Work Text:
There are certain moments while working in the Pitt that grasp your attention with such an intensity, nothing else matters. Most of these moments are followed with a flood of adrenaline, eventual exhaustion and the kind of ache you don’t just shake off – a chilling reminder of that day on the 4th that left everyone involved broken and scrambling for comfort. These moments are what place the kind of hyper aware fear into the brain of every worker there – the kind or awareness that makes sure Dana’s voice is heard, no matter the level she speaks or words she says - just in case.
While he may not be as fine tuned into her voice as he used to be, Frank found himself glad he was still on a similar wavelength as he was 10 months ago, when he catches his back straightening at the strain in her voice. When a quick, courtesy glance around the drawn curtain shows he has the time to finish treating his patient he, with an ear out for any commotion, continues with the job at hand. With the continuous motion of bandaging the bored chefs’ arm being an autonomous reflex, Frank sinks into that small part of his brain that has been screaming at him all week - the voice that has been there since Robby said those words on the roof,
‘Will they want me to help? Will they even LET me help?’
He hasn’t been blind to the distrust others have sent his way, hell he expected it from most, but he still held some confidence - some small belief - that he could earn back the trust of those he considered his family not even a year ago. However, the longer he spent back in the place he used to see as a second home, the more he recognised that those around him no longer saw him as worth their time. His final straw were the words that had rung in his ears since the rough winds carried them there and so, he changed.
Jokes he held between friends replaced by a passing nod, questions on the lives of those he once cherished soon wilted into a simple wave at the end of a shift and, lengthy discussions on his patients care became clipped and cold reports – Frank became Dr. Langdon at the flip of a hat – and he was sure nobody had noticed.
That coldness, the loss of his family, is why he had plans. What used to be a disgustingly pathetic hope of staying at The Pitt had become timelines and spreadsheets of how soon he could transfer once his year was up – it’s not like he had a wife anymore to convince him otherwise. Better to prepare for the inevitable he would tell himself - there was nothing left within these bare walls, and yet, no matter how hard he tried to convince himself otherwise, he couldn’t ignore the one reason he had not already left with his tail between his legs. No matter how hard he tried to detach himself from this place, a singular blonde braid kept him rooted in place.
Realising he had gotten lost in thought again, and with an almost cartoonish shake of his head, Frank left his now bandaged up patient to the discharge nurse and stepped around the curtain, making his way the closest gloves bin. As he made the short walk, Frank tried to see what had made Dana sound as stressed as she did with what he hoped were unseen, unassuming glances around but found nothing. No-one was rushing to clear rooms, no warnings of an incoming trauma, not even a downturned brow. Had Frank been wrong? Had he lost his intuition? The confusion followed him to the bin closest to the doors, plaguing his mind as he removed his gloves.
With a resigned sigh and a final look around, Frank took a step towards the board to find a new patient, when he paused - something seemed familiar. Settling into a more relaxed pose, he scanned the room again - taking extra care at those in the chairs - thinking he may have caught sight of a returning patient - when he saw it. That brown ponytail – he knew that ponytail and the curled-up body it belonged to. Dread flooded through his veins and, before Frank knew what he was doing, he was marching towards where Dana stood as he yelled her name. He knew he was gathering the type of attention he had been hoping to never gain again but this, this was worth all the looks he would get.
As he made the final few steps towards the board, he recognised the shocked look on the Charge Nurses face and for a small second, felt guilt weasel its way into his brain. If that was who he thought it was curled into themselves on that chair however, he needed to get her into a comfortable room and ensure she was cared for immediately, and so he stomped that guilt down. With a final acknowledgement that he was about to make the type of scene he has been avoiding, Frank spoke with a confidence he had lacked for days, “Dana, please tell me that is not Rebecca King sat in chairs out there.”
Frank recognised a minute too late that he had failed to control his volume when eyes whipped to the sound and yet, for the first time in a long while, he refused to feel shame. Bouncing on his feet, staring at the face in front of him, he huffed at the lack of response. This was important. She was family.
Recognising his panic, and running a tired hand over her face, Dana gave him a small smile before she responded, “She gave her name at the desk and asked for Mel - but now won’t do anything until she is here. Robby tried to get her to come through but the minute he grabbed her hand she seemed to shut down. I don’t know what to do kid, she has been curled up in that chair since.”
