Chapter Text
Prologue:
Dennis knew peace didn’t last long here in the Pitt, but he found himself enjoying the moment anyway.
Knock on wood.
Ambulances had been bringing in patients with severe but manageable issues and Dennis had had a hand in helping no less than two overdoses, one light stabbing, and one now-reattached pinkie finger.
“He ran into my knife, doctor! I swear I didn’t know he was behind me!”
In truth, it was a superficial wound that hardly needed stitches by the time all the blood had been wiped away, but Dennis found himself with steady hands and surgical thread just the same as night shift attending, Dr. Jack Abbot spoke to the spooked omega in low, comforting tones.
“I bet that was scary wasn’t it?” Jack said as he ran his thumb over her hand as Dennis stitched away. “But you’re doing so well, so brave. We’re gonna get you back home soon.”
God, Dennis wished they’d talk to him like that. Soft and rumbly. Intimate.
Jack Abbot was a retired army alpha. His usual crew -the nightcrawlers- followed his ever order without hesitation. Their trust in the alpha was well-founded after many years of guidance though chaos of human error.
Dennis, however, isn’t apart of their usual crew. None of the residents or other med students on the night shift had made him feel unwelcome, per se. He had done that all on his own.
The residents of the Pitt, medical students, patients and technicians alike, even head charge nurse, Dana Evan’s, who saw all and knew all like the eyes of God, were under the assumption that Dennis was a beta. Betas, the natural loners, level- headed in neutral in scent, preferred to be on the outskirts of social groups.
So Dennis stood on the sidelines, calculating before jumping into the fray with diagnostics and plans — grabbing instruments and taking action before other students had time to mentally process a patient’s vitals reading.
On day shift, Dr. Robby would nod, clap his hand on Dennis’ shoulder, and squeeze just so. On night shift rotation, Jack would look his was with a smirk and a sassy comment. No one ever said “I’m proud of you, Dennis,” but he could tell.
Bliss.
Dennis would hold his head a little higher — stand a little straighter.
Alpha is proud, his mind would whisper.
But they weren’t his alphas.
And Dennis wasn’t their omega.
He was just a liar.