Chapter Text
The Pitt is just about buzzing with anxiety, he can feel it in the air, smell it on every doctor, nurse, and patient that passes him.
What a fucking day to go analog huh?
Jack starts towards central 2, barely dodging a running nurse wheeling a crash cart in front of him. His eyes follow the nurse, but his brain is somewhere else entirely.
The memory of Robby's pained expression swims through his head, stealing his attention in an instant.
“If it gets dark, you call me.” Jack's eyes focus on Robby's face as the other man looks away, a pained grimace painted onto his face. “You listening?”
He isn’t and Abbot wants to shake him and scream, but the other man is already moving, when a reassuring weight lands on his shoulder as Robby gets whisked away, weaving between staff members and machinery like water. Jack can feel his mouth pull into a frown, heart heavy at his friend's reaction and eyes searching the disappearing form of Robby searching in vain for any clues.
He may not have much time till the end of his shift, but he’d be damned if he didn’t at least try to stop whatever Robby has planned.
He lets out an exhausted sigh as he rubs his face into his hands, closing his eyes for an instant before letting them snap back open.
“Abbot, there's a situation in Central 4,” a voice speaks from behind him and Jack turns around to face Dana.
He pauses before asking, “What kind of situation?”
This isn’t going to be good.
Dana shrugs, “Doctor Mohan is getting tests done, she says she’s fine now, but I don’t think she looks too good.” He gives a slight grimace at Dana’s words. The very last thing they need is staff down. With the way it's looking now, they’ll need all hands on deck.
“Alright, I’ll go check up on her.” Tiredly, Dana nods before being pulled away by Princess. “ Thank you Dana! You’re amazing and we love you!” He calls at her retreating back. He can’t see her face, but he can hear her snort of laughter perfectly fine.
The door to Central 4 is already cracked open, with too many bodies wearing scrubs in one room to be efficient. He can see Samira from here, and boy was Dana right. She looks awful.
Robby stands over her, stethoscope pressed to her chest as he listens intently. Walking closer, Jack hovers near the doorway, leaning on the frame as he overhears the conversation.
“-need the fucking liability. Go home. And the rest of you, the last time I checked, the ED is a shit show. So let's all get back to work, huh?”
What the actual fuck.
It’s as if cold water’s been dumped over his head. Robby’s tone is chilling, not only is it cold and detached, but it doesn't sound like Robby.
Pushing his way further into the room, he can see the hurt and anger on Samira's face clear as day. His eyes lock with Robby’s, Jack searches his face looking for any conflict, anything, but all he can see is a cold mask of indifference.
Don’t shut down on me Robby.
Robby tears his gaze away from Jack, pushing past him and escaping into the crowded halls.
Fuckkkk him.
“Dr. Mohan,” he stands at the foot of the bed, trying to catch her eyes from where they are locked onto the floor. “Samira,” he tries again, “are you alright?” Ripping off her blood pressure cuff, she finally looks at him. “Yeah, sure, I’m fine.” Her eyes are red rimmed as she pushes off the bed looking at him expectantly. He doesn't move until a beat later, after searching her face. For what? He has absolutely no clue.
Following Robby's lead, he pushes the door to Central 4 open, slipping into the bustling hallway. Noticing his expression almost immediately, Dana raises her eyebrows at him, before crossing her arms expectantly. “What was that?” She asks.
“Fuck-shit, I don’t know, Dana.” The noise of The Pitt seems to swell almost minutely as he answers.
“I’ll talk to him.”
Dana sighs and responds, “thanks hon.” Shaking her head, she steps away, almost immediately pulled into another conversation with an expectant patient.
He can see Robby bustling around and making himself busy. He’s agitated, and Jack’s known him for long enough to see when he wants to be left alone. But he also needs to talk with him before something else happens.
“Robby,” he calls. The man just glances at him before turning back to the chart in his hand.
“Robby!” Again he is ignored. Fuck it.
“Doctor Robinavitch!” That gets his attention. Robby’s head snaps up, eyes wide with shock. Jack meets his eyes before stepping over to him.
“We need to talk.” It’s as if a wall slams down, Robby’s expression goes from confused to distant in a second.
“No we don’t,” he says, voice clipped.
“Yes we do,” he mutters back. Wrapping his hand around Robby’s arm he steers them to the elevator.
“Dana! We're taking ten!” Not stopping to see Dana’s response, Jack half drags, half leads Robby into the elevator.
“What is this Jack.”
He looks at Robby. Really looks at him up close. It’d been a while since the last time they saw each other for more than a brief handoff. Jack was always too tired to notice anything, and with his extra shifts with SWAT, he didn’t have the time to accept any of the monthly hangouts a few of the students tried to arrange. He was starting to regret his neglect now. It was clear as day, written all over Robby’s face was exhaustion. His eyebags were heavier and the crease between his eyebrows seemed to be permanently furrowed.
The elevator finally stops, dinging as the doors slide open to reveal the roof. Jack doesn’t wait for Robby to follow before finding his usual spot on the right side of the railing. Robby’s tentative steps follow him, as the man sidles up next to Abbot.
“Talk to me brother,” he looks sideways to Robby, prompting him. Robby doesn’t meet his eyes, instead choosing to look away as he responds, “About what Jack? There's nothing going on.”
“Oh really? Then what was that?” He can’t stop the irritation that slips into his voice.