Ideas flashed through his brain as took in the information given. Frank wouldn’t say he knew exactly what to do here but, one thing he does know is whatever Robby had done had not helped at all. After rehab, Frank had more time on his hands than he ever had before and found himself looking back at his final shift. Strangely it was not Santos or being kicked out that had stuck his thoughts; instead, it was the way Dr. King had connected with and treated a patient that he had failed to understand. With that in mind, he had taken the months he had and read reports, first hand accounts and even reddit posts on how to better treat neurodivergent patients within the nightmare that is the ER.
As his frantic eyes scanned the rooms available, mind rushing to put together a plan, Dana continued with a worried glance at the chairs, “Dr. King’s deposition is today, and we have no idea how long she’ll be. I am out of ideas until then – I have no idea what to do but wait.”
Frank took in Becca’s body language as a plan clicked in his head. This he could handle if they had somewhere quiet to move her to. Somewhere like.. “I need you to clear and prepare room 2 for me. Can you take any unneeded machines and equipment out, close the curtains and turn off the lights.”, starting to make his way over to Becca, he twisted his body to continue listing what he needed done to a silent Dana, “Can you also take the paper cover from the bed and remove any strong-smelling antiseptic? Just trust me on this. Please.”
Without waiting for confirmation, and placing his trust in Dana’s capable hands, Frank spins back around and makes his way towards the woman he knows so much about and yet, has never met. Nerves twist in his stomach but he quickly pushes them to one side, he needs to do this correctly and hopefully, get Becca in a space where she can be at least the smallest bit more comfortable. Stopping at the doors between them, Dr. Frank Langdon takes a large breath, straightens his spine and prepares for whatever this situation will throw at him.
The door opens to a gentle push and Frank scans the room before him with a clinical view. The lights are as bright as always, and the AC unit is still emitting that slight squeak underneath the usual hum. While the nose levels are quiet in comparison to the usual, he notices a couple arguing in the corner as a baby fusses a few chairs away and instantly, he knows that won’t be helping to calm Becca. His sweep of the room ends on her.
Becca is curled around her knees in one of the chairs closest to his place at the doors (furthest away from the couple he notes), with her backpack thrown on the floor in front of her. From what little he can see, her breathing is laboured - he takes a second to hope that it is due to her surroundings, not whatever has brought her to the ER. With no obvious injuries within his view, a small knot loosens in his throat as relief floods his system.
Carefully, Frank makes his way over to where she is and crouches a step away from her chair, briefly grimacing as his back twinges on the way down. Taking a pack of disposable ear plugs from his scrubs pocket, and leaving his hands in clear view on his knees, he finally attempts to draw her attention with a quiet clear of his throat, “Rebecca King?”
Bleary and pain glazed eyes squint up at him from where her head rests between her knees. He watches as she scans the space behind him and sees the clear frustration that fills her features when she clocks the lack of her sister. With what he hopes is a reassuring smile, Frank continues to speak in a low tone, “My name is Dr. Frank Langdon. I have been told you don’t want to move until Dr. King is here but, I am going to be fully honest with you, no one knows how long she will be.”
A frown covers her face as she looks past his shoulder at the room they are in – likely mourning the fact she will be spending longer than she wants in there. Emboldened by her clear distaste for the room, he continues, “I know your sister well, and I know Mel would hate for you to be stuck here so, I wanted to offer you some options while we wait for her. How does that sound?”
With bated breath, Frank waits for a response as he scans the bag in front of them. Movement in front of him has him returning his gaze to Becca, who he finds to be staring somewhere above his eyebrow as she gives a small nod for him to continue, “Okay so, option 1 is I give you these earplugs in my hand and find my sunglasses from my locker so you are more comfortable in here while we wait for your sister.”, his straightforward acknowledgement of the rooms noise levels has her openly focussing more on what he has to say – emboldened he continues, “Option 2 – the better option in my opinion – is I help you through those doors behind me to your own room which I have prepared to be as dark and quiet as I can get it. What do you think you’d prefer?”
