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July 3rd, 8pm
Shen shoulders up to Ellis, nudges her and motions in your direction. You’re talking and Jack is staring at you, clearly not listening to a word you were saying. You pause, seeing Ellis and Shen glancing at you.
“Dr. Abbot,” You snap.
He blinks. “What?”
“Walk with me. There’s a patient incoming.” You stalk to the ambulance bay.
He follows you to the side of the ER.
“Jack, you have to stop staring.”
He walks you up against the building and chuckles quietly. “I can’t admire my incredibly beautiful girlfriend take charge for Lena tonight?”
“Jack, we’re working.”
“It’s quiet, we have a minute—“ he nuzzles his face into your neck, breathing deeply.
“Ugh, you said the Q word, you're worse than John—“
Sirens blared, dousing the entrance in bright red lights.
Jack swears and his head drops to your shoulder.
You pat his back. “Sorry honey. Let’s go.”
The medic flashes you a smile as he jumps out. “My favorite nurse.”
“Whatcha got for me, Amboy?” You call out as you approach the ambulance.
You smile at him and hear Jack scoff under his breath next to you.
“Thirty-two-year-old male from a bachelor party at a strip club. Stable vitals. Probable airway foreign body. Also—”
The medic physically paused, trying not to laugh.
You narrowed your eyes immediately. “Also what?”
The patient lifted his head weakly off the stretcher. “Tell my fiancée I died a legend.”
Olive snorted so hard she had to turn away.
The medic cleared his throat. “Patient reportedly inhaled a condom during… bachelor party activities. Friends attempted Heimlich maneuver unsuccessfully. Additionally, there are novelty metal handcuffs stuck on the patient’s penis.”
Silence.
“I’m sorry, the what?” Jack asked.
Olive backed toward the nurses’ station immediately. “Nope. Not my patient. I rebuke this entire room.”
Dana burst out laughing beside you. “Oh thank god I’m clocking out.”
“You are not leaving me with this alone,” you hissed. "Olive! Get back here!"
"Nope."
Robby appeared from the hallway already tugging gloves on, looking exhausted enough that he barely blinked at the report.
“Airway first,” he said flatly. “Penis second.”
Jack pointed at him immediately. “That should be embroidered on a scrub cap.”
Whitaker looked horrified and fascinated at the same time. “Can someone actually aspirate a condom?”
“Yes,” Robby replied without missing a beat. “And now unfortunately you know that forever.”
The patient weakly pointed upward. “Her name was Destiny.”
“Of course it was,” you muttered.
The bachelor party stumbled in behind EMS seconds later, drunk, loud, and wearing matching GROOM SQUAD shirts.
One of them was actively recording on his phone.
You turned so fast your badge slapped against your chest. “If you post ONE video from my emergency department, I will personally launch that phone into the Allegheny.”
The guy immediately lowered it. “Okay, okay!”
Jack leaned against the counter watching all of this unfold with visible delight. “Walk me through how this happened, buddy.”
The patient groaned. “There was tequila.”
“Always a strong start,” Jack said.
“And a magic trick.”
Robby paused while listening to the man’s lungs. “A magic trick.”
“Destiny said she could escape handcuffs.”
“Mhm.”
“And Kyle said no way.”
From the hallway one of the friends yelled, “IT WAS REALLY FUNNY AT THE TIME.”
You pinched the bridge of your nose.
The patient continued miserably, “Then someone inflated the condom and—”
“You know what?” Robby interrupted. “Actually I’ve heard enough.”
Garcia walked into the room just in time to hear the phrase inflated the condom.
She blinked once. “I literally just came down here for a Red Bull.”
“Turn around,” you told her immediately.
“No, no,” Jack said, grinning. “Stay. Educational opportunity.”
Whitaker was turning red trying not to laugh while setting up airway equipment.
Robby pointed at him. “Bronchoscopy setup.”
Whitaker nodded quickly. “Yep. Yep. Absolutely.”
Jack folded his arms. “So who gets handcuff duty?”
Robby immediately pointed at him without looking up from the chart. “You seem passionate about it.”
Jack barked out a laugh. “Absolutely not.”
“Oh no,” you said sweetly. “It’s definitely you now.”
The patient looked at Jack with genuine fear. “Please be gentle.”
Jack stared at the ceiling for a long moment. “I served my country for this.”
He looks over at you. “Push ketamine.”
“I’ll go get it.”
Dana was halfway out the door still laughing. “Good luck, babe!”
“You’re dead to me,” you called after her on your way to the PDX.
From the hallway another drunk voice shouted, “ASK HIM ABOUT THE WHIPPED CREAM.”
The patient slapped both hands over his face. “Please don’t let me die.”
Robby closed his eyes briefly, exhausted already.
9pm
Jack is caught staring by Shen again while he watches you talk to the medic.
“Jack?”
“What?”
“I asked, are you coming to the bar after shift tomorrow? You owe me a beer.”
“No, I’ll be here.”
His mind wandered to the little black satin box tucked behind an extra set of scrubs in his locker 10 feet away.
