݁ ˖Ი𐑼⋆

“blow it out,” you’d said, waving a loose palm over the candles.

“s’your cake, angel.”

“it’s your birthday.” then he blew it out, and you asked, “what was your wish?”

“you in my bed tonight.”

“that’s already happening – ”

“i know, right.” he sat back in his chair, thumb dragging along the base of his glass. “m’the luckiest man in the world.”

and because that night had ended so well (the sound he made into your shoulder when you repeated what the cake said, again, into his ear; the box of cake left on the counter he’d begrudgingly brought into bed after tuckering you out), you couldn’t help but want to keep finding ways to keep doing it to him.

even if it was during a dinner with two of his coworkers who also happened to be his closest friends.

“god, i wish i had some salt and pepper right now,” you said through a groan, setting your little ice cream spoon down.

dana, who was sitting across from you, let out a small chuckle into her drink, eyeing you over the rim of her glass.

jack just assumed you were talking to talk. you did that way too often; every time there was a lull in the conversation (even though your definition of a lull and his were vastly different), you’d supply something that was rarely relevant.

he eyed you briefly from the corner of his gaze, before he placed his focus back on his conversation with robby. “gloria asked me for – ”

you let out another dramatic groan, letting your head tip back in faux frustration before cocking it to the side toward jack, speaking directly at him. “i said, i really wish i had salt and pepper right now.”

jack breathed out a sigh through his nose, as he shifted slightly, palm planting over your thigh under the table, as he ran through a quick list of possibilities of what could possibly be wrong with you.

you clearly weren’t in pain or upset. so either this was a genuine craving, which was fixable, or it was one of your Things, which wasn’t fixable but jack found it was worth sticking around for.

“want a dish to go with that, baby?” he asked, raising a brow, turning toward you at last. his thumb swept over your thigh once.

jack watched you as the corner of your lip kicked up, wrapping the end of your hair around your finger. “that is the dish.”

jack’s gaze dropped to your cup of ice cream as he furrowed his brows. “i didn’t know that,” he muttered.

“s’my favourite,” you said, dragging your spoon slowly through what was left of the ice cream. “some people don’t like the salt and pepper.”

“don’t i know it,” he said, huffing and shaking his head, “people have gotta learn to season their – ”

he had one forearm on the table, sleeve rolled to the elbow, glass loose in his other hand.

“i really, really like salt and pepper,” you interrupted, and jack’s head snapped in your direction, brows going almost up to his hairline at your fucking tone.

usually, that tone was reserved for when you told him how good he was making you feel, how much you never wanted him to stop, his name in the sentence somewhere. it usually happened early in the mornings right after he got off work, your mouth an inch off his ear and his body entirely at your mercy.

the tips of his ears heated up and went pink at the onslaught of memories. his palm tightened on your thigh, questioning and also a little bit of something else that was entirely inappropriate at a group dinner. he felt like you’d just deployed a mating call, which was crazy. right?

“i’ll get you – salt. and pepper?” he said, clearing his throat halfway through, already turned toward the chrome caddy at the center of the table.

he rose immediately – one hand flat on the tablecloth, chair legs stuttering back – reaching two slightly-trembling fingers for the pepper mill.

your fist closed in his hair before he could get there, gathering a curl at the back of his head, winding your knuckles once. then, you gently (but with enough force that he let out a wounded “oh”) reeled him down until his butt planted into the chair.

“angel, whoa –!” he let out. his palm reached out over to your shoulder, fingers splaying wide to stabilize himself, despite the fact that you were the cause of it in the first place.

“got some,” you’d say sweetly, tugging the strands back gently so his neck tipped backwards slightly, like you were showing off a prize. which, you supposed, you were.

jack’s chin came up to lean into your hold, throating baring, as he retreated his other hand from the pepper shaker.

he made a sound low in his throat, eyeing everyone and their faces in his line-of-sight as the apples of his cheeks tinted. “i don’t know what’s happening,” he said through gritted teeth.

dana snorted into her drink, shaking her head in amusement. “yeah, but you like it, dont’cha?” she clicked her tongue. “salt and pepper.”

jack’s eyes flicked over to you then, as though realizing that he was being made fun of. “this some joke about me being old?”

“joke about how i love it,” you corrected, saccharine sweet smile playing on your lips as you tugged on his curls softly again.

“pfft.” he took his face out from under your grip, looking down at his lap. “well, i know that,” he murmured.

“your first run with salt and pepper, sweetheart?” dana asked you, still chuckling at the sight of jack.

