SparrowFlight246

sparrow - 20s - she/her/hers just happy to be here :) my ao3!

[sparrowflight246]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

chapter 19 of take counsel is posted!! 

we’re getting into our final phase of the story now (ah!) and I’m so grateful to you all for coming on this journey with me. it’s been an honor and a privilege and a joy beyond words. as always, thank you so much for everything. <3

[rocket-sith]

Reblog if you write fic and people can inbox you random-ass questions about your stories, itemized number lists be damned.

[belladonnabedlam]

Welcome to the Pitt: Recs (UPDATE 7/16)

I have fallen hard into The Pitt fandom hard. (I mean those old men have me in a freakin' choke hold!)

So, of course I have been devouring fanfics . (AO3...my lovely enabler.) As a result, I decided to compile a rec list of a few works to help spread the love to others.

Feel free to send in any recs that you may have my way to add to the list!

*UPDATE (7/16): I've added some new recs to the list! Please give these authors some love!

________________________________________________________________

Hucklerobby:

*New* prosopagnosia by spectral099 (WIP)

*New* what do you want from me tonight? by catjohnny

*New* Tuesday, Wednesday, heart attack by MarionetteFtHJM

*New* Ventura Highway by surveycorpsjean

*New* prescription notes by S3LUNITE

*New* Strangers to (?) by DrottenDrottzen (Series)

*New* A Case of the Mondays by SkiLift

*New* take counsel in my soul by SparrowFlight246 (WIP)

we need love to relieve pain by lovelyslice

Sweet Temptations by Celestial_Shadow

Call Me By My Name by Davidtennants_slinky_hips

shoot the moon right between the eyes by iggys_henchman

prototypes of what we were by lunastxlla

Mechanical Bull by morefoul

now you know by cold_cereal

goliath prostrate by falteringstar

Finding Eden by thehoneydoll

________________________________________________________________

Hucklerabbot:

*New* Hot Under the Collar by itsflippinCJ

*New* Carved Myself Too Close (To Bone) by bigbootsmanofwar

*New* A Promise to Stay by McRaider

Parent!Rabbot/Child!Dennis | non-sexual paring

Triage by jingerllyy (WIP)

Sugar by bigbootsmanofwar

i retract and repent in dust and ashes by blue65

Positive Reinforcement Series by anotherbidisaster (sparkses)

The highly requested Clicker Trained! Dennis fic!

________________________________________________________________

Rabbot:

*New* it was for freedom from myself and from the land by HeyJulien

ER/ThePitt Crossover!

*New* shake this world off my shoulders by Siria

*New* love is natural and real, but not for such as you and I by galenlaufey

*New* An Act of Indignation by Alethia

*New* Flying Monkeys by stitchy

*New* Fall Risk by stupidinformation (WIP)

*New* you're the one i want (to go through time with) by QuillandClover

*New* Make Every Last Moment Last by clytemnestra42

*New* Good Effect on Target by Alethia

*New* Love without Devotion by rabbit-factory (LifetimeMovie)

*New* J.A.W.S. (Just Another Weapon, Soldier) by Rhapsody_Bohemia

*New* Out of Turn by Alethia

*New* A Survey on Platonic Heats for Broken Bond Syndrome-Dr. Michael Robinovitch, Dr. Jack Abbot, Dr. Samira Mohan 2026 by Gentle Storm (WIP)

Slight Abbot/Ogilvie in this but...super minor.

i forgot to say out loud by ShowMeAHero

The Quiet Thereafter by buckleydiaz (leahsarsenal)

Safe Haven by Alethia

Go By Feel by Alethia

All or Nothing by Alethia

The Wonder Year by Alethia

The Unexamined Life by Alethia

A World Aflame by Alethia

Basically anything by Alethia is AMAZING!

