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Collins and Robby were known to have a past, not many knew about it. They never really hid it, but there were hints, and those who asked were given a truthful answer about what they were.
When they had broken up, the two remained friends, but Robby was more closed off than ever and always deflected away from any question of how he was doing.
Collins had a lot on her mind that day; she was finally making the biggest decision of her life. She was finally getting out of the hell hole she called work.
"Mass casualty," Dana said as she walked behind her. "Whitaker, King, Santos, you have been here for a few months now. You should be alright on your own; we are here if you need us." She said to them and any other med students she found that needed to be warned before patients started to come in.
Santos took on the last stop of her coffee before throwing it in the trash. “Whelp, let's go huckleberry." She clapped her hand on his shoulder. They had been through this many times that it was becoming second nature to them all.
The first wave came in. "30s, male, was conscious at the scene, passed out on the way here. Head trauma, broken arm, possible internal bleeding. He was stuck between the wheel." The EMT said.
"Room 2," Abbot said, and with the help of the EMT, brought the patient to the room before the EMT left them to access. They worked smoothly with one another. Dennis brought over the ultrasound, Santos put the Iv and Abbot gave them the order to run tests. “Get him to head Ct and x-ray."
He pulled back, putting the tiny stick light into his pocket. “He has dilated eyes. Get him to Ct now."
"He has blood in his stomach," Dennis said, and there was Abbot right against his back, too close for comfort. "So there is. Call surgery and tag him as yellow." He said before walking out of the room. Santos punched his arm lightly.
"Ow, what was that for?" he asked, walking as he put a splint on the arm that was broken. “Oh, I don't know, maybe because Abbot was quite literally up against you like a horny dog." She laughed, unlocking the brakes so they were able to move the gurney. Dennis rolled his eyes.
The first wave wasn't as bad as they all had thought. Five came in. One was tagged black and headed to the morgue once the time of death was called. Three were marked yellow and one green. "The car just…started to spin," the weeping woman said. Abbot looked uncomfortable as he gently patted her back.
“It’s alright, things happen," he said as he looked at her.
“Six cars…" she muttered. Abbot sighed, turning his head away from her. He looked out to the sea of people. The most they had was three black, five yellow, six green. 14 people and none had red as a tag, which was a goddamn good thing.
Abbot patted her back again, before eyeing Princess to help him out with this one. Princess was more than happy to walk over and bring the bright smile the women seemed to need.
“It’s not like this isn't our first car wreck," he said as he sat down at a computer. He clicked the mouse. Robby rubbed his eyes. “No, but it is one of many mass casualties of the season." He looked around. All personal seemed to be busy, checking in, re-evaluating patients. "I think that is a third time Javadi has walked in to check in," he noted out loud.
“The label is yellow, Ct and MRI are backed up," Abbot leaned back in the chair. "We also have patients in the waiting room, which Dana and King are taking care of. With this being a small casualty, not really a big one, so we should be able to take in a few of them at a time," he said with a shrug. Robby glanced over, glasses going into his front pocket.
Robby leaned against the desk. “How is the leg?" he asked, arms crossing.
“As good as it can be. First time I sat down since this started," he sighed softly.
Robby thinned his lips and hummed. He didn't go further into that one before getting a warning of a house fire. "Here we go again," he grumbled.
The first patient strolled in. "Amy Leroy, 32, trouble breathing, minor cuts,“ the EMT said. Robby brought her to one of the curtain rooms before accessing her.
Dennis just happened to be strolling past. "Whitaker! Come here for a sec," Robby said. Dennis turned his feet, shifting to walk over to him. "Yes?"
“This is Amy. She has trouble breathing due to a house fire. What’s the first thing to do?" he asked.
Dennis looked at her. “Check throat, then get a chest X-ray and blood test," he said, eyes going to Robby. He nodded. "Good, go do it," he said.
“Yes, sir." He thinned his lips into a smile as the older doctor tilted his head. Robby looked conflicted by the nickname, but he shook it off as he walked away.
Amy chuckled before coughing. "Seems nice," she said through her coughing fit. Dennis chuckled and nodded. “Oh, he is," he said and waited until she was good before he asked her to open her mouth. There were signs of snoot in her throat.
"I will do that chest X-ray. Here is this…take deep breaths," he said as he put the oxygen on her face.
The shift wasn't entirely over just yet. As things slowed, the med students and older staff were able to take small breaks in between checking in on patients and bringing them to where they needed to go.
