Quite An Impression - jack abbot x marine biologist!reader
find other parts here !!: 2, 3, 4.
Pairings: jack abbot x marine biologist!reader
Summary: when a jellyfish sting at work leads you to the ED, an unsuspecting Jack finds himself more and more interested in the pretty marine biologist that invites him for a tour of the aquarium she works at.
Warnings: minor injuries, talks of ER/ED, explicit language, injured animals (it all ends good), age-gap, slow burn, pinning, mentions of widower jack, yearning/longing, probably some scientific & medical inaccuracies.
Word Count: 5k+
Author’s Note: part 1 is FINALLY here !! i’m so excited to get this out to you all, it’s been a long time coming !! i hope it lives up to expectations !! (am i gonna use sabrina references for each title ?? it’s possible…) bonus: uncle!jack content !! <3
“Jack”, Robby popped his head into the break room; “Come here, you’re gonna wanna see this, brother.”
Jack was bent halfway at his knees, inches from finally, finally, sitting down for the first time in hours and letting the weight off his prosthetic when Robby interrupted him. He didn’t even bother to suppress the groan that left his mouth as he pushed himself back to his full height.
He’d feel the soft couch cushions under him after this, he promised himself that much.
Jack followed Robby out, swinging his stethoscope back around his neck and holding both end of it in his hands.
“What do we got?”, Jack asked, inhaling the same way he always did during a long shift; the kind that made his back arch a little and his chest puff out.
“Female, late twenties to early thirties, jellyfish sting on the left arm and hand”, Robby read out the chart in his hands.
Jack almost stopped walking, a surprised look on his face that turned almost into a smirk.
“You serious?”
Robby laughed; “Hell yeah, figured you’d want in on it.”
Jack scoffed in the way he did when he found something funny; “Hell yeah I want in on it”
He grabs the chart from Robby’s hands flicking through the pages as he reads; “Haven’t seen anything like that since med school.”
“You and me both, brother.”
Robby turned and pushed open the exam room door with his back, sliding on a pair of gloves as he wheeled over on the swivel chair.
You looked up from the bed, eyes bright and not at all like you were in pain. Jack stopped in his tracks at the sight of you.
He realized then he wasn’t expecting someone so…pretty.
So lively and bright.
“Hi i’m Doctor Robbinavitch, this is my fellow attending Doctor Abbot, we’re gonna check you out today”, Robby says, offering a small and professional smile.
“At least buy me dinner first”, You jut back with a laugh.
Oh. Jack wanted to make that laugh leave your lips over and over again.
Robby got to work, carefully inspecting your sting, gloves fingers pressing gently into the raised red skin.
“So jellyfish sting, huh?”, Robby asks, motioning to Jack for a syringe off the tray next to him.
Jack hesitates for a moment, but his brain eventually follows, letting his eyes wander away from you for a moment.
Your hair was clipped back in a claw similar to Dana’s, a few strands falling loosely around your face and ears. A pair of black leggings and a Pittsburg Aquarium shirt. Even in the simplicity of it all, you looked so pretty. Jack swallowed hard.
“Yeah, comes with the job”, You say with an easy shrug, like it’s nothing new.
Robby pauses; “Oh yeah?”
“Yup. Marine Biologist at the aquarium. Little guy snuck up on me today.”
Robby chuckles; “Happen often?”
“More than you think. Not my first sting, won’t be my last.”
Your eyes wander over Jack, who’s still standing slightly off to the side, arms crossed over his chest. You lean a little closer to Robby.
“He always hover like that?”, You ask.
The noise that leaves Robby’s nose makes you laugh.
“Only when he’s working.”
You nod, eying Jack up and down. His silver curls and broad shoulders. The stubble that decorated his jawline. His dark hazel eyes that seem to get darker each time his eyes land on you.
“So often then?”
Robby looks up and tilts his head; “How’d you know?”
“I read people”, You shrug; “He seems like the type.”
Robby bites his cheek from saying something that’ll have Jack kicking him later, shooting him a look. You’re so accurate at reading him, it makes Robby gloat.
