"Did you talk to Tiff?" Angie looked up at Richie as she finished cleaning up her station.
He was leaning against the island, rubbing one of his ankles to relieve some of the pressure from the day. "Talk to her 'bout what?"
"The wedding, Richie. She needs you to rsvp."
"Thought I did that."
"You know you didn't. What're you waiting for?"
He sighed and turned to look at her. "I dunno, Ange. I'm busy, I got shit to do."
"Oh, please." She scoffed. "It takes like five seconds. You just don't wanna go."
"I wanna go." He said in an irritated tone.
"Okay, I was just saying."
He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Sorry. I'm tired."
"I know. If it makes you feel any better, she knows."
"Who knows what?"
"Tiff knows about us. She's fine with it."
"You told her?"
"I couldn't have that hanging over my head anymore every time I talked to her. She already had it figured out, though."
"'Course she did."
Angie wiped her hands on a towel and came over to stand next to him. "Do you not wanna go because you're scared of seeing her remarry?"
"It's more so like...she marries Frank, Frank becomes the stepdad, then I'm just...forgotten."
"Richie, no one's gonna forget you. Especially not that little girl."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." She kissed his cheek softly. "I love you, I gotta head out."
"Love you."
"Rsvp please."
"Goodnight."
๐ค
"How's Sophie?" Angie spoke into the phone. She had it balanced between her ear and her shoulder as she tied her apron.
"She's the best."
"Carmy still hasn't seen her?"
"He's busy. It's okay."
"Everyone's busy, Sug."
"Oh my god, did I tell you who Pete saw at the gym?"
"Who?"
"Backstabber bitch number one."
"Francie fuck-face Fak?"
"Don't even speak her name, she might pop up behind you."
"What'd she say?"
"She said 'Hi'."
"Ugh." She rolled her eyes. "The nerve."
"The fucking nerve."
"I gotta go, I'll talk to you later."
"Bye, love you."
"Love you." Angie hung up the phone and slid it into her pocket. She walked over to Syd and Carmy and sat next to them at one of the tables. "That was Nat."
"Yeah?"
"Bad terms with the farmers."
"Shit."
"She tried to get them to extend the terms, but they only do that for larger orders. We don't got that. So, smaller orders with the same terms."
"We're being punished?"
"Yeah."
"That's exactly what's happening."
"Are you confused?" Angie asked him. "You look confused."
"It's like if we have ten apples, and we pay five dollars a month for the ten apples." Sydney explained.
"We don't need apples, that makes no sense."
"Oh my god." His sister in law sighed.
"We do need apples. The hypothetical apples."
"We have apples?"
"We have no apples. They have the apples. We have like five or four."
"Less than ten."
"Yeah."
"What if we have six fennel?"
"Where the fuck did you get that from?" Angie asked him.
"We don't need apples, we need fennel. And six is less than ten."
"Yeah, so are a lot of other numbers."
"The point is," Sydney interrupted. "I think it would be a good idea to reduce the amount of components per plate."
"How many do we have now?"
"Maybe five. We could go down to three. It's not fancy, but it'll help."
"Yeah. Good idea."
"Let's do that."
She hesitated and grinned. "That was easy. Did you guys not feel like that was kinda easy?"
"I felt the ease." Angie said. "I felt it personally. Did you feel the ease, Carm?"
"Yeah, I know. I'm working on it." He smirked and left the table.
"Proud of you!" She sighed and turned back to Sydney. "You still looking over the Docusign?"
"Uh, yeah. I've just been busy, ya know?"
"Yeah, no, for sure. No pressure. Just think about it.โ She gave her a soft smile as she walked off.
๐ค
It was late when Angie heard her bedroom door creak open. She rubbed her eyes and rolled over to look at the doorway. "What're you doing?" She whispered.
"I miss him."
She scooted over and lifted up the blanket so Sophia could climb in next to her. "I miss him too." She wrapped her arms around her daughter and kissed her head.
