Rabbotfest - Day 7: Unwanted Attention = Overprotectiveness (Omegaverse + R4!Robby/MS4!Jack)
The pen in Jack’s hand is bent as far as it’ll go. If he has to hear one more word of this, it’ll snap so violently that shards of plastic will fly across the room.
“So, no check-up?” The patient smiles. Her eyes hungrily follow Robby’s every move, and Jack has to grit his teeth to stop himself from growling.
Robby smiles politely. “No. You’ll be just fine on your own, Ms. Emerson.”
“That’s a shame,” she grins. “I’ll have to meet you somewhere else.”
Fragments of the pen scatter across the floor, black ink trickles over Jack’s clenched fist.”
Robby’s smile becomes less polite. “Our lovely nurse Sam will get you discharged. Dr. Abbot, a word?”
Dammit. Jack steals a disinfectant wipe to clean the ink and follows Robby with his head bowed. Being crushed under his omega is one of Jack’s favorite places to be, but he prefers it physically rather than in the form of workplace consequences.
“What is wrong with you?” Robby says through gritted teeth. He double-checks around the corner that they’re alone. “I told you to keep the alpha bullshit in check.”
“I’m sorry,” Jack pleads. “I try. I really do, but that alpha was trying to jump on you right in front of me.”
“That patient was flirting a little, and I shut her down every time.”
“Didn’t stop her,” Jack grumbles.
“You cannot get upset every time an alpha flirts with me; it happens constantly.”
Jack stiffens. His back ram-rod straight, and jaw tight. “Constantly?”
He whines. His omega is smart with an excellent career ahead of him, not to mention an otherworldly beauty, and everyone he meets knows it and, rightfully, wants him. “It wouldn’t be so bad if you smelled like me.”
Robby drags a hand over his face. “We have talked about this.”
“I’m not coming to work smelling like a student,” he hisses. “Do you have any idea what people would say?”
“‘Damn, Abbot’s punching above his weight.’”
Robby bites his lip, but the edge of his mouth perks upward. “Don’t make me laugh. I’m upset with you.”
“If I could just leave a little mark—“
“Nooooo,” Robby drones, shaking his head. “Absolutely not. Not until you’re out of this rotation, at least.”
“Preferably no longer a student in this hospital, period.”
Jack’s shoulders slump. There’s no point arguing with Robby; he’s tried before, and it always ends with Jack licking his wounds and making a large meal as an apology for upsetting his omega in the first place. “Fine.”
Robby nods slowly, “Good. Grab another case, and behave.”
Jack sighs and drags himself back to the hub.
23-year-old beta female, reporting chest pain and trouble breathing. Jack takes the chart and heads off to the bed.
“Hello, Ms. Raynor. I’m Dr. Abbot. I’ll be taking care of you today. I see you’re having some pain in your chest. Can you tell me when that started?”
Ms. Raynor, Lilah, as she prefers, is not alone. Her roommate, a rather sparky omega with a shiny gold earring, and his midriff showing, brought her in and seems very interested in everything Jack has to say.
“Well, your EKG didn’t come up with anything concerning. We’ll run a few more tests to be safe, but it sounds like a combination of stress and the college diet,” Jack smiles. “I had a similar issue when I was in undergrad.”
“That couldn’t have been long ago,” the guest says. “Unless you’ve aged spectacularly well.”
Jack laughs, “No. Few years ago. I’m sure I’ll age terribly.”
“I doubt that,” he says. “You look like a well-bred alpha to me.”
“Jesus Christ, Rich,” Lilah says. She massages her temples. “Every time. He’s at work.”
“An alpha with a job, even better.”
“I’m actually just a student doctor,” Jack corrects. His neck has been red hot since he heard “well-bred alpha.” No one has ever been this bold with him before. He chased Robby around like a pup for months before he was given any proper attention.
Rick perks up, “Oh! So we’re closer in age than I thought.” He plays with his earring and looks up at Jack with wide eyes. “How long until you’re officially a doctor?”
“Couple months,” Jack chokes out. “I, uh, I’m gonna order the tests.”
“Don’t be too long!” The omega calls after him. Jack can hear Lilah’s embarrassed protests as he shuts the door.
He zips around a few other rooms while waiting for the lab results until he nearly slams into someone coming out of the bathroom.
“No worries,” they purr. It’s Rich. He places his hand on his hips and tilts his chin toward Jack with a pleased grin. “Though, you’re supposed to sweep an omega of their feet, not knock them to the ground.”
“You didn’t hit the floor,” Jack says automatically.
“I have good balance,” Rich smiles. “But I’d expect you to catch me if I fall.”
“Uh.” Jack scratches the back of his neck. “I’m sorry if this is presumptuous, but I should tell you I’m courting someone.”
Rich’s smile falls. “Oh. You don’t smell like anyone.”
The alpha in him stomps around childishly at the reminder. “Yeah, he wants to keep it low key.”
The omega puffs up, once again emboldened. “I’d never hide away an alpha as handsome as you.” His eyes trail over Jack’s rumpled scrubs. “Good career, excellent patience, you’re a dream.”
“I certainly hope my omega thinks so,” Jack gives a tight smile.
They’re thankfully interrupted, “Dr. Abbot, there are the results you were waiting on.”
Jack snatches the results and takes a few steps back. “These are for your friend. Let me grab one of my seniors, and we’ll be in to speak with you.”
