Scarletsptember

The ride into work the next morning was quiet. Dennis was grateful that Robby didn’t push him to talk. He let Dennis think. Everything he had learned as a doctor, the ethics that he had built from the ground up in med school, had been wiped out. He slipped so effortlessly into the role James had given him. It was as if he had never left the life. He didn’t like it. It wasn’t who he had become. 

Dennis walked into the Pitt a few steps behind Robby. He ignored the curious looks from Princess and Perlah. He knew what his face looked like. He already planned what he was going to say when anyone asked him. He slipped down the stairs and ate it when he landed. It would explain the flank pain and the swollen mouth. 

When he stepped into the locker room, Dana tsked, “That looks painful, kid.” 

“It is,” Dennis said. There was no point in lying to her.

“Do I want to ask what happened?” She asked. 

“Ate it when I slipped down some stairs yesterday,” Dennis answered. “I had to get someone to check out my mouth. I thought I bit through my lip or needed stitches.” 

“Who’d you have do that for you?” Dana asked with a raised brow. Clearly, she did not believe that it was an accident. 

“Dr. Robby,” Dennis answered. 

“Good,” She nodded. “I’ll try to keep the wolves off your trail. No guarantees, though.” 

“I appreciate any help.” Dennis attempted to smile, but winced. 

“Yeah, I’d keep Doc Happy to a minimum,” Dana chuckled. “See you out there.” 

Dennis nodded and shoved everything into his locker. He shuffled up towards the back of the day shift crowd as they listened to Robby update them on what happened on night shift and his expectations of the day. 

Random idea I couldn't get out of my head until I wrote it out.

The thing is, Dennis Whitaker is extremely levelheaded. He keeps his cool, rarely curses on the floor, and always offers to help (even other departments). When it comes to Trinity Santos or himself, Dennis would burn the world down. What Michael could not figure out was how he came to be standing between Dennis and Garcia in the breakroom. He listened to them volley insults back and forth as if there wasn’t an entire department desperately trying to eavesdrop steps outside the door. 

“You are not welcome in our fucking house, ever again,” Dennis bit out. 

“It’s not your house to tell me I’m not welcome,” Garcia shot back.

“Oh fuck off and get some new material,” Dennis scoffed. He grabbed her stethoscope off the breakroom table and started towards the door as if to throw it out. Robby reached around Dennis and grabbed it before he could get in trouble for destruction of personal property. 

“I wouldn’t have to if you would pay rent,” She yelled. 

Dennis smirked. Oh fuck, Robby knew that smirk well. He was either going to say or do something completely unhinged and love every moment of it.

“Newsflash,” Dennis emphasized it with his hands, “I have been paying rent the past year. So yes, I do get to have a say in who steps foot in my home. You aren’t welcome.” 

“Right,” Garcia nodded, “That’s why she pays for everything?” 

“This isn’t about me. It’s. About. Her.” Dennis pressed his lips together. “You fucked up, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure she sees you for what you are.” 

“And what’s that?” Garcia challenged him. 

“Dennis,” Robby held a hand out, trying to get him to stop before he said something that landed him in HR. 

“A narcissist, who loves to make people as much as you hurt,” Dennis shook his head. “Someone who couldn’t see the damn gem you had in your hands. She is everything, and you fumbled it so badly it makes her sick to even look at you.” 

“At least I never lived out of the eighth floor, pilfering food from patient food carts,” The grin on her face was vicious. 

“You say that as if you’re telling everyone my deepest, darkest secret,” Dennis tilted his head. “Do you see any surprise in this room? No, I didn’t think so. Give me the key back, now.” 

“This is going to be the mistake that ruins things with her,” Garcia shook her head in disbelief.

“No,” Trinity finally said from where she was pressed with her back into a corner. “It’s the one thing that reminds me how much he loves me. Drop the key with Dana. Our relationship remains professional from here on out.” 

