Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Hey, team rounds in 10 minutes.” Robby said while Dennis is rummaging in his bag for a sandwich that he made earlier. Dennis smiled when he felt a kiss on his hair. ”Mhm, strawberry.” Robby muses when his face stays hidden in Dennis’ hair, inhaling the new scent of Dennis’ shampoo. 

“I thought I could have a change.” Dennis said as he closed his locker door. “Smells nice, right?” Dennis turns around and Robby smiles, showcasing his crow’s feet. 

“Of course, you always have good taste.” Dennis playfully rolls his eyes and smiles. “What? I can’t go and compliment my boyfriend?” 

“Not if we’re on shift. We told Dana that we would stop flirting and doing PDA at work.” Dennis crosses his arms but Robby smiles, keeping his hands onto Dennis’ arms. 

“I mean, do you see anyone here in the locker room?” Robby points out to the empty locker room. “It is only PDA if done in public and public means people so no people, then it's not PDA.” 

“Okay, slick. If you think you’re getting out on a technicality.” Dennis said and Robby pulls away when he hears footsteps and they see Trinity with an eyebrow raised. 

She smirked and crossed her arms, “Both of you look cozy for this meeting. Are you waiting for the rest here or are you not into threesomes?” 

Robby chokes on air while Dennis laughs. He looks horrified at the intern who looks amused, “It’s a line from Grey’s Anatomy. She’s a lesbian, I hope you remembered that.” Dennis said and Trinity snorts, opening her locker and pulling out a chocolate bar. 

“You need to watch Grey’s Anatomy, it’s good.” Trinity said and leaned against the locker. 

“If I wanted my blood pressure up, I would have gone to Gloria and have her lecture me for 12 hours. If I wanted to find interns and residents fucking up, I would have gone to work and if I wanted to have sex in an on call room,—“ 

“Don’t you bother finishing that sentence, Michael.” 

Robby innocently smiles and kisses Dennis on the forehead. He steps to the door, “Team rounds in 5 minutes now. In the central hub.” 

“Yeah, yeah, shoo!” 

Trinity waves her hand to the attending who rolled his eyes and left the room. 

It was surprising for Robby to be accepted quite quickly by Trinity. Dennis did tell Robby to bring over food from Trinity’s favorite restaurant when they told her about their relationship and it was a breeze going forward especially when Trinity was aware that Dennis was the one that initiated the relationship. It was Robby who took Dennis to a celebratory dinner but Dennis clocked him immediately, telling him that if Robby did all this just to have him for a date then he should be more initiative about it. Dennis eventually told Robby that he wanted to be kissed and Robby took the chance. 

Also, Trinity gave Robby a good shovel talk and when they figured out that Dennis’ father is an FBI agent, she laughed and said, ‘I’ll be kinder to you because a literal FBI team can threaten you for me,’ It didn’t change anything in the relationship but Robby and Dennis didn’t want to tell David yet since he wanted to tell them face to face—which was different when one side is an FBI team that travels for a living and are workaholics and the other side is doctors who work in a hospital that is understaffed. There just wasn’t the right time for it. 

“Alright, I just want to say that the waiting room has been emptying at a faster rate than I imagined, which is good. We are only 4 hours into the shift and we are clearing beds faster so keep it up. Also—“ 

“Cap! 4 GSWs, 2 of them are FBI Agents. ETA 5 minutes!” Dana yells and Robby claps his hands. 

“Alright! I’ll handle that since they want a legal report for it. Whitaker, you’re with me for the FBI Agent. Collins and Santos, pair up. Langdon and McKay pair up as well, go to the other FBI agent. Then, Javadi and Mohan.” He turns to the charge nurse, “Empty the two trauma rooms and leave Central 15 and 14 for the other so they’re in close proximity. Everyone, move!” Dana already started mobilizing the nurses per pair for this and the rooms were already being prepared. Heck, even Gloria was being called in because of the legal repercussions. 

4 cases being brought in meant that all the staff were being used as manpower. Everyone started preparing for the cases and the first ambulance came in. 

“FBI Agent Hotchner, 45 year old male, GSW in the shoulder with possible concussion. He said he hit his head when he went down, GCS 15, IV fluids started and vital signs are normal. No medical conditions and no medications taken.” Dennis’ head whipped towards the EMT and furrowed his eyebrows. 

“Holy fuck, Aaron.” Dennis said and gripped the side rails. “Robby! FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit Chief!” 

Robby went on the move and snapped on his gloves. “Agent Hotchner? Can you hear us?” 

“FBI Agent Dr. Reid, 30 year old male, GSW on the thigh with also a possible concussion. He was tackled by the suspect then shot at. GCS 15 with IV fluids started but blood pressure is going down. No medical conditions and no medications taken.” Dennis hears this and turns to Robby. 

“I’ll be right back, I know his medical history.” Dennis said and left, not even bothering to wait for his response. Though he knew Robby was about to disagree with his action, he shook his head and continued to assess Aaron. 

“Dr. Langdon, Dr. McKay.” He said and entered the trauma bay. Spencer laid on the bed, unconscious. 

“Whitaker, you—“

”He has a ‘no narcotics chain’, he was shot before on his right knee and was operated on 5 years ago. He has a reaction to beta-lactams and checks his neurological status from time to time!” Langdon and McKay looked up at him and paused before nodding and waving him away. 

“Copy. Now go and help Robby.” Langdon said and started barking orders to Perlah. Dennis nodded and went back to Aaron and saw that his blood pressure was going down. “How is he?” 

“He’s not bleeding much but fuck, why is his blood pressure going down?” Robby said in frustration and looked around, barking orders to Jesse who was preparing a line with medications. 

“Let’s get an EKG here!” Dennis yells out and looks at Robby. “He was stabbed before and it affected his heart. He’s getting follow-up appointments but I don’t know what his recent result was. We need to order blood work as well as cardiac enzymes even if he’s not having a heart attack.” 

“Agent Hotchner!” Dennis yells and does a sternal rub, sighing in relief once he sees Aaron open his eyes. “There we go. Not very lucky that the vest protected you, huh?” Dennis said as he put down the pads for the EKG. 

Aaron laughs and looks at Dennis, “Sorry for landing on your table.” Dennis rolls his eyes. 

“I’ll forgive you if you don’t die on me.” Dennis jokes and Aaron laughs again. 

“How’s Reid?” Aaron asks. 

“I told the doctors working on him that he has a ‘no narcotics chain’ and that he has a reaction to beta-lactates. He’s good, worry about yourself and we’ll worry about both of you.” Dennis said and looked at the vitals. “Is surgery coming here or what?” Dennis looks at Robby and shakes his head. 

“All ORs are booked. We have to do it here. We’re waiting for Garcia.” Robby said and nodded his head at the door, “Speaking of the devil.” 

“What do we have here, party people?” 

“Aaron Hotchner, 45 year old male, GSW to the shoulder and not through and through.” Dennis said and prepared the sterile field. He puts on his gown and Robby does the same. 

“You know him, Whitaker?” Garcia asks as she wears her gown. Even the regular trauma surgeons such as Garcia and Walsh knew of Dennis’ history. Hell, she was the one who asked Dennis for recommendations for places to get guns. Dennis nods. 

“My father’s boss and protege so let’s make sure he doesn’t die.” Dennis said and Garcia barks a laugh. 

“Oh please, like I need an FBI agent dying on my table in my resume. Not exactly a good idea.” Garcia says and looks over at Aaron. “Agent Hotchner, my name is Dr. Yolanda Garcia, can you hear me?” 

“Perfectly.” Aaron softly says and Garcia nods. “Am I going to be alright, wonder boy?” 

Dennis laughs, “Oh wow, haven’t heard of that endearment in a while. And yes, you will be, don’t worry about yourself, just close your eyes,” Dennis nods at Jesse who pushes the medications, “and count down from 10 for me.” 

Aaron closed his eyes and counted down from 10, stopping at 8 as he succumbed to unconsciousness. “Alright, let’s get started.” Garcia said and she starts opening the wound to dig in deeper into the muscles, hopefully to get the bullet as soon as possible. 

“Alright, wonder boy, come here and assist me with this. I think your chief attending has done enough of this so I can coach you.” Garcia eyes the attending and Robby nods in his direction. Dennis grabs a forceps and Garcia digs around the tissues, not making as much of an opening since they’re only doing it in the emergency room. 

Dana enters the room and looks at Robby, “The rest of the FBI team is here. One of them is named Rossi.” And everyone looks at Dennis who is currently being coached by Garcia. “They want an update for their agents and the two unsubs?” 

“Unknown subjects. A term used in law enforcement especially the FBI, State department and CIA for persons who are persons of interests but not yet suspects.” Dennis speaks up and picks up another clamp to close down the arteries. “They would want a medical report done as soon as possible and the unsubs in cuffs with security patrol.” 

Robby slowly nods and raises his eyebrows and turns to leave, “Think you got it here, Garcia?” 

Garcia sneered, “Of course, wonder boy is good here. Good luck to you and I hope you don’t get shot by your boyfriend’s father.” Garcia smirks under her masks and the rest of the staff hold back their grins and laughter. 

“Very funny, Garcia.” Robby rolls his eyes and leaves the trauma bay. He sees Dana with the rest of the FBI agents. He puts up a finger and goes into another trauma room to find Langdon and McKay also doing surgery. “Everything alright in here?” 

“He’s stable and with no narcotics. We’re waiting for orthopedics to come down to clear and neurology. Surgery is going well and we’re near the bullet.” Langdon said and Robby nodded. “Hopefully that the bullet is in one piece. If not then we’re calling surgery to bring him up if there’s a room.” 

“Alright, good job Langdon and McKay. Find me if there’s anything else.” They both nod and Robby leaves, already finding Mohan and Collins already in a circle with the FBI agents and Dana. Robby nodded and the agents pulled out their badges to introduce themselves. 

“Supervisory Special Agents, Rossi, Morgan, Prentiss. I’m SSA Jereau. FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit.” Agent Jereau introduced them to all of them and Robby nodded, shaking hands with all of them. 

“Welcome. I’m Dr. Michael Robinavitch, chief attending, just Dr. Robby is fine. Both of your agents are in surgery here in the emergency department. They’re both stable and my residents and a trauma surgery resident are already doing the work to remove the bullet and close them up. These are Dr. Collins and Dr. Mohan, my residents. Have you updated them?” Both residents shake their heads. 

“As of now, Mr. Rodriquez is stable but he needs to be admitted in the ICU because he has a suspected spinal injury. We ordered a CT scan, MRI and x-ray for confirmation of the diagnosis. As for Mr. Miller, he’s also stable but he has a heart condition and we’re getting a second opinion from cardiology since he coded. We also found a Q wave depression which indicates that this is not his first heart attack.” Samira said and Robby nodded. 

“Alright, call up the ICU and consult for this. We’re going to monitor all 4 of them while they’re here. Both of your unsubs will be cuffed upon your orders and have a security guard at the door.” Robby said and smiled. “If you need anything, just call me or inform Dana, our charge nurse and she’ll come and get me.” 

“Robby! Whitaker is closing up on Hotchner, he’s stable and I’ll go and check on the other FBI agent.” Garcia yells out and goes into the other trauma bay with a new gown and gloves with her. 

“That is our trauma surgeon resident, Dr. Yolanda Garcia. She’s one of our best and she’ll be taken care of here. We are aware of Agent Reid’s…conditions from Dr. Whitaker. So you don’t have to worry about him.” Robby smiled and the agents let out a breath of relief at the news. 

“Thank you, Dr. Robby. I appreciate this, thank you.” David shakes his hand again and Robby smiles, trying to keep himself calm knowing that this is Dennis, his boyfriend’s father. 

“If you want to see them both, they’re in the trauma bays. Agent Hotchner is in Trauma bay 1 and Dr. Reid is in Trauma bay 2.” Robby said, “And Dr. Whitaker is with Agent Hotchner. You may see him as you wish but please understand that he’s on shift.” 

“We will, thank you Dr. Robby.” Emily smiles at him and they go to Trauma bay 1. Robby follows them and they enter with Whitaker sewing up the wound. 

“Whitaker, bullet in one piece?” Robby rounds to see Dennis and nods at the work. “Nice stitching, if surgery gets a hold on you, I hope they don’t steal you from the ED.” Robby laughs as Dennis smiles. 

“Please, you are understaffed and I’d rather be here in the chaos.” Dennis says and picks up a kidney basin with the bullet, “Bullet is in one piece. I put in the order for a CT scan, X-ray and MRI to check for concussions, bleeding and any other broken bones just to be safe since none was reported to us. Blood work is being rushed as well.” Dennis updated and gave the kidney basin to Rossi. “Hey, dad.” 

“Hi, kid. Seems like you’re doing good here.” David smiles at the intern who laughs. 

“I really am and for some reason, the BAU is here, and I’m not even informed nor have expected two of your agents in the ER I work at.” Dennis smiles and Emily laughs. 

“I hope our wonderboy here is not too much of a hassle, Dr. Robinavitch.” JJ said and Dennis rolled his eyes. 

“I have a sparkling personality.” Dennis muses with a teasing grin and JJ ruffles his hair. 

Robby laughs and gives Dennis some gauze to clean the wound. “He’s one of our best. I am so glad that he’s here doing his residency after doing his rotation here when he was an MS4.” 

“They took real good care of me so I came back.” Dennis muses and continues suturing. “Is this good, Dr. Robby?” Dennis looks at the wound and Robby over his shoulder who nods. 

“Yeah. Clean that up and let’s give some antibiotics for Agent Hotchner. What is your care plan, Dr. Whitaker?” Dennis looks up from placing gauze onto Aaron’s wound. 

“Piptazo for antibiotics for prophylaxis. Wait until CT scan and MRI comes back to clear out concussion, if positive then we place concussion protocol once neurology comes and checks him out.” Dennis says and Robby offers his fists and smiles when Dennis reciprocates it with his own. 

”Good job, Dennis. Update the chart and come find me if you need me or take another case. No cherry picking!” Robby says as he leaves the trauma room. 

“Cherry picking?” David asks and Dennis nods at Jesse who is fixing the lines and removing the surgical linen. 

“All of our cases here are triaged with the urgent cases on top and non-urgent cases at the bottom. All of it is laid out there at the board in the central hub. Cherry picking basically means to not be picky with cases and get on the first case on the list.” Dennis explains and he walks to leave. “Wanna see Spencer?” 

Dennis doesn’t wait for a response but he can feel them following him and they see Spencer, still unconscious with Garcia, Langdon and McKay still working to remove the bullet. 

”Hey, Whitaker. Done with Hotchner?” Garcia asks and Dennis nods. 

“Yes, stable and given antibiotics. Will wait for films and scans to come back and I’ll update his chart in a few.” Langdon nods but groans when he looks back at the wound. 

“God damnit, the bullet is really in there.” He groans. 

“Losing your touch, ER Ken?” Garcia muses with a smirk on her face. 

