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It’s currently 3:45 a.m. and your shift at the Pitt is absolutely dragging. It’s been on the slower side, after the decent rush of patients at the beginning of the night.
Charts are done, no current labs to run and no new patients to help as of now. Still no one dares to say the ‘Q’ word in fear of summoning another rush, likely worse than the last.
The only thing keeping you occupied is the dangerously hot grey-haired night shift attending you work with. Jack Abbot.
You met him 2 years ago when you started as a night shift nurse. Although it had been a hurried introduction due to incoming traumas that night, you were already gone for him. And unbeknownst to you, you caught his attention too.
Silently, he claimed you as his.
That had been, again, 2 years ago and Jack still hadn’t made a solid claim to you other than in his mind. There was no lack of flirting, lingering touches and intense eye contact on a daily basis. But true feelings were still held back.
Jack, as much as he wanted you, felt you were too good for him. He was a 47 year old veteran with a missing leg and never ending baggage. But you? You were young (26 he learned early on), smart, kind to all and beyond gorgeous.
You were beautiful.
This posed problems, in Jack's mind, since every guy in the hospital seemed to want your attention.
He’d asked you before if you had a boyfriend, husband, anyone. Ya know, the normal new coworker questions, right? You told him you weren’t seeing anyone which he mentally relaxed at the answer.
Sometimes a no-chance intern, nurse or doctor would approach you in hopes their pathetic form of flirting would work on you. Luckily you would politely smile and decline or shut down the advance with kind words and place your attention elsewhere.
‘Good girl’ Jack thought whenever he saw it happen.
But finally today was the day.
Jack had finally gained the courage to ask you out. Those voices in his head telling him you were ‘too young’ or ‘you deserved better’ had grown quiet and he didn’t want to miss his chance any longer.
He spotted you alone at the nurses station. It’s go time. With full confidence he strides over to you when he catches Brendon Park come out of the elevator.
This wouldn’t have fazed him had he not watched Park make a beeline straight to you.
Park comes up behind you and slings an arm over your shoulder, bringing you into a side hug.
‘What?’
The icing on the cake is you not only sporting a full smile but turning into Park’s side and hugging him back.
‘There’s no way’ Jack thought.
You said you weren’t seeing anyone. What’s even more astounding is seeing Park… smile?
This was bad. Not only had Jack engaged in flirting with you almost daily but you were seeing Park. Park the Shark as people named him in the pitt.
Silent devastation crossed Jack's face and he stopped in his place.
—————
You, on the other hand, are thrilled to see Park.
“Bren!” You laugh, returning the hug he pulls you into “What are you doing here?” You turn to look at him.
“Had a consult. Thought I’d check on Pittsburgh’s best nurse while I was down here.” He states with a small half smile.
“As much as I’d like to believe that, you’ve never come to see me in the two years I’ve been here. What do you want, Bren?” You grin at him, eyebrows raised.
“Banana bread cookies” he mutters.
“Banana bread cookies what?” you question.
He rolls his eyes “Banana bread cookies pleaaase”
“Ah that’s more like it” you chuckle.
“Keep laughing and I’ll tell Abbot about your massive crush on him.”
Your eyes widen and you stop short “you wouldn’t…”
“Oh but I would” he grins smugly “but you know that wouldn’t be an issue if you just told him.”
“Brennn” you groan "What if he rejects me? I mean, I think he likes me. We flirt everyday but what if it’s not what I think it is?”
“Then it’s his loss. And then you can make me even more banana bread cookies.”
You gasp “Brendon Park you ass!” you try swatting him as he moves back with a laugh.
“The man has the biggest heart eyes for you. Ask. His. Old. Ass. Out.” He punctuates as he makes his way over to his consult .
You shake your head with a smile but wonder ‘what could it hurt?’
————
It’s the following day and you’ve gotten the courage to ask Jack out. The only problem is, he’s nowhere to be found. The few times you’ve seen him, he either busies himself, ignores you or straight up disappears.
Odd is putting it lightly. No joking, flirting, nothing—not a word. This doesn’t deter you. Maybe he’s had a bad day or you’re reading too much into it.
Finally, a few hours into the shift you see him charting alone by the nurses station.
“Hey Jack” you smile gently at him.
“Hey…” he responds, sounding uninterested. It’s a blow to your heart but at least he's speaking to you now. It's the first time he’s said anything to you all day.
“I uh- I have a question to ask you” you say nervously, keeping a smile on your face.
