Chapter Text
This day was most definitely up there with the bad days.
Dennis couldn’t wait to get off. He had to change his scrubs too many times today; the ED was, as usual, overwhelmed by patients. Having bound his wings for hours on end was causing both his chest to sting and his wings to ache. He just wanted to be home.
Oh.
Right.
Home.
The med student winced once he remembered the argument he and Trinity had this morning and were currently avoiding each other. Well, mainly him avoiding her. Dennis felt guilty about the things that were exchanged between the two. He didn’t know if he should go back, not after everything. What if she doesn’t even want him home? He could just camp out on the eighth floor again. It won't be his bedroom, but it's the only other place he has. It’ll only be until things cool off, if they cool off.
Dennis checked on his last patient for the day, who was thankfully not as severe as the others he had to deal with and could be discharged, before handing his sign-outs to the night shift.
“Yo, Whitaker!” Mateo called out to him, and the med student turned to where he heard the falcon, who was standing aside some of the other dayshift staff, waving him over. He hesitated before making his way over once he clocked out.
“Sup?” he asked, meeting Mateo halfway
“Are you going to hang out with the rest of us tonight? It's just at the park near here.”
“Oh, uh,” he thought about it for a moment. His gaze fell on the large, dark brown wings that belonged to the nurse; his own smaller wings shifted underneath the binding that helped conceal them under his scrubs. As if they knew how different they were compared to the falcon’s before him. “Probably not tonight, today’s been a lot.”
Mateo’s wings sagged at Dennis’s reply. “Man, that's why you need to come. You gotta let loose.”
Dennis gave him an apologetic look and shook his head, “Sorry.”
“Okay, but you better show up next time.”
“I will.”
“Good. You know how everyone is, we’re a flock and all that.”
Dennis waves goodbye to Mateo as the pair part ways, and he makes his way to the fire exit to go up to the 8th floor. He paused when he heard laughter and looked over his shoulder, seeing Mateo with a few of the other residents and nurses walking out of the ED. Seeing how they all fit together despite the group being a mix of human and avian. The falcon’s words repeat in his head. Dennis? Being part of their flock? Why would anyone let someone like him in? He shoved down his thoughts and pushed open the door, finally making his way to the abandoned floor and to his old room.
He stood in the doorway as the cool, stale air gave him a sense of familiarity. The room was exactly how it was when he left on his first day here, when Trinity took him in. He set his bag down, took off his shoes, and fell forward onto the bed. As he was about to fall asleep, he heard a voice.
“Whitaker?” It was Dr. Abbot.
Shit!
Dennis immediately sprang up with a broken cheep, his eyes locked onto the owl who was currently leaning on the doorframe with his arms crossed. A tired expression on the doctor’s face as he looked at the med student with an eyebrow raised. “I, uh.” Dennis didn’t know what to say. Of course it had to be Abbot who found him here. He forgot how good his hearing was and must’ve heard him use the fire exit.
“The fuck are you doing up here? I thought you lived with Dr. Santos?”
“I do, it’s just,” his gaze shifted to the ground. “Complicated.”
“Complicated?” Abbot echoed, with a huff
“Yeah.”
“Enough to end up sneaking up here to sleep, knowing full well you aren’t allowed?”
“I…” his voice trailed off, his shoulder sagging once he realised how dumb it sounded. “Yeah.”
Abbot let out a deep sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He studied Dennis for a moment, his expression softening, before stepping into the room. “Ya know what? Give me your phone.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Just do it.” Abbot ordered as he held out his hand.
Hesitantly Dennis did what he was told and gave him his phone. He stared back at the night shift attending, watching him type something into his phone. Confusion replaced his initial anxiety at how focused Abbot was. After a moment, Dennis's phone was handed back, and he immediately checked what had been done. Turns out what he was doing was putting an address into the Maps app. He glanced back up at the owl and shook his head. No way he was letting Abbot allow him to spend the night at his place.
“I can’t do that.”
“You can, and you will. I won’t let you sleep here.”
“No, I really shouldn’t.” He doesn’t need to be helped, definitely not by him.
Abbot furrowed his brow. “Well, you’re not staying up here. It’s dealing with “complicated” or that.” He gestured to Dennis’s phone.
The med student fell silent, folding in on himself as he weighed his options. He couldn't go back to Trinity, anxious about what she’d say or even the possibility she could kick him out, and he couldn’t deal with that right now. Though spending the night at his attending's home is just wrong. He knew that Dr. Abbot and Dr. Robby had been married for probably longer than he’s been alive, and the thought of him invading their space had put a pit in his stomach.