“Do you think she’ll be there?”
“Who?”
Shen nods his head to you at your computer.
“Boss, are you—“
“PTMC, inbound trauma. Stand by for report.”
Every head at the desk lifted automatically.
You grabbed the walkie. “PTMC charge nurse, go ahead.”
Static crackled briefly before the medic’s voice came through tight and fast.
“Two-year-old male, pedestrian versus vehicle. Estimated speed thirty-five to forty miles per hour. Patient found approximately fifteen feet from point of impact. Initial GCS six on scene, now four. Agonal respirations. Bagging in progress. Bradycardic. Obvious deformity to left femur, abdominal bruising, unequal pupils.”
“ETA?”
“Four minutes.”
“Copy.”
You hung the phone up harder than intended and your voice cut across the department immediately.
“TRAUMA TWO. PEDIATRIC PED VERSUS CAR.”
Everything moved at once.
Shen came out of a patient room already pulling gloves from his pocket. “How old?”
“Two.”
His expression changed instantly.
Just that sharp, terrifying focus everyone in the department recognized.
“Respiratory to trauma two,” you called out. “Get peds airway cart. Olive, call up and see if Park is still here. Or Walsh. Dr. Ellis, get ultrasound in there.”
Parker nearly jogged trying to keep up. “Got it.”
Jack appeared beside you tying his gown behind his back. “Parents?”
“Unknown.”
“Fantastic.”
Olive was already stripping the trauma bed while Vivi hung fluids.
The room transformed in seconds.
Bright lights. Metal trays clattering. Monitor leads ready. Tiny equipment laid out with horrifying precision.
Jack stopped at the foot of the bed briefly, scanning the setup.
“Where’s the med students?”
“Triage.” You answer.
“Pull them back here, it’s all hands on deck.”
“Copy that.”
The ambulance bay doors burst open almost immediately after.
“Coming through!”
The medic bagging the child looked like she was going to cry.
The kid looked impossibly small on the stretcher.
Tiny shoes. Little dinosaur sweatshirt cut open down the middle. Blood matted in soft curls near one temple.
“On my count,” the medic said. “One, two, three.”
The transfer to the trauma bed happened fast.
Monitor leads.Pulse ox. Blood pressure cuff that looked too tiny to fit anything.
“No sats reading.”
“Continue bagging.”
“Heart rate sixty.”
“Jesus,” Jack muttered.
Shen moved to the head of the bed instantly. “Alright buddy, we’re gonna help you breathe.”
The child made a weak sound.
Barely there.
Ogilvy swallowed hard beside the ultrasound machine.
His hands were shaking.
You stepped beside him quietly while everyone moved around you both at lightning speed.
“Breathe,” you said low enough only he could hear.
He nodded once.
Then Jack’s voice snapped through the room.
“Pupils unequal. We need airway now.”
Everything accelerated.
Respiratory handed over the laryngoscope. Olive pushed meds. Jack cut the rest of the sweatshirt away.
Bruises bloomed dark across the child’s abdomen.
“Tube’s in,” Shen said sharply.
“Color change.”
“Equal breath sounds.”
“Heart rate forty-eight.”
The room went colder.
“Start compressions.”
Jack climbed onto the stool immediately, his hand pressing carefully into the tiny chest.
“One, two, three, four—”
The mother’s scream echoed from somewhere out in the hallway.
Raw. Animal. Devastating.
You looked toward the trauma bay doors instinctively as security tried to hold her back gently.
“That’s my baby! THAT’S MY BABY!”
Everyone in the room felt it.
Jack didn’t look up once.
“Epi in.”
“Running.”
“Continue compressions.”
The monitor beeped slowly.
Oligivy looked pale now.
You touched his shoulder briefly as you moved past him toward the doors.
“I’ve got mom.”
Outside the trauma bay, the mother nearly collapsed the second she saw you.
Blood on her sweater. Hands shaking violently.
“Please,” she gasped. “Please tell me he’s okay.”
You caught her before she hit the floor completely.
And behind you, through the trauma room doors, you could still hear Jack counting compressions.
10pm
Parker sets a can of Coke at your elbow.
“Thanks my love.”
“Have you heard anything about the little boy?”
“Last I heard, he was in surgery. Stable.”
Parker sighs. “That’s something.”
11pm
Jack follows you into the bathroom.
“You are such a creep.”
“I just wanted to see my girlfriend.”
“Jack, I really have to pee.”
He sighs and turns around, facing the wall. “Just go, I won’t look.”
“No. Get out.”
“Baby—“
“You are just a creepy old man following a nurse into the bathroom. Go check on your patients.”
1am
“Creepy old man, huh?”
You jump and the supplies you were pulling off the shelves fly everywhere.
“FUCK JACK!” you yell.
“Shut up and just kiss me,” he says as he backs you up against the supply closet wall covering your mouth with his. He hauls you up and you humor him by wrapping your legs around his waist.
You laugh quietly against his mouth. “HR is going to have a field day with you.”
“Me?” Jack asked. “No, you seduced me! You literally started this.”
“Put me down.”
