Chapter Text
6AM.
July 5th.
A cool early morning summer breeze came through an open patio door, making its way through the kitchen and living room. Morning birds sang. The sun was starting to rise. An orange hue was trying to make its way in.
Dennis Whitaker sat on a couch. A large grey L-shaped couch. The kind that was actually comfy, one you could sleep on. Expensive.
Dennis looked to the open patio door across from him. Letting the still cool air move his hair around.
He should get going. Hop on the next bus, go to work. Have a normal day.
But…
How can you have a normal day when your morning started with you waking up in your boss's house? Well, boss was so….formal. He was alone in the house of a man he… looked up to? Cared about? Wanted to be? A man who he had a thousand thoughts about, but could verbalize zero? Yeah.
Dennis sighed and pushed himself up off the couch. Walked over to close the patio door, locking it. Went to the front door and grabbed his bag. Grabbed the key that was tossed on a side table, and headed out. Locking the door behind him.
Leaving the house felt like the most foreign thing. He was more comfortable holding a human heart in his hand than he was just locking a door. Weird.
Dennis put the keys in his bag's front pocket and walked down the sidewalk to the bus stop. It was so close to the house, so convenient. It felt like Robby put it there himself for him. Dumb thought.
Dennis' stomach reminded him to stop by the hospital cafe to grab a cheap muffin and coffee. The kitchen inside sat untouched, not used since its real owner. Robby mentioned he did not really have food in the fridge when he handed over his key. He did mention using his expensive coffee maker.
When Robby said not much food, he did not think the fridge would be totally empty, the shelves cleaned and wiped down. It felt so final. But guess that is what you have to do when you leave for 3 months.
The bus pulled up. Dennis got on. How strange it would be, finishing a shift only to return to Robby’s quiet, empty halls.
When he crossed the threshold last night, after everything on the 4th, the house was dark and quiet. Dennis remembered wishing Robby would somehow magically appear and show him inside.
But instead, it was just him alone. Barely looked around, content to just stare at the couch before pulling off his scrub top, content to just sleep in his undershirt and scrub pants.
The bus arrived near PTMC, and he got off. Made his way, once again, into Robby’s other home without him there.
2PM
July 5th.
The day was weird. It was normal. People lived, people died, and they got people back from the dead.
No cases that would haunt him forever, nothing dramatic.
No one mentioned him. Not in any meaningful way. Just ‘Dr Robby asked us to...’ ‘Dr Robby is not here now, so...’.
Dennis sat at the work station that he and Robby somehow started to share. No sweater on the back of the chair today.
He saw Trinity making her way over. Looking slightly pissed.
“Huckleberry. Want to tell me where the fuck you were last night?” Trinity asked.
“Oh, uh. Well Dr Robby asked me yesterday to house sit for him while he’s gone. So I went over there right after the shift, was super tired.”
Trinity’s eyebrows shot up. She pulled up the chair next to him and sat down.
“Ooookay. That's..wow. Weird? So is this a check in once a week, or what?” She asked, still surprised.
Dennis shrugged, looking back at the computer with a patient's chart open. “It’s a live there for the 3 months kinda thing. I’m off tomorrow, so I’ll stop by and grab more clothes and stuff.” Trinity said nothing yet. “He asked after he talked to me about working on Amy’s farm. Which want to tell me why you told him about that?” Dennis said, still a little upset.
“Calm down, farmboy. I was just worried about you, honestly. Figured you listen to him. So what did he say about it?”
“Just talked about like, boundaries and made me realize I was putting too much on myself, I guess,” Dennis replied.
“Boundaries?”
“Yep”
Trinity let out a sharp, knowing laugh. "I knew he was territorial when it came to you, Huckleberry, but this is a whole new level of surveillance.
Dennis furrowed his brows, looking over to her. “What are you talking about?”
“I mean, the man finds out you're seeing a woman-” Dennis cuts her off.
“I’m not seeing her,” Dennis twisted his face into a grimace.
“Oh, I understand, Huckleberry. But, he finds out you have been spending time with someone he does not know, talks about boundaries, and then tells you to live in his house.” She grinned. "It’s a very effective way to make sure he knows exactly where you’re sleeping every night. His bed." Trinity whispers the last part. “Anything else?”
“You make it sound... weird. I’m just doing him a favour. Said, no smoking, no parties, no pets, no babies.”
“No babies. Oh, Huckleberry, what an interesting life you have,” Trinity said, reaching over to smack his leg before standing up. “Boundaries though!” She said before walking away.
Dennis shook his head. Turning to stare at where his coffee mug would usually sit.
7PM
July 5th
Dennis stood looking up at the patient board, making sure there was nothing major before leaving for the night, when he heard his name called.
