It’s important to me that you guys understand that y2k reader and Jack were together since before he lost his leg. Meaning she was by his side when it happened too.
Not exactly when it happened of corse. He was an ocean away when his leg got blown to bits. (It was a weird feeling, when he later realized part of his body was left in the dirt of a place he’ll never return) but after he was stabilized and brought home for further surgery? She was at the hospital before he even was.
That sweet girl never left his side. He was unconscious for days, but she was there and he knew it. He knew she was there. It wasn’t that he heard her speak to him- if he did, he never remembered it. But oh, he felt her. Not in a spiritual hoo doo way, literally. Felt her sharp long acrylic nails on his arm, holding his hand, stroking his hair- he knows she must have spoken he just doesn’t know what, but knowing her those touches came with whispers.- he smelt her perfume, always so strong and intense and perfect. He felt her lips softly pressed to his face and hands. Felt wet drops against his skin, when she must have been crying for him. Felt the weird of her when she’d climb into the bed next to him. For so long he’d thought he was dead after it happened. At least dying. Then he felt her. Knew he was home and safe. Weather home went America or in her arms he wasn’t sure.
When he woke up she was there, crying with relief and kissing him. He knew what happened, he could feel it. And she held his hand and wiped away his tears the first time he saw it, promised him he’d be okay. She was a good woman, treated him like nothing changed, like he was no different. Loved him the same, stood by his side firmly. Slept in that damn hospital for weeks. Never left his side.
When he learned how to walk with a prosthetic, she was there. She literally caught him when he fell every time. When the would ached and he was in agony to the point of tears she held him and swore sweet nothings. She cleaned the scar for months when it needed constant care, without a word of complaint. She celebrated every single win.
She doesn’t bring it up. Doesn’t expect praise or glory. She coulda, probably shoulda walked away but never did. And amongst the many reasons Jack adores his wife to the ends of the earth, that is a debt he knows he can never ever repay.
Please tell us about y2ks shitty pre med ex right before Jack. I already hate him, need to know more
Right before Jack, y2k had this boyfriend at school. Y2K didn’t have the typical college experience. She worked, had actual jobs the whole time. She lived at home and commuted. She had one foot in each world.
For a while she got around with this pre med frat boy. And he was an asshole, don’t get her wrong. She knew that. But he was fun. And he was different when they were alone, cliche as it sounds. It was never serious, he had a Rolodex. But there was something about her he kept coming back to. Jack can understand that. Y2K is a very special woman. Even then.
Things finally went sour when y2k had a pregnancy scare and he was a fucking asshole about it. Y2K ended things before he could learn if it was a scare or not, or how she handled it. He was cruel. Entitled. Accusatory.
Jack knew the story. And he didn’t like the guy on the basis of stories alone. He remembered when, laying in his truck that first night you said you were so relived he was a normal guy with a normal job. Your last boyfriend was gonna be a doctor and he was such a dick. Jack laughed his ass off, you were so embarrassed. It was a long joke now.
He knew about why things ended. And he hated the guy for it. When you and Jack were still dating, not yet married, when Jack was overseas, you had a scare together. And look the time wouldn’t have been optimal, but to Jack, it wouldn’t have been a bad thing at all. You? A baby? He would be thrilled. And he told you this over the corse of a two hour long breakdown on the phone with him- and a long distance call was expensive in those days.
Jack knew your terror wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t about him. It was a trauma responce.
So yeah.
He hated your ex.
The idea that some little bitch made you afraid to tell him something so potentially amazing? He could kill him.
And it was just a scare. Benji wouldn’t come for another 5 years. Very planned and loved. No fear, just joy.
But Jack also knew how the guy treated you in general. Strung you along. Played around. The classism- how he, as a northern kid, as a transplant, treated you as the easy townie, the low class whore. Direct quote from that scare. Some local flavor. It made jacks blood boil. But he was thankful it made you cling to hi local familiarity in the wake of it.
Many years later, when Jack was still somewhat on the newer side at PTMC after a couple years bouncing around before he landed firmly up in PA, and Kelly was just a roleypoley baby on your hip, you were at the hospital to bring Jack dinner. Benji sweetly holding your hand and clinging to your leg, Kelly on your side. You were waiting, gossiping with Dana. Benji was 3, Kelly just short of 1, you just below 30, and Jack crawling up on 40 in the next few years too. In Jack’s opinion you got hotter every year. In yours, Jack was only starting to truly age like fine wine. He would only go up from here, man was your hubby yummy. It was a miracle you stopped at 2 the way you couldn’t keep your claws off him- that miracle being a vasectomy. You gave him two beautiful babies, you were done. He thanked you for your service.
