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She was running late.
The traffic on the 279 was at a standstill and she had to get to work. She tapped her fingers to the beat of the music as she crawled down the road and bounced to calm herself down.
Dr. Robby would forgive her. Hopefully. She was never late, but she had to run some items to Becca who had an early morning field trip across the city.
The car in front of her honked a couple of times, not that it helped, they were stuck there. Probably construction ahead.
“Well maybe we got lost in translation/ maybe we asked to much/ maybe this thing was a masterpiece til you tore it all up.” She sang along to the radio.
The cars crawled along the road until Mel noticed a car pullled over on the side of the road and a young man pacing next to the car with his phone stuck to his ear.
He looked panicked and there was someone in the back seat.
The man made eye contact with her and she knew there was a problem. She pulled on front of him and got out of the car, she knew that if Frank was there, he’d be so angry. She wasn’t sure what was wrong, but she could change a tire or jump a car if she needed to.
“Are you okay?” She approached him.
“My wife is having a baby!” He cried, phone pressed to his ear. “I’ve called an ambulance, but there is an accident and construction….”
Mel nodded and came around him to the car. “My name is Doctor Mel King.” She introduced heself to the young woman in the back seat. She was obviously very pregnant and drenched in sweat and tears, as she laid back in the seat, groaning through a contraction.
“A doctor?” She cried a little hopefully, brushing her locks off her forehead.
“I’m an emergency medicine doctor, do you mind if I check you out?” She asked and the girl nodded, she pulled out a set of gloves that she always kept in her pocket. “What is your name?”
“Rhiannon.” She grunted as Mel got into position.
“Okay, Rhinnanon. How far along are you?” Mel asked, lifting up her skirt to gauge how dilated she was, she tried to school her features because this baby was coming right now. The only tender mercy was that she could see the head and not a limb poking out.
“40 weeks, today is her due date.” Said the man, she assumed was the father. “Rhi wanted to get more maternity photos at the park, her water broke and now we are having a baby on the freeway.”
“I think you are about 8 centimeters, how far apart are the contractions?” She asked clinically. 8 centimeters was a guess for sure, she could see a good set of hair on the baby’s head.
Rhiannon groaned and leaned back for a moment. “2 minutes.” Reported the man with the phone to his ear. “The 911 operator says that the ambulance is 15 minutes out….”
Mel stood up to full height, it looked like she was going to deliver a baby on the 279. “I’ll be right back, I’m going to grab some supplies from my car.”
Rhi caught her arm. “Have you done this before?” She asked.
“Kind of, I did my labor and delivery rotation a couple of years ago in med school.” She answered, and walked back to her car. In her trunk she had a first aid kit and a blanket, her bottle of water and her backpack.
When she returned, she prepared her meager supplies on the floor of the backseat. “Okay, we’ve got this.” She mumbled to herself.
She looked at the man, still pacing against the barrier. “Sir, I need you to come sit behind her. She needs to sit up.”
He nodded, putting his phone in his pocket and came around the car, sliding in behind him. “Evan. My name is Evan.” He said shakily.
She looked up and smiled at him, before turning her attention to the task at hand. In the few minutes she was digging for supplies in her car, she fully dilated and was in a position to push. “I need to push.” Rhiannon cried, leaning against Evan.
“I’m ready, go ahead and push.” She announced ready to catch the baby.
Rhiannon let out a guttural cry as she sat up and pushed with all her might. After a few seconds she leaned back, panting desperately against Evan. “I can’t do this.” She cried.
“You’re doing amazing! We are getting close.” Mel encourages confidently, even though she was scared out of her mind. She wished she was in the Pitt, surrounded by her colleagues. Especially Langdon, he boosted her confidence. “Again.”
Rhiannon pushed again and Mel watched as the head cleared and she gently maneuvered the baby through the opening. “The head is free.” She said looking up from the lady’s legs. “One more small push.”
She did as she was asked and the shoulders were free, she guided the baby out and into her arms. She grabbed the little ball suction from her kit and placed it in the baby’s mouth to extract all the gunk from inside its airway.
The baby started to cry and there was a sigh of relief that surrounded them. She wiped the baby down with the blanket from her trunk. She finally got to glance at the gender. “Is it a boy or a girl, Doctor?” Evan asked and Mel looked up at them. “We didn’t find out.”
“A boy.” Mel said handing the baby to the new mother.
The pair shared an excited look before sharing a quick kiss.
Mel stepped back and stood to full height as the sirens surrounded them. Finally. She took her gloves off and sat them on her first aid kit.
She waved the bus down and it pulled up behind the car. It was a couple of medics that frequented the Pitt. “Dr. King?” Said the tall one, Greg who was always kind to her.
