A Text Away
inspired by a post that said the first day that robby has to work without whitaker after they get together, he makes it EVERYONE’S problem. (if you know who made that post, let me know so that i can tag them!)
——
Dennis Whitaker is on his day off and he has received texts from not one, but two different coworkers asking if he’ll be back tomorrow.
His phone dings and he turns it over to check it. Make that three.
The first was from Santos. They had already been texting that morning- nothing could stop them from talking throughout the day, even a day off and the phone rules on the floor- when she had taken a hard left turn.
Trin 👀: ur back in tomorrow right???
He hadn’t thought much of it. Probably just her checking on his schedule since they had seen less and less of one another since he and Robby…well, started whatever it was they were doing where Dennis was now at his house when Robby was at work, doing his own laundry like he owned the place. It made him feel fluttery if he thought about it too long.
Huckleberry 🫐🍓: yeah, why?
Trin 👀: vibes are BAD
Trin 👀: oop gtg
Dennis frowns down at his phone. “Vibes are bad” could mean anything in the world of the Pitt. Multiple incoming traumas, something happening on the floor, losing a patient. What if they needed him? Surely Dana or someone would have called him in if they needed more hands.
The not-knowing unsettled him enough to open Robby’s contact
Dennis 💙: hey just checking in ♥️ everything okay?
Even a few weeks ago, Dennis would have hesitated to send a text to Robby in the middle of the day. Not that they were really that much apart on a normal day. Working the same shifts at the same workplace as your partner- Dennis mentally put a question mark beside the word- would do that to a person. But Dennis would have hesitated to bother Robby. At least until Robby told him, plainly and with no room for interpretation that he liked when Dennis texted him, even if it was a random picture or update of the day.
“If I texted you every time I thought to, I would be bothering you nonstop,” Dennis had told him over dinner one night, laughing a little to ease the weight of it.
Robby had leveled him with a piercing look over the rim of his glasses. “I know I get busy, and it might take me a minute to see it and respond. But don’t doubt that I want you to call me. Text me. Whatever the hell you kids are doing.”
“Yeah,” Dennis nodded, picked up his glass and swallowed a mouthful of wine that probably cost more than the rent he was now splitting with Santos. “Okay.”
Robby had hummed, nodding as though that was that. He turned his gaze back to the menu in his hand. “Bothering,” Robby muttered under his breath, like the word offended him.
Dennis is unloading the dryer when his phone buzzes again. A response from Robby and another one that he must have missed.
Michael 🥰: Everything is good around here. Actually a pretty quiet day at the Pitt if there is such a thing. How is your day off? Did you get back to sleep?
Dennis 💙: it’s good so far! catching up on chores
Dennis 💙: and i seem to remember someone threatening me to get back in bed
Dennis 💙: so yes i slept a little more lol
Michael 🥰: Good. You looked so warm.
Michael 🥰: Have to go. They need me. Talk to you later.
Dennis feels warm. He opens the other message he received and is surprised to see Javadi’s name outside of their usual “pittlings” groupchat.
Vic🎀: hey girly!!! are you sick??
D Whit: no??
D Whit: why??
Vic🎀: oh! good!!
Vic🎀: when you weren’t here today
Vic🎀: and the dr. robby of it all i thought you might be sick!! and i just wanted to check that you were okay!!
D Whit: girl what does the dr. robby of it all mean
Vic🎀: he’s kinda…idk
Vic🎀: i’m sneaking these texts to you
Vic🎀: omg he’s walking over bye
Huh. Weird.
Robby had seemed perfectly fine in his texts. In a good mood even, with it being a quiet day (an oxymoron in the Pitt.)
Dennis gets through the afternoon easily. There’s a nagging sense of something in the back of his brain that makes him want to walk, get out of the house and feel sunshine on his face. There’s a grocery only a few blocks away, and if he wants to cook a surprise dinner like he planned, he has a few things to pick up.
He’s walking, headphones in and enjoying the sunshine when he detours slightly to the park. There’s a fountain and flowers there and it’s nice to sit and breathe in the fresh air. He sends a picture of it to Robby.
Dennis 💙: We should come here this weekend if it’s still sunny.
He gets back a message before he’s even left the bench.
Michael 🥰: Looks beautiful. Wish I was there with you.
Dennis 💙: wish you were too
Michael 🥰: I just checked the weather. 80s and clear skies this weekend. Let’s pick up lunch from the cafe on the corner and we can take it there.
Dennis 💙: i’d love that!!!
He’s still grinning as he pockets his phone to stand and then quickly pulls it back out as his phone buzzes twice. Once, a simple heart back from Robby. The other, a message from Santos.
Trin 👀: whatever u did THANK U
Dennis’ brows furrow. He’s not even there? How could he have done something?
Huckleberry 🍓🫐: i didn’t do anything???
Trin 👀: did u just text dr robby??
Huckleberry🍓🫐: yeah
Huckleberry🍓🫐: but like nothing big?
Huckleberry🍓🫐: just a picture of this fountain.
He sends the same picture to Santos.
Trin 👀: doesn’t matter. ur a saint and im taking the win
Huckleberry 🍓🫐: whatever you say
The final proverbial nail in the coffin comes when Mel texts him. Mel rarely texts or responds to their groupchat on shift, instead using the precious few moments she gets away from the chaos to step out and speak with her sister. Seeing her name pop up as he’s depositing the few bags of groceries onto Robby’s kitchen counter has him flipping to his messages quickly.
Mel 👑: Hi Dennis! I hope your day off is going well. Are you always going to have Tuesdays off now?
Dennis Whitaker (PTMC): hey mel! it’s been good.
Dennis Whitaker (PTMC): and no it’s just because i helped someone out on night shift last week and swapped with them.