Jack was caught up in some gnarly trauma, couple specialists with him.
Its fine. You’re in no rush. You have no where else to be.
The person who approaches you a few minutes later isn’t your husband. No.
“Y/N?”
To him, it’s like seeing a ghost.
You’re not the one who got away. That would imply he sees you higher than he does. But you are the one who stuck with him and stung.
Because who dumps him? He’s a fucking prize. He’s a superstar resident. He’s hot. His parents are rich- which mattered more at 20 than now. But never the less. He was a prize. And you were just some ghetto trash townie. You should have been lucky. Worshiped him. Latched on and never let go.
Pushing 30 himself, he knows that was a bit… gross.
It was like a ghost.
Bitterly, he must admit, he sometimes wondered what happened to you in a negative sense. He was sure he was the best chance you ever had. That you probably dropped out to have some losers kid, had a few with a few dads, never went anywhere, “let yourself go”.
But right now. You looked good. Two pretty babies on your sides. You looked well maintained. Like you had a soft life. You looked good. Better than 20 maybe, somehow.
Big fucking rock on your hand. Still had those trashy long nails.
Oh turned around in shock.
“Oh. Wow. No way. Hi.”
You smile nicely, pretty and polite.
“I forgot you were from up here. Guess after med school you came back north?”
He nodded dumbly. Smooth.
“Yeah, hey. What are you doing here?” He asked in total shock.
“My husband works here. I was just dropping off dinner- oh! Baby! Hi.”
You wave, and over comes fucking Jack Abbot. ED attending who’s earned a hell of a cowboy reputation in the last two years, otherwise known for his undying love of his wife.
He pales a little.
“Hi angel- hey guys! What are you guys doing here?”
His attention is completely focused on his little boy who jumps into his arms. The resemblance is fucking uncanny. His little girl wiggling towards him.
“Wanted to bring you dinner, can’t have you running on empty, can we?”
Benji nodded in agreeent. Cutest little fucker.
Looking at the two of you, things click into place for Jack.
And he decides firmly, he’s going to fuck with this kid till the cows come home now. He’s heard the stories, now they’re in the flesh. He even looks the part.
i know that they were born with him already on the porsthetic, but kelly and benji ever asked him about how he lost his leg?
Jack is really bad at hiding things from his kids.
He just doesn’t. People die. Babies are born. Shit happens. He doesn’t like lying to his kids, that shits weird to him.
The first time one of them asked, he made a raspberry noise, hand fireworks, and flat out said. “Got blown up.” “When you were in the army?” “Yes, smart boy, it was. Aboutttt…. 5 years before you were born.” “Did it hurt?” “Probably. I don’t really remember.”
Benji, at 7, understood that sometimes it does hurt now. Jack really don’t remember the incident, knocked out from the blast.
Kelly eventually asked Benji, bc of corse her big brother knows everything. And as the kids got older, wiser, they asked more questions, more sophisticated questions.
IED, dead cow. Common thing. No I was being honest, I don’t remember it. And I was high as balls in the hospital for the first few weeks so I didn’t feel shit. Yeah. Phantom pains are a bitch. You guys have seen it. Makes me extra sympathetic to the female body- ow! I’m being serious honey! (Really Jack? You needed to loose your leg to understand cramps?) of corse I was scared. Terrified. It was like I was in a fucking nightmare. But your mom helped. God, your mom helped so much. She made it feel like nothing changed. She’s my angel.
showering the ther as a way of intimacy (not only sexual) for both jack and y2k and pope and sweet. Where only there is devotion to the other person: in sickness; just cause i wanted to; you are tired
im so in loooove
For Jack and y2k, showers are complicated. Much more so than when they were young. No longer can he stand on his own two feet and fuck you against the tile. Those days are long gone. Jack built a home that would support his body, including a bathroom that was highly accessible with multiple shower heads and a luxurious bench seat, non slip tile, handles everywhere he may need them, and handles he could control from said bench. When Jack first got hurt, he needed help to shower, no way around it. He hadn’t learned the tips and tricks of his new body yet. So he had to be so damn vulnerable every day, with his arms around your shoulders as you helped him in, suction handle to the wall and movable seat from a medical supply. It was so different then. Needed hep with his dressings and wound care and fuck was recovery exhausting on the body. And as much as I as he felt guilty he let you help him, despite the embarrassment and shame. You never batted and eye. Your love needed help. So you helped him. Giggled at him to close his eyes before he got shampoo in them, perv, and scrubbed his hair. Cleaned every inch of his body. And eventually, he finally felt safe to wrap his arms around your waist and lay his head on your bare stomach. “Thank you” he mumbled. “No need to thank me, baby”. He knew somehow you meant that.
