00 AM
If Langdon had known the elevator ride back to the ER would be that awkward and uncomfortable, he would have taken the stairs. Maybe even delay his return to work.
Hell, why did he have to suffer any further? He would have made Robby take the fucking stairs.
Why had he refused Mel's help, again? Temporary insanity, that had to be it.
So, it was excruciating but they made their way down to the pitt and, not a moment too soon, the doors opened. Langdon stalked his way into the pitt, his chin high, his shoulders set firmly, even as every gaze turned towards him.
Noticing all of the other residents and interns were gathered by Central, he made his way as purposely as possible, sneaking into Mel's side with a sigh.
“You look really pale,” was the first thing Mel blurted in his direction, causing Frank to snort despite himself. Leave it to his best friend to be as blunt as possible. “Sorry, I didn't mean, I just-...how did it go?”
“Shit show,” Langdon mumbled, his gaze on Robby as he made his way towards Kiara and a young woman he assumed was the new social worker. “It went fine, I guess, but it was an absolute shitshow.”
Mel blinked. “You didn't text.”
Langdon shrugged. “I thought I could handle it on my own.”
“I mean, you can and you probably did,” Mel paused, her brows furrowing slightly, as if she was trying to solve a particularly complex math problem. “But why did you feel you had to?”
At that, Langdon turned to her, slightly taken aback but Kiara called everyone's attention and, if one of the pitt's rules were that Dana knew everything about everything and everyone, then another rule was that, when Kiara spoke, everyone listened.
“Good morning, everyone.” Kiara called, her brilliant gaze flickering across the crowd. “I know you guys have rounds, so I'm gonna be brief. I want to introduce you all to Kate, our newest social worker who will be joining my team as of today. Kate, this is Dr. Robby, the ED chief, and his team.”
Langdon cocked his head slightly as he studied the slightly nervous woman before him who was too busy shaking hands with Robby. She seemed about his age, maybe a few years younger. Her hair was raven and styled into a bob that fell down to her shoulders and she was tall or at least, certainly taller than Kiara, though that wasn't much of a challenge.
All in all, Langdon looked at the newcomer and had this sense that he was in the presence of someone who was very modern and cool.
God, he felt ancient.
“I'm very happy to meet you all,” Kate spoke, her voice slightly nervous - which was understandable given the amount of people staring at her -, but warm and welcoming. “I can't wait to work with you all.”
“And speaking of welcomes,” Robby interjected after a few moments in which the entire department mumbled their greetings in Kate's direction. Langdon, who had been looking at her with poorly concealed pity, felt himself stiffen when he processed Robby's words. “Our very own Dr. Langdon is joining us again. Please make him welcome and let's make sure he has an easy day back.”
Langdon bristled, but ignored Robby in favour of leaning against the desk behind him, casting a lazy smirk when the crowd turned towards him. “It's good to be back. I missed the banter so, don't hold back alright?”
If that comment was useful for anything, it was to dispel any awkwardness about his return. The crowd laughed, some looking at him, other at Mel, and most at each other, as if assuring themselves their asshole resident was back.
Langdon felt himself straighten with enthusiasm.
“Happy to oblige, Langdon.” McKay called from her place next to the newcomer. Beside her, Javadi took him in with a wide-eyed glance before chuckling nervously. “Welcome back.”
“If we can't hold back on the banter, can we ask you to shut up on your first day back?” Collins mused back from her place by Robby's right. Besides her, Santos dared to look at Langdon, quickly choosing to focus on the floor beneath her feet when Langdon locked eyes with her.
“You're a beauty, Collins,” Langdon interjected as everyone else laughed. “Can't wait to utterly annoy you, you know, to catch up on the time lost.”
“Okay,” Robby intervened, ready to bring the team back into professional grounds, when Dana raised her hand from her desk, phone pressed to her ear.
“Incoming, 16-year-old patient presenting shortness of breath and chest pain. She called the ambulance herself, ETA 3 minutes.”
“Got it, thanks.” Robby nodded his appreciation before turning towards Collins. “Dr. Collins, could you start our morning rounds? I'll join you as soon as I'm able. Dr. Langdon, Dr. King, a word, please.”
“We'll hang around in case you need us,” Kiara called as the group slowly filtered away, following Collins towards the first of the patients the night shift had left for them. “If she had to call for help by herself, we probably can offer some resources that could help.”
“Thanks,” Robby nodded, smiling at Kiara and Kate before turning towards the two remaining doctors. “Dr. King, I want you to take point on this case. Dr. Langdon will be supervising.”
Langdon frowned as his gaze met Robby's. As much as he didn't want to, he understood his message loud and clear, almost as if he had yelled it at him over and over again.
‘I trust you. You got this.’
In any other context or like, if he was a decade younger, he would have flipped Robby the finger.
