Frank hasn't had a lot of friends since rehab. In fact, he can count how many friends he currently has on one hand: Cassie Mckay, Mel King, and Jack Abbot. It has been a few months since he’s been back at work and it's been…rough. That's how he described it to his mandated therapist. Rough.
Night shifts were even worse, his sleep schedule gets fucked, for one and he barely gets enough time to see his kids before he gets thrown right back into the blinding lights of the hospital. Ok, maybe rough was a tad underselling it.
It’s not like Frank doesn't still love being a doctor, he does! It's just different now. Everyone treats him like he’s on the edge of a cliff and about to jump off. Except for Mel, of course. Thank god for Mel.
When he saw you walk through the doors, the first thought he had was that you were gorgeous, then the second thought was that he shouldn't think that given his recent divorce and recent, well, everything. But you are pretty. You walked in like you knew this was where you belonged, which is something Frank never feels. He wonders why he's never seen you around before.
But the universe is constantly punishing him because whenever he tried to talk to you, he had a patient to see or forms to fill out. The one time he was even in the same room as you it went to shit almost immediately and after you left him with Mr. Cline, he made sure to lecture him on respecting women. Then he couldn't even make conversation with you and Abbot because he felt so bad about Mr. Cline. Pathetic.
Finally, he sees you walking out with Mel, he knows this is the chance he’d been waiting for. The chance to get into your good graces and the fact that you're already friends with Mel? A great bonus. But once again, the universe hates him because he had to see the way the sun hits your eyes, making them glow, and then hear immediately after that you don't even want to be friends. Fuck.
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He hears the words echo in his head even as he says goodbye to Mel “We don't need to be friendly.” Over and over again they churn in his mind. Actually, screw that, so what if you don't want to be friends. Frank Langdon needs friends, so he’ll get them. Even if they have to be begged and bought with surprisingly expensive coffee.
“Fresh coffee just as promised.” Frank smiles his most charming smile and watches as you stare at it on the break room table like it might bite. “I told you I didn't want coffee.” As if any sane doctor would refuse coffee “This is a no strings attached coffee! Just a completely meaningless gesture.” Please take it, he needs friends so badly. As you take the cup, he feels the spark of victory go through him “Next time, you’ll have to tell me what your order is.” He says to no reply as you are whisked away by Abbot.
Mel smiles like she’s trying not to take pity on him “Be quiet Dr. King.” “She’s really very nice.” Franks sighs and runs a hand through his hair “Yeah, just not interested in being nice to me.”
It’s not like he was trying to keep an eye on you throughout the shift. If someone accused him of doing such a thing he would simply say it was research. How to get someone who obviously doesn't like you to be your friend. It worked on Trinity, kinda. So when he notices that every time he passes you, your shoulders are tighter and nearer to your ears than before, that's just good reconnaissance.
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“Hey, are you ok?” Frank leans over your shoulder a little as you type away aggressively on the computer. You smell good. Shit, that’s weird. Ignoring how good you smell he tries to focus on what you are saying. “I’m fine, Dr. Langdon. Do you mind?” Right, yes backing up a little Frank sighs “Alright. Well, let me know if you need anything.”
A gurney comes bursting through the doors and Shen calls for Frank, Abbot, and you “40 year old women, glass in the side of her face and neck, nasty bar fight.” Frank leans over the women “Miss? Can you tell me your name?” “Carol.” She mumbles through the blood dripping out of her mouth. “Ok Carol. We are going to make everything alright.”
“Alright! Can we get an x-ray here?” Abbot shouts out and about five people jump to action, Frank included. “Spinal accessories are normal. Pushing 2 milligrams of morphine.” You say, like you’d done this a million times before but then Abbot asks you where they need to cut to make sure no glass got into important nerves and Frank watches as you freeze. He sees the panic in your eyes as you search for an answer that doesn't come “Uh…sorry, Jesus. Uh..”
