Archive of Our Own ^beta

1. Princess and Perlah

The emergency department has a strict hierarchy. Med students reporting to senior residents who report to attendings who report to the chief attending, etcetera etcetera.

The real hierarchy places the nurses at the top. At least, in Princess’ mind, that’s how it should work. After all, they’re the ones who end up with much of the baggage the doctors do not want to handle, have the time for, or think is beneath their skill level.

There’s another crucial reason. They’re the first to hear all the gossip. Everything that happens in the ER is typically witnessed by a nurse, after all.

Gossip spreads easily within any group bigger than three. Now place that group in a crazy busy hospital, multiply it by twenty, and have them work together for twelve hours a day, four to five days a week.

Shit is bound to happen, and Princess is so glad she has someone to turn to when it does. She would buy a beachside house and spend the rest of her days with Perlah as life partners just from all the gossip she’s been told by her alone.

Their bond’s a bit more nuanced than that, but that is so not important right now.

“Perlah,” Princess says, prancing into the hub. “Have you heard?”

“That a picture of Jesse from his band years is circulating the department? Seen it.”

“No, not—well, yeah, who knew he had all that going on, right?”

As enticing as that picture of Jesse was, she can’t get distracted. This is much juicier than some old photographs.

“Okay, have you heard about—”

Princess whips her head around. She sees her prime two suspects walking in their direction. Dipping her head low, she points her eyes towards the two figures.

“Those two.”

Perlah looks up from the paper in her hand and over the hub. Doctor Robby and Doctor Langdon step into view. They pass by their section of the nurse’s station without much of a fuss.

Perlah sizes them up. To the naked eye, they’re just talking, focused on their private conversation. But to Princess’ well-trained eye, she knows she’s not misreading the tension there.

Doctor Langdon’s body language is obvious. He’s turned towards Doctor Robby, and his body is loose, swinging from side-to-side as he waits for Doctor Robby’s instructions.

That’s not out of the ordinary. Princess doesn't think she’s ever seen Doctor Langdon not turned towards Doctor Robby. He’s like a lost sailor and Doctor Robby the North Star.

Not only that, but his enthusiasm is always nearly contagious. He’s been a boundless bundle of energy zooming around the department like some golden retriever since she’s met him.

Or, more appropriately, a goldendoodle. One that Doctor Langdon used to own and is now in Doctor Robby’s possession based on eyewitness testimony and physical evidence of dog fur despite Doctor Robby’s insistence he does not own any pets.

Doctor Robby’s body language is more interesting. He’s more restrained with Doctor Langdon than he is with the other male doctors. He’s not afraid to manhandle many of the...well, men—or shake their shoulders or stop with a hand to the chest.

He doesn't do that with Doctor Langdon. Not as much. It’s as if he has to hold himself back from…she’s not sure.

Perlah turns back to her. She starts speaking Tagalog. “I’m not sure. I know he’s got a streak of dating employees, but I haven’t heard anything.”

Princess huffs, crossing her arms. “I see it.”

Damn Perlah for being much harder to convince. She turns back to her paper with a shrug. “If you’re able to prove your case, go ahead.”

Princess scoffs, but she’s always ready for a challenge.

It only takes an hour for Doctor Langdon to settle the case for her.

Princess is in the middle of showing one of the new med students where the scrub dispensers are when she sees movement from the corner of her eye.

Doctor Langdon is standing at the lockers. He’s hunched over like he doesn't want anyone to see his code. 

That’s the only reason she keeps looking, she convinces herself. That his suspicious stance clues her into…something.

It clicks a moment later. That’s not his locker.

There’s no other reason for Doctor Langdon to be ransacking Doctor Robby’s locker—to know his locker combination and be able to access his items.

They’re—

“Uhm…what do I do next?”

Princess whips around towards the voice. She forgot she had been showing the med student how to use the machine.

“You have to put your old scrubs in first.”

“...seriously?”

“Yeah, it sucks. I get it.”

By the time the med student walks away to change out of their soiled scrubs, Doctor Langdon has disappeared.

She wonders what he took from Doctor Robby’s locker. It hits her that it’s equally as likely that he was placing something back inside the locker.

Two hectic hours pass before she’s able to report back to Perlah. She explains what she witnessed and waits for her judgement.

Perlah raises an eyebrow. “I mean that’s definitely telling, but—”

“Hey.”

Speak of the devil—not that Doctor Langdon could ever compare to the King of Hell. He's too sensitive and cheery for that.

He's pressed against the hub, relaxed and arms squished on the counter as he leans over with a goofy smile. Very much proving her mental point.

“Do we have any kid toys?”

Perlah takes a moment before she responds. “For you or a patient?”

Doctor Langdon grins. “A patient.”

“They’re in the spare closet. What room are they in?”

“Room 18.”

Princess winces. It’s not her case, but she remembers who’s in there. A little boy who had a stroke during a field trip. His parents won’t be here for another couple of hours, because they cannot leave work. It’s all-in-all an icky situation.

“I’ll drop by and give one out,” Perlah says.

With a little nod and slap to the counter, Langdon practically twirls away and into the rush of the ER. Perlah turns back to her with a resolute face.

“I think you’re right.”

“About?”

“That was Doctor Robby’s watch on his wrist.”

“Seriously?!”

Well, she definitely missed that.

Princess’ head starts to race. Is this just a coincidence? Are there other people making the same connections as her, or like always, are the nurses the beginning of everything?

2. Dana

Dana steps out of the department. Fresh air sounded like a nice idea—seven hours ago. Now, she thinks as she sits on the raised curb by the bushes, this is long over due. 

Compared to other shifts, today hasn’t been the worst they’ve seen.

Compared to sitting at home on her couch, a half-full wineglass in one hand and book in the other, this has been hell.

She just needs some space. Ten minutes is definitely asking for too much, but two is not enough.

Five minutes. She will take five minutes of silence and a cigarette.

She gets two and a half of holding an unlit cigarette when she hears footsteps. It’s only natural for there to be moving bodies in an ER.

What is unusual is two high-ranking doctors stepping out of the department.

There’s no ambulance bringing in a swarm of patients, and as far as Dana knows—which is a lot because she’s a good fucking charge nurse—there are not too many cases today that require immediate attention.

Give it a few minutes.

Despite the lack of emergencies, it’s strange for both Robby and Langdon to not be buzzing around the ER. They’re both the type to bury their heads in work, not letting up until the last hour.

They walk over to where she’s sitting. She’s about to open her mouth, because clearly, they’re encroaching on her personal bubble.

Maybe it’s because she’s sort of behind the bushes. Or maybe the shadows that the building and overhead ceiling casts on her makes her disappear.

Either way, the two doctors do not see her as they stand aside the hospital’s entrance, facing out towards the bay.

Actually, that tracks. Those two nimrods don’t tend to notice anything that’s not waving three inches from their face. She knows this, because it's her that’s usually doing the waving.

“What are you thinking?” Langdon asks outright. It only took a single minute of silence before that chatty boy finally said something.

Robby shrugs. Doesn’t look at the other doctor as he says, “I don’t have any preference.”

“You say that every time.”

“And every time, it’s true.”

Langdon’s smile as he looks up is charming. He’s always been that way, but right now, it feels a little less forced. Forced isn’t the right word. Maybe…less mischievous? Something genuine, like Langdon’s speaking to a close friend and not his superior.

Oh great heavens, Dana thinks. Should've seen this coming. They’re—

“I was thinking about making soup,” Langdon says.

Robby turns to him with a perplexed look. Dana’s giving him one too, but she keeps her mouth shut. Luckily, Robby voices her thoughts for her.

“You’re going to start soup at eight PM?”

“Well, yeah. It’s getting cold out. Look, feel my hands.”

Langdon sticks his hand against Robby’s neck. He grins, even as Robby curses, scrunching in on himself and slapping Langdon’s hand away.

“Freezing, right? Well, you’re a lot colder than I am. That doesn’t surprise me. You always run cold.”

“Anything else you want to say? I think I hear one of your patients calling for you.”

Dana feels herself grin at Robby’s irritation. It’s like a stage play, and she gets front row seats.

“Ouch. I know when I’m not wanted.”

“And yet, you’re still here.”

“Mmm, wonder why.”

Robby looks over to Langdon, maybe truly looks him in the eyes for the first time they’ve been out here. He huffs, some sigh of resignation that clouds the cold air.

“I’ll save you a bowl,” Langdon says. With a nudge to his shoulder, he walks back into the department.

Dana looks up from her unlit cigarette to see Robby’s head swivel. She’s watching Robby watching Langdon leave. It’s actually kind of fascinating to visibly see how his head gets stuck at that odd angle as he peaks around the corner.

They’re locked in a strange impasse. Either Dana announces her presence, or Robby trails after Langdon. She doesn't think he’s that desperate…probably.

She feels for the lighter in her pocket. Flicks until the struggling spark turns into a full flame, and she finally lights the end of her cigarette.

Robby twirls around, eyes wide and searching. He eventually spots her among the foliage and sighs.

He points a thumb towards the door. “So, did you hear any of…?”

“Of course I did.”

Robby’s head drops with a nod, shoulders hunching up like he’s a turtle crawling into its shell. Dana barks a laugh. It resounds in the otherwise desolate bay.

“Of course,” Robby echoes back, staring at anything that isn't Dana.

“I’ve been sittin’ here the whole time. Not my fault you didn’t notice.”

“No, I suppose it isn’t.”

Dana scoffs. “Suppose right.”

She takes a drag of her cigarette. There’s only about a minute left before something is on time to get off the rails. Robby creeps closer, hands in his pockets.

“Let me have a drag,” he says.

Looking up with a raised eyebrow, she holds the cigarette closer to herself. “I thought you were quitting.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Then, no way. I’m not adding to whatever mess you’ve got goin’ on.”

“Damn you. Keeping my lungs clean.”

Dana grins and takes another drag. They both watch the end of her cigarette light up with a golden halo.

“Here, I’m sure I’ve got a mint in my pocket.”

“Nah, save it.” Robby waves a hand. “I’m sure I’m needed back inside, anyway.”

Dana thinks, just as Robby is walking back towards the entrance, she will get a solid thirty seconds of peace. Robby decides to wreck his plan by turning back around.

“You wouldn’t mention what you heard to anyone else, right?”

“What’d I hear? Two doctors talking about soup? Relax.” Then, she smirks. “That’s not interesting at all.”

Robby puffs his chest, sniffing to hide a laugh. He finally leaves her designated zone and heads back inside.

Dana looks down at her watch. It’s been seven minutes. The hospital surely is about to be set on fire without her.

So much for peace and quiet.

3. Collins

Collins is feeling a bit like a headless chicken. She has been scrambling around all day without any real plan.

That’s probably to be expected of an attending. She always remembers Dana having to—and still doing so—steer Robby in the direction of the next, most critical patient. Let the residents handle the less complicated cases.

