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It was quiet. Well, as quiet as any place like the PTMC could be. And despite what everyone around her thought, Trinity did not have enough of a death wish to say the obvious out loud. She was convinced Dana would throw the nearest object at Trinity’s head.
But despite it being 1 pm, there had been no major traumas. No car accidents, shootings, or cardiac arrests…at one of the biggest hospitals in the city of Pittsburgh. Because of their lack of traffic in the ambulance bay, they were crushing triage. Huckleberry and McKay were manning the ship at triage, and Donny was discharging patients like he was trying to hit a record.
For the first time in her R3 year, Trinity was actually caught up on her charting. She was sitting at the nursing station, eating a granola bar (this really was the best day of work ever) and finishing the chart for the 42-year old pneumoniae patient she just discharged with amoxicillin. Even Robby found nothing to complain about today.
A creaking sound to her right, drew her attention. Langdon was spinning in his chair, staring at the ceiling like it had personally wronged him. She learned very quickly that his attention span was a result of his ADHD, not the benzos withdrawal. While a boring day was good for society, it was never good for Frank Langdon, and Trinity knew she had only seconds before he used that restless energy to annoy the shit out of her. They had reached some sort of truce last summer after Langdon got back from rehab. It had taken a lot of crying and groveling (from him), but she had eventually stopped snapping at him when he was trying to show her something during a trauma. And while she wouldn’t call them friends anytime soon, they at least were no longer enemies.
“Any good patients today?” he asked her, still spinning in his chair. Trinity looked away, the constant spinning making her dizzy.
“You know that the answer is no,” she responded, sighing as she closed her final chart. She was trying to be patient with him, especially without his emotional support Mel. Mel, who Langdon normally followed around like a puppy trailing his owner, had the day off, and she told Trinity yesterday how excited she was to run errands all day with her sister. Though Trinity doubted she was too productive, with how much time Langdon has spent texting all day. For him to be bothering her now, meant Mel must have finally put her phone down.
“Ugh,” his harsh grunt caused her to look back over at him. He had stopped spinning, and instead of staring at the ceiling, his ire had turned to his phone, which was notably silent. This confirmed that Mel was no longer answering his texts. “This day has to be the most boring day ever.”
“Hey! Watch your mouth!” Trinity looked up to see Dana peering over her readers, stern eyes glaring at Langdon. He at least had the decency to look sheepish and apologetic.
“Enjoy it while you can,” Trinity said to the bored attending. “Be grateful we might get out of here on time for once.”
He smiled and hummed in response, his eyes getting a glimmer that she had to fight the urge to kill by saying something snappy. They still loved to quip, but they had gotten better at insulting for fun, not aiming to kill or maim. She knew he was thinking about leaving to go see Mel, and their creepy little relationship. No one else in the Pitt believed Trinity when she said they were dating, or at the very minimum fucking. Not even Yolanda, which was just rude.
She noticed it immediately, on the first day he returned from rehab, when Mel grabbed onto his bicep like it was the only thing grounding her. Despite being too busy hating him, even she noticed that he was lying about still being married to Abby. He had barely mentioned her, only talking about Penny and Tanner when anyone asked, far too embarrassed to admit that she and him had split, however amicable. And not to be cliché, but it was obvious while he was gone that Mel was crushing…and hard. But after Langdon came back, he had definitely fallen harder. So, yeah. Trinity was convinced they were in love and just keeping it a secret with Langdon’s divorce hitting its one year anniversary several weeks prior. But no one else was on the Mel/Frank train with her, no matter how hard she gossiped and pried.
“Incoming trauma.” Dana’s voice cut through Trinity’s daydream of saying “I told you so” to all of the nonbelievers. The charge nurse stared daggers at Langdon, blaming him for the interruption to their peaceful day. Thank God he didn’t say “quiet.”
He perked up, happy at the chance to jump back into things. He did always say time flew faster doing a trauma, and although it was sick, she wouldn’t lie, she also was excited for some action.