Javadi was noticing something weird. She walked up to Dennis as he ate his sandwich. She had learned once before that it was better to eat over a napkin so he didn't crump everyone.
“Have you seen the way Dr. Collins looks at Robby?" she said. Dennis almost choked on his food. “Huh," he asked, wide-eyed. He knew the history, very little of it, but he knew.
Javadi blinked at him. "You know, Dr. Collins and Dr. Robby clearly used to be a thing. I think she still loves him," she looked over to where she was looking at.
Collins and Robby were close enough to be whispering to one another. He wasn't jealous. He was very trusting in his partner(s). As he looked at Robby, they seemed to be laughing about something. “They are close friends, I like to think….we all are," he said as his eyes moved over to look at her again.
“Eh, I don't know about that. He seems to have feelings."
"I don't think so," he shook his head. Only if she knew.
"I think I'm going to do," Collins blurted out. Dana looked over at her as she reached for a pillow. “What do you mean?" Dana sighed.
Collins leaned against the wall. "I am going to tell Michael that I still love him and to tell me to stay," she said. Dana almost dropped the pillow; she almost did. Dana knew that she couldn't tell her the truth, but she could stare at her like she had grown a head.
"What!?" she whispered, hissed.
She laughed. "Well, you know," she shrugged. "No, I don't know," Dana stepped closer.
"I have been thinking about leaving, moving, and working for another hospital, but I know how Robby is with change, and I just…" she put her face into her hands. Dana didn't know how to warn her not to without spilling the beans on him and Dennis.
"I don't think that is a good idea," Dana said. "He seems to be doing well, seems to be happy," she explained, her free hand moving a little.
Collins looked confused. "What do you mean?" she asked. Dana had to thank god that she was good at poker.
"I just think bringing up things from the past isn't a good idea, and I think moving on is what we all need to do," Dana said, staring at her. Dana hoped that may make her re think on talking to Robby, but Collins seemed lost in thought.
The room filled with silence. Collins didn't say anything to Dana as she hummed, lost in thought, and didn't know until the door closed and left her alone.
Dana had to warn Robby, but he was nowhere to be found.
“Whitaker," she hissed, grabbing his shoulder. "Where is Robby?" She asked quickly. "Uh…I don't know..I-I think he is with Dr. Abbot," Dennis replied, never turning his head to her. Dana let out a groan. “Shit," she mumbled.
He felt the hand on his shoulder. “Why?" he asked. Dana looked at him; the eyes of a hard shift made her heart tighten. Dana didn't want him to hear it from her, but she looked around. "Collins plans on talking to Robby about getting back together, and her staying here," Dana said quickly, that she was unsure that Dennis even heard her.
Dennis furrowed his brows. "Alright?" he said slowly. “What do you want me to do about that?" he asked.
She scoffed. "Warn him! Make sure he comes up with a lie, you know, keep the relationship a secret." She whispered to him.
"Six people already know," Dennis formed a smile on his face. "Abbot, you, Santos, Mel, Langton, McKay, and Becca…Mels’ sister." He shrugged. "I don't really mind them knowing it's all about Gloria finding out, because then we may have a problem with that." Dennis shivered at the thought of having Gloria find out about them. Dana blinked like she had grown an extra head.
“Fine, whatever," she walked off.
Dennis sighed. “What was all that about?" Without thinking, he answered. “My relationship with Robby…" He slowed his words as he turned his head to see Javadi. "Oh…you aren't Santos," he said. Javadi’s mouth was agape as she shook her head. “Nope," she popped the 'p’.
He scratched the back of his head. “Yeah…okay." He clicked his tongue. "Well…anyways," he was going to ignore what he said to her and get back to work.
“Wait, what type of relationship? Like a work one? Right?" She followed him through the ED. Dennis moved his hand. “Ehh, more like a…personally one," he said, walking past people hoping that if they cared enough, they wouldn't ask.
“Personally! You mean like an actual relationship, like dating?"
Dennis stopped turning to her. “Yes, a dating one…reason why I said personal." Javadi looked out. Her settings in her brain must have been fried from the information. He groaned. “Snap out of it, like you wouldn't do the same," he rolled his eyes.
"I don't think I would actually."
Dennis looked at her, raising an eyebrow.
“Okay, I would."
“That’s what I thought." He laughed a little.
Collins finally found Robby, staring at the wall of heroes.
