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After a particularly heinous week in the Pitt, everyone was worn down. Between the stomach bug working its way through every school and office building in town and the multicar pile up on the bridge it is a wonder the team even made it out the door.
The team migrated to the bar, not bothering to change out of their scrubs. Every one seemed like they needed a moment to decompress before going home and were all nursing their beers. There were a few rowdy groups but the the Pitt crew kept to themselves talking about anything but work in the corners of the bar.
Robby took a look around the room than cast a knowing look across the table at Dana, that said they had been through the ringer.
A static mic went on somewhere in the bar and a low voice came on saying “ok ladies and gentleman, first Wednesday of the month so you know what that means…Game show night! This weeks challenge is the newly wed game. Nominate your favorite couple to see how you match up. And don't forget the most important part. The winner gets their tab covered.”
Dana’s eyes snapped to Robby's and there was a grin he hadnt seen since the start of the shift light up her face.
“Oh no, no” Robby said as he shook his head with a slight laugh. “Thats not happening Dana."
Robby took a sip of beer not breaking eye contact with her.
Dana just kept the smile plastered to her face.
“We aren’t even married. That is just about the only qualifier for entry”. Robby said in a huff.
Dana rolled her eyes. “Do you know how often I am referred to as your work wife? Come on Capt it’ll be fun.”
Princess turned around as if triggered by the word. “What’ll be fun?”
Dana: “Me and Robby whipping the floor in the newly wed game”
Catching her second wind, Princess grabbed Dana by the arm saying “Oh My God you HAVE to!”
Robby grimaced, stretching out his arms on the table looking around at the pleading eyes in front of him.
“Think of it as team bonding…. A moral booster. ” said Dana. “It will get Gloria off your back for team bonding” Dana said in a mocking tone while doing air quotes.” And do WAYYYY more than a few lousy thank you doughnuts” dana said in a mocking tone
Robby looked up and the table of eager eyes.
“Fine,” he sighed.
“PERFECT!” Dana clapped and shot up out of her seat flagging down the bartender. “Sign up PTMC’s finest couple!
“Dana, I thought you hated attention?” Santos said a little tipsy
“Not as much as I love free drinks.” Dana shot back
“If I had known buying you a drink could have gotten me out of this I would have ….”Robby started before he was interrupted by Dana
“ah ah ah sorry handsome, snooze ya loose. Now get up to that stage.” She said shuffling behind him with both hands on his back.
Dana whispered to Robby “ok, a few freebies. Our first date was a post-shift drink and our first kiss was outside my apartment. The rest we can improvise.”
Robby made the mental note, then starting thinking about the type of couple they would be. Would they be touchy feely or something closer to what their dynamic was in the ER.
“Hello everyone, let's take a moment to invite our lovebirds to the stage. We have several couples up here tonight ready to put their love full display and see how well they actually know each other. Please everyone introduce yourselves”. Then he paused and leaned in closer to the mic like he was telling a secret. “and tell us something juicy.”
When the mic got to Robby, he let out a deep sigh and said, “Hi everyone, My name is Robby and ugh this is my wonderful wife Dana.”
“You forgot to tell us something juicy!” Princess shouted from their spot at the bar egging them on.
Dana leaned in grabbing Robby’s hand holding the mic and said “We love to role play”.
The crowd let out a collective “OOoooOoOOo” and the entire Pitt crew screamed from their booth. Poor Whitaker looked sick and Santos slammed her hand on the table.
Robby blushed and turned to Dana with his mouth agape, clearly not expecting anything like that to come out of her mouth. (“THIS IS WHERE WE ARE STARTING”, he thought to himself.)
Dana snaked one of her hands up his arms nodding nonchalantly “It is important to keep things fresh. Isn't that right honey?”.
The crowd continued howling and the host dramatically tugged at his collar laughing and said “Wooahhh woahh settle down folks, we have a long night ahead of us.”
Robby, still in shock, looked over at Dana who still had her hands on his forearm and was feigning innocence. Robby leaned in whispering “that was some improvisation." She patted his arm and whispered “Lighten up honey”.
The host handed out the white boards to each couple and said “Ok the rules are simple. I will ask you a question about your wonderful significant other and you have about 20 seconds to write down your answer and lock it in. After the 20 seconds is up the other half of the couple will say the correct answer out loud and we will see how many of you actually know your better half.
The entire Pitt crew started showing proof of life from their corner of the bar.
“Ok first question: Where was your first date?”
Robby was relieved that Dana thought enough to prepare a few for answer and gave him a layup for their first question. He confidently wrote down “after work drinks”
The host said “Alright everyone, times up. Lets go down the line to see how you did”
“Robby and Dana, we'll start with you. Dana, where was your first date?”.
Dana pretended to be reflecting on a fond memory. “Hm, I would have to say drinks after a particularly difficult shift. I knew he needed to decompress and neither one of us were ready to go home yet. And we’ve had each other's back since.
Robby gave a light smile knowing that even in this little lie they were playing, there was truth to Dana’s answer.
A few awws came from the crowd and the host said “dont say aw yet…. We need to make sure Robby got the answer right. Robby, can we see your board please?”
Robby turned his board over revealing “Post shift drink” and the entire Pitt table went wild.
The host finished up with the other two couples and said “Ok ok next question. Where was your first kiss?”
Dana held an all knowing smirk on her face as she wrote down the answer she fed Robby. When she was done, she confidently held the board face down in her lap waiting for the time to be done.
The host started with the other two couples first this time and finally made his way to Robby and Dana.