He still doesn’t look at you “Be quick with it.”
You’re taken aback at his cold demeanor but continue “Oka–okay. I was wondering- uh- would you like to go out with me sometime?” A small sliver of hope in your voice.
“No.”
“Awesome! When would y- wait what?” The confusion is clear in your face.
“I said no. I don’t think that’d be a good idea. Anything else?” he says coldly, eyes meeting yours with no warmth.
You shake your head quickly “um-uh no. No nothing else. I’m sorry Jack, I didn’t mean-“
Without finishing the sentence you turn on your heel and quickly make your way to someplace where someone won’t see the tears that are threatening to fall.
————
Park plates his dinner and sits in the living room ready to turn on the game when his phone rings. It blares a terrible ringtone you had changed it to for your contact years ago and he was too lazy sentimental to fix it.
“Hey squirt, whats u-” his smile drops at the sound of you in tears, face contorting into something deadly.
His jaw clenches “I’ll handle it.” He shakes his head at your answer.
“No I won’t kill him” he says unconvincingly “not in front of people.”
He pulls the phone away from his ear at your loud protest against his idea.
“You know I got you squirt. Get some rest and no more tears over asshole Abbot. Love you kid. Night.”
Park had no intentions of handling this situation nicely.
————
It's the next day and Jack is a ball of emotions. He hates how he handled his disappointment and jealousy yesterday. But he is also mad that you would still flirt with him despite entertaining Park. Then you ask him out? He shakes his head at the whiplash of events.
He’s just about to start on the next chart when he feels a harsh tug of his scrub top.
Park has a death grip on Jack’s collar as he drags him to the side of the room.
“Woah woah woah Park. What the fuck is your problem?”
“You.” he answers with a sneer.
“Me what?” Jack says irritated at this uncalled for ambush.
“You’re the reason y/n was crying her eyes out to me over the phone yesterday. You’re lucky we’re on the clock or I’d kick your ass right fucking now.” His fist clenches harder in the scrub collar.
“Wait wa-just wait park. One, I realize I didn't handle the conversation as I should have. Two, you can knock off the whole intimidating boyfriend act becau-“ Jack is cut off.
“That’s my little sister” Park growls low but clear.
“Sister? Look, no need to lie to- “ Jack is cut off for a second time.
“She’s my little sister” Park says menacingly.
Abbot lets the words linger and then it sinks in “So… she’s not your girlfriend?”
“Nope.”
“She’s your sister. But you guys look nothing ali-” he begins.
“Correct and none of your business unless she wants you to know” Park responds. He had released Jack's shirt and now stands towering with his arms crossed.
“And I’ve made an enormous ass of myself because I assumed wrong?” Jack hangs his head.
“Bingo asshole.”
Jack sighs in embarrassment .
“I hope you plan to fix this quickly, Abbot. My sister is convinced you're the one. All heart eyes for you ‘n shit”
“Yea-yeah of course Park. But I don’t think she’ll talk to me..”
“Leave that to me. I’ll send you an address and a time. Be there.” Park grumbles, not breaking eye contact.
“Got it. Thanks Park.”
“Oh and Abbot?” Park gets close into his face.
“Yeah?” Jack leans his head back.
“If you ever make her cry again I’ll break your face. And trust me.. If I'm so amazing at putting broken bones back together, imagine how much better I am at breaking them. Don’t make me test that theory. Are we clear?” he threatens in a low whisper.
“Crystal…” Jack tries to back up.
“Good.” Park finishes, turning to walk away like an angry predator who regrets sparing his prey
Jack lets out the breath he didn’t know he was holding.
“That man is scary as shit” Robby speaks up from the nurses station, not looking up. When he heard the verbal altercation he stood by quietly just in case.
“You’re telling me brother” Jack sighs in relief.
Not even an hour later he receives an unknown text, assuming it’s Park, with an address and to be there by 8 tonight. Followed by a (likely) aggressive ‘be there’.
Jack could only hope you’d give him the chance to apologize and maybe win your heart back.
————
You’re comfortably burrowed in a pile of blankets on the couch, your favorite show playing. But you can’t be bothered to pay attention after the events from two days ago.
You’re only slightly looking forward to Brendon coming over tonight. Maybe his grumpy ass could cheer you up.
It’s around 7:50p.m. when you're taken out of your trance by a knock at the door. Must be Bren but why doesn’t he just come in?