"Do you think about him a lot?"
"I do. Everyday."
"When will I stop feeling sad?"
"I can't answer that, baby. But I love you, and I'm gonna be here for you. Always."
Richie sat on the couch, newspaper spread wide in front of him. His jaw was tight, his fingers tapping hard against the wood of the coffee table.
The same words kept running through his head. 'confusing, dissonance, sloppy, inconsistent, disappointed, overdone, tired, stale.'
His stomach twisted. 'Disappointed'. After everything he'd poured into that place? He read it again. And again. Just liked he's done all night.
Angie watched from the doorway for a few minutes before walking over to him. "I've been standing here for five minutes wearing nothing but a tank top and panties." She stood behind the couch and wrapped her arms around his neck. "That article cannot be more interesting than me. Put it away."
"I'm almost done."
"You've read it three times."
"That's not a lot."
"Three times this morning." She walked around the couch and sat on his lap, facing him. "I didn't even count last night."
"Look, I just gotta-"
She grabbed the paper from his hands. She crumpled it up into a ball and tossed it on the floor. "You're done."
"Angie, come on."
"Ever since we got back last night, I've been competing for your attention with a piece of paper." She placed her hands on his bare chest. "So forgive me if I wanna spend the last couple minutes before we have to leave with you."
He kissed the palm of her hand and looked up into her eyes. "I'm sorry. I just keep rereading it thinking about what I coulda done better."
"Richie, you're doing everything you can. Without you, I don't know where we'd be."
"I just...I don't wanna fail you guys."
She leaned closer against him and hugged him gently. "You won't. I love you."
"I love you too." His hands went to her hips.
Angie looked down at him before pressing her lips to his softly. She pulled back a few moments later, his bottom lip catching between her teeth. "I missed you." She whispered.
"Yeah?" His hands moved to her thighs. "You missed me, baby?"
"Yeah." She whimpered softly as his lips found her neck. "Richie."
"My pretty girl. Did I not give you enough attention?"
Angie shook her head. A gentle gasp fell from her lips when Richie's fingers softly rubbed her over her panties.
He pushed them to the side and pressed his two fingers against her wet clit. "You're so ready for me, huh, sweetheart?"
"Mhm." She nodded with soft moans as he curled his fingers inside her, keeping his thumb on her clit. "Fuck." Her one of her hands went to his bicep and gripped it tightly.
"You like my fingers in your pussy, baby?" He whispered, leaving kisses and soft bites on her ear. "That feel good?"
"So good, baby." Angie rocked her hips against his hand, trying to take them deeper. "Richie."
"I know, you want it so bad." His fingers disappeared from her pussy. "But you want my cock more, don't you?" They slipped into his mouth with a soft hum. "You taste so fucking good."
Angie lifted her hips so he could pulled his boxers down. After getting them off, he pulled her tank top over her head and tossed it somewhere on the floor.
"So fucking pretty, honey." His large hands cupped her breasts before he leaned forward to wrap his lips around her nipple.
She reached down to slip his length inside her and sank down onto him. โOh my god." A soft gasp left her mouth before she began to move her hips.
"Oh, shit." Richie gripped her hips tightly to help her move against him. "You feel fucking amazing, baby. Just like that."
"Fuck, you're so deep." She moaned against his lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again, this time more messy and desperate.
"Yeah, baby, keep going. Lemme help you." He started moving his hips up to match her rhythm. "Fuck, that's so good."
Angie gasped and dug her nails into his shoulders. Every thrust from him pulled another moan or whimper from her. "Yes, baby, yes."
"I know, I know." One of his hands went back in between them so he could rub her clit. "You're doing good. Keep going till you cum."
"I wanna cum with you, Richie."
Richie's breath came in rough, uneven bursts as he watched Angie. How her face flushed, her lips parted with every moan. He thought she was the most beautiful thing in the world.
"I'm close, baby." Richie whispered against her ear before sucking lightly at it.
