Orion 💫

You smile.

“Oh that’s my curl cream to help my curls not get frizzy, and then this is my mousse that helps the curls stay and give them volume.”

Andrew nods, a bit overwhelmed, but still trying to understand. He comes into the bathroom then, seeing all your products stacked on the counter. He picks one up, examining it, reading the ingredients.

“So you do all this every time you wash your hair?”

You nod, “Yeah.”

“Oh.”

You look up at him then.

“Andrew, you have curly hair, don’t you put anything in it?”

He shakes his head.

“No, I just let it dry after washing it and then it ends up like this.”

He points to his head.

You giggle.

“Next time I come over to yours,” you begin, scrunching more mousse into your hair, “I’m gonna bring some things with me.”

That makes the sides of his mouth tilt up a little as he stares at you.

“Okay.”

Then a week later when you’re staying over at his you keep your promise, bringing all your products and your diffuser even, in a bag.

You make him sit the bathtub, head tilted back as you gently massage his scalp while washing it.

He lets out soft whimpers every time your nails press against his scalp, muttering out a soft “feels good” every now and then.

Then you condition his curls, using the same one you use on your hair.

“Smells like you,” he whispers as he breathes the fruity scent in.

You just let out a soft laugh and continue rubbing it in.

After washing it all off, you softly squeeze the mousse onto his head, the foam piling up. He leans back into you hands as you scrunch it all in gently, cooing at him, telling him how pretty and soft his curls are.

Once that’s done you plug the diffuser and gently hold his head while you run it all over his head, drying it. He closes his eyes when the heat hits him, face scrunching up a little.

“Nearly there honey, is that okay?”

He nods, “S’okay. Feels good.”

Your sweet, sweet boy.

Once it’s all done, you press a kiss on his beautiful fresh curls.

Tilting his face towards you, you cup his cheek.

“Did you like that? Your curls look so pretty, Andrew.”

“Yeah, I- that felt nice,” he says, blushing.

There’s a pause then, as his eyes bore into yours, mouth pursing, searching for the words.

“Can you do that for me again next week?”

Your heart clenches at how softly, how hesitantly he says the words.

“Yes of course, honey.”

You press a kiss to his cheek, then pause.

“Tell you what, you’re not allowed to wash your hair without me anymore.”

He smiles a little at that, eyes fluttering as he leans in to capture your lips with his.

“Hey, sorry- I don’t know you, but can you help me with this really quick?” 

You’re standing at the far end of the hall with a precariously balanced tray full of raw hamburger patties in one hand and an ice chest that’s about to dislocate your shoulder in the other. The long white linen sundress you’d chosen to wear to Robby’s barbecue had seemed like a good idea at the time, but you’d already managed to get ketchup and lemonade on it, and you were not at all eager to add raw meat to the mix. 

The man that was wandering past the hall when you’d called out to him is now staring at you, only pausing for a moment to process your request before hurrying down the hall to give you a hand. You didn’t think you’d ever met him before, and as he comes to a stop right in front of you you’re sure of it; there was no way you’d forget such a good looking man. 

“Thanks so much. I overestimated myself I guess.” You say with a breathy laugh, handing off the ice chest to the man and feeling immediate relief. “I’m just taking these out back.” He takes it with ease, but you’re surprised when you also feel the large tray of meat being taken off your hands. 

“Oh no, you don’t have to-”

“Please, let me.” He replies with a friendly smile. You can’t help the smile that blooms on your face in response.

“Thank you.” He nods, waiting for you to direct him. 

You lead the man quickly down the hall and through the kitchen, sliding open the door to the backyard that is now even more packed full of people than it was when you came inside twenty minutes ago. 

“Hey brother!” You hear Robby’s voice call from somewhere behind you, and you gesture to the mystery man to set the things down on the folding table by the grill. 

When you turn, Robby is approaching, lifting both hands to clap the man on his shoulders with a grin. 

“Didn’t know if you were actually gonna show up, man.” Robby says, and the man turns around to clap him across the back in a hug.

“And miss out on meeting your pretty friend?” The man jokes back, grinning at you as he speaks to Robby. “How could I do that?” Heat burns across your cheeks at the man’s compliment, and Robby barks a laugh.

“I see you already met my little sister.” Robby looks to you with emphasis, and the man’s head whips back and forth between you and Robby a few times, the charming grin on his face fading a bit in realization. You roll your eyes at Robby and his insistence on calling you his little sister, you were nearly thirty.

There’s a look on the stranger’s face that you think you can take as pleasant surprise, but it’s hard to tell. He takes off his sunglasses now and you’re caught off guard by the force of his blue eyes holding yours, but you know exactly who this man has to be.

“You must be Jack Abbot.” You smile, extending a hand. “Sorry for so rudely putting you to work before actually asking your name. That shit was really heavy.” You say with a laugh. 

Jack grins back at you and takes your hand in his, the much larger calloused palm encompassing your entire hand. 

“I’ve heard so much about you.” He says, eyes still holding intense contact with yours. You aren’t sure if it’s the summer heat or something else making your cheeks and chest flush so much. 

“All bad things I’m sure.” You reply jokingly, eyeing Robby who scoffs back at you. 

“Fifty fifty.” Jack says back matter of factly, crossing his arms over his chest when you part hands. His arms… wow, it definitely was not just the summer heat making you feel flushed. Thick muscular arms, tanned and covered in freckles lay folded across Jack Abbot’s chest. You have to do a mental double take to make sure you’re not staring at the man’s torso with your mouth hanging open. 

“Oh please!” Robby’s groan breaks you out of your trance, and you chuckle, shaking your head. 

“Well don’t worry, I have only heard glowing reviews about the great Dr. Abbot from my brother.” 

“Now that I know is a lie.” Jack barks a laugh. 

You can’t help but laugh back, and Robby simply shakes his head with an amused sigh. 

“I should’ve known to keep you two apart from one another. This is a dangerous duo.” Jack eyes his friend as he speaks, a small smile slipping onto his face before he responds. 

“Too late, buddy. I’m best friends with the better Robinavitch now.” You laugh loud, grinning at Jack as Robby puts on a dramatically wounded look. 

You snap out of your haze of laughter when you hear your name being called across the yard. 

“Babe!” 

Your boyfriend Max is jogging toward you, a frisbee in his hand. 

“Yeah?” You ask, turning toward him a bit as he approaches. You catch a strange current of annoyance flitting through you at his interruption of your conversation. It was unlike you to feel so short tempered with him, but lately…

“Can you put my stuff inside for me? We’re gonna play ultimate frisbee and I don’t wanna crack my phone.” He states, already handing you his cellphone, wallet, keys and hat. “Thanks babe.” He pecks your cheek quickly before running back to where he came from. You see Mateo, Shen, and a few of the other guys from the hospital that you’ve met before gathered at the far end of Robby’s yard, and Max launches the frisbee toward them as he runs. 

When you turn back to your brother and his coworker, they’re looking at each other as if silently communicating something they don’t want you to know. Jack catches your eye first, seeing the clear look of curiosity on your face, and clears his throat softly. 

“Want me to take Max’s shit in?” Robby asks. “I have to go grab the tongs anyway.” 

You fight back the eyeroll you want to shoot at Robby and shake your head. He had stopped trying to even pretend he liked your boyfriend about two months after you’d started dating. 

“It’s fine. I have to go back in too.” You start walking up toward the house’s back door but turn over your shoulder as you go. “It’s really nice to finally meet you Jack.” 

He smiles back at you and gives a short nod of agreement as you step into the house. 

Robby is only a few seconds behind you. 

“I’m just saying, it would’ve taken just as long for him to put his own stuff on the counter instead of sending you around like an errand girl. 

You grip the handle of the drawer in front of you harshly before taking a deep breath and turning to face your brother. 

“You are so overdramatic. I don’t want to do this today Robby.” You say resignedly. 

“I don’t either. Let’s tell him to leave.” He says back with a stupid grin. You huff and dump Max’s stuff on Robby’s kitchen island before circling around, crossing your arms and leaning back on it as you observe him. 

He shoves a collection of metal utensils around loudly in a drawer before pulling out what he’s looking for, clicking the pair of tongs at you twice before setting them down. 

“Robby. I’m serious.” You know he must hear the exhaustion in your voice, because his previously sarcastic smile has dropped in concern. 

“Is everything okay?” He asks, placing the tongs on the counter in front of him and mimicking your stance. 

You squeeze your eyes shut for a moment and pick at the chipping nail polish on your fingers. 

“I really didn’t want to talk to you about this today.” You finally start with a sigh. Robby is looking increasingly more stressed every second, so you know you need to spit it out. “Max got that promotion he was going for. They’re making him the head of his department.” You trail off and chew your lip, unable to meet your brother’s eyes. 

“Why is that a problem?” Robby asks, clearly not following. 

“They’re making him the head of his department in Florida.” You finish with a sigh, forcing yourself to meet his gaze. Robby’s face remains blank as he stares back at you. You can see the gears spinning rapidly in his mind as he stays silent. “He asked me to go with him.” You go on. “To Florida.” 

“Yeah. I got the Florida part.” Robby finally says dryly. He rubs a hand over his beard slowly, staring off at nothing. “When?” 

“He has to be there by the end of July.” Next month. “The company already has some apartment options lined up.” Your voice is getting smaller and quieter as you speak. 

“Good for them.” Robby huffs. You run a hand over your face. 

“I didn’t want to do this today Robby!” You huff. 

“When were you planning on telling me then? When I got a postcard of you and this dude at Disneyworld?!” His voice has risen a bit and you throw your hands up in frustration. 

“You are so impossible!” You shout. 

“Me?!” he shouts right back. “You just moved to Pittsburgh this year. I’ve been trying to get you here for years, you finally come, and now Max wants you to pack up your life and move down to Florida with him like some retired married couple?” You groan loudly, bouncing up from where you were leaning on the counter. 

“Shut up! Are you capable of shutting up?!” 

“Yes!” Robby shouts back petulantly. 

“I didn’t want to talk to you about this today because I’m not going!” You yell, smacking the counter with both hands. “As soon as he asked me I knew I couldn’t go.” You continue more quietly, staring down at where your hands are clenched into nervous fists. 

Robby is silent for a few moments before finally replying. 

“So what, you’re just gonna do long distance?” You choose to ignore the obviously happy tone laced in your brother’s words and his quick pivot from chewing you out- But you remain silent, unable to meet Robby’s eyes. “Hello?” You sigh softly. 

“No.” You say, almost silent. 

“No?” Robby repeats in confusion. 

“No. I’m not going to do long distance.” You cover your face with both hands and continue speaking, muffled a bit. “When he asked me, I knew right away that I couldn’t move to Florida. Not now at least.” You shake your head. “But then Max asked me when I thought I would be willing to. If it would be a few months, a few years. Started talking about how his grandparents live nearby and it would be a great place to raise a family.” 

“And?” Robby asks for you to go on. 

“And… I just realized that all of those things he was talking about… a future. I just couldn’t even begin to picture it.” You sigh and continue. “I mean, I want those things one day, but I couldn’t picture them with him.” You meet Robby’s eyes, crossing your arms over your chest once again as if trying to hug yourself. Your brother is staring back at you with wide eyes and a mouth parted in shock. 

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” He isn’t even trying very hard to hold back his jubilant grin. 

“You are seriously the worst. Ever.” You huff, spinning to walk out the back door. 

“You’re breaking up with him?” Robby asks giddily, following after you. 

“Wow, please shout it louder Robby!” You whirl on him and hiss. “Are you stupid?” 

He’s completely ignoring you, doubled over in joyful laughter. 

“This is the best barbecue of all time. This beats when Dana set my shed on fire last year by miles.” You shake your head at him and start back on your exit path, but turn straight into the solid, hard chest of Jack Abbot. 

You try to jump back and nearly trip over your ratty flip flops, and he pops out an arm to steady you by the shoulder. 

“Sorry.” He starts. “I heard shouting and wanted to make sure you weren’t in here brutally maiming Robby or anything.” He says with a barely there smile. You hear your brother snort from behind you, still having a giggle fit at your expense. 

“If you had shown up a minute later that may very well have been the case.” You deadpan. Without another word, you rip the tongs out of Robby’s hand and leave the two men in the kitchen, heading straight for the grill. 

Not only was your brother making the already very stressful situation of your quickly expiring relationship worse, you did not have the mental capacity to deal with the whole finding out his long time friend and coworker who you’d always pictured as a faceless old man was… well, the opposite of that, let’s just say. Seriously, there should be a rule that men have to warn you when they’re friends are super ridiculously hot before you meet them. Just for mental preparation purposes. 

You get to work on laying out the first round of patties on the smoking grill, glad to keep your hands and mind busy and off of the current storm brewing in your personal life. 

You don’t notice when Robby and Jack exit the kitchen about five minutes later, the latter’s eyes glued on you thoughtfully as he follows your brother across the yard. 

****

By the time you only have one more round of burgers to grill, Robby’s backyard was packed. Two of the younger residents, Dennis and Trinity, along with a med student you hadn’t met before named Victoria showed up with a comically large insulated tote bag full of potato salad, chips, and even a few packs of beer. 

“Um, I am most definitely making Robby venmo you for all of this.” You said, eyes wide as they unloaded all of the goods onto your folding table. 

“Someone got a little carried away at the grocery store.” Trinity says pointedly, and Dennis lets out an offended ‘hey!’ followed by something about being a good guest as he unloads the last container. 

You just chuckle and shake your head at the group. 

“Hey guys.” your brother comes up from behind you with a bright smile pointed at the three new arrivals. 

“Hey Dr. Robby. Thanks so much for having us.” Dennis replies with a grin, twiddling with the cardboard on the beer case beside him. 

“Glad you guys could make it.” Robby says, clapping him on the shoulder. “You guys didn’t need to bring anything though.” You watch as your brother’s face drops into a thoughtful frown. 

“Oh hey, let me see your phone real quick.” You ask him, holding out one hand while the other dishes the finished burger patties onto a tray. 

Robby tosses it to you and you swipe in, easily locating the venmo app (there had to be some perks of your older brother being a successful doctor, right?) and beginning to type. You try Trinity’s name first but nothing comes up. Then Dennis, and a contact pops to the top titled Dennis W. There’s a profile picture of the younger doctor wearing a scrub cap and gown and absolutely covered in what you hope isn’t blood, grinning straight at the camera. 

You shoot a glance up over the screen to where Robby’s hand is still resting on Dennis’s shoulder and they’re deep in animated conversation about something you missed. You laugh quietly to yourself, before sending the kid fifty bucks. 

“Here.” You toss the phone back to Robby with no warning and it nearly smacks him in the face, making you snicker. Dennis is pulling his own phone out of his jeans pocket, and the expression on his face is nothing short of mortified when he peers down at the screen. He whips his head up to look at Robby, then you. 

“Uhh…” Dennis stammers, and the pause makes Robby glance down at the boy’s phone in curiosity. Processing what Dennis is clearly looking at, Robby simply chuckles and shakes his head, looking over at you. 

“You could’ve at least given the poor kids a tip for lugging that giant bag all the way here, too.” He jokes, giving Dennis’s shoulder another squeeze before gesturing with his head to the three of them. “Come on, let’s find somewhere to sit. Almost time to eat.” 

You watch for a moment as the group walks away, unable to ignore the bright red coloring on Dennis’s face and his delay in following the rest of the group, as if his brain is buffering. 

“At risk of sounding crazy, are you seeing what I’m seeing here?” 

The deep voice speaks from behind you and you jump, whirling around in surprise. 

