miss world

The florescent lights of The Pitt burn behind your closed eyelids, a dull, buzzing reminder that the night shift lull has finally arrived. There’s still the soft shuffle of nurses adjusting IV lines, the low murmur of doctors discussing treatment plans and the restless shifting of patients trying to get comfortable in the hospital beds.

You’re perched at a computer attempting to catch up on charting. Your chin rests in your palm, elbow propped on the desk as the swivel chair rocks lazily back and forth. Your black scrubs shift uncomfortably over your rounding stomach, the fabric tugging every time you shift.

Lost in the fog of fatigue, you miss the way Jack’s eyes instantly dart in your direction after he steps out of North 4. He spots the slump of your shoulders, the way your free hand absently rubs slow circles over your bump.

You startle when warm hands settle on your shoulders but the tension melts away quickly under the familiar weight of his touch.

“How are my girls?” Jack murmurs, voice honeyed and low as his thumbs brush gently along the tight muscles at the base of your neck.

You tilt your head to meet his gaze. “We’re fine”

“Just fine?” The corners of his lips curve up into that knowing smile that makes your chest loosen.

“Tired .. and really craving pickles- and ice cream”

He huffs a quiet laugh. “That’s my girl”

A yawn slips out before you can stop it, your hand drifts to your bump again, thumb tracing the curve of it. The jewelled wedding rings on the chain around your neck glints in the harsh lights.

“Only a few more hours Angel” Jack murmurs and presses a kiss to your temple, which you lean into.

Jack pulls another chair beside you and sits, one hand resting on your shoulder and the other sliding to cover your hand resting on your bump.

“She’s been kicking?” He asks softly.

“Like she’s training for the Olympics” You guide his hand a little lower. “Here”

On cue, a sharp thump presses against his palm. Jack’s face softens in quiet awe and tenderness.

“There she is” He murmurs. “Showing off already”

“She gets that from you”

“That stubbornness is all you honey” He snorts.

You open one eye. “Excuse me?”

Jack lifts both hands in surrender, grin widening. “I’m just saying, you’re the only person I know who can work a double at seven months pregnant”

You roll your eyes playfully as he leans in closer, pressing another kiss to your hair. “Angel, you need to take a break”

“I’m sitting” You protest weakly.

“Sitting isn’t resting” Jack counters, thumb stroking your shoulder. “Come on, just take ten minutes, I’ll walk you to the on call room”

You hesitate, torn between responsibility and the ache in your lower back.

He threads his fingers through yours and gently tugs you up from the chair. Your joints protest, your lower back twinges, and your bump shifts heavily beneath your scrubs. But the moment you’re upright, Jack’s hand slides to the small of your back, steadying you like he’s done a thousand times.

“Easy,” he murmurs, voice low enough that only you can hear. “I’ve got you.”

The Pitt is quiet enough that your footsteps echo softly as he guides you down the hallway. Nurses glance up, clock the way Jack is half‑supporting you, and immediately look away again. Not out of disinterest, but out of respect.

Everyone knows better than to comment when Dr. Angel is being shepherded somewhere by her husband.

You pass Shen and Ellis at the desk. They straighten like schoolchildren caught misbehaving by their teachers.

“Everything okay, Dr. Angel?” Shen asks, eyes wide.

Jack answers before you can. “She’s taking a break.”

You shrug slightly at the two of them as Jack keeps walking with you.

You lean into him a little more than you mean to, his arm tightens around your waist.

“You’re gonna overdo it,” Jack says softly.

“I’m pregnant, not fragile.”

“You’re pregnant and stubborn,” He corrects as he opens the on‑call room door with his shoulder. “Which is a dangerous combination.”

The room is dim, quiet and blessedly still. Jack flicks on the small lamp by the bed, bathing the space in warm yellow light instead of the harsh fluorescents outside.

He turns you, hands already at your hips.

“Sit,” he says gently. You do, your legs are grateful for the reprieve.

Jack kneels in front of you and starts untying your shoes. You blink down at him.

“Jack, I can-”

“You can,” He agrees, slipping off your shoes. “But you don’t have to.”

He helps you swing your legs up onto the bed, adjusts the pillow behind your back, and pulls the blanket over your lap. Jack’s hand lingers on your bump, thumb brushing back and fourth.

Your eyes fluttering shut as he sits beside you, one hand resting protectively over your stomach, the other stroking your hair back from your face. “Just ten minutes”

“Ten minutes,” he whispers. “Just breathe, I’ll wake you … I promise”

You’re already half asleep, sinking into the warmth of him, the quiet hum of the room, the steady rhythm of his breathing.

