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"Frank! look!" Mel exclaimed, and he did but he wished he didn't. "i just made a tinder profile" she grinned. Santos and Mohan were around her giggling, they helped her with the procedure.
"you what?" Frank asked in disbelief and he was beside her in a flash of light taking the phone out of her hand to look at it himself.
and there it was, a whole tinder profile of Mel, his Mel.
"you can't be serious Mel..." he wanted to throw up.
"why? what do you mean?" she sounded hurt "you don't believe i can go on dates?" she looked actually wounded
"no it's not that, it's just weird. tinder is literally the worst option for dating, it's full of creeps and... " he couldn't finish his sentence because Trinity interrupted.
"and why do you care exactly?" she barked one eyebrow raised, hands folded. "Mel is a grown woman, she can do whatever she wants."
he knows that. why does he care though? he is divorced with two kids, he is an addict, he is a very good doctor, a decent friend. he shouldn't care about a grown woman and her dating history. yet, he does. because it's Mel King, the woman he is pretty sure, that he was in love with, the second they met.
"i know that, i just...." he run his fingers through his hair. "why are you doing this?" he asked Mel, looking in her eyes concerned. he felt his heart in his throat.
"because i'm almost 30..."
"you are 27" he interrupted.
"yes. almost 30. and i don't know, even Becca has more game than me. i just want to have experience, and fun and..."
"and sex." Trinity finished it for her and then giggled with Samira.
"yeah, that too." Mel smiled.
Frank wanted to die, he wanted someone to come through the doors and shot him right then and there. but it never happened, so he just swallowed and said: "okay. i understand. i have to go back to work tho, we can talk later." and with that he was leaving the girls so he can do something, anything that would distract him enough.
————-
the distraction works for a while, but after a few hours into his shift the thoughts about Mel, and her tinder account crawl back into his head to the point, where he has to hide in the man's bathroom, making a fake profile on the app. he is pathetic and he knows it and also, can't help it.
he makes an account with a name 'herbert mcguire' and some pinterest photos, and dives in deep. he swipes left on everybody who is not Mel, searching only for her, and gets frustrated when he can't find her, until he can.
there it is, in all glory, THE tinder profile he was searching for desperately. he swallows big, and starts looking through the pictures.
there are selfies, in which she looks beautiful, as always. some pictures of her and her sister, some silly ones where she is in her scrubs and poses with her stethoscope, and the last picture is what makes Frank wants to die.
it's a picture that he took of her, when they went on a hike a few weeks ago. she looks absolutely beautiful, standing in the sunset, hair down and wears a look on her face that she only has with Frank. it's a picture that he actually wanted to be his wallpaper (and of course he could not do that because it would be fucking weird), a picture that you take with you to war, a picture that you frame. at least, if you are Frank Langdon, and you are down bad for Mel King.
so there he was, locked in a toilet stall, yearning for her best friend and taking deep, deep breaths.
he can do it, right? what Mel need right now is support, she wants experience, and fun. she can have that, of course. she can have anything she wants, so Frank will give her what she wants, as always.
after a few minutes, he comes out, looks himself in the mirror, gives a nod, fakes a smile and gets back to work.
"there you are! i was looking for you" Mel comes right at him.
"here i am! what do you need?"
"look." she pulls out her phone "i already have 5 matches! can you believe that?"
"i can. you are a catch Mel." he looks at her, and her gaze softens, the way it only does for him. he locks it in his heart, this moment.
"awe, you're just saying that" she lightly hits his chest. "it's actually a big ego boost for me though. i feel great" she grins.
"wait. in order to have matches you have to swipe right too, yes?" he raises his eyebrows, Mel nods. "so let me see who you've been swiping right on."
"i can't" she became visibly nervous. "it's... i don't know, embarrassing to think about."she chuckles.
"nothing is embarrassing between us baby, you know that. now let me see those guys" he wants to say 'fuckers' but he controls himself (at least for now).
the guys she swipes right on are very similar, they look smart and put together, also they are all blonde,which makes Franks insides turn, and contemplates bleaching his hair today just to fit Mel's obvious type.
"so? what do you think?" she asks with sparkling eyes.
"they look...." ugly, disgusting, hateful, like they need a good beating, like they deserve every worst thing on this planet, he thinks. "decent enough" he says after all. "they look okay to me" and gives a very hard and cringy thumbs up.
"great! thank you so much Frankie. you are the best." she strokes his face gently, and he could melt on the spot.
only Mel calls him that, because one time she heard his mom call him that, and she could not let go. she said it was the cutest thing ever, and mostly she calls him Frankie when she is really affectionate.