The silence that follows the little speech is one he would normally fill with chatter but for now - he waits, looking at the keychains on her bag with a smile as Becca thinks about what he said. After a minute or two, he hears her shuffle forward as she speaks, “Can I have the earplugs and the room?”
Holding the earplugs towards her with a nod and a smile, Frank waits for her to take them before standing with a grunt, collecting her bag as he goes. Once he sees that Becca has the earplugs firmly in her ears and, she returns his thumbs up, he herds her through the doors and towards room 2 – acting as a barrier between her and the chaos of the Pitt as they go.
Opening the door quickly, he can’t help but let out a sigh of relief when he sees that Dana followed his instructions exactly. Moving the fresh bottle of water to a stool along with her bag, Frank smiles at the King sister in front of him in what he hopes is in a reassuring look, as she gingerly lifts herself to sit on the bed, “I am going to leave you in here for a minute to relax while I try to get an ETA on Dr. King - is there anything you need before I go?”
With a firm shake of her head, Becca dismisses him and closes her eyes, allowing Frank to step out. Taking a large breath, he begins his walk back to the desks as he thinks about the last few minutes. If what Dana said is true about Becca’s reaction to Robby, that means the work he put in to be a better Dr to those who need extra adjustments has worked. With a small smile on his face, Frank looks up and immediately spots a familiar blonde braid heading in the same direction and, finds himself speeding up as he grows nearer. Hopefully, with Mel back and Becca calmer, they can figure out why she is here and get a treatment plan in place.
As he grows closer, Frank spots the set of Mel’s shoulders and knows that the deposition has affected her more than people expected. He hates that what he has to say will make it worse but, hopes that seeing her sister will also bring some joy - especially as Frank is quite certain that nothing life threatening has brought the other King sister in. Catching her eye, he waves her closer and begins speaking once he knows she is within earshot, “Dr. King there is a patient requesting you in –“
He catches a flash of confusion in her eyes as he begins but, is stopped abruptly by a hand on his shoulder and a rough, low clear of a throat behind him. Freezing under the hand, Frank can do nothing but beg for this to be brief but, Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch answers to no-one, “I thought I made it quite clear you were not to take your own cases - and yet, I have been informed you have filled room 2.”
Franks eyes slide shut in embarrassment as others glance towards them and for a small, inconceivable moment, he wants nothing more than to disappear. However, as his eyes open again, prepared to take whatever is thrown his way, the sight of Mel in front of him has him squaring his shoulders in defence. Nothing Robby could say would make him second guess his decision to help Rebecca King and so, preparing for battle, he begins to speak, “I have not taken a random patient. I have taken an obviously overwhelmed Rebecca King from chairs, and brought her into a controlled environment so she could destress before something causes her to meltdown – something I was told you failed to do.”
The anger in his voice carried through the ER and for a split second, silence was all he could hear past the ringing in his ears. It isn’t until a small hand finds his elbow that he recognised what he said, eyes snapping towards the panicked look on Mel’s face, “Becca is here? Is she okay?”
Her voice shook, eyes scanning the beds around them – looking for a glimpse of her sister and yet, before he could answer he was interrupted once again, “I will take your sisters case Dr. King, I am sure you will want the sharpest mind on her case.”
Frank felt his shoulders rise to his ears to hide from his shame, doubt at his skills as a Dr causing his hands to shake. Preparing for the worst, he waited for Mel to agree to Robby’s offer and leave him to his self-hatred.
Instead, an angry scoff reverberated around the ER like a gun shot, his eyes flying open at the sound. Still standing in front of him, her hand cradling his elbow – Melissa King’s face had transformed to the kind of rage no-one could miss. She raises to her full height, chin high in defiance, all while sending a death glare that holds no mistake over his shoulder. When she speaks, it is in a low and clear tone, her rage curling around the words,
“I believe I was asking Dr. Langdon about my sister. From what I understand you were unable to do something as simple as getting her into a room and so, I am sure you understand why I am under the belief that Dr. Langdon is in fact the sharpest mind here for Becca’s care.”, huffing and shaking her head, Mel continues to stare past Frank, unblinking as she continues, “If you attempt to go against my explicit decision on my sisters’ care, I will not hesitate to take you to court as I am her main career, as well as filing a mistreatment case against you with HR around your treatment of Dr. Langdon. Am I clear?”