“Jack?” you mumble.

“Mhm?”

“Thank you.”

He leans down, brushing a kiss to your forehead and then your lips.

“Always, Angel.”

And for the first time all shift, your body finally lets go and you fall into a much needed slumber.

You’re halfway through charting when your mind drifts again, back to the same knot in your stomach that hasn’t loosened in days.

Why hasn’t he told Jake?

Why does he keep avoiding it?

Does he not think this is serious?

You’d asked him a couple times over the last few months, each time Robby had sidestepped it like he was avoiding a live wire.

Jake wasn’t just some kid, he was Robby’s stepson from a long, serious relationship that ended years ago. Robby still calls Jake ‘his kid’, always showing up for him and still worries about him like he’s his own.

So why keep you a secret?

A hand snaps sharply in front of your face.

“Peach- helloooo, did you hear anything I just said?”

You blink up, Jake is stood to your side with a cheeky grin on his face.

“Jake- hey, hi!” You stand quickly, pulling him into a hug. “How’ve you been kiddo?”

He squeezes you back. “Better than you clearly, you were staring into space back there”

You laugh but it’s thin. “Long shift, I guess”

Jake hops up to sit on the edge of the nurse’s desk, swinging his legs the same way he did when he was twelve. “Long shift doesn’t make you look like someone stole your lunch. And didn’t you only start 3 hours ago?”

You open your mouth to deflect but Jake’s eyes narrow.

“You’re acting weird” he tilts his head slightly “Like, weird-weird”

“No I’m not” Your voice jumps a pitch higher which confirms you absolutely are.

“Uh-huh, sure” He doesn’t buy it but lets it go and launches into a story about his new girlfriend, Leah.

He’s mid sentence, when his expression shifts and his eyes flit over your shoulder.

You don’t even have to turn to know it’s Robby, his footsteps are heavy and fast. Robby rounds the corner and stops in his path when his eyes land on you and Jake.

Something subtle shifts in Robby’s expression as you look back over your shoulder, a mix of vulnerability and something else.

Jake catches it instantly. “Huh”

Before Robby can approach, you’re already slipping away so fast it’s almost comical. “I should probably check on my patient”

“What the hell was that about?” Jake asks as Robby approaches.

Robby shoves his hands in his pockets trying to stay nonchalant. “Beats me”

You throw yourself into your patients, you take the long route to every room, suddenly needing to double check vitals, you even pretend to reorganise the suture cart.

You’re subtle but not subtle enough, Jake notices as you beeline past them, he also watches Robby pretend not to watch you.

At one point you’re heading back to chart, only to see the two of them talking. Jake waves enthusiastically but you panic and duck into another patient’s room.

You close the door behind you and sigh softly.

“Can we help you, Peach?” You jump at Santos’ voice, you spin around to see her, Whittaker and Perlah hovering around a patient.

“Trinity! Hey, yes, I’m just … checking in, would you please present your case to me?” You splutter.

Santos raises her brow but indulges you anyway.

Jake stares at the closed door, then back at Robby. “What is going on with her?”

Robby mutters something you being busy before walking further into the ER to try and avoid his questions. Jake turns to Dana who can only offer him a shrug.

You slip out of the bathroom you’ve been hiding in for the last 5 minutes thinking you’re finally in the clear. “Peach”

You freeze at Jake’s voice and unimpressed expression. “You’ve been avoiding me and Robby for the last hour”

“I’m a doctor, I’ve been busy” You weakly counter.

“And I’m the President”

Before you can respond, Robby appears behind Jake with his eyes locked on you.

“Okay enough of this, what is going on?”

You and Robby exchange a look, the kind of look that says ‘we’ve been caught’ but neither of you speak up.

Jake folds his arms as he stares the two of you down for few seconds that feel like years.

“Holy shit- are you two together?!”

Your eyes widen, your mouth opens but no words come out. Robby inhales sharply.

Jake’s jaw drops and he points between the two of you. “You’re actually dating?!”

You wince at the looks you receive from the staff around you at his volume, Robby quickly steers the both of you into a quieter corridor.

“How long?”

Robby answers quietly. “A few months”

“A few months!” Jake repeats incredulously. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“I didn’t want to make it weird for you or for Peach”

Jake looks back at you. “You’ve avoided us because you thought he didn’t want me to know?”

Embarrassed, you nod and begin to ramble. “I just didn’t want to freak you out or for you to hate me- or even worse to hate Michael, or-”

“Michael?” Jake interrupts you with a barely contained smirk. “This must be serious if you’re calling him by his first name”

Robby begins to chuckle, a soft, relived sound as the tension eases out of his shoulders.

