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“Good work team.” Robby announced as he swung the door open on the trauma bay. Robby had seen more gun shot wounds than he had hot meals at this point, but they never seemed to be less gruesome. He checked around his body, seeing if there was any blood that had escaped the PPE, thankfully safe again. That came with years experience. He doubt it would be the same with his poor residents, especially a certain one.
With a groan, Robby lowered himself at his computer station, ready to chart whilst he had the chance and rubbed his eyes. It was only 10am and it had already been a day. He stared out into the ER, hearing the crowd from chairs, the beeping of the machines and someone crying. His eyes focused on his favourite view. The one thing to calm him. Whitaker. He was glancing up at the board, his eyes wide as he scanned the patients. Robby really should scold him for cherry picking but he couldn’t bring himself to ruin the curiosity of a new resident. Robby watched smirking as Dennis’ eyes stopped and his face lit up. Clearly something had won. Dennis turned on his heel, grinning and marched off. As he turned, Robby noticed something on the back of his trousers. Ah Dennis had become victim to the trauma. A smell dark red stain had appeared on the back of Dennis’ scrubs. The poor boy had already had to change into medical assistant scrubs at 9am, the light blue not kind to trauma staining. Robby shook his head, smiling as he turned back to his chart. Some things never change.
Robby went about the rest of his shift, reminding himself to tell Whitaker of the stain as he got caught up in patients. The ER never gave a moment to chat between patients. Robby slumped back against the desk, sipping his coffee which was borderline cold. He glanced around at his ER, checking to see if anyone needed him. It was rare he got an opportunity to breath like this. Usually someone’s family needs speaking to or a paramedic is blasting through the back doors. He should try and do his charting or some of that paperwork he’s always being chased for but he cherished the quiet. To make the day better, Dennis came into view seeming overly happy for work. Robby couldn’t stop himself from smiling at the view. That was until Dennis turned around, a view that usually also makes Robby’s day better but today made his blood run cold. The stain on the back of his trousers that Robby assumed was from the trauma had spread and had spread significantly. Significant enough that Robby could see it was wet from here which meant Dennis was bleeding and bleeding at a significant rate.
Robby practically ran over to Dennis, grabbing him and pulling him into the nearest free bay.
“Doctor Robby? What the-” Dennis began before Robby cut him off by placing both of his hands heavily on his shoulders. Dennis thought Robby had a crazed look in his eye; panicked and maybe a bit sad. Now Dennis was the one panicking, thinking of his patients died and it was entirely his fault.
“Dennis.” Robby said panic-stricken. “I am telling you this as not only your friend, but as your attending and a medical professional.” He began. Dennis’ eyes widened, petrified at what was about to come out of Robby’s mouth. He was utterly convinced he was about to be fired and struck off before he had even completed his training.
“i don’t really know how to say this.” Robby faltered, panicking Dennis more.
“Just spit it out oh my god.” Dennis practically shrieked. His mind was going at a million miles per hour.
“You’re bleeding out of your rectum most likely. Heavy enough that it’s staining your pants at an incredibly fast rate.” Robby said at record breaking speed. Dennis stared at Robby, taking in the information. He swivelled round to see if he can see the back of his pants, placing his hand there and seeing it come back as red.
“Fuck.” He cursed, unsure how to get out of this one. Robby squeezed Dennis shoulder and cleared his throat as if he was trying to clear away a sob. Robby looked as if he was about to cry.
“Now clearly you need to be checked out. I will get anyone you want to check you out. Can be someone from the department, the hospitals best proctologist, or Santos as i know you guys are close or I mean I can even do it if you want.” Robbys voice trailed off as he cleared his throat again and blushed red. Its not everyday you offer to check your trainees anus. “I don’t want to panic you as these things can be nothing, maybe a cut or a tear. However as I am sure you’re well aware any bleeding from the rectum can be a symptom of something much serious so i am urging you to get checked out right this second.” Dennis stood there, blinking for a minute, wondering how the hell he had got into this situation. He couldn’t help but start to laugh. Dennis tried to repress it into a small giggle but it progressed into a full blown laughing fit. Only Dennis would end up in this situation. He couldn’t wait to tell Trinity later on. Robby on the other hand looked more confused as ever. He had just told the younger man he was having some sort of medical episode which could be a symptom of something very serious and now he was laughing. Robby knew from his many years of being a doctor that people react to bad news in weird ways but he
was not expecting this.
