GremlinKat

His body aches, muscles sore from weeks on the battlefield, but the moment he sees you, all his pain vanishes. His white and gold armor rests against the foot of the bed; signs of war have no place in this sanctuary.

You beckon Marcus in the silence of his bedroom, lit only by candles that make the room glow an ethereal hue, while your supple body is wrapped in his cream-colored sheets like a bouquet. Your fingers find his as he climbs into the bed, interlocking like vines along a lattice as he lies beside you. He rests his laurel-crowned head on your lap like a child longing for warmth and compassion.

Marcus gazes up at you, his other half in this forsaken world, his goddess.

"You did well today." You praise, smiling down at him, remembering how regal he looked in the golden diadem as he gave another victorious speech to the crowd.

Marcus hums as you run your fingers around the golden leaves and through his curls. He allows himself to rest in your divine embrace, if only for a moment. Your heavenly harmony soothed his worn, remorseful soul.

"I do it all for you, my Lady." the General purrs, tenderly lifting your hand to kiss your knuckles.

Marcus's white tunic shifts as he rises to his knees and plucks the crown from his head. His curls bounce with the movement before he places the crown atop your own.

You timidly raise your hands, feeling the intricate design and the solid gold leaves as the crown sits heavy on your head, but he looks at you with awe.

"I've never seen such beauty in all my days." Marcus compliments like a man staring at the sunrise for the first time.

You were the shining beacon that kept him sane during the days of war, and he would make sure you knew the effect you had on him.

"My Empress," Marcus gently tugs the sheets, dragging the cotton down your body. He relishes your voluptuous form with a soft groan. "It's been too long since I gazed upon you." The skin at the corner of his eyes crinkles as he trails his gaze from the tips of your toes to your gilded halo.

His hands burn. He flexes them at his sides as he hungers to feel your tenderness, warmth, and compassion. "My goddess."

Your face flames as your lashes flutter to the sheets, overwhelmed by Marcus' adoration. If he only knew that you'd happily drown in the wake of his love.  

A solid finger lifts your chin to meet his sober stare. "Do me the honor of watching me pour my devotion upon you."

A lithe gasp falls from your lips as he drops his hand and lightly cups your breasts. Worn and calloused, the hands of a known killer, though he's always so gentle with you, your nipples pucker as he skims each bud with delicate circles.

Your lips part with a gasp, chasing his hands when he withdraws. He chuckles at your panting breaths. "Do not fret. There is still much time to ravish you."

His mustache tickles your skin as he leans and sucks your left breast into his mouth. Tounging the pert bud, he brings succulent pleasure to the surface and a soft cry from your lips. He massages the right with expertise, kneading and pinching, knowing exactly how much pressure to apply until he has you squirming.

He strives to leave no spot unclaimed. He's a man of his word; nothing can stop him once he's begun. Stone walls and fleets of men wielding swords and canons cannot stop him.

Soft lips trace under the arc of your breasts before moving to your ribs. A mischievous tongue darts out at the curves, tasting the thin layer of salt on your skin.

"I'd sail across the ocean for you." he professes; the timbre of his voice is as deep as the sea.

A barrage of kisses presses to your waist and the softness that you carry. Marcus's stormy beard lightly grazes your skin as he makes his ascent, leaving pebbles in its wake.

"I'd fight my own army to get to you."

Your fingers card through his locks as he settles between your thighs, making room for himself and pushing your legs apart. He hooks them over his broad shoulders with a devilish smirk. A wry tongue licks a straight line from your pulsing opening to the crux of your mound, making you tug his hair with a wanton mewl.

Marcus stills, like a predator, having just sunk its claws into prey, and presses his scarred, aquiline nose into the soft curls that top your mound. His nostrils flare as your heady scent invades his senses. A low growl rumbles from his chest as he lowers his head, watching you from under his lashes. His once enchanted eyes have now become slivers of torrid black as he latches his teeth into your fleshy mound.   

You cry out from the impish bite, hips unconsciously grinding toward your lover as he unlocks his jaw and finally smothers your cunt with his mouth.