“Fine.” he said after a moment, even though his mind screamed that this was a terrible idea.
Dennis saw how the owl relaxed, content with his answer as Abbot’s feathers settled, which had been all puffy a couple of seconds ago.
“Alright. We have a guest room, so you don’t have to worry about crashing on the couch.” Abbot explained to which the med student nodded. He then turned to leave, stopping at the door when Dennis spoke up.
“Thank you, Dr. Abbot.”
“You’re welcome. Next time if you need a place to stay the night, just ask. Even if it’s because of something complicated.”
Dennis listened to the echoing sound of Abbot’s retreating footsteps on the linoleum and let out a shaky breath as he sat in the silent room. What has he gotten himself into now? After a bit of trying to tell himself that it was fine, he grabbed his things and made his way out of the hospital. Once outside, he stared at his phone, which still had the map app open with the route already set. He was just about to walk when his phone pinged, and he squinted at the screen when he saw what the notification was: a text from Abbot.
When did he?
So that's what else he did on his phone.
Dennis shook his head with a sigh and opened the message.
Abbot: Text me when you get there. I already let Michael know. He’s getting the guest room ready.
Dennis: ok, srry.
Abbot: Don’t be.
Dennis: ok
Dennis: thank you.
Dennis: again
Abbot: You're welcome, kid.
-
The walk wasn’t long, and the closer Dennis got, the more his nerves were getting to him. Out of all the people that he ended up doing this to, it of course had to be his two attendings.
I already let Michael know.
He was already on edge because of being caught by Dr. Abbot, and now Dr. Robby has to deal with it. He already has so much to deal with; he shouldn’t be helping Dennis just because he was avoiding his own problems.
The med student grew more tense as he arrived at the townhouse. He stood outside the front door with his fist raised to the wood, hesitating to knock. His hand dropped to his side as he was about to just turn around and find somewhere else to crash. He glanced behind him and then back at the door. Just get it over with. Dennis let out a deep breath as he tried to steady himself before finally knocking on the door.
He heard movement within the home and immediately took a step back to put distance between him and the door, as if something might jump out at him. Instead, the door clicked and opened gently, and with it appeared Dr. Robby. It was odd to see him in something other than his jacket and scrubs. He was in more comfortable clothes: an old shirt and some sweatpants.
The attending stepped to the side, inviting him inside. “Hey,” Robby was casual, though Dennis could see how his eyes were soft with concern.
As he stepped in, he mumbled, "Hi," attempting to remain near the door as though he wasn’t yet allowed inside.
“So Jack found you on the 8th floor?”
“Yeah, I guess he heard me.”
A chuckle came from the older man at the image of a confused Jack. “Nothing gets past him, trust me.”
“I figured.”
“You go up there often?” Robby asked as he moved out of the entryway so that the med student could feel more comfortable being in his home.
“Not that much but just whenever it gets too chaotic.”
“I imagine it's quiet.”
“It is, yeah.” Dennis's shoulders relaxed as Robby gave him the tour, taking in his surroundings. “This is nice.”
The townhouse felt lived-in, with different photos and decorations scattered throughout. His gaze lingered on a photo near the door of a younger Abbot flying a few feet off the ground with an equally young and panicked Robby in his arms. By the titles of each of the books that covered the shelves, Dennis could tell whose books were whose and who’s more of a reader. Robby, of course, had most of the bookshelves to himself. He also noted the avian-adapted furniture, like how the couch had an opening in the back for wings.
“It fits you both.” He said, giving Robby a polite but warm smile, and the man nearly melted at the sight.
“So here it is. I made sure the bedding was clean and should be comfortable. The guest bathroom is down the hall if you need to freshen up.” He explained as the pair stopped just outside the guest room.
“Thank you.”
“Hey, it’s no problem.” Robby put a hand on Dennis’s shoulder and gave him a reassuring squeeze. “If you need anything else, let me know okay?”
“Both you and Dr. Abbot shouldn’t have to do this, but,” Dennis’s eyes met the older man’s. “Again, thank you.”
“I’m glad I can help, really. That and Jack would kill me if I didn’t.” The two held each other’s gaze for a moment before Robby cleared his throat. “I should, uh, let you relax,” Robby’s voice trailed off, and he awkwardly bounced in place, his thumbs pointing to the living room. “If you need me, just holler.”
The med student nodded. “Oh, right, yeah. Thank you.” He repeated before finally heading inside the guest room to get settled.