"I knew I would find you here," she said with a soft smile. He hummed and didn't look at her as he was too focused on all the doctors on the wall. It was hard times for them. Even when they followed everything by the book, there were three rows of those who lost their lives.
“This may be a bad timing," she started off. He finally looked at her. The eyes hollow, tired like always. “But…I…I still…I'm moving." The right words couldn't find her in that moment. She had wanted to say that she still loved him, that she wanted to try again, but those words couldn't come out, and she had said the opposite.
Collins watched as he took a deep breath, letting the breath go slowly. "I…I know I shouldn't have brought it up, even if I still love you, and I was-"
“What?" Robby finally spoke, looking at her. Collins stopped and laughed a little. "I still love you. I was hoping we…maybe could-"
"I'm fine where I'm at," he said quickly before cringing at how he said it. It was rude, deflected. "I mean, I am dating someone," he said slowly. It was the first time he was saying to someone that he was 'dating' someone he knew.
"Oh…" Collins furrowed her brows. “Who?" she asked. “Why haven't you said anything?" she asked. Robby looked behind her. There wasn't anyone around. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he reached for it, checking.
'Tell her. Javadi knows. At this point, we should just start making out in front of everyone and worry about the backlash later,' Robby almost laughed at the message before shaking his head and closing it before Collins could see the name.
"Dennis Whitaker," he said confidently, a smile on his face. It didn't falter when he watched her process that he was dating someone as young as Dennis. "Oh, wow," she said. She snapped her fingers.
“Yeah," he said, clapping his hands. “So, you are moving?" he asked, like the conversation about who he was dating didn't happen.
“Huh? Oh yeah, I think it is time for a change," she said. Robby smiled, his eyes making crow’s feet. “That’s good for you," he said and opened his arms to bring her into a hug.
Collins slowly stepped close enough to hug him. The hug was warm. She did take in one last breath of the smell of Robby. The hint of a cigarette, which she had to guess was from Dennis, but it worked for him, including the cologne he wore and antiseptic that seemed to linger on all of them once in the hospital enough.
He pulled away first. “Keep in touch and visit when you can," he said. Collins nodded and watched him walk away. He never looked back, unlike her, who was now regretting everything.
"Make out in front of everyone?" Abbot said, leaning towards Dennis. He shrugged. “Well, yeah! Like eight people know…at this point, we should just wear a sign that says we are all dating." He shook his head.
"Yeah, I think I need a story on this," Santos said, moving her finger from Abbot to Dennis, sitting across from them. "I think we all do," Langdon huffed.
Dennis and Abbot eyed them. "I thought it was funny," Dennis shrugged.
They all sat at a park picnic table, beers in most of their hands. “Did you tell him we were here?" Abbot asked. Dennis nodded, taking a sip of his beer.
“So, story! I want a story," Santos demanded, hands hitting the table. "Why do you have to be nosy?" Abbot asked.
“She is just like that," Dennis replied.
Santos scoffed and got up. There wasn't much snow on the ground, but Dennis could tell what was going to happen. "No!" he was quick to get up before the first snowball was thrown at him and instead hit Abbot in the arm.
"Better than I bullet, I guess," he moved his arm to get the snow off while the two had a snowball fight.
They could be heard from behind them, laughing and screaming at one another. Langdon and Abbot sat in semi-salience. "So…king?" he asked.
Langdon waved his finger at him. “Nuh uh, we aren't doing that." He said. "I already told Robby. Me and her are friends. She is…helping me out with something."
"Like what?" Abbot raised a brow. "You know…be less of an asshole."
"Holy shit, is that even possible?" Robby said, sitting down, a sigh leaving his mouth.
Langdon rolled his eyes. “Sure it is, maybe not you," he replied.
"Where is the other one?" Robby asked, and they both pointed at the two med students throwing pure snow at one another. Dennis jogged his way over when he noticed Robby, arms wrapped around his shoulder. “Well, Santos, stop throwing snow balls at me," he demanded.
"Santos! Stop throwing snowballs," they all heard the whine as she walked over. “Awe, come on! You can't pull rank," she breathlessly said.
"I can…for him at least," Robby grinned.
Dennis laughed, giving her the finger. Santos gave him one back.
Santos sat back down. "I still want my story, Huckleberry," she said, narrowing her eyes at him. All he did was shrug. “You aren't getting one." He tilted his head at her before he went and kissed the two older men’s heads. “Come here," he said, waving for her to follow.