“Just let me —“
You gently tug his hair so his face is forced to look at yours. He’s got a smirk on his face.
You press a chaste kiss to his lips.
“No baby. Put me down.”
“Fine.” He gives your ass a squeeze as you wiggle down.
He groans.
“You’re going to owe me $500 if Lena finds you like this,” You pat his cheek.
3am
You’re sitting at Central, sipping at a warm Coke. Jack sits next to you and starts typing.
“You’ve been sipping at that Coke since 11.”
“Yeah well some of us haven’t had time to pee without creepy old men following us into the bathroom. Or the supply closet. Freak.”
Jack chuckles. “Baby—“
“Not here,” you hiss, looking around.
“Don’t even start. It’s just us.”
“I feel like the bags under my eyes need a plane ticket.” You rub your eyes.
“You’re beautiful.”
“Oh, leave me alone.”
5am
“Dana, I don’t want to come back.”
“Honey, please. We could really use you this afternoon. Fourth of July and all.”
You sigh and slump over, burying your head in your arms.
“Fuck. Fine.”
Olive pats your shoulder. “It’ll be okay.”
6am
You barely dry off from your scalding hot shower before you close the black out curtains and crawl under the covers.
“What was the name of the medic you were talking to tonight?”
You sigh. “Jack, I don’t know. I have to wake up in 4 hours.”
He moves closer to your back and pulls you up against him.
“You don’t know?” He buries his face in your hair, running his hands over your hips.
“No. I didn’t ask.”
“Are you sure?”
You sigh again, but this time it’s softer, already melting under the heat of his body pressed against your back. The sheets are cool against your still-damp skin, but Jack is warm—solid and insistent—his chest flush to you, one arm sliding around your waist to pull you tighter.
“Yes, my love. I didn’t ask,” you repeat, though the protest is half-hearted now. His hand drifts lower, fingertips tracing the curve of your hip, slipping under the hem of the oversized t-shirt you threw on after the shower.
Jack’s lips brush the shell of your ear, voice low and rough with want. “Good. Because the only name I want on your lips is mine.”
He kisses the side of your neck, open-mouthed and slow, while his palm slides up your stomach, cupping your breast. Your breath catches as his thumb circles your nipple, coaxing it into a tight peak. You arch back into him instinctively, feeling the hard length of his cock already straining against your ass through his boxers.
“Jack…” The word slips out like a prayer as he rocks his hips forward, grinding against you with deliberate pressure. He tugs your shirt higher, bunching it under your arms so nothing separates his skin from yours. His other hand slips between your thighs, finding you already slick and warm.
“Fuck, you’re so wet for me,” he groans against your shoulder, two fingers gliding through your folds before circling your clit with perfect, teasing strokes. You moan softly, pushing back against his hand, chasing the pleasure that’s building fast.
He doesn’t make you wait long. Jack shifts, rolling you onto your back and settling between your spread thighs in one smooth motion. The blackout curtains swallow every trace of light, leaving only the sound of your breathing and the rustle of sheets. His mouth claims yours in a deep, hungry kiss—tongues sliding, teeth grazing—as he pushes his boxers down just enough to free himself.
You feel the thick head of his cock nudge at your entrance, sliding up and down your wetness before he presses forward. Inch by inch he sinks into you, stretching you open with that delicious burn you crave. A broken whimper escapes your throat as he bottoms out, buried to the hilt.
“Jack—oh god…”
He stills for a moment, forehead pressed to yours, breathing hard. “That’s it, baby. Just feel me.” Then he starts to move—slow, deep rolls of his hips that drag against every sensitive spot inside you. Your legs wrap around his waist, heels digging into his back, urging him deeper.
The rhythm builds quickly. His thrusts grow harder, faster, the wet slap of skin on skin filling the dark room. One of his hands grips your thigh, spreading you wider while the other braces beside your head. You cling to his shoulders, nails digging into muscle as pleasure coils tight and hot in your core.
“Look at me,” he rasps, even though the room is nearly pitch black. You open your eyes anyway, finding his gaze locked on yours in the faint shadows. “I want to watch you come.”
He angles his hips just right, grinding against your clit with every thrust until the tension snaps. You cry out his name as your orgasm crashes over you—walls pulsing hard around his cock, thighs shaking, pleasure flooding every nerve.
Jack follows right after, burying himself deep with a guttural groan as he spills inside you, hips jerking with each pulse. He collapses over you, careful not to crush you, pressing lazy kisses along your jaw and neck while you both catch your breath.
After a moment he rolls to the side, pulling you against his chest. His hand strokes down your back soothingly, voice soft in the darkness.
“That was amazing.”
You stretch and roll, getting up and disappearing into the bathroom. You slide back into bed and snuggle up to him.
“I was just thinking.” He says.
“What were you thinking? Oh and by the way, I’ve got three hours left now to sleep before I told Dana I’d go back and help.”
“I was thing that out of the two of us, you’re going to be the one that gets us outed at work.”
“Jack, Shen and Parker caught you staring at me twice today. Parker said something to me in passing at around 4:30am. If you keep it up, I’ll be taking your $500 and getting the best pedicure.”