“Whitaker?” He asked, shaking the man slightly as Dennis tried to catch his breath. “I know this a complete shock but are you okay?” Dennis wiped a tear from his eye as he took a deep breath.
“Robby I am absolutely fine.” He managed to get out through more giggles. Robby raised an eyebrow, thinking Dennis was now one of those patients that does not believe anything could be wrong with them despite the symptoms telling a different story.
“Dennis, I really disagree with that.” He replied. Dennis shook his head, a grin on his face as he ran his hand through his hair.
“No trust me Robby. This is fine. Annoying as hell but I am not dying.” He replied. Now it was Robby’s turn to be confused as hell. He looked at Dennis, eye’s narrowed as his head flew through all the differing diagnoses.
“Is it like from…using something?” Robby asked awkwardly and Dennis snorted. He was enjoying taking Robby down this silly path but he didn’t expect Robby to go straight to sex toys.
“No i guess you could say its from not using something. Or well not doing something I guess.” Dennis pondered, wondering if that was enough to make Robby understand.
“Have you missed some sort of medication or treatment which is causing the bleeding?” Robby asked slowly as if he was more confused now and his brain was working on overtime.
“Technically yes but not what you’re thinking.” Dennis replied with a shit eating grin. He had missed his birth control after his new hospital health insurance was waiting to kick in. Plus had had to miss a month of Testosterone which is why he had been hit with a surprise period. Robby sighed, clearly not getting the memo.
“What? Is it your rectum bleeding as i am now assuming you’re aware of the issue?” Robby asked, sounding slightly annoyed. Dennis shook his head.
“Nope, not my rectum.” He smirked. Robby looked alarmed now. Dennis decided to put Robby out of his misery. Despite the fact he enjoyed teasing his attending, he didn’t want Robby to actually be annoyed at him.
“Its my period Doctor Robby.” Dennis said in a cheery tone as if that was the most obvious thing. Robby’s eyes widened as he looked over Dennis.
“Oh um-”Robby spluttered, unsure how to really process that. Dennis raised an eyebrow, waiting to see if Robby would have a problem with it.
“I’m trans Doctor Robby.” He confirmed, just incase it hadn’t processed yet. Robby was the first person outside of Dennis’ friendship group to know and he would really appreciate it if Robby wasn’t a complete asshole about it.
“No yeah I gathered that thank you.” Robby replied awkwardly. Dennis shut his eyes and sighed. He really hoped Robby wouldn’t make this weird but he had.
“Is this going to be a problem Doctor Robby?” Dennis sighed. He really didn’t want to go to HR right now and he really didn’t want to work night shifts. That seemed to snap Robby out of it.
“Oh my god no sorry not a problem at all.” Robby rambled. Dennis still didn’t trust him, confused why he was acting so weird.
“I thought you were dying Den, I am just so relieved.” He rubbed his hand through his beard and taking a shaky breath out. Dennis eyes softened as he realised Robby wasn’t being transphobic.
“Okay I am just gonna head out.” Robby said awkwardly, however the other man pulled him back.
“No you can’t just tell me I’ve leaked and leave me.” Dennis shouted. Robby blushed, he wasn’t sure what this had to do with him.
“I don’t know what that has to do with me” Robby replied sheepishly, rubbing his neck. Was it bad he was hoping for a trauma to come in to save him from this.
“You’re a doctor why are you acting weirds about periods?” Dennis snorted.
