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Trinity Santos knew she didn’t trust easily. Especially men, especially older men, especially older men in a position of authority over her. Dr. Robby had shown her, way back on her first shift, that he wasn’t one to dismiss her concerns. He’d kicked Langdon right out, and sure, he’d let him come back for the MSI, but those were extenuating circumstances. He’d believed Santos when she told him something was up. It was important to her. Robby had shot up her list of trusted adults. They’d grown close, in the last ten months, sharing gossip and jokes and checking in with each other. She really felt like he understood her, like he had her back.
Which is why she was so upset, when he’d laid into her. She’d been venting about Langdon, since Garcia had been so fucking pissy about it, and there were only so many people she could talk to. She’d been venting about everything, really, Al-Hashimi and Langdon and Garcia and the cyber attack and her charting, and he’d just snapped. He’d called her whiney and childish, as well as a liability, he’d told her he was done coddling her ‘bullshit’, that she could get a therapist or ‘fuck off to surgery, where she wouldn’t be his problem.’ It was harsh, embarrassing, and incredibly public. And she’d just stood there. She felt like a child being scolded, she felt exactly as she had ten months ago when Langdon had laid into her, except worse. Because she’d only met Langdon that day, and she didn’t hold much stock in his opinion. This was Robby. When he’d finally finished, the silence in the ER was incredible. It felt like every machine went silent, patients held their breaths, and every pair of eyes was on her. And she was holding back tears. She didn’t even reply, she just turned around and left. Walked away. Right out the doors into the waiting room and up the stairs, where she’d found Whitaker after her first shift had ended. She wanted to be alone.
Which, of course, meant she’d been followed. She could hear feet behind her, and she turned her back on the door before it could open. The tears were falling now, and she didn’t need anyone to see them.
“Fuck off, Huckleberry.” She said. Whitaker wanted so badly to help everyone, all the time, he was the only person who’d follow her here.
“Uh,” The voice said, and it was wrong. Too deep, coming from too high up to be Whitakers mouth speaking the words, too unsure of how she’d react.
“Fuck off.” She said, turning viciously towards Langdon. Why would he be here. Why would he follow her. She should kill him, bash his skull in with a bedpan, or something.
“I know you don’t want to see me,” He said, voice quiet and hands up in front of him.
“Then why don’t you fuck. off.” She all but growled at him. She didn’t want him here. She didn’t want him here in the hospital, let alone here in the room she was crying in. The tears had stopped, at least, her wet face hot with anger instead.
“I’m sorry,” He said. She doesn’t think she’s ever rolled her eyes so hard, and she crossed her arms defensively across her chest. She wanted him to go away. “The way Robby spoke to you was wrong.”
“That’s not-“ She started, but he just kept speaking. She hated when he spoke over her.
“And so was the way I spoke to you last year,” He took one step closer to her, and she took two steps back. He could apologize all he wanted, he wasn’t touching her. He wasn’t allowed. “It never should have happened. It was inappropriate and cruel. There were a lot of reasons it happened, and none of them were about you.”
“Yea, I kind of figured.” She huffed. He was quiet, standing across the room from her.
“You got me the help I needed.” He said, like admitting it was painful. “I was trying to wean myself off. And I did a shit job. I needed professional help, and I was too scared to get it.” She listened to him talk, avoiding his eyes, hating the vulnerability he was showing her. She hated how genuine he was being, how gently he was speaking.
“Yea, well, I can see why you didn’t want to talk to Robby about it.” She said. He chuckled, dry and sarcastic sounding.
“He can be unforgiving.” He said, the same dry sarcasm in his words.
“It’s your fault he’s all pissed off today.” She said, eyes still glued to the floor.
“Yea.” He said, and he sounded sad. She didn’t feel bad. Fuck this guy, and his pity party parade. “Dana didn’t mention he planned a three month sabbatical to avoid me, when she asked me to come in,” He said, crossing his arms over his chest, mirroring her. Just two sarcastic assholes trying to have a conversation. “I was supposed to be at a picnic seeing my kids.” He said.
“Yea that sucks.” It came out more sarcastic than she’d meant it. He nodded anyway.
“Anyway. I’m sorry. For all of the ways I hurt you, and for putting Robby in such a shit mood. All of it.” He ducked his head, trying to make eye contact with her.
“Whatever. It’s not like I really gave a shit.” She said, avoiding his eyes, “Only knew you one day, anyway.” She let her eyes flick up to meet his, and he held them with such an intensity she felt like she might throw up. “Not like it was personal.” She finished,
Just then, the door slammed open behind them, and Whitaker stood in the hall.
“Sorry,” He said, seeing Langdon in the room, “Are you… okay ?” He asked, eyes darting nervously between the two, their arms crossed in identical posture. Santos smirked at him.
“Late to the party, Huckleberry.” She said, walking towards him. clapping a hand on Langdon’s back as she passed him, “My new best friend cheered me up.” She gave a thumbs up, before leaving the room, pushing past Whitaker as she went. Both men stared after her.
“What’d you say to her ?” Whitaker asked, in disbelief.
“Sorry.” Langdon said, shrugging his shoulders.
“About the… drugs ?” Whitaker asked. The tension was thicker now than it had been with Santos, somehow.
“Yea.” He nodded. “And Robby.” Langdon added on. Whitaker nodded, staring into the space between them.
“He asked me to house sit for him.” Whitaker said. Langdon nodded. “She’s not gonna be happy.” He continued.
“Why ?” Langdon asked, there was some context he was missing, he could tell.
“We’re roommates.” Whitaker said.
“Oh.” Langdon said.
“Yea.” Whitaker said.
“Good luck.” Langdon clapped a hand on Whitaker's back, before heading back down to the ER.