“What was what?” Robby’s eyes flick to him as he exclaims, “Goddamn it Jack, what the hell are you doing!” Robby inhales sharply, swallowing quickly as his eyes flick to the skyline.
“Robby, look at me,” Jack keeps his voice quiet, soft. He needs Robby to talk. He needs Robby to come back alive. “Don’t try to play cat and mouse with me brother. I’ve known you for too long for that to work.”
You know what? I don’t need this shit.” Robby looks at him scathingly, pushing off from the railing, before grabbing his stethoscope and stalking to the door. Abbot just stands and watches. Robby isn’t going to leave until Jack knows what's going on.
Robby reaches the rooftop door, angrily grasping the door he tries to pull it open. It doesn’t budge. Robby scoffs in exasperation before reaching for his key. It’s not there. Jack grins despite the tension and anger as Robby turns around to face him. Holding Robby’s nametag between two fingers, Jack raises his eyebrows and cocks his head to the side. “Ready to talk Doctor Robby?” His voice is belligerent. He knows he’s antagonizing Robby, but an angry reaction is better than none at all.
“Oh fuck you Abbot! That’s real mature of you brother.” He spits, practically buzzing with anger. “Give me my key.”
“Talk.” He replies.
Robby stalks closer to Jack, stopping as he’s right in Jack's face. “Give it to me.”
Jack pretends to think for a moment before moving the card out of Robby’s reach.
“No.”
Robby makes a lunge for his hand, but Jack just sidesteps and tucks the card into his pocket.
A derisive laugh escapes Robby’s lips as he stares at Jack intently. His lips curl into a snarl as he snaps, “Just because you think you're better than me Abbot doesn’t mean you get to trap me on this godforsaken roof!”
He shoves Jack in the chest. Hard. Jack stumbles back, trying to catch his balance, when his prosthetic catches and he slams into the floor.
Fuck.
A gasp slips out as he lands, pain spiking up into his back and knee as it twists awkwardly. Looking up he sees Robby, and it is a true testament of the man’s anger that nothing more than cold indifference crosses his face as he looks down on Jack.
“Robby,” he says slowly, “what the fuck.” Rising to his feet he looks at Robby, anger and fear bubbling up in his chest. “Robby, what is wrong with you!”
“What's wrong with me! You’re the one who dragged me up here, and not to mention stole my key, so yeah Jack, what's wrong with me? Maybe you!?” Robby’s heaving now, red creeping up his neck as he gets fervent.
Ouch.
He needs a minute to control his thoughts, to get this conversation back on track.
“At least I’m not picking up extra shifts with SWAT, trying to get myself killed.”
Jack flinches as if he’d been slapped. “No you're getting ready to drive into the sunset and never return on that death trap you call a motorcycle. Tell me I’m wrong.” He bites back, watching as Robby scoffs and runs his hand through his hair.
“What is this about? Is it about your favorite? Precious Samirah Mohan. Huh?! Because whatever you heard she had coming!” Robby yells.
He pushes forward into Robby's space as he demands “Are you fucking hearing yourself right now!” He seethes, “Do you even remember what you said to her? You had no right to call her a liability!”
“It was true.” Robby’s voice is cold and a completely voice of empathy as he glares back at Abbot. Jack physically has to take a step back, shock spreading over his features as he looks at Robby.
“Fine, tell me then, am I a liability? Suicidal Jack Abbot, poor traumatized vet, who just can’t cope. Is that what you think?”
Robby’s jaw drops as he stutters, "No! That's completely different!”
“Is it?” He asks bitterly. He’s broken through Robby’s cold facade, finally getting his walls to come down, but he’d also broken something else in the process. He decides to push further, cement his point, “Robby, is it not a liability that you, or anyone else here, wouldn't know that I jumped before it was too late? Is it a liability that Doctor Abbot could kill himself at any moment?”
Jack's eyes flit to Robby’s hands to find them shaking. Fuck, he went too far.
“Jack…” Robby looks at him quietly searching his face, before that damn wall slams down again. Robby recoils, “That's messed up brother, you don’t get to use your own fucking insecurities, to do whatever the hell you're doing.”
Christ, he still doesn’t get it.
“Robby! Are you kidding me! I’m trying to get you to talk! I’m trying to keep you from doing something stupid!” He shoves off from where he's been leaning on the railing.
Grabbing the front of Robby’s scrubs he mutters, “I’m trying to keep you from killing yourself.”
Robby pushes away, fear flashing on his face, "That's not what I’m doing Jack. Christ its just a fucking vacation!”
Jack pushes, “I know how to read you brother, don’t lie to me.”
“I-fuck! I’m not!-”
The roof door pushes open, Robby’s mouth is still open, ready to deny Jack’s accusations.
Dana pops her head out, keen eyes taking in the situation. Her mouth purses into a line as her eyes flick from Robby to Jack and back again.
“We have an incoming trauma, GSW to the chest of a 35 year old male, EMS have just informed that he is critical.” Dana looks at Jack, “We need you guys back on deck.”
Robby sighs, pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes before looking back at Jack with an “I told you so” expression. Now he wants to strangle him. Tossing Robby's nametag back to him, Jack follows him through the door, limping as he tries to subtly adjust his prosthetic. Pulling the roof access door close, Jack lets his eyes close as he lets his head thump quietly against the door.
Damn him.