Chapter Text
“Okay Sir, I have your blood results here.” Dennis Whitaker stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. The patient, Dwayne Richards, was sitting completely upright, a frown on his face. For someone who could leave at any point, the man had seemed angry at his position. “It looks like everything is okay, we’ve done an ECG-”
“Can’t be.” He refuted, reaching for the chart.
“Sure if you want to-”
“Listen to my chest again. It’s wrong. You’re wrong.” Dennis nodded sharply. If that’s what the patient needed, he could do it. Dennis sat on the stool, rolling over and pulling his stethoscope over his head. It didn’t really matter anyway, he had the time to spare. In twenty minutes his shift was over and for once in his life he was on top of his charting.
He was possibly over excited too, because after shift Jack was coming to pick himself and Robby up to go spend the evening at the couple’s house. Dennis’ house too, if the attendings had anything to say about it. He did spend most of his time there now, clothing littered in their cupboards. He had a toothbrush by their sink, his favourite snacks in their cupboard.
Last week Jack had told him that they were in love with him, which Dennis had honestly thought would never happen for him in this lifetime.
“Sir, I still can’t hear anything abnormal.” Dennis reported. “I’m happy to run a-”
“You fucking doctors!” He swore, before shoving at Dennis’ stool. He managed to catch himself, huffing out an annoyed sigh. He started reaching for the assistance button.
“Sir, I need you to take a breath. I can’t help as long as-”
“Fuck you!” He shot up, with surprising speed and shoved at Dennis’ chest. He slammed against the wall, shocking running up his spine. Shit. Hula hoop. Help. He stumbled towards the door, but Dwayne was faster. He slammed into Dennis’ side. He felt his body go limp, slamming back into the wall and falling straight to the ground. “Fuck you all!” Dwayne shouted to the entire department.
“Sir! I’m going to need you to-” Robby approached him, an arm out.
“Fucking tell me to calm down one more time!” Security was sprinting towards him.
“Sir!” Robby knew he just needed to do damage control. Keep him where he was so he couldn’t hurt anyone. His eyes flicked around, trying to count the ‘pittlings’ as they called themselves. Where the hell was Dennis? Security grabbed Dwayne, dragging him back towards the empty room.
“Stop!” Dana shouted, running forward. “Robby!” Robby felt his blood run cold, catching the frantic look in Dana’s eye. “Get him to a different room. We need help!” Robby bolted forward, rounding the corner just enough to see-
“Dennis!” He shouted, a crack in his voice running through him. He dropped to his knees by his partner, frantically reaching out to touch him. “Dennis.” He pleaded.
“Robby, step aside.” Dana instructed.
“Dennis please-”
“Robby.” She grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling him to the side. The room rushed with medical professionals that Robby knew were competent.
“Dana, why isn’t he getting up?” Dennis was lying still on the cold floor. He hated the hospital floor. He slipped down the other night and joked about burning his scrubs after. “Dana, we need to get him up.” Robby tried to move towards him. Dennis slept better on his side. He needs to-
“Robby, come on.” Dana pulled him away, towards the nurse’s station.
“Dana I need to go get him. Why isn’t- Dennis!” He shouted again.
“Come here.” Dana sat, pulling Robby to face away from Dennis. Dana had seen enough traumas to know Dennis should be getting up. He still wasn’t moving.
“Dana I need to go hold his hand.” Robby pleaded.
“I know, we just need to wait.”
“Do you need help?” Dana asked Princess as she ran past.
“We’ve got him.” She nodded.
“Trinity.” Robby sat up, jostling her. “Trinity.” He stood as he spotted her. He knew that under all her bravado she cared for Dennis. It was painfully obvious in this moment, her tear stricken face staring forward at the scene unfolding in front of them. “Come here.” He took her arm as she silently followed him. He dragged her into the pediatric room, collapsing against the wall.
“What happened?” She breathed, dragging down next to him. They both had their knees pulled up, Trinity tucking her face into her legs.
“I don’t know.” Robby breathed. “I don’t know, but we’re not going to do any good out there.”
“What happened?” She repeated desperately.
“I don’t- the patient was here for chest pain. I don’t know.”
“Robby, is he going to be okay?” She turned to look at him. He knew, logically, that she was a fully grown adult. She had a medical degree and was a very competent doctor. But in this moment, this horrible moment, she looked like a child. Robby opened his arm, letting her slide underneath. Robby tried desperately not to think about how she didn’t fit as well as Dennis does. He didn’t answer her, anything he said would be a lie.
“Hey you two.” Dana greeted softly, kneeling in front of them. Robby looked up at her, feeling his eyes burn with tears. “They’ve got him in for a CT now. Airway, breathing and circulation were in range.”
“Did he regain consciousness?” Robby breathed. Dana shook her head softly, looking over to Trinity. “Okay. Okay. Nightshift here?”
“Coming in now.” Dana explained. “The staff with Dennis will stay with him until they can do a full handover.”
“What do we do?” Trinity asked softly. “I haven’t- I don’t know what to do. Who’s his emergency contact?”
“You.” Dana answered, looking straight at Robby. “Followed by you.” She looked pointedly over at Trinity. “So I haven’t called anyone.” Robby chuckled awkwardly, before nodding.
“Oh shit.”
“Yeah.” Dana sat down in front of them. “You know he’s in the best hands.”
“I know.” Robby nodded, squeezing Trinity softly. “We- I think we will just sit here.”
“You do that. I’ll keep you updated.” She reached over, squeezing Robby’s knee once, before standing and walking back out of the room.
“Robby?” Trinity sat up. “You love him, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” Robby nodded.
“Jack too?”
“Yeah.”
“He didn’t tell me.” Trinity muttered. “I just- I can see it. I don’t know.”
“You know.” Robby agreed softly. Oh Jack. He was meant to come pick them up after shift. He needed to call him. To tell him what? Oh yes, ‘hello honey, we found Dennis on the floor after a patient got aggressive and now I’m hiding in the pediatric room’. Robby looked at the clock on the wall. “Do you want me to get Jack to drive you home?”
“I’m not leaving my Huckleberry.” Trinity decided.
“Okay.” Robby nodded.
“I’m getting tears and snot on your scrubs.” Trinity apologised, brushing a hand down his shoulder. “I can- I can go get you another pair.”
“It’s okay.” Robby was repeating himself. “I have spare clothing in the-” the door swung open, Jack rushing in. He landed hard on his knees, taking Robby’s face in his hands.
“Robby what the hell is going on? I couldn’t even catch Dana and everyone’s talking about a hula hoop.” His eyes flick down to Trinity. “Mikey…” he let out a little shaky breath. “Where’s Den?”