Jack hums. “You could just go get your toes done, you know.”
“I’m surprised Robby hasn’t blabbed to Dana or Lena.”
“I think I’m not surprised because I haven't told him.”
You look up at him. “What?”
“I haven’t gotten around to telling him. He’s going through something right now, I don’t want to add to it.”
You frown at him and then settle down in his arms. It doesn’t take more than five minutes and your breathing slows
Jack stares at the ceiling fan and thought again about the little satin black box now in his gun safe. He made a mental note to take it out while he made their coffee in a few hours. He had a TEMS shift, so he’d need his gun and it wouldn’t be suspicious for him to be digging around in the gun safe.
10am
You wake to your alarm buzzing, a cold bed and the smell of a fresh cup of coffee.
“What’s this?”
“I can’t do something nice for my girlfriend?”
“I always make the coffee. Why are you dressed already?”
“God forbid I do something nice for you.” He sets two mugs down on the nightstand.
You smile as he stares at you. You tug him down for a brief kiss.
“You have your TEMS shift today, right?
“Yeah.”
You sigh. “Please be careful. I’ll see you at handoff tonight, right?”
“Yeah, hopefully I’ll catch a nap before my shift.”
“What do you mean?”
He looks at you with a quizzical smile.
“Jack Abbot, you said it’s a drill and it would take two hours tops.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s not a drill — you’re planning to need a nap just in case? No, I think you’re doing a stake out during a SWAT operation!”
“Baby, I—“
You hit him with a pillow. “You are such a liar your pants are on fire!”
“Hey now!”
You fall back onto the bed. “Fine. Don’t get killed please. I don’t know if I have it in me to get involved with another doctor at that hospital.”
“Oh?”
“I just got you trained how I want. You’re exhausting.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Robby is so emotionally constipated and on his way to a mental institution but I could make it work as long as he stays out of my way.”
He pulls you up and starts tugging off your clothes. “Come on, I gotta go. Coffee is fresh. Get in the shower and I’ll see you tonight.”
“Shen would make a Dunkin’ runs whenever I want but I just know he leaves his dirty socks all over.”
Jack chuckles.
You pause.
”I bet Parker and I would be really happy together, though.”
Jack looks at you in horror. “You would get with Parker if I died?”
You shrug. “She isn’t an adrenaline junkie like some people I know.”
He leans down and kisses your nose. “Up and at ‘em, pookie.”
“I’m not going in until 11.”
“It’s 10 right now.”
You whimper. “Damn it.”
He gives you a towel and pushes you to the bathroom.
“Think of the money. We could go on vacation.”
You brighten at that comment.
“Okay fine.” You kiss his cheek. “I love you.”
“Get some.”
You roll your eyes. “Be safe.”
He waits until he hears the shower start and then slips out of the apartment.
11am
1124 Jack it is a literal nightmare here
1129 I can’t Jack someone abandoned a baby
*sends a photo of a little baby foot*
It’s normal to not hear from him for a bit but he insists you keep up the commentary. He manages to take two seconds to remind you it was your turn to watch Robby today.
1137 Oh you’re going to love the new attending
1140 She’s sassing Robby
1141 I love her
1145 Maybe she’ll propose before you
1215 Oh Robby isn’t doing well. I’m going to talk to him.
1229 Well he just bit my head off
1242 Trinity is literally his daughter
1243 I’m never working day shift again
1256 Something is off with Samira but she won’t tell me what
1pm
Princess sets her pen down and answers the phone. “PTMC charge, go ahead medic command.”
She pauses, listening carefully.
“Copy that. Robby, incoming injured police officer ETA 3 Minutes.”
Your eyes snap to Robby’s.
You hurry around the counter, grab a gown. You look at Jack as he barrels in and breathes in sharply.
“Jack, is that Derek?” You ask, staring at the young man as you rush over to the gurney.
“Intubated neck wound, sats not great. We were diverted here. Is there a trauma room open?” Jack calls out.
“Do you know him?” Robby asks.
“Trauma 1!” Princess yells back.
“What’s the story?”
“His name is Derek —“ you start.
“My buddy, Officer Hiro, high-velocity GSW,” Jack says at the same time. “He’s getting harder to bag.”
You meet his eyes and shake your head slightly at him.
“Warehouse robbery gone sideways.”
“Oh?” Robby asks.
“On my count - One, two, three.”
Jack moves over to the bed, snapping gloves on. “I thought you left us already for the open road?”
Robby starts cutting the bandage from the patient's neck. “And miss seeing you in uniform?”
“You should see me as a flight attendant.”
“Did you do this intubation?” Robby asks.
“Under active fire, yeah.”
Santos pauses. “Are you serious?”
“I go in with the team in case there’s an injury.”
“That’s badass.”
You snort out a laugh and Santos whips her face toward you. You shake your head.
“Sorry, I choked on a mint.”
“Dr. Santos, let’s make sure these lungs are up.” Jack is staring at you. Again.
“Could you see the cords?”