[vieapples]

new drawing dropped ig

[sparrowflight246]

Chapters: 18/? Fandom: The Pitt (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Michael "Robby" Robinavitch/Dennis Whitaker, Trinity Santos & Dennis Whitaker, Dana Evans & Dennis Whitaker, Michael "Robby" Robinavitch & Trinity Santos, Jack Abbot & Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, Jack Abbot & Dennis Whitaker Characters: Dennis Whitaker, Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, Trinity Santos, Perlah (The Pitt), Jack Abbot (The Pitt), Dana Evans Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Non-Consensual Drug Use, dennis gets dosed with mystery street drug, and has a no good very bad time, Seizures, Dennis Whitaker Needs a Hug, Hurt Dennis Whitaker, Best Friends Trinity Santos & Dennis Whitaker, Fever, Protective Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, Michael "Robby" Robinavitch is Down Bad, Medical Procedures, Religious Imagery & Symbolism, Pre-Relationship, Panic Attacks, Sick Dennis Whitaker, Dennis Whitaker Whump, Protective Trinity Santos, Bathing/Washing, Protective Jack Abbot (The Pitt), updates weekly on fridays!, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Dennis Whitaker-centric, PTMC Crew as Family (The Pitt), Sickfic, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Ice bath, Eventual Smut, Medical Trauma Summary:

“Come here, kid.” One of Robby’s hands catches Dennis’s and lands against his sternum, trapping his arm against his chest, while the other stays in his hair, fingers winding into damp curls. Dennis’s attention is everywhere and panicked. He catches a flash of Perlah readying the needle and a desperate sound punches out of him.

“Nope, don’t look at that,” Robby says, using the hand in his hair to force his head back, angling his vision away from the commotion and up towards him. Dennis’s eyes lock onto his, pupils blown wide. “Look at me. Yep, good. I’m right here. You’re doing so good, honey. Just keep those eyes on me.”

The IV tourniquet snaps into place and panic flashes anew in Dennis’s face. ”Robby—”

“I know. It’s just Dana and Perlah. We’re just pushing some fluids, no more drugs. You’re safe.” Out of the corner of his eye, Robby can see Perlah speeding through what has to be the fastest IV placement of her career, Dana keeping her grip on Dennis’s hand to stop him from jerking away. Dana shoots him a glance of warning and Robby tightens his hold. “Okay, quick poke now. Still just us. Deep breath, Dennis. I've got you."

***

Dennis gets drugged by a patient and has a bad trip.

[stuckinapril]

[stuckinapril]

happy if you have scholarly inclinations there is usually something wrong with your sexuality july

[sparrowflight246]

my spotify daylist for thursday nights reflects the music I listen to when editing take counsel and today's is irish indie country folk thursday late night. ohhhh we're cooking with gas. hold on to ya tits

[winn-schott-throughtheheart]

knifeblade - like father, like daughter

hi im actually not doing well. btw. AUGH they mean so much to me

@one-step-at-a-time25

[sparrowflight246]

just went on a grocery run explicitly to get new maggots for my spider and a new cucumber for my snail. I am carrying this household on my shoulders. I am providing for this family. there are so many bugs in my home and it's because I invited them here. the snail needs more snello. the grind never stops

[crazyamoeba]

Thinking...service dog Dennis on a rare night shift during a thunder storm. And Abbot finds him hiding under the table in the break room from some particularly loud thunder

Service Dog Dennis AU Part 10

Thank you so much for this, I'm sorry it took so long! I'm also sorry because there is a mention of Dennis wetting himself out of fear, but this is absolutely a non-sexual caretaking situation.

Jack had been caught off guard when the thunder first started. He never really bothered to check the weather forecast; Robby always claimed it was his last desperate attempt to cling to a sense of sponteneity and adventure.

Jack told Robby that someone with a midlife crisis bike didn't get to say those things.

He hadn't really thought much of it, beyond noting which patients or staff seemed spooked by the sound - nothing too bad, some kids with some wobbly lip and a few of the residents flinched a little at the first clap, but nobody seemed to need any kind of intervention.

The fact that he hadn't even thought to check on Dennis would always sit in the corners of his mind where he kept his all his failures close.

