pairing: jack abbot x derek shepherd’s sister!reader
word count: 0.8k
rating: teen
summary: the shepherd name is renowned in hospitals around the country but derek’s making a name for himself in other ways at PTMC
tags/ warnings: age gap relationship, secret relationship kinda, derek doesn’t know, age gap between siblings, arguing, jack in his SWAT gear, set in season two, dereks kind of a dick but he can be like that, we’re going to pretend that the timelines line up for if to be approx season 4 of greys and two of the Pitt, and that the way residencies and internships work the same in both hospitals which they don’t but we move x
notes: just a little added drabble for @queen-of-naboo14
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masterlists 🩺 read on ao3 🩺 request a fic 🩺 tag list 🩺 part one
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You hadn’t been lying when you said the Shepherds were a lot to handle. They were, even for him, someone who’d seen active combat and his fair share of disgruntled and challenging patients. It was almost like being back on the field, your words the ammo and your precision timed and devastating on both parts. And that was just your brother, he dreaded to think what meeting your four sisters would be like.
But he held his own. It didn’t matter that your brother evidently didn’t think the Pitt or someone so much older than you was a good fit, something you continued to level back at him with a simple, ‘and how is Meredith?’
And he shouldn’t have been surprised that you did to. That you held his hand and talked about your residency. How you bragged about Jack’s leadership and how the Pitt was one of the best places to work in Pittsburgh. That Derek didn’t seem to buy any of it no matter how you carried on.
Because none of that mattered. He didn’t care what speciality you picked or your age difference, even if you did say things sometimes that had his brain lagging like dial up internet. Because he loved you, more than he ever had anyone. So what ever anyone else thought, well that was none of his damn business. Although he was sure your brother was going to make it so.
‘So,’ Derek said as you excused yourself to the bathroom, your hand slipping out of his reluctantly, ‘what made you pick the ED?’
‘I was a trauma medic,’ Jack said simply, taking a sip of his coffee.
‘Still are by the looks of things,’ Derek said, ‘how is the bullet wound?’
‘Sore but I’ll live,’ Jack shrugged.
‘And next time?’ Derek asked, ‘when it’s worse? When she’s crafted her whole life around you and something bad happens?’
Jack sat back, eyeing him over his coffee cup. Derek sat back too, arms folded across his chest in challenge. He’d known guys like him before. Worked with a few of them. Ones that thought they knew best. Ones that couldn’t fathom anything they didn’t recommend. Ones who couldn’t see their own hypocrisy poking through though it was glaringly obvious. Or, as he called them, surgeons.
‘What makes you think I’m holding her hostage?’ Jack asked after a minute, ‘matter of fact, what makes you think that she doesn’t do as she damn well pleases?’
Derek hesitated, like he hadn’t considered it. Because he hadn’t. When he’d been around you’d been pliable. He told you what to do and you did it. You went to a med school he recommended you joined neuro because that’s what he did. But the further away the pair of you had got, it was like he didn’t know you anymore. Sure you checked in but it wasn’t like when he was living in New York. He’d dropped the ball.
‘She picked the Pitt because she wanted to. She’s good at it because she’s an excellent physician. And even if I wasn’t there you know what, it’d still be the right place for her,’ he said firmly, ‘look you see her as your kid sister I get that. But I didn’t fall in love with her because she’s young and pretty. I didn’t chase her to boost my damn ego. I fell in love with her because of who she is, and I’m here as long as she’ll have me.’
‘So what you got it all planned out? You’ve got a ring?’ Derek asked.
‘Yes as it happens,’ Jack said quietly, ‘and I’m not exactly asking for her hand but I know she’d like it if we got along.’
‘What?’ you said, hovering behind his chair unable to believe what you were hearing. Jack turned and found you stood stock still, shock on your face.
‘You’ve got a ring?’ you asked, your eyes never leaving his face as it turned bashful. Jack shrugged.
‘Might have,’ he teased. You moved closer, your hands on his chest as he clasped one of his over them, ‘are you okay with that?’