“Yeah, there was a great view, but it was hard to pass after I cleared them.”
“Dr. Santos, what could cause respiratory failure in an intubated patient?” Robby asks.
“There are a lot of possibilities.”
“Think DOPE.” Jack prompts.
Santos takes a deep breath. “Displacement, Obstruction, Pneumothorax, Equipment failure.”
“Good lung sliding, no pneumo.” She calls out.
Robby finishes cutting away the bandages. “It is displacement.” He snipes the balloon with his scissors and pulls the tube.
“Okay, that is a transected trachea,” he says. “Shit.”
“I’ll call the OR and trauma surgery,” you call out.
“ENT too,” Robby calls out.
“Copy!”
You walk up to Robby typing away on the COW. “Hiro’s up in surgery. Good job on the trachea.”
“How did you know him?”
“Oh, he’s a friend of a friend.”
“Uh huh.”
Robby looks up and is watching Jack and Baran talk a few feet away.
You smirk at Robby when he looks at you and then back at them.
Jack looks at the two of you after Baran leaves and smiles.
“She seems cool,” he quips.
“Yep, maybe. I will not be around long to find out,” Robby snaps.
You raise your eyebrows at Jack after Robby leaves. “Oh? She seems cool? Really?”
You peel off your gloves and hurl them at him.
“Hey!”
“You are such a pain in the ass. I’m going to go hold the baby.”
He sighs after the door shuts. He mutters under his breath, “Hey Jack, are you okay? Fine, baby. I’m good. Thanks.”
You’re rocking the baby when he slips into the room.
“Dr. Abbot, can I help you?”
“Just checking on my favorite person.”
He shuts the door and leans down.
“Jack, isn’t she beautiful?”
“Yes, she is.”
“I’m going to stay with her until the foster family picks her up.”
He kneels down slowly, bracing on the rocker, watching you rock the baby.
“Robby has been insufferable today.”
“Oh?”
“I think he knows something's up.”
“What did you do?”
“Me?!”
“Yes, you.”
“Ugh. You stink. Go shower or something.”
He huffs. “Fine.” He hauls up and kisses your head.
He glances at you and the baby before silently closing the door to the ER chaos.
Ten minutes later you get a text from Samira marked as urgent.
1353 South 15
1353 NOW
You tuck the baby into the bassinet and make your way across the floor. You burst into the exam room.
“Jack, you were SHOT?”
He shoots a look at Samira. “So much for our little secret.”
Samira shrugs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Hello? You were shot?!” Your voice rises a few notes.
“Shot at, honey.”
“This just confirms my suspicions,” Samira says with a big smile. She looks at you. “My suspicions that I’ve had since today only!”
You clap a hand over your mouth.
Jack looks at you. “You owe me $500. I knew you were going to be the one that blew it.”
You close your eyes and take a deep breath. “You were shot?”
Samira chuckles. “This makes me so happy. I was having a shit day but I feel great now.”
“Mira please. I’m begging you to shut up.”
“No, this is great.” She looks at Jack. “Does Robby know?”
“Jack, I told you this morning to be safe and now you have a gunshot wound?! Why didn’t you say something earlier?”
“You said to not get killed actually —“
Samira clears her throat. “Because if I know first, him, Shen, Parker and Crus owe me $900.”
“WHAT?” You both yell at her.
Jack rubs a hand over his face.
“Put a shirt on,” you snap. “You know I can’t focus with your tits on display.”
“Dr. Mohan, can you give us a minute? Please?”
“Mira, please stay. I’m clearly not needed here and I’m going to go check on the baby.”
“Oh, okay. I’m injured and you’re not even concerned.”
“You are such a pain in my ass, it's literally not even funny.”
“You keep calling me that!” He calls after you.
You slam the exam room door.
He smiles at Samira. “I’m going to marry that woman.”
She smiles and slaps his shoulder. He yelps.
“Hell yeah you are!” she chuckles. “But seriously, if I’m the first one you guys told, they owe me $900.”
2pm
Perlah pokes her head in.
“Computer system is going down. Princess won the pot.”
You scoff. “Damn it. I really needed the money.”
“You doing okay?”
“Yeah, I just ate. I found Trinity singing to her.”
Perlah smiles. “Let me know if you need to switch.”
“Never. I brought a book.”
3pm
Jack finds you walking in circles in the room. The baby is wailing and you are shushing her, patting her bottom gently.
“I got your text and brought a bottle.”
“Perfect timing. Will you take her? I have to pee.”
“No I’m—“
“I'll be back in five minutes. Donnie is busy.”
You motions to him to sit in the rocker.
“I’ll be right back.”
Jack sits and rocks the baby girl while she settles on the bottle.
You come back in and turn the lights off. You stand next to the chair and he wraps an arm around your legs. You both just stare at the little life he’s holding.
You hesitate. “Jack, I want—“
Parker bursts in.
“Hey you, I’m going to nap in here if you want to step out —“
“Shit!” You shove Jack’s arm off your leg and step away.
“I KNEW it. Shen said I was wrong this morning!”