“I’m not-“
“Plus we all know about Mr womaniser over here. I think you’re familiar with a period.” He laughed. Robby tried not to think about how women his age don’t really have periods anymore but again he wasn’t really known for going for women his own age anyway. What he didn’t enjoy was this attitude from Dennis. He got it was probably hormones or whatever but he didn’t like the way Dennis was acting. He had half the nerve to tell him to correct his fucking attitude but remember when he tried that with Janey before and he slept on the sofa for a week.
“I know what a period is Whitaker and yes you’re correct I have witnessed many of them.” He said through bared teeth. “What I don’t see however, is how your problem is my problem. So if you do not mind I have an ER to run” Robby went to leave but the younger man pulled him back again.
“Look I’m not out to everyone here and if you noticed the stain, others probably will.” Dennis said softly, his big blue eyes tearing into Robby’s heart. “Could you just help me please?” Robby swore he saw Dennis’ lip tremble. He would do anything to avoid that look again.
“Okay okay shush Den, I will help you.” Robby said tenderly as he rubbed the younger boys shoulders and pulled him into a hug. “Tell me what you need sweetheart and I’ll sort it.” Robby cooed into his hair. He chose to ignore the pet name that slipped out on instinct. Dennis blushed and couldn’t look Robby in the eye for a moment as he let the warmth of the pet name and the hug rush over him.
“I think I have some spare boxers in my locker. I’ll need new scrub bottoms which means you will need to take these and I need a tampon.” Dennis instructed as he slipped off his trousers. Robby nodded, eyes now focused on the ceiling, not on his younger subordinate in his boxers.
“I don’t think we have tampons in the supply closet. We have those like post birth pads and I think we have some diaper style things.” Robby replied and Dennis shook his head.
“I swear to god if you try and put me in a diaper Robby.” He warned and Robby tried not to crack a smile.
“No, I will speak to Gloria to get tampons stocked in our ER for patients and staff.” Robby said honestly. He was surprised to hear they didn’t have them anyway.
“They have them in the woman’s bathroom for like a quarter.” Dennis shrugs as if that makes it any better. Robby smirks and gestures to his body.
“Clearly I cannot go into the woman’s bathroom.” Robby laughed and Dennis rolled his eyes. “I will see what I can do okay? Wait here, lie down if you want.”
Robby slipped out of the room and marked the room as hazardous on the board so no one walks in.
“Danaaaa.” Robby asks overly sweet as he slid up to the charge nurse.
“What happened to central seven? Thought it was empty?” Dana asked without looking up from her tablet. Robby swore under his breath about how Dana misses nothing.
“Uh kid with appendicitis decided to projectile vomit over the room and Whitaker. I’ve sent him to get cleaned up and called environmental services. That room is off limits.” Robby lied through his teeth. Dana tutted, annoyed that a room was out of play for however many hours it will take for environmental services to come down and deep clean it. Plus she was now a resident down. Robby hovered, trying to appear busy but Dana just stared at him.
“You gonna ask me to get the stick out of your ass or are you gonna get to work?” She asked abruptly.
“I need a tampon.” He asked quietly. She looked at Robby quizzically. Guess it wasn’t something men went around asking for much. “For a patient!” He explained further. Dana laughed.
“And you call yourself a doctor? Not needed a tampon in some time.” She cackled. “What patient, I’ll ask one of the girls to drop it in.” Robby closed his eyes trying to remember what room had a female patient in it.
“South 18?” He guessed. Dana peered at him over her glasses.
“For Mr Greene? With a broken leg?” She said deadpanned. Fuck he guessed wrong.
“Must’ve got the wrong room never mind.” He grumbled and walked away.
Robby looked over the floor, trying to find out who he can ask for a tampon without making it weird or somehow accidentally outing Dennis. There likely wasn’t anyone on this floor he could ask without making it weird, but Dennis was waiting for him so he had to suck it up and get on with it. Robby told himself this was just part of the role of a good attending, Jack would do the same. It was his role to make sure his residents were able to work and were comfortable and happy. This was just him fulfilling this role, nothing more.
“Doctor Mohan.” Robby asked as he slid up next to the young woman. She looked at him skeptically.