‘Very,’ you nodded leaning up to capture his lips gently before you pulled back and realised Derek was still watching you from the other side of the table, his face unreadable.
‘Look before you say anything,’ you started but he shrugged.
‘I don’t think there’s anything to say,’ he said, ‘you’re a grown up.’
‘Yeah, I am,’ you said, moving to sit beside him as Jack slipped back into his seat, ‘but Jack’s right. I would like it if we got along better.’
‘Me too,’ he said, leaning over and kissing the top of your head before he looked at Jack and said, ‘can I offer you a piece of advice?’
pairing: jack abbot x derek shepherd's sister!reader
word count: 5.3k
rating: mature
summary: the shepherd name is renowned in hospitals around the country but derek's making a name for himself in other ways at PTMC
tags/ warnings: age gap relationship, secret relationship kinda, derek doesn't know, age gap between siblings, arguing, jack in his SWAT gear, set in season two, dereks kind of a dick but he can be like that, we’re going to pretend that the timelines line up for if to be approx season 4 of greys and two of the Pitt, and that the way residencies and internships work the same in both hospitals which they don’t but we move x
notes: hope this is okay lovely - @queen-of-naboo14
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masterlists 🩺 read on ao3 🩺 request a fic 🩺 tag list 🩺 part two
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Angry. Insistent. Practically drilling itself down into the desk. That was what your phone sounded like, what your pocket had felt like until an hour ago when you’d given up and stuffed it in an alcove in the desk with firm instructions to Dana that you didn’t want to hear about it unless it was someone from this hospital trying to get a hold of you.
Except no one had. Not from this hospital at least. The last five phone calls had been all from the same number, well minus one that had come from a landline but the Seattle area code had given it away not to answer. Any other time you might have but like any good doctor in an emergency department you always stayed one step ahead, and a casual comment from your sister last week had pre-empted the situation. And unlike an ED doctor you’d decided to take the least direct approach, fostering caution or in other words, avoiding shit hitting the fan for as long as possible.
As it rang again, vibrating against the veneer Robby grumbled and looked up from his work, scouting angrily amongst the slots until he found the offending item. He pulled it out, silencing the call only to find your face smiling back at him on the home screen.
‘You know you shouldn’t leave your phone lying around,’ he said, handing it up towards you.
‘Don’t want it,’ you grumbled.
‘Why who keeps calling you?’ he frowned. You liked Robby. And not just because he was a good doctor and mentor. Not even because you’d kind of become friends outside of work. But because he cared for his team and what was best for this department. When someone was off their game he was on top of it, helping. That’s what you wanted in a boss. In a workplace. That was what wouldn’t translate well.
‘My brother,’ you said. You could see the furrow in his brows, the confusion because in the eighteen months you’d been on his specialty it was the first time you’d mentioned a brother. He’d heard you mention a family, big and crazy and all doctors from what he knew. But a brother was new.
‘What does he want?’ he asked casually.
‘Who knows,’ you shrugged, tucking your tablet under your arm as you offered him a smile, ‘I’m busy. I’ll call him back later.’
And then you flounced away, leaving another call to ring out on the nurse’s station.
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You hated the surgical floor. Hated the way it smelled, like colostomies and Clorox. You hated the divide between the staff, nurses on one side, doctors on another. But most of all you hated the stagnation of it. Sure the nurses worked their asses off, never stopping for a minute as they saw patients and relatives, but there was no movement, not really. Patients lingered in beds - not fixed but not entirely broken. Adjusting to new, shittier lives, or dying anyway. Rounds consisted of wait and sees or let’s try this. Surgery’s moved on a whim, delaying hope and more importantly delaying dinner.
The Pitt was different. It was chaos, sure. But good chaos. You liked simple fixes. Someone comes in with a broken arm and you set it and send them on their merry way. You liked a challenge, of figuring out what was wrong and where to ship ‘em to. You liked that there was always someone who had your back, no matter how low or high. That for twelve hours you and your little family got through the worst of things – together.
