Chapter Text
There’s two things Melissa King knew for certain. First - she was meant for emergency medicine, in fact she doesn’t think there could be anything else in this world that she would be better at. It flowed for her, made sense to her, spoke to her even. She had never truly loathed going in, except the night shift since it was harder for Becca. the second thing is that Dr.Langdon was different. Different from that catastrophic shift she has at PTMC where it seemed like the world was against her, punishing her even for choosing this job.
He seemed… defeated.. tired even. How could someone so full of passion and energy possibly turn into a man who second guessed everything he was doing? But then again she only knew him for one day. Not even a full day. 15 hours. But hey, that was a very intimate 15 hours. Not only was it her first day but they tackled a mass casualty event together.
Mel was very disheartened when he wasn't there on the day following their precedented shift together. She heard the rumors over the next few weeks, months even. She wasn’t one for gossip but something in her made her ears ring whenever she heard his name mentioned.
Now 10 months later his voice was the one to ring in her ears. It almost made her mind go numb. How did she recognize his voice so well after so much time for it to create a bodily reaction. It was like music to her ears that also made its way under her skin. She jumped out of her space running over to him, not being able to contain her excitement she flew her hands up in the air stupidly. After trying to real it back as she realized what she was doing she just grabbed his arm.
He laughed of course. A deep, warm laugh that came from his diaphragm. the shift went on like any other until she was pushed by a patient and ended up hitting her head.
Of course he got involved for some reason cracked some jokes in what seemed to be an attempt to make her feel better, which it did. But even after all that nothing could prepare her for the “I was in rehab” talk.
It didn’t go bad and she felt almost special to have received this private moment. It warmed her knowing he remembered key details about her life. Almost made her feel less stupid for clinging on to everything she learned about him.
But that’s not what she’s worried about now. Not her head, not his jokes, how he remembers how to help her regulate, not the fact that he felt the need to come clean to her and “make it right”… well maybe she was a little hung up on the last part. What she was stuck looping in her ever so busy head was, what truly happened in his absence? What happened to this energetic, beaming of confidence man? She knew it wasn’t just the lack of benzos in his system, he was hiding something. Something Mel wanted, needed to know.
Working with him again felt like a dance. Flowing in steps that each of them somehow knew, moving to their own cadence around a patient. She knew what he was about to ask for, and he knew that she was going to already have it in her hands waiting for him.
By the second week of Dr.Langdon's return their dance routine was almost flawless. So flawless that they seemed to almost be on every case together, like a true unstoppable duo. His confidence was slowly coming back, but it was still there. The flame was still not fully lit, deprived of the oxygen it so desperately needed to expand.
They have just spent the last hour coding a 42 year old man who came in presenting with lower back pain. The man came in probably hoping for a dose of muscle relaxers for his aches and ended up flat lining mid EKG. Mel had tried to focus on her actual job, for that was what was most important right now as there was a man's literal life at stake. She tried harder than it seemed humanly possible but her eyes kept wandering up the glistening forearms of Dr.Langdon as he performed CPR for well up to an hour. After they finally got him back to sinus rhythm the patient was quickly expedited to surgery.
“Good job King” Langdon said breathlessly.
She looked up at him as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. “T-thank you. You too.”
His smirk showed under his arm as he rested it on his forehead, catching his breath. “Nothing like a good workout to get the blood pumping, am I right?”
Mel swallowed hard and nodded quietly. Eyes still locked on him. His chest was rising and falling quickly, but steadily enough to not cause concern in a medical sense. What was concerning was the fact that her own heart was racing and it wasn't from the adrenaline of the code.
”One could say that.” She said meekly as she tried to slip away. The sound of footsteps trailing behind her into the break room assured her she would have no privacy with her thoughts.
She turned around to see him standing there with a half smile on, door closing behind him. “You ok?” He asked, nodding to her hands. Mel didn’t even notice that she had squeezing and rubbing them together.
she quickly separated them and planted her hands to her sides. “Yes…” she said sounding completely unsure. An empty silence stuck between too long beginning to make Mel uncomfortable. “You uh, seemed like your old self today.”
Langdon raised a brow at her comment. “Old self?”
Shit. “Yea, like you know… confident, cool Dr.Langdon.” Her voice trailed awkwardly on the last syllable of his name and she shuttered internally. This was uncomfortable.
“How can you even use anything to compare it to? We worked one shift together almost a year ago.” He said in a tone Mel couldn’t tell was joking or serious.
Her pulse quickened again as another void of silence drew. “Well, it was a pretty memorable shift.” Her eyes toyed back and forth between his very direct eye contact and the wall behind him. “And what can I say, you had a very lasting impression on me.”
His half smile turned more into a smirk, which relived Mel slightly. At least it didn’t seem to piss him off. “Well then I guess that makes two of us.”
Mel tilted her head and inhaled preparing to retort while Langdon swiftly turned around and opened the break room door. He stood pressed against it, keeping it open with his arm extended over it. “Ladies first” he said gesturing with his free hand.
Mel nodded quickly, ducking her head down slightly while walking past.
