Michael "Robby" Robinavitch x OC! Nurse! Girlfriend!
Summary: the prompt
Warnings: harassment on the workplace, blood, broken nose, metal breakdown, therapy (i guess)
Word Count: ~1.5k
The first firework of the day went off somewhere outside the hospital just as Charlotte clocked in.
A dull, distant boomâmuted by thick ER wallsârolled through the building like a reminder of everything they were missing.
Robby barely reacted beside her, already halfway into doctor mode, eyes scanning the board before heâd even fully stepped behind the desk.
âHappy Fourth,â Charlotte muttered dryly, tying her hair up.
âAt least weâll be miserable together,â she had said that morning, leaning against his kitchen counter, coffee in hand, watching him drag himself through another shift he didnât want.
It had earned a laugh. A real one. Rare enough that sheâd paused just to look at him.
Now, hours later, that moment felt like it belonged to a different lifetime.
â
The ER was drowning.
Not busyâdrowning.
Every bed full. Hallways lined. Voices overlapping into a constant, grating noise that never quite settled. The air felt tight, like it had been breathed too many times already.
And underneath it all, something else lingered.
Tension.
Emmaâs assault earlier had shaken everyone more than they wanted to admit. No one said it outright, but it clung to every movement, every interaction. Staff flinched a little easier. Security hovered a little closer.
Robby had buried himself in work.
Of course he had.
That was how he copedâby not coping at all.
Charlotte had noticed the way his jaw stayed locked, the way his tone had gone sharper with patients, the way he didnât linger anywhere for more than a few seconds.
He was running.
She just hadnât realized how close he was to breaking.
â
âCharlotte, can you go over to the waiting room to check on a guy? They say heâs probably about to pass out.â
Danaâs voice cut through the noise as Charlotte stepped back into the nursesâ station.
Charlotte didnât hesitate. âOkay, sure.â
Anything to keep moving.
Anything to keep from thinking.
â
The waiting room hit her like a wall.
Louder. Hotter. Messier.
People talking over each other, kids crying, someone arguing with reception. The usual chaosâbut amplified.
A man was already down on the floor, pale and barely responsive, nurses crouched around him trying to stabilize before moving him.
Charlotte moved toward them automatically.
Focus on the patient.
Always the patient.
But before she could reach himâ
âHey!â
The voice was sharp. Angry.
She turned just enough to see himâmid-fifties, red-faced, pacing too close.
âIâve been here all evening and no one even came up to check on my kid! He says his arm might be broken and weâve been here for hours!â
Charlotte kept her tone steady. Calm. Controlled.
âSir, I know youâre tired of waiting, but there are people here in worse condition than a broken armââ
âYeah?â he snapped, stepping closer. âWhile you nurses go around being all soft-spoken instead of actually doing your job?â
There it was.
The edge.
Charlotte felt itâbut didnât let it show.
âSir, Iâm going to ask you to calm down.â
âCalm down?â His voice rose, sharp and ugly. âYou stupid bââ
She didnât even see the swing fully coming.
Just the movementâ
And thenâ
Impact.
A sharp crack across her face.
Pain exploded instantly, blinding, disorienting. Her head snapped to the side as something warm started pouring down over her lip.
For a split second, everything went quiet.
Then chaos rushed back in all at once.
Voices shouting. Security moving. Hands grabbing the man, pulling him back as he struggled.
Charlotte staggered, vision blurring, breath catching wrong in her throat.
âSomeone get Robby here, now!â Danaâs voice cut through everything.
Charlotte barely registered being guidedâpulledâback into the ER.
âDana, Iâm fine, I swearâjust a little bloodââ
âYou are struggling to breathe, Char. Letâs just check you out, okay?â
âIâm fine, just a little bloâ ouchââ
âYeah,â Dana muttered, already assessing. âDefinitely broken.â
Charlotte let out a weak, breathy laugh that hurt more than it should.
âI swear⊠first Emma, now me⊠this place is cursed.â
âOnly found out now?â she tried.
But her voice wavered.