“Oh! It might be you losing your touch when you couldn’t even visualize it properly earlier.” Langdon snaps back and smiles when he finally has good visualization. “Got it! Give me forceps and let’s pray to God that this is in one piece.” 

“Didn’t peg you for the Catholic.” McKay speaks up and Langdon laughs. 

“I kinda have to or else I’ll go into court explaining why I fucked up an Agent’s knee.” Langdon jokes and Dennis turns around to the team. 

“I hope to not sue you then.” David speaks up and Dennis slaps his back, earning a yelp from the senior profiler. Langdon, McKay and Garcia look at the profilers in suits and then back at Dennis.

“He’s kidding. This is Supervisory Special Agents Rossi, Morgan, Jereau and Prentiss. They’ll be waiting outside and hoping for an update when this is all finished.” Dennis said and he turned around. “Go, this is a sterile field so you can’t be here long.” 

They all go to the central hub and see Robby and Dana having a conversation. Once they get a sight of Dennis, they stop and give him a smile. “Whitaker, can you send these agents to the family room while they wait there?” Robby asks him and Dennis nods. 

“Sure. I’ll also go chart before I pick up another case. I’m also seeing South 10 but the labs aren’t back yet, as well as North 5.” Dennis says and Robby gives him a thumbs up. 

“Good job, discharge them when you can but see me if you need any help, yeah?” Robby clasps his back and he goes to chairs to check up on them. 

“Let’s go?” The team then follows him and Morgan clasps his shoulder. 

“Wonder boy, you are doing great here. It seems like you're the boss’ favorite too.” Emily laughs at Derek’s statement and opens the door to the family room. “Come on! He keeps giving you fist bumps, clasps your back, a thumbs up, and compliments. I seriously think you are a teacher’s pet.” Dennis wants to smirk deep inside. The amount of times the staff told him that and how he gets off at the idea that he is a teacher’s pet. Robby does enjoy being called ‘Sir’ in bed as much as Dennis likes to be called a ‘teacher’s pet’ or ‘pretty boy.’ 

“I doubt he is. He’s just very supportive.” Dennis defends himself and David looks at him. “What? He fist bumps all students, but the pats on the shoulder or back are more on the male residents.” Dennis says and smiles. 

“Just tell us if he’s crossing a line, okay? He’s your boss and you’re a student so you know that there is a power imbalance there.” David reassures and Dennis nods. He doesn’t try to think about how many times they have crossed a line and Dennis crossed it first.

”I will, don’t worry, dad.” Dennis gestures to the door. “I still have charts to fill up so stay here but they have a cafeteria if you want and a coffee shop just outside if you want better coffee. I’ll see you guys later.” 

Dennis greets them goodbye from kisses on the cheeks from his father, the girls and Derek even. He smiles at them and leaves the room. He laughs to himself, oh God if only they knew. He might tell Robby that they can tell them if they’re planning to stay a little longer. David does have some power in the FBI so hopefully they’ll stay since Dennis does miss them badly. 

“Hey, how’s the FBI agents?” Robby appears beside him and he smiles. Dennis nods to the lockers and they divert their direction there. They enter there, deeming it clear when no one is there. “Why? What’s wrong?” 

Dennis traces his fingers against Robby’s arm, on the part that shows his bare skin from rolling up his hoodie’s sleeves, pushing his chest to meet Robby’s. “They just told me that I’m apparently your favorite and am a teacher’s pet?” Dennis slyly smiles when Robby smirks. 

“Well, they’re not wrong, huh?” Robby says and lightly presses his lips onto Dennis’ forehead. “Stop riling me up, honey. Your father is less than 20 feet away from here.” Dennis chuckles and Robby pulls away. 

“And I was about to ask if you’re alright with telling my dad that we’re dating? Even if he did tell me to tell someone if you’re crossing a line.” Dennis said and Robby laughed. 

“How is he going to react when you were the one who begged me to kiss you on our first date and initiated the relationship and the sex because I was too much of a coward?” Robby smiled and Dennis laughed. 

“Then that will be an interesting trip for a heart attack.” They both laughed and Robby nodded. 

“If you want to tell him then we can. Just initiate it and I’ll have your back.” Robby said, placing a light kiss onto Dennis’ lips who smiled. 

“Thank you, I love you, Robby.” Dennis hummed and Robby smiled.

”I love you as well.” 

♟️

”Whitaker, Agent Hotchner is awake.” Jesse calls up to him from the trauma bay and he nods from Robby’s workstation. 

“I’ll go grab the agents, I’ll be right there.” Dennis says and Jesse nods. Dennis logs out from the work station (thankfully, he was done as soon as Jesse came to tell him) and stands up. He walks to the family room and finds all the agents with some take out and coffee. “Aaron’s awake.” 

They immediately stand up and follow Dennis to the trauma bay. It catches Robby’s eye as he’s already following them in. Dennis sees Aaron trying to sit up and he adjusts the height of the bed and smiles at the profiler. 

“Thank God, you’re okay, Hotch.” JJ says and Robby nods at him when he makes eye contact with the attending. 

“Agent, can you tell me your full name? And full job description.” Dennis asks. 

“Aaron Hotchner. FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, Unit Chief.” Aaron perfectly responds which makes Dennis smile. 

“Agent Hotchner, can you tell me today’s date?” Dennis says and Aaron looks at him with squinted eyes. 

“October 15, 2025.” 

“Good, do you know who I am and the people around you?” 

“I see Prentiss, Morgan, Rossi, JJ, Dennis and another doctor.” 

“Alright, This is Dr. Robinavitch, our chief attending here in PTMC. Do you remember why you’re here?” Dennis asks as he takes his penlight and turns it on. “Look straight.” 

“Miller shot me while Rodriguez shot Reid and both of us fell down. We were brought to PTMC ED.” Aaron says and Dennis nods. Dennis looks at the team who shake their head, indicating that it was the wrong answer. 

“Alert and Oriented x 3. And Pupils are equal, responsive to light and 3mm.” Dennis says and he goes to the portable workstation to check for any lab results and scans. “CT Scan, MRI and X-ray are back.” Robby stands behind him and has his hands on his hoodie as they both review the scans. 

“What do you see, Whitaker?” 

“No broken bones, no internal bleeding, nor damage to any organs.” Dennis says and looks at Aaron. “Agent Hotchner, do you feel anything on your head? A headache or pressure?” 

“Rossi is a little blurry to me and I feel a slight headache.” 

“Can you rate it from 1-10 with 10 being the highest?” 

“It’s an 8.” 

Dennis looks at Robby who purses his lips. Robby turns down the lights and pats Jesse’s shoulder and whispers something in his ear, who nods and leaves the room. 

“What? Why’d you lower down the lights?” Derek asks and Dennis speaks up. 

 “It seems that Agent Hotchner may be suffering from a concussion, considering that he did fall down—head affected when he did.” Dennis explains and Derek tilts his head in confusion. 

“Seems? Maybe?” He asks and Dennis smiles slightly. 

“A concussion is not reflected in any scans but it does show in impaired neurological functions such as memory, eye sight and feelings of headache. He will need to stay here as per concussion protocol with strict monitoring and we will be implementing a seizure precaution—hence the lowered lights and the padded side rails which our nurse will do in a while with some blankets. We will call in neurology to do additional assessment and evaluate our treatment plan from this point onward. For now, you do not need to worry since a concussion can be treated with monitoring and a low stimulated environment.” Dennis explains and he sees Robby nod and smile at the corner of his eye. ”Do you have additional questions for us before we leave him be and have a consultation?” 

David smiles and steps forward, “Nothing further, Dr. Whitaker. Thank you and we’ll come to you when we need anything.” Dennis looks at Robby who smiles at him. 

“Whitaker, call up neurology and come to me when they write up an order. Check on Dr. Reid as well and update both charts. You are closer to them and can be objective so I trust you to monitor them both?” Robby says and clasps Dennis’ shoulder. “Good work.” Robby whispers against his ear as he moves to leave the trauma bay. 

“You guys can stay here if you want but please keep it down and don’t agitate Aaron—a low stimulating environment is what we need here. Let him rest and we’ll update his chart.” Dennis said and left the room. 

He also went to Spencer’s room. Spencer is stable but still unconscious, pupils still reactive and equal so that’s good. He sighs and just leaves the trauma bay and sits down on Robby’s workstation after giving out a call for neurology. It was surprising how neurology already had someone to come down with when Dennis mentioned that the patient is an FBI Agent. He simply said, ‘The patient, Agent Hotchner’ and the person on the phone already said someone is going down. 

After only 5 minutes of waiting and 15 minutes of a very thorough assessment and evaluation for both Aaron and Spencer, Dennis sighs and sits down again on the workstation. He took in five more cases so basically he has 5 cases to take care of, 1 in concussion protocol, 1 unconscious, 2 pending labs and scans. He can catch up with charting while he waits for monitoring and the results. He actually has 2 more but they’re already processing their discharge so it doesn’t count. 

It was already 6 hours before the shift ends and he was tired. He sighs and immediately starts charting. He wants to get the brunt of it all done so that when night shift comes up (they always come in a little early), he won’t be frantic in trying to finish charting. He types frantically and goes in a rhythm that he got used to when charting. Always so focused and no one can touch him. Robby said this was an interesting quirk of his since most people tend to chat with other people when they chart, something that Dennis did not do at all. Most people knew that Dennis did not like to be chatted to while charting, but there was always one exception. 

“Hey Huck.” Trinity stands beside Robby’s workstation. “Heard that the FBI agents are actually your family from Virginia.” She says as she reviews a chart in the tablet on her hands. 

Trinity was always the exception to Dennis. Robby can go suck it. 

“Yeah, I didn't even know they were here for a case.” Dennis says as he updates the 3rd chart out of 5. He opens up another one and continues typing. “Not mad at them, just shocked.” He clarifies to the R2 who hums. 

“Hey, maybe you can go hang with them for a while. You did tell me it's been awhile since you’ve been home.” Trinity says and took a chair and rolled it beside Dennis. “You did tell me that the last time you’ve been home was that spare week before internship. It has been awhile you know?” 

Dennis sighs and continues typing, trying to multitask. “I know and I do miss them but I guess with the relationship and this internship, it has been—“ 

“You’re in a relationship?” Dennis jumps and looks to see Emily and JJ with a huge bag of food with them. Dennis’ eyes widen and gulps. He doesn’t know what it looks like—a genuine conversation with a colleague or a best friend so there was no lie to be told and he knows he can’t get away with this. “Denny, you didn’t tell us that you’re in a relationship?” JJ asks, a bit hurt. JJ is like an older sister to him, he thinks it's the blond hair and blue eyes that automatically give them a connection. 

JJ made sure he was comfortable when he first got into their lives—she made sure that he was heard and loved spending time with him with her kids. Emily was that cooler older sister that taught her to rebel at times and even encouraged it, telling him that his dad was David Rossi who can do no harm and will never be mad at him. 

“I am not in a relationship, what do you mean?” Dennis stands up and tries to deny it. It was futile—his hands are trembling, his voice was shaky, trying to defer clear evidence—all of it was clear interrogation and JJ and Emily knew that from the way their eyes narrowed at his figure. His eyes darted down to the bags and noticed that it was coffee and pastries from an expensive dessert place just 10 minutes from the hospital. It was a lot judging by how Dennis saw Morgan also carrying the same bags walking towards them. 

“Hey, what are you guys standing around for? Let’s give this to them.” Morgan said, carrying more coffee and pastries for the ED. 

Emily turned to Morgan, “Did you know that Dennis was in a relationship?” 

“You’re in a relationship?” Derek told him and Dennis looked at Trinity who placed a tablet on the charging table and walked away. So much for being a best friend, Dennis thinks. ”Kid, why didn’t you tell us? How long has this been going on?” 

“I am not in a relationship!” Dennis, unknowingly, yells it out pretty loud and the rest of the staff all look at him and he stands there, horrified. He looks around and sees Robby’s eyes, not really filled with hurt but more concerned. “I’m going for a cigarette.” 

“Uh uh uh! You’re not going anywhere until you tell us about this.” JJ says and Dennis rolls his eyes. 

“No! I am not an Unsub that you will interrogate using good cop and bad cop! I have a right to my privacy and if you think that you can get away with interrogating me, I’m calling my lawyer!” Dennis points out. 

“Your lawyer is in trauma bay 1 and is on concussion protocol.” Emily points out and Dennis is going slightly insane. 

“I am going to smoke a cigarette.” Dennis says and turns around. 

“We’re still interrogating you on this!” Emily yells as Dennis walks away. 

“Please save the profiling and interrogation for the psychopaths and not me!” Dennis yells back, running towards the ambulance bay.  

Dennis sighs and rests his head on his palms. He takes several deep breaths. 

Dennis doesn’t like it when things that are his are not under his control. He grew up in Nebraska where he didn’t get an ounce of control because control was something the head of the household should only have. When they got murdered, it was out of his control and he got very frustrated about it. Being with David made him feel in control because at least he can decide if he wanted this or that with a support from his father but after that 3 years of being alone in Pittsburgh and going into a field where you really have no control about what comes into those doors but have control in how to save them, it messes with his perception at times. 

He has come to terms with it. Years in therapy before had helped him and he’s incorporating it into his relationship with his attending who needs to be in control. Dennis wants to have control in terms of wanting to be aware and having a say in their relationship, Robby wants to feel like the man and take care of Dennis—something he feels like he can control. But now with the status being out to his family and it being an accident (the staff knowing was something they planned and control which is why they’re happy about it) and out of his control, he’s going into a spiral. 

“Honey?” He hears Robby and he stays into the same position—squatted down and his head on his knees. He feels Robby forcing his body to stand up and he sees the smile of his attending. “Hi.” 

“Hey.” Dennis says, exhausted. 

“The agents bought pastries and coffee for us. They joked about how police do like donuts and pastries so it bought a bit of a laugh. They hope the sugar rush can help with the chaos of the ED.” Robby explains and places a cigarette onto Dennis’ lips, lighting it up himself. “I guess the cat is kinda out of the bag?” 

Dennis blows out a puff and sighs. “Emily and JJ heard that I was talking about how being in a relationship plus work doesn’t really give you a chance to go to Virginia for some fun. They started interrogating me slightly and with Derek, who is so overprotective, it just felt so overwhelming.” 

Robby nods and they lean back onto the concrete wall of the ambulance bay. “What do you want to do, sweetie?” 

“Will you be mad if I say that I just want to ignore it for a while? I got nothing.” Dennis says and Robby laughs. 

“Honey, I will not be mad. You are frustrated, that’s valid. This is your relationship and it felt like telling it to them is very special and you were robbed of that. You can be mad about it and can ignore them for a while. Don’t worry, I support you on that.” Dennis said and positioned himself to lean on Robby and rest against his chest. Robby wraps his arms around him as he plays with Dennis’ hair. It felt so warm and Dennis smiled. ”I love you.” Robby places a kiss on his forehead. 