Shen seems to sense your hesitation as well and steps in “We need to cut from the mastoid tip to the midline of the neck. Scalpel?” You nod, quickly grabbing the scalpel and then just as quickly nicking Shen in the bicep with it “Shit!” “Shit! Shen, I am so so sorry.” He watches as Shen grits his teeth, trying to smile, and reaches for a clean scalpel “It’s alright, just take a breath.”
You take a jerky step back and Frank thinks that you might be about to cry, or scream. He hasn't really had time to figure out your facial expressions yet but he can tell this one is a bad one from the way your eyebrows are pinched together. Thankfully the operation passes just fine and the woman is going to be ok but the minute everything is in the clear, he sees you bolt out of the room.
Abbot glances at him with a concerned look “Wanna go check on her?” Something about Abbot saying that makes him realize that, yes, he does want to check on you. For some reason. Friendship, that's the reason Frank lands on as he is trying to track you down, going from room to room. As he enters the stairwell to head to the next floor he hears a slight sniffle echo off of the walls. Ah, hiding in the stairwell is classic.
“Hey,” Frank murmurs as he settles beside you. “Go away.” You mumble, pressing your hands to your eyes “Ok.” He can understand when someone wants to be alone so he goes to stand but is surprised when your hand shoots out and grabs his wrist “No, wait.” “You want me to stay?” You nod a little and drop his hand. Frank sighs a little as he sits.
“Is Shen ok?” Frank looks at you, feeling a pang in his chest at the fact that you are worried about Shen even as you’re crying “Yeah, Shen’s good. It was a shallow cut.” He sees the way your shoulders drop in relief, and leaning back against the stairs Frank decides to try something, “What was the trigger?” You glance at him “Are you therapizing me right now?” Shit, he thought that would work. “I didn't think you'd realize.” “I'm a doctor.” Frank smiles slightly, “Not all doctors go to therapy.” You shoot back with “Yeah, clearly.” Making him laugh, a short burst like he was caught by surprise.
Then you smile, though it was weak, and he was suddenly very glad Abbot told him to check on you. “It's just been a long shift. Plus my landlord hasn't fixed my hot water and my mom is worried about my dad…Sorry, I don't mean to lay this out on you.” “Its all good,” Frank runs a hand through his hair “I’ve had some pretty fucked shifts.” The way you look at him, it's obvious you want to know more but he figures it’ll probably be best to save the “I was addicted to benzos” talk for a little further into your relationship.
When he doesn't say anything, you wipe your eyes one last time and stand, “Thanks for checking on me and stuff. You didn't need to do that.” Frank stands too, feeling a twinge in his back “What kind of person would I be if I didn't?" You pause like you’re actually thinking about it and he nudges your shoulder as he passes “Jesus, don't actually answer that.” That earns him another weak smile.
“I should go find Shen. Apologize.” You say, blinking a little against the bright lights, Frank nods “I’ll be around if you need anything.” “Mhm.” You start to walk away then pause and turn back to him “If you ever want to get coffee for me again I’d prefer a dirty chai.”
Frank's brain stutters and glitches for a moment before he says, a little too loudly “Right! Yes, chai. Very cool, hip!” You don't look back at him but he knows you're laughing at him, at the very obvious desperation coming off of him in waves “Very smooth Langdon.” Lena snickers, Frank smacks his hand against the desk with an eye roll “Do you have a patient for me Lena?” “I always do. Go discharge Room 8.”
He walks away, feeling lighter than he has in some time. Maybe you’ll want to be friends after all.
Just wondering, who are your current demon slayer characters that your obsessed with? If you have any <3 (mine MIGHT be Sanemi :D)
So glad your back by the way! Take care of yourself!
UghhhhH I’M ALWAYS OBSESSED WITH DOUMA. He got new figurines a while ago but I haven’t got them yet (this one specifically because HELLO?? I WANT IT SO BAD) and because I am very very very hyped for the next kny movie coming out in the next few years. I will be showing up to my local cinema in either a cosplay or with cosplay-like-elements
But also I’m obsessing over Mitsuri lately because I love love love the official art fashion they give her if you know what I mean. She’s so pretty and I wanna hug her and hang with her and be with her and eat mountains of food with her and
