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“Doctor Abbot? Doctor Abbot, wait-“
Abbot turns around, coming face to face with a panting Whitaker. “Doctor Whitaker! How can I help you?”
“I know you were just heading out the door,” Whitaker says, standing there awkwardly as the ER bustles around him. He glances nervously over his shoulder, then steps in close, only a few inches away. “Doctor Robby just said something strange to me.”
Abbot sighs. Folds his arms, eye twitching. “Uh huh. Okay, give it to me.”
Whitaker swallows. He glances over his shoulder again, scanning the white walls and chattering nurses and speed walking doctors.
“Robby’s not around,” Abbot says impatiently. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“Okay. Um, well. We were just in the break room, and he told me I could house sit for him, and, uh…” he trails off, glancing around again. Then his eyes meet Abbot’s dead on, sharp and serious. His voice drops to a whisper. “I think he might be suicidal.”
Abbot’s stomach sinks, but he schools his features into something resembling ‘normal’. He’s known about Robby’s suicidal ideation for years, and he shares the same feelings from time to time on bad days…but if this kid, still green around the ears, can see what Robby tries so hard to hide…
…maybe Robby isn’t trying so hard anymore.
Maybe it’s a cry for help.
And maybe Robby will leave tomorrow morning, leave his motorcycle helmet behind, and drive off a fucking bridge to his death.
And the world will go on without him. But it’s not a world Doctor Abbot is willing to live in.
“What exactly did he say?” he mutters, leaning in closer. He glances over Whitaker’s head, searching for signs of Robby.
Nothing.
Whitaker almost takes a step back, stiffening slightly…then he relaxes and nods. “He said that…he said I could keep his house if he doesn’t come back. And he smiled - like it was a joke. But I really don’t think it was, Doctor Abbot.”
Abbot’s stomach sinks further. He nods. Clears his throat. “Okay. Anything else?”
Whitaker shakes his head, frowning. “No. But I’m worried. Like, really worried.”
Abbot steps back and claps Whitaker on the shoulder, giving him a tight smile.
It adds up.
Doctor Robby had almost laughed him off when Abbot urged him to call if things got dark. He’d avoided eye contact. His smile wasn’t real - it was forced.
“Okay, Doctor Whitaker. This could be serious. We need to proceed with caution-”
“Wait, wait,” Whitaker hisses. “What do you mean? What’re you gonna do?”
Abbot takes Whitaker’s arm and guides him down a hallway, doing his best to look inconspicuous. He lets him go, standing face to face with him. “Nothing yet, Whitaker. Relax.”
Whitaker’s face pales. His eyes widen. “Are you gonna involuntarily detain him?”
Abbot shrugs. He chews on his bottom lip. “If it keeps him from ending his life, yeah. I’ll do it.”
“But he’s your friend.”
Abbot looks away, down toward the hospital floor. His heart clenches. His eyes water. “Exactly.”