Archive of Our Own

Dennis was not unfamiliar with having bad luck. In fact, bad luck had followed him around for most of his life. He was the unlucky youngest son, the unfortunate medical student, the pitiful first year resident.

Dennis had something Trinity Santos liked to call his bad-luck-charm. If there was a way to make his day worse, Dennis would somehow make it happen.

Still, Dennis never expected to be unlucky enough to break both his wrists at the same time.

He had been on his way to work when it happened. He had gotten off the bus near Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center to walk the final block in the rain. He only had to cross the road once. There was a crosswalk and green lights giving him the go-ahead.

He made it half way across when, from the corner of his eye, he noticed a car speeding at him with a vengeance.

Dennis wasn’t sure what exactly happened next. He recalls jumping out of the way. He remembers hitting the wet concrete harshly. He remembers putting his arms out to soften the blow. He recalls a sickening pain spreading up both his limbs.

He blinked up at the sky, rain pouring down on him, soaking his scrubs and thin jacket within seconds. He was going to be late for work. Trinity was going to laugh at his misfortune.

“Are you okay, kid?” A good samaritan asked from above him. Dennis blinked and glanced at where the voice was coming from. There was more than one person. Dennis blinked again before he tried to sit up. Multiple hands reached out to stop him.

“Ho-oh, wait for the ambulance, okay? You hit your head and your wrists look wrong. Let’s have the doctors check you out,” the older man insisted quickly. Dennis let out a shaky breath as he sunk back into the wet ground.

“Wha’ happen’?” He asked softly. His voice slurred for some reason. A drop of rain hit him square in the right eye. He flinched back and hit his head against the hard ground once more.

“You almost got run over, kid. Jumped out of the way just in time. The asshole who did it drove on. We called the cops, and the ambulance is on their way.”

“Too ‘spensive,” Dennis replied, though none of the people hovering around him answered him. Dennis’ mind was spinning, trying to get back to a working order.

What a shit fucking start of his day.

The ambulance came a few minutes later. PTMC was close by so Dennis knew as soon as he recognized the EMTs they would take him there. His cheeks were red as he was lifted on a gurney by men he had worked with for multiple months. They thankfully did not make any comments about the fact that they knew him.

Maybe they didn’t? Dennis had quite a forgettable face, after all.

The pain in his head and both his wrists only really came to the forefront of his mind once he was out of the rain. Dennis groaned and squeezed his eyes shut.

“Yeah, your wrists look swollen and painful, doc. I’m going to push some Acetaminophen, okay? I can’t give you morphine until they check out your head,” one of the EMTs said. Dennis was pretty sure his name was Cody, but he could be wrong.

“Ugh,” Dennis groaned as he shifted on the gurney and his left wrist bumped the guard rail. Pain shot through him for a hot, blinding second.

The drive to PTMC was so short that the painkillers hadn’t even set in yet by the time they arrived. The ambulance doors were pushed open and a familiar face greeted him. “Whitaker?” Langdon asked, surprised.

“Ugh!” Dennis groaned again when the gurney was wheeled out, the bumps and shifts hurting his pained body.

“He was in a car accident. According to witnesses he jumped out of the way of a speeding vehicle. Hit his head and possibly fractured both wrists. He’s a little out of it right now.”

“Let’s get him inside,” Langdon ordered, walking ahead of the gurney to guide the EMTs inside. “Dana, which room is open? Whitaker is here with a possible concussion and wrist fractures,” he called out loudly.

Dennis squinted his eyes closed at the bright fluorescent lights moving above his head like blinking headlights. He was cold in his wet scrubs. His wrists and head hurt badly. He was pretty sure his knees and lower arms had some road rash on them. Where was his backpack? Fuck.

“Wow, what happened?” Another familiar voice asked as soon as Dennis was moved deeper into the ED. Dr Robby came to Dennis’ side in a hurry. Dennis blinked up at him with a small smile.

He was in good hands if Dr Robby was taking care of him.

