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It had been a year since Langdon came back to the Pitt. A year since Mel brightened at the sight of him. Everything had changed since then, but some things had stayed the same.
Donnie saw them every day that he worked, but he wasn’t sure whether they could be called similarities or differences.
Two years ago, was the first day Donnie had ever met R2 Mel King. The first day any of his coworkers met her. She illuminated the whole floor without trying. At least until she let herself get lost in her thoughts and concerns. It was like the room got too humid for her yet the only thing that helped was her own arms stifling her breathing. No one ever realized it. Everyone was too focused on their patients, their careers, and themselves. Except Langdon. The moment Mel walked into the Pitt, Langdon had his eyes on Mel. A subtle concern for her communicating through the commotion. His stare hovered over her as she stood closer to him than he had ever let anyone else in the ER. A subtle contrast interchanging between them.
This is Melissa King, R2 fresh from the VA.
Langdon caught wind of that blonde ponytail and he never looked back. He turned towards Mel and his eyes didn't leave her through the rest of the day. Whenever he needed a helping hand or he had a good teaching case, Langdon found Mel instead of the resident or intern closest to him. When Mel came to Langdon with a case, Langdon jumped ready to figure it out with no questions. His eyes glued to her as she presented her concerns. From that very first hour, Langdon had her back. He kept his eyes locked on her every move, finding hers when he walked in front of her. It was like he had known her for years after just a few moments.
It was the way Langdon, if nothing else, seems lighter. Donnie had known Langdon long enough that he could recognize his emotions from across the room.
Langdon exited from the break room around 3 pm, just a few hours before the day turned for the worst, with a relieved smile on his face. A moment later, Mel left the room behind him. Langdon settled with his chart beside Donnie.
“You were in there with the new kid?”
He looked at Donnie like he shouldn’t be surprised. “We were just talking. She needed a break.”
“A break?” Donnie laughed softly. “You don’t do breaks and you hate small talk.”
“I do not hate small talk.”
“You once told a patient’s husband that you had to check a lab just to get out a conversation about baseball.”
“That’s different.” Langdon leaned against the counter to face Donnie. “Now if we were talking the penguins? Sign me up.” Langdon tapped the counter and moved on to the next patient.
“Whatever.” Donnie laughed at his escaping friend.
After what ended up being such a traumatic shift, Pittfest poisoning all their remaining hope for the day to day. Every worker within that shift came back a shell of themselves. The emptiest of them all though was Mel. Her smile was gone, now a rare occurrence. Her real authentic smile, never seen. It could have been the missing smiles from her coworkers faces that affected her. But a year later, that smile returned.
Langdon came back from his hospital policy induced sabbatical and Mel’s happiness seemed to return with a snap. Her head turned to Langdon when she heard his voice for the first time in months and the smile settled right back where it belonged. There was an easiness flowing through the ER again.
Donnie worked with Langdon for the first half of the day. He seemed on edge most of the morning. It was the cycle of returning from rehab and being in his one safe place that suddenly didn’t seem safe anymore. Langdon never had light in his eyes that was real though, not when he was high or now that he was clean. That twinkle was just a pseudo promise of happiness.
The only real light in Langdon’s eyes was when he would let his gaze wonder across the ER to the blur of Mel’s blonde braid. He earned just a second of her but that was what his eyes were always looking for. That was what made his eyes shine.
His blue eyes darkened with worry though when he saw Mel with an ice pack on the back of her head. Perlah saw his eyes turn navy as he crossed the hallway to Mel.
She reported the account to Donnie faithfully when she saw him a few hours later. “Yeah, it was awful but no concussion or anything, she’s fine.”
“Langdon said she seemed good.”
Perlah swiveled in her chair to face Donnie. “You ever heard of a captain scurvy?”
“Like a pirate?”
“Yeah, but like I don’t know a joke or something?”
“No.” Donnie shook his head. “Why?”
“Something Mel said to Langdon. She called him captain scurvy after he made a joke about a burr hole. Then he told Dana it was an ‘inside thing’.”
“Then maybe it was just that.” Donnie shrugged. “An inside thing.”
Perlah shrugged shaking her head. “Don’t know what kind of thing could be inside when you’ve only known each other a day.”
“Don’t know Perlah.” Donnie said before walking away to his next patient.
When Langdon came scrambling back to triage after the incident. He pulled gloves onto his shaking hands. There was something unsettled about him when Donnie saw him after about an hour.
“Where were you man? I saw Al-Hashimi grab you.” Donnie asked when Langdon walked up beside him.
“Fucking criminal asshole knocked Mel to ground. I was assessing her.”
“Damn. Is she okay?”
“Physically she’s fine. I don’t know how she… I would be checking on her if Robby hadn’t sent me back out here like a wet dog.”
“How was she when you left?”
“She was… overstimulated. She needed a break. I had her sitting in room, a dark room, like she needed.”
“You turned the lights off?”
“Yeah.” Langdon said nonchalantly like it needed no explanation. He looked over at Donnie’s confused facial expression. Langdon nodded with a small sigh like he was confessing something. “It’s something that helps her. She told me about it last year. Well, no. She didn’t tell me anything. She was talking about this autistic patient we had but I figured it would help her too. She looked so overwhelmed, she probably still is.”
Donnie nodded, “It probably helped man.”
“Now I don’t know where she’s at or what she’s doing.” Langdon turned to walk away his jaw tense.
“Don’t stress.” Donnie patted Langdon’s shoulder. “Mel’s a tough girl, she’ll be fine.”
It wasn’t until a few hours later that Langdon seemed relaxed again, as much as he could be with Robby dancing around him and the ER going on virtual lockdown. He was relaxed with Mel by his side, so was she. His sarcasm came back with a force at his coworkers. He was playing with them again like they were back on their favorite playground. The teasing was different with Mel though. He was clear and particular when he joked with Mel. Sometimes she understood it quickly, and sometimes she didn’t. He would look at her with a gentle smile and then it would click, earning a little laugh from her. His face would relax knowing she got the joke, like he had won a small prize.
During the chaos of incoming traumas, Mel would visibly relax when Langdon settled beside her. It was like suddenly Mel knew the patient in front of her would be alive in a few minutes.
It was the things when they weren’t together though that impressed Donnie the most. How defensive they were of each other on that first day back together like they hadn’t been apart for ten months.
“We don’t need A.I., we have Dr. King.” Ogilvie’s chuckle flooded his words into the quiet room of his coworkers.
The tone of his words hit Langdon right between the eyes. It was dismissive and casual like it didn’t matter what came out of his mouth, cause the target was just Mel. Like she was anything but important. Not a doctor, not a coworker, not a human being.
Langdon’s hands were turning white as he gripped the keyboard which was finally usable again. He was trying to keep his emotions at bay, to keep his anger from boiling over, to keep himself from reacting the way his body was begging to. He thought of Mel and all the extra work she did which no one bothered to thank her for. The way she noticed details about her patients that most people missed. How she spoke softly, not because she lacked conviction but because she didn’t waste her breath on the idiots she worked with. The whole room seemed to go dark when Langdon cleared his throat.
“Wanna repeat that?” Langdon said from the back of the room stepping towards Ogilvie before he could talk himself out of it.
If Ogilvie had been here for longer than a day, he would have known not to say that in front of Langdon. “Oh Langdon, I didn’t see you there.”
“No, you usually don’t.” Langdon crossed his arms. “That thing you just said about Mel.” His voice was tight. “Slower.”
The staff standing in the room and some in the hall turned to look at them.
