Chapter Text
This fic was inspired by the song Last Night I Realized I’m in Love With You by Joshua Slone :)
Dennis Whitaker MS1- Two Months Later
“Come on, Dennis, come out with us tonight. You bailed last time.” His roommate, Devin, whines, tugging on his sleeve like a child. Their friends, two other med students, stood by the door, used to these theatrics.
“If I agree to go this time, we’re going to a gay bar next time.” Dennis huffs, moving through the apartment to change. Devin was relentless, and Dennis knew he would hear about it for the next forever if he refused to go out with his friends twice in a row. Besides, classes were going well, and he was caught up on all of his work; he had no real reason to blow them off.
The four of them pile into an Uber heading to one of their favorite bars across town. The bar is packed even for a Friday night. Once they’re inside, Dennis could hardly breathe without bumping into someone.
“I’m gonna go grab a drink. I’ll find y’all in a bit.” Dennis yells over the music and chatter. Devin nods.
“Good luck.” He yells before disappearing into the mass of bodies. Dennis makes his way to the bar, squeezing his way through sweaty bodies, his shoes sticking to the alcohol soaked floors.
Dennis walks up to the bar, leaning his elbows on it and motioning for the bartender. She nods at him, holding up a finger to signal ‘just a minute’ and points at another man on the other end of the bar. Dennis follows her pointed finger to see the familiar face that has taken over Dennis’s wildest dreams.
The bartender makes her way to Robby, a drink in hand, setting it on the bar in front of him. They chat for a second before she comes back over to take Dennis’s order.
After getting his drink of choice, a vodka cran, Dennis turns around to see if he can spot his friends, only to bump into,
“Whoa, careful.” A strong hand comes up to grasp his shoulder, steadying him.
“Dr. Robby?” The older man is even more stunning than Dennis remembers. Dennis blinks up at him.
“Just Robby is fine, Dennis, we’re in a bar, not the classroom,” Robby says with a chuckle, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Okay, Just Robby.” Dennis teases. He motions to a high-top table not far from them that was just abandoned. Robby rests a hand on his lower back and guides the way to it.
“So how have the first few months of med school been?” Robby asks casually, settling himself on one of the stools at the table.
“Good, though no other lectures have been as interesting as yours,” Dennis says, smiling softly before taking a sip of his drink. He can feel his cheeks heat up a little at his attempt at flirting. God, why does he suck at this? Robby chuckles.
“Really?”
“Mhm. You’re a hard act to follow, I guess.” Dennis shrugs. “So how’s the ED?” Dennis asks, not wanting this conversation to end.
“Well, you know, they call it The Pitt for a reason, and it’s certainly not because it's in Pittsburgh.” Robby scrubs at his face.
“Rough day?” Dennis asks, setting his drink down, giving the older man his full attention.
“You could say that, yeah.” Robby shifts in his seat. “I lost a patient today, and it’s sticking with me, I guess. I mean, they all do, but especially this one. She was the same age as my son Jake.” He explains. Dennis must pull some kind of face at the news that Robby has a son because he laughs.
“He’s not technically my son; his mom and I dated years ago, but in the two years that we dated, Jake and I grew pretty close. She’s kind enough to let me still be in his life. Anyways, he’s a senior in high school, which makes me feel beyond old.” Dennis laughs.
“I’m sorry to hear about your patient. I can’t imagine how hard that must be, especially when they remind you of your own kid.” Robby grins at Dennis in a way that Dennis has come to realize means he is going to tease the younger man.
“Well, well, well, looks like someone has paid attention in those bedside manner lectures. Excellent use of Empathy Whitaker.” Dennis ducks his head at the compliment.
The two chat for a while about random things, mostly med school and life in the ED. Robby shares some funny stories, beaming when Dennis laughs along with him. Dennis isn't sure how much time has passed, but when he goes to sip his drink again, he finds it empty. He frowns down at the empty cup.
“Do you want another?” Robby motions towards Dennis’s empty cup that he had been staring at as if it had offended him. Dennis’s gaze snaps up, meeting Robby’s.
“Um. Yeah, I guess so. I’ll be-” The younger man moves to stand, but Robby stops him with a hand on his shoulder.
“Stay, I’ll go grab it. A vodka cran, right?” Dennis blinks at him before nodding.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Robbie smiles at him, causing Dennis’s heart to speed up, the thumping so loud he can almost hear it over the loud booming of the music.
“I’ll be right back.” Dennis watches as the older man disappears into the crowd in the direction of the bar. Now and then, he can catch glimpses of him as people bob to the music and sway with the alcohol. Dennis was entirely too sober for his current situation, sitting in a bar with a hot older man that he had met in class, of all places.
“Who’s the absolute daddy that you were chatting up?” Claire, one of Devin’s friends, slurs. She drapes her arm around his shoulders, stumbling into him. Clearly, she has had far more to drink than Dennis has.
“Hmmm? You mean Robby?” Dennis asks, pointing towards where the man stands at the bar.
“So that’s his name? He’s hot for an older guy.” She says.
“I suppose.” Dennis tries to be nonchalant. “He taught a guest lecture for one of my classes; he’s a doctor.
“OOOO a doctor. You go, Denny.” Claire is suddenly peeled from Dennis’s side by Jill, her girlfriend, who shoots Dennis an apologetic look.
“Sorry, Dennis, she’s had a lot, we’re gonna head home.” The two are making their way to the exit when Robby gets back with two drinks in hand.
“Friends of yours?” He asks, nodding towards the door the two girls were walking out of.
“Sort of, friends of my roommates.” Robby hums, taking a sip of what seems to be a soda?
“You don’t drink?”
“I do sometimes. I’m just too old to party like I used to.” The man lets out a self-deprecating laugh, sipping his Coke once more.
“Oh come on, you’re not that old.” Dennis rolls his eyes playfully.
“I’m old enough to be your father.” Robby raises a brow at Dennis, as if to say, “See, old.”
“Lucky for you, I have a poor relationship with my father.” Dennis raises his glass in a toast before taking a sip. Robby furrows his brows, no doubt trying to figure out how that’s relevant.
“So-” Dennis starts, but gets cut off by Devin approaching, another man in tow.
“Den, Den, I’m going home with Chance-”
“Chase”
“With Chase. Don’t wait up.” Dennis sighs as Devin stumbles off following his hookup of the night.
“Was that your ride?”
“Not really. We Ubered here.” Dennis shrugs and watches Robby chew on his bottom lip, seemingly contemplating something.
“Do you want a ride home?” The older man offers, not quite making eye contact with Dennis.
“Oh no, I wouldn’t want to bother you.”
“I wouldn’t have offered if it were a bother, Dennis.”
“If you’re sure.” Dennis looks down at his hands.
“Dennis, just let me give you a ride home.” The older man chuckles.
“Yeah, okay.”
They finish their drinks and make their way to Robby’s car, which was parked not too far down the street. Robby opens the car door for him, making sure the younger was settled before making his way around the front of the car.
“Here, put in your address.” Dennis takes the phone and enters the address to his apartment before handing it back to Robby. They make the short drive in silence. When Robby pulls up to the curb in front of Dennis’s building, Dennis turns to face him.
“Thank you for the ride.”
“Have a good night, Dennis. I hope to see you around.”
---
As soon as the door to his apartment closes behind him, Dennis slumps to the floor, back against the door. Holy shit, he had just spent an entire evening chatting with the hot attending doctor who had been plaguing his dreams for months now. Not only that, but said doctor had bought him a drink and driven him home. Tonight did nothing to squash the juvenile crush the younger man had developed on a much older doctor that he probably would never see again.