Notes:? This is unedited and spat out :) It's raining where I am
Jack Abbot being on the street team, although they don't always go out in vests, sometimes it's just him checking on a street or buying packs of socks and handing them out.
Then one day (I'm making this a bio buds AU cause I can) he finds a sub, tiny even for how young he looks, huddled in the cusp of an alleyway and trying to stay dry in the rain.
He's got the saddest, most tired looking blue eyes and Jack feels like the Grinch because his heart must grow three sizes because it feels like it's being squeezed in his chest with the overwhelming need to make sure this boy, this sub, is okay. Jack has always been a classic dom. He's had his fair share of subs flock to him in his day. It used to be fulfilling. It used to make him smug and content, but he hasn't been that Dom for a long time. Nowadays submission doesn't call to him. He doesn't have that itch under his skin that begs for something soft and willing under his hands. In fact, he and Robby have been partners for years. Two doms that a world scraped cleaned and banked their needs.
But this boy in front of him calls again to the caretaker Jack has always been.
He quickly crouches down in front of the boy, shucking off his leather jacket that has kept him dry and bundling the boy in it, ignoring the icy rain that immediately soaks his shirt and hair.
The boy must be deep into subdrop, or hypothermic, from the way he struggles to even lift his head, eyes cloudy, and body trembling with little spasms.
Jack takes him to a shelter that's specifically for subs. He stays and makes sure he's okay, makes sure he's out of subdrop and passed out peacefully in a bed. He stays as long as the shelter coordinator will let him. He leaves his number and his jacket. He comes back the next morning, blue eyes swimming in his dreams all night while he's missing Robby who's doing a stint on the night shift. The boy is gone. The shelter won't disclose any information about a sub who has stayed there. Jack feels bereaved.
Months pass, and Jack's still keeping his eye out for a too-slight frame and a mop of blonde curls when he's out.
Then one day he comes in to take over Robby's shift, and one of Robby's large hands is squeezing the shoulder of one too-small sub who's looking up at Robby with large, doe-eyes like the doctor had made the sun rise that morning.
"Jack, come meet the med students."
Um and yeah they definitely have Dennis collared and panting in between them in less than a fortnight.
Does anyone else remember that 2010s wattpad fever dream au of like werewolves or shifters with abo dynamics, pre teen wolf? Well this is that, but Hollanov:
Shane’s an omega in the Montreal pack, a pack that doesn’t appreciate omegas, obviously, but he’s rare and valuable nonetheless because they can use him to make alliances with the Boston pack. He's important enough to be apart of a marriage to the Boston pack leader to solidify the peace treaty. His pack leaders tell him he’s lucky he’s pretty because no alpha wants a mate so pathetic and muscular for an omega.Â
Cue lover boy Ilya who regrets that he’s going to get mated for a peace treaty, but who is so ready to love and cherish his mate. In his pack, omegas are sacred. They eat first and they get the best cuts of meat. They are the center of the pack. And he’s so besotted with Shane the moment he lays eyes on him, even if it makes him sad to see how warily and defensively he holds himself.Â
Once he brings his mate home, he is so angry on Shane’s behalf. He hates the way Shane submits to other pack mates when the Boston pack treats each other with respect, especially as the pack omega. It reminds him of his pack in Russia, and it makes Ilya's stomach turn because he can see his mother in his mind's eye suffering at the hands of the people meant to be their pack.
Once Ilya truly earns his trust, as Ilya always planned on having to do, Shane is so beautiful. He submits to Ilya like it’s a pleasure, showing his alpha his soft under belly like he isn’t giving Ilya everything. He trusts him to take him down and apart and bring him up and put him back together and it’s the most precious thing Ilya has ever beheld. But part of that vulnerability is also getting to see Shane, the real Shane, unfiltered. He’s not a simpering omega brought to heel by years of abuse. He’s fiery. He’s been internally rallying against the unfair treatment his whole life, even if at some point he’s internalized part of it.Â
Eventually Shane feels confident enough, safe enough, to be himself with his new pack.Â
Ilya doesn’t think he can ever be happier as he watches he his mate care for his pack and be care for by it. His perfect omega.Â
Lord help the Montreal pack members who visit them and treat Shane like they always have. Ilya sends them back bruised and bloodied with a written demand to renegotiate their treaty agreements to include defining pack member rights.Â
Summary: Robby has bad days in the ED, but they're the worst when he ends up hurting his puppy. Luckily, Jack is there to get Robby out of his head and make Dennis admit that he's hurt.
Notes: Dennis isn't really a puppy, and there isn't technically puppy play, but puppy is a mindset and they all have it.
Robby never snaps at their puppy, obviously, but sometimes he has rough days, and he's cold or angry or abrasive or snappy. Even just the way he treats the other people in the ED is enough to upset Dennis deeply.