Trauma bonded and a little jaded sure, but together, nonetheless.
Which was why you had no idea why you were up here. Why Gloria had asked for a review of a patient you’d seen three days ago with an altered temperament and lacking peripheral vision. You figured it was the discrepancy in the notes, how the patient had belonged to Langdon, presented to Robby with no answers or clue as to where the symptoms were pointed, until you’d spoken up.
He’d been handed over to you the minute the CT results had come back showing a sizable pituitary tumour. It was unusual to hand off in the middle of a shift and even more unusual for this type of tumour to present. Robby had been impressed with your explanation even though you’d brushed him off with a mumble of flirting with the idea of going into neuro before you’d find your calling in the Pitt.
But even then you didn’t know what they wanted with you. That was the beauty of the ED once they were handed off whatever happened to them was none of your business. But still you came.
You moseyed up to the desk, avoiding the gentle hubbub of the unit as they went about their routines, slotting yourself in front of the clerk with a smile as you said, 'hi, I'm looking for the team looking after Mr Guthrie. I've been told he's up here.'
'Uh, yes, actually they're with him now. If you wait here they shouldn't be long,' she smiled back. You nodded, resting back on your heels as you clung to the counter, trying not to think about all the things you had to do. Resetting an elbow in north two, an ultrasound on central four, the list was as long as your arm and growing with every second you wasted up here.
You were busy watching a couple of nurses down the hall, your eyes tracked on them as they decanted medications so you didn't hear the door behind you open, didn't turn until you heard, 'ah there you are.'
You stilled, the familiar voice making your stomach drop that you had to brace yourself before you turned around. Derek was standing behind you, a gaggle of resident doctors behind him watching you curiously.
'What are you doing here?' you asked, watching as he sidled up beside you, barely acknowledging you as he said, 'can we get Mr Guthrie on an IV and prep for the OR tomorrow, I'll square it with Taylor.'
'Derek what are you doing here?' you asked again, anger trickling into your voice.
'Well you didn't return my call,' he said.
'When do you ever return mine?’ you snorted.
'When you stop returning mom’s,' he said, eyeing you closely.
'When do you return mom’s?’ you challenged. You hated it, hated slipping back into the petulant teenager you always were around him. The role he'd filled in absence of your dad. He said nothing, just looked at you as he handed off to the other residents who'd watched your little spat with curious amusement.
'Derek, why are you here?' you sighed after a moment.
'I'm consulting on a case,' he said.
'In Pittsburgh,' you challenged. He’d said it like it wasn't entirely unusual for him to be here instead of on the other side of the country. Like it wasn't unusual for him to be taking an interest in you though you knew it wasn't about you but your career.
'Dr Taylor asked for a consult and I obliged. Even picked up the malignant glioma you spotted the other day,' he said, leaning in closely, 'so imagine my surprise when I asked for a dedicated resident in both cases and they said you no longer work on this service, but down in the ED.'
He stared at you, the way he always did whenever you'd fucked up. Awaiting an answer. Awaiting a bend. Awaiting you to say you were wrong and that you needed his help.
It was why you'd started in neuro in the first place. When you'd first started in med school he'd been interested, the youngest of his sisters following in everyone else's footsteps. He'd helped you a lot, even if you knew he was only guiding you into things that felt worthy. Nancy was an OBGYN, Kate a psychiatrist and Liz a cardiologist. And of course Derek, one of the highest regarded neurosurgeons in the country. A name so big it followed you around enough for you to pick a lower paying, more run down hospital for fear of being accused of nepotism. He hadn't liked that but he'd made peace with it, provided you went into neuro.