“Ah! You snuck up on me!” You say with a breathy laugh as Jack grins at you, eyes flicking back over your shoulder to the retreating group. You freeze up a bit at how close the man is standing to you, and you get a strong whiff of his cologne that you didn’t catch earlier. It makes you want to take a deep inhale and lean closer. 

“Sorry.” he says then. “Didn’t mean to scare you. I was just coming to see if I could help bring anything over to the table.” He nods his head toward the grill where a tray of perfectly cooked patties now sit. “Don’t want to leave my job unfinished.” 

You’re staring up at him dumbly, you know it but can’t help yourself. He’s so close and his voice is so low and sweet and he smells so ridiculously good-

“Hey babe.” A hand is placed against your back and Max comes into view, breathing hard and grinning. “We just destroyed in ultimate frisbee. Did you see?” 

You feel like a terrible person, because the voice of the man that you'd found sweet and likeable the majority of the time up until about a week ago is suddenly grating on you like nails on a chalk board. You tear your gaze away from Jack and meet Max’s gaze. 

“No, I missed it. That’s great.” You try to sound as interested and cheery as possible. 

“It was.” He nods with a grin. “Gonna go wash up to eat. Food looks great.” 

It all happens in slow motion. Max is leaning in to kiss you, as he often does, as is a normal thing for a boyfriend to do to his girlfriend. But almost as if you are completely out of control of your own body, you feel yourself leaning away, and then stepping away, and then placing a hand up against Max’s chest to effectively stop him. 

His head jerks back and a confused expression slams across his face. 

“Uh… oh, sorry.” You shake your head, bewildered by your own actions. “Sorry. I’m not feeling well.” The lie slips out so awkwardly you cringe at your own voice. Max just stares back at you with raised brows. 

“What?” Is all he says, hands dropping to his sides defeatedly. “You never stop my kisses.” He’s frowning now and you literally feel the urge to throw up in your mouth. Had speaking your impending break up aloud to Robby somehow shifted some course of the universe, making you suddenly disgusted by your own boyfriend? “Are you mad at me?”

Your face was on fire, burning with a mixture of frustration at this whole situation and absolute embarrassment knowing Jack Abbot was standing right behind you witnessing this ridiculous conversation. You hear the man clear his throat and busy himself with the food. 

“I need to talk to you.” The words rush out in some sort of hushed shout, and you grab Max’s forearm and practically drag him up the porch steps and into the kitchen. 

Jack is left standing at the grill, fighting the urge to let his gaze trail after you as he carries the burgers over to the table full of his coworkers. 

****

A grueling twenty minutes later, you’re standing in Robby’s kitchen alone as the front door shuts with finality. 

Max hadn’t taken it very well, though you truly couldn’t fault him for that. This was the absolute last way you would’ve planned on doing this whole breakup thing but… when you know you know. Right? 

You rest your forehead on the cool tile of the counter and sigh. You feel strange that there’s no urge to cry, no welling sadness in your throat. You suppose that’s a good sign, but what does it say about you? Are you some kind of loveless robot? 

Your spiral is interrupted by the squeaking sound of the back door. When you look up, none other than Jack Abbot is standing in the doorway with a plate in one hand and two beers in the other. 

“Uh. Hi.” He speaks, somewhat awkwardly, and all you can do is chuckle and shake your head. 

“Hi.” You reply quietly, standing up straight and facing the man. He takes a few more hesitant steps in and you gesture for him to join you. 

“I um…” He trails off, as if weighing whether or not he actually wants to keep speaking. “I made you a plate. Didn’t want the chef to miss out, and those med students are practically rabid.” He’s speaking with the tone of someone trying to make an extremely awkward situation more lighthearted, and an overwhelming feeling of fondness bursts in your chest as you watch him. 

“That’s for me?” You ask, pointing at the plate. He nods fervently and hands it out toward you. You take it in both hands, observing the overfilled paper plate full of everything there was to offer out there. 

“And this.” He adds, holding out one of the beers. “Or both,” he then says with a quiet laugh. “If it’s that kind of… barbecue.” He trails off awkwardly. 

You watch him silently for a moment before snorting out a laugh. This poor man just met you today and is trying to navigate your relationship shortcomings with the grace of a saint. 

“I’m guessing I don’t need to tell you where Max went.” Is all you say, jumping up to sit on the counter and taking a deep drink. Jack just stares at you for a moment in thought. 

“I think I’ve got it pieced together.” He says with a quiet, sorry laugh. You nod, pursing your lips. 

“Robby will be devastated, obviously.” This cracks Jack’s serious demeanor, and he scoffs a laugh that he tries to cover by clearing his throat. 

“Yes, of course.” The man nods, not meeting your eyes. “Pity. Max seemed like a real…” for a moment you genuinely think Jack can’t come up with a single complimentary thing to say about your now ex, until you realize he’s joking back with you. “Nice guy.” He finishes with a tight smile. 

The heat and haziness swirling in your mind as your stare at Jack bubbles up and you begin laughing so hard there are tears coming out the corners of your eyes. 

When you finally get yourself under control, you look up to see Jack standing there, hands in his pockets, with a soft smile on his face as he watches you. 

You sober up immediately, feeling hot and prickly under his steady gaze. You straighten up a bit on the counter and shimmy awkwardly. 

“I think you’ll be just fine.” He speaks up. You stare back and slowly nod a bit, as if saying you trust he’s right. You will be just fine. 

“Thank you for the food.” You say softly. “That was really thoughtful.” He just shakes his head as if it was nothing at all.

****

You end up taking your now half empty beer and very full plate out to the backyard with everyone else. Robby’s eyes follow you from the moment you step outside, Jack holding the door for you, until you find an empty seat at the end of the long table full of guests. 

You sit down next to Dennis, and your brother leans backwards from his spot on the other side, tapping your shoulder. 

“You okay?” He mouths. You nod back and give him a quiet smile. 

“All good.” You respond, but Robby is looking above you. Jack gives him a quiet nod of assurance that you barely catch before taking a seat on your other side. 

“Good.” Robby then says with a smile, peering back at you with a strange glint in his eye. 

You shake your head at him with a puzzled smile that asks ‘what?’

He simply shakes his head back, patting the back of your head and turning back to the table. 

****

The rest of the barbecue passes with people sharing animated stories up and down the table, your favorite by far being a dramatic telling of Dennis capturing a rat that was loose in the ED with his bare hands. 

You’re doubled over in laughter on the table, nearly knocking over the punch Mateo had brought you a plastic cup of, though you had no idea what was in it or if there was anything other than straight alcohol that could qualify it as punch at all. 

You grin over at Dennis who’s blushing furiously beside you and shaking his own head in laughter, but it’s Robby’s hand once again resting on his shoulder that catches your attention, making you smile softly to yourself. 

People begin filtering out, many needing to get home and sleep before their shift in the morning. 

You’re sitting at the now mostly cleared out table, tapping your plastic fork rhythmically against it. 

A hand rubs lightly at your back. 

“Hey girl. We’re headed out.” You stand to give Victoria and Trinity a squeeze. 

“We need to see each other again soon.” You reply earnestly. “You guys are welcome over to my place literally any time.” They both smile and nod enthusiastically, with promises to plan something next time they have a day off. They collect Dennis, who Robby had stolen away to show off his motorcycle (boring), and make their way out of the yard to the car. 

“Closing time.” A deep voice hums, and Jack steps around to face you. “You staying here tonight?” He’s looking down at you as he asks the question casually, but you can tell he’s genuinely wondering what your plan is. 

“Jack Abbot, are you worrying about me?” You hear yourself giggle like a young girl and know you’re being a little bit embarrassing, but you’re having too much of a nice time to care very much. 

“Maybe.” He replies instantly, no hesitancy in the man’s voice. He pauses before speaking again, voice low. “That okay?” 

You blink a few times, hard, and you feel the tips of your ears burning. With a swallow you just nod stupidly up at him. 

“Yeah.” You say breathily. “Yeah, that’s okay.” 

Jack’s soft smile grows, and you want to reach out and trace it with your finger. 

Woah, slow down. You literally broke up with your boyfriend less than three hours ago, and met this man not long before that. 

Though you had heard about him through Robby for years… but that wasn’t the point! You needed to snap out of it. 

“Um, honestly no, I was planning on going home tonight. I have work in the morning, and so does Robby obviously.” You look off in sudden stress about how exactly you’ll be getting home. 

“Not to overstep, but I caught Mateo making that ‘punch’” he air quotes, “and the only nonalcoholic liquid in it was one can of lemonade. You probably shouldn’t be driving.”

You snort a quiet laugh. 

“No, no, I know. I didn’t even drive here though.” You trail off, reality creeping its nasty way past the haze of such a fun night. “Unfortunately my ride has been… compromised.” You huff with a self deprecating laugh. 

“Ahh.” Jack replies in immediate understanding. “Well I’ll take you home.” He states, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. 

“Oh no no. I don’t want to make you do that.” You quickly say, shaking your hands in refusal. “I live the opposite way from the hospital.” 

“Well luckily, I don’t live at the hospital.” Jack simply whispers back with a grin, jerking his head toward the house. “Come on. I’m happy to.” It was true that you actually had no idea where he lived, but you felt equally bad about asking him to do you the favor, and excited about the possibility of being in his car with him. The combination was making your nerves jump and zap from your fingers to your toes. 

“Really, Dr. Abbot. You’ve done more than enough for me already today.” You follow after him still shaking your head, but the man is set in his tracks. Robby comes around the corner from sending off the remainder of the guests and his eyes land on the two of you. You all slow to stop as you meet. 

“Headed out?” Your brother asks both of you, then turns his attention to you. “Before filling me in on the great news?” He can’t help the silly smirk that sneaks into his face. You groan and roll your eyes. 

“Nevermind. Get me out of here.” You bark at Jack, wheeling past Robby and smacking him hard on the arm as you go. 

“What?!” He exclaims, voice full of laughter. “I just want a quick replay of how it went down. Did he cry?” 

“I’m going to kill you!” You shout over your shoulder, not stopping your path straight out the back gate and to the front yard. You have no idea what Abbot’s car looks like, but you make your way out to see only Robby’s car and an unfamiliar faded blue Jeep parked on the curb. 

You pad up and lean against it, the cool metal from the night air pressing into your skin. 

You stand there for a few minutes, listening to the sounds of the quiet night street around you. Clearly you would be accepting Jack’s offer. 

You can’t hear either of the men talking in the backyard, but there’s suddenly an echo of Robby’s loud laughter floating toward you. Only a few moments later they appear, Jack digging something out of his pocket before tossing it to you clear across the front yard. You thankfully catch the keys before they clatter to the ground. 

“Great, I’ll drive!” You say jokingly, unlocking the car and sliding into the passenger seat. Jack only laughed and shook his head, turning back toward Robby. You were far too comfortable with this man you’d only met a few hours ago, but to be fair- you knew he’d been like family to Robby for years now, and Jack had witnessed a great deal of your personal life in the short time you’d known each other. Sometimes people just click, right? 

You carefully stick the key in the ignition and start the car, hearing the engine rumble a bit before coming to life. Cool air hits you and the radio begins playing soft music, a song you can almost recognize but not quite place. 

You peer back out the window to see the two men speaking seriously to one another, and when Robby looks up and catches your eye they quickly wrap it up. They both walk over to the car, giving one another a quick clap on the back before Jack rounds the Jeep to get in the driver's seat and Robby pops your door open. 

“Leaving without saying goodbye, sister?” He puts on a mock sad frown. 

“You huff in annoyance, and he just stares at you for a long quiet moment, clearly lost in thought. 

“I’m just messing with you.” He sighs before continuing on. “Are you okay, really?” He looks down at you earnestly. 

“Honestly…” you sigh, twiddling your fingers in your lap as Jack slides into the car next to you. “Yeah.” The man’s words from earlier replay in your mind. “I think I’m gonna be just fine.” You smile softly up at your brother. His gaze flickers to the man sitting behind you and a fond smile falls over him. 

“Yeah.” Robby nods. “You are.” 

****

When Jack pulls up at your apartment complex, a short ten minute drive from Robby’s house that you find yourself wishing could last a lot longer, you don’t want to say goodbye. You’ve sobered up enough that the nerves racing through your body are putting you you completely on edge, catching yourself staring at the man every few seconds from the corner of your eye. You sigh softly as he puts the car in park. 

“It was really nice to meet you Jack.” You unbuckle and turn in your seat to face him. “Thank you so much for the ride. And everything.” You give him a genuine smile, trying to communicate how much it really did mean to you. 

“It was my pleasure.” He replies, and you swear your heart skips a beat at his quiet gravelly tone. 

You know you’re staring at him, you know it’s time to say goodnight and get out of the damn car. 

You don’t. 

“I hope I get to see you again soon.” Is the most you can muster, eyes refusing to meet his and instead staring somewhere near his collarbone. You focus on the dark blue material of the t-shirt he’s wearing, and how it clings to his freckled skin…

“I would like that very much.” Your eyes snap up at his earnest reply. 

Your heart is hammering a million miles per hour and it feels like the car just rose twenty degrees. 

“Really?” You sigh before you can stop yourself, all caution or fear of embarrassing yourself thrown to the wind. The man is simply staring back at you, not a hint of judgement or inhibition in his features. 

“Yes.” He nods, nearly whispering. You’re suddenly talking again. 

“At risk of making myself look like a total train wreck cliche trying to hook up with her brother’s best friend the day she got dumped, I have to tell you that I really, really want to kiss you right now.” It floods out of your mouth before you can even think to stop it. Blame the summer heart, Mateo’s punch, or simply Jack Abbot’s stupid beautiful face only a few inches from yours, but it’s out in the open and you can’t rebottle it. 

“You didn’t get dumped.” Is all he says, finally, eyes dropping to your lips for a millisecond before boring into your own again. 

You’re on him in seconds, hands grasping for purchase on his shoulders and trying to pull him as close as possible with the awkward angle and center console in between you. When you feel Jack’s hands snake up into your hair and pull you ever so slightly tighter against him you let out a sigh and completely let go. 

This is the best kiss you have ever experienced, and it’s not even a little bit close. 

By the time you both pull away, you’re panting heavily, eyes wild and face flushed. Seeing the same effect on Jack Abbot, knowing it was from kissing you… it takes everything in your power not to tackle him again. 

“Um. Sorry.” You eventually get out with a squeak. He stares back at you like you’ve lost your mind for a moment, or maybe he’s lost his, and suddenly his hands are on your arms, your back, your waist, pulling you in as tight as possible as your lips crash back together. 

By the time Jack Abbot gets you to the door of your apartment, your lips are swollen and you feel like you might pass out right then and there. You shove your key in the door after a few attempts and turn toward the man. 

“I don’t know what to say.” You laugh, looking at the floor. 

“Say yes to getting dinner with me tomorrow.” Jack responds firmly. You look into his face and see earnest, honest hope that makes your heart do backflips in your chest. 

“Yes.” You whisper. 

With a final peck to your cheek, you slip into the apartment and say goodnight to Jack Abbot. 

Until tomorrow. 

****

(8:37pm) Robby: So are you and Abbot engaged yet or what?

(10:00pm) You: I’m blocking this number. Goodbye forever

(10:04pm) You: Why didn’t you tell me your best friend is HOT?!

(10:05pm) Robby: If I’d known it would’ve gotten you to break up with that jerk I would have introduced you years ago 

(10:05pm) Robby: Also ew. 

links:

Being a senior resident at one of the most highly visited emergency departments in the country was not a cake walk by any means. Being a senior year resident at said ED, which was thousands of miles away from the home you’d known for the previous decades of your life, and struggling every day to not completely burn yourself out or run out of money was exhausting to say the least.