“Hey Doctor Abbot”, You nod your chin at him; “You ever sleep or blink or do you just…hover?”
Jack’s eyes flick back to you, the tiniest twitch of a curve at the corner of his lips as he adjusts his weight, shifting on his feet; “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
You snort, covering your mouth.
Oh you’re adorable, Jack thinks.
Robby’s still examining your sting, taking pictures on his phone cause who knows when he’ll ever see one again.
“Been meaning to visit the aquarium”, Robby says, not looking up, “My daughter likes fish.”
You light up instantly, eyes flicking between the two men, clocking Jack’s jaw twitching like he’s fighting internally on whether or not he wants to say what’s on the tip of his tongue. He eventually decides against it.
“How old is she?”, You ask.
Robby’s smile softens; “Almost two.”
You hum in response; “Fun age, usually very curious.”
Robby laughs like he couldn’t contain it; “Oh she’s very curious.”
You turn back to Jack, just as Dana pops her head into the room.
“Robby, when you’re done pawning over the jellyfish sting—trauma one needs you”, She says it with a smirk, a witty sarcastic tone with no heat behind it. Just enough to agitate him.
“Cmon Dana, this is so cool.”
Dana rolls her eyes, pointing two fingers at him; “Trauma one, now.”
She’s gone as quickly as she appeared, a sigh leaving Robby as he bows his head with a laugh, snapping his gloves off.
“That’s my cue”, He says, wheeling back in the chair and standing; “Doctor Abbot here will finish up. Get you some topical steroids and something for the pain and you’ll be good as new.”
You don’t see the wink Robby sends Jack’s way as he leaves the room, following the same path Dana had just taken.
Jack pushes off the wall, pulling a pair of gloves out and setting up everything he’ll need on the steel tray in front of him.
“I’m going to deactivate the area with some acetic acid, it’ll stop the stinging”, He begins, pulling on his gloves with a quiet smack.
“Acid?”, You ask, furrowing your brows.
Jack hums with a nod; “Don’t worry, it’s basically just vinegar. Shouldn’t hurt too much.”
You watch as he dumps the liquid carefully over your arm and hand, whatever stinging was there slowly began to dissipate, leaving behind a dull ache and general soreness.
“I’m gonna check to see if there’s any tentacles that need removed. Then we’ll get you all set up with some antihistamines and a topical corticosteroid”, He explains each step as he’s preparing it—whether it’s to ease the nerves he can sense off of you or to reassure himself—you find yourself appreciating it.
You can’t help swinging your legs a little as you watch him slide a pair of glasses onto his nose, a new pair of gloves on his hands as he grabs a pair of tweezers.
“Let me know if anything hurts”, He says.
But you’re too busy watching him.
The way he leans in close, the overhead lamp he brought over casting a slight golden hue to his curls, making them shine like silver. His features look more prominent this close up—aged in a rugged and handsome way that shows he has years of experience and stories behind him. Steady hands that hover. Sharp eyes that train on whatever he’s looking at. His brows furrow a little as he concentrates, his lips parted just slightly as he works.
“So you always pick fights with jellyfish or do you rotate through sea creatures?”, Jack asks, eyes flicking up to your face for a brief moment before returning to your arm.
You try to suppress a laugh—it doesn’t work.
“Nah, new animal each week. They’re usually pretty nice though…think that jellyfish had it out for me.”
Jack’s lip quirks at the corner of his mouth.
“What’d you do to it?”
“God nothing, they don’t have brains to know if I even did.”
Jack hums softly in response, letting you talk as he works. Committing everything you’re telling him to memory.
He lets a beat or two pass before speaking again; “Which one’s your favorite?”
You tilt your head; “My favorite what?”
“Animal, sea creature, whatever you call it.”
You can’t help the smile creeping onto your lips; “Beluga whale…name’s Arlo. He was brought in as a baby with an injured flipper about a year into me working there. I’ve pretty much helped raise him.”