At least when she was a senior resident, she didn’t feel this off balance. Robby, when he wasn't being catty and self-defensive, would be ample enough support to get the ball rolling on cases.

They’re equals, now. He's still the chief attending, but she's reached the level where it's just semantics. They both hold equal responsibility for how well the ER functions. How their patients get treated, and how the staff run themselves.

If they’re equals, then why the hell is she the only one on the floor?

The situation grows dire when, in between checking off lab results, she can’t even find Dana. It’s a miracle she spots Samira passing by the hub. She stops her with a hand in the air.

“Hey, have you seen Robby anywhere?”

“Uhmm, I think I saw him in South 18,” Samira responds.

“Got it. Thank you.”

She pats Mohan on the shoulder and starts to make her way towards the south corridor. Honestly, what’s he even doing over there? There shouldn’t be a patient in that room.

As she’s walking, she sees his distinctive hiking boots peak from under the curtains. In her frustration, she clenches the curtain a bit harder than she should.

“Robby, I need a—”

She pulls back the curtain, expecting…she’s not sure. Maybe he’s having a rough day and needed a second to breathe. Or he’s cleaning up after a discharged patient. She’s not really expecting anything.

Oh boy.

She had not seen a second pair of shoes. The wall must have covered them, but when she looks up, there Langdon is—wide eyed and standing way too close to Robby for this to not be about something personal.

At first, her hands fly up to separate them. She tries not to stick her nose in the gossip mill, but a while back, there had been talks about how they were at odds with each other. 

Like two magnets of the same gravitational pole fighting against each other, it was in their nature to push one another.

So, maybe, she thinks distantly, they’ve come to this room to settle their differences once and for all. But then, she gets a good look at Robby.

Oh boy, indeed.

The look Robby gives her is almost identical to the look he’s worn many times before. She knows what it means. He’s just been caught doing something he hadn’t meant to do. Something he shouldn't be doing.

It’s not a coincidence she has seen that look many times. It's just been a long time since she’s seen him wear it.

Robby and Langdon. It sounds strange out loud, but she supposes it makes sense that they’re—

She scoffs, crossing her arms, because some things really never change. “Having fun in here?”

“Hello, Doctor Collins,” Robby rushes out. “What can I—”

“Seems you’re busy with—”

“We’re done here, actually, so—”

At that, Langdon’s eyes jump from Robby to her. His hands are still hovering in the practically nonexistent space between them.

“Hi, Langdon.”

Langdon swallows. Raises a hand to wave, but it just hangs rather pathetically instead.

“Hey, Collins.”

“Didn’t see you in here.”

“Well, you know—”

“Doesn’t matter. Robby, I need some help in Central 10. The family wants to speak with ‘the doctor’.”

Robby raises an eyebrow. “You are a doctor.”

“That’s what I said, but they want to speak with the person who saw the kid first.”

“Yeah, okay,” Robby sighs eventually, sounding as annoyed as Collins feels. He claps his hands together and swivels in her direction like some confused owl. “I can head that way—”

“Or you can finish up your discussion here. It looks like it was pretty important.”

Robby basically glares at her. It’s just a raised eyebrow, but once again, she knows him far too well to be lied to. He’s fuming, but serves him right for leaving her alone on the floor just after the lunch rush.

“Central 10?” Robby asks, a little thin.

“That is what I said.”

“Heading that way now.”

And like that, Robby speeds out of the room like a tornado making its way through the city. He leaves Langdon looking a little mollified, mouth gaping and hands still hovering. They stare at each other for a long couple of seconds.

“Are we playing red light, green light?” She asks, feeling a smile curl at her lips and eyebrows raise.

Finally, as if Langdon has logged back into their reality, flops his arms down. He licks his lips into a smile.

If anything, that confirmed her hypothesis. Not that she cares nor does this impact her ability to work the six remaining hours of this grueling shift. She could not care less.

Langdon doesn't seem to care, but she knows he knows that she knows. It’s a strange circle of knowing something the other shouldn't, but to be fair, Robby shouldn't be pursuing his residents either, so she can't put any fault on either one of them.

Her and Langdon have always been alike, or at least, drawn to one another in the way she’s close to her cousins despite how rarely she sees them.

It’s in their nature. Starting as interns, and—well, they didn't finish together, but at least they're still amicable to each other after five whole years. This is just another thing they’ve got in common. Not dissimilar to all the gossip or snarky comments they've bonded over during their half a decade together.

“That family sounds like a bunch of dicks,” Langdon finally says.

She scoffs. “They are, so I’m sort of glad they asked for Robby.”

They exit the room and Langdon shrugs. Their feet carry them back to the patient board.

“Serves him right,” Langdon jeers at her with a grin.

Collins feels herself smirking too, and yeah, this really is just another thing they’ve got in common.

4. McKay and Javadi

“So—uhmm. Any fun plans for this weekend?” Javadi asks.

McKay raises an eyebrow. She steps to the side to allow the passengers in the elevator to exit. Except, no one clears out, so she scootches inside. Javadi tiptoes inside as well just before the doors begin to shut.

It was bound to be asked. They’re near the end of the shift. Maybe as a med student, Javadi’s still in the mindset that they’re allowed to have weekends. Hasn't quite learned that emergency specialists don't really have those.

“I’m working Saturday, and Harrison’s at his dad’s, so nothing too exciting. Probably just a nice date with my bed.”

“Oh! That’s unfortunate. The…other stuff I mean.”

The elevator dings at the floor right above them from the main lobby floor. A ward staff walks in, sticking to the far wall. McKay stumbles as the elevator makes another stop at the third floor, the ICU.

McKay’s makes room for the two nurses and a gurney. She flattens against the wall and tugs Javadi with her. Her eyes are wide, but she jumps into position beside her.

So, if she is correctly keeping count, there’s a doctor, a med student, two nurses, a ward clerk, and an unconscious patient. That’s not including the two respiratory therapists standing along the opposite wall, engaged in quiet conversation.

In total, there’s seven people stuffed into the quaint elevator. Really, eight when counting the horizontal patient taking up all the space. They’re making room that doesn’t even exist just to breathe.

At this rate, they’re going to die of old age before reaching the neurology department on the eleventh floor.

On the eighth floor, the elevator dings. The doors open and the two respiratory therapists step out. Just as McKay’s about to take a fresh breath of air, two figures replace them and step inside the elevator.

She glares at them, because clearly they’re too blinded by selfishness to see there is no goddamn room for any more warm bodies.

Except, her eyes lock with Robby’s, and there is a split second of awkwardness where neither of them say something despite the fact they both know the other has seen them.

It’s a little less awkward when the second figure walks in. Langdon has the courtesy of not pretending they’re not there, nodding with a grin. His face drops when he attempts to walk further into the elevator and ends up slamming into Robby’s chest.

“Oh," he says.

Robby raises an eyebrow, but he doesn’t budge from his spot. He could step back a little. There’s just enough room in front of one of the nurses to let Langdon have space to breathe.

Robby doesn’t move an inch. What’s worse is that Langdon doesn’t seem to mind. Just…turns back to the doors and watches the pixelated numbers change as they move up the floors. He’s bouncing on his toes like an inpatient child.

Interesting.

He looks over his shoulder at Robby. He brushes against Robby’s chest, and Robby also doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, he leans in, hands stuffed in his pockets and shoulders hunching forward like they’re about to share a secret.

Even more interesting.

“We should’ve just taken the stairs,” Langdon says.

“And walk seven flights of stairs? No thank you.”

Langdon raises an eyebrow. He turns more into Robby’s space to look up at him.

“The stairs are going down.”

McKay’s been getting older. Her back aches every morning and her body’s temperature is skyrocketing by 9 o’clock in the morning.

Point being, she thinks a pair of glasses may help her deteriorating vision. Her sight must be getting worse, because she sees what appears to be a smile grace Robby’s face.

Oh.

Her vision isn’t going. She sees exactly what’s happening in front of her. It’s crystal clear like shined glass.

They’re—

The elevator dings.

McKay looks out to see the entrance to the neurology department. Javadi’s bounding out the door, turning to wait for McKay. She doesn’t seem to have noticed the odd tension that their coworkers have forced them to sit through.

She shrugs. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her, and really, it’s not any of her business. She certainly isn’t fond of people digging into her…affairs.

Hah. The jokes write themselves.

She has to shoot a hand out to keep the doors from shutting. Looks over her shoulder as she steps out to watch the remaining people shuffle themselves around like Tetris pieces.

Even with the doors closing, she can see Robby and Langdon sticking to the same wall.

Again, not her business, but, damn, is it interesting. She’s gotten pretty chummy with Langdon recently. Maybe she’ll see what that’s all about.

McKay finally turns around, digging her nose out of her senior resident and attending’s business. She catches up to Javadi, who is standing right there, staring and fidgeting with her sleeves.

These days, they don’t go far beyond each other’s eyesight. They walk all of three steps before Javadi speaks up.

“So, was it just me, or was it like…really strange in the elevator?”

McKay grins. She’s trained her med student well.

5. Abby

Abby supposes this is one of the downsides of marrying a doctor. Or, at least, marrying a doctor, having children with him, divorcing said doctor and having an every-other weekend custody setup with him.

Their co-parenting is fine. It’s more amicable than she had been expecting. She’s not even particularly upset with Frank.

Well, not anymore, anyway. She had been fuming at the beginning. Mad at Frank and herself and the circumstances of their situation.

But, clearly, Frank has worked through his issues. He’s been very adamant with her—and her expensive divorce lawyer and the court system and himself—that his recovery has been going good. That he’s doing everything he can to still be present in Tanner and Charlotte’s lives.

She supposes it's better than her children having a father who’d use that addiction as an excuse to back away. That’s never who Frank has been, though, even before he went to rehab. He was always sweet, almost overwhelmingly so.

All that to say, when Frank asks if she can drop the children off at his apartment, she begrudgingly agrees. Even if it’s an extra half hour from her new house, Abby thinks it’ll be worth it.

Her children are clearly ecstatic when she buckles them into their booster seats. Then, about five minutes later, they’re completely knocked out. She has to shake their shoulders to get them up after she pulls into the apartment’s parking lot.

Her kids help her knock on the door, their tiny hands patting the wood furiously. Abby feels her patience growing thin with every second the door doesn’t open.

She’s got Frank’s contact page pulled up on her phone. She will give it five more seconds before she gives the idiot a phone call, because she swears, if he forgot about Tanner and Charlotte—

The door swings open, and the children begin screeching. Their tiny arms swing around the legs of…not Frank.

Abby looks up to see a man of similar height to Frank, but he’s got a beard. A thick one with sprinkles of gray strands. There’s glasses riding low on his face that he takes off.

