Chapter Text
Unpredictable.
That was the most fitting word for your life.
Around the clock, you never knew what was going to happen.
As a paramedic.
Each job brought with it something new, something unique.
From the most mundane to the extremely outlandish.
There was always something different.
Something unexpected.
Always moving.
Never able to stay still.
No two shifts were ever the same.
And you loved the thrill it brought you. The impact your work had.
Of course it was difficult. But nothing ever worth having was ever easy.
And if you weren’t in the job you were in.
You might never have met your sweet, loving, doting boyfriend, Dennis Whitaker.
Careening into PTMC’s ER.
The Pitt.
Balanced on the gurney as you continue chest compressions, sweat upon your forehead, hands firm and steady, eyes fixated on the task at hand.
Only slipping off the bed once the patient was stable, as you let the doctors around you work. You stumbled into him just as you began to turn around.
Breath caught in your chest as you locked eyes with him.
An awkward little, “Hi,” falling from his lips.
Your eyes widening, apologetic for the little stumble, “Sorry but damn you’re built like a wall.” Whilst his hands steady you.
A kind smile formed on his lips.
His own apology slipping from him, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have been there like a wall”
You tilt your head, an amused smile forming on your face, a small laugh bubbling out of you, “You’re funny. I like you.”
The words were blunt and to the point.
But you were never one to sugar coat your thoughts. And you weren’t about to start now.
As they settled in his mind, tucked away as something precious.
And that was how you both met.
It started slow.
Sweetly.
Brief moments in passing.
Cheering internally each time your case brought you to the doors of PTMC. A little silver lining with each case.
You’d always linger just a little bit after dropping off a patient, wanting to see him. Just wanting to chat with him a little before you hit the road once more.
With each meeting you grew closer and closer.
A friendship brewing whilst something electric coursed beneath – an undercurrent of something more – an untapped well of feelings between you both.
And Dennis craved your company.
Even in the midst of a consult if you were within a few metres of him, Dennis’ eyes would flick over to find you.
Even as Park listed his usual questions and demands.
Nothing went amiss by his keen eye however.
Noticing the distracted doctor.
But any comment on it stayed locked away. Silent on his tongue once he noticed how Dennis’ eyeline drifted towards a certain paramedic standing in the bay.
Lips pulled taut.
Park had tucked this information away in his mind.
Park had noticed a shift in your demeanor as of late.
And he had a feeling it had something to do with the distracted doctor before him whose eyes seemed to hold nothing but endless admiration…
However this was still a hospital.
Park snapped his fingers before the young man, pulling his attention back to the case.
Breaking Dennis from his daze.
Even whilst distracted. He had the makings to be an incredibly competent doctor…though Park loathed to admit it.
Dennis wasn’t the worst option for a boyfriend…at least that was Park’s justification of it all.
Simply waiting to see what would unfold.
All unbeknownst to Dennis.
Who was absolutely enraptured by you.
Dennis loved your confidence. Your quippy little jokes. How you never seemed to be afraid of speaking your mind.
If only he knew that there was one thing you never seemed to bring yourself to say.
Both of you tiptoeing around the truth.
To the point where everyone could see how smitten you both were for one another.
It was only after a particularly rough case…
One where there wasn’t anything more that could be done.
One that settled in your stomach like a heavy stone. Dennis had noticed your figure flee towards the doors, not stopping by to speak to him like you normally did.
Eyes furrowing in concern, he followed after you. Noticing how your arms wrapped around yourself.
Your usual composure shaken.
As soon as he exited the ER. His feet moved without thought. Heart aching at the sight of you, sat at the back of an ambulance. Eyes squeezed tightly, hands clutching a water bottle.
Taking a spot beside you.
His shoulder brushes against yours, breaking you from your haze. Biting your lip as you peak an eye open to look at him.
“I’m here for you,” he murmured.
