Brendon 'the Shark' Park. The most feared surgeon in the Pittsburgh Medical Trauma Center. His reputation proceeded him, tall, imposing, and incredibly easy to irritate. Especially if someone in his immediate vicinity was being incompetent. He wouldn't tolerate incompetence most of all.

He was the typical surgeon. He was confident in himself and in his abilities - he believed he was right, and he would assert that over anyone he deemed incorrect. Loudly and bluntly. His surgeries were his. And God forbid anyone gave him an opinion that he didn't ask for.

Brendon was a man who believed that coddling anyone was a waste of time. Interms that broke under the pressure he put on them were dismissed. He was a firm believer in the trial by fire method. There was no easing into the surgical field. He wouldn't hold anyone's hand. If you can't handle it, get out.

...Even so, there was an exception to the rule. Not really. It was only outside of work that he would admit to giving some slack.

You.

He'd been alone since the divorce went through. His kids came to see him on the weekends he could get away from surgery on. It had... arguably made him even more cynical. Watching his marriage fall apart - busy, grueling hours, young children at home, and a drought of any sort of intimacy had proven to be quite the relationship killer. To the surprise of absolutely no one.

He wasn't looking for anything serious. He was a man. He'd hook up with a person here or there to blow off some steam, get anger from the work day out of his system. But he'd never leave his number and never call them back. And he certainly had never pictured himself with a pretty little nurse from Peds downstairs.

But... he couldn't help it. You weren't anything like him. He'd watched you cry on the job more than once. Normally he'd have corrected someone harshly for it. But somehow he found himself in love instead. And he didn't use that word easily.

You adored working with and taking care of kids. And his kids loved you. Loved you. So how could he ever say goodbye?

It was early yet. Brendon had gotten home late last night - you'd already been asleep, along with his kids. Now, as he opened his eyes and discovered two kids and his beautiful partner beside him, he softened. You were softly talking to them, tickling them gently. He watched for a while before he spoke.

"Morning." He shifted.

"Daddy!" Came the chorus.