"of course, hon." oh he is down bad.
———-
it continues like this for the next couple of days, Mel shows him her matches, excited, she really looks like she enjoys it. and he is glad that she does.
one day Santos asks loudly “who the hell is Herbert Mcguire?” and he ducks his head and gets the hell out of there.
there is nothing particular about this day either, he almost forgets about the whole thing until
“i have a date” he hears the voice coming from behind him, and almost chokes on his redbull, which he was sipping, leaning on the nurses station.
he coughs, and gasps for air, Mel trying to help with big slaps to his back.
“oh my god, are you okay?!” she asks worried
“yeah” he coughs again, but gives a thumbs up.
“i’m so sorry i didn’t mean to scare you.” she looks at him with true compunction.
“it’s okay… what were you saying? a date?”
“oh yeah. a date. tonight.” she bites her lip.
“to- tonight? with who?” his eyes are wide, his tone is very unlike him.
“his name is Rodger, and we’ve been talking for a couple of days and he is really nice! also a doctor!” she grins.
oh. he thinks. he knew a Rodger in med school, what an asshole, he hated his guts, they were like enemies back then… wait. it couldn’t be him right? RIGHT?
“show me! “ he practically screams.
“what?”
“show me the guy now. please.” he tries to control his voice.
please not him, not him. oh my god, and he was a fucking blonde. OH MY GOD. she takes out her phone, and in those 30 seconds he prays, even though he is an atheist, he PRAYS it’s not him.
but again, God shows him that he is not real.
“i can’t fucking believe this.” he said out loud when he sees the man. it’s him, OF COURSE it’s him. grinning like a douchebag he is, oh how he hates him, even more now.
“Frank! language!” Mel tries to quiet him down. “what’s wrong? do you know him?”
“Mel, if you love me, or even if you have a little respect for me, just a little. please i’m begging you, don’t go on a date with him. please” he’s literally begging at this point, his hands put together before his chest, eyes like a lost puppy.
“of course i love you, but what? i don’t understand.” Mel looks very concerned.
“i know this guy, we graduated together from med school and he is literally the worst person on this planet…”
“for you maybe.” he hears Trinity interrupting. he will kill her one day.
“why are you telling Melanoma who she can date? are you her father? even so you have no right.” she steps between them, looking him up and down ready to fight.
“i’m not telling her who she can date. i’m telling her who she can’t.”
“why? because this Rodger guy was your nemesis? was he a competition for little Langdon? couldn’t score with the ladies when he was around?” she mocks him.
“you are ridiculous.” he shakes his head, and looks over at Mel who is visibly upset. “Mel, you know i want the best for you always, and i am telling you this guy is no good. i wouldn’t even give a shit if you went on a date with the Pope, but please, not this guy.”
“okay...” she looks at him reassuring but still confused.
“Mel, you can’t be serious. you have to have the experience for yourself and not believe someone else’s.” Trinity pushes. ”also the date is in like five hours, it’s rude to cancel.”
Mel looks at Frank, feeling her stomach as a knot, Langdon looks at her like he is on the verge of life or death. but also she hears Trinity. maybe the guy was awful to Langdon, but he can be nice to her, right? and she doesn’t want to be rude and…
“okay. i think i will go, and i will see it for myself. i’m sorry Frank.” she feels terrible. Langdons face is unreadable.
“alright. go if you want, but i don’t want to hear a word about it.” and with that, he disappeared.
he is so disappointed he can’t even place the feeling. he feels everything, anger, jealousy, disrespect. he just can’t believe she would do that to him. but then he tries to get himself, and his feelings out of the equation.
he hates Rodger’s guts, but he actually could be good to Mel, he is decent enough, it’s just one date. she will see the truth herself.
———-
later that day Mel comes up to him to apologise, and he does too. they hug it out and he wishes her good luck and asks for an update. he goes home and sits on the couch. Abby has the kids today so he doesn’t even have that to distract him. so he sits on the couch and like a maniac checks his phone, then the time, than if he is in DND, the date started around 7, so he expects an update around 10. but it doesn’t come, not at 11, and not at 12.
he falls asleep on the couch and only wakes when his phone buzzes under his head. his eyes shot open, and he is reading the text one moment later.
“i just got home. everything is okay and oh boy i have things to tell you when we meet;)”
he stares at the text, then the time 1:37am. he thinks it’s the worst text he’s ever gotten, including when Abbys divorce lawyer reached out to him to inform that she wants to separate.
needless to say, he didn’t get much sleep. he is in the pitt in record time. he stands around the changing room, fiddling with his fingers waiting for Mel, who comes in unusually late for herself.
when she sees him, her smile is so wide it almost looks like it hurts.
