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Jack leans on the nurses station counter looking at the same chart over and over again. He didn’t even read it halfway through the first time before looking up and scanning the E.R.
He doesn’t see you yet. That’s okay, you should be there soon.
He shows up 30 minutes early to every night shift because you show up 20 minutes early.
He doesn’t want to miss a moment of you before the shift starts.
—-
One could assume Jack liked you. They would be partially right.
It’s safe to say he was infatuated with you.
Ever since he met you on your first day over a year ago, he was smitten with your beauty and infectious smile.
You were ethereal.
And he wanted to know more.
Unfortunately, only one thing stood in his way.
Your boyfriend.
He had heard Santos and Javadi talking about it at the end of your first month. Word was that he wasn’t the greatest guy but your heart was big and you were trying to make it work.
Jack felt a bit defeated at the news but he wasn’t deterred.
He could be patient.
You would be worth every waiting minute.
—-
Glancing at his watch he sees there’s 10 minutes until handoff and you’re still not here.
Are you okay?
Did you oversleep?
Did your car break down?
Did you call in si–
His spiraling thoughts are interrupted by the squeaking of wet sneakers. Looking up he sees you walking fast, a rain jacket pulled tight around you.
“Almost didn’t make it there earlybird” he jokes
You quickly look over at him and give a small half smile “The day I'm late is the day you should worry.”
Then he sees it. Your eyes are red rimmed and slightly swollen, like you had just finished crying your eyes out. Your face screams ‘sad and tired’.
He immediately straightens at his observation.
“You okay, sweetheart?”
You nod a bit too quickly and force a bigger smile on your face.
“All good Abbot, promise.”
The next moment you're walking to the lockers to put your stuff up for the night.
Jack watches you go, not convinced in the slightest.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
Throughout the night Jack searches for you to make sure you’re okay.
Every time he finds you, you always have a smile on your face or you’re laughing with someone. But he can see something’s off.
Later in the early hours, the Pitt is at a lull so he takes the time to reset all the rooms before the next rush.
He’s not paying attention when he pushes the curtains aside to one room and he sees you standing there. You hands partially cover your face but he can see that you’re crying.
“Shit—sorry Jack. Just needed a minute” you sniffle as you face away from him, quickly wiping your face.
You called him Jack.
Not Abbot.
Now he knew something was really wrong.
You loved to tease him by using his last name.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
You shake your head silently, too choked up with tears to respond.
Jack approaches you and turns you slowly by the shoulder.
“C’mere,” he says as he pulls you into his chest.
That’s when you can’t hold back the tears.
“Shhh shhh. You’re okay sweetheart. I’ve got you.”
He soothes you as best he can for about ten minutes before you slightly pull back.
“Want to talk about it?”
You look at him for a minute before nodding and going to sit on the bed behind you. Jack joins you and sits as close to you as he can.
“I uh, me and my now ex broke up a few weeks ago.”
Jack tries to keep a poker face but inside his heart is racing at the revelation.
“I had not been feeling too good about him for a while and unfortunately my gut knew because he had been cheating on me for a while. While that hurt it didn’t kill me. I think I was slowly losing feelings and that had solidified that we weren’t right for each other.”
Jack sees a stray tear fall and quickly wipes it away. Your face warms at the gesture.
“Then what happened today?” he asks quietly.
You take a deep breath.
“I went to grab my stuff from his place. I guess he was mad about me ending things and he-“ you take a shaky breath and try to hold tears back.
“He said he cheated because I was a bore. I wasn’t pretty enough, the sex was awful, I was a shitty girlfriend. Then he said I’d never b-be good enough for anyone. That no one would l-love me.”
Jack's heart breaks as he watches your lip tremble and sees the sadness in your eyes.
He’s also angry that anyone would have the audacity to say those things to you.
You were good enough.
Too good.
For anyone.
For him.
Your ex was wrong about that for sure. And he was wrong about someone never loving you.
Because he loved you.
He was in love with you.
Had been since he met you.
Jack grabs your hands in his.
“I hope you don’t believe a word of that honey. You’re amazing. You’re too good for him and he never deserved you. And I know there’s someone out there who loves everything about you. Who won’t ask you to change a thing and knows you’re more than good enough.”
You sniffle and stare at your joined hands.
“Someone that good doesn’t sound real.”
The silence causes you to look up at Jack and you find he’s already looking at you.
“Jack?”
He leans in a bit.
“Maybe this is the absolute wrong time and maybe you don’t feel the same way.”
Your heart races at his words.
“You can tell me to fuck off but I’d regret it forever if I didn’t tell you how I feel.”
Your eyes widen slightly.
There’s no fucking way.
You had always had a crush on Jack Abbot. His cute grey curls, his handsomeness and charismatic personality. He was the whole package.
He was out of your league.
So, you gave the guy at the bar, your ex, a chance in hopes you’d get over Jack.
Now? Now you were glad things hadn’t worked out. Maybe this was your chance if he truly felt the same.
He squeezes your hand a bit.
“Sweetheart, will you go out with me? Can I take you out for dinner this weekend?”
Your heart stops.
Yes god please!
“I-I, yes. Yes, I’d love that, Abbot.”
Jack can’t help but smile at your flustered response and that you were back to calling him Abbot.
“I promise I’ll make it worth it.”
You give him a genuine smile.
“I have no doubt.”