#voidsagentfics

“Jack”, Robby popped his head into the break room; “Come here, you’re gonna wanna see this, brother.”

Jack was bent halfway at his knees, inches from finally, finally, sitting down for the first time in hours and letting the weight off his prosthetic when Robby interrupted him. He didn’t even bother to suppress the groan that left his mouth as he pushed himself back to his full height.

He’d feel the soft couch cushions under him after this, he promised himself that much.

Jack followed Robby out, swinging his stethoscope back around his neck and holding both end of it in his hands.

“What do we got?”, Jack asked, inhaling the same way he always did during a long shift; the kind that made his back arch a little and his chest puff out.

“Female, late twenties to early thirties, jellyfish sting on the left arm and hand”, Robby read out the chart in his hands.

Jack almost stopped walking, a surprised look on his face that turned almost into a smirk.

“You serious?”

Robby laughed; “Hell yeah, figured you’d want in on it.”

Jack scoffed in the way he did when he found something funny; “Hell yeah I want in on it”

He grabs the chart from Robby’s hands flicking through the pages as he reads; “Haven’t seen anything like that since med school.”

“You and me both, brother.”

Robby turned and pushed open the exam room door with his back, sliding on a pair of gloves as he wheeled over on the swivel chair.

You looked up from the bed, eyes bright and not at all like you were in pain. Jack stopped in his tracks at the sight of you.

He realized then he wasn’t expecting someone so…pretty.

So lively and bright.

“Hi i’m Doctor Robbinavitch, this is my fellow attending Doctor Abbot, we’re gonna check you out today”, Robby says, offering a small and professional smile.

“At least buy me dinner first”, You jut back with a laugh.

Oh. Jack wanted to make that laugh leave your lips over and over again.

Robby got to work, carefully inspecting your sting, gloves fingers pressing gently into the raised red skin.

“So jellyfish sting, huh?”, Robby asks, motioning to Jack for a syringe off the tray next to him.

Jack hesitates for a moment, but his brain eventually follows, letting his eyes wander away from you for a moment.

Your hair was clipped back in a claw similar to Dana’s, a few strands falling loosely around your face and ears. A pair of black leggings and a Pittsburg Aquarium shirt. Even in the simplicity of it all, you looked so pretty. Jack swallowed hard.

“Yeah, comes with the job”, You say with an easy shrug, like it’s nothing new.

Robby pauses; “Oh yeah?”

“Yup. Marine Biologist at the aquarium. Little guy snuck up on me today.”

Robby chuckles; “Happen often?”

“More than you think. Not my first sting, won’t be my last.”

Your eyes wander over Jack, who’s still standing slightly off to the side, arms crossed over his chest. You lean a little closer to Robby.

“He always hover like that?”, You ask.

The noise that leaves Robby’s nose makes you laugh.

“Only when he’s working.”

You nod, eying Jack up and down. His silver curls and broad shoulders. The stubble that decorated his jawline. His dark hazel eyes that seem to get darker each time his eyes land on you.

“So often then?”

Robby looks up and tilts his head; “How’d you know?”

“I read people”, You shrug; “He seems like the type.”

Robby bites his cheek from saying something that’ll have Jack kicking him later, shooting him a look. You’re so accurate at reading him, it makes Robby gloat.

“Hey Doctor Abbot”, You nod your chin at him; “You ever sleep or blink or do you just…hover?”

Jack’s eyes flick back to you, the tiniest twitch of a curve at the corner of his lips as he adjusts his weight, shifting on his feet; “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

You snort, covering your mouth.

Oh you’re adorable, Jack thinks.

Robby’s still examining your sting, taking pictures on his phone cause who knows when he’ll ever see one again.

“Been meaning to visit the aquarium”, Robby says, not looking up, “My daughter likes fish.”

You light up instantly, eyes flicking between the two men, clocking Jack’s jaw twitching like he’s fighting internally on whether or not he wants to say what’s on the tip of his tongue. He eventually decides against it.

“How old is she?”, You ask.

Robby’s smile softens; “Almost two.”

You hum in response; “Fun age, usually very curious.”

Robby laughs like he couldn’t contain it; “Oh she’s very curious.”

You turn back to Jack, just as Dana pops her head into the room.

“Robby, when you’re done pawning over the jellyfish sting—trauma one needs you”, She says it with a smirk, a witty sarcastic tone with no heat behind it. Just enough to agitate him.

“Cmon Dana, this is so cool.”

Dana rolls her eyes, pointing two fingers at him; “Trauma one, now.”

She’s gone as quickly as she appeared, a sigh leaving Robby as he bows his head with a laugh, snapping his gloves off.

“That’s my cue”, He says, wheeling back in the chair and standing; “Doctor Abbot here will finish up. Get you some topical steroids and something for the pain and you’ll be good as new.”

You don’t see the wink Robby sends Jack’s way as he leaves the room, following the same path Dana had just taken.

Jack pushes off the wall, pulling a pair of gloves out and setting up everything he’ll need on the steel tray in front of him.

“I’m going to deactivate the area with some acetic acid, it’ll stop the stinging”, He begins, pulling on his gloves with a quiet smack.

“Acid?”, You ask, furrowing your brows.

Jack hums with a nod; “Don’t worry, it’s basically just vinegar. Shouldn’t hurt too much.”

You watch as he dumps the liquid carefully over your arm and hand, whatever stinging was there slowly began to dissipate, leaving behind a dull ache and general soreness.

“I’m gonna check to see if there’s any tentacles that need removed. Then we’ll get you all set up with some antihistamines and a topical corticosteroid”, He explains each step as he’s preparing it—whether it’s to ease the nerves he can sense off of you or to reassure himself—you find yourself appreciating it.

You can’t help swinging your legs a little as you watch him slide a pair of glasses onto his nose, a new pair of gloves on his hands as he grabs a pair of tweezers.

“Let me know if anything hurts”, He says.

But you’re too busy watching him.

The way he leans in close, the overhead lamp he brought over casting a slight golden hue to his curls, making them shine like silver. His features look more prominent this close up—aged in a rugged and handsome way that shows he has years of experience and stories behind him. Steady hands that hover. Sharp eyes that train on whatever he’s looking at. His brows furrow a little as he concentrates, his lips parted just slightly as he works.

“So you always pick fights with jellyfish or do you rotate through sea creatures?”, Jack asks, eyes flicking up to your face for a brief moment before returning to your arm.

You try to suppress a laugh—it doesn’t work.

“Nah, new animal each week. They’re usually pretty nice though…think that jellyfish had it out for me.”

Jack’s lip quirks at the corner of his mouth.

“What’d you do to it?”

“God nothing, they don’t have brains to know if I even did.”

Jack hums softly in response, letting you talk as he works. Committing everything you’re telling him to memory.

He lets a beat or two pass before speaking again; “Which one’s your favorite?”

You tilt your head; “My favorite what?”

“Animal, sea creature, whatever you call it.”

You can’t help the smile creeping onto your lips; “Beluga whale…name’s Arlo. He was brought in as a baby with an injured flipper about a year into me working there. I’ve pretty much helped raise him.”

Jack’s chest softens.

“He ok now?”

“Oh yeah!”, You say waving with your other hand, “He’s doing amazing! Just safer to keep him than set him out into the wild. I honestly don’t know how well he’d do with his flipper being permanently damaged.”

Jack finds himself nodding along as you talk, not realizing how long it’s been until he’s almost done tending to your arm. But he doesn’t really want to stop, or for this to end. He could listen to you talk all day.

So he lets you.

He listens intently as you talk about your job; which animals are your favorite, which ones are learning new commands and tricks, what shows you get to put on for guests. The conservation jobs you’ve been on. He watches your free hand move about as you talk—the many faces you make when—each full of passion. He finds himself enthralled by all of it.

“We also do two tours a day for guests to take them around some behind the scenes stuff, meet some of the animals”, You explain.

Jack lifts his head up, eyebrows raised at that; “Yeah? That sounds kind of interesting.”

Without a beat, you respond;

“Yeah? You should come. I’ve got tickets for this weekend you can have.”

Jack falters for a moment, forcing his brain to slow down and his breathing to continue.

“Oh that’s really thoughtful, but I’d hate to just take them, let me do something in return-“

“You’re patching me up, I think that’s enough.”

He stares at you, really stares. The unwavering look of certainty on your face, that small, smug smile at the corner of your mouth that was already doing things to him.

Then finally, he lets his shoulders drop with a sigh; “Ok.”

You perk back up instantly; “Yeah? Great!”

Jack smirks to himself as he pulls off his gloves, wheeling over to the computer stand and tossing the blue latex out. You find yourself staring a moment too long at the way his biceps flex under his scrub top—black material pulled taught against his skin and across his chest—littered with freckles; each different and unique in their own way. You’d be perfectly content counting and tracing each one.

“Think I’ll live, doc?”, You ask.

Jack’s lips twitch again; “Keep your arms away from jellyfish and I think your chances are pretty high.”

You let yourself smile, not caring how ridiculous and enthralled in him it makes you look. He was interesting.

You listen as Jack explains your discharge instructions, hands you a paper with them on it and a number to call if you need it.

“Come back if it gets really painful or infected. Keep using the topical cream I gave you and it should heal up good in no time.”

“Thank you, Doctor Abbot”, You say softly, sliding off the exam bed and letting him guide you out the door.

You don’t miss the way his hand hovers at your lower back, not quite touching, but the ghost of his warmth is there.

He nods once, head jutting towards the exit doors; “Know your way out from here?”

Like he’s offering to walk you.

“Yeah, thanks”, You smile; “Well hey, hope we can talk again sometime.”

His lips quirk; “Hopefully on better terms than this.”

“That’d be nice”, You say, knowing full well it won’t be the last time you walk through those hospital doors; “Maybe this weekend?”

Jack stills for a moment, the wheels in his brain turning before he offers a movement that’s almost a nod.

“Yeah”, He says it like he’s thinking, “Yeah, we’ll see.”

With that you’re heading towards the door with a thanking squeeze to his bicep that makes him feel like he’s a teenager again, watching as you stop and turn back towards him again.

“See you around, Doctor Abbot.”

Jesus, he was in fucking trouble.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

Jack finds Robby in the break room later, hovering over a pot of hospital coffee.

“You free this weekend?”, Jack asks.

Robby quirks a brow; “What’re you asking me out?”

Jack bites his tongue, his eyes squeezing shut to compose himself; “No, I was gonna offer you these tickets I got.”

“What tickets?”

Jack sits down at the small round table with Robby in tow, passing him a steaming cup as he does.

“Remember the patient with the jellyfish sting from earlier?”, Jack asks.

Robby’s already smirking; “You mean the one that was flirting with you?”

“She wasn’t flirting-“

“Jack”, Robby chuckles; “You’re geriatric not stupid.”

“You’re geriatric and still older than me.”

Robby can feel the glare Jack shoots his way burning into the side of his head.

“What about her?”, Robby asks.

Jack sighs into his coffee; “She offered me tickets for some tour of the aquarium this weekend…they’re already in my inbox. Figured maybe you and Noelle would wanna take Nora.”

Robby shakes his head; “Nah she offered them to you man, you take them.”

“And do what? Stand around like a creep?”

“I don’t know…go?”, Robby says it like it’s obvious; “She offered you these tickets. Not me. You have to go.”

Jack doesn’t answer, just sipping on his coffee that’s starting to taste more and more like dirt with each passing day.

“She obviously likes you brother, or she wouldn’t have said anything”, Robby says.

Damn it, Jack really hated when Robby was right.

The older man sits up in his seat.

“Listen, Noelle’s out of town this weekend so it’s just me and Nora. Why don’t we go with you?”, Robby offers.

For some reason, that makes Jack relax a little.

“Careful”, Jack says with an arched brow, already clocking Robby’s enthusiasm; “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you actually like me, brother”,

“God don’t make me regret this”, Robby says, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“What else am I here to do?”

Jack stands to lean against the counter, stirring his coffee and tracing the rim of the cup.

“You’d seriously go?”, He finally asks, shoulders closing in a little.

“Yeah, why not?”, Robby shrugs; “Nora loves seeing the fish and for some reason you. Plus I can play matchmaker if i’m there.”

Jack groans; “And there it is.”

“What?”

“Your ulterior motive.”

“Gotta entertain myself somehow, brother”, Robby says, smacking a hand on Jack’s shoulder.

It takes everything in him not to smack Robby right then and there.

“I hate you.”

Secretly though? Jack’s grateful and almost relieved at Robby’s offer. But he’d never live down the day he tells him that.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

“Unca ‘Ack! Unca ‘Ack! Phish!”, Nora’s little voice shrieks as she bounces it Jack’s arms, pointing to the floor to ceiling cylindrical fish tank.

