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“Thank you so much for helping, Dr. Langdon,” Becca smiled widely as she fidgeted with her hands. “But I– have to go.”
Mel furrowed her eyebrows and questioned, “Where do you have to be? Because– okay, I might not be able to get off work until the fireworks but maybe you can stay and we can watch them from here instead?”
Becca’s nose scrunched and she squinted, preparing to say something. “I’m not watching the fireworks with you,” she said in that lighthearted tone, as if she didn’t just knock Mel’s world off-balance—more than it already had been.
“Wha– what?” Mel’s face twitched and she shook her head. Langdon looked between the sisters.
“I can’t watch the fireworks with you, I’m watching them with Adam!”
Mel’s jaw slacked open and she blinked rapidly, comprehending the information. “What? But we are supposed to watch the fireworks together?”
“No, we’re not,” Becca stated with furrowed brows, her nose scrunching again.
“What? Yes, we– what?” Mel stuttered. She crossed her arms in front of her chest, resting her hands in the crooks of her elbows. Frank desperately wanted to put a reassuring hand on her back but stopped himself, deciding it’s best to stay a supportive presence rather than interfere.
“You didn’t ask me to watch the fireworks, so I made plans with Adam.”
Mel breathed for a second, the corner of her lips twitching downward, threatening a frown. She tightened the hold on herself, making herself smaller.
“I didn’t think I had to ask… we always watch the fireworks,” she mumbled down to the ground, her shoulders falling. She looked so much smaller than she just had.
Becca scrunched her mouth to the side and smiled awkwardly. “Sorry, Mel. We can make plans for next time!”
Mel sighed, her eyes still stuck to the vinyl floor. She squeezed her arms and ran her thumb up and down her biceps.
Quietly, she nodded and breathed, “Yeah. Next time.”
Langdon watched as she squirmed uncomfortably in the position she stood in, pulling at her forearms and scratching her calf with her shoe.
“Okay, I need to go now,” Becca stood up and looked between Mel and Langdon. “Can I go?”
He looked to Mel, who seemed to be absent in the moment; she fiddled with her scrub sleeves and chewed on her lower lip.
“Yeah,” he said, still watching Mel. Then he raised his head and met Becca’s gaze. “Yes, you can go.”
“Great! Thank you Dr. Langdon and I’ll see you later Mel!” Becca waved and strolled out of the room happily, leaving Mel standing anxiously and Frank watching her.
He put a careful hand on her shoulder and led her to the bed where Becca just sat. Mel let herself be sat down, still fidgeting and watching the ground like a hawk.
Langdon crouched down in front of her and tilted his head to meet her gaze. “Hey,” he whispered and Mel met his eyes.
“We’re supposed to watch the fireworks together. We always do,” she said quietly.
“I know.”
“I didn’t think I had to ask becau… because we always watch them together.”
“I know. But Becca’s her own person, you should consider if she has any plans,” he put a careful hand on her knee.
“But it’s tradition, we always watch the fireworks together. Every year. Every fourth of July and every New Year’s Eve. We always do that,” Mel’s eyebrows twitched as she looked off into the distance, probably recalling all the times they watched the illuminations together.
“It’s always good to ask though.”
Mel didn’t respond. She pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged her legs, resting her chin on her knee. Frank stood up and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Do you need a break? I can take care of your patients,” he nodded his head once and she looked up, her nose twitching.
“No. I don’t need a break, I need to check up on Caroline, I told her I’ll be back around this time.”
Mel stood up and straightened her shirt with her hands, readying herself to walk. Langdon put himself between her and the door and she raised an eyebrow at him.
“Are you okay?” he asked and her head shook in surprise, her mouth pressing into a thin line.
“Yeah. Mhm. I’m fine. Can I go now? I need to check on Caroline, she needs a gauze change,” she stressed, pointing at the door as she bounced on the heels of her feet and pulled at the stethoscope around her neck.
Frank sighed and Mel took it as a yes, moving toward the door with quickened steps. As she reached for the doorknob she breathed out and got startled by Langdon talking again.
“Mel,” he said carefully and she paused. With stiff shoulders and her eyes glued to the busy ED outside of the door she responded.
“Mm?”
“Will you watch the fireworks with me tonight?”
Mel’s eyes widened as she turned around, facing Langdon. Her brain made sure to note the fact that he had said will you and not can you—or resorted to the rather pitiful I can watch the fireworks with you.