And that was fine. You understood it, you were good at it. But it was not your calling, not that he'd ever be okay with that. You were his pet project. The last sister to take care of after he'd failed so spectacularly with Amelia who was off god knows where doing god knows what. But then his life had unravelled and he'd moved across the country and left you to it. So, spying a chance you'd capitalised. You just hadn't told him. Hadn't told anyone. And no one had known until you’d mentioned something to your sister last week about a rough shift. She’d put two and two together quickly and you were sure it’d got around the family even quicker. It’s why you’d stopped answering your mother’s calls in the last week. She’d only tell you to stop being a coward. To tell Derek who’d be upset by your choices. And you could deal without the guilt trip.
'Hey little Shepherd,' a voice called, breaking your eye contact as you swivelled around and found another familiar face coming into view.
'Mark?' you breathed as he swept you up in a hug, pulling back to look at him as you asked, 'what are you doing here?'
'Consulting on Derek's original case,' he said, 'but that surgery will be done today. Are you free tonight?'
'Uh, maybe,' you said.
'Great, we can all go to dinner,' he said, nudging Derek's shoulder though it didn't defrost his mood, he just kept looking at you. You looked away, staring solely at Mark as you said, 'I don't know what time I get off.'
'Don't worry,' Derek said tightly, 'we'll wait.'
You glared at him and then huffed a goodbye before heading downstairs to the Pitt.
Fortunately the chaos of the day was enough to distract you. You lost yourself in irrigating a degloved thumb. In treating an NSTEMI. You got swallowed in a code and held a dying man's hand. You cried and you thrived. And you loved every minute, especially as the clock finally ticked by towards the end of your shift.
You felt him before you saw him, a hand on your hip, low enough that no one could see but you as you looked up and found Jack standing beside you, a small smile tugging at his lips.
'Hey,' he said softly, his thumb tracing against the fabric of your scrubs.
'Hi,' you said, your worries melted away just by looking at him.
'How's it been?' he asked.
'Fine,' you said. Jack nodded, leaning against the desk as he turned to look at you, eyes searching yours as he said, 'Robby said you were asked to consult upstairs.'
'Yeah on that tumour patient from the other day,' you said airily.
'Yeah? They’re not trying to steal you back to neuro are they?' he teased. You rolled your eyes, tapping away on your tablet so you didn't have to look at him as you said, 'of course not.'
Though as you spoke the memory of earlier came flooding back. The memory of dinner plans and tense conversations. The memory that you just so happened not to have told Jack about which could've saved him the trouble of driving all the way here on his night off to get you.
'Actually they didn't even want my expertise,' you said. Jack straightened up and watched you, waiting for you to continue which you did, though you dropped your gaze back to your work, 'my brother's here...working on the case.'
'Ah,' Jack said.
'He uh, invited me to dinner,' you said, looking up at him as you chewed on your lip.
'So you don't need a ride,' he said.
'Well I might, if things go badly,' you sighed.
'And is that likely?' he asked.
'Let's just say Shepherd family dinners are something you should get out of if you can,' you countered. Jack clicked on immediately, and you winced. If anything you wanted him there, someone in your corner. But you didn't want to put him through that. Or for Derek to think you were some little girl who needed a man to back you up. To guide you.
'Okay, see you at home then?' he asked.
'Yeah, see you then,' you smiled. He moved forward and pressed a kiss to your temple, his hand ghosting down your arm before he headed off and out. You sighed as he disappeared and pulled your phone from your pocket only to find a litany of text messages from Derek on your screen which made you want to run out and follow wherever Jack was headed.
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The place you ended up at was nice. Ambient lighting, quaint little booths, smooth service and eyewatering prices. It was like the places Jack took you to. When you’d spent too long apart, your shifts not aligning, and a evening in front of the TV wasn’t cutting it. But it didn’t feel like that. There was no giddiness to it just an unending pit in your stomach because you knew what was coming. When Jack waved you off for the check, heartily protested by you, it felt nice. Like he was taking care you. When Derek did it it felt like he was proving a point that you needed taking care of. It didn’t help that Mark was there too playing agitator and spectator all in one.
‘So,’ Mark said, shifting in his seat to look at you as he clasped his hand around his wine glass. You shifted, pushing a shrimp around in your dish so you had something to focus on, ‘how’s the job going?’