“Relax, Dr. Langdon. I just meant she’s efficient, reliable.”
“So is anesthesia, doesn’t make it disposable.” Langdon took a step closer to him as if proving to Ogilvie that he was unavoidable. “You reduce her to a tool just because she doesn’t perform for you. Mel thinks and she decides. She can do more efficient work than half of the ER that mistakes volume for effective treatment. If you can’t see that then that’s your issue. Sounds like you need to take a class on perception.”
Ogilvie opened his mouth then closed it. Langdon wasn’t done.
“The point is Ogilvie that she doesn’t fill space with noise like you do. That’s not insight, it’s laziness. It is begging everyone in the room to look at you.”
“Why are you taking this so seriously?”
Langdon laughed curtly cutting clean through the air. “Because I’ve watched her save your ass more than once today while you took the credit as soon as she wasn’t in the room.”
Ogilvie shook his head attempting to deny the claim. Langdon started again before Ogilvie could defend himself. “You think she doesn’t have opinions? She just doesn’t waste them on an idiot like you who won’t listen.”
Someone cleared their throat trying to clear the tension.
Langdon took a deep breath. “Say what you want Ogilvie, but don’t do it around me.” He walked towards the door before turning back to Ogilvie, his finger pointed at him. He added one final cool sentence. “And don’t do it about Mel.” He stuffed his shaking hands into his pockets as he walked away, anger still buzzing under his skin.
An hour or so later, Donnie was doing stitches in a patient’s room when he heard Mel and Ogilvie talking in the middle of the ER. Mel was charting and Ogilvie was leaning against the desk talking to Joy and Whitaker.
Ogilvie stretched against the desk, “I guess we’re letting Dr. Druggie handle the baby cases now. Seems appropriate. Don’t want him messing up dosages again.”
Ogilvie wasn’t making any progress in the popularity contest of the emergency room.
Whitaker tensed at the comment. Ogilvie wasn’t even there last year when everything happened. He was basing his comment on nothing but rumors. Whitaker looked over to Mel. Her fingers froze on her keyboard, but she didn’t look up right away.
“Don’t.” Her words were quiet but sharp.
“Don’t what?” Ogilvie nodded when he realized what she meant, “Relax. He’s not even here.”
Mel looked up at him, her eyes narrowed. “You are referring to a physician more experienced than you, one who completed his treatment, complies with monitoring, and has been cleared to practice.” Her voice stayed clinical. “He is working the steps, which is none of our business by the way, and you are using his medical history as a slur. It is highly inappropriate.”
“It was joke, Mel.” Ogilvie rolled his eyes.
“Recovery isn’t a punchline. It’s hard work, work that he is actively doing. If you can’t understand or respect that, then at least stop broadcasting your ignorance.”
Whitaker smiled at her defense of Langdon before she continued.
“If you have concerns about Langdon’s clinical performance, which I can assure you is more than adequate, take them to the appropriate channels. Otherwise, you can quit your commentary.”
“Please you’re acting like he’s some saint.”
“No, I am acting like he is a colleague. One who deserves respect of his recovery.” Mel stood up from her seat. “And while we’re being clear.” She moved to stand on the other side of the desk. “If I hear you refer to him that way again, I’ll document it and make sure the education office hears of it.”
She said nothing else, but the message was clear.
With Ogilvie’s comments still in her mind a few hours later, Mel looked at the current caseload that flooded the board. Robby stood beside her.
“Who’s covering the case in Two?” Robby asked looking at the board as he leaned against the desk.
“Langdon.”
“I thought he was still out in triage?”
“No, uh, Dr. Al-Hashimi brought him back here about an hour or so ago.”
“Bold choice.” Robby stretched his neck as his voice dropped almost to a whisper.
Mel stared at the board trying to make it seem like his sly comment didn’t bother her. “Oh?”
“Given his history.”
Mel looked up at him given their height difference. “I’m not sure what you mean, Dr. Robby.” She took a breath steadying herself. She looked at him, carrying the same respect for him that she always had.
“I’m just saying with the patient’s condition.”
Mel knew what he meant. The patient was a man with a history of alcoholism. Langdon was a recovering drug addict. The similarities were clear.
“It’s a high stakes situation.”
Mel straightened her back. “I agree, that’s why Langdon is a good fit.”
Robby didn’t respond, debating with his own thoughts.
“He’s been cleared.” Mel reminded him, her voice even. “He’s successfully managed cases way more difficult before, probably more than other residents.”
“I didn’t say he was incompetent.” Robby defended, his voice still low.
“He probably can connect with that patient more so than we could given both of their situations.” She looked at the board as if giving herself a second to breathe. “If we are evaluating residents solely on current performance, Langdon is doing well.” She paused searching Robby face for a moment. “If we are evaluating residents on a past illness.” She paused. “Then we’re setting a standard that none of us would survive.”
Robby sighed, shaking his head. “Thank you for the reminder, Dr. King.”
Mel nodded, “I will handle room seven.” She said before turning to her next case.
Somewhere down the hall Langdon was doing his job completely unaware that Mel had just stood between him and the shadow he no longer deserved.
That night in the locker room, Donnie was grabbing his backpack as Parker and Shen walked in for the beginning of their shift.
“Hey Donnie.” Parker raised her hand in greeting.
“Hey.” Donnie raised his head at her.
“Good shift?”
“Not too bad. Just a brief lag with the computers going down but they’re up and running now.”
“Good. Good.” Parker unlocked her locker, Shen doing the same next to her.
“Donnie…” Shen got his attention. “How was Langdon today? First day back and all.”
“Pretty good. One day at a time.”
“Everyone treat him okay?”
“Mostly yeah.” Donnie smiled softly, proud of the Pitt for being good to Langdon.
“I’m sure it went fine after Mel’s greeting this morning.” Parker closed her locker after pulling her scrubs out.
“What happened with Mel?” Donnie asked curiously as he leaned against his closed locker.
Shen chuckled, “Girl practically jumped him when she saw he was here.”
“It was interesting to watch.” Parker shook her head as she laughed.
“Doctor Langdon!!!” Shen jumped onto Parker’s arm as he imitated Mel in his highest voice. Parker laughed at him.
“Oh, come on guys.” Donnie shook his head. “It couldn’t have been like that.”
Parker turned to him. “Oh, but it was.” She shook her head. “See you tomorrow, Donnie.”
“Night dude.” Shen walked out to the Pitt while Shen went into a stall to change her clothes.
Donnie honestly didn’t believe Parker or Shen and their exaggerated performance for a minute, but he didn’t forget it in the moments he’d notice in that next year.
Langdon and Mel had only grown closer in the past year. There were new interns in the emergency room, Robby had forgiven Langdon and they were friends again, the students were learning and growing even more.
Mel was an R4 now and looking to grab the attending position. Langdon was an ER attending; Javadi was working as a resident in psych. Samira was working night shift as she worked on her sickle cell research. Whitaker and Santos were still in the ER as residents killing the game.
Many things had changed, but Langdon and Mel hadn’t.
Mel would grow quiet zoning into her own mind as she shuffled around a patient’s room. Langdon would follow her with ease like he couldn’t imagine himself anywhere else. His shoulder brushed past the curtain after her.
“Dr. King.” He tried before lowering his voice to that soft timbre that Langdon never used. “Mel…” The change captured her attention as if she knew how the tone was just for her. A latchkey that broke the hex. “What do you need?”