They’d made it exactly five steps in from the front entrance, and Nora was already amazed. Her wide brown eyes stared at the fluorescent colors—her tiny hand pressed up against the glass—the tank lights reflecting off her face.

“Papa! Phish!”, She called out for Robby, turning her entire body abruptly in Jack’s arms, making him readjust his grip.

“Careful, Peanut”, Jack warned softly, his own eyes wide as he watched her, willing his hold on her to keep up.

“I see the fish, Munchkin”, Robby says, stepping in next to them and smiling up at the fish that swim by.

The sound of people bustles around them, other families being drug along by their own toddlers seeing something across the room. A group of teenagers off in the distance.

It smells like seawater—not in the gross dead fish way, but salty and soft—wafting through the air. It’s slightly cool inside, overhead fans and misters in certain spots with signs that say ‘Feel the Ocean!’

Jack has no doubt that kids would be absolutely sucked in by all of it.

“What time is it?”, Robby asks, eyeing his watch.

Jack beats him to it; “10:30, tour starts at noon.”

He’d looked at the schedule, of course he had.

Robby smirks knowingly; “What should we go see first?”

They find themselves in the underwater viewing tunnels—polar bears and elephant seals swimming overhead—light reflecting off the water.

Nora’s eyes are wide, pointing at each animal that swims by. Making sure Robby sees, and then Jack.

The ‘Dory tank’ quickly becomes her favorite, running as fast as her small and chubby legs will carry her almost two year old body—pulling Jack by wrapping her entire hand around two of his fingers.

He grunts in surprise, struggling to catch up for a moment before he’s laughing; “Peanut you’re gonna take me out.”

Robby claps him on the shoulder, quickly adjusting the backpack slung over his shoulders; “Don’t worry, I know CPR.”

Jack shoots him a glare; “You’re so lucky the kid’s here.”

Nora’s hands are pressed up against the glass, face as close as she can get it without actually touching it—Robby and Jack had both scolded her twice already about the germs—her small mouth falling open with a grin as big as her face.

By the time 11:30 rolled around, Jack was leading the way towards the Penguin exhibit where the tour would start. Nora was now in Robby’s arms, giving Jack’s back a break. She weighed almost nothing to him, but the constant pulling on his neck and shoulders each time she bounced or lean towards something made him a little sore.

Robby set Nora down, letting her walk over to the giant tank in front of her, Penguins swimming around at her height as they dove in and out of the water.

“Nora, smile for mommy!”, Robby called out, kneeling down.

Nora grinned as wide as she could, a penguin swimming past her just as Robby captured the photo.

“I see?”, Nora asked, already climbing into Robby’s lap where he was crouched down.

“See? Very cute, huh?”

Nora giggled, eyes on Robby’s phone before she turned and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Mommy see?”, Nora asked.

Robby nodded; “Mommy will love it, it’s a keeper. Think it should go on the fridge when we get home?”

Nora clapped happily at the idea of that.

Meanwhile, Jack noticed the employees starting to make their way out onto the landing from the doorway to the side. Then his world froze when his eyes landed on you.

Clad in your wetsuit, a ponytail braid down your back that swished back and forth as you walked. Clinging to you perfectly. Water shoes squeaking faintly, clearly slightly wet. His heart hammered against his rib cage. He didn’t notice Robby slide in beside him, Nora still in his arms.

It didn’t take long for you to find him, and once your eyes settled on his frame, your cheeks turned pink.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

Starting a tour was absolutely second nature to you now. But you’d had nerves all day. Hell, you’d had nerves since earlier in the week when you met Jack. He’d been rattling around your brain ever since like he lived there.

When you followed your coworkers out onto the Penguin landing exhibit, you couldn’t help but let your eyes scan the group of people waiting. As soon as your eyes met his, you felt the blush creeping up your neck. Seeing the way he reacted the same, eyes unwavering and hovering over you—looking you up and down—had you biting your bottom lip in a last ditch effort to suppress a smile.

It didn’t quite work.

You offered him a wave that came off slightly shyer than you would’ve liked; but he didn’t seem to notice, and offered a wave back.

You could see the man you remembered as Robby nudging him with his elbow, eyes now trained on you as well—the little girl in his arms bouncing as she watched the Penguins.

After a quick introduction, it was your turn to talk, forcing you to finally pull your attention away and stand closer to the front.

You introduced yourself to the crowd; “But you can call me Skipper, I’ll be leading you on your tour today. Are you ready to see some animals?”

The response from families and kids around you was instant, but all you could see was Jack from the corner of your eyes; expression soft and gaze determined not to miss a thing. So the staring was an outside of work thing too, huh?

You didn’t mind. His eyes were soft in the way they were when he’d tended to your wound—like he was taking in every word you said and cataloging it for later—the same way he did with a patient’s information or a SWAT mission log.

God, you were screwed.

The tour went on smoothly, and as you talked, Jack found himself sinking deeper and deeper; like the ocean had opened up and swallowed him whole in the most peaceful and sunlit way.

He committed each fact you said to memory like his life depended on it; Octopuses have three hearts, the ocean produces 50% of earth’s oxygen, Angelfish choose one partner for life, a Blue Whale’s tongue is heavier than an entire Elephant, Dolphins are sleepwalkers, 50-80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean’s surface—he desperately wanted to seem like he knew something about your work.

You showed off starfish, turtles, dolphins. Jack watched with a childlike awe as you used simple hand signals for the dolphin, who happily obliged and did tricks for fish. He had no idea so much went into all of it.

His favorite though? Was finally getting to see Arlo the Beluga you talked so fondly about. He was huge to say the least. A permanent smile almost etched on his face.

Nora laughed when a spray of water from Arlo’s blow hole misted her face, clapping and bouncing where she was perched on Robby’s shoulder’s.

“‘Gain! ‘Gain!”

Jack—who was normally so enthused with his niece, only spared a quick smile at her before he was drawn back to you.

You with your bright smile and eyes to match as you held out different shells and artifacts. You who knew quick facts and talked so passionately about your work, you who kept glancing at him each time your eyes swept over the group of visitors in front of you.

Your heart stuttered in your chest each time you looked up to find his eyes already on you, like they never left in the first place.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

By the time the tour ended in the stingray room, you were a little smug to say the least. Eyes flicking to where Jack stood each chance you got as you spoke with other guests. Taking in how he stood carefully behind Nora who was pressed up against the glass again, watching stingray’s swim by. Protective and oh so gentle.

Jack’s hand was carefully on the tot’s back as he crouched down next to her, dipping his face close to talk softly in her ear. Like he was making sure she knew all his attention was on her.

Eventually most of the guests cleared out, only a few staggering behind to check out other animals in the room. You quickly made your way over to the two doctor’s at the big tank—Jack already rising to his feet as he saw you approaching, taking Nora’s tiny hand in his.

“Well look who came”, You breathe out, smile engulfing your cheeks.

“Wouldn’t miss it”, Jack spoke.

His voice was softer than it had been in the ED, more relaxed and mellow. Like he belonged here standing with you.

“I hope it lived up to its expectations.”

“Oh, absolutely.”

Jack’s smile didn’t waver, a comfortable silence drifting over the room as you both looked each other over. You in your wetsuit, Jack looking so mundane and domestic out of scrubs it hurt. His hair a little more messy than usual, no doubt from Nora playing with it.

Robby cleared his throat.

“Papa! Up!”

The small voice and noise beside you snapped you both out of your gaze, eyes flicking to the brunette man as he lifted Nora up into his arms.

“Nice to see you again, Robby”, You say, offering a small nod; “Who’s this lil girly?”

“This is Nora”, Robby beams, tucking his head more to her level; “Nor, can you say hi?”

Nora offers you a small wave, hiding her face in the crook of Robby’s neck.

“Hi Nora, I heard you like fish?”

She perks up a bit at that; “Phish?”

“Mhm”, You nod, “Wanna meet one of my friends?”

Nora’s already nodding enthusiastically as you lead them back to Arlo’s tank. He’s already hovering close to the edge, head peeking out and still smiling.

“It’s almost Arlo’s feeding time, he’ll be so happy to see us”, You speak out loud, not really sure if it’s more towards Nora or yourself.

You climb onto the landing at the edge of the tank, pulling a bucket of fish over with you, snapping a pair of gloves on.

“These are his favorite.”

Almost on cue, Arlo’s halfway out of the water, looking almost like he could clap as he opens his mouth for the fish you throw him. The water splashes, Nora giggles in Robby’s arms.

“Do ‘gain!”, She shrieks.

All three of you laugh as you happily toss another fish Arlo’s way before turning back to Nora; “Wanna pet him?”

Nora’s eyes grow so wide there’s almost no iris left, looking up to Robby like she’s asking for permission.

“Cmere, I’ll show you how”, You explain how to be gentle, guiding Robby over so they’re both close enough.

You take Nora’s tiny hand and press it flat against Arlo’s nose, letting her pat it gently. Another squeal from her tiny body, now almost vibrating with excitement.

“He’s a little slimy, isn’t he?”, You beam, nose slightly crinkled as you look between the two.

Then you look up at Jack, who’s standing with his legs wide and arms folded across his chest, so similar to the way he had been when you first met him. A small twitch at the corner of his mouth. But his eyes gave him away. His love for Nora and seeing you with her practically pouring out onto the landing, and a hint of something else entirely that you couldn’t quite place as he looked back at you.

“Mommy, ‘icture?”, Nora asks.

“Sounds like a good idea to me”, Robby says, “Do you mind?”

He’s holding his phone out to you.

“Not at all.”

You switch spots with him, letting them stand against the tank in front of Arlo, raising the phone to take the picture when Robby cuts in again.

“Jack, get in here brother.”

He hesitates for a moment, before ultimately standing on the other side of him, squishing Nora comfortably between them. Both of her arms wrap around the back of their necks as he smiles crookedly, her few tiny teeth poking out.

“Smile!”

You take a few, pausing at the one where Jack and Nora are looking at each other—bright goofy smiles that make your heart ache. You wanted to burn it into your memory. Instead you hand Robby his phone back, watching as he walks off with Nora as his phone begins to ring, leaving you alone with Jack.

He’s rocking on his feet, back on his heels as he shoves his hands in his pockets.

“So Skipper, huh?”, He’s right back to teasing.

You groan; “Coworkers gave it to me when I started, not my first choice.”

Jack shrugs; “It’s on theme. Better than fruitcake.”

You quirk a brow; “Fruitcake?”

“One of our frequent fliers gave that one to Robby.”

Jack’s small smile turns a little mischievous.

“Oh i’m never forgetting that”, You laugh.

Jack laughs too, like the whole thing is so easy.

A beat of comfortable silence passes before he speaks again;

“Thank you for inviting us, really”, He says, rubbing the back of his neck; “Nora loved it.”

You don’t hesitate; “And you?”

Jack’s mouth parts at your forwardness, that stupid little smirk twitching again.

“I thought it was…nice.”

“Nice?”

“What? Nice is good!”

“Nice is what you say when something is boring but you don’t want to say it.”

“Trust me, I wasn’t bored.”

“Could’ve fooled me, Mr. ‘it was nice’.”

Jack sighs, shaking his head as he smiles at his shoes, rocking on his heels again.

“Fine. It was really interesting. I had a good time”, He sighs, but there’s no real heat behind it, rather amusement.

“See? Was that so hard?”

“You’re trouble”, He juts, eyebrows almost in his hairline.

You bite your lip, watching as he traces your face with his eyes, his own demeanor suddenly falling serious again.

“But seriously”, He says, “Thank you for having us. I really did enjoy it.”

You nod in return; “I’m glad you came.”

“Me too.”

Jack looks over to where Robby’s standing with Nora, talking away on the phone with Noelle; a softness taking over his features again.

“You really love her, don’t you?”, You ask, following his gaze.

“Yeah”, He says; “I’d do anything for her. She’s good for him too.”

He lets a beat pass.

“Don’t tell Robby that, I’ll be out a pony.”

“A pony, huh?”

“Secret side business.”

You snort at that, desperately trying to cover your mouth but the noise had already slipped out. You except him to cringe, but instead he looks, amused? Content? Happy?

Reveling in the fact that he finally got to hear it again.

Inside Jack’s heart did a flip at the noise. Wondering how many things he could say to make you laugh like that again.

“How’s your arm?”, He asks.

You flick your gaze down to your bandage.

“Pretty good. Doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Jack nods; “That’s good. I’d hate to see you still hurt.”

Your heart stutters.

“How can I repay you…for all this?”, He asks, gesturing around.

You wave him off.

“Again, patching me up was plenty. Thank you, Doctor Abbot.”

“Jack”, He says once, “You can call me Jack.”

“Ok, Jack.”

You test it out, tongue tingling at the shape of his name. Already liking the way it sounded. Yeah, that seemed perfect. Jack.

