Chapter Text
The rain in Pittsburgh was the kind that didn't just fall; it assaulted. It was a cold, relentless downpour that turned the hospital parking lot into a shallow river, reflecting the harsh orange glow of the sodium-vapor lights. Mel stood beside her car, still in the scrubs from a brutal twelve-hour shift, the fabric soaked through and clinging uncomfortably. No jacket, no umbrella. Just Mel and a very, very flat tire.
The sound of the rain hitting the asphalt was almost deafening. Water streamed down her face, and her scrubs felt heavy and cold. Mel stared at the completely deflated front tire, knowing her spare was probably just as bad.
Frank pulled his old pickup truck into the spot beside hers, window already rolled down. It’s like you carry bad luck with you. He stepped out into the rain, not even bothering with a jacket. “Flat?”
Mel mutters “it’s just my luck, especially on a day like this.”
Frank Langdon was a sight She had gotten used to over the past few months. Tall, steady, with kind eyes that had seen too much. He ran a hand through his rain-slicked hair, already getting soaked himself.
He kicks the tire. “Yep. That's flat alright. Spare any good?” Mel shakes her head. “I used the spare the last time this happened…and i um, i never got round to replacing it.”
Frank gave a soft, understanding chuckle, the sound almost lost in the drumming rain. He stood up, wiping his wet hands on his jeans. “Pop the trunk. I'll see if it’s any better .”
He waited patiently as she fumbled with her keys, the cold metal slippery in her hand. When the trunk lid swung open, he leaned in, moving a worn-out duffel bag and a box of old medical textbooks aside.
He pulled out the spare and started inspecting it “Well, it's got air in it. That's a start. Got a jack?”
She looked at him blankly “a what?”
Frank just shook his head, a small, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips as he looked from the spare tire in his hand back to Mel.
“The thing that lifts the car up. Don't worry about it. Mine's in the truck.”
He placed the spare on the wet ground and walked back to his pickup, the rain seeming to part for him just a little. He returned a moment later with a heavy-looking hydraulic jack and a lug wrench.
He got down and started kneeling on the soaked asphalt “You might wanna stand back under the awning. No point in both of us getting pneumonia.”
Mel moved back under the awning by the staff entrance “thanks frank, this means a lot”
Frank just gave a slight nod, already focused on positioning the jack under the car's frame. The rain poured down, but he worked with a quiet, efficient rhythm, the metallic clinks of the wrench barely audible over the storm.
“Shouldn't take long. Just gotta get this bolt loose...” He wrestled with one of the lug nuts, his shoulders tense with effort. After a moment, it gave way with a sharp crack. “There we go.” He quickly removed the flat tire, his movements sure and practiced despite the miserable conditions. He rolled the spare into place and began securing it.
“Almost done. You got a big day tomorrow?”
Mel shakes her head, trying to distract from the fact that franks hair is soaked, and the strand of hair that trinity had rightfully named his ‘slut strand’ was prominently taunting her “Day off, thankfully.”
Frank finished tightening the last lug nut, giving it a final, firm turn with the wrench before lowering the jack. The car settled onto the new tire with a soft thud. He stood up, soaked to the bone, and wiped his hands on his wet jeans again.
“There. You're all set.” gesturing to the flat tire “i can toss that in your trunk for now. But you'll need to get it patched or replaced soon. This spare's not meant for the long haul.”
He easily hefted the flat tire and stowed it in her trunk, then closed the lid with a solid thump. He stood there for a moment in the pouring rain, looking at her under the awning.
“You shouldn't drive home like that. Soaked through. You'll catch your death.” He nods towards his truck “i can give you a lift. It's warm. And dry.”
Mel shakes her head rapidly “Are you sure? I really don't want to be a bother.”
Frank shook his head, a gentle smile finally breaking through his rain-soaked features. The water dripped from his hair and ran in little rivers down his face.
“You're never a bother. C'mon.” He walks over to the passenger side of his truck and opens the door “Get in before you turn into an ice cube.”
The inside of the truck cab was indeed warm and dry, a stark contrast to the cold, wet world outside. The faint, clean scent of his soap clung to the air.
Mel reluctantly gets in the car, shivering “i really owe you one”
Frank circled the truck and got in the driver's side, shaking the rain from his hair like a wet dog before closing the door. The sound of the storm became a muted drumming on the roof.
“You don't owe me anything.” turning the key, the engine rumbling to life “Just doing what anyone would do”.
He glanced over, his expression soft in the dim light of the dashboard. He was still dripping onto the worn upholstery, but he seemed entirely unconcerned with his own discomfort.
Mel rubs her arms, trying to acclimatise to the heat “home sounds great”
Frank pulled out of the hospital parking lot, the wipers swishing back and forth against the relentless rain. The warm air from the vents began to slowly chase the chill from her bones. The quiet inside the car felt comfortable, not awkward, filled only by the sound of the storm and the truck's steady hum.
