Chapter Text
It’s the 4th of July and Robby is planning to leave on a 3 month motorcycle sabbatical in roughly 8 hours if he can get out on time, very rare as an ED doctor. The only problem is that a wrench has been thrown into his plans, and it comes in the form of a 12lb, squirming little baby girl. She was abandoned in the waiting room bathroom, but so far she doesn’t seem to be extremely sick. He isn’t exactly sure what is happening, but as soon as he picked her up, he got this feeling that she was meant to be his. He always thought that he would have kids, but when he got to his early 40’s and still didn’t have any, he accepted that it wasn’t in the cards. He would always be fun Uncle Robby to Dana’s kids. Hopefully one day, Jake will forgive him and he can go back to being a father figure for him along with his students here in the Pitt, but for now, he’s Robby. Singleish and not really in any place in life to settle down with one of his flings. He knows it probably won’t work out, but he has this burning desire to ask social work about the logistics of becoming her foster parent. This is an insane idea. Robby doesn’t know what possess him, but as soon as the baby is taken upstairs for some tests, he finds himself in the break room with his phone out texting Jack, who just so happens to be his best friend. If Jack thinks he can do it, then he will believe in his abilities. Jack Abbot has never steered him in the wrong direction before.
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Robby: Hey.
Robby types out before he can overthink this anymore. He immediately sends another text to Jack, so the other man is clued in that this isn’t just a friendly greeting, there is a purpose to this conversation.
Robby: I need to talk to you………………
Jack: Are the ellipses and periods really necessary?
Robby rolls his eyes. Everyone in the Pitt is always on him about the way he texts.
Robby: it’s just how I type. It is to signify that the conversation is ongoing……
Jack: dude, they are ominous and the period at the end of a one word text comes across as you being mad. No wonder the ‘kids’ are always freaked out
Robby: They are just a bunch of dots, I don’t understand why everyone finds them to be a problem…….it’s my signature…….
Jack: forget the ellipses. Are you okay? It’s the 4th and you are texting me in the middle of the day
Robby: I should be asking you if you are okay. You’re the one currently wearing camo and sitting in your apartment waiting to be called into action
Such a Robby move, to text first, and then try to distract from the true purpose of the conversation, by focusing on the other person.
Jack: Rob, man, just answer the question. Are you okay?
Robby: yes, but I’m thinking about doing something crazy…….
Jack gets this texts and leaves it for 2 minutes, hoping that maybe Robby will text again to explain this ‘crazy thing’ he is thinking of doing. Jack thinks going on a 3 month motorcycle sabbatical is crazy, buttttt it doesn’t seem that Robby wants anyone’s opinion on that. When Robby doesn’t text again, Jack sighs. It’s like pulling teeth with Robby. In the department, Robby wants people to work efficiently and ask question before even being prompted to. In his personal life though, Robby gives the bare minimum information. He doesn’t disclose more than is asked for. He won’t willingly give more details until he is asked a direct question.
Jack: dick, you can’t just say that. With the way you live, I have literally no idea where your mind is at. You could be talking about anything from
eating an actual sandwich during an actual lunch break to moving to a mountain and living off the grid.
5 minutes pass
Jack: why aren’t you responding?
Another 8 minutes pass
Jack: Mike, talk to me
*MISSED CALL FROM JACK*
Jack: Answer your phone, asshole
Robby: was with a patient……..relax
Jack: ROBBY!!!! what is the crazy thing you are thinking of doing?
Jack sits in his apartment, getting ready to call Dana because what the hell is happening with Michael Robinavitch? Is he having a mental health crisis? Is he on the roof? Is he hurt? Is he resigning? Therapy?…ha no. He is now pacing around his living room as every worst case scenario plays in his head. If Robby doesn’t reply in the next 5 minutes, he is going to head to the Pitt and talk to the man himself. He is pulled from his spiral when his phone dings.
Robby: fostering a baby.
5 seconds later.
Robby: Am I crazy?
Jack: are you being serious?
Robby: I swear on my life
Jack: I’ve seen the way you live, swear on something else
Robby: I swear on my motorcycle
Jack: holy shit. We are not having this conversation over text. I’m coming in.
