Dennis finds Frank before he relapses, shaking after the loss of a child who looks too much like Penny, still wearing the same shoes Frank had bought Penny three days before. Dennis still is weary when it comes to Frank, but seeing him curled up like that, shaking, while trying to dissociate from everyhing, as the cravings start to win Dennis knows he can't leave him alone.
He takes Frank home, not to his apartment with Trinity, but to Robby's, not knowing Frank's address and not wanting to get that close. He and Frank don't talk, Frank shuts down, and Dennis is too tired to pretend. He forces Frank to eat, and Frank is gone before Dennis wakes up in the morning. He's prepared for the taller man to ignore him, but the small little "thank you for taking care of me," barely above a whisper given by Frank, stopping his walk by Dennis just long enough to say it, is a surprise.
It ignites something in Dennis, he doesn't know is burning. Dennis doesn't think anything of it until he hears a patient unleash on Frank, raising their voice and using harsh words over something Frank can't control. He steps in with a calm and firm voice and leads Frank away as Ahmed takes care of the rest. Frank is quiet and withdrawn for most of the shift, and Dennis can't help but watch him. Frank once again thanks him for stepping in, for taking care of him, and the fire burns a little more.
It starts to become a habit over the next couple of months, keeping an eye on Frank, learning to read the man, until he can't stop. Can't stop watching, needing to take care of Frank, encouraging Frank to come to him, to let him be the one to take care of him.
Frank is shy and hesitant at first, worried about how it may look or fear of growing dependent, Dennis shows him the protection Robby never did. The breaking point comes when Robby comes back, and Frank starts to pull back from Dennis. He doesn't go back to Robby's side, giving the man a wide berth, with a mix of regret and aprehension about how the man will react, but he pulls away from Dennis as well in response. Robby doing his best to bring Dennis back to his side.
His golden boy, Frank's replacement.
Dennis hates that Frank seems to be out of his reach, keeping him from Dennis. The small fire grows until it consumes him. It's only when he overhears Robby telling Frank he can still come to him, that Dennis snaps, pulling Frank into an empty room, with firm hands and possessive determination.
Frank is his to take care of, the only one Frank should be coming to.
And he will never be tired of reminding the surprisingly delicate and fragile man that.
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