“There’s gotta be someway I can repay you. This couldn’t have been easy to set up.”

“Really it’s fine, Jack. My treat-“

“How about dinner?”

You freeze, mouth still parted and eyes wide as he continues with a smirk;

“My treat.”

You need an excuse, something believable, because if you’re honest with yourself—you’re already falling for him; and that seems dangerous.

But you don’t find one. Secretly? You’re relieved you don’t.

“Dinner sounds perfect”, You say, and then; “Just no seafood places. Too close to work.”

“Noted”, Jack smiles, nodding gently; “How’s next Friday?”

“Friday’s perfect.”

Suddenly you’re exchanging numbers with him, watching as he saves his name in your phone and you do the same to his. Then he’s saying goodbye all too soon, walking off to join Robby and Nora again; leaving the air around you too cold and lingering of his warmth and cologne.

You wave to them as they go, smiling down at your phone, breathing hitching as the new contact name staring back up at you.

‘Jack Abbot.’

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The early morning warmth clung to you after your shower, sleep still pulling at your eyes as you slid one of Jack’s t-shirts over your head. You did your best to wake yourself up—pulled your damp hair back and washed your face—a deep tiredness filled your body that felt like even eight uninterrupted hours couldn’t fix. But you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jack was still asleep when you woke up, mouth parted and a similar exhaustion etched across his face. Still he looked relaxed, peaceful. You let him sleep in when you decided to shower, he needed it as much as you did; you knew he’d do the same for you without even a whisper of a second thought.

The steam from the shower engulfed you before dissipating as you opened the bathroom door to step out into the bedroom. Golden light spilled around the room. The faint smell of coffee. You stopped in your tracks at what you saw before you.

Jack was awake now—hair tousled with sleep as he laid in bed—the top half of his body propped up on pillows against the headboard. Your son laid curled up on his bare chest, impossibly tiny.

One of Jack’s large hands sat over the baby’s back, almost engulfing his small body completely. His other hand absentmindedly patted softly at your son’s bottom—almost instinctively, like he didn’t even need to think about it.

Your heart ached.

Feet shuffling across the room, you eased yourself back in bed, winching slightly at the sudden movement. Jack clocked it.

“You ok?”, He asked softly, brow furrowed and voice still deep and gravely.

You nodded; “Just still a little sore.”

He hummed softly in response, still watching you carefully; “How was your shower?”

“It felt amazing”, You breathed.

Post-partum was no joke, taking more out of you than you had originally thought. A body wide soreness that settled deep in your bones. The tiredness that joined it. But you took it in stride; you weren’t alone.

Jack was there. Every late night feeding; he was sitting up before you could move, scooping your son up to pass him carefully over to you. Midnight diaper changes? He was on it, prosthetic put back on at a speed he didn’t know he had in him; your son carefully balanced against him as he cooed softly to him.

If your son was wide awake at 3am? Jack happily stayed up with him, walking him down to the nursery and rocking him, patting his bottom softly again. He’d whisper stories about the two of you softly in his hair; stories from work that the tiny bundle against him had absolutely no clue what any of it meant. But that didn’t stop him from staring up at Jack with wide unfocused eyes. You’d found them both asleep in the rocking chair more than once.

Jack was there for it all.

Your hand brushed his arm as you settled back into the mattress, watching them with a swell in your heart and chest.

The tiny boy against Jack’s chest was half awake; teetering between sleep and full consciousness. His tiny brow furrowing every few moments as he looked at you with hazel eyes identical to his dad’s, trying hard to focus on you.

His mouth opening to an ‘o’ shape every so often—round, chubby cheek pressed against Jack’s chest. A tiny face that could only be described as being stolen directly from Jack, watching you intently.

Jack was quiet beside you, mouth and nose brushing softly over your son’s dark auburn hair; whisps of tiny curls tickling his skin. Ghosts of soft kisses being pressed against downy skin. He breathed in deeply, the smell only fresh newborn’s had invading his senses. He’d sit here all day if he could.

His eyes were distant, however, in that way they always were when he was thinking hard; looking at no specific spot in particular as he mindlessly kept rubbing softly against your son’s head; hand still patting his butt in sync.

“What’re you thinking about?”, You asked, hand running softly over his shoulder.

He snapped out of his daze, eyes darting up to you in a quick motion before he furrowed his brows. You couldn’t help noticing how much he looked the baby doing the same against his chest.

“It’s just…”, He sighed; “Nothing it’s probably stupid, nevermind.”

“Jack”, You say softly, “Come on, honey, you can tell me.”

He huffed again, his eyes glossy now.

“Just…someday he’s not gonna be small enough to lay here like this with me anymore…or he won’t want to.”

His voice is barely a whisper at the last part.

The look on his face breaks your heart into pieces.

“Oh baby”, You coo, thumb softly rubbing over his cheek; “He’s a week old. He’s not going anywhere.”

Jack didn’t answer right away, the look still etched on his face did the talking for him.

Eventually he huffed again; “He’s already bigger, heavier too.”

You couldn’t help but laugh; “By like a few ounces, maybe an inch.”

“That’s halfway to being taller than me.”

The smile on your face doesn’t waver as you run your hands through his salt and pepper curls.

“He loves his daddy so much already. I promise you, and that’s not going to change. Not even when he gets older. He’ll just show you in different ways”, You tell him, voice still soft.

Jack grunts, seemingly still dissatisfied by the idea of his baby getting any bigger.

“It might not always be by laying on your chest, but in other ways as he grows”; You squeeze his chin gently between your finger and thumb; “By tossing the ball around in the backyard, riding bikes with you. Holding your hand while walking, sitting on your shoulders. Asking you for help with girls and tying his first tie, asking you to tie his shoes and teach him how drive. It might be different things, but it’ll all be showing the same thing.”

Jack’s silent, breathing soft and lifting your son still cuddled on his chest ever so slightly.

“You’re too good at that, you know”, He mumbles.

“I try”, you shrug, but the smile on your face widens; “You’d do the same for me.”

He looks at you fully now, eyes tracing your face before he leans in carefully, pressing his lips softly against yours with a content sigh.

“I love you, so much. Thank you”, He mumbles against your lips.

He doesn’t need to voice what he’s thanking you for; for you, for giving him the tiny boy on his chest, for reassuring him—for all of it.

“I love you too.”

A dissatisfied noise comes from your son, making you both look down at him. He’s fully awake now, hazel eyes dancing over both of your faces.

“We love you too, tiny”, You coo, brushing a soft kiss against one of his round cheeks.

You run a finger over the skin there, still soft and squishy, delicate.

His covered hands smack softly against Jack’s chest, his face rubbing against his skin as he tries desperately to lift his head up enough to look up at Jack.

Jack moves on instinct, cupping the back of the small boy’s neck to help him, smiling when their eyes connect on each other. The baby squealing and cooing to itself in a language only he could understand.

“Hi buddy”, Jack coos back, “Just wanted some attention, huh? Daddy’s got you, bub.”

He lets a beat pass and then; “Promise you’ll slow down with growing a little, ‘kay? You’re gonna make your old man keel over before he’s ready.”

The baby grunts as if he’s agreeing.

You laugh; “He’s still gonna grow, Jack.”

A mischievous smile spreads on his face, and you can see the moment the thought pops into his head as he shrugs.

“Guess we’ll just have to have another then.”

You smack his arm playfully; “Only if you keep holding them like this.”

Sitting curled up next to him like that, watching him cradle your son on his chest so carefully and with enough love for a lifetime; you’d give him twenty more babies if he asked.

Content with the two boys next to you—you curls up under the covers and rest against Jack—cuddling into his warmth as he drapes one of his arms around you and pulls you closer, pressing a soft kiss to your temple. You run your fingers over your son’s cheek again, watching him look up at Jack with wide and unfocused eyes—and decide yeah, the rest of the world outside can wait.

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The sound of sizzling bacon and a knife hitting the cutting board surrounded Jack in the kitchen, where he stood in front of the stove—chopping away at strawberries and grapes.

Your second and youngest son, Clay, strapped to his chest in a baby carrier he was quickly outgrowing. Too quickly for his poor old man’s liking. Still, Jack would put him in there until that day came.

He found himself humming softly, his nose nudging at Clay’s soft hair.

“What’dya think, Clay boy? Would Mama want bananas too?”, Jack asks aloud.

Clay looks at him with fierce determination. At almost one—the words are almost there—but not quite making their way out yet. Instead, Clay huffs a gurggly noise that sounds close enough to an answer for Jack.

He nods once; “Yeah, I thought so too.”

So Jack starts peeling a banana, cutting it up into bite size pieces and holding a piece of it out to his small son, who happily takes it with drool covered hands and gums at it with the few teeth he has. A happy shrill fills the kitchen.

Jack laughs, eyes wide; “Shh buddy, you’re gonna wake your Ma.”

Clay pays him no mind, going back to smacking on the now mushed banana that’s half against Jack’s shirt.

He moves through the kitchen like it’s second nature—mindlessly talking to Clay like he’s half expecting an answer back as he reaches for the pancake mix on-top of the fridge; when the sound of small bare feet padding down the hallway gets his attention.

Your oldest son, Noah—who’s just barely two, comes padding out into the kitchen rubbing his eyes sleepily. The blanket he’s had since he was a newborn half trails on the floor behind him; fist gripped tightly around it. The tot finds Jack quickly, wrapping both arms around his lower leg and pressing his face into it.

“Morning, sweetie”, Jack says softly, ruffling the toddler’s deep auburn curls; “Did you sleep good?”

Noah lets out a soft and muffled “mhmph”, against Jack’s shorts, making him laugh.

Jack reaches for a spatula, making the toddler stand on his tippy-toes to see what he’s doing.

“Where Mama?”, Noah asks.

“She’s still sleeping”, Jack says, reaching for the counter side toddler steps and putting them into place next to him; “Today’s a very special day for her. Clay thought we should make her pancakes…wanna help?”

Noah’s eyes light up; “Pancakes??”

Jack nods; “Mhm.”

“I help?”

Jack pats the wooden stairs next to him; “Cmon up, bud.”

Noah’s quickly standing next to Jack, level enough with his height that he can lean against his shoulder; now making faces at Clay.

Slow mornings like these never fail to make Jack’s heart clench.

It was that time of the year again; the first of Jack Abbot’s annual summer parties of the year—Memorial Day to be specific. It was just now hot enough in Pittsburgh that the pool had been opened, cleaned, and fully maintenanced.

The second that pool cover came off, you and Jack spent every free moment you got in it. Mostly just lounging in the slightly shallower end or on the pool steps; lemonade or waters in hand. The garden by the fence was coming up well; speckles of various plants growing up the length of the faded and chipped wood.

The grass had been mowed, grill cleaned off and ready for anything Jack would throw at it. The pool bar was stocked and cleaned. Jack was ready for it. He handled backyard parties the same way he handled the ED; meticulously and efficiently. He wiped down counters like he was cleaning up an OR. Mowed grass like he was threading a suture needle, and tended to the garden with hands so gentle you’d think he was performing an emergency procedure.

With about an hour until guests arrived, Jack opened the back sliding glass door—padding his way inside the air conditioned house. He wiped sweat already building at his brow and tugged off his shirt. He was going in the pool the second guests arrived anyways.

If there was one thing about Jack Abbot, it’s that he’s gonna be shirtless at his own home in the warm weather. He didn’t care who saw or was coming over. He lived in basketball shorts and swim trunks, sometimes just his boxers when it was only the two of you at home.

Jack grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, letting ice cold condensation drip onto his neck and hands before untwisting the cap to take a long and needed sip. He huffed his way up the stairs, shaking his head about how it was too damn hot for stairs.

When he rounded the corner into your shared bedroom, he found it empty. The covers were thrown back on both sides; waiting to be made. The curtains were pushed back to let sunlight in, your vanity mirror light was on, and soft humming came from the cracked bathroom door.

“Sweetheart?”, Jack called out, “You in here?”

You poked your head around the corner; “Mhm, just finishing putting my hair up.”

Jack plopped down on the bed, unhooking his prosthesis and reaching for the waterproof attachment you had already left out on the bed for him. He rubbed at his residual limb for a moment before attaching the new leg. It took him a second longer, hesitation with the weight of what the day actually was.

Memorial Day was never easy for Jack—he hadn’t slept as well as he’d liked the night before. Better than he would’ve if he were still deployed, better than he would’ve if you hadn’t been there. His leg had thankfully decided not to send phantom pain up and down his limb and spine like lightning strikes. Still, you knew he was in his head; you could always tell before it fully even settled in for him where he was drifting.

His shoulders would get slightly stiffer, movements more rigid like he really had to try to stay upright. But the moment you reassured him with hands on his shoulders or around his waist to pull him close—a soothing hand on his back; it all melted away for a moment.

