offer is I happen to like Milton. Let's go inside, come on." He used his thumb to gently squeeze Jack's hand. They watched each other for a beat and then Robby reluctantly dropped his hand from Jack's.
"Fine." Jack breathed out. "You're buying the first round."
"Let's go." He replied, still enjoying the phantom grip of Jack's hand on his.
----
The first person they recognise is Raymond Javadi.
He's lingering just inside, clearly wrapping up a phone call.
"Michael, Jack," He said, tucking his phone into his pocket. "Good to see you both."
"Raymond." Robby smiled, shaking his hand.
"Ray." Jack nodded politely.
"Jesus, Abbot," Raymond said as he let go of Robby's hand. "You've been hiding all that muscle under your scrubs. You're making the rest of us look bad, my man."
Jack laughed and muttered something self-deprecating, while Robby lightly sighed. Great. Seemed like the whole hospital were looking at Jack too.
"See?" Robby whispered into his ear.
"No Eileen?" Robby added louder, moving away and tearing his eyes off Jack and that suit to where Raymond was prodding at Jack's bicep.
"Ah," Raymond said, letting him go.
"She's been caught up in an emergency appendectomy. That was her calling, running late."
"That's a shame." Robby lied. He wasn't sure he wanted to spend the evening dodging questions about Victoria's progress in the ED.
"Well, Gentlemen." Raymond added, "I can hear the scotch calling my name. Better get one while I'm not being monitored. Eileen has been on a 'wellness journey'. If you'll excuse me."
"Enjoy." Jack said as Raymond departed and Robby chuckled.
"I do not envy that man." Robby smiled.
"Robby! Abbot!"
Jack groaned.
"Be nice." Robby muttered, turning to where the voice was coming from.
Hank Milton was approaching with a woman in tow.
"Welcome!"
"Thanks for having us." Jack said with a fixed smile, accepting the hand that was thrust at him.
"So happy to have you, Son."
"Happy retirement, Hank." Robby added quickly, ignoring Jack's face.
"Thank you, thank you!" He smiled. "This is my wife- Mary. Mary this is Dr Michael Robinavitch, our chief in the ED, and this...is Dr Jack Abbot."
"Hello, Michael, Hello Jack, wonderful to meet you at last."
They both gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Likewise." Robby added. "How are you looking forward to Hank's retirement?"
"- you remember I told you about Jack, the ED attending. War hero?" Hank cut across.
Mary gasped lightly and clutched at her necklace. "Oh goodness, yes! How wonderful. Thank you for your service."
"Yes, Jack." Robby added, swallowing his laugh and trying not to cough. "We thank you for your-"
"-Oh..." Jack cut across loudly. "...no need for that."
He threw daggers at Robby and then tried to look neutral again. "So, Hank, are you going to be heading to the golf course daily now that you're free?"
"I'll be surprised if he doesn't try and camp there, Jack. It's only a matter of time." Mary answered.
"Mary, take a photo of us." Hank said eagerly and Jack visibly stepped back.
"Oh uhm..."
"Let me!" Robby said with a shit eating grin, taking the digital camera that she had suddenly produced from her clutch bag. "Mary you get in the photo too..."
"I can take it!" Jack said quickly holding his hand out. Robby batted it away.
"Don't be silly, Jack. You get right in the middle of the Miltons. Big smiles everyone..."
If looks could kill, then Jack would be sending Robby to the PTMC.
"Jack..." Robby prompted quietly. "Smile...for me?"
In front of him, and wedged between the beaming Miltons, Jack's shoulders relaxed a little and he smiled.
---
He finds Jack a while later conversing with no one else but Emery Walsh.
Robby walked over hastily, holding out the glass of bourbon for Jack like a shield.
"I'm just saying you should close a button up, no one wants or needs to see your tits." Emery said, arms crossed. Robby clocked that he'd not been the only one who's noticed Jack's pecs in that shirt, at least he'd had the restraint not to say anything to his face.
"Aw," Jack said, "are you jealous because I actually have some?"
"Please," Emery laughed. "I'm simply saying your ego is so big that it needs its own hospital wing. We get it, you work out."
"...maybe you should stop objectifying members of staff." Jack smiled.
"Maybe you should—"
"Emery!" Robby said, literally putting himself between the two work rivals and handing Jack his glass. "If I'd known you were here I'd have brought you a drink."
"Robby, careful. You must know liquids will melt a witch. That's insensitive."
Emery shrieked a humourless laugh. "That's rich coming from the human form of a walking blood clot."