This was going to be a long shift.
___________________
Three months had past since Dr.Langdon had retuned. Why Mel kept track was irrelevant to the situation. The real situation is that she was developing something for him. She wasn't sure if it was just a deeper level of friendship or if it was… no. It isn’t. It can’t be. He is her superior and her friend.
They had spent the last few weeks eating on breaks together, even arriving and leaving at the same time. They would talk about Becca, his kids, patients, stupid bets that went either in his favor or against, anything. Well not everything. They never talked deeply about personal stuff. He never mentioned his wife, mentioned his kids in more detail than just little facts and stories that were cute and harmless. Not about his time in rehab, or how he was managing his relationship with Robby (because we all knew that was strained), never letting it go below the surface. Maybe that was for the best. Mel had a strange knack to want to know everything about someone and often over shared. Anytime she thought she’d crossed the proverbial “that’s more than I need to know about my coworker” threshold, he seemed to always reassure her that it was ok.
Unfortunately knowing more about him and seeing more of him, only made him the center of her mind. She found herself replaying conversations they had in her head, long after she was tucked away in her bed at home. They even started keeping her up at night, over analyzing her word choices, her tone, his reactions. Why did she care that much? Whatever the problem was she needed to squash it dry, as she had things to do tonight. She has a date.
She was more surprised than anyone. He was someone she bumped into once while walking to work. He was on an early morning run and she was off in space somewhere. Unfortunately when she cut him off turning onto a street, he ran right into her. Thankfully no one was hurt, but it was enough of a fuss that he ended up with a decent laceration on his knee. She assured him she was a doctor and starting spewing off homecare instructions. They got talking and next thing you know she’s brushing her hair in the mirror getting ready for dinner with him. His name was John, he’s a data analyst for some bank. Not bad looking, light brown hair, brown eyes, tall, easy to look at.
She wore a white long sleeve shirt with a brown cardigan overtop which she has the top button fastened with looser fitting jeans and a pair of flats. She wasn’t one to dress up or wear makeup, but she knew how to look appropriate.
John picked her up and drove them to a bar only ten minutes away. He complimented her appearance, making a note to say that it was “a lot better than the scrubs” which she felt a little slighted at. He didn’t open the door for her, and he didn’t pull her chair out. Becca gave her a list of things a true gentleman should do on a date and demanded to be updated when it was over. She could check complementing her off of the imaginary list, even if it was standing murkyly with her. They chatted well, well enough. He didn’t understand medical lingo so most of the conversations were her explaining what she was actually talking about. Frustration hit when he cut her off mid sentence while she was explaining what a burr hole was to order another drink. Langdon would’ve made a joke about the time she hit her head on his first day back and he jokingly recommended that as treatment. Langdon also didn’t need booze to choke through a meal with her.
Mel shook her head trying to flee the thoughts of him and focus on the very real, very unmarried man in front of her. “Sorry, I tend to ramble sometimes.”
”Everyone’s got their thing.” He smiled. “Did you like your meal?”
Mel flashed a quick smile “oh yea, it was great thank you.”
“Why don't we close this out and hang out by the bar for a bit, we can continue talking about your…”
“Bur hole”
”Bur hole, right”
He paid the bill and they gathered their things to sit at the bar. Unfortunately it had increasingly gotten busier as the night went on making it very noisy. It began to become difficult to focus on anything other than the buzzing in her head. She closed her eyes tightly as she could trying to reorient herself. She felt an unwanted hand on her thigh which made her skin crawl. “I really like this place! Want another?” John shouted almost directly into her ear making her almost go over the edge. She shook her head violently hoping he would get the hint. Unfortunately John was either drunker than she anticipated or that this was just more of his charming personality. “I can barely hear you come closer”
Mel got up out of her seat, needing her feet on the floor to give her some sense of grounding. He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer. Too close. “Hey come on loosen up, just have some fun” he shouted.
The pounding of her head and her heart were synchronizing “P-please let me go” Mel asked.
”What?” His grip tightened on her wrist and tried to pull her even closer, placing another hand on her hip.
“Please let go of me.” She said louder this time, volume just below a yell. She didn’t think she could speak any louder or else her head would explode.
She felt a third hand on her shoulder and whipped her head in its direction. The hand looked all too familiar. “She said let go.” The even more hauntingly familiar voice yelled in John’s direction.
Standing with his hand firmly on her shoulder and the other on Johns chest pushing him backwards was Dr. Frank Langdon.
Her eyes went wide and she truly couldn’t hear anything else after that. His mouth was moving angrily and you could tell he was shouting by the way his adams apple was moving. His brows were furrowed hard and finally she was free of John’s grip. She stumbled backwards as if his grasp was the only thing keeping her afloat. The pounding and buzzing in her head was at its breaking point when she felt a new hand on her, she opened her eyes to see Langdon's hand on her wrist and he began to drag her with him. She followed like a rag doll, limp but still somehow stumbling behind him.
The October air hit her like a truck when they got outside. She sucked in the cold air and it burned her nasal passages like she hadn’t took a real breath in days. Langdon let go of her and looked her up and down. “Are you ok?”