Your nerves sizzle from the immoral embrace as his tongue dances over your clit. Nimble fingers trace your sticky petals, dipping in and out of your hole, drawing more blood to fill your already throbbing folds. Your heart beats in time with the pounding of your lower half as Marcus takes his time to worship you.

"Seems my Lady enjoys my touch." He purrs— a slick, shiny grin plastered on his face.

Your body bends, curving sharply like a bow aimed and waiting for the charge. Marcus keeps you primed like the General he strived for ages to become. "Tonight, you will not want," he claims, notching two fingers at the opening of your core.

He holds your fiery stare as he presses into your soaked channel. Your head lolls, and your eyes flutter like butterflies as his thick digits widen your velvet passage.

"Always so good to me." Marcus coos, curiously curling his touch along the hidden ridges deep inside. His cock aches, soaking the sheets with his pearly spend, desperate to be inside you. "Letting me adore and worship as I please."

You want to hold him in your arms and repeat every word he praises back to him in a whisper, but Marcus is a man of his word; tonight is about you and only you.

His shoulders stop your legs from closing as a violent wave of pleasure rolls over you. A wicked laugh rumbles from the man as he suckles your inner thigh. "So close, my Lady. I can feel it." Marcus works his fingers in and out, driving you to the edge, and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

Slick, drenched kisses stain your skin, another sign of his devotion, as your limbs tangle even more with the stoic man. His rough hands easily hold you down as you wriggle in his grip. Your breathing escalates, and blood pulses in your ears as the eager desire to come consumes you.

"Yes, my Love, take what I give you," Marcus begs, thrusting his weeping cock against the bed in time with his fingers, working you higher and higher.

Marcus wraps his lips around your clit, suckling and swirling the tiny bud until you're chanting his name. He tortuously hooks his fingers onto the spot behind your clit, forcing you to swell and explode into a mass of sparkling particles.

The moment your eyes blink open, having floated back down from your glorious high and into the comfort of Marcus' bed, he notches his cock at your creamy opening and thrusts himself to the hilt.

Your jaw drops with a silent cry. It's devastating and empyreal but your body welcomes him home like always.

"Her embrace is so warm and tight. Like how I dreamt on all those lonely nights", Marcus groans, dropping his head to your shoulder.

The image of Marcus touching himself in the darkness of his tent after a day of savagery makes your cunt quiver. The power you hold over this man is not to be taken lightly.

As you become one, your breasts press against his broad, dewy chest as he blankets your smaller frame and pushes you into the mattress with every cant of his hips, driving his length into the deepest depths.

Crescent moons pepper his freckled back as he shows you sights you've never seen, eliciting his name from your lips with a broken, gasping prayer. Your hold tightens around his bouldering shoulders, his thrusts gaining immense strength as the end closes in, shoving you up the bed.

Marcus noses your cheek, drawing your attention from the blissful heaven. "My Love," his hands encompass your face, from chin to temple, so cautiously, like he's holding a newborn. "I've never experienced such wonders than when I am inside you."

He continues to rock you in the safety of his arms and his bed, hurrying his thrusts when your eyes roll and your limbs become stiff. Marcus wants to meet the Gods with you and feel the rapture and glory as they carry you off into the heavens as one.

Marcus growls with bared teeth as he comes; his spine flexes as he spills his seed and fills you to the brim. He doesn't stop thrusting until his come is leaking onto the sheets, and your folds can no longer hold his offering.

You are his temple, and he will worship until the day he falls.

feel free to scream at me -> 💌

“Happy first year down..” Shen smiles as he sets down a dunkin cup on your desk, making you stare on in shock.

“Oh. Shen, you shouldn’t have-“ He waves a hand, interrupting your humbleness.

“Just be grateful. I spent points on you.” He teases as you quickly get up to hug him.

“You’re such a dork. Thank you..” You giggle.

“No hugging on the clock.”

The voice comes from behind you both, but you already know who it is. Pulling away, you give Jack a playful up/down.

“We hug ‘on the clock’..” You point out as you squint your eyes at the older man’s ‘rule’.