“Hey Greg.” She greeted, trembling from adrenaline. She did the hand off while his partner Carrie looked over mom and baby.
“Doctor King.” Called Carrie from the car. “She’s bleeding.”
Mel trotted back over and handed the baby over to Evan who couldn’t move far because they hadn’t cut the umbilical cord yet. Mel started to work quickly as Rhiannon started to lose consciousness. Greg was beside her, handing her tools to put in an IV.
The pair worked together until they got the bleeding under control and the placenta delivered. “Her BP is rising.” Announced Greg and Mel could breathe just a little better. The bus had an OB kit at she was able to tie off the umbilical cord and cut it.
They got her loaded up on the cot and headed towards the bus. Evan stood near by, Carrie guiding him into putting the baby against his chest. “She’s stable.” Mel said to him encouragingly.
“Thank god.” He said with a watery smile.
“We’re heading to PTMC.” Said Greg as they loaded her into the back. “Give Carrie your keys, she’ll meet us there.”
Mel nodded, handing over her keys and climbed inside, continuing to monitor Rhiannon’s vitals. Evan sat on the bench with the baby sleeping against him.
The sirens were loud on the inside, but she kept her focus on the monitors. Rhiannon was dozing on the cot, but stable.
It took them another thirty minutes to get to PTMC through the traffic and when they parked under the portico, the doors were opened by Dr. Robby and Dr. Mackay.
“This explains why you are late.” Doctor Robby said as they pulled the cot out and she stepped down, covered in blood.
She presented the information almost robotically as they walked through the doors and neared trauma one, Evan was intercepted by Dr. Al-Hashimi and Dr. Mohan to look over the baby.
She was intercepted by Dr. Langdon. “Jesus, Mel! You had us all worried.” He said, his hands bracing her arms as he looked her up and down. “Are you okay?”
Mel nodded. “I delivered a baby on the side of the road.” She said in a small voice.
“You did? He asked, rubbing the arms of her sleeves, soothing her trembling body. She nodded looking at her feet. “I’ve always known you were freaking amazing!”
She flushed. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared.” She said, still in her small voice. It was different saving lives outside the chaos of the emergency department.
He stepped closer, his hand brushing her waist before thinking better of it. “I want to give you a hug, but…” He said and the smile he gave her made her cheeks flush a pretty shade of pink. She knows that he would hug her no matter what, but in the middle of the busy Pitt in front of their colleagues. “IOU?”
She looked down at her bloody scrubs and nodded, tucking her arms in and her hands holding the scrubs at her shoulders, her normal self soothing position. Robby peaked his head out the trauma room. “She’s stable, we are giving her a transfusion and sending her up to L and D.” He reported, knowing Mel wasn’t going to move until she knew things were stable.
She released the breath she didn’t know she was holding and her arms relaxed to her sides. “Go take a shower, Mel.” Frank encouraged and she nodded. “I’ll come find you if anything happens.”
*
She exchanged her scrubs for another pair and showered quickly before heading back to the locker room.
Langdon stood at his locker, looking at his phone when she returned. “Feel better?” He asked and she nodded, placing the bag of soiled clothing into her locker.
“Any news?” She asked.
“Mom is settled upstairs and baby is healthy, they took him to NICU for observation.” He answered, closing his locker and she took a deep breath in relief. He held out his arms to her, sensing that she was about to have an adrenaline crash out. “Wanna cash in on that hug?”
She nodded, she wanted nothing more than to hug him. He wrapped his arms around her and she buried her face into his chest, indulging in his warmth for just a moment. She deserved it, she delivered a baby on the side of the road for godsake.
Their moment was cut short when Robby walked in, not fazed by the two residents clearly having a moment. They broke apart slowly and stepped apart but not far, Mel held on to the edge of his PTMC jacket to keep her anchored. “L and D just called down and mom is doing great, the transfusion went great, baby is also hitting its milestones. They may be able to go home tomorrow.” He announced proudly. Robby looked so proud of her and Frank knew she deserved it.
Mel bounced on the bottom of her feet. “That is so good to hear.” She said and a huge sense of relief flooded her.
“They’d like to see you after your shift, if you are available.” He said and she beamed up at him. Mel clapped her hands together and nodded her head, she had something to look forward too. “Good work today, Mel.”
“Thank you.” She said happily, looking up to Langdon who beamed down at her.
“See, you’re so fucking amazing.” He said proudly. “Come on, King. Let’s go save the world.”
*
She rode the high of the day from patient to patient. Her patient satisfaction scores were going to be through the roof today. Her confidence was solid and it showed in her work. Even after two MVA’s, one where she had to reset a serious fracture to stop major bleeding, without even blinking an eye. Garcia was even impressed. She resuscitated a teenager who just found out was allergic to bees. Half the waiting room had been cleared out and she didn’t even bat an eye. Frank and the others followed behind like lost puppies trying to keep up.