When you finally came out of the bathroom, your hair was pulled up in a yellow claw clip. One of Jack’s favorite colors on you. Your bikini bottoms hugged your hips at the ties on each side; the top matched the same. Also a favorite of his.

You pulled a pair of striped flowy shorts on, and a tube top to match. Jack could only watch you in awe, taking in how you looked so relaxed and at ease. Jack could only describe you as glowing.

It was only when you bent slightly over your vanity to get a pair of earrings and then above your head for your sunglasses that Jack froze. His heartbeat immediately picked up as his eyes wandered over the tiny—but now obvious—bump at the bottom of your belly. A soft curve that was finally showing proof of—what you had both known for a few months—was a little life.

You caught him staring when you looked back, stopping mid sentence when you caught his gaze.

“So Robby said he’ll bring some extra sodas if we need, but i don’t think—Jack?”, You trail off as you try to bend slightly to catch his eye; “What’s wrong?”

Jack shakes his head, swallowing once—his eyes barely flicking up to yours before they find their way back to your exposed skin.

“Baby…”, He breathes, pulling you close by your hips. He hesitates for a moment before carefully letting his palm splay out against the small roundness of your skin; “You’ve popped.”

The touch was so soft, almost hovering like he was afraid he’d break you. His fingers twitched slightly against you as he moved his hand around, like he’s expecting to feel something; even though you both know it’s too early.

“You think so?”, You ask, scrunching your nose up at him in disbelief.

He only nods, rising to his feet and carefully guiding you over to the mirror. Standing sideways with him behind you, staring at your small bump in the reflection—you finally see it.

A small swell that starts at your waist band and ends just above your navel. Not really there unless you’re looking for it, but still there.

“Oh”, You breathe, your eyes going wide as you find Jack’s for a moment in the mirror.

His hand splays over your bump again, covering it entirely as he lets his thumb rub soft circles into your skin. He bites his lower lip, eyes glued to the spot that has both of your attention now.

“I swear it was still flat yesterday”, You say, poking at your skin like it’ll go away, not that you want it too.

Jack shakes his head; “Certainly wasn’t…’would’ve seen it.”

His brows furrow a little, like he’s wrapping his head around it all over again; “There’s actually a baby in there…”

You catch his expression and spin around in his arms, cupping his cheeks carefully in your hands; “Our baby, honey.”

Jack sighs and lets his eyes flutter close, forehead dipping against yours. You bump your noses together.

“Hey…”, You say softly, guiding him gently to look at you; “You’re not there anymore, you’re here, you’re safe, you’re home.”

His breath stuttered a little, a long sigh leaving his lips. His eyes stayed closed a moment longer.

Then, when he thought his knees couldn’t buckle any more at the absolute weakness he had for you, you spoke; “We’ve got you, baby. We’re right here.”

You place a soft hand over his, guiding him to lay it flat against your tiny bump again.

“Thank you…”, He breathes, his spiral coming down before it could even fully start—all the noise in his brain drifting away.

“You sure you’re up to this today?”, You asks softly.

He nods almost immediately; “Yeah…yeah”, you watch the small smirk climb onto his lips; “Can’t leave all the kids hanging, now can we?”

As much as he hid behind the humor of it, Jack wouldn’t know what to do without himself if he cancelled everything. The party was a tradition of his, yes, but he also threw it as a distraction. A distraction to keep his head above water in a place he could actually enjoy himself on days like today that reminded him of way too much; and it worked.

No, Jack wasn’t going to let himself think about all the what-ifs of how things should’ve went in his life or how he never thought he’d get this; not when he had you reminding him he deserved every second of what he had now, right in front of him.

“I love you”, You whisper.

He smiles softly at that; “I love you too.”

He kisses you then, lips soft against yours. He tastes like faint coffee and the watermelon he snuck a few pieces of while cutting it earlier. Sweet and so uniquely Jack.

“Guess we’re telling everyone today then, huh?”, You ask when the kiss breaks; “Can’t really hide it anymore, especially in this suit.”

Jack laughs with a tsk of his tongue; “Afraid not, sweetheart…and you’re not changing that bikini, it’s my favorite.”

You pull at the curls on the back of his neck, just a small tug that you know he loves; “Trust me, I know it is.”

That’s when he lets his hand fall down your back and smacks your ass once, making you gasp into him; “Jack!”

But he’s beaming; bottom lip between his teeth; “What? Gotta get it out before everyone gets here.”

You roll your eyes, but can’t help from leaning forward to kiss him again. You wouldn’t change him, not in a million years. Not when he’s so perfectly Jack. Your Jack.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

The guests start to trickle in a little while later; Robby with a few extra cases of different sodas in tow as promised. Jack lead most of them to the backyard, letting you lounge in one of the chairs by the pool. With the way your laying all stretched out, your bump isn’t very visible; easily passable as bloating or having a big breakfast.

You can hear Robby teasing Jack about something having to do with him being shirtless behind you, but you certainly weren’t going to complain about it. Not with the view it gave you.

Guests settled in around you; mingling at the bar, surrounding Robby—who insisted on cooking something—around the grill, some starting to make their way into the pool.

It was mostly night shift staff, a few stragglers from day shift that you and Jack had gotten close with over your time there. Dana appeared next to you shortly after greeting Jack; sitting in the lounge chair next to you.

“You just gonna let him walk around looking like that?”, She smirks, peering over her glasses in Jack’s direction.

Every single freckle he has on his torso, back and arms are on display. His farmers tan that’s slowly morphing into an entire body tan looks ridiculously good, and his biceps and pecs—don’t even get started on those.

“Oh hell yeah”, You say, gaze flickering between her and your husband, who you’re pretty much ogling now; “What a view.”

Dana laughs, shaking her head as she settles into the chair; “Hey if he wasn’t taken, I wasn’t married and about fifteen years younger…”

“Dana!”, You scold, but it’s all in fun.

You catch Jack’s eye then, whose expression immediately softens before he mouths a small; “You ok?”

You nod in return, biting your lip before you relax further back into your chair; taking a sip of your lemonade that Jack had apparently made fresh that morning.

The chatter around you was music to your ears. Drinks clinking, people laughing, the soft humming of a lawn mower a few houses down. Getting in the pool later would be the icing on the cake for you, especially if Jack joined you.

Next thing you know, Jack’s standing over you, holding out a plate of food; “Your burger, m’lady.”

He bows in a dramatic fashion as you take it from him, leaning up to kiss him softly; “Thank you, Jack. You didn’t have to bring it to me.”

His brows furrow for a second before he’s smiling softly again, plopping down next to you and pulling your feet into his lap; “I know. But I want to, gotta take care of my girl.”

“You gonna eat?”, You hum to which Jack nods.

“In a little bit.”

Jack, ever the caring man; always making sure everyone was taken care of before himself.

You don’t notice Dana and Robby’s eyes on you from across the yard as Jack puts his hands to work massaging your legs, or the quiet whispers between them. Sure, Jack had always taken care of you, but ever since you told him you were pregnant? He waited on you hand and foot, didn’t want you to move unless you absolutely had to, wouldn’t let you lift a finger unless you beat him to it. To him, the two lives you carried were the most fragile and precious thing to him.

He made sure you were taken care of; and it was noticeable.

Robby noticed immediately when you were already in a lounge chair upon his arrival, how Jack intercepted the heavy soda he was carrying before you could move; throwing a soft look your way and a quiet; “I got it, you relax, sweetheart.”

Dana noticed the same, and more importantly; how you weren’t in the pool yet. How you laid on the pool lounger, legs bunched up slightly like you were trying to hide something precious.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

It wouldn’t be long before your secret was out; just as the sun was starting dip behind the skyline and the deep blue of the warm summer sky starting peeking out—Jack stood with his arm draped across your shoulder, clearing his throat.

At first you don’t hear what he’s saying, despite the silence in the backyard. You bite your bottom lip, having made its way between your teeth as you held onto the last few seconds you’d have before everyone was all over you.

With a warm hand Jack pulled you carefully up from the lounge chair, letting your body fully stretch out. His hand found your waist and pulled you closer; other hand finding the small swell of your belly again.

“I couldn’t imagine a better group of people to share this news with. A found family that’s been there through so much more than I ever imagined”, Jack exhales shakily, eyes flicking to you; “The night shift crew is expanding…we’re having a baby!”

Gasps echoed through the backyard; Dana’s hand flew to her mouth with watery eyes, Robby choked out a wet laugh of disbelief, the med students and residents all exchanged looks of excitement. But Jack was looking at you.

You, who had given him the best gift he ever could’ve dreamt of.

Robby was clapping Jack on the shoulder with a strong hand, shaking him gently as he pulled him into a hug; “Congratulations, brother”, and then softer into his ear; “You deserve every second of this.”

He finds you next, hug softer and gentle as he looks you up and down in a similar protective fashion that Jack would.

“Congratulations, kid”, Robby hums, and then laughs softly; “Guess I can’t call you that anymore though.”

You shove him playfully, startling slightly when Dana steers you towards her.

“I knew it! I knew you were hiding something”, She laughs.

“Mother’s intuition?”, You smirk.

She shakes her head, hugging you close.

“Congratulations, honey. You two are going to be the best parents”, She whispers.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

When the party dies down and the sun has finally dipped low, you snuggle into Jack’s side on the couch that sits on the backyard patio. Your swimsuit and hair damp after finally getting in the pool; Jack’s trunks the same. Robby sits across from you, nursing another beer; no doubt planning to spend the night. You wouldn’t have it any other way.

Your hand slips under Jack’s shirt—the first one he’s worn for more than an hour all day—rubbing softly at the firmness of his stomach. He looks down at you with fond eyes, leaning forward to press a kiss to your temple.

“Did you have a good day?”, You ask him, quiet enough so only he can hear you.

He nods, dipping his ear down closer to you; “Best day in a long while, sweetheart”, He says, thumb rubbing circles above your navel; “Except finding out about them.”

“Head ok? Not too loud?”

Jack hums softly; “I’m ok, sweetheart.”

You watch his thumb for a moment, the circles sending goosebumps up your spine in the cool evening air.

Jack notices, because of course he does; “You cold?”

You shake your head; “No, just enjoying you.”

Jack continues rubbing soft circles.

Robby scoffs behind his beer; “Get a room.”

“Already did, how do you think she got pregnant?”

Robby almost chokes on his beer as Jack turns back to you, kissing your lips softly.

You snuggle into him closer, perfectly content to be just where you are; with your little family.

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The sound of sizzling bacon and a knife hitting the cutting board surrounded Jack in the kitchen, where he stood in front of the stove—chopping away at strawberries and grapes.

Your second and youngest son, Clay, strapped to his chest in a baby carrier he was quickly outgrowing. Too quickly for his poor old Dad’s liking. Still, Jack would put him in there until that day came.

He found himself humming softly, his nose nudging at Clay’s soft hair.

“What’dya think, Clay boy? Would Mama want bananas too?”, Jack asks aloud.

Clay looks at him with fierce determination. At almost one—the words are almost there—but not quite making their way out yet. Instead, Clay huffs a gurggly noise that sounds close enough to an answer for Jack.

He nods once; “Yeah, I thought so too.”

So Jack starts peeling a banana, cutting it up into bite size pieces and holding a piece of it out to his small son, who happily takes it with drool covered hands and gums at it with the few teeth he has. A happy shrill fills the kitchen.

Jack laughs, eyes wide; “Shh buddy, you’re gonna wake your Ma.”

Clay pays him no mind, going back to smacking on the now mushed banana that’s half against Jack’s shirt.

He moves through the kitchen like it’s second nature—mindlessly talking to Clay like he’s half expecting an answer back as he reaches for the pancake mix on-top of the fridge; when the sound of small bare feet padding down the hallway get his attention.

Your oldest son, Noah—who’s just barely two, comes padding out into the kitchen rubbing his eyes sleepily. The blanket he’s had since he was a newborn half trails on the floor behind him; fist gripped tightly around it. The tot finds Jack quickly, wrapping both arms around his lower leg and pressing his face into it.

“Morning, sweetie”, Jack says softly, ruffling the toddler’s deep auburn curls; “Did you sleep good?”

Noah lets out a soft and muffled “mhmph”, against Jack’s shorts, making him laugh.

Jack reaches for a spatula, making the toddler stand on his tippy-toes to see what he’s doing.

“Where, Mama?”, Noah asks.

“She’s still sleeping”, Jack says, reaching for the counter side toddler steps and putting them into place next to him; “Today’s a very special day for her. Clay thought we should make her pancakes…wanna help?”

Noah’s eyes light up; “Pancakes??”

Jack nods; “Mhm.”

“I help?”

Jack pats the wooden stairs next to him; “Cmon up, bud.”

Noah’s quickly standing next to Jack, level enough with his height that he can lean against his shoulder; now making faces at Clay.