"Jesus," Robby said. "Kinda wish the queue at the bar had been longer now..."
"Don't worry, Robby. I'm off to find someone to talk to who can keep up with an IQ the same as my own." She said, smoothing her hair down and backing up.
"Oh honey, they don't let kids into bars." Jack said, vaguely gesturing around the room.
Emery narrowed her eyes and Robby took a deep drink of amber liquid from his own glass.
"Is he always this insufferable? Like I mean... always?" Emery asked him.
Robby choked on his drink. "Oh do not involve me in whatever this is?"
"The one sided sexual tension?" Jack asked lightly. "I know, she's got a problem. I should really mention it to HR..."
She scoffed, but immediately turned red. A knot formed in Robby's abdomen followed by flash of horror in his chest. Did Walsh like Jack? Was this what their catty back and forth was always about? She liked him...
"Oh you wish." She said, smoothing her hair again, not making eye contact.
Jack shifted his weight onto his other leg. "I'm just saying you're the one who approached me and started talking about my body."
"Ick. It's like you think you're God's gift," She threw back, but she seemed more flustered than usual, this did nothing to ease Robby's suspicion. "I was simply making a point about...whatever... I'm surprised you fit through doorways!"
Jack glanced at Robby. Robby already knew where this was heading. He closed his eyes.
"...she's talking about my muscles again, Robby. This is a problem."
"I was talking about your ego, asshole! Your ego fitting through doors- you are insufferable."
"I'd agree but then we'd both be wrong."
"Alright, alright kids. Let's take a break..." Robby said, needing a time out and also now desperately wanting Walsh to go away and stop holding all of Jack's attention.
"I need another drink anyway. Try not to choke on yours, Abbot." She walked away quickly and Robby sighed. Jack on the other hand was smiling.
"What is it with you two?" He asked, shaking his head.
Jack looked surprised. "What?"
Robby gestured after her. "You're always bitching at each other."
"No we're not," Jack said. "That was just chatting."
"It's like you hate each other."
Jack shrugged. "Walsh is an excellent surgeon. Lucky to have her on nights. It's just fun winding her up."
A cold trickle passed through a vein.
"Hey...you're not... you two aren't...?"
A flare of jealousy reared its ugly head, so much so that it shocked Robby from the inside out.
"Oh please." Jack said, shuddering. "Never."
"If you insist."
"Robby, I do." Jack said looking at him for a bit too long.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six...
"What?"
"Nothing."
He drained his drink and handed the glass to Robby. "I'm gonna hit the head. Catch you in a bit."
----
"Dr Robinavitch....right?"
He looked up.
A woman stood beside him, elegant in a navy cocktail dress with silver earrings that caught the light everytime she moved.
She wore an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry to interrupt."
"Not at all." Robby smiled easily. "I'm literally just waiting on a friend, there's nothing to interrupt. Can I help you?"
"I hope so." She laughed softly. "I'm Claire. Hank's niece."
"Michael." He offered his hand. "But everyone calls me Robby. Anyway, Congratulations on your uncle, I guess. He's a talented man, PTMC will miss his skills sorely."
"Thank you." She laughed and shook his hand but didn't seem in any hurry to let go.
"I've actually been trying to work out whether that was you all evening."
Robby blinked.
"Me?"
"I've heard all about the wonderful and handsome trauma doctor." She smiled. "My uncle thinks you practically walk on water."
Robby groaned and then chuckled. "Oh no. That not me."
"Oh yes." She laughed. "Let's see 'Best emergency physician I've ever worked with.' His words."
"Well, I shall pass those kind words onto who they were actually meant for— Dr Jack Abbot, my friend who I'm waiting for. That's who your uncle was talking about."
Claire smiled coyly. "Surely there can't be two handsome and exceptionally skilled guys in the same department?"
"Well...no, not exactly. There certainly is one, and he works the night shift. Hank has a soft spot for Jack. I think we all do, honestly." He smiled, feeling frustrated that yet another successful woman was here looking for Jack's attention.
"You're modest." she teased.
She smiled again, warmer this time. "Okay, maybe I have the wrong Doctor but he said handsome and charming and I immediately saw you..."
Robby definitely blushed.
"So... are you here with anyone? Your wife maybe?"
Robby hesitated. He wanted to say he was here with Jack. God, he wished he could say that in. The realisation hit him strong... He wanted to say that firmly in a non-platonic way.
Now that his brain had informed his heart he suddenly needed another drink. Or two. And maybe he needed to sit with that realisation for a minute.