“I love you too.” Dennis says and places a kiss on Robby’s chest. He feels Robby let out a chuckle and he snuggles against the warmth. Robby is so warm, so gentle, so soft, so dependable—all the qualities that made him fall in love with him in the first place. Robby thinks of himself as someone so broken and jaded but Dennis sees that that specific part of him is so beautiful, it created the qualities that Dennis loves the most, hence Dennis loving the bad ones too. 

“I’ll see you inside? Do you need some time alone?” Robby asks. He knows sometimes Dennis just needs some time alone, alone meaning where Robby isn’t there to process emotions, feelings and thoughts. It was something Robby learned during their relationship. He thought Dennis was pushing him away but came to realize that Dennis used to be alone in a huge mansion after being taken in by David so he was used to processing with him alone. It took some time for Robby to get used to it but he knows he can just ask and Dennis can answer. 

“Yeah. I think I need that for now. Thank you, Mikey.” Dennis stands on his tippy toes and kisses the attending who smiles at him, showcasing his crow’s feet. 

”I’ll see you inside, love. I’ll put aside a pan au chocolat and a coffee for you.” Robby pulls away and kisses his forehead before retreating inside. 

Dennis continues to smoke and he hears footsteps. He turns around only to be met with a fist and he goes down onto the concrete floor. Dennis groans in pain especially when the cigarette in his hand is being burned onto his wrists but his vision is a bit blurry but the more he focuses on it, the more he sees a face he doesn’t recall seeing the entire day. 

The man says something to him but he feels like his ears are ringing so he can’t understand anything. He then feels a sharp pain on his shoulder, which is combined with a loud ‘bang’ that makes the ringing even worse—and then the man hurries off to leave. He groans and he can see shoes on the pavement and then his vision goes blurry, eventually dark. 

♟️

”Robby! We need a gurney! It’s Dennis!” 

Robby immediately ran as soon as he heard Trinity’s voice. The entire staff was still shocked when they seemed to have heard a gun going off and Trinity went outside since she remembered that Dennis was outside. Robby sees Dennis on the pavement, bloodied shoulder, cigarette burns on his wrists and a bloody nose. 

“Robby!” He turns to see Dana with a gurney and he lifts up Dennis onto it. The intern groans at the pain and Robby wheels the gurney in. “Central 10!” Dana yells and Robby runs immediately to the room while holding onto the side rails. 

“What the fuck happened to our wonder boy?” Garcia comes inside the room and Trinity tilts his head. 

“Wonderboy?” 

“Apparently, the FBI agents call him Wonderboy.” Garcia said with a smirk, “Now my new favorite endearment of him.” 

“He got shot in the shoulder. We all heard the gun going off and we checked outside only to find him on the ground. He was punched in the face so we’ll need an x-ray and concussion protocol to be safe. Are all ORs still booked?” Robby says and Garcia raises her eyebrows. 

“Cardiology and Neurosurgery is having a field day today. If you need to operate, do it here.” Garcia said and looked around, “We’re prepping for a sterile procedure and there’s too many warm bodies here. Robby and Santos, I need both of you out.” 

“What?” 

“No fucking way.”

”Both of you, this is now surgery’s turf, not yours even if this is your department. My personal belief is anyone with a personal relation to the patient is out, now. Go!” Garcia barked and the nurses prepared the sterile field. “Get me King and Langdon, I need their assistance.” 

Robby nods and he goes outside the door. “Langdon! King! Garcia needs you here!” Both residents who were in the central hub, came running and were already preparing themselves for the surgery. “Make sure he doesn’t die.” 

“He won’t, Robby. He’s a strong kid.” Langdon says and Mel nods. 

“He’ll be smiling when he gets up. Don’t worry, Dr. Robby.” Mel says and they enter the room, already gowned up and prepped for surgery. 

Robby rubs his face with his hands and sighs. Trinity looks at him and just stays silent. “He’ll be alright. Both of you are the same.” Robby chuckles and looks around.

“What?” Trinity asks and Robby shrugs. 

“You get all silent when it's so overwhelming. Just like him. If you need to take a break then go. I’ll inform his father.” Robby said and Trinity hesitated, not until Robby rolled his eyes in fake annoyance. Trinity smiles slightly and nods, leaving to go to the break room. 

Robby sighs, he can’t break down. Not right now when Dennis is out there needing every single sense of support that he needs. Robby needs to be there for Dennis even if not in the same room as him. 

Robby walks towards the family room where the agents are sharing a conversation with a box full of pastries and some coffee open for them. He knocks and smiles at them. They nod at his entrance and look at his figure, questioning as to why the chief attending is here. 

“May I take a seat?” Robby gestures to the free seat and David nods. 

“Yes, of course. Dr. Robinavitch. What is this about?” David asks and Robby sighs. 

“Did you hear that gunshot just a few minutes ago?” Robby asks and the agents look at each other in confusion. 

“I’m sorry but a gun went off? We didn’t hear anything?” JJ said and Robby nodded. 

“A gun went off 5 minutes ago and when we checked, we found Dennis with a GSW to the shoulder.” Robby said and all of the agents stood up, already planning to walk out the door before Robby could finish. “He’s being taken care of by our trauma surgeon resident right now and since it is a sterile procedure, you can’t be inside the room. It might take a few minutes since it is not through and through and you can observe from the outside.” Robby said and they all nodded, still focused on getting out of the room to their Dennis. 

“Please calm down. We have the best here and we can stabilize him. Ahmad, our security personnel is working on getting the clip to see if the person responsible is seen. We’ll inform you immediately.” Robby said and stood up, and opened the door. “Please follow me.” They did. 

“How did this happen? Do you not have personnel outside the ambulance bay to keep watch?” Derek said in anger and Robby tries to calm himself down before answering. 

“We only have cameras that our security personnel monitor. You have to understand that this is an occupational hazard, and we have hundreds of cameras around the emergency department alone and something like this can be missed unfortunately. For now, we are doing the best we can to treat Dennis.” Robby said and they stop in front of the room and can see what is being done to Dennis through the window. 

“Aren’t you the chief attending? Why aren’t you there with them?” Emily asks and Robby tries to keep it together. As much as he wants to be there, he has to trust Garcia and what she can do for the emergency department—for Robby to be specific. 

“There were too many warm bodies there. In terms of surgical procedures like this, Dr. Garcia has complete control on how she wants her placement done. She wants lesser warm bodies but with more expert hands. I am a chief attending but this is also a teaching hospital and the residents there are ones I trust wholeheartedly. You do not need to worry.” It was the truth but not the first truth to the question. Robby tries to take deep breaths as he monitors the cardiac monitor being seen through the window. “See the monitor? His vital signs are within range which means he’s stable. And,” Robby pauses when a movement is familiar to him. 

Langdon has a forceps in his hands and raises it up as he stays rooted in place, making sure that the people outside the room can see. It’s the bullet and Langdon gives him a thumbs up, meaning that it is in one piece. Robby nods and Langdon places the bullet and forceps in a kidney basin. 

“We got the bullet and in one piece. We’ll just stitch him up and wait for him to come about for him to give his statement.” Robby says and the four agents sigh. 

“Dr. Robby? Dr. Reid is awake.” Princess comes up to him and he nods. He turns to the agents and gives a soft smile. 

“Dr. Reid is awake so we can go and I’ll assess his condition. Is that good for now or would some of you want to stay with Dennis?” Robby offers and the agents look at each other. 

“Okay, this is what we’re going to do.” Emily says and turns to the rest of the agents. “Morgan, stay with Hotch. JJ, stay with Reid. Rossi, do you want to stay with Dennis or do you want to investigate?” Emily sternly looks at David who clenches his jaw in frustration. 

”Dennis needs me here, I’ll stay here.” David says and Emily nods. “Please, just catch the bastard and I’m calling up some connections with a judge.” David says and tries to keep himself from entering the room. 

“I will. The rest of you, go!” Emily pats their shoulder and they now go their separate ways. David looks at him and sighs.

”Is this common for you guys?” David asks as he watches Langdon already starting to stitch the inner muscles and going outwards. “It never occurred to me that working as a doctor has occupational hazards.” 

Robby smiles and sighs, standing beside David. “We get punched, threatened, slapped, maybe the occasional stab and shot if we’re very unlucky. Hasn’t happened here in years so I was surprised.” Robby said but turned slightly to the profiler. “Dennis knew what he was going into when he matched with emergency medicine. Has he told you about his first shift here?” 

David snorts, “Yeah. Pittfest and he cried on my shoulder when he told it to me. He thinks he was trying to toughen it out but with me there, he can actually process it then crying about it. I had to make him some pasta to calm him down.” Robby smiles to himself. Robby now knows why Dennis seems to crave a pasta dish whenever he’s feeling down. Dennis never knew the reason why, apparently it was how David comforted Dennis without him knowing. 

“Dennis is a good doctor and he’s a good person. Sometimes, or most of the time, people who go into medicine just think that they have to be a good doctor. No one tells you that you have to be a good person too.” Robby shares a sentiment and he catches Mel giving him a thumbs up and a stitching motion. ”Apparently, they’re done stitching the inner layers. You can come in now while the skin is being stitched up, but don’t touch the area. I’ll go to Dr. Reid for assessment and call me if you need anything.” 

David outstretches his hand and Robby shakes it, “Thank you, Dr. Robinavitch. My apologies if we ruined the balance here in the ED with our presence.” David said which made Robby laugh. 

“Please, there is no such thing as balance here in the ED. You don’t have to worry.” Robby said and nodded to the profiler who entered Dennis’ room while he goes to assess Dr. Reid. 

♟️

”Good Afternoon.” David enters the room and Garcia nods at him. 

“Agent Rossi, feel free to sit here while Dr. King stitches up Dennis. I’ll go and chart this, ER Ken, call me when something comes up.” Garcia gives him a chair which makes him sit beside Dr. King who smiles at him and continues to stitch up the intern.  

“I hope you never come back.” Langdon snarks back and Garcia smirks at him while removing her gown and gloves. 

“This ED just had 3 emergency surgeries with 2 agents and an agent’s son. I headed those so you need me very much.” Garcia said and clasped her hand on Mel’s shoulder. “Nice stitching, dress that and give antibiotic prophylaxis then chart it back. This is a legal report and have it cleared with Robby before you upload it.” 

“Leave, now because I actually try to kill myself.” 

“Would make an interesting surgery. Later, odds!” 

Then Garcia leaves while David watches in amusement. Langdon notices this and smiles at him. “Sorry about her, we bicker like this majority of the time.” 

“Don’t sweat it, doctor. I have my own set of profilers who bicker at any chance they get.” David reassures the doctor who nods and smiles. “Plus, Dennis has told me a lot about this staff. Heard many about you all.” David informs and all the staff turn to look at him. 

“I hope it's all good things.” Langdon teases and nods at Mel who was starting to dress the wound. “Let’s lower the anesthetic and hope he’ll wake up in a while. Mel, make sure he’s coherent when he wakes up.” 

“This staff is a family and he’s glad he took the leap—the leap meaning going to Pittsburgh after a year in Georgetown. To me it's one of the best decisions he has ever made. He won’t admit it but it is and he loves it here, it shows very much.” David says with a soft smile on his face. “He said sorry to me before for not staying in Virginia but children need to leave the nest too and I’ll be happy whatever he does and wherever he wants to go.” 

“Well, we’re glad that he has someone like you as his father. I don’t think anyone here has a good relationship with their parents actually.” Mel speaks up and David furrows his eyebrows. 

“How so?” David asks for clarification and Mel shrugs. 

“I, I don’t know. It’s like a required pre-requisite for students who want to go into medicine.” Mel makes a joke and David smiles. 

“It’s somewhat a pre-requisite too for profilers to not have a good relationship with their parents, fathers mostly. I’m somewhat of a pseudo-father for the majority of the profilers you see in my team. It happens.” David points out and looks at the sleeping face of his son, “Dennis was so insistent on having me as a father then it took years for us to mend the bridge. He hasn’t been home a lot but we’ve been texting and calling but not much. He’s been working shifts and dead tired and I’m traveling and catching bad guys for a living. It’s not really the…ideal father and son relationship.” 

“And yet he knows many about serial killers, psychopaths and sociopaths.” Perlah speaks up and Langdon laughs. 

“He knew so much, we thought he was a serial killer.” Langdon says as he removes the blue linen on top of Dennis. “Absolutely freaked everyone out and he was enjoying it. Eventually we were informed and it calmed us down. Even took us to a gun range.” 

“Oh wow, Dennis in a gun range again? That’s surprising.” David laughs. “The first time he handled a gun was with Hotchner. The gun recoiled so bad, it broke his nose but that didn’t stop him. He continued shooting and after like 2 loads, he shot his target well.” 

This earned a laugh from Frank, Mel and Perlah. “Oh my god, how did you explain that to the ER?” Perlah asked while shaking Dennis awake. 

“Oh, we had to explain that Aaron and I are FBI agents and the injury happened at a gun range. He was underaged so they were a bit skeptical. Good thing they believed us after calling our section chief and she is a bitch, let me tell you that. Oh and apparently, he now goes to a gun range when he gets stressed and to just let out everything.” David said and they all laughed as well. They turn towards the door when they hear it opening and they see Robby entering the room. 

“How’s wonder boy?” Robby smiles teasingly and David laughs. “Dr. Reid and Agent Hotchner are stable and are being monitored. Langdon, go chart this and Mel, handle the agents for the moment. They were Dennis’ patients. I’ll go and monitor Dennis myself.” Robby said and the two residents nodded. 

Frank raised his eyebrows on him with a teasing smile and he rolled his eyes. He doesn’t need to be reminded that David, Dennis’ father, is here. He’s trying to keep himself together but the gun on the profiler’s holster just makes him nervous. 

“Whitaker? You up?” Robby asks and does a sternal rub and the intern groans at the pressure. “There we go. How are you feeling?” 

“Fucked.” 

“Language!” David said and Dennis rolled his eyes, Robby letting out an amused smile. 

“Well, you got shot in the shoulder and Garcia got it out with help from Langdon and Mel. Your face was cleaned up too but we need an x-ray.” Robby said and Dennis tilted his head in confusion. “What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?” 

“You didn’t see the cigarette burns?” Dennis asks and Robby and David make eye contact. 

“I’m sorry, what?” David stands up, he feels that something is wrong. 

“The person who did this to me, he placed cigarette burns on my wrist?” Dennis groggily said and tried to look around. “Fuck, it hurts.” Dennis clenches his eyes shut as he tries to move but he can still feel the pain in his shoulder and face. “Robby, increase the Morphine.” Dennis whined and Robby resisted himself in letting out a fond grin. 

“Coming up, Dr. Whitaker.” Robby teases and he manipulates the pump, immediately seeing the relief overcoming the grimace on the intern’s face. “Yep, that’s better.” And Dennis replies with a gleeful hum. 