The night had been a busy one, and he had lost track of Dennis' happy tail and twitchy ears as they passed each other like ships in the night, wending their way to different bedsides and rarely overlapping.

As soon as he sepped into the break room during a lull, it was immediately obvious that something was wrong.

The smell hit him first; the distinct, stale odour of urine soaking into the air. It was immediate and the source obvious; a cold puddle trailing out from underneath the table, where Jack could see a pair of battered shoes that he recognised with a rapidly-sinking stomach.

"Dennis?" He crouched slowly, keeping his distance from the table, for reasons entirely unrelated to the urine.

He received no response, and he didn't need one.

Because there, huddled under the table and shaking so violently that his muscles must surely be stiffening painfully, was their sweet Dennis.

Ears pinned back to his head, eyes wide and almost entirely swallowed by his pupils, tail curled tightly to his body. The fur was a little wet near the base.

"Hey honey," he spoke softly, caught the tiny twitch of the tip of one ear. "Thunder's not a friend, huh?"

Dennis didn't give any confirmation or denial, but considering that he jolted violently with every new boom that rolled over their heads, it would have been superfluous and cruel to insist on it.

Jack nodded, casting his eyes around for something he could use, before inspiration struck.

"I'm gonna go get something for you, Den. I'll be right back, okay?"

The look that Dennis pinned him with somehow managed to be blank and terrified at the same time. Jack nodded again, recalibrating. He pulled out his phone, fiddled with the settings before placing it gently on the ground in front of Dennis.

"See this timer? I'm going to go to Robby's office to fetch something real quick-" unfortunately not the man himself "-but I will be back before the timer runs out."

Dennis trembled, made a gesture that might be a nod but might just be the force of his body shaking.

"Okay." Jack reached out, smoothed a hand carefully over Dennis' head to see how he tolerates it. His ears made way for Jack's hand, and he blinked slowly.

Jack rose, wincing a little at the twinge his leg gives where it rubs in the prosthesis.

He slipped of of the breakroom, flagging down Lena on his brisk trot towards Robby's largely unused office.

"Break room's off limits for the next few minutes, can you let everyone know? And have environmental standing by."

He didn't break his stride, but he heard Lena's exasperated but affirmative huff. He'd apologise later.

Robby's office was more store-room than workspace, because when the man was in the building, every second was spent out on the floor with the patients and staff. He barely had time to sit at the workstation out on the floor, let alone sequester himself away in his office during his shift.

Nevertheless, Jack found what he was looking for hanging up on a hook behind the door, as he knew he would, because none of them ever really wear the things.

He gave the surprisingly still-white coat a quick sniff, shrugging to himself and hoping for the best. To him, it didn't really smell like much, but he was hoping that the kid's nose might be able to pick up enough of Robby's scent to lend him some sort of comfort.

Another crack of thunder hurried him out of the office and back down the hallway.

He entered the break room as quietly as he could, closing the door softly behind him.

"Hey, Denny." He crouched again, shaking out the coat. "See, told you I'd be back before the timer ran down. Not bad for a man with one leg."

He hadn't been expecting a laugh or the usual scandalised attempt at hiding one, and that was probably a good thing because Dennis looked like he might not even be able to process the fact that Jack was talking to him, let along joking with him.

Jack slipped his phone back in his pocket, and gave Dennis' back a quick, firm stroke.

"Okay, kid. Speaking of my leg, I'm going to need you to come on out of there. I got something to help you but I can't scrunch up under there like you can."

Jack placed two careful but firm hands around the kid's waist as he spoke, petting his sides with small movements of his fingers and gradually increasing the pressure until he had a firm enough grip.

"There we go, kiddo, nice and easy."

He started to gently slide Dennis out from under the table, the smooth floor and the kid's tightly-curled position helping to ease the way in gliding the little ball of misery closer to him. Jack felt the panicked little growl unfurl in Dennis' chest as he was brought out from under the shelter of the table, and there was a little flash of white as Dennis curled his lip to reveal his sharp canines and snap them vaguely in Jack's direction.