“Dr. Ellis —“
“Dr. Abbot!” She snaps back at him. “Robby needs you in T1.”
You hold out your hands to him. “I’ll take her.”
Parker does a little bounce following him out and winks at you.
“Did I find out first?
You roll your eyes at her. “Get out. But come back and tell me about the disposition!”
Samira pokes her head in. “Jack asked me to tell you he’s taking a patient to Presby for a scan. He’ll be back in an hour or so.”
You smile. “Thanks Mira.”
Samira comes over and sits on the couch.
“Does Jack know you told me everything the morning after you guys had sex for the first time? And then again when you moved in?”
“No he doesn’t, and if you want to win the pot we’re going to keep it that way.”
You bring Jane up to your shoulder and pat her back.
“How are you feeling?” You ask her.
Samira rubs her face and tells you about her anxiety attack. The work up. Robby’s reaction.
“Oh, Mira. We’ll do some research and you know Jack will write you a recommendation letter.”
“I’m okay now. Robby bit my head off but I’m working through it.”
“Yeah well he bit my head off earlier too.”
You talk her through your confrontation with Robby earlier.
You set the baby in the bassinet and move to sit next to Samira. You put your head on her shoulder.
“I want to take her home.”
“What would Jack think?”
“We have a spare room.”
“You do.”
“I’ll bring it up when he gets back from Presby.”
Samira leans her head on yours.
“She’s sleeping, why don’t you go get a cup of coffee?”
“Oooo, that's a good idea. Want anything?”
“I wouldn’t say no to a smoothie.”
“I got you.”
4pm
You dial up Jack for a FaceTime call.
“Hello you.”
“Hi my love. I’m going to the coffee shop. Want anything for when you get back?”
“I want a lot of things.”
“Coffee, Jack.”
“No, I’m going to try to power nap before my shift.”
“How was the ride to Presby?”
“Good. The patient is stable and we’re on our way back.”
You hears his voice muffled. “It’s my girlfriend, Howard.”
You hear a robotic voice, “Dr. Abbot is a catch. You’re a lucky woman.”
“You’re going to make me blush, Howard.”
“Why would you answer if you’re with a patient, Jack?”
“Howard encouraged me to. He’s very persuasive.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Save some coffee for me,” he chuckles.
“God, Jack. I’ll get you your usual.” You hang up.
He smiles at Howard. “I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
“Good luck Dr. Abbot,” The robotic voice said.
Robby looked at Jack. “Good luck for what?”
“Convincing you to not go on your stupid spirit quest,” Jack snaps.
You walk up to the two of them, hand Robby an Americano, Jack his decaf latte and turned around to hand Dana Samira’s drink. “Can you get this to Dr. Mohan? I’ll be in with the baby.”
“You’re not on shift anymore, kid.”
“Yeah, well, my little girlfriend needs to be held.”
“Oh sweetheart.”
5pm
Jack pops his head into Pedes. You have the baby on your chest and you both are out like a light. He wasn’t worried about placement because you both were propped up with so many pillows. Soft 90’s country played from your phone.
He’ll just send you a text that he’s going to go home to sleep.
7pm
“Baby Jane Doe, abandoned in the waiting room bathroom this morning. Febrile earlier but resolved with acetaminophen.” You report to the group of med students and residents.
A young woman — an intern, by the looks of it -- jumps in with an “I’ll take her!”
“Sold to Dr. Nazely.” Jack says.
You smile at the young doctor. “We’re waiting for CYF placement but I’m staying until they show. She just had a bottle about an hour ago.” You glance at Jack.
Crus looks at Jack. “What are you looking at him for?”
“What? I’m not.”
“You are.” His eyes go wide. “Am I the first one to find out?”
“Find out what?” Asks Whitaker.
“Moving on!” Jack grumbles.
You shake your head at Crus and grin at him. “Sorry.”
“Damn it.” He follows Jack out of the room.
8pm
Jack poked his head in the darkened exam room. You could tell he was trying to act nonchalant, checking in on you and the baby for the second time in an hour.
“I’m really worried about Robby, Jack. He bit my head off this afternoon.”
“He did what, exactly?”
“Oh don’t get your panties in a twist. I’m fine. He isn’t.”
“I’m taking care of it.”
You look down at the baby. “I don’t want him going on his stupid trip.”
“I know.”
You sigh. “It’s your turn to check on him. Send him in here when you get a chance?”
“Of course.”
9pm
Robby knocks gently on the door. You call him in quietly.
“You beckoned?”
“Are you leaving soon?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Robby, come on.”
“What?” He snaps at you. His eyes are bright while they search your face.
“You bite my head off again, we’re going to have a problem.”
Robby scrubs his face with his hands. “I’m sorry. It’s been a day.”
You tilt your head at his tone. “Yeah. Sit with her and I’m going to warm up a bottle.”
You turn, not giving him a chance to say anything back, opening the door and heading to Dylan.
“Hey Dylan, where do you keep the formula? Baby Jane Doe needs a bottle.”
“Of course, I’ll run up and get some.”