Now, 20 some years down the road he maneuvered in the bathroom easy. He had a system. And showering together could be a thing of intimacy and closeness again. He could tease you about how it was great to sit back and enjoy the view. You’d remind him of just how many benefits there were to that big ole stone bench.
It wasn’t and every day thing, usually more trouble than it was worth, but it was nice sometimes.
With pope and sweets it’s far less complicated. Less emotionally entangled. Another of Sweets’ many first she gave Pope. And Pope knew showering together wasn’t as romantic as the movies as it was in real life, but he felt the need to make it as good as possible for sweets. Washed her hair carefully, rubbed her shoulders, kissed her neck. It was nice for her. Romantic and close and intimate. She didn’t deserve any awkward fumbles.
A few months later he came home from a job a bit worse for wear, and of corse sweets was a wreck. “It’s not as bad as it looks. Just dirty” he swore. She barely believed him. “Fine. Let’s go to the shower and find out.” She gently cleaned away all the blood grime and dirt, through hands shaking with worry. “Hey” he whispered pulling her in close. “It’s okay baby. I’m fine” he swore. “You got hurt.” “Not too bad.” “I hate worrying about you.”
God he hated making her feel that way. He didn’t know what else to say. So he held her close under the spray, letting her rest herself in the safety of his chest and arms, for as long as she needed.
Omg, Park's really in for it. I bet Jack is passive agressive towards him for years because of his treatment of y2k. I would be. What a tool, ugh. But I adore the Abbots as a family unit, I want to melt. They really adore each other, don't they?
Jack will NEVER let it go. He pretends he’s cool about it. And then 2 weeks later they’re in a trauma and it’s kinda awkward and Jack just goes full fuck it mode about it. “What, you think you’re hot shit because you fucked my wife before me?”
No one in the room can actually believe he said it.
“She had my kids buddy, I won. My ring my babies.”
Jacks fucking crazy. Especially when it comes to y2k.
Park gets invited to a huge PTMC bbq at jacks house one 4th of July. Because EVERYONES invited and it would be weird if he wasn’t. And weird if he didn’t show.
it’s torture.
Jack is just straight up mogging him. 10 years older than him and he looks fucking killer. He’s got a giant tattoo of y2ks name on his side- because it was on his leg before- well- so this was his second shot. He’s shirtless over his grill with Kelly on his hip. He’s the man of the (massive) house.
And part of Brendon feels the suburban domestic life is below him.
But a bigger part than he’d like to admit can’t shake the feeling this could be his life.
Y2K is on the edge of the pool, playing with Benji, Dana with her girls, and she’s not just a good mom but she’s a fucking smoke show in that bikini, even with the baby weight, even with the stretch marks.
A few hours later when he walks into the house for the bathroom, he just misses the happy homeowners in the kitchen (getting things for the burgers) and it’s very very clear from the way she squeals and the way jacks all over her that Jack feels the same way.
The domestic life was for fucking suckers. He had it made, the bachelor life. But… this fucked with his head a lot.
The adoring kids. The darling wife. The big house.
which are the acts of love between jack and reader, but through the eyes of Kelly and Benji? I mean, what do they do that seems like love for their kids?
I think they they’re definitely a quality time and acts of service couple. Time is so important to them. Due to the years they spent long distance, almost losing Jack, and jacks long hours on the days he works. So just being together, as a couple and as a family is very important to them. They don’t want to stare at their phones or a tv screen, they want to be together. Play a game, go out and about, talk, god they just love to talk to eachother.
But for both of them, acts of service are so meaningful too. I immediately think of the ways she takes care of his leg. It’s always been like this. At first he couldn’t do it himself. Now that he can, she just wants to do it for him. To provide him with comfort and relief, and to show him that she loves every inch of him. Its not about her cooking for Jack, its about the fact that she’s taking the time to make him a home cooked meal, to take care of him, to give him something to take to work that reminds him she loves him. Picking him up from work because she knows his leg was aching and doesn’t want him to has to spend another second on it. And look. Jack could be a husband who just pays for things and calls it a day. But he’s not. He’s active and present. He wants to give her a soft easy life, in ways beyond a black card. He’ll take care of it, don’t worry about it, ever. He’ll move the cars around when the kids block you in. He’ll make sure you’ve got a full tank of gas before the storm. He’ll drive you to the store at night because he knows you hate driving in the dark. He’s got you.