Garcia looked over at Robby as if to say, do you see this? When she didn’t get the response she was looking for, she rolled her eyes, “Fine. We’re done. Children, all of you.” 

She stormed out of the breakroom without her stethoscope. Robby held it in his hands awkwardly. He wasn’t too sure what to do at this point. Instead, he tucked it in his hoodie pocket. He’d leave it with Dana. 

He looked over at Trinity and Dennis. It was as if they were both finally able to take a breath now that Garcia was out of the room. 

“Jesus fuck,” Trinity ran a hand through her hair and then grinned at Dennis, “Huckleberry has some bite.” 

“She messed up too many times,” Dennis shrugged his shoulders. “And you didn’t tell me to stop.” 

Robby looked between them, “What just happened?”

“Your boyfriend defended my honor,” Trinity grinned, “He saw her macking on a new surgical intern in the parking garage.” 

“She tried to say it was all in our heads,” Trinity dropped into a seat, “He did good.” 

“Unfortunately, he did so loudly,” Robby rubbed a hand over his mouth. “You okay with that?” 

“Oh, hell yeah. Dana already tried to get me to kick her to the curb,” Trinity smiled, “Did you see that look of homicide in his eyes? I swear he was about to burn the place down. ‘Do you see any surprise in the room?’ Damn.” 

Robby shook his head, “I’m going to go drop this off with Dana. You two take five.” 

When Robby stopped at the central hub, Dana already had her hand extended. He placed the stethoscope in her hand. “Please don’t spit on it or throw it in the trash.” 

“She’d be so lucky,” Dana clicked her tongue. “Did I hear that right?” 

“Hear what right?” Robby grabbed an iPad. 

“That you and our Huckleberry are boyfriends,” Dana looked at him from over the rim of her glasses. 

“Of course, that’s what you get from that,” Robby shook his head, “But if you must know, yes. For the past six months.” 

“ROBINAVITCH!” Dana screeched. 

“What?” Robby grinned, “I thought you knew everything.” 

“You'd better buy that boy some chocolates,” Dana yelled. 

“Stay in the vehicle,” James answered. “Once we have a better idea or chaos lets loose, then we will need you.” 

Dennis nodded. 

Between one second and the next, Dennis felt his body jerk against his safety belt. He lost his breath and his eyes went wide. They were not making it to the warehouse without company. Dennis looked out the back window and grimaced. A much larger SUV was gaining on them with a dented front end. 

“Fuck,” Gabriel yelled from up front. 

“We’ve got company on two wheels,” Oliver added. 

A series of gunfire pierced the back window. Dennis ducked down and watched as Oliver rolled the window down. He wasn’t rushed. His face was blank. Once the window was down he shared a look with Gabriel then looked at Dennis, “Stay down, Doc.” 

When Oliver slithered half out of the window, Dennis fought the urge to grab the man and pull him back into the car. He unholstered his gun and started to fire at vehicles Dennis couldn’t see. He reached a hand out, and Gabriel handed him a new clip. He tossed the empty one onto the seat. James grabbed it and kicked out a box from beneath his seat. He grabbed a new clip and passed it up to Gabriel. Then, to Dennis’s surprise, he started reloading it. 

Fuck this. Dennis wasn’t just going to sit here. He tugged a pair of gloves from his med-bag, then grabbed the magazine from James and took on reloading it. James raised a brow, but let Dennis. As the drive continued, Dennis reloaded for magazines before he heard a distinct screech and crunch of a car wreck. Oliver laughed. 

“Please tell me that they didn’t hurt anyone else,” Dennis whispered more to himself. He was surprised when James placed a hand on his leg. 

“They hit a light pole,” He answered just as softly. Dennis nodded. “I know you do not like this part of the business, but it is a necessary part of our life.” 

“What are you afraid to tell us?” Robby asked. 

“James,” Dennis pressed his lips together, “He likes me.” 