“Doctor Robby I swear I have seen five patients this morning and I am about to discharge two of them.” She began to ramble. Robby sucked in breath, cutting her off.
“Thats fine, good work.” He dismissed, waving his hand as if her patient numbers weren’t important. To Robby right now they weren’t. “I uh need something for a patient. A tampon. You got one I can nab?” he asked trying to sound casual. Samira however looked as if Robby was showing signs of a stroke.
“Uh does’t the hospital stock them?” She asked slowly. Robby really needed to speak to Gloria about that.
“Not at current but I am in the process of changing that. Can you assist?” He replied, still trying to come across as warm and friendly.
“No sorry I don’t use them, have an IUD. Maybe speak to Santos?” She suggested. Robby groaned, he knew that. Jack had spent their last night out raving about the wonders of the IUD much to Robby’s horror. There was only so much he needed to know about his residents and about their sex lives and reproductive systems were very low on that list.
Robbys eyes honed in on one woman in particular. Doctor Santos. Surely she would know about Dennis’ predicament. However, Dennis seemed very nervous for anyone to find out about him and said he isn’t out to everyone. That could include Santos and Robby couldn’t take that risk.
“Doctor Santos.” He says, making her jump as she walked out of her patients room.
“Jesus fuck you need a bell.” She shuddered, glaring at Robby.
“I need a tampon for a patient do you have one?” He asked, jumping right to the bit. Santos laughed.
“Yeah for a patient. How’s your cramps Doctor Robby?” She teased and Robby grinned. He liked Santos, he liked her ability to joke about just about anything.
“But anyway nope. Get with the times Robby, using the cup.” She smiled as she scribbled down a prescription. Robby groaned. How hard was it to get a tampon round here?
“Can you go into the woman’s-”
“Doctor Santos your patient is sobbing and screaming.” Emma ran over, dragging Santos’ away. Robby wanted to scream with frustration. Does no one in this damn ER have a tampon? At this rate Robby’s gonna buy his own box of tampons to keep for this exact situation.
He had one more option, a place he did not want to venture into. The women’s bathroom. He approached the door, looking around to see if anyone was watching. The last thing he would need is a call up to HR for lurking around the bathrooms. He pushed open the door and shut his eyes.
“Um its Doctor Robby. I need a tampon for a patient and I’ve been told there’s a machine in there. Is everyone good with me coming in or can someone grab a quarter off me and grab me one?” He shouted into the room. No one replied. He shouted hello a couple of times just for safe measures and ran towards the tampon machine. It was similar to the condom machines he had seen in many men rooms. The battered, dust covered, probably faulty half the time machine that Robby had used in many desperate gay bar hook ups. He fished around for his wallet and desperately located a quarter, slotting it into the machine. He looked at his options, unsure what half of the things meant and selected the picture of a tampon. Surely that’ll do for now. He nearly cried with joy when a small yellow paper tube popped out of the machine. Step one completed. Now he had to run out of the women’s bathroom without looking suspicious.
As Robby slid out of the door, he collided with a smaller body.
“Oh!” The voice shook as she regained her balance. Robby wished for the ground to swallow him up. He had crashed into Mel.
“Doctor King sorry about that.” He chuckled awkwardly as he noticed her eyes flicker to the door he just slipped out of. “Just had to grab a tampon for a patient. Honestly getting one of these is like finding gold.” Mel smiled at him in that classic way she always does which seems to make everything seem okay.
“Thats good of you Doctor Robby. Though you could have asked me, I keep a spare box in my locker for this situation.” She replied helpfully. Robby chuckled, cursing whatever god was listening. He could have saved himself a lot of bother if he just found Mel first.
“Good to know Doctor King thank you.” He replied, forcing cheer into his voice.
