Chapter Text
Robby checks his watch again, surprised to see it's five minutes past when his shift is supposed to end and there is still no sign of Jack. In the twenty years that Robby has known that man, never once has he been late. Hell, he was probably on time for his own birth.
Two minutes later, as Robby finishes typing up a patient chart and is contemplating calling to make sure everything is okay, he hears the familiar uneven strides coming up behind him.
Tossing his glasses down, Robby spins around in the chair to make a joke about Abbot getting slow in his old age when he pauses, taking in his friend's dower expression and dripping wet hair.
“Shit, man, what happened to you? Auditioning for the next Jack Frost?”
“Fuck off, the rest of day shift has already scrammed.”
He pushes the chair that Robby is still sitting in to the side, signing into the computer. Or at least he tries to, his shivering making him mistype every other key.
“Seriously, brother, you okay?”
Jack sighs, hanging his head. “Where to start? First, I got caught in a downpour on the way here, then some asshole drove through a fuckin’ lake that had formed, causing me to hit the scrub exchange before my shift even started, which has to be some new record for me, and now as a big cherry on top of this shit sunday the heating is barely working in this place and I'm freezing my dick off-”
During Jack's monologue, Robby unzips his hoodie and throws it in Jack's face.
He glares at Robby unimpressed. “I am not wearing your nasty ass-”
“I can see you shivering from here. Stop being so stubborn and just wear the damn thing, at least until you warm up.” He continues to glare, not making a move to put it on. “For me?” Robby adds a small pout.
Jack rolls his eyes, shrugging on the hoodie. “Fine, but I reserve the right to complain the whole time.”
Robby has to hold back a smirk of amusement as Jack rolls up the sleeves, the hoodie slightly too big on his smaller frame.
“Alright. Now, how bad did day shift leave the board this time?”
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Twelve hours later, Robby is shocked to find Jack still wearing his hoodie. He shrugs off the jacket and hands it over without a word, starting a recap of the night without missing a beat.
The hoodie is warm as Robby zips it up and crosses his arms, cocking his head to the side. “So, you didn’t mind wearing my ‘nasty ass’ hoodie after all?”
“Get Gloria to properly heat this place and I wouldn’t have to stoop to such low measures.”
Robby barks out a laugh. “Gloria? Spending unnecessary money? There’s a better chance of Earl eating an egg salad sandwich.”
That gets a small smirk out of Abbot, Robby patting him on the back on his way out, signing into the computer.
“You and him goin’ steady now, Fruitcake?” Myrna's voice sounds from behind him.
Robby sighs, hanging his head. “Myrna. I agreed to put up with your colorful nickname for me, but I draw the line at you saying anything about my colleagues. Understand?”
Myrna waves a cuffed hand, rolling her eyes. “Whatever you say, Fruitcake. But tell me one thing, does he keep the prosthetic on or off during sex?”
Robby fights to keep his face from heating up. “Goodbye, Myrna.”
He speeds off, scoffing at the idea. Him and Jack? No way. They would sooner murder each other then sleep together.
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A few days later, and Robby has all but forgotten his interaction with Myrna. He’s just finishing up his shift, and getting things set up for handoff.
Feeling Jack walk up behind him, he starts talking without turning around. “I saw you get the interns for their first night shift.” He finally turns, looking at Jack over the rim of his glasses. “Go easy on them, yeah? They aren’t used to your winning personality yet.”
Jack smirks, shoulder checking Robby. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on the kids. I think you should give them a little more credit though, they did survive Pittfest on their first shift, night shift will be a piece of cake. Anything I should know? Besides making sure one of them doesn’t do a REBOA without supervision?”
Robby ignores the dig. “Javadi and Whitaker are good, but lack confidence. Santos, as you know, has confidence in spades, but needs to learn patience. They may grate on each other, but they work well together when things get rough. Use that to your advantage. Mel works best on methodical tasks, but tends to get overwhelmed easily. Try to help her ease out of her comfort zone a little.”
Jack nods. “Got it.”
“Oh, one more thing. Santos likes giving not the most appropriate nicknames. Please don’t encourage her?”
Jack rolls his eyes. “Yes, we all know how much you hate nicknames, Fruitcake.”
Robby shakes his head, ready to reply back about a certain rabbit themed nickname Jack had in med school when the four in question arrive.