‘Good,’ you said, hoping it’d stay vague though you knew it wouldn’t. You’d already covered life in Pittsburgh and Seattle with a brief interlude about your mom, and a skirting over your personal life.
‘How much longer have you got in residency now?’ he asked.
‘Another year,’ you said, your eyes flitting to Derek who was watching you stone faced.
‘And you’re staying in the ED?’ he asked. Your hand stilled, the shrimp you’d been playing with taking the brunt of your anger as you forced the prongs down into its flesh.
‘Yes,’ you grit. Derek huffed, luring you in like you were the thing to be caught as you snapped, ‘what’s wrong with that?’
‘Nothing,’ he shrugged, taking a sip of his own wine. Mark stayed quiet, ‘it’s just not the best speciality.’
‘And neuro is?’ you snorted though you scowled as Mark chuckled into his glass, your sights setting in on him as you said,’ or plastics for that matter.’
‘Hey don’t knock it till you’ve tried it,’ Mark said, ‘at least my works profitable.’
‘Yeah selling butt lifts and boob jobs to insecure women,’ you retorted.
‘That’s just where fun money comes in,’ he said, ‘real work saves lives.’
‘And no lives are saved in emergency medicine?’ you laughed.
‘He’s just saying you can do better. You’re built for better. Taylor said you were the most promising resident he had in his programme and then you swapped without warning,’ Derek said.
‘So?’ you said.
‘So why? I mean what could you possible like about chaos and destruction? Grinding yourself into the ground to get spat on and hit,’ he said, ‘what’s keeping you there?’
‘I like it. It’s a damn good department. I help make a difference,’ you reasoned, though you couldn’t help but falter at the accusation. Because getting out from Derek’s shadow had inspired you but it wasn’t what kept you in the ED. You weren’t sure what was other than it suited you. You felt Mark see it, the hesitance in your face though you brushed it off, glaring at Derek as you said, ‘isn’t that what you’re always harping on about? That it’s a beautiful day to save lives. That doesn’t just go for the OR.’
‘You’d have a better ratio if you stuck to an OR,’ he said.
‘Well I never claimed to be the best doctor in the family,’ you snapped. Derek sunk back, looking at you with disapproving eyes as he sipped his drink. But it was too late. You’d had enough, and just like the little girl who used to storm off to her bedroom the moment he started shouting you stood up and threw your napkin down. Mark sighed your name but you didn’t listen. You just pulled out your purse and dumped a stack of bills on the table.
‘Great catching up,’ you said sarcastically, ‘maybe next time we can do it at my apartment so you can fully pick my entire life apart.’
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You loved the ED. The trauma, the chaos. It kept you busy, kept your mind ticking over. And today was no exception because not only did you have a million and one jobs to get through and dozens of cranky patients, growing worse with every minute that ticked by and every degree the temperature rose, but there had been an IT outage just to top things off. PTMC had been dragged back into the stone age and you were not enjoying it one bit, even if it had got your mind off your brother.
He’d called last night but you’d ignored him. And again this morning.
Jack had asked you how it had gone but you’d told him you didn’t want to talk about it and he hadn’t had much time to press since he’d been up before you, off on a shift with the SWAT team before he clocked in tonight. He was probably thankful you’d been distracted enough not to grumble about it, your worry for him being out in the field something you expressed but kept restrained because it was his choice.
A courtesy you extended as a result of never being offered it yourself.
But you weren’t focused on that right now, you were too busy scanning the racks of paper charts as you tried to figure out which of your patients had been seen. It was why you didn’t notice them appearing until they were beside you, watching the chaos until you turned around and startled.
‘What are you doing here?’ you scowled, trying to soothe your startled heart with anger. It was bad enough berating your choices without coming to scope for evidence to back up their points.
‘Our cases are over. Patients are doing well,’ Mark said.
‘Whoopy for you,’ you said, ‘why are you here?’
