Chapter Text
Back at work 6 months after a near year long “sabbatical” was a lot. He’d worked for it. Harder than he’d ever worked on anything before. Withdrawal had been easy in comparison to what had come next.
Building his life back up.
Coming back to The Pitt.
Facing everyone.
The divorce had been the easy part of it. He and Abby had been far past breaking point when he not only admitted his addiction but brought home a fucking dog. Then he’d blown anything else straight out of the water. Splitting custody, family therapy it was working out as best it could. But it still sucked.
Frank Langdon: expert in making all the wrong decisions.
Smoking being one of them. But better that than a handful of pills. The tendrils of smoke twisted up into the darkening air.
‘You do know this is the therapy spot right Langdon?’ Jack Abbot appeared next to him on the roof.
‘Ahhh the sacred site.’ Abbot chuckled. One hand reached out silently asking. Frank passed over this nearly empty pack and lighter.
'Those things will kill ya.’ Frank joked lightly watching as Abbot lit up his own cigarette.
‘Not dead yet Langdon.’ The smoke rings were impressive. Frank hadn't tried learning any tricks. Abbot always was a man of surprises.
Silence swept over them. Standing shoulder to shoulder staring out at the city. How many of those sirens were heading towards them? Abbot coughed awkwardly. Clearing his throat. Frank tensed. Was this going to be the you let us all down speech? Or the you got this? The empty platitudes that came with a heavy dose of suspicion. Not unwarranted. Frank had burned the trust and respect he'd had. He was trying to build it back up. Slowly. Step by step.
‘I’m proud of you.’ Frank’s head whipped around to stare at the attending. Abbot was keeping his eyes fixed at the city. ‘Most people wouldn’t have the strength to come back and face everyone.’ Frank felt his face contort into utter bafflement.
‘Thank you?’ Was this a joke? Abbot's sense of humour was off beat but not cruel.
‘Langdon.’ Suddenly Frank could hear the army man in his voice. Not the one from the heat of chaos. This was the one that led people.
‘I thought you hated me?’ He was only half joking. Abbot had a connection with Robby but always seemed to give him the side eye. Little jabs here and there. Frank never quite knew where he stood with him.
‘I never hated you. It’s more fun to let you think that.’ He couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head. Frank had to respect a man determined to have fun. And he kept up the act for a long time. Abbot punched him in the shoulder.
‘And people think I’m an asshole.’ Frank rolled his eyes.
‘That’s because you are.’
‘Who here isn’t?’ Frank retorted sharply, but not with any real bite. They both chuckled, then paused thoughtfully. Considering the question. Abbot turned his head to Frank. Eyebrows raised to his hairline.
‘Mel.’ In unison. Frank ground out the cigarette under his foot and leaned over the barrier.
‘She’s one of the few...’ Abbot mused almost more to himself than Frank. ‘She has grit but keeps her soul intact. Not many like that.’
‘She’s always Mel.’ Frank smiled softly at the complement. Abbot’s right eyebrow quirked upwards. The look on his face was curious and something else. A something else that made Frank’s cheeks heat up.
‘You guys are close huh?’ There was an implication that Frank didn’t know what to do with.
‘I mean yeah.’ He crossed his arms, not defensively. Abbots faced twisted in scepticism. ‘She’s a good friend. One of the best.’
Mel had been one of the few people who didn’t treat him any differently post rehab. That 4th of July shift she’d found him frozen outside the doors to the Pitt. Robby stood on the other side; just staring at him. Face forcibly neutral. He’d seen her out of the corner of his eye approaching her. Blonde hair shining in the sun. She’d stopped at him. Did a double take at seeing him.
‘You’re here!’ Her voice was so joyful. Happy to see him? It felt like an alien feeling.
‘In the flesh.’ Mel didn’t just feel her emotions: she embodied them. Her face brightened like a sunrise and bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. Her grin somehow brightened even more.
‘Lets go!’
She’d written him whilst in rehab. Even visited a few times. Kept him up to date on her weird cases and hospital goings on. Even brought him medical journals she’d thought he’d like.
‘Just a friend?’ Frank froze at the question. Abbots tone was purely curious. No judgement or anything else in it. ‘You’re different with her. Less of an asshole.’ The last comment came with a gentle punch to the arm. Frank was still stuck at the question. And the commentary. 'Lighter.'
Sure they tended to work on cases together, work the same shifts when it suited their schedule. Carpooled from his new apartment. Becca had even created a group chat with both the King sisters. Monthly movie nights. Mel had even hung out with him when he had Tanner and Taylor. And they adored her. But all kids seemed to gravitate towards her. They were close. Frank even thought of her as one of his best friends. Days without her were duller, less fun.
‘Am I?’ Abbot face froze then flooded with something weird.
‘Oh god am I the first one to point this out? What- How- I can’t-’ Abbot was stammering. Frank recoiled at the sight. And the conflicting feelings burning in his chest. He felt exposed. Maybe he liked being with her more than a friend strictly would. Mel was that person. They clicked. Easier than he had with anyone before. But she also made him better. A better teacher, a better doctor, a better friend and even Dad.
‘I’m gonna go. See you back there.’ Abbot very awkwardly patted him on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs up.
Frank opened his mouth to say something but only a vague squeak came out.
Of course Mel was his friend. There was nothing else to it.
Right?