Work Text:
Dennis Whitaker only started his shift four hours ago and he already wants to go home, he has had to change his scrubs twice and his phone keeps ringing in his pocket. He sighs and slides it out, glancing at the caller ID his breath stutters. Its his brother.
Dennis has managed to avoid all contact with home while living in Pittsburgh despite his family always trying to reach out. He has not seen his family since he started transitioning. Growing up in a heavily religious family forced him to hide who he was until he managed to break free to medical school.
Dennis pushed this out his head to move towards the board to see his next patient when Robby shouts out "possible heart attack patient, aged 63, female. Whitaker your with me" Dennis nods and moves alongside him until they reach the empty room and everyone starts moving quickly around a frozen Dennis. He freezes when he see's the patients face ;it his mom, the one he has not seen in years. She looks older, more gray frames her face from where it is splayed against the hospital bed.
He is jerked out his thoughts by a weak groan "jane", he looks up and reaches her blue eyes, a mirror of his. Robby touches his neck as he moves past "i'm Dr Robinavitch but you can call me Dr Robby" he nods at her "this is Dr Whitaker he will also be looking after you" Robby turns to him "what are you thinking kid?"
Dennis shakes his head and focus's on the task at hand "i will order for an EKG and possibly a blood test sir" Robby nods "you get on with that" he says before turning back.
As Dennis leaves for the EKG machine he leans against the door and breaths ragidly through his mouth before grabbing the machine, as he walks back he glances around the chairs in the waiting room and recognises his brother scrolling on his phone, his pace picks up and he soon re-enters the room. His mother whispers "Jane" again and it causes Robby to turn around confused as Dennis moves to start applying the patches on his mothers chest. She says a little louder now "my Jane", Robby looks around again and mutters "who the fuck is-" Dennis smirks at his head, thankful for his confusion. "hi ma" he murmurs and Robby wips his head round and grabs her chart "ah Mrs Whitaker, so Dennis is your son?"
Once the EKG machine is working Robby nods his head for Dennis to leave. Once by the station he says gently "im sorry Whitaker, i didn't realise she was your mother." Dennis flushes and shakes his "its fine". "ah-ah" Robby cuts him off "its a conflict of interest but can i ask" he locks eyes with Dennis and he wrings his hands at the intensity of Robby's eyes "who is Jane? she doesnt show any sign of concussion apart from this confusion"
Dennis has to force himself to take a deep breath before he reaches over and grabs Robbys wrist and pull him towards the stairwell (he knows most people opt for the lift so it should be quite), ignoring Robby's words of protest. He drops his wrist and moves away to lean against the wall avoiding Robby's pointed gaze. "I am jane" he whispers, feeling his shoulders slump and face burn from embarrassment. Robby's eyebrows tighten "you're Jane?" he asks head tilting slightly. Whitaker looks up and meets his eyes bashfully before moving to sit down on the stairs, he rests his hands on his thighs and picks at the damaged skin around his thumb "im trans" he mumbles each word pressing further down onto his chest.
Robby moves across and stands at the bottom of the stairs "Whitaker" he gets no response apart from Dennis moving his hand to bite at the skin around his nail "Dennis", that get Dennis to look up and reach his eyes. Robby slowly sits himself down a couple steps down from Dennis "that's okay, thank you for telling me" he says gently.
Dennis hangs his head and brings his hands up to cover his face "you are not mad?" he mumbles into his palms. "Dennis" a rough voice says "I'm not mad" he rises a hesitant hand to rest on his knee "you're a good doctor and that's what matters, i take your mother doesn't know?" he says barely a question. Shaking his head "my family is religious" he says hands finding his cross necklace and pulling it out from beneath his scrubs "they always believed that no one should question-" his breath catches and his eyes fill with tears that threaten to overflow. Robby squeezes his knee knowing not to cut in, Dennis continues with a shaken voice "no one should question the way God made us" he finishes with a look up to the ceiling, grasping onto the hope that Robby wont see the tears that are slowly making their way down his face.
Robby looks up at Dennis from where his face is resting on his knee and whispers into the thick air "you are Dennis Whitaker. A fucking good doctor|" he lets out a small chuckle and continues "I may not be as religious as i was but you are who you are" he reaches a large hand to brush Dennis's tears away with his thumb and with a quick squeeze to his shoulder he stands. "take as long as you need, I'll see you back out there okay?" he says softly with a small smile. The smaller man nods with a hesitant smile tugging at his lips "thank you sir". Robby nods and smiles back "no problem kid".