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The betting board never really mattered to Mel King.
Seeing it update every week with bets about the doctor’s personal lives, patients' medical histories, and guesses about how many codes they would get in a week never appealed to her.
The ER never stopped moving, and neither did Mel. She didn't have time to stop throughout the day and ask the security guys about the money pool or updates on who was going to win. She didn't care. And frankly… she thought it was a little mean. That's another reason she avoided it, on top of her workload and not wanting to give up her hard-earned money.
The only things she ever really heard about it were from Langdon or Samira. A few months ago, after the Fourth of July, Samira had landed herself $400 by correctly guessing how long it would be until Robby came back to the hospital ( 1 month… a lot better than they expected).
Though she didn't really like the betting board, she really liked the bright smile Mohan sported as she paraded around her wad of cash, rubbing it in the other doctors' faces. It was nice seeing her friend so happy ( especially since that was the day Robby came back).
Frank seemed to have the same ideals as Mel. It seemed as though he only checked up on the board for the sole purpose of telling Mel the updates during their shared breaks or Friday movie nights. Sure, that made her happy, but mostly because Frank was happy.
The only time she ever really noticed it was this week. When she saw her name on almost every sticky note.
*
“Dr. Santos!!” That was the first person Mel wanted to ask about the board. Though they weren't very close because of her relationship with Langdon, she knew Santos would be the one to ask.
“ Uhh, yeah? What's going on Mel?” Mel didn't really like that response, but what else was Santos supposed to say when her (second) least favorite resident runs up to her the second she steps out of the room she's in?
Now fully caught up to her, Mel asks, “ What do you know about the bet on the betting board?” Santos doesn't freeze, but she tenses the slightest bit.
“ You mean the bet I have 80 bucks on? Yeah, I’m not telling you.”
Mel huffs, “ Well, I saw my name on it and… I want to know what's going on.”
They’re stopped at a nurses' station now, Santos sitting down to probably work on more patient reports for Robby.
God, is she still behind??
“ Why don't you ask Ahmad? Or maybe go actually look at the board? Its not rocket science and I’m not losing this bet.” Santos sighs.
It's a little mean and hits a bad chord within Mel, but she's not wrong.
“ Honestly… I'm kinda scared to look at it.”
“I've literally seen you snap someones leg into place, but yeah. This is what scares you.” Sarcasm is dripping off of her words, and Mel really wishes she had asked… anyone else.
“ I’m gonna keep asking around… thanks…” Not like she really helped at all, though.
*
Mel decided her next best bet was Frank. He was her best friend in the ER, the person she spoke to and worked with the most by far, so if he knows anything, he’ll tell her.
“ Hey!” Frank looks up from his coffee on the break room table and grins at Mel. “ I thought you were standing me up for a second there.”
It's a joke. Mel knows it's a joke, but it lets the butterflies loose in her stomach. Ever since he got divorced, every other word out of his mouth gave Mel this pleasantly unpleasant feeling.
“ I could never,” she takes the seat across from him, like she does every single day. “ I just had to talk to Santos.”
His eyes narrow. “ ‘Bout what?” yep the tension is definitely still there between Langdon and Santos if she forgot to mention that before. Maybe it was a bad idea to mutter the other woman's name at all. Oh well.
“ The betting board. Which– speaking of, do you know anything about it?”
Frank leans back in his chair before squinting and replying, “ No, I’ve been crazy busy today. Why? What's going on?”
He knew that Mel was never interested in the bets, so he must have already been worried about her. Fantastic.
“ Its nothing crazy really, I just saw my name on it a bunch and was wondering–”
“ Your name was on it? Like they’re placing bets on you??” Oh god, he looks angry. Suddenly hes not sitting back, he's leaning his elbows on the table, staring Mel down with his eyebrows furrowed downwards.
Mel retreats, “ I– um, yeah, I saw it during our last trauma, no big deal really.”
Langdon scoffs, “ That sounds like a pretty big deal to me, Mel. No one should be placing bets on your life.”
He’s not wrong. “ I’ll go talk to those guys.”
“ Frank thats really not necessary.” Maybe it was a mistake asking him too. God, maybe she should have gone straight to Mohan; she would have known.
“ I just– I just don't want anyone doing that to you, Mel. He rests his hand over Mel’s on the table, and she feels like he just set her on fire.
They look into each other's eyes for an uncomfortable amount of time before Mel hears Robby yelling about a trauma patient from outside, and they both run to help him.
Mel has never been so grateful for someone coding in her life.
*
The betting board.