‘We heard about the downed system,’ Derek said, his eyes moving past you to behind the desk. People were watching, Robby with his glasses on the end of his nose, the medical assistants turned clerks now holding reports without stowing them in the right place as they kept their eyes trained on you both. Santos eyed Mark as she walked by and his eyes followed her with a smile. Whittaker’s typing stilled. Everyone watched.
‘So?’ you pressed.
‘So we thought we’d help,’ he said, offering a hand to Robby on instinct, ‘Dr Derek Shepherd.’
‘Shepherd, like-’ Dana said, jutting the end of her glasses between the pair of you.
‘My brother…and this Dr Mark Sloan,’ you grumbled as Mark leant over to follow Derek’s lead. You forced yourself to seem upbeat, ‘they’re surgeons over at Seattle Grace, here working on that pituitary tumour case we had a couple of days ago.’
‘And a nasty glioblastoma removal,’ Derek said.
‘Oh yeah I heard about that. They were using a new technique, never been done before right,’ Whittaker said, sitting up in his chair, ‘that was you?’
‘That was me,’ Derek smiled, ‘but we’re done now and we heard about the trouble you’ve been having down here.’
‘Thought we’d pitch in,’ Mark said, offering a warm smile.
‘We’re fine,’ you said, trying to push them both away though you stopped when Dana said, ‘well we could do with a couple of extra hands. You boys remember what it’s like to work in an emergency room?’
‘It’s been while,’ Derek said.
‘Since we worked on paper too,’ Mark chuckled.
‘But I’m sure we can get in the swing of things,’ Derek said, smiling at you. Your jaw tightened as you looked to Robby, your last hope. You knew he wouldn’t want them there, ruining things in his ER. After all what did they know about emergency medicine. Attendings or not it had been a while since they’d worked in full trauma, sheltered by their specialities and ORs.
But you could see the curiosity behind his eyes, the way the arm of his glasses sat in his mouth as he deliberated.
‘I take it you already have privileges granted,’ he said.
‘Yes,’ they replied in unison. Robby nodded.
‘Okay, we’ll split the floor into zones. I’ll take trauma and you two can split the rest with Doctor Al-Hashimi. Our residents will present to you, any issues you ask me. And Shepherd,’ he said, looking at you directly, ‘you’ll work with me.’
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Thankfully Robby left you alone. You presented to him but he trusted you to run things, no second guessing which was the last thing you needed. But you could feel it. Mark and Derek’s presence laying heavy around you. They looked up when you got near. They listened in on your clinical conversations like they were grading you. They watched you with your colleagues, your friends.
This wasn’t about helping, this was recon. Ammunition to throw at you until you listened to him like always. And you were trying to build you case. To find something to retort with.
But in the end you didn’t need to. Not when Jack had appeared, a flurry of camo and orange, barking for help and asking for a Shepherd. Derek had moved on instinct and had been met with confused looks from your boyfriend, who only softened when you appeared, pushing your brother out of the way so you could assist. It was a high you’d never tire of. Just like the one of saving a life, your fingers buried in a guys throat as you clawed him an airway. Sure it was messy and utter chaos but he lived. And that was the most important thing.
You didn’t bother acting smug. You didn’t go and seek Derek out. You’d felt him watching you throughout but when you turned he was gone and so once you knew the patient was stable you went off to find Jack. Only when you did you found him in an empty room, surgical pack splayed on the table in front of him as he sat shirtless.
‘Oh my god,’ you said as you rushed to his side, knowing immediately what had happened, ‘are you okay?’
‘Fine,’ he said.
‘You got shot?!’ you baulked.
‘Like I said it’s fine,’ he said quietly.
‘It is not fine!’ you protested. He rolled his eyes but let you manhandle him anyway. The bullet wound wasn’t deep, just a graze across his shoulder but enough for you to feel sick, ‘Jack this could’ve been worse.’
‘But it’s not,’ he reasoned.
‘But-’
‘Are you going to help me or just chastise me?’ he said, offering up a pair of gloves. You scowled at him but then took them anyway, making him chuckle and wince as you pressed your fingers nearby on purpose.