The pit in your stomach finally loosens for the first time in weeks.

“You two are ridiculous but I’m happy for you, both of you” Jake shakes his head, smiling.

You exhale shakily as Robby’s hand brushes yours.

Jake just grins before speaking again. “We still on for Saturday?”

“You know it, kid”

“Great. Peach why don’t you come with us?”

“Really?” You ask, startled by the invite. “I mean yes- I’d love that Jake”

You wrap your arms around his shoulders, murmuring a soft thank you before stepping back. Jake heads towards the ambulance bay, Robby ruffling his hair on the way out.

When the doors slide closed behind him, a warm hand slips around your waist. Robby pulls you closer to his side, rubbing a circle into your side.

“I’m sorry for not telling him sooner” He murmurs into your hair. “I just … I really don’t want to mess this up Peach”

You turn into him, forehead bumping against his shoulder, whispering. “You’re not messing anything up but you scared me a little.”

His arm tightens around you. “I know, and I hate that I did” Robby presses a kiss to your temple. “I wasn’t hiding you … I just want to protect this, protect us”

Robby pulls back just enough to see your face, his brown eyes soft in a way only you get to see. “You’re important to me, you and Jake are the two people I care about most”

“I just wanted to get it right” He whispers.

You smile. “You did”

“Good because I’m definitely not going anywhere”

Robby leans down to kiss you and you meet him halfway, it’s more of a peck given that you’re in the middle of the ER but it grounds the two of you in the moment.

When he pulls back he’s smiling, the first one you’ve seen all shift. “Come on, let’s get this shift over with so I can get you home as soon as possible Peach”

“That sounds good with me Michael” You pat his chest gently before heading back to assist your patients.

As you walk to South 12, you look over your shoulder to still see Robby watching you, and for the first time in weeks your chest feels lighter.

You wake with a sharp, involuntary gasp, Rocky jerks upright, his limbs flailing as he scrambles closer to the wall. He always took the job of watching you and Ryland sleep with absolute seriousness.

“Sparky awake! Sparky okay question?”

Your chest heaves slightly. “Yeah- yeah I’m fine Rock .. just a bad dream”

“Don’t understand word” Rocky tilts his head.

“lt’s like-“ You rub your eyes sleepily, trying to find the right translation “A movie made up by your brain whilst we sleep. Most dreams are good, sometimes they’re scary”

Rocky hums lowly “You and Grace having a bad dream, question?”

“He isn’t right now, but he will, all humans do.” You pull your knees to your chest, sitting opposite him. “Eridians don’t dream?”

Rocky launches into the Eridian sleep cycle, proudly explaining communal sleep and the absence of imagery. You listen but your attention drifts over your shoulder.

Ryland is still sprawled across his bunk, mouth parted and snores echoing the room. He’s completely unaware of the nightmare you’ve just escaped, he’s completely unaware of the nightmare that landed him on the Project Hail Mary.

You rise quietly and tug the blanket back over him before it slips to the floor. The overwhelming guilt hits you like a pressure wave.

Ryland doesn’t remember being forced onto the ship- the chase, the sedation, the panic, his choice being taken away.

Your mind yanks you back to launch day, the sterile smell and hum of machinery overloading your senses, dread sitting like a stone in your stomach.

Ryland is unconscious beside you, his face peaceful despite the circumstances how he ended up on the ship with your crew.

“Good luck” Eva Stratt’s clipped voice sounds from the other side of you. You take in her tight posture, the hands clasped infront of her as her gaze fixes on Ryland. “It was the only way”

You never quite knew whether she was reassuring you or herself.

“Sparky no listen!” Rocky’s snaps sassily, pulling you back to reality.

“I am listening!” You whisper sharply. “You’re going to wake Grace!”

With a blanket slung over your arm, you begin to ascend ladder into the main hull.

“Where Sparky going, question?”

“Just to the hull Rock, just watch Grace okay? He’s still sleeping”

Rocky makes an unimpressed noise but stays put.

The winding corridors feel endless as you carry on until you reach the window looking out at the stars. That window alone holding the power to make you feel painfully small and insignificant in comparison to the surrounding universe.

You pray that Rocky can’t hear your sniffles as you press your palms against your eyes. “Fuck”

Shifting back on the circular, cushioned ledge you turn to your side to face the window. The stray tears are followed by muffled sobs as you remember your nightmare.

Yáo and Ilyukhina are still dead in their beds, hollow eyes and skin cold to the touch. Voices from Earth distorted, twisted and accusing. The crushing knowledge that the entire planet is relying on you and Ryland. The existential dread that you were going to die on this ship with a million unanswered questions, and the terror of never knowing if the people you love would survive back home.