"Fuck, yes." She groaned, before pulling him into another messy kiss.
His hips rolled up harder now with deeper thrusts that made the couch creak beneath them. The rhythm was perfect for the both of them. It was slow and teasing when she needed it sweet, then fast and urgent when she needed more.
"I'm gonna cum, sweetheart. I'm gonna cum in that pretty pussy."
"Oh my god, Richie, fuck!" She groaned as her nails sunk into his skin deeper. "I'm so close!"
"Yeah? Gonna cum with me, baby?"
She nodded and pressed her forehead against his, trying to steal more kisses in between their moans and gasps.
"Shit! That's it, baby, take it." He her hips close to his as he came inside her.
"Oh my god, oh my god, fuck." Angie whispered against his lips as she came a few moments after him.
Richie leaned his head back against the couch and breathed heavily for a minute. She leaned forward against his chest and shut her eyes.
"I love you." He kissed her head. "I love you, I love you."
"I love you too." She let herself relax for a couple moments before she sat up quickly. "We're supposed to be there at eight."
"What time is it?"
She climbed off of him and searched for her phone. She picked it up off of the counter and groaned. "It's seven forty eight!"
"Shit."
๐ค
"We are so fucked." Angie whispered as they got out of her car and headed inside the restaurant. "They're gonna know something's up if we're both late."
"We'll just say you picked me up and there was traffic."
"We're fucked."
They opened the kitchen door and had five pairs of eyes on them.
"Oh shit." Richie said. "Gang's all here. What's this?"
"It's half past eight."
"There was traffic, you fucking jagoff."
"Hey, Unc." Angie gave him a soft smile. "Hey, Computer."
"Hi, my love."
"Angie."
"Hey." Natalie said from Carmy's phone.
"Hi, Sugar Bear."
"Hi, Nat."
"Anybody care to catch these two up?"
"We have a two month parachute." Sydney explained.
"Sick."
"No, not sick, Richie. Our parachute has holes. Big ones."
"Once the parachute runs out, they're suggesting-"
"Telling." Computer corrected her.
"They're telling us that we're gonna have to close the restaurant, because after that point-"
"It'll be like beating a dead horse."
Angie looked over at Jimmy with pleading eyes. "There has to be something we can do. We can't just give up on this place."
"I know, honey, I'm sorry. My hands are tied."
The group sat in silence for a long moment before Richie spoke up.
"May I speak for a moment?"
"Please."
"Okay, Uncle J, Uncle Computer, am I correct to assume that this presentation has something to do with a little unsavory article in the paper of record?"
"Would be safe to assume that, yeah."
"Alright. This is what I wanna say. I read that article very carefully. I admit, initially, I did bristle and dismiss it as the musings of some 'scustumad' millennial jagoff. No offense Ange."
"Non taken. I think."
"But upon reflection, and further rereading, and a cigarette, I realized that there was a lot of truth in that article. A lotta bullshit, but a lotta truth. It made me realize that I'm dropping the ball. That man came in three times, I shoulda known him. Not 'cause he's a critic, but because he's a repeat guest. There's no excuse for that, and I am very sorry."
"Richie, stop." Sydney said to him. "That's not on you."
"I appreciate that, Richie." Carmy chimed in. "But I really think I'm the one who needs to be taking the blame."
"Enough of martyr Carmen. Let me just finish."
"I'm tryna tell you it's my fault!"
"You're not listening to me!"
"No you're not listening to me!"
"I'm tryna tell you, I hired people to help me!"
"Stop fucking hiring people!"
"Everybody quit! I needed to replace them, that's science."
"Who quit?"
"Eric, Debbie, and David."
"Who the fuck are Eric, Debbie, and David?" Syd and Carmy asked.
"Debbie's really nice to me, Eric's kinda whatever, but David is the best." Neil told them.
"What about when we get the star?" Carmy asked.
"If."
"If we get the star?"