“That’s different..” He shrugs as he sets the copies in front of Lena so she can start filing them away.

“How so?!” You chuckle, crossing your arms over your chest and corking your head to the side.

“I’m the one getting a hug.” Jack smirks a bit as if it’s obvious. Shen shakes his head before turning back to you.

“See? You earned the coffee simply for putting up with that for a whole year.” Shen states as he nods towards a now playfully offended looking Jack.

“Aw..” You play along. “It was hard work. I’m so glad I’m being acknowledged for it now..” You smile as you playfully place a hand over your heart, acting as if you’re about to cry.

“Ha ha. You two are so very entertaining.” Jack says sarcastically as you grab your files and your coffee, muttering another soft thank you to Shen before you slip away to do your rounds.

Being a resident on the night shift was only doable when you had coworkers like Shen.

Well, it also helped when you had Jack on your side too. And as if sensing his residency in your mind, the 50-year old attending makes himself known beside you.

Innocently, he stays in step with you until you feel him nudge you ever so slightly, making you turn down an empty hallway before you can fully comprehend the change in direction.

Hands find your waist, pulling you close and making you laugh giddily before you can help yourself. Mostly, you’re just pleasantly shocked. How the hell Jack manages to act like you’re in high school, you’ll never know.

Some may say having a secret love affair with your attending is a ‘bad thing’. Hell, even one of your friends proclaimed you were just living a real life episode of Grey’s Anatomy..

But, this was way more than some dirty, little, collection of rendezvous. Jack and you were actually dating.

You were just.. Taking things slow..

You two actually started dating after your first day here at the Pitt.

Fourth of July.

It was hot and muggy and you wanted to have a minute to yourself in a private hospital room. When you walked in though, you found Jack already trying to settle himself.

He halfheartedly attempted making a joke about the irony of Fourth of July being a terrible day for veterans, but you saw right through his act. You instead sat next to him and held his hand until the sounds of fireworks faded enough for him to settle.

After shift, he offered you breakfast as a thank you. And that friendship very quickly turned into.. Well, this.

“Happy one year, bunny..” He says tenderly as he watches you with soft eyes that shine with pride. It makes you blush.

“Oh, so you do remember..” You tease quietly as you let him hold you close, leaning somewhat against him even with your hands full.

“I remembered. Just trying to surprise you with something later..” Jack defends assuringly with a shrug.

You bite your lip.

A part of you genuinely thought Jack had forgotten. But how the hell could he forget your anniversary as a resident when tomorrow is the anniversary of this relationship?!

“I told you it’d go by fast though, didn’t I?” He continues, looking down at you as his one hand reaches up to move your hair away from your face more. Jack was just attentive to detail like that..

“You’ve been kicking ass at this, bunny. I knew you’d make it a year. And you’re gonna have many, many more ahead of you..” He compliments gently as you bashfully look elsewhere.

“Here’s hoping..” You say gently before looking back up at him.

“Happy almost one year, Fox..” You finally say back, making him smirk. He lazily pecks your lips, humming to savor the flavor of your lipgloss.

“Tonight’s not about me. It’s about you. We’ll celebrate us tomorrow night. Tonight… I’m waiting for a good moment to give you your surprise.” Jack explains gently as you quietly try to fuss with him about surprises.

Jack always did too much with romantic gestures. He was real old school in that way. You could never get used to it..

“Hey. Big occasion. I’m allowed, that was the deal..” Jack smirks as you playfully groan, remembering.

“Fine. You get to be all cheesy and romantic tonight.” You mutter jokingly, as if it’s so dreadful.

“And tomorrow night.” Jack brags, making you laugh. You sweetly kiss him before pulling away, reminding him about the rounds you still need to make. You had one patient that was still unconscious, after all..

Jack lets you slip away, sighing in content to himself before he gets himself busy as well..

You do your rounds of all the 7 patients you have.

Some here because they’re sick, some because of accidents, and one because of drunkenly slipping outside of a bar earlier in the night. Still out cold and 12 stitches had to be given.