You don’t remember falling asleep again, you only register the soft voice when it pulls you back.

“Sparky?”

You hum and roll over, Ryland’s face swims into view, his hair is mussed and sticking up all over, concern etched into the lines of his face.

“You good? Rocky said he heard sounds coming from you”

“I’m fine, I’m okay” You lie, rubbing your most likely bloodshot eyes.

He leans against the wall, one hand hovering awkwardly over you before he lowers it, unsure of whether to physically comfort you.

His eyes flick to the rear tracks drying on your cheeks. “Nightmare?” He sits down beside you, your knees knocking his side gently.

“Yeah” You swallow.

He hums slightly “You wanna- you wanna talk about it?”

You shake your head, refusing to meet his gaze. “It’s stupid”

“It’s not stupid” He catches your eyes in the reflection of the window.

Tears prick in your eyes at his kindness. “It’s just .. everything, this whole mission, Yáo, Ilyukhina, Earth”

Ryland tilts his head. “It’s a lot for one brain to carry”

“Yeah, well .. welcome to my life” You huff humourlessly.

He studies you for a long moment before speaking quietly. “You don’t have to pretend you’re okay .. it’s just me and you Sparky”

“You’ve been carrying this mission on your back since before we even launched .. we’re trying to save billions of people”

“I just keep thinking of everyone back home depending on us .. what if we fail?” Your fingers trace nervously up and down your legs.

“We won’t”

“You don’t know that-”

“No but I know you, and that you’ll do anything in your power to save the world .. you’re a hero Sparky”

Tears flush your eyes as you lean forward and wrap your arms around him. A “Thank you” is muffled into his shoulder.

Ryland stills for a few seconds, his hands awkwardly hovering before landing on your back, patting it gently.

You’re practically in his lap as you tighten your arms around him, craving the touch since having woke up from the induced coma.

“What Grace Sparky doing?” Rocky’s automated voice chimes out from the bottom of the hallway. “Ugh! Is this human mating? Gross, gross, gross!”

You chuckle, hiding your face in your hands and falling back onto the window seat, Ryland doing the same.

You turn back to face the stars, Ryland hooking his chin over your shoulder.

“We’ve got this Sparky” He murmurs, linking his pinky with yours.

You arrive seconds too late.

A thunderous explosion rips from the top floor of Matt Murdock’s apartment building, fire bursting through the windows causing glass to rain down.

Frank told you he needed to ‘Take care of something’ and he’d be back within the next few hours. You just didn’t think it’d be regarding the blind lawyer.

Matt and Foggy had been your lawyers years ago, just weeks after escaping The Red Room. You had no papers or a legal identity and a trail of fabricated crimes pinned on you, curtesy of Fisk. You’d first been caught on his radar after you exposed one of his crime rings in just one night- the only one with ties to Dreykov.

They proved you innocent despite the pressure of the press and helped you become a person again.

You sprint down the sidewalk, heart hammering in your chest, desperate to see if the two of them had made it out alive.

Instead of Matt, Daredevil stands beside Frank, the horned mask turning your way the moment your panicked breaths hit the air.

Frank follows his gaze, eyes finding yours just as a car pulls up, out stepping Karen Page. “Come on, get in”

You slide into the car after a fleeting nod, Karen recognising your face from all those years ago.

Frank feels your eyes scanning him for injuries, he silently reaches over and catches your hand, squeezing once.

The stolen radio murmurs in the background of yours and Frank’s hideout as you sterilise surgical tools, metal clinking softly.

“Sit still” you murmur, leaning in closer to examine the bullet lodged above his collarbone. “This is gonna hurt, okay?”

Frank hisses as you begin to prod and pull at the tender skin, lowering his forehead to rest on your shoulder.

“Why didn’t you tell me that Matt was Daredevil?” You whisper, flicking the bloodied bullet into a metal tray.

“It never came up, Red” He tries to catch your eye as you thread the needle.

You mutter in Russian. “Bullshit”

Frank smirks slightly, he definitely knows that one.

But before he can reply, you push the needle through his skin.

“Jesus- could’ve warned me, sweetheart”

You click your tongue and continue to neatly suture his wound. When you finish, he squeezes your shoulder in a silent thanks and heads for the kitchenette.

“You okay over there?” Karen asks.

“Never been better” Frank deadpans. “Coffee?”

“You got oat milk?” Matt asks which gets a scoff of laughter out of Frank.