Well, it looks like he is still going to be heading to the Pitt because what the fuck, Robby is considering fostering a baby.
Robby: don’t, we’re too busy. I won’t be able to get away
Jack: already on my way
——————————————————————————
Robby is sitting on the couch, head in hands, contemplating all of his life’s choices when Dana swings open the door. “Pedestrian vs. vehicle rolling in Cap”
Robby gives her a thumbs up, but doesn’t raise his head.
“All good?” She asks with a raised eyebrow. She is hoping to catch him off guard enough that he will actually open up, but who is she kidding this is Michael Robinavitch, he avoids taking about his feelings like it’s the plague.
Robby sighs, stands up, and sticks his phone in his pocket. “All good Dana, lead the way.”
The charge nurse decides to drop it for now. She’s sure that if it is pressing she will find out at some point. The trauma is tough, the pedestrian has a compound femur fracture and with it being a holiday the ORs are full, meaning the patient is going to be waiting for hours. Robby made the executive decision, to knock the patient out because personally he wouldn’t want to have to sit in a bed for hours looking at a piece of his bone sticking out of his thigh, so he assumes, the patient wouldn’t want that either. The driver of the car was drunk, but besides that no real injuries, so that was a treat and street straight to the police ordeal. Robby is sitting at the hub, trying to chart in the few minutes of peace he will have before the next bomb is dropped on his department, when he hears the tell-tale clicking of Jack’s prosthetic. He doesn’t have enough time to lift his head and greet his friend, before he is being pulled in the direction of the family room by Jack.
“Dana, I’m stealing Dr. Robinavitch for a few minutes. We need to talk. Hold down the fort.” Jack throws over his shoulder as he continues to walk towards the family room, dragging Robby behind him.
“Sounds good soldier.” Dana says, not wanting to question the reason that the nightshift attending is here in the middle of day or why he has shown up and promptly dragged Robby, the chief of the ED, into the family room.
————————————————————————————
“Jack, what the hell, we’re busy. I need to be out there.” Robby says attempting to stand from one of the chairs in the room, but Jack pushes his shoulder, so he falls back down.
“You can spare a few minutes, you don’t drop a bomb like the fact that you are considering fostering a baby over text and then try to get out of having a real conversation about it. Dana will come grab you if it’s urgent.” Jack says as he takes a seat across from Robby. “Alright man, talk to me.”
Robby throws his head back with a groan. “Ugh, Jack I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Alright, so break it down. Give me the bullet.” Jack says placing a hand on Robby’s knee. “Present it like you would any other case.”
“Someone left the baby in the waiting room bathroom. I’m on her care team. She tested positive for rhinovirus. So nothing crazy. She’s up in the PICU now, while they give her some fluids to hopefully rehydrate her. She’s just so cute and I don’t understand how someone could abandon her like that. She has barely even cried while being here. Real trooper. She reminds me of you. Tough on the outside, sweet on the inside, and a fighter.”
Jack can see the smile growing on Robby’s face as he keeps talking. It is honestly the happiest Jack has seen Robby in the past 10 months.
“Is it crazy though? Like can I do it?”
“It is absolutely crazy” Jack starts, which makes Robby visually deflate. “But you can 100% do it Robby, you will make an amazing father, I have no doubt. Kids love you. Just look at Dana’s rascals. No one measures up to Uncle Robby.”
“Will you be in my corner?” Robby asked hesitantly. Is it too much to ask your best friend to stay by your side as you possibly bring a child into your life?
“Mike, I would never leave your side. I can’t wait to be Uncle Jack. Plus, I won’t have you to compete with for the title of ‘Best Uncle’ so sounds like a win-win.” That gets Robby smiling.
“Good, because I am going to need a lot of help, man. I don’t know how to raise a baby. Jake was well out of diapers by the time I came into the picture.”
“Good thing you have a village. You’re also a doctor, so I have all the confidence in the world that you can handle a baby. A teenager girl though…..I’m not sure.
“Jack, I would just be fostering for now. She’s no more than 8 months old, I don’t think they let you foster for close to 13 years.”
“So, you’ll adopt her.” Jack says matter of factly with a shrug.
“Woah, let’s take this one step at a time.” Robby says with one hand in the air, as if to say ‘slow your roll’.
