Chapter Text
‘Kingpin!’ Mel wanted to laugh a little. Had Trinity run out of Mel-related terms? Perish the thought. Frank had a theory that she spent hours trawling the internet for new ideas. She yanked off her scrub top. Unfortunately had had a few bad runs so had had to change out of her favourite t-shirt earlier on the shift. Too busy to get her layer back on she’d had to just get a scrub top and run. People and their fucking guns.
Mel stretched a little adjusting her sports bra a little. Looking forward to the moment she got to rip it off. ‘Just wondering if you were interested- holy shit what happened to you?’ Suddenly Mel was having to bat off Trinity’s hands. Very unexpected and unwanted touched aiming for her chest.
‘Trinity get off!!!’ The loud smack pierced the air as loudly as it stung Mel’s palm.
‘Fuck Mel – who has done what to you and for the love of shit please be consensual!!!!’
Mel frowned for a moment, a little confused. The followed Trinitys gaze down to her chest.
Mel’s bruise scattered chest. Boobs specifically. There was one particularly telling bite mark just peeking out from her black bra. ‘Oh that.’ She undid her ponytail and side braid. Sighing as she dug her hand in, scratching at her scalp a little. Better than when Frank did it. Luckily tonight was one of their free-
‘Yes. That.’ Mel snagged a deep purple t-shirt she kept for emergencies. Overly large and one of her stolen Frank shirts. He didn’t seem to mind. Well maybe a little when he couldn’t bend her over the nearest surface when he spotted her in them in the wild. Trinity was now blocking the exit to the changing room. ‘Explain.’
Mel paused mid pulling on her jacket. The R3 glaring, not at her but at the situation playing out in her head. Typically Trinity Santos’s overly protective streak wrapped up in a venomous barb was kind of sweet. But ordering Mel to tell her something private in a not so private space? Mel narrowed her eyes at her. Disapproving and pissy.
Trinity’s nostrils flared and then she pouted. Her recognition of her less than great habits and behaviours was improving. Slowly. ‘Sorry. Would you mind sharing?’ An actual question. Better. Even if her tone left something to be desired. Short and a little too clipped for Mel's liking.
Mel glanced around. Princess was never to be underestimated. Never failing to catch titbits from the unsuspecting. She had learned that the hard way after lamenting her ex interviewing for a post in the surgical department.
The entire floor had been awash in crazy stories for days. Everything from him being her step brother to Mel ditching him at the alter. She had not enjoyed the attention much. Though the whispers about her virgin status had conspicuously vanished in its wake. Also Frank had compiled a list of the most entertaining versions. Had taken to dramatic re-enactments for his own amusement. It had all been for nothing as her ex had bombed the interview.
Rumours abounded about Garcia getting into this head.
Mel didn’t ask. Garcia didn’t tell.
She pulled her tartan jacket on. Checked her bag and bits needed to go. Franks place tonight. Good. His place was better soundproofed. ‘It’s fine. Very much consensual and wanted.’
Trinity eyeballed her for a second disbelieving. Tired expectations. Mel never was a fan. But she didn’t really mind if Trinity doubted her. It wasn’t like Mel wanted the bites from her. ‘You’ve never mentioned dating anyone.’
‘You never asked.’
‘Sure I did.’
Mel shook her head, tilting her head with a knowing arch of the eyebrow. ‘Nope. Not once. You’ve bitched about Garcia, your failed whateverships, Whitaker and his many attempts at White Knightness but not ever asked me about my dating life. Or my sex life.’
‘No fucking way.’ Trinity's head recoiled. Disbelief in every word.
‘Way.’ Mel shrugged.
The pair left the Pitt in relative silence. Mel waving as the Nightcrawlers went through their usual chant. Trinity thought it lame. Mel enjoyed it. The nightshift was the night shift. It needed a certain tilt on the world but the team dynamic was all there. Even if Mel was concerned about John’s caffeine intake.
‘I’ve really never asked you about any of that stuff?’ The women paused by Mel’s car. R4s had much nicer car parking spaces. One of the very few perks. She shook her head as she put her bag and jacket into the passenger side. Trinity sounded like she was still processing this new information.
Mel smiled slightly sarcastically as she leaned against the trunk. ‘You’ve made assumptions and not listened as I tried to correct you.’
Trinity’s face reddened. Abashed and suitably mollified. ‘I am going to assume that it came off rather-’
‘Ableist? Infantilising?’
Trinity’s jaw jutted out. The way it always did when she was called out. Fighting the urge to snap back, and even a little growing admission of her... foibles. ‘I was going to say rude. But point taken.’
Mel tried not to frown. Copying Robby did not suit Trinity. But she understood the inclination. Crossing her arms Mel just waited. Trinity did her best to to sigh in irritation. ‘Sorry.’ Genuine under the layers of snark and ego. There were many things to be learned from Robby. Peoples skills. Not on the list. ‘So who are you boning?’
‘Technically he’s boning me.’ At least currently. Mel tried not to grin too obnoxiously at the parcel en route to Frank’s apartment. Birthday surprise. For him or her hard to say. Trinity rolled her eyes at Mel’s correction.
‘Kingfisher.’ She really was reaching. Her voice annoyed and a little impressed.
‘Frank of course.’ It was weird that most people hadn’t picked up on it. Yes they both kept things professional at work. Well they tried to. But it wasn’t like they’d been much out of each others pockets before they got together.
Mel had been worried about telling Trinity. The Langdon-Santos dynamic was tolerable at best. Volatile also at best. No one could explain but that was what it was. They had come a long way in the year and half since his return. Frank doing his best to make actual amends and really develop a relationship with Trinity. One of the few who really pushed her from her worst instincts. And Trinity had learned that one bad day wasn’t the mark of a person. That her first impressions of him had been tainted by her own past. And that people could change.
None of this explained the laughter currently being aimed at her. Well at what she said. Trinity never really laughed at Mel to be fair. Just found her odd and funny at times Mel had no comedic intent. Like now. Trinity was actually bent double crying with laughter. ‘Good one Mel you had me for a solid minute there. Who is it? Shen?’
Shen? Frank was fully convinced that the nightshift attending was trying to get into her pants. Mel wasn’t so sure. Yes John had been more attentive around her during handovers of late. But he was also acting the same around Frank.
So Mel couldn’t quite figure it out. Yet.
‘What no. I told you it’s Frank.’
Mel held her arms open. Completely mystified. Everyone knew Mel was a bad liar. Or Mel just didn’t put in the energy needed to be a good liar. It wasn’t natural to her. So she just opted to not. Trinity straightened, brushing tears away from her eyes.
‘Good one Melanophobe. You really had me. You fucking Langdon. Yeah and I’m fucking Dana.’
With that Trinity marched off to her car. Still cackling.
Mel stood there mouth agape. Completely mystified. And insulted.
Was it so insane she’d be sleeping with Frank? They were both consenting adults with documented shared interests and a solid relationship???
What the fuck.