The EMT, Corbey or Corbin or something, repeated the story to Dr Robby as they wheeled Dennis into one of the hospital rooms. Dennis was transferred from the gurney to a bed. He blinked and the EMTs had left. He blinked again, and suddenly he was hooked up to different monitors.

When a bright flash of light was suddenly directly in his vision, Dennis closed his eyes and flinched back.

“Look at the light, Whitaker. I need to evaluate you before you can go up for a CT,” Dr Robby said softly.

Dennis did as he was told, even though it only intensified his headache. He wasn’t so cold anymore. When he glanced down he found himself in a hospital gown. When did that happen?

“Doc’r Robby?” Dennis said, sluggishly.

“Yeah?” Dr Robby replied instantly. He was checking out Dennis’ head, feeling along his skull and face to find any obvious cause for concern. When those strong, capable fingers trailed down Dennis’ neck, he couldn’t help but shiver slightly.

“Wha’ happen?” Dennis asked again.

“You were in an accident, kid, but we’re going to take good care of you. Just– stay awake for me, okay? I’m getting you scanned as soon as possible.”

“Hm, no worry, n–noooo rush.” The painkiller was beginning to work, making the ache in his wrists become a numb, painful sensation rather than a stabbing pain. “Ohw,” Dennis mumbled, glancing down at his swollen wrists.

“Yeah, that is going to suck for a long time. I’m getting you x-rayed right after your CT so we can do a reduction if necessary. Hopefully it’s just a sprain, but looking at the swelling and how you sustained the injury, I’m afraid it’ll be a fracture.”

“Sucks,” Dennis mumbled. He glanced up from his lap to look at Dr Robby, who was already looking at him. His kind brown eyes were slightly furrowed in concern. The wrinkles at the edges of his eyes were deep engravings instead of faint creases.

Dr Robby opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“They’re ready for him upstairs. Shall I take him up now?” Princess asked. She looked at Dr Robby as she spoke, but soon her eyes found Dennis’. Her eyes softened. Dennis knew he must look awful.

“Yes, take him upstairs. Thank you, Princess,” Dr Robby replied quickly. He took off his gloves and put away his glasses. He shared a parting glance with Dennis before he walked out of the room.

-

“Well, results are in. The good news first. The CT showed no intracranial bleeding or swelling, so most likely you have a mild concussion that will heal with time and rest. Now, the bad news is your wrists. Distal radius fractures in both wrists. Thankfully the bones appear well aligned for a promising healing, but you will need splints for the swelling, and after that casts for four to six weeks. Any questions?”

Dr Robby was standing at his bedside with a tablet with Dennis’ chart on it in his hands. He had his glasses back on. They were sliding down his nose, leaving Dr Robby to stare at Dennis from over the edge of them.

Dennis swallowed thickly and glanced away. “When can I go back to work?”

Dr Robby chuckled softly as he put the tablet to the side. He folded his arms across his chest and, when Dennis glanced up at him again, he found him looking down at him with an almost fond look in his eyes.

“You need to focus on healing first. No point in worrying about anything else right now.”

“I–I’ll need casts? On both wrists?”

“Yes.”

“How will I do anything?” Dennis asked with a soft whine. He was tired, in mild pain, and frustrated at the unfairness of it all. He had a green light! Why was he in a hospital bed, instead of helping others right now?

“You won’t. You’ll need a lot of help with your day-to-day business. You’ll need help eating, showering, and going to the toilet. Like I said, you only need to worry about healing right now, Whitaker.”

“But– I don’t have anyone who could do that for me. I–I can’t ask Santos. She’s always working. And I don’t have anyone else. Oh my God, what am I going to do, Dr Robby? This is so unfair,” Dennis whined. He could feel tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.

“Whita– Dennis,” Dr Robby said, catching Dennis’ attention and making him look up at him with wide eyes, “don’t worry, okay? We’ll figure something out. Just rest.”

