daddy issues

It's an order and while those chucklefucks can look at each other all day with their thumbs up their asses, he and Robby kind of close ranks for a moment. Jesse takes a seat, but Robby moves from the sidelines where he was watching them and I love that. Because Robby is standing guard, watching these men, but once Jesse is there, he uses that to close ranks a little with himself, Jesse, Victoria and Cassie all kind of forming an inner circle around her.

But even once he is seated, Jesse's eyes are back on them. Can't tell the look from the moment but you see, he's watching them again.

It's actually a really beautiful back and forth because the moment Jesse looks away to do his job and check her vitals, Robby is watching those pricks again.

But when Jesse gives her vitals (heart rate 110, pulse ox 98 so they're good), he gives Robby this look. Seriously watch his face because it does a lot in a little before he again forces these pricks to back up in the way he moves past them, but there's concern, but there's anger too. And he needs Robby to know that.

It also puts him on the big guy's radar because he watches to make sure Jesse is gone before refocusing.

And then we next see him, he's finishing up. He's leaving, but that mountain of fuckface storms over after Robby told him off and gets pissy. And Jesse could walk away, but the moment he clocks that man, he immediately stops and CIRCLES AROUND THIS MAN, READY TO BE A BARRIER!

He goes from being on that man's LEFT to being on his RIGHT so fast because Jesse is ready in a way no one else is because he's a 6ft white guy. Like it's too brief to gif (at 36:42 he pivots, then at 36:44 you can see him on the other side).

And that little one isn't doing shit to help or stop anything since I think he's their "not all ICE" attempt, LOL. But Jesse is cautiously between that man and his patient asking to just be allowed to get her a sling with Cassie. And when she cries out in pain because that man grabs her injured arm intentionally, Jesse is between them purposefully (hand over the man's grip on her while his other forearm is against his chest) in a heartbeat telling this man to stop because that fuck is hurting her.

And we don't see it, but Jesse yelling out in pain is the next thing we hear along with things falling. And we next see Jesse on the ground, hogtied, so we know Jesse was assaulted. Victoria probably got it on film since we see her with her phone out (along with others later), but I think it's safe to say Jesse didn't get to the ground on his own accord.

And aside from telling those pricks to get their hands off him, Jesse says in the most choked out way (because a man is actively kneeling on his back) "Robby, I didn't do shit". And Robby knows. Robby says he knows. And honestly, outside of protecting his patient, Jesse didn't do anything.

Note how Robby, I mean, he's talking to Jesse, but he is not looking at him even then. He refuses to look anywhere but at this man that has harmed one of his employee.

And again, credit to Robby, he's on it. He gives him the 'shut the fuck up' spiel, which Jesse nods to. It's so brief, y'all, but he nods. They make eye contact because Robby (OF ALL PEOPLE!) is searching for that eye contact to know Jesse is listening, and Jesse nods. Because he knows to shut up. Robby says so like he says he's gonna call the hospital lawyer about it.

Then goes back to staring straight ahead like this is just another nuisance in a long line of them (and it is), muttering something I can't make out. Just like how Dana is immediately at his side once they start moving him looking all kinds of harried and ready to cry a little that is her nurse and she can't protect him. She can't control the situation.

All this to say that was never just that ONE moment at the end with Jesse stepping up. He was on the defense from the jump, my little punk rock prince. And I love that for him.

But more than that, I love the shock on McKay's face because it hints at how wrong the moment is? Like she's been arrested. Probably not the biggest cop fan, but even still, last season she was in this exact position. But something about this moment is enough to shock her to her bones (maybe Jesse isn't that guy, maybe... like the sound implies, he was assaulted for trying to help, maybe it's just the shock of seeing it happen to someone else), but it's that look on her face that tells you... everything about the moment, really.

Also, shout out to Ned because we all joke about Jesse being the most expressive motherfucker in the Pitt and he tends to say he's just the numbers guy (he reads the numbers in a way that conveys the situation) but... much like with him coming between Frank and Robby during the sepsis patient, he's conveying a whole lot in a matter of literal seconds once again.