“Hey, guys,” the man says. He looks up to Abby with what she recognizes as a cordial smile. “Uhh, Abby, good evening.”

His face clicks in her head. She’s certainly heard about the man—Frank never seemed to shut up about how wise and awesome he was. It’s just been a while since she’s put his face to his name.

“Doctor Robby, right?” Abby asks. Doctor Robby nods, but before he can get anything out of that gaping mouth of his, she looks to her kids. “Get inside.”

“Bye, mommy,” Charlotte says, hugging her legs.

“Bye, baby. Have a good weekend. I’ll be back Sunday night, okay?”

Tanner’s attention is a bit harder to grasp, and he has to circle back outside to give her a hug before running back inside. Charlotte follows her older brother, leaving seemingly the only two adults in the area to stand awkwardly in the doorway.

Robby’s fingers thrum against the doorway. “Well, thank you again, Abby. We’ll—”

“Wait a damn second.”

Abby yanks Doctor Robby’s sleeve, yanking him outside. It’s a presumptuous move, but when she frames it as a stranger in the apartment her children are sleeping in, then…well, it’s definitely justified.

She ignores the fact that he’s met him multiple times before at Frank’s work parties and events. Seeing him in his pajamas in Frank’s apartment is new for her.

Doc—Robby, since they’re going to be so informal, is wearing a zip-up jacket she feels looks familiar.

Her eyes look him over and land on the logo. It’s a teensy emblem on the left side of the zipper. After a closer look, and she does pull Robby closer to do so, she recognizes the symbol as the University of Pennsylvania logo.

That’s Frank’s old med school. She knows, because this is the same jacket she’s worn several times before when they were—

Holy shit, Abby thinks. They’re—

“You didn’t go to Penn,” Abby states.

That’s not exactly what she meant to say, but it starts the conversation.

Robby raises an eyebrow. He takes a step back, and the fabric slips from her fingers.

“I…didn’t know that was public knowledge.”

“I think Frank would have mentioned if his mentor went to his alma mater.”

“Ah.”

She takes a step back too, fully taking in Robby’s presence.

There’s anger simmering in her chest that she wasn’t told about this. Not that she cares about who Frank is around, but if her children are going to be spending time with them, then that definitely becomes her business.

There’s anger, but she’s almost shocked by how unsurprised she is. Frank always held a very high opinion of Robby.

Any time she used to ask about his day, when they were still actively talking to one another and not giving the cold shoulder, Frank would just ramble about the cases he worked with Robby.

“He talks about you a lot," Abby says.

Robby’s mouth does something hysterical. His lips press together like he’s flustered. Abby’s starting to learn that maybe doctors are not all that smart.

“That’s…nice.”

“You come over often?”

“Uhh, you know, they say time’s an illusion, so when you say, often—”

“Robby.”

Robby’s mouth clamps shut. They stare at each other from across the door’s threshold. He’s doing a very good job at not making eye contact with her.

“If you’re with Frank,” she says honestly, “I need to know this.”

His fingers thrum on the doorframe. He nods his head, but she thinks that it’s not really an answer to her question.

“Hey, what’s taking so lo—oh.”

Langdon peeks out from under Robby’s arm where it's propped up against the door. His smile drops when he sees her, and she does a little finger wave. She feels like her parents when they caught her, seventeen and tipsy, sneaking back inside her room after a house party.

“Hi, Frank.”

“Heyyy, Abby….”

“Having sleepovers with your boss?”

“I—” Frank straightens up, standing slightly in front of Robby. “I…told you I was seeing someone.”

“You didn't tell me it was your boss.”

“What are you—my HR department?”

“No, I’m the mother of our children.”

Frank’s face turns wild, eyebrows raising and mouth dropping. “What’s that got to do with—”

“If he’s spending time around my children, I need to know.”

“I already told you—”

“Not enough.”

Robby’s sigh breaks their argument. He moves them all further outside as he shuts the door.

“What did you want me to say?” Frank asks, cramming his hands into his pockets. “I’m fucking my boss?”

“Why the fuck would I want that?”

“I don’t know what you want! You just said—”

“I want—” Abby cuts herself off with a groan. It’s getting difficult to vocalize her frustrations.

She’s not really sure what she wants.

Her problems aren't with Robby. He’s always been amicable with her the few times they’ve met. And any time Frank was on the phone with Robby, he’d always make sure to say ‘hello’ to her as well.

So, it’s not Robby as a person that’s the problem here. Is she stressed about Frank moving on? That he seemingly has put much more trust in Robby than her? That she didn’t know what he was struggling with until it was too late?

Maybe it’s all of the above or something else completely. She’s not really sure, but she does know that her children are involved, and that’s the integral part of this situation.

“Look, I just want Tanner and Charlotte to be safe.”

“Abby,” Robby says. He steps closer, his hands pressed together in front of them. “I would never do anything to hurt these kids. They’re great, and I’m really happy to be a part of their lives. I’m sorry this wasn’t brought up sooner.”

Abby looks up at Robby. There’s a truly sincere look on his face. He looks behind him to Frank. He’s hovering a hand over Robby’s back.

“I’m not trying to…replace your role as their mother—”

“Oh, I know. You gonna push them out of your body?”

Robby huffs a laugh, and she’s a bit annoyed that he’s so pleased with her joke. She sees why Frank was so enamored. It’s always the quiet people that are the most fun to make laugh.

“I want to be there for Charlotte and Tanner. I’m not here just because me and Frank are….”

Robby turns to Langdon, hands gesturing for him to pick up where he left off.

“It’s not just sex,” Langdon adds.

From the look on Robby’s face, that’s not the answer he was looking for.

Jesus fuck, this is painful, she thinks.

Her concern isn’t about their relationship. She doesn't care that Frank’s swinging for a team she didn’t even know about, or that they have sleepovers, or…whatever they’re doing. 

She just doesn't want this to affect her kids—negatively. Doesn’t want to worry that Frank’s actions are going to upset her children. Again. That if one day they break up, or fight, or something, it backlashes onto her children.

She already had to trudge through the turmoil of explaining Frank’s absence in their life for a whole year when he was in rehab and still waiting for the courts to approve visitation rights.

“I won’t forgive either of you if this hurts Tanner or Charlotte,” she says, not enjoying how strained her voice sounds.

“Abby, never—” Frank says.

“I’d run myself into traffic if I ever—”

“Alright, stop.” Abby runs a hand across her forehead. “Just…you’re both so bad at this, it makes sense why…never mind.”

Frank smiles. “Thanks, Abby.”

“I don't think that was a compliment,” Robby mutters over his shoulder.

Abby points to Frank, bypassing Robby entirely. Her glare puts a perplexed look on his face and stills his smile.

“Keep me updated.”

“Yeah, communication is key, and all that. Glad we learned that after getting a divorce.”

Abby feels the tension slip from her body, but she can’t show that. Won’t ease the boot off just yet, because if you give Frank an inch, he’ll go to the fucking moon.

“You better. I’m leaving.”

She shuffles the bag back up her shoulder and heads towards the stairs.

“Good to see you again, Robby.”

“Uh, yeah. You too, Abby.”

Robby’s awkward wave brings a smirk to her face. As she walks down the stairs, she hears them whispering to each other like two school girls.

Oh, brother.

She rolls her eyes to nobody in particular, but she supposes she can’t be upset. This was bound to happen one day.

Abby’s been on several dates herself, and maybe one day, she’ll have an extra person in her house too. And when that day comes, she’ll have to tell Frank.

Communication is key, and all that.

That is a problem for another day. She has some friends at a bar to meet up with, and, fuck, does she have a story for them.

6. Abbot

Abbot usually arrives to work early. There’s no use in sleeping when there’s no rest for the wicked and weary. The few hours of sleep he does get…well, the shit that’s in his dreams often leaks into his reality and follows him through his shift.

So, when he’s up, he’s up. He’s almost two hours early for the day-to-night shift handover.

When he steps through the ER’s ambulance entrance, he sees Robby hunched over the hub. He has to keep his groan down, because there’s a level of expectation here. They know each other too well. He can hear the lecture from here.

Except, when he’s right behind Robby, Abbot is…surprised to say the least. Usually, Robby’s got a sixth sense. Some internal radar that signals him whenever someone of interest is in the vicinity.

Robby’s staring straight ahead. He’s got an elbow propped up on the station, and a hand curled over his beard. In his other arm laying flat on the counter, a tablet Abbot will bet has been inactive for some time now.

He follows Robby’s line of sight. He looks down, down, down towards the other end of the ER. It gets trickier to spot what Robby’s so fixated on from far away.

It clicks when Robby’s eyes move, stuttering to the right. Abbot watches the figure he’s gazing at walk towards the locker hallway.

Fucking hell. He’s longing for a married man.

Or at least, he thinks Doctor Langdon is married. Last he heard from the rumor mill was that his relationship to his wife was about as rocky as a ship sailing through the Drake Passage.

Langdon turns the corner into the hallway. Out of sight, out of mind.

Well, that’s how it should work, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for Robby. The poor bastard stares at the empty space that Langdon used to be standing.

He’s gotta put a stop to this before his eyes get stuck.

“Robby.”

Robby snaps back into their reality. His shoulders jump like Abbot just gave him a fright, and he spins around, eyes looking around before they land on Abbot.

“Evening, Abbot,” Robby says.

“You alright there, man?”

Robby’s smile is thin, his lips smushed together as he looks away.

“Yep. All good here.”

Abbot lets him drop the topic. No point stressing him out when he clearly doesn't look like he wants to talk about it. He’s not sure himself what he means by ‘it.’ Pining for an emotionally unavailable coworker, maybe?

Been there, done that.

“What’s on the agenda for today?” Abbot asks, nodding his head towards the tablet in Robby’s hands.

He gets told a rundown of the cases they’ve seen in the day. Head traumas, strokes, chest pains and cardiac arrests. All the mundane cases that don't tell him how the night shift will go, since most of these patients will be circled out within the next few hours, anyway.

Though, it’s good information to have. After all, in about an hour, they’ll be his patients to take care of.

Abbot looks up from the chart Robby handed him. He opens his mouth to comment about one of their cases. The depravity of a sixteen year old drunk driving, because really, that’s horrific.

Robby’s fucking doing it again. He’s staring off into space. Not that Abbot needs constant eye contact with the people he’s talking to. Robby’s never been fond of the whole concept either, but he’s definitely better than this.

‘This’ being his vision which is locked on something happening behind him.

Abbot turns around, because he’s always loved a good rubbernecking, and watches Langdon talk to Princess outside the dispatch room. They’re laughing about something that he can’t hear over the ER’s ruckus and the distance.

Abbot looks back to Robby. He hasn’t even snapped out of his daze to notice that Abbot’s noticing him longing from across the room.

“Get your head in the game, brother,” Abbot mutters, propping his head into view. “It’s the last inning.”