Dennis sniffled a little, before finally sighing out a shaky, “Okay.”

Dr Robby smiled at him, patted his leg, and then told him he would be back soon.

Dennis sunk back against the scratchy hospital pillow, mourning his independence. He wasn’t good at being sick, at being helpless. He hadn’t been afforded the luxury. Truthfully, he still couldn’t afford it now. He needed the hours in the hospital, needed his income to put towards his medical school debt.

How unfair that he would now get medical debt on top of that!

Time passed weirdly in the hospital. Princess checked on him frequently, as did Trinity and Mel. They would sneak into his room to chat and gauge his mental and physical state.

Dennis had been put on stronger pain meds after the scans came out clean, so he was a little loopy, but thankfully not so much so that he would do something embarrassing like cry.

“I–It’s just so unfair! Trin, what a–am I gonna do?!” Dennis sobbed pathetically the third time his roommate stepped inside his room.

“Huckleberry, stop crying! Just treat it like a forced vacation or something. I already heard Dr Robby talking to someone on the phone about putting you on paid leave. You’ll be fine, dude!”

“But I–I’m useless like this,” Dennis whimpered, holding up both wrists that had been put in sturdy splints.

Trinity was paged away, leaving Dennis behind, emotional and tired.

Dr Robby did not return until a few hours later. He had a small little smile playing on his lips, and a relaxed gait in his steps. Clearly the older man was having a good day. Dennis didn’t want to be jealous of that, but he couldn’t help the small pout forming on his lips.

“Don’t look at me like that, kid. I come bearing good news,” Dr Robby said with a small chuckle. He came to stand next to Dennis’ bed, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Good news?” Dennis asked after a brief moment.

“Yeah, I talked to the administration and arranged for you to be put on paid sick-leave. On top of that, I found someone willing to take some time off work to take care of you at home.”

Dennis sat up a little, his eyes wide with wonder. “Really? Oh that is amazing, Dr Robby. Thank you so much! Who was willing to help out little ol’ me?”

“You're looking at him, kid.”

“W–What?!”

“Don’t look so horrified,” Dr Robby chuckled softly. “I have too much PTO saved up and Gloria has been hounding my ass to take some time off for ages. When I suggested I could take up my days to take care of you she jumped at the suggestion.”

“What about the pitt?”

“They’re bringing in a doctor from Philly willing to take over my shifts for a few weeks, and Shen and Abbot agreed to do some doubles. Don’t worry about the others, Dennis. Just worry about healing up.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Dennis confessed, quietly. The thought of having his boss taking him home to take care of him was a highly embarrassing one, but he also felt a flicker of excitement rush through him.

Perhaps that puppy-dog crush he’d been harbouring for months hadn’t died out quite as much as he’d hoped.

“You don’t have to say anything. Just hang out in here for a few more hours until my shift’s done, okay? Then I'll take you home. ”

The door to his room suddenly opened and in stepped Trinity, cup of coffee in hand, a scowl on her face. “Huckleberry! God you won’t believe– Oh. Hey boss,” she said as soon as she noticed Dr Robby next to Dennis.

“Santos,” Robby greeted back with a small nod.

“What’s this vibe I'm feeling? Huck, why are you all wide-eyed, Victorian child-like?” Trinity prodded, cocking her hip and taking a sip from her cup.

“You know about this?” Dennis asked, nodding his head towards Dr Robby.

Trinity grinned and said, “Of course! I was the first person they looked at to take care of you, but, you know? I don’t have that type of time to spare. You’re the little brother I never wanted, but I’d resent you forever if you take up my minuscule amount of PTO. You understand, don’t you? Besides,” Trinity gestured towards Dr Robby, “bossman volunteered.”

Dennis didn’t like the amusement in Trinity’s voice, or the look in her eyes. She was making fun of him, he was pretty sure. He scowled, which did nothing but make Trinity snort unflatteringly.