“Great timing, you four. I was just telling Dr. Abbot here about how this will be your first night shift in the ED.”
“Don’t worry,” Jack jumps in. “Despite whatever Dr. Robby has told you about the night shift, it’s much, much, worse. It is not for the faint of heart, hence why Robby here hasn’t worked one in at least two years.”
Santos chuckles, elbowing Javadi. “Hear that, Crash? You sure you still want to work this shift?”
Robby is about to cut in when Jack beats him to the punch. “Crash?”
Javadi freezes. “It- it’s nothing. I tripped on a gurney the first day-”
Santos talks over her. “We were relocating a broken degloved leg and she totally fainted.”
“Santos…” Robby warns her.
“What? She did.” Santos defends herself.
Jack takes this in stride, holding up a hand between them and looking directly at Javadi. “Hey, there’s nothing to be ashamed about for fainting on your first day. Did this one ever tell you about our first day in the cadaver lab when we were med students?” Jack points with his thumb over his shoulder at Robby.
Robby can feel his blood pressure raising as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “I don’t think that story is really necessary. It was twenty years ago.”
“And have them miss out on this valuable teaching moment?” Jack counters.
Robby sighs. “I fainted, okay? It happens to the best of us.”
Jack laughs. “Oh, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.” He leans forward, the four listening intently now. “So the instructor makes the first cut, and this guy drops like a sack of potatoes right into my right side. The unexpected weight made my crappy prosthetic snap in two, causing two more students to drop because they thought this lug had broken my fibula.”
Santos snorts in laughter, and even Javadi and Whitaker are fighting back a smile. Mel looks concerned until Robby relents and smiles at her, motioning to her that it’s okay if she laughs.
“Need anything else from me now that you’ve thoroughly tarnished my tough guy reputation?” Robby asks, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
Jack snorts. “Nah, go get some sleep. I’ll keep the kids in line.”
“Alright. Good luck, you guys. Try to space out the coffee intake, and don’t drink energy drinks, they’ll make your hands shaky. Oh, and-”
“I’ve got them, Mom. Get lost.” Jack shoos him out, pushing him along.
“Alright, alright, I’m going.” Robby raises his hands, but pauses at Jack’s freezing hands. “Geez, you run cold. Here, take this and I’ll leave.”
Jack glances between Robby and the hoodie being held between them. With a sigh, he snatches it. “If it’ll get you to leave, fine.”
“Thank you.” Robby smiles, turning to leave as promised.
“So if Dr. Robby is Mom in this analogy, does that make Dr. Abbot the dad?” Robby overhears Mel muttering to someone, most likely Santos.
Yup, definitely Santos given she is trying, and failing, at holding back her laughter. He just hopes Myrna doesn’t show up tonight and overhear the new nicknames.
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In the middle of Robby’s shift the next day, he rests his hands in his pockets, only to find a scrap of paper he knows he didn’t put there.
He unfolds the paper and puts his glasses on to read the familiar tiny scrawl.
Mom-
Knowing you, you’ve probably found this note about halfway through your shift and have only had those gross power bars to eat. I’ve left a sandwich in the fridge for you, for the love of God, please eat it. (Seriously, you have way too many wrappers stuffed into the pockets of this thing)
-XOXO Dad
Robby snorts, shoving the note back in his pocket.
“What’s so funny?” Collins asks, sliding up next to him at the nurses station.
He shakes his head, pocketing his glasses. “Nothing. Listen, if anyone needs me, I’ll be in the staff lounge having a quick bite.”
Collins gives him a double take, jaw nearly dropping to the floor. “You? Voluntarily taking a break to eat real food? Who are you?”
Robby fakes a laugh, backing away. “Yes, ha ha, very funny. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a sandwich with my name on it waiting for me.” He escapes before she can make any more remarks. He’s not sure why he feels the need to hide the fact Jack went out of his way to make sure he has lunch while on shift, it just feels like something that needs to stay between the two of them.
Sure enough, when he checks the staff lounge fridge, sitting right on the top shelf from his favorite deli from around the corner, is a wrapped sub with ‘Mom’ written across it in large letters.
With a grin and a shake of his head, he grabs the sandwich with a quiet “Asshole,” mumbled under his breath.