"Well, you've got that amount of time to do it." Computer pointed to the ticking clock on the counter behind them.
"Hey guys." Chuck popped his head through the window and waved. "Just wanted to let you know that we got a robot, so don't freak out when you see him riding around. His names Chuckie."
"What the fuck?"
"And what does Chuckie do?" Jimmy asked him.
"Chuckie delivers. I got it for free with the delivery app."
"Excellent work."
"Thank you, chef."
"Just so we're clear, no one can spend anymore money. I'm looking at you, Richard."
"Chuck's buying droids."
"It was free!"
"Look, I'm not hiring anybody else, okay?"
"Anybody else?"
"Richie, who'd you hire?" Angie looked to him.
"Nonnegotiables."
๐ค
Later that morning, the whole team gathered in the kitchen. In front of the expo stood Jessica, Rene, and Garrett.
"So," The woman asked. "What seems to be the biggest issue."
Everyone began to speak over each other, only a few breakthrough words could actually be heard.
"Communication."
"Changing the menu."
"No money."
"No time."
"Holes. Really big holes."
She sighed and nodded. "Got it. Let's start with signals. We're gonna communicate without saying anything."
"How do we do that?"
"If I'm making direct eye contact, and I'm making this motion," Garrett said, holding up two fingers to his chest. "You come to me."
"How do I know you're looking at me?"
"Neil, he'll be looking at you, baby." Angie softly responded to him.
"Chefs Carmen, Sydney, and Angie?"
"Yes?"
"Can you devote a daily twenty minute meeting to discuss menu with all staff?"
"Yes, chef."
"We can do that."
"Okay. Next up is the wine list. Gary, feeling good about pairings?"
"Yes, chef."
"Okay, wait, I got one." Jimmy pulled his phone out.
"Yes, Mr. Kalinowski?"
"What happens if a four top cancels day of, like just happened right fucking now?"
"Goddammit."
"Shit."
"Fuck me."
"It's fine." Jess told the group. "We're overbooked."
"We don't overbook." Richie said.
"I know, I do. Computer, your chart suggests that we average two no shows a night. So I'm gonna overbook by two tables."
"What if everyone shows?"
"They call that a champagne problem." She held up two cards, one green and one red. "These'll be on the expo. Green means we're on time, red means we're behind."
"Green good, red bad."
"Marcus, you prepped for tonight?"
"Almost, chef."
"Sounds like Marcus needs extra hands at pastry. Can anybody back him up?"
"Tell me what you need, Marcus. I got you."
"Thank you, chef Angie."
"Also," Richie chimed in. "When somebody stands up, do not fold the napkin. This is not a passive aggressive establishment."
"That's good." Chuck said. "I hate when people fuck with our shit."
"Exactly."
"That kind of efficiency doesn't seem cost efficient."
"No worries, Computer. We'll spend less and spend better."
"Like it in theory."
"Okay, anybody got anything?" She waited a few minutes for another interjection, but saw nothing but shaking heads. "That's reassuring. I'm on expo. Richie, Neil, Gary, Rene, and Garrett, you're out front. Everybody else is back here. Seven hours to service, two hours to beef window. Every second counts. Let's get to work."
The cafรฉ was bright and noisy in the comfortable way Sunday brunch places always were. Plates clinked against countertops, espresso machines hissed, and conversations overlapped into a pleasant hum.
Angie sat at a corner table, turning her coffee mug slowly between her hands. She'd been there for fifteen minutes waiting. She'd already rehearsed the conversation a dozen different ways.
"There she is.โ Tiffany smiled, slipping off her sunglasses as she walked over. "I'm sorry I'm late." She hugged her friend. "Eva couldn't decide if she wanted pancakes or cereal, so naturally she had both."
Angie laughed. "Sounds about right."
Tiffany slid into the booth across from her. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
A waitress came by to take their order, and they talked about normal things. Coffee, eggs, whether the potatoes were actually worth ordering. It was almost enough to make Angie forget why she'd invited Tiff out in the first place. Almost.
