Dating Game.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/82281151
Cassie seeks advice on dating apps. And she's very observant of the company she keeps.
Pre Kingdon, Pre Mohabbot and McShen (Pre or casual).
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Cassie stuck her phone in Langdon’s somewhat amused face. ‘How about this one?’ His blue eyes were nearly crossed eyed as he examined the small screen. Perhaps she was holding it too close to his face.
‘You look good. But I have to ask why you are asking for my opinion on this? Surely someone else-’ He gestured at Mel next to him and Mohan next to her, both of whom were not paying them any bit of mind. ‘-would have more of an artistic eye for this.’
Cassie pulled her phone back. Pouting at the selfie on the screen. ‘It’s not about artistry. You’re a man I would like a man’s opinion on it.’
Langdon sipped at his red bull. His last vice. One thick eyebrow hitting his hairline as he tried to fight back laughter. ‘So you ask for my opinion on photos for your dating profile? Mine?’ The eye roll was childish. Mel’s eyes glanced up from her lunch. Salad that look simple but extremely heathy. Cassie tried to not feel bad about her loaded sandwich. Way too much mayo. But it was tasty.
Her eyes flicked curiously at Cassie’s phone, then down at her own. ‘You are a man. At least as so far as I can assume.’ Cassie wiggled her eyebrows, kicking out at his shin
His loud bark of a laugh, drew smiles out of both their lunch companions. ‘Yes a man headed for divorce – solid choice McKay.’ Mohan tutted a little. Langdon shook his head at her. ‘Just saying out of the all the choices for a second opinion on dating app photos – a guy who was married before 30, divorced before 35 and has precisely fuck all experience with online dating....’
That much was true. Langdon had kept the news quiet for a few weeks on his return. Wanting the dust to settle before he added more fuel to the fire. But then Emma had commented on his sudden bare finger one day. He’d shrugged it off as best he could. It was for the best really. At least according to him. His rehab stint hadn’t been the cause but how they both handed it really exposed unfixable problems. Cassie’s life mirrored his more and more. So she’d been quick once again to offer her ear.
She wasn’t his sponsor. Neither of them had thought it a good idea. But they had their little Pitt Addict hub. The Divorcee Society. ‘Maybe we should set you up on one. When was the last time you got laid?’
‘Seriously!???’
Mohan’s outraged voice cut through whatever remark Langdon was going to come out with. Mel’s head hit the table with a thunk and a loud groan. ‘Becca’s blathering non stop about sex and now everyone here is at it.’ Well that cut everyone off. When Mel reached her limit it really worked.
Cassie wiggled her eyebrows at Frank. He looked as amused as she felt. The hand he placed on Mel’s shoulder was curious. Words hushed so neither she or Mohan could catch them as he spoke to the blonde Doctor. Cassie turned to Mohan to exchange an inquisitive look about the pair. Stopped as she took in the furious brown eyes glaring at the signs all over the fridge. Oh right. July fourth. The death stare and the lamenting over her eggs dying.
At least Cassie wasn’t the only one not getting any. All four of them.
Becca King was.
Go her.
Complicated for Mel though, Cassie mused. Being responsible for care and board for both of them. No other family living to support them. An unexpected pregnancy would probably fall to her. Yikes that was a lot to deal with. Shit. Langdon the Mel whisperer had her upright pretty quickly. Not that Cassie was trying to read into that. Those two just clicked. Nothing weird there. Some people just got on.
Langdon’s eyes narrowed at Mohan. That old glint of mischief dancing. It was nice to see it coming back more and more each day. Cassie couldn’t help but notice that his arm had wound it’s way around Mel’s shoulders.
Curious and curiouser.
‘What.’ Mohan who never missed a beat leaned back in her chair.
Frank took a leisurely sip of his red bull. Enjoying the increasing tension building in Mohan. Not in a mean way. Just to tease her a little bit. She was more than a little high strung. Mohan needed a little teasing every now and then. ‘Not sure why you’re so snippy about the situation.’
Mohan pulled her hair down. Scratching at her scalp in frustration. Huffing and puffing. Cassie hid her mirth in her sandwich. White bread, processed chicken the whole whack of not so good. But she’s put worst things into her body. This was nothing.
‘I’m practically a nun at this stage Langdon.’ Mel groaned stabbing at a piece of cucumber. No doubt playing a conversation with Becca in her head. Cassie had only had a brief chat with her but honest really didn’t do Becca King justice. Forthright and confident in it. She could only imagine what she was like with her twin.
‘Hm.’ Langdon leaned back in his chair. The mischief blooming into absolute deviousness. He’d been like this with Collins. Poking good hearted fun but also calling some truths out. Not mean or private. But pointed enough.
Mohan’s eyes narrowed as her mouth set in an unimpressed line. ‘What do you think you know Langdon?’