“You don’t do anything halfway Robinavitch.” Jack stares at Robby, waiting for a reply, but doesn’t get one. “Fine, easy question. What’s her name?”
Robby starts to shift in his seat. “She doesn’t have one.”
“That can’t stand, everyone deserves a name.”
“I agree, but that seems like I’m crossing the line. I’m just her doctor right now, I have no right to name her.”
Before Jack can respond, Dana is opening the door. “How long is this pow-wow going to last boys? One of you is on the clock and the other one isn’t suppose to be here. I can’t run the department on my own forever.”
“Sorry, Slugger, we are talking about Robinavitch’s desire to foster the abandoned bundle of joy.” Jack says without turning to look at Dana. He says this sentence as if they are discussing something mundane like the weather and not the possibility of Robby becoming a father.
“HIS WHAT?” Dana yells as she walks into the room and closes the door behind her. The department is just going to have to fend for itself for a few minutes.
Jack is looking back and forth between Robby and Dana. “You didn’t tell her?” Jack says as he gives Robby a shocked look.
“No. There was no good way to tell her without people getting suspicious. I can’t like drop that info at the hub where everyone can hear it and if I pulled her off the floor people would start to ask questions.”
Dana crosses the floor and takes a seat next to Robby, whose head is now in his hands. “Is this a cry for help?”
“No” Robby says turning to look at her with a pained look. “Not everything I do is a mid-life crisis.”
“Sorry for asking hon, but you got to admit this is coming out of left field.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Robby says as he starts to grip his hair. “I can’t explain it, I just picked her up after we collected the urine sample and when she put her head against my chest, I knew that I had to take her home and care for her until a permanent family can be found. She can’t go into the system.” Robby is still pulling on his hair.
Dana reaches out and grabs Robby’s wrists, pulling them away from his head. “Would you stop gripping your hair. You are already thinning out, no need in speeding it up.”
“Thanks Dana, I really am feeling the love.” Robby says trying to keep a straight face, but he can’t help the chuckle coming from him.
“What’s going through your head right now?” Jack asks.
“A lot”
“Name one thing, Robinavitch.” Dana says as she rubs his back.
“I just don’t even know where to start.”
“Well, I would say a good first step is to talk to Kiara. Then, you go from there.”
Robby nods.
“She was at the hub when I came to find you, if you hurry, you might be able to catch her.”
Robby quickly stands and heads towards the door. He pauses with his hand on the door knobs. “Thanks for coming Jack and thanks for holding down the fort Dana.” Robby throws over his shoulder before he is back out on the floor in search of Kiara. The door closes, leaving Jack and Dana in the family room.
They sit in silence for a few minutes, before Jack breaks it. “Michael Robinavitch, becoming a dad.”
“Holy shit, never thought I would see the day” Dana laughs
“Same, but he’ll make a good one. Kid will be lucky to have him.”
“Agreed.” Dana slaps her palms against her thighs and stands. “You staying soldier?”
“Yeah, I think I will be needing to talk Robby off a few more ledges today.”
Dana just gives him a nod and heads out to the floor.
——————————————————————
Robby catches Kiara before she leaves the hub and heads back upstairs to her office. “Hi Kiara”
Kiara spins on her heels to find the attending with his hands in his hoodie pocket and a little hunched in on himself. It’s almost like he is nervous or trying to protect himself from something. “Robby. How can I help you?”
“Can we talk in private?” Robby says nodding towards an empty room.
“Sure, of course.” Kiara says as she gestures for him to lead the way.
Robby nods and holds open the bay door for Kiara to enter. Once she is in the room, Robby closes the door and pulls the curtain so that no one out on the floor can see them.
Kiara is looking at Robby with a confused look. “What’s going on?”
“Uhmmm” Robby starts to rock back and forth on his feet. “I need to talk to you about something.” Robby is now running his hands through his hair.
“Okay”
“I was wondering if you can tell me about the process to foster a baby?” `
“Yeah of course. I will get together some more information and the application and give it to you at the end of the day.”
“How long does approval take? I just don’t know how long the baby will be in hospital before needing to go home.”