"How's everything with the wedding?"
"Good." The blonde nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "We're just waiting on Richie's rsvp."
"Richie?"
"Yeah. Could you talk to him? He listens to you."
"I don't think he really listens to anyone." Angie chuckled softly.
"He listens to you, Ange."
She hesitated, putting all her focus on folding the napkin on the table. "Tiff, I need to talk to you."
"Okay." She nodded. "What's up?"
"I don't really know how to say this." She nervously laughed and look up at her friend. "You're my friend, Tiff. My really good friend. You've always been there for me through everything."
"Are you breaking up with me?" She joked.
"Tiff, Richie and I are together. Like seriously. And I know this makes things weird, and I'm sorry-"
"That was it?"
"Um...yeah."
"Honey, I already knew that."
"You did?"
"Yeah, I've known for weeks." She shrugged, taking another sip of her coffee.
"Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you confront me?"
"Why would I? That's not my place."
"It's not weird for you?"
"No! Honestly, I'm thrilled you both found someone."
Angie smiled softly and placed her hand on top of Tiff's. "Thank you."
"Nothing to thank me for. I just want you to be happy."
"I am."
"Good."
"Wait, how did you know?"
The blonde scoffed. "Oh, come on, Angie. It's obvious."
"What do you mean?"
"The way he looks at you, the way he talks about you. He's so in love with you. I think a part of him always has been." She sighed. "But I'm happy for you. Both of you."
"Thank you, Tiff."
๐ค
"Holy shit." Angie whispered to herself as she walked through the front door of Ever. It was big, luxurious, and unlike anything she'd ever seen. There was dark blue lighting in the hallway as she walked through it towards the crowd of people.
"Hey."
"Hey, Carm." She let out a sigh of relief at the sight of a familiar face as she hugged her brother in law. "You doing okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm all good."
"This place is fucking insane, Bear."
"I know. It's pretty amazing."
"Chef."
He turned as a blonde man with a slight accent walked over and hugged him briefly.
"Angie, this is Luca. We started here together. This is my sister in law, Angie."
"Nice to finally put a face to the name." Luca reached out and shook her hand.
"He talked about me?"
"He did. All good things."
She glanced at her brother who was trying to hide his sheepish grin. "It's really nice to meet you too. Carmy said you're very talented."
"That means a lot coming from him." He placed his hand on Carmy's shoulder.
"Stop it, man."
"No, for real. Your brother is a fucking machine."
"Yeah. He's pretty great."
"I'm gonna take a seat. I think dinner's starting any minute now."
"Alright, man."
"Angie, nice meeting you again."
"Yeah, you too."
"See ya."
She waited until he stepped away to whisper to Carmy. "I thought his picture was cute. He's hotter in person."
"That's so weird." He groaned.
"It's not weird, it's true. I'm just saying."
"I don't need to hear that."
"Whatever."
"Come on, let's go sit."
They headed over to the dining room and approached a table as Carmy introduced her to more people. Sydney sat near the wall and stood to hug the both of them.
"Hey, Syd."
"Hey. You look nice."
"Thanks, you too."
"Hey, everybody. This is chef Angie."
"Oh, you don't have to call me that outside of work."
"Okay, well, this is Angie. You know Luca."
"Oh yeah, we go way back. Like 4 minutes ago."
The table laughed as they sat down.
"So you're Carmy's sister in law?"
"Yeah."
"Where'd you go to culinary school?"
"Oh, I didn't. I'm not a chef. I mean, I am technically a chef, but not really. Not like you guys."
"She's being modest." Carmen said to the group. "She's an incredible chef."
"Stop. I'm really just there for the moral support."
"Are you kidding?" Syd asked. "The whole place would've fallen apart if you weren't there. And it was literally falling apart at one point."
"Syd."
"I'm serious. The Bear is really yours, Ange."