Mel nodded as if signaling to him that she was okay. “I need to um figure out Mrs. Drayton’s abdominal pain, so I need an um...”
Langdon’s hand hovered on Mel’s back, not touching. She knew he was there if she needed him. A quiet understanding. “Do you want me to grab the ultrasound?” Langdon said finding her eyes with lifted brows. He never assumes or corrects. He just watches until she is ready to answer. A completely different attitude than how he treated the other residents.
“Yes.” She nodded fervently. “Yes please.”
“What are you looking for?” He asked slowly as he handed her the ultrasound scope.
“Swelling in the digestive track.”
Langdon nods, “or?”
“The gallbladder.”
“Atta girl. I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
Mel nodded as she focused on the gel gliding onto the scope.
Langdon slipped out to the hallway lingering just outside the room, watching. Not because she needed supervision, but because she might just need him.
Langdon was the movement of the word ‘energy.’ Pacing, bouncing, filling every gap even the settled post rehab version of himself stayed as motion. But with Mel, he stops. He plants his feet next to her, lowers his shoulders, gives her the floor like it’s sacred. A man who doesn’t want to miss a single word.
Within a few minutes, Mel needed just that. “Langdon?” Sans the Dr. “Can I borrow you for a minute?”
Langdon was moving the second she said his name. “What did you find?”
“Well…I didn't see any swelling in the digestive track or the gallbladder."
"Mrs. Drayton, can you run through your symptoms for me again?"
"I have been having awful pains in my stomach on the right side and I've been nauseous."
“Any difficulty urinating?"
"I've been going pretty often but I'm not actually peeing a lot."
"Can you roll onto your side for me?" The patient followed his instructions quickly. He pressed his hands gently against her lower back, causing her to gasp in pain. Langdon looked to Mel waiting for her to catch on.
“Possible kidney stones!" Mel said loudly, her eyes widening.
Langdon nodded. "Mrs. Drayton, we are gonna double-check our hypothesis here."
Mel moved over to stand next to Langdon, bringing the ultrasound with her. She began to scan the patient's back, Langdon not moving a step from her. There couldn't have been more than an inch in between them. He stood to her left to avoid her motioning hand.
“What do you see Mel?" He spoke into her ear.
“Two kidney stones in the renal pelvis and..." Mel shifted the transducer slightly. The patient winced below her. "One in the calyx."
"You got it." He said quietly to her as she put the probe away and wiped the patient clear of any gel. He raised his voice then to the patient. "Dr. King is gonna prescribe some medicine to help you pass those stones, and hopefully we won't have to see you again."
"I hope not doc."
“Me too." Langdon left Mel in the treatment room as she began to list off the medicines she would send home with the patient.
Sometimes the quiet signs were louder like the way Langdon listened intently to Mel, not eager to correct her or get to the point faster. But sometimes they were silent like the way Langdon handed her supplies before she could ask. Gloves, gauze, stitch kits, you name it, Langdon had it ready. Or how he'd step in the minute she faltered a second too long.
"You okay?" He'd asked her softly.
“Yeah, yup. Um okay Mr. Jones. Do you remember what the pills looked like?"
When Langdon wasn't with Mel though, he was back to his adrenaline-fueled self.
"What did the CT show?” Langdon walked into the room in a rush. "Anyone? What do you see?” His words spitting out harshly. Whitaker stammered on his words pushing further Langdon into frustration. “The CT shows…” Langdon cued him on.
“The CT showed consolidation in the right lower lobe.”
Langdon just looked at him, no questions prompting what he should say next.
“Start a 40 mg Furosemide IV drip and 20 unit IV of Agripressin.”
Langdon ran a hand over his face. “Whitaker… can you please tell the patient what it is that we believe is the problem? That way he understands why he is getting medicine prescribed to him.” Langdon looked at Whitaker like he was taking up precious time. “And I don’t know maybe what it is exactly those medicines do for him? Huh?”
“Oh right, sorry. We think you have a pulmonary edema which means there is a buildup of fluid in your lungs. This is most likely caused by a weakness in your heart. We are going to start you on these medications to ease the pressure you are feeling and to help you breathe better. While those medicines are working, we are going to do additional testing to see what exactly is causing your heart to be weak.”
“Good.” Langdon nodded at the patient with a smile. “We will be back in shortly to check on you.”
That was the way Langdon’s presentations always ran, except with Mel. With Mel he was patient and soft-spoken like she was a gently wrapped present.
They stood outside of a patient’s room who needed consistent monitoring due to how quickly the case could go south. The rhythmic hiss of oxygen bled into the hallway where they stood. Langdon leaned one shoulder against the wall, tablet tucked under his arm. He didn’t speak right away instead he stood silently watching Mel watch the patient.
Mel spoke first, the anxiety dripping from her voice. “Her sats dipped again during the turn earlier but she recovered without the need of increased oxygen.”
Frank didn’t tear his eyes from her as he watched the emotions swim around her face. “Do you think that was due to her condition?”
Mel shook her head, “No, I think she got anxious. Her breathing sped up.” Her face dipped. “I know that all too well.”
Langdon caught the furrow of her eyebrows and the way her lip tucked under her teeth. He cleared his throat softly as if distracting himself from it all. “She’s compensating well for now.”
Mel nodded without a word, her grip tightening on her pen.
Langdon shifted closer to her, lowering his tablet. “Walk me through how you would know you would need to give her more support.” He waited, didn’t rush her. When Mel started then paused, he stepped in but not to rush her, to guide her. “Think of it in steps. What’s the earliest sign?”
“Increased accessory muscle use.”
“Good. Then?”
“I’d call you.” Mel said quickly, turning her head to him.
He let out a small smirk and shook his head. “I’d come running.” He teased her. “What would you do clinically to help her?”
“I’d use noninvasive support before she crashed.”
Langdon nodded with a gentle ‘mhmm.’ “Like what?”
“Cpap or Bipap.”
“Exactly.” He leaned in so his head almost sat on her shoulder. “You know this stuff, Mel. You are just tired.”
“Is it that obvious?” Mel sighed before looking at him. She didn’t jump in surprise at how close he was to her like she normally did when others entered her bubble.
“Only because I pay too much attention.” He stilled like he had taken in too much air. “I’ll take first watch.” He stepped back away from her. “Go take a break. Get some water or a snack.”
“I can stay. I’m okay.”
“I know.” He replied gently, looking for her eyes. “I’m not worried about your confidence, Mel. I’m worried about your stamina.” He searched her face for a moment. “We all need a break from time to time.”
“Five minutes.” She conceded.
Langdon shrugged, “Or ten. Maybe fifteen.” Mel turned towards the break room before he added softer. “Good instincts in there Mel.”
Mel turned back to him. “Thanks…” Her smile shone from her face, “for explaining it the way you did.”
His eyes stayed on the hazel ones that found him. “Anytime.”
Mel always seemed to start talking as soon as she saw him. It was only ever with Mel that Langdon gained focus though. Even on an odd start of a conversation.
“I just keep thinking about it. I mean if we had caught the TB earlier, well I mean not earlier, but before her white count started to drift, because technically it was normal for her underlying condition, so we didn’t notice it. I know hindsight is 20-20 but—”
Langdon stopped quickly. He sat his tablet down and leaned against the counter towards where she sat. His shoulders lowered as he relaxed and listened to her. He didn’t interrupt or redirect. He didn’t glance at his watch or at the chart on the counter. He looked at her face like he was taking in a movie. He took note of how her eyes flicked up and away when she tried to think of the right word to say. He saw how her hands twisted together then stilled when she realized what she wanted to say.