Walking into the man’s room, you silently work on charting and realize one of the pads is misplaced. With a heavy sigh, you set down your iPad and coffee before you move closer to the man as he lays soundly in the bed. You gently tug at his hospital gown so you can check the tags and it’s that moment that he begins to stir.

“Wha…” The man slurs a bit.

“Oh. Hi, Mr. Westley?” You ask, only knowing his name from the ID you’d taken from his wallet when he was being admitted.

“What the fuck?!” The man snaps, instantly pushing at you a bit. Your eyes widen, thrown off by the sudden aggression.

“Oh! Uh.. M-Mr. Westley, please relax, I can explain everything.” You try, heart racing. You’ve had patients wake up disoriented before, sure. Some even wake up terrified. But you’ve never dealt with anger.

“Fucking bitch. Where’s my fucking… Fucking..” He angrily rambles as he sits up more to fight with the cords all around him. You step closer without thinking, just wanting him to relax for a second. Your hands hover close to him.

“Don’t pull on those. I can help you take them off if-“

It all happens so fast.

Too fast.

It’s actually embarrassing how quickly he’s able to grab you by your neck and put you in a headlock. Your hands instantly go to his forearm, whining because that’s the only sound you can let out as you try and tug and claw at his arm.

Fuck.

Fuck, you’re in here all alone. Fuck, your iPad is on a chair that’s nowhere in arm’s length, and fuck, you don’t know when someone is going to notice you’re gone.

“Yeah. That’s right. Fight back..” The man growls lowly, making your stomach lurch. You could throw up in this moment if it wasn’t for the panic making your throat close. Tears flood your vision and you let out a broken sob before you can stop yourself.

You remember learning that some men really like fear in women. That no matter what they’re doing, it’s only because they want that reaction. And it’s best to not give in. It makes you feel worse now though. To know that you’re giving him exactly what he wants.

But you know the fear isn’t over if he does manage to knock you out. Because then what would be next.

That thought only makes you cry more..

“Get off of her!”

The voice is like a godsend in this moment you’ve got such a head rush that you don’t even know who it belongs to.

The grip around your neck is loosened enough for you to fall back and hit the floor flat on your butt because of the force and pressure. You cough wildly, grabbing at your neck and jaw. Both feel sore already.

“She stole from me!” The man slurs back as hands try to grab at you and you fight against them.

“Don’t touch me!” You snap out in a rasp, saying the words that had been burning in your mouth since this attack first started.

Shen steps back from you and Lena instantly yells for security as the man continues to proclaim you stole his watch. A watch you don’t even recall him coming in with.

“Hula Hoop! I repeat, Hula Hoop!” Lena shouts as three security guards run inside the room. Lena moves now to grab you. This time, you take the help..

You don’t know where you’re being led to until you’re being told to sit down on a hospital bed. It only adds to your embarrassment..

“Only women..”

You hear Lena saying it but you don’t look up to see who she’s saying it to.

Ellis and Vivi are by your side instantly.

“Shit. Y/N, hey. Look at me..” Vivi says quietly as she tries to get your attention. You two are already close as is given your ages and common interests, but you can’t bring yourself to look her in the eyes.

“Hey. Y/N, you… You did nothing wrong..” Vivi continues softly as you finally look at her, softly breaking down. She moves to hug you carefully as Lena looks away but rubs your back.

You shake a bit as it all starts to sink in. And one thing becomes extremely clear in your mind. “Don’t tell Jack..” You whimper to Lena.

He’d go to jail tonight if he knew…

*

*

*

“And you didn’t provoke him in any way?”

You slowly look up at the police officer as he stares at his notepad, not glancing at you until he realizes you aren’t answering his question. His partner raises an eyebrow at the tense silence.

“Ma’am?” His partner asks, thinking you just hadn’t heard him.

“I’m just gonna let you sit with that question..” You finally whispers, voice hoarse from both the attack and the crying done before the police got here. Both officers shift a bit as if not understanding what’s so hard about answering it, but Lena is quick to step in.

“Is that all?” She bluntly asks. “Because there’s sure a lot of questions that need to be asked to someone who’s a medical professional and attacked while providing a service..” She states.