It's been one of those rough days. He had snapped at Dennis and took over one of his cases, even though it hadn't been Dennis' fault that radiology had sent the wrong results. Dennis ate their shared lunch alone. Robby got so tense in the afternoon that he wouldn't even meet Dennis' gaze, avoiding him and the easy touches they normally shared. What hurt Dennis the most was when he overheard Robby telling Trinity to move on when she was worried about a possible abuse case that the social worker hadn't been able to sus out.
Dennis loved Robby. He knew the man to be full of love and caring and more paternal instinct than he knew what to do with. He was gentle and kind and his eyes twinkled when he smiled. His Robby wasn't perfect, Dennis didn't want him to be, but it still hurt to see Robby so stressed and hurting that he couldn't help but lash out at others, which made the self-loathing all the worse. Dennis also knew that Robby didn't take well to these conversations while he was in the middle of his mood. Any intervention right now would only hurt him and he'd grow defensive. Normally Jack was an exception to this rule, but he was off for the next three days.
The night shift attending is running late, so Jack comes to pick Dennis up despite his protests, because Robby is going to be stuck there for another couple hours at least.
Jack is not happy when the boy he picks up is a mournful little puppy, already curled up tightly in the passenger seat, pulling one of Robby's fleeces tightly around himself. Immediately Jack has a hand buried in those golden curls, and he's cooing at his pup, asking what's wrong.
It doesn't come out until Jack is sitting in their big, leather armchair and he has Dennis in his lap. He has bundled his pup up in one of their soft throws so only his head is sticking out, soft curls brushing against Jack's stubble. Dennis can't help but spill the emotions he's kept in all day because Robby has held him at an arm's distance. He's been teary-eyed ever since he saw Jack in his truck, but his crocodile tears can't stop now. Jack wishes he didn't find them so precious, even when they're present because Dennis is upset.
"He's hurting so bad, " Dennis whimpers at the end, "I just wish I could do something to make everything all right, to show him how good he is."
And that melts Jack's heart, because he loves them both, and hearing Dennis' heart bleed for the man they both love, even when he's hurting him, makes him want to hold both of his boys in his arms and never let go.
Still, even hurting, Robby has been misbehaving, and sometimes the best way to break him out of his spiral is to remind him of the consequences.
Dennis falls asleep almost as soon as he's gotten the day off his chest. He's still sniffly from crying, snuffling congestedly into Jack's throat. Jack keeps one arm wrapped around his waist and grabs his phone with the other. He pulls up Robby's contact.
Jack: You better come home on your knees. You made your puppy cry.
In the ER, already changed out of his scrubs, Robby reads the text and thunks his head against his locker. He can picture Dennis now, all cried out after he had acted liked a kicked puppy all day, beacuse Robby had kicked his puppy. It makes his heart clench with regret and fondness. He wants to get home and fix it. He wants to go home and let Jack make him fix it.
Uh I got carried away, but I really liked the idea of Park, like everyone else, falling victim to Whitaker's inevitable charm. This is a ramble and completely unedited. :) I think of this as a part of my other Puppy!Dennis drabbles where he's kind of a traumatized rescue.
Mmmm Abbot and Robby being old friends with Park the Shark and they have him over to watch the game and have some beers.
Puppy Dennis who is not a fan, immediately. As soon as Park arrives he's hiding behind the couch, ears flat and tail tucked.
His intuition is only confirmed when Park huffs and makes an offhanded comment. "Not a very polite puppy. You guys never shut up about how sweet he is," Park grumbled.
Dennis felt his shoulders hunch as he tried to make himself smaller, ashamed. He was Jack and Robby's good boy. He tried so hard to be their good boy, but no bone in his body wanted to go greet the tall, severe-looking man.
"He is a sweet puppy, and he's shy," Abbot said pointedly as he grabbed drinks for them.
"Be nice, and maybe you'll earn that sweetness," Robby added. Park scoffed.
Dennis was relieved they weren't mad at him.
They all settled on the couch and turned on the game. Robby was in his recliner and Jack and Park sat on opposite sides of the couch.
After a little while Dennis crept behind the couch so he could curl up on the cushion at Robby's feet that they kept for these very moments. He settled down after a few little turns, tail tucked close as he leaned against Robby's leg and rested his head on his thigh. He still watched Park warily, glancing at him every now and then, but Robby had also settled a hand in his hair and was absently rubbing his ears. Jack threw out his occasional quips at the game that had the other men huffing, and Dennis began to relax, almost dozing.
He was alert again when Jack got up, asking Robby to help him take off his leg as he headed to their bedroom. Robby got up to follow and Dennis was about to rise but Robby stopped him with a hand in his hair.
"No, stay, baby, we'll be right back."
Dennis didn't even have time to protest before he disappeared down the hall. He gave park a nervous glance. He wanted to follow his owners, but Robby had told him to stay and he was a good boy.
"They'll be right back."
Dennis was startled out of his thoughts by Park.
"What, haven't developed that object permanence yet?"