Robby runs a palm down his face. “Don’t worry about me. I’m good to go.”

Abbot nods, but before Robby can go help the rest of the day shift handover cases, he bumps his fist against Robby’s arm.

“Still down for drinks tomorrow?”

“So long as the world doesn’t end.”

He puffs an amused breath of air. “No promises. Same place?”

“Yeah.”

So, Abbot works through the night shift as usual. His motivations are the same, but he’s got the extra bonus of catching up with Robby on both their days off.

He’ll very much admit to himself that he’s mostly excited to eat the fries from the sport’s bar they frequent. It’s just normal potato fries, but Abbot thinks they definitely put some drugs in there as well. They’re too delicious and crispy and cheap to not be suspicious.

Robby’s already at the bar when Abbot walks in. His motorcycle is sitting outside, and the helmet on the stool holding Abbot’s stool, so he must have gone on a joy ride earlier.

It explains his happy mood. Not that Robby is much of a ‘happy,’ guy, but like every other person, he’s got good and bad days.

Abbot’s in the middle of rambling about his neighbor’s cat who keeps haunting his windowsill when he realizes that Robby isn’t paying much attention.

He’s not even offended. It’s mostly curiosity he feels, because it’s not often that Robby’s attention is elsewhere.

At least, not often when they’re talking one-on-one like this. It’s also not too common that Abbot has a strong guess as to what’s going on inside Robby’s head.

Abbot slowly drops his story. He looks over to the other side of the fries they’re sharing—sharing being a generous term, since it's actually just Abbot eating all of the fries while Robby nibbles like some guinea pig on one or two.

Robby’s got his head tilted up, but his eyes are preened down. His phone is sitting screen-side up on the bar counter. There’s a texting history on display. Most of the messages are white chat bubbles on the left side.

Whoever Robby’s talking to is a chatter, that’s for sure.

He has to squint his eyes to even have a chance of reading anything, but his vision isn’t like what it used to be. All he can really catch is the name of the contact. Fra—

He’s texting Doctor Langdon. That makes sense combined with his inattention yesterday too. It doesn’t take a genius to piece together what that exactly means.

They’re—

Abbot clears his throat. “So, when are you gonna introduce me?”

Robby’s head scrambles up. Probably thinks he’s sly as his finger shuts the screen off.

“Introduce you to who?” He asks, tilting his head all innocent-like.

“To the person that keeps hogging all your attention.”

They stare at each other for several seconds. Abbot’s pretty confident the silence is because he hit the nail on the head. Robby licking his lips confirms that.

“Am I that obvious?”

Abbot shrugs. “It was a lucky guess. Can I make another guess?”

“If I say no, will that stop you?”

“Probably.”

Robby sighs, gesturing a hand. “It’s fine. Go ahead.”

“Is it Langdon?”

They stare at each other again, and Abbot starts to think that they’ve definitely got a problem. Robby’s the first to break eye contact, which, yeah. That’s usually how that happens.

“Good for you,” Abbot says, partly to jest but mostly to ease the tension he sees building in Robby’s posture. He really is happy for him.

Robby’s face twists like he doesn't know what he’s feeling. His eyebrows scrunch together, and he’s frowning a little.

Must be true love, indeed.

“It’s only been a few weeks,” Robby mutters. He taps his finger on the table. “A couple months at best.”

Abbot raises an eyebrow and leans closer across the bar top. “A few weeks and months are two very different time spans.”

Robby’s hand flies to his ears. He scratches at the short strands surrounding it, and then drags his hand down his face and neck.

“Oh, brother. You’re wrapped around his finger,” Abbot reveals.

The look Robby tosses him is hilarious. Bewildered and irritated and shocked all at once. Robby snatches a fry and plops it in his mouth. Probably to prolong responding to Abbot’s little joke, he suspects.

“You don’t think I don’t know that,” Robby eventually grumbles.

“So long as you’re both not getting hurt, what’s the harm in a little wrapping.”

“If I’m getting relationship advice from you, then I must really be losing it.”

Robby makes a show of grabbing his drink and taking a sip. Abbot smirks into the rim of his own drink.

7. Santos and Whitaker

Santos doesn’t usually ride with Garcia to work. It’s an agreed upon rule. Keeping their—whatever they are—separate from their interactions at work. However, the decision to sleep over at Garcia’s house was made sometime between her hands up Garcia’s shirt and the weather alert that there would be a snowstorm piling up by midnight.

One of those ended up being very convincing, and it wasn’t the weatherman, who happens to be a big dirty liar.

She learns that early February morning that Garcia wakes up early. Takes joy from being at work an hour before her shift begins. Garcia says it helps her stay ahead of the day, but Santos thinks she’s just pulling one big prank on her.

When they turn into the hospital’s parking garage, Garcia leaves the keys with her, because there is no way in heaven and hell and earth and whatever else is out there that Santos is walking into that hospital earlier than she needs to.

“Don’t cause any trouble,” Garcia says right before she leaves.

“No promises.”

The slam of the car door highlights the echoing silence Garcia leaves behind. All that's left for Santos to do is soak in the golden heating of Garcia’s Nissan.

Maybe she can snag a quick nap. She has fifty-two minutes before she needs to start walking towards the hospital. Garcia managed to steal a spot on the top floor of the garage, so it’s relatively quiet and dark as well.

As she’s fidgeting with the chair, trying to set it back, a bright light whips past. Just her luck. Some asshole’s gonna park right next to her and ruin the whole mood. There’s no way she’ll be able to relax with someone in her area.

Fortunately, the car wraps around and parks on the higher side of the floor. She’s about to shimmy the chair back when two people exit the parked car.

The light from the car shines over their silhouettes. Thank fuck it does, because she sees just in time that it’s her boss locking his car and beginning to walk in the direction of her car.

Santos ducks into the footwell. She hopes to every divinity that the glove compartment is high enough to cover the top of her head. 

There is nothing worse than running into your boss outside of work. Like seeing a professor you hate at the same bar you’re about to get trashed at.

Well, maybe that’s a harsh comparison. She doesn’t hate Doctor Robby. It's just unfortunate that their interactions from day one have been awkward. Her guilt and moral compass about turning Doctor Langdon in used to give her a whiplash that nearly snapped her neck on a daily basis. Not only that, but she could see the toll of Doctor Langdon's absence was taking on him and the department.

She thought the feeling would pass. By the time she had convinced herself that, Doctor Langdon walked back through those ER doors. She hadn’t expected him to come back at all, so a lot of adjustment happened on both of their ends.

Her interactions with Doc—Langdon have somehow been less awkward. He's made his amends with her. It seems like wherever he went during his ten month absence did some good. And, well, she’s grown a bit during that time too and accepted his genuine apology—even if it was stiff and clumsy.

What she doesn't understand is how Doctor Robby has worked through his grudges with Langdon. From what she’s observed at work, he’s been keeping a pretty strict distance between him and Langdon.

She sort of regrets lifting her head back up. The sight in front of her is as perplexing as it is difficult to see.

Robby’s walking side-by-side with Langdon. Even through the darkness, Santos is ninety percent sure that slicked back hair and confident gait can only belong to one person. No one else would even dare to stand that close to Doctor Robby.

Well, maybe the distance isn’t the issue. It’s not that incriminating, and—and Langdon has just curled a hand around Doctor Robby’s elbow.

She really should not have stuck her nose into this. All she wanted was to take a nap, and now she’s witnessing her chief attending commit an HR violation with his senior resident.

It’s too late to pretend like she hadn’t seen that. There’s nothing to truly do about it.

Even if Langdon keeps staring at Robby all the way to the stairwell with a big grin and eager eyes and a hand on Doctor Robby’s arm.

Even if Doctor Robby’s smiling back in a way that she doesn’t see that often and is clearly trying his best not to give attention to Langdon’s antics.

Fuck.

Throughout her shift, as she sees Doctor Robby and Langdon, either separate or together, she tries not to think about it. ‘It’ being the fact that they are—

She can’t even say it to herself. She’s surprised at her own shock.

She shouldn’t judge. After all, she’s got her own HR violation of a relationship to worry about. No use stumbling into Langdon’s business once more.

When she thinks about it, she convinces herself that maybe it isn’t all that strange. 

From what she remembers during her first day, Doctor Robby and Langdon have always been tight. It’s part of the reason she was uncertain about reporting Langdon’s behavior.

So, they’re back to being buddies—just buddies. That’s nice. Jolly, even, to have comrades and what not to pitch a ride from. 

There’s no need to assume something just from one interaction she witnessed in a dark parking garage on five hours of sleep.

On some level, it relieves some tension in her that she didn’t know she was carrying to know that Doctor Robby isn't holding Langdon’s behavior against him. That Santos reporting him didn’t completely fuck up the entirety of the hospital’s dynamic.

Good for them.

After her shift is over, she speeds towards Garcia’s car. She can feel her frustration from the other end of the parking garage.

“Took you long enough,” Garcia teases. “Just kidding.”

Santos huffs, passing her keys back over.

“Get any rest this morning?” She asks, setting her bags down in the back seats.

“Not really. Saw…people walking by. Kind of messed up my rhythm.”

“I hear that. Look, I’m heading home, but stop by on your next day off.”

Santos nods, feeling heat rise to her neck. It’s dizzying how blunt Garcia is about her feelings.

God, but does it feel good to not have to guess. To know that Garcia will always tell her when she’s welcomed, and not just because she thinks that is what Santos wants.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll catch ya later.”

She waves as Garcia pulls out of the parking lot. Her car passes Dennis' car, and he’s fast enough to snatch her old parking spot before someone else swoops in. Santos praises her own cleverness for texting him earlier to meet him at this spot.

“Perfect timing, huckleberry,” Santos compliments as she slides into the passenger seat.

“Thanks,” he mutters.

“Whoa, turn up the heat. It’s freezing.”

Dennis scoffs, but he leans over to turn the knobs towards her. Him and his stupid Nebraskan resistance to the cold. Apparently negative one degrees isn’t ‘too bad’ if you have enough layers.

Like it ever gets that cold in Pittsburgh, but Santos doesn’t care to argue so long as he keeps the heating pointed towards her.

When Santos looks over, the light of Dennis' car shines onto two figures passing by.

“Are you serious?” She mutters.

“What? What’s wrong?”

How does she manage to do this to herself?

“It’s—it’s nothing.”

Dennis raises an eyebrow. It’s a spectacularly flat look that Santos will not cave into. They stare at each other for about two seconds before Santos grumbles under her breath.

“Okay, fine. I just…saw Doctor Robby and Langdon driving into work together. It’s probably nothing.”

Dennis looks puzzled at that. “I think they always do that.”

“What?”

“Yeah, I’ve seen them drive together often. Do you think they live together?”

Santos laughs loud, a single bark that echoes in the car. “Yeah, right.”

“It’s not that weird. We live together.”