“What do we have?” Robby rounded the corner, little Huckleberry scurrying behind him, perpetually scared look permanently etched onto his face. So that’s where Robby had gone off to. His favorite hobby: watching Whittaker be a huckleberry in triage. Lord knows he wasn’t paying attention to McKay.
“SUV vs commercial truck. Seems like a Pittsburgh Public Works truck blew a red light and hit the driver’s side.” Dana rattled off facts fast. “SUV has one critical, 3 other car occupants being transferred with just scraps and bruises. 2 minors though.”
Trinity instantly felt guilty for the excitement she felt when Dana first announced the trauma. She, like everyone else in the Pitt, hated working on kids. Especially with hysterically parents in toe. It made the stakes feel higher, and their bodies are already so fragile to begin with. She looked up and saw Langdon’s face had also shifted, mirroring hers. Everyone had the cases they struggled with. Hers were self-harm and child abuse. His, understandably, was anything to do with kids, especially near Penny or Tanners age range of 3-6, and overdoses.
“What about the Publics Works driver?” Dr. Robby asked, accounting for everyone.
“Also coming in, but police ordered a drug and alcohol test based on eye witness accounts.” Dana looked grim. It took all of Trinity’s resolve not to glance over at Frank, who she knew would be frowning even harder, if possible. Combining potential drugs with children? His boring day turned into his worst nightmare.
“Whitaker. Mohan. With me. We will take the critical driver. McKay, you and Donny will have the non-critical adult.” Robby rattled off commands with authority. “Santos and Langdon, you get the kids. Langdon also get the drug and blood-alcohol of the truck driver.” Trinity whipped her head around, with Langdon looking stricken.
She was shocked. Robby was cold with Langdon, never forgiving him for his misgivings during that dreaded Pittfest shift from hell, but even this was too cruel in her opinion. Robby kept trying to give Langdon the cases to make him break, and though he hadn’t yet, even Trinity could admit that he was going too far with this.
“7 minutes out.” Dana’s voice cut through the tension, shooting a glare at the grumpy chief. McKay and Mohan were also angrily staring at Robby, and Trinity found herself joining them. Whitaker looked sheepish, like even he too was embarrassed of this behavior. You know it’s bad when the teacher’s pet has turned on the teacher.
Langdon walked over to the glove box and trauma garbs, grumbling as he forced his limbs into the plastic protection equipment. She knew better than to interrupt him talking to himself. It normally helped it get out of his system before he snapped. So in silence, she followed his lead by putting on her PPE. The line of doctors went to stand outside, ready to greet the ambulances as they pulled into the bay.
The first rig pulled in moments later, barely parked before the driver hopped out of the front seat. “What do we have?” Mohan asked him.
“Occupant of the vehicle, lucky kid. Only minor scrapes from the glass of the window falling on her, despite being on the driver’s side. That side was crushed. Young girl, only three years old,” the driver answered.
Robby’s face twisted in confusion. “Why is one of the children here first? We were told there was a critical case on the way.”
The driver shrugged. “Mom demanded we send the kids ahead. Was adamant they get seen first. She wouldn’t calm down until we agreed. The other kid only has bruises.” Trinity let out a light scoff. People were fools as soon as emergency happened.
Langdon was already moving to the back doors of the ambulance, silently calling dibs on the first child patient. Trinity knew her case would be even easier if scratches was the outcome of the side hit by a commercial vehicle. The doors swung open, and it immediately became clear to Trinity that something was wrong. Langdon stood there, jaw dropped, unnaturally still for the man who couldn’t go more than five minutes without twitching or tapping his foot. “Penny?” he croaked quietly.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Shit. Fuck. She was moving faster than she could even think the expletives repeating in her mind. Robby had the same idea as her and was rounding the bend, breathing heavily. There sat Penny Langdon, easily recognizable from her place on Langdon’s phone wallpaper. Trinity let out of a sign of relief. Besides being scared shitless, the girl seemed fine. The cuts littering her arms were superficial, likely no stitches needed.
