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"Just to warn you, Dr Abbot's looking for you. And he looks pissed." Ellis looked on the edge of smug satisfaction as she cautioned you, taking immense pleasure in not being the focus on the shift's Attending's latest moment of discipline.
"I'd say thank you if you didn't look so pleased about that fact." You teased back, looking out from behind the nurse's station and trying to find his distinct mop of grey curls in the hectic emergency room.
"I'm just glad I'm not you!" She stuck out her tongue as she walked into her next patient room, leaving you a moment to pull yourself together before going to find your boss.
You tried not to let a smile tug at your lips as you pictured Jack hounding his trainee doctors and then being endlessly patient with you in breath. Jack who held every door open for you that he could no matter how urgent the crisis, making your every night shift feel that much lighter. You had a good idea why he might be looking for you.
You strode past each glass door to the patient rooms, peering in and checking on whoever was inside, exchanging a thumbs up with Dr Shen and making sure every name on your list matched the person waiting within, not yet finding your target. You were so focused on peeking through each opening that you barely registered the arms wrapping around your waist and pulling you into a supply closet from behind, the door snapping shut just as quickly as it opened.
"I heard you were looking for me-" Any attempt to tease the impatient veteran was quickly silenced by his arms closing in more tightly and his lips crashing against yours in desperation. Your chest pressed firmly against his as he pulled you closer, lips capturing yours again and again as if trying hopelessly to refill some internal tank, something to keep him going as tragedies flooded through his doors. Your hands found the nape of his neck, thumbs kneading gently into the firm muscles there, easing his tension. A soft moan slipped from his lips at the feel of your skin against his, giving you a moment to speak before his kiss overwhelmed you again,
"Are you okay Dr. Abbot?" The concern was sincere but he could only let out a hollow laugh at your chosen title for him.
"We're alone sweetheart, please just call me Jack. Or something better. One of the nice names you give me when you come over for the night." His voice bordered on a plea as he spoke, eyes fixed firmly on yours as if seeking something he didn't know how to ask for. You nodded and clung to him a little more tightly as you asked again,
"Are you okay, my love?" Abbot completely melted in your arms at those sweet words, head coming to rest on your shoulder with a sigh of relief.
"I am now. I've just barely seen you since we clocked in, and I needed a moment of this so I could get through the rest of the shift. But now you're here." His nose nuzzled into your neck, inhaling your scent and trying to memorise every note to let it carry him through the remaining hours of pretending he was just another colleague to you.
Not the man that had struggled sleeping for years only to effortlessly drift off on your couch with his head in your lap. The man that had forgotten how to feel at home until he gave you a key and started opening his door to the sound of your voice. The man who wasn't sure if he'd ever feel whole again after his deployment, who suddenly felt more himself than he ever had as he held you in his arms. It was heaven to work with you, to gain strength from your light in the darkest hours. But that didn't mean it doesn't take every ounce of self-control Jack has not to steal you away for a private moment like this every five minutes on shift.
You knew exactly how he felt as he clung to you in that precious minute of stolen time. Bringing your wrist to rest against his cheek, you let your hand card gently through his hair, fingers weaving into his curls and feeling the weight leave his shoulders almost immediately.
"Just a few more hours Jack, and then I'm all yours again." You offered warmly, feeling his grip finally start to loosen as he stilled himself to face the rest of the night.
"I'm all yours." He echoed the words, reminding himself that not only did he have you, but you had him. In the darkness, on the bad days, you had him no matter what. "And you can stay with me tonight?" Even under the fluorescent hospital lights his eyes seemed to sparkle as he looked at you hopefully, an undertone of need in his voice you couldn't imagine ignoring.
"Of course, I just need to go by my place to get some stuff first." You reassured him, finally untangling your limbs from his and reaching for the door handle before people started to notice you were both missing. Before you could press down, Abbot's hand caught yours, squeezing slightly.
"I'll come with you, and maybe we can just get all your stuff? It's one thing being away from you here, but there's no reason to be apart outside of this place. I don't want to waste any more time waiting for you to come over." He couldn't bring himself to ask the question he was so clearly hinting at, a grave look spreading over his face as he realised he might have overstepped or put too much of his heart on the line. That is until your smile seemed to mend every crack in his aching heart as you planted one final sweet kiss on his lips, nodding your head as he reluctantly opened the door for you.
"I'll see you at home tonight." You whispered as you quickly shuffled back to the nurses' station, leaving Jack looking in a miraculously better mood than when anyone had last seen him. You'll need to think of an excuse when Parker asks for your secret to cheering him up at the end of shift.