You turn back to Pedes and open the door. You stop in the doorway and watch Robby fix your poorly done swaddle. He’s murmuring to her softly. You watch him pick her up and rub her back.
You hear a sniffle and decide you have time to go up to the roof. Stepping away quietly, you move across the bay to get a glimpse of Jack. You catch his eye and point to the roof. He shakes his head and points over his shoulder. You roll your eyes at him and turn toward the elevator. You climb the steps to the roof and let the muggy air hit your face.
Samira hands you a beer. You scrunch your nose. “Mira, literally anything else.”
She throws her arm over your shoulder.
“Heard from your mom?”
“Nope. Told Jack you want to take the baby home?”
“Nope.”
You take a pull of the beer, watching the lights dance across the night sky.
“I’m just so tired.” Samira stares up at the fireworks.
“Want to come over and get shitfaced off of the fancy bottles of wine we have?”
“Yeah?”
You sigh and look at your watch. “CYF’s foster mom took the baby 10 minutes ago.”
“Oh?”
“Hmm. I think it’s for the best that I didn't tell Jack.”
You both lay back on the cool concrete. You find her hand and grasp it. The contrast of the black sky and bright light from the fireworks is almost overwhelming.
11pm
You stretch and stand, swaying slightly. “Crap. Mira, I can’t drive.”
“We’ll Uber! Make Jack pay for it, I have his card saved.”
“Why in the hell do you have my boyfriend’s card?”
“Because your boyfriend can’t resist being the hero,” Samira rolls her eyes. “I’ll tell you when we get in the car.”
“Cool. Let’s go. I know which bottle I want to start with.”
July 5
12am
Tears welled up in your eyes.
“And he paid for the Uber?” You sniffle. “He’s disgustingly cute.”
Samira tilts back the last of an Italian Merlot. “Yeah. Disgusting.”
1am
“Oh I think we should open the champagne! I’m pretty sure there’s orange juice in the fridge.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Samira throws back her second glass of a delicious rosé.
“I'll tell you what you’re going to do.” You peer into the empty bottle. “You’re going to go into the kitchen and grab the strawberry wine from Louisiana and we’re going to destroy it.”
“No, about my fellowship.”
“No, you’re going to go to pound town with Henderson.”
Samira burst out laughing. “Pound town?”
“You cannot tell me you haven’t thought about it.”
She pauses. “I just want to see it. I bet it’s huge.”
You snort. “I’ll ask Jack. I bet he’s seen it in the locker room.”
“Nooooooooo!”
You pick up your phone. “Let’s ask him right now.”
“Nooooooooo!”
You tap your phone and put him on speaker.
“Well hello,” Jack answers.
“Have you seen Henderson’s penis?”
Jack coughs. “Excuse me?”
“Have you?”
“Why? You know what, I don’t want to know.”
”Pleaseeeeee?!” You whine.
”No. How much have you had to drink?”
”Just the bottle of rosé, and that champagne that’s been on top of the fridge for forever.”
Jack sighs. "That bottle was expensive."
“Come on, Jack. Help a girl out!” Samira hollers into the phone.
“No. I’m hanging up.”
8am
The sun streaks through the windows. Jack unlocks the door to your shared apartment. As he’s talking off his shoes, he sees three empty wine bottles on the table. He sighs, walking into the living room to see you and Samira passed out on the couch.
After checking to make sure you’re both breathing, he takes the little satin box out of his pocket and stuffs it in his sock drawer. Maybe yesterday wasn’t the day. You both had the next few days off and you apparently wanted to start your weekend early.
You hear the coffee pot perk and you groan.
“Here you go.” Jack cracks open a Pedialyte and hands it to you. “Chug.”
You grimace.
“I heard you started with beer on the roof and ended with wine on the couch.”
“Not my smartest choice.”
“I hope you enjoyed that $300 bottle of champagne.”
“It was worth it,” Samira mumbled from the other end of the couch.
Jack hands her a Pedialyte.
“You can’t open mine? Rude.”
“You’re fine,” he tells her. “I’m going to get some sleep. Do you ladies want the bed?”
“No, this is fine.”
He learns down, kisses your temple and throws a blanket over you two.
“Don’t wake me for a while.”
“Did Robby leave, Jack?”
“He did. About an hour ago.”
You and Samira look at each other.
“When is he coming back?”
“I don’t know. He’ll call if he needs anything.”
You hum, reaching for the Pedialyte. “Sleep well.”
2pm
Jack feels you lift up the sheets and scoot up to his back. He rolls over, groaning.
“Come on, I wanted to be the big spoon.”
“No. You’re only the big spoon when I’m sleeping, and I’m awake now.”
He slides his arm under your pillow and pulls you closer to him.
“Jack, I’m really worried about Robby.”
“Baby, he’s fine.”
“You keep saying that but I don’t think he is.”
Jack sighs. “I really don’t want to talk about Robby while I have an erection.”
“Jesus, Jack.”
“How’s your hangover? Did Samira leave?”
“It’s fine. I wanted to snuggle but I think you have other plans.”