Dennis felt his ears lower, hurt. He had a lot of experience with people treating him like he was an actual animal, always insulting his intelligence, but not in his home, not where he was safe with Jack and Robby.
Park sighed, and to Dennis' surprise, he muttered: "I'm sorry." Dennis could only watch him with caution.
"I've, uh, never met a hybrid, or even had a pet for that matter," he confessed. "And I'm not exactly known for my warm personality. I don't know what to do with you."
Dennis felt a touch of warmth in his chest at the vulnerability. He could imagine how hard even this confession was for the stoic, harsh man just from what he's heard from Jack and Robby and their brief interaction.
There was a defeated expression in his pressed lips.
Slowly, Dennis approached and placed his little cushion near the other man's feet. He settled himself on it once again and tentatively leaned against the couch. He wasn't touching the man, but there was only a handful of inches between his head and Park's thigh. He held himself very still, and he could feel the tension in the man next to him.
After a long moment, Park lifted his hand, brushing a finger down Dennis' ear so gently, as if asking for his permission. Dennis tilted his head into the touch, encouraging, and Park gingerly pet his ears. It was awkward, and not necessarily comfortable because he kept brushing the fur in the wrong direction, but Dennis was relieved and happy.
Jack and Robby return and they're obviously so charmed that Dennis was softened Park's defenses. They're so besotted by their unbelievably sweet puppy and proud of Park for pushing past his discomfort and actually expressing himself in ways other than sarcasm and insults.
Queue them bonding. Dennis is still learning about the positive aspects of the relationships he can have with people, when it's almost always been bad in the past, and Park is learning how to engage with hybrids in the first place. Park is very charmed by Dennis. He is so polite and well-behaved that he kind of sets an unrealistic expectation for hybrids. Park later meets some hybrids that are rambunctious, or they don't listen, or god forbid they chew on shoes or clothes. He's scandalized because Dennis would never. He's just a little angel who wants to cuddle, and it renews his appreciation for the Hucklerabbot household.
Robby and Jack are just happy they can have one of their oldest friends around more without worrying about him traumatizing their puppy and Dennis gets more positive to exposure to people.
There's a shift hand-off and they're meeting in the park like usual, although it's a fuller crowd and even Park has shown up. Abbot isn't scheduled to work for the week, so he's come to pick up Robby, and he brings their puppy who's still very shy but a lot less fearful nowadays.
All the Pittlings are cooing over the puppy, but none of them approach because he's practically hiding behind Robby and Jack, but then Park comes to say hi to Jack and Dennis is bounding into his arms for a hug, tail wagging.
All the Pittlings want to yank the puppy out of the big, scary man's arms and they're left even more shocked when Park laughs. An actual laugh, with a little smile, and he's hugging Dennis back while he strokes one of his ears. They cannot believe their eyes and they can't decide if they're more afraid for the puppy or jealous of Park who's seems to be the only other person Dennis isn't afraid of.
"You're ruining his big, bad reputation, pup," Jack says with his signature, amused smirk.
Dennis hesitates, unsure if it actually bothers Park, only for the surgeon to scoff and pull Dennis back into a side hug.
"They're the ones who are scared of me, it's not my reputation to ruin."
Um I guess there are endless small, doe-eyed creatures to compare Dennis to, and I failed to consider Bunny Dennis, with long droopy ears and a little puff of a tail. When he starts dating married bear!Robby and wolf!Abbot, people are worried about him. The abuse that's possible in a prey/predator relationship is a well-known phenomenon, and people can't help but be concerned when they see this timid bunny with teary eyes always tucked in between Abbot and Robby, who are intimidating even amongst other apex predators. Little do they know that Dennis only feels safe with them looming over him.
Dennis himself is unitimidating, and something about his ears and tail make him approachable because he has spent his whole life fending off unsolicited touches, from petting to painful tugging. People are always ready to walk all over him, and he has had to work so much harder to overcome the preconceived expectations everyone has for bunnies. Predators, and even other prey animals, have taken one look at him and tried to bully him, flashing sharp teeth and claws at him. All of it had amplified his prey instincts, which were already strong in bunnies, leading to him being tense, meek, and guarded. He knew it only reinforced negative stereotypes about bunnies being instinct-driven and anxious, but it wasn't his fault in the first place!
But with Robby and Abbot, Dennis feels safe for the first time. He trusts them completely. Otherwise, being held in large, clawed hands and nipped with sharp canines might stress him out. Being carried in arms that could easily hurt him might scare him if he didn't know utterly completely in his heart that they would never. Being with Robby and Abbot is like finally being able to breathe for the first time. Dennis has never slept better than when he's curled up in their den, both of the bigger hybrids wrapped around him. He's able to give things all of his attention when he knows Robby or Abbott are there, watching his back. He goes out for the first time since college at Trinity's behest because Robby and Abbot because he knows no one is going to grab his ears or manhandle him with his guard dogs nearby.