"Oh, I know, you're very big and scary," Jack murmured as he scoots Dennis the rest of the way, maneuvering them so that he was sitting leaning against the wall and Dennis was dragged to be cradled between his legs, back nestled against Jack's chest. He paid no mind to urine soaking through into his own scrubs.

"There's a good boy, I gotcha." Jack quickly unfurl's Robby's old lab coat, draping it around the kid's front and winding it tightly around him like a swaddle. Dennis' growls tapered off into a something between a grunt and a whine as he shifts uneasily in Jack's grip.

"Yeah, I know it feels too tight, sweet pea. But the pressure's gonna help, I promise." Jack leaned his head back against the wall, bringing his hand up to encourage Dennis to rest his head on his chest.

"Let's just stay here quietly for a minute. You're okay."

Jack's hand ran gently through Dennis' curls, stroking down his ears, repeating the motion until he felt a shuddery sigh leave Dennis' body, felt him slump and finally relax against him.

"There you go. Good job, Den."

His only answer was a quiet sniffling that turned into gentle sniffs, Dennis' head tilting as he snuffled at the collar of the coat wrapped around him.

"Yeah," Jack huffed, patting Dennis' back with his free hand, "thought you'd like that. Favourite-person-smell, and all. He hasn't worn it in a while, sorry if it's a little stale. Should still smell like him though, even if it does also have hints of indignant rage left over."

Jack's not sure whether he imagined the tiny, questioning sound that left Dennis' mouth, but there's never going to be a time when telling stories about Michael Robinavitch is boring to him.

"He only ever wears it when Gloria forces him to. And she's usually only doing that when she wants the good publicity. Takes her weeks to wear him down, she probably has to schedule events around how long he's gonna hold out for."

He chuckled, tried not to let it be too egregiously fond. Resettled Dennis when he shuffled a little, re-adjusting so he could gently straighten the slightly damp tail so it wasn't all scrunched up against Jack's legs.

"You should see the - sorry buddy, just don't wanna squash your tail - you should see the fucking photos of Robby from those events. You've never seen a more bitter, lemon-sucking face than Robby at a press event where he has to wear the white coat and do the Doctor Robinavitch and His Travelling Circus song and dance - his words, not mine."

Jack cocked an eyebrow at Dennis as if he'd actually made a complaint.

"His obnoxious, fake smile is even worse though, so Gloria stopped trying to force it and settled for him looking like he's being held at gunpoint instead."

Jack smiled at the small, giggle-adjacent puff of air exhaled against his chest. He scritched Dennis' ears and allowed them both to settle into silence for a while, vaguely wondering if they'd heard the last of the thunder.

"I'm sorry."

Jack closed his eyes, longer than a blink and in place of a sigh.

"No, kid. You don't need to be sorry. Not ever for shit like this."

"I'm - I'm getting you all wet."

"Denny," Jack's hand squeezed gently at the base of the kid's neck and softened his tone, "that's literally what scrubs are for. I've been a doctor for over twenty years; I've had a lot worse than a little pee on them."

He could practically feel Dennis' cheek burning against his chest as he wriggled uncomfortably at the word being spoken aloud.

"That's what the scrub dispenser is for, honey. Don't worry about it."

He gave them both another moment of stillness, hands smoothing up and down Dennis' arms like he was trying to warm him. He took the opportunity to give Dennis a quick once-over, pleased to see the shakes had stopped, the kid's pulse wasn't fluttering so wildly at his neck, and even his ears were starting to hesitantly perk up from their defensive position plastered flat against the kid's head.

Denny's pants were soaked through, and Jack could feel the way he was holding himself stiffly, trying not to move too much and have his skin start blaring overstimulated and disgusted warnings at him.

Jack lowered his voice until he was practically whispering in Dennis' ear, even though it really was just the two of them in the room.

"Hey, Denny? How about we go get all cleaned up, sound good?"

Dennis immediately ducked his head, a soft and reflexive whine leaving him. Jack wordlessly settled him, patting his back again and shushing him, giving him a moment to feel whatever he needed to feel.