“Daddy?!” the little girl cried, arms reaching out towards her dad, who was moving in slow motion. She had a stuffed elephant in her left hand, and chew marks on her right thumb from the vigorous thumb sucking that had occurred in the ride to PTMC. Langdon snapped out of it and reached out fast, grabbing Penny and lifting her towards him. His arms wrapped tightly around her, and he was categorizing every cut.
“Okay, so Frank you are off this case now. You can stay with your daughter.” Robby said to the shaking dad. Langdon was agitated though, and he responded sharply. “Oh, so I can only work on drug addicts causing injuries to kids when it’s convenient to the narrative?”
Robby smartly let that one go, recognizing that this was a scared parent lashing out at anyone nearby. Langdon was petting his daughter’s head, and Trinity couldn’t tell if he was comforting her or himself. She pulled the hospital bed up next to them and patted gently it. He was already nodding and dropping Penny gently onto the bed.
“Okay sweetheart,” he cooed. “Dr. Santos here is going to clean those cuts and check you over.” He barely glanced in her direction, too focused on calming his daughter who had tears streaming down her cheeks. “She is a friend of Daddy’s, and I promise you she will take good care of you and keep you and Lellie safe.” Penny’s arms tighted around the stuffed elephant in response. Trinity began to smile at the trust, when Langdon’s spine stiffened and he slowly rose to his full height from where he was crouched by his daughter.
“Penny,” he began, voice eerily devoid of any emotion, “where is Tanner?”
Shit. Shit. Fuck. She had forgotten about the eldest Langdon child and hadn’t made the connection. Trinity interrupted before he could panic. “The driver said the second child, Tanner, is on his way. Penny was on the side the truck hit, and the paramedic said Tanner only had bruises, but Abby wanted to send them first.” She didn’t realize her mistake until she already spoke. Abby. She had forgotten Abby was driving the car.
Langdon looked stricken, chest beginning to heave in rasping sounds. Robby, who had been listening in, grimaced, coming to the same conclusion as her. He went to speak, whether to calm Langdon down or say something so insulting that the panicking father threw a punch, but Langdon swung towards his daughter fast.
“Sweetheart, where is Mel?” he softly asked, voice breaking at the end. Mel?
“Mel?” Robby asked. In any other situation, his face would have been comical. Langdon ignored him, giving the chief attending a taste of his own medicine from the past year.
Penny’s lips curled, tears pooling at her eyes. She was about to start sobbing, and Trinity yanked the sides of the gurney up, getting ready to move her inside. “Mel’s hurt, Daddy.” The pod of MDs outside all tittered, upset pooling through them knowing that their own was hurt. Langdon was nodding, more involuntary than actually meaningful.
Trinity made eye contact with him and nodded her head towards the entrance to PTMC, indicating that she would be taking the youngest Langdon to get her cuts cleaned and checked out. “Come on, Penny,” she calmly whispered. “Let’s get you and Elsie inside so we can clean you both up.” “Lellie,” Penny corrected, stopping her tears to make her correction. Yep, that’s a Langdon. Nothing comes above correcting her in their eyes.
The next ambulance pulled up as she was pulling Penny inside, Emma running up to assist with the transfer. This one contained Tanner if the paramedic was correct. And who even knew where the fourth person in the vehicle was, much less who it was. Langdon didn’t seem to think Abby was anywhere near this dumpster fire.
“What do we have here?” Dana was peering over from her spot at the desk.
“Penny Langdon.”
Dana’s eyes widened and she stepped out behind the charge nurse’s station, gasping when she saw the girl who resembled her father. Both Langdon children were identical to him. It’s like Abby didn’t even try. Trinity felt bad for her. That poor girl couldn’t catch a break.
Emma paused as she realized that she was pushing a VIP. “Keep moving,” Trinity guided. She tried to sound calm and not too harsh. As they passed Dana, she gave the rundown. “Penny only has light lacerations from the window. She was on the driver’s side but the paramedics said she was lucky. We will check her over for any deeper cuts that need stitches or glued, but otherwise we will wash and dress.” Tears began to form in Penny’s eyes as she took in her surroundings. “And we have a special guest, Lellie, joining us to learn today.” She gestured toward the worn-out stuffed elephant.