Also bunny libido…And Dennis is so shy about it, both because of his own reserved personality and inexperience, but also because people constantly mock and belittle bunnies for it. He's had dates ruined because they'll pounce on Dennis, hands in his pants, without a word of warning, because it's just an expectation that he wants it. One raccoon had responded to Dennis' surprised cry to stop by telling him he knows he wants it because he was "just a horny rabbit." Shame had bloomed in Dennis' chest, and he had fled. That had been Dennis' last attempt at dating.
Robby and Abbot have never assumed like that. They never even make some off-handed joke about it like Trinity occasionally does. The first time Robby witnesses a patient make a crass remark about Dennis' ears he gets so frustrated a growl comes into his voice as he tears the patient a new one. After, when they're discussing treatment outside the patient's room, Robby tells him to hand off the case to Trinity or Mel so he doesn't have "to go anywhere near that asshole" while he subconsciously brings a large palm up to pet one of his ears. Dennis prays he's too upset and distracted to notice the frantic, happy twitching of his tail and his bright blush.
When they do finally get together, and things get heated, Dennis nearly cries from embarrassment when he has to pause things to admit he's a virgin, in every sense of the word. He resolutely avoids eye contact as he anxiously waits for a response. The embarrassment is made all the worse by the stereotype that looms over Dennis that says rabbits can't keep anything in their pants. "I know what everyone thinks about bunnies, but that's not me, and I get it if you want me to leave-"
He's interrupted by a growl from Abbot who carefully explains that under no circumstances do they want Dennis to leave, but they do want him to be comfortable. They night goes smoothly after that, and definitely begins Robby and Abbot's increasing awareness of how hypersexualized bunnies are, and how that has hurt Dennis.
Spring is the worst for Dennis. He's suddenly filled with buzzy, antsy energy, and now that he's waking up in between two of the hottest men he has ever had the pleasure of seeing, all that energy goes straight to Dennis' libido. Waking up to Dennis nuzzling at one of their crotches, leaving patches of saliva at he mouths at their briefs, becomes a common occurrence. They have to plan more carefully when they have sex now because Dennis will demand at least two rounds, or else they will have a petulant, unsatisfied bunny presenting on their bed, tail twitching angrily, until they are ready again.
Absolutely got bit by the puppy Dennis bug, but in a more literal/hybrid sense.
I love imagining Jack and Robby helping at a hybrid shelter for some PITT service event and seeing puppy Dennis, wide-eyed and scared, with only a dirty, but well-kept stuffed bear toy and a rough collar with a dangling rabbies tag. Jack had had people pushing a service hybrid on him for years, always extolling the benefits of a hybrid, even just as a pet, for both him and Robby and their incredibly stressful job. But they had never felt the urge. Had never walked into a pet store and wanted to take one home. And then there's Dennis, a name they got from the frazzled shelter director, who was practically still a puppy and never had a stable home. So, of course, they take him home. They have the space, they have the money. They may not have the time, but they're determined to make it work with their alternating schedules.
And the poor puppy is so nervous. He had been rescued from a horrible breeder and was used to liberal punishment. He cringed when they moved, but despite his fear, he tried so hard to be good for them. When it's time to give him a bath, his ears and tail flatten, and he's trembling, but he still silently obeys their gentle request to get into the bath. It absolutely melts the couple's hearts how good and brave their little puppy is.
It's months before Dennis will try to get onto the couch without an invitation, like Jack and Robby insist is okay. It takes more time for Dennis to sleep peacefully on their bed instead of his dog bed in the living room, happily squeezed between them, belly-up and tail lazily wagging as he falls asleep. It's almost a year before Dennis finally works up the courage to begin seeking them for affection instead of only taking what he's given, even when it almost kills him, and Jack and Robby, to not beg them for attention or affection.
The first time one of them, Jack, snaps at Dennis because he was indulging in one of his rare fits of zoomies and knocks over a coffee mug, Dennis bolts for the spare bedroom and hides under the bed. Despite their best efforts and bribing, he doesn't leave until it's nighttime. He crawls to the guilt-ridden couple, stumbling over apologies and telling them he deserves whatever punishment they give him. Jack wants to wrap the boy in his arms, but Dennis tenses when he reaches for him, and Jack withers inside. Robby watches, and scoops Dennis up instead, letting the puppy bury his face in the side of his neck, silky little brown ears tickling his chin. His tail is wound so tightly around his waist, it almost reaches his other hip. Robby shushes and soothes him and carefully explains that Jack is the one who needs to apologize. Dennis had only been clumsy and made an oopsie, but Jack responded inappropriately. Dennis is flabbergasted by the thought, and warily peeks at Jack, worried the man might get mad at Robby, but he finds only the apologetic, wet eyes of his owner. Seeing the man close to tears, the man who almost never cried, had Dennis launching himself at Jack, nosing at a stray tear and licking it away, begging Jack not to be sad.