Frank had no idea how it became a thing in the hospital. He could only assume it happened in the ten months he was gone. After the absolute horror of Pittfest, it made sense that everyone would find joy and comfort in something fun and stable like that.
It never really piqued his interest. He was on the exact wavelength as Mel. Why spend time betting and spending money when there was so much to do? Most days, he forgot it was even there unless he heard doctors talking about it at the nurses' station.
Sure, he stayed up to date on it, but he was never heavily invested like some of the other doctors. Being gone for ten months and coming back to discover your coworkers gamble at work every day was a shock, but it would only help him fit in if he knew what was going on. And he liked telling Mel. Watching her eyes light up as she laughed, hearing said laugh as she sat next to him on her shitty leather couch… what was he talking about?
Right. The board.
He was honestly livid hearing that they had decided to start betting on Mel. she didnt deserve that, she was the sunshine in this hellhole, happiness incarnate. Her name should be nowhere near that board.
He knew that Mel didn't want him to do anything… but he couldn't just walk around the ER knowing that everyone around him had money on her. It left a bad taste in his mouth.
It had to be strategic. Find a time when no one was near the board, snap a quick picture, find out what was happening, and get the hell out of there. Then he’d know what everyone was betting on and could shut it down for Mel. Anything to make her happy.
*
The time came at the end of the shift.
Everyone was making the switch to the night shift, and Langdon knew the board would be left alone by the security guards.
He made his move, telling his patient he’d go get their discharge papers and instead beelining to the ER entrance.
He sees no one near the doors or board and has to hold in his dorky fist pump.
Okay, quick picture— in and out.
Frank steps into the side room where the board is and instantly freezes. It seems Mel forgot to mention that his name is also on seemingly every card.
It doesn't say what the bet itself is, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
The cards say things like:
Langdon gets injured, and Mel tends his wounds.
They kiss in the breakroom
Mel yells at Frank to ask her out already
Someone in the hospital sets Mel and Frank up on a blind date.
Just to name a few.
If Frank had to guess, he would say that four-fifths of the hospital had placed bets on when he and Mel were going to get together.
He feels the flush travelling from his neck to his cheeks, his entire body heating up at the idea that the entire hospital was having the same thoughts about him and Mel as he was.
Wanting to get together, he means.
The photo is forgotten, and Langdon feels like a ghost as he grabs his shit from his ground locker and heads home to his ‘bachelor pad’.
After a while, he snaps out of it. Later that night, when a genius idea comes to him and he sprints into the kitchen to make sure he has a $100 bill.
*
Langdon was 20 minutes early for his shift. That was pretty normal, seeing as he had to kiss Robby's ass to get some respect around here, but today he's more cheerful.
There's a pep in his step, if you will.
He puts his backpack in his locker, ignoring the rush of back pain, and is off towards the board on a mission.
*
“ Morning fellas!”
Jack and Ahmad shut their conversation down abruptly.
Really? Jack too??
“ Morning, Frank.” Jack still likes him, unlike Robby. Since they’re only in the building together for 40 minutes a day max, there’s not much to be mad at.
“ How much is the betting pool up to?” He’s already smirking without meaning to.
Ahmad’s eyes narrow at him. “ About $1,300”
Langdon lets out a whistle. That's a lot of money for one bet.
“ Wow,” he laughs, “ You still accepting bets?”
Both of them look at each other with confused looks before Ahmad says, “ Yes…”
Frank holds up his $100. “ I really think the odds are in my favor with this one, boys.”
*
The word spread a week later when Santos saw Mel and Langdon kissing in the ambulance bay.
She instantly went back to the ER and up to the nurses. “ I just saw Langdon and Mel making out, check the board,” she breathes to Perlah and Princess.
They look at each other, then back at Santos, “ You didn't hear? Someone already won.” Princess said with a bitter edge to her voice. Someone must be mad she didn't win the bet.
“ What?! Who??”
Another glance then, “ Frank won it.”
Santos looks at Perlah like she grew a second head. “ What?!”
The nurses laugh, and Cassie slides up to where they’re chatting, “ He bet on ‘Frank asks Mel out like a normal person.’ Apparently, no one else thought of it.”
Santos sighs, “That's so rigged.”
As if they summoned the new couple, Langdon comes up to their station with King in tow, “ Well, at least our first date was completely paid for.” He says it with a grin, like the mere mention of going out with Mel makes him beam.
Everyone at the nurses’ station nods as Frank sends them a wink and heads towards a patient's room.
Santos watches the happy couple walk away. “ You know what? I can’t even be mad.”