Sure his nickname was ER Ken but Cassie had forgotten how hot Langdon could be. The smirk couple with twinkling blue eyes. A little part of her brain couldn’t help but ponder. Evil dark thoughts of the fun kind. Tall, broad shouldered, fit. Yeah no hot was the word for Langdon. Maybe he had hot friends? Or a sibling?
Oh there was an option.
He fluffed his hair with a smug chuckle. ‘Only what everyone knows.’ Mel’s face flattened a little. One thing that earned respect for the blonde was her determination to not play the games that often underscored the social interactions. It had been refreshing when Mel had quietly shut down speculating on Langdon during his 10 months away. Never made a big deal. Just a quiet little comment about focusing back on work. Better than any scold or rebuke.
Langdon caught the shift and flicked her braid. ‘This isn’t gossip Mel. It’s direct scientific observation.’ Cassie did her best to not laugh. Hiding under the pretense of picking photos.
‘Oh is it?’ Mohan’s tone was almost ice cold. It took effort to recognise the undercurrent underneath. A vein of heat.
‘Indeed it is.’ He was trying not to laugh. Cassie shot Mel an amused look. Distinctly pleased when she got a returning look.
‘Care to share Doctor Langdon?’
‘If you’re not sure perhaps you should ask Doctor Abbot?’
Mohan blanched. Must be tricky trying to maintain composure with three sets of eyes on you. Langdon: evil devious, Cassie: deeply amused, Mel: curious and hopeful.
It was not Mohan’s turn to drop her head to the table. ‘Fuck me.’
‘I am sure Abbot would be first in line to volunteer.’ Mohan blindly groped around the table. Hand clutching onto her empty juice box and lobbed it blindly. It bounced off Langdon’s head. His bark like laugh echoed in the room again. ‘That’s not a no. Also Cass: I’d go with the-’ He drew a lowish line across his chest. ‘top one.’
‘Because men like tits.’ Cassie flicked back to the one in question. She did look good in it. He had a point.
Langdon. shrugged. ‘You said it not me.’
Mohan’s voice cut in. ‘Are you sure about-’ Her voice was all in a rush. Cassie felt her eyebrows raise. It was really only around Robby that Mohan sounded unsure of herself. God that was an awful thought. From the furrowed brows opposite the same thought had occurred across the table. Langdon’s usually electric bright blue eyes looked somehow cloudy. Guilt. But not his usual fair.
‘About Abbot? Only you are unsure.’ Langdon patted her nearest outstretched arm. A brief touch. Unlike the arm still around Mel’s chair. His side brushing against hers. Mel had yet to pull away as she usually did with people. The Langdon exception. Curious.
Mel, who sat up and propped her chin in her hand. Elbow on the table. ‘If I can pick it up... well then it’s rather obvious.’
‘Mel you really knock yourself unnecessarily. You caught on to the bulldozer hitting on you.’ Mohan smiled softly at the blonde. Langdon jolted a little. Cassie was a little too confused to catch the exact nature of why he jumped. ‘Even with his rather unique approach.’
‘Who is Bulldozer?’ Cassie and Langdon asked in unison. But each aimed the question at a different person. Mohan tried to hide a laugh while Mel flushed.
She mumbled something intelligible. Frank cocked his head, looking rather unhappy. Cassie shifted from Mel to Mohan, who just shook her head. Useless. ‘The guy who knocked me over.’ Mel repeated though it sound entirely reluctant.
‘The criminal?’ The outrage was as funny as it was hypocritical. He barely hid his grunt at Cassie’s well aimed kick. He diverted meds. And she was a previous class four drug user. His indignation. Sure he was trying to dress it up as though it was under the standards this guy had clearly failed. Jesus Langdon really need to get a handle on himself.
Cassie could stop the glee at his expense bleed into her voice. ‘Unique approach?’
Mohan let out the most inelegant snort. Mel’s face flattened into irritation at the noise. Obviously this was a conversation had more than a few times. Both women having a very facially based conversation. The guilty storm bloomed into bright lightning. Why he was looking at her was honestly anyone’s guess. Men. Cassie wasn’t sure why she was bothering with the entire bloody lot of them.
Mohan’s laugh was bright and lovely. ‘Mel if you don’t tell them I will.’ Bright hazel eyes sparked in fury. Well as close to fury as Cassie had ever seen Mel come to. Rumour had it that Langdon had been witness to a sisterly spat on July 4th. Something to do with sex if Mel’s continuing sour mood when Becca was asked after was anything to go by. Mohan waited. Mel pouted, eyes turning puppy dog large. However Mohan was immune. ‘This guys particular approach was to compare her to his mother.’
Men.
Fuck men really were morons.
An insult to the human race Cassie determined. She had firm proof with her ex. But someone hitting on lovely, enthusiastic Mel but comparing her to his mother?
‘A novel approach.’
‘Between that and the head injury surprised he didn’t propose.’ Even Langdon looked shocked at his acerbic comment. Sometimes those intrusive thoughts.