The situation doesn't diminish Dennis' trust, even though Jack thinks he'd deserve it, instead it gives Dennis more confidence in his position. Even if he doesn't exactly understand what is right or wrong, or what's allowed or punishable, he knows they won't hurt him, and he trusts that.
Robby and Jack who spoil Dennis rotten, not just because they're whipped, but because they spent so long teaching him how to ask in the first place. As long as it is within their power, they will always reward the trust Dennis shows them by asking for what he needs.
If he shyly mentions that he'd like to see the coast, they have a trip booked the next time they're off. If he suggests Italian for dinner, they get Italian. He only has to mention that he likes chocolate milk on bad days once for them to keep it permanently stocked.
Obsessed with the idea of like an animal hybrid AU (not really sure how it would work) because Robby is such a bear, big and soft. And for the first time in years he's taking a sabbatical during the winter to do his version of hibernating at home with Abbot and Dennis.
Dr.Abbot is obviously a wolf. He's a pack animal and a provider. He's happy when they're all together, safe under his watchful eye. He loves the summer when Robby suddenly has a ravenous appetite. Nothing pleases that little housewife like cooking for his boys. Sometimes he still treats Dennis like a pup; he always demands he stay within reach whenever they're home and never leaves his neck alone.
For Dennis, I can't decide if he'd be a deer or a puppy. He has that prey drive for sure, and those big doe eyes. Tell me he doesn't look like a deer in headlights in season one. And he's so confused and nervous around his attendings because they kind of scare him but they also make him horny. He normally doesn't do well with predators because they see how skittish he already is, which only makes him nervous, and it's an escalating cycle that has Dennis hurrying to avoid them in the first place. But his attendings are the first predators that make him feel safe and Dennis is shy around them for whole new reasons. And of course, the fact that he's prey, and has a gentle disposition besides, has his attendings feeling all kinds of new emotions.
For Jack and Robby, they're used to being in a relationship with another predator, and suddenly here's this trembling fawn in front of them, and they just want to hide him in their den and drown him in food and blankets and cuddles. (Also, because Dennis is trans in most of my thoughts, he wouldn't have antlers I don't think, and that's a whole other visible way he feels dysphoric, and has no chance of privacy unless he tells everyone he's just shed them, and that excuse only lasts a few months.) He'd so eat berries with Robby in the summer.
BUT if Dennis were a puppy:
(which we all know he is) He's like a little puppy at a shelter. So loving and kind and so desperate to be loved, but so scared because he's met too many unkind hands and has been abandoned too many times. His parents had two litters, and he was the runt of the second, and there was never enough food or clothes or room or attention for him. He's so scared when he starts getting close to Robby and Jack, and when he suddenly realizes he's in too deep, he responds with that defensive aggression and lashes out for a split second. He's sitting with Jack and Robby on the couch and he's breathing too fast because he wants and needs to stay between Robby and Jack, forever, but he knows it's only temporary. So when Jack reaches to pet him, he snaps at the hand, missing it purposefully, but scaring them both. He starts bawling, trying to tell them how bad he wants to stay, but that they don't have to keep him, no one has ever even wanted to.
Once they're able to overcome that though, and when they give Dennis a collar with their names and address, Dennis is a new puppy. He flourishes under their care and love. He starts getting zoomies (which only happy dogs get), and he'll get a sparkle in his eye and try to get whoever is on the couch to play with him, something he had been too shy to do before. And he's such a good boy, and lives to hear it from Jack and Robby. He still has his wariness and shyness with people who haven't showed him they're safe, but he's growing every day, and Robby and Jack are so proud of his new confidence.
Of course, there's still that protectiveness. Dogs are still a domesticated breed, and Dennis might be one of the smaller farm breeds, like a corgi. As the smallest of their pack, as Jack calls them, Robby and Jack both instinctively put him between them while their walking or in public. They always serve him first, which heals the runt in Dennis, and they go feral when patients hurl any kind of abuse at Dennis. Once, a mountain lion came in already heated. When he started getting restless and crowding Dennis, calling him a runt and mutt, Robby had nearly barreled into the patient so he could put himself between them. Ugh and not even to mention his relationship with black cat santos dating cougar (haha) Garcia. (Imagine a puppy and kitten calendar, and that's them.) They get to bond over being the partners of apex predators who are constantly overprotective and posessive.
(Basically a little drabble about how Robby and Dennis are so Dom/sub, long before they ever name it.)
Read on Ao3
Robby can never have enough control and Dennis doesn't know what to do with control. Trusting Robby, listening to him completely, comes so easily in the PITT. The man is a beacon of reassurance and calm. When he's in the room, Dennis almost feels that it's impossible for anything to go wrong. And when they finally start dating, the feeling transfers outside the ED.