"The Beef was mine. The Bear is ours."
Carmy smiled softly and nodded at her. "Yeah it is."
They went around the table talking and sharing stories for a while. Angie still felt like somewhat of a black sheep among the group. All these people went to school, trained, traveled, and did all these amazing things to get where they are. And all she did was marry into the Berzatto family.
"Has anyone ever left on the preorder option?"
Everyone laughed at Syd and shook their heads in reply.
"Uh, no."
"Nope."
"We were just telling stories so I was just wondering." She put her hands up in defense.
"How did that go?"
"It was rough. Angie passed out."
"I did pass out."
"What?"
"Oh my god."
"It wasn't that bad, I was fine."
"So, what got you into cooking?"
"Uh, my husband. He owned the restaurant before it was all shiny and new."
"Yeah, my dad used to love that place. I miss it sometimes."
She smiled. "Me too. But I couldn't be happier with where I'm at now."
The conversation was cut short by the clanking of a wine glass.
"Sorry, I forgot my spoon. I went to use my watch." Chef Terry chuckled. "Using my Rolex. Um...this will be quick. I just wanted to thank you all for being here. And it's so lovely to see you all again."
Angie's gaze shifted from the woman standing in front of the crowd to the man standing near the wall in the back of it.
She gave him a small smile and wave from her seat. She could see his blue eyes softening from across the room as he smiled back at her.
"And I think what I've learned over the years, uh, in all the places I've worked, is, uh, people don't remember the food. It's the people that they remember."
Angie's smile faded into something softer when she heard that. Her thoughts drifted for a moment. To The Beef. To the little apartment over on North Broadway where she'd rocked Sophia to sleep after twelve hour shifts.
To Mikey laughing so hard that he snorted because Richie had dropped an entire tray of Italian beefs on the floor.
To Christmases that somehow managed to be both beautiful and catastrophic.
To Carmy coming home.
To opening The Bear.
To every version of herself she'd been inside the restaurant, and every single person she'd loved because of it.
Her eyes found Richie again. He was already looking at her. This time, neither of them smiled. They just looked.
Richie rested one shoulder against the wall, his hands tucked into his pockets. He looked handsome. It had nothing to do with the suit he was wearing. It was the confidence he'd found over the last year, the ease in his posture, the absence of the constant defensiveness he'd carried for so long.
He had caught her staring and he smirked. 'What?' He silently said to her without needed to say a word. His face did all the talking.
She shook her head, smiling to herself. 'Nothing.'
He raised an eyebrow. 'Liar.'
She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.
Beside her, Sydney leaned over and whispered."What?"
"Hm?"
"You've smiled like... three times during this speech."
"Oh." Angie cleared her throat, forcing her attention back toward Chef Terry as she wrapped up. "I'm just... happy to be here."
"And so I just wanted to say I'm so grateful that you're all here. And, um... thank you."
After dinner, Angie got up and wandered around to find Richie. After a few minutes of searching, she stepped into the empty kitchen where he was leaning against the counter staring at the wall.
"Every second counts." Read the sign he was gazing at.
"Hey, you." She came up next to him and wrapped her arm around his side.
"Hey." He sighed, softly kissing the top of her head. "You look amazing."
"I've been getting showered with compliments all night. It's weird."
"You deserve it."
"Thank you. You look nice too."
"So, what'd you think?"
"I think this is the most incredible place I've ever been to."
"The food?"
"So good. But not just that. The ambiance, the people. I wish I could've had more time here."
"Yeah, me too."
The sound of footsteps came from the hall as four people joined them in the kitchen.
"Oh, sorry, are we interrupting?"
"No, no. I actually wanted to introduce you. This is Jess, Garrett, Rene, and Adam."
"Nice to meet you all."
"Guys, this is Angie."
"You finally let us meet the Angie." Garrett shook her hand.
"He speaks highly of you." Jess told her.
"He speaks highly of you guys. And of this place."