To the kids, it’s almost funny. They don’t really see it, they just assume that’s what all married people are like. They don’t know what other couples act like, how useless other husbands are. Because dad and mom are disgustingly obsessed with eachother.
They notice it in little little ways.
They see the physical touch. The way that if dads on the sofa, he’s got his head in mommy’s lap while she plays with his hair, and scratches his scalp. They notice how when she’s cooking he’s usually either leaning against the counter talking to her- staying the fuck out of her way but hanging out, or hugging her from behind while she laughs about how in the way he is. He’s got a hand on her leg or her hand whenever he’s driving. They hear dad laugh sometimes, she still wants to hold my hand after all these years, like it’s something unique. Maybe it is. But she does. They notice you hold his hand especially when you’re stressed- at family events and things. They see how he massages your hands when they start to ache. (Dysgraphia slay). They see how you cuddle into him when you’re watching a movie together. Their gross touchy parents.
They notice the gifts. The way you bake for Jack, the way you always bring him something when you get coffee or tea. The way Jack gifts so well for you around the holidays. Always a bottle of perfume, and a shit ton more. He’s not lazy, he pays so much attention. Takes the kids shopping for you with him so they really see how hard he tries. And Kelly is a great help too. They don’t really know what goes on in dad’s head, when it comes to holidays. Don’t know what the hell to buy that man. But you clearly do. He opens boxes with a soft look on his face. “Oh, honey. Thank you. This is lovely, baby.” And kisses your cheek. New medical trinkets for his go bag you found in Reddit threads, hiking gear he looked at for a second too long in REI. souvenirs he can’t remember when you got.
They notice how dad talks about mom. They don’t know a lot of people who talk about their spouses like that. They know that. He’s never had a negative thing to say about mommy. No ball and chain, no my bitch wife. “My Y/N”, “my beautiful wife”, “that woman drives me crazy” in the happiest softest voice. He beams about her to anyone who will listen. And how you talk about him. Never negative. Always grateful. Always adoring. Always patient and understanding of his hours and needs. Not like some other moms are. You shrug it off. “A lot of husbands suck, I can’t blame them. But not your father. Your father is amazing.”
Together, the I love yous roll easily.
And he hangs off your every word too. Listens to everything you say. Kelly sees that one more than Benji does. He treats your excerpt about pottery class like it’s a riveting tale. To him it is. He heard and listens.
They see the devotion. Dad talks about how mom stood by him when he lost his leg too much, makes it this dramatic saintly devotion. To him it is. And they get that. The photos from the hospital really make it click. They never saw you so tired before, even in photos they say they were each born. It took everything out of both of you. And now, now Jack would move the earth to show you his gratitude. No cost too high no job too small to show you his thanks. And they see your trust in Jack, miles wide and undying. Mom believes in nothing quite like dad’s word. She knows he’ll always catch her when she falls. Dad buys flowers a lot and always remembers the little things like a good husband. Mom hugs him the second he gets home from work- at the door form a day shift or when he wakes her up momentarily for a kiss hello after night shift (then enjoys his next two hours of cuddles before mom has to get up and be a person), she always holds him for as long as he needs. They’re so devoted and in touch with eachother.
But the real love to them? To teenaged minds? Their sense of humor. They read eachothers minds. Have all the same references. Just need a look to know what the other is thinking. Riffing like an improv group. That sense of humor is true soulmate love. But really it’s just evidence of a life lived together.
I was stalking your posts about y2k reader x Jack and I’m a bit obsessed. That post about how she does not fit in with doctors wife stereotype was really realistic. Some environments can be very elitist and just closeminded. I wonder how quickly did Jack realise how she feels? Did anybody every intentionally said something hurtful to her regarding their background?
Y2K and Jack the blueprint 😭😭😭 first of all I can’t seem to find the post you’re talking about can you send it to me LOL
I think it took even y2k a longggg time to realize this was a problem. Because for the beginning of their relationship, it wasn’t. At first, when Jack was in the army, it wasn’t a problem. Y2K was just another soldiers girlfriend. Another deployed guys girl back home. She got on fine with the other girlfriends and wives. Jacks status and title wasn’t all too relevant back then. He wasn’t better than anyone else, he was just like the rest of the guys. And a lot of the other guys girlfriends and wives were like her. Lower class backgrounds, young, some in school, some working average normal jobs. No one judged her, they were all like her.
