Maris

Whitaker arrives at Robby's. He puts his bag on the floor and throws himself on the couch. He mumbles, face burries between the cushions, "I'm exhausted.."

He then sits straight up, looking at his own reflection on the TV screen in front of him. "Fuck Robby's plants, I'm fucking exhausted,".

He ends up doing the chores while ranting to the plants about how hard his day was.

"Drink up, plants! Do you know how tired I am today? Yet here I am, giving you water so you stay alive while Robby's gone. I sacrifice myself for you, you know.."

"That one med student straight up jinxed everything. If Robby was there, he would kill him on the spot,"

"What is Robby doing, now? Plants, should I text him? It's been a while since we communicate.."

Little did Whitaker know, Robby is home. He decided to wrap his trip way earlier than the plan. He's been home 3 hours before Whitaker arrived. And he's been listening to Whitaker's rants behind his bedroom door. He smiles and let out little laughs hearing the boy talks to his plants.

Heard Whitaker might text him, silly idea comes to his mind. He wears earpods and hides in the closet. He giggles, thinking about excecuting his idea.

After he waters all the plants, Whitaker takes pictures of it. He is thinking about giving Robby updates about his plants to open the conversation. The phone rings before he sends the pictures. Robby is calling!

"Hi, Dr Robby.."

"Hi, kid. Just Robby, please,"

"Yeah, Robby. How you doing?"

"I'm doing good, Whitaker. And how about you? Are you home already? Or the ER still holding you hostage?"

"Just Dennis, please. I'm already home, Robby. Mmm, at your place, by the way. I just finished water your plants,"

"Are they alive? My plants, they are pretty much needing extra care.."

"Oh Robby, I dilligently taking care of them. And you are right about them needing extra care. Surprise me there, actually, knowing taking care of plants as part of your life besides healing people and riding motorcycle,"

"Well, the more you know about me.."

Whitaker cozies himself on the couch. "Where are you right now, Robby?"

"In my room,"

"What state to be exact?"

Robby pause, letting seconds passed before he answers. "You don't need to know, Dennis. Just know that I'm doing good, and I'll be back soon,"

"Okay, Robby. Thank you for letting me know that you are doing good, out there, wherever you are.."

"Yeah,"

"Yeah.."

"Tell me about your day, Den,"

"Well, today is... just like another day."

"Your voice telling it doesn't sound just like another day."

"It is, Robby. Just like every bad thing from another days compile in one day. The shift started off smooth, until one of the med student said 'Why is it so quiet, eh? I always think ER is all about chaos' and boom, the chaos came almost immediately. Cars pile-up and fire victims at the same time. Fuck, Robby. At that time I wish you were there to kick his ass. In the middle of the chaos, we got code hula-hoop. That mf being uncooperative, he grabbed the hair of one of the nurse and threw her to the ground. Oh, and also I need to changed my scrub three times, just like my first day in ER,"

"That sounds... hell,"

"Yeah, it is!"

"And, how do you feel, Dennis?"

"How do I feel? I feel like beers before bed. Good thing tomorrow is my day off,"

"Wait, is there any beer left in the fridge?"

"Wait, I'll check... and no, there is no beer left in your fridge,"

"Let's grab a beer, then,"

"Okay.. wait, wha-"

Thud. Robby ends the call and rushes out from his room.

"Let's grab a beer, Dennis!"

Happy 4th of July, everyone! As The Pitt S2 is happening today, here is Hucklerobby having an awkward hug before Whitaker leaves with Amy.

New year eve, Robby goes to church by himself, then drinks at a pub. He meets Dennis and other pittlings but only Dennis sees him. They flirt with their eyes from afar, blushing everytime their eyes meet.

The pittlings leave without Dennis because he says he has to go somewhere. That's when hucklerobby have their first secret date!!! They kiss, laugh, walk hand in hand. All good until there is an accident nearby and they have to become doctors on the spot.

They arrive at PTMC with the patient. Dennis on top of the patient doing CPR while Robby helping the paramedics roll the gurney. The pittlings, also at PTMC, looking at them coming together be like... huh?

And of course it's just a dream..

Robby, are you home? I think I left my scrub at your place:/

Can I take it tonight? If it's okay with you..

Nevermind it's too late, sorry to bother you

Robby

Hey, Whitaker

You can take it tonight if you want

It's still 9.30 anyway

Whitaker

Alright, I'll be there in 10

10 minutes later, Whitaker is standing on Robby's porch. Dingdong- He can hear rushing sound from the opposite of the door.

"Wait a sec,"

"Take your time, Robby.."

