Work Text:
He knew where she'd be.
At the slightest mention from Al-Hashimi that Dr King seemed to have disappeared, he was off. He made a beeline for the doors out to the ambulance bay, only stopping along the way to pull on his coat (and the woolly hat she'd knitted him that had become his most prized possession). He rounded the corner, and sure enough, there she was.
Staring into the ether that was the world outside of the PTMC, Resting Sad Face in full force (a term coined by Trinity after 'Melancholia' had informed her that she was not in fact permanently on the verge of tears, that was literally just her face), Mel suddenly became very aware of the familiar footsteps headed her way. She did not turn around. Not because she didn't want him there, she always wanted him there. It was because she had a suspicion that, if she did, she might actually cry. Nothing particularly major had happened, she had simply passed over from being exhausted into being emotional and slipped outside as soon as she felt that particular shift in her own personal atmosphere. She had felt herself begin to regulate the second she stepped into the (actually admittedly quite cold now) air, and now his soothing presence was creating a protective bubble around the two of them. She let out a breath and watched the air turn white.
Frank knew better than to say anything that might startle her, and he had every intention of standing there in comfortable silence until she wanted to talk. But then again, knowing better and doing better are two entirely different things, especially when you can't help but notice your favourite co-worker's lips have gone a concerning shade of blue. So, instead, he abandoned his well-intentioned plan and said:
"Mel? You must be freezing, oh god, Mel you should be wearing a jacket." He shrugged off his own and held it up tentatively. "It comes in peace, ok?" She looked up at him now, and smiled.
"Ok." She said, rolling her eyes.
Frank grinned.
"There's my girl." He murmured fondly, draping it gently around her. Their fingers brushed slightly as she took hold of it, pulling it gratefully around her admittedly goosebump-covered arms.
"Thanks," she said, shyly. She looked further up, and it was at this point that she realised why she couldn't see his hair. Her face flushed slightly. "You don't have to wear that."
"No, I do. I don't know if you've noticed Mel, but it's actually incredibly cold out here."
"I mean," She sighed, embarrassed. "I made it."
"Exactly. I'm wearing it because you made it, and that makes it the best hat I've ever owned." He said, matter-of-factly, and pulled it down further over his ears in a defiant manner that suggested you would not be able to separate him and this hat without serious injury.
She could not stop herself from beaming now, so she had to look away. Her face was decidedly pink from the weight of the compliment.
Frank's attempt to punch the air discreetly to congratulate himself on managing to cheer her up was robbed of its discreetness, as his failure to factor in his now-apparently-chronic back pain caused him to make a noise not dissimilar to "HaaaAh!"
Mel spun around to face him, immediate concern spreading across her features.
"What happened?"
"It's fine."
"That was not a fine noise."
"I'm ok."
"You know it's sometimes the most mundane things that trigger the most pain. I pulled a muscle in my arm two months ago just from lifting patients." She tipped her head to the side, her eyes on him, waiting. He could never lie to that look.
"Yeah, my back's been worse ever since I started sleeping in the hospital." He conceded, stretching his arms out. "But I've been doing yoga, so it's ok. And I don't even want the pills for it anymore, isn't that so great? I mean sometimes I think- Mel? What is it?"
Her face had turned ashen. She was staring at him in what could only be described as abject horror.
"You're.. you're sleeping in the hospital?" She whispered, aghast, in the most darkly worried voice he'd ever heard from her. From anyone, really. He was taken aback.
"W- yeah? But it's fine, actually. I'm in the same wing that Whitaker used to-"
"Stop it! No." She cut him off, shaking her head quickly and holding up her hands as if the motion would somehow make him shut up being so happy about this insane situation faster. "You're not, you can't, I won't let you. Uh uh. No." Still shaking her head, her voice was louder now. Mel was so beyond angry on his behalf, and there was a finality to her reaction that stopped him in his tracks.
"It's ok, don't worry Mel. I've made it kind of homey in there, ever since Abby kicked me out-"
"You've.. Abby... that was four months ago Frank." She was breathing heavily now, upset that he hadn't told her, that she hadn't noticed. "Oh god... oh... I'm so..."
"Hey, hey," He said softly, moving closer, bracing his hands on her shoulders and gazing gently at her stricken face. "Listen to me. I wanted to tell you, but I didn't want you to get in trouble too if I got found out. Ok? No one knows about it, it's safer that way." He bowed his head to be closer to hers, and looked into her worried eyes. "But you do not need to feel bad about this. There was no way you could've known about it and nothing you could've done differently." He took his hands off of her shoulders and rested them by his sides, but he didn't step back.
She hesitated, then rested her forehead on his.
Frank was internally momentarily shocked that she initiated contact like this. He was also internally exploding from happiness. All of the stress seemed to melt away from his body as he relaxed into it and exhaled. They stayed there in meaningful silence with their eyes closed for what felt like a lifetime. It was probably about a minute before Frank broke it.
"I'm so sorry Mel." He whispered.
"It's ok." She whispered back.
He reached out and, giving her every chance to pull away if she wanted to, entwined her fingers in his. Mel exhaled. She smiled to herself, and reached for his other hand, taking that in hers too. Frank let out a small, relieved laugh.
Mel suddenly remembered what had started all of this, and looked him in the eyes.
"Don't stay in the hospital anymore. Move in with me."
Frank didn't even have to think about it.
"Yes."