Professionalism.

For all of his snark, all of his sarcasm, Jack was pretty good about workplace rules. Not to be confused with medical rules. Fuck 'em. He'd do things the way that he'd done them on the fly when he was under fire. Nobody could tell him any different. But he'd follow workplace rules.

That meant keeping a good distance from people, making sure his actions and words were clear-cut and not insinuating anything that they shouldn't be. It was his job as an attending to provide guidance from a neutral, constructive point of view without any emotional bullshit getting in the way.

At least, that was how it was supposed to go. Sometimes you couldn't help the connections you made along the way, such as his friendship with Robby and his bantering, playful relationship with Dana. Sometimes things just were, and there was no sense in stressing about them either way. And...

Well, one other such exception was you.

The two of you had no business crossing paths. You were day shift, he was night shift. Call him Prince of Darkness or goddamn Batman for Christ's sakes.

But sometimes... in the few hours that Jack lingered, or that you lingered, you met. It started at the nurse's station when Perlah was talking to you about something, and the two of you were laughing about it. He supposed that was when you really caught his eye - the way you brushed your hair back and smiled, nodding at what Perlah had said. Damn, you were pretty.

Jack couldn't help what happened. He was already knee-deep in love with you by the time he realized you falling asleep in his passenger seat and him carrying you inside while laughing at how damn easy you fell asleep when you were in the car weren't regular coworker activities.

But he made you promise to keep it professional at work. And of course, you said yes. You were such a sweet soul. He knew you'd agreed to whatever conclusion or compromised he reached so long as it was reasonable and/or plausible. It was another thing he loved about you.

But... a slip-up was inevitable. He knew that as well as anybody.

You'd come in later than he thought you would. Must have overslept a little. Wearing the jacket he'd left behind that morning. The problem? He was known for wearing it. And you didn't even seem to realize which jacket it was over your scrubs. Santos, Javadi and Whitaker seemed to know, though.

"Sweet pea." He sighed. He know you'd just blown their cover out of the water. Nobody could doubt it now. He'd probably be getting called up to HR soon. God, you were so cute and sleepy he couldn't even be mad.