Eventually, he felt Dennis' head move against his chest in a slow nod. He dipped his head and pressed a quick kiss against the curls, nodding in return.

___

The staff showers weren't the most luxurious experience, but they were modern and clean, and Jack was continually surprised that administration had ever given them the stamp of approval. He suspected that Robby's repeated yelling and stomping had something to do with it.

He had sat Dennis on the shower chair and instructed him gently to remove his clothes while Jack messed with the temperature, but he could see that the kid hadn't moved a muscle, and was tightening himself back into that little ball of humiliation from earlier.

Jack knelt down in front of him, ignoring his leg's protest. He set his hand gently on Dennis' knee.

"Let me help you, sweetheart. Sometimes it makes it easier."

Because he knew all too well the terrible and continual clash between the furious desire for independence, wanting to be treated like there was nothing different or wrong, and wanting someone to just fucking see you.

Wanting someone to help when helping yourself just felt too goddamn humiliating and difficult.

Dennis nodded, lifed his hands from their protective position near his lap. Jack's movements were ever so gentle as he reached to slide Denns' top off and then unlace his scrub cords, but they were sure and firm, and he didn't drag the process out. There was an experienced and clinical deftness to the way he encouraged Dennis to lift his hips so he could slide his pants down his legs. He was incredibly gentle with manipulating Dennis' tail out from the pants, and he made sure his eyes didn't linger at the place where tail met skin.

It still wasn't quite enough to stop the gutteral little whine that broke free when he felt his wet pants be quickly stripped from his legs, like the speed would make them both forget that he'd pissed himself.

"Shh, you're okay. You're doing a real good job for me, Denny." Jack murmured as he adusted the shower head and directed the warm water over Dennis' lap and legs first.

Dennis turned his head away, eyes burning as he tried to swallow down the bitter humiliation.

Jack silently and clinically swept gloved, soapy hands across Dennis' body, giving his breathing time to settle before he took a breath and quietly spoke again.

"First time I heard gunfire - real, active battlezone gunfire - I pissed myself."

It was almost funny how quickly Dennis' head whipped around to stare up at Jack, but he made sure not to laugh or smile. He kept his expression open, nodded instead.

"It's the kind of thing nothing can actually prepare you for. You run all these drills, you pass all these marksmanship tests, you spend every day training in a place where you hear nothing but gunfire."

Jack placed one hand carefully on Dennis' forehead to guard his eyes, and carefully rinsed his hair with the shower head in his other hand.

"But none of that's real, even when they're live rounds. None of it can prepare you for suddenly being in the middle of a wide open field, and suddenly realising that this is real life, and there's not going to be any commanding officer calling time on any of this. You're here until you get out, or you don't."

Jack gently lifted Dennis' arms, and the kid let him sluice warm water there.

"Point is, I didn't have time to be embarrassed until later, when we were out of there and back at base. That was when it hit me."

Jack snorted, a surprisingly cheerful sound, and Dennis cocked his head minutely. A pale shadow of his usual curious tilt, but it spurred Jack to continue his story as he made sure Dennis was free of all his soap suds.

"My sergeant saw me trying to waddle away to hit the showers, and I thought I could try to lie to him when he asked me what was wrong." Jack's eyes were sparkling with a fond, remembered mirth that Dennis though suited him very much. "He looked down, realised what had happened, and Jesus Christ, the look he gave me. I thought he was going to ream me out in front of everyone for being a coward. But instead, he looked me up and down then stared me straight in the eye and said, 'Oh, you think you're so fucking special, don't you, Abbot? Think you're the first man to get scared when he's about to die? Do you think you're better than me, Private?' And it took me a while to really understand what he was saying, but when I finally got it, I'd taken too long to say no, so he had me on latrine duty for three weeks."

Jack's still telling the story with that slightly amused undertone bubbling underneath everything, so Dennis tried to take it in the spirit in which it was inteded, when really he would quite like to wrap his arms around Jack and squeeze.