Just a little.
â
By the time Robby heard, it felt like the world tilted under his feet.
âHey, Robbyâgosh, finally,â Dana said, spotting him.
He barely slowed. âWhatâs up? Heard you were calling me.â
âCharlotte was hurtââ
He stopped.
Completely.
ââwait, what?â
âHeyâeasy,â Dana said quickly, hands up. âSheâs alright. Just a broken nose. The dad ofââ
âWhere is she?â
ââŠTrauma 5.â
He was already moving before she finished.
â
Heâd seen everything.
Gunshot wounds. Car wrecks. Bodies broken in ways most people couldnât imagine.
None of it prepared him for this.
Charlotte.
On an ER bed.
Blood still staining her skin, gauze pressed under her nose, eyes just slightly too glassy.
For a secondâjust oneâhe froze in the doorway.
Then the doctor in him snapped back on.
âRobby, I swear, Iâm fineââ
âWhat happened?â
His voice came out too cold.
Too controlled.
He stepped closer, already assessingâeyes scanning her face, her breathing, the swelling.
Girlfriend second.
Patient first.
âGuy got mad he and his son were waiting for hours,â she said, trying to keep it light. âAimed straight for my face.â
âDid you do an X-ray?â
âYeah. Broken nose, airways intact. Still hurts like hell to breathe.â
He nodded once, already reaching for gloves.
âOkay. Sit still.â
She watched him for a moment.
Really watched him.
âRobbyâŠâ
He didnât answer.
Didnât look up.
Just kept working.
â
It didnât hit him all at once.
It came in pieces.
The swelling under her eyes.
The way her voice caught when she tried to breathe too deeply.
The faint tremor in her hands she was trying very hard to hide.
And thenâ
The blood.
Still there.
Still real.
Something in his chest cracked.
His hands stilled.
Just for a second.
âRobby?â
Her voice was softer now.
Careful.
That did it.
He exhaled sharply, pulling back, ripping the gloves off like they were suddenly suffocating him.
âI shouldâve been there.â
The words came out low. Rough.
âWhat?â
âI shouldâve been there,â he repeated, louder now, pacing once across the small room. âThisâthis is exactly whatââ
âHey,â she cut in gently. âThis isnât on you.â
âYes, it is,â he snapped, turning back to her. âIt is. Emma this morning, and now you? This place is falling apart and Iâmââ
âAnd youâre what?â she asked, steady despite everything. âDoing your job?â
âThatâs not enough!â
The room went quiet.
Charlotte blinked at him.
Robby dragged a hand through his hair, breathing uneven now.
âYou couldâveââ he started, then stopped, swallowing hard. âI walked in and you wereââ
He couldnât finish.
Didnât need to.
Charlotteâs expression softened immediately.
âOh.â
There it was.
The real problem.
Not the broken nose.
Not the assault.
Him.
âWhat?â he asked, almost defensive.
âYou were scared.â
âI wasnâtââ
âYou were,â she said gently. âRobby.â
He opened his mouth to argue.
Then closed it again.
Because yeah.
He had been.
Terrified.
The image of her on that bedâhurt, bleedingâhad hit something deep and raw that heâd been ignoring for months.
Years, maybe.
He leaned back against the counter, running both hands over his face.
âI thoughtâŠâ he started, voice quieter now. âFor a second, I thought I was too late.â
Charlotteâs throat tightened.
âHey,â she murmured, reaching for his wrist. âIâm okay.â
He let her take his hand.
Didnât pull away.
But his grip tightened around hers like he needed to make sure she was actually there.
âI canât do that,â he said.
âDo what?â
âThis,â he gestured vaguely. âAct like it doesnât get to me. Like I can just⊠keep going.â
She tilted her head slightly.
âThatâs what youâve been doing.â
âI know.â
Silence settled between them.
Heavy, but not uncomfortable.
Just⊠honest.
âI get it now,â he said after a moment. âWhat it feels like.â
âWhat?â
âThe fear,â he said. âOf losing someone like that. Out of nowhere.â
Charlotteâs chest tightened.