The dots start to click in Kiara’s head as she pieces together the many small conversations she has had with the other social workers and various staff members. “Is this about baby Jane Doe?”
Robby rubs his hands together. “Yeah, I want to foster here.”
“Well, considering you are a doctor and have a stable income and house, the process might speed up. Let me just touch base with CYF and I’ll let you know.”
Sounds good, thanks Kiara!”
“Of course.”
Robby watches as Kiara leaves the bay. He takes a few grounding breaths and heads back out onto the floor. He is going to do what he does best, treat patients.
——————————————————————
Robby is sitting at the hub with Jack, talking about stupid stuff, nothing as life-changing as the potential of fostering a baby. Robby isn’t bringing it up, so Jack is respecting the boundary that he has set. Robby just doesn’t want the word to get out before he knows if it is absolutely happening. Seems like that would be tempting fate. It has been a few hours since he talked to Kiara about his desire to up and change his whole life. He is just about to head to the break room for some more coffee when his phone dings.
Kiara: Hi, Robby. Can you stop by my office after your shift?
Robby is staring at his phone, not looking up and the look he has on his face is worrying Jack and Dana, who has now joined the circle.
“Robby…..Rob……Robinavitch….Mike?” Jack tries to get the other man’s attention, but it isn’t working. He shares a worried look with Dana, before reaching out to place a hand on Robby’s shoulder. This action makes Robby jump.
“Sor…sorry. Did you say something?” Robby says with a head shake.
“No, you just were staring at your phone. All good?”
“Kiara texted. She asked me to stop by her office after my shift.”
Jack and Dana look at each other, having a conversation without any words. “Why don’t you head up there now, brother?”
“No. It’s okay. I still have a few hours left in my shift.”
“Cap, we’ve got it handled. Soldier is here if anything crazy happens, but if you don’t go, you’ll be thinking about it for the rest of your shift. It’ll distract you, even if you don’t think it will.”
Robby stands, takes a few steps, before turning around. “Are you guys sure?”
“GOOOO” they both say as they wave him off. With a quick nod in their direction, Robby is off. He practically sprints up the stairs. When he arrives he slows and stops outside the office door. He takes a deep breath to calm himself a little and then knocks.
“Come in” he hears Kiara say. He opens the door and finds that Kiara isn’t alone. There is another woman in the office with her.
“Hi” Robby says with a tentative smile.
“Come sit.” Kiara says pointing to the chair that she has across from her desk. Robby takes a seat. “This is Sharon. She’s with CYF.”
“Hi” Robby says as he turns towards the woman and sticks his hand out. “I’m Dr. Michael Robinavitch, but please call me Robby.”
“Thank you for coming! I was expecting you to come in a little bit.” Kiara says from behind where his back is turned to the other woman.
“Yeah, Jack is down there. Him and Dana told me to just come up now, since my mind will be spiraling if I didn’t.”
“Well, we need to discuss a few things.”
“Okayyy” Robby says as he starts to rub his hands together. He’s nervous.
“Robby, CYF is not sure about placing baby Jane doe with you.” Kiara says from across her desk. Damn, she went straight to the point. No dancing around it, which he both appreciates and hates.
“Why?” Robby says leaning forward in surprise.
“They are concerned about your lack of a support system. You don’t have a spouse or siblings or any relatives in Pittsburgh.” Kiara says as she moves around her desk so she is sitting on the front of it.
“So, you’re saying that if I had a spouse, my chances of being approved would be higher?” Robby says as he lets out a tight laugh.
Sharon chimes in now. ”Yes. If you had living relatives that would also help.”
Robby rubs the back of his neck. He is starting to get irritated? He can’t believe he ever got this idea in his head. Who would let Robby with the dumpster fire of life he has, to foster a baby? “So, because I’m a loner and have bad luck when it comes to the family department, the baby is going to go into the system.”
“We aren’t saying that. We are just saying it will be an uphill battle to get you approved. Maybe bring people to the hearing as character witnesses.” Sharon says with a placating voice. She is obviously trained to not trigger anger in people.
Kiara, noticing that Robby is in his head, decides to step in. Maybe hearing from a friendly face, will help. “I hate to ask Robby, but aren’t you going on a three month sabbatical, starting tomorrow?”