He felt a scratchy towel descend over his shoulders, and his tail twitched once as Jack started to vigorously dry him all over, jostling his body in a way that made his ears prick up a little, like they did when it was play time.

"My point is," Jack scrubbed Dennis' hair and ears, snorting when Dennis made a soft yip and tried to give Jack a little nip, "I've seen all types of bodies and all types of people do pretty much everything under the sun when they're scared. Doesn't matter what you're scared of, that's not important. What's important is that it's a very natural response. Fear is just your body trying to keep you safe. It's just got a funny way of doing it sometimes."

Dennis nodded through the off-white shelter of the towel that was still drying his hair. The world suddenly reappeared when Jack excavated him from it, and the only thing in his field of vision was that soft, slightly lopsided smile that made Dennis' tail thump against the shower chair.

"Don't be ashamed of being scared, Denny. You got people in your corner when it gets too much to carry by yourself."

Before Dennis could do something stupid like launch himself at Jack and lick his face, the smile on it became something more like a smirk.

"Now. Wanna call Robby and whine until he brings us food?"

[sparrowflight246]

literally ready to battle for u about anyone who says you use ai. IM READY DIRECT ME!!!! also a genuine question: do you write outside of fanfiction? / anywhere else?? mostly bc your syntax is absolute exquisite and I would happily consume you having written a phone book atp

thank you so much for being ready to defend my honor lmao!! luckily my allegations were fairly mild and easily handled, so it's all good on my end. I do have a lot of opinions about the current witch hunt happening for ai use in fic across all of ao3 generally (mostly that people making baseless accusations is hurting fandom culture a hell of a lot more than it's helping, especially when targeting newer and less experienced authors... I'm protective of our newcomers!) but that's a rant for another time.

and this is so kind of you to say, thank you so much for asking!! I do write a lot in my actual real life career (and writing is partially what I went to school for) but fanfiction is the only fictional / creative writing I do at the moment. if that ever changes, though, I'll be sure to post it here! (and I have more pitt fic ideas to start on after take counsel wraps up, so that'll keep me busy in the meantime!!)

as always, thank you so much for your kindness and support... it means the absolute world to me <3

[sparrowflight246]

chapter seventeen of take counsel in my soul is now posted! come for the hucklerobby, stay for trinity santos going beast mode!!!

thank you for reading, thank you for being here, thank you for being you, and have an amazing week! <3

(tweet from @feelingfujo! <3)

[sparrowflight246]

I’ve gotten some ai allegations recently (apparently I sometimes list things in groups of three and apparently this is incriminating evidence of gen ai use? I learn so much every day) so just wanted to provide a blanket announcement that I HAVE NEVER and WILL NEVER let ai touch my writing. I firmly believe that ai has no place in creative spaces. everything you see from me is mine and mine alone.

I really do understand the anxiety of accidentally engaging with ai generated fic… but rest assured that mine is not among that group and every word of my writing was produced with 100% organic human blood sweat and tears straight from the source!

also the em dash has been my carnal lover since 2017 and I am never ever giving her up.

have a good day everyone!!!

[sparrowflight246]

I just wanted to say I love Take Counsel so much! The relationship between Dennis and everyone else is so sweet and supportive, it's such a comfort to read (which sounds bad seeing as how Dennis is having such a bad time). You've got Robby's mix of gentleness and firmness just right, Trinity and her protectiveness is so precious and true to character, and I love the hints of the friendship between Jack and Robby that we get (I also absolutely love the snippets of Dennis and Jack - it was honestly so sweet when Jack took over holding Dennis for Robby). I've never been through anything like this, but you get Dennis' feverish/sickness desperation just right as well, I can feel how distressing it all is.