When you’d woken up on what you had hoped would be a restful and much needed day off, you hadn’t been expecting any mail- it was a Sunday after all. 

But nevertheless, a thin sealed letter had been stuffed underneath your apartment door, now resting half exposed at the threshold amidst a pile of shoes and the coat you’d tossed aside last night instead of taking it the extra ten feet away to your hamper. 

You’d fetched it off of the floor and tossed it carelessly onto your kitchen counter, opting to pour a day-old cup of coffee from the pot and revive it in the microwave before even considering reading the crumpled letter. 

You’d immediately wished you’d just forgotten about it altogether.

Dear Tenant,

This notice has been sent to all relevant parties affected by the upcoming construction developments. 

As previously notified, the complex is undergoing extensive renovation. As a part of this effort, the top floor of the building will be turned into updated studio apartments- this will entail a complete demolition and construction of the new living spaces. 

Construction is scheduled to begin September 1st and be completed by early January. 

All current tenants will be required to move out of the building during construction, but will be given priority access to applying for residency in the new units. 

All tenants must be completely moved out by August 20th- effective immediately. 

Please reach out to the building manager with any questions or concerns. 

You weren’t sure how many times you read the words typed in heartless, bold font, eyes skipping up and down over the paper as your stomach dropped. Was this some sort of sick prank?

(A few texts to the handful of neighbors you knew confirmed that, no, this was in fact not a joke. It was unfortunately very real.)

Well fuck.

(A frantic phone call to your landlord only further confirmed your misfortune, and assured you that he did not care even a little bit that you and the five other tenants on the top floor of your apartment building were about to be without a place to live.)

Well, fuck.

Like any sensible adult with little to no means of moving anywhere else in the city, no idea how to find said new living space mid-July, when most leases were already signed and sealed- you tossed the paper violently down on your cluttered kitchen table and effectively ignored it for the rest of the day.

Or at least you’d tried. After about an hour of scrolling on the couch and hoping the situation would simply disappear if you ignored it hard enough, the reality that you had hardly over a month to find somewhere to live really set in.

Samira texted you about twenty minutes later, interrupting your doom spiral.

Mira: Hey! Victoria and I are going to that new Thai place after she gets off tonight if you still wanted to come :) LMK

You probably didn’t need to spend money going out to dinner given the new development in your already strained financial life.

You: yess! what time

“So I have six weeks to find somewhere that I can actually afford to live.” You finished explaining your current predicament to the two girls sitting across from you in the packed restaurant. Victoria had been staring at you with a completely unconcealed look of worry and borderline terror since you’d started talking.

“That’s like, impossible.” She spoke, shaking her head matter of factly. Completely unhelpful, but true. You nodded slowly, closing your eyes. Yeah, it kinda was.

“I’m so sorry.” Samira added, shaking her own head and staring down at her plate in thought before speaking again. “Have you asked around to see if anyone at the hospital has an extra room, at least like a temporary thing?” She suggested, trying to sound hopeful. “I think it’s worked out pretty well for Santos and Whitaker.” She shrugged.

Victoria still lived at home, and Samira was currently trying to figure out a less than ideal living situation with her mother herself, or either of them would have been willing to give you a place to stay.

“That’s a good idea.” You sigh. “I don’t know, it’s just so awkward. I can’t even think of anyone that would.” You sighed, twirling a too big bite onto your fork. “Maybe Dana will adopt me.” You conclude with a snort before shoving the noodles into your mouth.

To their credit, both girls give you a somewhat encouraging nod and shrug.

The next morning, you walked your commute to the hospital running a mental list of potential good samaritans from your group of colleagues. Samira was right, Trinity and Dennis had seemed to fall together perfectly as roommates. If you hadn’t heard so much gossip about how many extra visitors that apartment constantly had, you’d consider asking to crash on their couch- but no, Dennis had come to work one too many times with exhausted eyes and a desire to avoid Garcia like the plague. They didn’t need to throw anyone else from this hospital into the mix.

With Samira and Victoria already ruled out, and your hesitation to even bring it up to Mel (she would likely tell you to take her own bed, but she already had more than enough on her plate), your hope was dwindling rapidly as you approached the doors of the ED. A department of overworked doctors was not the best place to be looking for such a large favor, but these were the only people in Pittsburgh that you actually knew.

With a resigned sigh, you slipped past the desk in the waiting room and walked on autopilot legs to stow your things in the back before beginning rounds. Not realising the dark cloud you must’ve been carrying with you and completely lost in thought, you almost didn’t hear Dana greeting you from the nurses station.

Turning dazedly toward the sound of her calling your name, you meet the concerned gaze of the woman and a sympathetically smiling Samira standing beside her. You gave a wave and halfhearted smile as you continued on. You needed to clear your anxious mind and prepare for the day ahead, but it was hard to shake the burden weighing on you. Every passing moment of reality was making the ball of stress in your chest grow tighter. Taking a composing moment in front of your locker, you inhaled steadying breaths and reminded yourself that things usually had a way of working out. Right?

You headed back to the nurses station to begin offloading the night shift and met Samira and Dana still standing there, now joined by tired Dr. Abbot, ready to head home from his night shift. They were all wearing thoughtful frowns as Samira finished speaking, hands moving in the air in front of her in that way they always did when she cared a lot about something (which was almost all of the time).

Your gaze caught on Dr. Abbot as you walked. You were always taken aback slightly by the effect the man had on you. Something tugging in your chest, not letting you look away. You’d only directly worked with the night shift attending on a handful of occasions, night shifts you’d picked up over the years and the times he would come in early or stay way too late. The man never seemed to stop moving, flying in and out of the hospital at all hours of the day and night. You often thought of him in that torn up camo SWAT uniform he’d stormed into the ED wearing a few months back, all fiery determination and confidence. Not that you were thinking of him often!

That was just the first time you’d really spent time with the man, had a conversation that wasn’t panicked, urgent shouting over cases or polite exchanges at shift change. 

He’d come in with the rest of the SWAT team, and you honestly hadn’t even recognized the doctor right away. Only when he’d rushed the bed right into a trauma room and begun working on his injured friend without faltering did you realize who he was. 

About an hour later, after the officer had been somewhat stabilized and admitted to surgery, you were across the ED frantically searching for your patient. 

Orlando had accepted your offer to at least send him home with a bag of supplies for home care if he wouldn’t stay and continue being monitored in the hospital. You’d told him to meet you out at the nurses station, but when you’d returned with the bag full of supplies he was nowhere to be found. You’d made your way to the room he’d been in, ripping back the curtain in hopes of finding him waiting there, but were met with an entirely different and unexpected sight. 

Dr. Abbot was resting on the edge of the patient bed, completely bare from the waist up and twisting awkwardly as he tried to reach something on the back of his shoulder.

“Oh.” You’d stated, finding yourself so caught off guard that you just stood in place for a moment, hand still gripping the plastic curtain as you stared at the man. His freckled, muscular arm was straining as he stretched, and you were stuck still staring for a moment before finding your voice again. “Sorry.” You continued at last, shaking your head a bit as if to clear it and come back to what you’d been doing. You looked around the small room as if Orlando could’ve been hiding somewhere. 

“S’okay.” The man’s gruff voice had replied quietly, the surprise fading from his face as he dropped his arm. You absentmindedly noted that he was holding a cotton swab with ointment, tinged a bit red at the tip, but your mind was already back on the frantic track of finding your flighty patient. 

“Have you seen my patient anywhere? Orlando?” You asked, turning back and peering out the glass door into the center of the ED. 

“No, sorry. No one was in here.” Abbot responded from behind you. You brought your hands up and tugged them through your hair in frustration, groaning loudly. 

“This sucks.” You huff, dropping down into a chair in defeat and letting your head fall toward the floor. 

“Oh, no I’m fine. Don’t worry about me-”

“No, my patient.” You interrupted Abbot, clarifying what you’d meant but also looking up for the first time in realization that he was clearly injured. “He was refusing treatment, I… I thought I’d convinced him to at least wait and let me get him what he’d need for home care but…” you lifted a hand to gesture at the empty room with a sigh. 

“So Uber it to his house.” Abbot replied matter of factly, turning back to peer over his shoulder again. You scoffed, crossing your arms over your chest.

“You think the hospital’s gonna pay for that?”

“I’ll pay for it.” He replied immediately, voice a soft sigh. You froze where you stood, fingers flexing under your arms as you took in his words. He hadn’t even stopped to think about it, clearly wasn’t even thinking much about it now as he grunted, still trying to reach whatever injury needed attention on his back.

You hadn’t been sure if it was his natural quickness to be so generous, so thoughtful toward you and your patient- or the way your pulse was stuttering while you stared at his stretched, toned muscles, on display in a way you’d never even imagined. Well- okay, maybe you’d imagined this kind of thing, but you’d definitely never actually seen it. You’d always known Dr. Abbot was attractive, in that undeniable, back of your mind fact kind of way. He was a handsome and incredibly smart older man, of course you thought he was attractive- the entire hospital must’ve. But seeing this side of Abbot was definitely shifting the concept in your mind a bit. 

So yeah, you weren’t sure what exactly had gotten into you, but your feet carried you straight over to the patient bed where you plucked the cotton swab from Abbot’s grip without speaking. 

“What’re you doing?” He asked, not defensive but blatantly confused. 

“What you clearly can’t.” You joked softly, applying the ointment with ease. Rather than saying anything in response the man crossed his hands over his chest and huffed a bit of air out of his nose. It was a bit pouty, and endearing. “What happened?”

“Bullet grazed my vest.” Quiet and blunt. You waited in thought for a moment before speaking again. 

“Why do you do this?”

“My therapist said I need a hobby.” You almost snorted at his quick response, but let out a soft laugh instead. 

Though you didn’t know Dr. Abbot incredibly well, you did know a few things that mattered. 

You knew that he had served, which you’d come to realize during a conversation over beers in the park after a particularly shitty shift. He’d taken off his prosthetic, you hadn’t ever realized he had one, and Robby had said something in passing conversation that confirmed your suspicion; Abbot’s tough exterior had been built from more than just his time in the emergency department. 

You knew that Jack was a widower, something Dana had shared with you quietly when the man had been in an uncharacteristically bad mood one evening. He’d never gone home from his shift, staying all day as a woman watched her husband, Abbot’s patient, slowly pass away in trauma three. She’d watched you as you’d watched him, storming around the ED unable to do anything to help the woman losing her partner, her best friend. His wife passed, y’know. A few years ago. She’d squeezed your shoulder as if to add something unsaid. 

You knew that Jack Abbot was a good man. You knew this in a way that could only be learned by watching someone come in and save lives every single day. In watching him extend kindness and care and empathy and everything he possibly could to save his patients and the people he loved, because he’d lived a life experiencing a lot of the opposite; loss, hardship, fear.

So you didn’t say anything about the SWAT stuff, about how you thought it was reckless and a bit ridiculous, and how you wondered if he’d tried something normal like cooking or tennis before settling on getting shot at as a hobby. 

“Thanks.” Abbot eventually spoke quietly, and you went to toss the swab in the trash. “Didn’t wanna deal with the paper work.” 

“Our little secret, then.” You replied absentmindedly, removing your gloves and throwing them away as well. You must’ve gotten lost back in thought about Orlando, because when Abbot had spoken again you’d turned to see him clad in a black t-shirt and standing, good as new. 

“Let’s go look up his address. I’ll order the car.” 

No, it’s not that you spent a lot of time thinking about the man, that would be… silly. And embarrassing. It was just that when you did think about him, there was always a lot to think. That’s all. 

You came up to the group, realizing quickly from the identical looks on their faces that Samira had clearly shared your recent misfortune. Already on the warpath of compartmentalizing your personal life in order to be a functioning doctor, you spoke before they could. 

“Anything interesting?” You ask, grabbing a tablet. 

As if on perfect que, Robby strolled up next to you, his own tablet in hand as he stared up at the board. 

“Come on, you two can round with me.” the man says to Samira and you, not looking up as he types something. 

Thankful for the diversion, you fall into step behind the two attendings with Mohan, pushing any worries of your apartment to the recesses of your mind for the next twelve hours. 

The day passed relatively uneventfully, though as hectic and busy as always. When the end of the day rolled in and the night shift began seeping in, the thought of going home only dragged all memories of your current situation back to the surface full force. The responsibility of figuring out your apartment issue only weighed heavier after a twelve hour shift, who would’ve thought?

As you signed off on your last chart for the evening, you looked up to see Dr. Abbot entering the ED, backpack slung over one shoulder. To your surprise, he was headed in your direction, not coming to a stop until he was right beside you. 

“Hi, Dr. Abbot.” you greeted tiredly, sliding the tablet into its station on the counter and turning toward the man. 

“Hey kid.” He replied, tucking a hand in the pocket of his scrubs. “How you doing?” 

You hesitated, caught up a bit the way you always were around him. 

“Uh, fine.” You reply. “You?”

The man just looked at you, as if assessing your answer, deciding if he really believed it. He waited so long to speak you began wondering if you should excuse yourself, but could tell there was something he was trying to figure out how to say. 

“Heard you're having some… house problems.” 

You laugh, shocked at his bluntness and even more shocked at the man bringing up the subject at all. 

“You could say that.” You laugh humorlessly in response, folding your arms across your chest and leaning back against the wall. Your cheeks warmed a bit under Abbot’s gaze, a bit embarrassed to be discussing this with anyone at work let alone the older man who likely hadn’t had to worry about things like getting kicked out of his shitty apartment in a long time. 

“Listen.” Abbot spoke, and you stared back at him as you waited for him to continue. He didn’t. 

In fact, he didn’t for so long, instead opting to kick a booted foot against the floor and peer anywhere around the room but at you, that you thought you must’ve misheard him. When you moved to step away, his attention snapped back to you as if he’d woken up from a trance. 

“Listen-” he said again, going on quickly this time. “Mohan told me this morning about your apartment stuff. I know you probably don’t have many options, I’m honestly shocked you’re even living alone right now. No offense.” He added, and you couldn’t fault him, you’d really lucked out finding an apartment you could afford solo. Not that it had really worked out, had it? “I um… I wanted to offer for you to crash at my place. I have an extra room, an extra bathroom too. I honestly don’t even go upstairs much at all.” He was rambling now, hands gesturing in front of him as he spoke. “I just remember how hard it is, med school, residency and everything. And you’re not from here, right? I just don’t want you to have to struggle more than necessary. Any of you- I mean. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, and obviously think about it and go through all your options and stuff. I just wanted to. Throw it out there.” He puffs a breath of air out. “If you want.”

If you had a smidge less composure, your jaw would have dropped onto the floor. You had to take a few seconds to process what Abbot had actually just said to you, and squeeze your nails into your palms to make sure you weren’t having some sort of weird stress dream. When you finally did respond, it wasn’t much.

“What?” You managed, needing the man to clarify whether or not he had actually just offered for you to… move in with him.

Dr. Jack Abbot, your very handsome, very charming, very much older and dreamy and intelligent and intimidating boss- had just asked you if you wanted to move into his house. Right? “I just wanted to give you the option. No pressure. At all.” He emphasized, taking a small step forward. “But the door’s open.” A hand was squeezing your arm then, and you jerked your head down to look at it as if you’d never been touched before. Abbot quickly let go, taking your surprised response as dislike. You immediately mourned the loss of his warm hand against you, and even more immediately tried to banish that insane thought from your mind. Were you genuinely losing it? 