‘You’re evil,’ he chuckled.
‘You’re lucky you’re not dead,’ you replied.
‘It was nowhere near that,’ he sighed.
‘I don’t mean from the shooting,’ you huffed. Jack said nothing but watched as you set to work, your hands now gentle against his back as you cleaned it. But he could feel the tension rolling off you, the thick and heavy weight that had anchored you down since last night.
‘So, that’s your brother huh?’ he said, making your eyes flit to the door as a luxurious head of hair passed without noticing you tucked away inside.
‘Unfortunately,’ you grumbled.
‘Still no better than last night?’
‘Only because he’s a dick,’ you commented.
‘Why?’ he asked. You sighed, reaching for a dressing to cover the wound you’d just cleaned as you tried to explain.
‘Because he’s determined to prove that I’m making the wrong decision by being here,’ you said, as you peeled the backing off the film dressing, ‘he just went on about how emergency medicine is a waste of time and I should be in something better like neuro or cardio.’
‘Is that what you want?’ Jack asked calmly.
‘No,’ you said, ‘but he doesn’t get it. He just can’t fathom what could possibly keep me here.’
‘And?’ Jack asked, his hand finding yours the moment you finished up. He turned to look at you, eyes searching yours as you frowned, ‘and what?’
‘What is keeping you here?’ he asked.
‘I like the ED. I like that it’s crazy and badass. Surgery is a chop shop, good money, but a chop shop nonetheless,’ you said. Jack nodded though he remained hesitant.
‘And it’s nothing to do with-’
‘You?’ you teased, raising an eyebrow as he smiled unusually bashful, ‘honey my days of letting a man tell me what to do are long over.’
‘So that wasn’t you last night-’ he started, laughing as you rolled your eyes and shoved him, careful not to bloody your newly instated dressing.
You left him to dress after that, floating back out into the Pitt to see what you’d missed. Mark was lingering by the desk, pouring over a chart of patient labs as you picked up your own to peruse.
‘Huh,’ he said as you stood beside him. You sighed, looking up at him as you asked, ‘what?’
‘Oh nothing,’ he smiled, ‘it’s just I see why you like the ED now.’
‘What are you talking about?’ you asked but he didn’t answer, just trailed his eyes to where Jack was appearing from the room, tight black t-shirt now covering his torso and somehow making him look even better than he had shirtless.
‘What are you talking about?’ you scoffed.
‘You and GI Jack huh?’ he mused.
‘None of your business,’ you snapped, snatching a chart from under his hands though as you turned you bumped straight into Derek, who’d appeared at your side.
‘What’s none of his business?’ he asked.
‘She’s seeing the trauma doctor,’ Mark answered.
‘What?’ Derek frowned.
‘Like I said none of your business,’ you huffed, attempting to storm away but Derek caught your arm, spinning you around as he looked at you incredulously. You felt eyes flit to you. Dana’s hesitant and watchful. Santos eager to see the drama. Perlah and Princess already whispering behind their hands.
‘So this is why you don’t want to have a proper career? Because you’re screwing your attending,’ he baulked.
‘Hey!’ Jack said, appearing beside you in an instant, his voice low and threatening, ‘watch your fucking mouth.’
‘Excuse me,’ Derek challenged, standing taller but Jack just looked at him. He didn’t move. Didn’t threaten. Just stood behind you, his hand on the small of your back like he was ready to fling you out of the way if you needed. Telling you he was there if you wanted to handle it yourself. And you were ready to do just that.
‘I’m sorry. You’re really trying to come for me for seeing my attending. At least I wasn’t a fucking intern when we met. Or married,’ you spat, turning to look at Mark when he tried to hide a smile, ‘and you? How is Lexie? Or have you finally tried to sleeping with someone outside of Derek’s family tree.’
‘Okay that’s enough!’ Robby called, silencing you and the resounding gasps and chuckles that had followed your revelation. You sighed, offering him an apologetic smile as embarrassment flared on your cheeks, ‘now I’ve got enough going on in my ED. So you either get on, or you two get out.’
