Work Text:
The weather app read 63 degrees and sunny so Mel took that as an order from the universe to take a walk through the park with a fancy tea and an audiobook. That was one of her favorite low stakes activities for when she had a morning to spend by herself - she could pause to have a chat with a stranger, pet a dog, wave to a baby, or just keep to herself, depending on how social she was feeling. Once she had her fill of being out in society, she would head to pick Becca up from the Saturday morning painting class at the center so they could have have their designated sister time.
People were friendlier when the weather first broke away from the bitter cold days and the long, dark winter nights finally got shorter. She was basking in the warmth of the sun and the smiles everyone seemed to be wearing as she wandered. It was nice, to feel like part of the community, even in a passive way.
She rounded a corner and spotted a familiar profile on a bench just a little ahead. He wasn't alone though - there was a little girl balanced on his knees, facing him as he chattered away. She seemed to be chattering back with equal intensity, moving her little hands and playing with the bracelets on his wrist.
She had seen his daughter in the picture on the home screen of his phone and taped inside his locker - Penny.
"Dr. Langdon?" She asked once she was well within in earshot.
He turned a bit, keeping his daughter braced in his lap with one hand at her side. He looked different in the sunlight than under the harsh fluorescents of the ER. Almost soft with his worn gray crewneck and a pair of sunglasses pushed up into his hair. His youngest child was adorable, with tufts of dark hair pulled into pigtails on top of her head and heart shaped sunglasses perched on her nose. The resemblance was undeniable.
He looked up at her with a surprised smile, "Hey, Mel."
"Hi!" Penny chirped, following his lead.
Langdon laughed. "Mel," he said, gesturing with his free hand, "this is my daughter, Penny. Although, she may answer to Miss Langdon if you prefer."
Mel looked confused for a second before returning his smile - she was getting better at recognizing that playful tone in his voice.
She shifted her gaze from his face to hers. "It's very nice to meet you Penny. I'm Mel."
Langdon made the rest of the introduction when Penny looked back to him. "Mel works with Daddy at the hospital," he said, glancing back to Mel, "she's a very good doctor, and helps lots of people who get hurt or sick."
Penny looked like she was going to say something, but quickly got distracted from whatever thought she had.
"Look!" she exclaimed, tapping at Langdon's leg and pointing at a dalmatian on a walk several feet away. "Big doggie!"
Langdon grinned at her enthusiasm. "Yeah baby girl," he answered, "she's bigger than Daisy, isn't she?"
"Daisy is our goldendoodle." He clarified to Mel.
Mel was still processing that Langdon calls his daughter baby girl with an expression of some of the most intense fondness she had ever seen when Penny continued the conversation in her place.
"Yes." Penny agreed then paused before adding, "she has spots."
"She does." Langdon agreed, solemnly.
Penny returned to Mel. "You have a doggie?"
"Oh, no," Mel said shaking her head, "I like dogs, but I've never had one. My best friend did when I was little though so I got to see him a lot. His name was Max."
"I love Daisy," Penny declared, reaching for the bracelets on Langdon's arm again.
"You do," Langdon affirmed, "you've been a big help taking care of her, right?" Penny smiled, content with playing with the bands again.
Langdon looked back to Mel. "So, what are you up to?"
"Just taking a walk, I like to come here when it's nice out and I have some time to myself. I'm gonna get Becca from the center in a couple hours. She's taking a painting class now, but she'll spend the rest of the weekend with me."
"That sounds nice." Mel nodded, smiling, "Yeah, it will be."
"We were at Tanner's T-ball game but someone was getting antsy," he said, tickling Penny's side as she giggles.
"Honestly, I don't blame her," Langdon almost whispers, conspiratorially, "it's kind of goofy when they're that young." Mel laughs. "He's having fun, but also spends most of his time in the outfield picking dandelions."
Mel liked learning more about him, his family - things a friend would know. "That's sweet."
'Yeah, it's cute." Langdon agreed, "just not a huge attention grabber for this one," he finishes, gesturing to Penny
"Did you play baseball?" Mel couldn't help asking.
"Just rec when was real young," he answers easily, "I was never very good." He smiled again. "Ran track in high school though."
"Oh!" Mel said, remembering another conversation, "you still run, right?"
"I do." Langdon confirms, "I always had a hard time staying still so it was a good way to burn off some of that restless energy."
"Yeah, that makes sense." Mel agrees. "Walking helps me sometimes when I'm anxious."
"Daddy?" Penny asks. Langdon snaps his attention back to her. "Yeah, baby?"
"We go back to Tanner?"
He looks at Mel, apologetic. "We probably should head back."
"Oh, no, of course, I don't want to keep you."
"We have to see the end of the game, right?" He asks Penny, shifting his hold to set her down on the sidewalk, but she shook her head and reached for him with both arms.
"No?" He asked.
"Up," she verified.
He pulled her sunglasses off before pulling her to his chest and standing. She snuggled in immediately, pressing her face to his neck before settling in the crook of his shoulder with one hand grabbing at his collar while he ran his hand down her back.
"Can you say goodbye to Dr. Mel, baby?"
Penny picked her head up, ever polite, "Bye bye Dr. Mel!"
Mel found herself looking at a very familiar shade of blue.
"Oh!" Mel started, unable to hide her delight at this development, "she has your eyes!"
Langdon grins, blindingly bright and genuine, looking down at his daughter. "Yeah, we get that a lot don't we." He kisses the top of her head as she curls further into him.
"Bye Penny." Mel says with a gentle smile. "It was nice to see you Dr. Langdon."
Langdon laughs a little. "And you, Dr. King. You're working Tuesday?"
"Yup, day shift."
"I'll see you there."
"Oh, good!" Mel says happily.
One last smile. "Bye Mel."
They walked in the opposite direction back towards the little league field as Mel looked forward to an afternoon with her sister, but also to her Tuesday shift.