“Standard protocol.” The officer argues back, letting the annoyance show on his face now. Vivi had yet to leave your side, rolling her eyes at the officers too just as Jack comes storming down the hallway towards the hallway bed.

“Shit.” You whisper as you try to reach up to cover your neck.

“Y/N..” He calls as he reaches you. “What happened? Are you okay?” He asks firmly as he pushes past the cops without a care, standing right in front of you. You try looking away, but he tenderly touches your jaw. His face hardens as the bruise he sees.

“Fuck. Bunny…” He whispers, making Lena and ViVi share a look. It was teased a lot on the ED floor, but… Actual confirmation wasn’t going to be celebrated tonight..

Jack turns to the cops. “You’re gonna arrest him, right? Why is he still here and not in cuffs?” He asks, voice tense and authoritative.

“We plan on taking him in after his care is done.” The other officer assures with a slight hand raise as if it’s no big deal. Jack’s eyes darken.

“He got his stitches. His care is done.” He says lowly, as if that’s a warning.

“Not according to him. He says he’s still in need of medical care.” The other officer shrugs and Jack watches both cops before he slowly nods.

“Ask him again. I think he changed his mind..” Jack says calmly. Both cops pause before excusing themselves.

“He did?” Lena asks.

“Well, when it’s between jail or being forced into a 48 hour psych hold… You tend to want the safer choice, right?” Jack mutters, letting it be clear that he made sure Mr. Westley would rather jail than to be stuck here with Jack as his primary care.

“Jack. You threatened a patient?” You whisper.

“He’s lucky I didn’t rip the stitches from his head..” Jack says shortly before gently checking on you again. You try to whisper you’re fine and Lena finally gives a look to ViVi.

“Let’s… Give them some privacy..” Lena says. The two women leave, closing the privacy curtain behind them.

Maybe it’s the fact that his hands are cradling your face like he needs the assurance that you’re still here. Maybe it’s the hospital being shut out behind that curtain. Maybe it’s the fact that deep down all you wanted when the attack was happening was Jack. Whatever the reason, you softly begin to cry again.

“I’m here. I’m so fucking sorry, bunny. I’m here…” He whispers lowly as he presses his lips firmly to your forehead, just leaving his lips there as you grip his shirt to hold him close. He stands in front of you, between your legs to get as close to you as possible.

“I feel so stupid…” You manage to sob out.

“No…” He whispers against your skin, eyes closing as if in pain from hearing your cry. His hands stay on your face though, his nose nuzzling into your hair as you whine nonsense. You’re just ranting and rambling at this point. You don’t even know half the things you’re saying, but you know it feels good to let it all out.

“You didn’t do this. You were doing your job, you were helping. He’s the monster here, Y/N. Not you. He’s the fucking idiot here, Y/N. Not you. Do you understand me?” Jack whispers as you sniffle more while moving to hug him tight like a teddy bear.

Your head goes to the cork of his neck as your hands nervously knead his shirt. He rubs your back comfortingly as he kisses anywhere his lips can reach. Temple, cheek, ear..

“I wanna get you home..” Jack whispers close to your ear after a moment. “Hm? Home?” He offers quietly. “Bed? Bath?” He tries to sell it to you, making you hesitate.

“My shift-“ He cuts you off.

“Fuck the shift. You need rest. I already called in a favor, we’re covered. Hm? Come on…” He whispers as he gently tugs at you to get you off the hospital bed. You sheepishly agree the second your feet touch the ground…

*

*

*

It’s a last minute choice in the cab to go to Jack’s place instead of yours. You always loved his bed a little bit more. The sheets were soft and warm and always smelled like him. So even when he would slip out of bed early in the mornings, that and his black out shades would never wake you.

You slowly step out of his bathroom in a t-shirt of his and some boxers that you could use as shorts. You dry your hair with the towel as you see Jack already setting his leg aside for the night.

That’s not what slows your movements.

It’s the white bakery box on the bed and the two forks on top of it.