“Ok Robby, it's your turn. Where was yours and Dana’s first kiss?”
It was Robby’s turn to lean into the story. “It was outside on the steps of Dana’s apartment. It was raining and I needed an excuse to get inside.” he teased. I drove her home and she drove me crazy”.
She looked at him wide eyed smirking in a way that said I cant believe you said that
“Dana lets see your answer”
Dana flipped the board to reveal “outside my apartment”.
“It was raining and I felt sorry for him.” she teased back.
Alright question number 3. This question is for each of you. What is your favorite physical trait in your partner?
Robby shifted uneasily on the barstool and looked up at Dana. She was locked in on her board, her lower lip between her teeth, already writing down an answer. He had a brief moment to observe her before she looked up with a small smile and as always the devilish glint in her eye.
Robby smirked and wrote down his answer.
“Ok Robby we are back to you for the start on this one. What do you think is your lovely wife’s physical trait of yours.”
Robby a little embarrassed, didn't know what to say. “Well a lot of heavily induced patients compliment my eyes, so ugh, I guess lets go with that.”
“Dana show me eyes” said the host
Dana flipped her board and it showed “eyes and forearms”.
Robby looked a little taken aback.
“What can I say, I like a big gruff man” Dana said wiggling her eyebrows.
Robby blushed slightly. She liked watching him squirm in his seat.
“Ok now dana, what do you think Robby finds most attractive about you?”
“Hmmmm,” Dana started dramatically. “Well, I know he tries his best not to stare at me when we are working. He is always doing little things to try and make me smile, so lets for with that.”
Robby hesitantly flipped his board to reveal “smile and neck”
Dana leaned back on her stool tossing her head back “My neck!”
Santos yelled from the Pitt’s table “I second that”. They both shot her a look.
“I don’t know, you got a nice neck” said Robby sheepishly.
Robby and Dana were getting into a flow state and the questions were getting easier to fake. They had known each other for years. Helped each other through the highs, lows and everything in between. They both knew that the other had their back from an unruly patient to dodging a meeting or a family member.
“Who is Robby’s favorite musical artist?”
Dana thought of all the times she wanted to wring Robb's neck for humming Michael McDonald while he was charting. Another correct answer for Mrs. Robinovitch.
“Who said “I love you” first?”
Dana: Robby
Robby: Me
“Who is more romantic?”
Dana: Robby
Robby: Me
“Who is the better Kisser?”
Dana: Me
Robbie: Dana
Dana looked over at Robby a little surprised.
Robby just shrugged. “What? you’re competitive.”
---
“Ok we are getting to the “after dark” final question. I am going to be a little less lenient on what gets accepted and we are also weighing your answers on crowd reaction.”
“What is your partner’s favorite position in bed?”
Robby and Dana They both froze slightly and both looked at each other with a slighly embarrassed smile. The jig was up. They were also suddenly VERY aware of the Pitt table staring back at them grinning like a bunch of drunk fools. One thing was for certain, they were getting their money’s worth on the potential free drinks.
“Well we made it this far” Robby said.
Dana nodded.
“You’re all a bunch of pervs”, she said to the crowd trying to lighten the mood.
Robby and Dana were both playing a game of odds at this point. Did they pick a common throw away answer or what they think the other would put. The both thought what would be the most likely
“Ok Dana lets hear what your favorite position is for doing the horizontal tango.”
“Call me old fashioned, but missionary gets the job done for me. I like to look em” Dana said, trying to keep the mood light.
“Robby, lets see the big reveal. What did you say is Dana’s favorite position in bed?”
Robby flipped his board
“Cowgirl!??! You think I like cowgirl?”
Robby blushed. “I don't know.” he said in a panicked tone.
The Pitt table was absolutely losing it.
“Ok fine, what do you think I like then!” Robby said defensively.
“Jesus Christ. I said Doggie Style” and she flipped the board.
“Well I guess they aren't afraid of variety folks.” the host said laughing
Whistles could be heard from the crowd.
Well they didnt match on paper but based that crowd reaction I think we have no choice but to crown our winners! Let's hear it for Robby and Dana, our undisputed and apparently very adventurous champions of the night! Hope this was a productive conversation, for your at home plans” the host said suggestively.
Dana jumped up from the stood excitedly and put an arm around him. A huge grin took over her face.
"But wait, wait, hold on folks," the host said, raising a hand to quiet the crowd. He turned back to Robby and Dana with a massive grin. "We can't let our grand prize winners walk off the stage without sealing the deal. Give us a kiss!"
Robby froze, the heat instantly rushed right back up to his collar. He looked at the host, then down at the Pitt table and Princess was already chanting, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"
But Dana didn't hesitate. She put a hand on each side of his face and looked at him for a second with a mischievous little smirk, and pulled him forward into a kiss.
It wasn't a quick peck, but she did plant a solid, lingering kiss smack on his mouth. It was just enough to sell it to the crowd, but not long enough for Robby's liking.
Robby's brain short-circuited for a fraction of a second, but before he could even think about how soft her lips were, Dana was already pulling back. She let out a victorious laugh, giving his shoulder playful pat as she turned back to the pitt crew and threw her hands up in the air.
Robby was still sitting on the stool, his mouth slightly open, as his heart hammered against his chest. He looked at Dana, whose face was flushed and radiant with an energy she hadn't possessed an hour ago when they walked through those doors.
"Come on, 'honey,'" Dana teased, reaching her hand out for him to take. "Let's go enjoy some of the benefits of married."
Robby cocked an eyebrow.
Dana rolled her eyes “Easy there Cowgirl.”