Dennis has been holding so much for so long. He's been running on fumes and food stamps since his first year of medical school, and he's tired. He's hungry and cold, and he gets sick all the time but doesn't bother trying to get treated because the price of prescriptions keeps climbing. Being with Robby is a relief from it all. It doesn't matter what goes wrong in his life because at the end of the day, he always has Robby's arms to hide in. It's more than that, though. Robby prys and wheedles at Dennis, ever so gently, until he figures out how to help him. He sees Dennis' winter jacket, which is hardly any protection against a Pittsburgh winter, and throws the boy his own while actively ordering one in his size online. He notices how many meals Dennis skips and starts insisting they always share their meals.
Their relationship grows and grows and Dennis stops having to ask for the things he needs or having to suffer them alone. He lets Robby tell him to take care of himself. He listens to Robby when he tells Dennis to finish his meal. He listens to Robby when he tells him to sleep instead of doomscrolling. He listens to Robby when he tells him to layer up and wear one of Robby's sweatshirts because it's cold out. He listens to Robby when he tells him that he's a good boy, that he's good, because Robby is the only person who Dennis has ever trusted enough to tell him, maybe the only person who has ever tried.
Dennis starts living for the safety and security that is Robby's smell, his eyes, his smile. He lives for the praise and reassurance and will bend over backwards anyway he can to make him happy. He needs Robby to coddle him when he's having a bad day, to tell him it's okay, and to settle him in his lap and gently feed him fruit. He's desperate for Robby to tell him "what a good boy you are, such a perfect boy, my boy" as he's bottoming out in Dennis. He needs him to chase every thought and worry from his head.
Sometimes it makes Dennis feel so guilty that he wants to just dissolve, disappear from Robby's life. Robby already carries so much on his shoulders. He has accumulated over thirty years of grief and stress in the ED. He's lost patients, friends, mentors and his responsibility has only grown. Dennis watches Robby every day in the ED trying to be the man and leader he thinks the PITT deserves and Dennis just wants to tell him that he is, that he could never disappoint them. And then they go home, and Dennis feels like he's just one more thing Robby has to manage, has to take care of.
Robby would spend the rest of his life trying to tell Dennis that he's not a burden, that he's a treasure. He's the one person, the one thing that Robby gets to make sure is okay. He gets to take care of the boy in a way no one has ever deigned to, and it makes Robby dizzy with pride and pleasure. To have those big, sad eyes look at him like he has every answer is a heady feeling. He wants to hold that trust and hoard it and never let it break.
Basically married Abbot and Robby just want to take care of Dennis and Dennis finally gets to indulge.
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When Dennis lived at home he used the soap his mom bought in bulk because it was cheapest. When Dennis moved out, student loans just beginning to grow, he just grabbed the cheapest soap he could find, which was always some vaguely fruity stuff that made his skin dry and itchy. When he's finally in med school, he can never get his feet under himself. There's no more boarding scholarships and four years in he's sneaking up to the eighth floor of the PTMC to one of the long-term stay rooms. And then Robby and Jack happen. They give him a place to stay and refuse to let him pay for groceries. Suddenly the ground under his feet steadies, and on either side he has those men walking beside him. Then he becomes an intern and gets to start earning money instead of losing it.
He finally gets the chance to start buying things for himself that aren't just the most inexpensive, bare necessities. He gets to explore the menu at coffee shops and get stupidly expensive marshmallow lattes instead of his usual instant coffee. He sees tiktoks about hair and skin care and asks Jack to help him pick out a curl cream. He gets to start figuring out what he likes and finally indulge, and it’s a wonder for Robby and Jack to watch. Where Jack always went for clean scents, Robby liked his woodsy, sandalwood smells, but their boy likes sweet things. He picks out a vanilla shampoo, his body wash smells like lavender, and he buys a lotion called "warm sugar." Robby almost wants to cry when he realizes he's begun to start associating vanilla with Dennis, because he's so grieved that his boy didn't have that before.
The same thing happens with groceries and cooking. He doesn’t much care for beer or alcohol, but he’ll let his boys ply him with sweet wine until he’s buzzing and soft. He loves to cook and try the new recipes he shyly shows to Robby before they go shopping, but he has a little book of his mom’s recipes he’ll always turn to on a bad day. When he’s stressed, he bakes. It's a common occurrence for one of the men to be on their way home and catch the smell of cookies or pies in the air outside their house and immediately crush Dennis in a hug before they have even said hi.
They love watching their boy flourish with love and care. They feel so greedy for the sight of Dennis heaping his plate and passing out on the couch after because he ate so much. Greedy to see him put on weight and muscle and to watch the bags under his eyes lessen. They're greedy for any sign, any evidence, that they're taking good care of their boy.
Something something something, Abbot is the one who finds Dennis on the 8th floor.
Something something something, Abott and Robby who have always been best friends, and maybe something more, even through Abbot's marriage, his wife's death, Robby's rocky attempts at relationships. But now they had only time in front of them.