“Whitaker,” Dr Abbot said to him. “Got a second?” Abbot motioned his head to come over.
“Yeah, of course!” Dennis walked over. Abbot led the way into an empty family room before closing the door and taking a seat. Dennis followed, sitting down. He can tell where this is going.
“He contacted you at all?” Abbot asked, seriously.
“Um, no. Haven't heard.” Dennis paused. “He didn't give me his number, he got mine though. So guess I’ll just wait to hear from him….So you have not gotten any updates?” Dennis asked the man's best friend. Unable to hide the concern on his face.
“No. Not yet. Well, let me know if you do. And listen, if he made you uncomfortable with the whole house thing. You don’t have to, it's fine. I can check in” Abbot said, standing up. Ready to start his shift.
“No, no. It’s all good for me. Really.” Dennis smiled at him.
“Ok.” Abbot said with a curt nod before heading out the door, shutting it behind him.
Dennis groaned, dropping his head into his hands. Remembering the day before. Maybe Robby is mad at him.
After Robby’s offer and extra comment about not coming back…Dennis looked for Abbot as soon as he could. Telling him what Robby said. Abbot was concerned, of course. He had a look, as if he expected it. Said he would talk to him again. But Dennis still got the house keys, and Robby still left. With no word to anyone yet.
Dennis stood up. Time to go back to what would be his home for the next 3 months. Was he supposed to be there casually, like a job? Or was he supposed to carve himself into it, into Robby’s life?
Dennis made his way out.
8:30PM
July 5th
Back at the house, Dennis let himself fall into the couch and closed his eyes. It really was a nice couch. Lots of space, easy to sink into. The perfect type that had enough space for 2 people to sit in the L-shape part. It would be so easy to relax and let his head fall on someone's chest here. Dennis’s eyes shot open.
He needed a shower and a change of clothes.
Fuck, all his stuff was still at Trinity’s place, and he used the spare clothes that he kept in his bag today.
Which meant…
Dennis pushed himself up and made his way to the stairs, looking up. Going up there felt very personal.
He made his way up.
Opening the first door, he peered inside and saw a smaller room. Definitely not Robby’s. A guest room. It looked untouched, looked impersonal. Maybe Jake used it. Maybe Abbot if he stays over. Dennis continued down the hall to see the next room.
It was an office. Or, more like a study. Floor-to-ceiling dark brown bookshelves lined the walls.
Dennis ran his hand over one of the shelves. Its contents looked like fiction novels. Looking over the other cases, he could see large medical books. Maybe from his time in school. He pulled one out to see.
‘ABC of Emergency Differential Diagnosis. 2013’
A smile tugged at his lips. Robby was still buying medical textbooks, apparently never satisfied with what he already knew. Never wanting to stop learning or reading cases he might not have seen in person. He could probably write his own Emergency Medicine book. If he ever did, Dennis would treat it like the bible.
Looking over at another shelf, it was filled with DVDs. Dennis could see some clearly old ones. A lot of Blue-Ray cases. The bookshelf was so full, it reminded him of rental DVD stores.
Some of Robby’s hobbies, all in one room. Dennis felt a tug in his chest. He wished he could hear Robby talking about all this, his thoughts, what he loved, what he hated. Dennis wished he had talked to the man about movies while he was still here, even though Dennis knew nothing about any of them, probably. A sudden, sharp ache of loneliness rushed over him in the quiet room. He stepped back and closed the door, feeling like he’d stumbled into a private part of Robby’s mind he wasn't supposed to see yet.
Turning the knob on the door at the end of the hall, it was clear this was Robby’s room.
It was big. The walls were painted a dark navy. One wall was almost completey floor to ceiling windows, with blackout curtains bunching to the sides.
The bed sat in the middle, headboard pushed to the wall. Black sheets adorned it. Large pillows. A soft blanket draped over the bottom. The bed frame was made to look like unfinished wood.
Framed pictures of the city skyline were hanging right above.
To the right of the bed, a large monstera plant was in the corner, next to the window.
A dresser was against a wall. Various things on top of it. Dennis walked over to look.
A lamp, Dennis flicked it on, now that it was getting dark. It cast a warm orange glow.
He saw some framed pictures, a couple of Jake, it looked like. Old school pictures. Old, worn pictures of a little boy and an older woman. His grandmother? A picture that was definitely Robby, but younger. In a white coat, ‘Michael Robinavitch MD’ was written across it. No visible crowsfeet or smile lines, and no beard. 2 other people were at his side. Dennis smiled, leaning in closer to look when he realized it was Abbot and Dana. A lifetime in the Pitt together.