She scoffs. “That is different.”

“O…kay. Different how?”

“They’re….”

Santos points at the two doctors. She watches them file into Doctor Robby’s Jeep. They don’t start the car. Not yet. There’s some time spent watching them soak in the silence of their car.

Thank fuck they’re too absorbed with each other to notice her and Dennis staring from across the floor.

“Oh. Do you think they’re dating?” Dennis asks the quiet part out loud.

She glares at him, but she can’t really blame him. It was her who brought this topic up to begin with.

“I…don’t know. It’s not my business.” She pivots, feeling rather defensive of being caught. “What—you interested?”

Dennis scoffs, shifting the car into ‘drive.’ “Yeah, no thank you.”

8. Mohan

As a senior resident, Mohan has a lot on her plate. Sure, this is what she wants and she can’t imagine her life any other way, but it's grueling work—and she only truly admits that to herself when she’s alone and outside the scope of the hospital.

At work, she tries her best to maintain composure. A friendly face for patients to turn to, because God knows who else in this place is providing that.

One perk of being a senior resident is that she gets to learn straight from Robby. They’ve had their differences, but she would be a fool to admit that he’s not one of the best she’s seen.

As senior leadership, she feels his attention more focused on her than ever before—which speaks volumes considering how often he used to ride her ass about patient wait times. He’s taken a step back, watching like a hawk to see what commands she doles out.

He hasn’t had much criticism on her leadership abilities, so she calls that a win. She’s learned from the best.

Or rather, learned what not to do.

Another perk are their one-on-one meetings. Well, not much of a perk and more of a requirement. But it allows her slotted time before most shifts with Robby to ask questions. Seek clarification. Encourage communication that Robby often failed to have beforehand.

The meetings are not as one-on-one as she had expected. After all, there’s another senior resident in the department.

(She’d like to argue that this is his second go-around at senior residency.)

Langdon’s rare silence at most of their morning meetings makes sense. This isn’t his first rodeo, so to speak, so he already has this locked down.

Mohan, on the other hand, sometimes feels herself slipping out of control. As competent as she is, she wonders how much of herself she has left to give to this job before there’s nothing left.

Well, that’s a problem to think about in fourteen hours when she’s not at work.

Robby checks the watch on his wrist. Mohan looks between him and the door. She thinks he’s about to adjourn the meeting, but the door to the room finally bangs open.

Langdon barrels inside, head ducked down as he scrolls through something on his phone that’s captured his attention.

“Hey, handso—”

Langdon looks up, and the smile on his face drops. Mohan watches Robby raise an eyebrow at their new addition.

She thinks his bewilderment is for the same reason as her own confusion, because did Langdon just call Robby ‘handsome’?

“Robby,” Langdon finishes. “Mohan, did you teleport or something? Last I saw, you were at the nurse’s station.”

“That was…like ten minutes ago,” she comments, hearing the questioning tone in her voice.

“Was it? Time flies when you’re having fun with patients.”

Mohan feels her confusion start to fold over itself. “We’re not even clocked in, yet.”

She watches Langdon swallow, and his eyes jump to Robby before he looks back at her.

“Call me a dedicated doctor, then.”

Mohan looks back up at Robby. He’s got a strange look on his face that she’s seen many times before. It’s usually when she does something that Robby can’t believe she’s done.

His arms are crossed and his head tilts down in that demeaning way that sets her off. It doesn’t work as well on Langdon. Not when they’re the same height.

Mohan’s not sure who to look at first, especially when no one is saying anything.

Oh, she thinks. Robby definitely caught onto Langdon’s slip-up, and he doesn't know what to do now that she’s caught on too.

They’re—

This is too painful to sit through, and she’d rather be sorting through patient files than be here for another minute. There’s people in their rooms that need help, and they’re wasting time ogling at each other.

“Is there anything we need to know for today?” Mohan asks, because apparently she has to be the one to take charge here among her two senior doctors.

Robby clicks back into place. He turns to her with a nod. “Dana’s let me know that the local charity run is in our catch zone. Expect an increase in heat stroke related cases, but it shouldn't be anything that severely impacts our work.”

After he finishes his update, Robby waves them both off with a hand towards the door. Langdon holds the door open for her, and as soon as she’s out, he flies in the opposite direction.

Yeah, she’s definitely glad to be out of that room. So long as they’re…thing…doesn’t affect their patient’s care, she doesn't want to know anymore about it.

9. Mel

Mel has never been good at handling death. Not that anyone currently in her vicinity is passing away. It wasn’t even a close call, but the way her heart rhythm tripped up felt very similar.

She’s not sure there was a chapter in her textbooks for this scenario. What do you do when your senior resident, and sort of only friend, leaves his shift and comes back on a gurney?

She nearly needed medical attention herself after seeing him wheeled in, son in tow. EMTs quickly explained. They tossed around words like loss of consciousness. Dizziness and confusion. Rapid heart beat.

The story becomes less shell-shocking when they collectively realize the cause was severe dehydration.

“Seriously,” Langdon later scoffed in North 3. “What 911 operator actually sends an ambulance when a five year old is the one calling?”

She compliments his son’s speedy instincts. Langdon’s face turns sweeter, a smile melting on his face. The dehydration is making him a bit loopy. Looser lips and kinder eyes.

Eventually, Dana comes knocking on the door, calling Mel back to work. She also lets Langdon know that his son, Tanner, is in the break room.

Langdon sighs, rambling to Dana about the hospital’s terrible service. That it’s no wonder their patient satisfaction scores are so low when they’re pulling such a ‘vital and excellent doctor’ from her patient.

Dana shoots back that if he's looking for patient satisfaction then to go to a massage parlor.

Between their jabs, she can’t help feeling a bit pleased at Langdon’s assessment of her performance. They wave their farewells, Langdon’s a bit floppier, as she heads towards the door.

Oh, but someone should call his family, right? That duty usually ends up falling to her.

She doesn’t mind. Someone should be by his side, or at least, be here to take him home and away from the hectic environment of the ER. This will only take a minute or two.

She hates to assume, but from what Langdon has told her, he is still close to the mother of his children. That may be who she calls.

As she heads to the station to pull up his file, her head throbs. What was her name again? Alanna? Bailey?

She plops down at one of the available computers and inserts her ID. After she opens Langdon’s file she learns that his ex-wife’s name is actually Abby.

Drat. She was close.

After some scrolling, she also learns that Abby is not the first person listed on Langdon’s emergency contact file.

She’s second to Michael Robinavitch.

Wait, that’s Doctor Robby. It takes her a second to recognize. Doctor Robby’s heavy insistence that he be addressed as ‘Robby’ is ingrained into her head.

A weird bundle of nerves coils in her chest as she dials the number to call Doctor Robby. She taps her foot, rapid and a little wired up, as the tone in her ear blares loud.

“Yeah?” Doctor Robby says.

“Uhm, hi, Doctor Robby. It’s Doctor King, or Mel—from PTMC.”

She hears a faint noise. A breath of air that she thinks sounds like a laugh. “I know who you are. Thought this was gonna be Dana.”

“Oh, no. She’s working with someone else. I’m not sure where she is right now.”

“That’s alright. What did you need?”

“Right. I’m calling, because you’re listed as Doctor Langdon’s first emergency contact.”

A silence dwells between them. She waits for Doctor Robby to say something, but all is quiet on the other end. She checks the phone reciprocal to make sure neither of them accidentally hung up.

Then, a jingle of something echoes. She thinks it may be metal. “Uhm, Doctor Robby?”

“What’s his status?”

“Conscious and alert. His son called 911 after he lost consciousness at the park. He has severe dehydration, so we’re giving him IV fluids and electrolytes.”

There’s that breath of air on the other side again. Something…almost amused. Like it’s funny that Langdon’s in the hospital, and she frowns at that.

“I thought…never mind. I’ll be over in half an hour.”

“Should I let you in when you get here—or….”

“Oh, I know my way around, don’t you worry. What room is he in?”

“North 3.”

“Got it. Thank you, Mel.”

“Of course.” She thinks this is probably the time to hang up, but she has a question nagging her brain. “Doctor Robby?”

It takes a few seconds for him to respond. His voice is choppier, filled with more static.

“Yes, Mel?”

“Should I be contacting anyone else? I noticed that—uhm. Ms. Abby is next on the contact list.”

“I’ll let Abby know. Your concern is appreciated.”

“Uhm, we’ll see you soon, Doctor Robby.”

The line drops, and Mel stares at the phone before placing it down. She exits out of Langdon’s file and tries to resume the steady rhythm she had this morning. They have about six hours left to work.
 
They’re almost at the five hour mark when he sees Doctor Robby pace in from the waiting room. He waves at the some people who run into him, but otherwise, he makes a beeline for the north corridor.

Mel’s instinct is to help. Step forward and lead the family to the patient, but Doctor Robby had explicitly stated to not worry, so that’s what she does. Compartmentalizes the nerves into a separate box. Pushes it to the side to focus on other things.

Things like…why Doctor Robby was his emergency contact to begin with.

It’s truly not her business, but she has a tendency of noticing patterns of behavior. Her brain just does it without her warranting.

She knows a few things about Doctor Robby’s bond with Langdon—all of it having come from Langdon himself.

1. They’re close. It’s an intense friendship that has been intense since his first month as an intern.
2. Doctor Robby is highly involved in Langdon’s life. Especially after his ten month absence. He helps with his children, gives personal life advice. Even knows Abby really well.
3. Langdon knows what the inside of Doctor Robby’s house looks like. Though she's sworn to secrecy, she knows that they have had many sleepovers at Doctor Robby’s house.

The pieces all fall in line, special grooves clicking together the way they should. She doesn’t realize what the pieces mean until she steps back to look at the full picture.

Or rather, she doesn’t realize until she steps back into Langdon’s room.

The pieces have come together to form the picture before her. Robby, sitting in the chair and leaned forward over the bed. Langdon, waving an arm in Robby’s personal space as he tells some elaborate story. Robby’s car keys and wallet leaning against Langdon’s leg.

Oh.

Doctor Robby was first on the emergency contact list, because he is the one who will get to Langdon the fastest. He’s first on the list, because they’re—

She doesn't like making assumptions, but no other answer makes sense.

“Doctor Langdon?” Mel says, knocking on the door.

“Hey, Mel,” Langdon says with a grin. “Welcome to my kingdom. Everything that the sun touches will be yours to rule one day.”

Mel looks around. “But, we’re inside.”

“You never seen The Lion King? Man, Tanner loves that movie. He wouldn't stop singing ‘I Can’t Wait To Be King’ for weeks.”

She tries to jog her memory. It’s a familiar title, but she never was much of a cartoon movie person, even as a child.

Doctor Robby nods his head at Mel. “Got some ORSs?”

She looks down at the oral rehydration solutions in her hand. Sort of forgot she was carrying those.