“I- uh- I-”  you searched at a loss for an appropriate response to this insane offer. Because it was insane, right? Not that Abbot was insane, or that you didn’t trust him or anything like that. Honestly, when you really thought about it, you couldn’t think of a single reason on Abbot’s side of things that would deter you from accepting his offer. No, you were the problem.

You, who had most definitely and inarguably, despite how much you’d tried to convince yourself otherwise, had been harboring a crush on the night shift attending since that day you’d patched him up- if not the very first time you’d met him. Who’d caught yourself staring a few too many times at the wedding band on his finger, feeling like a terrible person for having a crush on a widowed man, and even more so feeling like a stupid girl for harboring a crush on a man who had already had a whole ass wife. You who, though you were embarrassed to admit it, had always been so generous in picking up people’s night shifts when they needed it for the ulterior motive of spending an entire shift beside Jack Abbot.

Saving you from stammering on any longer, Abbot gave you a tight lipped smile and curt nod, as if to say his business was finished.

“Just think about it kid. Let me know.” 

And then he was gone.

a/n: thank you so so much for reading <3 i hope u enjoyed

this will obviously be multi part, chapter 2 hopefully tomorrow! i would love to hear feedback on the length of this part (I felt like it was a bit long but always feel that way about my own writing lol) LMK!!! if you feel it was ok length or if I should adjust for the rest of the chapters. LUV YA!!!! - reef

links:

next part

after the- to put it plainly- shitty fourth of July shift yourself and many of your coworkers had suffered through last year, a surprisingly large group of staff (whom you were fairly certain had been led by trinity) had swindled Gloria into giving a ridiculous amount of people the day off. usually at least a quarter of the people who were currently crammed into Dana's backyard were on call, if they weren't already in the trenches of a shift. but your coworkers at the Pitt were nothing if not persistent, trinity the most of all. and so here you all were, at the evening that had been advertised as a "casual staff barbecue" but was indeed a full blown holiday party with tablecloths and little sparkly blue and red decorations at each place setting and papers plates with fireworks on them.

you were very glad that you'd made the executive decision to bring more than the single bowl of potato salad that you'd been signed up for- opting instead for two large dishes (you knew your coworkers could eat) along with a few packs of beer that you'd picked up on the way. half of the attendees were still in the i'm a resident that can barely afford to feed myself one meal a day phase, and you'd been there not too long ago. you enjoyed being able to do things like this now that you weren't drowning in your own loans. and if you just so happened to know that the beer was a certain attending's favorite, well that was just a happy accident, wasn't it?

the heat was blissfully light, brushing against your face and through your hair in the way that made you happy it was summer, thankful to feel the warmth shining on your skin but not too hot, not too sweaty. you were wearing birkenstocks, a choice that made you laugh a bit to yourself when you'd walked out of the door and thought of how little your coworkers saw of you in regular clothes, and a gingham sundress that swished around above your knees. dana had told everyone to feel free to bring their swim suits, but something about splashing around half dressed in a pool with the adults you worked in a grueling emergency department with wasn't appealing to you.

you drove up to dana's gorgeous white home, which you'd been to only once before. it was a bit far from your apartment, a bit outside of the city. there was a big paper sign tacked to her fence that read come on in with a bold arrow toward the open gate. you could hear the distant thrum of voices as you ducked out of your car, then frowned at the piled full front passenger seat. there was no way you'd be able to carry all this in one trip. you grabbed the two large containers of potato salad, bumping the car door closed with your hip and making you way up the driveway and into the backyard.

cassie sees you first, and from behind her legs a head of wild brown hair peeks out too. harrison smiles at you brightly and bounds over, throwing his arms around your middle in greeting.

"hi buddy." you grunt at the impact but smile down at the boy softly. you'd babysat for cassie a handful of times over the past few years, usually when she needed some last minute help or her regular sitter fell through.

"hi honey." he grinned up at you, and you couldn't help but laugh softly at the nickname. the young boy hadn't been able to remember your name the first few times you'd hung out with him, but his mom always came home and relieved you with a thank you honey or you're a life saver honey, so harrison had decided that was close enough. you didn't want him to stop thinking you were cool, so you always tried to hide how the endearing name made your heart swell.

from a few feet away cassie gestured for harrison to take one of the bowls from you and he did, leading the way toward the table of food across the yard while trying to peek under the plastic lid to see what you'd brought. distracted and preoccupied, harrison misses the divot in the grass and goes tumbling, knees and face smacking down to the ground and potato salad flying.

quite literally flying. you watch as your prized vintage pyrex arches through the air and goes tumbling across the lawn. you vaguely register the lid popping off a few bumps in, but your eyes are fixed on harrison as you rush over to where he’s sprawled on the floor.

“OW!” the boy shouts dramatically, rolling over and looking down at a pair of bloody hands and knees. he’s also sporting a gnarly gash on his chin.

“you okay?” you ask with concern, though you must admit your stifling a laugh at the absolute commotion he’s caused. it was like something out of cheaper by the dozen; and a handful of your coworkers were now crowding around you.

“what the hell dude?” cassie’s voice calls from behind you as she jogs up.

“i fell!” he huffs at his mom, but you can see the tears the boy is desperately trying to keep in as he looks hopelessly at your ruined potato salad and his sore knees.

“hey, it’s okay bud.” you hum, a gentle hand coming to his back. “that’s why i brought two.” you give harrison a quiet smile and nod of reassurance, then lift him up gently by his tender scraped up hand. “i have some bandaids in my car, want to come with me?” his head bobs up and down a few times and you nod again, quickly standing to stow the bowl you’d been carrying on the table a few feet away and then doubling back with a wave for harrison to follow you. cassie give you a soft smile and silent thank you as you go, to which you simply shake your head. you loved harrison, and getting to care for a kid outside the often terrible circumstances of your workplace was something that truly brought you joy. you’d considered going into pedes for most of your rotation period before you’d landed in the pitt.

the two of you tread back out through the open gate and down dana's driveway, and you can hear harrison's faint sniffs from behind you.

"m'sorry." he calls, and you shake your head again.

"don't worry about it dude. it's just potatoes." your sandals skid against the sidewalk as you come to a stop at you car, popping the trunk to retrieve the small first aid kit stowed there. you nod your head in a gesture for him to sit, and he hops up to rest in the trunk with his bloody legs swinging below.

you stay like that for a few minutes, humming and nodding in attention as harrison tells you about school, and skateboarding with mateo yesterday, and the movie he went to see with his dad (who you hate, but continue nodding along with a smile anyway) last weekend. once you've washed the cuts on his hands and knees off, and dabbed his chin with hydrogen peroxide, you hand him a box of bandaids to put on as you go about tenderly taping some gauze to his still bleeding chin. the momentary silence, as you work in concentration and harrison creates a pile of crumpled up bandaid wrappers in your car trunk, is broken by a voice speaking up from behind you.

"woah. you get in a fight killer?"

doctor abbot.

your head jerks up over your shoulder, hands stalling by harrison's jaw as your eyes land on the man approaching. jack abbot is walking toward you in a faded grey t-shirt and jeans, which would be a completely boring and ordinary outfit if anyone else was wearing it. you have to tear your gaze away quickly, feigning focus on your task to hide the blush flaring as abbot comes up behind you.

"no." harrison says with a bashful laugh.

"you should see the other guy." you mutter, smirking up at him slyly and making the boy laugh again. from the corner of your eye you see jack sporting his own curious smile. "alright." you add with a huff, brushing your hands on your legs as you stand. "all patched up."

harrison hops down from his seat in your car. "thanks honey." he grins, turning to jog back up to the yard without missing a beat. you huff a quiet laugh at the pile of bandaid trash he'd left behind, tossing the first aid kit back in with it and slamming the trunk shut. dr. abbot is still standing there. you, though you know it likely comes across as completely rude, turn and make your way to the passenger side door of your car in silence. you don't mean to be unfriendly, but where jack abbot was concerned, you were not the one in control of how you acted.

"what happened?" he asks, taking a few leisurely steps to follow you around the car. you glance at him again as he tucks his hands into his jeans pockets.

"oh, nothing. he took a tumble carrying a big container of potato salad." you wave a hand in the air as you explain, ducking into you car to fetch the cases of beer you'd left behind. "the salad had it much worse to be honest." you say jokingly, standing up straight again and smiling shyly over at abbot. his gaze makes your skin prickle a bit, and it all but erupts in flames when he reaches out, knuckles brushing your bare arms as he takes the boxes wordlessly. "oh- you really don't have to do that." you stutter, shaking your head a bit. abbot doesn't even respond, just smiles at you. unable to keep standing there staring at his stupidly handsome smiling face, you quickly reach back into the car and retrieve the final case of beer, then shut the door.

"this is my favorite." abbot hums, lifting one of the boxes a bit as the two of you begin walking up the driveway. you're both going slow, nearly dragging your feet in the kind of way that makes it obvious neither of you want the opportunity to be alone together to end too quickly.

"oh, really? that's great!" you smile in response, voice a bit too high. dr. abbot just laughs softly.

"how are you doing? haven't seen you in a while." he goes on.

"i'm fine. i'm good." you nod. "things have been pretty normal. working too much, not doing anything else enough." you laugh quietly. abbot joins you. "how have you been doctor abbot?"

"please call me jack, we're not at the hospital." he says kindly, and you know you're blushing again. you could call him jack. no big deal. for sure. "by the way... honey? a nickname, or?" he trails off in curiosity. you laugh a bit, and explain the origin of the silly title. jack smiles fondly as you do. you both slow to a stop as you round the corner and reenter the festivity. you can already see robby approaching to greet his friend in your peripheral. before parting, jack speaks softly.

"it's fitting."

your eyes dart up, wide and surprised, to see him smiling down at you warmly.

"cause you're so sweet." the smile pulls up into a cheeky smirk, and he silently lifts the case of beer from your hand and leaves you standing there in stunned silence, cheeks burning.

you're thankfully pulled out of your trance by victoria, who comes up beside you and pulls you by the arm toward a group across the lawn. you settle down on a beach towel with her, along with mel, dennis, langdon, samira, and mateo- who offers you a seltzer that is apparently "firecracker flavored". you take it with a hesitant laugh, though have to admit it's much better than you'd expect.

it's nice than you would think to hang out with your coworkers outside of work. you truly did enjoy being with all of them, though the ED was obviously not an ideal social environment. you'd roomed with harper for a bit after med school, but ever since she'd moved to Oregon your social life outside of work had been nearly non-existent aside from events like this, which were few and far between. you were pretty sure the last time more than a handful of you had had time off together and were energized enough to actually utilize it was trinity's birthday a few months ago- and you honestly couldn't remember much at all from that night. it was really nice.

dana's husband was grilling more hot dogs and burger patties than you'd ever seen in one place, and people were even starting to jump in the pool. harrison had led the charge, unsurprisingly, and it only took a few seconds of convincing for mateo to jump in after him. the rest of you group was quick to either follow or wander off toward the food table, and you were now left sitting at the pool edge, legs dangling languidly in the water as your friends splashed around. you laughed as mateo performed a particularly dramatic canon ball, which of course prompted harrison to attempt to outdo him. it went on in a cycle of ridiculous jumps and poses, and you really weren't sure who was having the most fun.

you're alerted by someone coming up behind you, and turn to see sneakers and jeans and your eyes keep trailing up and up and up until you meet the eyes of jack abbot staring down at you.

"hi." you greet softly.

"hi."

you realize all at once that he likely doesn't want to sit here, the logistics of the pool and his prosthetic and the terrible sensation of wet jeans all working together, and push to stand. water droplets pool around the ground from your legs.

"not getting in on the canon ball competition?" he asks smoothly, and your brain is still trying to catch up to having a second conversation with him as you try to formulate a response.

"i'm taking my role as a judge very seriously." you say back, and your heart skips an embarrassing beat as he laughs softly.

"of course." jack nods, taking a sip of his beer. another skip of satisfaction as you realize it's the one you brought. you almost think he can tell. "can I get you a drink?"

"oh, i'm fine. I drank one of mateo's weird concoctions and it was way stronger than I expected." you laugh a bit.

"a water then?" he asks with a smile.

"sure, actually. that'd be great." you nod, and the two of you make your way over to the ice chest near the deck. there are groups of conversation and even some lawn games sprawled out all across the yard, but you feel as if you're alone in a room with jack abbot as he cracks the cap of a water bottle off and hands it to you, the icy condensation dripping. "thank you." you hum quietly. he just nods.

after taking a sip he hands the cap over, and you screw it on with slightly shaky hands.

"so." you hum. you really needed to work on your ability to sit in awkward silence.

"so?" he asks in amusement. that stupid smirk was going to make you pass out in dana's backyard.

"soo... what's new with you?" you laugh at your own clunky delivery and jack laughs too, but graciously moves on and answers.

"not much. night shift, swat shifts, the usual." you nod, brows pinching a bit when he mentions his insane hobby in a way that he can't help but notice. "you don't approve?" jack asks with a chuckle. you feel your face heating again.

"oh, no, sorry. sorry. I didn't mean to be rude, I just... it just worries me is all. I mean, it doesn't worry me it's just- it's worrisome, like-" he cuts you off, thank God.

"you're fine." the man laughs, hand tapping your shoulder gently. "worrisome is one of the nicest things people have had to say about it." it trails of with a sigh, looking away for a moment. his face grazes over with something serious and far away that you haven't seen on the man before. "I don't know. keeps me busy." he hums quietly, taking another slow sip of his drink.

you nod. it must be hard, you know, being jack abbot. having lived a life so full of things you can never truly put down, never leave in your past. his time in the service, his youth, his wife... he carried those memories every day- they were as much a part of him as his leg or the wedding ring he still wore. it couldn't be easy to go from active service in the military to trying something dumb like golf or fishing on his days off. just because you didn't love the idea of him running around in a swat uniform (not that it was your place to think anything about it at all) didn't mean you didn't get it.

you understand, you really do. and you know jack abbot is a smart man, it's not as if he doesn't understand the danger and risk in what he does, as if he doesn't understand his own life. you tell him as much.

"I know it's not my place to have any sort of opinion. I just meant it seems...very hard. all of it." you say decidedly, and his deep, thoughtful gaze is back on you.

"it's your place to have an opinion on whatever you want." jack says, and it's casual and matter of fact but he's looking at you like he really means it. "and I care." he adds, and you look up at him in question. "I care what you think."

this gives you pause, gets the words stuck in your mouth as you blink up at the man. you aren't sure what to make of the words, just as you commonly weren't sure to make of jack abbot and his warm smiles and lingering touches and too kind eyes.

"that's nice." is all you can manage, and you feel stupid hearing your own voice. he just smiles down at you and laughs, a short soft thing.

"you're nice." he hums. "honey."

he adds the name quietly, as if in afterthought, something he was only speaking in his mind for himself, something you weren't sure you were even supposed to hear. you pretend you didn't.

you sit together for dinner and smile to yourself when your knees bump under the table. you blush when jack rests his arm on the back of his chair as he talks to robby. your chest burns fondly when he offers you the watermelon he doesn't finish but keeps stealing chips from your plate. you breath deeply and think that you could live a life full of moments just like this and nothing could make you happier.

a/n: thank you for reading lovies!! I love writing shorter fluffy stuff like this .. I think I'll do more one shots of jack and this (honey) reader every so often because why have the become so very precious to me in the span of writing this!! please let me know what you thought! love youuUUUuu - reef <3

anyway, happy lana del ray miss americana steve rogers superman jack abbot day girlies. here's a little shortie of your favorite sexy veteran. times are very sad but grateful for everyone who truly represents the values of love and acceptance and belonging and freedom for ALLLLL!

he’d start with his fingers and listen to your moans while he fucked you with them, gauging how satisfied you were with his ministrations. your legs would fall open as you wordlessly asked for more, but it wasn’t for a quicker pace or additional finger. you both knew what you really wanted.