Which left the three men all by themselves. “What are you waiting for?" Robby asked Langdon. “King," he said, picking at his nails.
“How’s the wife and kid?" he asked.
"Good, that’s the reason why I am waiting for King. Her and her sister are coming over for dinner," he answered.
Abbot and Robby looked at one another. They couldn't judge. Working in such a high-intensity space, co-workers become more like family than anything. Robby hums. "We should also start heading home. I heard a storm is passing through," he said.
"Yeah, night shift isn't going to be a good one."
"Aren't you working this one?" Langdon asked. Abbot shook his head. “Day’s switch. I work nights Tuesday and Thursday," he said before getting up.
Langdon nods. He looks at the two med students walking back. Santos held onto Dennis’s arm. Their conversation seemed to have nothing to do with the fact that he was now dating two older men.
“That’s crazy. You really thought I was Javadi?"
"For like a moment," he defended himself.
Abbot reached an arm out to him. “Come on, we are going home," Dennis looked between her and him. "Duty calls, I suppose," he shrugged.
Santos and Langdon waved them off.
"I hear a shower calling my name," Dennis said while his teeth clattered as he walked into the house. He peeled off his jacket and hung it up. Robby laughed in the distance as Dennis headed to the shower.
The cold wasn't letting up on him when he got out of the shower and was quick to get dressed into something warmer. Dennis headed to the kitchen while wearing the known and well-worn jacket he had rightfully stolen from Robby.
Dennis gave him a passing graze on his lower back. He looked over and finally realized what the other was doing. "What are you doing?" he asked.
"Making soup," Robby said casually. Dennis hummed and after grabbing water went to snuggle on the couch with a blanket. The new dynamic seemed easy then; he had thoughts. Dennis had thought they needed to be rules to this, but in all honesty, they were happy where they were. Robby got his time with Dennis, Dennis got his time with Abbot, and Abbot got his time with Robby. It all seemed fair to him, and the others thought the same.
Abbot came over when he didn't work the night shift, which was most of the time. The two were pleased by how much time they got with him both within the four walls they called home and at work, with little knowing of the three of them, but then again, it wasn't hard to notice them being the way they are.
The other man got there, making a loud noise in his entrance.
"I am here," he let out a sigh. “People really don't know how to drive at night," he sighed and automatically headed to the couch. He waved to Robby, who gave him a slight nod of the head.
"Leg?" Dennis asked as he moved over and allowed Abbot to sit next to him. He groaned and rolled up his pants leg. "As best as it can be," he said and looked over at him.
Dennis slid off the couch and was on his knees in seconds. He slowly took off the leg, leaning it against the couch before he took off the liner. Dennis took his fingers and lightly pressed around the scar. “Want an ice pack?" he asked as he began to stand.
Abbot nods. “Actually, heat, please," he said. Dennis nodded and walked to the kitchen. He walked to the kitchen, opening a cabinet and grabbing an icy hot one before getting Robby’s attention. He looked down and shook his head and motioned his foot to the bottom shelf. He grabbed it and laughed softly. "Rice sock?"
"Yes, rice sock," Robby replied.
Dennis stayed in the kitchen for a minute longer and walked back to Abbot, who made himself quite comfortable on the couch. "Where is Ziggy?" he asked as he laid the rice sock on the nub.
He hums. "Home, where else?" he glanced over at Dennis, wearing Robby’s well-worn jacket and loose sweatpants. He seemed tired. It was well into the night. They should have already been asleep by now, but Dennis couldn't help but sit carefully on the couch, eyeing Abbot a little, waiting to see a falter in his expression.
"I'm fine, Den," he said casually, thinning his lips. Dennis huffed. "I know," he replied.
“Do you?"
“Yes," Dennis leaned down a little, kissing his forehead. Even though they had been at this for a week, they hadn't fully kissed yet. There was a hint of tension when they looked at one another. Robby was able to come up to him and kiss him like no tomorrow, but Dennis not so much. The furthest he had ever gotten was kissing the corner of Abbot’s lips.
Abbot’s lips curled, humming. "Mike! Come get this one," he said loudly for the other to hear. "I would, but I am making dinner."
“You’ve been in there for like an hour! The soup doesn't need to be watched," Abbot complained. Robby wiped his hands off the towel and walked over to the two. "Only two can fit on the couch," he raised a brow.
Abbot and Dennis eyed one another and snickered. “Well, we just wanted to say hi," Dennis said. Robby shook his head, ruffled both Dennis’s and Abbot’s hair. "Good?" he asked the other older man.
