#dennis holding brian jr makes me. full on cry.

[dennisboobs]

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

↳ moments that make me cry

[mhaccunoval]

AU list- meeting at A & E with Charden?

4:21 AM

On a Wednesday

Bismarck, North Dakota

Poor kid. 

Brian Jr. had been sick with the flu for the past few days (of course, during his care week) and at midnight, the fever he had been nursing since a few hours before that had hit 102ºF and he had been crying every since. Dennis really thought he would have run out of tears in the two and a half hours they had been waiting in the lobby but apparently not. 

He was already sleep deprived enough with trying to hold a steady job, missing the one he had back home, and parenting every other week was not helping, especially right now. He knew he had to be strong and alert since Brian was his flesh and blood but neither of those things were helping the bags steadily growing under his eyes. He damn near lulled himself to sleep by rubbing circles onto Brian’s small back. 

“LaFeve?” Someone called, prompting Dennis to open his eyes from his dozing. 

The person who called his name was clad in scrubs that were plain navy bottoms and a top patterned with… Cowboys. Interesting. Dennis had to blink his eyes a few times so that he could properly see that it was not a woman of average height, but rather a small man, with a full beard mind you. 

He let it all sink in a moment before realizing he needed to get up, securing his hold on Brian before doing so. Not to mention, it took a second for his brain to recognize the surname anyway, still very unused to it, despite having to have stuck with it since before Brian was born.  

“Mr. LaFeve?” The nurse smiled, to which Dennis nodded when he finally made his way over. 

The nurse gestured for him to follow, turning too quickly to walk the corridor for Dennis to read his name tag. They walked in silence, the nurse looking over the chart for what felt like a hundred times, coming upon an open room soon enough. The nurse grabbed a marker from a small bin screwed to the door and wrote the last name on the chart onto the whiteboard above the bin, his handwriting an atrocious mess. Dennis just stepped behind him into the room to keep from just writing it himself. 

There were three chairs backed against the wall the door was on, all facing the examination table, so he sat down in the middle one, waiting for the nurse to finally close the [goddamn] door. It still took another full minute for him to do so but he eventually did and came around, leaning against the exam table looking at the chart again. 

“Kid’s sick, eh? Now you’re speaking my language.” He chuckled, looking up to see if the joke got received. 

“Pardon me,” Dennis furrowed his brows, “But, what?”

“Oh,” The nurse nervously laughed, “I, uh, usually work with pediatric cases, is what I meant.” 

“Right…” Dennis suspiciously nodded. 

“Charlie, by the way.” The nurse— Charlie— finally told him as he held out his hand, not sure how else to cut the tension.  

“…Brian Sr.” Dennis replied slowly, watching his tongue so he didn’t give his actual name (long story). He removed one hand from Brian Jr. to shake Charlie’s, making Brian Jr. ball his hand around a fist full of his shirt and snivel more. 

“Do you mind if…” Charlie asked, awkwardly holding his arms.

“Alright, but I’ll warn you he’s usually not too happy when anyone other than me or his mother holds him.” Dennis told him, gingerly lifting Brian out of his lap and into Charlie’s hands. 

Charlie was gentle as he settled Brian against his chest, small head resting on his collarbone as he fitted his very freckled arms around his back. Brian instantly began to calm down and his rapid breathing started to slow to a manageable pace, despite the mucus clogging his sinuses. 

“Wow. You’re a miracle-worker.” Dennis complimented, shocked. 

“Babies and little kids just like me, man,” Charlie shrugged, “My sister was quite a few years younger than me so my mom always made me help out, especially when she was hysterical.” 

“Mad kudos.” Dennis nodded, still taken aback and wondering how it was possible. 

“Thanks.” Charlie chuckled, fitting Brian snug into the crook of one arm as he used the other to grab a clean thermometer to slide under the tired boy’s tongue and read his current temperature. 

He had an array of pens in a loop just above the opening of one of his scrub pockets so he shimmied one out and clicked it open, scribbling down the temp as he read it. After he was done, he removed the thermometer and put it back into the cleaning solution with the others, shoving his pen into his pocket and readjusting Brian who was beginning to doze. 

“Where is Dr. Harkness,” He muttered to himself, rocking on his feet a little, “Oh wait. She’s in maternity. Right.” 

“Huh?” Dennis furrowed his eyebrows again, confounded by the minute-long conversation he just watched.

“The doctor, Dr. Harkness, does most of our pediatrics, including the maternity ward. She’s been up there and in NICU for a few hours now but should be coming soon, even though it’s a hell of a run to get down here.” Charlie clairified, eyeing the door a moment. 

“Ah.” Dennis nodded, understanding. 

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Charlie leaned his back against the medical counter now, continuing to hold Brian to keep him calm. Dennis eyed him in his peripheral vision with curious intent, trying to come up with a conversation piece. 

“I just realized,” He started, “You don’t have a North Dakota accent at all.” 

“Huh,” Charlie looked over to him, meeting his gaze, “Oh, yeah. ‘Cause I’m not from here.”

“Where are you from then?” Dennis interrogated, interest sparked. 

“Philly, born and raised.” Charlie responded. 

“Same here.” Dennis retorted, causing them to both chuckle. 

“What made you come to this desolate hellscape?” It was Charlie’s turn to ask the questions. 

“Long story but basically… I had what I thought was going to be a one night stand with Junior’s mom and I came back to be with them when she told me she was pregnant.” was Dennis’ honest answer. 

“Oh.”

“And you?”

“Shitty life back home so, for whatever reason, I thought the job opportunity out here would be a good thing.” Charlie sighed. 

“Guess we’re both trapped here, huh?” 

“Yup…” 

Just then, Dr. Harkness opened the door, breathing heavily and wiping the sweat from her forehead. 

“Didya run?” Charlie asked, deadpan, looking over at her. 

“Yup…” She nodded, stepping in. 

“Dr. Harkness.” She greeted Dennis, holding out her clammy hand, which he shook despite the wetness of sweat. 

“So?” She questioned, turning her attention back to Charlie. 

“Flu. 104 fever.” He told her. 

“That’s it?”

“Yeah?” He raised a brow, readjusting Brian against his hip. 

“You made me run all that way just to tell you to give him zanamivir?” Dr. Harkness rubbed her temples. 

“Sara, you’re the doctor here. I needed your OK before I told him that.” Charlie countered.

“You’re lucky you’re my favorite.”

“Hah! As if!” Charlie shook his head, laughing nonetheless.

Dennis was trying to stifle his chuckling the entire time he watched the exchange. Both seemed like real characters, especially when put together. 

“Right… Come with me. I’ll write down the name of what you’re looking for. It’s over the counter so it should be simple enough to find.” Dr. Harkness said towards Dennis, gesturing for him to follow her back to the lobby. 

He stood up quickly, momentarily stretching his limbs. Charlie met him halfway, handing over the now sleeping Brian Jr. They both tried to ignore the spark they felt when their hands accidentally touched again, having done so the first time too. 

“I’ll see you around?” Dennis smiled over his shoulder, waiting a moment before stepping out. 

“Uh. Yeah. Of course.” Charlie swallowed, trying to fight the blush he felt coming. Dennis nodded and began to follow the doctor out.

Charlie loitered in the doorway, flustered and awestruck as he watched Dennis’ wake.