Slow mornings like these never fail to make Jack’s heart clench.

“Goo’mornin’ brover”, Noah coos, leaning in to press a sloppy kiss against Clay’s nose.

Clay—minding his own business and not expecting the invasion—wipes the kiss off with slobbery fists and a scrunched nose.

“He no want kisses today”, Noah, slightly offended, announces to his Dad.

Jack laughs next to him; “I think he’s just getting hungry.”

Noah pats his belly, looking at his jammy top like it owes him money; “Me too!”

“Yeah?”, Jack says, arching a brow; “I can hear it growling from here…Daddy’s is too.”

That seems to make Noah content enough with questions for the morning, his attention following Jack’s hands as he flips another pancake onto a plate; the stack growing higher each time.

Jack turns to him with a question; “What do you think Mama would want in hers? Blueberries or bananas?”

Noah thinks for a long moment, and Jack finds himself thinking; ‘damn, that really is my face’—before giving his full attention back to his son.

“Mmm…chocate chips!”

Jack clicks his tongue; “Wasn’t an option, but ya know what? Yeah, we can do that.”

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

Twenty minutes later and Noah’s standing next to Jack, listening intently as he instructs him how to very carefully carry the very full breakfast tray back to your shared room. Jack was just going to make two trips, but Noah had insisted he was big and strong enough to carry it himself—and who was Jack to argue with a tiny version of his own stubbornness?

So instead he unclipped Clay from his chest, and adjusted him on his hip as he carried a cup of coffee in his other hand.

Inside the bedroom Jack reminded Noah to stay quiet with a raise of his brows—relieved to see you were still asleep.

The sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting gold rays over you and the bed. Jack set the coffee down on the night stand and opened one of the curtains; letting sun in to light up the room. You only stirred a little bit.

He helped Noah set the tray down at the end of the bed, before giving him a boost to his bum to help him climb up onto the bed next to you.

Noah looked at Jack with wide eyes, as if asking ‘Can I?’

Jack nodded once; “Go ahead…nicely.”

Noah patted your sleeping face carefully, poking at your nose as you stirred; “Mama! Wake up!”

Your eyes fluttered open, blinking for a few seconds as you adjusted to the light.

“Good morning, love bug”, You cooed, pulling Noah down into you to ruffle his hair the same way Jack had in the kitchen; “What’re you up to so early?”

“Helpin’ Dada!”

Your eyes flicked to Jack—Clay still on his hip and playing with his dog tags—smiling back at you with the face of a man who was dead tired and wouldn’t have it any other way. Not if it meant he got the three of you.

You sat up slowly—Noah immediately settling in beside you—as you took in the scene in front of you.

A full tray of pancakes, bacon, fruit and a mug of coffee prepared just how you liked it. Jack beaming behind it with a wiggly baby and a purple bag that wasn’t there two minutes ago. Neither was the bouquet of flowers he pulled seemingly out of nowhere when he set Clay down on the mattress.

“What’s all this?”, You ask, heart fond and clenching.

“For our favorite Mama”, Jack says it like it’s nothing, settling the tray over your legs; “The boys and I thought we’d surprise you.”

“I’m very surprised”, You say, gazing softly at them.

After all the years you’d been together, Jack still managed to surprise you every single day. Even in the most mundane things; like grocery trips or walks to the park. He’d pretend to forget something and return with the flowers you’d been eying in the store or a coffee from that new vendor along the sidewalk.

He texted you updates from work on the rare occasion you didn’t share a shift. He’d pick you up breakfast or make it as soon as you got home. He’d take the boys to daycare or your Mom’s house every morning so you could relax, even though you knew he was just as dead on his feet as you were. He never did anything halfway when it came to you. Or your little family.

Jack sat down on the edge of the bed, placing the small purple bag beside you and grabbing Clay carefully by the hips as he tried to crawl close enough to the tray of food he could tip it over. He grunted with all the protest a tiny gremlin can have as Jack lifted him into his lap; a squeal filling the room as he clapped his hands together and used them as a teether.

“Ah ah, Mama gets some first”, Jack tuts, giving his tiniest son a fake glare and raised eyebrows and a tilt of his head.

Clay grunted again in response—a loud smacking noise coming from his hand connecting with Jack’s chest—making the man try and fail to suppress a fake grunt and a laugh.

Still, you cut a small piece of pancake off of the stack and hold it out to Clay, who happily takes it and shoves it in his mouth.

“He’s spoiled”, Jack says, shaking his head; but his smile is nothing but fond.

“He was making grabby hands, I can’t tell him no!”, You protest.

“He knows you’ll give in.”

“Good.”

Noah, still sitting next to you, hums softly to himself and steals a piece of bacon off of your plate.

After you’ve finished breakfast, Jack nudges the purple bag towards you again; “Open your present, Mama.”

You pull the tissue paper out of the top, carefully unwrapping the rectangular object in your hands; body going still when you see what’s inside.

It’s a picture frame; Noah and Clay snuggled up with big smiles, sitting in your favorite flower field just outside the city. The same place Jack had taken you for your first date; and picked flowers from every anniversary since.

“Oh, Jack”, You breathe.

“Do you like it?”, He asks, bottom lip between his teeth.

You beam; “I love it!”

You lean forward—fingers carding through the curls at Jack’s nape—bringing him in for a kiss. You let it linger a little longer than you normally would, wanting to show Jack how much his thoughtful gift means to you.

When you pull back, he’s smiling wide at you, searching your eyes with his own before resting his forehead against yours; “Happy you day, Mama.”

“Thank you, baby”, You say softly, kissing him again.

Only this time, a loud squeal of “Ew!” from Noah echoes between you, breaking the kiss.

“I’ll remind you of that when you’re a teenager, kid”, Jack smirks.

“Mama picture?”, Noah asks, peeking over your lap to get a look.

You happily show him, pulling him into your side; “See, baby? My beautiful boys.”

You ruffle his hair once, kissing his head. Clay squeals in Jack’s lap.

“Clay’s one of my boys too”, You coo, ruffling his hair next.

Jack clears his throat, eyebrows raised comically.

You laugh; “My first boy.”

You kiss him again quickly, a small huddle of all three of your boys surrounding you.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

Later, after breakfast and lounging in bed cuddling, Jack loads the boys up in the car and drives you to your favorite corner cafe.

Clay sits on your lap, Noah on the other side of the table—making a mess of an ice cream cone—where Jack slides in next to him, passing you a cup of your favorite coffee.

“Bub, you’re making a mess”, You laugh, making Noah look up at you as you reach over with a napkin.

He dodges you with a squeal; “No, Mama!”

Jack just shakes his head, though his smile gives him away; “Might as well wait until he’s done.”

You sigh—defeated by a two year old—and hold your own cone out for Clay to lick off of. The tot on your lap’s face is way messier than his brothers; vanilla ice cream smeared on both cheeks, his nose, and somehow his hair. Both hands are sticky with the cold treat.

“I’m thinking it’s gonna be a bath night”, Jack laughs, making wide eyes and a face at Clay; “Huh, messy boy?”

Clay shrieks, and claps his hands together.

“I’m deaf, now”, You blink dramatically.

“Hey, he’s making sure his opinion is included”, Jack deadpans.

“The entirety of Pittsburgh knows his opinions.”

Noah plops his head against Jack’s shoulder, watching people go by as he scoops another bit of ice cream into his mouth.

“How’s yours bud?”, Jack asks, taking a mouthful off his own cone.

“So nummy!”, He says dramatically.

The minute you and Jack make eye contact, it’s over. You’re both breaking out into laughter before looking back at your oldest.

“So nummy?”, Jack asks, because he can.

Noah nods, dramatically rubbing his stomach; “SO nummy!”

You’re both done. That’s it, your son’s a comedian.

When the laughter dies down and the ice cream is gone, you’re headed back to Jack’s truck; where he scoops your bag out of your hands.

“Hey-“

“Ladies don’t carry their own bags”, He quips; “Especially on Mother’s Day.”

Yeah, your heart is a puddle on the floor now. You’d give that man the moon and as many babies as he asked—especially watching him load your own two boys into the truck with such ease and practice it makes your knees weak.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

That evening, your standing in the backyard—watching Noah run around his toddler playset—with Clay crawling furiously through the grass behind him. Yanking it up in fistfuls as he goes.

Jack appears at your side, pulling you in close to him with an arm around your waist and a kiss to your temple. He hands you a cup of tea like it’s nothing. You didn’t even have to ask for it.

“Did you have a good day, Mama?”, He asks, softly, brushing his scruff against your cheek.

“Mhm”, You hum; “The best day ever. Thank you, baby.”

You move your head to kiss him, lips meeting the way they do when you’ve memorized the way someone moves.

“You don’t have to say thank you, you deserve it”, Jack says, with a nose to your hair.

The backyard is quiet; just the two of you watching your boys play together. The occasional bird chirping or the sound of a car driving by playing like a broken record. Jack’s warm, his signature black tee that you swear is two sizes too small is soft. He shifts on his feet once, but you notice.

“Wanna sit down?”, You ask.

He knows what you mean without you having to say it. But still, he shakes his head.

“I’m ok.”

“Jack”, You say seriously; “You’ve been chasing the boys around all day, I know you’re sore.”

He sighs—nodding as he leads you over to the outdoor sofa—letting you curl into him as he unhooks his prosthesis. He groans in relief, settling back next to you.

“Ya know”, He says, his tone letting you know he’s testing the waters; “I’m gonna be way more stubborn if we have more.”

You laugh out loud at his honesty, it almost sounds like a scoff; “Is that so?”

He kisses your head again; “Just letting you know, babe.”

You laugh again, chewing on your bottom lip nervously as you watch the boys playing. Jack notices, because of course he does.

He angles his body more towards you; “What?”

You sit up; “How would you feel…about three under three?”

Your bottom lip is between your teeth again, trying and failing to bit back a smile.

You watch Jack’s face; the confusion as he thinks, and you see the second realization donnes on him.

“Are you serious?”, He asks low and soft, holding your hand in his like you might disappear. A look so innocent on his face.

“Maybe…”, You hum, still ducking your head in shyness.

Jack’s hand cupping your cheek changes that.

“We’re gonna have another baby?”, He asks, voice still soft and eyes so wide they might pop out.

“Yeah, Jack”, You say, before adding; “Surprise.”

“Oh my god-“, He laughs out, voice shaky as he pulls you close and kissing you with such love and intent it makes your skin tingle.

When he pulls back his eyes search your face, hands cupping your cheeks.

“W-When did you?…”, He trails off, brain still processing at a hundred miles a minute.

“Two weeks ago”, You say with a smile; “Remember that morning you dropped the boys at my parents and I asked for that sandwich from the corner deli? Was trying to figure out how to tell you. I’m about eight weeks.”

Realization hits Jack square in the face. He groans dramatically; “Oh my god, how did I not realize?”

You laugh, teasing; “Don’t know, Doctor Abbot.”

His laugh vibrates up through his chest, arm still around your shoulders as his hand drifts up under your shirt, splaying wide against the warm skin there. His thumb rubs circles absentmindedly.

“Three kids…”, He whispers, eyes still not leaving you.

“Technically we always agreed on four…”, You nuzzle under his chin; “We must be crazy.”

“Only about you”, His answer comes quick.

You smack his chest once, cheeks heating up; “Everyone at work is gonna lose their minds.”

“Or tell me to get off of you”, Jack quips.

“That’s true, too.”

“Which is never gonna happen, by the way…100 kids or not.”

“Jack!”

“What? Can’t blame a man for loving his hot wife.”

You kiss him, hard. Pulling a muffled sound of surprise from his lips that quickly turns into something vibrating lower. His hands grip your hips, pulling you into his lap.

“I love you, so much”, He breathes, eyes still closed—forehead pressing back against yours—thumb still rubbing at your belly that’ll soon start to grow again.

“I love you too, Jack.”

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Saying you lived for your job would be an understatement. While the weekend brought you some time to yourself and out of the Aquarium, your job hardly stopped. You found yourself gravitating towards any body of water you could.

The large pond at the park was your favorite. Sure, it’s wasn’t necessarily marine by any means, but it was still aquatic, and that was good enough for you.

So here you were on your day off, crouching down along the pond’s edge, searching for any signs of life you could. You took note of all the different types of moss and algae—bright blue notebook in your hand; jotting down the different fish and tallying the number of each. You’d sometimes take water samples to bring in to work later in the week and look at under a microscope.

You were in what your friends deemed as one of you your ‘natural habitats.’ So as you were crouching there like the little marine life goblin you are, the last person you expected to see jogging by was Jack Abbot.

You’d kept it touch, texted here and there in the days since his visit to your workplace. A little flirting here and there, but it was mostly casual, looking forward to the days leading up to your scheduled date that’s supposed to take place this evening. You hadn’t seen him since the aquarium tour, but that didn’t stop him from occupying a big space inside your brain.