She stood and stared for a minute, still playing with her stethoscope. Frank waited patiently, his eyes curious and his head delicately tilted to the side. He let her take her time, and she definitely did just that.
“You– you mean that?” she asked hopefully, her eyes lighting up with the joy of a child on Christmas morning.
He nodded. “I do. Only if you want to, of course.”
Mel’s lips curled up in a smile, her eyes crinkling dramatically. She popped her lips before replying, “Mhm! Of course I want to. You’d really do that?”
“Yeah. We have to keep the tradition alive, don’t we? I know how much it means to you.”
Mel huffed happily and launched forward, wrapping her arms around Langdon and squeezing him tight. Her head rested right between his collarbones and he was afraid she’d feel his frantically beating heart just below her jawline.
He carefully placed a hand between her shoulder blades, scared to touch but so willing. His fingers curled subconsciously into her shirt, already dreading the moment they let go.
“Thank you, Dr. Langdon,” she exhaled.
“Remember, you can call me by my name—we’re friends.”
Mel pulled back and awkwardly scratched her arm, nodding quickly. “Mhm. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologise,” he smiled and she nodded again adorably. They stood in quiet, just staring, until Mel took in a sharp breath and pointed her thumb over her shoulder.
“Caroline. Gauze change. Gotta go!” she smiled with bunched-together eyebrows, creating an expression Frank couldn’t decipher. She opened the door hastily and as she was stepping out he shouted after her.
“See you tonight?”
Mel turned around while jogging toward her patient and held her hands up in two thumbs-up. “Yep!”
He smiled to himself and exhaled, readying himself to walk out the door and back into the craziness of the ED. He looked up and caught Dana’s eye by the nurse’s station. She raised her brow at him and he responded with a confused expression, before bowing his head and hurrying out the room.
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They walked in the halls of the hospital, about to check if there were any more patients to take care of at Dana’s station. As they walked, Langdon leaned down the slightest bit and whispered.
“Mel.”
Mel looked up at him and then went back to watching where she walked. “Hm?” she hummed.
“I heard some fireworks outside a few minutes ago. We can go see them now,” he said and watched Mel’s face as her brows furrowed. She stopped walking and turned to face him—he did the same.
“Now? We have patients. Mr. Hanlon needs a checkup in a few minutes, and Poppy—the little girl–”
“Don’t worry about them.”
“What?”
Frank leaned down and whispered right into Mel’s ear. “I may have slipped Whitaker some cash to take over our patients for a short bit…”
He leaned back and watched Mel’s face in awe as she laughed. “What? Are you serious?” she asked, amused. Her stethoscope hung around her neck and she grabbed it, tugging it slightly; playing with it.
“Fully serious,” he straightened himself proudly and Mel chuckled again. He looked around, checking if the coast was clear before adding, “But I didn’t pay him that much so we need to hurry a little. Come on.”
Mel grinned widely as she jogged after Langdon who’s moving like James Bond, twirling around corners like he’s an unwelcome presence in the building. He led her to a stairwell she’s never once been in—she doubted it’s widely used since it’s cold, ugly, and old.
“Shh,” he shushed as he started climbing up the stairs, Mel following close behind with an amused face and stimming fingers.
She had never sneaked off or anything similar ever, and even though it was extremely anxiety-inducing it also felt weirdly fun, the joy bubbled in her stomach and convinced her to keep on following Frank.
There was this peculiar feeling about doing something forbidden that Mel realised she surprisingly enjoyed. A lot.
After walking up a few floors Frank paused in front of a double door and turned around to face Mel. Her eyebrows shot up in question and he quietly asked, “Are you scared of heights?”
“Uh– no. I mean I don’t– I don’t think so. Why?”
“Okay, good. Come on,” he reached out his arm and held his hand in front of her, palm up. Mel looked down at it, then up at him. He nodded so delicately it was barely noticeable—but Mel noticed and put her hand in his.
Langdon pushed open the doors and led Mel outside onto the roof, her hand securely in his. Her eyes caught sight of a colourful sparkling sky and she gasped as she looked up. “Wow.”
“Do you like my special spot?” he grinned at her and she looked back at him with a smile of her own.
“The roof’s your special spot?” Mel asked with curled lips and playfully furrowed brows. Frank looked around, up at the starry sky, then back at Mel and breathed in, his breath catching in his throat.