“Even if this put a damper on my original plan, you still deserve a surprise..” Jack says softly, as if reading your mind. You slowly set the towel down and walk over to the bed.

“How did you…” You trail off.

“Ran out while you were showering found this at a bakery about to close..” He exposing gently. You get into bed and then carefully uncover the box.

It’s a small, personal, heart shaped cake with the words ‘One year down, forever to go!’ on the front of it. You smile tearfully and turn to face Jack. He cups your face with one hand, stroking your cheek.

“I love you..” He says firmly and shamelessly, looking you directly in the eyes so you know he means those words with his whole chest. “And I am so fucking proud of you..” He continues quietly.

You pout a bit. Not out of sadness, but.. Gratefulness. “I love you..” You sniffle back before kissing him certainly. You pull back slightly when he playfully offers you a fork so you can have the first bite of the cake. You smile shyly as you grab the fork, both of you settling in for cake and movies in bed..

“God, I love this man..”

Those words leave Y/N’s mouth effortlessly as she grabs the candy bar that was left on her desk. She already knew who it was from. She didn’t have to read the dorky post it note that was attached to it. The confession stuns even her for a split second.

This was her first time saying it out loud.

It’s followed by a giddy giggle as Mel gets bashful for her. She couldn’t help it though. She was falling for the Jack Abbot. The man who’s been a constant by her side since she started working at the Pitt almost a year or so ago. He’s been her number one supporter on good days and her rock on bad ones.

“You’re so happy.” Mel notes with a big smile as if Y/N’s good mood was contagious. It makes her laugh a bit more.

“My boyfriend is literally perfect, Mel. Of course I’m happy…” Y/N smiles wide, holding the candy bar closer to her chest. Both women fail to notice the older attending hovering around the corner, though.

Jack had been waiting as patiently as he could for Mel to walk away so he could check in on Y/N. She’d had a terrible morning. Hence the candy he’d set for her on her desk. But hearing the word ‘boyfriend’ had done something to his chest. Maybe it had broken his rose colored glasses.

Maybe it had woken him up.

He slowly backs away as it sinks in. Of course. Of course a beautiful girl like Y/N would be taken. He rubs his hands along his cargo pants as he instantly tries to busy himself. He should’ve known that this long game he was playing would only end badly.

He didn’t know when it started. He likes to believe the moment he met Y/N, he started to woo her. But, honestly, he had seen Y/N as a mentee. Someone with a passion for saving people that he respected.

Jack loved a capable woman.

And the day he watched her practically get on top of a plus sized patient so she could have the leverage to give CPR as paramedics rushed the gurney down the hallway? He knew he had to buy her dinner.

Maybe that’s when the view changed? He couldn’t pinpoint it. One day, though, he just looked at her and thought to himself.. ‘huh. Have her eyes always been that deep?’

And he’d been falling in them ever since..

But here he is now. Embarrassed and fidgeting with his stethoscope out of an overwhelming gut feeling of aimlessness. He felt dumb to say the least.

But why feel anything else? What should he feel instead?

Surprised? He’s 50! Obviously getting the girl wasn’t for someone of his age.

What about anger? For all the late night breaks spent on the roof or at the park across the way? For all the deep conversations that an attending and nurse could not platonically have because they’re so intimate in nature, especially if the nurse has a boyfriend! But maybe Y/N was just a naturally open person. Maybe those details he had learned about her weren’t special in nature because everyone knew them. Maybe he imagined the comfortable silence and hand brushing. The resting her head on his shoulder were just habits of hers that she’d do with anyone.

Should he feel concerned? Confused? A boyfriend and yet she’d grab breakfast with him after almost every shift? A boyfriend, but she’d hold his hand as they walk through the farmer’s market on Sunday because she wanted him to explore new aspects of Pittsburgh. There’s a boyfriend in her life, and just earlier this afternoon they’d shared a hospital bed to nap in together for their night shift!

Jack wants to laugh in disbelief. Some girlfriend Y/N was! If he was said boyfriend, he would’ve been down here the first time he heard his girlfriend had gone out to grab a slice at 1am with her attending. Just to make sure the guy knows she’s taken. Maybe they weren’t that kind of couple though. Hell, maybe it was that old school mindset that Jack had that solidified him just not being Y/N’s type.

