✨Redheadspark✨

He knew what you were going through since you two talked a week prior about how you were wishing to leave The Pitt, how it was making you suffer, and feel like drowning. He wanted to help you, to take away the pain that you were feeling. Yet you were stubborn in your ways, telling him that it was going to be fine and you could handle it until something new came along.

Not this, not you being yelled at. By his best friend, no less. Jack saw red.

He walked in the pouring rain with his hood over his head, his eyes zoned on the double doors that were in the ambulance bay. His walk was strong and almost menacing; he wasn’t there for pleasantries. He had a mission, and nothing was going to stop him as the doors slid open. Jack walked in, shoving the hoodies off his head and lining up a few times to get his eyes used to the fluorescent lights above him. If it were any other time, he would be okay coming into the Pitt. Seeing the familiar Night Shift, the crew and coworkers that he’s known for some time, and would defend with all his might.

They were looking at him now as if he were about to commit murder. He was,

Ellis was at the nurses' station, her face looking so concerned as both Lena and Dana were there talking to her in hushed tones. Some of the Day Shift doctors were still there: Santos, Whittaker, and Mel. They looked at Jack with wide eyes and immediately ducked their heads and scattered. Jack glared and scanned the room, trying to find the one person he wanted to have choice words with. Dana moved first, seeing Jack and gliding from behind the counter to him. She stood in front of Jack, though Jack was still looking. He wanted to find one person, and the look on his own face showed that he was not to be fucked with.

“Jack,” Dana said his name once, though Jack inhaled sharply, “Hey!”

He looked at her with a tone in her voice, she scanned his eyes, and gave him a knowing look.

“He’s not here.”

Jack saw she was telling the truth, her eyes going down and seeing fists at both of his sides. He was stiff and bored, his fists were so tight that veins were popping out, and even his eyes were darker. It didn’t matter that he was soaked from the rain and looked like a wet dog. Dana was drinking in the sight of him as she sighed and placed her hands on her hips.

“I take it Shen told you?” Dana asked, and Jack looked back at her sternly.

“He told me everything,” Jack said in a low tone. Dana hummed as he spoke again, “Where did—“

“He went to the roof,” Dana answered before Jack could finish the question. Jack closed his mouth, nodding slowly as Dana took a hesitant step toward him, “He knew he was in deep shit after what he did.”

“Dana,” Jack said her name slowly, Dana stopped talking as he kept his glare on her, “He had no fucking right. Not at all,”

“No, he didn’t,” Dana agreed, nodding in agreement as she held up her hands to show she was on his side, “What he did, what he said, was inappropriate and wrong. Beyond wrong, especially to her. Of all people, she wouldn’t hurt a fly,”

“I wanna kill him,” Jack growled. Dana saw the hurt and rage in his tone and saw it in his eyes as she breathed out slowly, ready to try to calm him down.

“Jack..” She said his name, almost hurt herself as he shook her head.

“He’s been after her for two fucking months, Dana. He may be going through shit, but he went after her,” Jack said in a low tone. A few nurses and residents were attempting to listen in on the conversation, but to no avail. Dana looked back, seeing those who were attempting to eavesdrop scatter away within seconds. She grabbed his arm, making him move along with her as they moved to a private patient room that was not being used. Jack went willingly, knowing he was still enraged with what happened to you, but he knew Dana was not the issue. He had too much trust and respect for her as both a Charge Nurse and as a friend.

Before Dana could get Jack into a room, someone was waving their hand near the Break Room and Lockers. They both looked, seeing it was Shen.

“Abbot! Here!” 

Jack moved away from Dana, who followed him as Jack moved swiftly. He dodged doctors and nurses that were in the way; his own goal and motive were right there. Nothing was going to stop him as he finally reached Shen. Shen looked relieved to see him, but that sunny disposition that he also had was long gone.

“She’s in there,” Shen explained as Jack placed a hand on the door, “No one went in after her, I swear.”