“i’ll go real easy on you, honey. take real good care of you,” he’d whisper with a kiss to your nose before slowly sinking into you. the stretch had you instantly wrapping your legs around his waist while he hovered over you, beginning to thrust into you slowly. the fullness had you dizzy with pleasure and clenching around him like a vice. “there’s my girl. just needed her daddy’s dick, huh?”

jack would keep a steady pace so you were neither unsatisfied nor overwhelmed. he’d stay that way until he felt you growing closer, quickening his pace ever so slightly to bring you to the edge. but just before you get there, feeling needier than before, you whimpered a quiet “daddy?” and jack slowed down.

“yeah, honey? did i hurt you?” jack returned.

“no. i just. . .i w- want something,” you said meekly.

jack cupped your cheek with such tenderness that you almost wanted to cry. “what is it, princess?”

“i want your cum, daddy. want you. . .filling me. is that gross?”

jack gave you a little smirk. “no, baby, ‘course not. that gonna make you feel good? daddy fucking you full?”

you nodded all too quickly. “m- mhm. so good.”

“then that’s what you’ll get.”

jack withdrew his cock to remove the condom that’d been on previously, discarding it in the small trash beside your bed. then, gently, he returned to his position and pushed the head of his cock through your folds. only with a “ready?” and nod of confirmation did he enter you completely.

your blissed out expression has jack immediately setting the pace again, pressing kisses to your neck while he thrusted into you. “yeah, that feels better, huh, princess? my girl needs to get stretched so full.”

you clawed at his back, rocking up into his thrusts, and, fuck, was he right: it felt so much better, and you were so fucking close. “mhm, feels so. . .so much better, daddy.”

jack grunted as he rocked his hips into you, a sign that he was right on the edge with you. “you’ll feel so good when i fill you up, baby. mark my sweet girl with my cum.”

that little comment had you clenching around him harder, and finally, you whined, “can i cum, daddy? please, please, please?”

“yeah, baby. cum for your daddy.”

with all the permission you needed, you released around jack’s thick cock, moaning loudly as you painted it with your juices. simultaneously, jack finished inside you, hot spurts of cum filling your needy hole just like you’d wanted.

“that what you wanted, honey?” jack smiled, pressing a kiss to your mouth.

“mhm. but we probably made a big mess. . .”

“oh, don’t you worry your pretty little head,” jack whispered. “daddy’ll take care of everything.”

“Hey,” he said, sliding up next to you.

You didn’t bat a lash. “Hey yourself.”

“I need your opinion.”

You were still distracted on your charting, even as you said: “Yes, Robby, green does bring out your eyes.”

“What? No,” he said with a frown. He caged your body in, leaning is arm over you at the counter. “You're young.”

“That's why you like me, right?”

Robby hummed. He looked over you, making a mental list of all the reasons he loved you. “Yeah, sure, one of the reasons, so what do you think this means?”

He handed his phone over to you and finally you looked away from the charting to consider it. He watched as you read the text and saw the grainy pictures, one of him and another of Abbott, screenshots of them in backgrounds.. You didn't have to slide on any glasses or pull the phone away from you to see clearly.

Slowly, a grin broke out.

“Oh,” you chuckled.

Robby wasn't laughing and when you looked at him you realised that.

“It's nothing, it's just some meme,” you said, handing him back the phone.

Javadi had been gaining more attraction with her TikTok. She gave health advice with the background of the Pitt as her scene. It wasn't her fault- not really- if followers caught wind of the drama, friendships and hot men that worked there.

Her loyal followers had already deemed Santos as 'a hard exterior but caring soul', Whitaker with a 'heart of gold', and you 'the eldest daughter type.'

And they labelled attendings Robby and Abbott as DILFS.

Apparently they'd already explored how the two doctors would be in the bedroom.

“Okay,” he said, slowly sinking down to his knees in front of you as you swivelled your stool to face him. “But what does it mean?”

There was something hesitant in your gaze. The amused purse of your lips as you tried to stop a laugh and the light in your eyes. If you found it funny at his expense- which he had a feeling you were- he at least wanted to know what it meant.

You clearly thought he was joking. “You want to know what it means?”

He nodded.

“I can tell you at home?”

Robby let the words sink in, the fact you were undoubtedly referring to his place as home. But he didn't want to go home with you and this terrible feeling that everyone was laughing at him for reasons he didn't know why.

“Okay,” you said, holding his hands as if you were delivering bad news. “It means- and it's just Javadi's followers that think this and have clearly made this- that they think Jack is .... a more attentive lover.”

You chose your words carefully.

“ 'Eat it for dinner',” you continued. “Is a reference to how guys-”

Instead of saying anything you gave him a look and he gave you one back.

You sighed. “They think Jack eats pussy better than you.”

Robby didn't know what he was thinking but he wasn't sure it was ... that.

“I have a patient that's diaphoretic so I should probably-”

With little else to say you left your boyfriend kneeling, patting him on the shoulder as you went.

You could practically feel Robby distracted all day.

Every time you passed by the nurses area to go from one patient to another, he was there. Either sitting at the counter, head in hand and mindlessly looking through the computer or he was standing and listening to anything the one next to him was saying but you had a feeling he wasn't so much paying attention.

“Is Doctor Robby, okay?” asked Javadi. She was presenting a case to you, typically she went to you or McKay. You were sure she only went to you now as Cassy had the day off.

“Oh yeah, he's fine,” you said. It was no secret to anyone that you and Robby were dating, though you kept it professional around the ED. “Just TikTok, you know.”

Javadi smirked. “TikTok?”

“Yeah, yours.”

The smirk dampened and her eyes widened in the sort of frightened puppy way. She started stuttering over her words.

“Relax, he's not angry. At least not at you just what people are saying,” you said.

“What-what people are saying?” asked Javadi. “But everyone thinks he's hot. Really! They-they love Abbott and Robby. Seriously, people even ship them. Not that they don't like you and Robby, no they're obsessed.”

For a second you were intrigued.

In a way, maybe that should have have made you jealous or annoyed that everyone was finding him to be handsome and wanting a piece of him but if anything it made you proud. It made you want to hang off his arm.

“Some people are saying some things, nothing harmful.”

And also certainly none of their business how he ate you out at nights.

“Oh my god, I can totally tell them to stop, I can take the videos down, and I'll-I'll stop filming in here-” she stammered out.

“It's okay, don't worry,” you assured with a smile. “Get a CT and run blood toxics and come find me with the results.”

You found Robby exactly where you expected to find him, staring at the patient board without reading.

You didn’t even have time to greet him before he was speaking.

He jerked his head. “Come see a patient with me.”

So Robby led you off to exam room three, where an empty bed was made and no monitors were on. Even the lights were dimmed down low.

Robby pulled the curtains over and closed the door.

“Is the patient invisible?” You turned to Robby but hardly had time to see him before he was on you. His hands were on your hips, keeping you into him and his head ducked as he kissed you. He groaned into it, the forceful nature of his kiss having you stumbling back.

You couldn't help but kiss him back. When he started, there was no stopping. Even if you were in the hospital and desperate to keep it professional.

You shook your head, his lips moving with the movement. “Nu-uh.”

“What?” his hands came up to cup your cheeks, voice muffled with his not letting go of you.

“You're not kissing me cause people think Jack gives better head,” you said against his lips.

There was a noise of protest in Robby's throat.

“Cruel woman.”

Your hands slid up to his chest. “Wait- Michael.”

He brushed back. “What?”

“We are not getting it on here just because of some meme.”

You knew it to be the reason why almost at once. Robby was the one who had set certain boundaries in the work place. Like no making out. Yet he was the one huffing in frustration and surrendering, holding up his hands where you could see them.

“It's just some things people are saying on the internet.”

“I just don't get why,” he said, honestly. His head was tucked into his chest as he shrugged.

You were almost convinced he was upset. “I dunno. You're stern, sometimes, here,” you explained. “Maybe people saw that in the back of Javadi's TikToks and thought you had.... a hard exterior.”

“They think I'm un-caring?” he asked

“I didn't say that.”

“And Abbott?”

Quickly, you realised it was more than just feeling bummed about people thinking he gave bad head.

You smirked. “Jealousy looks good on you, Robinavitch.”

Slowly Robby sank down on the edge of the bed, sighing heavily as if this situation was weighing heavy on him.

You followed suit, sitting on the stool and wheeling close to him, treating him like he really was the patient. You knew how Robby got in his own head more times then was good for him. He didn't worry what people thought of him ever, but this was different.

“ What else is it?” you asked, softly, voice dropped low.

“Have I ever,” he began, shoulders high in tension and head low. His hands were braced on his knees. “Have I ever left you... un-satisfied?”

You wanted to laugh.

Robby and un-satisfied didn't belong together.

The nature of your jobs meant the two of you were exhausted more times than you were energised but that never stopped the two of you. If you were wanting you weren't left wanting, in fact, you'd be left thoroughly satisfied.

“Never,” you said.

He peeked at you with a little smirk.

“Those people don't know you, Robby,” you carried on, fingers circling his wrists and slowly holding him there. “They don't know what you do to me.”

Seconds ago you were berating him for kissing you in an exam room. But you leant into him and kissed his lips slowly.

“What I do, huh?” he mumbled against your lips.

“Uh-huh, things that Abbott could never.”

Just at the name of his friend had Robby grabbing you and all but pulling you over him. He leant back on the bed and slot you between his legs as he kissed you, hard. His hands couldn't find purchase as they sort every part of you, pulling our your scrub top and finding the skin there, running the back of his knuckles over.

Your hands wound in his hair, pulling until his mouth was opening up for you.

There came a sharp knock at the door before it opened. The curtains weren't pulled back but Dana's voice called out.

“Break it up in there! We need the room!”

Robby groaned, head throwing back on the cushion before you climbed off him. He didn't move even as you did.

“Aren't you coming?”

“Just... just give me a minute,” he said.

You chuckled to yourself, letting your eyes linger over all of him and left him there with the curtain drawn.

Dana was at the door, shaking her head with a chuckle.

You feigned innocence as best you could, working quick to tuck your scrub top back in and brush back your hair. “What?”

“The two of you, at it like rabbits.”

“We were not.”

“Not what I saw.”

“You didn't see anything.”

“Okay, not what I heard,” she said, lips smacking from the nicotine gum you slid onto her desk every morning.

“He was upset.”

“About that TikTok stuff?”

You looked to her. The last thing Robby needed was thinking everyone had seen the meme, that people thought he wasn't a good enough lover or whatever else he thought it meant.

“Is it bad?”

Dana shrugged. “It means nothing to me but you know guys, hurts their ego that kind of stuff.”

You nodded. You would say something in Robby was hurt. Whether it was that people thought he was a tough guy to work with or something about him that provoked the idea of selfishness.

But then they seemed to deem Abbott a capable lover, something you couldn't count on due to the fact you'd never gotten the chance to know.

Not that you wanted to.

(Except that one time in a dream before you were dating Robby)

Victoria rushed up to you and Dana excused herself. “I've just seen the post, Santos showed me,” she rushed out her words, panic evident. “Does he hate me? Oh my god, he hates me. My attending hates me.”

“He doesn't-”

“I mean it's so inappropriate, like, he saves lives you know maybe he just wants a meal cooked sometimes, not saying like- no- not that he'd ever get mad at you- or anyone for...”

You let Javadi trail off.

She blushed. “I should walk away shouldn't I?”

“Probably for the best.”

As soon as Jack walked in an hour before his shift was supposed to start, Robby stood, ready to leave.

It was rare he ever got out on time, let alone early but he hadn't been doing much work anyway, only thinking and being stuck in his own head. And sometimes with how much he thought about you: Yours.

“Thank you, brother, thank you,” he said.

Jack's gaze levelled on him. “Is everything okay?”

No, not at all. People on the internet speculated he was an asshole who'd get angry if you didn't have dinner on the table. As if he wouldn't live between your thighs if given the choice.

Robby bit his tongue and nodded.

“Hey Jack,” you greeted, coming by.

Robby's eyes followed you at once. He thought of all the plans he had in his head.

“You're here early,” you noted.

“I asked him to come by, listen, I got some errands to run. You think you're okay coming home by yourself tonight?” he asked.

There was a hint of confusion in your gaze but you didn't prod. You never did push him, always letting him come to you when he was ready. He'd never been so thankful for it.

“Er yeah, sure.”

Robby kissed you quick and hard, his hand cupping your backside and squeezing before he left you.

He only caught a glimpse of Jack digging into his phone to show you something funny. He dread to think what it was.

The last hour of work without Robby felt like a whole other twelve. Every patient answered questions too slow and chairs piled up with more minor problems. It felt like everything irritated you. Which it had.

By the time you were getting home, climbing up the stairs because of cause the elevator was broke you almost forgot all about the meme that had Robby so worried earlier.

That was until you pushed open the door.

You expected the tv on low, the lights on, maybe the sound of the shower.

You were greeted instead by a dull orange glow from the dozen or so candles lit around the living space. There was a fresh bouquet of flowers on the table and a sleek box tied off with a ribbon.

Hands landed on your hips and the soft belly of your boyfriends pressed against you.

“Robby,” you grinned, raising a hand to fall on the back of his head and stroke his hair there.

The stretch gave him perfect opportunity to pepper kisses over your neck. His other arm circled your waist, pulling you into him.

“What is all this?” you asked, eyes closing in the bliss of feeling him everywhere.

He hummed into your neck. “I just don't think you know how much I love you.”

You bit down on your lip as his hot tongue swirled over your pulse. “Oh, I think I know.”

His nose brushed over your jaw as he guided you forward, his toes clipping your heels as he didn't let you go or turn you around. He dragged you to where the present sat on the table, below the roses. His hands were large as they palmed and moved around your stomach. He breathed against your ear, your body waking in shivers as he uttered against you. “Open it.”

It was tough to do so- even to bend down and grab it- as Robby was adamant in letting you go. Eventually you got a hold of the ribbon and pulled.

He let you go enough for you to pull out the garment inside. Or the lack of garment.

It was a small set of lingerie, red and black- his favourite colours on you. The colours of seduction. There were ribbons and straps that upon just looking at you weren't sure how they were to go.

“I want you to put it on,” said Robby, head resting on your shoulder and looking. “And then I'm going to make you come on my tongue until you're begging me to stop.”

Your knees weakened but Robby still held you.

“You think you can do that?” he asked.

You nodded and gasped, smashing your lips into his. You turned in his arms, tongue's battling and arms circling him. You pressed your body into his, practically throwing yourself onto him.

The attentive lover he was he allowed it for a moment before he pulled away.

“Put it on.”

In the bedroom you stripped and with the help of the mirror figured out where everything was supposed to go. The panties did little to hide your ass but clad away your pussy, straps at your tights and bows there. The bra pushed your chest up, lace dancing over your chest.

It was sexy and sensual, knowing Robby had brought it for you and demanded you wear it. All the same, you couldn't wait for him to tear it off you.

Stepping back into the candle lit room Robby was already shirtless, sitting on the sofa with his legs wide and cock hardening.

When you stepped out, he smirked, arms stretching along the back of the sofa.

