Trinity and/or Whitaker babysitting Frank's kids.
Okay this was super super fun. Even if I have no idea how to write a six year old.
And I couldn't help but add the Kingdon twist. It called for it.
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Dennis bit down on a expletive. He couldn't swear in front of the very apologetic 6 year old. With an empty bottle of grape juice in his hands.
Why was it always him?
'I'm sorry!' Tanner's bottom lip quivered. His big blue eyes swimming with tears. Who could be mad at that face? Adorable.
'It's okay buddy. How about you go get some kitchen towels and I change.' Dennis squatted down and held his fist out. Tanner immediately brightened. Knocking his knuckles against Dennis's and making a little explosion noise as he wiggled his fingers. Dennis mimicked him, a step behind.
The young Langdon grinned even brighter. An exact replica of his Dads. A twinge of guilt surged in Dennis's gut at the thought.
But that was why he was babysitting. Trying to make amends. Doctor Langdon had been back a year. And Dennis hadn't exactly... been cool about it. He'd listened to Trinity more than he should've done. Yes Doctor Langdon had treated Trinity poorly that first day in The Pitt. Lashing out at her because she had figured him out. But he'd been different since coming back. Not just sober. There was a certain stability to him. One that calm from figuring something big out.
Dennis had been standoffish with him. Not going to him for advise, or when he needed help. Not loudly but he'd made his allegiances clear.
He quickly exchanged his t-shirt. Placing the soiled, sticky garment in a plastic bag. It was sad really how he had to be prepared for this. That he was always prepared for it.
Last week there had been... an incident. Trinity had made a serious mistake. Misdiagnosing a middle aged woman with an anxiety. Langdon had caught the patient before she crashed from a myocardial infarction. He'd been really nice about it. Telling Trinity it had been sheer blind luck. Just happened to see the case on the nurses desk. And just had a gut feeling.
Trinity had lost her mind. In the staff room. And only with Dennis. So they'd bitched and moaned. Completely missing Dr Kings entrance into the room.
Dennis had quipped about standards slipping in medicine. King had cleared her throat.
The housemates had frozen at the noise. Mel King was always positive. Bright and cheery. But the icy stare was anything but.
'Need I remind you Dr Santos that Dr Langdon saved your patient. He didn't make a big deal out of it. Even tried to explain his experience of a similar misdiagnosis? I understand you two got off on the wrong foot. And that's hard to get over Dr. Santos. But its in your own best interest to deal with it. Maturely. Something your not exactly known for.' It wasn't often Trinity didn't have a reply. A retort or a barb. 'Dr Langdon is trying to makes amends to you for his past actions. Even I can see that.'
Dr King's frown deepened as her still cold stare landed on him. 'As for you Dr. Whitaker. It would be lovely to hear your own opinions on something. And not just imitating your housemate. That's just boring.'
Obviously whatever she had wanted in the room wasn't needed anymore. Or the interaction had put her off. She froze at the door, turning back to them both with a disappointed look on her face. 'Just give him a chance. He's accepted the shit been thrown at him with a lot more dignity that most would be able to. Just try.'
Yeah her words at hit home. Trinity had acted like it didn't bother her at all. Her typical cool blasé attitude a mask. He knew her well enough to know when she was hiding from her feelings.
The same ones he was feeling. Shame, guilt. And the innate knowledge he'd been a dick.
So the next day when Langdon had had an family emergency. Taylor, his youngest had broken her arm. The senior resident had needed someone to mind his eldest. Dennis without even thinking had volunteered.
The relief in Langdon's face. His voice. It was visceral. 'Thank you so much Dr. Whitaker. I will cover any shifts you need.' Dennis wasn't going to call in that chit. This was his start of making amends.
Dr King's stony attitude had melted. At least towards Dennis. Trinity was still recovering from the well earned dent to her ego. It would take her a while to begrudgingly accept fault. But she would. Dennis would make sure of it. They had both been extremely immature.
So here he was. Baby sitting. Besides, Tanner was a delightful young boy. Bright, funny and hugely empathetic. It wasn't a hard job. With four brothers he'd been expecting worse.
But Tanner had spent the first hour asking detailed questions about his Dad at work. Which had made Dennis feel even worse. Then had decided to make his sister a get well card and a bracelet designed to fit over a cast.
He'd learned more about Langdon from his son than he'd learned in a year. But that was because he was actually engaging with someone who loved him. He was a devoted father. One who let his son be whoever he wanted to be. Dennis had assumed that Langdon would be the distant, alpha type of Dad. Distant with strict expectations of typical gender roles.
He should have known better.
The man proudly wore a bracelet made by his kids on a daily basis. Panicked when he thought he'd lost it. And showed off his successes no matter how insignificant to anyone who would listen.
Dennis's own biases had bit him in the ass.
'Do you want a bracelet?' Mid clean up, those crystal clear eyes stared at him. With that childish love Dennis missed.
'You want to make me one?' Tanner nodded enthusiastically.
'Dad says you're really good.' Dennis froze at the words. Mostly oblivious to the growing tackiness on his hands. Dr Langdon had mentioned him?
Tanner continued, missing his stillness. 'He said the thing with the rat was awesome. Why was there a rat? And what did you do? Dad wouldn't tell me. Was it gross?' Typical 6 year old. Wanting the gory details. He was going to assume that Langdon didn't want his kid learning about how Dennis had snapped its neck. So he opted to talk about growing up on the farm.