Jack busies himself by checking the supplies in empty hospital rooms. Refilling what’s needed. It’s tedious, sure, but also just enough to keep his mind on something else and stop his racing thoughts from suffocating his heart..

“Hey..” He hears from behind him, and slows his movements only a bit but stays with his back turned. Looking at her would only make him break.. And he was way too old to be this heartbroken..

Y/N pauses at the tension she clearly sees on Jack’s shoulders. She frowns slightly. “You okay? Is it the supplies?” She tries to joke as she moves closer. “Do you need a stocking buddy?” She teases as she moves to stand next to him. Usually, her teasing would be met with a joke of his own. A sly comment with a soft smirk.

But the minute Y/N’s hand brushed against Jack’s, he drops the glove box he’d been wrestling with and just walks out of the room. Leaving Y/N stunned…

What the hell was that?!

*

*

*

That wasn’t Jack. This wasn’t Jack.

And Y/N was beginning to worry.

For a man who had once told her, ‘you’re the Pitt nurse, sure, but you’re my nurse first’, he was surely enjoying calling for Mateo to follow him on cases tonight..

Y/N stands at the nurse’s station, racking through her brain to think about this. What the hell had she done? What had she said? Why couldn’t he look her in the eyes tonight? Why would he vacate any room she walked into like she’s the plague?

“I’m off..” She hears from behind her and turns to wave bye to Mel who’d been pulling extra hours now that she had no responsibilities towards her sister. That’s when it hit her.

Oh god.

Maybe she had messed up!

Telling Mel! She’d told Mel! She hadn’t used any names, sure, but maybe it was obvious. Maybe Jack wanted to keep this private. He was a very open book at work, though. Hell, Y/N found out the majority of her facts on Jack because of Robby!

That was his work husband through and through..

But maybe this, maybe they, were supposed to stay a secret. Something just for them. And telling Mel had upset Jack. She gets a thought that makes her heart drop..

Maybe it had showed him her immaturity.

She needed to find him…

*

*

*

The sun was just starting to peek up from the city line as Jack leaned against the railing. He needed the fresh air to clear his mind. The night had dragged on and today was a new day. A day to fully sit with this somber acceptance. Y/N wasn’t his. And she never would be..

The roof top door squeaks open and Jack doesn’t turn to see who has entered, assuming it to be Robby. If it was, he’d try and convince the older man to just sit here with him for a moment or so. He could use the silent company. But a voice breaks out of the silence.

“I knew I’d find you here..”

Jack cringes slightly. He sighs at the flutter in his heart. Her voice does that to him. Even now, knowing everything. He hates it.

“Just about to leave.” He says, voice gruff as he goes to grab his bookbag that’s on the gravel ground by his feet. He picks it up and swiftly moves over the railing. Y/N is quick to get in his way.

“Jack. Please. I can explain..” She whispers, finally dropping any casual front. She knew they had something to discuss..

“There’s nothing to explain, Y/N. I’m just your attending..” Jack says shortly, averting his eyes so he doesn’t have to see her heart break from his words.

“Jack..” She whispers, as if in shock that he’d even say that. He moves to walk past her, but he can’t stop himself anymore. They did have something to discuss…

“No.” He says, turning back around to face her. “You know what really sucks? Is the fact that you couldn’t just tell me.” He states.

“I didn’t think it was important!” Y/N quickly says back, shaking her head as if beside herself in this moment.

“You didn’t think…” Jack laughs humorlessly. A short sound that’s cut off by his hand coming up to rub his mouth in disbelief.

“We spend every night, every morning, every day off together, and you didn’t think it was important?” He continues with a heavy sigh of disbelief and anger.

Y/N shakes her head, arms coming up to hold herself. It’s her turn to breathe shakily in frustration. “I’m sorry that you wanted me kept a secret! I didn’t know you were so ashamed of being with me!”

