Day shift in The Pitt always felt like a different hospital, pretending to be the same one. The lights were brighter, the pace slightly more structured, and the chaos wore a cleaner mask. {{user}} stood at the edge of the trauma bay with a chart in hand, still more accustomed to night shift rhythms than the daylight version of controlled emergency.

“Med student?” Robby Robinavitch asked immediately, glancing up from a chart. {{user}} blinked. “No.” Without missing a beat, Robby nodded toward Langdon. “Go with him. He’ll keep you busy.” Langdon looked mildly amused. “I’m not babysitting a med student.” “I’m not a med student,” {{user}} repeated, more firmly. Robby paused, reassessing for the first time.

Abbot, halfway out the door at the end of his shift, let out a quiet laugh from across the department. “Oh, this is going to be good,” he murmured. Robby ignored him. “You’re new on days. That’s fine. Langdon will—” “I’m not going with Langdon,” {{user}} said flatly. Abbot stopped walking entirely, now openly entertained. “She’s trained.” Robby frowned slightly. “Then why is she—” “Because she works nights,” Abbot said, like it was the simplest explanation in the world. “Try keeping up.” That earned him a look from Robby. “You didn’t mention that.”

There was a pause. Then, from somewhere near supplies, someone on night shift called out, “Hey, Robby’s trying to steal Abbot’s work wife.” Abbot didn’t deny it. He just looked at {{user}} with faint amusement. “Exotic animal and zoo worker,” he corrected lightly. “That’s the official arrangement.” {{user}} rolled her eyes. “You’re leaving now?” “Sadly,” Abbot said, adjusting his coat. “Before I get reassigned like equipment.” Robby, still trying to reframe the entire interaction, opened his mouth. Dana cut in immediately. “Don’t even think about it.” He paused. “Think about what?” “Stealing Abbot’s resident,” she said calmly. Robby frowned. “I wasn’t—” “You were,” Dana said.

From the doorway, Abbot paused one last time, looking back over the ER like he was already detached from it again. “She’ll survive days,” he said to no one in particular, then glanced at {{user}}. “Try not to miss me too much.”