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Robby was standing with his back to the Pedes door as Ellis walked by. She could see his shoulders shaking tightly, and instantly realized he was crying. Part of her wanted to check on him, the other part knew nothing she could say would help. Everyone in the pitt knew how Robby was when he was upset, and knew there was one person who could really get through to him.
~•~
Abbot was charting when Ellis walked towards him. Her face was neutral as she stopped in front of his computer.
"You need to check on your boy." She told him.
"Robby?"
"He looks like he's crying and I don't get paid enough to deal with white man tears."
"I don't know if anybody does." He shot back sarcastically, standing. "Where is he?"
"Pedes with baby Doe. We'll call you if we need you, but I think he needs your boy more right now."
"Thanks." Abbot replied, rolling his eyes as he moved to find Robby.
~•~
He was right where Ellis said he was, holding the baby as tightly as he could without hurting her. Jack opened the door silently, stepping into the room but not going any further. He could hear Robby talking quietly to baby Jane, a quiet song playing in the background as he swayed to it.
"I got abandoned too. When I was eight." Robby was telling her. "My mother left me as well."
Jack froze completely, barely breathing. Robby was never one for vulnerability, especially not about his childhood. He knew Robby grew up with his grandmother, but never why.
"But I got through all of that, and so will you. I've got a feeling that you're going to be just fine. Everything is going to be just fine."
It was the softest Jack had ever heard Robby's voice. If only he could take his own advice.
"You have so many wonderful things to see, so many people to love ahead of you."
Jack watched as Robby's rocking stilled, the words settling over him.
"So many wonderful things to see, so many people to love ahead of you." Robby repeated his sentence. Upon hearing his breath hitch at the end of it, Jack figured it was time to make his presence known. He took a heavy step forward, ensuring Robby would hear it, before coming to stop in front of him.
"How long have you been there?" Robby said quietly.
"A while. You're great with her." Jack replied.
"Someone should put a bell on you." Robby replied, ignoring the back half of Jack's statement.
"You should take your own advice, Robby."
"'s not that easy. You know that."
Jack shrugged. "Doesn't mean you can't try."
Robby completely ignored him, moving to place the now sleeping Baby Jane Doe in her bassinet.
"I uh, didn't know about your mom." Jack said in the quiet.
"Nobody really does. I don't want to delve into the details. Doesn't matter."
"I'm sorry about it."
Robby huffed dryly. "She just didn't want me anymore. Can't say I blame her, I never have been easy to deal with."
Jack moved closer to Robby. "She was your mother. It doesn't matter how 'difficult' you think you were. Her job was to love you unconditionally. Just because she didn't want to put in the effort does not mean you weren't worth the effort. Or aren't worth the effort. You are."
Robby's eyes were shining as he looked anywhere but Jack. He shook his head vigorously.
Jack put his hands on the sides of Robby's face, forcing eye contact. "Michael. Yes you are."
At this, the dam broke and Robby pitched forward to be caught by Jack. He wrapped his arms around Robby and held him as he sobbed. After a few minutes of Jack rubbing soothing circles on his back while repeating 'I've got you', Robby pulled away, tears still in his eyes.
"I've spent my whole life feeling like I wasn't worth the effort people gave me. I don't know how to not." Robby admitted quietly. It was one of the most vulnerable things Jack had ever heard him say.
"That's okay. We can figure it out together." Jack replied earnestly. Robby bit his lip to avoid crying again as he mashed their foreheads together. The thanks he replied was almost inaudible.
It would be hard work— Jack wasn't naive. Relearning how to accept love would take Robby a long time to figure out. But right now, in this moment, holding each other with Jack's promise in the air…
That was enough.