“Oh, yes—for Doctor Langdon to take. Should I…go over care instructions still?”

With a huff, Doctor Robby says, “I think I’ll be able to figure them out. Go ahead and discharge Doctor Langdon. I’ll take over from here.”

“You’re not working, though.”

Doctor Robby nods. “No—No, I’m not working."

The look he gives her is rather intense. Serious and grim like she’s just told him bad news.

“Thank you for calling, Doctor King.”

Mel feels something warm settle in her chest. Like she’s just been invited into their world.

“Thank you for coming,” she hears herself say quietly.

The room falls silent, and she thinks she gets why. There’s something important about this moment to Doctor Robby, and she won’t soil it for him by opening her mouth.

“Anyone gonna thank me?” Langdon grumbles.

Doctor Robby slaps a hand onto Langdon’s knee. “You can thank your son for calling 911.”

Langdon rolls his eyes, sitting up straight on the bed. “Again, what operator is letting a five year old call the shots. Am I proud that my kid knows what to do? Hell yeah, but Robby, seriously, I’m telling you—that ambulance was there within five minutes. How does that happen?”

Mel feels a smile pull at her lips as she leaves the solutions beside Doctor Robby’s keys. She lets them have their moment and closes the door.

10. Tanner Langdon

Tanner doesn't know a lot about Mister Robby. He's a nice guy, yeah, but also sort of quiet. Like Charlotte, his sister.

Mister Robby listens when he talks about his day at school or the stuff he likes, so he doesn't hate him. Actually, he's happy with having Mister Robby as his friend.

Another thing about Mister Robby is that he also has a big house.

A really big house that he gets to stay in when he sees his dad. He has his own room, and so does Charlotte, but Mister Robby shares a room with his dad.

They live together too. Maybe. He’s not sure. Some weekends with his dad are at that old apartment. The one with the spider web that moves to different places every time he’s over.

That’s rare. Most days, they go to Mister Robby’s warm house with all the orange lights and big beds and huge TV. He even has a bunch of board games that Mister Robby lets him pick from to play after dinner.

He likes asking Mister Robby questions. Or showing him things, because one other thing about him is that Mister Robby is a funny man.

So, when he shows Mister Robby his latest work from school, he expects jokes. Laughter.

Instead, when Tanner pushes his family tree towards Mister Robby on the other side of the table, his face does something weird. It…he frowns?

Mister Robby covers his mouth with his hand. Rubs a palm over his face as he picks the paper up.

“Uhhmm, Mister Robby? Are you okay?”

The glasses sit low on Mister Robby’s face. He stares very hard at his paper, and the paper shakes. Tanner realizes it’s because Mister Robby is the one shivering like he’s cold.

A bundle of something wrong and sickening builds in his stomach. Is there something wrong with his tree?

All that he did was draw a tree and put the names of all his family members. He put his dad and mom, and their parents too. He had to ask what their full names were, and how many ‘cousins’ and ‘aunts and uncles’ he actually had.

There’s a lot of Langdons out there.

Tanner walks to the other side of the table. He has to prop his arms up to reach the paper, pressing his elbows into the table.

“Look,” Tanner says, pointing. “I put you next to dad.”

Mister Robby’s throat moves as he swallows. “I’m not….”

“But you and dad are….”

Did he get this wrong? He thought Mister Robby and dad were like dad and mom. 

When dad and mom broke apart, mom had said they still loved each other very much. They just will live in different houses. Have other people in their lives.

As much as he misses seeing his mom and dad in the same room, he wouldn’t have met Mister Robby if they did not break apart. He also gets two birthdays, which is pretty awesome, but that’s not the point.

Mister Robby is someone big in his life. Plays games with him and helps him with his homework. He teaches him a lot of new things and shows him places he’s never been to before.

His life has gotten a lot bigger since Mister Robby’s been in it. So, why would he not be family? He does not believe it’s bad to put him on his family tree.

Tanner looks up at Mister Robby to say as much. Mister Robby is squinting down at him. He can't tell if the glassy look is from the frames or the strange look on his face.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No—No, no no. Not at all, Tanner.”

Mister Robby opens an arm, and he knows that means he’s allowed to step into his space. He leans against Mister Robby and takes a second to look at his family tree.

“This is something you really want?”

Mister Robby’s voice is quiet. He would not have heard him if he wasn’t pressed against his chest. There’s something wild running inside. A rapid thump-thump-thump.

“Well, yeah.”

“Okay. That’s…I want you to know that I’m really happy to be on here.”

Tanner feels his face hurt as his mouth pulls up into a smile. “Really?!”

“Yeah, buddy, I’m really happy. Thank you for thinking of me. I’d love to be a part of your—your family tree.”

“Good! I made this in marker, so I can’t take you off.”

Mister Robby laughs. His finger traces the line that connects his name to his dad’s. Mom’s name is on the other side, but there’s no line connecting her to his dad, because that's not what they are.

That line is special and only for the people who love love each other. It’s for Mister Robby and his dad, because they’re—

“I asked Mrs. Chen, because I didn’t know how to do the assignment. Everyone else’s trees looked different. She said that my family’s special, and that not many of the other kids’ trees will look like mine, and that it’s okay to be different.”

Mister Robby’s still smiling, but his hand covers most of his face. He wipes at his eyes until he looks down at Tanner and pats his lap. He feels himself grin as he climbs onto Mister Robby’s leg.

“Do you have any family, Mister Robby?”

He looks at Robby with a different smile. It’s smushed and unhappy in a way that Tanner didn’t know could happen.

“Not many.”

“A mom and dad?”

“They…passed away when I was very young.”

“Oh. What about a sister? Like Charlotte.”

“Nope. No sisters—or brothers.”

“That sounds sad.”

Mister Robby’s hand rubs circles at the middle of his back. He’s solid like a chair keeping Tanner from falling backwards.

“It was for a while.”

Tanner’s chest hurts with something too big for him to say. He wraps his arms around Mister Robby’s neck instead.

“It’s okay,” Mister Robby whispers.

He’s not sure he believes him. Mister Robby’s shoulders are shaking and his hand is tight around his back.

Even his voice is shaky when he adds, “I’m better now.”

Tanner pulls back and looks at Mister Robby’s face. He’s grown a little pink. Like a flower, he thinks.

“I do have one family member.”

“Really?”

Mister Robby nods. “My grandmother. She raised me since I was very young.”

“What’s her name?”

His mouth flaps open and shut a few times. Tanner thinks that at another time, it would have made him laugh.

“Rachael Mikhlin.”

Tanner scrambles off Mister Robby’s lap to look for his bookbag. He finds it sitting in his chair on the other side. His hand fishes around for a pencil. He wanders back to the other side and pulls his family tree closer.

He draws a line above Mister Robby’s name, then adds a blank rectangle—not a square. Those can’t fit full names.

His pencil stalls above the box before he turns around.

“Mister Robby?”

“Yes?”

“How do I spell that?”

Mister Robby’s face scrunches. His hand zaps back up to his red face, but his other hand points to the paper. Tanner’s eyes follow the motion. Before he can say another word, Mister Robby begins saying a bunch of letters.

R–A–C–H–A–E–L.

That’s her first name. Luckily, he wrote small enough that he won't have to bunch up her last name to make it fit.

M–I–K–H–L–I–N.

Tanner moves the paper away to take in the whole tree. It’s a little fuller now like the trees growing back their leaves at the start of spring.

He looks over his shoulder. “Like that?”

Mister Robby’s silent. He’s not even opening his mouth to say a thing. His eyes are just…glued to the paper. He runs a hand down his beard and neck.

“You nailed it.”

Tanner smiles. He slides his paper off the table and moves towards his bookbag.

“I can't wait to show Mrs. Chen tomorrow! Thanks, Mister Robby!”

Mister Robby looks up from the table just as he zips up his bookbag. He’s smiling now. Happy. Not like before.

“Anytime, buddy.”

+1. Robby

Robby taps his foot. Drags a hand down his face to keep himself awake.

He’s been sitting in this dentist's office for the last hour and a half. This kind of procedure shouldn't be taking this long, but maybe that’s because, with a bit of well-placed pride, he’s thinking of his own department’s procedure times.

Or maybe, the patient in the back that he’s waiting for is being a pain in the ass to the dentist. Robby would not put that past him.

Truthfully, Robby supposes he can’t be too upset about the wait time. He had asked to be here, even though his offer had resulted in a rather strained conversation about being more open. Discussing these sorts of physical pains has been a sore topic for them in the past.

Their communication has gotten better. Robby is more inviting of vulnerable conversations, and Langdon in return is more forthright with his bodily aches and pains. No longer putting up a front of invincibility.

Even if said pain results in a wisdom teeth extraction like he's eighteen years old.

If it means Langdon finally stops procrastinating his physical health and opens himself up to receiving treatment, Robby is more than happy to wait for nearly two hours to drive him home.

Ecstatic, even, to be asked to be involved at all, because he knows what’s waiting for him in that room.

The door for the back offices open, and a clerk pops their head out. “For…Frank Langdon?”

He shoots up from the chair and follows the staff member through an elaborate array of hallways.

“Are you Mr. Langdon as well?”

His brain scratches to a halt at the idea. Robby shakes his head.

“Everyone calls me Doctor Robby. I’m…the partner?”

The clerk smiles. “I understand. We don’t have any information on file, so if you could fill this out for us, that would be appreciated. They will be just a few more minutes.”

The clerk hands him a clipboard and motions towards a chair. Robby waves a hand, option to lean against the wall as he fills out the form.

Name? Michael Robinavitch. An obvious one, though he does go by Robby.

Primary Form of Contact? His phone number, so he writes that down. Langdon has often teased him about how horrifically bad he is at responding to emails in a timely manner.

Relationship to Patient?

Well, that one’s more complicated. He’s certainly not the father nor any other relative, but they’ve reached a level of intimacy where they are considered family.

Or at least, Langdon’s children agree on that fact, which Robby likes to think matters the most.

What does he write down? He had just called himself Langdon's partner, but that was spur of the moment. Now that Robby thinks about it, this may be the first time he's actually thinking about it.

Anytime he's been asking about his relationship status, he just says the same thing. 'I'm taken,' or 'I'm dating someone.'

‘Boyfriend’? He cringes at the juvenile title—because he hasn’t been in high school in…well, for as long as Langdon has been born, and isn’t that a horrifying thought—but he’s not sure any other term fits.

‘Husband’ isn’t correct either.

Logically speaking, they are not married.

The thought creeps into his mind. The little reminders that they share a life together. Two unwashed cups sitting in the sink. A pile of shoes by the front door. Dana asking about Langdon’s wellbeing through him, because their relationship isn’t something new or private like some one-time fling.

Robby often imagines a day where they're at their respective work places, sanitizing their hands, and washing over the same gold band on their ring finger.