“There you have it, Whitaker. Listen, I’ve gotta finish this shift. Just sit tight for me and I’ll be back to discharge you, okay?” Dr Robby’s hand landed on his shoulder, making Dennis look away from his staring contest with Trinity, and up at the older man instead.

“Okay,” he said softly.

Dr Robby squeezed his shoulder, nodded at Trinity, and left the room.

The door clicked shut behind him slowly. Trinity opened her mouth to speak. Dennis quickly cut her off.

“Not a word.”

“Oh, come oooon, Huckleberry! There is so much potential here! Don’t take this from me, please. At least let me make fun of your enormous crush on Dr Robby and how you now–”

“Okay, that’s enough! In case you forgot I’ve got a concussion–”

“–a mild, barely-there concussion–”

“–so I need peace and quiet. Go bother Mel or Vic or something.”

“Ugh! You never let me have any fun.” Trinity pouted and blinked her lashes at him. Dennis glared back. Trinity’s eyes rolled up into her skull. “Fucking fine. Hope you heal up soon, Hucklefuck. Have fun with Dr Daddy!”

“Don’t call him–” Trinity slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her. “–that!”

-

After Dennis was discharged from the hospital, Dr Robby wheeled him out of the hospital in a wheelchair. It was one of the most embarrassing moments in his life, and Dennis had lived a life filled with embarrassment.

Getting peed on in the face on his first day on the job did not compare to getting wheeled out in front of the night shift crew. Especially because Dr Robby did not take them out of the hospital immediately.

No, instead he made his way to Dr Abbot and discussed a last minute change with one of his patients.

“You take care of yourself, okay, Whitaker? You’re not looking too hot right now,” Dr Abbot said to Dennis after Dr Robby finished relaying his information.

“Yep, thank you, Dr Abbot,” Dennis said, pushing through his mortification to remain somewhat polite.

“And you,” Dr Abbot said, turning his attention back towards Dr Robby, looking over Dennis’ head to speak. “You enjoy your time off, okay? Take care of the kid but also take care of yourself.”

“Sure, man. We’ll be fine. Besides, we’ll be back here in a couple of days so Whitaker can get his casts on,” Dr Robby replied while he put both hands on Dennis’ shoulders, squeezing the tense muscles slightly.

“That’s right! Try coming by when I’m working, okay? I’ll wrap the kid up myself,” Dr Abbot replied, before holding out one arm for Dr Robby to grasp.

Dr Robby and Dr Abbot hugged above Dennis, squeezing him uncomfortably close to both men.

“Alright, kid, let’s get you home,” Dr Robby said after saying bye to Dr Abbot. He wheeled Dennis out of the hospital, finally, and towards the parking garage that stored his car.

The drive to Dr Robby’s home was comfortably quiet. The radio was playing a song that Dennis did not recognize, but liked. When he questioned it, Dr Robby had smiled at him and given him the name. Dennis vowed to put it in his Spotify playlist later.

“And here we are. Home sweet home,” Dr Robby said after he parked the car on the side of a quiet, peaceful street.

Dennis looked out of the window and up at a tall apartment building. “On which floor do you live, Dr Robby?”

“Top floor, actually. I got a pretty sweet view of the city. When it’s light and clear out you can see the hospital from my bedroom.”

“That’s so cool. Santos and I live on the third floor. Our upstairs neighbors are always making a ruckus above us.”

“Why do you think I picked the top floor?”

Dennis giggled before he could stop himself. Mortified, he pressed his lips tightly together, blinking away from Dr Robby.

Dr Robby chuckled, patted Dennis’ thigh, and got out of the car, leaving Dennis to stew in his thoughts. Dr Robby’s touch on his thigh was still burning hot by the time he came around the car to open the door.

“Hop on out, kid. I’ve got you.”

With both of Dennis’ arms in slings, his balance was a little thrown off. He was thankful for Dr Robby’s hands on his elbow and back, even though the touch made his cheeks and ears flush red.