And she wasn’t even showy about it. Santos had grumbled a thank you when Mel offered to help her with her charting and she supported Whitaker through placing a chest tube.
She was on fire today and nothing was going to stop her. Frank could only watch in awe, she was made for Emergency Medicine. (And Labor and Delivery apparently.)
When it was time to clock out, she took the stairs to Labor and Delivery to calm her excitement.
Me quickly checked in with the nurses station before peeking in the room at him. Evan sat on the bed next to Rhiannon, with the baby in her arms, wrapped tightly in the standard hospital swaddle. “Hey!”
“Doctor King!” They both said together. They both looked equally tired and excited. The room had been filled with balloons and flowers.
She smiled meekly as she stepped inside the room. “How are you feeling?” She asked with her hands clasped together, stepping closer to the bed, to get a better look at the baby.
“Sore, but happy! The doctors think I can go home tomorrow and that he is the healthiest little boy he’s ever seen that had been born on the 295. 6 pounds 9 ounces, 22 inches long.” Rhiannon said proudly. “Do you want to hold him?”
“Can I?” She asked and Rhiannon nodded, holding the baby out for her to take. “I love babies.” But not enough to specialize in Labor and Delivery.
The baby was tiny in her arms as she took a moment to notice his features. He had his dad’s nose and his mother’s lips. His thick dark curls peaking out of the blue hat, they had dressed him in a soft blue onesie.
He was perfect and beautiful. “We picked his name.” Announced Evan proudly, his arm going across his wife’s shoulder. The baby opened his eyes briefly, a blue covered hand escaping from the swaddle.
“Oh yeah?” She asked looking up at them for a moment before looking back at the baby, she bounced softly to sooth the frown on his face.
“King.” He said, she looked up at him in surprise. “You gave us the best gift in the world and delivered our son safely. We wanted to honor you. His name is King Samuel Marsden.”
Tears escaped her eyes. “Really?” She asked, her voice higher pitched than normal. Her vision was a little blurry, but she didn’t want to cry on the baby.
The both nodded, but the moment was cut short by a soft tap on the door. Langdon stood on the other side of the door. “Sorry to interrupt, Mel. I forgot I had your car keys.” He said softly, he looked apologetic like he didn’t want to interrupt her, but he couldn’t help it, he was nosy. Maybe he was selfish because she looked so natural holding the baby in her arms.
She nodded. “Evan, Rhiannon, this is Dr. Frank Langdon, he’s a friend of mine from the ED.” They waved at him as Mel turned to show him the baby in her arms. “And this is King Samuel Madsen.”
Frank stepped closer to look at the baby. His hand went to the small of Mel’s back. “You did good with this one.” He said tenderly and looked up to the parents. “He’s beautiful.” He really did miss when his kids were this little.
“Can I take a picture of him?” Mel asked and the parents nodded, she really wanted to show Becca what she did today. Frank took out his phone and snapped a few photos, with Mel having the biggest smile on her face.
The baby started to fuss and stretch free of his swaddle. “I bet he’s hungry.” Mel said, stepping out of Frank’s grasp to hand the baby back to his mother.
Evan stepped up and pulled her into a hug. “I don’t know how to thank you.” He said and she forced herself to not tense.
“You’re so welcome.” She whispered back and stepped back into Frank’s orbit. “I’ll come see you before you discharge tomorrow.”
They said their goodbyes and stepped back into the hall. Frank trying to gauge her reaction. “They named their baby after me.” She said and he pulled her back into his arms, allowing her the time to be emotional.
He smiled as he pressed his lips to the crown of her head. “That’s legacy level stuff, Mel.” He encouraged, rubbing his hands up and down her arms to ground her. Her hands held the back of his scrubs. “Next they’ll be naming a wing in the hospital after you. The Melissa King Emergency Medical and Labor and Delivery Center.”
He could feel her smile against him. “That’s a little wordy.” She said against him.
He shrugged. “I’ll happily work at the MKEMLDC. It’s fine, the acronym will grow on us.”
They broke apart after a few moments of silence and he followed her back towards the elevator.
They stopped at the lockers to grab their belongings and they headed towards the parking garage in a companionable silence.
He stopped at her car as she threw her backpack in the back seat. She turned around and looked up at him. “Any plans for the night?” He asked with his hands in his pocket.
She shrugged, “Going to pick up Becca and make some dinner.” She said nonchalantly. “You?”
“Gonna go home and look at pictures of my children when they were that little.” He said. “I truly forget that they were that small at one point. I miss it sometimes.”
