Chapter Text
“Hey Huckleberry, how is the California life treating you?”
It is so nice to see Trin’s face again, even if just over video call. She looks genuinely happy to see Dennis again too and the sharp pain in his chest over not being in Pittsburgh anymore rises up again. But he stuffs it all down, not wanting to think about it.
“I haven’t really seen any of the California life yet. Just the inside of the hospital. And it’s been-“, Dennis searched for the right word that can describe the last few weeks accurately without worrying his friend.
“Eventful.” That sure sums it up.
“Aww, is residency in a Podunk hospital turning out to be hard? And you were telling me I was being dramatic when I complained last year, and I was doing it in the Pitt!”
So much to not thinking about it.
When Trin sees the moment of hurt on Dennis’ face, her teasing tone falls away. “Shit, sorry Huckleberry, I didn’t-“
But Dennis interrupts her. “It’s fine, Trin. I mean, I’m still a bit sore over not being able to stay in Pittsburgh, but I’m getting along here. It’s fine. Great even. And the hospital is also good and I’m doing good. I’ve even found some people-“, well, one person, but he hasn’t really been telling people about him. “So yeah. It’s fine.”
After his rambling Trin just looks at him with raised eyebrows. “Dennis”, she starts and he knows she’s serious. “That was a very long way of saying you’re not fine. What’s going on? Are they rude to you in that Podunk town? Or is it the hospital? Are they supporting you? Say the word and I’ll blackmail Dr Robby to somehow get you back here. We’ll make it work.”
Dennis learned early on that Trinity is hiding a protective streak a mile wide under her abrasive nature. And he is now one of the select few who get to enjoy the full strength of Trinity Santos in Mama bear mode.
“Trin, really the hospital is fine. Sure, it’s slower than the Pitt but it gives me more time with the patients and to properly learn to be a doctor in the emergency department. And the attendings and other residents are nice. So there’s-“
Dennis is interrupted by the bathroom door opening with a swish and a cloud of steam escaping. It seems he was so deep in his excuses he didn’t hear the shower turning off. Dennis is so focused on the now open bathroom and who’s inside that he forgets that Trin can see him.
“Hey, what’s going on, Huckleberry? What are you looking at?”
Dennis doesn’t even hear her questions over the rushing of blood in his ears as he stares at Andrew methodically drying off his body in the same order as always. He should be used to it by now or at least not so hypnotized, but Andrew’s body, wet and slightly pink from the too hot water and aggressive scrubbing, is just too good to look away from. The way his back muscles strained as he pulls the towel around his hips, his shoulders popping as he dries his hair.
Dennis licks his dry lips and quickly looks at the clock hanging on the wall across the bed he’s sitting on. It’s been two hours since they fucked and Dennis is getting horny. Again.
Before his mind can drift off and Dennis initiates the fun things him and Andrew have been doing non-stop on his days off, Trin’s voice gets him back to reality.
“Huckleberry, hello?! The fuck’s going on over there? And where are you anyway? That’s not your shitty apartment!”
Dennis blinks and forces his eyes back to his phone screen. “Sorry, Trin, got distracted.” His eyes flick back to Andrew who is now watching him through the mirror, his lips lifting in that small smile that drives Dennis crazy, but a frustrated noise from Trin snaps Dennis eyes back to his phone.
“What’s got you distracted like that, Huckleberry, that you’re making heart eyes at it? An answer my previous question: Where are you?”
And now Dennis was at the cross roads that he has feared since he started seeing Andrew a month ago. Because telling her about having a boyfriend wasn’t the big deal. Trinity would rib him a bit and probably call him sappy, but she would be happy for him.
And then she would start asking questions. Like how did they meet? When did they go on their first date? And why hadn’t Dennis told her as his best friend anything about this developing relationship?
Dennis doesn’t have answers to those questions that won’t worry her. And when hospital staff being mean to him is cause enough for her to want him back in Pittsburgh, then telling her “That’s my boyfriend Andrew, we met when he was trying to mug me for the keys to a car I don’t own” will not go over well.
“Umm-“, Dennis has to make a decision. And really, it wouldn’t be a lie, more a partial truth. He’s just omitting a few details.
“So, I met someone. I’m in his apartment. And he-“, Dennis stumbles over the last sentence and lowers his voice. Andrew knows about Trin and how Dennis tells her almost everything, but he’s still uncomfortable with Andrew hearing Dennis talk about him. “-he just got out of the shower.” Dennis mumbles that last part.
Trinity’s eyes grow big, then her smile follows. “Huckleberry”, she sounds positively delighted. “Are you telling me you’re ogling your new man while on the phone with me? Scandalous!”
Before Dennis could say anything, movement at the edge of his vision draws his attention. And suddenly, Andrew is standing next to the bed in nothing but the towel, close enough to Dennis he can feel Andrew’s body heat soaking through his thin shirt.
Andrew’s hand finds its way into Dennis’ curls at the back of his head, massaging and asserting ownership at the same time. Dennis’ throat is suddenly bone dry and his cheeks are getting red hot. Andrew is looking at him in that way he has, head slightly tilted and eyes fully focused on Dennis, in a way that feels one part possessive, one part predatory, but it’s always successful in revving up Dennis’ libido.
Trin’s squawking at the other end of the line pulls Dennis up short. She can see the arm now holding onto his head in the video call. Dennis didn’t even think about that. One touch and some eye contact from Andrew has made Dennis forget about the phone call and Trin entirely.
“Oh my god, is that him?!” Trin sounds a bit like she’s talking about a celebrity and not Dennis’ new boyfriend. “Introduce us, Huckleberry! I wanna know who finally caught your eye.”
Dennis lifts his eyebrows at Andrew. “You wanna meet Trin?”
That small smile is back on his face. “Yes. She’s important to you.”
Dennis just nods and then tilts the phone screen, so that Andrew and Trinity can see each other. “Andrew, this is my best friend Trinity. Trin, this is my boyfriend Andrew.”
The introduction feels awkward and unnecessary, but Dennis brain is only working on half capacity right now. His very hot boyfriend is standing next to him in nothing but a towel, Dennis cuts himself some slack if he’s not the most social of butterflies.
Andrew nods at the screen. “Hello.” Andrew is the definition of the unsocial butterfly. Moth? Caterpillar? Is there a known unsocial insect?
Dennis is pulled from his musings by Trin’s sharply indrawn breath followed by stunned silence. And that’s when something else occurs to Dennis. Something he himself was taken aback by in the beginning but that had escaped his head until just this moment.
He quickly tilts the phone screen back towards himself. “So, uh, did I mention he’s Dr Abbott’s younger half brother?”
Trin just stares at him in utter disbelieve. “Really, Huckleberry? I wouldn’t have guessed.”