Dana smiled at the reassuring news. “Well, hello there, Penny, and hello, Lellie. Dr. Santos will take great care of you.”
Penny was nodding along. “That’s what Daddy said. She’s Daddy’s friend and she’s nice.”
Dana smirked despite the situation. “Yeah, sure. That’s a way to say it.” She turned towards Trinity, “Was Tanner with her?”
“Yeah, he’s in the next ambulance. They said only bruising. I’m sure the only reason he isn’t inside yet is Langdon is doing his own check to make sure; he’s pretty shaken up.”
“Poor kid,” Dana tutted. “And I am sure he’s worried sick about Abby. She must be the critical patient.”
You would think so wouldn’t you. “About that. Mel was driving the car…”
Dana’s head snapped at that, despite Trinity whispering it. Emma quickly began hooking Penny up to the heart monitor. The doors to the ambulance bay opened. McKay was calmly talking to the Tanner. She always was great with kids. Tanner was more panicked than Penny, old enough to understand that something was wrong. “Where’s Mel?” he was frantically asking. No one answered him, and Langdon was clutched onto the bedside like it was his lifeline. He was sweating more; hair plastered to his face like he was going through withdrawal and noticeably shaking across the room. Another person lingered behind the gurney being moved into an empty room. A young blonde girl, fidgeting with her phone. Becca. Trinity recognized Mel’s sister immediately. She must have ridden with Tanner on the ambulance and have been the fourth person in the car.
The two teams began to check over the kids. Penny had only light cuts. No stitches needed, which she seemed very grateful for. When Trinity told her the news the little girl has whispered to her that she did not like needles. “Well good news, no needles today. And you are being very brave.” And she was. Barely even flinched when they began to clean the scratches with alcohol wipes.
Tanner fared even better than his sister, like the paramedics predicted. Only bruises. Langdon jumped between bedsides, PPE long discarded, to comfort both children. Dana stepped over and placed a calming hand on his back and reminded him that he should call Abby.
“Right, right.” He pulled out his phone, pulling up the contact photo when the ambulance bay doors opened again. Robby rushed in, shouting orders to Huckleberry and Mohan who were on each side of the gurney. In the middle of the gurney was Mel, and she looked…bad. Blood was covering her face, and her leg was clearly broken. She was hunched on her side, like something was hurt there.
Langdon subconsciously pulled the phone down from where he had been about to call his ex-wife. He started moving towards trauma 1, where Mel was headed. “Wait,” Trinity interrupted his movement. She held out her hand for the phone. He sent her a look so relieved she felt the urge to insult him, lest their relationship gets too…mushy. But she fought that urge, not even she was that bad of a friend. He handed her the phone and ran over to Mel. Behind them, the driver of the public works vehicle was wheeled in, visibly impaired. Oh, Langdon was going to lose his shit.
She turned to the phone and dialed the number for Abby. She picked up on the second ring. “Frank, there better be a good reason you are interrupting my ‘me time.’” Trinity liked this woman already.
“Hi, this is Dr. Trinity Santos from PTMC, and I’m calling about—”
“Oh God! Are Tanner and Penny okay?”
“Yes, they are fine. They were involved in a car accident, but both had very minor injuries. Honestly, they were only brought in out of precaution.”
She heard the woman across the phone sigh in relief. “Good that’s good.” A sniffle comes through, the only sign that Abby has tears streaming down her face. “Wait! Is Mel okay? She should have been driving the car. And shit, Becca?”
Truthfully, if you had asked Trinity prior to today whether Abby knew about this relationship, she’d say fuck no. Not that she thought this was a torrid affair, obviously the Langdon marriage had ended, but she for sure did not think Abby would be accepting enough to ask about the young doctor.