She probably would have melted had it been physically possible. “I bet they were cute.” She said.
“Psh yeah they were.” He boasted. “They still are when they aren’t being little menaces. I can’t wait for you to meet them, but I worry they will give you baby fever.”
She smiled and nodded. “It’s already too late, after holding King today. I’m sure they will just add to it.” She shrugged, she knew when she met the two clones of Frank Langdon, she was done for. “I can’t wait to meet them. When do you have them next?”
“Next weekend. Do you think Becca would want to go to the zoo with us?” He asked and it took her breath away, he had only met Becca in passing but was secure enough to realize that they were a nonnegotiable pair.
“I think she’d be excited to go.” She responded. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
He nodded and stepped into her space. “I’m going to tell you this everyday until you get sick of me, but I am so proud of you.” He said, reaching out to take her hand in his. “You make me want to be a better person. You delivered a baby on the 295 without batting an eyelash and you save lives everyday. I am so lucky to know you.”
Her eyes filled with emotion and he couldn’t hold back any longer. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers and she returned the kiss. When he pulled back, he tucked her hair behind her ears. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He said kissing her one more time before opening the door to her car.
She climbed inside the car and turned it on, rolling down the window, not quite ready to leave him. “Text me when you get home?” He asked.
She nodded and turned on the radio and Taylor Swift started to sing. “Let’s fast forward to 300 takeout coffees later/ I see your profile and your smiles on unsuspecting waiters.”
He jokingly rolled his eyes, of course Mel King was a Swiftie.
“Good night, Frank.” She said, rolling the window back up, he waved as she put the car into gear and reversed out of the spot and leaving him in the parking garage.
He let his shoulders relaxed, who knew that today was the day that he would cross the line and kiss her.
*
When he got home, he tossed his bag on the chair and plopped down on the couch. He pulled out his phone. He scrolled through the photos he took of Mel today. She looked so beautiful holding that baby and it literally gave him butterflies.
He sent the non stalkerish looking photos to Mel so she could show the Becca and the he scrolled to when Taylor was born and then when Benny was born, he would scroll past photos of Abby holding them but it didn’t give him the same feeling that it did when it was Mel holding a baby.
He was so fucked.
Baby fever.
He took a deep breath and sunk into his couch.
His phone vibrated and he looked at the screen. Mel had hearted the photos that he had sent.
👑MEL: Thank you! Becca almost didn’t believe me. I just realized how insane it was.
ME: Still the coolest thing, you’re such a badass.
👑MEL: Becca says she agrees.
ME: Good, I don’t want to have to beef with your sister.
Three dots appeared and disappeared before the FaceTime alert went off. Mel and Becca were sitting on her couch, both with smiles on their faces.
“If you got beef, I’m a vegetarian.” Becca said before the both of them started giggling. The were a deep well of musical knowledge.
He had to laugh. “She made me call you.” Mel said between giggles.
“I’m so glad that you did.” He said with what he assumed was a cheesy smile. “I’ll let you go, so you can spend time with your sister.”
“Byeeee!” Becca said with a wave.
“Good night, Frank.” She said with a small wave and the call ended.
ME: Becca should go into comedy.
👑MEL: please don’t encourage her. She’s just excited that I delivered “the cutest baby in the world” her words not mine
ME: You haven’t seen mine yet
ME: *She hasn’t
👑MEL: Becca says prove it. I too would like to see theFrank smiles and scrolls through the years of photos again.
He sent her two photos of his children as newborns, which she sent a heat emoji.
👑MEL: Becca and I agree, they are sooo cute! It’s hard to compare them to King though.
ME: as long as you agree that I make cute babies, I’ll concede to the tie.
👑MEL: that’s fair.
👑MEL: you and Mel would make the cutest babies. (This is Becca, Mel left her phone to put her clothes in the dryer.)
👑MEL: she said that you kissed her today. I’ve been begging her for ages to find a boy to kiss.😘😘😘
Frank nearly choked on air, what does he say to that? He can imagine Mel’s reaction to her sister’s text.
ME: I agree.
Three dots appeared and disappeared a couple of times. Mel must have returned and didn’t know what to say.
The FaceTime alert returned and he answered. Mel had moved to her bedroom. “I’m so sorry she said that.” She apologized, her cheeks were red with embarrassment.
“Hey, it’s okay.” He said to calm her down. “She’s not wrong though. We don’t have to talk about this now, I want you to know where I stand and there is no rush.”
“Okay.” She answered.
“I’d like to take you on a date sometime.”
She nodded, this has really been an insane day. “I’d like that too.”
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He said wishing her a good night and ending the call again.
Holy shit.
This was really an insane day.