Or silver. Robby isn’t picky, and he doesn’t know Langdon’s preference. Actively having that conversation haunts him to the degree of complete avoidance.

Though, a quieter side of him knows he’s more afraid of how badly he wants it.

‘Partner,’ then. He’s spent five minutes staring at this stupid form just to circle back to the answer he gave the clerk the first time around.

It’s a bit ridiculous to be stressing over a patient intake form. He should know better, but anything regarding Langdon tends to send the more common sense parts of his brain out of commission.

Frank Langdon is his partner. A man of incredible romance that he has been in a committed relationship with for a year.

It feels like it's been longer. That the concept of a ‘them’ expands past the start of a romantic intimacy and to that day Langdon walked into the Pitt. To the beginning, when Robby became a mentor to that bright-eyed and smart-ass intern.

He’s still bright-eyed and a smart-ass, but Robby’s learned so much more and yet not enough.

He’s an idiot who grabs the hot pan thinking he can handle the few seconds of heat that burns his fingers while transferring the pan to the other side of the kitchen.

He’s about as impatient as his own preschool children. Actually, they may have better manners than their father, but at least he admits it.

But, good lord, does Langdon love those children. There’s always something on him to remind him of those two buggers. A ketchup stain on his shirt from Tanner’s poor motor skills, or a marker smudge from Charlotte wanting to make his plain white t-shirt more colorful. A bruise here or there alongside those colorful beaded bracelets.

That’s where he thinks Langdon’s sensitivity comes from. His fatherhood. Yeah, he’s bratty, and stubborn, and sarcastic to the point of rudeness, but he’s also enthusiastic, and kind, and loving, and stubborn.

When the staff member waves at Robby, he doesn’t realize he has to blink away tears to see straight ahead. They walk deeper into the bowels of the dentist office.

He must look like a complete lunatic, but he pulls himself together enough to appear normal when he walks into Langdon's room.

They get about three steps in before a shrill beeping noise fills the room.

Robby wipes at his face with a large palm. Fuck. What’d he miss? It’s gotta be something, because Langdon’s giving him that bewildered look with his stupid wide eyes.

Robby follows the sound of the beeping and lands on the heart monitor. 101. Above normal resting heart rate, but not lethal. The nitrous oxide he’s on shouldn't be affecting his heart rate, so….

The dentist looks up from the computer and laughs. “Don’t worry. That tends to happen when the significant other walks in.”

Oh.

Langdon’s head lulls from side-to-side, most likely indulging in the satisfying physical sensations. Laughing gas will do that. Though, that derpy, loose smile on his face is all his.

“Hey—by,” Langdon coos in a slow drag of words.

His lips shake with an effort to tamper down a grin. “What’s that?”

“What’re you doin’ ‘ere, baby?”

Robby feels himself crack into a smile at the sight in front of him.

Langdon is lounged on the dentist chair, mouth held open with the cotton balls pressed to his gums. Drool pools in his mouth, and he’s making gross noises as he swallows. Anything that doesn’t make it down leaves his lips. He’s even got a circular saliva stain on his shirt.

Robby’s still fucking smiling.

Oh. 

They’re really…they’re really screwed, aren’t they?

“I’m taking you home,” Robby announces.”

“Aw’some. Can I ‘rive?”

“Sure. In about ten hours.”

The doctor wheels closer, clipboard in hand. She looks between them, and it should be humiliating being caught fawning, but right now, he’s only focused on the way Langdon’s face crinkles around the smile lines.

“He’s told me you’re both doctors,” she says.

“I’m a little afraid to ask just how much he has told you.”

The dentist—Dr. Romero, Robby reads from the tag after he can finally peel his eyes away from Langdon—smiles up at Robby. She’s a little younger than Robby, but there’s something to the relaxed look on her face that tells him that this is something she’s long been used to.

“It was all very sweet.”

“Oh, boy.”

Langdon grins, waving his hand to catch Robby’s attention. Unfortunately, it works.

“You ‘ear that, Robby? I’m swheet.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

Langdon starts chuckling, a strange, muffled sound due to the cotton in his mouth. “You—”

Before Langdon can start contesting that argument, because he really, truthfully does not need that right now, he turns to Dr. Romero.

“Is there anything of note from the procedure?” Robby rushes to ask, overlapping whatever nonsense Langdon is attempting to say.

“I’m sure, as doctors, you know what to expect, procedure and treatment-wise. It went very smoothly. The oxide should wear off in about six to eight hours. In the bag is some medication for the pain, instructions for care, so on and so on. Do you have any questions for me?”

“Yeah. How soon till we can get out of here?”

Doctor Romero grins, but she lets the front desk know they’re ready to be discharged. Or checked out. Billed. Whatever it is.

The second she leaves them alone in the room, Langdon scoots closer. He’s still grinning up at him like a loosey goosey idiot, but there’s something in his eyes that looks dangerous. Like the wild, black hole that consumes a cat's eyes when they’re about to attack.

“What? Do I want to know?” Robby asks.

Langdon snickers. He covers his mouth with a hand, probably to muffle the loud laughter, but then, he loses his train of thought. His finger begins feeling the plumpness of his lip.

It’s addicting to watch him run his tongue along his finger. He’s not doing it with the intention to seduce Robby, but he might as well be. The sight of his finger nearly drenched slick with saliva is almost distracting enough to keep Langdon from hurting himself.

“Stop that,” Robby grumbles.

He reaches out and grabs Langdon’s wrist. Yanks his hand away from poking at the bloody cotton in the back of his mouth.

“An’ I’m da impatien’ one?” Langdon mutters, suddenly picking back up on his previous lost train of thought.

Robby does a double take. Had he said his previous thoughts out loud at some point? Was he finally going crazy?

A strange thought pushes to the forefront of his brain. He’s learned so much about Langdon, yes, but Langdon has learned just as much about Robby.

Not that he has ever been unaware of that fact. That vulnerability was what kept him from pursuing much of anything, but especially anything with Langdon and his never-ending curiosity and passion for digging under Robby’s skin.

Odd how such a paralyzing fear can be smoothed out into desire. Stretched and molded into something cherishable.

He cherishes Langdon, and it’s too late to change anything about it.

Not that he wants to. He wouldn't change anything about them. Their insecurities, their guilt and shame, and neither their love or appetite for one another. It’s what makes them ‘them.’

Robby leans against the front desk, forearms flat against the tall counter. Langdon leans against him. He’s using Robby as a support beam, even though they’re the same height and nearly the same weight.

The clerk runs his card and begins typing. Robby loses himself to the sound of the clacking keyboard and the strong warmth along his side.

“Rahbby,” Langdon whispers.

He bends his head down, only really seeing the top of Langdon’s head.

“What’s up?”

Langdon starts laughing—no. Giggling.

“I’ve ‘omething ta tell you.”

Robby looks around. No one’s paying attention to two people checking out after an appointment, but he still feels a bit scandalous.

“Can it wait till we get to the car?” Robby asks, because he has a feeling whatever is on Langdon’s mind isn’t exactly appropriate for all ages.

Or, really, anyone that isn’t Robby.

Langdon grunts, but he nods. His mouth isn’t really moving, but he’s saying something that Robby can’t really decipher.

Robby knows it must take genuine effort to not blab whatever is on his mind. He pats Langdon’s sleeve with some sympathy, then reaches over to take his credit card back.

“Have a good afternoon,” the secretary.

Robby opens his mouth, but—

“You too,” Langdon beams. He leans on the counter, putting all his weight on his arms. “Love tha necklace.”

The secretary holds a hand to her chest, her face lighting up with a smile. “Oh! Thank you!”

Robby rolls his eyes. Langdon really can be quite a charmer, sometimes, even when he's got drool-drenched cotton balls stuffed in his mouth.

“Come on, loosey,” Robby mutters with a short smile to the secretary.

“I’m nat Lucy, I’m Frank.”

Robby manages to pull them into the elevator without knocking into any of the glass cabinets lining the hallway, though Langdon does trip over nothing twice.

“You cheatin’ on me ‘ith shomeone? Rahhby—”

Robby smiles at the other passage in the elevator. They look back at him with a funny face.

“Laughing gas,” he explains.

The other person nods with a quiet laugh. They stand in silence—if you block out Langdon’s ramblings that aren’t really English anymore—until they all exit on the first floor, which thankfully happens in a speedy manner.

Langdon’s hand is tight around him. His arm is wrapped around Robby’s like he’s escorting him to a ball. He’s a line of heat along his side as they get to the car. Won’t even let go of Robby as he pries the passenger door open.

“In you go,” Robby murmurs, moving Langdon towards the seat.

His Jeep has a step in order to get in, a bit high off the ground, especially for someone as out of it as Langdon. He flops forward and rests his head on the seat.

“Frank.”

“Mmmm.”

“You’re supposed to get inside the car.”

“I am.”

“Your head, maybe.”

“Your ‘ead,” Langdon mumbles, “ish awesome.”

“Thank you.” Despite his absolutely ridiculous delivery, Robby still feels a bit of heat rush to his face. “You wanna get in the car now?”

Langdon looks over his shoulder and gives his best attempt at a grin. With a sigh, Robby pushes Langdon up by the armpits to move him further into the car.

Langdon is shameless as he crawls into the seat, legs shimming in every direction. Once his ass is finally planted in the seat, his body lulls sideways into the empty driver’s seat.

Robby keeps one hand on his shoulder as grabs the buckle with the other. Langdon’s face is suddenly very close to his, and his eyes pop open to observe Robby. It’s almost uncanny how he always seems to know when Robby’s nearby or looking back at him.

Good grief. Robby would probably be annoyed if it was anyone else in his car, but it’s Langdon, and he’s realized that his patience and adoration for him is much larger than life itself.

Unfortunate that he has found someone he’s so resolutely fond of. It took a long time to rewire his brain that had accepted the fact he would end his life alone.

Opening the driver side door, Robby scoots in and pushes Langdon’s body up with his shoulder. Langdon hangs there before propping his elbow on the center console. His chin digs into his palm as he beams at Robby turning the car on.

“Remember what you wanted to tell me?” Robby asks.

“Yah,” Langdon whispers with another giggle.

He takes his free hand to Robby’s chin, moving his face towards him. Shakes Robby’s face back and forth softly, and Robby feels a bit of heat rise to his cheeks. Langdon’s eyes are too tender for him to handle right now—or ever.

“I can’t believe I’m with shomeone sho ‘andsome.”

Robby scoffs, and even through his poor pronunciation, he can tell what he’s trying to say. It’s not anything he doesn't hear when Langdon’s completely cognizant.

“Alright.”

“And pretty.”

“I’m not—”

Langdon squishes Robby’s cheeks with his fingers, pushing his lips together in pucker.

“An’ shmart and nice. I’m a lucky’ ‘uy.”