“I…I can’t confirm that. Privacy laws.” Trinity was grateful for HIPAA more than ever before.
Abby sighed again. “Yeah, of course. I figured. I guess I can find out when I come in to pick up the kids. I can be there in 15, could you let Frank know?”
“Of course. I’ll go tell Lan—Frank know.”
She set off to find Langdon, checking on Penny on her way. The cuts were already all bandaged by Emma. She would be able to be discharged as soon as Abby came in. Tanner, from what she could see seemed to be in the same situation, just waiting for his mother.
She found Langdon and Robby in a faceoff. Langdon had his fists clenched so hard she was sure that underneath his fingertips, there would be blood.
“I don’t understand why I can’t be in the same room as her! We aren’t busy! You won’t even tell me how she’s doing! You literally left her side to make sure I wasn’t near her.” Langdon was livid. Trinity couldn’t understand why Robby was adamant that Langdon stay away from Mel. She knew if Mel was awake, she would likely want Langdon there.
“Because you are not family. Her emergency contacts will be called first as we do with every patient!” Robby spit at him.
“Fine! Call her emergency contact! Because I fucking am her emergency contact!”
Robby laughed. “Is there nothing you won’t lie about to get your way?” Okay. This had gone too far from Robby.
“Frank,” Trinity interrupted. Langdon’s eyes went wide at the use of his first name from her. “I talked to Abby, she said she will be here in 15 minutes. Likely 10 now since I checked in on Penny on my way to you. She, and most likely Tanner, will be ready for discharge once Abby is here to take them home.”
“Thank you, Santos.” He practically spit the words out, but she knew his ire was not directed at her.
Robby during their conversation had walked to the nursing station. He had decided to personally make the call to Mel’s contact, just to rub it in Langdon’s face. His face was so fucking smug as he typed the number in the file into the landline. Maybe if he hadn’t been so focused on being a dick to Langdon, he would have taken the time to actually read the file. The phone rang only once before it was picked up.
“Frank Langdon, exceptional liar speaking.”
Robby looked like he was about to shit a brick and quickly hung up the phone. Langdon, to his credit, did not look smug, but he was still pissed.
“Can I go see Mel now? Or are lying former drug addicts not trusted to sit bedside by someone?”
Robby at least had the decency to look ashamed of having his words thrown back at him. “You can’t go in right now.” Langdon looked ready to explode. Robby was quick to diffuse. “Not because of you. She was stabilized and taken up to surgery. She has a broken femur and fractured wrist, right side for both. They will cast those while she’s under, but the surgery is for pneumothorax as a result of two broken ribs.”
Langdon ran his hands through his hair, leaving it messier than it usually sits. Trinity was worried he would snap from the stress and take it out on Robby, however deserved.
“Why don’t you go and wait for Abby?” Trinity interrupted the tension between the two men. “The kids are in rooms next to each other, so you can sit with them. Now that we know you are Mel’s emergency contact we will know to come and get you once she is out.”
He looked warily at her, opening his mouth as if to fight what he was told to do. “I promise you, that I will make sure that I come and get you. And if I can’t, I will send someone who I know will.” Robby frowned at her implication that she would get someone who wouldn’t put Robby’s personal desires over Mel’s.
Langdon nodded in response to that, the fight leaving his body at once. “Thank you,” he whispered, and it sounded so broken she almost wished he would just insult her so they could return to the status quo. “I just can’t lose her.” He was even quieter as he said this. Trinity hoped that Robby was to dumb and naïve to realize how close the two were. Otherwise, being this cruel to someone you know is a former addict, during one of the worst moments of his life, is something she does not think she will be able to reconcile.
Langdon began to walk towards his kids’ rooms, shoulders hunched. Trinity looked around to realize that with how slow the Pitt was today, everyone had heard Robby and Langdon’s fight, and they all had similar opinions to her, if their glares towards Robby were any indication. Mohan (#1 Robby hater) was glaring from where she was charting Mel’s case, with McKay and Javadi right beside her looking downright scary. Even Huckleberry had a look of disgust on his face. Robby walked towards Dana, likely to rant, but even she took a stand, giving him a sharp nod indicating that she did not want to speak to him at the moment.