Jack’s chest softens.
“He ok now?”
“Oh yeah!”, You say waving with your other hand, “He’s doing amazing! Just safer to keep him than set him out into the wild. I honestly don’t know how well he’d do with his flipper being permanently damaged.”
Jack finds himself nodding along as you talk, not realizing how long it’s been until he’s almost done tending to your arm. But he doesn’t really want to stop, or for this to end. He could listen to you talk all day.
So he lets you.
He listens intently as you talk about your job; which animals are your favorite, which ones are learning new commands and tricks, what shows you get to put on for guests. The conservation jobs you’ve been on. He watches your free hand move about as you talk—the many faces you make when—each full of passion. He finds himself enthralled by all of it.
“We also do two tours a day for guests to take them around some behind the scenes stuff, meet some of the animals”, You explain.
Jack lifts his head up, eyebrows raised at that; “Yeah? That sounds kind of interesting.”
Without a beat, you respond;
“Yeah? You should come. I’ve got tickets for this weekend you can have.”
Jack falters for a moment, forcing his brain to slow down and his breathing to continue.
“Oh that’s really thoughtful, but I’d hate to just take them, let me do something in return-“
“You’re patching me up, I think that’s enough.”
He stares at you, really stares. The unwavering look of certainty on your face, that small, smug smile at the corner of your mouth that was already doing things to him.
Then finally, he lets his shoulders drop with a sigh; “Ok.”
You perk back up instantly; “Yeah? Great!”
Jack smirks to himself as he pulls off his gloves, wheeling over to the computer stand and tossing the blue latex out. You find yourself staring a moment too long at the way his biceps flex under his scrub top—black material pulled taught against his skin and across his chest—littered with freckles; each different and unique in their own way. You’d be perfectly content counting and tracing each one.
“Think I’ll live, doc?”, You ask.
Jack’s lips twitch again; “Keep your arms away from jellyfish and I think your chances are pretty high.”
You let yourself smile, not caring how ridiculous and enthralled in him it makes you look. He was interesting.
You listen as Jack explains your discharge instructions, hands you a paper with them on it and a number to call if you need it.
“Come back if it gets really painful or infected. Keep using the topical cream I gave you and it should heal up good in no time.”
“Thank you, Doctor Abbot”, You say softly, sliding off the exam bed and letting him guide you out the door.
You don’t miss the way his hand hovers at your lower back, not quite touching, but the ghost of his warmth is there.
He nods once, head jutting towards the exit doors; “Know your way out from here?”
Like he’s offering to walk you.
“Yeah, thanks”, You smile; “Well hey, hope we can talk again sometime.”
His lips quirk; “Hopefully on better terms than this.”
“That’d be nice”, You say, knowing full well it won’t be the last time you walk through those hospital doors; “Maybe this weekend?”
Jack stills for a moment, the wheels in his brain turning before he offers a movement that’s almost a nod.
“Yeah”, He says it like he’s thinking, “Yeah, we’ll see.”
With that you’re heading towards the door with a thanking squeeze to his bicep that makes him feel like he’s a teenager again, watching as you stop and turn back towards him again.
“See you around, Doctor Abbot.”
Jesus, he was in fucking trouble.
─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─
Jack finds Robby in the break room later, hovering over a pot of hospital coffee.
“You free this weekend?”, Jack asks.
Robby quirks a brow; “What’re you asking me out?”
Jack bites his tongue, his eyes squeezing shut to compose himself; “No, I was gonna offer you these tickets I got.”
“What tickets?”
Jack sits down at the small round table with Robby in tow, passing him a steaming cup as he does.
“Remember the patient with the jellyfish sting from earlier?”, Jack asks.
Robby’s already smirking; “You mean the one that was flirting with you?”
“She wasn’t flirting-“
“Jack”, Robby chuckles; “You’re geriatric not stupid.”
“You’re geriatric and still older than me.”
Robby can feel the glare Jack shoots his way burning into the side of his head.
“What about her?”, Robby asks.