“Frankie, you won’t believe the date we had.” she starts and he really wants a meteor to land on him so he doesn’t need to hear it.
“yeah? how was it?” he tries to smile normally and hide the fact that he’s about to throw up.
“so great. i mean we met at the museum, you know we went together once, the one with…”
“the one with the renaissance section. i know, it’s your favourite.” he says softly, and Mel’s eyes are twinkling with excitement.
“yes! and he knew so much about that stuff, so we had a really good talk, and after that we got tea, and sandwiches in a cute little cafe, and talked about everything, and anything. he was so great, and also he has a special needs niece, so it was really a bonding experience.”
of course he does, Frank thinks. he is so jealous ha can barely contain it. it’s literally the perfect date for Mel. he doesn’t know what to do with his hands so he run his fingers in his hair then, crosses his arms in front of his chest.
“great!” his voice is so high it’s ridiculous. “so are you gonna see him again?” he asks and hopes the answer is no.
“i think yes.” Mel says and looks him in the eyes. “but i don’t want this to come between us. i was thinking yesterday and, yes i had a good experience, but you are way more important to me than this whole thing. so say a word and i won’t see him again.” she is touching his crossed arms and looks so genuine.
he can’t take away this from her. he loves her too much to be this cruel.
he clears his throat.
“i think my experience may have been false with him, or he could have changed. if he, and this makes you happy, i don’t want to take this away from you. are you happy?”
“yes.” she smiles
ah shit.
“then all that’s matters.” he smiles.
“thank you Frankie.” she hugs him, and he hugs her back, holding her as close as he can. none of them let go until new people enter the room.
“dude you look like you are about to cry.” he hears Whitaker.
“no i’m not.” he says offended.
“you kinda do.” Samira adds.
“shut up.” he grabs Mel by her hand and drags her out of the room.
they work together on cases today. these are the best days for both of them, and they work together the best.
they are having such a great time, Frank forgets all his concerns, it’s always like this with her.
they are discussing a case, and doing the charting on one of the computers, when Dana interrupts them.
“Mel honey. someone is here for you.” she smirks.
“what? is it Becca? is she okay” she is standing up worried. Frank pulls his eyebrows together, he is a little nervous too, who could possibly be…
FUCKING RODGER! (if you saw the after movies you know:D)
“oh Rodger! it’s you!” Mel chuckles nervously.
“hi Mellie!” he coos and smiles at her.
Mellie? what the hell this guy is thinking? is she a dog? he’s directly behind her so he waits when he is noticed.
Rodger still not looking up from Mel, he looks like he is mesmerised -understandable honestly- but when he finally does.
“what the hell are you doing here?”
“hello to you too. take a wild guess.” he rolls his eyes.
“you work together?” he is absolutely flabbergasted.
“yes.” Mel says almost ashamed. Frank doesn’t like it.
“is that a problem for you prince charming?” he is so done with this guy.
“no, i’m just surprised you still have your license Langdon. you are a known fuckup.” he grins and Frank wants to punch him.
“hey!” Mel raises her voice. “don’t talk to him like that. he’s my best friend.” she sounds so serious.
“what? i mean sorry, but you know we have history…” Rodger starts.
“i know, dr. Langdon informed me.” she sounds annoyed. “why are you here?”
“i brought you this.” he pulls out a bouquet of roses. amateur Langdon thinks. “and also, i want to go on a date again.” he smiles.
“she doesn’t like roses.” Frank can’t help himself, and he sees Rongers jaw clenching.
“Frank…” Mel tries to ease the situation.
“okay. if she doesn’t like it, she can tell me that, i don’t need her guard dog bark at me.”
“you are still so fucking rude and up your ass, i can’t even…” Frank steps closer
“guys! please.” Mel pleads.
“is she dating me or you, bestie?” he is wearing a disgusting grin.
Langdon squints his eyes but doesn’t say anything.
“yeah, i thought so.” Rodger looks pleased.
“i’m still here by the way. “ Mel’s voice is faint.
Langdon feels so bad, she hates situations like this.
“i’m sorry Mel, i’m gonna leave you guys.” he takes himself outside, he needs some fresh air.
“what was that?” he hears Trinity’s voice.
“please, not now..”
“yes, now. why did you do that ? put her in a situation like this, you know she hates conflicts…”
“yes i know! i know every fucking thing about her, and i know that, that asswipe Rodger is a joke to date.” shouts.