"...sorry, was that too forward?" Claire guessed, and he realised he was still in his own head and hadn't responded to her question.
"Sorry, excuse me. I was...never mind. No." He said firmly. "No wife."
She smiled and nodded, raising one perfectly tweezed eyebrow.
"So, I could actually use another drink." He informed her. "Can I get you one too?"
"I'd love a glass of wine." She smiled, placing her hand on his arm. "Let's go to the bar."
He followed her almost absent mindedly.
When Jack touched his elbow in line for the game, when Jack pushed him through elevator doors or placed one hand on his lower back as he squeezed past a patient's bed it felt normal.
When Claire casually touched him it felt intrusive.
They made small talk, Robby asking about her career as he drank another bourbon, he wasn't really listening. He was just relieved she wasn't interested in pursuing Jack, so he was happy to distract her, keep her interest elsewhere.
Jack had obviously gotten caught up with other colleagues on his way back, Robby decided this was a good enough way to move her away from Jack's eyeline.
If she actually got to see who her uncle was enamoured with then he was certain she'd be too, and as he'd just realised a few minutes ago that was something Robby didn't want.
No. He didn't want Jack giving anyone attention... except him. The realisation made him burn. A lot of things were making sense tonight. Feelings he'd been pushing down for months, confusing thoughts and abnormal bouts of affection for his best friend.
"Robby." Claire said, her hand boldly landing against his chest. "You're really flushing up. Should we take these drinks and head outside for some air? Maybe continue this in a more private place?"
Before he could answer-
"There you are."
Jack appeared beside him, one hand already reaching to cuff his elbow.
"I leave you alone for ten minutes."
His tone was light.
His expression oddly wasn't.
"Jack." Robby smiled. "This is Claire. Hank's niece."
Claire turned politely.
"Ah, so this is Dr Abbot."
"Jack."
He nodded once before taking Robby's drink from his hand and bringing it to his lips.
Claire looked between them, watching Jack's lips close over the same glass.
"I was just telling Robby that his reputation seems to precede him."
"I'm aware." Jack said dryly.
Robby shot him a look. He wanted to explain the mix up...but he also didn't want to introduce the idea that Claire had actually been looking for Jack himself.
Jack ignored the silence, instead he drained the last of Robby's drink and handed the empty glass back to him.
Claire laughed politely.
"Oh, well. Our friend here certainly sings your praises," she continued, looking from Robby to Jack. "He was saying my uncle has a soft spot for you."
"He exaggerates."
Claire smiled awkwardly and took a sip of her wine.
Jack sighed
"So," he said, looking around the room as though only just remembering where they were, "how much longer do you think we have to stay before we've fulfilled our social obligation?"
Robby stared at him.
"We've only been here... what... forty-five minutes?"
"Felt longer."
Claire smiled uncertainly.
"I'd probably not want to socialise with the people I spend twelve hours a day with either." She tried. "Hospital work must make people antisocial."
"Only him." Robby said.
"I like people."
"You absolutely do not."
"I like selected people."
"That's a very short list."
"It was longer before tonight."
Robby elbowed him lightly.
"Behave."
"I am behaving."
Claire laughed again, though this one sounded slightly forced.
"Well..." she said. "I won't keep you."
"Oh, you don't-" Robby started. Stuck somewhere between relief that she was leaving and a need to tell Jack she wasn't a date...
"It was lovely meeting you, Robby."
She slipped a business card into his jacket pocket with an easy smile, patting it.
"In case you ever feel like having coffee when you're not being monopolised by your friend."
She gave Jack an amused nod.
"Good evening, gentlemen."
"Bye." Jack said louder than necessary.
They watched her disappear into the crowd.
There was a beat of silence.
Jack signalled the bar tender for two more drinks.
"So."
"So?"
"You got her number."
"I don't think that's what happened."
"I think that's exactly what happened."
Robby pulled the card back out, glancing at it.
"I think she was just being friendly."
Jack gave him a look.
"...Right."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You've got that face."
"I don't have a face."
"You have a very specific face and it's interesting. I feel like we need to talk, right? This isn't just me?...We should have a conversation?"
Jack didn't respond, he took the drinks from the bartender. He downed his in one and pushed the other into Robby's hand.
"Can we go now?"
Robby laughed.
"We're not leaving because one woman talked to me."
"I wasn't suggesting that."
"Sounded like it."
"I was suggesting we leave because this party is terrible and you said you wanted to talk."
"Mhm." Robby commented. Quicky draining his drink and setting the glass on the bar. The liquid courage unfurling his tongue. "You know why I want to talk? I mean... I feel like....you know? You know why?"