âAnd I keep thinkingâŠâ he continued, voice dropping, âif I leftâif I went on that sabbatical and something happened to meâthis is what it would feel like for you.â
She didnât answer.
Didnât need to.
Because he was right.
He let out a shaky breath.
âI canât keep pretending Iâm fine,â he admitted. âIâm not.â
Charlotte squeezed his hand gently.
âThen donât.â
He looked at herâreally looked at her this time.
Not as a patient.
Not as a problem to fix.
Just⊠her.
âIâll go,â he said.
She frowned slightly. âGo where?â
âTherapy.â
The word felt strange coming out of his mouth.
But he didnât take it back.
âIâll go,â he repeated. âI mean it this time.â
Charlotteâs eyes softened.
âYou donât have to promise that because of me.â
âIâm not,â he said. âIâm doing it because I donât want to end up⊠like this. Waiting until something breaks before I deal with it.â
A small, tired smile pulled at her lips.
âGood.â
He huffed out a quiet breath, some of the tension finally easing.
âYeah.â
She studied him for a second.
Then, gentlyâ
âCome here.â
He hesitated.
Only for a second.
Then stepped forward.
Careful of her injuries, he leaned down just enough for her to wrap her arms around him.
It wasnât graceful.
It wasnât perfect.
But it was real.
He buried his face briefly against her shoulder, exhaling like heâd been holding it in all day.
Summary: She has always been jack's carbon copy, so when Pittsburg police brings in an altered man after he started hitting himself on the car on the way to the station, jack isn't surprised by who walks in.
Warnings: drugs, harassing a police officer, blood, stitches
Authors note: Haven't written in ages
Word count: <1k
The Pitt was chaos like usual.
Late evening. Shift overlap. Patients everywhere. A waiting room that had long since stopped pretending it was under control.
âAlright peopleâman, mid-thirties, under unknown substance, being brought in by PD,â Dana Evans said, hanging up the phone.
âSounds like PD is also having a fun night,â Lena Handzo muttered, not even glancing up.
âNow itâs a night shift problem,â Dana added, turning just as Jack walked in. âHey, Dr. Abbotâyouâre on this one.â
âI just clocked in. Canât I have five minutes of peace?â
âNo.â
A beat.
âTrauma 2 is open. PDâs here in under ten.â
â
Before the ER doors even opened, the noise hit first.
âHEYâHEYâSTOP DRAGGING MEâHEY YOU STUPID B*TCH JUST LET ME GOââ
âMan, mid-thirties, no idea what heâs on, hit his head on the cruiserâhard. Had to secure him in the back,â Officer Rowan Abbot said, voice steady despite the chaos, as she and her partner hauled the man inside.
And Jackâ
Jack didnât even look surprised.
Of course it was her.
Same last name. Same tone. Same unshakable control in the middle of absolute disaster.
His carbon copy.
âWatch his headâheâs already taken a hit,â Rowan added, already moving with the team as they transferred the patient.
The man thrashed, restraints groaning.
âYOU THINK YOU CAN LOCK ME UPâYOU THINKââ
âYeah, yeah,â Rowan muttered, pressing him down with practiced ease. âWeâve heard it all before.â
Jack stepped in, gloves snapping tight.
For a split second, their eyes met.
Nothing.
Not here.
âVitals?â Jack asked.
âElevated across the board. Pupils blown,â Rowan shot back instantly.
Like she belonged here.
(And she did.)
The patient bucked again, harder.
âHEYâDONâT TOUCH MEââ
He spat.
It landed across Rowanâs arm.
Jack didnât even blink.
âAlright, thatâs enough for tonight. Someone sedate him.â
âAlready on it,â Mateo said, moving in.
âHEYâIâM NOT DONE WITH YOUââ
âYeah, yeah,â Rowanâs partner muttered, pulling back as the team took over. âSave it for the charges.â
Rowan stepped awayâ
And only then did Jack notice.
Blood.
Running down her cheek.
