Chapter Text
It was a cool winter morning, wind nipping at his skin through the worn down jacket he thrifted a week back, old leather hanging loose over his boney frame. The jacket did little to cut out the cold, the wind just barely buffed by the fabric. His bones creaked every time he moved, making Dennis heave a sigh. This morning made him feel 80 rather than the 26 he actually was. His backpack hung over his aching shoulders with a little hand knitted plush dangling from the zip, swaying in time with his tired steps. Whitaker had crocheted it all the way back when he still lived in Broken Bow, his mother trying to walk him through the steps as he poorly attempted to make merch of his favorite character. Despite its tatted looks, it had lasted from childhood, through med school, through sleeping rough till now; when his life was slowly but surely starting to click into place.
The knitted plush, his first attempt at merch was from Animal Kingdom, the first “dirty” film he saw growing up, with him and his brothers sneaking out to watch it at a friends house when he was only 12. But he hadn't fallen in love with any of the women, or the more daring brothers, or even J. No, his favorite was the poor psycho Pope. He pitied and even looked up to him, being able to see even at 12, Pope was mainly misunderstood. But although he was a fucking bad ass, beating up anyone who talked down on someone he loved, or even looked at him the wrong way, to be honest, he had a confidence Dennis could only dream of back then, as the weakest and youngest of three brothers. He would have done anything to be like him.
He loved it. And he still loved it at 26, which is why he held on to the worn, sorry piece of merch and still collected anything he could get his hands on. Well, he'd only just managed to start buying things from his favorite show again, that is, after moving in with Trinity and finally receiving paychecks that could fill his belly and keep the lights on. Ones that made heating feel like less of a privilege and more of a luxury.
“Fucks on your bag, Huckleberry?” Trinity mocked with a smile as she parked herself next to Dennis at the lockers.
“Pope,” he said with a little smile, lifting up his bag and holding the little plush with one hand and wiggling it slightly, the scratched black beads he used for eyes staring at her.
“As in the pope orrrr?” She said, obviously confused.
“No- Andrew Pope Cody from animal kingdom- if you look me into my eyes right now and say you've never seen Animal Kingdom, I’ll die.” He said with obvious shock as his mouth fell open in shock, tucking his backpack and Pope safely back into his locker.
“Nope, not a fucking clue Huckleberry. What, that some shitty show you watched back in the middle of nowhere where you grew up?”
“It’s called Broken Bow, and Animal Kingdom is the best show ever! I've watched it at least 50 times. I could quote half of Pope's script backwards,” he bragged with a small yet confident smile as they walked to the nurses station to follow Robby and Abbot around, getting the debrief on the night shift patients.
“Talking about animal kingdom?” Abbot perked up with uncharacteristic interest, it seemed to Whitaker, but he wasn't going to shy away at an opportunity to talk about his favorite show.
“Hell yeah! You seen it?” He asked, practically beaming.
“Yeah, you could say that,” Abbot smirked.
“Well, I was just telling Trinity here about it because she was making fun of me for having a Pope keychain, and she's never even seen that damn show! Or else she'd know Pope is the best character,” he said excitedly looking at the other expectantly.
“Popes your favorite?”
“Hell yeah- he’s awesome! The saddest and simultaneously the coolest. He’s the only one I buy merch of, and I rewatch the show only for him.” Dennis was grinning like a kid in a candy store, a pep in his step as they began to walk around and discuss patients, ending the conversation about his favourite show for now.
Abbot bit his lip to stop his laughter, and Robby just grinned at the oblivious younger man. It came as no shock that he didn't know, he wasn't on night shift much and it wasn't talked about often.
“You must be a big fan. We should grab drinks some time, re-watch together,” Abbot offered as he started to the lockers, clocking off to get some well earned rest. Rest that his muscles and joints silently cried for, his prosthetic digging uncomfortably into his stump after 15 hours on his feet.
“Sounds good,” Dennis replied, with an unfamiliar warmth blooming in his chest as he ran off to get started on his patients for the day, instead of idly chatting to the older attending.
Hours crawl by, and while some interesting patients come in (like a kid who ate 20 little, plastic ducks thinking they were just out of date candy), but still the day seemed to just drag. Dennis wanted to get home and curl into his bed and re-watch season one of Animal Kingdom, mourning season one Pope like a lover (it was the closest thing he had to one, okay). Abbots’ offer still rang in his mind, since when did Dr Abbot offer to socialize? He'd heard a lot about Abbot, but nothing of him being even remotely social. Often referred to as a recluse, he dogged most outings after shifts like the plague, with even Dr Robby, a man who he was suspiciously close to, said the man hated going out most of the time.
His eyes flicked back to his charts as fingers blurred over the keys, well used to the rhythm by now before heavy hands settled down on his shoulders and a rough and gritty voice sounded above him,
“So, you grabbing drinks with Abbot, kid?” Robby asked in a tone that carried a smile with it.