“and last,” jack said, brows rising. he sat back, arm going along the top of your chair, thumb finding the ball of your shoulder, suddenly radiant with himself.

you jutted your thumb out in jack’s direction, nodding sincerely. “what he said.”

he tutted softly, pinching his eyes shut for a moment. then he leaned, mouth going to the shell of your ear, as he said, “you keep doing things like that.” he pressed a thumb into your shoulder. “you’ll have salt and no pepper by next week.”

when he pulled back, you snorted, forcing yourself into pretending you hadn’t just felt his voice go all the way down your spine. “you promise?”

the corner of his mouth went up at that, then he nodded slowly. so utterly happy to be there, while robby groaned, scrubbing a hand down his face.

“we are right here,” robby said.

dana, on the other hand, smiled. “leave them. it’s sweet.”

you leaned into his side, and he tipped his head down towards yours, and pressed his mouth once to your hair.

“happy now?” he murmured. “you got me. now eat up. gotta get us home.”

something you had always been ashamed to admit was that you were still a virgin despite being in your mid twenties. you had never even put your own fingers inside of you before.

you had ended up in the doctors office after realising you were finding it hard to get wet or anything inside of you.

the bed creaked beneath you every time you shifted. you were nervous to have to discuss this with someone, especially a doctor. it wasn’t exactly an emergency, but more of a personal worry.

you were snapped out of your thoughts when the door opened and a man walked in. he was tall and quite big, his eyes were kind and determined as he looked at you, lathering hand sanitiser on his hands.

“hello, i’m dr. abbot. i’ll be working with you today. what’s your name?” he introduced himself, dragging a metal stool over so he could sit in front of you.

you nervously told him your name, meeting his steady eyes with a shy look.

jack quickly picked up on how innocent you looked. he had seen countless nervous people in his years of being a doctor, but you had something else about you.

he nodded and reached for the chart that the nurse had taken previously. “it says here you’re having problems with.. penetration?” jack raised an eyebrow as he read the chart. that certainly wasn’t what he was expecting.

your face flushed as he read it aloud. your problem sounded stupid coming from his mouth. you nodded as if to confirm what he had just read. “y- yeah. i haven’t- i’ve never..” you mumbled before trailing off, the words dying on your tongue from the embarrassment.

“nothing to be embarrassed about, sweetheart.” jack immediately interrupted, catching onto your nervousness. he felt a perverted rush go straight to his dick when he realised he was going to have to help fix your problem.

the position jack had insisted you be in felt inappropriate, but he was the doctor after all.

jack slipped on some latex gloves as he watched you lie back and spread your legs, trying to avoid eye contact as much as possible.

“good job, sweetheart. that’s good.” he nodded as he moved to be standing over you. “i’m going to check how you react to penetration that isn’t from yourself.” he told you, carefully moving the gown you had on so that he could see your pussy.

a small gasp escaped your lips as he pressed the tip of his middle finger into your folds. the feeling grew more overwhelming the more he pushed in.

you whimpered as you felt how big his finger was. this was the first time you’d ever had anything inside of you, and his fingers were way thicker than your own.

“how does that feel?” jack asked when he pushed his finger into all the way. you felt unbelievably tight around him.

“o- okay, dr. abbot. it feels.. you feel big.” you sheepishly admitted. could you even say something like that to a doctor?

jack had to bite back a groan at the way you spoke. you really were as innocent as you looked.

“could you do some more? i just have to check inside. make sure everything is okay.” he told you carefully.

you nodded in submission. “okay, dr. abbot. whatever you need me to do.” you told him.

a few minutes later, you were soaked on three of jack’s fingers. the stretch had given you an uncomfortable burn for awhile, but the persistent pumping of his fingers faded into a pleasure you’d never felt before.

jack absorbed every whimper that came from you, the sounds only spurring him on further. he knew you were still under the impression this was still just an examination.

your hands reached out to grasp onto jack’s wrist as soon as you felt yourself growing overwhelmed. your brain was beginning to shut off from the feeling of it all.

“dr. abbot! i feel- it feels like a lot-“ you gasped, meeting his dark eyes. right before you fell over the edge, jack pulled his fingers out abruptly, the latex soaking wet with your arousal.

“you seem healthy. i think the problem was you needed someone who understood your body better than yourself.” jack said, sounding matter of fact in his diagnosis.

you felt confused and edged from what had just happened, but you were ultimately relieved to hear that there was nothing wrong with you.

you gathered your clothes as you got up from the bed. “thank you, dr. abbot.” you said quietly, watching as he walked out of the room with a smug smile on his face.