Looking over the dresser more, his heart skipped a beat. His stethoscope was lying there. Of course, he did not need to take it with him…But it felt like a part of Robby, an extension of him, was just casually tossed on the dresser. Dennis let his fingers run over the tubing before taking in a breath.
Dennis turned around, seeing a door in the corner of the room. Walking over to open it, he saw an attached bathroom. This was the kind of fancy Dennis could not wrap his head around, too used to his cramped bathroom with Trinity.
Dennis saw a mostly clean countertop. A hair dryer was tossed on top. An empty toothbrush holder. What he assumed was expensive cologne.
Dennis opened the pretty dark wood closet, which matched the counter drawers. Soft-looking towels filled it.
There was a large walk-in shower. Green tiles as the backing. What looked like a simple enough shower head. Built-in shelves that had products. They must be what Robby uses to wash his hair, his body. Dennis swallowed a want.
He does need a shower….And he should get used to being here. He does have 3 months after all. There is most likely another bathroom with a shower. But, well, he is already here.
Dennis reached in and turned the shower head, thankful that the water easily came out.
Opening the closet, he grabbed the first towel he saw. A dark blue towel. It was very soft and large. He placed it on the hook that was by the shower door.
Just needs to take off his clothes….in Robby's home…in his bathroom, use his products, and end up smelling like him. So, so normal and chill.
The shower heated up quickly, much faster than the 5 minutes Trinity’s shower needed. Steam filled the room.
“Ugh, whatever, this is fine, it's ok” Dennis mumbled under his breath, walking to flick a switch next to the light, which he assumed was the fan. The whirring confirmed.
He closed his eyes and pulled his scrub top and undershirt off together. Letting them hit the floor. He pulled down his scrub pants and underwear, letting them join his top on the floor. Dennis quickly stepped into the shower.
And Jesus. The water pressure was good. Dennis let out a sigh, closed his eyes, and let his head fall back. The hot water helping him relax after being on edge after looking around Robby's home.
Right, Robby's home. Where is he now naked.
Dennis opened his eyes and looked at the products in the built-in shelf. Reaching over to grab the bottle that said body wash. Popping the cap off, Dennis brought it up to his nose and smelled.
It was the scent that usually only ghosted past him in the ED. Sandalwood and something sharp, now sticking to his own skin. Keeping the bottle close to his nose, Dennis let himself take in the scent.
A familiar, heavy warmth pooled in his lower abdomen, a mixture of proximity and impossible want. If he shuffled his legs, he would be able to feel a wetness between them.
Dennis brought his hand down and lowered it past his belly button. Letting it rest on the dark curls. He could just slide his fingers down more and -
No. Dennis’s eyes snapped open as he yanked his hand away. He couldn't do this. Getting off to the scent of his boss’s soap was a line he couldn't justify as 'just doing a favor.' Removing his hand and setting the body wash down again. Way too far. Definitely not casual and cool to get off while smelling your boss’s soap.
Dennis rubbed his hands against his face, getting out a groan. Changed the water to be slightly cool and quickly finished his shower.
9PM
In the end, Dennis stepped back into the bedroom, wrapped in a large soft towel, and did indeed smell like Robby. There was a blush across his face that would not leave, even after stepping out of the warm bathroom.
And fuck. He has no clean clothes. He should have sucked it up and gone to Trinity’s to pack his clothes before coming here. No way he could wear his dirty scrubs in Robby’s bed….not that he decided to sleep in it, yet. He tossed his phone onto the bed.
He turned to the dresser. He thought about wearing Robby’s clothes; they would be too big, an old shirt falling gently over his thighs. It would cross so many lines.
But the alternative…Dennis wrapped the towel around him tighter before making his way to the dresser, picking a drawer at random, and opening it.
Inside, it looked like piles of T-Shirts. T-Shirts Robby did not deem worthy of joining him on his trip. Great, he can wear non favorite T Shirts, that makes it easier.
Dennis grabbed one at random, letting the towel fall and pulling the shirt over his head. It did indeed fall to his thighs. A warn neckline exposing part of his chest and collarbones.
Dennis looked down, pulling the shirt out to see what it looked like.
PTMC 2005
Lines felt crossed again. The cotton was thin from years of washes, a relic of a version of Robby that Dennis hadn't known. With no underwear on. Dennis pressed his thighs together.
Bzz-bzz. Bzz-bzz.
His phone.
Dennis walked over to the bed where he threw his phone. Unknown Number. He accepted the call.
“Hello?”
“Whitaker,” the voice crackled through the line, grounded and familiar.
“Dr Robby!” Dennis blurted out, the shock of hearing him in this quiet house making his heart race.
“Just Robby right now.” He corrected softly.
“Right, sure! Um, hi!”
“Hi. I just wanted to make sure you got into the place ok. No neighbours thought you were breaking in or anything.”