Next hurdle Robby had to jump through was to break into Dennis’ locker without anyone noticing. Not that he was breaking in per se, Dennis had given him the code (his birthday, something Robby already knew). He slid into the locker room, hoping he would not reach anyone in there. He knew which locker was Dennis’ having watched him come in and out of work many times. Robby always tried to strike up a conversation there about his plans after work or how his night before was. His pathetic attempts, according to Jack. Robby punched in Dennis code and opened the locker. It was like a shrine to Dennis, the scent of what Robby imagines is his laundry detergent strong from the jacket stuffed inside. Robby had to fight the urge to smell it and wrap it around himself, not that it would fit him anyway. He unclenched the jacket and riffled around till he pulled out a pair of boxers. This was taking all of Robby’s self control right now. They were simple black briefs but it was more about who they belonged to which made them more irresistible. He shoved them in his pocket before he got any more ideas and moved to the scrub machine, shoving the soiled pants in and grabbing the new set and dashing out before he was caught.
On his way back to Dennis, he grabbed a heating pads, some tape, a water bottle and some painkillers.
“Mission success.” He announced as he walked into the bay. Dennis was stood in the corner, anxiously pacing.
“Oh thank fuck for that.” Dennis gushed as he grabbed the stuff off Robby. Robby took in the view of Dennis’s muscled legs coated in golden hair. He also took in the tight, damp boxers and the way they clung to Dennis. This was an image he would probably never get out of his brain.
“Um Doctor Robby?” Dennis asked, sounding amused snapping Robby out of his day dream. Dennis stood watching, one hand on his hip knowingly catching Robby in the act of checking him out. Robby blushed and went to stammer out some sort of apology but Dennis just swiveled his finger, indicating Robby to turn. He obliged instantly, taking deep breaths to will down his budding erection. He heard Dennis groan and when he spun round he saw Dennis struggling to pull up his trousers, clenching his stomach with blood stained fingers.
“Oh Den come here.” Robby said softly, catching the younger man by the waist and letting him lean back on him. He took Dennis’ weight and held him close, his hand stretching on Dennis stomach in the hope the body heat will ease things enough to move him. Robby heard Dennis sobs break the silence in the air so he turned holding him against his body and engulfing him in a hug. Dennis couldn’t hold back anymore and sobbed into Robbys shoulder.
“I don’t even know if i’m crying from the pain, the hormones or just the whole fucking thing. Just mother nature reminding me what I really am.” Robby ran his fingers through Dennis curls, one hand still planted on his stomach, his thumb rubbing circles.
“Okay so we can sort the pain right now. The hormones, I’ve got contacts with endocrinologists we can sort that too.” Robby whispered into his hair. “Now the next part. I cannot begin to understand how difficult this is for you but please do not think this makes you any less of the man you are Dennis. We all have to take medication to help certain things. We’re not all perfect and that doesn’t make us any less human. What would you tell your patients huh?” Dennis shaky breath began to even. He shifted Dennis slightly so he pull up his trousers and placed him on the bed. Dennis looked down at the floor, his eyelashes damp from the tears and his face red from a mixture of crying and embarrassment.
“Take these with small sips of water.” Robby instructed passing two of the painkillers and the water. Dennis obliged without saying anything. “Good boy. Where does it hurt most, stomach or back?”
“Uh back I guess. Your hand helped a lot thank you.” Dennis said in barely a whisper. Robby would do anything to curl up next to him on the bed and hold him there for as long as he needed.
“Okay lean forward for me.” He asked quietly. Dennis leant forward, resting his head on Robbys shoulder. Robby cracked the heating pad to activate it and taped it to Dennis’ lower back.
“I call that the Robinavitch special.” Robby joked, pulling his shirt back down. “the tape should hold that in place for a bit when you’re back on your feet, but if you want to go home Dennis no one would stop you.” Robby said. Dennis shook his head.
“No people work with their periods every day. I’m nothing special.” Dennis sighed, wiping his eyes as he got up off the bed.
“Okay well take it easy and Mel has more tampons if you need them.” Robby patted him on the shoulder. Dennis nodded but paused as he got to the door. He spun around and caught Robby in a bear hug.
“Thank you Robby. For everything.” He mumbled into Robbys chest who blushed like a schoolgirl.