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You didn’t know why you’d come up here. Why after the day you’d had you’d prolonged the inevitable relief from going home but you liked being on the roof. Liked it better when it was with Jack but he’d headed downstairs for his shift fifteen minutes ago and you’d stayed up here. Derek hadn’t stayed after your spat. You shouldn’t have been shocked since your knew it was nothing more than gathering dirt on you but you’d still felt bad about it, about messing Robby and your team around.
Because that was your job. It wasn’t cut throat. You weren’t battling for surgeries and brown nosing attendings. You just worked to the best of your ability, day in day out. Together. And if you were lucky you kept everyone alive and as healthy as possible.
That was what you liked about the ED.
You turned as the door squeaked open but looked back when you saw who it was. He was infuriatingly handsome even after a full day at work. Not a hair out of place or a sweat patch to be seen. You on the other hand felt like you’d been dug up.
‘Good view,’ Derek said after a minute. You didn’t answer, just carried on looking at the twinkling city lights and listening to the whirr of the sirens below.
‘You know I have this thing at home. I ride ferry boats,’ he said.
‘What?’ you said.
‘Ferry boats, they have them a lot in Seattle. They’re nice, calming even after a long shift,’ he said, ‘I guess this is your ferry boats.’
‘I guess,’ you said.
‘And I can see why you’d need it. After a day like today,’ he said, resting against the railing beside you.
‘Derek,’ you sighed.
‘You did well in there,’ he said.
‘Don’t patronise me,’ you retorted, making him turn to look at you before he leaned up.
‘I mean it,’ he said, ‘I promise.’
You didn’t say anything but you nodded in recognition, looking back out at the view as the quiet descended. Yet it didn’t last for long as he leant back down, mirroring your position as he said, ‘so the ED huh?’
‘Yeah,’ you said, ‘it’s chaos but I like it. If anything it’s like our family but everyone’s there for each other.’
‘I’m there for you,’ he said, looking affronted.
‘Oh yeah, you’ve really had time for me with your divorce, your move across country and your new girlfriend. How is Meredith? No bombs or drownings recently?’ you levelled. Derek looked like he wanted to argue but then sighed, holding his hands up in defeat. You leant against his shoulder, ‘look I know you love me. I know you want what’s best but I’m not eighteen anymore…I’m not your baby sister still relying on you for direction and help.’
‘You should be. I shouldn’t have dropped the ball look at what happened with Amelia-’
‘I’m not Amy,’ you said, ‘I’m me. And you’re my brother. Not my dad.’
‘And Jack he has nothing to do with-’
‘Ew, don’t,’ you grimaced.
‘But he’s-’
‘I swear to God if you tell me he’s too old I’ll hurl you off this roof myself,’ you threatened, ‘besides you can hardly have a say in age-gap relationships.’
‘I guess,’ he said, ‘it’s just…you have to see the issue. You chase a guy that runs into gunfire-’
‘An isolated incident,’ you said dismissively, sighing when he looked like he didn’t believe you, ‘look you don’t have to get it. You don’t have to like him. You don’t have to like that I work in the Pitt. But it doesn’t change anything. And if you’re really worried about screwing it up, about losing me like you did Amelia, then this isn’t the way to go about it.’
He looked out, thinking for a moment but then he pulled up and pulled you into a hug. It was brief but better than anything the two of you had had for a long time. Enough to make you smile when you pulled back.
‘So, he works nights huh?’ he said.
‘Yep. You see we actually strive to maintain professional boundaries around here,’ you chuckled as he rolled his eyes, his arm slinging around your shoulder as you headed back inside.
‘Well then maybe we can do breakfast instead of dinner,’ Derek offered.
‘I’d like that,’ you said.
‘You know, if he’s not got another shift for being shot up lined up,’ Derek commented.
‘Probably preferable to a Shepherd family meal to be honest,’ you said.