"Man, you're confusing me." Jack said, definitely avoiding his eyes.
"But I also want to leave because Milton has already thanked me for my service twice."
Robby snorted.
"It was once, and technically that was Mary."
"He'll do it again." Jack said, changing the tone drastically. "He was lingering outside the rest room. I had to actively engage 'the shark' in conversation to get past him."
"You'll survive."
Jack looked around the room.
"Yeah, I might not."
"Well, I gotta take a leak then we can do an Irish goodbye. Deal?"
"Deal."
----
Robby ran into Raymond Javadi on the way back to the bar where he'd left Jack.
Except now Jack is now not where he'd left him. Great.
"Robby." He says warmly. "The scotch here is excellent. Have you tried it my friend?"
"No." Robby says, eyes searching the room. "No, I haven't. Hey, have you seen Abbot?"
Raymond followed Robby's eyes and he also looks around. "No, sorry. I haven't."
"He was right here five minutes ago." Robby added. He spotted the door opening and Eileen walked in, her blue scarf glittering under the lights.
"Must have gotten pulled into conversation." Raymond guessed.
"Yeah." Robby agreed. "Anyway, drink up big guy. Your good lady wife just walked in."
"Damn it." Raymond said, gulping his drink and sliding the glass down the bar. "She wants me on a health kick. Always a damn health kick."
Robby snorted and patted him on the shoulder.
Raymond quickly ordered himself an orange juice.
"I'm gonna go find Abbot." He said, cuffing Raymond again. "Enjoy your vitamin C."
----
The last place he checked was the roof-top seating area.
It had been raining so the table tops and seats were wet, warm white fairy lights strung around the seating area glittered in the rainwater that pooled there.
He was about to push the door open when he spotted Jack near the railing edge. He wasn't alone.
She was gorgeous, in a dress that left nothing to the imagination, she must have been cold but stood tall as though the gloomy Pittsburgh evening wasn't on her radar.
She was laughing loud enough that he could hear her through the glass door.
Jack smiled.
Not one of his polite smiles, a real one.
The sight sent Robby's stomach down a level.
Because he'd spent the entire time they'd been here realising he was probably in love with his best friend and the universe was already auditioning this woman as his replacement before he even got the chance to speak to Jack.
Fantastic.
He thought about leaving them, thought about walking right out of the building, instead he gently pushed the door open a creak so he could hear their conversation.
"Actually, I'm pretty much permanently on nights so..."
"So...exactly what kind of emergency would I have to find myself in to end up spending the night with you?"
Robby rolled his eyes so hard he was surprised they didn't get stuck in the back of his skull.
He missed what Jack said and how she responded but there was more laughter.
The woman turned her attention to her bag, withdrawing a packet of cigarettes. She popped one between her rouge lips and held the carton out.
Jack shook his head, holding up a hand. She withdrew another cigarette anyway and slid it behind his ear with a wink.
"For later, sweetheart." She said lowly and Robby struggled to hear much more.
The woman placed the carton back into her bag and rummaged for her lighter, she sparked it a few times without success.
Eventually Jack stepped closer, cupping his hands around the tip of her cigarette, shielding it from the wind. Her next click sparked a flame and she inhaled deeply.
When Jack withdrew his hands, she dragged her manicured hand down his arm in thanks.
Something snapped inside Robby. Metaphorically the rope of hope he'd cast between him and Jack tonight was fraying. It was bound to snap if things continued like this.
He was through the door and walking toward them with purpose before he'd even realised he'd moved.
Jack and the woman both looked sideways in sync.
"Oh. There you are." Jack said, the woman swivelled, giving him a tiny wave, cigarette smoldering between her fingers.
Robby didn't answer, he walked right up to Jack, reached out and plucked the cigarette from behind his ear.
He snapped it cleanly in two and tossed both ends into the wet ashtray beside them.
Silence. Except for the distant traffic below.
Jack blinked. The woman blinked through her heavy lashes.
"Robby?" Jack carefully.
Robby ignored him and turned to the woman. "Hi." He said more politely than he imagined he could muster. "I'm so sorry, I need to borrow him. Can you give us some space?"
She exhaled a cloud of smoke and huffed and indignant little laugh.
"Sure."
Robby stood firmly between them.
She side stepped him, pressing her cigarette into the wet ashtray.
"It was nice to meet you, Jack. Come find me inside." She added, turning on her heels and sauntering back inside the building.
Robby waited until the door was completely closed to even looked at Jack.
"What the hell was that?" Jack spoke first.