Whitaker fidgets his fingers inside his pocket. Why do I feel weirdly nervous right now? Standing in front of Robby's house, waiting for him to open the door. He makes small movement with his leg, try to relax himself. He looks at everywhere. At the door, at the lamp, at his leg, at the motorcycle Robby used in his sabbatical. And that's when the door open, showing big figure in front of him.

It's Robby, in gray t-shirt and black sweatpants. Glasses on his messy hair and shaving cream on his beard. Whitaker opens his eyes wide and rises his eyebrows. His mouth slowly open. Shaving cream? On THE beard? He can't hide the shock electrocuted his body. He covers his mouth with both hands.

"Robby..."

"Hi, Whitaker," Robby smiles sheepish and scratches his nape. He sees the small man in front of him freezing, nor say a single word. "Are you okay, Whitaker?"

"Don't say you are going to shave your beard-"

"I am going to shave my beard.."

"...Why?"

"Come in, make yourself at home," Robby pulls Whitaker's hand and closes the door behind. Suddenly, Whitaker is back on his mind and realizes he is inside Robby's house.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to... insulted you? I'm just asking because you look really nice with your beard. Too bad if you shave it off..." because I like you with your beard.

"Yeah, I do look nice with my beard. But, decision had been made. Tomorrow is my first day back to the ER after my sabbatical. I need something to mark the new start. I looked at myself in the mirror and think 'well, I am myself is the mark'. So here I am, in the middle of shaving my beard... and maybe a haircut."

So that night, Whitaker's 'I'll just grab my scrub real quick' agenda turned into 'stay the night over to help Robby getting ready for his first day back to ER'.

The next day, Robby -or not Robby- coming to ER with a new look. Too fresh, the staffs not recognize him.

"Hello. I want to report my arrival today.."

"And who are you?"

"Dr Michael Robinavitch, chief of PTMC Emergency Department.."

Whitaker watches the ER turns crazy from the nurse station. Dr Michael 'no beard' Robinavitch might be the headline topic for that day. When Robby and Whitaker lock their eyes at each other, they both just laugh in silence.

One day, Robby is having a hard day. Not physically, but mentally and emotionally tiring. The ER is stressing him out. Code hula hoop three hour into the shift, group of people fighting in the waiting room, family threaten to sue the hospital after they thought the doctor gave the patient mistreatment. And oh, Gloria won't stop bugging him is the cherry on top.

Other doctors and nurses can feel the heavy air around Robby. They are being careful, like they are having ticking bomb no one know when to explode. But they also won't deny that Robby is different today, unlike any other hard day. It's visible that Robby is pushing himself to stay calm. One thing they don't know is they should thank Whitaker for that. Yes, Whitaker trains him to control his emotions in work, so he is not pouring bad vibes to the ER.

One hour to go, Robby is treating a patient. The patient is used to be a farmboy and now chasing his dream in the city. Just like Whitaker. So after the patient is discharged, he looks for Whitaker but he is nowhere to be found. He asks Santos about that.

"Santos, have you seen Whitaker?"

"No, boss. Probably he is checking patients, or having snacks in the lounge, or in restroom, or having a breakdown in pedes, or-"

" Wait," Robby frowns, "Breakdown in pedes?"

"Yep. Sometimes he does that when he is having hard time between the shift. As he said 'I just need to shed a couple tears and comeback like the hard day never happen'. But today seems like a normal day for him, so... maybe not in pedes" Santos raises her shoulders, eyes still on the chart.

"Why I just know that now?"

Santos stops typing and look at Robby, "Uhmm.. I think you are not even have to know about that. But anyway, he is okay. You know, he is such a huckleberry,"

Robby taps the counter, scanning the ER with worry. "Okay. Thanks, Santos"

And there they are. Robby is seeing Whitaker sitting on the floor next to the cabinets in the pedes. With both hand covering his face, Whitaker muttering "He is fine. He will be fine..".

Robby dims the light and closes the curtain behind. He sits in front of Whitaker, "Hey, Whitaker.."

Robby caress Whitaker's hair, try to make Whitaker to look at him. "Tell me, what's wrong?"

Whitaker shakes his head hard, hands still covering his face, "No, Robby.."

Robby get closer to him. "C'mon, Dennis. I'm here, talk to me,".

Whitaker put down his hands, showing eyes full of tears. Robby is shock, and worry. He wipes his tears and cups Whitaker's face.