Karen folds her arms tightly over her chest. “So he went after Matt Murdock, not Daredevil .. That’s bold, even for Fisk”

You stay seated in the corner, rubbing your face, watching them through the small mirror on the desk. Their voices however fade out and your blood runs cold at the mention of his name- Fisk.

Your mind blanks, something that never happens. You snap back when Matt repeats your name sharply.

“What?” You hook your head over your shoulder, three sets of eyes landing on you warily.

“I helped you once… I’d appreciate if you returned the favour instead of shutting down” Matt swiftly walks out of the door, Karen on his tail.

You blink after them. “What the hell was that?”

Frank chuckles. “You didn’t just hear his entire monologue?”

Later, Frank looks over to see you pulling on your suit, sliding daggers, guns and magazines into the hidden pockets. “What are you doing?”

“Fisk is coming for us, I’d rather be ready .. wouldn’t you? Matt’s right- I can’t let him continue to hurt innocent people”

Before he can answer, the stolen task-force radio crackles to life.

“No eyes on Murdock or the blonde, Daredevil and Punisher got away .. Another well-known female vigilante was seen with them”

“Jesus, fall back to Red Hook, let’s go huntin’” Another voice replies.

Frank exhales, grabbing your batons and pressing them into your hands.

You move behind Frank like a shadow, matching his pace as he closes in on a lone guard outside. There’s no mercy as the man drops with one strike.

Frank nods at you, the metal door creaking open, Frank stalking ahead with you at his side.

“Oh shit” One of the officer’s eyes widens in fear, stumbling back, the others catching on quickly and raise their weapons.

You feel the cold press of a gun barrel at the back of your skull.

Before the threat even registers, Frank has already disarmed the man, jamming the stolen pistol against his temple, forearm wrapped around his throat.

“Don’t shoot!” “Frank stay calm- we just wanna talk”

Frank’s answer is a grunt and a gunshot- the officer in front of him drops.

You immediately sprint into action, sweeping out another man’s legs, batons cracking harshly against bone. A third and fourth begin to lunge and daggers slide into your palms like muscle memory, whistling through the air and into the bodies of those who dared to get closer.

Punches, yells and gunshots echo through the room, you’re locked into the rhythm of the fight and taking down a straggler when Frank’s yelling finally clocks.

You turn on your heel but swarms of Fisk’s men just keep coming, swarming you before you can reach Frank, their limbs slamming into you from every angle.

A blow slams to the base of your skull causing the world to tilt and the concrete rushing up to meet you. A heavy boot grinds between your shoulder blades.

Your shrill scream tears out of you before you can stop it.

Blindly, you reach for the small blade strapped to your side and slash at the nearest thigh. The man curses and you only manage to drag yourself to your knees when a brutal kick to the side of your face sends everything black.

Frank’s still fighting, but he’s loosing ground fast. His arms burn against the onslaught of fists and boots sent his way.

His vision tunnels as he finally catches slight of you crumpled, unmoving body face down on the floor.

Blood trickles from the cut on your temple, a thin line carving through your eyebrows, sliding over the bridge of your nose and gathering in the corner of your eye before dripping onto the concrete in steady beats.

When consciousness returns, dull pain throbs throughout your body. Your vision swims with blood and you blink hard.

20 officers stand in front of you, all wearing painted skulls on their bulletproof vests- Punisher skulls.

Officer Powell sits opposite you, his words filtering in and out as you try to bring yourself back to reality.

You turn to your right, pain spiking down your neck as Frank’s sits tied up to a chair. His features swollen and split, mouth moving but you can’t hear him for a few moments until filters through your ears, hoarse but harsh.

“I would never serve with you clowns- I wouldn’t fuckin’ piss on you if you were on fire, you got that?”

Officer Powell leans back in his seat, almost casual in his posture. “I’m sorry to hear that Frank”

“Are you?”

“Yeah” Powell huffs smugly, he nods and another officer steps forward taking a swing straight into his nose.

The thuds are sickening as more line up to take their turn.

“Stop” The word wheezes out of you. “Stop!”

“Well the famous Widow speaks, thought we’d lost you back there” Powell chuckles, eyes flitting back to you. “Fisk is gonna have a field day once he hears about you .. but who says we can’t have a little fun first?”

“Don’t you fuckin’ touch her!” Frank roars, straining against the restraints watching helplessly.

Powell ignores him and the officers now turn to you.

The first punch snaps your head sideways, the second splits your lips. You taste iron and feel the warm blood sliding down your chin.

You begin to choke on your own blood, another bruised fist comes into view as Frank’s shouting only increases.

“Thats enough” Powell finally snaps “Fisk wants her alive”

You spit blood onto the concrete, still coughing as your head hangs forward.