Dr Robby held the door to his apartment building open, and guided Dennis towards the elevators with a hand on his back. Dr Robby was carrying both of their things, which made Dennis feel a little bad, but it wasn’t like he could offer to hold anything, either.

Both arms were trapped in white slings, forcing his arms to wrap across his chest like some kind of fucked up, modern art version of a straight-jacket.

Once they reached the top floor, Dr Robby let his hand drop from Dennis’ back so he could grab his keys and unlock the front door. “The wounded and fragile go first,” Dr Robby said, gesturing for Dennis’ to step inside.

Dennis blinked up at him. His breath almost hitched at the intense look in Dr Robby’s eyes. They were dark and staring down at Dennis with a look that he couldn’t quite figure out. “O–Okay,” he whispered as he brushed past the older doctor to make his way inside.

“Alright, kid, I’m sure you want to get out of those hospital clothes,” Dr Robby said from right behind him. Dennis could feel Dr Robby’s body heat seeping into his back.

Dennis’ eyes widened as realisation began to set in. His boss was going to see him naked.

Now, Dennis would admit to having thought about himself and Dr Robby, naked and up-close and personal. Just never in the context of him being wounded and incapable, and Dr Robby as his caregiver.

“No need to look so mortified, kid,” Dr Robby said, noticing how pale Dennis had gotten. “There is nothing you could be hiding under those clothes I haven’t seen before. Come on. A bath and then dinner, I think. And then bed for you.”

Warm, weathered hands grasped onto Dennis’ shoulders and guided him through the halls of the apartment. Dr Robby dropped him off at the bathroom, before he continued on towards the bedroom with a parting comment of, “We’ll pick up your things tomorrow. I’ll grab you some clothes to change into for now.”

“Yep,” Dennis whispered, his wide eyes bouncing around the newly revealed bathroom. “Great.”

The bathroom was nice, with light blue tile and a shower and bathtub combo. The light above the mirror was bright white and made his head throb slightly, but still he looked in the mirror.

Dennis frowned at what he saw. He looked, well, awful to be honest. His hair was matted and greasy, and the bags under his eyes were severe. He had some minor scrapes tickling the backside of his neck from where he had hit the ground. And he was pale. Ghost-like.

“Ugh,” he whispered as he quickly blinked away from his reflection.

His eyes landed on the floor, on the fluffy dark-blue bathmat, before moving on to the toilet. His bladder pulsed with the need to release. Dennis looked at his arms and realised the impossibility of him going to the toilet by himself.

More embarrassment for Dennis Whitaker to endure. Why the hell not!

“Sorry, I had to dig through my closet to find you something that might fit and– oh. Do you need to pee, kid? Should’ve asked. Come on, let me get those pants off of ya’.”

Dennis startled at the sudden voice and presence snuck up behind him. Before he could formulate a well worded response, Dr Robby was already pressed up against his back, reaching around to undo the strings holding up the hospital-issued sweatpants.

“This is a nightmare,” Dennis whispered, horrified, as Dr Robby let the loose black fabric drop to the floor, leaving Dennis in cheap white briefs.

“I know you’re embarrassed but you don’t have to be. I became a doctor because I wanted to help people, right? So let me help you.”

Warm, dry fingers squeezed under the edge of his white briefs. They were shockingly warm compared to the cold air of the bathroom. Goosebumps covered Dennis’ legs and arms as Dr Robby slowly pulled down his underwear with soft, encouraging murmurs against the back of his head, saying things like, “You’re okay, Dennis. I got you. Come on, there we go. Step out of them for me? Good.”

Dr Robby turned his attention to the bath as Dennis sat down to release his bladder. Thankfully Dr Robby turned the tap and let water rush out violently, just as Dennis lost the ability to control his urge. The noise from the water covered Dennis’ stream, but it did nothing to hide Dennis’ flushed, embarrassed face.

Dr Robby took care of him clinically and methodically as soon as the bath was ready. He washed Dennis with a soft cloth and warm smelling soap. He was gentle with Dennis tight muscles and mild road rash. Dennis kept his splinted arms above water the entire time, and his wide eyes facing the wall instead of Dr Robby’s face.