Sucking in a deep breath, you nod. Not able to speak. Instead, choosing to lean your head against his shoulder, while his arm wraps around you.
Gently tracing little circles against the fabric of your uniform.
A steady calm falls over you both.
A quiet understanding.
He quelled your worries.
He silenced the noise in your mind.
Soothing.
Peaceful.
You had told him right then and there.
“I don’t want to be friends.”
His eyes widened.
Shock coursing through his veins, freezing his actions. About to pull away, until your hand clutches his.
“I like you Dennis,” you continued,
“I know, you said that when we first met,” he replied confusedly.
You shake your head and continue with a small laugh, “No, I like like you and I don’t want to spend another minute without you knowing that”
His fears subside.
Replaced by something bright. Warm and fuzzy. Heart thumping heavily in his chest. The sound of its pounding rhythm in his ears.
He couldn’t believe it.
You liked him.
Just as he liked you.
“I like like you too”
The little confession felt schoolish. Childish.
But that didn’t matter.
All that mattered was that you both shared something. Something in which could lead to something so much more than a mere friendship.
You’re pulled away from each other as your partner calls out to you with the little nickname that has managed to stick to you like glue, “Come on Jaws! Let’s get moving.”
Shifting from Dennis’ hold, you promise to make plans for a date.
The sooner the better.
Leaving a blushing Dennis in the bay as he watches you drive off.
Dates with him felt easy.
Laughter and bliss, a shared understanding, times where you could simply sit in silence side by side and know the other was there for you.
It made falling for him even easier.
Stealing kisses with each time you dropped by the Pitt. You were quite the item.
He was the sweetness to your blunt wit.
You were the drive behind his building courage.
He never thought much about your nickname.
Jaws.
He thought it was related to your witty nature.
Your bluntness.
Your ability to speak your mind. Letting it slip without fear.
Your fearlessness.
He had failed to realise it was correlated to your brother.
Your brother who was the very orthopedic surgeon that never failed to make the hairs on Dennis’ neck stand tall.
That had made medical students and interns disappear in a hurry. Finding anything else to do besides be in his presence.
Sending a shiver down his spine each time he strolled through the ER.
He had no fucking clue that your brother.
Was Park the Shark.
…This fact was about to shock him to his core like a bucket of ice cold water.
He just wished he was better prepared.
Today brought in the unexpected.
Dana was informed of an incoming patient, who had been restrained and sedated.
All because they had assaulted a paramedic.
It wasn’t a first. Unfortunately. Violence against health care workers happened far too often.
However, what Dennis didn’t expect to see.
What Dennis didn’t even imagine, was that the injured paramedic was you.
Instead of you escorting a patient on a gurney.
Instead of the usual sight of you methodically listing off the symptoms of your patient. Your partner was walking beside you, escorting you inside.
Dennis was by your side in a flash, features flooded with concern, as they sat you down in a bay.
You did your best to quell their concerns.
But they were having none of it.
“Are you ok?”
Questions spilled from his mouth, as he panicked. Hands tracing to assess your injury.
You smile softly at his concern, grasping his wrist, “Dennis–”
“Where does it hurt?”
“Have you taken anything for the pain?”
“Dennis–” you say once more, cutting off his worried questions. “I’m ok. I promise, it’s just a little bruising. Looks worse than it feels”
“Yeah that’s because you took the meds,” your partner retorted.
You shoot them a stern glance, “Not helping”
They throw their hands up, taking the hint as they shuffle out of the bay.
Your eyes falling back onto Dennis, “I promise I’m really ok”
“Are you sure?” he asks once more, hands reaching over to grasp the ice pack in your hands, holding it to your cheek for you.
Eyes softening at his tender touch.
You nod slightly, “Yes”
He sighs in relief, before asking, “What happened?”
You huff, “Just some asshole–”
Before you can even begin to continue your story.
It feels as though a shadow casts over you both.
You roll your eyes as you meet the eyes of the intruder.