Not hers at first glanceâ
Until it kept going.
A thin line from her hairline, cutting down past her temple.
âDana,â Jack called, already moving.
âI see it,â Dana said, grabbing Rowan by the arm and steering her toward an open bay. âCome on, Officer, youâre benched.â
âIâm fineââ
âYouâre bleeding.â
âIâve had worseââ
âI donât care.â
â
Rowan sat on the bed, jaw tight, while Dana grabbed supplies.
Jack followed.
Of course he did.
He hovered for half a second.
Thenâ
âOh, this is great,â he muttered.
Rowan didnât even look at him. âHi to you too.â
âYou get assaulted often or is this a new hobby?â
âHe was high.â
âOh good,â Jack deadpanned. âThat makes it better.â
Dana shot him a look. âYou gonna help or just emotionally damage your kid?â
âIâm multitasking.â
Rowan huffed a quiet laugh despite herself.
Dana cleaned the cut, pushing Rowanâs hair back.
Rowan didnât flinch.
Jack noticed that too.
âYou let him get close,â Jack said.
âI had him controlled.â
âHe split your head open.â
âItâs superficial.â
âItâs bleeding.â
âSo are half your patientsâwhatâs your point?â
Jack stared at her.
Same stubbornness.
Same refusal to back down.
It was like arguing with a mirror that had chosen a badge instead of a stethoscope.
âYou donât get points for taking hits,â he said flatly.
âAnd you donât get points for being an ass, but here we are.â
Dana snorted under her breath.
Jack ignored it.
âYouâre supposed to call it before it escalates.â
âI did.â
âClearly.â
âHe was already gone, dad.â
The word slipped out.
Accidental.
Automatic.
The room went just a little quieter.
Dana didnât reactâbut her eyebrows definitely did.
Jack didnât miss it.
Neither did Rowan.
Too late to take it back.
Jack sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face.
âGreat. Fantastic. Subtle.â
âYour fault,â Rowan muttered. âYou started lecturing.â
âIâm always lecturing you.â
âExactly.â
Dana finally stepped back. âTwo stitches. Youâll live.â
âDisappointing,â Jack said.
Rowan smirked. âTo you, maybe.â
Dana pointed between them. âYou two? Done. Take it outside or Iâm assigning you both to psych evals.â
Jack held Rowanâs gaze for a second longer.
Checking.
Always checking.
âYou dizzy?â he asked, quieter now.
âNo.â
âNausea?â
âNo.â
âVision?â
âPerfect. Unfortunately, I can still see you.â
Jack nodded once.
Satisfied.
Annoyed.
Relieved.
All at once.
âAlright,â he said, stepping back. âTry not to get assaulted again tonight.â
Rowan hopped off the bed. âNo promises.â
She paused as she passed him.
Just for a second.
Low enough that no one else could hearâ
âYou should see the other guy.â
Jack snorted.
âYeah,â he muttered. âI did.â
After a bit
-
Jack just hooks a finger in the fabric of her sleeve, quiet but deliberate.
âYouâre not still seeing that partner of yours, are you?â
Rowan stops walking. Doesnât turn.
ââŠExcuse me?â
He remains close, expression neutral, voice softer than she expects.
âIn my defense,â he says, slower, controlled, âlast week I saw a notificationâDanielâon your phone. And thatâs, uh⊠thatâs his name.â
Rowan finally turnsâjust enough that he can see it in her eyes.
âJust like itâs the name of your other kid, old man.â
She shrugs off his finger from her sleeve and starts back down the hall again.
Jack doesnât raise his voice. He doesnât follow her stepâforâstep. He tilts his head fractionally, like heâs processing a patientâs late lab results.
âWatch out,â he saysâmatterâofâfact, devoid of flourishââI know where you sleep.â
She pauses midâstride.
Jack doesnât move a muscle.
ââŠAnd I know where you keep your metal leg,â she says, voice flat.
Jackâs eyelids donât flicker, but his jaw subtly tightens for a beatâjust that. No grin. No retaliation.