With a dreamy smile, he breathed, “Well, it is now.”
Mel gave him a lopsided smile and a hum before returning her eyes to the illuminated sky. She watched as sprinkles of colourful fire fell from it, her eyes glittering in amazement. One firework went off near them and she flinched. Langdon immediately tilted his head in her direction, his eyes worried.
“Too loud?” he asked, his eyes dancing between hers. Mel swallowed and looked at him.
“Oh– um– no, no. It was just… that one,” she hugged herself and scratched her upper arms nervously, biting her lip.
He raised an eyebrow at her, unconvinced. As another firework went off her nails dug into her skin for a second and Langdon saw it as clear as day.
“I don’t have any headphones, I ca–”
“No. No, no. I’m– I’m okay. I’m okay with fireworks,” she tried to chuckle but it only came out as a strained breath. “Becca always has the headphones. I can watch without them. I just had a stressful day, that’s all.”
“We can go back inside if you want,” he said calmly and she frowned, her eyebrows bunching together like they always do when she gets confused.
“No I wanna stay and watch the fireworks,” she shook her head, returning her gaze to the shining sky. Frank noticed that her nails were still scratching at her arms.
“I could cover your ears if you’d like,” he offered, blood rushing into his ears as he feared he'd come on too strong. Mel turned her head, her eyebrows quirked and eyes wide.
When she didn’t answer after staring for a few seconds Langdon cocked his head and carefully spoke. “Mel?”
“Hm?” her head twitched to the side and her eyebrows shot up, listening. “Oh! Yes– yeah, I’d– yeah!” she nodded frantically.
“Okay,” he smiled and stepped closer, raising his hands ready to cup her ears, but stopping a few inches from them. “This okay?”
“Mhm,” Mel nodded and watched the sky. Frank cupped his hands over her ears and he felt her exhale and relax beside him. Her shoulders loosened and her hands dropped the grip around her upper arms, landing along her sides.
Mel’s breathing slowed and she watched the fireworks with an awestruck expression. She observed every glimmering sparkle on the sky, and whenever she saw a launching firework she would guess how far up it would go before it eventually sprouted into colourful embers. While she watched the adorned night sky Frank watched her face with mirroring reverence.
His fingers twitched by her hair as he fought tooth and nail with his own mind not to cradle her head more lovingly—to card his fingers through her hair. Mel was warm under his touch, her skin so delicate it felt like silk to the touch.
She pointed to the sky and Langdon looked to where she pointed, the remains of multiple fireworks scattered down the freckled ether. She hummed and he felt the vibration tickle his fingers and run through his veins right up to his racing heart.
“That pink one was so pretty,” she said, eyes still watching the show. Her gaze was darting around, trying to get a look of every ember, and her mouth was hanging slightly open in amazement.
Frank nodded, hoping she caught it in her peripheral vision; he was too breathless to speak. Mel’s face illuminated by the colourful blasts was enough to make Frank feel like he’d used up all the oxygen in the atmosphere.
Another blast echoed through the city and Mel gasped softly in wonder, placing one hand to her chest. Langdon smiled softly at her fascination—the way her eyes glittered wide, the way her mouth hung open yet still stayed curled upward, the way she clutched her chest like the fireworks took her breath away.
She looked beautiful; so carefree, so happy, so right. Langdon would watch her like this forever if he could, he could stay in this moment until the end of time. The mere blessing of being in Mel’s presence, the way he is touching her—almost able to feel her heartbeat beneath his fingertips, the pure joy written on her face… he was given more than he dared to dream of.
Mel bunched up her shoulders as another big firework went off, a soft gasp leaving her lips—Frank’s eyes dropped to them for a split second.
“So beautiful,” she hummed to herself, although it was loud enough for him to hear. She watched the sky and didn’t notice as his eyes ran over her face, his lips curling into a smile while his brows told a more self-pitying story.
“Yeah,” he breathed out and made sure she didn’t hear, because if she turned to him she would see his eyes glued to her in a look that was nothing short of love. His breath hitched as she smiled.
“So beautiful,” he repeated, his fingers twitching by her hair. Her head snapped to him and her eyes widened when they met his. Her face quickly softened as she turned to fully face him, his hands still cradling her ears carefully.
Thank you, she mouthed and he chuckled.
“I can hear you,” he said with his voice raised a twinge louder than normal for her to hear clearly.