Jack’s large hand starts rubbing slow circles up and down your back, pulling you even closer. The hard, heavy line of his cock slides against the soft skin of your inner thigh, hot and insistent. He rocks his hips once, letting you feel exactly what he wants.
“I do have other plans. Fucking you senseless on our first day off together in weeks is the first part of this elaborate plan.”
He kisses you deeply, tongue sliding against yours as his hand slips under your shirt and palms your breast. Then he starts moving lower, kissing down your neck, your collarbone, and tugging your shirt up and off. When he reaches your hips, he hooks his fingers into your panties and slowly drags them down your legs, tossing them aside.
Instead of moving back up, Jack settles between your thighs, spreading them wide with his broad shoulders. He looks up at you with dark, hungry eyes as he presses a slow, open-mouthed kiss right over your clit.
“Jack…” you breathe, your fingers threading into his hair.
He doesn’t answer with words. He answers with his tongue—lapping slowly through your folds, savoring you like he has all the time in the world. He groans against your pussy, the vibration making your hips twitch. Then he licks firmer, circling your clit before sucking it gently between his lips.
Your back arches off the bed as pleasure sparks through you. Jack slides two thick fingers inside you, curling them against that perfect spot while his mouth works your clit with steady, devastating rhythm. He eats you out like he’s starving for it—messy, passionate, and completely focused on every moan and shudder he pulls from you.
“Fuck, you taste so good,” he murmurs against your soaked flesh, adding a third finger and pumping them faster. His tongue flicks quickly over your clit, then flattens and licks broad strokes until your thighs start trembling around his head.
You come hard on his tongue, crying out his name as your hips buck and your walls clench around his fingers. Jack keeps licking you through it, gentling his movements but not stopping until you’re panting and whimpering.
Only then does he crawl back up your body, kissing a wet trail up your stomach and between your breasts. His mouth claims yours in a deep kiss so you can taste yourself on his tongue. He pushes his boxers down, frees his throbbing cock, and lines himself up at your entrance.
“Ready for me, baby?” he asks, voice rough.
You nod eagerly, legs wrapping around his waist. Jack sinks into you in one smooth, deep thrust, groaning at how wet and tight you are after your orgasm. He fucks you with long, powerful strokes—building quickly until the bed is creaking and you’re both gasping into each other’s mouths.
He drives you through a second, even stronger orgasm before he finally buries himself deep and comes hard, pulsing inside you with a low, satisfied groan.
You both stay tangled together, breathing hard. Usually Jack forces you to pee after sex and get cleaned up, but he hasn’t moved off you in a few minutes. His body is heavy and warm on top of yours, face buried in your neck.
“Jack, I need to pee.”
“One second.”
He doesn’t move.
“Jack.”
He groans dramatically and finally rolls off you. “God forbid I want to cuddle with my girlfriend after she rocked my world.”
“Rocked your world? Are you serious?” You laugh, stretching languidly before climbing out of bed and padding to the bathroom.
When you come back a few minutes later, Jack is sitting up against the headboard, the sheet pooled low around his waist. His eyes track you hungrily as you tug on one of his old Army shirts and shimmy into a pair of sleep shorts. Soft morning light spills through the curtains, catching the smug, thoroughly satisfied smirk on his face.
You grab your Kindle from the nightstand and slide back under the covers beside him.
“Shoot,” you mumble, glancing toward your nightstand. “I forgot to fill up my water bottle.”
You look over at him with an exaggerated pout.
Jack sighs. “Fine. I have to clean up anyway.”
He swings his legs over the edge of the bed and reaches for his prosthetic. You hand him the water bottle before he disappears toward the kitchen.
You get so wrapped up in your book that you don’t realize nearly ten minutes have passed.
“Jack?” you call.
“I’m coming.”
His voice sounds strained.
A second later he steps back into the bedroom, visibly pale.
You immediately sit up. “Jack… are you sick?”
“What? No.”
“Why do you look like you’re about to throw up?”
“I don’t.” He crosses the room and sits carefully on the edge of the bed. “I’m fine.”
“You’re turning green.”
You press the back of your hand to his forehead.
“You’re white as a ghost, and you’re sweating.” Your voice softens with concern as you scoot over and pat the mattress beside you. “Come back to bed.”
“My God, woman.” He lets out a shaky laugh. “Can you just let me do this?”
Before you can ask what he means, he slides off the bed and lowers himself onto one knee — his good knee.
Your breath catches.
In his hand is a small black satin box.
Your eyes go wide. “Holy shit.”
Jack huffs out a nervous chuckle, looking more terrified now than he ever has.
“I don’t want to keep you a secret anymore,” he says quietly. “I want everyone to know you’re mine.” He opens the box. “So… Do you want to get married?”
You’re already smiling so hard it hurts.
“Hell yes.”
Relief crashes across his face so fast it makes you laugh. He’s back on the bed in an instant, tackling you into the mattress while he kisses anywhere he can reach — your cheek, your jaw, your forehead — both of you laughing breathlessly.
Then, against your neck, he mutters, “Samira told me everything, honey. You owe me five hundred bucks.”