Trinity went back to the nurses’ station, ready to start and finish Penny’s chart before any other patients could be assigned to her. With only superficial cuts, this chart would likely be the easiest of the month. And from her seat, she could keep an eye on the young girl, and her panicking father who was getting his energy out by pacing between his two kids’ rooms every 3-4 minutes.
Lupe came in, calling for Langdon with Abby hurrying beside her. The two exes embraced. Trinity was trying not to watch but she couldn’t look away, especially when she noticed tears streaming down Langdon’s face. She got up and walked over the two once their embrace ended so she could update Abby on Penny’s condition.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Santos and I have been Penny’s primary doctor.” She stuck her hand out to Abby to shake. “Penny is actually ready for discharge as soon as you can sign the papers. She only had some light cuts on her arm from the window glass shard. No stitches were needed, but we cleaned and bandaged them to make sure there is no infection.”
Langdon was nodding along as she spoke, as if trying to remind himself that Penny actually was fine.
“That is great,” Abby said. “And Tanner?”
“I believe Dr. McKay was his doctor, and she should be over soon to talk to you about his condition.”
Langdon didn’t leave her in the dark for long. “Tanner is also fine; he only had bruises. McKay told me he was ready for discharge once you got here.”
Abby gave him a confused look. “Why couldn’t they be discharged with you? You are still on their emergency contact list, right?”
“Yeah, but their car seats were in Mel’s car. I knew you had a safe way to get them home.” Logically, she knew Langdon was a doctor, and therefore responsible, but seeing him in dad mode was just weird.
Abby’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, Mel. Is she okay? Is Becca okay? Santos couldn’t tell me on the phone.”
Langdon sighed. “Becca is fine. Didn’t even need checked out. They have her sitting in the break room with the lights off. This was just a lot for her. Mel is critical because of a collapsed lung, but she is with Garcia, so I think she will be fine.”
Abby looked relieved, and Trinity realized she must actually care for Mel. Which was not what she was expecting in the slightest. “Will you go up for her after I take the kids?” She asked this like she would judge more if he didn’t go than if he did. Langdon just nodded in response.
Trinity started to step away, realizing this conversation no longer involved her, and she could see McKay in the distance realizing that Abby had arrived. McKay started walking over to give Abby the news she already knows.
“Santos!” Langdon interrupted her attempt at an escape. He jogged over to her. “I just wanted to thank you.”
“It’s kind of my job, Langdon. Also, I have morals, I don’t just let kids suffer regardless of what you think.”
“No, no that,” he huffed. “Although, yes. You are right thank you for helping Penny. You were kind to her and helped calm her down.”
She did not like where this was going. “Like I said, no problem.”
“I wanted to thank you for stepping in between me and Robby. I wasn’t thinking. My therapist says I think with my emotions and not logic and if you weren’t there, I probably would have done something I regretted.”
“You don’t need to apologize for that either. He was being a dick. He should have known better than to try and get under your skin, especially while you are suffering like this.”
Langdon went quiet, and that scared Trinity more than anything. “I just can’t lose her,” he whispered, and it was so soft, she almost missed it. She was starting to pray for another trauma to come in so she could escape this conversation, but she never considered herself lucky.
“How long as it been a thing?” He knew what she was asking.
“We made it official about seven months ago, around the holidays. Told the kids, Becca, and Abby. But we went out after the 4th of July shift.” He must have seen the shocked look on her face because he quickly added, “It wasn’t romantic! Abby had just served the papers like two weeks before, but Mel was so sad when Becca cancelled their yearly fireworks plans. And I had such a shitty day and realized we both needed a friend there.”
She grimaced, knowing she was a large part of that shitty day. But she had gotten better in time. Robby on the other hand…
“I’m glad. I mean, I figured you two had something going on, but I was worried you idiots would be too cowardly to do anything about it.” He glared at her, but under the stress, it was lackluster.
