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Jack had been surprised when Michael started talking about his new MS4. He remembered the kid, sure. They’d met, briefly, during the events of Pittfest, but Jack hadn’t found him particularly memorable, aside from the fact he kept his head reasonably well for the situation. Still, he was just another MS4, one of many the Pitt saw, trained, and dispersed into the world. They were a teaching hospital, after all. Jack trusted his husband though. Trusted there was something special about this one. So he started paying attention. Watching during handoffs and the rare occasions Jack was called in early. Jack didn’t really get it, not until the kid’s first night shift. And then he got it. Whitaker was…clumsy. Like a newborn fawn. But he had a brain and knew how to use it. Patients trusted him almost immediately, instinctively. And once he had confirmation he was doing the right thing, he was damn good. He reminded Jack of a puppy, almost. Jack went home the next morning with a new understanding of his husband. Whitaker was on a night rotation for the next week and Jack did not pretend he was upset about it. Michael, on the other hand, was very vocal about his displeasure. Mostly at home, where coworkers wouldn’t gossip, but he was snippy and irritable enough that Dana pulled Jack aside one day to ask what was going on. Jack wasn’t cruel enough to spill his husband’s secrets but he did hint at there being a definite cause. Dana guessed it almost immediately. Jack wasn’t surprised, Dana somehow knew everything. He admitted nothing and disappeared into the growing daylight. By the time Whitaker’s night rotation was over, Jack was ready to take him out. Michael just stared at him when he said as much one night. Jack was entirely undeterred. He would wait though, wait until Michael was ready. It didn’t take long. Another week, with Whitaker back on dayshift, and Michael was losing his mind. He came home one night (Jack had off and was cooking dinner) and practically collapsed at the table with a long, tired groan. And Jack knew it was time. With a final confirmation from Michael, he began concocting a plan. He didn’t want to catch the kid too off guard, they couldn’t have him getting scared off. So he started easy. Compliments here and there. Finding him and sticking by him in the limited time they overlapped. Pulling him for night shifts more often and calling him to help over anyone else. He was being rather obvious. Or, he thought so at least. After a few weeks, he decided that was good enough and it was time to do something meaningful.
Dennis was packing up after his shift when Dr Abbot appeared. Dennis had noticed that happening recently, though he was trying not to read too much into it. He ignored the attending’s presence for now, too exhausted to really pay attention. It had been a tough shift and he was looking forward to going home. So when Dr Abbot spoke, suddenly right beside him, leaning ever so casually against the lockers, Dennis almost jumped out of his skin. “Hi,” Dr Abbot said, looking more amused than Dennis would like. “Hello Dr Abbot.” Dennis rubbed his forehead, reorienting himself after the startle. “I’m technically clocked out but if you need something I can clock back in.” Dennis said, really hoping Dr Abbot wouldn’t take him up on that. Luckily, he didn’t. “No, no, I wouldn’t do that to you. I wanted to catch you before you left, I have a question.” This piqued Dennis’s curiosity and for the moment, it overrode his exhaustion. “Yeah, sure, go for it.” Dr Abbot smiled and Dennis fought down the wave of warmth he felt at the sight. Good lord, he needed to get it together. Having a crush on an attending was probably an HR nightmare at best and a fireable offense at worst. Not to mention he and Robby were married, Dennis was pretty sure. He hadn’t asked but…well. It was hard to miss, what with the way the two of them looked at each other. The thought of Dr Robby did not help Dennis’s state. He needed to get it together. He focused back in on Dr Abbot just in time to hear most of his sentence. “...come for dinner, if you’d be comfortable with that. We’re quite fond of you.” Dr Abbot smiled again, then added. “Michael and I, I mean.” He paused slightly. “We’re married. You knew that, right?” Dennis nodded dumbly, trying to put the fragmented pieces of information together. “Yeah, I kind of figured,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “Sorry, are you…asking me to dinner? With you and Dr Robby?” Dr Abbot laughed slightly. “Well, yes. Yes I am. But you can call me Jack.” Dennis just stared at him for a moment. His heart was beating faster than he thought was reasonable for the situation and he was doing his absolute best to not