In the silence that follows Frank can do nothing but gape at the woman before him. While he had resigned himself to the knowledge that she was the only reason he had stayed in The Pitt since Robby had made his opinions known, he had never thought about if she had picked up on the way he was being treated. He especially did not expect her to go against their superior for something as small as him and his feelings - he could do nothing but try to calm her down in his shock, “Mel, it’s fine. I fucked up okay? I only need to last until my year is up and then I am leaving okay? You don’t need to make yourself the odd one out to defend me, please it’s okay. It’s okay.”
Frank barley heard the gasps from behind him, focusing only on the upset that flew over Mel’s features. For a small fleeting second, Frank genuinely believed he had gotten through to her and made her realise just how unworthy he is of her defence and mourned the loss of her trust. He loathed the idea that Mel would finally see the pain he had caused, but he would rather loose her than drag her down with him - what he didn’t expect was for her to spin on her heel back towards the person behind him, moving in front of him in a seamless and protective move. As she now stood between himself and Robby, he notices her hands clench at her sides but, before he can ask if she is okay, she begins to speak once more, “Dr. Robinavitch, you – as many people in our field of work do – keep up with recent reports and statistics. Meaning you have a broad awareness of what we can come across while working with our patients, correct?”
Ignoring the worried glances he sees Dana send his way, Frank catches the confused nod Robby gives to Mel from over her head, “So, you are aware that addiction is a neurological disorder that can affect anyone, including around 10-12% of medical professionals within the US. Yet you take this knowledge, and you take someone who is getting help for their accidental addiction and you ostracise them. You refuse to let them do their job due to your own emotions and instead, get some perverted joy out of beating them down.”
The silence in The Pitt means everyone is listening and yet, Mel does not let this stop her – speaking over Robby as he attempts to answer, “Instead of just sticking to the favouritism - that everyone sees by the way – you have also decided to take a man, a man who has done nothing but allow your disgusting behaviour, a man who has lost everything due to his addiction and still managed to build himself and his life back up, a man you put in the work to be a better Dr and a better friend - you have taken that man and decided to see how far you can push until you end up pushing him off the roof.”
The flinch that goes through Robby’s body speaks for itself as he stares down at the woman before him. Trying to stop her, Frank tries to grab Mel’s shoulder but freezes when he sees the tears in her eyes. Before he can recover, she takes a steadying breath and continues, “Did you even check on him while he was in recovery? Have you noticed the lack of ring on his finger since he came back? Have you even recognised that his addiction came from the lack of support and security this hospital gives to its staff – something you are always fighting for and yet, you decide to ignore the issues that comes from it. Did you even notice the way he has shut himself away for weeks now, becoming a shell of who he is because of what you said to him up on that roof?”, with a small shake of her head and a final scoff she looks away, “No, you haven’t, because you are a shit friend and an even worse leader. If Frank leaves, I go with him.”
The ensuing silence is sickening, no-one knowing what to say. As that silence stretches on, Frank notices Mel sink into herself, recognising all the eyes now turned their way and with brief pause, he realises what he needs to do. With a small tap on her elbow, and a throat clear, he brings up what inadvertently started this whole mess, “I left Becca in room 2 to decompress while I came to find you. I am sure she has had enough time now.”
Mel’s eyes harden with determination as she takes in what he said. Grabbing his wrist, she begins to stalk towards the room her sister is in, stopping briefly next to the body of their stunned superior to speak in a clipped and authoritative tone, “Dr. Langdon will be taking my sister’s case.”, with a final nod towards Dana, she pushes through the gathered audience and goes straight to her sister’s door, knocking softly before asking Frank to wait outside for a few minutes.
As he takes the given minutes to collect his thoughts, his heart jumping at how strongly Mel defended him, he can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. A quick look behind him shows Robby holding his head in his hands as he leans against the side of a shocked Dana, giving her a brief nod as they lock eyes. He had never expected someone to defend him but, the fact it was Mel makes him smile softly at himself before he prepares to enter the room.
