Chapter Text
It’s been a busy day in the ER. People are flooding in from all directions, emergency vehicles arriving constantly, adding to the chaos.
Ambulances seemed never-ending, and the day shift never seemed to catch a break. It was hardly into the twelve-hour shift, with well over nine hours still left, and Robby felt like they were drowning—between the lack of beds upstairs and the overwhelming number of patients needing attention.
Shouting was heard throughout the ER, echoing off the walls and adding to the tense atmosphere. Robby's conversation with Dana paused as his gaze quickly shifted to the curtain that partially hid a patient and one of his students, sensing that something was about to escalate. He barely got a step in when he saw the man get out of the bed and scream in Whitaker's face before throwing a nasty hook, knocking Whitaker clean in the jaw. Robby rushed in with the assistance of other doctors and security personnel.
Quickly, he went to Whitaker's aid. Whitaker was out on the floor, blood pooling. "Shit, Whitaker, that was a nasty hook," Santos mumbled, already beside her roommate. Mel, Collins, and the others swarmed to take care of the student.
x
Dennis wakes up, his head throbbing, and his eyes are heavy. In a daze, he sits up, eyes opening to harsh fluorescents shining right into his eyes, "Hey, Whitaker, sleep well?"
Dennis's eyes slowly made their way to the person talking. "Oh.." Dennis squints, "Sorry, sir, it's just bright." He mutters, the man beside him getting up carefully and dimming the lights. "How're you feeling?"
Dennis looks up and is met with beautiful eyes; the man's hair reminds him of salt and pepper. His beard was well-managed. "Uh.. like I got the shit beat outta me." He mutters, squeezing his eyes shut. "I feel sick." "Yeah? Do you feel nauseous or dizzy? Do you know who I am?" Too many questions, it irks him. His headache is already debilitating enough. "I- uh... y-you're.. I don’t know. You’re- I know you and I know that you’re hot, but I-"
Dennis had no idea where that came from or where that confidence came from, but didn't think about it too hard because not even a second later, he's throwing up, and the man next to him gets bile on his shoes. "Oh- sorry- sorry I'm sor-" Dennis foolishly tries to sit up and stand, reaching for the tissues on the bedside table, but his legs feel like dead weight beneath him, and the man grabs him; it's lights out before he really processes what's going on.
x
Waking again felt no better. Exhaustion clung to his bones. His brain hurt from thinking and trying to read. All signs of a massive concussion. How'd he get concussed? Where was he? Oh, the ER. "Whoa, there, Huckleberry, stay lying down. You've already stirred up a frenzy twice, don't need a third." It was Trinity-- "Trin..." Dennis mumbled.
"Okay, Huckleberry, slow down. You're concussed, Robby said to get some rest." Santos was uncharacteristically worried. "We're gonna see how you're doing after my shift and see if you can come home and rest," Dennis nodded, shutting his eyes, the lights hurt. The door opened, a mutter, some quiet conversation.
"How are you doing, Whitaker?" The man from earlier. His eyes flew open, and he looked at the man. "I'm so-" He paused. Staring for a moment. "I'm so sorry for earlier."
"No need to apologize, can I ask a few more questions? Then we're gonna get a neuro doctor in here, okay?" Dennis nodded. "Do you know where you are?" "Yeah, PTMC." "Good, do you know who we are?" The man pointed between himself and Santos. "Trinity, my roommate." Dennis looked at the man. He was familiar, he felt the man's name on his tongue. His brow furrowed, his head pounded. "Uh.." The guy had to be important, maybe a close friend? Coworker? Boss? Whomever he was, he couldn’t even remember, and it was stressing him out. A to-be doctor shouldn’t be like this.
He needs to get back to work.
Maybe the man read his mind as he began to spiral. "That's alright, Whitaker, do you know anyone else you work with?" The man came over and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. It was a comfort. "Uh, Dana- She..She's the charge nurse, and Mel." Dennis looked at the hand on his shoulder, familiar and warm. It was huge on his shoulder, a blush spreading on his face. "I-.. Doctor Mckay.. And Doctor Collins," He mumbled.
"Good job, Whitaker, that's enough." The guy hummed. "Do you know what happened before this?"
Dennis shook his head. "I really.. don't know. But I can imagine I bounced my head pretty hard."
The guy chuckled, warm and inviting. "We know at least it's not major memory loss. How about you get some rest, but first, are you nauseous?"
"A bit, not bad. I really gotta get back to work though," Dennis muttered. "I really can't afford missing it,"
"Don't worry about work right now, rest up, I'm the one who's given you time off. You focus on recovering." The man smiled. Dennis just stared. Santos was looking less worried now. Maybe it was a face. Trinity is always good at those.