“I told the entire floor to give her space,” Dana added in. Jack looked at both of them. He wanted to smile, thank them both for helping and protecting you. He knew he could trust them with you with something like this. Shen was his right-hand man during the Night Shift, and Dana was fierce as a Charge Nurse. They both loved you as a co-worker and friend; they would never dare to be against you or Jack as a friend.

“Jack,” Dana said calmly, Jack locking eyes with her as she placed a hand on his arm, “Take her home. I’m about to head out, but I know Lena has everything squared away for the next 12 hours. I mean this nicely, but we don’t need you,” She paused as she gestured to the closed door. “She needs you.”

“We got this, Jack,” Shen reassured Jack, “I can take care of everything tonight, promise. Just take care of her at home, yeah? Text me if you two need anything.”

Jack nodded slowly, and both Shen and Dana walked away to leave Jack. Jack took in a long breath, no longer thinking of Robby and that anger that was festering inside of him. He was thinking of you, your sweet face and eyes, your kind voice, the beautiful spirit you had that was crushed not even an hour ago.

Jack leaned in a bit, hearing nothing for a moment. It made him worry, but then he heard sniffling.

His heart broke: you were crying.

“Sweetheart?” Jack said against the door, his voice floated in the air as the sniffling stopped. He took it as a good sign as he spoke again, “I wanna come in. Is that okay?”

A pause for a few long seconds, then a muffled, “Please,”

Jack swiftly opened the door, closing it behind him to not let the sounds of the Pitt flood in. It was soft and quiet in the room, the lights were dimmed down as Jack looked around for any sign of you. He only saw the line of lockers on one end, the open space on the floor in front of him, but no sign of you. He worried, maybe thinking his eyes were tricked as he heard you again. Sniffling to his right. He walked in a bit, his eyes moving over to the source.

There you were, legs to your chest, and perched on a chair near the table against the wall.

Jack’s heart shattered from the sight of you: cheeks wet from tears, your hair framing your face to hide away from the rest of the world. Your eyes swollen and red, your legs tucked so tight against your chest, it was like you were trying to fold yourself in half. Your fingers were gripping your legs so tightly that your knuckles were white. You looked like a spooked animal. 

Your eyes locked on Jack’s, and within seconds, you were crying again.

“Baby,” Jack said in a mournful tone, gliding over to you. You reached out your hands to him as you cried. Jack pulled you up to tuck you into his arms. You dug your face into his shirt, clinging to him tightly as he wrapped his arms around you. One of his hands cradled the back of your head, his head pressed against your hair as he simply held you. He could feel you shaking, yet he stayed still and tried to be an anchor for you.

He hated this, as much as he wanted to find Robby and strangle him for what he did, he needed to find a way to have you heal. This was not you: you were kind and filled with optimism. You were driven and sweet to every person and patient. The person he was holding seemed like a lost soul, someone who had lost their way. Jack knew deep down he had to help you find your way back.

But for now, he held you.

After a few long minutes, your cries were gentle and turned back into sniffles again. You blinked, attempting to move away and look up at Jack as he framed your face within his calloused palms. You felt him brush away your tears lovingly as he leaned over to kiss the top of your head.

“Shen called and told me what happened,” Jack mumbled against your forehead, you finally noticing that he was wearing a rain-soaked jacket. You looked at him in shock as Jack could tell you were about to argue with him. Whether it was how he came to you in the pouring rain, or just coming to you in general. Jack shook his head; he could already tell you were about to say something that was not part of the current situation.

“I’m more worried about you and what happened,” Jack said in a loving tone, ”I’m so, so sorry, honey. That should not have happened the way it did.”

You said nothing, reaching to grab his jacket within your fingers and keep him close, though you knew he wasn’t going to go anywhere. Jack took in the sight of you, how you were barely standing on your own two feet. Jack could not have imagined how it all happened; he only knew so much of what Shen told him on the phone. But in the end, he only wanted to focus on you. Your scrubs disheveled, your hair messy, even. Small cut on your palm.