Jack sighs into his coffee; “She offered me tickets for some tour of the aquarium this weekend…they’re already in my inbox. Figured maybe you and Noelle would wanna take Nora.”
Robby shakes his head; “Nah she offered them to you man, you take them.”
“And do what? Stand around like a creep?”
“I don’t know…go?”, Robby says it like it’s obvious; “She offered you these tickets. Not me. You have to go.”
Jack doesn’t answer, just sipping on his coffee that’s starting to taste more and more like dirt with each passing day.
“She obviously likes you brother, or she wouldn’t have said anything”, Robby says.
Damn it, Jack really hated when Robby was right.
The older man sits up in his seat.
“Listen, Noelle’s out of town this weekend so it’s just me and Nora. Why don’t we go with you?”, Robby offers.
For some reason, that makes Jack relax a little.
“Careful”, Jack says with an arched brow, already clocking Robby’s enthusiasm; “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you actually like me, brother”,
“God don’t make me regret this”, Robby says, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“What else am I here to do?”
Jack stands to lean against the counter, stirring his coffee and tracing the rim of the cup.
“You’d seriously go?”, He finally asks, shoulders closing in a little.
“Yeah, why not?”, Robby shrugs; “Nora loves seeing the fish and for some reason you. Plus I can play matchmaker if i’m there.”
Jack groans; “And there it is.”
“What?”
“Your ulterior motive.”
“Gotta entertain myself somehow, brother”, Robby says, smacking a hand on Jack’s shoulder.
It takes everything in him not to smack Robby right then and there.
“I hate you.”
Secretly though? Jack’s grateful and almost relieved at Robby’s offer. But he’d never live down the day he tells him that.
─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─
“Unca ‘Ack! Unca ‘Ack! Phish!”, Nora’s little voice shrieks as she bounces it Jack’s arms, pointing to the floor to ceiling cylindrical fish tank.
They’d made it exactly five steps in from the front entrance, and Nora was already amazed. Her wide brown eyes stared at the fluorescent colors—her tiny hand pressed up against the glass—the tank lights reflecting off her face.
“Papa! Phish!”, She called out for Robby, turning her entire body abruptly in Jack’s arms, making him readjust his grip.
“Careful, Peanut”, Jack warned softly, his own eyes wide as he watched her, willing his hold on her to keep up.
“I see the fish, Munchkin”, Robby says, stepping in next to them and smiling up at the fish that swim by.
The sound of people bustles around them, other families being drug along by their own toddlers seeing something across the room. A group of teenagers off in the distance.
It smells like seawater—not in the gross dead fish way, but salty and soft—wafting through the air. It’s slightly cool inside, overhead fans and misters in certain spots with signs that say ‘Feel the Ocean!’
Jack has no doubt that kids would be absolutely sucked in by all of it.
“What time is it?”, Robby asks, eyeing his watch.
Jack beats him to it; “10:30, tour starts at noon.”
He’d looked at the schedule, of course he had.
Robby smirks knowingly; “What should we go see first?”
They find themselves in the underwater viewing tunnels—polar bears and elephant seals swimming overhead—light reflecting off the water.
Nora’s eyes are wide, pointing at each animal that swims by. Making sure Robby sees, and then Jack.
The ‘Dory tank’ quickly becomes her favorite, running as fast as her small and chubby legs will carry her almost two year old body—pulling Jack by wrapping her entire hand around two of his fingers.
He grunts in surprise, struggling to catch up for a moment before he’s laughing; “Peanut you’re gonna take me out.”
Robby claps him on the shoulder, quickly adjusting the backpack slung over his shoulders; “Don’t worry, I know CPR.”
Jack shoots him a glare; “You’re so lucky the kid’s here.”
Nora’s hands are pressed up against the glass, face as close as she can get it without actually touching it—Robby and Jack had both scolded her twice already about the germs—her small mouth falling open with a grin as big as her face.