He won’t say outloud that you are his but mentally he’s already staked his claim and nobody messes with what’s his.

Jealous!Jack who was trying his best to input something into the computer near the end of shift but he’s since abandoned it and forgotten what it was. Because by the nurses station there you stand talking to one of night shift's new male nurses. Normally he’d just sit and watch, making sure you’re safe as he shimmers with that little green-eyed monster named jealously on his back. So this shouldn’t be the cause for any concern nor possessiveness except that this kid is staring at you like he wants to eat you and Jack is just going to make sure you’re alright at least that’s what he’s telling himself as he heads over a small scowl on his face. 

His hand finds the small of your back rubbing at it slightly to alert you he’s behind you and not startle you. “Hey angel, you need a ride home?” he questions, his gaze focused entirely on you when you turn mid conversation to look at him. He feels a sense of satisfaction at the way the nurse stutters a moment and stops his next sentence because you are no longer looking at him.

“Was just gonna take the bus, but if you’re offering” you shrug, a little smile on your face. Jack smirks when out of the corner of his eye the younger man throws in the towel and walks away. “Course sweetheart, go get ya’ stuff” he prompts with a head nod towards the lockers.

Jealous!Jack who lets you drag him from store to store in the mall simply because with the way you stick to his side he hopes it makes people assume you’re dating. He holds every shopping bag, he pays for you for your lunch at the foodcourt, gives his options on clothing you hold up. “Don’t you think that dress is a little short angel?” “Where the hell is the rest of those shorts?” “What about some tights under the skirt?” “Top seems a bit too tight maybe size up sweetheart” that last comment merely because the short accentuations your breasts too much.

He always makes sure to hold the bundle of bags behind your back, covering your ass as the two of you go up the escalator. His eyes tracking the men behind the two of you as you yap about which should be the next store. Him nodding along with a “Where ever you wanna go, S’ your day angel” 

Jealous!Jack who thinks his heart finally stopped beating when you mention something about a boyfriend. He schools his expression even if it’s eating him up inside. Simply telling you “As long as he’s treatin’ you right sweetheart, i’m happy for you” 

“Of course he is, and if he wasn’t i know my big strong protector would sort him out” you giggle, teasingly grabbing at his bicep lightly as you say ‘big strong’ and jack can’t help the smirk that grows on his face. 

Jealous!Jack who shakes the hand of the man you now call boyfriend with a firm dad like tight grip. Telling him it’s nice to finally meet him even if his face is telling a different story. 

When he overhears your boyfriend tell you Jack hasn’t stopped giving him little glares all dinner and it’s annoying him, he smiles as you defend him. “He’s just protective, stop being so weird and be nice” you’d scoff at him before returning to the living room where you sit back down next to him leaving your boyfriend to sit alone in the empty arm chair. 

Jealous!Jack that plants little seeds of doubt about your relationship. How your boyfriend doesn’t seem to protect you when walking places, he just stalks ahead and hopes you’re still trailing behind. Knowing you think of how Jack is always right at your side when you walk somewhere together and stays on the side of the sidewalk facing traffic. He tells you how you shouldn’t be the one planning dates or asking for flowers, your boyfriend should know to do it. Hoping you remember how Jack brought you your favorite flowers on your birthday after only hearing you talk about them once, and how he’s the one planning things you like to do for your hang outs.

Jealous!Jack who consoles you when you come crying to him about you fought with your boyfriend and he broke up with you. Holding you to his chest as you sob, petting you head and shushing you softly, “It’s okay sweetheart, he didn’t deserve you anyway” he coos and smirks when you cling on tighter to his body. 

Jealous!Jack who when he finally has you beneath him a blabbing fucked out mess, can’t stop muttering “Mine, all mine, finally fucking mine angel” as his hips bounce off yours. “Yeah ya’ my girl now sweetheart?” All you can do is repeatedly nod, his cock hitting your g-spot with damn near sniper precision pushing you closer and closer to the edge. “Need to hear you say it baby”

“All yours jack, only yours, fuck don’t stop” you cry out, hands pawing at his stomach. Your words finally end that lingering little green-eyed menace that’s plagued him from the first day he saw another man flirting with you.

You huffed a laugh as the two of them started bickering just as your phone buzzed in your pocket. You leant against the wall, only half listening as you pulled it out of your scrubs and saw a notification from Jack.

