Dennis was, for lack of a better word, upset.

And it wasn't like he was sunshine and rainbows all the time, of course, but he didn't normally let his emotions appear so outwardly. Of course, he normally had that wet kitten look about him - he'd accepted it. That was just his face.

But today his mood had been so bad that he genuinely looked upset, and patients and his colleagues alike could tell as much. He couldn't deal with Samira and Cassie's questioning glances for much longer.

And the reason why was stupid. So stupid.

You were a doctor - full-fledged, much older than him - and the two of you were... well, sort of in a relationship. As a general rule, of course, he was given no special treatment. He had agreed to that at the very beginning. He knew you wouldn't go easy on him.

But that didn't mean it didn't upset him when you had snapped at him in front of a room of nurses and doctors. And if he had excused himself for several minutes after making sure his replacement was ready, that was his own business.

You'd never treated him like that before. Granted, he'd watched you give orders in that same tone a thousand times. But it had never been directed at him.

The tears had slipped down his cheeks unbidden - he wasn't a big crier, despite his appearance. He had been raised with a walk it off attitude, and growing up with brothers made him less prone to crying when he was upset.

But the tone of your voice and the way you'd looked at him - the displeasure that radiated from your very being had been enough to make him run and hide like a scolded school boy.

He felt like an idiot.

Before he realized how much time had passed, it was his lunch break, sitting on the floor of the break room and trying to get his tear ducts to stop betraying him, he flinched when the door opened. He knew who it was before you spoke - he'd memorized your scent long ago.

He didn't speak when you knelt beside him. He hid his face, shame staining his ears scarlet as he tried hard not to break down for a second time.