“If it makes you feel better it still took us like five months to do anything about it,” he grumbled.
“It does,” she grinned at him. Garcia appeared around the corner, that obnoxious smirk on her face. “Hey boy toy,” the surgeon directed at Langdon. “Your girlfriend is out of surgery and in recovery. We are just waiting for her to wake up.”
It’s clear how much Langdon cares for Mel that he didn’t snap at Yolanda. His spine straightened. “Can I go in and see her?”
Garcia shrugged. “Normally we don’t let dipshits in, but I can make an exception for my favorite ER punching bag.” Langdon continued to ignore her.
“Shit. My shift. Robby will never let me—”
“Dr. Shen is on his way to relieve you,” Dana interrupted his spiral. Langdon looked at her wearily, knowing that Robby would never let him leave. “I told him it was the least he could do after his behavior today,” the charge nurse was smiling, reveling in the fact that she got to yell at Robby.
“Thank you, all of you,” Langdon rushed out, before he turned on his heels and sped to wherever Mel currently was. On his way, they watched as he spoke to Abby, confirming everything with the kids. He stopped by each of their rooms, speaking softly to them and kissing them on the head. Penny began to cry and asked for Mel, but Langdon just held her and soothed her. Tanner also asked about Mel, and Abby stepped in to say that Langdon was going to check on her now. Finally, he grabbed Becca from the break room and took her up to the recovery ward.
Hours later and their shift never got more interesting. Which was good and bad. Good, because this was the least tired Trinity felt since she started at PTMC. Bad because this also was the slowest shift of her life.
“You ready to go?” Whitaker asked her. He had been pissy all day after Robby snapped at Langdon. The new ER golden boy was rarely pissed at Robby, but when he was, it lasted for a days. She was not looking forward to him grumbling and stopping around their apartment.
She shook her head. “I am going to run upstairs and visit Mel before I leave. Check in, ya know?”
“Okay, I will take the bus then and meet you at home. Dinner from the Ramen Bar in Squirrel Hill?”
“Sounds good,” she responded. They said their goodbyes, and she head up to the recovery ward to see Mel. The elevator ride was peaceful, she was actually using it when she wasn’t in a rush for once. She walked into the start of a temper tantrum, one that Langdon was desperately trying to stamp down before it began.
“But I am hungry! And Mel isn’t awake yet!” Becca was standing in the corner of the room with her fingers twisting among themselves.
Langdon was clearly stressed and trying not to show it. He was tightly braiding Mel’s hair. “She should wake up any minute though, Becs. And we don’t want her to wake up alone, right?”
“There are nurses here, she won’t be alone. I can be quick.” Becca was not taking no for an answer.
“Why don’t I take you to the cafeteria Becca?” Trinity stepped in and offered. Langdon swung his head around, not realizing she was here.
“No,” Becca deadpanned, “I don’t know you.” Well, there goes that plan.
Langdon looked like he would scream in frustration. She tried a new approach. “Langdon, you take Becca up, and I can stay with Mel. I was coming up to visit her anyway. Didn’t want you hogging the bedside and your attention.”
He looked like he was about to protest but she beat him to it. “And I know you haven’t eaten all day, and I have no problem waiting until Mel wakes up. We all know I love tattling on you.” He glared at her and her shit-eating grin that she was sporting. But he followed her suggestions and grabbed his things and started ushering Becca towards the door.
“Please text me immediately if she wakes up,” he pleaded, one foot out the door to rush Becca.
“Only if you eat something,” she added, knowing he would skip that part. “Mel would kill me otherwise.”
He shot her a look that let her know they all knew she was full of shit. She had rarely seen Mel get angry. As they left, she pulled out her phone, scrolling through social media. Mel wasn’t awake to side eye her for watching TikToks too loudly without headphones.
“Frank?” That was not her cat video compilation. Trinity looked up and saw that Mel’s face was scrunched up and her hand was searching the bed for something. Trinity reached over to the chair where Langdon had left his things and placed Mel’s glasses on her face.