Mel finally trailed off pausing mid-sentence, but the silence didn’t snap the conversation closed. Mel squeezed her hands together again. “Oh – Sorry, I am rambling, aren’t I?”
Langdon shook his head in disagreement. “You’re thinking out loud. Go on.”
She hesitated as she took in his relaxed demeanor. “It just that feeling that I missed something small that turned into something so big.”
“You didn’t miss it.” Langdon voice stayed low in the same tone he only used with Mel. “You noticed it. You just didn’t have enough data to know yet.”
“It doesn’t feel like it.”
Langdon nodded his voice grounded. “But feelings don’t make historical medical studies, do they?”
That earned a small huff that could be accounted for as a laugh from Mel.
Langdon smiled at her as the comfortable quiet settled around them again. Most people filled the silence around Mel, asked another question, or just moved on, but Langdon stayed.
Mel leaned back on her chair looking up at him for a second before she shifted her gaze away from him. “Everyone else makes it feels like you’re supposed to just… keep moving. Like stopping and thinking about your patients after the case is over means you’re not a good enough doctor.”
“Stopping means you are paying attention.”
“You don’t rush me like the other attendings do. I appreciate that, Langdon.”
“I don’t rush you because you’re not slow.” Langdon grabbed his tablet and stood straight again. “Looks like five just got filled, wanna check it out with me?” Frank waited until Mel was beside him to move towards central.
People often say that love is loud, but Donnie knew better. Love was the quiet proclamations that many people didn’t even notice as they were passing by. Slowly it becomes louder but not enough for everyone to see.
One night the emergency room had thinned out to its late evening quiet before the chaos of night shift kicked in. It was the kind of quiet where you could hear every keyboard click. Mel’s fingers adding to the orchestra. Her shoulders were slumped over the computer, her braid strands loosing from its crisscrossed style, eyes glassy from staring at the screen too long.
Langdon stood at the counter with his elbows propping him up, his head resting against his fist.
Donnie was packing up his backpack when he noticed. Langdon wasn’t moving, or pacing. He wasn’t searching through a chart on a tablet pretending to work. He was just there wearing his backpack like he could have left minutes ago.
“You good?” Donnie asked casually.
Langdon nodded once. “Yep.” No offer of elaboration.
Donnie ignored it, shrugged it off as he stuffed his stethoscope into his backpack. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Langdon glance at Mel’s screen not checking her work but checking her face.
Mel sighed softly looking back at Langdon within the screen. “Why does Epic hate me so much?”
Langdon smiled, a laugh dancing on his tongue. “It doesn’t. It hates us all equally.”
Mel rolled her eyes at him almost unnoticeably. It wasn’t in Mel’s practice to roll her eyes at anyone. She normally didn’t understand a joke enough to ensure it with an eyeroll. Yet here she was playing into Langdon’s playful sarcasm. “That’s comforting.”
Langdon settled more onto the counter. Still no attempt to hurry her along.
Mel pushed the chair next to her towards him as If to ask her him to sit. There was something in her unreadable body language telling Langdon she was worried about his back. She knew he was tired and needed an Epsom salt bath. Drugless pain management was a bucking stallion that needed care and attention. Langdon wasn’t particularly good at that part of it all.
Langdon sat in the chair next to her and Mel’s shoulders relaxed some.
Donnie zipped his bag closed. “You heading out soon Mel?”
“Uh…” Mel glanced worriedly around the computer screen.
Langdon leaned in closer to Mel. “No worries.” He said easily. “Take your time.”
Mel nodded with a small smile. “I’ll be just a minute. I’m on my last note.”
Donnie brows knit, not enough to be suspicious, just enough to register odd. Langdon was waiting for Mel, patiently. Most day shift attendings were already gone by now. The rest were speedwalking toward the exit like the building might lock them in if they didn’t get out quick enough. Langdon though leaned back against the chair, arms loose on to the arm rests like he had nowhere else to be.
A few clock ticks passed by before Mel leaned back in her chair, exhaling. “Done.”
Langdon straightened up in his chair. “Okay.” He stood before pushing the chair under the desk.
“Sorry, that took so long.” Mel stood grabbing her backpack.
“You don’t owe me speed, Doctor.” Langdon shifted towards the door.
Mel shook her head to his joking as she followed him to the door.
Langdon open it for her. Donnie blinked as he watched Langdon and Mel walk out to the ambulance bay.
“About time I thought you were going to start paying rent for that workstation.” Donnie called.
Langdon laughed along with Mel’s smile. “See you tomorrow, Donnie.” Langdon raised his hand in farewell as he followed Mel, the door slamming behind them.
Donnie stood there a second longer than he needed to. He frowned as he thought about what had just happened. This was new. He didn’t try to connect the dots, he didn’t need to. Not yet.
Donnie didn’t think about it until the next morning when he was driving to work. He was halfway there, radio low, one hand on the wheel, mind refreshed enough to think it through. He didn’t realize what he was remembering until the memory fully resurfaced. When all the memories of Langdon and Mel did. The way Langdon was so different with Mel. He slowed down, looked at her face as he was explaining, a distant difference from the way he talked to other residents. When Mel sidled next to him, he settled like everything was in place in the room. Langdon played with Mel in a way that she wouldn’t take it the wrong way, his eyes telling her he was teasing. When he wasn’t with Mel, he lingered at the sight of her. His eyes lost in the aura of Mel as he found her across central.
Langdon stood at the nurses’ station, while Mel hunched over the computer, just waiting. His feet stayed on the floor like he had nothing else on his mind. Donnie knew he didn’t have the kids during the week but surely he had something he wanted to rush home to, like his bed after a long 12-hour shift.
Donnie replayed the scene over again in his head. It wasn’t just that Langdon had waited but it was how he waited. No glances at the clock, no sighs, no restless energy. Then they walked out… together.
Langdon had given Mel a ride home.
That in itself seemed practical. Mel didn’t drive. Langdon lived that way anyway.
Except.
Langdon didn’t do convenient detours. He hated inefficiency. He once took the stairs instead of waiting fifteen extra seconds for the elevator. Consistency and effectiveness were key to Langdon.
The puzzle pieces started clicking together for Donnie, one by one.
Langdon slowing down with Mel when speed was his demon. Slowing down and taking his time was what he drastically tried to avoid. It was how he ended up in rehab. Now though with Mel his voice dropped as if he was calibrating himself to her frequency. He didn’t explain things to her but discussed it with her. Donnie had learned, over time, the exact speed Dr. Langdon moved at, it was fast, purpose-built, like if he slowed down, something bad might happen.
And the silences. Donnie blinked at that. Langdon never let silence linger. He filled it, moving through it like it was an obstacle. Except with Mel. With Mel, he let it sit. Let her sit. Then he sat with her.
Something settled in Donnie’s chest, the realization soft but undeniable. “Oh.” He murmured to himself. Not Oh no. Just Oh.
It was the way Langdon had looked at her last night, not staring, just taking her in. Just checking like you check the weather before a trip so you know how to adjust your plans. He was checking so he knew how to adjust to her.
Donnie hadn’t seen them touch, hadn’t heard a confession. But he’d seen Langdon stand still.
Suddenly, it all made sense.
At the end of the day, Donnie passed Langdon in the hallway. “Hey, you heading out soon?”
Langdon nodded, “Yeah in a bit.”
“Mel done charting yet?” Donnie added as casually as he could manage. He watched Langdon’s face.