He leaves before the omega can respond and shakes the tension from his shoulders. After wandering the halls for a bit, he finally manages to find an R1 presenting to Robby. Once she’s done, they both look to Jack.
“Can I help you?” Robby asks. Based on his look, Jack isn’t entirely out of the woods for the pen incident.
“Uh, no. I was actually looking for Dr. Weader.” He turns toward her. “I have some lab results to go over with a patient if you wouldn’t mind.”
“Can it wait a minute? I told Colvin I’d watch over his sutures.”
“I’ve got Abbot,” Robby says. “Don’t worry about it.”
Jack presents the case as they head toward the patient’s room. He feels like he should include her friend’s flirting, but isn’t sure how to bring it up, especially when Robby has made it abundantly clear how he feels about discussing their relationship at work.
“So, Lilah, uh.” The pressure of Rich’s hungry gaze stutters his thoughts. “All your labs look good.”
Lilah groans in protest, but Jack doesn’t mind her. He watches Robby stiffen out the corner of his eye, and continues on about how she should be okay after a few heftier meals and some over-the-counter vitamins.
“If you don’t notice any change, or things start to get worse, your on-campus physician should be able to help.”
“So we won’t be seeing you again?” Rich pouts.
Robby takes a few quick steps forward, only stopping when he accidentally knocks against Jack’s shoulder and out of his daze.
Jack gives himself half a second to look up at Robby properly; his jaw is clenched, brow furrowed, and his broad shoulders have somehow grown instantaneously.
“Hopefully not,” Jack says. A shallow, unconvincing laugh breaks through his throat, “The less people in the ER, the better.”
Rich’s bottom lip juts out childishly before morphing into a smile. “So, I’ll have to meet you outside of work.”
No noise comes out, thank God, but an unhappy growl rumbles through Robby’s body, the vibrations ripple against where Jack is still half-pressed against him.
“I’m sorry,” Jack chokes. “I’ve already told you, I’m courting someone.”
Robby huffs, a little smug.
“Someone who won’t even scent you.”
“Dr. Abbot’s relationship with his omega is none of your business,” Robby bites. “It’s extremely inappropriate for you to suggest something like that when he’s already told you ‘no.’”
Rich looks at Robby as if he’s only just noticed he’s in the room. “And what am I suggesting?”
Robby’s chest trembles with anger. “That Jack would abandon his future mate for a dinner with you.”
“Jack?” Rich lights up. “That’s a nice name. Suits you; strong, reliable.”
Jack is too dizzy from Robby referring to himself as his ‘future mate’ to hear a word of what he says. Robby, on the other hand, fumes at the statement.
“Don’t talk like you know him,” Robby barks, far too loud.
“I can tell by looking at him.”
“You can’t tell anything!” Robby shouts. His gravely voice deepens with a growl. “You don’t know him. You won’t ever know him. He’s not your alpha, and he’s not going to be.”
“Uh, Dr. Robby,” Jack tries. But Robby is too swept up in his irritation to listen.
“Don’t go after another omega’s alpha. You’re old enough to know better,” he sneers.
“Oh,” Rich smirks. “I get it. It’s you.”
“Rich, stop,” Lilah pleads. “Let’s go home.”
But he doesn’t stop. He stands and lingers a few feet away, looking up at Robby. “No wonder you’re so worried. Extra large omegas aren’t really in fashion, are you?”
On instinct, Jack wraps his arms around Robby’s waist and keeps him in place. The force of Robby’s growl shakes the linoleum floor.
Crap. Dr. Adamson stands in the doorway; that alone is enough to bring Robby back to reality, but he doesn’t make a move to release himself from Jack’s grip.
“Everything alright in here?”
“Yes!” Lilah jumps up. She latches a firm hand around Rich’s wrist and yanks him. “We were just leaving.”
Any other time, Jack would ask her to wait so they could get the proper discharge paperwork, but as is them leaving on their own is the best option available.
In one final act of ridiculousness, Rich blows a kiss to Jack as he’s lugged out of the room. Another low drum echoes through Robby.
“Dr. Abbot, take five minutes in the break room,” Dr. Adamson orders.
Jack is hesitant to leave Robby like this, but he can feel the eyes of everyone in the department peering at them from over Adamson’s shoulders, so he lets go and skulks off.
It’s more than five minutes of pacing around the break room, ignoring the lingering glances surrounding him, before Adamson pokes his head through the door.
“Dr. Abbot, you have a case in North ten.”
Jack rushes out the door. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“Of course, and congratulations,” he whispers.
The day drags on after that. Robby runs around the ED as usual, but not once do their paths ever cross. Jack isn’t sure how intentional it is until the end of the day when Robby asks if he’ll give him a ride home.
“Really?” Jack has offered hundreds of times, but he’s always turned down.
“May as well,” Robby sighs. “Everyone knows.”
They walk out together. Jack would like to hold his hand, but he’s not sure how public this has gotten.
“So, if everyone knows… can I scent you before our shift tomorrow?”
“Before my shift tomorrow,” Robby corrects. “We aren’t allowed to work together anymore.”
Jack huffs and tugs at his backpack. Stupid flirty omega. Stupid hospital policies.
“But yeah,” Robby continues. “I guess it doesn’t make a difference now, so may as well.”
The sun sits bright over the horizon. Maybe Jack is a little grateful for the omega, not that he’ll risk saying that out loud.
He tentatively reaches out and intertwines his fingers with his future mate. To his delight, Robby holds him tighter.