David takes a look at both wrists while Robby continues to assess Dennis for a concussion. David finds a specific pattern in the cigarette burns and he feels a shiver across his body. He immediately runs to the door and he looks around, he finds Derek and Emily talking outside across the floor, in front of the trauma bays. 

“Morgan! Prentiss! Get in here!” David yells out which catches the attention of the majority of the staff who were in the vicinity, looking very confused at the sudden yelling from the profiler. Emily and Derek look at each other and run to Dennis’ room. Robby has a panicked look on his face while he tries to process what is going on. “Look at the pattern of the cigarette burns.” 

Emily, Derek and Robby look at the pattern on Dennis’ wrist. Two burns by the pulse point and 3 each beside that line.

”Holy shit, Rossi.” Derek comments and rubs his face. 

“What? What’s going on?” Robby asks, his anxiety through the roof once he gets the clue that this isn’t finished, that there was something going on and he can’t do anything for his boyfriend.

Emily takes a deep breath and looks at Robby, “The cigarette burns form a pattern. We found the same pattern on the victims of the two unsubs that we brought in earlier. The guy that did this to Dennis, is a team with Miller and Rodriquez.” Emily explained. 

“We knew that there were two of them but they’re actually three?” Derek comments and David takes a deep breath. 

“Dennis, did you see the man who did this to you?” David shakes Dennis awake who groans. ”Sorry kid but we need to know if you saw his face.” 

“It was blurry.” Dennis said and whined. “Dad, you’re gripping my wound.” David pulls away and sighed in frustration. 

“Sorry, Dennis.” David said and placed a kiss on Dennis’ forehead. “Prentiss, Morgan, can you handle this. I can’t leave Dennis like this as well as Aaron and Reid.” David begs to the two profilers who nod in understanding and place their hands on his shoulder. 

“David, just be here for your kid. We’ll catch this guy.” Derek says and looks at Robby. “I need to get a clip of the man who did this to him. Where’s your security office?” 

Robby stands up, knowing he can’t really do anything to comfort Dennis and be near him since he’s at work and their relationship is not out yet to the profilers. Robby is kind of glad that too much stuff is happening because the profilers never got back to the topic of Dennis being in a relationship. But it also meant that he couldn't stay by Dennis’ side as much as he wanted to. 

“I’ll take you there.” Derek nods and they leave the room, with Emily going to god knows where. Derek sees JJ across the floor and yells, “JJ, have PPD secure an APB in a 4 mile radius!” JJ nods and immediately goes to god knows where. Derek shows his badge to Ahmad who nods. “I need the clip of Dennis Whitaker getting attacked. That was an hour ago.” 

Ahmad works his magic and Robby stands there to observe. He grimaces once Ahmad finds the clip and Derek scoffs. “Fuck ass man, didn’t even bother hiding his face. Send that to this number in Quantico.” Derek pulls out his phone and Robby can hear a bright woman’s voice. 

“All hail to all is good, which is me, Penelope Garcia, speak!” 

“Baby girl, Dennis got attacked in the hospital and the unsub was working with Miller and Rodriquez. The unsub placed the same pattern of cigarette burns on our wonderboy’s wrist.” Derek said. 

“Oh my god! Is he okay!?” Penelope yells out and Robby can figure out her typing on a keyboard very loudly. 

“He’s fine but a bit out of it and in pain. I’m sending you a clip and have it run through your systems. JJ is putting out an APB in a 4 mile radius. This shit happened 30 minutes ago so he could have gone too far than we wanted.” Derek said and Robby is trying to fight off a headache coming out. 4 hours into the shift and everything was smooth but apparently, Dennis wasn’t joking when he said that trouble always comes with the BAU like a bad omen. 

“Copy! I’ll be quick, take care, my sweets! P.G. Out!” Derek puts down the phone and he looks at Robby. “Look, continue working. This man is all alone and we’ll get him. Just stay with your team and we’ll handle it.” Robby nods and they both leave the security office. 

Derek, Emily and JJ run outside the ambulance bay doing god knows what and Robby signals something to Dana who nods and immediately announces an urgent team rounds. In less than 3 minutes, all doctors and nurses are gathered in central hub. 

“Okay, this is a shit show let’s get that straight. But the man who attacked Dennis is actually an accomplice to the two men who were brought in earlier, Miller and Rodriquez. The BAU is now making sure that they catch the guy but Agent Rossi is in Dennis’ room.” Robby said and Trinity spoke up, cutting him off. 

“How’s Dennis?” 

Robby smiles, “He demanded that I increase his Morphine.” Everyone laughs at the prospect, at least Dennis is doing okay. “He’s alert and oriented. The wound is good and we’re just finishing up the medications. No signs of concussion so he’ll be out after an hour or two but I’m not allowing him to do any work further this shift. He’ll rest until the end of it.” And everyone sighed in relief. 

“Mel? Any updates from the agents?” Robby turns to the resident who nodded. 

“They’re stable and Dr. Reid doesn’t have a concussion and he’s already trying to ambulate which was cleared by Dr. Garcia. Agent Hotchner’s headache is also receding which means, as per orders of the neurologist and concussion protocol, he can be evaluated once more after 4 hours and if he’s cleared by neurology then he can be discharged.” Mel said and Robby nodded. 

“Alright, everyone continue with your work and let’s discharge everyone that can be discharged to free up some beds. Stay in your positions and I’ll call out when I need it. Now, go!” Robby claps his hands as he dismisses them and he goes to Dennis’ room then knocks. 

“Agent Rossi. I’m just here to check on Dennis and hopefully wean him from the Morphine.” Robby smiles when he sees Dennis rolling his eyes. “You need to be weaned immediately. If there’s still pain, I’ll give you a COX-2 inhibitor. There’s only less than 6 hours left before the shift ends and that would be enough to wean you.” 

Dennis has the head of the bed raised so he’s in a sitting position. It seems like him and David were having a conversation but it feels like a serious conversation with how worried David looks and Dennis with a comforting expression. “I feel like I’m intruding in a serious conversation. Should I be back later?” Robby offers and David shakes his head. 

“No, please. Just continue with your work, Dr. Robinavitch. Sorry, I’m just worried about Dennis.” David says and Robby nods. “I keep telling him that I’m sorry for being the one that got him in this position.” 

“Then, this will be quick. I’ll only adjust the dosage every 30 minutes moving forward.” Robby offers and both men nod. As Robby changes the dosage, he speaks up. “If I may add my own perspective, I understand that you think that it’s your fault but it's not. Maybe working in the ED gives me a different perspective where it is so out of control here no matter how many times I take control of it. I just have to accept the situation and control what can be done moving forward. Even if it meant one of my men went down, I’ll manage it.” Robby says as he offers his peace and gives Dennis a cup of chocolate pudding. 

“Dana said to give it to her favorite bloodhound.” Robby places the cup of pudding on the overbed table and Dennis smiles at him. 

“I’m her only bloodhound.” Dennis smiles and opens it. “Thank you, Dr. Robby. She knows its my favorite. I’ll thank her later when I see her.” 

David smiles at the interaction but he can’t help but wonder if he feels that something is off. Robby is a good chief attending but for some reason, he’s too focused on Dennis even before he got assaulted. David simply smiles instead of showing a stern expression. 

“Thank you for taking care of Dennis for us. He’s been making us nervous especially when I got the news he was homeless for awhile—”

”Dad!” 

“Oh come on, you’re not homeless now, right?” 

“Oh my fucking god.” Dennis hides his face under the blanket while Robby chuckles in amusement. 

“Please, it’s fine. I was informed of that specific detail just recently and he’s living with his best friend, one of the residents here, Trinity Santos. Your son is a very good doctor and he will become even better with time, he’s also a very good person so you don’t have to worry about him.” Robby smiles, David gets a feeling that there’s more emotion to it than it should from a boss. 

“See, Denny? He said it's fine.” 

“Dad, get out. Now.” Dennis says but with no bite and David rolls his eyes. 

“Oh il mio bambino,” David coos and Dennis groans. 

“Dad! You’re embarrassing me!” Dennis whines as he continues to hide under the blanket. 

“I am not!” David defends himself and Robby watches the interaction with fondness in his eyes. 

“Help me out here, Dr. Robby.” Dennis whines and Robby tries to not coo at the intern with his big sad blue eyes that he can’t help but fold. Robby shrugs playfully and shakes his head. 

“I don’t know, Whitaker. I think Dana is calling me for a patient. I’ll be right back.” Dennis widens his eyes and rolls his eyes. 

“Liar! You’re abandoning your favorite intern!” Dennis yells as Robby leaves and he laughs. 

“You’re my only intern!” Robby retorts back and then is out of their sight. 

David turns to Dennis with a confused look on his face, “It’s an open thing that you’re his favorite intern?” 

Dennis turns to him and sees a stern and suspecting look on his father’s face. He smiles but inside he’s panicking because he knows his father can be very strict when it comes to power imbalances since it can be considered more serious when he’s working in law enforcement. Dennis tries to calm down before he can actually speak. 

“Well you know, he speaks highly of me and he did write my letter of recommendation just so I can come back here for my residency, you know?” Wrong. Abbot wrote the letter of recommendation as per Robby’s request. 

Dennis did ask Robby for a letter but at that time, Robby was harboring some feelings and wants in terms of the younger male. He knew eventually he wanted to go and ask him out on a date but didn’t want the administration to be suspicious of Dennis getting in with a letter of recommendation from Robby but also possibly have to file about Robby and Dennis being in a relationship. Robby made a dumb excuse about how he usually directed letter of recommendations to Jack because he’s stricter with his standards, Dennis took this wholeheartedly and went on the night shift to please the attending—and it worked. Robby eventually did tell Dennis all about it when they got together and Dennis laughed because it did save their asses when they filed for their relationship in HR. 

“Okay.” David still seemed unconvinced but still gave a smile to his son. “Well, it’s like Aaron and me with Spencer and the rest. We both see them as our kids and I guess it applies the same.” Dennis nervously laughed at this because this was not the same situation (unless you try to count about how Dennis and Robby indulge in daddy kinks in the bedroom). 

“Yeah, totally!” Dennis said, grimacing on the inside because what he and Robby did were not someone you did with a father figure. “He’s like a father figure to everyone here. It’s actually sweet.” Dennis now wants the ground to swallow him whole. He has to stop talking. 

A knock on the door and both of them look up to see Derek. He goes inside and ruffles Dennis’ hair. “Hey wonderboy, you feeling okay?” 

“Yeah, the shoulder is painful and the burns are numb from the cream but all in all, I’m good.” Dennis said as he took in another mouthful of pudding. ”Oh hey, is Aaron and Spencer alright?” 

“Oh yeah. Uhh Dr. King is like the female version of Spencer and she’s sweet.” Derek says, taking a seat beside David. “PPD told us that they’ll call us when they catch the guy. We got the face clear as day in the security cams and my baby girl handled all the information on this guy.” Derek said and groaned in relief after sitting down. 

Someone knocks on the door and Dennis urges Trinity to come in when he sees her. She comes in with a nervous smile and nods at the two profilers. “Dad, Derek, this is Trinity Santos, my best friend.” 

Trinity extended her hand towards the profilers who happily shook it, “Dr. Santos, a pleasure to finally meet you. Dennis has told us so much about you. I will have to thank you for taking care of him.” David says and Trinity laughs, already the nervousness has evaporated once she sees how nice the profilers are despite being very intimidating. 

“It’s nothing really. I just gave him my extra room and we became best friends.” Dennis rolls his eyes playfully and Trinity puts the side rails down. “Move over, Huckleberry.” Dennis does and now Trinity lays down on Dennis’ bed and sighs in relief. 

“Too much out there?” Dennis asks and gives Trinity his spoon as she takes a mouthful of pudding. “I heard my dad and the team gave donuts, pastries and coffee earlier.” 

She nods and swallows the pudding, “They did. Thank you by the way, I ate like 3 already before Collins slapped my hand away. She already placed three boxes in the fridge for the night shift.” 

“I was actually thinking of buying some sandwiches. I just realized that you all have been running around the ED so you need something nutritious.” David said and he pulls out his phone. “I’ll order some sandwiches.” 

“Dad, you don’t have to do—“ Dennis stops and Derek laughs. 

“Oh you know Dave, Denny. His love language is acts of service.” Derek rolls his eyes playfully.

”I’m Italian.” David shrugs his shoulders as if that’s enough explanation and continues to place orders on his phone. “Plus, they did a lot for us today and they’re one man down because of us. Might as well give something to compensate for it.” 

“And how do you know what acts of service means? And that it's a love language?” Dennis asks Derek who shrugs. 

“My baby girl is teaching me the lingo.” 

“It’s not lingo.”

”Then I don’t what the fuck it is.” 

Trinity and Dennis laugh while sharing a pudding cup. Not even bothered by the fact that they’re sharing a spoon. 

It has been the norm between Trinity and Dennis that they sometimes share a bed when one of them feels down. Trinity came up with the idea when she had a rough shift one day (when Dennis wasn’t in the ED anymore after his rotation ended) and she asked if she could crash his bed. It started with a pillow separating them and she claimed she only needed the comfort but it ended up with Dennis’ arms around her in the morning. It was weird but both of them enjoyed having each other so it was a ritual. 

Trinity will always be a priority no matter what, even if Dennis had a relationship of his own. Thank God, Robby understood it and accepted Trinity for who she is and for who she is to Dennis. It was one of the things that made Trinity accept him rather quickly than Dennis and Robby expected. 

“Oh and get this, Mel had a guy come in and there’s something stuck up his nose. We don’t know what yet and we’re taking in bets. The guy is like 35 years old. Wanna place a bet?” Trinity grinned mischievously while shooting the empty pudding cup in the trash can across the room, letting out a ‘whoop!’ When it got in perfectly. 

Dennis grimaced, “He’s 35 years old and this isn’t an object up his ass. What are the very limited possibilities?” 

“I dunno. I bet on a dead bug.” Trinity shrugs and continues to snuggle against Dennis. “Man, you’re so cold. Do you need a blanket?” She asked and Dennis shook his head. 

“I get cold easily but I feel rather warm since you’re a walking furnace.” Dennis points out and Trinity snorts. 

”Oh yeah, Dennis. Are you in a relationship?” Derek speaks up and all heads turn to the profiler. 

“You’re in a relationship? Is it with her?” David spoke up and both doctors shook their heads. 

“She’s a lesbian. And I am not in a relationship.” Dennis turns to Trinity who was already in the process of leaving by pulling down the side rail and Dennis gripping her arm. She rolled her eyes and stayed put in the bed. “Okay, maybe I am in a relationship.—“ 

“Why did you—“

”Who—“

”Okay stop!” Dennis glares at the profilers who immediately shut up. “I don’t think it is very healthy of me being interrogated while I’m fresh out of a shooting. Please, just stop asking and I’ll bring it up when I’m ready, okay?” 