The man in front of him let go and left the room after mumbling to Santos. Dennis frowned, missing the warmth. Dennis looked at Santos. "Who is that?" Santos looked tense. "That's our boss, you don't remember him? Dr Robby?" Dennis shook his head.
"No, he's familiar, but I really don't remember him." His head throbbed, his eyes shut as he lay back.
And before he knew it, he was out again. His dreams were blank, a vast nothingness. When he woke, all he thought of was a salt-and-pepper beard and large hands holding him close.
Between periods of sleep, people checked in on him; he was barely conscious as they came and went. He recognised some of them as the night shift, then Trinity came by before she left, then “Mr Robby”, and Dr Abbot, who was mumbling to himself about some guy named “Michael, who worried too much” and talked about a patient healing up just fine.
x
Waking up felt exhausting. His eyes barely open, he looked at the ceiling. He shifted his head and sat up after a moment, the world briefly spinning. He looked around and realised he was alone.
He shifted to sit on the edge of the bed, his hand coming up to feel the small bandage on his head. He can't remember what happened. Why does he have a bandage on his head? Eventually, the guy showed back up, and he had a gentle smile on his face. “Hey, how are you doing?”
Dennis looked down, fiddling with his fingers, and responded softly, “Good,” while tucking his hands in between his legs. He paused for a moment, casting a glance around the room, then added, “It’s been a long night, to be honest. Lots of noise,” The man nodded sympathetically.
“Well, according to the night shift, you slept mostly soundly through the night. Abbot, you know who Abbot is, yes?” Dennis nodded again, more slowly this time. “Well, he said you were doing pretty well for a concussed patient, but you’ve got neuro lined up for today, and you’re gonna see physio after, so we’re gonna get you ready for your appointment, alright?”
Dennis hesitated, then replied, “Yeah, I mean, yessir.” He nodded a little too quickly, his eyes pressing closed at the motion. The room fell into a brief, contemplative silence before the man spoke again, offering a reassuring smile.
“Hang in there. We’ll take good care of you.” A pause. “And just Robby is fine, kid.” Robby smiled, and Dennis’ eyes instantly found the crows' feet… attractive? adorable? What? He instantly tore his eyes down to his lap.
“We might also work on your motor skills, but I think we’re gonna wait, cause apparently you tried getting up again last night.” Robby’s smile faltered, and he was muttering under his breath. Dennis just nodded. He didn’t even know this guy, and that sick feeling came back twice as strong.
Honestly, it felt more like guilt.
His hand came up to the cross necklace lying against his sternum under his shirt. Not a moment later, in comes Trinity, carrying a bag. “Hey, Huckleberry, are you still throwing up?” She grinned, tossing the bag at the foot of the bed. “I hope not. I brought you some clothes for the next few days.” She hummed, looking at him, “Hopefully you aren’t gone too long. I miss bullying you. Right now, I just feel bad.”
“Uh-huh.. thanks,” Dennis mumbled, going to grab the bag, almost missing the strap on the duffle. “You didn’t have to grab all this.” His head was swimming for a moment from how quickly he shifted.
“I know, but someone was asking I bring you some clothes, and who am I to deny him?” Trinity was grinning, and Dennis huffed, obviously missing something here. His eyes shut, and he took a moment to let the world settle before reaching for the bag again.
“Careful, kid,” Robby mumbled, watching him grab the bag. “Let me help you, okay? Or if you want, I can go get a nurse?” Robby walked over, carefully moving the duffel into his lap.
Dennis set his hands on the duffle in his lap and shrugged, “You can help me, if you aren’t busy.”
x
Apparently, Dr Robby had plenty of free time. Carefully washing him down with a wet towel and helping him get dressed. And after, Robby helped him walk all the way to Neuro.
His legs felt heavy, like they fought back. Robby carefully helped him onto him with those large hands, and helped him get the cardio in to help retrain those muscles.
They made it to Neuro with minimal issues. Dr Robby helped him into the room, sat him down and took a seat beside him. “I’m not seeing the punny guy, am I?” Dennis mumbled, his hands moving under his legs.
“No, we had him visit you after you first woke up,” Robby mumbled back. “You don't remember the puns?”
“I don’t think I do..” Dennis mumbled, “I don’t even remember him visiting.. I think," His hand went up to fidget with the hairs on his neck, then the chain carrying the cross.
“Yeah? Well, that’s fine. The doctors are just gonna run some simple tests. Now that you’re more cognitive.” Robby smiled reassuringly, and Dennis had to look away.
The door clicked open, and Dennis looked up at the doctor. “Hello, I’m Dr Harvey. I’m gonna be doing some tests, see how you’re getting along, alright?”