Robby let out a hysterical laugh and rubbed his eyes. "Shit. I have no idea."
"You do. That was insane... And that was a perfectly good cigarette."
"You don't smoke!"
"Not the point. You looked like you wanted to fight her."
"Yeah. Maybe. Fuck."
"You gotta give me something here..."
"I'm trying. You...you didn't even..."
Robby could run a trauma room with twelve people in chaos, shouting instructions in all directions. Right here, he was lost for words.
"...I didn't like her touching you...she was flirting with you and...fuck... I don't think I can be your friend anymore."
He had been looking anywhere but at Jack, when he chanced a glance he saw the other man looking hurt and confused.
"Oh."
Robby's heart lept. "No....no, not like that, Jesus. I meant I can't be your friend anymore because I... because I have feelings for you."
The silence that followed made Robby regret opening his mouth. He should have just left. Now he'd detonated the best thing in his life.
"...I don't know, man." Jack said shakily, rubbing the back of his neck. "I can't believe this is happening right now."
Robby tried to ignore the urge to bolt, ignored the stinging threatening the corners of his eyes.
"...I guess I thought. I thought maybe you felt it too?...us. It was like we were moving to this inevitable place together and I... downstairs in the bar with Claire?..." He was rambling. Horrified that he had clearly been misreading the room everytime Jack had casually touched him, complimented him or orbited him too closely.
He shook his head, heat flaring in his chest.
"What was all that? Am I crazy? I didn't imagine all these moments between us, did I?"
"Robby, you're always surrounded by beautiful women."
He shrugged. "It's not the same..."
"I thought you were rejecting me. All this time I thought that was your way of letting me down gently."
Robby's head snapped up. "Wait. Rejecting you?... You mean...?"
He wanted to tell him that he'd never knowingly rejected Jack once since the first day they met.
Jack just stood there looking at him. His green eyes were sad but fierce.
"Jack."
He stepped forward. Hands on Jack's face but Jack turned his cheek.
"No."
"No?" Robby said, but his hands still sought Jack's face, he cupped one hand on his face, the other on his neck, forcing them to look at each other.
Robby couldn't hold back. He was done waiting. He leaned in slowly...
"Tell me to stop..." He whispered and he heard Jack's breath catch.
Their lips pressed softly like they were both scared the other might shatter, then Robby's world was shifting until Jack's neck jerked back, separating them.
"Don't."
Robby froze immediately, his heart breaking.
"...please..."
"Don't. Not if you don't mean it. Don't kiss me unless you mean it Robby, that would kill me..."
Robby sighed. His thumb lightly caressing Jack's cheek.
He smiled, and nodded shakily.
"I'm going to kiss you now." He said with absolute unwavering certainty.
He didn't get the chance to make his move because Jack was crashing into him, lips on his, hands desperately pulling at his suit. His own frustrations disappearing by the second.
They kissed like they were downing and the other was their oxygen source. Jack's fingers sliding onto the short hair at the back of Robby's neck almost like he'd been wanting to do that for months, his thumb sliding over the same place on his throat where goosebumps had risen earlier outside the bar.
Eventually they broke apart panting.
"Took you long enough."
He slid his fingers into Jacks who intertwined them without hesitation.
"I wasn't sure. You could have said something."
"I know. I wasn't sure either."
Their heads were butting lightly, hands tugging at one another, trying to get impossibly closer. If even an inch grew between them the other would close it without even thinking.
Every misunderstanding and passed up moment suddenly seemed unimportant now that Jack was in his arms.
"Hey. We got there in the end, right?"
"Right. Although I did ask you out earlier. Just saying."
"What? No you didn't." He said quickly, and then he put his lips around Jack's again for a short but desperate kiss because he could now.
He laughed into it. Not because it was actually funny but because after all this time of secretly wanting him, Jack was actually kissing him back.
"Mmm." Jack breathed against him, before he pulled back. "I said we should go out, get a steak, remember?"
Robby laughed. "Oh."
"Yes. Oh."
"So you were flirting."
"I'm always flirting with you."
With a stomach full of butterflies Robby slid his hand down over Jack's wrist and took his hand again.
"So we should get out of here, right? Go get that steak."
"Yes. Definitely." Jack said, thumb brushing his hand. "You promised me an Irish exit earlier. Down, through and out. No stopping for goodbyes."
"Not even Milton?" Robby teased.
Jack flashed him a look that made him sweat.
"The sooner we leave, the sooner I get you all to myself."
"In that case..." Robby said with a smirk. "Is that a fire exit?"