read into things. It wasn’t working. But that was insane, they weren’t…into him, they were married for god’s sake. To each other, at that. Although…no. No no no, Dennis, get it together. “Um, okay. Uh.” Dennis pinched the bridge of his nose briefly, trying to steady himself. “Yeah, okay, when?” Dr Abbot grinned, bright and pleased, and that warmth crashed over him again. He needed to get it together. “This weekend? We all three have off, which is something that may never happen again,” Dr Abbot joked. Dennis snorted a laugh. That was true. Even the two attendings being off at the same time was unusual. “Sure, yeah, I can do that.”Dennis rubbed his forehead, feeling a slight headache building. Dr Abbot smiled. “Good! Michael will be pleased.” Dennis smiled a bit, still processing this and still doing his best to not overreact. Dr Abbot shifted slightly, as though he had more to say but didn’t want to overwhelm him. Dennis raised an eyebrow slightly. “Is there something else Dr Abbot?” he asked finally. Dr Abbot smiled slightly. “Yes, actually. And I told you to call me Jack.” Dennis laughed quietly. “You’re a doctor here,” he said with a slight shrug. Dr Abbot narrowed his eyes but didn’t say anything more about it. “Regardless, I want to make sure you understand what I’m asking.” Dennis frowned slightly. “What do you mean?” Dr Abbot ran a hand through his hair. “I’m asking you out,” he said with a slight laugh. “Well, me and Michael, obviously. Both of us.” Dennis blinked, head empty, no words. “Sorry what?” he asked after too long, blinking rapidly. Dr Abbot laughed quietly. “We’re asking you on a date, Dennis,” he said, voice low and amused, but soft. Dennis shook his head. “I’m going delirious,” he muttered under his breath, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I’m going delirious from exhaustion.” Dr Abbot laughed again. “I’m serious.” Dennis shook his head again, in complete disbelief. This was not happening. It wasn’t. It couldn’t be. This was insane. Some kind of dream or something. He was going insane.
Jack was amused at first by Whitaker’s disbelief but this was getting ridiculous. He needed Whitaker to believe him. He and Michael were dead serious and they needed Whitaker to be on the same page. “I’m serious,” he said, pairing the words with a laugh. Whitaker shook his head again and Jack huffed slightly, patience exasperated. “Dennis,” he said, taking a step forward. That made Whitaker look up at him. “I’m serious,” Jack repeated, voice low and soft. He was close enough that he felt Whitaker’s breath catch. “Say no if you want, we don’t want to pressure you. We understand what the situation is. But we’re asking anyway.” Whitaker closed his eyes. “Do you believe me yet?” Jack asks, faint amusement threading through his voice. He watched Whitaker struggle for a moment, undecided, and Jack huffed. “How are you so smart and yet so stupid?” Jack muttered. He made a split second decision, a decision borne of impatience and affection. He threaded a hand through Dennis’s curls and leaned down, kissing him thoroughly. Dennis made a slight sound, almost a squeak, but very quickly relaxed, arms winding around Jack’s neck. Jack didn’t linger, pulling back after a moment. “Believe me yet?” he murmured, voice low and amused. Dennis nodded wordlessly, his eyes still closed. Jack smiled. “Coming to dinner?” Dennis nodded again, burying his face against Jack’s shoulder. Jack smiled, rubbing his back soothingly. “Good,” he murmured, voice low and soft. “I’ll send you details beforehand.” Dennis just nodded again, seemingly mute for the moment. Jack kissed the top of his head. “Go home, sweetheart. I’ll text you.” Dennis made a slightly disgruntled sound and didn’t move. Jack closed his eyes briefly, amused and feeling surprisingly soft. “I have to work.” Dennis huffed but reluctantly let go. He didn’t meet Jack’s eyes. Jack caught him as he tried to slip past. “Hey,” Jack said, voice low and amused. “You okay?” Dennis sighed softly and nodded, finally looking up at Jack. “Yeah,” he said quietly, smiling a bit. “Yeah, I’m okay.” Jack nodded, smiling. “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow Whitaker.” Dennis wrinkled his nose slightly. “Dennis,” he corrected. Jack grinned. “Dennis. See you tomorrow.” Dennis nodded and left the locker room, still looking bewildered. Jack supposed he didn’t do quite a good enough job flirting. Well, Dennis was rather oblivious it seemed. Jack wasn’t sure anything short of what happened would’ve worked.
Dennis got to and in Trinity’s car in a daze. Trinity raised an eyebrow at him as he buckled his seatbelt. “You look like you got hit by a bus,” she said dryly, watching him buckle his seat belt. He looked over at her, eyes distant. “Dr Abbot kissed me.”