Her eyes opened instantly, face still twisted in pain. “Frank, are the kids—” she stopped when she saw it was her and not Langdon. “Oh. Sorry, Santos.”
“No, no. Sorry to disappoint you. Frank took Becca to eat. I told him if they didn’t go and he didn’t eat something you’d be angry.” She expected her to laugh, but Mel just twisted her face more.
“He does know how angry I get when he puts us before his own health.” Huh? She didn’t know there was actual truth to her threats.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a truck,” she sounded just like her twin when she was monotone like this. She started to shift herself into a sitting position, and Trinity helped her up. “Are the kids okay?”
“Yes,” Trinity answered. “Discharged almost immediately after they came in. It’s almost like it was stupid of you to send them before yourself. What was that about putting others before your own health? Or does that only apply to lover boy?”
Mel winced, and they both knew that she would get an earful from Langdon too once or if he found out she sent them first. “I know,” she whispered. “I was just so worried something would happen to them. I couldn’t do that to him.”
Trinity was winning the award for emotional support co-worker today. Like a DAISY, but more gossip. “Yeah well, from how upset he was today I am not sure the poor guy can handle losing you either.”
Tears began to well in Mel’s eyes. “I know.”
“He cares about you a lot. Like definitely loves you”
“I know,” Mel repeated. After a moment of silence, she quietly said, “I love him too. So much.”
“Almost punched Robby over you. Kinda romantic. First time I was rooting for the guy.”
“He did what?!” Mel was pushing herself up more.
“I did not almost punch Robby,” Langdon entered the room. He waved a bagel in Trinity’s face as proof that he could follow directions. Becca went to the chair in the corner of the room and sat down with her cafeteria pizza. “We just fought a little. There’s no proof I was going to do shit.”
“I saw him pull his arm back.”
“Santos!” Langdon glared at her. He turned towards Mel and Trinity can’t described it any better than saying he melted. “Sweetheart, how are you feeling?” He tucked a piece of hair that fell out of her haphazard braid behind her ear. Mel sighed in relief, and it occurred to Trinity for the first time how well Langdon knew her needs. “I was so worried.”
“I am fine,” Mel said. She was trying to placate him.
“She was wincing in pain earlier.” The couple turned to look at her. Langdon was smirking and Mel looked betrayed. “I can tattle on both Langdons. It’s kind of a gift.”
“We aren’t married!” Mel shouted while Frank giggled and tried rubbing her arm to calm her down.
“You told me to play nice with Santos. I am just following your advice, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, well I didn’t say you should only play nice at my expense,” she growled. Langdon just looked at her like she hung the moon. She had been the only one in the Pitt to believe this was a thing, and she still felt oblivious. How had she missed the way he looked at her? And even though Mel was altering between glaring at the two of them, her hand had never left his and was gripping so tightly he was sure to have marks tomorrow. It was her cue to leave. Plus, if she saw them kiss, she’d throw up on his bagel.
“Well, it got gushy in here, so that’s my cue.” She stood up from the chair she was sitting in and moved it towards Langdon. “Feel better, Mel.”
“Thank you, Trinity.” “Thanks, Santos.” Ugh. They even speak at the same time. Disgustingly cute.
“And Mel?”
Mel hummed her confusion.
“Maybe next time, don’t send Penny and Tanner first when you are clearly in more critical condition.”
“You did what?!” Langdon looked furious.
“Trinity!” Mel gasped.
Becca began giggling in the corner. “Frank did call Santos a ‘tattletale’ when we went to the cafeteria earlier because he wasn’t going to eat until she threatened to tell you.” Mel’s sister went back to her pizza, not realizing how her comment made Trinity laugh hysterically.
She was still chuckling as she left the room. Someone to tattle on Langdon to? And some easy way to mess with Mel? Oh, this was going to make the next few weeks very interesting. And for the first time she starting at PTMC, Trinity Santos couldn’t wait until her next shift with Frank Langdon.