Chapter Text
Robby was on the roof. He wasn’t near the ledge, not today, he was sitting against the wall by the stairway. A piece of plastic clutched in his hand as he tried to slow his breathing and calm down.
Jack found him there, just like Robby knew he would. He didn’t realize he was crying until Jack sat in front of him and wiped tears off his face. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Robby’s voice was hoarse and he cleared it.
“Dana told me you were up here getting some air. Not the spot I normally find you, not that I’m complaining.” Jack said. “Are you still feeling bad from that flu?”
More tears leaked from Robby’s eyes and he gasped slightly, trying to hold himself together. “Not the flu.” He finally managed.
“Robby, what…? You’re scaring me.” Jack said. Robby unclenched his hand and showed Jack what he was holding. Jack felt the air go right out of him as he looked at what Robby was holding. “Who…” His voice was careful. “Whose is that?”
Robby finally looked up at Jack. “It's mine.” He managed. “This…this wasn’t supposed to happen. Not now, not after…everything.” He choked through his tears. “I took five. All the same.”
“Holy shit.” Jack breathed, which surprisingly made Robby laugh.
“I’ve shocked the most unflappable doctor on the east coast, that’s gotta count for something.”
Jack cupped his chin in his hand. “You’re really…” He said, looking down at the test again.
“I haven’t confirmed with urine, blood, or ultrasound, but I’d say five positives are leaning towards yes.” He said, then his eyes filled again and he hiccuped a sob. “Jack…” He pleaded.
Jack leaned forward, pulling Robby into his arms. “It's okay, love, everything is going to be okay.”
“God, we tried for…how many years? I had accepted it, I made my peace with it! Now, I’m 53 and I…” He paused again. “I don’t know what to do.” He admitted.
“Well…” Jack started, clearly trying to get himself level headed again. “I think we start by confirming it. Then, I get Shen to cover my shift and you and I go home. Nothing has to be decided today. And I am with you, Mike, I am with you no matter what. Okay?”
Robby nodded, wiping the tears from his face. Jack stood up and offered an arm to help pull Robby up as well. “I’m going to call Shen. You grab the on-call room and a gown. I’ll meet you in there in ten with everything, I’ll let Lena know what’s happening—not, not everything, but…enough.” He promises. Robby allows Jack to pull him into another hug, then pulls back and follows Jack back inside.
When they hit the ER, Robby heads for the on-call room, grabbing a gown, and Jack heads to the central desk. Robby changed and sat on the edge of the bed, still dazed from everything. It could have been ten seconds or ten minutes, but the door opened and Jack came in, wheeling equipment behind him. He closed the curtain and locked the door.
“We are not going to worry about anything right now.” Jack told him. “We’re going to do a urine dip, a blood test, and I’m going to do an ultrasound. Right now, the only thing we are thinking about is confirmation, okay? Once we have confirmation, you and I are going home, you’re going to get some sleep, then we will talk. Sound good?”
Robby loved that Jack knew when it was time to take control. When Robby was slipping and needed a firm hand. He nodded and let Jack draw his blood, labeling the vials and setting them to the side to be sent off. Jack helped him scoot back on the bed, lifted his gown and squirted jelly. “Ready?” Jack asked, before turning on the transducer. Robby took a deep breath, then nodded, unsure if he wanted to watch the screen or not. He settled for watching Jack’s face.
Jack concentrated on the ultrasound, moving the wand when he stopped suddenly. There it was, clear as day. Robby was pregnant. “I’m pregnant?” Robby asked, seeing the look on Jack’s face.
“Y-yeah.” Jack said, trying to not cry. “You are absolutely pregnant. Measuring about…six weeks. You want to see?” He offered, gesturing to the screen.
Robby turned slowly and saw what Jack was seeing. His breath caught again. “I’m really pregnant? We actually did it?” He asked and Jack nodded, wiping away his own tears.
“You want to hear the heart?” He reached for Robby’s hand with his spare hand and they squeezed each other. Robby nodded and Jack pressed a button. Soon, the air was filled with the steady sound of the heartbeat and both Robby and Jack began crying again. “That’s…their heart.” He said.
“Oh my God.” Robby managed. They sat there for a minute, watching the picture on the screen, listening to the heartbeat. Jack printed a few pictures then turned off the machine and helped Robby wipe off the jelly.
“Okay. Well. Go pee in a cup, come back, and I’ll get everything sent up. You change and then we are going home.”