Then Jack came home hurt and everything was about taking care of Jack.
And then, once they were engaged, Jack went back to work. That’s when things got hairy. It took until his first PTMC Christmas party for things to come up.
She knew Dana by then. Robby. Lena. Besides that she knew no one.
And she learned fast. She did not belong.
Everyone Jack worked with how as married was married to… someone else in the hospital. Another doctor. Or a lawyer. Or an accountant. Or a white collar professional. Or a pristine housewife who as half her size. She didn’t work either, sure. But… she wast like them. They didn’t like her. They had Ivy League degrees before they left the work force. She just went to a state school driving distance from her dad’s house. She felt painfully isolated and out of place. It didn’t help that she was newly pregnant with Kelly and hormonal out the roof.
She ended up glued to Dana’s side while Jack shot the shit with his friends, and Jesse’s boyfriend at the time, a paramedic, was so normal she could actually breathe around him. She learned from then on to stick with the nurses. Lena had to go over to Jack, twist his ear, and tell him the wives ate y2k alive and he needed to go fix it. Jack didn’t realize it and felt horrible. They left early not long after and got Dairy Queen. The baby wanted an Oreo blizzard. Jack never left your side all too long at these functions after that.
But it did sew some real insecurities. Are you sure you want someone like me? Are you happy? Should I go back to school? Am I enough? Do you want me to start working again? Do you want me to get a ‘real’ job?
Jack looked at her like she was fucking crazy. It became quite a few- not fights. But intense talks. Jack just desperate to fix it.
“Are you kidding me? Yes I’m happy. Do you. It know how happy I am? Do I not show you enough? You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me by a long shot. You’re my wildest dreams come to life- fuck that. I couldn’t dream this big if I tried. You gave me two beautiful children. You keep me fed and warm and happy. You nursed me back to health when I almost died, and you didn’t fucking leave. You have no fucking clue, baby. You’re everything.”
which pregnancy was the hardest on y2k? and on sweet? how much painful was for jack and pope to see their wife suffer and do nothing about it?
Poooh tasty question. For y2k it was the loss of her independence. Shes been with Jack her entire adult life, sure. But as much as she loves her husband head deployed for years of their relationship. And he’s always respected her need to be her own person. Now suddenly she needs help with everything. And she fucking hated it. Could drive because she couldn’t fit behind the steering wheel. Couldn’t get off the couch. Couldn’t tie her shoes. She hated needing help with everything. It was also the first time she needed to rely on someone else for money. Yes, she was relying on her husband, her son’s father, but she had never been dependent on anyone. Not on Jack. She stopped working, and had no money coming in. And Jack didn’t think twice about being the sole breadwinner, knew that her income was a drop in the bucket compared to his before anyway, but the idea of having to ask permission for everything she needed or god forbid wanted, feeling like her every transaction was watched made you go insane. When she finally hormonally snapped and admitted it all, Jack wasn’t having any of it. “You don’t need to ask me for anything. You don’t need to justify a god damn thing. You’re my wife. You’re a grown ass woman. I trust you, with everything in my life. That includes financially. Don’t ask me don’t tell me, just swipe the fucking card and don’t think twice about it. I shoulda put my foot down with you about money years ago. My money is your money. You have my last name? You’re carrying my baby. Did you think we were gonna go 50/50 on diapers? Come on. You’re my wife. It’s my job to take care of you and I will do so very happily. We’re good here?”.
For sweets, it was the changes to her body. She loves her boys. Her babies were the world to her, she doesn’t regret having them one bit. Loved having them safe and snug and cozy in her belly, feeling every little movie, dreaming about their lives. She loved giving her sweet man 4 wonderful sweet babies was the joy of her life. But for someone who had spent her whole life fighting with her figure, the changes pregnancy brought to her body were a nightmare. Pope adored her. Adored every change, worshiped her, swore she’d never looked more goddess like. But it still hurt. Drove her crazy, especially those first few months where she didn’t have a bump quite yet, just looked fatter. Which pope despised, shaking his head and begging her not to say that. Swearing she was a god, she was growing a human being, their human being, making bones and eyes and blood and lungs and a brain. It ached to see someone he thought was so perfect agonize over her reflection.