“I think I like when you have something to prove,” you said, slowly walking over, letting every step linger and make him wait for it.

Or drawing out whatever he had planned.

“I have something to prove?” he asked.

You dropped to your knees in front of him, between his legs as Robby's eyes trailed to watch you. “Don't you?” You were desperate to touch him, knowing he didn't have that planned but needing him anyhow. Your hands had only smoothed up his thighs before he grabbed your wrists.

Robby stood and pulled you up with him.

Without words he sat you down the sofa, stretching you out while he sank to his knees.

“Nu-uh,” he tutted, fingers wrapping around your legs and prying them apart, slowly. Your panties slipped and your pussy was slowly displaying itself. “You know what I want.”

“Michael-”

“What do you want?” he asked, but tonight was more about him than you. If it was about him proving something, you'd be his practise. If he was an artist you were going to be his canvas.

Your mouth just opened to speak when his thumb pressed down onto your panties. He rubs, slowly, pressing down harder till you grew wetter. Till he could feel it through the material.

His beard scratched at your thighs in the way that made you wither as he kissed at your thighs. His fingers pushed into your skin, kneading the plump of it.

“Have I ever told you, I love the way you smell.”

You gasped as he slid his thumb up and down, circling it slowly over your clothed clit.

“Have I?” he asked again, craving an answer.

“No.”

Robby was watching the space between your legs as he put his head there and inhaled.

Your back arched as his nose pressed into you, smelling and inhaling and groaning out when he was done. His fingers were pressing hard enough into your thighs to bruise. You wanted it to.

You watched as Robby darted out his tongue and ran it up and down you panties. He got a taste of you through the panties he brought.

Robby started off slow but he could never go slow. It was the way he did procedures, marking off everything first then moving around the room in seconds. It was the way he kissed, getting the same taste of your lips before sliding in his tongue and getting a taste of your spit. It was the way he fucked, slowly moving into you till your walls pulsed around his cock then he was moving like an animal.

They were small presses of his tongue then he was making out with your pussy through the cloth. He drooled against you, moaning and prodding his thumb, pressing in and out.

“God, I wanna get you naked,” he said against your core.

You didn't know if he wanted you stripped or just your core.

You chuckled breathless. “Then why dress me up?”

Robby pulled away to look at you. His thumbs hooked into your panties. “I like to un-wrap you.”

He dragged your panties down slow, grasping your legs and helping you out of them all the while keeping you limp on the sofa for him.

You expected Robby to ditch them, throw them aside but instead he shoved them in his face and inhaled again. “Oh my god,” you groaned, head landing back on the sofa.

“You're so wet and I haven't even touched you,” he said.

Finally he ditched the panties and faced your pussy.

His gaze flickered up to you and you felt exposed. A sudden need to hide came over you but Robby shook his head like he knew. Keeping your gaze he darted out his tongue and flicked it against your clit, circling your bundle of nerves.

At the devout attention your eyes fluttered shut in pleassure.

Robby sucked your clit in his mouth and pulled back with a pop. “Look at me, look at me.”

You looked at him.

His eyes were dark and wicked with want. He licked his lips and kept your gaze as he went in. He forced your legs up and apart, bending you as he shoved himself into you. He was there quick and heavy, licking and kissing till his slurping was heard around the apartment.

“Robby!”

He chuckled into you, sending vibrations up through you.

“I need your fingers inside of me, please.”

He hummed and shook his head, still occupied with dragging his tongue over you. “Not my fingers people criticise.”

You groaned.

Robby sucked some more, swallowing up your want, driving parts of your soul away while he was at it. “Spread yourself open, baby- just like that- there we go-” he guided your hands to your own core and helped you hold open the lips of you.

Then he went in with new reverence. The tip of his tongue ran miles and as you were left gasping for him, making a mess he cleaned it up from your hole to your clit and ran circles around it.

“Oh shit, Michael.”

“Feels good?”

“Yes!”

“Am I gonna make you come?” he asked, dropping his spit against you and working it in. When your fingers slipped he took over, holding you open.

Your hands went to his hair, stroking it back.

You knew your hands in his hair, or fingers threading through, drove him insane.

“Yes!”

He shoved his face in again, like a man addicted.

Sweat was starting to from along your body and the hand that wasn't in his hair groped at your own breast until you were humping up your hips to his-

“Get up,” said Robby suddenly.

He stood, his cock stretched against his pants. Robby brushed the back of his knuckles against the hard line of himself and wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Up.”

On shaky legs you did so, feeling the want but the coil of release slowly eased.

Robby bent you over and continued cleaning up your mess.

It was a new angle, the sort he'd never tried and as you felt his tongue in places you'd never felt you wonder how long he'd been thinking of this. How long had he wanted you bent over, ass up in his face.

With your back up to him he easily un-hooked your bras and threw it aside.

“You think Abbott could eat you up like this?” he asked, voice only above a growl. “Huh?”

“No,” you gasped, slowly turning to jelly.

The new position didn't last long as Robby stood tall again, pressing the hardness of his cock against the curve of your ass.

You arched yourself back into him. “Please, please, please.”

“I know baby, I know,” he cooed in something that could have been sympathy in a mocking tone. “God, you feel what you do to me? Like I feel what I do to you.”

Robby turned you around and kissed you, the trace of your essence on his tongue and shared between the two of you. He let his tongue dance over yours like he wanted to share it, a hand creeping to the back of your neck and keeping you in.

You were so wanting, so needy for any part of him.

“I'm gonna lie back now,” he said against your lips. “And you're gonna sit on my face.”

You pulled back, wondering if you'd heard that right.

Robby nodded slowly, not even trying to hide as he watched your lips. His thumb came back down to your clit, circling enough to keep you like putty in the palm of his hands.

“Michael-”

He was already pulling away, popping the buttons of his trousers and making himself comfortable on the sofa.

You were standing, hesitant. “I can't sit on your face.”

He smirked and patted his stomach. “Yes you can, c'mon.”

“I'm serious.”

Robby smirked, nudging you up. “So am I.”

He was looking at you with such wide eyes, though dark. The same way he looked at you when you got something right in work. When you pleased him, when he was so proud of you.

This was for him, you told yourself as you climbed over him, allowing time to run your hands up and down the hairs of his round belly.

You watched his gaze follow yours as you trailed up and up his face, over his beard until all you saw was his eyes.

Lingering on your knees you tested how low you could get.

The tip of Robby's tongue found your centre and slowly worked you open again.

His hands wrap around your thighs and he yanks you down till you're sitting on his face with a heavenly groan.

There was no time for protests as he got to work, his tongue burying inside of you. He was so close he could hardly move, only keep himself there and suck and slurp. At every tiny move his nose brushed into your folds, nudging your clit and dragging out the need.

“Ohhh fuckkk,” you whined.

Robby groaned into you as he tried to speak, something like 'beautiful' caught between your pussy. His hands were messaging your ass and grinding you into him.

“S'too much, oh my god.”

He shook his head, wetting your core with his saliva and your need mixed.

“Robby, I can't-”

“Yes you can,” he spoke finally, pulling away enough that you could hear his voice.

Your lips pursed together as you shook your head. The coil of tightness in you grew hotter, burner brighter. It felt like your first time with him over and over again. The way his body bounced off of yours with every thrust, the moans he couldn't help let out into your neck, marking himself there for weeks.

“Please come,” he said against you now. “I need you to come on my face, baby, please.”

Perhaps the world would have liked to know there was only one thing in this word that could get Robby begging. Your pussy.

“There, huh? You like it just there?” you could hardly make out his words, like he was speaking into your very being.

Your hand fell back into his hair and you leant back, riding his face with a new passion and fever. He moved his head along with your movements and it became a frenzy of passion and need and want, the both of you moaning and uttering any words of encourganemt.

“Yeah baby, there you go- there you go-”

“Robby! Robby! Shit!”

“All over me, c'mon, c'mon.”

You still couldn't believe it, your want all over his beard, smearing down his neck and chest.

“Only making you come, making my girl come, that's right.”

In seconds you had grasped his hair, shoving him in as you let go into his mouth. He strained his neck up and kept himself open on you as he inhaled and exhaled in groans and grunts.

“Oh yes, please... yes- fuck baby,” Robby whined, spreading your cheeks to get every drop licked up. You'd think it was his own release washing over him with the noises he made and sucked out of you.

By the time you'd both calmed down and he'd caught his breath and tapped your thigh you fell lower down onto his stomach.

His breath smelt of love and sex as you lingered over him, letting Robby brush back stray parts of your hair. “Satisfied?”

“Very.” You might have seemed drunk with the way he had you coming but you didn't care. “One of the best orgasms of my life.”

He smirked at you incredulously. “Change it to best of the night. We haven't even begun.”

The meme btw ^

Jack didn't know he was territorial about his bar. But he found himself sliding into another bar stool with a sulk. “Usual please, Terry,” he said, letting his backpack drop with a heavy thud.

“You got it, boss!”

A whiskey would soon be slid over the counter, chased by another and maybe another till a small fuzz clouded the edges of his mind and he could sleep easier. He forgot just how gruelling days could be.

But then he spotted you.

You were still smiling with the remnants of a laugh. One finger on your right hand was chasing the condensation down your emptying glass. He did a double take at you, looking past the hair falling to the smooth skin, doted with a mole or two.

You were young. The sort of young you didn't find in a bar- at least not alone. But this bar also wasn't the busiest, exactly why he liked it.

You didn't look like you belonged there. At the same time, you looked like there was nowhere else you wanted to be. Your chin rested in your other hand, your jacket was slung over the back of the stool and you weren't shying away from anything around you.

Jack's whiskey was dropped off in front of him and finally Jack got a look at you. Beautiful. There was no other way around it. He wasn't going to judge a book from its cover but he had a feeling your beauty wasn't the last thing to surprise him.

“Can I get you another drink?” he asked you once he held your attention for more than a second.

Your eyes widened, as if you hadn't expected him to talk to you. “Oh no, thanks, I shouldn't drink too much tonight.”

“What?” said Terry, pretending to wipe over a 'dirty' spot on the counter. “I thought you were celebrating, huh?”

Jack's brows rose. “A celebration?”

“She just moved to the city,” said Terry.

You smiled, bashfully. “I got a new job.”

“Congratulations,” said Jack. “And welcome, this is Pittsburgh's finest.”

“Thanks,” you said.

There was a moment passed in silence where the both of you seemed to understand the two ways the night could go. If you mutually decided to keep it there, a polite congratulations and a kind offer of a drink maybe you'd just remember him as the kind, older stranger.

You turned to him. “If the offer of that drink still stands I think I'd like to take it.”

Jack moved his body to face yours. He glanced at Terry, who waited happily. “Another one for-”

You told him your name and it chimed a bell in Jack's head, as if he'd been waiting his whole life to hear your name from your lips. He introduced himself and his fate was sealed.

“So, are you a native to Pittsburgh?” you asked, twirling a bit of hair between your fingers.

Jack lifted his shoulders. “Came her to settle down after some things.” He didn't want to get into the whole collage and tours and losing his leg and moving here after losing his wife. He didn't want to watch that pretty face of yours contort with worry or sympathy. “Are you new here, or?”

“Kinda. My dad's around her, parents divorced so I only see him sometimes,” you explained, flippantly.

“And now you got a job here?”

“Now I'm here.”

You told him where abouts you were living which had him worrying if he was any other random guy at a bar that you'd be telling him, putting yourself in (potential) danger. Or maybe Jack was special. It wasn't a very good area, the sort he never even looked at when he was moving, but he knew it was cheap.

“I passed this place driving in, looked good,” you said.

Jack chuckled and leaned in to avoid Terry's ears as he'd gone off to change the channels and some other guys requests. “Clearly your new around here. When I said it was Pittsburgh's finest.... it might have been an exaggeration.”

You laughed and Jack wondered what other stupid jokes he could make to have you laughing again. “Well, nobody's offered me the grand tour yet.” You took a swig of your beer.

There was an opening.

Jack didn't know why he was looking for one but it was out of his lips before he really understood what he was doing. “If you ever need a tour guide,” he said, gesturing to himself. Did he look dumb doing so?

You raised your brows. “You might regret that. I ask a lot of questions. I'm really into my history.”

“Good thing I know a lot about this place.” He did not, but he could read some stuff up.

“You know, you're quite the charmer, Jack,” you said, seizing him up.

He nodded his head side to side. “You've caught me on a good day. Any other day I'm an asshole,” he said, regretting the words as soon as they left his mouth. What was he doing? “I- that was a bad joke. I'm not an asshole. At least I don't think so.”

“I don't think so,” you said. “After all you're keeping a lonely girl like me company.”

“You moved alone?”

You smirked. “Are you asking me if I have a boyfriend?”

Jack usually came to this bar for a quiet one after work. At 6 am he'd nurse a whiskey, an un healthy habit he knew. Sometimes he was called in early and only had a couple hours to spare before his actual shift started he'd hang around, have a glass of water of a crappy cup of black coffee. He didn't come here to flirt with girls. Young girls who would probably attract some stares if he walked around with you on his arm.

Yet the idea of doing just that thrilled him.

“I guess so, yeah.”

A small dusting or blush rose to your cheeks. “Well, I'm alone. There was this guy back where I used to live but.... meh, he was stupid.”

Jack nodded, listening as if you were one of his patients. “He dump you?”

“He cheated on me.”

“Then he's the stupidest guy around.”

You smiled, laughing off your blush. “You know, you don't know me yet. I could be a massive asshole.”

“Well that's up for me to decide,” he said, as if he hadn't decided you were anything but.

It didn't take long for the place to fill up after that, people finishing work or deciding to end their nights of drinking there. It wasn't usual for Jack to be around at that sort of time, so the in flood of people surprised him, crowding the two of you at the bar.

That's how he ended up in a booth with you, an arm slung over the back of the cushioned seat as you sat in the ghost of his touch. You were almost leaning into him but keeping a conscious decision not to fall into his arm. The both of you were still nursing the same drink an hour later, sharing stories from each others lives.

Jack didn't ask about your new job and you didn't tell him.

“How long's your dad been out here?” Jack asked.

“Practically all his life,” you said. “But he moved when he met my mom, they separated when I was like five? He came back here so usually I'm just visiting.”

Jack nodded, briefly eyeing how close his hand was to touching you. So far he'd kept it polite. A hand helping you off from the bar stool (you did not need his help), a gentle hand on the small of your back as he led you to the booth, a finger brushing away lint that wasn't on your shoulder. He just wanted to touch you again.

“You close with him?”

You smiled, un-easy. “Well I'm about to be. I'm working with him.”

Jack made a wince and an O face.

Soon enough you were shuffling out of the booth, saying you needed to use the restroom. Jack knew stories about girls who went to the bathroom and didn't come back out, climbing through the window and leaving the guy to wonder what he'd done wrong.

He tried not to let his mind wonder. He checked himself, kept an eye on any guy wondering closely and tugged your drink closer to him, though the bottle was practically empty as well as his glass. He chucked a mint from his pocket into his mouth and chewed it down quickly.

He checked his phone once and then sat and waited.

When you got back to the table, you weren't alone.

Jack frowned as he saw the guy at your side, big enough to swallow you up and shirt so tight on him Jack had a suspicion he brought a size too small on purpose. He straightened at the pinch in your brows and purse of your lips.

The guy at your side was equally studying Jack.

The both of you stopped in front of him and you gestured down to Jack.

“Told you,” you said in answer to a conversation he wasn't apart of.

Jack didn't know what was going on and he wasn't picking up on any social cues. He lifted up a hand, grey hairs rising along his arms in a shiver. “Hi.”