Her eyes shot up at him with tears beginning to pool. Langdon looked like he just got shot in the chest. She felt like she was going to black out. “Hey!” He snapped his fingers in front of her. Sound fully came back, but the pounding remained. She nodded quickly and searched her body frantically “I-I don't have my bag.” She sniffled as a tear almost escaped.
Langdon nodded “Ill be right back, don't move” he said with his hands extended slightly towards her.
She stood there for what seemed like an eternity inhaling and exhaling the bitter air. In….out….in…..out……
“I got your purse, let me walk you to your car.” He said calmly, handing her the bag.
Mel shook her head. “I dont… I didn’t drive.”
Langdon stood there for a minute “You let someone you don't know pick you - you know what, never mind that’s for another time.” he cautiously grabbed her hand “I’m gonna drive you home, you just have to tell me where that is.”
“No, I can walk.” Mel insisted.
“Please Mel, you look like you are gonna be sick.” Langdon was borderline begging. Her ears are ringing at him using her first name, these past few moths he's only been using "Dr.King”.
She nodded and followed him to his car. Somewhere on the walk his hand went from her wrist to her hand. She was holding his hand. They got to the nice looking European car and he opened the door for her. She slid into the low dark car and felt around for the seatbelt before Langdon was basically buckling her in for her. “I can do it myself” she spoke.
“Sorry” he exhaled before shutting the door before briefly entering as well.
The drive back to Mel’s apartment was hairpin silent. The only communication was her typing her address into his phone. She shut her eyes the whole time thinking in……out……in….out.
When she felt the car shift into park she opened her eyes. before she knew it the passenger side door was open and Langdon was standing with his hand out waiting for her.
She grabbed it and walked carefully up the steps, still hand in hand. “Can I walk you in?” He asked softly. Mel nodded in agreement.
She tried to unlock the door but her hand wouldn’t stay still. He carefully took the keys from her and opened it. She walked inside and slipped her shoes off. It took four steps inside and 30 seconds for her to start actually crying. Her hands cupped over her face as she choked down tears.
“Hey, hey, shhh.” Langdon said softly walking over to her. “Why are you crying.”
She let herself look up at him, her sight blurred from the tears on her glasses. She shakily exhaled and he took her glasses off. He placed them down on her kitchen counter and cupped her face in his hands. He wiped her eyes with his thumbs. “Shhhhh”
They stood like that for a moment, just looking at each other. Her vision began to clear as did the tears, until they almost came back after seeing his face. She’d never seen such a sad, confused look on him before.
”I’m sorry… I tend to get very emotional when I get overwhelmed.” Mel explained.
”You have nothing to apologize for Mel, that guy seemed like an absolute prick. Obviously was doing it all wrong” he shook his head disapprovingly.
”Wrong?” Mel questioned.
”Yea anyone you cares about you would know not to take you to a bar that crowded. Between the music and the volume of people how could that not over do it for you. He should’ve taken you to a soft lift, ambient place with good food and enough space between the two of you. I mean who the hell does this guy think he is?” Langdon rambled on until he caught himself.
Oh my god. Mel thought. “And how do you know what I would like?”
Langdon exhaled sharply. “I spend every hour at work with you. Anyone with half a brain knows that you are… extraordinarily special and that you don’t fit the one size fits all mold that pricks like that have.” He had to physically take a step back, running his hands through his hair. “He had all the wrong intentions for you.. what a fucking asshole. Thats not what you deserve. You deserve-“ he caught himself again.
”What is it I deserve?” Mel questioned, confused on where this was going.
Langdon started laughing slightly. “Are you serious Mel?” He walked back over to her. “You deserve everything. You deserve someone who wants to put you and your needs first. Who cares enough to know what you like and dislike.”
Mel stood there silent for a moment composing herself “And you know all that, how?”
”Are you serious Mel? You think I’ve been eating lunch with you, tagging cases with you, bringing up topics that you love talking about all for nothing?” Langdon exclaimed. “You are the only person who was happy to see me come back. The only person I wanted to see.”
Mel furrowed her brows trying not to short circuit. “You…. Do all of that on purpose? Why?”
”For someone as smart as you, you sure have no clue sometimes.” Langdon said while he closed the space between them. He tucked her hair behind her ear and savored the closeness for a moment. “He better have told you that you look beautiful tonight.”
”In a way he did.” Mel exhaled, trying not to speak so loud being so close to him.
”And to think he got you all to himself for even an hour or two. Thank god I was there. My blood was boiling Mel.” He whispered. He placed a kiss on her forehead and gave her arms a gentle squeeze. ”I should get going.”
Mel nodded hazily, eyes still locked on him. She watched as he walked over to the front door. He turned around as he opened it. “See you tomorrow, Mel. Get some sleep.”
She gave him a small wave and then was left in silence. She slid to the floor and sat down.
Like a train all of the events of the night hit her at 100 miles an hour but only one thing stood out more than the others.
Dr. Frank Langdon was possibly into her.