Dinner: dino nuggets and fries. Dennis figured the Langdons wouldn't mind. They'd had a bad day. But as time wore on, Dennis couldn't help but notice Tanner's increasing anxiety. Moving nonstop. Eyes glancing at the door. Fighting his growing tiredness.
'I'm going to call your Dad, think your parents will want to talk to you.' Dennis squeezed his shoulder. Trying to bolster him. But the door opened just as he unlocked his phone.
'MOMMY DADDY!' Tanner bolted for the door. Dennis dove to stop the glass full of grape juice from flying to the floor. Only a few drops hit him this time.
'Buddy!' Two tired adult voices and a third smaller girlish voice. A family reunion. Dennis didn't intrude.
'Dr Whitaker.' Langdon entered the kitchen, looking exhausted. Emotionally, not just physically. The three voices moved above them, growing quieter. 'Thank you so much for offering to mind Tanner. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.'
Dennis shook his hand. Langdon gripping his with both of his hands.
'I'm glad I could help Dr. Langdon.' Langdon sighed in relief. Pressing his hand to his temple. His ring finger bare. Dennis couldn't help but frown at the bare finger. There had been rumours swirling since Langdon had come back. But no proof just hearsay. Langdon noticed the look. Of course. He might be many things, not all of them good. But Dennis knew that he was really observant. Hence why he'd saved that patient.
Langdon looked at him with a rueful grin. 'By all means use this information to win the pool. But I expect a cut. It's amicable. A long time coming.' Dennis wasn't entirely sure he was joking. He wasn't going to lie, he was tempted to use this information to unfairly win the pool. Money was always nice.
'I'm sorry.'
'Ah.' Langdon waved him off. 'Not your fault. There's a lot of boring relationship shit that you don't care about. My addiction was the last straw. But not the reason for the break. So that won't be on Santos.' Langdon raised his eyebrows. A slight smirk on his lips. Ah so he knew.
Dr King must have had words. Or he was a man with eyes and sense.
'I mean yeah. I'm sorry your marriage is ending but I'm more sorry that I didn't give you a chance this past year. You've come back from something most people wouldn't. And you came back to the Pitt. I wouldn't have the strength to do it. It's admirable. I also took on Trinity's view. And I shouldn't have. Her issues with you are her own.' Langdon winced at the name drop. There was no malice or anger in his face. Just regret and shame.
'Dr King was right. I need to stand by my own opinions.' Something flittered in those bright blue eyes. It wasn't Dennis's business what it meant. 'She did tell you right?' Langdon opened his mouth, letting out a weird noise.
Clearly he was going to deny it but thought the better of it. 'Yeah she mentioned it. I don't think I've ever seen her so angry.' He ruffled his hair. 'I don't blame you. My treatment of Santos was unacceptable. For the most part.' Dennis raised an eyebrow. He wanted to jump to his friends defence but Dr King was right. He needed to listen to Langdon and make his own judgement.
'She has everything she needs to be great. But she needs the humility to know when you need help and the sense to follow protocols will save her 100 times more than it'll hinder her.' Langdon's face contorted. 'She's getting better but as someone who was just like her. ... I want her to get there so much faster.'
That Dennis could respect. There was also something in his voice that demanded to be believed. 'You were like that?'
Langdon laughed. 'Some would argue I still am. It's a lifelong struggle. Probably why I was so hard on her. Also I knew she'd caught me out. I was terrified, backed into a corner. And I did was all scared people do. I lashed out at her.'
Dennis shoved his hands into his scrub pants pockets. 'I am still sorry for how I've treated you. It wasn't fair. And it couldn't have been good for you. You've always treated me with respect. All of us. No matter how many times I got covered in crap. You never really made a mockery out of me. I appreciate that. I won't make that mistake again. So I apologise for my behaviour Dr Langdon.'
'Please call me Frank.' Dennis grabbed his backpack and jacket. Dr Langdon, Frank ignored all his protests and ordered him an uber. The least he could do. Frank laughed again, shaking his head. 'God knows how I'm going to thank Mel.'
Dennis turned thoughtful. 'Well if it works on Trinity.... well then I don't know how anyone could. She was really scary.'
'Scary?'
'Terrifying.'
Frank's head bobbed in thought. 'Kinda wished I seen it.'
Without a single rational, reasonable, self protective thought Dennis spoke 'I'm sure you will.' There was a beat of silence. Frank's face shocked before he burst out laughing.
'You know what I am sure I will. She scared Santos?' Frank scratched his scalp muttering under his breath. Dennis wasn't supposed to catch it. He tried to miss but he still caught the 'I bet it's fucking hot.'
That information he wasn't going to betray. Beside a blind man could see the undercurrent between those two. Except for Robby. And Trinity. But they probably just wanted to act like Langdon didn't exist.
Frank stared at his watch, wincing at the time. 'Sorry for having kept you so long. Again thank you for offering. It really means a lot to me.'
'Tanner was easy to mind.' Frank stared at the dining room table with the bracelet making kit.
'I can tell you made an impression. Tanner doesn't make those friendship bracelets for just anyone.' While his relationship with Langdon had turned to the positive. Dennis bit back a joke about how Mel had one. Best not to jump the gun.
He'd just keep that as an ace for the next betting pool.
He may be a farm boy but he knew how to play the game.