"I can't.. I can feel your stress. I can see it, in your face, but I don't want to see it. I can't see you out there stressing about the patients, the staffs, about Gloria. I'm sad.. I want to help you but I don't know how. I don't-"

"Oh, Dennis.." Robby pulls Whitaker into his embrace. "You and your empathetic soul.. Thank you, for feeling my stress and wanting to get rid of it. But, don't you worry, Dennis. This is part of my job, our job, to stress over our patients because we want to help them, giving the best as we can. And yes, sometimes the pressure can cause stress. It's normal thing. And about the staffs, and Gloria, that is my responsibility as the chief of ER. That is the price I have to pay as the chief.."

Robby can feel Whitaker is still crying in his embrace. He kiss the top of Whitaker's head. "I've been stressing everyday since I become a doctor. It eats me alive. Remember last year I went to sabbatical? I think my entire soul was eaten by the stress that nothing left in me, to continue my life. But thanks to you, Dennis Whitaker, when you text me between my sabbatical, I found little lights growing inside of me. I found hopes again. I want to continue my life, to see you everyday.."

Whitaker let out small laugh and let go from the hug. He caress Robby's cheeks, "That is bullshit.."

"Bullshit? No, I'm telling you the truth," Robby slowly rubs Whitaker's back, "Today, I can handle my anger, not to explode like I usually do. Thanks to you. You've been teaching me how to control and regulate my emotions. Do you think I did great job?"

"Yeah, you do. You are doing really great today. I was worry you are going to be shitty but you prove me wrong. You are doing perfect today. Thank you, dr. Robby.." Whitaker gives Robby warm smile. "But still, I want to help you out.."

Robby shakes his head first, but then he stop and think. He smile mischievously, "Okay then, if you insisted. Maybe a kiss will help.."

Whitaker smile shyly. He gives Robby a quick, playful peck on the mouth.

Robby jokingly showing disapointed face. "I'm sorry, what was that? I can't even feel the kiss. Give me more,"

Checkpoint, brother?

Robby

Home. I'll see u tmr👍

Robby is standing on his house porch. He is home, finally, in the middle of the night. He gets in with the spare key he got from under the flower pot. The house is strangely dark, like it being left by the owner for three months. Technically, yes it does. But the last time he remembered Whitaker saying 'yes' to housesit his sad bachelor pad. At least, Whitaker has to turn on some lights in the house so it appeared more lively.

Robby opens his bedroom door. The room is dark, but the moonlight runs through the open window shows a figure sleeping on his bed. Whitaker?

Robby drops his bag and slowly walks toward the figure. It's Whitaker. He is sleeping. Robby turn on the bedside lamp so he can see Whitaker more clearly. He is sleeping, a restless sleep. He is frowning, and there are visible trails of tears under his closed eyes. Maybe Whitaker is having bad dreams?

Before Robby touches Whitaker, he sees Whitaker's phonescreen lit on the nightstand. Santos is calling.

"Santos.."

"Fuckle- Robby?!"

"Yes, it's me,"

"Oh God, Robby. How are you, boss?"

"Good. Just arrived at home.."

"Thank God, not gonna lie but you scared me the last time we met, before your sabbatical. Anyway, you are with Dennis, right? You pick up his phone.."

"Yes. He is sleeping, at my house,"

"Fucking huckleberry... I'm worried. We were supposed to get home together but he left me. He looked liveless, like a zombie. I would go to your house but he never told me your address,"

"Well, he does look like sleeping zombie right now. Did something bad happened to him today?"

"Three patients, his patients, died. It was not fully his fault, but losing three patients in a day is sure something. Poor huckleberry, hope he can recover from today,"

"That's... terrible. No wonder he sleeps like this,"

"Can you take care of him? No, sorry, that's too much. Just let him rest until he wakes up on his own. Good thing he got day off tomorrow,"

"No worry, I'll take care of him. Thank you, Santos. I'll see you soon,"

"Alright. Night, boss,"

Robby sits on the bed. He touches Whitaker, lightly, brushing his fingers over his shoulder and arm. "Whitaker... Dennis,"

Robby holds Whitaker's hand, "Having rough day, doctor?"

Whitaker wiggles, gripping on Robby's hand. "Dr Robby... have you find balance?"

Robby raised his eyebrows. Whitaker eyes are still closed, probably sleeptalking. He smiles. Another hand running on Whitaker's hairs, his temple, and then trying to remove the tears under his eyes.

"Have I find balance? Not yet. But this night, I come home to you sleeping on my bed, thinking about what should I make for our breakfast or what should I do to help you cope with patients death. Maybe that is the closest thing to balance. This is the best thing I have, to balance,"

Whitaker curls his body closer to Robby, eyes still closed, "Robby..."

"Yeah?"

...because I do

Enjoy some HUCKLEROBBY manips. I hope we still can get some food while they're on hiatus.