Dennis begins to speak before he even notices who he’s talking to, “Sorry but this bay is occupied–” then his jaw shuts as he locks eyes with Dr Brendon Park.
The Shark.
Who stares at Dennis blankly.
A coldness seeping into Dennis’ bones from his frosty gaze.
You sigh as your words are directed to Brendon, “I’m fine–It was just a bump on my head”
“Did you lose consciousness?” Brendon asked bluntly.
Your mouth curls into a thin line.
Your lack of response was answer enough for Brendon.
Words low, tone unwavering, “Then you should have a CT”
No room for argument. As he begins to fill out the necessary paperwork for one. The words priority making its way onto the request.
Dennis blinks, eyes darting between you both.
“How do you two know each other?”
Only for you both to respond at the same time.
“What’s it to you?” Brendon shoots him with a cold look.
As you merely shrug, “Oh, he’s my brother”
What the fuck…
How was it that the very person Dennis was dating?
The very person he loved.
Was in fact.
The sister of PTMC’s most feared orthopedic surgeon.
He felt like he was about to have a heart attack from the news.
“Uh?–”
You huffed, shoving Brendon slightly, “You broke him”
“I did no such thing,” Brendon denied.
“You promised you’d be nicer when you met him”
“I made no promise,” Brendon shook his head
“Oh yes you fucking did,” you claimed.
“What does it matter? I’ve already met him anyway.”
“What does it matter?!” you mimicked, mocking his deepened voice, before switching back, “What does it– I like him, that’s what matters! You promised you wouldn’t scare him away”
Dennis felt lightheaded. “Uh,” he coughs, clearing his throat.
Sticking out a hand to Brendon, “It’s good to meet you”
Even that felt stilted and awkward.
Brendon glances at the hand, unimpressed.
Whilst you send him a glare.
Bending to your will he sighs as he shakes Dennis’ hand.
“My sister says you’re good to her.”
“I try to be”
“You better be,” Brendon replies, words still clipped but ever so slightly soft at the edges, “You make her happy. So thanks.”
That was the most sincere and polite he had ever been to Dennis. Who nodded at his words.
Tugging Dennis closer, Brendon says quietly, exuding power and control, “Just know while I fix bones, I can break ‘em too,”
“Brendon!” You exclaimed, “I heard that”
“Joking…” He lets go of Dennis’ hand. “So who’s the asshole I get to beat up for putting you here?” Brendon asked you.
You snort, “You couldn’t hurt a fly,” hand clasping Dennis’ with a small squeeze of assurance.
Brendon makes no move to negate your statement. Instead letting out a small huff in defeat.
It was no question that Brendon had a soft spot for you.
His baby sister.
He’d always fret and worry over you.
Even if you were fiercely independent. With razor sharp wit. A determination that could rival his own.
The faint buzzing of his pager beeps at his side. He grumbles slightly.
“Keep me updated,” he says, tone softening, as he looks at you with concern.
You nod, “Of course, you big softy. Now go to surgery, I’m going to be fine,” you push him to leave.
Brendon leaves the both of you alone, with a curt nod towards Dennis.
You turn to face Dennis, pulling him closer to you, “Sorry about him. I promise he’s more of a gummy shark than a great white”
You notice Dennis’ eyes furrow in question.
“Meaning there’s not much bite to him,” you explain.
“I’m pretty sure gummy sharks still break bones?” Dennis replies.
You nod as though it were obvious, “Well yeah, he is an ortho surgeon”
Dennis huffs out a small laugh from your words, as your lips widen into a smile, appreciating him more and more. “I love you”
“I love you too”
“Even though I have a big scary brother who essentially breaks bones for a living?”
Dennis sighs as he presses a soft kiss to your temple, before ducking down to brush your noses against each other, soft and intimate.
“Even though you have a big scary brother who has definitely made my blood run cold more than once”
You laugh softly from his assurance.