Langdon didn’t think twice about it, his face was motionless. “Almost.”
There it was. A confirmation that there was something there.
Donnie smiled to himself, “Cool.”
He walked away from Langdon whispering to himself. “You fucking idiot. You’re in deep.”
Langdon, completely unaware that Donnie had figured him out, waited.
Nothing had changed in the way they interacted with each other over the next couple of weeks. Almost every interaction that Donnie was present for caught his attention though.
It was the way the two of them were increasingly comfortable with each other.
Mel walked beside Langdon, rambling, her hands moving as she tried to explain her thoughts so quickly it was like she hadn’t finished concocting them yet. Donnie trailed behind them on the way to triage.
Langdon matched her pace, not the other way around, because Mel didn’t have to run to keep up with Langdon, he slowed down to her speed.
“Yeah,” Langdon said to Mel. “That tracks.”
A simple understanding. An affirmation.
Later at central, Donnie noticed Mel and Langdon as she scrolled through her patient’s labs. “This case is attempting to personally test me.”
Langdon leaned over Mel’s shoulder. “It’s succeeding.”
Mel sighed with a curve of her eyes to shoot him a look.
“You love a challenge, Mel.”
“I also love sleep, yet I don’t ask it to join me during the day.”
“Aww, I bet sleep would love it if you visited it for a nap.” Langdon stood up straight. “Besides, you are much happier when you are not annoyed.”
“As are most people, Langdon.” Mel huffed at him. She was both irritated by his presence but also relaxed.
“It’s alright Mel, your annoyed face is quite pleasant.”
Donnie nearly dropped his pen. Langdon did not compliment people’s faces, ever. Donnie couldn’t even remember Langdon ever complimenting Abby’s looks when they were still married. Surely, he had, but not in the presence of others.
Donnie cleared his throat, “Are you done roasting residents for the day, Langdon, or should I grab popcorn?”
Langdon didn’t look at him, he was still focused on Mel. “Relax. I’m being supportive.”
“Right by teasing them until they are ready to throw the computer at you.”
Langdon nodded looking at Donnie for just a second. “Eh it’s a rite of passage.” He looked back at Mel. “What were saying about the labs Mel?”
Donnie walked away, smiling to himself for the fifteenth time just that day.
Later that night, Donnie ran into Langdon at the coffee machine.
“You know you are a lot calmer lately.”
“Am I?”
Donnie nodded, “Yeah, you are like less terrifying.”
Langdon snorted, “Please. I’m always terrifying.”
Donnie turned to leave, “Not when Mel’s around.”
Langdon froze but Donnie didn’t stay to see his reaction. He just walked off, a grin wide on his face.
Donnie couldn’t help but nudge it. He had hundreds of opportunities to name it. To say something. He could have said something when Langdon stayed behind while Mel charted, leaning against that countertop like he once again had nowhere else he wanted to be. Or when Langdon’s voice dropped every time, he said Mel’s name, just for her. Or when Mel laughed with surprise at Langdon’s kindness.
Any of those would have been easy to name as a reason to say something. But Donnie didn’t.
He instead kept a catalogue of it all.
Donnie knew that Langdon was in love with Mel and maybe just maybe Mel was too. But he knew Langdon wasn’t ready to hear it. And Mel was still learning what it felt like to be held so gently in someone’s attention. Saying something to the pair now was like pulling a sprout out of the garden when it was just starting to grow.
A couple of days later, Mel was sitting beside her patient’s bed mid-morning giving her typical rundown of treatment.
“So, we will repeat your labs. If you’re pain stays controlled, then you’ll likely go home tomorrow.” Mel nodded briefly at the patient’s understanding. “Beds are full upstairs. You are probably gonna be stuck down here for your stay.”
The thirty-something year old man smiled at Mel. He had light brown hair and dashing green eyes that were trying to read Mel like a book. “I guess I will have to stay in pain then.”
“I’m sorry?” Mel blinked, obviously confused. She chuckled in a way that was purely fake. “No, Mr. Sams, the goal is for you to get better. We are the hospital, that is our job.”
The patient moved his head side to side like he was weighing his options. “Ah but if I stay in pain, I get to stay here with you. That seems like the best plan.”
Mel gave him her practiced smile that meant she didn’t know how to respond. She stood up and made her way to the door. “I’ll make sure you are comfortable.”
Langdon stood outside the doorway. He had stopped without meaning to. The chart on his tablet caught his attention. Donnie walked up to him to give him an update on a patient when Langdon went still. His shoulders locked, jaw set like something had snapped into place. It was then that Donnie realized what he was reacting to.
Inside the room, Mel’s patient laughed.
“You got a boyfriend, Dr. King?”
“Uh no.” Mel looked at her tablet awkwardly. “I will be back in a bit.”
Langdon didn’t blink but his fist curled at his side. He was looking straight into the room now. His eyes focused not on Mel like usual but on the patient. His expression was sharp enough to cut.
“Not interested huh?” The patient kept going trying to get Mel to respond positively to his flirting. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
Mel opened her mouth but was cut off by Langdon stepping into the room. “Actually,” Langdon voice was low and flat, unmovable. It was the same as the one he had used with Oglivie over a year ago. “you can.”
Langdon had entered the room fully now, planting himself right next to Mel. He filled the room with his presence without raising his voice. “This is not a bar. This is a hospital. She is your physician.”
Mel looked at Langdon, their eyes meeting for just a second.
Langdon looked back at the patient. “Are we clear?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” Langdon crossed his arms. “Now how is your pain?”
Langdon and Mel joined Donnie in the hallway a minute later. The whole department had their eyes on the pair. Langdon didn’t notice but Mel did.
“You okay?” Langdon searched Mel’s face for a sign of her condition.
“I’m fine. You didn’t have to…”
Langdon nodded. “I know but that patient crossed a line.”
Mel could have argued that patients cross the line all the time and this wasn’t the first time this had happened to her, instead she just nodded. “Thank you.”
Donnie waited until Mel walked away. “You good bro?”
Langdon didn’t answer.
“It looked like you were about to get into a fistfight with a patient. In the emergency room. Over professionalism.” Donnie lowered his voice. “You could have gotten into trouble Langdon. That is not part of the recovery steps.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Sure… What is it like?”
“He disrespected her.”
“It’s not the first time. She just handled the same thing that every one of our female coworkers experience daily.”
“I just—” Langdon started.
“Didn’t like it.” Donnie finished his sentence.
Langdon went quiet as he found Mel across central laughing at something a nurse said.
“Yeah,” Donnie patted Langdon’s back. “You’re definitely fine.”
“Drop it.”
Donnie looked around the room as Langdon walked away from him. Almost every one of the staff was looking back at him. Something had just surfaced and it wasn’t going to go back under quietly. “Shit.” Donnie mumbled to himself while Perlah and Princess came scrambling up to him.
“Donnie…” Princess looked at him with an eyebrow cocked in acquisition.
“Did you know about this?” Perlah added.
“Know about what?”
Princes hit his chest as she looked around at Langdon who was standing near Dana. “Langdon and Mel?”
Donnie’s face scrunched in fake surprise. “Please! What are you talking about? Those two are like brother and sister.” Donnie swatted away their accusation to make it seem implausible.
“A brother does not get territorial when the girl gets flirted on!” Perlah’s eyes widened.
“Okay you two, enough. I have patients to see.” Donnie walked past Dana and Langdon just in time to hear Dana’s concern.
“What da hell Langdon?” Dana cocked her head, her eyes watching him over her glasses. “What’s got ya so grouchy? You miss ya favorite lunch or sumfin?”
