[a hucklerabbot social media au | part 34 of 50 | first post | on AO3]
"So what do you have planned for Robby? He's freaked," Dennis asked lightly as he merged on to the highway. One quick stop at the feed store, then they'd take the baby so Amy could have a day to herself off the farm.
"He told you?" Jack replied, turning to see the expression on Dennis's face.
"Yeah, he tells me stuff."
Jack raised an eyebrow at that, then answered. "It goes like this. You were good, so you get a reward. He was not, so he's going to be jumpy all day waiting for the consequences…"
"…and you're not going to do anything, right— you're just going to let him stew? That's his lesson?"
"Oh, no, I'm going to fucking torture him. We're going to have a great day. I'm going to post cute shit on Instagram, and he's going to hear Santos & Javadi talking about it. He's going to get antsy and check in with you, and you are going to give a completely honest report about how we're hanging out, we're having fun, we're playing with the baby, we're working on this garden for Amy. I'm getting to know you and someone who's important to you. I get to see you get sweaty."
"You guys are weird," Dennis mumbled as he took his exit. "What did you ask him to do, anyway?
"To take care of himself for ten minutes," Jack rolled his eyes. "Look, he knows he can tap out of this game anytime, but he wants to play it. So don't feel bad for him today."
--
--
"I'm really sorry she won't stop crying—"
"Amy," Jack said soothingly. "I work nights in the ED. I've got babies crying because they're spiking fevers or they're in pain or they're really sick. Do you know how nice it is to hear a healthy happy baby cry just because she's tired and hungry? Normal stuff like that? And then get to help calm her down just by helping her eat or helping her sleep?" Jack flashed his dimples at her, and Amy softened. "We'll be fine. We've got the milk you pumped. Whitaker knows her sleepy songs. She's going to be safe with us. You can go. You need a break. All new moms need a break."
Amy stood at the doorway, like she just couldn't break orbit. Dennis slipped over and gave her a hug. "You're going to miss your class if you don't get on the road. You can call us anytime. When you get back, we'll have dinner ready." Amy nodded, eyes wet. "You can do it. It's ok. I'll walk you to your car."
"Say goodbye to your mama, baby. She's going out, and then she's coming back. Like peekaboo," Jack murmured to the baby, whose cries were softening as he stroked her back.
"I think this is the first time she's left the baby with someone else. It's scary, but we're literally emergency doctors. I told her, you call 911 to get us," Dennis said as he came back in and they watched her car head out the drive, dust up in the air. "She might be back in fifteen minutes, or she might have a life-changing yoga class. Either way, thanks for being here. It's fun to do this with you."
"I like it," Jack said, "Let's find her hat and go for a walk before her nap. You can show me where you'll be working."
--
--
--
Jack cut Amy a slice of lasagna he'd made last month and defrosted for the dinner, plating it next to the side salad. She'd come back from yoga hungry.
"Amy, Dennis told me about your late husband. I know it's not the same, but I lost my wife. Car accident. I wanted to give you my condolences."
"Jack, I'm so sorry. That's just awful." Amy sighed.
"Amy, how are you doing?" Dennis asked softly.
"It was really nice having a day in town to myself. Thank you. I got lunch at that new cafe. The class was nice. Hard, though! I really appreciate it. But…" Amy's eyes started to fill. "Honestly, I kind of just felt sad in town instead of sad on the farm. I feel stuck in it. Like I'm never going to stop being this way." She turned to Jack, "You don't seem stuck in it."
"I was," He said carefully. "Different things made it complicated, but honestly, I was angry for a long time. Then sad. Then hopeless, then numb, then slowly, better. There's no clock on healing. It's taken me about many years to find some kind of peace."
"How did you know?"
"That's the right question. I got so used to feeling bad, that I almost didn't notice when I didn't," Jack said thoughtfully, briefly catching Dennis's eye. "For example, I thought I'd be alone forever, but I was falling in love with someone and didn't realize it was happening."
Dennis froze, mouth hanging open, fork suspended midair.
Jack nudged Dennis's foot under the table. "Little stuff like that."
--
Dennis was quiet on the ride home. "Was that true?"
"Hm?"
"What you said to Amy. About falling in love."
"It was, but it wasn't the whole story. I didn't think you wanted her to know about you and me."
"You and Robby go so far back," Dennis said quietly, getting smaller in the front seat.
"We do, but sometimes, we have a hard time. We get stuck, too. He'll be vulnerable around you like he never has with me. You make him different, you know? In a really good way. And I think you make me different, too. I feel more open. Like I can just be sweet and nice, and you won't bat me away like an angry cat. I can imagine really being with you," Jack took a deep breath. "I like you a lot, Dennis, but it's more than that. I like who I am around you."
Dennis fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "You're really direct."
"I guess you aren't used to that with Robby."
"Except in bed, no."
--
"It was a really nice day," Jack said carefully. "I know you saw the pictures. Plus, I told him about Liz."
"You wore him out. He fell asleep an hour ago. He's out cold."
"What are you doing still up? You should be with him. It's late," Jack chided. "Oh, I also told him about Liz."
Robby dropped the phone, and scrambled to pick it up breathlessly. "You what?"
"Him and Amy. We talked about Liz and Teddy. We have some common ground. I think she needed to hear that it won't feel like this forever."
"That's big, Jack. I'm surprised you did it, but you're kind of impulsive," Robby said with a shrill laugh, whichdied down as understanding dawned. "But it wasn't like that, was it? You're upping the ante."
"Yep," Jack said with a sly drawl. "You catch on quick."
"You move fast when you make up your mind. Are you seriously punishing me for not making a doctor's appointment by taking this big step with Dennis?"
"You're like an uncertain child pushing on a boundary to see if it's solid and reliable. I needed you to feel it. I care about you, Robby, and I cannot accept the way you don't take care of yourself," Jack said sternly. "Look, I'm not pushing you to open up to him faster than you're ready to do, but yeah, I thought the punishment would fit the crime if you watched us support each other and knew that you could have that, too, if you took the step."
"Fuck, Jack. When you said punishment, I thought you were going to spank me stupid, not do this," Robby mumbled.
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