When they saw Carmy turn the corner with Syd and Luca, they put some distance between them. The three of them came to join the group by the counter.
"So this is it, huh?" Carmy sighed.
Everyone nodded as Adam climbed on a ladder began to take the sign down. He pulled it off of the Velcro and handed it to chef Terry as she walked in.
"Oh, thank you. Awfully quiet in here." She looked around at the group and raised up the sign as they all raised their glasses. "Come on. Let's get the fuck out of here."
And later that night at Sydney's apartment, after dancing, eating freezer food, and a few too many shots, it seemed like then and there, just for the night, only one thing mattered. Not bills, not anxiety, not stars. Just them. Just family.
abbot calling the night shift โthe nightcrawlersโ ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญhis corny ass๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญLIKE WOW๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญGIVE ME THAT DICK OLD MAN FAWKKK๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ
Guys Iโm really trying to lock in and be more active! Iโm thinking about posting content on TikTok. I made an account that I use for brand posts, itโs the same username, blckbarbiedoll. I wanna engage more with you guys and write more! If youโre interested, give me a follow! ๐ค
synopsis: jack abbot has had a shit day. luckily, his beautiful OBGYN wife is there to save his day.
contains: night crew!!, trinity santos being a menace, depictions of birth, jack being a simp, bad bitch reader, no use of y/n
note: first 'the Pitt' fanfic.
Being the lead OBGYN in PTMC emergency department was no easy feat.ย
You constantly handled STIs, infected IUDs and the occasional birth, but it was otherwise pretty calm.ย
They called you Bear, due to your calm yet assertive approach to distressed women. Not to mention it referred to โMama Bearโ, what almost all the interns and new residents called you at the insistence of Robby.
Overall, you truly loved your job. You got to spend time with women, babies, and your best friends.
Also, your husband worked in the Emergency Department, and you two always made it a show to flaunt your marriage in front of the residents.ย
.
.
.
Jack was tired.
He got shot. No, wait. Shot at. Thereโs a difference. A clear difference that he would highlight in your eventual fight over it.ย
Whatever, he was irritated as fuck.ย
And now he had all the new gen residents bitching to him about going analogue.
He entered a trauma room, followed by Dr. Santos, Dr. Langdon, student doctors Ogilvie and Joy and senior resident Ellis.ย
โOkay, Ms. Richards, can you tell us what happened?โ He asked, frowning as he gazed over her chart.ย
Right, a woman was currently crowning the ER. Not the best situation, but it is what it is.
The woman cleared her throat, sweaty and crying as she held her bump. โMyโฆmy water broke while I was taking a hike. I had to go all the way back down before calling 911. I passed out and here I am.โ She wheezed out.ย
Jack nodded, looking around. โJoy, what are we looking for?โ He called out, gloving and gowning up.
โUhm-โ
โChorioamnionitis. Her uterus may be infected.โ Ogilvie cut her, looking over at Jack for approval.
The older man paused, dumbfounded at the cause. Great, Robby assigned him a Gunner.
Santos snorted from where she was getting the epidural ready.ย
โWeโre looking for horses, not zebras.โ
The familiar voice made Jackโs muscles relax.ย
The familiar pink scrubs appeared in the room.ย
Everybody paused, before Ellis chuckled.ย
โThank God Dr. Abbotโs here, no offence Jack.โ She snorted, already walking over to you instinctively.ย
You breathed out a smile, pulling your hair off your face. โThanks, Doctor Ellis.โย
You walked over to Jackโs side, giving him a teasing smile. โDr. Abbot, whatโs up with the patient?โ
He cleared his throat. God, heโs whipped when you use that authoritative tone.ย
โWell, sheโs two weeks premature, and was having strenuous activity before the birth so that is the most likely cause.โ You nodded, turning over to Ogilvie.
โShe would be over 100 degrees if it were chorioamnionitis.โ You explained dryly, checking the patientโs vitals.