“Oh,” said the guy. “That's cool, I guess. Maybe I'll see you around.”

You shrugged and took your seat next to Jack, this time tight into his side. He let his arm drape around your shoulder.

The guy took his cue and dismissed himself, wandering back to his buddies at the bar, looking back to you once.

“What was that about?” Jack asked, checking the guy one more time.

You didn't move from his side, only turned into him and he didn't move his arm. “Sorry, the guy was waiting for me to come out the bathroom. I told him I was here with... my dad.”

Jack had expected a lie you'd told the guy. Maybe you said you were already here with someone, a boyfriend maybe? “Your dad?” he chocked on his breath. Was he old enough to be your dad? Probably.

“I'm sorry, I panicked!” you said with a laugh.

It was infectious. Jack couldn't help but chuckle to, rubbing away at a wrinkle in his forehead. “I couldn't have been your partner? Or something.”

“C'mon, you think me saying I have a boyfriend will change him hitting one me?” you asked. “A guy like that?”

“You weren't interested in him?” Jack asked, looking over your shoulder to pass a small glare over to the guys. “Buff. Blonde. Young.”

You shook your head, pushing yourself further into his arm. “Nah. I like mine with meat on their bones. Darker... maybe greyer hair,” your eyes looked all over him, lingering at the lower part of his face. “Older.”

You were a treat dangling in front of him and Jack was starved.

He licked at his lips. “Well, I don't think dads do this-”

Before you could question him, Jack took a risk and kissed you.

You welcomed him warmly, your lips soft and eager against his. Where he tried to take it slow, you let him. His hand spread across your back, drawing you in as his head tilted, nudging you to be closer, closer, closer. His tongue traced the bottom of your lip and you opened obedient, tongue hot as you fought his, gasping into his mouth.

He felt the twitch of himself in his trousers, the tightening around his crotch.

Your mouth was warm, tinged with the bitter beer you'd sipped and something sweet on your lip-gloss.

He dragged himself away to catch a breath that his whole body burned for. Your lips chased his, body leaning into his.

Your lip-gloss was smeared down your chin and Jack was all too happy to swipe his thumb and wipe it off, savouring the sticky-ness of it and slight shine on his thumb.

Jack dared take a look at the bar where the guy and his pals stood. His mouth was slightly agape at witnessing the kiss and Jack was all to keen to keep his eyes on him as he kissed you again.

Jack couldn't tell which one of you was more ravenous. If his hands were fumbling with your jean buttons with more need than your own was trailing under his shirt and tugging it over his head.

He thinks it might be him but if you wanted the title he'd give it to you gladly, eager to please.

He had you leant back on the sofa left only in your pretty pink bra, your legs thighs thrown over his shoulders as he feasted upon you, boxes you hadn't un-packed building your own kingdom around you. He was a devout solider upon his queen, if anything.

Your chest heaved in a breath you just couldn't catch, gasping in the pleassure he was drawing out. “J-Jack-”

If he thought your lip-gloss smeared down your chin was a sight your arousal slowly making a mess of his face as he licked into you was a new delight entirety.

He wanted your slick mess to slide down his chin, down the greying hairs of his chest and all the way down to where his cock stood at attention under his trousers.

Jack's hips were bucking, chasing any small friction in his denim. “You like that?” he asked, flicking the tip of his tongue into you.

“Yes, yes, I do.”

He puckers his lips and slurps up your arousal, fingers digging into your thighs and keeping them open, supporting you as your hips bucked up helplessly.

He looks up, the bliss on your face a small indicator of your end coming soon. Jack lets you come, coaxes it out of you with avid sucks and licks.

You came on his tongue on gasps of his name. He'd heard his name yelled before, heard it whispered in dying urgency. Heard it snapped in anger but nothing was better than the sweet call of his name from your lips, drunk on your first orgasm.

He crawled back up you once your body had started to calm. Jack pressed his mouth into your own, sharing the taste of yourself as his hands were skilful in sneaking around your back and un-clasping your bra.

You sighed into him at the freeing feeling and his hands cupped you at once, messaging your breasts.

Jack kissed at you, moaning at the softness he felt in the palm of his hands. “You're so-mmph- so fucking beautiful.”

You toss your hair over your shoulder and look down to him, bringing him back up with your hands on his cheeks, his stubble rubbing into the palm of your hands.

He licked into you, groaning at the taste of your mouth. At every taste of you it was new, like he'd forgotten what you tasted like before and it was the first time.

“Wanna-” he said, breathless pulling away. “Wanna kiss you all the time from now on.”

“Is that a promise?” you said, grinning and pecking his lips.

Jack smiled too, your teeth clashing as he nodded.

He let himself be led like a dog to your room. There was a mattress on the floor, a suitcase or two pressed up against the wall and a box left open. Jack wanted to peak inside, wanted to see what else was about you. He wanted to know everything.

Your lips promised more, more, more.

Jack's hands fell useless at his sides as he felt the brush of your knuckles go to his belt. He closed his eyes, letting you work. He heard the clatter of the belt whipped off and thrown aside carelessly. He bit down on his lip with a smile.

He only opened his eyes as he felt you tug off his jeans, the fabric catching at his prophetic.

You looked at it for a second before looking up at him.

He hadn't felt insecure about his leg in years. It knocked on his consciousness then, keen to enter. He couldn't think of what to say. “Urm- yeah-”

He was calmed when you slowly sank to your knees and kissed over the lingering scars there, your nails scraping down his thighs. His cock twitched happily in his boxers and you could see the excitement leaking from him early.

“Come here,” he said with a rumble of his voice.

You were up on your feet and he was kissing you again, holding your mouth open to just taste you. He pulled off his boxers, kicking them away before his hands traced up the sides of you.

“I have- I have condoms,” you said, hands pushing him away lightly. “Make yourself comfortable, soldier.”

Jack was glad you'd turned your back to fetch condoms you'd packed luckily in the easy and already open box in the corner of your room. It gave him time to ease himself down on the mattress and watch as you bent over to find the condoms.

He was shocked he wasn't tasting blood as he bit hard down on his lip. If he wasn't so desperate to feel your warmth around him he'd have given himself a little tug, but he was too scared he'd come too soon.

Settling comfortable on your mattress on the floor, Jack tugged on the condom and sat himself up to brush your hair back.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

You nodded and leant into kiss him.

Jack wrapped a light hand around you neck and urged you back, looking in your eyes. You knew what he wanted.

“Yes, Jack. I'm very, very sure.”

He smiled and was ready to move when you stopped him with hands on his thighs.

“Can I... I want to be on top.”

Was Jack supposed to say no to you? You may as well have asked him to build your mattress, un-back all your boxes, re-paint your walls. If you'd asked, he would have done anything for you at that moment.

When you gripped the base of his cock he held his breath. When his tip was pushed into you he exhaled with a loud groan.

“Ssh,” you laughed. “I don't want to get noise complaints from the neighbours already.”

Jack held onto your hips, supporting you. “Fuck your neighbours.”

He focused on the feel of you as you lowered yourself all the way, his cock stretching you open.

“Oh shhiiiit... god,” Jack gasped, seeing where you sat flush on his lap, the head of his cock twitching inside of you.

Your head was leant back, eyes screwed shut in pleasure.

“No- look at me, look at me,” he said, lifting his hand to pinch your chin and drag your gaze back down. You opened your eyes that had turned dark with desire. “Yeah, just like that. Keep your eyes on me.”

And you did as you leant back onto your hands, slowly dragging yourself from him and then back down, setting a pace you were comfortable with.

Jack let you take the lead, lying there and taking it with mutters of encouragement and groans of disbelief. He laid his hand upon the bottom of your stomach, almost being able to feel him inside you. That- or you were driving him crazy.

When the sound of skin on skin sounds you switch your tactic, leaning over him and grinding down.

Your eyes were fluttering in pleasure, your mouth left open. You were still trying so hard to keep your eyes on him just as he'd told you to. “Oh fuck, Jack, it's-it's too much.”

“No it's not, honey,” he coaxed, brushing back your hair and holding your cheek in hand. “You're being so good for me. Just a- just a little longer.”

You whined, walls fluttering around him and sucking him in.

Jack didn't know where he was finding the restraint not to come from. It had been a while for him, since he'd talked to someone as pretty as you, since he'd been in a bed that wasn't his. Since he'd had something other than his own hand to come onto.

Your grinding became un-stable, your thighs squeezing around him. “Jack, I think- I'm gonna come.”

He wrapped an arm around you and drew you in till you were held against his chest. The sweat against your bodies rubbed and mixed with the saliva shared between your mouths in kisses where you both fought for dominance.

At the angle of you pushed down on top of him his cock was deeper. He was so close to you, so close in more ways than one.

Jack groaned out your name, his cock twitching inside of you, begging to be released. “Come for me, honey... come for me-”

With a loud moan into his neck you let go around him, walls clamping down on him.

Jack let go of his restraint, planting his good foot on the mattress and thrusting up into you at an odd but delicious angle, once- twice! Before he came, slumping down on the mattress.

The both of you laid there, his hands brushing down your back and bringing out shivers.

“I have never come like that in my life,” he panted, catch his breath.

You looked at him. “What? On your back, on a mattress on the floor with boxes piled up. Or was I just that good?”

He hummed and pretended to think about it. “How about all the above?”

The both of you laughed.

Once you'd both used the bathroom and had returned to your room Jack was still naked while you'd thrown on his shirt, drowning in the smell and feel of him. He'd never wished he was younger and could get it up quicker than in that moment.

You fell back down on your mattress, nodding and inviting Jack to lie down next to you. To stay the night. So, it wasn't that kind of one night stand. Good. He wanted it to be an every night stand.

Jack got down on your mattress but resigned himself to the bottom, slowly pulling apart your legs, taking his time like he hadn't been able to bring himself to do out in your living room.

You propped yourself up on your elbows, looking down at him. “Jack, what are you doing?”

“Ssh,” he said, finding himself between your legs again. “We don't want noise complaints from the neighbours, already.”

Jack woke with his body like soup. His body was drifting in bliss, the sort one got after swimming all day, leaving limbs sleepy with exhaustion and the activities still sat in your bones.

His body ached with you. With the feel of your hands tugging at his hair as he had you coming on his tongue a second time, your hands on his chest as you moved on top of him.

He reached for you, finding an emptiness with nothing but the smell of you left on your pillows.

Jack inhaled sharply before he heard the shower turn off and door thrown open. A cloud of hot condensation and the scent of your shampoo hit him as you stepped out, wrapped in a towel.

Jack rolled over, peering at you through sleep. “Morning.”

“Hey. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, I was hoping to let you sleep in for... like, ten minutes,” you said.

“Don't worry about it. I'm an early riser,” he said, checking his phone for the time. Half six in the morning. It wasn't technically a lie. He was up at this hour, finishing his shift. “First day at the job today?”

“Yes, and I'm working with my dad so I cannot be late.”

Jack pushed himself up, finding his boxers. “You get ready. You want me to make some coffee? Providing you've un-packed it.”

You rose a brow, a smile tugging at the corner of your lips. “You trying to make a wife out of me, Jack?” you teased.

He smiled down at you when he stood, almost challenging.

“Coffee pots on the side, it was one of the first things I un-packed.”

Jack kissed your cheek before sleepily making his way through your place, manoeuvring with far less grace than lust had him moving the night before. He flicked on lights, started the coffee and took the extra couple minutes to peer into boxes that had been ripped open. There wasn't much, clothes, a couple trinkets and such. Text books that were so large and piled up he couldn't make one from the other.

He'd just caught a glimpse of you as a kid, hands in between two other people. One, a woman he assumed was your mother and the other he didn't get to see before he heard your trainers squeak on the floor and was backing up from the boxes.

He poured you a coffee and handed it to you, watching you take large gulps.

“Thanks. I'm sorry, I wouldn't usually do this but I really got to run,” you apologised.

“That's fine, I'll dress and I could give you a lift in?” he offered. “I'd really like to see you again.”

You smiled, cheeks popping. “Well, I'd really like that too. But you don't have to give me a lift in, I'll drive myself, otherwise I'd have no way of getting back.”

Jack was seconds away from offering to pick you up too. Any excuse to see you before he realised he was back on nights tonight. Would it even be plausible? To be able to spend more time with you?

He'd move heaven and earth to make it possible. He'd got his first sip of you and was addicted.

“Take your time,” you added. “Shower. Eat left over takeaway in my fridge. You can steal from me if you want but I warn you I have very little worth taking.”

Jack sighed playfully. “I'm sure I can think of something you'll miss. You have your phone?” he asked, holding out his hand.

You handed it to him, un-locking it first.

Jack typed in his number, adding his name as a contact and in brackets added- guy from bar/a good lay. Just in case you forgot. “You can call me when you want that tour of the place,” he said, as nonchalant as possible, wishing at once he'd slid his jeans on just to be able to slide his hands in the pockets.

You read what he saved himself as and laughed. “A good lay, you were a bit more than that, solider.” You slid your phone into your jacket pocket, hiding your inform or something underneath.

Jack smirked, leaning in. “Really?”

“Really.”

He leant in and kissed you. He wasn't forcing your mouth open, he wasn't grabbing at you although he wanted to do both. He knew, maybe more than most, the importance of getting to work on time. But he could almost imagine this was his life. Waking early to make you coffee and food, kissing you and sending you on the way to work. Coming home to find you waiting for him, his name laced on your lips.

“I really have to go,” you mumbled against his lips.

“Then go,” he said, kissing you again.

He walked you to the doors, quick kisses being shared, small touches he dared tempt himself with before you were fleeing, practically running away to not regret leaving.

Jack did take you up on your offer and had a very cold shower.

The rest of the day Jack thought about you, teased himself with you. He'd never felt so infatuated before. He returned to his place in the late afternoon after spending time just breathing your things in. His apartment felt shockingly empty, too neat even though Jack hadn't cleaned in a while. It didn't feel lived in, loved in. It was probably painfully obvious it was a bachelor pad.

However he didn't have to linger long. He showered again and dressed in scrubs, checking his phone once and finding a text from you.

I've been thinking, a good lay really doesn't cover it, a solid nine out of ten.

He smirked down at his phone, tutting.

Only a nine?

Your reply came almost instantly.

Well, there's always room for improvement.

I'll show you improvement. Maybe a nice dinner would get me to an 11/10?

Already got yourself a 9.5 solider :)

The smile that wasn't an emoji tugged at his heart strings.

Jack didn't know how he was supposed to take you to a dinner when he worked nights and your job was a day thing apparently but he'd work it out. You wouldn't have to worry a thing.

By the time he was clocking into work that evening he was so distracted in checking the best restaurants around (what had the best food, or the best views, which played nice music, which were expensive...) he was so distracted he didn't even notice he was in early.

“Brother!” Robby called, greeting him with a wide grin and hug.

Jack was slow in hugging him back. Hiding his phone in his back pocket from your texts before hugging him back, worry pulsing in his veins. A happy Robby always worried him. “Hey, you're cheerful.”

Robby pulled away, shrugging. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“Nobody die today?”

“No, two people dead.”

Jack frowned. “And we're happy about that?”

Dana called his name from the nurses station, urging him over.

Robby's hand was steady with a firm grip as he led Jack over. “Glad you could make it in early, there's actually someone I want you to meet.”

“Someone, huh?” Jack wondered if Robby had finally decided to ditch his seven week itch thing and maybe try seven months, maybe even get to a famous seven years. Had he been waiting till it was serious to introduce him to the special woman?