Getting dressed by Dr Robby was not any less embarrassing. Dennis felt like he was four years old again, getting dressed for bed by his mother after a tiring day. Dr Robby’s clothes fit him loose and long, making Dennis feel smaller and younger than he was.

He was tired and embarrassed and in mild pain. What a fucking day.

“Time for another painkiller, then,” Dr Robby said when Dennis told him about the ache in his wrists. “And dinner, I think. You hungry, kid?”

“I could eat,” Dennis replied softly, still avoiding Dr Robby’s eyes.

Dr Robby hummed in approval. His familiar hands latched onto Dennis’ shoulders and urged him out of the damp bathroom and out into the hall. Those hands remained all the way to the living room, where Dr Robby only let go to gently help Dennis sink down into the sofa.

Dr Robby disappeared into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with two bowls filled with a simple tomato pasta. He sat down next to Dennis, close enough for their shoulders to brush. When Dr Robby handed him a pill, Dennis obediently swallowed it with a gulp of lukewarm water.

“Good boy,” Dr Robby said, before he turned his attention to the food.

Dennis ignored his traitorous heart for skipping a beat. It was a herculean task to ignore his tachycardic heart. Especially when it only sped up more because Dr Robby insisted on spoon feeding him small bites of pasta. It was perfectly innocent, of course. It wasn’t like Dennis had the ability to feed himself at the moment. His heart did not care.

“It’s good, Dr Robby,” he mumbled after the second bite.

“Just Robby when we’re home, kid. But, I’m glad. Eat as much as you can. You’ll need your strength to recover.”

“I’m still really sorry about all this Doc– Robby.”

“Don’t be,” the older man insisted, tilting his head slightly to force Dennis into meeting his gaze. “Seriously. I don’t mind. I’ll take good care of you, Dennis.”

“I– Yeah, okay.”

“Good. Now, open up. Next bite flying in in three, two, one,” Robby said, flying the spoon in the air with little engine noises, before sticking the spoon straight into Dennis’ awaiting mouth. Like he was a toddler, needing to be incentivized to eat dinner.

It brought a hot flush to the back of Dennis’ neck. The eye contact while he chewed and swallowed didn’t help either.

After dinner Robby left him on the sofa while he cleaned up and got the spare room situated for Dennis. Meanwhile, Dennis did his best to unlock his phone and read some of the get-well-soon messages colleagues had sent him.

It was difficult to handle his phone in the state he was in. He managed to put his phone on his thigh, and then with the fingers sticking out of the splints he managed to tap in his password. It took effort and time, but eventually he was able to read and reply to the messages.

He thanked them with a simple ‘thanks! :)’ which he copied and pasted into every messaging thread. By the time he finished, Robby had returned to take him to bed.

“Teeth first, and then sleep. Do you need to pee again?” Robby asked as he guided Dennis back towards the bathroom.

Even though Dennis’ bladder was feeling a little heavy, he decided he would try to limit the amount of bathroom breaks while he stayed with Robby. Spare them both the awkwardness.

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“Your choice, kid. Now, open your mouth wide and let me brush your teeth,” Robby said after he grabbed a new toothbrush from under the sink.

Dennis opened his mouth and closed his eyes. He did not want to make eye contact with his boss while said boss was poking around inside his mouth.

One of Robby’s hands grasped the back of Dennis’ neck, making him hum in surprise. He obediently kept his mouth open, though, which meant Robby was able to push the toothbrush past his lips to begin scrubbing.

Soon, Dennis’ mouth was filled with frothy mint paste. The hand at the back of his neck kept his head tilted slightly back, so he was able to keep most of his drool inside his mouth. Robby brushed his teeth thoroughly. From his front incisors all the way to his furthest molars.

“Good boy. Oral hygiene is so very important. Keep your mouth nice and open for me, Dennis. I need to clean everything well. Do you need to spit some of it out?”