He must have just woken up from his pre-shift nap. The corner of your mouth lifted as you read his reply.

You: Are you coming in early today?

JA ❤️: Always.

You quickly typed out another message.

You: any chance u could bring in a protein bar for me? the ones at work are inedible

The reply came almost instantly.

JA ❤️: I know. I’ve told Robby they are a serious health hazard.

You smiled at that as you watched the three dots blink back at you.

JA ❤️: I’ll be in soon. I already have some in my bag for you.

You: are you psychic?

JA ❤️: Just good at pattern recognition.

Your smile widened as his reply came through.

You: thank u 🩷

JA ❤️: 👍

“What are you smiling at?”

You looked up to find McKay watching you over the fridge door.

“What?”

“That.” She pointed vaguely at your face. “Whatever that was.”

“Nothing.”

Santos and Whitaker paused their arguing to focus on you.

Santos studied you, her face contorting into a grimace. “Gross.”

“What?”

“I just can’t get over the fact that Abott reduces you to…” She trailed off, waving vaguely at you.

“That?” Whitaker supplied.

“Yeah.” Santos nodded gravely. “That.”

You rolled your eyes, sliding your phone back into your scrub pocket.

“I think the two of you are starting to fuse into one brain cell.”

Santos’ expression went still. “….that was genuinely hurtful.”

You turned to Whitaker. “There’s your new button to press.”

Whitaker’s grin widened as he crossed his arms over his chest and turned to Santos. “Oh I cannot wait to bring this up multiple times a day.”

Santos glared at you. "You're a traitor."

You pushed off the wall, shaking your head as you made your way towards the door.

“Never give your triggers away Santos.”

“You’re still a traitor!” She called out.

You waved her off without looking back, escaping before she could start another argument.

You barely made it two steps before nearly colliding with Samira.

“Oh sorry.” She came to an abrupt halt, the usual frazzled expression etched onto her features as she looked up at you.

“You all good?”

“Yeah um- have you seen Joy?”

“Not for a little while.”

“No worries, if you see her can you tell her I need her in Room 3?”

“Sure.” You nodded, tilting your head slightly as you studied her. “Are you sure you’re ok?”

“Yeah fine.” She brushed you off as she tucked a loose curl behind her ear. “Haven’t had lunch so I’m a bit cranky.”

You nodded in understanding. “Word of warning, don’t eat the protein bars.”

Samira’s nose wrinkled as she stepped around you. “Why on earth would I do that?”

You threw your arms up dramatically. “Am I the only one who didn’t know they were inedible?”

“Apparently so.”

You huffed, pulling your hair out from under your collar as you made your way over to the status board which was currently glowing above the chaos that was the ED like a cruel little scoreboard.

Your hands settled on your stethoscope as you scanned the board. Less than an hour till your shift was over, at least officially. Which given your track record of overtime, meant close to nothing.

“Hey.”

You glanced over to see Perlah leaning against one of the desks.

“What?” You asked warily.

Her smirk widened. “Have you seen the hot visitor?”

“The what?”

Princess appeared beside her, equally delighted.

“Absolute smoke show.”

Princess nodded towards the far end of the station. “Follow the sounds of Joy giggling.”

Your brows knitted together.

“Joy? As in our intern, Joy? As in the complete antithesis of her name, Joy?” You queried.

“See for yourself.” Perlah grinned.

You followed their line of sight to the other end of the nurses station where a tall figure stood, leaning an arm on one of the benches.

At first, all you saw was the back of a leather jacket, familiar in a way that made your stomach drop before your brain had fully caught up. The man shifted slightly, turning just enough for a familiar profile to come into view. The same hair coifed to perfection, the same self-satisfied slant of his mouth.

And sure enough standing beside him, blushing furiously as she giggled, actually giggled, at whatever he had just said, was Joy.

“I didn’t even know she was capable of laughter.” Princess remarked.

You closed your eyes for one brief, pained second. “You have got to be kidding me.” You grumbled.

Before either Princess or Perlah could ask what was wrong, you were already moving, making a beeline towards them.

Princess and Perlah exchanged a look behind your back. “What just happened?” Princess asked in Tagalog.

“I don’t know." Perlah muttered. "But I think it’s going to be good.”

By the time you were close enough to hear the familiar deep drawl of his voice, Mark Sloan had inched in just enough to make Joy look like she might pass out.

“So, is that the only piercing you have or...?”

You rolled your eyes.