You don’t know how long you’ve been sat in this cage. Minutes, hours, maybe even days.

Time seems to blend together in the dim warehouse, rows of metal cages lining the concrete floor like some sort of zoo. Your wrists chained above you, forcing you to half kneel, half hang that makes every breath burn.

A steady thrum pulses behind your eyes, one of them swollen shut. Every shift sending pain ricocheting through your ribs.

You hear them before you see them- Wilson and Vanessa Fisk drifting past as if they were touring an art gallery with threats and pleas narrating each piece.

Fisk doesn’t spare any of them a glance until he lands on you. “I look forward to your cooperation”

You lift your head “I will die before I ever work for you”

Fisk simply laughs, amused as if you’ve just told him a job. Vanessa touches his arm guiding him deeper into the warehouse.

What you think is Frank’s voice lifts through the room a few minutes later, you can’t hear the words traded but you can make out his desperate tone.

A scream cuts through the warehouse and your stomach twists.

Keys jingle and heavy boots thunder down the walkway, you lift your head to see Franks figure looming over your cage.

You think that his face is probably a mirror to yours right now, cuts, swelling, bruises, a crooked nose. His chest heaves at the sight on you.

“Shit, Red” he mutters as he grips the bars. “You look awful”

“Definitely shouldn’t have listened to Matt, huh?” You joke weakly but smirking just hurts.

Frank doesn’t laugh, his lips don’t even quirk up like they usually do, his eyes flick over your injuries without a word.

“Hold on, I got you Red” He starts trying keys.

The lock swings open and he steps inside and unhooks your wrists from the chains, thumbs tracing over the raw red marks left there.

He slips an arm around your waist and lifts you to your feet, your legs buckle almost instantly and Frank tightens his hold on you.

“I’ve got you” he repeats, quieter this time.

The keys still jingle in his other hand, you take them from him and toss them into the next cage. Another vigilante catches them, nodding once in gratitude.

“Still always thinkin’ about everyone else” He murmurs against your head.

You lean back against him, breath still shaky. “Someone has to”

Frank finally gets you out of the warehouse, half carrying you as freed vigilantes rush past in chaotic bursts. Shouts echo from the surrounding structures, gunfire snapping through the night as the last of Fisk’s men clash with the escapees.

Frank doesn’t look back once, his only focus is getting you as far away from here.

Once he’s finally put enough distance between you and the warehouse he ducks into a narrow alley, the noise fading to a distant roar.

He turns you gently, guiding your back against the wall, his hands rise to your face and cup your jaw tenderly. His thumbs gingerly stroke your bruised undereyes as he takes in the full extent of your injuries.

One eye is swollen shut, the other mottled with purple and blue. Your nose is crooked

“Let’s get you home, Red” He murmurs, tightening his hand around your waist after pressing a kiss to your hairline. “You’re safe now”

And you believe him.

The florescent lights of The Pitt burn behind your closed eyelids, a dull, buzzing reminder that the night shift lull has finally arrived. There’s still the soft shuffle of nurses adjusting IV lines, the low murmur of doctors discussing treatment plans and the restless shifting of patients trying to get comfortable in the hospital beds.

You’re perched at a computer attempting to catch up on charting. Your chin rests in your palm, elbow propped on the desk as the swivel chair rocks lazily back and forth. Your black scrubs shift uncomfortably over your rounding stomach, the fabric tugging every time you shift.

Lost in the fog of fatigue, you miss the way Jack’s eyes instantly dart in your direction after he steps out of North 4. He spots the slump of your shoulders, the way your free hand absently rubs slow circles over your bump.

You startle when warm hands settle on your shoulders but the tension melts away quickly under the familiar weight of his touch.

“How are my girls?” Jack murmurs, voice honeyed and low as his thumbs brush gently along the tight muscles at the base of your neck.

You tilt your head to meet his gaze. “We’re fine”

“Just fine?” The corners of his lips curve up into that knowing smile that makes your chest loosen.

“Tired .. and really craving pickles- and ice cream”

He huffs a quiet laugh. “That’s my girl”

A yawn slips out before you can stop it, your hand drifts to your bump again, thumb tracing the curve of it. The jewelled wedding rings on the chain around your neck glints in the harsh lights.

“Only a few more hours Angel” Jack murmurs and presses a kiss to your temple, which you lean into.

Jack pulls another chair beside you and sits, one hand resting on your shoulder and the other sliding to cover your hand resting on your bump.

“She’s been kicking?” He asks softly.

“Like she’s training for the Olympics” You guide his hand a little lower. “Here”

On cue, a sharp thump presses against his palm. Jack’s face softens in quiet awe and tenderness.