So when the familiar, low voice called out to you—unexpected was the first thing that crossed your mind.

“Hey stranger”, He spoke, his words coming out slightly breathy.

You almost dropped the notepad in your hands when you turned to look up at him.

There he was in all his glory; sweaty and very, very shirtless.

He was thick in a strong, muscular way. Hands proudly gripping his hips. Skin pale but decorated oh so perfectly in thousands of freckles. Sweat made his greying curls darker, a few sticking to his forehead. His biceps flexed as he moved his arms, abs doing the same as he breathed. A small line of sweat trailed down his chest. The grey gym shorts he was wearing hugged low on his hips in a way that should be considered criminal.

Strong thighs and calf muscles as he shifted on his feet, and oh? A runner’s prosthetic on his right leg just below the knee.

You watched him point the opposite direction; “Ocean’s the other way, Skipper.”

You pushed yourself to your feet, mimicking his stands with your own hands on your hips.

“Yeah? About two hours that way”, You lick your lips out of habit; “Hospital’s that way too, Doc.”

He laughs, a real genuine laugh that rumbles up from his chest.

“Ya got me.”

You watch him look around, scratch the back of his head once and sigh as he catches his breath.

“Thought I wasn’t gonna see you until tonight”, He says, but it’s not a question.

Smiling, you reply; “Universe has a funny way of working.”

You can’t help letting your eyes rake him up and down, the farmer’s tan on his biceps has your mind reeling and your mouth drying out.

He notices, of course he does. It’s his job to notice. But he doesn’t falter as the pink shade sneaks up his neck. Just keeps smiling at you.

“I’m actually gonna head down to the big pond next…if you, uh-“, It’s your turn to rub at the back of your neck; “Would you want to come with me?”

You squeeze your eyes shut, expecting him to say no, but the words that leave his mouth are the complete opposite.

“I’d love to”, He says softly; “You sure I won’t be in the way?”

“Never.”

“‘Cmon”, He gestures for you to follow; “Let me drive you.”

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

The drive there is quiet in a comfortable way, Fleetwood Mac playing softly through his truck radio. Seats leather and faintly smelling like him. The windows are cracked, letting the breeze flow through your hair and dry the sweat from his.

He’d slipped a shirt back on when you reached his truck. You’re only slightly disappointed. The way his biceps pull the black fabric tight around them make up for it.

Before you know it you’re leading him down a rocked path, hovering closer to him than necessary to make sure he doesn’t trip.

“Relax, sweetheart. I’m not gonna fall”, He smirks when you finally reach the bottom of the path; “Even if I did, I’m certainly not gonna let you go tumbling down with me.”

You store the nickname in the back of your mind for later. His hand’s hovering at your lower back as he walks up beside you, broad shoulder brushing lightly against your arm in a way that sends electric shocks up and down your spine.

“I thought you were a doctor?”, You tease.

He scoffs a laugh; “Doesn’t mean I actually want you to get hurt…quite the opposite, actually.”

His voice is soft and warm at the end, lowering as his gaze softly flicks over your face. You feel your cheeks heating up again.

“So”, He finally ask, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear in a sudden boost of confidence; “What’re we looking for?”

“Anything we can find.”

Jack raises his brows at that—like he’s suddenly anticipating what’s to come and what he got himself into—but having no idea what that actually might include.

“Is it hard, doing what you do and being so far from the ocean?”

You sigh; “A little. I grew up by the ocean. My parents used to call me their little sea otter. I was 100% sure I was going to be a mermaid when I grew up.”

Jack snorts; “You’d make a good one.”

You smack his arm playfully, he’s still slick with sweat. It makes your chest squeeze. You force yourself to continue scanning the shoreline.

“Well when I found out that wasn’t possible I was disappointed to say the least. But my parents started buying me all these books on marine life and I was hooked. I was at the shore every free second I got looking for animals and shells.”

Jack nods.

“I bet you miss it.”

He doesn’t like the way your face drops a little.

“Incredibly so”, You say, shaking your head to bring yourself back to the present; “But schooling was here, my friends are here. Just never seemed right to move away. Besides, a two hour drive every other weekend is worth it.”

Jack files that away in the same spot he’s been putting every thing he’s learned about you; a special spot in his brain with your name on it. He’s already planning a beach trip he’d like to take you on, be the one to drive you to your favorite spot. He’d do anything for you to smile the way you do when you talk about it, give anything to see you on the beach in person.

You’re suddenly squealing, making Jack’s ears and brow perk up.

Spinning around on your heels you present Jack with your finding, hands clasped carefully but firmly as you shove it towards him.

“A frog?”

“Not just a frog”, You roll your eyes, like it’s common knowledge; “A bullfrog. A male one too.”

Jack’s already smiling, putting his hands up in surrender, but keeps up the skeptical front he’s putting on; “How can you tell?”

“The bright yellow throat and large ear membranes. They’re used for breeding calls. Females have white throats and are usually bigger in size”, You tell him.

It baffles him how you rattle each fact off like it’s the easiest thing in the world. But he doesn’t ever want you to stop.

“What?”, You ask sheepishly, catching his eye.

He shakes his head; “Nothing, you’re just really smart…you really know your stuff, huh Skipper?”

Your blush deepens; “Says you, Mr. Doctor. Cmon that’s smart.”

“Two people can be smart in separate but respectable fields, sweetheart.”

There’s that nickname again, rolling off his tongue so casually, like it belongs there. It suddenly occurs to you that you’ve never heard him talk bad about anyone’s work or position. That he in fact does the opposite, makes everyone feel important in their own way.

“You’re not just saying that?”

He shrugs; “I already got you to agree to a date, why would I lie?”

God, he’s so…charming.

You’re suddenly spending hours at the lake with Jack, taking pictures and notes of everything you find. Carrying on conversation with him like it’s the easiest thing in the world, like you’ve known him forever. You laugh when he pinches his nose up in disgust at the group of snails you’ve plopped into his hands.

“It’s like snot”, He grunts, nose crinkled as they move across his hands.

But you just laugh and take his picture, your photo album filling up with shots of him and various living things. A small collection of Jack.

You sit along the shore with him on some rocks, watching people fish in the distance, pointing out what kind of fish they’ve caught each time one is reeled in.

“Largemouth bass”, You say, pointing it out casually.

Jack squints; “How can you tell from over here?”

You poke his arm; “I’m not blind yet, gramps.”

He fakes offense; “Oh that’s how we’re gonna play it, huh?”

But there’s no heat behind it, in fact he’s enjoying your banter and teasing.

He fails miserably when you try to make him guess the next fish and the two after that, and the types of turtles that keep poking their heads out of the water.

You still have time before sundown, so you scoop a vial of pond water before stretching your back out.

“Gonna run this under a microscope in the lab, see what kind of critters are in there”, You tell him, slipping the vial into the small bag around your waist that’s been getting fuller by the minute.

“Can I see?”, Jack asks, almost like he’s shy, “…How you do that?”

You pause; “You wanna see my lab?”

He’s already nodding; “I’d love to.”

So you take him.

A playful banter and easy conversation flows between you, never seeming to run out of things to talk about. He tells you about some of his early days at PTMC, how he met Robby, some of the weirdest cases he’s seen. It’s all music to your ears. So is his voice; gruff and deep yet so smooth and soothing. You could listen to him talk forever.

He’d say the same about you.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

The overhead lights flicker on when you enter your lab, already abandoned by your coworkers who have gone home for the day.

You lead him to a little swivel stool and plop you bag down, slipping a pair of gloves and depositing your water sample onto a slide, adjusting your microscope and leaning in closer.

Jack stands next to you, arms behind his back as he takes in everything around him. All the lab equipment, some similar to stuff he’s seen and used in the ED, some completely foreign to him. There’s a few Aquarium and aquatic posters, the Aquarium logo printed on one of the longer walls. He could imagine you working in here, looking so natural and at ease.

“There”, You say, sitting back in the chair and crossing your arms.

Jack whips his head over, following your finger that’s pointing at the microscope lens; inviting him to look.

He hesitates for a moment, before bringing the lenses up to his eyes, feeling stupid for a moment when all he sees are squiggles and random shapes.

“…What am I looking at?”, He asks, sheepishly.

You lean up next to him.

“See that squiggle?”, You ask.

He hums in confirmation.

“Those are teenie tiny amoebas. Tiny life forms. Just chilling out.”

Jack feels his breath hitch.

How could something so small be alive?

“They don’t get any bigger?”, He asks, feeling dumb.

You shake your head; “Nope. Just lil guys.”

He watches them for another moment, pulling out his phone and pressing it to the lens to take a picture, before letting his gaze fall back to you.

“That’s-“, He takes a deep breath; “That’s amazing, Skipper. I had no idea.”

You shrug; “It’s what I do.”

He smirks, then lets his face fall into a more serious expression.

“I’m serious”, He says, placing one of his hands gently on your arm; “I don’t think you give yourself enough credit.”

He sees you freeze, but keeps going.

“You’re so smart. You know so much. To the point I was reading random articles over the weekend to try and seem like I knew something.”

Your fave softens; “Jack, you don’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to”, He says, “I don’t think I ever want you to stop talking.”

The room falls silent, your breath stolen from your lungs as he holds his gaze, hand only dropping slightly when you don’t react.

“Sorry if that was too forward I-“

You cut him off, smashing your lips against his, ripping your gloves off so you can cup his face in your hands, fingers sliding to his nape and playing with the shorts curls there.

He freezes for a moment, brain reeling as he catches up before he’s kissing you back, lips moving softly against yours as he breathes out through his nose; like he’s been holding his breath all day.

You pull back once to look him in the eyes, finding him smiling all dopey at you—no doubt feeling like a teenage boy—and you shake your head.

“Shut up, old man.”

He laughs against your lips as he pulls you back in. Hands steady on your waist, not moving too far or too fast, but making it known how much he’s wanted this.

His phone alarm going off makes you pull back.

“Need to get that?”, You ask, still playing with his curls.

He shakes his head; “Nah, just a reminder for midnight shift swap with Shen.”

His eyes widen the same time yours do.

“Is it really that late?”, You ask, suddenly feeling shy.

“Afraid so, sweetheart.”

You gasp; “Our reservations! Jack, I’m so sorry. I was so caught up in my work I made us miss our reservations.”

But he’s already shaking his head.

“Sweetheart, tonight has been so much better than sitting at some restaurant in a dark corner. We can do that another time”, He says, brushing hair out of your face; “I don’t know about you, but I haven’t connected with someone like this in a very long time.”

You let his words sink in before opening your mouth to tease him, just because you have to.

“So there’s gonna be a second date?”, You ask, wiggling your eyebrows.

He throws his head back with a groan; “Oh now I’m regretting it.”

“Too late!”

A soft silence falls between you again, smiles on your faces, fingers thrumming against tabletops before Jack speaks again.

“You hungry?”, He asks softly.

“Starved.”

He grabs your hand, already pulling you out of the lab; “Come on, I know a great little place.”

You find yourselves around the corner at a small 24 hour cafe that serves the best breakfast sandwiches you’ve ever had.

Jack’s sipping on a decaf black coffee, you with a sugary frappe that almost made him have a sugar high from the sip you offered him. You almost died at how sour his own was.

“This is so good, Jack”, You say between mouthfuls, “How did I never know this was here?”

He shrugs; “Most people don’t. I only found it a few years ago when the owner offered me a free sandwich after he came into the ED for some stitches.”

“Hell, I’d learn how to give stitches if it meant I could have another one of these.”

Jack almost snorts into his coffee, reaching across the table to put his hand over yours; “I’ll buy you as many sandwiches as you want, sweetheart. No need to go switching job fields on us.”

You nod in agreement; “Yeah, I think i’ll stick with my sea critters.”

Jack throws his hands up in mock joy; “The human race is saved!”

You kick his good leg softly under the table, earning a fake glare and a signature Jack Abbot twitch from the corner of his lips.

When you both finish eating he’s walking you back to his truck, listening as you tell him more stories, his hand fully on the small of your back now, no longer just hovering. He fishes his keys out, looking around for your car, frowning when he doesn’t see one.

“You walk here?”, He asks.

“Mhm”, You nod, “I live just around the corner, like a block or two. It’s not far-“

“Absolutely not. It’s the middle of the night. Get in.”

His voice is stern, showing you he means it, but still soft around the edges, letting you know he wouldn’t make you do anything that would make you uncomfortable. But you’re already agreeing, climbing into his truck again as he holds the door open for you.

He rounds back to the drivers seat, soft sounds of Fleetwood Mac returning as the engine hums to life, and for the first time as Jack starts driving, he reaches his hand over to the console in the middle, palm facing up for your own hand to take.