“I’m fine Dana. I’m just a little tired I guess.”
“Alright well go get yourself a red bull or sumfin huh?”
“Yeah, yeah. I will.” Langdon moved off to the break room.
Donnie let it go but not for long. This was starting to affect Langdon’s work. Not to say that Langdon and Mel were a bad combination. They just needed to be honest with each other so that it wasn’t distracting.
There were ten things that Donnie could list that made him realize Langdon was in fact in love with Mel whether he had realized it himself or not.
- Langdon faces Mel even when he is talking to someone else.
- His body is always angled towards her.
- Langdon waits for her opinion even when she isn’t the only one in the room.
- He’d ask the question, but he was only looking for Mel’s answer.
- Langdon notices when Mel is tired.
- He asked if she needed a break or if she had eaten yet.
- Langdon tracks Mel movement within a room.
- Every thirty seconds or so he looked for her.
- Langdon’s voice changes around Mel.
- Everyone else gets Dr. Langdon, Mel gets Frank.
- Langdon doesn’t interrupt Mel.
- With Mel he waits.
- Langdon steps closer without thinking.
- Langdon always managed to stand within arm’s reach of Mel.
- Langdon instantly backs up Mel’s ideas.
- “Do it,” without a question.
- Langdon smiles more around Mel.
- A soft lift of the corner of his mouth.
- Langdon doesn’t leave until Mel does.
- Even when she is riding home with someone else.
That night towards dinner, Donnie found Langdon alone in the supply closet.
“Hey man, you got a second?”
“If this is about that patient earlier...”
“It’s not. It’s about Mel.”
Langdon stilled before looking at him, his eyes tensed. “What about Mel?”
Donnie could tell he was ready to defend her as if Donnie was about to talk down about her. “I’ve just noticed how you act around her. You slow down with her.”
Langdon scoffed, “I slow down with all my residents.”
“No.” Donnie shook his head gently. “You slow down with her.” Silence stretched for a moment as Langdon stared at him. “You listen. You don’t interrupt, which isn’t your normal with residents. You explain things twice, sometimes more. You let silence sit, like it isn’t something that needs to be fixed. That’s not you, Langdon.”
“Okay I don’t know what this is, but whatever it is you’ve got it wrong.”
“Do I?” Donnie cocked his head as he leaned towards him. “I’ve never seen you so light around anyone. And I’ve never seen you get angry when a patient flirts with their doctor.”
Langdon’s jaw locked. “That had nothing to do with feelings Donnie. Please, doctors shouldn’t be treating their physicians like that.”
“Right,” Donnie folded his arms. “And staying after your shift until she’s finished charting?”
“She doesn’t have a car, Donnie. I give her a ride.”
“And what about the way your whole nervous system calms down when she’s standing next to you?”
Langdon laughed sharply. “That’s ridiculous.”
Donnie didn’t smile. “You plant your feet when she talks.”
That landed. Langdon looked away from Donnie, his breath shallow. “She deserves our respect. She’s a good resident. We would be privileged to have her as an attending.”
“She is and you’re right but that’s not all that this is Langdon.”
“I’m her attending. I’m supposed to pay attention to her work.”
“And I’m not saying you are doing anything wrong Langdon.” Donnie laughed at myself. “You are painfully careful.”
“Then what are you saying?” Langdon grabbed supplies from the shelf in front of him.
Donnie didn’t let himself hesitate. It needed to be said. “I’m saying that you care about her in a way you don’t let yourself care about people. Hell, or yourself.”
Langdon shook her head, “That doesn’t mean anything. We just work well together. That’s it.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” Donnie backed towards the door. “When you’re ready to admit it.” Donnie opened the door. “I’ll be here.” He left Langdon alone to obsess over what he had just said.
Langdon stood in that same spot for a moment, hands bracing against the shelving in front of him.
You plant your feet when she talks.
The thought echoed persistently inside of Langdon’s head. He closed his eyes denying what his brain was telling him.
Later when Mel laughed softly down the hall and his chest tightened in response, Langdon realized something unsettling. Donnie hadn’t told him how he’d felt. He just pointed out the truth. And Langdon hadn’t stopped thinking about it since.
Mel’s admiration for Langdon was harder to name. Still Donnie saw it once he looked harder.
- Mel listens to what Langdon says.
- Mel listens to everyone but with Langdon she locks in.
- Mel values Langdon’s opinion more than the other attendings.
- She asks a room of attendings but looks straight at Langdon.
- Mel defends Langdon.
- She corrects the record not loudly but firmly.
- Mel notices when Langdon is struggling when his recovery is harder than normal.
- She reads him like a chart.
- Mel mirrors Langdon.
- She crosses her arms when he does, matches his walk.
- Mel smiles before she realizes it.
- Every time Langdon enters a room.
- Mel gets flustered when Langdon complements her.
- She has a total system glitch.
- Mel notices him across the room.
- Just like he notices her.
- Mel trusts him without hesitation.
- She double checks others’ ideas but not Langdon’s.
- Mel watches Langdon when he isn’t looking.
- Just for a second, she watches him.
Donnie stayed in the hallway that night for a moment longer than he needed to. He knew they were close, maybe not to a confession but to an awareness. He thought about his conversation with Langdon earlier. Donnie felt protective of not just Mel but Langdon too. He wanted them to find their way to each other but only in a way that kept them safe. It was a careful balance he was clinging to. He knew that when people fell in love some fell loudly. Langdon wasn’t like that though, he was the type who didn’t realize it until he was knee deep pretending the water wasn’t still rising. Mel, well, Donnie hadn’t figured her out yet, but he imagined she wasn’t noisy with her love either.
Donnie glanced down at Mel who was rubbing her eyes, blinking away her mid-shift fatigue. She was utterly unaware of the quiet pull she had on a man who prided himself on control.
Donnie could name it for Langdon. He could nudge Mel harder. He could crack the whole thing open. But he wouldn’t. Relationships were delicate and delicate things needed time, not pressure.
It was a few days later when Donnie decided he couldn't do it on his own. Langdon was acting the same with Mel as he was before except whenever he saw Donnie he tried to play it quieter. That never worked though. Donnie could catch it from across the floor. It wasn't just Langdon either. Mel was acting differently around Langdon in comparison to her other coworkers. She was a state of relaxed around him that none of us thought was possible.
It was time to talk to Mel, but Donnie didn't know how to. Donnie was sure that she had romantic feelings for Langdon but despite knowing Mel for over two years, Donnie had no idea how to talk to her about it all. He enlisted the help of Dr. Santos. She was the closest to Mel in the hospital. They were polar opposites, yet somehow, they were the closest friends.
"Hey Santos!" Donnie got Trinity's attention from across the hall. When she looked at him, he tipped his head towards the right indicating for her to come over to him.
"Sup Donnie?"
"Between me and you," Donnie looked over at Mel who was laughing at something that Langdon had just said. He was smiling down at her like she was the best thing he'd seen all day. Donnie kept his voice low so that the nearby nurses wouldn't pick up their conversation. “Have you noticed how close those two are?”
"Yeah, I know. She's got a little unrequited crush on the guy. it's insane if you ask me and a little desperate." Santos rolled her eyes as she watched them, her face squishing in disgust. "Lord knows why."
"Santos..." Donnie grabbed her shoulders gently, making her stay next to him as she tried to walk away. "Tell me what you see."