Chef kiss through and through!

oh this is SO incredibly kind and especially coming from you, considering how deeply I respect and appreciate your writing... you are SO INCREDIBLY TALENTED and I'm so honored to hear that you've even read my work, let alone enjoyed it!! <3

the idea of take counsel being comforting to read (despite The Horrors lmao) is actually a concept that's been very important to me while writing it, and it's so reassuring and encouraging to hear that it's come across that way for you!! this entire ask is so deeply kind... thank you so much for the incredibly thoughtful reflection on the story and its characters, and for taking the time out of your day to write it out and tell me about it. I'll be treasuring this forever. thank you so much for your kindness!! <3

[nothingbutaspeckofdust]

OKAY, Whitaker whump. HAVE YOU read “take counsel in my soul” by sparrowflight246 👀 because it is DIVINE!!!!!!!

Oh my god, yessssss!!!! I cry pretty much every chapter. It’s soooo good fr!!

Any others??

[crazyamoeba]

Dennis Whitaker disappears after his first shift at PTMC, and a few nights later, Robby tells Jack that the kid has been involved in an accident, and his left leg has been amputated.

---

Jack only met Dennis Whitaker once, and he only feels a little bad in saying that with everything happening in the aftermath of Pittfest, he didn't really remember the kid that well. He had a vague memory of big, fearful eyes, a competence fitting of an MS3, and nothing particularly loud or remarkable about the kid.

He didn't think too much of it, beyond a vague and academic concern, when Robby greeted him with a frown a couple of nights later at handoff.

"Are you gonna tell me or do I need to guess?"

"Whitaker hasn't shown up for his shifts the last few days."

Jack blinks, taking a moment.

"The med student? Brother, maybe the MCI got to him. That shit was trial by fire, and the reality of what we do isn't for everyone. Maybe he's just taking some time, thinking about his options."

Robby nods, but Jack can tell he's not convinced.

Turns out, he's right not to be.

Jack has never seen Robby's face look as fucking haggard as it does when he takes Jack aside a few nights later, and breaks the news with as much gentleness as he's still got left in him.

Major traffic accident, car vs pedestrians. Multiple crushing injuries. They'd taken Whitaker to Presby because it was closer to the scene.

Amputation of Whitaker's left leg. Below the knee, Jack hears Robby say, and he knows realistically that it's a good thing. Lucky.

He can't bring himself to say it out loud, and neither can Robby.

---

The decision to take Whitaker under his wing is made without much conscious effort from Jack. It happens like a simple math problem, the outcome consistent and expected.

He goes to visit the kid at Presby, doesn't get offended when he has to introduce himself and then jog the kid's memory about where they've met before.

He lets the kid be numb, then sad, then angry, then sad again. He drives him to the support groups, and lets the kid be bitterly jealous over Jack's control of a vehicle.

"You'll have this again. But in the meantime you get to be pissed about it."

He gets his care transferred over to PTMC, and promises the kid that the ortho and rehab teams won't go spreading rumours or talking about him to his colleagues.

"They're not even my colleagues anymore."

"Hate to break it to you kid, but those pricks are persistent, and most of them have made a real nice ass groove for themselves in that department. Like it or not, those fuckers will be waiting for you when you get back. Robby's practically salivating."

Jack snorts, and tries to hold back another one at the kid's angry, puffed-up kitten scowl.

Jack knows this whole process well enough to know that the uptick of the corner of Dennis' mouth is a win.

He takes the kid to hydrotherapy, and he pulls some strings so that their first session is just the two of them, gently splashing around in the pool. Jack's not a physiotherapist, but he does understand the tightness around Dennis' eyes at the thought of exposing his new body to yet another perfect stranger.

He stands in the water and holds his arms out, waiting patiently for Dennis to be ready. Lets the kid cling to his arms, huffs a quiet laugh at the small sound he makes the instant he's submerged in the warm water.

"Yeah? Takes away some of that aching, huh?"

Dennis nods, quiet in the way that someone is when they're surprised that a promise has been kept. Jack slowly inches backwards in the water, only a couple of inches, stops when Dennis makes a gutteral, unsteady sound.

"I got you, I got you." The kid's fingers are leaving livid white marks on his biceps, but that's not important. "I'm not gonna let you fall. You remember what we talked about before? About what to do if you start to overbalance?"