Leaning in you press a kiss to his lips. Feeling them curl into a smile, sighing as his shoulders relax, tension from meeting your brother melt away.
Pulling away slightly, you whisper, “Trust me, he likes you more than you realise”
“You’ve talked about me?” Dennis questions in surprise.
“Of course I have,” you answer with complete honesty, “I think I told him about you long before we even started dating”
Dennis’ cheeks flush from the information.
“He definitely grew sick of me pining over you – he was so relieved when I said we started dating. Well, relieved until he started being an overbearing brother–”
As his mind clicks.
Why every interaction with Park had felt even more strange than before. How it felt different from the way he interacted with the others.
“That’s why he’s been so weird with me,” Dennis said, “Shit! Trin thought he had a crush on me cause he was being weirdly nice to me”
“Seriously?!” Throwing your head back, you laugh loudly, to the point where tears build in the corners of your eyes.
“It’s not funny,” Dennis pleads.
“It’s a little funny,” You scrunch your nose, wincing slightly from the movement, a small hitch in your breath.
His embarrassment fades as he’s holding the ice pack on your face once more.
“Thanks Dennis”
You look at him with pure affection.
“Anytime, sweetheart,” he murmurs with a small breathy laugh. He glances at the clock, “I’ll go check how much longer until you can be seen for a CT–”
“Wait,” You clasp his hand keeping him there, “Stay? Please, just a few more minutes?”
He stops, and with a smile he wordlessly agrees.
Sitting beside you as he keeps a careful eye on you, attentive and sweet.
And just outside, leaning against the hub with crossed arms a smile gracing her features, Dana stands observing the two little lovebirds tucked away.
Robby siddles up beside her with a raised brow, “I can’t believe you called him down”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” she feigned innocence.
“Oh sure,” Robby retorts, “So you weren’t the one that told Park about Y/N?”
Dana hums, holding back a grin.
Santos added, “You practically fed Huckleberry to Shark like he was chum”
“The boy’s still alive ain’t he?” Dana responded.
“It could’ve gone either way,” Santos replied.
Dana clicks her tongue, “Nah. Park wouldn’t lay a hand on Dennis, not with how much Y/N cares for him”
Santos nods, sighing in agreement. As Robby bites back a smile, all of them watching you both be completely sweet on each other.
“Besides, Y/N would win in a fight against Park hands down,” Dana added before continuing on with her work.
As Robby huffed out a laugh. A distant memory comes to mind. One involving the two strong headed Park siblings and likely a few drinks too many.
“True”
Santos stands there confused, “And what does that mean?”
“Means you should’ve seen them at the Christmas party 2 years ago,” Dana says vaguely.
“Wha–”
“You’ll have to ask them”
Santos groans in annoyance. “You guys are the worst”
“And you should be in South 19,” Robby retorts.
With that. The ER moves on. Patients come in and out. Doctors and nurses move all around.
But Dennis never strays far from you if he can help it.
Due diligent and careful.
Insistent upon going home with you, just in case.
And as you message Brendon for the hundredth time to tell him you’re ok.
That Dennis was looking after you.
…Brendon had to admit.
Even if it pained him to do so. Even if it meant admitting that you were no longer his little baby sister that he used to push on the swings or carry around on his back…
Brendon had to admit that Dennis was a pretty decent boyfriend.
Though he wouldn’t tell that to his face for a few more years…
Not until Dennis stood before him, nervous and sheepish.
Asking whether it would be ok to marry you.
Brendon would of course say that it was ultimately up to you. That Dennis would need to get approval from.
But with a pat on Dennis’ shoulder, he’d nod and say. “I hope she says yes”
Brendon could be cool and steely.
With wit as razor sharp as a Shark.
But Dennis was beginning to understand just what you meant when you said he could be soft.
At the end of the day.
All either of them wanted.
Was for you to be happy.
That was something they could agree on.