“Still shamelessly hitting on interns I see.”

Mark turned at the sound of your voice. For half a second, there was nothing but surprise. And then his eyes lit up in recognition.

“Well I’ll be.”

That familiar grin spread slowly across his face as his eyes travelled down your body with the same shameless appreciation he’d had years ago, like he was undressing you from memory.

“Cupid.” He said the nickname lowly, like he’d never stopped saying it. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”

You shot him a fake smile. “Wish I could say the same.”

Joy looked between the two of you, blinking rapidly, as if she was trying to decipher a complex math problem. You turned your attention to her, offering her a polite smile.

“Dr Mohan's looking for you, something to do with your patient in room 3.”

“Oh right.” Joy nodded, adjusting her glasses as she glanced at Mark. “On it.”

“Bye Joy.” Mark called out lazily, watching her blush as she scurried away, nearly walking into a wall in the process.

He turned to you, looking pleased with himself as he leant forward. “Why do you always have to ruin my fun?” He pouted once she was out of earshot.

"Someone has to."

Meanwhile, McKay, Whitaker and Santos had exited the breakroom, not even bothering to conceal their ogling as they clustered around a monitor.

“Ok who on earth is that?” Santos queried.

"And why does he look like he just walked off a photoshoot?" McKay muttered.

“And how do they know eachother?” Whitaker added.

“He called her Cupid.” Joy casually commented as she walked past them.

Whitaker’s brow furrowed. "....Cupid?"

Santos froze. The faint amusement dropped away, replaced by the sharp, dawning horror of someone remembering a detail they were never supposed to need.

“Oh my god.”

“What?” McKay and Whitaker asked simultaneously.

"Do you guys remember that time at karaoke?"

"....the one where she sang No Scrubs at Abbot?"

"No. The one when she accidentally admitted she had an ex at Seattle Grace that used to call her Cupid."

McKay and Whitaker both slowly turned to stare at Mark, then at you, then back at Mark.

"No." McKay shook her head.

"Yes."

“You don’t seriously think….” Whitaker trailed off.

“Oh I do” Santos nodded. “I really do.”

Back at the nurses’ station, you folded your arms, ignoring Mark's attempts at getting under your skin.

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh some conference.” He waived his hand dismissively. “Thought I’d take the opportunity to come see Robinavitch.”

You blinked. “You know Dr Robby.” You said slowly.

“Since med school.” He answered smoothly. “Why? Hoping I was here to see you?”

You snorted. “Please.”

“Oh c’mon Cupid don’t act like you don’t miss me.” He smirked as he stepped closer. “You wouldn’t have moved across the other side of the country to forget about me if you didn’t.”

You leant in slightly, shooting him a dry smile. “I wouldn’t touch you again even if my life depended on it Sloan.”

He let out a genuine chuckle. “I’ve missed this.” He gestured between the two of you. “Us."

He placed his chin in the palm of his hand, leaning even closer. "Why did it ever end?”

You pretended to think for a moment. "Maybe because you’re physiologically incapable of staying monogamous?”

“Oh yeah right that.” He nodded. “Speaking of monogamous..."

"No."

"... I’ve heard you’ve got a new boy toy right here at PTMC.”

Your eyes narrowed. “Jesus Christ Meredith needs to learn to keep her mouth shut.”

“Well in her defence she told Derek who then told me so….” Mark trailed off, turning his body around to survey the room. “Which one is he?”

"I'm not playing this game." You answered, folding your arms over your chest.

“Wait let me guess.”

Before you could stop him, Mark placed both hands on your shoulders and gently turned you so you were both facing the floor of the pitt.

His eyes landed on Frank first. “Too pretty boy.”

He guided your shoulders slightly towards Whitaker. “Too scrawny.”

From across the room, Whitaker stiffened. “…Why is he looking at me?”

Santos didn’t look away. “Don’t wave.” She murmured.

“I wasn’t going to.”

“You were thinking about it.”

Then the ambulance bay doors opened. Jack walked in with a thermos in one hand, his bicep bulging as he shifted the backpack slung over his other shoulder on full display under his dark fitted shirt.

Your stomach dropped as his eyes scanned the room, no doubt looking for you. It didn't take long for his eyes to find yours. You watched as they shifted to Mark, then dropped to Mark's hands resting on your shoulders.

For a moment, his expression barely changed, only the faintest tightening around his jaw gave him away. Then he kept walking.

Mark smiled slowly. “….bingo.”

