Chapter Text
Mel texts Langdon in significant distress
Langdon Today at 3:58 PM mel: hey
mel: can I call you later?
langdon: what's wrong?
mel: rough shift
mel: very very rough shift
mel: I just need to hear a friendly voice
langdon: dubious though it is
langdon: do I want to know?
mel: I don't know
mel: kids
mel: I hate kids
langdon: don't tell mine that
mel: that was funny
mel: say something else funny
langdon: I don't know if this qualifies, but they really are still asking me when they get to see my doctor friend who's a princess again
mel: wait, what???
langdon: they're on a disney princess kick, so when they heard your name was dr. king, they decided that that meant that your dad was a king, which must make you a princess
langdon: when I had them a few days ago, they were debating whether you were really a princess doctor or just in disguise as a doctor
mel: that's a joke, right?
langdon: it actually isn't
langdon: when I told them you really were a doctor, they told me that if I could do med school, a princess definitely could
langdon: mel?
mel: sru
mel: sorry
mel: I started laughing and couldn't stop
langdon: that kind of a day?
mel: it really has been
langdon: I'm sorry
mel: I hate it when it's kids
langdon: I know. so do I.
mel: there was the little girl my first day
mel: remember?
langdon: I do.
mel: some days I really do wonder if I'm cut out for it.
langdon: where do you come down on that today?
mel: that it's a tough place for sensitive people, but we're needed badly.
langdon: someone very wise must have told you that
mel: I don't know about that
langdon: ouch
mel: one of my favorite doctors I've ever worked with, though
langdon: okay, you know what?
langdon: I'll take favorite over wise
langdon: love popularity contests, and I'm not going to be winning many these days
mel: you do with me
mel: it would've been nice to have you there today
langdon: I'm working on it
langdon: do I want to know what happened?
mel: maybe
mel: I don't know
mel: I think you did help, actually
langdon: I would love to hear how I helped from here
mel: dr. collins asked me afterward if I'd had a case like that with you
mel: I have no idea what I did or said to make her ask, but she said she would've sworn you were there if she hadn't known better
langdon: is that a good thing or a bad thing?
mel: seemed good
mel: she told robby I'd done a great job later
langdon: you don't know why she thought that, though?
mel: no idea
mel: and I just said I couldn't remember whether we had
mel: anyway, we got her stable enough for surgery, and it seems like she'll be okay
langdon: huh.
mel: does that make you feel better or worse?
langdon: both, but it doesn't matter
langdon: that kid's going to be okay because of you
mel: that kid is, yeah
mel: fuck, I can't think about this
mel: and there was this woman who dana was in with for more than two hours
mel: I examined her and it was just
langdon: well, I'm happy to be a friendly voice when you finish.
langdon: becca with you tonight?
mel: no
langdon: if you want to upgrade that to seeing a friendly face, you're welcome to come by
mel: it's okay
mel: I think I'm probably going to spend awhile crying when I get home, to be honest
mel: or just stare at the wall for awhile
langdon: yeah, that's not great
langdon: come by here or I'll come to you, okay?
langdon: I know exactly what it's like to feel like that, and being alone makes it worse.
mel: okay.
mel: thanks.
langdon: happy to help.
langdon: I can find a couple boxes of tissues and make you dinner, if you want.
mel: that actually sounds really, really nice.
mel: I want to bleach this shift out of my mind.
langdon: that one I'm gonna have to step in on
langdon: no bleach
langdon: can you tell me why consuming bleach is bad, dr. king?
mel: I really wish you were here today
mel: you're good at making me laugh
mel: sorry - I just realized I already said that
mel: not trying to make you feel bad
mel: I'm just... I don't know. I don't even know what I'm saying.
langdon: I didn't take it that way
langdon: can you take a few minutes?
mel: there's a lot to do.
langdon: great. you can't do it if you're not focused.
langdon: unless there's someone in imminent danger of dying who needs your help, ask robby or collins if you can take a quick walk to clear your head. if they can spare you, go sit in the park across the street for five minutes.
langdon: no using your phone - just sit there and breathe.
langdon: robby and collins aren't going to hold it against you if you need a few minutes to clear your head.
langdon: knowing when to step away for a breather is a sign of good self awareness, not weakness.
mel: other people don't need to.
langdon: you'd be surprised
langdon: and most people who don't learn when their minds need a quick reset either burn out or kill someone.
mel: okay.
mel: okay.
langdon: I'm serious. go.
mel: okay.
Today at 4:21 PM langdon: did you take the breather?
mel: yeah.
mel: robby said what you did about self-awareness
mel: basically word for word
langdon: I did learn it somewhere
langdon: any better?
mel: yeah.
mel: a lot better.
mel: I mean, still horrible, but I don't feel like I'm about to break down, and thinking doesn't feel like I'm swimming through molasses.
langdon: good.
langdon: you really are needed, mel. don't forget that.
mel: thanks for talking me down.
langdon: happy to help.
mel: I still feel like I need a hug, though.
langdon: so ask someone for a hug. mckay or mohan around?
mel: yes, but I don't really like being touched.
mel: I know that doesn't make sense.
langdon: doesn't have to
langdon: if for some reason I'm more acceptable than them and you still want a hug when you get here, I'll give you a hug, okay?
mel: yeah.
mel: this is a really rough day.
langdon: it sounds it.
mel: thanks.
mel: you're sure you don't mind me showing up?
langdon: I invited you.
Today at 6:49 PM mel: is it still okay if I come by?
langdon: this food isn't going to eat itself.
langdon: and if you don't come here, I'm showing up at your door to make sure you're okay.
mel: thanks.
mel: I'm on my way.
langdon: drive safe.
mel: here
langdon: out in a sec
mel: I definitely need a hug
langdon: well, you've got two options
langdon: I won't be offended if you choose the dog instead of me