“Oh yeah! Totally fine. I’m here now, actually. Uh, so where are you? Made it out of the state?” Dennis asked.
“Oh yeah. I’m in Minnesota now. Will get to North Dakota tomorrow, hopefully.” Robby said.
Dennis leaned back, finding it impossible to picture the ED without him there. “It’s weird thinking of you anywhere but Pittsburgh,” he admitted with a small, private smile. “Hey, you're pretty close to Nebraska.” Dennis said with a smile.
Robby let out a low scoff that vibrated through the phone. “Very true. Need anything picked up? Corn? I can get a cow shipped over; it can graze in the front lawn.”
“Hmm, I actually just brought over a suitcase of corn, so I’m all good. Thanks, though.” Dennis joked back.
Robby let out a small laugh. “Good. So, find your way around the house, okay? You got my number now, so let me know if there is anything.”
“Yeah, I’m all good. There is a roof and air conditioning. That's all I really need.” Dennis felt more comfortable after joking with Nebraska with him. He let himself feel that he missed Robby. Dennis wanted to keep talking before Robby hung up and called him again, god knowns how long from now. “When I was walking around, I saw the room with all your bookshelves. It's really cool! I think you could charge the med students a fee and they’d all use it as another library.”
“Thank you. I like keeping up with the latest stuff, ED related or not. I like having a physical book. Feel free to check out whatever you want, no fee.”
“Thanks, I will probably take you up on that offer. Also noticed all the DVDs. Very old school.” Dennis said.
“Old school? Ouch.” Robby joked.
“Hey, I mean that as a good thing. I was not allowed to watch any movies or shows that were not approved by my parents or the church. Which left me with like, nothing. And then once I started university and med school, well, I did not have time for that, or a TV. I’m very uneducated, as Trinity says.” Dennis replied, explaining.
“Well, you can also watch any of the movies in there. They’re not all good, but there are some gems. I like watching movies in my free time, as you can tell. In the living room TV, and in my bedroom, there is a Blu-ray player. It's already hooked up to the TVs, so you should be good to go.” Robby offered.
“Wow, thanks. I think I will also take you up on that offer. What’s the starting point? Nothing horror. Give me something inspiring.” He wanted to absorb every preference and every thought that made Robby who he was. He wants to watch all of his favorites. Dennis wanted to crawl inside Robby's head.
“Hmmm,” Robby paused to think. “Good Will Hunting. Have you seen it?”
Dennis shook “Nope!”
“Excellent. You’re off tomorrow. Enjoy the day. Oh, check the cupboard above the microwave before you start it.” Robby said.
Dennis noted that Robby mentioned having the day off as a statement, not a question. He knew his schedule, at least for this week.
“Sure! I gotta grab my stuff from Trinity’s place, but then I will be ready to watch.” Dennis said with a smile. “I will report back if I like it.” He said, hoping it would extend an invitation to Robby to keep talking to him while he was away.
“Sounds good. What’s your personal email?” Robby asked suddenly.
“Oh, it’s just [email protected]. Why?” Dennis questioned. Was Robby really that old that he would prefer email over text? Hm.
“Don’t worry about it,” Robby said, his tone shifting back to that protective, quiet authority. “Hey, I gotta get going now, wanna wake up early to hit the road. And thank you again, Dennis. For the favour. Enjoy the day off and the movie. Talk to you later,” Robby said, ending their unexpected conversation for the night.
“Ok, bye, Robby. Be safe.” Dennis said goodbye before he heard the call cut off.
Dennis let out a sigh, closing his eyes. Content that he somehow made plans with Robby even though he was so far away. Watch the movie, report back. The exhaustion from the day was catching up to him, content to just fall asleep now.
Wait. His eyes shot open. He was sprawled across the center of Robby’s bed, draped in Robby’s shirt. With no pants on. His cunt against Dr Robby’s sheets.
Dennis quickly jumped out of bed, made his way to the dresser, and opened drawers till he found something that looked like pajama pants. He grabbed a pair of thin fabric plaid pants and hauled them on. Tightening the drawstring to stop them from slipping off his hips.
Dennis let out a groan at how flustered he was getting. This whole situation was really digging into how he felt about Robby. It was impossible to distract himself in the man’s house. Especially in his clothes.
He let out one more sigh before pathetically making his way back to the bed and pulling the covers back, slipping into Robby’s bed.
Of course, the bed was stupidly comfortable. Dennis felt his eyes get heavy after the 12-hour shift. It was just day 1, and he already missed his presence in the ED. He buried his face in the pillow, chasing the fading scent of the man who was currently driving across state lines, leaving Dennis to drown in his absence.
He was so fucked.