“I was actually planning on not going anymore. Spending the three months fostering baby Jane doe for as long as she needs, seems like a better idea.”
“That will definitely help your case. Showing that you are willing to adjust your life for her needs. The baby will be in the PICU for a few more days, so how about you go home and think it over a little.” Sharon says as she flips through the folder she is holding.
“I don’t need to think it over. I want to foster the baby. Time isn’t going to change that.” Robby says standing up and moving towards the door.
“Okay, we will reach out with more information.” Sharon says.
“Sounds good, have a nice rest of your days.” Robby says before exiting the room. Once he closes the door, he leans against the wall, laying his head back against it and trying to keep the tears at bay. He has never wanted something more than he does right now. After a few minutes, he decides that he needs to get out of this hallway. Going back to the ED sounds like torture, so he heads upstairs. To the PICU.
———————————————————
An hour has passed and Robby still hasn’t come back down to the Pitt. No crazy cases have come in, so Jack has really just been chilling at the hub with Dana. Once they are alone, he decides to raise his concerns. “Slugger, have you seen Robby? Did he come back down?”
Dana looks around. “I haven’t seen him. Should we be worried?”
“Uhmm. Maybe?” Dana says as she pulls out her phone. “Call him? Text him?”
At that moment, Santos comes walking up to the hub. “Is Dr. Robby back from the PICU yet?”
“When did you see him up there?” Jack asks as he pulls up the patient list on the computer.
“Like 30 minutes ago when I brought my patient with ITP up. I think he was checking on the abandoned baby. I just needed to go over my patients, since it is hand-off.”
“Go give hand-off and head home, Santos. I’ll check your charts over when I get home tonight.”
“Thanks Dr. Abbot. Excited for night shift with you next week.” Santos says as she walks away.
Once the dayshifters are all gone and Dana is done with her handoff, her and Jack are standing in the locker room. “I’m gonna grab Robby’s stuff.” Jack says as he unlocks Robby’s locker. They know each other’s combinations, which probably isn’t something you share with a friend, but who are they kidding, Jack is the most important person in Robby’s life and vice versa. Once Jack has Robby’s backpack and jacket, he starts to get flustered. “Do we go upstairs? Like should we check on him?” Jack starts to pace. Dana grabs him by the shoulder and pins him so they are looking at each other.
“Soldier, take a breath. What’s going on in your head?”
“Uhm. I want to support him, I just don’t know how. Like do we go upstairs and show our support or do we give him space?”
Dana thinks about it for a moment. “We go upstairs and support him.”
———————————————
Dana and Jack walk into the PICU to the sight of Robby, shirtless doing skin-to-skin with the baby. Robby’s eyes are closed and he has an honest to god smile on his face. The two don’t want to startle him, but they also don’t want to be staring at him if he isn’t comfortable with them being there in this moment.
Jack breaks the silence by letting out a whistle. “Lookin’ good Robinavitch. Are you trying to seduce all the nurses?”
Robby pops an eye open. “Like what you see Abbot?” Robby says in a teasing tone. “Sounds to me like you’re a little jealous that I don’t sit around shirtless for you to see.”
Jack gets a little flustered because yeah he does like what he sees and yeah he wishes that Robby would watch a hockey game shirtless in Jack’s living room.
Dana steps in, trying to ease the tension in the room. Robby loves Jack. Jack loves Robby. They are two idiots who won’t confess their feelings. The only people who don’t know that Jack and Robby love each other as more than friends are Jack and Robby. “That baby suits you. I don’t think I have seen you smile like that in so long.”
“Yeah.” Robby’s eyes go a little sad. “She is pretty chill right now. Thought skin-to-skin would do her some good?” He says as he looks down at the sleeping baby pressed to his chest.
“Sounds like a good treatment plan, Dr. Robinavitch” Jack says as he takes a seat next to Robby.
The baby is asleep on his chest. He readjusts the baby’s postion, so that she is now being cradled in his arms. She squirms a little, wraps her hand around his pinky and falls back asleep. Robby looks up and sees that Dana and Jack are still there, he starts to blush a little. “Do you guys want to hold her?”
“No. That’s okay Cap. She seems comfy right there in your arms.” Dana says with a smile.