By the time 11:30 rolled around, Jack was leading the way towards the Penguin exhibit where the tour would start. Nora was now in Robby’s arms, giving Jack’s back a break. She weighed almost nothing to him, but the constant pulling on his neck and shoulders each time she bounced or lean towards something made him a little sore.
Robby set Nora down, letting her walk over to the giant tank in front of her, Penguins swimming around at her height as they dove in and out of the water.
“Nora, smile for mommy!”, Robby called out, kneeling down.
Nora grinned as wide as she could, a penguin swimming past her just as Robby captured the photo.
“I see?”, Nora asked, already climbing into Robby’s lap where he was crouched down.
“See? Very cute, huh?”
Nora giggled, eyes on Robby’s phone before she turned and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Mommy see?”, Nora asked.
Robby nodded; “Mommy will love it, it’s a keeper. Think it should go on the fridge when we get home?”
Nora clapped happily at the idea of that.
Meanwhile, Jack noticed the employees starting to make their way out onto the landing from the doorway to the side. Then his world froze when his eyes landed on you.
Clad in your wetsuit, a ponytail braid down your back that swished back and forth as you walked. Clinging to you perfectly. Water shoes squeaking faintly, clearly slightly wet. His heart hammered against his rib cage. He didn’t notice Robby slide in beside him, Nora still in his arms.
It didn’t take long for you to find him, and once your eyes settled on his frame, your cheeks turned pink.
─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─
Starting a tour was absolutely second nature to you now. But you’d had nerves all day. Hell, you’d had nerves since earlier in the week when you met Jack. He’d been rattling around your brain ever since like he lived there.
When you followed your coworkers out onto the Penguin landing exhibit, you couldn’t help but let your eyes scan the group of people waiting. As soon as your eyes met his, you felt the blush creeping up your neck. Seeing the way he reacted the same, eyes unwavering and hovering over you—looking you up and down—had you biting your bottom lip in a last ditch effort to suppress a smile.
It didn’t quite work.
You offered him a wave that came off slightly shyer than you would’ve liked; but he didn’t seem to notice, and offered a wave back.
You could see the man you remembered as Robby nudging him with his elbow, eyes now trained on you as well—the little girl in his arms bouncing as she watched the Penguins.
After a quick introduction, it was your turn to talk, forcing you to finally pull your attention away and stand closer to the front.
You introduced yourself to the crowd; “But you can call me Skipper, I’ll be leading you on your tour today. Are you ready to see some animals?”
The response from families and kids around you was instant, but all you could see was Jack from the corner of your eyes; expression soft and gaze determined not to miss a thing. So the staring was an outside of work thing too, huh?
You didn’t mind. His eyes were soft in the way they were when he’d tended to your wound—like he was taking in every word you said and cataloging it for later—the same way he did with a patient’s information or a SWAT mission log.
God, you were screwed.
The tour went on smoothly, and as you talked, Jack found himself sinking deeper and deeper; like the ocean had opened up and swallowed him whole in the most peaceful and sunlit way.
He committed each fact you said to memory like his life depended on it; Octopuses have three hearts, the ocean produces 50% of earth’s oxygen, Angelfish choose one partner for life, a Blue Whale’s tongue is heavier than an entire Elephant, Dolphins are sleepwalkers, 50-80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean’s surface—he desperately wanted to seem like he knew something about your work.
You showed off starfish, turtles, dolphins. Jack watched with a childlike awe as you used simple hand signals for the dolphin, who happily obliged and did tricks for fish. He had no idea so much went into all of it.
His favorite though? Was finally getting to see Arlo the Beluga you talked so fondly about. He was huge to say the least. A permanent smile almost etched on his face.
Nora laughed when a spray of water from Arlo’s blow hole misted her face, clapping and bouncing where she was perched on Robby’s shoulder’s.
“‘Gain! ‘Gain!”
Jack—who was normally so enthused with his niece, only spared a quick smile at her before he was drawn back to you.
You with your bright smile and eyes to match as you held out different shells and artifacts. You who knew quick facts and talked so passionately about your work, you who kept glancing at him each time your eyes swept over the group of visitors in front of you.