“What's wrong with that? Jealous?” Dennis teased, swiveling his chair around. He couldn't deny the more than friends but less than lovers thing that he and Dr Robby had going on right now. They didn't label it, but they'd met outside of work once or twice, brought each other coffee in the morning without having to ask. And Dennis had met the other on the roof before, just there to offer his presence rather than words. It was more than most people could say.
The other snickered, “Jealous about you having your nerdly little fanboy session over a show from 2016? I'm good with missing that. But, I wouldn't mind taking you for drinks at a different time,” he finished slyly, ignoring the sideways glances from Princess and Perlah.
“Hmm… I'll think about it. You never know, maybe Abbot will steal your spotlight,” Dennis said with a grin before swiveling around to finish his charting and try to fight off some stares that the interaction had started to garner. He knew about the bets placed on them. How could he not? The nurses weren't exactly known for being sneaky. He couldn't blame them though, he'd had $20 on Garcia and Trinity dating before next summer since his first rotation here.
The clock showing the end of his shift came like a gift from God himself as he stood up, cracking his back and sighing deeply, eyes catching a glimpse of messy, gray curls peek into the edge of his vision.
“Whitaker, just who I wanted to see,” Abbots voice sounded cheerful as he trotted over, though not before giving Robby his usual hug as they pressed their faces into the sides of each other's necks in a way that always seemed a little too close for friends.
“What’s up?” Dennis asked, casually sauntering over to the lockers, thinking they could walk and talk. Abbot slid a piece of paper over to him with a smile,
“My number, message when you’re free. I was serious about that re-watch you know? It's been a while.”
A smile crept its way onto Whitaker's face as he took the slip of paper, sliding it into his jacket pocket then grabbing his bag, not yet sliding it on his shoulder, wanting to show the man his keychain.
“Thanks, I’ll message you when I get home. And hey, look, this cutie was what Santos was mocking,” he said with a joking confidence, proudly holding up the tattered thing to the blinding ER lights.
“You make it?” Dr Abbott questioned, fingers passing over the old, faded wool.
“Uh, yeah. Forced my mum to teach me to crochet for it. Wanted my own little Pope to carry around since I can't have the real thing,” Dennis said with a laugh, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.
“Think you’d like him in real life? I love the character but I think he could even set a bit of fear into me if I saw him in public.”
“Nah he’s harmless until you piss him off, he’s like a skittish animal I think. I could definitely handle him”, Abbott's eyes roamed over the other before he responded,
“Oh yeah? Well I’ll see you in the morning, Huckleberry. Don't forget to check your schedule!” Abbot walked off before the other could respond, leaving Dennis confused and with a question on the tip of his tongue. Shaking his head, he walked outside to wait for Trinity to stop flirting (poorly) with Garcia.
Thankfully only five minutes passed before Trinity came out and unlocked the car, his muscles and bones grateful for the heat and comfy seats.
“So. What’s going on with you and Dr Abbot?” Trinity questioned with a knowing smirk before either of them even had time to fasten their seatbelts.
“Nothing you perv, I’m just going around to his place to re-watch Animal Kingdom, not to fuck the guy- plus I doubt at his age that he can still get hard,” he said with a laugh, the city whiring by as Trinity drove.
“Jesus you’re harsh, plus aren't you going after Robby? They’re the same age y'know,” Whitaker paused for a second realising she was telling the truth, they were the same age (or very close in age). Maybe from now on he'd keep that in mind when going after Robby.
“Okay first of all I'm not ‘going after’ Dr Robby I’m just… testing the waters, seeing how things are and Dr Abbot wouldn’t replace Robby. If anything, I'd do both,” he said with a smirk, basking in the disgust that crossed Trinity's face.
“Ew. I do not need to know about all the old dudes you’re tryna fuck, if you want a sugar daddy, be my guest. I want a new purse.”
“And what makes you think if either of them were my sugar daddies they'd buy you gifts?” Dennis demanded, his eyebrow cocked as they pulled in the driveway. He quickly hurried out of the car, fumbling with the keys at the door, desperate to finally be able to relax.
“Because, mouse boy, I took you in so I deserve it for putting up with your whiny ass. And listening to you squeal like a teenage girl when you're watching the same edits for 20 minutes straight,” she teased, nudging her elbow into his side after he finally managed to open the door, both of them sliding off their shoes and heading to the kitchen to re-heat left over take out and chill.
“I don't do that,” he said defensively, heading for the front room to put on the tv, immediately choosing Animal Kingdom again because what else was he gonna watch? Friends?
“You do, Huckleberry! And I swear to God if you put Animal Kingdom on, I'm gonna break your hand,” she shouted, voice threatening in a way that made Dennis question if she actually would. But, deciding the girl had more love in her heart for him than a want to hurt him, he slid down into the blankets that lay tangled on the sofa and felt himself relax properly for the first time in over 15 hours. Fuck the pizza, he could eat when he woke up.