Derek and David looked at each other and sighed. “Are you happy in this relationship?” Derek asks. Of course, Derek was always going to be the protective one—even more protective than his father and more protective alone compared to the team combined. 

Dennis understood why he’s so overprotective—he has two sisters and became the man of the house when he was only 12 because his father died while on duty. Dennis now has a father who is in law enforcement, hell, he has a family in law enforcement so Derek is much more overprotective in making sure that every member of the team goes home without a scratch. 

Dennis smiles and Trinity looks at him with a soft smile of her own, “I am and Trinity is making sure I’m taken care of by the person I’m with. She’s my rock and I’m hers. The person I’m with is amazing and I’m happy with them.” 

David looks at him and Dennis becomes nervous. He hasn’t exactly come out to his father and the team—he never had the chance. Dennis using ‘they and them’ pronouns just made his father suspect something but he’s not worried that much about it. He’s pretty sure that Emily is a lesbian and Derek and Spencer have something going on. David is just suspicious of everything at this point since he can’t exactly look after Dennis who is 500 miles away from Virginia. He understands it but it does get very frustrating. 

“Okay, bambino. I trust you very much and I hope I can shovel talk to the person you’re in a relationship with soon.” David nonchalantly says and puts down his phone—presumably done with ordering. “Do they know that your father is in law enforcement and has a military background?” 

Yes, and he’s scared shitless. Dennis thinks to himself and nods at his father. “Yep.” He simply says and the two profilers nod. Dennis tries to take a leap though, Trinity is here and she’s a good support system so he’s going to do it while she’s here. “He’s good to me so you don’t have to worry.” 

David and Derek nod and smile at him, David takes his hand and kisses the back of it. “Then, we’ll wait to meet him then.” 

“Yeah wonderboy. I’m rooting for your boyfriend, you can be a lot.” Derek jokes and Trinity laughs at it. Dennis glares at the both of them. 

“Hey! This was a wonderful moment and you just ruined it!” Dennis whines and he looks at his father in desperation who simply shrugs and smiles at him. “Dad! I’m your son, be at my side here!” 

David puts his hands up, “You are a trust fund kid who drove an Audi at the age of 16 as your first car. You had 2 credit cards and 2 debit cards back then. You were used to summers in the East Coast and hunting with me. You can be a lot.” 

“I was used to being frugal and was homeless at one point! I am not that spoiled trust fund kid anymore!” Dennis whines again and huffs. ”I’m being bullied, in my own workplace. I cannot believe you both.” 

“Well, huckleberry, you are used to it since we bully and tease you around here.” Trinity grips his arm and kisses his cheek. “I have to go before Dr. Robby hounds my ass about not seeing more patients since we are one man down.” Trinity gets down from the bed and checked his lines again. 

“Trinity? If I may?” David asks and Trinity looks at David. “Can I have your number? So I can send you the tracker of the order and you can have someone get it for you.” David asks and Trinity nods. 

“Of course, Agent Rossi. Thank you again for the gesture, it helps a lot in the chaos of the ED.” Trinity smiles and hands her phone to David who places his number in and sends a tracking link to the order then gives it back to Trinity. “Thank you again, Agent Rossi.” 

“Please, call me Dave.” Trinity looks at Dennis who nods which means that it's a good sign. Dave is a term of endearment for David and is only for people close to his life. If it meant that she’s Dennis’ best friend then David can give her permission to be in his close circle of friends. “Also, just call me if you and Dennis need anything. Even if it's just you. You’re Dennis’ best friend so at this point, you’re a daughter to me too.” 

“Yeah. Dennis’ family is also our family. You’re welcome with us.” Derek says with a kind smile. 

Trinity, who doesn’t have a father, feels a lump in her throat and smiles kindly to the profilers. “Thank you, Dave and Agent—“

”Derek. Just Derek.” Derek smiled at her and she returned it. 

“Derek. Thank you.” Trinity said and left the room. 

“Thank you. She means a lot to me.” Dennis says and Derek kisses his forehead. 

“Of course. We love you, Dennis and the people you consider family, then we love them too.” David says in reassurance. 

Dennis feels comforted at the idea that his found family here in Pittsburgh is being loved unconditionally by his family in Virginia. He feels tears building up in his eyes as he looks at two of the profilers in front of him who simply smile at him. He only hopes that they feel the same thing when they find out he’s going out with a man half his age and is his boss. 

♟️

There were only 2 hours left until his shift finished and he got discharged when neurology and surgery cleared him. He immediately left the room so that someone could use it. He wanted to go back to work when, 

“Seriously?” Dennis asked the chief attending. Most of the staff and some profilers (David, Derek, Emily and JJ) were in the central hub while David was signing off some payment for discharge. “Let me get this straight, you are one man down and you don’t want me to work?” 

“Yes.” Robby simply says as he hands a chart to Dana. “You just got shot, punched, and had cigarette burns on your hand. What did you think was going to happen?” Robby asked the intern who scoffs. 

“Oh I don’t know, maybe getting me to work.” Dennis said and Robby thins his lips while shaking his head. “Dr. Robby, I can work. It’s only 3 hours left and—“

”Exacty. 3 hours left and we’re almost finished here. I don’t know about you but Dana and I turn a pretty tight ship here.” Robby muses and Dana hums. “You are resting. At least accompany the two agents in the trauma bays and you’ll be good to go. Trinity will take you home when the shift ends.” 

Dennis rolls his eyes and he looks back to see the profilers looking at him with amusement. “What?” 

JJ shakes her head with a slight laugh, “You are such a workaholic, it’s borderline David Rossi.” 

“I am not a workaholic.” David defends himself as he puts down his payment information. Of course, Dennis’ bills are no problem when he has David Rossi as his father. 

“You literally went back from retirement after Gideon left. Defend yourself all you want but you’re a workaholic. And it’s rubbing off on Dennis.” Emily points out. 

“Yeah because the BAU hires agents with a ‘no relaxing mindset’ and are workaholics to the bone. Do you know how retirement goes in the BAU? Settling down in a town where your most gruesome case and unsolvable case is so you’re nearer the crime scenes. BAU style.” David comments and Dennis rolls his eyes at the amused faces of his colleagues. “Dennis, give me your insurance information so I can finish this.” 

Dennis pulls up his phone and gives it to the profiler. He gives it so nonchalantly that he forgets one detail. 

David takes the phone and freezes, he looks at Dennis who looks at him with confusion but grins when he sees the insurance information reflected on his phone. “What do you have there, Dad?” 

“When did you change your legal name?” David shakily asks and he smiles. 

The rest of the profilers scramble to see the insurance information and smile softly when they see the name, ‘Dennis Rossi Whitaker’ reflected onto it. Derek ruffles the intern’s hair and gives it a kiss while JJ rubs a hand over his bicep in glee. 

Dennis shrugs his shoulders, “After the adoption papers got processed. It was also the time when I sent in my paperworks to PTMC for my residency so all my documents here reflect that name too. I also called city hall to change my legal name on the adoption papers.” Dennis smiles and turns away. “I’ll go and check on Spencer!” 

“Aww, this is so sweet!” Emily says and the rest of the staff watch in fondness at the scene. They all share sweet looks and Robby tries to hide the smile growing on his face which fails. 

He remembered the name change when he was reviewing the files of new students coming in and he was confused when he saw the middle name being added because Dennis didn’t have that on his name when he was an MS4. He didn’t bother asking for it because he forgot about it but he got an idea when he found out about David Rossi. 

David smiles as he hands the papers to the charge nurse who gives him a sweet smile. “We’re very happy for you, Agent Rossi. Dennis is a loved person here in the ED and I hope you’re very proud.” 

“Please, everyone just call me Dave. If you are family to Dennis then you are family to us.” David reassures and smiles, “Thank you for taking care of him. I am very proud of that boy even if he has been bickering with me a lot lately.” The staff laughs at this. 

“Oh please, you’re a father figure in the BAU and a great father to Dennis. You’re fine and it comes in the package.” Emily points out as she places a hand on the senior profiler’s shoulder. “Besides, I have news that Dennis is in a relationship.” She laughs. 

Robby and the rest of the staff tenses up. The staff are aware that Dennis and Robby are trying to hide their relationship from the profilers because of the obvious age gap and the misconceptions of a possible power imbalance. And the fact that Robby is afraid that he’ll get shot without a reason especially when David has connections to the mafia and is an FBI agent himself. 

“Yeah, he didn’t tell us who but he did tell us it was with a guy.” Derek comments and Emily’s gaze darkened. 

“Oh! Can I point my gun on the guy’s crotch then?” Emily threatens and Robby feels the dread in his system at the idea of his crotch being shot at. “You know, take the man’s ego and the little ones out in one shot.” Emily snapping her fingers just sends shivers down Robby’s spine. He gently places the tablet on his hands and Dana looks at him amused. 

“Let’s tread lightly on the whole Dennis’ boyfriend thing?” David says and JJ laughs. 

“Oh please, you know that whoever is going to end up with Dennis is going to have a hard time getting past us. Hotch is a former prosecutor and has many connections, You as his father, Morgan with his overprotectiveness and brawn as well as Prentiss, Reid with so many ideas on well, everything, Me with my connections when I was a communications liaison and Penelope with her hacking through everything as a technical analyst. I actually feel pretty bad for the guy.” JJ says lightheartedly and Robby is having second thoughts at this point. 

“Let’s hold off on making the guy suffer and actually make Dennis happy?” Emily says and Derek shrugs and his eyes flicker to Spencer’s room and he sees Spencer trying to sit up. He slaps Emily’s arm and points to Spencer and she stands up still, “Spencer’s awake.” 

“He’s been drifting off and on sleep, is that normal?” JJ asks and looks at Robby who tries to hide his nervous expression about how he’s now the next target of the FBI agents. 

“Yes. He’s been through a lot and resting is a sign that his body is getting the necessary energy he needs. He’s not using narcotics but it is very painful to be shot in the thigh so he might be using sleep to distract him from the pain. He just needs some help with ambulating for now because his wound is on his thigh but orthopedics did clear him. He has no concussion and will only need additional evaluation after his medication finishes up.” Robby looks around and spots Princess. “Princess, medication is in the final round and I’ll evaluate before shift change if discharge can be done.” 

“Oh that reminds me, all medical reports can be sent to our technical analyst back at Quantico. We’re paying from the bureau’s pocket as well as the insurance. I can fill those up while we wait for discharge.” David offers and Robby nods. 

“Perfect, thank you, Agent Rossi. Dr. King, let’s do another assessment on Dr. Reid. I’ll have the night shift handle possible discharges on the agents.” She nods at Robby’s words and she goes inside Spencer’s room. 

“I’ll go and accompany Spencer.” Derek says and JJ accompanies him to go inside Spencer’s room. Emily goes and bids her farewell for a moment while she goes inside Aaron’s room. 

“You can call me Dave as well, Dr. Robinavitch.” David muses as he takes another pile of paperwork from Dana as he starts to fill those up. 

Robby smiles, ‘I doubt you have the same sentiments when you find out I’m fucking your son. A middle aged man chief attending who is fucking his intern who is half his age’ Robby thinks to himself. 

“It’s alright, Agent Rossi since you still call me Dr. Robinavitch.” Robby says and he looks elsewhere to hopefully avoid a conversation where David can call him Robby and now he’s forced to reciprocate. “Dana, I have labs incoming for North 2, can you call me up when they come in?” Dana nods and waves him off as he goes to another direction. 

David squinted his eyes, “Is he just me or he just avoids being in the same room as me?” David speaks out and at one corner, Princess and Perlah side-eye each other.

Dana smiled at the profiler, “He’s just busy with one man down. He’s like a kid with undiagnosed ADHD. He’s very jumpy and can’t handle being in one position for more than 5 seconds.” Dana reassures the profile who smiles at her. “He’ll be welcoming you better if only it was outside the ER.” David laughs at this and hands her back the paperwork. 

“Don’t worry, I am the same. I am not necessarily the sparkling personality if you met me during work.” David smiles at her and thanks her for her guidance. 

Trinity rounds the central hub and smiles at David. “Dana, can I have some hands? Preferably males?” Trinity asks and Dana looks at her alarmed. 

“Oh why, hun? Difficult patient?” Dana asks and calls out to Donnie, Jesse and Mateo who were charting.

“More like a difficult order.” The three male nurses and Dana tilt their heads in confusion which made Trinity grin. “Dave ordered some food for us and it is one hell of an order. Even got some for the night shift.” 

Dana and the nurses look at David with stars on their eyes who shrug and smile at them. “I am not sure if I got enough or more than enough? I just hope it expresses my gratitude for this staff.” 

“Oh Dave, thank you. Jesse, Mateo and Donnie, go and help Dr. Santos.” Dana orders and the three male nurses shook hands with David as thanks then went with Trinity to help her out. “You and Dennis are the same. Sometimes he will whip something up and bring some extras for the rest of the staff. Most of the time, it's cookies and cupcakes since Trinity has a sweet tooth.” 

David laughs, even harder when he sees the male nurses struggling with the multiple bags on their hands. His order was a handful and he smiles when Trinity yells with a giddy smile on her face, ‘thank you, Dave!’ From across the floor. “He got that from me. A disposable income and a huge commercial kitchen back in Virginia urged him to cook up so many things and share it back to the team. I was, at one point, convinced he wanted to become a chef.” 

Dana smiles at him and pats his shoulder, “He told us all about you, all good things. You raised a good kid, Dave. It’s not easy to do that in that situation and it's not easy to come out of it successfully.” 

David nods and bids his brief farewell as he walks towards Aaron’s room. He stops when he sees Dennis smiling as he converses with Aaron who is eating a light meal. Dennis was always the favorite in the team and David did think that he did a good job raising him. 

♟️

”Hi, Spence.” Dennis greets the profiler who smiles at him while munching on a jello cup. “Seems like you got into Princess’ good side. She’s the guardian of good jello cups.” Dennis sat beside Spencer’s bedside and rested his arms on the side rails. 

“She is a god sent. Thank you.” Spencer thanks her and she smiles at him then leaves the room, giving privacy to the two men inside the room. “How are you doing?” 

“I should be the one asking you that. You got shot in the thigh, that hurts.” Dennis said as he stood up and logged into the portable workstation, looking over Spencer’s chart. “Your chart looks good, neurology and surgery will be down in a while.” 

Spencer laughs. “Peachy. Thanks for telling them about…that.” 

“No problem. I trust the doctors who worked on you.” Dennis points out and logs out of the chart. 

“I kinda snapped at Dr. Langdon when I woke up, accused him of giving me narcotics but I saw the sobriety bracelet on his wrist and he sat down beside me. Dr. McKay also told me that she was also an addict before and we kinda had a mini-AA meeting here in the trauma bay.” Spencer chuckled. 