Your heart stuttered in your chest each time you looked up to find his eyes already on you, like they never left in the first place.
─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─
By the time the tour ended in the stingray room, you were a little smug to say the least. Eyes flicking to where Jack stood each chance you got as you spoke with other guests. Taking in how he stood carefully behind Nora who was pressed up against the glass again, watching stingray’s swim by. Protective and oh so gentle.
Jack’s hand was carefully on the tot’s back as he crouched down next to her, dipping his face close to talk softly in her ear. Like he was making sure she knew all his attention was on her.
Eventually most of the guests cleared out, only a few staggering behind to check out other animals in the room. You quickly made your way over to the two doctor’s at the big tank—Jack already rising to his feet as he saw you approaching, taking Nora’s tiny hand in his.
“Well look who came”, You breathe out, smile engulfing your cheeks.
“Wouldn’t miss it”, Jack spoke.
His voice was softer than it had been in the ED, more relaxed and mellow. Like he belonged here standing with you.
“I hope it lived up to its expectations.”
“Oh, absolutely.”
Jack’s smile didn’t waver, a comfortable silence drifting over the room as you both looked each other over. You in your wetsuit, Jack looking so mundane and domestic out of scrubs it hurt. His hair a little more messy than usual, no doubt from Nora playing with it.
Robby cleared his throat.
“Papa! Up!”
The small voice and noise beside you snapped you both out of your gaze, eyes flicking to the brunette man as he lifted Nora up into his arms.
“Nice to see you again, Robby”, You say, offering a small nod; “Who’s this lil girly?”
“This is Nora”, Robby beams, tucking his head more to her level; “Nor, can you say hi?”
Nora offers you a small wave, hiding her face in the crook of Robby’s neck.
“Hi Nora, I heard you like fish?”
She perks up a bit at that; “Phish?”
“Mhm”, You nod, “Wanna meet one of my friends?”
Nora’s already nodding enthusiastically as you lead them back to Arlo’s tank. He’s already hovering close to the edge, head peeking out and still smiling.
“It’s almost Arlo’s feeding time, he’ll be so happy to see us”, You speak out loud, not really sure if it’s more towards Nora or yourself.
You climb onto the landing at the edge of the tank, pulling a bucket of fish over with you, snapping a pair of gloves on.
“These are his favorite.”
Almost on cue, Arlo’s halfway out of the water, looking almost like he could clap as he opens his mouth for the fish you throw him. The water splashes, Nora giggles in Robby’s arms.
“Do ‘gain!”, She shrieks.
All three of you laugh as you happily toss another fish Arlo’s way before turning back to Nora; “Wanna pet him?”
Nora’s eyes grow so wide there’s almost no iris left, looking up to Robby like she’s asking for permission.
“Cmere, I’ll show you how”, You explain how to be gentle, guiding Robby over so they’re both close enough.
You take Nora’s tiny hand and press it flat against Arlo’s nose, letting her pat it gently. Another squeal from her tiny body, now almost vibrating with excitement.
“He’s a little slimy, isn’t he?”, You beam, nose slightly crinkled as you look between the two.
Then you look up at Jack, who’s standing with his legs wide and arms folded across his chest, so similar to the way he had been when you first met him. A small twitch at the corner of his mouth. But his eyes gave him away. His love for Nora and seeing you with her practically pouring out onto the landing, and a hint of something else entirely that you couldn’t quite place as he looked back at you.
“Mommy, ‘icture?”, Nora asks.
“Sounds like a good idea to me”, Robby says, “Do you mind?”
He’s holding his phone out to you.
“Not at all.”
You switch spots with him, letting them stand against the tank in front of Arlo, raising the phone to take the picture when Robby cuts in again.
“Jack, get in here brother.”
He hesitates for a moment, before ultimately standing on the other side of him, squishing Nora comfortably between them. Both of her arms wrap around the back of their necks as he smiles crookedly, her few tiny teeth poking out.
“Smile!”