Without a thought, you slide your fingers in between his, heart beating faster by the second. Neither of you say anything, just enjoy the moment for what it is, and secretly hope it never ends.

He walks you to your door when he reaches your building, neither of you in any rush for you to go inside. He carries on the conversation from the cafe and the truck like it never stopped, inching closer to you and playing with a piece of your hair he had intended to tuck back behind your ear but forgot to in the process.

“Not to assume anything but, i’m off tomorrow…if you don’t have anywhere to be, would you want to come in?”, You ask, so softly Jack almost misses it.

The beaming smile that breaks across his face tells you he didn’t.

He nods once; “Yeah”, before biting his own bottom lip, looking almost boyish in the moonlight; “I’d like that a lot.”

Next thing you know, he’s leaning in again, face inches from yours when a loud pitter-patter and the sound of scratching nails against the inside of your door interrupts you.

You close your eyes, laugh fanning across Jack’s face as he joins you.

“That’s Cove”, You say.

“Cove?”, He asks with a quirk in his brow.

You nod, biting your lip to suppress your own smile; “I hope you like dogs.”

Jack inhales dramatically, swaying on his heels again; “Oh no, that’s the deal breaker.”

He watches your expression change quicker than he can blink, disappointment flicking through your eyes and he can’t help but laugh. The guilt gets to him too quickly and he’s cupping your cheek again, pressing a kiss to your hairline.

“M’Kidding, sweetheart. I love dogs.”

He can feel your sigh of relief against his chest, and the smack of your hand that follows soon after as you reach for your key, turning them in the lock. You look back at him which a mischievous grin at the last second before you open the door and unleash the beast behind it;

“So, do you want the house tour?”

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Really, you should’ve known better when Jack was gone longer than he was supposed to be. Yes, your son was a toddler—and in his squirmy wiggly worm stage—but haircuts don’t take that long. Even if they were both getting one.

So when you heard your front door open two hours later, you didn’t know what to expect.

“Mama! We’re home!” Jack’s voice filled the house.

You could hear your son’s quiet giggles and Jack’s best attempts at softly shushing him.

With the basket of laundry on your hip you headed towards the living room, stopping in your tracks when you rounded the corner.

Jack was standing there with a bouquet of all your favorite flowers in his hands. It was almost bigger than him. You knew he was up to something; but still, you couldn’t stop the immediate swell and softness in your heart.

“What’s all this for?”, You ask, putting down the laundry basket; eyes flitting between Jack and your son—who clung to your husband’s pant-leg—hood still up.

Jack shrugged, leaning in and kissing your cheek softly as he handed you the bouquet; “Just something for my wife.”

You narrow your eyes are him, leaning into the kiss; “I can see that, but why?”

Jack tsks once; “Can’t a guy just spoil his wife?”

“He can”, You nod, “But when he’s two hours late from a haircut and shows up with flowers, said wife tends to get suspicious.”

You take in Jack’s haircut; the same he always gets, just a little shorter on the sides—curls trimmed neatly on the top and curling at the base of his neck. He looked extra handsome, cleaned up nice with hair still slightly damp.

“Don’t get mad”, Jack says, trying his best to bite back a smirk.

Immediately thoughts start going through your head; “Last time you said that we ended up with a kitten.”

You look at the guilty smile he’s wearing; “Please do not tell me there’s another kitten.”

Jack laughs; “No animals this time, Mama.”

You sigh in relief, not that you didn’t love the little ball of grey fur that your boys brought home three months ago, or the lack of personal space it brought with it.

Jack leans down to your son, speaking softly: “Wanna show Mama your new look?”

Immediately you’re thinking buzz cut. Jack took your son out and buzzed all his beautiful red curls off and you’re preparing to kick his ass now.

But when your son giggles with a nod and pulls his hood down, your jaw drops.

“Oh my god, Jack-“

A mullet. Your son has a mini mullet.

Hair shaved short on the sides, and strawberry blonde curls on the top leading down to the back where it’s slightly longer. But damn it, he looks cute.

“He picked it out himself”, Jack smirks, hands nonchalantly in his pockets as he rocks on the balls of his feet like a teenager in trouble.

“Mama like?”, Your son asks, beaming up at you with the widest smile you’ve ever seen and cheeks so round you could squish them forever.

You just laugh, actually laugh. Probably in relief your son still has hair.

So you kneel down, arms open and outstretched as your son runs immediately into them—careful to set the flowers down on the hallway table before your tiny speedster can squish them.

“You look so handsome, baby!”, You tell him, kissing his freshly cut curls and turning his head gently with your hands to get a better look.

Your son giggles, smile stolen from Jack’s face and eyes to match.

In the midst of it all—Jack clears his throat behind you—a shy smile on his lips.

You roll your eyes, standing up with a ruffle to your son’s hair as he runs off towards his playroom; pulling Jack in by his shirt collar.

“Daddy looks handsome too”, You say, eyes dancing over his face, hands in his freshly trimmed curls.

“Yeah?”, Jack asks giddily, eyebrows raised as he locks eyes with you.

“Definitely.”

You bite your bottom lip softly before standing on your tiptoes, pressing a soft kiss to his lips that has him humming a content sigh.

“…Think Robby’ll babysit tonight?”

Jack’s smile turns mischievous—fingers digging a little more into your hips—still not hard enough to hurt: “Oh he better.”

Jack leans in again, but you stop him with a finger to his lips.

“You’re just lucky you didn’t shave his head.”

Jack fakes a gasp when you move your finger to point it at him.

“I’d never.”

“Good”, You say, “Cause you’d be homeless or living with Robby.”

Jack laughs softly, grabbing your waist and pulls you in close again; “You’d miss me.”

“Maybe.”

Then his lips are on yours again, drowning out every worry you had and replacing them with the thought of how lucky you are to have your boys.

As the days go by, you find yourself spending more and more time with Jack.

The early morning coffees before your shift and after his. The breakfast sandwiches. Walks in the park when you both have a free moment. Sometimes Cove tags along. He files each moment away in that spot of his brain reserved for you for safe keeping.

It’s still beyond new, still fresh, still getting to know each other. But each time his phone lights up while he’s at work if you’re working overtime with pictures of whatever animal you’re with flashing across his phone, makes his heart skip every time.

The sneaky selfies he sends you with that signature tiny corner of mouth smile of his when he gets a chance do the same to you. Surprise bouquets of flowers that showed up on your doorstep or slipped into the door handle of your car if he saw it in the parking lot before his shift. Always a hand written note slipped into with it.

It was like gravity has a hold on you, shifting and pulling you both towards each other by an invisible string. Not that either of you would complain in the slightest. No, you wanted to spend every waking moment you could together, getting to know each other in every way you could.

So when Jack’s phone buzzed one night as he stood at the hub during his shift, humming softly to himself—something he rarely ever did—he was already smiling before he pulled the device fully out of his pocket.

Skipper: So you can totally say no but…there’s a farmer’s market thing this weekend. Would you wanna go?

Jack Rabbit: Sounds perfect, sweetheart.

Skipper: Are you working tonight?

Jack Rabbit: I am. Everything ok?

Skipper: All good…go save lives Dr. Abbot. x

Dana clocked him immediately. Hands on her hips as she peered over the glasses sat low on her nose at him. A look on her face that said she knew everything but still wanted an explanation.

“Anything you’d like to share with the group?”, She asks.

Jack sighs like he’s on his last straw of the day despite hardly clocking in; “You’d love that wouldn’t you?”

“You’re humming…it’s cause for concern.”

“What? I wasn’t-“

“Silver Springs, Fleetwood Mac”, She says it flatly, like it’s obvious, like she knows something.

“How did you…?”

Dana shrugs; “You never hum…just taking an interest.”

“You’re too interested.”

“Some would say that’s called friendship”, Dana quips.

“My ass.”

Dana watches him leave, not missing the eye roll and smirk he sends her way as he disappears around the corner. It doesn’t take long for an unsuspecting Robby to walk into a newly opened trap.

“Robinavitch”, Dana calls out, making him stop in his tracks.

He looks like a kid who got caught with their hand in a cookie jar as he points to himself—knowing he’s in trouble for something by the use of his full last name—eyebrows raised and looking around him like she could possibly mean anyone else.

“Get over here.”

Hesitantly, he comes, setting the tablet in his hands down on the counter with so much ease it barely makes a noise, like he doesn’t want to disrupt the clearly already stirred up force.

“Yes Dana, light of my life? My favorite charge Nurse?”, Robby throws on all the flattery.

Dana laughs; “Compliments will get you nowhere.”

Robby sighs, leaning both elbows on the counter of the hub; “A guy can try…to what do I owe this pleasure?”

Dana steps closer to him, eyeing around the ED before speaking; “What’s up with Abbot?”

Robby inhales; “Meaning?”

“I don’t he’s all…”, She waves her hand around in the air; “Peppy and smiling at his phone like a teenager.”

Robby snorts; “Abbot and peppy in the same sentence sounds like a crime against this hospital.”

“He was humming”, Dana’s lips are flat, gears turning in her head.

“Oh? That’s….new”, Robby’s eyebrows dance along his hairline.

“I’m not saying it’s unwelcome”, Dana adds, “He keeps it up people are gonna start questioning the grumpy facade he’s got going on.”

Robby shrugs once, not saying anything in a last ditch effort and with a single glimmer of hope he can still get out of this. But Dana crashes that quickly.

“So who’s the girl?”, She asks, smirk back on her lips.

“What makes you think there’s a girl?”

“Oh there’s a girl.”

Robby blows his cheeks out, eyebrows high and in his hairline; “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Dana elbows him; “Come on, Robinavitch, spill…I’ll give you ten bucks.”

“Oh wow, now I can quit my paper route!”

Dana resists the urge to smack him, instead she scoots closer, smile changing to something mischievous that Robby already knows he’s gonna regret.

“Ok big boy, how about this”, She makes sure he’s looking at her; “Spill or i’ll tell the missus you ‘forgot’ to wear your helmet this morning.”

Robby’s eye widen and his ears turn red, head tilted as he laughs; “You’re punchy and mean today, Evans.”

Dana pays him on the back once, laughing like it’s the most fun she’s had all day; “Mean and right between the eyes.”

She juts her fingers out and thrusts them at his face, stopping before she touches the crease in between his brows.

Robby sighs, defeated and honestly just wanting coffee now.

“Remember the patient that came in a few weeks ago for the jellyfish sting?”, He asks.

Dana nods; “The one you wouldn’t stop fighting over? I remember.”

Robby laughs with a shake of his head;

“Well she gave Jack two tickets for a tour at the aquarium. He took me and Nora with him, they’ve been talking back and forth ever since. Seen each other a few times.”

“And?”

Robby throws his hands up in surrender; “That’s it, that’s all I know.”

Dana narrows her eyes like she’s thinking; “So Jack and the aquarium girl, huh?”

“Seems like it.”

“Hm.”

“What?”

Dana shakes her head; “Nothing just…good for him.”

Robby picks up his iPad again, patting Dana on the shoulder once; “No betting and keep it to yourself…you also didn’t hear it from me.”

“Done deal, Robinavitch.”

Robby walks away like a fire’s been lit under his ass, wanting to be gone from whatever interrogation he walked into as fast as he could.

Dana spots Jack across the ER, shooting him a smile and a knowing nod when he looks up and meets her gaze, the look of confusion on his face more than enough to keep her entertained for a while.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

When you stepped out of work that night, you already had a plan; stop at the little cafe Jack showed you for a bagel sandwich, shower and put on your comfiest pjs, and curl up on the couch with Cove.

But as you stood in line, you found yourself ordering two sandwiches instead of one, and two cups of coffee; one regular and one decaf.

You knew Jack was working tonight, and you also knew he probably hadn’t eaten. He had a habit of doing that. You ordered on autopilot, and as you left the cafe a small hint of self doubt crept up your spine.

Was it too early to bring him something? Too early to visit him at work? It’s not like you were his girlfriend or officially dating. You’d only been on a few dates, but still you felt yourself pulled towards the hospital like a magnet. It felt…right.

When you entered through the ER and stepped up to the check in window—the nurse behind the glass looked you up and down—eyebrows raised when she noticed the bag and cups in your hands; clearly unusual for someone checking in as a patient. Still, she smiled.

“What can I do for you, hun?”, The nurse, whose name tag said Lupe, asked you.

Nerves suddenly crept up your spine.

“I’m uh”, What should you say? Who was he to you at this point?; “I’m here to see Jack Abbot.”

Something flickered briefly across her eyes, but she didn’t ask anything else. Instead she stood and pressed a button.

“Oh! Right this way, he’s back here somewhere…”

You let her lead you through a set of doors, ignoring the groans of patients behind you that were clearly slightly annoyed. You only felt a little bad. Lupe told you where to go, pointing down a hallway and sent you off.