Quietly slipping through the door before him, Frank spots Mel perched on a spare stool next to the bed, pinkie finger entwined with Becca’s as they giggle at something he must have missed. After allowing the sisters an extra moment while putting on his gloves, he finally clears his throat, smiling sheepishly at having to interrupt, “Hi Becca, it looks like the room has helped while I found Mel. Sadly, your sister can’t treat you as you are family so, she has asked me to treat you under her watchful eye.”, winking at Becca, he hears a giggle coming from the stool beside them and shoots an amused look Mel’s way as he continues, “Let’s get to business then, what brings you to our overwhelming ER?”
Frank nods clearly as Becca begins to explain the pain she has, noting what he can and desperately ignoring the feeling of eyes on him that he knows are coming from the stool next to them. After asking a few more questions - and ordering a urine test to be sure - he takes off his gloves as he looks at the sisters before him, “Okay so, I am quite certain you have a UTI that went unnoticed until now. We need to make sure with the test I ordered but until then, I am going to suggest rest and for you to drink some water.”
He watches as Becca pulls a face and stares at the bottle he points at with a disgusted grimace, “I hate water.”, a laugh forces its way out of his mouth at the pure distain in her voice and smiles as she looks back his way, “Sadly, you need it if you don’t want this to happen again. Maybe try some flavourings you can add? For now though – I am going to leave you here while we wait for your results. Mel, are you staying here?”
Looking towards her, Frank sees her trepidation at leaving her sister behind, and he goes to suggest she clocks out, before he is interrupted by a sly voice from the bed, “No! She will go with you.”, turning with a laugh, Frank listens to the shuffle of Mel standing behind him and, with a final wave towards the second-best King sister he knows, he follows that blonde braid out of the door.
Gently closing the door behind him, Frank smiles at Mel as they lean against the wall close by. With the fear of Becca’s health out of the way, both certain she has a nasty but treatable UTI, they can finally breath a sigh of relief, and relax for what feels like the first time all day. Tilting his head down to catch her eyes, Frank can’t help but think back to how confidently she defended him and, the unshakable belief she holds in him that was clear through her words. A disbelieving hum passes through his lips before he speaks quietly into the space between them, “While I appreciate what you did, you didn’t need to defend me Mel, I’m not sure I deserve it.”
Steely eyes meet his, the concern in her features from his admission settling into grim determination, “You deserve more than my words could ever give you. How Robby is treating you is not okay Frank, especially now it is driving you to leave. Frankly, I have kept my mouth shut for way too long.”, watching as her confidence crumbles for a split second, Frank goes to respond before she holds her hand up to stop him, “While I may not be the best at social cues, I hoped I was portraying my feelings in a way you would understand. Now I am not sure you have seen my behaviour as what it is so let me say this clearly to you – I like you Frank.”
Confused and shoving his hope down, he cuts in as Mel pauses for a breath, “I like you too Mel, you are the only reason I have stayed in the Pitt for as long as I have. You are probably the most important person in my life right now past my kids.”
Mel takes a minute to answer and, for a fleeting second, he thinks he has shown his hand too early and she recognised how pathetic that sounds, “No that not what I – Frank, I mean I like you more than I have ever liked someone, and I would like to ask you out on a date if you would be interested? Romantically.”
One look at Franks face says everything. His eyes had widened into shock as a large grin splits his cheeks. His whole body begins vibrating with energy and his throat clicks as he goes to speak, laughing at the desperation he hears in his own voice, “Mel, Sweetheart, that is the best idea you have ever had. Please? I would be honoured to go on a date with you. I don’t care what we do, it doesn’t matter to me, I would be stupid to say no. I have wanted this. I didn’t know I could have this.”
A giggle gets him to focus back on the woman before him, the most beautiful blush high on her cheeks, “I’ll text you later?”, she asks as she starts to walk back to the board, flicking her eyes to the time – surprised by the amount of time they took with Becca. At Franks frantic nod, she settles herself back into being Dr. King and, as she spins back to the board she raises her voice to a beaming Frank, “Perfect! Let’s get back to work then Dr. Langdon.”
A choked laugh and frantic footsteps follow her, the newly energised man close to her heel, chuckling as he responds, “Right behind you Dr. King.”