Your body stiffened as Mark glanced sideways at you.

“I’m right."

You didn't answer.

"I am."

“I’m not talking about my love life with you of all people.”

“Cupid, don’t be like that.” He nudged your shoulder. "Come on, what’s he like?”

“Well for starters, he volunteers as a medic for the SWAT team.” You said sweetly. “So he’s got at least one gun on him at all times.”

Mark nodded slowly, dropping his hands from your shoulders. "Noted."

"He also has excellent aim."

"Message received." Mark held his hands up. "I'll behave."

And then, for the first time since he had appeared, the teasing faded.

"But seriously..." His face softened slightly as his eyes settled on your face properly, no longer performing for the room.

“You’re happy?”

You exhaled slowly, your defences lowering slightly by the unexpected tone of his voice.

“I am.”

“He good to you?"

You smiled softly despite yourself. “He is.”

Something flickered across Mark’s face then, softening the usual sharp lines of his smirk, scarily close to being something sincere. “Good.”

For a moment, the years between you settled there. It didn’t feel painful or bitter or even sad. In fact, it seemed absurd to think that you'd cried over him once upon a time. Now he was just a story you told after one too many drinks, something you reflected on and shook your head, chalking it up to the foolishness of youth.

You cleared your throat, looking away first. “How’s work?”

“Busy, chaotic, dramatic.” Mark shrugged.

"So the usual then?"

“The usual.”

He glanced around the emergency department, frowing slightly as he took in the noise, the movement, the organised disaster of it all. “How’s the ED?”

“Busy, chaotic.” You echoed. “Somehow still much less dramatic than Seattle Grace."

Mark barked out a laugh. “Yeah that checks out.”

“Sloan.”

The two of you turned to see Robby making his way towards you, Jack beside him.

Mark's grin returned instantly.

“Robinavitch.” He broke away from you and pulled Robby into a hug with the force of someone who had never respected personal space in his life.

"A lot less hair since I last saw you."

Robby snorted, clapping him on the back. "The Pitt will do that to you.”

Jack caught your eye over Robby’s shoulder, his expression running a fine line between faint amusement and annoyance.

Robby stepped back, shaking his head before gesturing to Jack.

“This is Jack Abbot, night attending.”

“Nice to meet you. Mark Sloan.” Mark stuck his hand out. “Head of Plastic Surgery at Seattle Grace.”

“Plastic surgery?” Jack's brow lifted slightly as he shook Mark’s hand. “Explains the soft hands.”

Mark laughed loudly enough that several people looked over.

“Oh my god.” Whitaker mumbled as he watched Jack and Mark shake hands. “It’s like I’m seeing double.”

Santos shook her head. “She’s got some serious issues.”

McKay folded her arms over her chest as she studied the two men. “Or just good taste.”

“I second the good taste thing.” Princess murmured as she appeared beside McKay.

Perlah took a sip of her drink and nodded. “I third that.”

The handshake lasted just a fraction longer than necessary as Mark glanced over at you. “I get it."

Robby’s eyes narrowed as he gestured between you and Mark.

“You two know eachother?”

“I was an intern at Seattle Grace." You supplied quickly.

“Oh yes, Cupid and I go wayyy back.” Mark smirked.

Robby's confusion only deepened. “Cupid…?”

You shot Mark a warning glare, which he very intentionally ignored.

“Yeah Cupid.” He answered smoothly. “'cause you know she’s got these little angel wings tattooed right above her-“

“Okayyy you know what.” Robby clapped his hands letting out a bark of awkward laughter. “I think a hospital tour sounds like a great idea right about now."

Mark's eyes gleamed as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "I was going to say shoulder blade."

“You are going to walk with me." Robby said, already steering him away, “And tell me absolutely none of the rest of that story.”

Mark let himself be guided down the hall, still grinning smugly as he glanced back over his shoulder at you and winked, making you roll your eyes once more.

You dragged your eyes away from him to look at Jack who was yet to move. He watched Mark disappear down the corridor, then looked back at you.

He slowly stepped forward, eyes scanning your figure as he placed his hands casually behind his back.

"Ex?"

You sighed. "...Ex."

Jack nodded curtly. “Got it.”

“Abbot.” You looked over to see Dana studying both of you. “Dr King needs an attending in Room 8.”

Jack's eyes never left you. You watched him intently, waiting to see if he would say anything further. Instead he simply reached into his pocket and produced a protein bar.

You swallowed as he slid it into the front pocket of your scrub top, his fingers lightly against your side subtly.

