Baran has a shadow. (f!reader)
Robby's sure of it, and he's sure that Baran is sure of it as well.
He's had his suspicions for a long time, from practically the day before his sabbatical. Like Baran, it was your first shift, yet the two of you found a way to work on nearly every case together. He shook it off then, telling himself that you two simply worked well together, and Robby was even somewhat relieved to know that Baran was at least getting along with the new batch of med students.
No, you and Baran left no reason for him to worry, so it was baffling when Robby returned to work all these months later to see just how close you two have gotten.
Wherever Baran goes, you follow. You’re jumping to answer any question she poses to you and the other med students, giving her heart-eyes the entire time. Most recently, Baran has begun offering you rides home. Robby’s been around the block enough times to know what’s unfolding before his very eyes.
But it’s when Baran calls you a good girl during the middle of a trauma that Robby decides the time is now to put a stop to it all. He corners Baran that afternoon in the staff lounge, wearing his best impression of a smile.
“We should talk,” Robby says, trying not to get too mad at the way she is already trying to walk past him. He plants his hand on the door before Baran can reach the handle. He says your name, and Baran freezes. After a breath, she tilts her chin upward.
"She's a very good doctor," Baran says, voice even, but clipped. "Certainly proved herself in your absence."
Robby hums halfheartedly. "I'm sure she has– under your guidance, I assume?"
Baran laughs, but her glare is lethal as it cuts into Robby. "Wasn't everyone under my guidance?" Baran asks. Her tone sinks into Robby's veins. "All the students, residents, even the attendings– Dr. Abbot, Shen, Collins... She spoke a lot about you during your sabbatical, you know.”
Robby flinches. Though subtle, it’s not enough to evade Baran’s focus. The corner of her lips quirk, and Baran continues, “You know, Dr. Robinavitch, I would love to hear how you met her. Heather and I spoke, and— well —it just seems to me that you have been together for a long, long time.”
The ring on his finger very suddenly feels like a death sentence. Underneath the cold panic that strikes him, Robby allows a situationally-inappropriate passing thought of— I can’t wait to tell Heather about this over dinner.
And so, perhaps when he sees how close Baran’s hand is to your ass as she ushers you into her truck that evening, Robby keeps his goddamn mouth shut.