Jack faced Dennis, “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” 

“That he’s not objective when it comes to me,” Dennis answered. He barely had a second to think before Robby tugged Dennis out of his chair and onto Robby’s lap. He gripped Robby’s shoulders and his eyes widened in shock. 

“He doesn’t get to have you,” Robby grabbed Dennis’s chin, his grip loose enough Dennis could move if he wanted to. But Dennis didn’t want to. He wanted to find out what Robby was about to do. “Do you understand?” 

“Yes,” Dennis breathed out. His eyes locked on Robby’s lips. If that wasn’t the hottest thing Robby had done in a few days. It sent electricity along his spine and settled low. 

Having a much harder time getting this chapter written, but maybe I'll get excited for it.

Once he had orders for labs input, he stepped out of the room, and Trinity ran over to him. “Huckleberry, come see this. Hurry.” 

Dennis scrambled behind her as they headed for chairs. When they were standing behind Lupe, Trinity grumbled. “I swear there was someone out here that could have been your doppleganger. He even had that hunched, I don’t know how to be in a city, stance.” 

His heart dropped into his stomach. David. That was his immediate thought. He and David looked so much like each other people confused them for the longest time. It wasn’t until David put on muscle and height that people could tell the different between them.

Dennis was exhausted. Not in the, you didn’t sleep enough last night, so it’s your own fault type of way. No. It was more the sheer number of patients he had seen. The amount of running back and forth between Trauma One and Trauma Two. It was a day full of car accidents and accidents at home that could have been avoided if people had taken proper precautions. He sat at the station, staring at the monitor, trying to remember what he was attempting to chart. He read over the notes a second time before finishing his findings. 

“Dr. Whitaker,” Jack’s voice broke through the haze. Was it that time already? Dennis looked up and sent a smile over to his boyfriend. “Walk with me?” 

“Two seconds?” Dennis asked as he finished the last bit of the chart. Once the station was locked, he stood up and fell into step with Jack. “What’s up?” 

Jack didn’t answer. He kept walking until they pushed through the stairwell. He walked up a floor and sat down. Dennis settled next to him.  A little closer than co-workers. “Robby said you were run off your feet today.” 

“Yeah,” Dennis nodded. “It was a rough one today. We didn’t lose anyone, but it was nonstop. I don’t even think I ate lunch.” 

“You need to stop and refuel,” Jack said softly. “I don’t like coming in to see you like this.” 

“I know,” Dennis nodded. He tilted until his head rested on Jack’s shoulder. “I have tomorrow off. I’ll get some rest tonight, maybe do some meal prep tomorrow.” 

“Sounds like a good idea,” Jack wrapped an arm around Dennis’s waist. “I was thinking, maybe a breakfast date? If you’re feeling up to it.” 

The thing is, Dennis never expected this when he covered for a pregnant co-worker on the night shift. It was supposed to be twelve weeks, and then he would be done. 

But 

Dr. John Shen walked into his life with an extra Dunkin’ iced coffee on Dennis’s first shift like it was no big deal. “Good to have you with the Nightcrawlers, Bloodhound.” 

Dennis nearly squeezed the lid off the plastic cup. “Uh, you guys heard about that?” 

Shen smirked, “The rat incident? It’s legendary. Of course, we heard about it. Come on, Abbot is going to start the evening huddle. You don’t want to miss these.”

Skirting around a patient being pushed in a wheelchair, Dennis followed after Dr. Shen. He sipped on the iced coffee. He grimaced at how much his teeth smarted from the sweetness of the beverage. He noted everyone in the huddle. Dr. Ellis, Dr. Toomarian, Mateo, who sent Dennis a nod, Lena, the charge nurse, and Dr. Henderson, whom Dennis had only met in passing. 

Dr. Abbott clapped his hands, “Tonight, we have Dr. Whitaker joining us. Everyone say hello.” 

The entire group said hello on cue. It made Dennis smirk at how bored it sounded.