โDr. Abbotโs the expert here, dear future doctors. She's the head of OBGYN down here. She could probably birth triplets with her eyes closed.โ Jack stated, trying to maintain an air of professionalism in front of them.
โI have. Remember Snowmageddon?โ You said, nudging his side with your hip.
Langdon and Ellis, already used to all of this, were moving in tandem, while Santos, Ogilvie and Joy were nothing but flabbergasted.ย
โOkay, Ms. Richards. Iโm afraid weโll have to give birth to your baby girl right here. You are much too fragile to go up to L&D.โ With a sigh, you sat on the chair and rolled over between her legs, pushing your glasses up.
Santos, ever the chaotic good that she was, cleared her throat. โDoctor Abbot?โ She called out.
Both you and Jack looked over to her, eyebrows raised. She paused, looking between the two.
โMama Bear, epiduralโs ready.โ Langdon called out. You nodded, going over to ask the patient if she wanted an epidural.
She nodded, gripping the railing of the gurney.
โOkay, Dr. Santos, epidural.โ You ordered, adjusting the ladyโs legs on the stirrups.
โAre you two married?โ Joy finally blurted out, looking between you two.ย
You paused, turning over to Jack for his answer.
He paused before nodding, crossing his arms. โYeah, yeah we are. Sheโs senior here though. She has about two years on me experience wise. But, yeah, weโre both doctor Abbot-โ
โHoney?โ You cut off his nervous rambling, looking up at him with those deep eyes of yours.ย
He mumbled out a sorry, turning back to the patient as she pushed. โYou guys can just call me Bear. Thatโs the nickname around here.โ You mumbled, busy checking the dilation.
10 centimeters. Time to go.
โUh, no. You guys call her Dr. Abbot. Just call me Jack.โ Your husband protested, gulping at your cautious glance.ย
Santos raised her eyebrows, surprised at the attendingโs insistence on keeping your doctor title.ย
โThatโs some feminist shit.โ She said under her breath, earning a โI know thatโs rightโ from Ellis.
โOne last push, Ms. Richards.โ You assured, hands ready to catch the babe while everybody else gossiped.
Jack watched you, eyes observing reverently as you entered flow state.
Thatโs what he loved the most about you, how focused you were when you were working.ย
The contrast of his beautiful and serious colleague from his caring and passionate wife always made his heart do a little twirl.ย
At one point, Langdon and Santos started bickering before a sharp cry cut them off.
You cooed gently, wiping the babyโs eyes. โLangdon, 9:30.โ You called out the time of birth, carefully cutting the umbilical birth while Ellis grabbed the baby, bringing her to her mama.
You turned to Jack, grinning. โThink we donโt need you here, Dr. Abbot.โ You teased, waiting for the placenta.
He smiled, walking over to your side. โYou sure, Dr. Abbot?โ
โYes, go help Robby. Poor manโs last day is already as bad as it can get.โ You ordered, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips.
He blushed, nodding. โYes maโam.โ He said with a small salute, leaving.
Trinity snorted, looking down at your expert hands. โThat was so weird.โ
โWhat? Youโve never seen Abbot act like a puppy?โ Ellis snorted, holding the metal tray under the woman as her placenta spilled out.ย
You always loved seeing the residentsโ reaction to you and your husband. Nothing could replace the dumbfoundedness on their faces.ย
Trinity nodded.
You sighed, sitting up with a backstretch. โHe knows how to abandon authority when Iโm around.โ
Joy held back a grin. โThatโs some Alpha/Beta shit, Doc.โ She hummed, bursting out into laughter at Ogilvieโs reaction.
โI donโt even know what that is.โ He grimaced.ย
You shrugged, throwing your gloves out. โWhat can I say? A man who yearns is a man who earns, girls.โ You said, walking out to go page L&D.
Trinity and Joy followed your figure, sighing.ย
โI donโt know if I want to be with her or be her.โ Joy frowned.