Mel’s eyebrows knotted together. ‘Not my favourite joke.’
‘It’s no Captain Scurvy to be sure. Sorry.’ It was a little rude to have inside jokes running with company. But still interesting to watch. Mohan had that look on her face. The one when she was onto a tricky diagnosis. A spark of understanding.
Cassie frowned at her phone. Deciding to help Mel somewhat: her cheeks still flaming. She was half tempted to get a photo of Langdon’s face. A combination of embarrassment and perhaps jealousy? ‘I quite like the photo of you from the park on the fourth.’
Cassie flicked to the image she mentioned. Her mid laughter. It was interesting it was Mel’s choice. ‘I can hear your laugh when I see it.’ Cassie placed it second. Mel was right, it did express a degree of her personality. The loud boisterous part. ‘Feels like you. Real.’
Cassie couldn’t help but press a hand to her chest. Touched by the complement. ‘That’s really nice of you to say Mel. Thank you.’
Somehow Cassie understood that real was something akin to true to Mel King. And that was who she was. True to herself, her feelings and her beliefs. No matter how odd they might appear to the world around her. She had respect for it. And Mel did seem to see the truth in people. Her joy and acceptance in welcoming Langdon back for one. Even after he confessed all. She took it in stride. Even admiring the strength it took. Cassie had found herself sharing her own story a few weeks prior. One bad day and Mel listened to her. Not a flicker of judgement that she’d seen so often before.
Cassie liked real.
‘Evening, no patients to be cured today?’ Shen strode into the staff room. Dark eyes glinting with his ever good humour. Iced coffee in hand. Cassie always wondered how he wasn’t taking a piss every 10 minutes the amount he drank.
Langdon leaned back, chair kicking back on two legs and matched his lazy grin. Oh god the ER Kens at it again. ‘We thought it kind to let you justify your existence. Let you medicine upon occasion. Keep your skills up.’
Mel did her best to hide her weary sigh. Failed miserably. Shen eyeballed Cassie’s phone. She didn’t think the spark of interest was entirely curious. But something a little more. ‘Nice photo McKay.’
Langdon’s eyes flicked back and forth. He opened his mouth to say something but a weird grunt was offered instead. King adjusted her glasses with the most sweet innocent expression. If Cassie hadn’t been observing her closely she would have missed the twitch of her lips. Woman’s elbow must be as sharp as her wit.
‘Personally the dating apps are such a fucking chore.’ Shen commented leaning back against the fridge. He was the definition of the chill. Unbothered to the core. Cassie always enjoyed spending time with him. Good humour and a great doctor. Any man who could phase Robby with sheer calm was a man to be respected.
Cassie nodded with a long suffering sigh. One hand landing on her jaw. ‘True but a means to an end I hope.’
Shen’s grin grew a little darker. Mohan stood up without fanfare and departed. If Shen was in: Abbot was likely to be around. Subtle she was not. Langdon was dragged to his feet by Mel. ‘We better start the handover. I hate to leave Dr Parker hanging.’
Shen leaned back further aiming his most dazzling smile at Mel. ‘And that is why your her favourite day shift Doc. But next to Langdon anyone would look amazing.’ Mel frowned a little but didn’t comment. Langdon just rolled his eyes, letting himself be dragged out of the room.
Subtle, they were not. But Cassie laughed never the less. ‘Always fun on the day shift.’
Shen watched them leave, chuckling along with her chortle.
‘Chaos abounds.’
Cassie shrugged. It was true there was more overtime of late. Just perfect timing of big incidents or staffing shortages. ‘More overlap with the night shift than one might expect.’
‘Maybe I am a fool as Abbot claims but I do enjoy those shifts a little more. Company is fun.’
‘Spice of life and all that.’ Cassie checked the time. He was due to pick up Harrison soon. ‘Sorry but have to get going myself.’
‘Picking up Harrison?’ She blinked in surprise. Yeah she talked about her son at work all the time. But the fact that John Shen remembered his name? There was more overlap lately but it was still a surprise he remembered that. She nodded. ‘If you catch Abbot while he’s trying, and failing, to ask out Mohan you can slip out.’ His voice dropped conspiratorially. ‘But you didn’t hear that from me.’
Cassie held up her hands with another laugh. ‘Hear what?’
Shen’s eyebrow arched as he threw his now empty coffee in the bin. ‘I always liked you McKay.’ Yeah that was flirting. And she was enjoying the shit out of it. Also Shen was hot. He wasn’t the night ER Ken for no reason.
She paused at the door. Dating apps really did suck. ‘You can call me Cassie you know.’ Throwing the words over her shoulder with a searing look at him.
He straightened, his own smile flaring darker. ‘Not Cassandra?’
‘Weaker men have tried. And not survived.’
He threw his head back with a laugh. ‘Sounds like fun.’