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Robby whose heart is squeezed whenever he sees the cost of the ED weigh on Dennis, Robby who smiles when Dennis laughs with a patient or walks them through a treatment. Abbot who knows Robby has a sweet spot for the smaller man, and has developed one himself once he started paying attention to Whitaker and his sad, blue eyes.
The med students were slowly rotating through their required night shifts, and Jack was most excited for one in particular. When Whitaker joined Abbot for his night shift, he was a delight. So easily led by a hand on the back of his neck, and so eager for a word of praise, and there was ample opportunity for Abbot to compliment the kid's good work and the sincere empathy he treated the patients with.
So, when Abbot finds Dennis in that small, yellowing hospital room with his t-shirt hanging loose on his frame and purple bruises under his eyes, Abbot tells him to follow him. He waits for him to pack just a backpack and feels his jaw clench. He bundles him into his truck and takes him home.
Abbot has always been a leader, but he never thought of himself as a caregiver. But now with Whitaker in his home he can't help but push a change of clothes into Whittaker's arms and show him to a bathroom. He can't help but make sure he eats every bite of the quick dinner he had thrown together, not allowing any protests.
"Sweetheart, I'm more than able, let me help you."
And Dennis only has apologies and protests. The guilt of being a burden weighs so heavily on him, and more than that, he's embarrassed. His attending found him squatting in the hospital and now he's sitting at his dining table, swimming in the change of clothes Dr.Abbot gave him, Dr.Abbot's own clothes.
"I'm so sorry Dr.Abbot," Dennis repeats, shoulders curling inwards, trying to make himself smaller, always trying to make himself smaller, "I can head out now, there's a shelter near-"
"No." Dennis glances up, startled, at the firm tone that sends a shiver down his spine, the same way it does in the ER. "Robby would kill me if I let you go, and I wouldn't like myself too much either. You're staying here, as long as you need."
Dennis can endure a lot, but he can't stand disobeying that reassuringly authoritative voice, not when he feels so raw, so he lets Dr.Abbot guide him upstairs and push him into a spare bedroom. Dennis absolutely doesn't melt when Dr.Abbot ruffles his hair and tells him to sleep well.
It's painful for Dennis, who hasn't shared a home with someone since leaving for college, how easy it is to fall into a routine with Dr.Abbot. How easy and how nice it is to come home with the older man and share the kitchen with him while they make dinner, happily following his instructions. How quickly Dennis memorized the way the man liked his coffee to heart. Dennis is too desperate for the fond smile and thanks Dr.Abbot gives him when Dennis hands him that mug of coffee. He's even more desperate for the way Dr.Abbot looks him up and down as they're about to leave before tossing him one of his jackets "so he doesn't freeze."
In the ED Dennis only becomes more awed by the doctor. In the PITT, Dr.Abbot is a stalwart, always unwavering and confident as he flashes Dennis one of his smirks that sends a flush to Dennis' face. And while he never fails to ground Dennis, he was also intimidating. Anything to win one of his quiet praises, anything to avoid a reprimanding look.
And of course Robby notices. He misses Whitaker and his sweet, eager smiles, so maybe he keeps an eye out for him during handoffs. Robby notices on Whitaker's first night shift how quickly Jack has warmed up to the boy. It doesn't surprise Robby. He's self-aware enough to realize how often he mentions the boy to Jack, but normally the other man had walls up much higher. He was a great teacher, and Robby loved to watch him, but he didn't usually take the time to get to know any of the med students during the handful of shifts he had them. But there he is, leaning against the nurses' station, a small, teasing grin on his face as he plucks at Whitaker's scrubs (which he has had to change, no doubt). And Whitaker, that nervous boy, is smiling bashfully up at his attending. There's an odd dance in Robby's chest at the sight that he quickly washes down with his hot coffee.
"Morning, brother," Robby greets as he claps a hand on Jack's shoulder. A smiling Abbot is always a good way to start his shift, "you scare Whitaker away from the night shift yet?"
Jack chuckled, "He may be a little country mouse, but he handled it like a champ."
Dennis flushed to his ears at the comment, which only grew with the weight of both of their gazes on him.
"Go get some rest, mouse," Robby smiled before he and Jack began discussing their handoff. After they had finished, and Jack had given him a warm squeeze on his shoulder, Robby watched Jack greet Whitaker who had lingered near the lockers. And sure enough, 20 minutes later when Robby glanced at the backdoors, Whitaker and Abbot were leaving side by side. Robby's stomach clenched, and a tightness formed in his chest that didn't ease until the next ambulance arrived.