“That’s good.” Dennis simply says. He learned very early when dealing with anything drug related to Spencer that if you don’t know what to say, then don’t say anything. Spencer tends to either talk a lot or be quiet and have a cookie when they’re talking about addiction. “Is the jello cup good?” 

Spencer nods as he takes in another mouthful, “Yeah. It’s good.” 

It was silent for a few seconds until Dennis sat beside Spencer and took his hand, “Do you want to talk about anything?” 

Spencer simply looks at Dennis’ hand that is caressing and holding it tightly, warming him up even if Dennis’ skin was colder than normal. “I think I fucked up that’s why we got shot.” 

Dennis, who has been at the receiving end of Jack Abbot’s infamous ‘eye contact,’ does the same to Spencer who sighs and clenches his hand as he continues to tell his piece, “I was the first one in the door and I said a room was clear when it wasn’t, leading to Hotch getting shot and when I fired back, someone from the unclear rooms shot me on the thigh.” 

Dennis nodded. If he was being honest, it was a bit of Spencer’s fault since he did yell out that a room was clear but he didn’t need to sabotage himself for a mistake that can be prevented in the future. 

“Spencer, I think you have had enough time to reflect on what you did and what could have been done so you know the answer if you were wrong or right. But if I were to give you something, you can prevent it in the future. Take responsibility then move on.” Dennis softly said and Spencer gave him a tight smile. 

“Did you ever had a time where you did everything you could even if you knew better but still fucked up?” Spencer asked and Dennis sighed. 

“When I was an MS4, I had my first patient, Mr. Milton. It was a cut and dry case but then not even after 30 minutes, he had a heart attack and I only found him an hour later. It was too late. I had an EKG done and no heart abnormalities so it was a shock. He died of course. Dr. Robby told me that it happens and I did everything I could but I knew he had blood pressure issues and it sucked.” Dennis said and Spencer nodded, still silent. 

“We’ll get better, huh? I guess since I’m a genius, I’m not capable of mistakes but apparently I am.” Spencer laughs and Dennis leans his head onto the pillow. Spencer then kissed his nose and his forehead. “You’re a good person, Dennis.” 

“You know, everyone in the team keeps saying that to me.” Dennis looks up to the profiler who smiled. 

“Dennis, we see so many horrid things in our line of work. It’s a miracle that someone as good as you is still with us and graces us with his presence.” Spencer speaks up and his fingers grazes the gauze on Dennis’ shoulder. “A good person should not be touched by evil, my mother said that to me once.” 

“Then what happens when a good person is touched by evil?” Dennis muses to the genius who smiled at him. 

“He gets even better because he’s not fazed by it.” 

Dennis closes his eyes and lets Spencer kiss him again on his forehead. “You are a good person, Dennis. There's no doubt that you will become an even better doctor.” 

It was silent for a few minutes, just Dennis closing his eyes and enjoying Spencer running a hand through his hair. A knock had their heads turn to the door and Dennis smiles at seeing his boyfriend on the other side. Dennis waved his hand in and the attending came into the trauma bay. 

“Good day, Dr. Reid. How are you feeling?” Robby asks as he checks the profiler’s vital signs and lines. 

“Well, good but better now because you called me doctor.” Spencer mused with a wide grin to which Robby returned. 

“Dennis scolded us when we used Agent. We were informed of the 4 PhDs that you have, your IQ of 187, the eidetic memory and the fact that you can read 20,000 words per minute because our unconscious minds can process more than a million bits of information per minute.” Robby said and Spencer laughed, very impressed. Dennis was also impressed as he nodded with a big smile on his face. 

“Wow, Dr. Robby!” Dennis laughed and Robby playfully rolled his eyes. 

“What, are you impressed?” Robby asks while listening for Spencer’s breath sounds with a small smirk on his face. 

“I am, slick! You are good!” Dennis laughs loudly and he can’t see the wide grin on his attending’s face. Both of them miss the eyes of the profiler studying them and their interaction and for some reason a smile breaks out on his face. 

“Looks like everything is good here. Dr. Reid, you already have clearance to move around but make sure to have a nurse with you or one of my students. We have a wheelchair here for you to move around and maybe visit Agent Hotchner at Bay 1. Just call us when you need anything, okay?” Robby smiles when Spencer nods his head. 

“Thank you, Dr. Robinavitch. I am glad that I am in very capable hands, right wonderboy?” Spencer’s tone was subtle with a teasing glint to it. Dennis tilts his head while a small smile opens in his face. ”I haven’t had the chance to thank you as well for taking care of Dennis for us. He can be, a lot.” 

“Hey! I am not!” 

Robby smiles because Dennis can be a lot but he loves his boyfriend so much that he’d gladly do anything with a smile and a thank you leaving his lips. 

“My residents are always a lot so it is not an issue to me.” Robby says as he goes to the portable workstation and checks the updates on the chart. 

“I have a sparkling personality and the day shift loves it. If you have a problem with it, Dr. Robby, maybe I’ll take up Dr. Abbot’s offer about being on the night shift.” Dennis says as he raises a shoulder to make him seem petite and show off. 

“I hope not. My favorite intern is out of the day shift, might as well quit work.” Robby whispers against his ear as he moves behind the intern who rolls his eyes. “Alright, everything looks good, Dr. Reid. The chart is updated and you have a sparkling wonderboy at your entertainment. Use him wisely. Get some rest.” Robby bids them farewell after clasping his hands on Dennis’ shoulders and leaves the trauma room before Dennis can bark back a retort at the tease. 

Spencer looks at Dennis who shakes his head slightly with a small smile on his lips. Spencer decides to attack. 

“Flirting with your boss in broad daylight?” Dennis jumps at the sudden statement and he looks at Spencer. He narrows his eyes. 

“It’s currently 5:30 in the afternoon.” Dennis says and Spencer gives a small smile. 

“It’s always so bright here, it kinda gives the illusion that it's broad daylight. Sue me, I was only shot and asleep for most of the day.” Spencer shrugs and leans back onto the bed. “So, how long have you guys been together?” 

Dennis rolls his eyes, “It’s called friendly banter with the boss. I doubt you guys know about that since Aaron is very stoic and strict during work.” Dennis smiles at him and goes back to reading Spencer's chart in his hands. 

He puts on a calm facade but deep inside, he’s freaking out because Spencer, the ever loving genius he is, is always the person who doesn’t pick on social cues. If Spencer can calmly put calm teasing into flirting then he’s more aware of social cues and this makes Dennis feel a churn on his stomach. This entire shift is causing him to panic deep inside. 

“Is your boss commonly possessive with you?” Spencer crosses his arms and Dennis shrugs. 

“He is for all of us. The day shift is very chaotic so he wants more of us there.” Dennis simply says, it's the truth but it's a lie as well. Abbot doesn’t really need more people at night unless it's a specific day of the year such as a holiday. “It’s all in good fun.” 

“And good fun is touching, whispering in low voices, endearing eyes, bantering. Okay, you’re believable. Hey, maybe next time, you can fly.” Spencer mocks Dennis who rolls his eyes. Dennis can’t say anything else back and this makes Spencer smile widely. 

“So, you are dating your boss.” 

“Shush!” Dennis looks around even when he’s aware that it's just them inside the room. “You, keep it shut! Don’t tell my father, or Aaron! Or even Derek!” Dennis panics. Spencer is a workaholic, someone who doesn’t really indulge in his love life nor gossip. He’s always the last one to know about any, and it's only because the rest of the girls take pity and give it to him. He’s actually surprised that Spencer would indulge himself in some gossip and drama. 

Spencer raises his eyebrow, “Okay. But you’re making a very big mistake if you think you can hide that fact from profilers when we’ve been stuck here for the past 4 hours.” He smiles and turns his attention back to his phone in his hand. 

“Just, keep it to yourself and don’t say anything! We’re just not ready to have it all blown over.” Dennis says and Spencer spares him a look. 

“And yet, here you are, in a relationship with your boss and everyone on the staff is aware of it. Why are you doing this to yourself?” Spencer asks and Dennis stays silent. 

Spencer and Dennis were always the closest. It was the minimum age gap of only 2 years. Spencer appreciated that Dennis didn’t cut him off on his ramblings or was able to listen to him genuinely. Most of the time he looked at Dennis for social cues when he was around the vicinity while Dennis sought after Spencer for his magic tricks (physics, he wasn’t stupid), babysitting the kids and going out to various places and getting random facts about it. Spencer, with his vast knowledge, was what helped Dennis in becoming top of his class. 

Spencer used to be very timid and naive, just like him. But with the influence of the job, Dennis’ help, and the influence of the rest of the team, he became sharp as a whip and now quipped back with his own bantering and teasing to them. Recently, Spencer took a more initiative approach rather than wait for someone to do it for him. Dennis was happy for him, even if he wasn’t used to the change yet. 

Dennis sighed. “I’m worried about what Dave would do if he found out that I have a boyfriend who is closer in age to him rather than to me. I’m worried he’ll think that Robby is taking advantage of me.” Dennis takes a seat in front of Robby’s workstation. 

Spencer raises his eyebrows and sits beside Dennis. “Is he?” 

“No! Never.” Dennis immediately speaks up and Spencer simply looks at him, urging him to continue. “He took me out on a date and kissed me when I asked, didn’t even have sex until we were sure we wanted something more and I was sure of it. He’s a gentleman and he has some suicidal tendencies and a lack of caring for his mental health; or the fact that he self-sabotages himself but he’s really trying for us, taking care of himself for us. He’s gentle, he’s sweet, he takes good care of me, he even advocated for me when HR was on our case. This relationship is so good and legal with HR and our CMO because Robby wanted to make sure I was a priority and not just someone to warm his bed.” 

Spencer nods and holds his hand, “Then tell your father that. Robby seems like a great person and everyone has mental health issues that they’re going through. It’s good that Robby is making sure he’s good for you because you deserve that.” 

“It’s just not easy especially when we just recently reunited and it's a little rocky at first, I know he became even more protective of me especially after knowing I suffered when I transferred here. I never had a relationship before, I’ve had sex and flings that my father or anyone never knew about but this is special and I’m just scared he’s going to blow it out of proportion.” Dennis quietly says as he plays with the edge of his fingernails—a habit that Robby has been trying to stop by placing his hand over and squeezing it. 

Spencer gives him a side hug, the most he can do especially with his aversion to touch which makes him smile, “Defend this man with your life then if you know it's worth it. He’ll know this relationship either way if this is already serious. It is much better if you tell him when it's within your control and comfort zone rather than him finding out. And yes, Dave is overprotective but it comes with the job of being your father. He’ll just have a serious talk with both of you, or only to Robby or only to you—either way he’ll do that and then be okay once it all makes sense. Don’t try to think that he’ll just break you guys apart. That’s not something he would do.” 

Spencer’s right. Either way, Dave will know what is going on the longer they both prolong this secret. And even if they’re already in a serious relationship then might as well let the cat out of the bag. 

Though, Dennis grimaces at the thought of David threatening Robby. Robby, who was a couple of inches taller than David, is built like a teddy bear, and can’t even fire a gun so he’d rather fish as an outdoor sport. The only similarity between the both of them is that they are in the same age range, obsessed with whiskey and bourbon and can like an occasional cigar. 

“Yeah but I would rather have my boyfriend for another day than calling the police because his body was found under a bridge.” Dennis says and packs up a chart, wanting to go read it somewhere where Spencer isn’t there to interrogate him.

“That is such a lowblow for David. You know that hiding bodies under bridges never ends well.” Spencer said and Dennis raises an eyebrow.

“You just proved my point.” Dennis sighs and leaves the central hub in fury. 

It was much more complicated than what Spencer had enlightened him. This was actually the first thing that he had full control over without his father running behind the scenes. Such, him going into medicine was his choice but it was backed up with his father’s support in the first year and his resentment towards him in the next three years. Having a relationship with Robby felt like the first and only thing that was his entirely and not simply to just prove a point to his father but something that he wanted to be selfish for. 

If Dave at one point may now, then there is a possibility that Dave and the rest of the team might take it away from him. They want him to be happy but all his life, he had no other choice but to follow in Dave’s orders and footsteps because he had nowhere else to go. Now, he has Trinity, PTMC staff and Robby so he doesn’t care if Dave would try to disown him for being gay and dating his boss. But a part of him is still saddened that they recently just connected and there is a big possibility of them pulling apart again. 

♟️

“I don’t think smoking was one of the discharge teachings I gave?” Dennis smiles as he looks to see Robby. “Hi, baby.” Robby wraps his arms around Dennis who squeals and kisses him. Of course, Robby eagerly kisses back. 

“Oh I missed you.” Dennis whines as Robby chuckles, rubbing his beard against his intern’s skin. “Hey! Beard burn!” 

“I missed you too. Sorry, I’m trying to avoid your father.” Robby pulls back a little to get a glimpse of his boyfriend’s face who is now tilted in confusion. 

”What did my dad do now?” Dennis teases and Robby rolls his eyes. 

“It was Agent Prentiss. The rest are now aware that you’re dating a man so Agent Prentiss said about how she’d point a gun at my dick to take me out and the little ones. And then Agent Jereau said something about how the entire team was an obstacle in itself and she would feel so bad for the poor guy.” Robby said and Dennis coos at him. 

“Oh Michael, I’m sorry. They’re just very protective of me. You know how it is.” Dennis smiles and Robby playfully rolls his eyes. ”How about I make it up to you later?” 

Robby snorts, “As much as I would love what you have in mind, I actually plan to cook for you tonight and get you to relax while I clean your wound. Cuddling as well and many kisses to my sweet and brave boyfriend.” 

Dennis’ eyes seemed to shine in excitement and he let out a wide grin. ‘You drive a hard bargain, Dr. Robinavitch.” Dennis says as he leans forward, giving Robby a peck on his lips which makes the older man chuckle. 

“If it’s you then I’ll do anything.” Robby says and Dennis smiles. Robby pulls the younger man closer and captures his lips. Dennis smiles against his lips and wraps his arms around Robby’s neck, wincing a little as he remembers his wound but lowers them before it hurts even more. Robby feels this and was about to pull away when, 

“Dr. Robinavitch.” 

Both men freeze at the new voice outside of their bubble. 

There was only one person who called him that on a daily basis, and it was a woman (Gloria) but the voice was a man’s. A man that both men were very familiar with. 

They both turn to the voice and it was no mistaking that it was Agent David Rossi. 

Both doctors paled instantly. Dennis knew that David Rossi was scary when he was angry but he was more scary when he didn’t have an expression on his face. Dennis and Robby couldn’t speak and just froze in front of the ambulance bay as Rossi stared them down. 

“Dr. Robinavitch, my apologies. I wanted to smoke out here and I remembered Dennis mentioning this part of the ambulance bay to sometimes go smoke.” David simply says but Dennis and Robby know he’s a bit dangerous now considering that David placed his hands in his pockets but also showing his gun holster. 