Mel 👑: Now I remember that you worked a double last week. Thank you! I’m glad it’s not a permanent change.
Dennis Whitaker (PTMC): is everything okay??? i’ve been getting weird vibes from people
Mel 👑: Because you worked a double?
Dennis Whitaker (PTMC): no, just about today in general
Mel 👑: I think you are missed.
A warmth blooms in Dennis’ chest at that. It’s a nice feeling, to be missed. He hearts the message, almost certain that Mel will be pulled away any second to the next patient. But the little smile on his face stays. Missed.
It’s just after 7 and Dennis is prepping dinner when his next text from Robby comes through.
Michael 🥰: Handoffs are going fast tonight. Should be home soon.
Dennis 💙: go knock on wood.
Dennis 💙: now robinavitch.
Michael 🥰: Yes, Dr. Whitaker.
Dennis 💙: and then come home. quick as you like.
The last texts come through to the affectionately named “Pittlings” groupchat a few minutes before Robby makes it home. Dennis is pulling the baking dish from the oven to cool and grabs his phone after depositing it safely on the stove.
Trin👀: huckleberry
Trin👀: this is an intervention
Mel 👑: This is not actually an intervention! It would likely be ineffective to stage an actual intervention over text.
Trin👀: yeah we’ll definitely stage the real intervention in person
Dennis: what did i do to need an intervention??
Vic🎀: you can’t leave us like that again.
Vic🎀: PLEASE.
Dennis: i’ve had days off before???
Vic🎀: well…
Dennis: ???
Trin👀: what crash is trying to say is that u haven’t had a day off where u weren’t working and robby was since he became ur boy toy
Trin👀: man toy
Trin👀: doctorrrrr toyyy ayyyyy
Trin👀: what do you guys call it
Dennis: NOT THAT
Dennis: TRIN STOP
Vic🎀: yeah i don’t like that either
Dennis: i’m sure it was okay!!!
Mel👑: Yes of course!
Trin👀: mel is lying to spare ur feelings
Trin👀: he only smiled today when u texted
Trin👀: he’s down baddddd
Vic🎀: that’s true
Vic🎀: about him being in a better mood after you texted
Vic🎀: not the down bad part, i don’t think i can comment on that
Vic🎀: but it was crazy
Dennis: you guys are silly
Trin👀: ask robby about it
Trin👀: i dare u
Mel 👑: I’m not ignoring the chat, but I’m out with Becca now ! Sorry!
A flurry of texts from all of them assuring Mel that they know her routine and that she would be picking up her sister- and of course they absolutely know she’s not ignoring them- comes through and then the chat slows down.
The quiet snick of the lock turning lets him know Robby has made it home. He’s pulling plates down from the cabinet when two arms wrap around him, low on his waist, pulling him back into a warm chest.
He’s gotten used to the tickle of Robby’s beard as he buries his face in crook of Dennis’ neck, breathing deep. Dennis takes on a some of the taller man’s weight as he sighs into him, two pieces melting and molding together.
“Are you hungry?” Dennis asks, rubbing a hand along the forearm draped on his abdomen.
Robby hums, moving just enough to respond so that his chin is resting on Dennis’ shoulder. “Starving. Even when it’s slow, there’s no time to eat.”
Dennis nudges him, turning in his hold, finally getting a good look at the older man. A little more tired around his eyes than when he had left this morning, but he looks overall unscathed.
“Was it a good day?” Dennis knows a good day in the Pitt is different from any other work, but he’s thinking of the texts he received.
“It was fine. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Well, out of the ordinary for us.” Robby surveys the kitchen as though finally able to focus on something besides him. He takes in the meal prepared on the stove. A warmth creeps over his face that makes the smile lines by his eyes crinkle. “This is nice. You didn’t have to.”
Dennis takes his payment in the form of a quick kiss. And then a second because he’s feeling greedy. “Wanted to.”
Robby showers and changes while Dennis plates the food. They eat with legs tangled together underneath the table and move to the couch soon after.
Dennis’ midwestern raising has never quite left him, and so just after 10pm he tries to make a quiet, half-hearted excuse for Robby in case he wants his own house back to himself.
Dennis makes it as far as, “If you want some of your own ti-“ before Robby is pulling him back down to his chest.
“You can go back to your place if you want, but don’t ever leave on my account. Or because you think you’re being polite. Ever.” The rumble of Robby’s voice in his chest against Dennis’ ear has him plastering himself back down. He almost forgets all about the texts from the day again.
“Hey,” Dennis pokes Robby in the ribs and gets a huff in return. “Were you being mean today?”
“Me? I’m never mean.”
He gets another poke for that. “Because I got some very interesting messages today.”
Robby groans, “I really am going to have to get stricter about phones.”
Dennis props his chin onto the other man’s chest so he can see his face as he grins,“Then how am I supposed to text you on my next day off?”
Robby lightly jostles him. “Your next day off is my next day off. I’d like to keep it that way.”
He snuggles back down, hoping that the dim light from the TV is enough to hide the smitten look crossing his face.
When Robby undoubtedly falls asleep on the couch, Dennis knows he’ll need to wake him soon and drag both of them to bed. That, or listen to Robby’s groans the next day about being too old to sleep on the couch anymore.
But, for now, the two of them lay together, two commas shaped perfectly to match each other. Robby’s nose is buried in the curls at the base of his neck.
Dennis maneuvers as gently as possible, snapping a picture that only gives the barest hint of the side of his and Robby’s face- relaxed and slack as he sleeps. He looks peaceful. Soft.
Dennis texts it to the Pittlings before he loses his nerve.
Dennis: this is the same attending that had you all scared today?? skill issue 💅
He throws his phone down and laughs to himself as a flurry of texts come through immediately.