"What is this? A medical journal?" Santos huffed. "Mel is smiling at Langdon like a puppy." Santos wanted to roll her eyes harder than she was.
"And what is Langdon doing?"
“He is standing… super close to her.”
"Yeah um, That is not unrequited."
“Holy shit, Donnie. What are we gonna do?”
Donnie shook his head, “I’m on their team. I just need them to realize what is going on.”
“Have you talked to Langdon?”
“Yeah, he’s in denial still. Or he’s scared to do something. I’m not sure which.”
“Well, what about Mel?”
Donnie smiled softly at Santos just like he does to his wife when he needs help changing the baby’s clothes.
Santos groaned. “Ugh!” She walked away from him. “You owe me, Donnie!” She said before entering the break room.
Once Santos was done with her patient, she found Mel at central.
Mel had been staring at her current patient’s chart for the past ten minutes when Trinity interrupted her.
“Melanomia…” Santos sang to her when she walked up.
“Yeah,” Mel looked up at her. “What is it?”
Santos sighed placing her hands on the counter in front of Mel. “Alright, I am just going to ask.” She teetered on her heels. “Do you have feelings for Langdon?”
Mel froze, her chart still in her hands. She lowered it slowly on the desk blinking at Santos like she had just spoken to her in another language. “What uh…” Mel took a deep breath. “makes you think that?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Melanocyte. Maybe it’s the way you look like you’ve been unplugged all day until he walks in a room.”
Mel’s eyebrows nudged together. “That’s not—”
Santos put her finger up to stop Mel. “And the way you volunteer for every case he’s on.”
“I do not.”
“Oh, you absolutely do! You just did it this morning.”
Mel opened her mouth but closed it again just she wasn’t quite sure how to defend herself.
“You also defend him.”
“When?”
“Multiple times. I distinctly remember when Ogilvie called him ‘Dr. Druggie.’ You got incredibly quiet in the way you do when you are about to politely dismantle someone.” Before Mel could respond, she added. “Which you did. Dismantle him.”
“Oh, come on Trinity! That was a year ago. I was just correcting misinformation!”
“Okay, okay fine. What about this morning when our new resident, Joy,
“She’s not new.” Mel corrected.
“She’s not new to us but she is a new resident.” Santos teased Mel, “Anyway this morning she said that Langdon hair looked like a mop. You got that mad look on your face before you sighed dreamily and said,” Her voice heightened mimicking Mel. “It’s got more of a silk pillowcase look to it.”
“I think accurate description of the way someone looks is important and it shouldn’t be mean. I was just trying to help her with her workplace relationships.”
“Langdon was nowhere near us. Her workplace relationships would have be fine.” Santos lowered her voice as a nurse walked by. “I’m asking you directly, do you have feelings for Langdon?”
Mel fingers drummed against the tablet below her. “He is my colleague.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
“He has been through a lot.”
“That’s also not the question.”
“What answer are you looking for Santos?”
“The honest one.”
“I think you are reading too much into things.” Mel stood from the desk.
“Uh huh.”
“I have to go check on Mrs. Alvarez.” Mel walked away from the desk.
“You know he looks at you like you are the only person in the hospital, right?”
Mel paused long enough that Santos knew she heard her. Mel kept walking without any response to Trinity.
Trinity found Donnie a few minutes later. “You were right.”
Donnie perked up at her words. “Did she tell you?”
She shook her head. “No. She’s denying it but not well.”
Donnie nodded, “Keep me updated.”
It wasn’t until the shift was almost over that Donnie knew for sure he was right, even before Mel said it out loud.
Donnie was in the break room drinking his fourth cup of coffee when the door swung open harder than it needed to. He looked up to Langdon standing there, his chest heaving, jaw tight.
“Gee.” Donnie sipped his coffee. “You look pleasant.”
“What the fuck did you say to her?”
“Who?”
“Jesus fucking Christ Donnie. Mel. Who else would I be talking about?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Oh, bullshit Donnie.” Langdon sighed before sitting down across from him. “She’s been avoiding me for like the last three hours.”
Donnie lifted his eyebrows. “Avoiding you?” Do you mean she hasn’t been up your ass the way you like?
Agitation radiated off of Langdon now. “Yeah, she’s standing like across the hallway from me when we debrief about patients and she went with Robby earlier on a case.”
“Oh, you mean instead of jumping at the chance to be on a case with you?”
“Something like that.” He said before leaning towards Donnie. “You said something to her.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“You are a terrible liar.”
“I did not say anything to her, Langdon.” Donnie paused. “Santos did.”
Langdon jumped to his feet. “Are you fucking serious? You got Santos involved! Why would you do that Donnie? She hates my guts.”
“Afraid you’ll lose your chance?”
Langdon just stared at Donnie. “Don’t.”
“Look maybe Mel is just trying to think it over.”
“Think what over?”
“You.” Donnie shrugged. “Whether she likes you.”
Langdon walked to the door. “This is not middle school Donnie.” He groaned as he left the room.
At the same time, Mel and Santos ran into each other in the bathroom.
They were both washing their hands when Santos cleared her throat. “Let’s talk about…”
“No.”
“But you don’t even know what I was going to say. Don’t shut me down so quick.”
“I heard the tone of it, and I already know I won’t like it.”
“Well too bad.” Santos leaned against the sink. “Are you sure about all this?”
“I don’t..” Mel shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
“You and Langdon.”
Mel’s shoulders shifted immediately. “There is no me and Langdon. Besides it’s ‘Langdon and I’ and as a medical professional you should know that, Trinity. We have to earn people’s respect.
Santos hummed softly. “Right, because you are ‘just coworkers.’” Santos used air quotes to make the blow a little harder.
“Yes.”
“Okay well I just wanted to make sure you were being smart. He is married.” Santos turned slightly to face the door.
“He’s not married!” Mel replied instantly. “They’ve been divorced for a year and three months.”
Santos slowly broke into a grin and turned back to Mel. “Ha! Got cha.”
Mel froze.
“You said it King, not me.”
Mel scrunched her face up. “I hate you.”
“Nah, you don’t.”
“His divorce is common knowledge.”
“Yes, but no one knows the exact timeline. What was it again? A year and four months?”
“Three.” Mel muttered under her breath.
Santos cupped her ear and leaned in towards Mel. “Couldn’t hear you.”
“It’s been a year and three months!” Mel said loudly with frustration.
“Listen,” Santos’ tone shifted slightly. “You can pretend all you want that you don’t care and that you’re not interested. I don’t actually care.”
“Good.” Mel humphed as she straightened her back.
“But…”
Mel slumped again. “But?”
“Don’t stand there and tell me he doesn’t like you.”
Mel scoffed, “Oh please, he doesn’t like me like that.”
“Mel. He doesn’t act like Frank with anyone else. He’s Dr. Langdon.”
“Frank? What are you talking about? I don’t even call him Frank, he’s Langdon.”
“Okay. Not what I meant Melanoma.” Santos sighed. “Here’s what I can tell you I’ve seen just today.”
Mel crossed her arms. “Fine.”
Santos started to count on her fingers. “He follows you into every case that he can. He stands behind you like a very tall, very broody shadow. He drops everything the minute you ask for help.”
Mel stared at the counter.
“The way he says your name.” Santos let the sentence linger for a second.
Mel’s eyes flicked up. “What’s wrong with how he says my name?”
Santos chuckled softly before altering her voice, so it was lower and softer. “Mel…”
Mel shook her head. Surely it didn’t sound like that. Santos made it sound like he was calling a scared kitten to him. “You are reading way too much into this.”