“so do something about it!” Santos screams back. “why are you here feeling sorry for yourself, when you are obviously in love with her?”
“what? how do you- does Mel know?” Langdons mouth hangs open.
“yeah, you are not as slick as you think you are.” she laughs. “but she is pretty dense in this area of life, so she doesn’t have a clue, don’t worry.”
Langdon finally takes a breath, he didn’t realise he was holding back.
“so, dr. Langdon, what’s the plan? are you gonna let Asswipe have her, or are you gonna do something about it?” she smirks knowingly.
“think you know the answer to that” he smiles.
———-
after going back in, he find Mel sitting in front of the computer.
“Mel, i’m sorry.” he says as he approaches her.
“it’s okay, he really can push your buttons, huh?”
“you have no idea… are you guys going out again?” he swallows.
“well, he was quite rude to you so it really made him look bad, at first i was about to say no to him, but he apologised and said he would make up to me tonight…”
“so… that’s a yes?”
“yes i am seeing him again, but if he does something like that again i’m breaking up.”
“okay…” he runs his fingers through his hair. “what do you think, tomorrow night can we do something together?”
he hopes that Rodger fucks up again, so tomorrow he can confess to her before this whole dating thing becomes serious.
“absolutely! i would love to.” her faces lights up.
———-
Franks night is worse than the day before. “he is making it up to me tonight.” what does what mean? he doesn’t even want to know, but also he is dying to know and prays that it’s not what he thinks it is.
he is in the pitt again, unusually early, fidgeting, nervous. he wants to see Her, wants to know what happened but afraid it will kill him.
“hey!” he practically shouts at her when she gets in the room.
“oh my-“ she startles. “hi Frank” she giggles.
“what’s up??” he purses his lips, bouncing on his feet, hand behind his head to look cool? i guess? he looks ridiculous.
“everything is fine”. she replies short.
“yeah?” it concerns Frank, her tone, her whole behaviour.
“mhm. if you are worried about my evening, it was fine too.”
he scans her, her braid is a bit messier that usual, she looks a little bit out of it, she wears the usual clothes except, it’s may and she is in a turtleneck shirt. oh no.
“why are you wearing that?”
she knows what he’s talking about because she puts her hand on her neck.
“what do you m-“
“you know what i mean” he steps closer, it’s still just them in the changing room.
“i mean it’s nothing, it was cold this morning…” she doesn’t let go of her neck.
Frank doesn’t care, he reaches out and pulls down the fabric.
he sees a hickey and unusual redness on her neck. his blood boils.
Mel starts to stammer and explain herself.
“i-i mean- i told him not to leave a mark, or something it’s still very new to me, but we were making out and-“
“did you sleep with him?” he asks coldly, their faces inches away.
“no, god no.” she shakes her head. “just kissing.”
“and you told him not to do that,” he points at her neck. ”and he still did it?” his jaw is so tight, he basically hisses.
“yeah, i mean he was just really passionate i guess… but it was all consensual, he didn’t hurt me i swear.”
he is visibly annoyed and feels the words forming that he would normally avoid, but he doesn’t give a shit right now.
“why do you like him? hm? what does he have that i don’t? is this because he is blonde? i can be blonde and i am not an asshole.”
“what are you talking about?” she is so nervous right now, she feels like she is in a romance book. (:P)
“answer the question, why do you like him?” he growls.
he is so close to her, she can barely form a thought. his hand are still on her neck, firm. she smells his perfume, that citrusy, amber scent she can never forget and what she dreams of behind her closed doors.
“i don’t” she finally chokes out.
“what?” he is visibly surprised.
Mel pickes up the eye contact.
“i don’t, i never liked him.” she swallows, Franks eyes are practically burning her. “ i- i only ever liked you. i just… didn’t want to ruin the friendship and…“ she doesn’t get to finish.
Langdons lips are crashing down onto hers, hot, desperate. she kisses back instantly, holding his face.
they both feel like none of them can get enough of the other.
“does he kiss you like this?” he breathes in between kisses.
“no. nobody is like you, ever.” she gasps as he grinds against her. “oh Frank, he could never compare…”
she sighs as he kisses the other parts of her face
Langdon giggles against her skin.
“i fucking hope so.” then they are kissing again, her back is fully pressed into one of the lockers, but she doesn’t mind.
they only stop when the door is opening, so they are flying away from each other, like nothing happened, and quickly walk out of the room.
“we are finishing this after work. you still owe me a hangout.” Frank whispers to her, as they walk.
“oh i fucking hope so.” Mel giggles, and Frank laughs with her.