He nodded. "Yup, Mouse here is taking good care of me," he said, reaching for Dennis’s hand, another thing they had gotten over real quick.
Personal space didn't exist with the three of them. Dennis got used to Abbot touching him the way Robby does, the squeeze on his shoulders, the graze he felt on his back when both of them pass him. He was pretty much a little mouse toy to a bunch of cats. He glanced over to Abbot, his eyes closed, shifting on the couch. “How was the shift?" he asked, thumb rubbing the back of his hand.
Dennis shrugged. "I lost only one patient, so." He looked down, rubbing an eye.
Robby placed three bowls on the coffee table and exclaimed, “Soup is served!” with a clap of his hands. Abbot shifted to sit up, and Dennis moved to watch as Abbot settled onto the couch. Things were a bit tricky, as Dennis had to move closer to Abbot so Robby could sit next to him.
Dennis laughed a little and grabbed one of the bowls. “What are we watching?" Robby asked. The two shrugged. "We have no idea."
He sighed and switched the channel to something more interesting. The three ate, Dennis finishing first and getting up and bringing his bowl to the sink. He soon cleaned the kitchen of Robby’s mess, Robby brought him the bowls. “Heading to bed," he said and kissed Dennis’s cheek before he moved further down.
"Still having trouble…you know," Robby said as he wrapped his arms around his waist. “Um…" Dennis bit his lower lip. "Yeah…kind of," he said as he shifted his weight on his other foot.
“Are we going too fast?" He asked softly in his ear. Dennis cringed as he felt the breath on his ear. "No, everything is good." Dennis turned to face him. He kissed him softly before pulling away.
"Don't let Abbot put his leg back on," he demanded before pulling away. Robby nods and walks out of view from him.
In the bedroom, Dennis didn't change. He flopped into the middle of the bed. He could hear laughing and muffled voices from the master bathroom. He liked to spend his own time in the bathroom, and he was fine waiting for the other two to get done.
"Bathroom is all yours, little mouse," Abbot said, using a crutch to make his way over to the bed. His side was Dennis’s side when he was here. It felt weird to be in the middle, but he could deal. Robby walked out, drying his face with a towel. He turned on the stand fan.
Dennis rolled off the bed, groaning. He stretched as he walked to the bathroom, and the men got into bed. They were old, which Dennis found funny. He eyed them both, reading as if it was a ritual that they needed to do. Robby read an actual book while Abbot was scrolling on his phone, but he was sure that he was reading.
He walked back over to the bed. He climbed over Robby and got under the cover, snuggling his front against Abbot’s. The two stayed up longer than they should have, but then Dennis felt two arms go over his midsection. Dennis nuzzled his face into Abbot’s chest.
In the morning, it was the same as any other. Dennis woke up to his back being rubbed, but none other than Abbot. He reached a hand back and felt an empty bed. "Hm…Mike," he muttered out.
“Somewhere," Abbot replied.
Dennis only groaned and rolled more into Abbot. He laughed. They needed to get up and get to work. “Shift starts in an hour," he said.
“We are a five-minute drive," Dennis mumbled. He had to admit dating or well, seeing someone younger than him sure did like to stay in bed.
"I'll call Santos to drag you out," he warned.
"You won’t."
Abbot made a noise. He reached for a phone like that. He was up like that. "I'm up…I'm up," he rubbed his eyes. The older grinned. “See, wasn't that hard now, was it?" he asked.
Dennis blinked at him. He leaned forward and kissed the corner of his mouth. Abbot stilled as he looked at the other. He felt a hand on his cheek, a thumb rubbing his cheekbone, and then it happened. Dennis laid a gentle kiss on Abbot’s lips. He went wide-eyed.
"Even though you don't deserve one," Dennis huffed and got out of the bed. He made his way over to the bathroom. Abbot looked around. Only light was from the bathroom and a lamp on Robby’s side of the bed. He got onto his elbows and finally got himself out of bed.
The morning went as easily as it could ever. Robby and Abbot moved around the kitchen swiftly while Dennis watched them from the corner of the kitchen. Travel cups were being made, and lunches for all three. He sipped the coffee and watched with a small smile.
"We ready to go?"
Dennis nodded. “Unfortunately," he dumped the rest of the coffee that was in the mug and started headed to the door. The two grabbed their bags, and they were off to the hospital.