Short Pitt fic where we time jump and Dennis has already finished his residency and moved on to rural emergency medicine in a small city in Rhode Island (because it’s pretty and seems like a big change from both his home town and Pittsburgh).
Dennis is invited to a medical conference but he has ulterior motives.
Of course, being the big East Coast conference, a few PTMC doctors are invited too.
It becomes a bit of a reunion. Robby is still incredibly curious about Dennis and relieved to see Dennis after so much time. To his surprise; Dennis is being a little shifty. A bit dodgy. They will talk for a moment before Dennis points out the speaker is starting, or he gets a call (fake? Was his phone even ringing??) etc.
The truth? He’s not working at a rural hospital. He’s not working at “opening a new hospital in Bristol County.” The rural hospital he moved onto was shuttered. Closed due to funding, low patient rates, and lack of coverage (too many patients not ensured and not paying bills for the hospital to eat etc).
Dennis’ motives? Not to reconnect with Robby and crew, but to secure a job. He’s embarrassed enough that he’s working at a clinic at the moment so he didn’t want to share.
He’s embarrassed by a contact he’s been chasing all over the conference (possibly jealousy fodder for Robby to misconstrue 😈) by being overheard being told they actually aren’t looking for any doctors right now (sort of douchey stringing him along all conference).
Robby finds Dennis frustrated and down trodden, tries to distract him at the hotel bar. Dennis eventually opens up about his struggles and his fear of having to pick back up and start over all over again. Friends, coworkers, establishing roots etc. he’s in his mid-thirties and he just can’t stomach doing it again.
Robby gives him a listening ear, keeping an eye on him why he vents. He holds back inviting him back to PTMC because he doesn’t need Robby to save him. They change gears to reminisce about the past. Dennis laughing through his embarrassing moments through his intern year all the way down to his last resident year. Robby drinks deeply from his drink (perhaps one too many between the both of them) saying that he doesn’t remember any of that and goes on to say just how impressive he is and how much of a treat he was to work with, how wonderful it was to watch him grow.
Dennis stares at him for a full beat before chuckling wistfully and shakes his head.
‘Oh man, five years ago if I heard you say all that I would have completely melted.’
Robby laughs and shakes his head. Asking if he was really that scary. Dennis snorts, nearly spitting his drink.
‘Scary? Come on, don’t lie. You knew I had a massive crush on you.’
Robby blinks at him in shock.
‘Come on, you knew.’
‘I did not.’
‘Yes you did. Fuck, everyone knew.’
Dennis amusement only falls when Robby looks at him in genuine disbelief. Dennis slowly rises from the bar stool, feeling the discombobulation of how many drinks he threw back.
‘I..I gotta network.’ Running away to his room to hide, leaving Robby frozen in place.