Santos pushed off the counter, “Alright, then the next time he abandons a conversation mid sentence because you walked into the room, I’ll assume he does that for everyone.” Santos pushed the door open but before she walked through, she looked back at Mel. “For the record, it’s kind of painful how obvious it is.”
Mel walked out of the bathroom to find Landon a few feet later.
“Mel…”
Santos was right. He said it with the same cadence she had except his was so much better. It enlightened her from whatever haze she was in in the bathroom. His voice dropped just a tone lower than his normal range, but it was enough to get her attention.
“You alright Mel?” Langdon asked softly, his eyes scrunched together in worry.
“Hey uh I got to go check on my patient.” Mel walked away quickly to central so she could pick a patient from her pile that she could visit.
The next few hours, flowed just like that. Mel was nowhere to be seen, or Langdon had just missed her. They would slip in and out of rooms like airplanes in the night sky, never actually seeing each other.
Even in the quiet of the break room, Mel scurried away from Langdon as quickly as she could. He tried to talk to her like normal, but something was hanging in the air.
“You stealing the last of the coffee again?” Langdon asked as he stirred the cup in front of him.
Mel’s shoulders stiffened before turning towards him. “Don’t worry! I left you some in the pot.”
“How is the kid in four?” Langdon asked trying anything to keep her in the room.
Mel pushed her coffee lid on the cup tighter. “Stable. Respiratory is following up.”
On a normal day, this would turn into a five-minute conversation where Mel would dive into all the details of the case, telling Langdon exactly what she did and why. Not today.
“I should get back.”
“You just got in here.” He knew cause he followed in here a few minutes after he saw Mel walk in here.
“Yeah,” Mel was already moving towards the door. “Charts.” She laughed that same chuckle that Langdon knew was a cover.
She left Langdon with his empty cup of two cream packets and the slowly dying hope in his eyes.
Langdon left the break room to be greeted by the next trauma.
Once the trauma patient was moved up to surgery, Langdon looked for Mel. He was tired. Tired of the miscommunication. Tired of the unwelcome quiet when they were alone. Tired of Mel thinking he wanted anything other than her.
“Mel!” Langdon called her roughly as he threw away his trauma gear.
She didn’t turn around. She steadily walked towards the next room.
He followed her as her gate slowed microscopically. “Mel…” His voice dropped softly as if begging her to give him a second.
She stopped this time.
He didn’t say another word. Didn’t say her name in a plea like he so desperately wanted to. He just let her accept it.
Mel turned to face him. “What is it Dr. Langdon?”
Not Langdon but Doctor Langdon. He couldn’t remember the last time she called him that without a patient around. If he were to look down at his fingers he would see they were shaking.
“Did I do something?” Langdon’s voice shook just a riff that only he could hear.
Mel’s stomach knotted. “No.”
“Really? Cause you’ve been avoiding me all day.” Langdon sighed running his hand down his face.
“I haven’t!” Mel’s voice chirped. “We’re working and…. It’s busy!”
“Right.” Langdon didn’t move.
The air between them had changed like a second of dead space could alter their entire world.
Mel gestured vaguely down the hall. “I should um.”
“Mel.” Her name came out the same way she had imagined it a million times before. She let herself sigh softly in relief. “We’re not doing this in here.” Frank said looking around the room hoping no one saw the scene they just performed. “Come on.” He softly grabbed her elbow and led her out to the ambulance bay.
Once they were around the corner where no one else ever stood, Langdon placed his hands on her upper arms for just a moment before he dropped them. He couldn’t let his touch be too much. He had a lot to say to Mel, and he couldn’t let his want to touch her overcome any of it.
“I don’t know why you’ve been ignoring me.”
“I haven’t.”
“Mel please, I’m not stupid. At least not today.” Frank looked at his feet then back up to Mel’s face. “You walked out of the break room seconds after I walked in and just an hour ago you sent Donnie to ask me about a patient while I was standing ten feet away.”
“I had ch—”
“Charts.” Langdon laughed softly. “Yeah, I know.”
Mel’s face scrunched up at the embarrassment of being caught. “I’m sorry.”
“Did I do something or say something that made you mad? If I did, I’m sorry. Just tell me what it is and I can fix it.”
“No! It’s not that.”
“Will you tell me what it is then?”
Mel grew quiet, staring down at her shoes. Her head lifted just slightly meeting his eyes.
Langdon knew what the problem was just then. It was what had been building between them for months hell years. Two years and one month. The looks that they had shared in the middle of hectic shifts. Too many almosts to count. Everything between them is a little too charged.
Frank took a deep breath. “Okay, then I’ll just say it.”
Mel lifted her head to fully look at him this time. She shook her head. “Langdon…”
“No.” He shook his head. “Because if I don’t say this now, I’m probably never going to.” His eyes started to water. “And I can’t keep living my life like this.”
Mel stepped towards him a moment before stepping back like she had touched a hot stove.
“I don’t know what Donnie or Santos said to you earlier. Whatever made you freeze up, Mel. But, I..I can’t let them dictate our life.” Frank hands were shaking now so much that Mel could see it. He shook them dramatically, trying to get them to stop. “They are good friends, well Donnie is, and Santos is to you.”
Mel stood silently as Langdon continued.
“I know I am not the best person to be with or even think about.”
Mel wasn’t sure where he was going with this conversation but surely it couldn’t be what she was hoping for.
“Hell. I’m a divorced drug addict. I’ve got two great kids who have already got a great stepdad. It’s like they don’t even need me anymore.” Langdon turned his back to Mel, his hands running through his hair. “And you, well you don’t need me. You are an amazing doctor who could run circles around any of us in the building. We’re all gonna be climbing up the ladder after you.” He turned back to Mel. “But every once in a while, you stop, stuck on a rung.”
Mel looked at his stance, the rapid breathing, hands pulling on his scrubs, his hair a mess.
“And that is when I wonder if you might let me in.” Langdon stepped closer to her. “The days when you freeze and won’t let anyone around but me.”
Mel let herself look at his eyes.
Langdon tucked Mel’s stray hair behind her ear. “We sit in the locker room. Some days we just sit in the silence, but some days you let me touch you. God, Mel, those are the days I count on.” He let his fingers touch her hair softly wondering if today might be a day she’ll allow it.
“Langdon…”
“I like you Mel, hell, what am I saying?” Langdon bent his knees slightly to look at Mel. “I don’t like you, Mel. I fucking love you.” Mel opened her mouth to respond before Langdon continued. “And I sorry I’m not more than I am because you deserve so much more. You des—”
Mel smashed her lips into Frank’s to shut him up. It was sloppy and unexpected for both of them. Langdon especially, but he melted into it, becoming half of his height, his arms wrapping around her waist.
Mel smiled into the kiss holding back the giggle on her lips as she put her arms around his neck.
Langdon pulled away slightly so he could see her face. He took in the sight of a freshly kissed Mel King. Her face was redder than when he teased her in front of a patient. She smiled at him like one of the nurses brought in fresh baked cookies.
“Frank…” Mel whispered to get his attention.
Langdon blinked at her for a moment. She had never called him Frank. It was always Langdon or Dr. Langdon. “Yeah?”
“I love you too.”
Langdon’s forehead rested softly against hers, his breath uneven, like he was still catching up on what had just happened.
For a moment, the noise of the ER faded into something distant and unimportant. The call of a doctor, the beeping monitors, kept moving like nothing had happened. But Langdon was looking at Mel like the entire world had just quietly shifted.