Chapter Text
He wasn’t that good with change, especially new environments. His new therapist said the anxiety might happen but he wasn’t expecting it as soon as he got in the car with Jesse. And, of course, Jesse noticed Jack’s anxiousness.
“Are you anxious or something, man?” Jesse asks, looking at Jack with a smug smirk. Jack shakes his head, “No, why?”
“You’re tapping.” Jesse answers, and Jack realizes he’s right. He stops tapping and looks out the window.
“Your first day will be just fine, I know you don’t like the day shift, but the day shift isn’t that bad.” Jesse emphasizes. Jack shrugs, “Yeah, you’re right. I always get nervous with new things. I almost stopped breathing normal driving into Pittsburgh.” Jack laughs.
Jesse just smiles, “But, it all turned out well. You have nothing to be nervous about!”
Jack nods but goes back to looking outside, playing with his hospital ID, picking at the plastic. He reads the words.
‘Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center’
‘Nurse’ in bright blue at the bottom.
Jesse stops the car in the parking lot and unbuckles his seat belt.
“It’ll all be fine, Jack. Let's go.” Jesse gets out of the car, Jack following behind. He puts his hands in his pockets as he walks past the waiting room into the ED. He looks around, it's nice. roomy. Much more up to date than the previous hospital he was working at in Los Angeles. He stops and looks around, back pack in hand.
“Lockers are over there.” Oh fuck, yeah lockers. He walks over to the lockers and puts his stuff inside. His first day at PTMC, this oughta go well.
As he looks for Jesse again, he notices him talking to a woman. She looks older than him but not by a lot. Jack feels like he’s seen her before. He walks over and notices the ID badge says ‘Charge Nurse’. He takes a sip of his coffee and stands next to Jesse.
“Dana, this is Jack.” Dana looks at him then smiles, “Hey, I saw ya’ at the bar the other night! You talked to Robby.”
Jack nods, “Oh, that's where I recognize you from. Is Robby around?” he asks. Dana smirks and nods, “He should be coming in any time now. I’m not sure he was expecting you to come for the day shift.”
Jack nods and looks around, “this place is much better than the one in LA.” He comments. Dana nods, “God, how awful was it there?” she jokes. Jack laughs, and looks to his left.
He sees a familiar face, one he saw last night. It's Robby, walking in with sun glasses and with ear phones in. He smiles as he walks up to a night shift doctor, talking to him. Jack tilts his head.
“Well, I'll show you around.” Jesse says, walking away. Jack looks at Robby one last time then walks with Jesse, waiting for his long awaited tour of ‘The Pitt’.
—
“Hey, boss.” Dana waves, Robby smiles.
“Hello, Dana. How’s everything so far?” Robby asks, Dana shrugs.
“Same old, same old. The guy in room two needs an inhaler. Garcia just took a trauma up, the poor lady practically shattered her leg, but the butcher will probably fix her right up." Robby nods as he looks around, the ED is bustling as usual. Dana still has a smile on her face.
“What?” Robby asks, very suspicious about the smile on Dana’s face.
“Remember that man you met last night?” She continues to smile. Robby raises both eyebrows, “Oh shit, he started today?” Robby blushes.
“Yep, Jesse is showing him around. Don’t worry boss, he had the exact same reaction to learning you work today.” Dana comments, looking back at her Ipad. Robby rubs his eyes then shakes his face a bit.
“Okay, let’s get going.” Robby says, trying to move on. He knows he’s going to see Jack anytime now, but he wished it wasn’t at work.
—
“We need a nurse in trauma seven!” Dana calls out.
“On it!” Jack calls back, walking into trauma.
A ten year old boy with a laceration to his eyebrow from a car accident. Fantastic. He looks at the little boy as orders are being called out. The boy was scared.
“Whats your name?” Jack asks, the boy holding Jack's hand instantly.
“Daniel, where's my mom?” Jack looks around and meets the eyes of the man he saw last night. Their eyes caught for a quick moment before he went back to looking around the area, seeing a woman who looks identical to the boy in the other room.
“She’s in the other room, it’s okay, buddy. We’ll help you.” Jack smiles. Daniel holds his hand tighter.
“I’m scared.” Daniel starts to cry. Jack shakes his head, “Nothing to be scared about, your mom will be okay. Right, doctor Robby?” Jack looks up as Robby is looking at the boy’s eyebrow. Robby looks at Jack then nods.
“Don’t worry, Daniel, she's in good hands.” and orders start to go out again. They check for fluid in his belly before going back to his eyebrow.
One of the doctors volunteers to sew the boy's laceration, Jesse staying behind to comfort Daniel.
As Jack walks out the trauma, taking his gloves off to throw them away when he feels a tap on his shoulder. He turns around and meets Robby’s eyes again. He has pretty eyes, sad eyes, but pretty nonetheless.
“Hey…” robby is shy now, not as confident without the alcohol in his system.
“Hi, Mike.” Jack teases, finally throwing the gloves away. Robby looks at his feet with his hands in his jacket pockets.
“You did a good job with the kid in trauma, you’re good with kids.” Robby compliments, making Jack smile.
“Yeah, I worked with kids a lot in the hospital in LA for a while after my wife died.” Robby frowns.
“I’m sorry about your wife, Jack.” Jack shrugs, “It’s been five years, I'm healing.” Jack responds.
“You still up to going out tonight? I promised you I'd take you out for a drink.” Robby looks at the chart then back at Jack.
“That’d be nice, brother.” He pats Robby’s shoulder and walks away, smiling at Robby blushing.