But he wasn't in another context. He was at his workplace, his second home, on his first day back. He wasn't younger, he was a full-fledged adult dealing with his mentor. He wasn't a kid, he was someone who had to set an example, even with his reputation being in absolute shambles.
So, instead of snapping, Langdon nodded, and reached behind him to grab two pairs of gloves, handing one to Mel. “Consider it done.”
And with that, he marched towards the ambulance bay without another glance. Mel watched him go, her expression conflicted, before grinning at Robby. “Thank you, Dr. Robby.”
“You earned it, Dr. King. Let me know if you need any help.”
As his resident rushed towards the ambulance bay, Robby reached towards Central and rested his hands on the wooden counter, stretching his arms with a frustrated groan.
“I take it it didn't go very well with Langdon?”
Robby shot Dana an unimpressed glance. “What makes you say that?”
“Give him a minute, Robby. It's his first day back. Not everyone would have dealt with this situation with as much grace as he has.” Dana crossed her arms before her chest and shot Robby a reassuring smile. “That kid has dealt with an absolute hell this last four months, and that's without taking into account his fight with his mentor. Give him room to breathe, I'll promise he'll come around.”
Robby hated how obvious he was, and he hated even more how much his heart hurt at the idea of being at odds with Frank for the foreseeable future.
And still, he had to ask.
Dana knew everything after all.
"How do you know?”
Dana's smile turned knowing.
“He still looks at you like a pup seeking approval, even now.”
oOo
“What the fuck was that? Did you see that?” Frank cursed as he harshly put on a trauma gown, gesturing for Mel to turn around so he could help her put on one as well. “All of a sudden he trusts me now? Fuck him, literally fuck him.”
“Isn't it good, though?” Mel wondered as she turned around and tightened the knot holding Frank's gown together. “He could have made your return much worse and no one would have been able to say anything against it. Dr. Robby is willing to let you two start again. He made your first day back easier, Frank.”
Frank sighed, wandering towards the edge of the platform, his gaze fixed on the ambulance entrance. “You won't let me bitch about this then, King?”
Mel followed him slowly, her hands clasped together tightly in front of her frame. “I didn't know that was part of the friendship requisites, Frank.”
Frank chuckled lowly, turning towards her slightly to give her a dazing smile. In the distance, the sirens were growing louder, and closer. “You're my best friend, Mel. Of course it's part of your job.”
“Well, maybe I'm thinking that this is our first case together in months.” Mel shrugged. She blinked slowly her hands clenching again when she felt Frank looking at her. “Maybe I'm too happy to have you back to think about complaining.”
Frank smiled softly at that, all fight, anger and frustration leaving his body, at least for the time being. He reached to clasp his hand on Mel's shoulder, his smile widening when Mel turned towards him sporting a slight blush. “As always, you're absolutely right, Dr. King. Let's kick this day's ass, shall we?”
Mel jumped a little bit in her place. “Absolutely. And then I'll buy you a pint to celebrate the end of a successful first shift, and so you can bitch about Robby in peace.”
Frank guffawed, his laughter concealed by the ruckus of the ambulance driving dramatically towards them. “She curses now, then. Anything else I might have missed these past few months?”
Mel turned towards the ambulance, her lips lifted into a slight smirk. “Only time will tell.”
oOo
“Genevieve Simmons, 16 years old, presents chest pain, a slight fever and shortness of breath.” The paramedic gave a quick run down of the case as he jogged around the ambulance. Opening the back door, he helped his mate lower down a gurney containing a pale teenager with wide eyes and slightly dry lips. “She took an ibuprofen before falling asleep last night, thinking it would help with her symptoms. She called us as soon as she woke up and noticed her struggle to breathe.”
“Hello Genevieve, my name is Dr. King and this is Dr. Langdon,” Mel began calmly as they took her inside, her gaze flitting between her patient and the path before them. “On a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the worst, who would you rate your pain?”
“At least a 3, I guess? It hurts mostly when I inhale and it doesn't hurt much if I don't breathe deeply,” Genevieve answered, her voice quivering slightly. “What’s wrong with me?”
“We're going to find out as soon as we can but you're in excellent hands, Genevieve.” Langdon nodded reassuringly at his patient before nodding at Dana, who was watching from Central. “We're taking my friend Genevieve here to Trauma One, at least until we can do further testing.”
“All yours!”
“Is there anyone we can call Genevieve?” Mel asked gently, going into the Trauma room with her patient while Langdon remained outside, talking to the paramedics who brought her in.
“Gen, please.” Gen blinked her eyes slowly, each blink heavier than the last. “And no, I already told my mom but she can't get out of work. She’s coming in as soon as she's free.”
“Okay, Gen.” Mel rested a hand on Gen's arm and nodded confidently. “Let's see about helping you feel better then, shall we?”