You take a few, pausing at the one where Jack and Nora are looking at each other—bright goofy smiles that make your heart ache. You wanted to burn it into your memory. Instead you hand Robby his phone back, watching as he walks off with Nora as his phone begins to ring, leaving you alone with Jack.
He’s rocking on his feet, back on his heels as he shoves his hands in his pockets.
“So Skipper, huh?”, He’s right back to teasing.
You groan; “Coworkers gave it to me when I started, not my first choice.”
Jack shrugs; “It’s on theme. Better than fruitcake.”
You quirk a brow; “Fruitcake?”
“One of our frequent fliers gave that one to Robby.”
Jack’s small smile turns a little mischievous.
“Oh i’m never forgetting that”, You laugh.
Jack laughs too, like the whole thing is so easy.
A beat of comfortable silence passes before he speaks again;
“Thank you for inviting us, really”, He says, rubbing the back of his neck; “Nora loved it.”
You don’t hesitate; “And you?”
Jack’s mouth parts at your forwardness, that stupid little smirk twitching again.
“I thought it was…nice.”
“Nice?”
“What? Nice is good!”
“Nice is what you say when something is boring but you don’t want to say it.”
“Trust me, I wasn’t bored.”
“Could’ve fooled me, Mr. ‘it was nice’.”
Jack sighs, shaking his head as he smiles at his shoes, rocking on his heels again.
“Fine. It was really interesting. I had a good time”, He sighs, but there’s no real heat behind it, rather amusement.
“See? Was that so hard?”
“You’re trouble”, He juts, eyebrows almost in his hairline.
You bite your lip, watching as he traces your face with his eyes, his own demeanor suddenly falling serious again.
“But seriously”, He says, “Thank you for having us. I really did enjoy it.”
You nod in return; “I’m glad you came.”
“Me too.”
Jack looks over to where Robby’s standing with Nora, talking away on the phone with Noelle; a softness taking over his features again.
“You really love her, don’t you?”, You ask, following his gaze.
“Yeah”, He says; “I’d do anything for her. She’s good for him too.”
He lets a beat pass.
“Don’t tell Robby that, I’ll be out a pony.”
“A pony, huh?”
“Secret side business.”
You snort at that, desperately trying to cover your mouth but the noise had already slipped out. You except him to cringe, but instead he looks, amused? Content? Happy?
Reveling in the fact that he finally got to hear it again.
Inside Jack’s heart did a flip at the noise. Wondering how many things he could say to make you laugh like that again.
“How’s your arm?”, He asks.
You flick your gaze down to your bandage.
“Pretty good. Doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Jack nods; “That’s good. I’d hate to see you still hurt.”
Your heart stutters.
“How can I repay you…for all this?”, He asks, gesturing around.
You wave him off.
“Again, patching me up was plenty. Thank you, Doctor Abbot.”
“Jack”, He says once, “You can call me Jack.”
“Ok, Jack.”
You test it out, tongue tingling at the shape of his name. Already liking the way it sounded. Yeah, that seemed perfect. Jack.
“There’s gotta be someway I can repay you. This couldn’t have been easy to set up.”
“Really it’s fine, Jack. My treat-“
“How about dinner?”
You freeze, mouth still parted and eyes wide as he continues with a smirk;
“My treat.”
You need an excuse, something believable, because if you’re honest with yourself—you’re already falling for him; and that seems dangerous.
But you don’t find one. Secretly? You’re relieved you don’t.
“Dinner sounds perfect”, You say, and then; “Just no seafood places. Too close to work.”
“Noted”, Jack smiles, nodding gently; “How’s next Friday?”
“Friday’s perfect.”
Suddenly you’re exchanging numbers with him, watching as he saves his name in your phone and you do the same to his. Then he’s saying goodbye all too soon, walking off to join Robby and Nora again; leaving the air around you too cold and lingering of his warmth and cologne.
You wave to them as they go, smiling down at your phone, breathing hitching as the new contact name staring back up at you.
‘Jack Abbot.’
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