He drove with a relaxed confidence, one hand resting lightly on the wheel. The streets were mostly empty, the rain keeping sensible people indoors.
“I saw the ambulance bay was hopping around five. Sounded like a rough one.”
Mel leans back into the seat “i’m just glad it’s over and everyone’s okay”
The truck's cab is a small, warm sanctuary against the Pittsburgh downpour. The world outside is a blur of wet streets and neon signs reflected in the rain-smeared glass. Frank drives with a quiet focus, the dashboard lights casting soft shadows across his profile.
He glances over at her briefly “Yeah, I get that. Some days just take it out of you.” his voice is gentle “You should get straight into a hot shower when you get home. Warm you up from the inside out.”
He turns a corner, the wipers swishing rhythmically. The silence stretches, but it's a comfortable one, filled with the hum of the engine and the patter of rain.
Frank clears his throat softly “You know, if you ever need a hand with... car stuff... or anything else. You can always call. I don't mind.”
He says it casually, eyes fixed ahead, but there's a sincerity in his tone that cuts through the casual offer.
Mel smiles softly “i genuinely might take you up on that”
Frank's hands tighten slightly on the steering wheel, a subtle reaction to her smile. The truck rumbles through a puddle, sending a spray of water up against the windows. The warm air from the vents is finally starting to cut through the deep chill in her bones.
“Good.” a quiet, earnest note in his voice “I mean it.”
“This your block?”
He pulls over to the curb, the truck idling smoothly. The porch light of her building is a hazy beacon in the gloom.
Mel nods “yeah this is it”
Frank puts the truck in park but leaves the engine running, the wipers continuing their steady sweep. He turns slightly in his seat to face her, his expression open and warm in the dim cab light.
“I'll wait here. Make sure you get inside okay.“ Then he gestures towards her building “the steps look a little slick, be careful”
The rain hasn't let up, still sheeting down against the windshield. The warm, dry cab feels like a sanctuary and mel’s reluctant to leave.
His voice is low and gentle “It's a real soaker. Look...”
Frank hesitates for a beat, his gaze soft “I've got an umbrella in the back. Let me walk you to your door. No sense in you getting drenched all over again for ten steps.”
Without waiting for an answer, he unbuckles his seatbelt and moves to open his door, the sound of the rain growing louder for a moment. “just give me a second”
He jogs to the back of the truck, his figure blurred by the rain, and returns a moment later with a large, sturdy-looking black umbrella. He opens it with a practiced flick and comes around to your side, holding it high.
Then he opens her door “ready, mel?”
He offers his free arm, not to take hers, but as a steadying presence should she need it on the wet pavement. The umbrella creates a small, dry bubble in the storm.
She steps out of the warm truck cab and into the small dry space under the umbrella. Frank holds it steady, his shoulder brushing lightly against hers as they both start walking towards the building. The rain hammers down on the fabric above, a loud, constant drumming, but beneath it, the world is quiet and close.
He walks slowly, matching her pace “Watch your step here. The curb's a little high.”
He keeps the umbrella tilted perfectly to shield them both, though his own far shoulder is getting sprayed by the wind-driven rain. The short walk to her building's front door feels both incredibly long and entirely too short.
“there, we made it”
He lowers the umbrella, shaking the water off it before closing it. He stands there on the step below her, so they are almost eye-level. The porch light casts a soft glow, highlighting the droplets of rain clinging to his hair and the concern in his eyes.
“You get inside and get warmed up, okay?”
He doesn't immediately move to leave, just stands there, a quiet, solid presence in the stormy night.
Mel hesitates for a few seconds “do you want to maybe come in, for a coffee? just until the storm dies down it can’t be safe to drive in this”
The question hangs in the air between them, mingling with the sound of the downpour. Frank's expression shifts, a flicker of surprise followed by something warmer, softer. He glances from her face to the rain-swept street behind him, then back to her.
His voice gets a little quieter, almost hesitant “a coffee”
He runs a hand through his wet hair, making something in mel’s stomach flutter “I... yeah. Yeah, I'd like that. If you're sure.”
He steps up onto the porch properly, under the small overhang, bringing him a little closer. The air feels charged, the offer changing the quiet understanding that had settled between them.
“Lead the way. I'll shake off out here best I can. Don't want to track a river into your place.” He gives a small, self-conscious smile, looking down at his soaked jeans and shoes.
Mel fumbles for her keys “please, it’s the least i can do”
The key turns in the lock with a solid click. she pushes the door open, revealing the warm, familiar space of her apartment. A soft light from a lamp in the living room spills into the entryway. “welcome to my humble abode”