Dennis nodded his head as much as he was able in the position he was put in. He could feel his drool and toothpaste reach the point of overflowing.

“Okay, spit it out for me,” Robby murmured as he took the toothbrush out of Dennis’ mouth. He guided him with the hand still on his neck to bend towards the sink. Dennis spit, swallowed, and then spit again.

“Good boy,” Robby praised after Dennis finished.

Dennis blinked, the harsh white light bright in his sensitive eyes. He looked up at Robby to find the older man gazing down at him intently. The light cast dark shadows across his face, making his wrinkles and age-markings more pronounced. He looked older than Dennis was used to. And yet, he was still the most handsome man Dennis had ever met.

“Almost done, kid. Open your mouth for me one more time, and stick out your tongue nice and far. Still need to scrub your tongue,” Robby said, while his thumb gently brushed the back of Dennis ‘curls.

Dennis couldn’t think of any reason to refuse, so he opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue as far as he could. His eyes refused to shut. Instead, he became almost cross-eyed as he watched Robby push the toothbrush back into his mouth, bristles down to graze the sensitive surface of his tongue.

Dennis never scrubbed his tongue like that at home. Perhaps he should? Robby was the seasoned doctor, surely he knew best.

“Uargh!” Dennis gagged when that toothbrush suddenly pushed deeper, hitting the back of his tongue and brushing against his uvula.

“Push through it, kid. Still need to clean the back of your tongue. Swallow it down, Dennis.”

“C–Cant!” Dennis urged after Robby hit the back of his uvula again and made him gag. Robby tutted, disappointed.

“ ‘m sawwy!” Dennis sputtered around the toothbrush.

“You need to take better care of your oral hygiene, kid. All this gagging is no good,” Robby murmured with dark, focused eyes. He pushed the toothbrush deeper inside Dennis’ mouth. Dennis gagged and swayed, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. Robby tutted once again.

“You’ll get better at that, Dennis,” Robby comforted when he finally pulled the toothbrush out of Dennis' mouth. “After a few weeks of that, twice a day, I’m sure we’ll take care of that little gagging problem in no time.”

“D–Do we really need to?” Dennis asked, hesitatingly. He didn’t want to upset or oppose Robby after he so very kindly took Dennis into his home. But still. Gagging in front of his boss? Embarrassing as hell!

“Afraid so, kid. Now, the last part.” Robby said after he rustled through the drawer under the sink again. He pulled out floss wire and held it up.

Dennis sighed but obediently opened his mouth wide. Robby smiled as he approached him with the wire.

Had Dennis really been neglecting his health? He was always much too tired to do this whole song and dance each night. The fact that he still brushed his teeth twice a day felt like an accomplishment in and of itself.

After Robby finally deemed Dennis’ oral health to be satisfactory, he guided Dennis out of the bathroom and into the spare bedroom.

The bedroom was sparsely decorated, and only housed a bed, a small desk, and a tall dresser pushed up against a plain wall. The curtains to the only window in the room were already drawn, and the bedding was pulled halfway down the mattress so Dennis could easily get in.

“Go ahead, kid. I hope the mattress and pillow are to your liking. We can always take your pillow from your apartment tomorrow. For tonight this will have to do.”

“This is great, Robby,” Dennis said earnestly as he sat down on the edge of the mattress. He bounced twice, feeling the semi-firm mattress bounce back softly.

“Let’s take those slings off and get you settled.”

Soon, Dennis found himself tucked into bed by his boss. His arms were left above the covers, while the bedding itself was tucked tightly around his body, just like his ma and pa used to do when he was little. Dennis sighed sleepily and his eyelids fluttered shut on their own accord.

“Sleep well, Dennis.”

“Mhmm Robby.”

“Yeah, goodnight, kid.”

The door clicked shut and Dennis could not stay awake any longer. He sunk into a dreamless sleep in the comfort of Robby’s home.