“Yeah,” Dennis mumbled. Watching the doctor move about the room with the confidence of someone who had been doieasily for years–the doctor probably had.
x
Dr Harvey started by explaining each of the tests, all of them lasting maybe around ten minutes each, to start the therapy off easily and not aggravate symptoms.
Dennis thought it was ridiculous when Dr Harvey held out a pencil and told Dennis to take it. But, he did. And almost started laughing when the doctor explained what to do. Robby sat beside him, obviously entertained by Dennis’ suffering.
Dennis did the stupid pencil push-ups for just about five minutes before the doctor had him put the pencil down. He was glad because his eyes started to feel the strain. Dennis was about to yell in annoyance when Dr Harvey introduced the saccades.
x
Robby carefully led Dennis back to his room. They had a while before Dennis would go see a physiotherapist. ‘What’d you think of Dr Harvey, kid?”
“I... he was alright,” Dennis mumbled, sitting down on his bed. “He was an interesting character.”
Robby let out a laugh, not a simple laugh, but a guttural laugh that made Dennis blush. “Yeah, he’s a character,”
x
Robby was getting ready to leave, and Trinity found herself at the foot of the bed. Dr Abbot walked into the room and raised a brow at the scene. “Aren’t you two supposed to be leaving?”
“Yeah, I’m wrapping things up here.” Robby grabbed his bag from beside his chair and got up. He looked over. “Hey, Whitaker, if you have any problems, don’t be afraid to call me.”
“Yessir,” Dennis hummed, his hand finding the chain around his neck again and toying with the clasp.
“Robby is fine, kid.” Robby went to Abbot, “Kids got a physio appointment in roughly an hour.”
“Alright, I got it.” Abbot talked with Robby as they left the room.
Trinity grinned. “You got Dr Robby’s phone number?”
“No? I don’t think so?” Dennis huffed and shuffled away from Trinity, who was trying to rip his phone from his hands.
“Okay, well, look. I’m sure your brain isn’t too good at remembering shit right now. I gotta see!” Trinity grinned. What a shit roommate. Dennis checked his phone through squinting eyes, and there it was, "Michael (Robby)"
“Oh my god, Huckleberry! There is no way that is so fucking cool.” Trinity peeked at the contact peeking over the top of Dennis’s hands. “Do you like him?”
Dennis looked up at her in shock, and maybe some fear. “Trinity! Oh my god–no, I do not- I don’t even- I barely remember him! Why would I have any feelings towards him??” Dennis shoved her away and tossed his phone to the side. That guilty feeling was weighing in his gut again, and his hand trailed back to the cross sitting on his sternum again.
“Dannggg, Huckleberry. No need to bite my head off. I’m just playing farm boy.” Trinity grinned. “It’s so hard to forget you’re from fucking nowhere, Nebraska.”
Dennis frowned, “Shouldn’t you get home to, I don’t know, whatever it is you do all night?”
“Mm, I don’t think you wanna know what I do all night, Huckleberry.” Trinity grinned.
“Ew, Trinity, that’s gross.” He frowned, “I don’t think I’d want to know anyway.”
“Probably for the best.” Trinity hummed, “Did Dr Robby tell you how long you were staying here?”
“Probably till tomorrow morning. My tests are all run, and they aren’t super worried about my CT scan.”
“Good, then you can come home. Make the apartment feel less dead.” Trinity beamed, getting up. “I’ll see you in the morning, Huckleberry.”
“See ya, Trin.” He watched her walk out, and not too long later, Abbot came back.
“So, physio. I can only imagine you’re jumping with glee.” Abbot grimaced. “Do you want to walk to your appointment or do you want a wheelchair?”
“I’ll be fine walking. I walked to my Neuro appointment earlier.”
“Alright, then let's get going. Have a slight warm-up beforehand.” Abbot moved to help Dennis get up and move about. “How'd today go? You slept most of last night.”
“Today was good. Busy, but I have to have a neuro appointment.” Dennis huffed. “Take some tests.”
“Do they feel childish yet?” Abbot raised a brow. “C'mon.”
“I'm never doing 'pencil push-ups' again. Never.” Dennis grimaced as Abbot helped him up.
“Never get concussed again, how about that?” Abbot grinned.
“Hey, Abbot. Can you help us in–” Dr Shen paused. “He- sorry, Dr Whitaker, you doing better, everything good?”
Dennis slightly nodded.
“Yes, you need help?” Abbot paused, his movements pausing. Shen continued...
“Yeah, the patient was unresponsive but...”
Dennis was then escorted to Physiotherapy by a nurse. He fidgeted with his cross necklace as they moved him upstairs.