“Eat.” Was all he said, unable to hide the affection in his voice.

Your throat tightened around a smile as you nodded. He held your gaze for one more second, then turned and headed in the direction of Room 8.

You watched him go, your hand subconsciously brushing over the side that he’d just touched.

When you looked back, Dana was still standing there, one hand on her hip as she watched you over her glasses with an expression far too knowing for your liking.

“Don’t you dare say a word.”

She raised her hands up in mock surrender. “Wasn’t gonna.”

You huffed as you turned, suddenly desperate to busy yourself in order to keep your mind off the cluster fuck that was your two worlds colliding.

For the next twenty minutes, you threw yourself back into work. Every few minutes though, your gaze betrayed you, either drifting towards the corridor where Robby had taken Mark or towards Room 8, where Jack had disappeared. The protein bar sat heavily in your pocket, your appetite now completely non-existent.

By the time you ended up at a computer to finish off your charting, your shift was close enough to ending that you had started to believe you might actually survive it.

“Oh damn, the patient in room 7 died.”

You glanced up to see Whitaker staring at a chart from the workstation beside you.

“The old lady with the chest pain?”

“Yeah.” Whitaker sighed.

You frowned. "That sucks."

“She had a husband right?” Santos chimed in from across from you, not bothering to look up from her own computer.

“Yeah she did, married nearly fifty years."

Without missing a beat, Santos glanced up at you. “Abbot better watch out.”

Your eyes narrowed.

"Nice. Very respectful." Whitaker shook his head, although you could see he was trying not to laugh.

"What?" Santos shrugged. "Our girl clearly has a type."

"Silver foxes?" McKay suggested as she walked past grinning like a cheshire cat.

"I hate all of you."

Whitaker looked over at you like he was genuinely offended. "What did I do?!"

Across the hallway, Jack had just emerged from Room 8. Your eyes met his. He didn’t react beyond the faintest lift of one eyebrow, but you could tell he'd heard every word.

You tipped your head slightly towards the supply closet. Jack looked at you for half a beat, then gave the smallest nod.

You waited a couple minutes before moving.

The supply closet was narrow, overstocked, and smelled faintly of antiseptic and cardboard. You shut the door behind you and leaned against a shelf, exhaling slowly for what felt like the first time in an hour.

A few minutes later, the handle turned. Jack stepped inside and closed the door quietly behind him. He leaned back against the opposite shelf, folding his arms loosely across his chest as the two of you studied eachother.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“So… that’s your ex.”

“That’s my ex.”

He nodded. "You left out a few details."

"Such as?"

His gaze dropped briefly, then returned to your face.

“Well first of all I wasn’t expecting Mark Sloan.”

Your brows lifted in surprise. “You know who he is?”

“I’ve heard of him.”

“Of course you have.” You paused for a moment before your voice dropped slightly, unable to hide the insecurity in your tone. "Do you think less of me because I dated someone like him?"

Jack's brows knitted together. "Absolutely not." He said immediately. "It's just that I wasn't expecting your ex to be..."

Your brow furrowed. “Be what?”

“…old.” Was what Jack settled on.

You let out a disbelieving laugh. “He’s not old, he’s like your age.”

“Exactly.” Jack nodded. “I'm practically from the stone age compared to you.”

“You’re not.” You insisted.

Jack’s mouth twitched, but the smile didn’t quite hold as he looked down at the floor.

You studied him for a moment, admiring the lines etched deep into his face that you’d had memorised for as long as you’d known him. “Does it bother you that he’s older?”

“No it doesn’t bother me it’s just...” He sighed. “I thought I was the exception.” He confessed.

Your face softened instantly as you pushed off the wall and took a step towards him.

"Jack."

"I know it’s irrational.” He said, giving a small, self-deprecating shrug. “I just thought I was the first older doctor you’d made questionable life choices over.”

You huffed a small laugh as you closed the gap between the two of you, reaching up to cradle his jaw.

“Hey.” You said gently, guiding his eyes up to meet yours.

“When I met Mark I was young and overwhelmed and had just moved to a new city and he was…” You trailed off, glancing at the door like Mark might somehow materialise on cue.

“…well you’ve seen what he’s like.”

You brushed a thumb over his stubble that lined his jaw. “It barely even qualified as a relationship. And then it ended and we worked together for months. And then I moved.”

Jack leant into your touch slightly, his eyes never leaving your face as you spoke, attentive in the way that always made your heart ache a little.