“Come on, I’m taking you home,” He urged, rubbing your arms quickly as he then moved to grab your stuff from your shared locker, “I’ll order us something to eat from our favorite Italian place. You and I will head home, we’ll eat it all, even put on one of those reality shows that you try to make me watch with you, okay?”

You are watching him in silence as he empties out your belongings in the locker, seeing him grab some of your spare clothes, you stare away, and the snacks you stashed in there too. Seeing that was a reality check for you: this was no longer your workplace. That locker was no longer yours; this was no longer your break room.

You felt like a stranger there.

Jack got everything out, all but the one Polaroid of the pair of you. He paused, seeing the picture, not noticing you were looking too. You remembered the day you took that picture, thinking it was corny but cute. Jack’s lips on your cheek, his eyes crinkled in a smile as you were laughing. It was right after you two started dating, going out with the Night Shift crew at a local diner to get breakfast together. You kept it, placing it in the locker to remind yourself every day why you came to work.

Wanting to work with the love of your life.

Jack slammed the locker door shut as he walked over, your bag in hand, and reached out for you to lace your fingers with his.

“Let’s go home,” he hummed. 

You both walked out of the Pitt and under the Ambulance Bay overhead, the rain pouring down left and right as Jack fished out his keys from his pockets. His other hand had your bag within his fingers as he handed you the keys to his truck.

“Here, go start the car, and I’ll meet you,” He instructed you as he placed his keys in your hands. “I’ll be right back. I need to clear some things.”

“Jack,” you said, feeling like he was about to do something that was deemed crazy. You were thinking of the worst, that Jack was going to be consumed with violence or anger. That side of Jack was something buried for some time, thanks to therapy and dealing with it in a healthy manner. You would hate for him to throw all the hard work away in a moment.

“I won’t be long,” He reassured you, seeing the look of conflict on your face. He leaned over to kiss your cheek lovingly, as if sealing your love on his skin, “Please, get in my truck.”

“What about my car?” You asked.

“We’ll get it tomorrow. Hell, I’ll have Shen drive it to the house,” He answered. He then handed you your bag and walked away before you could say anything else. You stood there for a moment, your bag in one hand and his truck keys in another. Taking a shaky breath, you gazed back at the Ambulance Bay doors. It was the last time you’d walk in there as an Attending, and part of your heart broke.

But it was healing already.

Your heart was healing as you sped walk through the rain and into Jack’s truck. You rested your head against the window and felt so tired already from all the crying you were doing.

Your heart was healing as Jack joined you 5 minutes later, seeing you were about to pass out as he drove you two home. He kept looking at you every few seconds as he drove carefully, seeing that you were silent and drinking in all that happened. His spare hand was on your thigh, showing you quietly he was there.

Your heart was healing as you two walked up to your place, side by side. Jack made you shower as he ordered your favorite meal from the same restaurant he took you on your first date as a couple. You washed away the pain, the bitterness, all of it went down the drain.

After being in fresh clothes and diving into lasagna and a shrimp scampi pasta, Jack held you close in your shared bed as you fell asleep. The raindrops dancing on the windowsill in a pattering rhythm to lull you to sleep like a lullaby, the worn t-shirt you wore used to be Jack’s during his time in Medical School was almost a source of comfort for you.

He watched, as if on guard, as you fell asleep. His fingers were stroking your hair as sleep won the battle and you drifted into a dreamless sleep. He felt like he had to protect you, and he was going to. Jack’s one fixed point in that moment was you.

You had no idea what happened when he walked back into the Ambulance Bay.

How he found Robby towards the Back of the Pitt, afraid to show his face. How he was so tempting to give Robby every single shred of anger that he felt inside for what happened to you because of Robby. But in the end, he thought of you. Waiting for him in his truck.

