(littles are known au with regressed dennis- originally answering an ask but i accidentally deleted it i'm so sorry, if you sent me an ask about robby always wanting to show baby dennis off because of how sweet he was, this is the response!)
robby is well aware that he's got the cutest baby in the world, and he takes every opportunity to show dennis off to as many people as possible- dennis, for his part, loves the attention. there's nothing better for the baby than having people cooing at him and loving on him and it never fails to make him giggle or squeal.
one day after a shift, robby realises that he's left some things behind at the hospital in his locker, like his phone charger and a jacket he wanted, so he has to go back and get them. dennis is already little however, and can't be left in the house alone under any circumstance. robby's not worried though, it was still early on in the evening, only 8pm or so, and dennis wasn't tired yet.
before they'd left dennis had been happily playing in the living room, content to bang wooden blocks together and marvel at the noise they made, so the baby would likely have no problem with taking a little trip. besides, if he did get tired, nightshift would be more than happy to give him a cuddle while robby nipped in and out.
in the car, robby looked in the rearview mirror as he drove to see dennis fixated on his own socked foot, still in high spirits and apparently discovering that it was in fact attached to his body. robby smiled. his baby was better than everyone else's and he didn't think it was remotely close.
when he parked the car, he made sure that dennis's pacifier was firmly between his lips and clipped to his shirt to stop it from falling out and bouncing onto the floor, since this would've caused a bout of tears and a tantrum that they really didn't need. after that, he swaddled dennis in his soft blue blanket to keep out the chill of the evening, and then hoisted the baby into his arms. he knew his back would suffer later on, but he didn't care. dennis was worth it.
as he walked into the hospital, dennis was happy and alert, looking around with wide eyes, golden curls and pacifier both bobbing in time with his daddy's steps.
jack was the first one to spot them from where he stood at the nursing station, and he broke into a smile and walked towards the pair, arms already outstretched for the baby so he could have a cuddle.
"ohhhh denny look! there's uncle jack! do you want to have a snuggle with uncle jack while daddy goes and picks up his things? yeah?"
dennis was letting out excited babbles behind his pacifier and squirmed in his swaddle until his arms broke out and flailed in jack's general direction.
"awww hi buddy! how are you, sweet boy? has your daddy taken you for a little trip? look at you, such a sweet and happy baby."
dennis was passed between the men and jack took the baby with a massive grin. it was always lovely to have the charming bundle of joy that was regressed dennis turn up for a visit, and he knew his cuddle would soon be interrupted by other staff members wanting time with him too.
jack gasped theatrically.
"ohhh no way! is that so, little one? that's fascinating, baby. you're so smart!"
he bounced dennis up and down in his arms slightly, as robby took one of dennis's outstretched arms and gave him a little squeeze.
"okay baby, you stay nice and safe with uncle jack here, and daddy is gonna go and get our things. i'll only be gone a few minutes, so don't worry. daddy loves you."
dennis was distracted carefully from his daddy hurrying off to the locker room by an influx of other staff wanting to coo and fuss over him, and he squirmed in delight and suckled harder on the pacifier.
"oh hello hello! look at this little one, hi dennis, how are you today precious thing?"
that was lena who'd marched over with ellis and shen in tow, and the older woman gave his golden curls a little muss and a pat that made him giggle and preen. all of the adults laughed and cooed at him more, and dennis basked in the attention. he didn't understand what they were saying, but they were smiling and using the same voice that daddy used, so it must be good. shen moved forward to tap him gently on the front of his pacifier which made dennis let out a sudden screech of laughter at the feeling.
the pacifier fell from his mouth and dangled on it's clasp from his shirt as he giggled some more and tested out his voice. his admiring posse of adults all cooed again and dennis grinned, knowing he was the star of whatever this show was.
"talkative today i see, mr whitaker. does your daddy know you speak so well?"
ellis shook one of the baby's hands like he was a business associate rather than a giggly little being passed around like a trophy.
"oh he must know, listen to how many words you know!"
robby had come back from the locker room by now and was standing a few feet away, face overflowing with pride, smugness and love. people could call him gloating all the wanted, but the truth was right in front of his eyes- his baby boy was so cute that it took less than two minutes for four of the most senior night shift staff to be all over him, praising and playing with him and making him giggle and squeal.
jack saw him first, and turned towards robby to point out to the baby that his daddy had returned.
"hey little one, look who's back! who is it? is it your daddy? i think it might be!"
dennis's face broke into an even bigger smile at the sight of daddy, and threw his arms towards robby.
all the adults laughed at the volume such a small boy had managed to produce at the sight of his favourite person, and robby soon had his baby back in his arms, lifting him from jack. he held dennis with one arm for a few moments, grateful for the muscles he'd gained from being the baby's caregiver, and used his free arm to offer the dangling pacifier back to dennis, who happily accepted it and went back to suckling on it calmly.
dennis let his head flop down on his daddy's chest, a little tired out from all the attention, but basking in it nonetheless.
"well, i think it's time for us to go now, thank you for keeping an eye on him while i popped back, but as you can see i think the baby might like bedtime soon."
"always a pleasure, brother. though it's equally a pleasure for you, wanting to show off dennis whenever you get the chance, don't try to deny it."
jack laughed as he spoke and robby shrugged his shoulders lightly, careful of dennis, who had taken a dozy interest in his ear and was trying to pull at it. shen and ellis, still watching, were trying to cover up their laughter at the scene and failing badly.
"not the ear, please baby. it hurts daddy, it makes him go ow. kind hands, please. and well, brother, i can't deny because i don't want to. look at him. he loves the attention and you know none of us are ever going to deny him."
"you're not wrong. you better take the baby home before he tries to pull another one of your facial features off!"
ellis and shen were outright snickering now, delighted by dennis's antics.
"say bye-bye, denny! say bye bye to uncle jack, and shen and ellis and lena! let's wave, baby."
dennis let his daddy move his hand from his ear and wave it back and forth to the other staff and he babbled behind the pacifier.
robby walked out of the ER with a sleepy baby in his arms, phone charger retrieved, a smarting ear, and his head held high in smugness at the way his little boy had everyone wrapped around his teeny little fingers. dennis was dozing off as he was strapped back into the car and robby knew that the first order of business when they got home would be to get him a warm bottle of milk, and then lay him down to sleep. god, he loved his little baby. so did everyone else.