“Yes, go ahead.” Robby says. Dennis and Robby didn’t even bother pulling away from their touch, they were too frozen to even move. David looked at them and raised an eyebrow. Robby then removes his hold on Dennis’ waist (which was actually nearing his ass) and clears his throat. “Den—Whitaker, Abbot will come in a few to do handoffs so be ready to pack your things and I’ll drive you—“

”I’ll drive him and Trinity back to their place.” David says and gives a stern eye to the chief attending. “You can go, Dr. Robinavitch. I think your department needs you before the shift change.” David says as he pulls out a cigarette and smokes. 

Robby presses his lips and nods slowly. “Understood, Agent Rossi.” Robby felt like a coward especially when he’s just 4 years younger than Dennis’ father. He feels the exact same shame he felt when he and Dennis started dating (which was now washed away due to Dennis’ reassurance and constant love). Robby goes back inside and Dennis huffs, turning to his father. 

“What the fuck was that?!” Dennis groans at his father who continues to smoke outside the ambulance bay. “Why are you so mean to him?! You had a completely different attitude mere hours, no, minutes ago before you found us here!” 

David rolls his eyes, “That was before I found out that you are in a relationship with not only your boss but someone who is twice your age! Have some dignity, Dennis!” 

“Dignity? You want to talk about dignity when you were retired and then came back in because you lost your own dignity from writing your own books?” Dennis snaps back. “You had so many cold cases that you ran away because you were a coward and then you came back the moment Jason Gideon left who was also a coward!” 

“Dennis Whitaker! I will not tolerate this disgrace outside of the institution that has taken care of you for the past year. You will uphold some grace and work your way in becoming a great doctor and not just warming an older man’s bed because of his mid-life crisis!” David roared and Dennis’ eye twitched. 

“I find it insulting that you don’t trust me enough to be with someone that I actually love! Even if this is an unconventional relationship!” Dennis yells back and he doesn’t realize that he’s starting to attract unwanted attention. 

“I am fine with you being with a man but I draw the line of you being used by your boss? Don’t spew all that love bullshit on me like a teenage girl!” David said, cigarette in his hand already forgotten as he continues to yell at his son. “You think you’re so in love with an older man? Yeah, right. Let’s see in a few years when you’re finally stuck with him.” He mocks the intern. 

“I refuse to accept love advice from a man with 3 divorces!” Dennis points and David’s jaw locked as he clenches it. “You know, you’re almost the same age as him and yet you’re trying to find comfort in an empty mansion while I warm his bed. Yeah, let’s fuck up the comparison even further the more we delve into this conversation.” Dennis said and stepped forward to David’s face who is now darkened. 

“You spend your life in the BAU and traveling the world yet no one will ever put up with that because you refuse to bring your loyalty outside the office. Maybe, try your protégé’s pants because the last time I knew, you fucked Aaron the moment his wife died. Almost 6 years in hiding, right? Divorced men’s club, huh?” Dennis smirks as he continues to mock his father, not even minding how the rest of the profilers now hold shocked expressions at the new information being revealed. “Give yourself a bit of dignity by placing a bit of loyalty and trust in me instead of automatically thinking that my boss is worming his way into my pants because the last thing I recall? I was the one who told him to fuck me hard against his mattress and asking for seconds. I was the one who kissed him first. I was the one who urged a relationship out of him. Power imbalance? Yeah fucking right, get your head straight, Rossi.” 

David seems taken aback by the revelation and Dennis uses this opportunity to leave the profiler hanging. He sees the profilers who looked at him with shocked expressions and his colleagues looking at him with pity. He stomps towards Trinity and gave her a hug, her reciprocating back immediately. 

“Can we leave early?” Dennis asks and Trinity nods, her eyes finding Robby who gave her a thumbs up and Dana rubbing circles against the intern’s back. “Fucking asshole. He just profiled me as a slut.” 

“No, no. I don’t think—“ 

“He just did, Trinity.” Dennis pulls back and Trinity, Robby and Dana don't miss the slight quiver of his lips and the consistent bob of his throat. “I’ll be by Aaron’s room.” He simply said and doesn’t wait for a reply as he pulls away completely and leaves to go to trauma bay 1. 

♟️

”Hi.” Aaron greets him as he gets inside the room. “So, you and Dr. Robby?” 

Dennis groans, “You heard that from the ambulance bay?” 

Aaron shakes his head and Dennis tilts his head in confusion which makes Aaron smile, putting down his phone. “He looked at you earlier with such fondness, I’m surprised that the others didn’t clock it immediately.” 

Dennis smiles and Aaron moves his body to one side of the bed. Dennis takes this as a sign, unlocking the side rails and getting into bed with the unit chief. “They’re not that good.” Dennis jokes as he feels Aaron wrap an arm around his shoulders and play with his now long hair. 

“I know, I might fire them then.” Aaron mumbles and they stay silent. “Forgive Dave.” 

Dennis gives Aaron the stink eye who sighs, “Jason Gideon died 2 weeks ago.” 

Dennis’ breath hitched. He heard stories about Jason Gideon, David’s best friend and co-founder of the BAU. A legend in itself who left because of a traumatic case which affected him more than it should, thus leaving. Thus Rossi went back to the FBI. He knows that the profiler was never in contact with the rest of the team at all, no tracking from Penelope and no effort in finding him. 

“We got a call from Roanoke PD and he was found dead in his cabin. It was all so sudden and I think us finding you here recently was a bit of a wake up call.” Aaron said and relaxed, looking up at the dimmed ceiling of his room. “I’m not saying that Dave should be 100% forgiven, he should be accountable to his own words and you got hurt so that is not excusable. We needed you as a breath of fresh air because the past 2 weeks were suffocating after his death. Dave took it harder, becoming stronger for everyone else but he couldn’t handle it as well. His best friend, just gone like that. Without a warning whatsoever.” 

Dennis continued to listen to the unit chief’s words and everything clicked. The recent nostalgia from the members, thanking the people around him for what they have done for Dennis, telling him that he’s a good person and a good doctor, being way too overprotective over him—it was like they were saying their farewells to Jason Gideon but through Dennis. 

“You were always so alike Jason. Had a big bad job hunting bad guys but so soft that he found birds as a hobby. Rossi was never that, outside of the work he’s still stoic but when you came into the picture, there was a certain gentleness that came onto him. Dave always said that you embodied him so much it scared him when the whole medical school fiasco happened.” Aaron softly said and Dennis continued to listen. “Jason dying scared the crap out of us afterwards. You were 500 miles away from us, in a city we are not familiar with and can’t just jump on our cars and drive like in Roanoke. David has been jumpy with the topic but doesn’t do anything about it. Refuses therapy at all.” 

David was someone who didn’t want to deal with therapy, a trait that Dennis has been familiar with all too well. David didn’t like the prospect of being left behind, something he had verbalized all too easily back in Dennis’ graduation. It was a very common fear for the human population but it was something surprising to Dennis about David. Dennis still wanted to be by himself, be in the city that was before, a city that was so unfamiliar but now screamed its name and has planted roots into his veins. 

“I also know that you know we have been together.” Aaron smiles at the intern who looks at him with his big blue eyes, “I noticed immediately when you offered to babysit Jack more back then. David thought it was because you think it was the only way to be helpful but I saw your act immediately. Jack loves you and I love you as well.” 

“Aaron—“

”Hush, boy, let me finish.” Aaron says and they stare at the chaos outside of the trauma bay. “Your father loves you very much and even if we play good cop and bad cop here, we will always love you. We see the bad side of power imbalances in the bureau and David has been on the other side, your side, before too, especially when they were building the BAU. David had to be the one who slept with higher ups and got favors just to establish the BAU correctly. It also didn’t help when he was recently divorced, the first one. I hope you don’t take too much offense as you see his side of the story.” Aaron explained and Dennis felt a lump in his throat. 

It wasn’t difficult to imagine a young David Rossi, fresh from his first divorce and having to switch his loyalty to the bureau when it never took care of him. Sleeping with higher ups to get his unit in order and be favored, obtaining favors for stability in exchange for his body which was broken and bruised from the work they forced him to do. It was not even borderline at this point, it was prostitution.

His loyalty with the Bureau was always a permanent fixture because they already took everything from him, heart, soul, dignity and pride. It was no wonder he had trouble getting his loyalty in check.  

“Fuck me.” Dennis whispered and Aaron smiled, kissing his wounded shoulder. ”I’m the jerk now, huh?” 

“Both of you are. You never knew about his story, he never told you, he said hurtful things and you as well. You both need to talk, hm?” Aaron said, still caressing his fresh wound while Dennis’ entire body became numb from the revelation. “It’s 6 in the evening. I understand that the ED has a 12 hour rotating shift, right?” 

Dennis nods, “Yeah but I’ll stay here with you for the moment. The night shift will be here in 30 minutes to do handoffs. Then they’ll round.” Dennis finds comfort in the bed, next to Aaron just like the times where he babysat for Jack and Aaron would give him a cup of wine to loosen up for the moment. 

Aaron was a man who he used to have a crush on but after finding out the incident with his ex-wife—who suffered because he was always working, traveling and never being with her and had to switch his loyalty to the bureau, it was like a switch turned off. It helped too when he found out that he was having sex with his father. Aaron indulged him with smoking, drinking and shooting guns by the gun range in the FBI building even if he was underaged. 

For some reason, Aaron saw his ex-wife in Dennis who had the same blond hair and bright personality, gentle and always the sunshine that both of them were. Dennis saw pictures of her in Aaron’s house, she was so beautiful, it made sense for a handsome man such as Aaron to have such a beautiful wife. She manifested herself into their son, Jack Hotchner, who also had brown eyes and blond hair. 

Aaron found comfort with Dennis. Maybe it was the teenage rebellion and naiveness but still so wise that Aaron joked once that he was much more emotionally intelligent and steady compared to the BAU team combined. He also found a father figure in Aaron and Aaron gleefully took on this responsibility. 

A knock interrupted their silent bubble and Aaron looked at the door and nodded to the herd of doctors about to enter. Dennis eventually snuggled against Aaron, face against his neck and snoring softly with one arm over the profiler’s chest. Robby sees this and his eyes twitch. He didn’t know how close Dennis was with the team, they were close, yes but close enough to climb onto the hospital bed and snuggle against the chief of an FBI unit? 

A unit chief who was proud, confident and had a big bad job that gave him a position in authority. Who was handsome, fit, a voice that was smooth yet husky at the same time, who even if he was confined in a hospital bed, still had the aura of a commanding officer that made Robby shiver in his bones. With Aaron Hotchner, the FBI BAU Unit Chief, the stoic and embodies FBI with his entire being, who is tough to most people but soft to Dennis and who is definitely a lot older than Dennis. See the similarities? The only difference is that Aaron is a lot more confident, fitter and in shape, and walks like he has everyone on the palm of his hands—all of the things that Robby is insecure of. 

“Sorry, he fell asleep. I hope you didn’t hear his fight with his father outside the ambulance bay.” Aaron softly said and Robby shook his head. 

“None of us were there to hear anything. I think it was only your agents who caught the gist of the conversation.” Robby said and nodded to the doctors. 

As per Gloria’s instructions, when the handoffs happened, all doctors, trauma surgeons, and nurses in the day and night shift had to round for the two agents. So, all doctors and the nurses were in the room, already witnessing the intern in the agent’s bed which resulted in amused expressions from the rest of the staff. Robby cleared his throat and spoke up. 

“Agent Hotchner, my apologies if we are a lot here right now. Our CMO ordered us to do rounds with you for both the day and night shift when hand-offs happen.” Robby said and Aaron chuckled. 

“That might be the work of my Section Chief back at Quantico. I kind of expected it already. Please, proceed as you may.” Aaron softly said and felt Dennis shift. His hand automatically went to the intern’s hair and softly shook him awake. “Honey? Your colleagues are doing their rounds now.” He softly says and all doctors and nurses turn to the chief attending with teasing grins while he rolled his eyes. 

“Mhm?” Dennis opened his eyes and he saw everyone already standing there with soft expressions on their faces and smiles. He sat up straight and clutched his head at the sudden drop of blood flow. ”Fuck—“

”Language!” 

“Hotchner, you can’t say that when I’m 27 years old.” Dennis grimaces and gets off the bed. “Since when did I call you Hotchner?” 

Aaron chuckled, “You call me that when you snap at me. I’m surprised you never noticed. You also call me that when you’re drunk after stealing a bottle of whiskey from my liquor cabinet back in Virginia.” 

Dennis rolls his eyes and raises his hands, “I never stole anything—“ 

“You kinda did.” 

Derek and the rest of the profilers come in with Spencer in a wheelchair, including David who was stoic as they come. Dennis groans then smiles, “Yes I did. I was fresh out of therapy and decided it was a good idea to steal the Unit Chief’s expensive whiskey to which I already paid the price. I was a teenager, so cut me some slack.”

”I paid for it because you broke it. Because you were drunk.” David said with a smile on his face. 

“I’m sorry, did you pay in cash or did you pay in a completely different method. I know that the other method kinda helps middle aged men.” Dennis mocks and David scoffs. “It also is very effective. If we place the scientific method, sex is a good negotiation tactic, 100% effective—which are very promising results. Hey, Aaron, you should know that, you’re an expert in hostage negotiation.” 

All profilers and healthcare workers had their mouths open wide at the sudden statement and were shocked that their bloodhound was actually capable of snarking back especially to FBI agents. 

“Alright, let’s have this as a neutral land, okay? No bickering, no fighting and don’t Rossi up the place, both of you.” Aaron says and both Rossi’s look at him with narrowed eyes. 

“Did you just use ‘Rossi’ as a noun? What is wrong with you?” David said and Derek shrugged. 

“We do it all the time. Rossi, a noun. To Rossi, to fuck up the entire thing that keeps them going. To Rossi, to end up bickering and fighting after a meal together, Rossi up, fuck up everything.” Spencer speaks up and both Dennis and David look horrified. 

“Hey, maybe I’ll use that.” Trinity speaks up with a grin on her face, and Dennis points at her. 

“Don’t you dare!” Dennis barks and the lesbian is not even faced. 

“When did you even come up with this?” David exasperatedly brings up and the healthcare workers amusingly watch the scene in front of them. Rounds be damned, this is the best thing compared to late night shows on Drama on television. 

“When you bought Dennis a Mercedes when we found out that he was graduating.” Emily says and Dennis widens his eyes and looks at his father who keeps quiet. Everyone looks at Dennis watching this exchange. They knew he’s a son of an FBI agent but knowing that he’s actually a trust fund kid? They knew that David had some money in his pocket judging from the amount of food he had bought for them (which also came from expensive shops) but Dennis already was not even borderline, he is a rich kid, a trust fund kid. Dennis groans at the statement. 

“You have a new car? You bought me a new car? The Audi was perfectly functional!” Dennis asks as his breath is being forcefully taken out of his lungs. He doesn’t need the entire department to know he has more money than he needs the rest of his life and that his father is a willing participant in humiliating him. Dennis now regrets his previous sentiments of wanting David as his father. ”You are insane. I left like what, for 3 years and you get yourself a new car, a Mercedes at that? What is this, a mid-life crisis? What’s next, finding wife number 5?” 