“Picked them up from the airport yesterday while you covered my day, thank you.”

Jack had only just dropped his back at the counter when your name was called.

And suddenly there you were- glancing up at Robby in a way that gave no shock to hear him call you.

You looked at Robby then found Jack.

Scrubs. You were in black scrubs just like him, a navy top underneath. Your hair was scraped back from this morning, showing the expanse of your neck that he remembered nipping and licking the night before. Your eyes were plain, expression dropped as you stared at him, feet carrying you over to Robby on autopilot.

Jack watched as Robby's hand laid on your shoulder like it was always meant to be there.

And I'm working with my dad so I cannot be late.

Oh, god no.

“Jack, this is my daughter,” said Robby, saying your name with practised ease and a proud grin. “This is Jack Abbot, night attending. My best friend.”

Oh fuck, no.

You spent your day off packing. By the time Jack arrived, you had already said your goodbyes to your roommates, condensing your entire life into a single suitcase and two boxes.

“That it?” Jack asked, tossing the boxes into the back of his truck.

You shrugged. “I’ve always rented furnished apartments.”

You caught the way his mouth pulled sideways, his gaze dropping to the pavement. “Not even a lamp?”

Your gut twisted—the softness in his voice scraped against your nerves. “Don’t pity me” you barked, before climbing into the passenger seat and slamming the door.

.

Jack’s apartment was aggressively functional. It was ironic that he’d questioned your lack of belongings when his own home looked like an IKEA display. There wasn't a single photograph on the walls, no decorations, not even a houseplant to suggest a human lived there. Perhaps that was his personality.

He led you to what would be your room. It was sparse, featuring only a double bed and an attached bathroom. Once he set your suitcase down, the silence in the room became deafening, and you felt an urgent need to break it.

“So, I was paying seven hundred dollars before,” you said, the words rushing out in a jagged stream. Your heart hammered against your ribs, and your hands trembled. The terrifying reality began to settle in your bones. “I assume yours is more than that. When do you need the money, and what’s my share?”

Jack looked at you, his brows furrowing in genuine confusion. “What?”

“I can pay my part of the rent,” you repeated, feeling smaller by the second.

He blinked. Once. Twice. Then, his expression hardened. “I don’t pay rent.”

He turned on his heel and walked out, leaving you alone in the quiet, sterile room with nothing but your anxiety.

.

You spent the evening in the kitchen, preparing a simple tomato soup. The apartment was deathly quiet; Jack was either out or deeply asleep behind his closed door. Through the living room windows, you watched the last of the sunlight bleed into dark, bruised purple across the skyline.

You plated a bowl, leaving the rest on the stove, foolishly hoping he might want some when he woke. But he didn’t. Instead, his door opened, and he stepped out, already in sweats and a tee, a sweatshirt slung over his forearm. 

“Going to the gym,” he said, leaning against the counter, his eyes tracking you. “Wanna come?”

“Uhh,” your words stumbling over the offer and the sight of his biceps. “Not today. Thanks.”

“I have friends there,” he pressed. “You should meet them, too.”

“Maybe tomorrow,” you said, your teeth catching on your lip as you shivered. “It’s chilly today.”

He nodded, glancing toward the kitchen. 

“There’s soup if you want,” you offered shyly, a thumb pointing at the stove.

Without looking at you, he walked to the door. “Later, thanks.”

He reached for the handle, then stopped. He turned back. “The heater’s in my room. You can adjust it if you want.”

“Thanks,” you murmured, and he was gone.

You cleaned your bowl and retreated to your room, attempting to unpack. You were just lining up your photographs on the dresser when the lights blinked once, twice, and died. The apartment plunged into darkness.

You flicked the switch, pointlessly, then sighed. You lit one of your Bath & Body Works candles, the scent of Warm Vanilla Sugar doing little to lighten the apartment or fight the chill settling into the walls. You layered on a sweatshirt, then another, but it wasn't enough. The november temperature was not going to stop falling just for you.

Minutes passed, then an hour. You climbed into bed, shivering so violently your teeth rattled. You curled into a ball, pulling the duvet over your head, but the cold had seeped into your bones.

The front door clicked open. You heard the heavy thud of Jack’s gym bag hitting the floor, followed by the silence of the power outage.

“Hey,” he called out, his voice deeper in the dark. “It’s freezing here. Did you mess with the heater?”

You didn't answer. You couldn't. Your body was shaking with such force it felt like you were vibrating against the mattress.

He walked closer, the floorboards creaking until he stood at the threshold of your room. The hallway light didn't exist to guide him, but you saw the silhouette of him standing there.

He repeated your name in the darkness, an edge of fear in it. He walked in, his footsteps pausing when he heard the frantic chatter of your teeth. “Jesus.”

Jack was at your bedside in two strides. He pulled the duvet back, and the sudden exposure to the air made you whine pathetically.

He touched your shoulder, and his hand was a furnace against your skin. He didn't ask questions; he just stripped off his hoodie and shoved you toward the center of the mattress. “Move over.”

“welcome home, honey” you managed to tease him. A menace through and through.

“Move over,” he commanded again. He climbed in behind you, pulling you against his chest and dragging the duvet up to cover you both. His immediate warmth had you sighing in relief.

He pressed his chin to your shoulder, his breath hot against your neck as he tried to stabilize your shivering.

“I wasn’t built for this weather,” you whispered, your voice cracking against the silence.

He didn't laugh. He just tightened his hold on you, his arms wrapping around your waist. “I know,” he murmured into your hair. “Just breathe. I’ve got you.”

You were hyper-aware of everything—the scent of him; the terrifying speed of your own heart; the way his stubble grazed your neck when he shifted. You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to force your body to stop the violent tremors, but as your temperature rose, your anxiety kicked in.

“You’re still freezing,” he noted, his tone kind and attentive. He pulled the duvet up higher, tucking the edges beneath your sides. 

“This happens often?”

“Not really.” He shifted beneath the covers and pulled out his phone. The brightness of the screen illuminating his features. You saw how his brows pinched and the firm line of his lips spread open. “Oh.” 

“What?”

He locked the phone and put it in the nightstand behind him. His hand, however, returned to your back afterwards. “There is an email from the building administration about this outrage. It’s for maintenance and it’s scheduled to last until 10:30 pm.” 

“What time is it?” 

“Nine”

“Oh”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t check”

“‘s alright. We can always go to my place” You joked.

“No, thanks. I choose freezing.”

You chuckled.

“Wanna go have dinner somewhere nice and with heating?” He shook you softly and your eyes opened, catching his in the dark room.

You shook your head. “I’m sleepy.” 

“Yeah, you are.”

You clinged yourself closer to him, to his chest that radiated warmth. “You’re so hot.” You mumbled, “I mean, your temperat—.”

Jack chuckled against your hair. “I got that. But I’m all sweaty and gross.” 

You shook your head against his chest.

“We’re changing these sheets in the morning.” He murmured.

You huffed a laugh. “Deal” 

He didn't pull away. Instead, he reached down, finding your hand under the covers and interlacing his fingers with yours.

“Thanks” you mumbled. 

His hands shifted, moving to hold you even tighter. “Don’t.” A single order that you had no intention of challenging.

As you stopped shivering you waited for him to move, to leave, to remind you of the nature of this arrangement, but he stayed perfectly still. 

The exhaustion of the day finally began to win. The adrenaline of the move, the anxiety of sharing a space with him, and the sheer physical effort of trying to stay warm drained out of you, leaving you heavy.

You felt his breathing even out, slow and rhythmic. It was hypnotic. You tucked your nose into the crook of his neck, your hand still locked securely in his. You were exhausted, and for the first time in weeks, you felt safe.

The last thing you registered before sleep pulled you under was the feeling of his thumb tracing lazy, tender circles over the back of your hand. You drifted off, held fast by the man who was currently your roommate, your husband-to-be-on-paper, and your only source of heat in the dark.

You had been charting for what felt like hours, though it had merely been twenty minutes that consisted of you re-reading the same ten words over and over. You could hear distant footsteps and voices from every direction, with the occasional beep of a machine finding a way to occupy the limited space in your mind.

A gentle hand being placed on your shoulder snapped your attention back to the environment around you, as you looked over your shoulder to find a familiar smile looking down on you.

His salt and pepper curls frizzed out in every direction and fluffed up around his face to exhibit the constant running of his fingers through his hair.

His body seemed to move slower than normal in exhaustion as he crouched down to meet your eyes from where you were sitting behind the nurses station.

"Hey, hon. Just wrapping up, wanna head out soon?" Jack asked with heavy, tired eyes. You could only imagine how similar yours looked.

You nodded at him as you spoke, "Yeah 'course. Just finishing a couple charts." His rough, warm hand began to rub up and down your arm as he gave you a gentle smile that barely met his eyes.

He muttered an okay, before giving your arm a light squeeze and standing to go back to whatever he needed to do.

Jack knew that you were exhausted. Knew that you were beyond exhausted.

You couldn't sleep the whole day before your shift. Of course, Jack laid next to you the whole time, trying to tire you out and comfort you in any way he could. But from rubbing your back with his calloused hands to going on a walk with you in the middle of his interrupted sleep, nothing seemed to work.

You sighed and rested your cheek against your palm, holding yourself up in any way you could to finish your work.

It always made you feel guilty to know that you kept Jack up with your lack of sleep, but he always insisted that there was nothing he'd rather do than be with you and take care of you.

Which is exactly what he did after you had finally clocked out for the night.

He followed you into the changing rooms as you slowly lifted your charcoal scrubs over your head, leaving you in nothing but a bra and pants with frizzy hair from the lengthy shift.

As he took off his own shirt, his eyes wandered over to where you stood, checking on you and admiring you all in one glance.

Jack always thought you were the most beautiful thing to ever exist, even when you claimed you were anything but.

He simply adored you and everything you did.

Before your clean shirt found its way over your head, Jack grabbed onto your waist and pulled you into him. You let out a gentle grunt at the unexpected contact, but melted into his bare chest nonetheless. He wrapped his arms tightly around you as yours found their way around his waist.

"You're so beautiful." He muttered into your hair, gently rocking you side to side.

You scoffed, "Oh please, I look like shit." You stated, referring to your current state of fatigue and overexertion.

"You could never look like shit", he sighed with a light press of his lips to your head, "You're perfect. My sweet girl."

You hummed at his words, tilting your head up and resting your chin onto his chest, finding his eyes with your own.

"I love you, baby." You pouted, making him chuckle and move his hand to rest on the side of your cheek.

"I love you too, sweetheart." He said, leaning in to press a firm kiss against your lips. You both sighed into the kiss, cherishing the first peaceful moment you two had all night. "Let's get out of here, yeah?"

You nodded and pulled away to finish changing into your clothes, taking his hand as you walked out of the changing room with all of your belongings.

As you got to his truck in the parking lot, Jack opened the door for you and held your hand as you climbed inside.

From finding small ways to take care of you (even when it’s something you could easily do yourself), to showing you off as if you were the most precious thing on Earth, Jack made sure you knew you were loved in any and every way he could.

As Jack began to back up out of the parking spot, your eyes found his demeanor and noticed how he looked just as tired as you, if not worse.

His eyes drooped with sleep and his shoulders hung low, yet here he was, taking care of you as if he wasn't just as near collapse.

You frowned and wrapped your arm around his bicep, letting your head fall down to rest on his shoulder.

He glanced down at the contact before pressing a kiss on the top of your head, turning his eyes back to the road.

For the rest of the drive home, you stayed wrapped around his arm and resting on his shoulder, softly humming to the music being played on the radio.

Every few minutes Jack would glance down as you, taking it in and smiling, even though you couldn't see him.

As he pulled into the driveway you sat up, stretching your arms over your head and exhaling. He stepped out of the car and walked over to the passenger side, opening your door and helping you out, like he always did.

The sun had already begun to rise but the brisk morning air still nipped at your cheeks as you both made your way into the house.

His warm hand stayed laced with your own, solid and gentle all at once.

You kicked off your shoes and immediately flopped onto the couch, letting out a loud sigh.

"Quite the shift, huh?" He joked, sitting next to you and placing a hand on your thigh.

"Yeah something like that." You mutter, letting your head fall back and your eyes close.

"How 'bout we get ready for bed then, hm?" Jack took your hand, pulling you up to stand after a few moments of protest.

He walked you into your room, before sitting you on the bed and turning to the en suite bathroom to turn on the shower.

As he walked back in, you couldn't fight the smile on your lips.

"What?" He chuckled, leaning down to remove his prosthetic, while you grabbed his crutch next to the bed.

"I got so lucky with you." You said, walking over and swapping him, prosthetic for crutch.

"Oh, sure." He rolled his eyes.

"No seriously, Jack." You said firmly, taking his free hand in yours, stopping him from turning back to the bathroom, "You are so good to me."

He shook his head and let go of your hand to place his palm against your cheek, "I'm just giving you what you deserve."

He pressed a light kiss to your forehead before walking with you to the shower, removing his clothes and taking a seat on his shower chair that he always insisted was 'unnecessary' (but he used it everyday anyway).

Stepping into the shower, you let the steam envelop your skin in a warmth that merely mimicked the heat you felt in your chest from being around Jack.

As the hot water rose around you and created a dense fog, your sight immediately drifted back to the man sitting in front of you.

Jack smiled at you and patted his thigh, urging you to sit on his lap.

Obliging, you let your knees fall atop his thighs and around the chair, before tilting your head to press a solid kiss against his lips.

He groaned and moved his hand to the back of your head, pulling you in farther while tangling his fingers into your hair.

When you pulled apart to catch your breath, he rested his forehead against yours.

"I'm so proud of you." He said, opening his eyes to look into yours. The speckles in his brown eyes captured yours with a million unspoken words of admiration and devotion while his hands held your body and face like you could slip away at any given moment and he was refusing to let you do so.

You frowned before leaning back into him as the water ran down your back and continued to fog up the space around you.

And he kissed you like the world was ending.

His lips pressed to yours with every ounce of passion you could ever comprehend.

His hand on your back slid lower, pulling you tighter into him while he slightly opened his mouth against yours. Your tongues found their way to one another, pressing into each other and exchanging all the words you didn't need to say aloud.

Once you finally pulled away, he didn't move a muscle. He just held you there.

His head rested on your shoulder as he left warm, wet kisses all across your neck and shoulder. Though his hands stayed where they were before, cradling your head and back.

"Hey, Jack?" You spoke into his hair.

"Yes, sweetheart?" Another kiss to your neck.

"Promise me this will never change?"

He paused, looking up at you.

"Baby you are all that I am," his hand moved to rest upon your cheek, "I don't know where, or how, but I know that this will always be."

And so he held you through another night,

promising you,

showing you,

letting his grace remind you how to find your own,

Soft!Pope whose touch starved but immediately melts into your hugs.

Soft!Pope who loves resting his head in your lap as your fingers run through his hair.

Soft!Pope who will pull you close just because he needs a hug.

Soft!Pope who is quietly protective of you.

Soft!Pope who will drape his jacket over your shoulders when you’re cold and pull you close.

Soft!Pope who sends sweet texts just to check in on you throughout the day.

Soft!Pope who immediately comes to see you as soon as he’s finished with a job.

Soft!Pope who when stressed curls up in your arms. He just needs you holding him close.

Soft!Pope who struggles with vulnerability but will always assure you that you’re safe with him.

Soft!Pope who gets shy when you compliment him. He also struggles with insecurity a little and feels like he doesn’t deserve you.

Soft!Pope who even though he struggles with vulnerability, finds it easier to be vulnerable with you.