"I know how to swim. I lost a leg, not my memory."

"Oh yeah?" Jack grins, gently bobs them both a little in the water. "Well if you remember how to swim, and you remember your piss-poor attitude, why don't you stop doing your best bubble impression and take some baby steps for me?"

Dennis scowls, and the indignation and curiosity almost cancels out his hesitation and fear.

"Shut up. What the hell does that even mean?"

Jack is so very glad he asked.

"Your bubble impression?" He shrugs, deliberately looking away from Denns' legs making their first hesitant shuffles. "Floating there looking pretty, but not doing much else."

"Oh, fuck you."

He's there when Dennis gets his first prosthesis, ready to catch him when the inevitable frustration and disappointment set in at the realisation that the freedom of mobility doesn't come without adjustments.

"Dennis. Look at me." The kid's face is blotchy and red, and he's been studiously avoiding Jack's eyes ever since they got back.

"It's okay to be frustrated. I know it hurts. It's a completely new piece of equipment being attached to a part of your body that never expected to have this attached. There's new pressure, new sensations, and it's all happening to new, sensitive skin, and muscle and bone that are still adjusting. Give yourself some grace, kid."

"I'm - I'm lucky to have this." Dennis spits out. That word again, the tricky sticking point that even Jack never quite got to grips with. "I shouldn't be complaining. There are people far worse off than me."

Jack hums, handing Dennis the antibac wipes and offering no further guidance on cleaning.

"Sure. There are definitely people who are worse off." He sees Dennis' head jerk upwards, finally gets that eye contact he'd been chasing.

"But I'm not talking to them, I'm talking to you. Other people have it worse, and you've still been dealt a shitty hand right now. Both things can be true. You're lucky to have access to the prosthesis and the rehab teams. This -" he gently pats the prosthetic limb like it has its own nerves "-is going to be the thing that gives you your freedom and mobility back. But right now, it's new and it hurts, and it'll take adjustment. Both things can be true."

He shows Dennis his own prosthesis, his own stump, and how the two work together. He was surprised at how intimate and vulnerable it felt, letting Dennis see him remove his leg and care for his stump at the end of a long shift. He was interested by his own tenderness at the process, as he'd long thought he was over any feelings of particular vulnerability where observation was concerned.

But he shared all the small things he'd learned over the years with Dennis. All the little things that nobody without a prosthesis could possibly be expected to know, despite their qualifications, because they were the kind of things you only learnt by living it. He softened when he saw Dennis' face set in such concentration as he told him about tips for dealing with hot weather, felt something in him ache a little tenderly at the expression on the kid's face when Jack talked openly about the need for hygiene and the reality of 12-hour shifts and sweat and residual limb care.

He was there the first time he saw it in Dennis' face; the realisation that different did not negate okay. He was there when the kid met with Robby (and really, it was supposed to be a meeting with administration first, but Jack wasn't stupid) to discuss returning for the rest of his rotation.

He was definitely there when the kid started to look at him with something dangerously close to admiration and worship and - if Robby was to be believed - little tiny hearts in his eyes.

"He's too fucking young for me."

"He's twenty six."

"Too. Fucking. Young. He's all caught up with looking at me as his saviour right now."

"Pretty sure he's seen you at your least glamourous. I don't know if you think you've been some kind of perfect, Florence Nightingale figure with endless pools of patience and grace, but let me tell you that you've been cranky, difficult, downright fucking belligerent, and I've heard you tell the worst fucking jokes in your reportoire. The kid still laughs at them and gives you cow eyes."

"He's still too-"

"Both things can be true."

"I fucking hate you."

[sparrowflight246]

chapter 16 of take counsel in my soul is posted now!

welcome to the dennis interlude, everyone! BUCKLE UP!

this week's beautiful moodboard is from @brusied_bouquet on tiktok!

thank you for reading, thank you for being here, thank you for being you, and have fun with this week's farm boy whumpfest ehehehehe