“Hey! I only have 3 divorces and you know that!” David points at him. 

“That doesn’t make it better?” Dennis sasses back. “What is wrong with you!” 

“Oh so many things, Dennis.” David simply said and Dennis feels like he’s getting an aneurysm. 

“Oh yeah, I know! Because you refuse to go to mandated trauma therapy!” 

“How did you know that?!” 

“I profiled it out of you! Oh my god!” Dennis raises his hands in shock and kneels down onto the floor trying to wrap his head on the sudden changes of today. It seems like it just hit him. Both Rossi’s need a psych evaluation at the end of the day. It was difficult to even think about the fact that they fought outside the ambulance bay just less than an hour ago and they’re now bickering. 

It was something both of them were good at. Avoiding the issue at hand which is why Dennis is frustrated at times. David needed a good amount of time to process and eventually come to his senses and Dennis was willing to wait but he sometimes can’t take the fact that they’re now interacting as if nothing happened. 

“Oh I’m sorry, not even wife number 5. It’s husband number 5.” 

“Dennis.” Aaron said and Robby stepped in. 

“Alright, both of you. Stop. Agent Hotchner is in concussion protocol and more stimulation meant an increased risk for a possible seizure, you know this Whitaker. Both of you, stop. Now.” Robby sternly says and both Rossi’s keep their mouths shut. ”Good, now. We will be doing our rounds. Let’s do Dr. Reid and Whitaker here as well. Treat it as a follow up, Whitaker.” 

Dennis rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. Robby nods at the silent room and nods at Mel who speaks up hesitantly.

”Agent Aaron Hotchner, came in with GSW to the shoulder. Operated here in Trauma bay 1 by Dr. Garcia, Dr. Robby and Dr. Whitaker and wound care will be done by the night shift prior to discharge. Neurological function is intact, alert and oriented, pupils are equal and reactive, GCS 15 and has no memory loss. Repeat head CT revealed no bleeding or abnormalities. Was hypertensive 2 hours ago and cardiology ordered on Enalapril for today. Surgery has also been signed off for discharge but we are waiting for neurology to do a repeat assessment to see if he can be discharged early with home treatment.” Mel said and Dennis nodded. 

“Aaron, does your ear hurt?” Dennis speaks up and Aaron looks at him. 

“It rang when I got in.” Aaron said and Dennis nodded. He walks across the room and grabs an otoscope. He sits down and wheels himself beside Aaron’s ear and starts inspecting it. “Did you have any ringing in the ears after you were treated?” 

Aaron hums. “It’s normal for me recently to have some ringing in the ears.” Dennis looks at Robby who sighs. “Dennis—“

”ENT consult before he leaves with a possible bonding agent on the orders?” Dennis speaks up and Robby nods. 

“Yep. Do you have a history of ear problems, Agent Hotchner?” Robby asks. 

The agents and Dennis raised his eyebrows up their hairline as they heard the question and looked away from the doctors. The doctors and nurses notice this action and look at Robby who was looking at the Agent with accusing eyes. Aaron swallows and nods. 

“It’s an occupational hazard. 6 years ago, a bomb went off beside me during a case and I was diagnosed with acute acoustic trauma. And I may have neglected caring for it.” Aaron said and Dennis looked at Robby. 

“He flew on the jet when he wasn’t even cleared to fly.” Dennis emphasizes and he puts the otoscope back on the drawer. “60% deaf on his right ear.” 

Robby nods and Mel already inputs the order for a consult with ENT. “We will have an ENT come before you are discharged. We will give a bonding agent while waiting and I hope next time, you can follow the orders of your doctor in regards to flying.” 

Aaron nods and does not say anything further. Dennis sighs as he continues to stand still as the rounds go further. “Before we go further, the guns and badges are in my locker. Get it from me before I leave.” 

“Oh thank god.” Aaron sighs in relief. “Did you—“

”I also took the gun to your ankle. Both badges are safe and I changed my passcode just in case as well. I have a few people who know my passcode so I changed it.” Dennis informed as he took a seat. 

”What’s the passcode?” JJ asks and Dennis shrugs. 

“Uhh something that will make David mad.” Dennis sheepishly grinned. 

“Spit it out, boy.” David sternly says but Dennis is not affected. 

“Year of Ruby Ridge Standoff.”

”Oh fuck you.”

”Damn. A shot to the heart. Dennis Whitaker-1, David Rossi-0.” Derek mocks and the profilers laugh. 

”I’ll go get the guns. Please let them continue on rounds.” Dennis says and leaves the room. Aaron nods at Robby who nods at Mel. 

“Dr. Spencer Reid, came in with GSW to the vastus lateralis. Previous history of his ACL being operated on after being shot on a case. Operated on Trauma Bay 2 by Dr. Garcia, Dr. Langdon and Dr. McKay and wound care will also be done by the night shift prior to discharge. No concussion protocol, GSW 15, no memory problems, intact neurological function as per neurology signing off on it. Refused opioid medications and is on a drip for COX-2 inhibitors and NSAIDs. Orthopedics already signed off on the case with no major complications but has ordered 8 weeks of physical therapy and strict follow up appointments at Virginia. He can already be discharged after a repeat head CT.” Mel says and Dennis comes back with four guns and badges. 

“Alright, 2 FBI Badges. One Glock 17 and One smaller Glock 26 for one FBI BAU Unit Chief Agent Aaron Hotchner, very standard law enforcement guns. One Smith & Wesson Model 65 revolver with a 3-inch barrel and another Smith & Wesson Model 10-5 for FBI BAU Dr. Spencer Reid.” Dennis gives the guns to Derek who handles it and nods. 

“You know your brands, already put on the safety and removed the loads. Good job, wonderboy.” Derek comments and the rest of the staff looks at Dennis in astonishment as he reloads the guns and puts on the safety without a care in the world, even knowing the specific model of the guns. ”It looks like all is good. Hotch can be discharged in a few hours together with our pretty boy here. Strauss also called earlier and said that she can give us another week over here.” Derek continues. 

“Wow, all of you here for another week? I’d rather shoot myself.” Dennis comments. “Please don’t even bother embarrassing me even further while you’re here.” 

“Oh no, we wouldn’t even dream of it.” Emily mockingly says and Derek chuckles. 

“Says the one who was planning to shoot Dennis’ boyfriend in the crotch.” Derek points out and everyone looks at Robby who presses his lips together. Gossip runs quickly in the ED and everyone is now aware that the profilers know about Robby being Dennis’ boyfriend. 

Robby takes a deep breath and smiles, “Alright, it seems like our business is done here. Whitaker, follow up after a week to get the stitches removed. Dr. King, good job here today, just follow up on the consult and have discharge teachings done when they leave. I am already finishing up the medical reports to send over at Quantico. Your technical analyst is in contact with me already with a few colorful shovel talks about her wonderboy.” Robby states and Derek laughs. 

“She’s harmless.” Spencer mentions and Robby smiles. 

“She told me that she can hack into everything and can find my deepest darkest secrets. I doubt she’s harmless.” Robby jokes, tension leaving his shoulders at the lighthearted jokes between him and some of the profilers. “Alright, day shift do handoffs. Night shift, do the rounds before day shift leaves. Abbot, you’re with me and day shift, please get the fuck out as soon as you can. I don’t want to see another day shift member when that clock strikes 7, people!” Robby reminds and the rest of the staff now leaves the room to go and do final checks before shift change. 

“Dr. Robby.” Dennis calls out, not even minding the shift in tension as his father gives them a stern gaze. “Trinity doesn’t have a car since there was an accident earlier this morning on the freeway. Is it alright if you drive us back?” Dennis offered. 

Both of them, as well as the profilers in the room, say that David rejected the idea of Robby driving Dennis home. Dennis doing this meant that he was rebelling against his father and was taking matters into his own hands. 

Robby looks at both Dennis and his father and he nods. “I bought my car so I’ll drive you both home. We’ll go and get food on the way as well, and some medical supplies. I trust Santos to go and do your wound care while you’re home.” Robby says with a sweet smile on his face. If Dennis ignored the cold glares of his father then Robby will do the same exact thing. He’s on Dennis’ side whether David accepts him or not. 

“You don’t want to do my wound care?” Dennis pouts at him and he chuckles, placing a hand on the intern’s shoulder and rocks it back and forth. ”I thought that was the benefit of having a doctor as my boyfriend makes out with me after doing my wound care.” 

Robby swears that he can see David popping an aneurysm and he figures this can be fun. He just hopes it won’t bite him in the ass in the future. 

“Sweetie, if you want me to do your wound care then you’d come home with me.” Robby says and the rest of the profilers, from the corner of his eye, hide their grins and it seems like Dennis wants to be shameless. 

“Then I’ll tell Trinity that I’ll come home to you. I have some clothes at your place anyway.” Dennis muses with a cute smile on his face. Robby chuckles and places a quick peck on the intern’s lips and leaves the room. Dennis turns to the profilers and smirks, “Oh sorry for the show. I just couldn’t help myself.” 

“Looks like you have your man wrapped around your finger.” JJ comments, endeared by it as she remembers her and her husband. “Both of you are so sweet. I’m happy for both of you.” 

Dennis smiles and nods, “Thanks, JJ. I appreciate at least one vote of support here.” He said and gives a quick glance towards his father who scoffs. He purses his lips and then leaves the room before anyone could make a comment. 

Dennis then wraps up his things and tells Trinity that he would go and stay over Robby’s place. She was very happy about it since she was planning to have Samira over. Of course, her and Samira were like two teenagers who couldn’t help but pine for each other and not tell a soul. 

Dennis rubs his hands and waits for Robby. He smiled when the figure he was waiting for came out of the doors and Dennis got a kiss on his lips. He smiles against it and even squeals when Robby grips his waist laughing. 

“Naughty boy.” Robby comments. “I would not be surprised if my dead body is found the next day.” Robby nuzzles his face against the curls of Dennis’ hair. 

“I am really good at ragebaiting my father. He’s so easy to rile up, just like you.” Dennis laughs when he hears Robby groaning against his hair. 

“Honey, please don’t mention how similar I am to your father. It’s making me feel things and we might need therapy.” Robby comments and Dennis shakes his head endearingly. 

“If that’s the only way for you to go into therapy, then I’ll do it more. Sorry not sorry.” Dennis muses and giggles when he feels Robby pinch his waist. 

“Wonderboy!” 

Both men turn towards the sound and they find Derek who smiles at them. Derek offers his hand towards Robby who hesitates but shakes his hand in return. 

“Call me Derek, Dr. Robinavitch.” Derek smiles and Robby chuckles. 

“Then call me Robby.” 

“Hey, Derek. What’s up?” Dennis asks, huddling up against Robby’s side for comfort and the older man wraps his arm around his waist, rubbing his thumbs against it affectionately. 

“I just wanted to say that I fully support this relationship. I know David is not taking it well but the rest of the team is just processing it for now. We knew you’re gay then you’re dating an older man who is your boss so it might take awhile especially since we haven't even seen you since your graduation.” Derek explains and Dennis nods sadly. 

“I didn’t expect you out of all people would support this relationship. I was actually ready to fight you for it.” Dennis said and Robby had a confused look on his face but Dennis shakes his head. 

It was not a secret to Dennis that Derek was sexually assaulted when he was a minor by an authority figure. Derek’s father died and Derek was going off the rails, then this person took him in, helped him in academics, sports, even money. An esteemed authority figure loved by the community but behind the scenes, he was grooming young boys and Derek had to get out of that place and put himself into the bureau. All of it was his doing. 

Derek smiles, “Dennis. You’ve been with us for years and you know your worth. If at one point you were being assaulted or taken advantage of, we knew you would call for help and your best friend is a force of fucking nature, wouldn’t even leave you alone and she takes good care of you. I’ve seen your people, Dennis and they care about you so if they knew about this relationship and didn’t bat an eye, it meant it’s a good relationship and I support that.” Derek said and Dennis leaned forward to give Derek a hug. 

Derek coos and gives a kiss on his curls, Robby watches with fond eyes at the scene. Robby was glad that the profilers were always on his boyfriend’s side no matter what (even if he was jealous of Aaron Hotchner and how close he is with his boyfriend) but for now, Robby can smile and witness the family of his boyfriend and how much they mean to him. It wasn’t shown in stories told in heart to heart talks in his living room with wine and dinner, it was now seen in front of him and his body is filled with so much love for his boyfriend. 

“Also, it kinda helped when I heard you say that you were initiating everything. It meant it wasn’t a power imbalance where Robby instigated everything.” Derek says and Robby laughs. 

“Our relationship is filed in HR already so we are good to go here.” Robby comments and Dennis pulls away. “Besides, it took a lot of work for him to convince me. Eventually, I caved and I am happier than ever.” 

“That you should. Congratulations.” Derek smiles and pats Robby’s back. “Well then, I have to take care of Pretty boy so I’ll see you guys when we see you. We’re planning a dinner and hopefully your friends and boyfriend will come. But we’re still working out the details.” 

Dennis nods gleefully. “That’s amazing! I’ll look forward to it!” But his smile turned into a frown. “Do you think my dad will come around?” 

Derek presses his lips together and places a hand on Dennis’ shoulder, “Denny, your father fought tooth and nail when he first took you in. The brass thought he was stupid but he fought and got you. He lost you once and he doesn’t want to lose you again. He’ll come around, just give him some time.” Derek removes his hand from the intern’s shoulder. “He loves you very much. Just know that I’m on your side on this. I’ll go and talk to him.”

”Thanks, Derek.” Dennis stands on his tippy toes as he plants a kiss on the profiler’s cheek. “For everything.” 

“Of course, sweetness. Anything for you.” Derek smiles and shakes Robby’s hand again. “Nice to meet you, Robby. Have a great night.” 

“You as well, Derek.” 

Derek goes back inside the department and Robby and Dennis smile at each other as they walk towards Robby’s car. They both were walking while slightly swaying their joined hands, only separating when both of them got in the car. Dennis smiles in glee as he pulls Robby in for a kiss, still riding the high of finally having at least 2 votes on the relationship. 

The kiss was sweet yet a bit rough but both men can’t help but clash their teeth, bite each other’s lips and form a smile on their faces as they continue their attempt at kissing. They eventually pull away and Robby starts the engine, driving away from the hospital and the eyes of the profiler who watches their car going to the distance. 

Eventually that night, Dennis receives a text from his father. He sees the contact name and turns off his phone, not even bothering to let his father ruin the night that he cultivates with Robby—a night of warm soup and wine in their stomachs and lazy make out sessions on their bed with silent whispers of love and grounded kisses of affection. 

Dad (David Rossi): The Altius, this weekend. Bring Robinavitch and your friends. I’m paying.