He gave Robby one look, a look he rarely gave. It was simple, and it was effective.

You and I are not good. Don’t come near me.

Jack’s phone rang, making Jack look up from his spot on the couch to look at the coffee table to read who it was. The name illuminated: Dana.

Jack grabbed it, hitting the green button and then the speaker.

“Heya Dana,”He sounded rough, placing the book he was attempting to read on the couch as he was focused on the phone in his hand,

“Heya, Jack. I wanted to check in on our girl. How’s she doin'?” Dana’s voice floated in the air from the speaker. Jack hummed, getting up from the couch to poke his head in your shared bedroom. He saw you still curled up under the blanket he threw on you, deeply asleep and clutching your body pillow like a lifeline.

“Still asleep. She’s been out for 3 hours,” Jack replied as he closed the door to give you privacy. He walked back to the couch to sit again, rubbing his leg where the stump was against his prosthetic.

“When she wakes up, tell her I’m thinkin’ of her, as if the rest of the crew. I’m gonna bring over some of my Chicken Noodle Soup, made from scratch. It’ll knock your socks out,” Dana explained as Jack hummed.

“That’s kind of you, but—“ Jack was about to argue with her since it felt like it would be too much trouble on Dana’s end.

“But nothin’, Jack. She’s still one of us in our eyes. We wanna help if we can. I already talked to Lena and Ellis. They wanna help you, and you’re gonna let ‘em, got it?”

Jack knew never to mess with Dana and what she wanted to do. He liked that about her and admired that as a Charge Nurse. Jack had a hard time letting others in and letting them help him when times were tough. He was worse in the earlier years when he was dealing with his PTSD and losing his wife.

But then you came along, and you chiseled away the shield he had. Showing him it was okay to let others in, to have others help in a crisis. You helped him with no hesitation and with no need to think twice. He wore down on the notion over time, thankfully, and now he has more support than he thought.

“Yes, ma’am,” he hummed. He felt her pause on the other end, as if something was on her tongue and she wanted to say it so badly.

“Jack,” She said, her voice a pinch softer as Jack shifted on the couch, “I wanted to talk to you about what happened with Robby—“

“Dana, I don’t really wanna talk about him,” Jack said calmly, though the mention of Robby seemed to make him feel agitated again.

“I know,” Dana commented, “But I have to tell ya what happened after you left.”

Jack breathed out slowly. Dana was coming from a good place; she was not an enemy to Jack nor to you. Jack trusted Dana, both in medicine and as a friend. Dana was good to you; she helped you out in times of need, and she was ecstatic when you and Jack became a couple. So Jack knew that whatever Dana was going to say, she was going to come from a safe place.

“Robby left right after you left. He looked like he saw a fucking ghost and more,” Dana explained as Jack kept quiet, “He…He left her badge on the counter before he ran off. I made sure Shen got it before it got out, so he can give it to her.”

Jack said nothing, trying to picture the one sold friend he had in The Pitt in a positive light. Robby was in some kind of darkness that was now affecting the others around him, including you. Jack saw him snap at Dana, Langdon, even at some of the better Residents and higher-ups. He tried to reason with Robby, giving him tips and resources that could help him.

But now that you had been screamed at by Robby, Jack had to place distance between himself and his friend.

“Lena called me and told me that HR came down. They got wind of what happened,” Dana explained, Jack scrunching his nose in confusion.

“How did they find out?” Jack asked in utter confusion. Dana paused for a second or two.

“I called and told them,”

Jack sat up a bit, his back stiff from the three words. He was shocked, and Dana made it sound so casual.

“What Robby did was unacceptable and unethical,”Jack heard Dana say on the other end, “She did nothing to receive that kind of hate from Robby. I had to say something, there was no way I was gonna let it slide,” 

Jack tapped his fingers on his thigh in a constant rhythm. Just thinking about HR needing to come down to The Pitt, which on any other day would be a headache, seemed more serious. Of course, HR was a headache already, too much paperwork for Jack to deal with. But for Dana to call them? That seemed far too heavy.