Steve couldn't remember why he thought inviting Eddie, the boy he'd been pining over since middle school, and y/n, Eddie's new girlfriend who Steve thought was so sweet and pretty it kept him up at night, was a good idea. But when Steve saw her shyly slip off her shorts and top, mindlessly adjusting the strap of her baby blue bikini, Steve remembered why. Eddie slid up behind her, bringing Steve back to reality. He was drool-worthy too, pale skin dusted in dark hair that led down defined abs and into his black swim trunks. His thick, ring-clad fingers settled on her hips. The size difference alone made Steve swallow thickly. But it was those same hands on her hips that reminded Steve of his dilemma in the first place. He wasn't just lusting over his best friend now, but his girlfriend too.
Despite what many men and women thought, Rafferty could be a perfect gentleman, and when he saw the little red-headed lass he was searching for, he put on his most charming smile.
"Hello miss, are you y/n Cochrane?" he asked politely, bending slightly to meet her eyes. She whirled to face him, a small but glowing smile on her rosy lips.
She nodded, shaking her riotous curls, "You have the right lass, who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"
Rafferty's grin widened. He couldn't help but be delighted by the pretty, lively thing before him. Most of the work involved gruff men and foreboding news. There was hardly an Irishman in Dublin who would be happy to see Rafferty. Already, he was getting concerned looks from the girl's neighbors who recognized him.
"My name is Sean Rafferty. I have a message from Mr.Guinness," he replied. She made a small moue of confusion, which he hurried to soothe away. "The young Mr.Guinnesses are eager to learn more about the Dublin people. Might I give you the rest of their message over a cup of tea?"
Her little cheeks went rosy, and she agreed.
He led her to a small tea room nearby. He gave her the invitation Edward had written for Ellen and y/n to dine with him and had preemptively added a ten-pound note to the envelope. Y/n accepted it happily, and Rafferty was surprised to find himself more than pleased to give her the bill. He wished he had given her more as he inquired after her role as a teacher in the local school.
He was charmed by her shy pleasure at his curiosity, but her shyness faded away as she talked about her students. It was difficult to keep students in class when they were constantly needed by their families for work or help, but she desperately wanted to help them learn.
When Rafferty's watch showed that an hour had passed, he regretfully said his goodbyes. Unbeknownst to her, Rafferty had plans to meet with her sister to give her a letter of her own.
Rafferty enjoyed the sight of the two sisters at the Guinness wedding. Anne had her modiste style them both, and she had outdone herself. Ellen was in a deep green satin gown, but to Rafferty she paled next to her sister in a powder blue velvet dress that left her shoulders and neck bare. Her hair was artfully pinned up so that perfect little ringlets still dangled on her shoulder, and yet Rafferty found himself missing her untamed, long hair.
Ellen was never far from Edward's elbow as he introduced her to society while y/n had a rotating cast of dance partners, old and young.
When the fifth dance ended, y/n felt nearly light-headed with the heat. She hadn't rested since the dancing had begun, and the smell of rich perfumes clouded her head. When she saw a doorway with no people lingering nearby, she took the opportunity and quietly slipped out. It opened into a servant's pass, and she was quick to navigate towards where she knew the building ended. When she opened the door that opened into an alley, she sighed a breath of relief as the cold night air stung at her flushed cheeks and ears.
"Not used to the dancing, love?"
Once again, Mr.Rafferty had surprised her, and she spun towards him. He had a cigarette held loosely in his lips, and the orange tip glowed in the night.
"Mr.Rafferty!' she gasped, flushing at how it came out as both a sigh of relief and rush of excitement. She gave him a shy little smile, "No, I suppose I'm not used to this kind of dancing, and certainly not in this dress." She lifted her heavy skirts in emphasis before letting them drop.
"You make it look weightless, and it certainly suits you, but I'm sure your dance partners have already told you," he said with a teasing smirk. He took his cigarette between two of his calloused fingers, surprisingly delicately for hands so large and rough, before dashing it on the ground with his foot.
y/n felt caught when she realized how intently he had been following his hands. When she met his gaze again, it was already on her like a physical heat. "I imagine they have to tell me that," she laughed, eager to distract from the tension she felt in her chest.
He came closer, making it impossible to ignore the over-a-foot he had on her as he gazed down at her making the fluttering of her heart all the worse. He brought a large hand up to cup her jaw. Y/n was sure he could feel her pulse thundering like a hummingbird and the way she swallowed. He never broke eye contact and it was as if his gaze was searching for something in her own. Y/n almost desperately took in his face, from his full lips and his intense blue eyes to the almost permanent furrow in his brow. Without her permission, y/n felt her hand come up to smooth it gently away with her thumb.
"Would your sister be pleased to know who's company you're in?" he murmured. Their faces were close enough that y/n could feel the ghost of his breath on her face.
She leaned into his palm before answering. "She has shared some choice words about you," she admitted, "but she's too busy to worry tonight."
Rafferty's face broke into a rare smile at the cheeky response. If he were a better man Rafferty wouldn't have closed to gap between them to kiss her. But if he were a better man he never would have approached her in the first place, wouldn't have given her the invitation, and certainly wouldn't have dared to cup her face in his hand and touch something so lovely with his bloody skin.