You gave him a key the day you moved into the apartment because apparently he ‘needs to be able to easily reach you if something happened to you, like the apocalypse or some shit’ he horribly reasoned.
Typical Bren.
You get up and open the door “Bren seriously? You have a ke-“ the words are lost as you stare straight into the face of the source of your heartbreak.
Jack Abbot.
“Can I help you?” You ask a bit apprehensive and a lot confused, crossing your arms.
The look on his face pulls on your heart but you can’t show it, not now.
“Can I come in? Just give me 10 minutes to explain and if you’re still upset I’ll walk away, I promise" he says in a low but hopeful tone.
You wish you could stand your ground a bit but you really like him. At least enough to hear him out “cmon” you gesture him into the apartment.
Jack stands inside, looking around at your cozy space. Everything seemed very you, things that made you happy.
He wanted to be one of those things.
“I am so sorry. I'm more than sorry, I'm ashamed at how I treated you.” he starts.
“I’ve liked you for a long time now. Since the day we met. I let a lot hold me back but all I know is that I wanted you. The day before I fucked everything up I was going to ask you out but I saw Park and I assumed you were seeing him and I-”
“What?!” you ask, confused with an indescribable look. Disgust maybe?
“You thought me and Bren were seeing each other?? He’s my brother” you emphasize the term.
Jack rubs his hands down his face “I know, I know. I know that now. But that's what had me all out of sorts and shit. It's no excuse but it's why I turned you down. Which I regret a lot sweetheart” he sighs looking up to the ceiling, closing his eyes.
“So you were jealous? Over Brendon?" you slowly walk to stand in front of him.
He sports a look of embarrassment “Yeah… honestly of any guy that comes around you. But he was the first that seemed to get your attention and I just- I- I hated it”
“Jack, I wish you had just said something instead of making assumptions. Because, as you witnessed, I very much like you too. A lot actually.”
He gulps "You're right sweetheart. Do you think you could ever forgive me? And maybe I take you up on that date…. If it's still on the table” his face is covered in slight apprehension and hope.
You just look at him in silence, contemplating. The answer was obvious but you had to make him squirm a little.
“Yes. I would love to” you say with a smile.
He smiles in relief.
“But Jack?”
“Yeah sweetheart?”
You poke a finger hard into his chest, leaving a gentle threat “If you ever embarrass me and break my heart like that again. I will sick my ‘oh so sweet’ brother on you”
“Understood.” he nods adamantly “He mentioned some terribly descriptive ideas already” he nervously chuckles.
“Good” you smirk satisfied, placing a chaste kiss on his stubbled cheek.
“Wanna watch a movie with me Abbot?”
“I'd love it” he smiles, letting you lead him to the couch.
Both of you get comfortable, your arms around his waist and head tucked under his chin.
“Sweetheart, can I ask you something?”
You shuffle a little “Of course.”
“How are you a Park?” the question hesitant, hoping to not offend you.
“Well,” you say snuggling closer “Brendon was my next door neighbor growing up. He helped my parents around the house here and there, babysat me, played basketball with me every summer” Jack sees the reminiscing in your eyes “He was literally like an older brother at that point.”
Taking a deep breath you continue “When I was 12, my parents died in a carwreck. Drunk driver.” Jack pulls you closer to him.
“He was 24 at the time, in the middle of his first year of medical school. He was listed as my emergency contact and that’s how he found out. He caught a flight from California that night back to Pennsylvania. He picked up every broken piece and put me back together over the years…” you sniffle with a watery smile.
“Four years later he officially adopted me. He’s my brother in every sense of the word except by blood. I love him no less, if not more. He's a fierce protector and my best friend. Still treats me like I'm the 16 year old he adopted though,” you laugh lightly at the thought.
Jack can't help but feel sympathy at the thought of 12 year old you dealing with one of the harshest events of grief. But grateful that you had Park in your life and how he stepped up without question.
In that moment he found a new respect for the prickly ortho surgeon.
Trying to lift the mood Jack breaks the silence “So he's a real teddy bear is what you're saying” he pokes jokingly.
“Oh my god Jack do not let him hear you say that” a fit of giggles takes over your body.
He smiles and kisses the top of your head. He could get used to hearing that sound forever.
————
A few hours later Park receives a text
‘Its all good bren. Also I know you schemed, you ass… Love you’
He grins and huffs out a laugh.
Good.
He would've hated to have caused the pitt to be down an attending.