Your breath caught when you entered the ED. The smell of antiseptic filling your lungs. The noise was significantly louder, lights brighter and air charged with something you couldn’t quite name. Nurses and doctors rushed by around you. Suddenly you felt very out of place.

Gripping the bag tighter in your hands—you ventured in slowly and carefully—like any step you took could flip this entire place on its head.

A few more nurses strolled by; one pushing an older man in a wheelchair, one with supplies in her hands. You saw a few doctors look your way, could feel their eyes on you. A sigh of relief filled your lungs when you caught sight of the big round desk area in the middle.

Dana and Lena clocked you first, the red head slipping her glasses off and nudging the blonde next to her; “Seems we have another lost little lamb upon us.”

Dana followed her gaze, watching Lena wave you over and trying her hardest to put her finger on why you looked so familiar.

“Hey kiddo, you need help?”, Lena asked you.

You shook your head; “No actually i’m uh here to see someone. The nurse upfront said I could find him back here?”

Lena’s already nodding; “Course honey, are they a patient?”

The nerves you felt suddenly tripled, lighting a fire beneath your skin; hands slightly trembling.

“No uh, a doctor actually…I’m here to see Dr. Abbot, uh, Jack?”, The waver of nerves in your voice made you want to smack yourself in the forehead.

Realization settled quickly on Dana’s face, but she didn’t say anything, not yet.

Lena exchanged a glance with the fellow charge nurse, both of them quickly returning to moving after pausing at the name that left your mouth.

“Oh, sure! He’s around here somewhere…let me see if I can find him”, Lena says, patting your arm gently as she slips by.

You can feel Dana’s gaze on you, rocking on your feet as you look at everything around you.

“How’s your arm?”, Dana finally says.

“I-what? Oh! All good!”, You say, holding up your arm.

She nods, letting a careful silence drift between you before she speaks again; “He really likes you, ya know.”

You can feel the blush on your neck and cheeks, smiling wide as you whip your head up to look at her; “Yeah?”

Dana laughs softly; “Whatever you’re doing, hon, keep doing. You make him very happy.”

You open your mouth to respond, but get cut off by a familiar voice in the distance;

“Sir, we will get you some more pain meds. But right now, I need you to shut your fucking mouth!”

Oh. That’s a….different side of Jack.

All you see is the quick blur of black scrubs, and the back of his head; greying curls slightly messy as he disappears into a trauma room.

Your head whips around towards the charge nurse beside you; “Was that…?”

She nods, already laughing because of course you’d be here for that; “One of the reasons our patient satisfaction scores are so low?…He likes to grumble when he’s not hovering.”

You have to hold back a laugh.

But deep in your mind, something about the way the words left his mouth had the blush on your skin turning to a shade that was almost crimson.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

Time passes differently in the ED you’ve noticed, you don’t know how long you’ve been standing at the hub talking to Dana when Jack finally makes his way over.

His face is tired at first, almost grumpy as he frowns, lines on his face more prominent—countless years of experience and work etched in his skin.

The first thing you see is worry and fear flash through his tired hazel eyes—gaze flicking up and down your figure—checking you over for anything wrong or out of place.

His shoulders relax a bit when he finds nothing.

“Skip, what’re you doing here? Everything ok?”, You notice the gravel in his voice immediately.

“Everything’s fine Jack, I promise”, You say softly, but the hand he has on your arm doesn’t move; “Just heading home from work and thought i’d bring you something to eat.”

His face softens—boylike features peaking through.

“You…brought me food?”, He asks softly, eyeing the bag in your hands.

“And a coffee”, You shrug; “I know you forget to eat sometimes.”

He doesn’t know what to say to that, you notice. So instead he leans in carefully, pressing a soft kiss to your temple that has his ears turning pink when he realizes Dana is still watching.

“Thank you”, He says, eyes on nothing but you.

He turns back to Dana after a moment; “Hey, do you mind-“

“Go”, She says, waving her hand, a soft smile already blooming; “I’ll hold the fort down.”

“Fifteen minutes, I promise!”, He calls out, guiding you by your elbow to the break room.

It looks just as sterile as everything else you note—but there’s a couch in the corner and a round table with chairs in the middle; a coffee station set up on one counter.

You set the bag and coffees down on the table, spinning around towards Jack but he’s already on you.

Arms around your waist and pulling you in close with a kiss to your hairline and a hand on the side of your head.

“Thank you, I needed this.”

Your fingers scrape his scalp; “Of course, Jack.”

You let him just be for a moment.

“I brought you a sandwich.”

He pulls back, eyebrows raised; “From the corner place?”

“Mhm”, You nod, “and a coffee, large.”

He squeezes your hand; “God that’s…yeah.”

You watch him pull out his sandwich, the sigh that leaves his nose as he takes the first bite—shoulders falling about two inches and his eyes closing as his tongue pokes out to lick his lips.

“This is perfect, Skipper, thank you.”

You sit across from him, unwrapping your own sandwich as you smile back at him; “I’m glad I could help.”

That makes him fall serious for a moment, hand over yours across the table as he dips his head slightly to catch your eye.

“Hey”, He says softly; “I mean it, really. Tonight’s been…”

He trails off, but you know what he means.

“‘Shut your fucking mouth’, busy?”, You quip, smile failing to be held back.

He groans, ears red again and head falling back; “You heard that?”

“Heard it, saw it, filed it away for later. Your pick.”

He shakes his head; “You’re still trouble.”

“…You ok?”, You ask him softly, not wanting to overstep.

He nods once; “Yeah, I’m good.”

Though by the way his shoulders tense, you’re not sure you fully believe him.

You finish eating in silence, watching him stretch out his back and arms above his head—biceps bulging as his shirt rides up a little—the bottom of his stomach to just above his navel peeking out. So strong and perfect. He checks his watch and sighs.

“I should probably get back to work before Dana has my head”, He says, voice soft like he doesn’t want to go.

But he stands anyways, arms wrapping around your waist again, lingering there with you. His cologne encompassing you.

“You sure you’re ok?”, You murmur, fingers at his nape.

He’s nodding again; “I’m ok, Skipper.”

He pauses to tuck a strand behind your ear. Looking at you like every fiber in his being once to kiss you right here and now, but he stops himself.

“I’ll see you this weekend, yeah?”, He says softly.

You pull back, cupping his cheek; “Of course.”

Then his lips hover on your forehead, skin warm and grounding, before he finally steps away and back out into the business of the ED.

“Go save lives!”, You call after him, the small smirk he sends back your way more than enough to have you blushing.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

The knocking at your door comes early, way too early. The bedside clock reads 7:30, the sun outside golden as it just starts to settle into daytime.

You shuffle out of bed and to your feet, your shirt hanging loosely off your shoulders and covering your sleep shorts. There’s silence through your apartment before the knocking comes again. It’s not rushed—just steady—heavy and intentional.

In your sleep filled haze you don’t bother to look through the peephole, when you open the door the person on the other side makes you freeze.

“Jack?”

Jack stands there—still in his scrubs with his bag slung over his shoulder—hair disheveled and his scruff looking even darker than it had the previous night. His eyes look sad and solemn and his frown is deeper.

He’d come straight from work.

You feel your chest and heart twinge.

“Sorry, I just—didn’t know where else to go”, He says softly, voice almost shaking.

You pull him inside gently, shutting the door and peeling the bag off his shoulder, letting him pull you close after he hesitates for a moment; like he’s unsure if he’s allowed to touch you.

His chin hides in the crook of your neck, breath warm against your skin and he breathes shakily into you, his back arched to crouch down more to your height.

“Hey, hey…what’s wrong?”, You ask.

You were worried to say the least. He was always so strong and level-headed, but here was; crumbling in front of you. Still smelling faintly of antiseptic and sweat.

There had been a lingering feeling in your chest when you left him earlier, that he wasn’t quite altogether like he’d said he was; and now here he was, proving the feeling right.

You pull his head back carefully, forcing him to look at you; “Shitty shift?”

He only nods, eyes glassy and biting his lip like he’s trying to keep it from wavering.

“It’s ok, i’m here, i’ve got you”, You tell him.

“M’Sorry…for waking you. I know you have to work and I don’t want you to feel like that’s not important-“

You don’t remind him you’re off today, not now.

“Jack”, You say once, “Stop that. It’s ok, I’m glad you’re here.”

You realize now you mean more than just in this moment, and surprisingly; he catches that meaning in your voice too.

You see the moment he freezes as you dip your head to lean it against his—but he’s moving quickly again—dipping his own head to catch your lips against his. The kiss is slow and tentative; warm and unrushed. Like he’d rather be here than anywhere else.

The amount of times you’d kissed was still able to be counted on one hand, but each once was more special and passionate than the last. Still learning each other; still growing closer and comfortable.

Each kiss lit both of you up inside like a warm sunny day—the feeling of the ocean tide and breeze almost within reach.

He pulls back slowly, eyes staying close as he savors it, before he’s looking softly down at you again.

“Was that…”, He swallows carefully, “Was that ok?”

You can only nod, all words ripped from your mind except for one; Jack.

You find yourself playing with his sweaty curls again; “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not right now”, He shakes his head, and then; “…Do you mind if I use your shower?”

You’d find out later about the patient’s he’d lost. The dad who came in without his son, only to find he passed on route. The older couple who both passed within an hour of each other after coding for almost two—drunk driver responsible.

The child with pneumonia whose lips were purple and face almost blue as he was rushed up to the ICU. They all echoed in Jack’s head—part of the curse that came with the job. One of the reasons he gravitated towards the roof on certain nights. Though those had become less frequent since he’d met you.

“Not at all, second door on the right…you hungry?”

He shrugs; “A little.”

“I’ll order us some food, go get clean.”

You watch him head back the hallway, bag in hand and a slight limp to his gait that’s way worse than it was earlier.

─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─

Forty-five minutes later you’re unpacking the food that just arrived when he steps back out from the hallway again.

Grey sweats that match his hair hanging low on his hips, his torso still speckled with water droplets in between the freckles, lightening curls that are still damp and dark from the water.

“Oh Jack…”, You say, softness dripping from your voice; “You look so tired, baby.”

The nickname slips out, but neither of you react.

He sighs like he knows how he looks—how he feels on his feet—heavy and ignoring the burn of his nerve endings and the way his prosthetic is rubbing. His eyes are darker with exhaustion, both in the iris and the bags below them; purple marking them there. Hair sticking up and muscles flexing.

You find him in front of you again, hands gently roaming his shoulders; “Shower ok?”

“Yeah, definitely needed, thank you”, He says.

“Sorry I don’t have a chair…I don’t know if that’s good or bad-“

“It all worked out, don’t worry about me, sweetheart”, Almost waving his hand.

“Jack”, You say sternly, “Of course I worry about you, you’re important to me.”

He freezes, then leans in to engulf you in his arms again, tears pricking his eyes, but this time he doesn’t really bother to try and hide them as much. Mental and physical exhaustion breaking the dam.

He’s kissing you softly again when you look up at him, lips clashing and roaming with a little more passion than before, but still soft and tentative.

“Food is here”, You whisper.

He grunts softly in response; “Good, I’m starving.”

You smile at his change in appetite, the shower helping wake him up a little.

You’re still cradling his face when he pulls away, eyes raking over him in a way that makes him feel shy and want to pull away, but he doesn’t.

“You’re so beautiful, Jack.”

His breath hitched audibly; “Don’t.”

He pinches his eyes shut, but you don’t let him.

“You are, you’re so beautiful”, You say, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

His eyes stay closed as you pepper kisses across his face with each compliment.

“You’re so smart”; a kiss to his other cheek.

“So strong and muscular”; a kiss to his forehead.

“So kind and caring and thoughtful”; a kiss to his temple.

“So good at your job and with patients”; a kiss to his nose.

Then your lips hover over his; “So gentle and caring and good to me.”

Your lips press against his, kiss deepening as his arms tighten around your waist, lifting you into the air as your legs wrap around his waist; food long forgotten for now.

Jack pulls you down ontop of him on your couch, lying sprawled out with you on his chest—soft kisses still peppering his lips and face—holding you together. There’s no place you’d rather be. Finally his chin ends up on your head, lips and nose brushing your hair as you snuggle into his bare chest; fingers playing with the greying hair.

“Thank you”, His voice comes scratchy; “For answering…for letting me in…for being here.”

You tilt your head up; “I’ll always be here, Jack.”

He presses a kiss to your lips again, sighing more in content now than exhaustion. His eyes growing heavier by the minute. He doesn’t say anything else—just pulls you closer again and lets his breath brush your hair.

He realizes right then he’s truly, truly screwed.

You were opening up something inside him that he didn’t know was there anymore.

But now? Maybe he’s not as scared of that anymore.

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