“Dana—“ Jack started, but Dana gently interrupted her again.

“I had to report it, Jack. I don’t care if he’s going through something in his life, something bitter and dark. What he did to her was not right at all,” Dana went on. He could tell the waver in her voice, how she, too, was trying to hold it. All Jack could do was nod, even when no one was there to see it.

“Now, enough about Robby. I know she was considering taking another position at the hospital,” Dana stated, “I didn’t want to be nosy and go ask my nursing buddies if they heard anythin'—“

“She got the job, Dana.”

You found out after taking your shower, waiting for dinner to be delivered. Jack handed you the envelope wth your name on it. You took it carefully and with shaky fingers. He had a feeling what it was, but he wanted you to read it yourself. Watching you carefully rip the top of the envelope, he sat on the opposite side of the table as your eyes scanned the words there.

Your eyes went wide, your breath lost on your lips, and Jack knew then and there that it was the job offer.

“I knew it!” Dana said in a cheer, Jack cracking a smile for the first time. He remembered seeing your face light up from reading the letter and job offer attached. He moved over to gather you in his arms, kissing your face over and over and telling you how proud he was. He heard your heart soaring out of your chest, the small glimpse of hope and happiness was there after a shitty day.

“I had a feeling she was gonna nail it!” Dana said in glee as Jack softly laughed. It felt odd to laugh after what happened, but he had to. He was still happy that your life was changing in the best way, a flicker of light after shadowing darkness.

“They said she can start next week,” Jack explained to Dana, “She was gonna call them and say she’ll start tomorrow, but I talked her off that ledge.”

You were relieved that you got the job, shocked but relieved. As much as a shitty night you were having, your mind was reeling with this new job that landed in your lap. Yet it was Jack who came in swiftly and reminded you that you may need a few days off to rest and reset. He could tell you were going to give him pushback, but the look Jack gave you was enough for you to relent. Your new job was ready for you the following week, the pay was a pinch better, and the hours were more tolerable.

“I take it you’re gonna use some vacation time too?” Dana asked, almost in a coy tone. Jack had to smile at how Dana asked him.

“I have enough to have me be out for a month,” Jack replied, Dana, chuckling.

“I shouldn’t have asked since you never take a vacation,” Dana commented. “Well, give her my best. I’ll make sure to tell Shen you’re gonna use your vacation hours. I just wanted to check in on you two. Give her my best and let me know if she needs anything,”

“Thanks, Dana,” Jack thanked her.

“Not at all. Take care of our girl, will ya?” 

Jack hung up and placed his phone on the coffee table again, right next to your new job offer. He got up from the couch again, turning off lights as he went to make the area dark and dim. Checking his watch, it was nearly midnight, Jack rubbed his face in exhaustion as he finally decided to call it a night. He could wash the dishes in the morning, take care of the laundry, and do the list of things he was going to do on his day off.

In the end, there was one thing on his mind.

One person.

Slipping back into the bedroom, he walked over to sit on the side of the bed and take off his prosthetic. You were still deeply asleep, though your face looked a bit calmer and more at ease as Jack made his way into the bed to be next to you. He tucked his nose against your neck, his arms gently touching along your arms, not wishing to fully engulf you but to show you that he was there.

His phone, left on the coffee table illuminated with Robby’s name as he tried to call again. And Again. And again. But Jack fell asleep with you in his arms; nothing else mattered to him.

Within two weeks, he would see you at your new job on the 3rd floor, looking brighter and happier than ever. He would pop in on his lunch breaks to say hello and spend time with you, seeing that you are already making friends with the other attending and nurses. Thankfully, you two would still work nights, so you’d comment together hand in hand as he’d walk you to work before going to The Pitt.

But for now, he held you, promising to bring you happiness again when it was almost snuffed out of you.

The End