“And then on my first day here I met a grumpy doctor up on the roof while I was mid meltdown.”

His brows drew together in feigned disbelief. “I don’t think he was grumpy.”

“He told me if I was thinking of jumping I shouldn’t because it’d be a shame to ruin a face like mine.”

The frown that had a hold on his face loosened just a fraction. “Why on earth would he think that line would work.”

“In his defence, I think he was a little out of practice.”

His hands settled at your waist, warm and steady through the thin fabric of your scrubs. “Or his brain short circuited when he saw you.”

Your smile widened as you slid your arms around the back of his neck, entwining your fingers absentmindedly around the silver curls at the nape of his neck.

“Well, lucky for him it worked.”

The reluctant smile finally reached his eyes. “Very lucky.” He corrected.

He glanced down, playing with the tie of your scrub pants.

“I just can’t believe you dated a plastic surgeon.”

You snorted softly. “Is that seriously what’s bothering you the most?”

“Yes.” He answered plainly.

You shook your head, a wry smile on your lips. “Not the stupid nickname?”

Jack glanced down at you, his grip on your hips tightening ever so slightly.

“If he calls you that again I may have no choice but to punch him.” He conceded casually as he brushed a strand of hair behind your ear.

His head tilted slightly as he studied you for a moment. “But at least he can fix his own nose up after.”

You let out a laugh, running a hand over his chest. “Don’t worry.” You soothed. “I already told him you volunteer with the SWAT team.”

Jack smirked down at you proudly. “Atta girl.”

Then he leant down and finally pressed his lips to yours in a slow, reverent kiss. When he pulled back, his eyes narrowed immediately.

“Did you eat?”

You winced slightly. “Not yet.” You patted the pocket that contained the protein bar. “I’ll eat this and then go.”

Jack frowned, clearly unsatisfied with your solution. “Go home and eat something more substantial.”

“I will.”

“There’s pasta in the fridge for you, all you have to do is chuck it in the microwave.”

Your interest piqued immediately. “The pesto one I love?”

“Of course.”

You grinned, pressing your forehead against his. “You’re very good to me Dr Abbot.”

His smile softened into something private, something reserved just for you. “Anything for my girl.”

You kissed him again, deeper this time, enjoying the feeling of his warmth seeping into you.

“Alright.” He muttered reluctantly against your lips as he pulled away. “Get going before I end up locking you in here.”

You smirked. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

He shot you a warning glare with absolutely no bite to it.

You huffed dramatically, “alright alright.”

You reached for the door, then paused, glancing back at him.

“And for the record, if you’re worried about feeling old…”

Jack raised a brow.

“You should meet my other ex, he checked into the nursing home down the road last week.”

“Very funny.” He muttered, trying but failing to look unamused.

“I know I am.”

“Go.” He urged as he tapped your backside affectionately.

You raised your hands in mock defeat, slipping back into the pitt without another word.

Jack shook his head as the door shut softly behind you, a lovesick smile spreading across his face.

he could happily spend hours on end alternating between kneading them in his rough hands and sucking your nipples into his wet mouth, tracing them teasingly with his tongue.

he bought various different bras in different colours and designs simply because he loves to see them ‘all dolled up’. it made you embarrassed at times. your cheeks would flush a soft pink as you lay out in front of him, his eyes locked onto your chest exclusively. “they’re so beautiful, sweetheart. they’re looking so pretty in their lace.” he cooed, groping them tenderly over the fabric.

“j- jack.” you flushed, hiding your bright face behind your hands. “what, baby? i’m admiring you.” he stated, pressing a soft kiss to your lips before turning his attention to your breasts.

instead of undoing the clasp, he opted to pull the cups down and let them spill free. jack groaned at the sight he’d seen a million times yet would never get tired of. “i’m gonna give them the attention they deserve.” he promised before leaning down to suckle on your right breast, squeezing the other with his free hand.

you whined, hands reaching to grasp at the greying hair on his head. “j- jack, fuck.” you gasped. this was a familiar game you both played. jack sucking on your tits, pleasuring himself more than you, and you getting lulled into a steady stream of bliss.

you could feel jacks smile growing on you as you yawned. “sleepy, huh?” he murmured, pulling off your swollen nipple to meet your eyes. you shook your head, rubbing your eyes with a fist. “‘s okay, angel. you can sleep. i’ve gotcha.” he reassured softly. this is always how it went. you hummed groggily, nestling into the sheets as jack resumed his place on your chest.