Jack pauses. “What?” He whispers in disbelief. “What?!” He repeats as if at a loss. “I.. You know what I’m ashamed of, Y/N? Being the other man!”

“What?!” Y/N practically shrieks in shock. That sound stuns the older man for a brief moment. Long enough for her to continue.

“Jack. There is no other man. It’s just you!” She says fast.

“I…” He blinks a bit before shaking his head. No. No, he’d heard her clear as day. “You’re gonna lie? I heard you. Talking about your boyfriend..”

“Are you… Is this a senior moment?!” Y/N loudly proclaims in actual astonishment.

“Hey..” Jack warns.

“You’re my boyfriend, you big dummy! I was talking about you!” She shouts. What the hell wasn’t he getting right now?!

There’s a beat of silence the falls between the two. As if they’ve just now realized how different their viewpoints had been.

“I… I am?” Jack asks slowly now, turning pale with shock. Only then does the anger in Y/N’s body melt away, replaced with surprise. But it’s mixed with something else. Something bitter.

Mortified humiliation.

“A-Are you..?” She asks back before covering her mouth. Had she just assumed all those outings were dates? All those moments alone, all those afternoon naps at work? It was all just friendly?!

“Oh my god, you must think I’m a kid..” She whispers, horrified as Jack lets it all fully sink in. Y/N turns away, hand on her forehead as she wishes for the ground to just swallow her whole. Jack looks at her. Really looks at her, and he can’t help but start to chuckle.

“It’s not funny!” Y/N whines, tears in her eyes as Jack walks over.

“I’m not laughing at you. I.. Come here..” He whispers as he pulls her in. As much as she wants to run, she knows his arms around her will feel so much better…

He holds her close as he rests his chin on the top of her head, arms on her shoulders while she grips his waist. “I… I’m so so sorry..” He says finally before pulling back to look at her.

They both take a moment to actually look at each other and softly begin to laugh. What the hell was this?!

“You must think I’m some dumb school girl.” Y/N groans as Jack smiles softly, muttering assurances that he doesn’t, but she keeps talking. “I.. I thought we.. We’d go out, you’d buy me flowers..” She tries to defend her thought process, but her voice comes out sheepish.

“I was… I was playing the long game..” Jack admits bashfully.

“Long game?!” Y/N asks in a flabbergasted tone.

“Yeah! You know… When a guy likes a girl, so he.. He woos her! To show he’s a good candidate!” Jack defends. Y/N actually eyes him as it clicks.

“Oh my god..” She mumbles as she remembers. Right! He’s 50! Of course he’d think dating is still some big show and dance where the guy has to pull out all the stops before he can even get the girl to be his girlfriend.

“That was all just you being chivalrous?!” Y/N stomps a foot.

“I thought it’d work!” Jack says right back. In his defense, he hasn’t been in the dating game in almost ten or so years..

“Well it did! I thought we were dating already!” Y/N groans as she face palms. Jack chuckles quietly.

“We never kissed..” He points out after a moment. Y/N sheepishly shrugs.

“I thought you were just building up to it..” She defends quietly as he softly laughs and shakes his head.

The two stand on the roof, the early morning sun shining on them as they find comfort in each other’s arms. Slowly, Y/N looks up from her playful tugging at the hem of his scrubs.

“So..” She mumbles. “What are we now?” She asks finally, voice soft and slightly lighthearted. Jack looks at her before leaning in, catching her lips in a tender kiss with his hands cradling her chin and jaw. The kiss makes Y/N’s head spin. It’s exactly how she’d imagined it. The coffee taste and all..

When they finally pull away, Y/N smiles wide against his lips. “Okay..” She mumbles, nodding only slightly as if agreeing to his silent proposal. The two slowly head for the roof door now, with all that settled. But Jack can’t stop himself as they get into the stairwell.

“So. How long have we been dating?” Jack asks curiously.

“Shut up…” Y/N laughs, still embarrassed as she lightly swats at his shoulder.

“What? I need to know if I gotta plan for an anniversary!” Jack teases further as she playfully shoves him before squealing when he goes to grab her waist, playfully running from him and down the stairs as he chases her..