“How are we doing over here?” Langdon interjected as he strutted into the room, Princess and Jessie following her.
“Any other symptoms you might have missed telling the paramedics, or that you're only noticing now?” Mel asked Gen, moving out of the way so Princess could start an IV and Jessie could check her vitals.
“I guess I've been feeling really tired? I thought it was because highschool is being an absolute bitch, but it's like I haven't been able to get much rest for the last couple of days.” Gen answered, wincing when the needle pierced through her skin.
“Sorry, darling.” Princess tapped Gen's wrist carefully before turning towards Mel. “IV's in. Should we push fluids?”
“Pulse 120, BP 90/60, temp 101.5, SpO2 89%,” Jessie intervened.
Mel frowned with concern at the vitals before turning towards Princess. “Let's start her on a litre of saline, see if we improve her hydration levels.”
“Gen, do you have any history of respiratory problems or any other previous conditions?” Langdon asked, his hands reaching for the tablet Princess handled to him without taking his eyes from his patient.
Gen shook her head slowly. “I mean, when I was a little kid I used to get bronchitis every winter but it's been years since my last time.”
“Do you remember when you started feeling like this?” Mel asked, watching carefully as Gen's expression twisted in concentration.
“Is it okay if I take a listen of your lungs, Gen?” Langdon asked in turn, gesturing with his stethoscope. “Promise I'll be quick.”
Gen hesitated for a moment before nodding, turning towards Mel and doing her best to ignore Langdon as he carefully settled himself behind her. “I guess a few days ago? I've been very stressed because I have finals coming up and I need perfect scores if I want a scholarship for college. And like, I remember I got caught in this huge storm on my way back home a few days ago. I thought I was okay but I woke up the next day with my chest hurting everytime I breathed.”
“And how would you describe that pain? Is it constant? Does it get worse when you walk or do any sort of physical activities?”
Gen nodded, ignoring her long, crimson hair as it fell around her face. Her eyes filled with unshed tears but she still looked at Mel bravely. “What happens now, Dr. King?”
“Now, we get some tests done so we can decide on a game plan. Sound good?” Mel replied, smiling when Gen nodded with much more bravado than she would have had in her place.
“You're doing great, Gen.” Langdon added before turning towards Mel. “Dr. King?”
“Let's get a CBC, blood culture, pulse oximetry, ABG, chest x-ray and an ECG.” Mel listed, straightening with pride when Langdon nodded. "Let's also get her started on amoxicilin, see how her symptoms react to the antibiotics."
“Excellent,” Langdon smiled at her before turning towards Gen. “Now, we're gonna get you settled into one of our best rooms and get those tests so we can see exactly what's going on. Other than your mom, is there anyone we can call?”
Gen shook her head slowly. “It's just the two of us. Do…do you think I'm gonna be here for long?”
Langdon carefully constructed his face in order to not give any emotion away before squeezing his patient's hand. “Give us a little while to get those test results and we'll be able to tell you more about that.”
oOo
“20 bucks it's pneumonia,” Frank began once the door to Gen's room, South Nine, had been firmly shut behind them. “She presents all the criteria.”
“I don't understand how it happened though,” Mel mused. She logged into the computer nearest to her in order to start on her initial differential notes, Frank perching himself beside her. “She's young and seems very healthy...other than her current status, of course. I admire her. She has to be absolutely frightened, and she still dealt with the situation like a queen.”
“About that,” Frank muttered, perking up when he noticed Kiara walking out of the lounge room with the new girl. “Kiara, mind if we borrow your new girl for a case?”
“None at all, Dr. Langdon.” Kiara replied evenly. “Is it the respiratory distress?”
Mel nodded. “Genevieve Simmons. We think it might be pneumonia. Her mother is working and it's just the two of them, so she can't afford to leave her shift earlier. She's taking it like a champ but she's definitely scared.”
Beside Kiara, Kate made a sympathetic sound, leaning to take a quick peek into South 9. After a moment, she turned towards the doctors. “I can go in with you once you get the results, help her make sense of the situation, hold her hand. I'll also look into their home situation, see what help we can offer once her mother comes in.”
Kiara nodded her approval. “Let me know if you need any help.”
“Absolutely,” Kate replied, she and Mel already deep in conversation as they discussed the case.
For a second, Langdon watched them with the pride only a mentor, a friend, could feel once watching someone they cared about do so well. But then, his gaze flickered across the floor, noticing the structured chaos he hadn't missed but he wouldn't know what to do without.
And then, his gaze fell on her.
Santos.
The intern who changed his life irrevocably four months ago.
The girl he couldn't help but despise, because of every similarity he identified between them.
The kid who had made a completely impossible decision on her first day.
Langdon sighed.
There was no use in delaying the inevitable.