“Oh,” she flushed and huffed out a laugh. She nodded, “Right.”
They stood and stared at each other again, the fireworks lighting up their faces, both of their eyes glittering. Langdon felt so selfish still holding her ears, but he knew she needed it and Mel’s needs always surpassed his selfishness.
“Do you think Becca’s still with them? I should call her,” Mel looked down and slipped out of Frank’s grasp—he let her. She dug in her pockets for her phone.
“I’m sure Becca’s fine,” he nodded as Mel stood with her arms awkwardly dangling by her sides, her shoulders raised halfway to her ears.
“I know but what if Adam’s headphones aren’t working– or she loses them and gets lost? Do you think she even liked the fireworks? What if she didn’t like them and wants to go home, I should–”
“Melissa,” Langdon raised his brows at her and she paused, looking at him with wide eyes and a tight expression. “Becca is fine.”
“Mm,” she bit her lips and looked off to the side. Then, she mumbled, “You don’t know that. I haven’t checked on her in, like, ten minutes. I don’t know where she might be.”
“You’re worried, I know. But look, Becca’s fine, she knows this Adam and didn’t you say they were going with his parents too?”
“Yeah, but–”
“Take a break, Mel. Right now is about you, okay? This moment, right now, is about you.”
Mel nodded with worried eyebrows and pursed lips, her eyes darting around. After a moment of silent breathing, she looked up at Frank again. Her lips parted as if she was about to say something but he cut her off before she even started.
“Please, Mel. This isn’t about Becca, or Adam, or Caroline who needs a gauze change—this is about you. Only you.”
Something flashed across Mel’s face but before Langdon could decipher it she had pressed her lips to his in a passionate closed-mouth kiss. It was quick, sweet, soft, and he needed more as fast as possible.
Mel pulled away with a horrified expression, “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Dr. Langdon! I don’t know– I–”
Frank leaned into her space and kissed her again, pulling away just as quick as she did. He met Mel’s wide eyes with a lopsided grin. Mel’s eyes flashed between his own, a mist of puzzlement clouding them.
“Only you,” Langdon whispered before leaning closer and quirking a brow, asking for permission. His nonverbal question was answered with a set of lips on his and fingers curled into his scrub shirt.
He kissed Mel as the fireworks went off in the background and he thanked every possible decision that got him there. His hand cupped the back of her head, and the other slid around her waist, pressing them together. Mel tasted like all the fire the embers in the night sky didn’t possess. She tasted like all those silent looks from across the room, she tasted like all the unspoken words, she tasted like all the lingering touches. Frank could drown in her taste; her lips slotting perfectly with his own, her tongue caressing him like it already knew every crevice of his soul.
He held her tightly as she slipped her arms around his neck, smiling into the kiss. She pecked his top lip, then his cupid's bow, and he quickly reclaimed her lips, already missing the taste.
His heart surged with the love he had for this girl, every nerve in his body firing, mimicking the fireworks glittering above their heads. Mel twitched when another particularly loud firework went off and Frank wordlessly cradled her head with both of his hands, making sure to cover her ears again. She thanked him with a deeper kiss and a moan that he gladly swallowed with all he had.
They pulled back, panting, and Frank started peppering slow soft kisses around Mel’s mouth. She returned them with a delicacy only she could possess and he felt drunk on that treatment he received—he needed more. He needed forever.
He leaned his forehead on hers and kissed the tip of Mel’s nose, making her smile. He returned the smile eagerly and then exhaled in annoyance.
“What?” Mel asked as Langdon caressed her cheekbones with his thumbs. He looked between her eyes and kissed her lips once more before answering.
“Whitaker will drain my savings,” he sighed and Mel raised an eyebrow.
“Why? Is he–”
Mel was cut off by strong arms pulling her in again and kissing her with the force of years long devotion. She yelped before humming into Frank’s mouth and melting in his arms again. Between kisses, he mumbled.
“Because I’m gonna be here way longer than I intended. I need more time with you.”
“Mhm,” Mel giggled and glanced sideways at the fireworks that had calmed down a little now. She pulled back and smiled at him, challenging. “Dreamy fireworks.”
Langdon raised his eyebrows, and then realisation set in that she had noticed that he was staring at her instead of the fireworks earlier. So, he scoffed with a grin on his face and before leaning in to kiss her again, he whispered:
“So dreamy.”