It’s sweet. Yeah, Langdon really is a charmer. Robby can’t smile, because Langdon’s still squishing his face and cooing like some grandma, but Robby feels something he dares to call happiness bubble in his chest.

“I can’t wai’ to shuck your dick.”

And, there it is.

Robby plucks Langdon’s wrist away from his face and, because he can’t help himself, presses a fond kiss to his hand. Langdon’s semi-grin makes him think this was the reaction he planned on causing.

“With cotton balls in your mouth? Ambitious as always, Doctor Langdon.”

Langdon’s eyes are wide as he whips back into the passenger side and yanks the mirror down. He clamps his teeth down and looks around his mouth.

“Awwh, man,” Langdon groans. “I look ‘ike a dork.”

He turns to Robby with a frown, or at least, what Robby thinks is supposed to be a frown. The cotton keeps his mouth stuck as an open square hole.

“Do I ‘ook dorky?”

Robby’s laugh echoes in the car. “Yeah, you do.”

Now, Langdon’s really frowning, shoulders dropping and hands falling from the mirror.

The sight’s a bit adorable as it is heartbreaking. Like a kicked puppy.

Robby cups his hand to the base of Langdon’s neck. He leans over the console and presses the faintest kiss to Langdon’s cheek, just above where his achy gums are.

“I wouldn't want you any other way.”

Langdon’s eyes are wide—and right in his face too. A blue so intense and bright that Robby has to keep himself from looking away.

“...’eally?”

Robby huffs. “You know that.”

Langdon’s eyes, so blue and wide and bright, are now teary. Glassy with tears that Robby doesn’t think he has the control to hold back.

He suspects it’s mostly a result of the nitrous oxide stripping him of his rationale, but a part of him thinks this may actually be Langdon’s true response as well.

“Ish nice ta hear,” Langdon eventually whispers.

Robby pets the sharp cheekbones of Langdon’s face. He thinks it’s just in Langdon’s nature to be as close to him as possible, because he digs his face into the curl of his palm.

“Hey—watch your teeth.”

“‘hats what he shaid,” Langdon teases.

Robby rolls his eyes, and Langdon’s eyes follow the motion. They fall shut though when Robby leans forward to press another kiss to Langdon’s face. His nose bridge this time, because his thumb is busy brushing his tears off his cheek.

“I’ll make sure to tell you more often. How does that sound?”

Langdon sniffles, but he nods. Robby has a feeling Langdon wants to give him a kiss, but he’s being held back by the cotton in his mouth and cotton-feeling in his limbs.

With a hand to his chest, Robby pushes Langdon into the seat. Langdon falls back easily, arms flopping around as he makes himself comfortable.

“We’ll be home soon.”

“Can we ‘atch da new sheason af ‘ake off?”

Robby plants a hand on Langdon's thigh. Shakes it side from side and squeezes. His other hand moves to the wheel as he begins to reverse out of the parking spot.

“Whatever you want.”

Langdon settles back into the seat with what Robby thinks is a smile. This isn’t much different from any other day. Driving together, planning evenings and meals. Watching shows on the couch until one of them inevitably falls asleep.

He can see himself doing this for the rest of his life. That thought used to horrify him, but now, as Robby drives them both to their home, he can only feel a warm buzz sit in his chest.

+2. Langdon

Langdon isn’t sure what has motivated this excursion. Maybe it was an idea Robby’s psychologist had suggested. Maybe it was his own subconscious desire that has finally floated to the surface.

Either way, Robby’s made the decision to visit Doctor Adamson’s grave.

It’s almost been a little over six years since his death. Langdon only knows from the there-and-gone tidbits that Robby drops or stories from Pitt staff that actually worked with him.

So, Langdon knows next to nothing.

He should know more about his father-in-law.

Father figure-in-law? Langdon’s not too sure about the logistics, and it’s mostly a moniker he keeps between himself and the privacy of his mind.

He does know that one day, he’ll marry Robby. That’s an inevitable fact. The confounding part is where Doctor Adamson falls into place.

He knows Robby thought of him as a parental guide, but…that’s about all he knows. It’s such a delicate subject for Robby, that even the idea of asking shattered his own heart.

Langdon plops his feet into the driver’s side of Robby’s Jeep. No one’s sitting there. Its usual occupant is standing far on the horizon, staring down at a headstone.

Why today? It’s the question he’s been asking himself since Robby dropped news of this adventure on him earlier in the morning.

He doesn't think any particular event or reminder of his passing inspired this visit. Is it guilt for not having come sooner? Langdon thinks with some horror that Doctor Adamson probably didn't even have a funeral.

There’s an image of Robby, drowning in patients and codes and unknown diseases. Robby in that head-to-toe gear. How suffocating it must have felt to be surrounded by so much death and unable to mentally process one body from another.

They have all the time in the world now. Langdon had rolled them both out of bed at nine in the morning. Robby was probably regretting the invite he gave Langdon at that moment.

Langdon squints. From what he can gather at this distance, he thinks he sees Robby turned towards him. It’d be the first time all afternoon

He takes the cue for what it is. The door swings open violently, and Langdon hops out. He locks the Jeep with the keys and heads across the grassy field.

The sound of his feet against the gravel and dirt is the only noise. Robby is voiceless when he approaches the headstone.

Langdon licks his lips. Maybe he should ask. Invite some sort of conversation, but he knows Robby and how poorly that will be received.

Instead, Langdon stands by Robby’s side. They’re close enough to feel the fabric of the other person’s shirt, but far enough to give Robby his space.

“Hi, Doctor Adamson.”

Robby raises an eyebrow at him, but he’s smiling like he’s trying not to find Langdon funny—or cry. It’s definitely one of those two options.

“He can’t hear you,” he finally says.

Langdon looks up at him with a glare. Way to make a guy feel self-conscious in front of his partner’s father figure.

“I’ve never visited a grave before. Give me a second to ease into this.”

Robby puts up his hands, apologetic, and Langdon scoffs. “You think I was going to stand here quietly?”

The smile on Robby’s face is small like he’s scared to show any semblance of joy. Any hint that he’s moved past his grief.

“I forgot who I was talking to.”

Langdon crouches closer to the headstone. He reads the inscription.

Dr. Montgomery Adamson
Loving Brother and Uncle 
February 12, 1948
September 5, 2020

Langdon looks up to Robby with something he hopes is a smile. It’s the first time he actually sees Robby’s face. He’s a bit red, but nothing else to indicate any specific emotion. 

Apprehension builds in his stomach, but he won’t shy away from this. He’s here, because Robby wants him to be here—not someone who will tip toe around the topic or feed him handfuls of pity and sad looks.

“I gotta introduce myself,” Langdon explains, feeling a softer smile pull at his lips. “We’ve never met.”

Robby waves a hand towards the headstone. “Go ahead.”

Langdon takes a stand. He clears his throat as well. Nothing’s stuck there, because he doesn't really know what to say, and he thinks he uses it as a way to procrastinate.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. They all said you were talented—and really funny. A good mentor to everyone at the hospital. I wish our paths crossed. I wish I could have experienced that.”

He looks over his shoulder to Robby. The clear sky allows the sun to blind his eyes, but he's able to make out Robby nodding his head. He feels the encouragement surge through him, and he faces the grave again.

“We never met. I started two years after you passed, and I was Robby’s mentee for a while. We had our…moments of disagreements. Actually, it was a lot of fighting, but I wouldn't be who I am today without those moments...or him—and I like who I am. And I like who Robby is too. Whatever you taught him when he was your mentee is working.”

Langdon licks his lips. His throat is drying up, which is a bit sad, because he's only been talking for a minute.

“I’m Frank—by the way. And…Robby and I are dating. Have been for a while now. I love him, and I’ve been in love with him for a really long time—uhm. I’d really like to marry him...should I get your approval?”

The responding silence buzzes in his ear. There’s not even a slight wind to cover the quiet of the field.

Langdon looks over his shoulder. “You think that’s a yes?”

Robby’s eyes are wide, and he’s staring a hole right into Langdon’s head. His arms are stick-straight, hands surely clenching in his pockets. Langdon shrugs, and turns back to the headstone.

“I’m glad I got to meet you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Robby. He means a lot to us.”

He’s not sure who he means by ‘us'. Either his children, or the hospital, or all their patients and the community. He could be meaning his and Robby’s relationship too, but he has a feeling he doesn't need to clarify.

Langdon eases away from the headstone. He can tease himself later about this, but he feels a whirlwind of emotions begin to carry his cool facade away. As he sniffles away some moisture in his eyes, he remembers where he is, and he turns around.

“Was that too much?”

The look on Robby’s face terrifies him. His lips are pressed together. Glistening eyes and furrowed eyebrows are never a good sign.

It’s as if Robby refuses to open his mouth. He holds an arm up, and Langdon slides under. He holds Langdon close, arm wrapped high around his neck.

Langdon has the vague sense that Robby doesn't want him to analyze the look on his face any further. It wouldn't be the first time. He’ll let Robby have his space—even if it’s from in his arms.

A kiss is planted to the side of Langdon’s head. His lips smush against his hair, and Robby just…holds it there.

“Do you think we would have gotten along?” Langdon asks into Robby’s chest.

Robby’s shoulders start shaking. Langdon pulls away, eyes wide as he looks for any tears. A smile greets him instead.

“Yeah. You’re both smartasses.”

Langdon huffs a drastic sigh. “I’m an angel.”

“If you say so.”

Langdon grins, and he thinks this is the first time all day he sees Robby smile too. They both turn toward the headstone.

“Do you want to say goodbye?”

His hand on Langdon’s shoulder grows tight, like he just now remembered he has control over his body, but his eyes stay locked on the headstone.

“Nah. I know where to find him.”

When Langdon barks a laugh, he clamps his mouth shut. The sound echoes in the graveyard, reaching the other headstones in the area.

“Wanna wait here a little longer?”

Robby shakes his head. “My feet hurt, and…he’s not going anywhere.”

Langdon smiles. This is the longest Robby’s been able to talk about Doctor Adamson, even if he’s not able to say his name out loud. At least, not here. Not yet, but they'll get there one day.

“We can be geriatric and lay on the couch. Put heating pads on our backs and watch some old reruns,” Langdon suggests softly.

The arm around his shoulder tightens, and Robby turns them away from the headstone. They begin walking back to the car.

Langdon looks over their shoulders. The lettering on his gravestone becomes smaller and smaller until it's illegible. He waves, then jobs to catch back up with Robby.

For the first time, Langdon thinks maybe he shouldn't try to fill the silence. He’s grown a bit. He’ll let Robby have his time to reflect.

Robby doesn't seem to want that. At least, not without Langdon by his side. He holds out his hand, waiting for Langdon to walk beside him a little closer.

With a smile, Langdon intertwines their fingers and lets Robby them back to the car.