“There she is” He murmurs. “Showing off already”

“She gets that from you”

“That stubbornness is all you honey” He snorts.

You open one eye. “Excuse me?”

Jack lifts both hands in surrender, grin widening. “I’m just saying, you’re the only person I know who can work a double at seven months pregnant”

You roll your eyes playfully as he leans in closer, pressing another kiss to your hair. “Angel, you need to take a break”

“I’m sitting” You protest weakly.

“Sitting isn’t resting” Jack counters, thumb stroking your shoulder. “Come on, just take ten minutes, I’ll walk you to the on call room”

You hesitate, torn between responsibility and the ache in your lower back.

He threads his fingers through yours and gently tugs you up from the chair. Your joints protest, your lower back twinges, and your bump shifts heavily beneath your scrubs. But the moment you’re upright, Jack’s hand slides to the small of your back, steadying you like he’s done a thousand times.

“Easy,” he murmurs, voice low enough that only you can hear. “I’ve got you.”

The Pitt is quiet enough that your footsteps echo softly as he guides you down the hallway. Nurses glance up, clock the way Jack is half‑supporting you, and immediately look away again. Not out of disinterest, but out of respect.

Everyone knows better than to comment when Dr. Angel is being shepherded somewhere by her husband.

You pass Shen and Ellis at the desk. They straighten like schoolchildren caught misbehaving by their teachers.

“Everything okay, Dr. Angel?” Shen asks, eyes wide.

Jack answers before you can. “She’s taking a break.”

You shrug slightly at the two of them as Jack keeps walking with you.

You lean into him a little more than you mean to, his arm tightens around your waist.

“You’re gonna overdo it,” Jack says softly.

“I’m pregnant, not fragile.”

“You’re pregnant and stubborn,” He corrects as he opens the on‑call room door with his shoulder. “Which is a dangerous combination.”

The room is dim, quiet and blessedly still. Jack flicks on the small lamp by the bed, bathing the space in warm yellow light instead of the harsh fluorescents outside.

He turns you, hands already at your hips.

“Sit,” he says gently. You do, your legs are grateful for the reprieve.

Jack kneels in front of you and starts untying your shoes. You blink down at him.

“Jack, I can-”

“You can,” He agrees, slipping off your shoes. “But you don’t have to.”

He helps you swing your legs up onto the bed, adjusts the pillow behind your back, and pulls the blanket over your lap. Jack’s hand lingers on your bump, thumb brushing back and fourth.

Your eyes fluttering shut as he sits beside you, one hand resting protectively over your stomach, the other stroking your hair back from your face. “Just ten minutes”

“Ten minutes,” he whispers. “Just breathe, I’ll wake you … I promise”

You’re already half asleep, sinking into the warmth of him, the quiet hum of the room, the steady rhythm of his breathing.

“Jack?” you mumble.

“Mhm?”

“Thank you.”

He leans down, brushing a kiss to your forehead and then your lips.

“Always, Angel.”

And for the first time all shift, your body finally lets go and you fall into a much needed slumber.

You’re halfway through charting when your mind drifts again, back to the same knot in your stomach that hasn’t loosened in days.

Why hasn’t he told Jake?

Why does he keep avoiding it?

Does he not think this is serious?

You’d asked him a couple times over the last few months, each time Robby had sidestepped it like he was avoiding a live wire.

Jake wasn’t just some kid, he was Robby’s stepson from a long, serious relationship that ended years ago. Robby still calls Jake ‘his kid’, always showing up for him and still worries about him like he’s his own.

So why keep you a secret?

A hand snaps sharply in front of your face.

“Peach- helloooo, did you hear anything I just said?”

You blink up, Jake is stood to your side with a cheeky grin on his face.

“Jake- hey, hi!” You stand quickly, pulling him into a hug. “How’ve you been kiddo?”

He squeezes you back. “Better than you clearly, you were staring into space back there”

You laugh but it’s thin. “Long shift, I guess”

Jake hops up to sit on the edge of the nurse’s desk, swinging his legs the same way he did when he was twelve. “Long shift doesn’t make you look like someone stole your lunch. And didn’t you only start 3 hours ago?”

You open your mouth to deflect but Jake’s eyes narrow.

“You’re acting weird” he tilts his head slightly “Like, weird-weird”

“No I’m not” Your voice jumps a pitch higher which confirms you absolutely are.

“Uh-huh, sure” He doesn’t buy it but lets it go and launches into a story about his new girlfriend, Leah.

He’s mid sentence, when his expression shifts and his eyes flit over your shoulder.