“Yeah, doesn’t the saying go, don’t wake a sleeping baby” Jack starts. “Wouldn’t want to tempt it.”
The three remain quiet as they watch the baby sleep in Robby’s arms. “What did Kiara want to talk about?” Dana asks.
The question startles Robby a little. “Uhmm” He starts as he looks between his two best friends and the baby in his arms. “Do you both want to come over and we can talk about it? Visiting hours are almost over and I don’t want to overstay my welcome up here.”
Jack and Dana share a look. “Yeah, sounds like a plan.”
Robby gives them a small smile before standing up and placing the baby back into her crib. She whines a little, but Robby is able to get her settled. He turns around and is immediately hit with a shirt directly to the chest. “Alright, smoke show, let’s get dressed. Unless you want the whole hospital to see you topless”
“No. I don’t” Robby pulls the shirt over his head and throws on the fleece he spent the first part of the day wearing. The layers can’t hide the pink hue his cheeks have though. “I’ll meet you both there. I walked.”
“I can give you a ride, brother” Jack says as he places a hand on Robby’s shoulder. Robby doesn’t pull away. There are two people in Robby’s life that he lets show him physical affection and both those people are in this room.
“That would be great, thanks” Robby says as he places a hand on Jack’s shoulder.
———————————————————
The three end up around Robby’s kitchen table, eating takeout from the Thai place around the corner. They are talking about if Jack needs the headphones that Robby bought, so that the fireworks don’t trigger his PTSD. He says no, that as long as the blinds remain closed, the background music stays on, and the three of them are talking he should be able to manage.
Dana waits until Robby has a mouthful of food, to ask her question. The distraction will make it so that Robby can’t immediately argue or deflect. His brain will be too busy ensuring that he chews and doesn’t choke, that it won’t have time to put up a wall before he is replying. “Want to talk about your visit with Kiara?”
Robby nods and finishes chewing. “Uhmm. It’s not going to work out” Robby says with a tight smile. “It’s fine, it was a crazy idea. I don’t know what I was thinking. Why did I think I was equipped to raise a child even for a little bit of time? I didn’t have parents. They dumped me on my grandparents. I essentially became an orphan twice. Once when my parents abandoned me and then again when both my grandparents died. I’ll go back to Plan A and head out on my sabbatical tomorrow morning. Three months on the road will make me forget all about this day and my off-the-wall plan.”
Jack’s jaw is open as he tries to figure out what to say. “Why? Did they say why it won’t work?”
Robby leans his head back and scrubs his hands down his face. He exhales a few times, before meeting the pity looks from his friends. “Yeah, basically I’m a loner and they don’t think I can handle a baby.” The two are quiet. “It’s fine, honestly. I clearly have made some bad choices in life and now am in my 50’s with no family and no serious relationships in sight.”
“I need you to explain in a little more detail, brother.” Jack says as he pulls his chair around, so he is sitting next to Robby. Dana does the same on the other side of the table. “Right now it just sounds like the typical Robby spiral. Someone said one thing and your brain tricked you into hearing another thing.”
“You do have family, Robinavitch. I consider you family, so don’t make me smack you.”
Robby chuckles. “I consider you my family too, Dana. Jack, you, and the Pitt crew, that’s my family. Kiara and the CYF lady told me that my chances of being approved are slim. I don’t have a spouse or a partner. I have no living relatives in the area. My lack of support system is alarming to them. I can bring character witnesses to hopefully vouch for me, but even then, it would be an uphill battle. I was even going to cancel my trip and spend that time fostering the baby.”
Dana and Jack both want this man to stay put, so they will do anything they can to help. “Cap, I’ll speak to your character.”
“Thanks Dana, but I think I’m going to stop trying. She’ll be better off with another family. One where she has two parents and a support system. Not a single, crabby, man in his 50’s, who is fighting demons of his own. It would seem I have missed my opportunity to have a kid. I guess I’m just better off as the fun uncle.” Robby says as he drops his head against the table.
Dana rubs his shoulder.
“We’ll get married” Jack blurts out which gets him shocked looks from both Robby and Dana. Robby most likely has whiplash from how fast he raised his head from where it was resting.