You don’t even have to turn to know it’s Robby, his footsteps are heavy and fast. Robby rounds the corner and stops in his path when his eyes land on you and Jake.

Something subtle shifts in Robby’s expression as you look back over your shoulder, a mix of vulnerability and something else.

Jake catches it instantly. “Huh”

Before Robby can approach, you’re already slipping away so fast it’s almost comical. “I should probably check on my patient”

“What the hell was that about?” Jake asks as Robby approaches.

Robby shoves his hands in his pockets trying to stay nonchalant. “Beats me”

You throw yourself into your patients, you take the long route to every room, suddenly needing to double check vitals, you even pretend to reorganise the suture cart.

You’re subtle but not subtle enough, Jake notices as you beeline past them, he also watches Robby pretend not to watch you.

At one point you’re heading back to chart, only to see the two of them talking. Jake waves enthusiastically but you panic and duck into another patient’s room.

You close the door behind you and sigh softly.

“Can we help you, Peach?” You jump at Santos’ voice, you spin around to see her, Whittaker and Perlah hovering around a patient.

“Trinity! Hey, yes, I’m just … checking in, would you please present your case to me?” You splutter.

Santos raises her brow but indulges you anyway.

Jake stares at the closed door, then back at Robby. “What is going on with her?”

Robby mutters something you being busy before walking further into the ER to try and avoid his questions. Jake turns to Dana who can only offer him a shrug.

You slip out of the bathroom you’ve been hiding in for the last 5 minutes thinking you’re finally in the clear. “Peach”

You freeze at Jake’s voice and unimpressed expression. “You’ve been avoiding me and Robby for the last hour”

“I’m a doctor, I’ve been busy” You weakly counter.

“And I’m the President”

Before you can respond, Robby appears behind Jake with his eyes locked on you.

“Okay enough of this, what is going on?”

You and Robby exchange a look, the kind of look that says ‘we’ve been caught’ but neither of you speak up.

Jake folds his arms as he stares the two of you down for few seconds that feel like years.

“Holy shit- are you two together?!”

Your eyes widen, your mouth opens but no words come out. Robby inhales sharply.

Jake’s jaw drops and he points between the two of you. “You’re actually dating?!”

You wince at the looks you receive from the staff around you at his volume, Robby quickly steers the both of you into a quieter corridor.

“How long?”

Robby answers quietly. “A few months”

“A few months!” Jake repeats incredulously. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“I didn’t want to make it weird for you or for Peach”

Jake looks back at you. “You’ve avoided us because you thought he didn’t want me to know?”

Embarrassed, you nod and begin to ramble. “I just didn’t want to freak you out or for you to hate me- or even worse to hate Michael, or-”

“Michael?” Jake interrupts you with a barely contained smirk. “This must be serious if you’re calling him by his first name”

Robby begins to chuckle, a soft, relived sound as the tension eases out of his shoulders.

The pit in your stomach finally loosens for the first time in weeks.

“You two are ridiculous but I’m happy for you, both of you” Jake shakes his head, smiling.

You exhale shakily as Robby’s hand brushes yours.

Jake just grins before speaking again. “We still on for Saturday?”

“You know it, kid”

“Great. Peach why don’t you come with us?”

“Really?” You ask, startled by the invite. “I mean yes- I’d love that Jake”

You wrap your arms around his shoulders, murmuring a soft thank you before stepping back. Jake heads towards the ambulance bay, Robby ruffling his hair on the way out.

When the doors slide closed behind him, a warm hand slips around your waist. Robby pulls you closer to his side, rubbing a circle into your side.

“I’m sorry for not telling him sooner” He murmurs into your hair. “I just … I really don’t want to mess this up Peach”

You turn into him, forehead bumping against his shoulder, whispering. “You’re not messing anything up but you scared me a little.”

His arm tightens around you. “I know, and I hate that I did” Robby presses a kiss to your temple. “I wasn’t hiding you … I just want to protect this, protect us”

Robby pulls back just enough to see your face, his brown eyes soft in a way only you get to see. “You’re important to me, you and Jake are the two people I care about most”

“I just wanted to get it right” He whispers.

You smile. “You did”

“Good because I’m definitely not going anywhere”

Robby leans down to kiss you and you meet him halfway, it’s more of a peck given that you’re in the middle of the ER but it grounds the two of you in the moment.

When he pulls back he’s smiling, the first one you’ve seen all shift. “Come on, let’s get this shift over with so I can get you home as soon as possible Peach”

“That sounds good with me Michael” You pat his chest gently before heading back to assist your patients.

As you walk to South 12, you look over your shoulder to still see Robby watching you, and for the first time in weeks your chest feels lighter.