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"Oh"
Trinity's voice was a soft interruption, taken aback by finding Frank Langdon swaying side to side in the quietness of the almost empty Pede's room, the Pitt's littlest patient held securely against his broad shoulder, one hand supporting her bottom, the other engulfing her back, comforting warmth seeping into her back despite the layers of gloves and the fabric of the onesie. She let out a shuddering breath, the remnants of tears on her chubby cheeks.
"Santos."
Frank greeted Trinity in a voice so gentle it gave Trinity pause. "I thought it was your day off." She moved further into the room, but didn't make any further gestures, just watching Frank cradle the baby, still humming with steady warmth.
"Yeah," Frank breathed out in a gentle exhale. "I just dropped the kids at Abby's and realised I forgot something here and was just going to pick it up when I found out she was still here. Trinity nodded slowly.
"The maternity-"
"I heard....just wanted to come say hi." He admitted, his tone tender. He looked different, Trinity finally noticed. Not like the Doctor with whom she would disagree and banter, but someone with a life outside of this place. His nose was slightly sunburnt, and freckles danced across the bridge in a charming and disarming dance. Gone was the carefully styled hair, and in its place were curls that looked soft enough that Trinity wondered if they were as soft as they felt.
"Just five more minutes, I promise."
"Five more minutes," she agreed, not wanting to explore her lack of hesitation. Trinity turned on her heels and walked out, leaving Frank with the baby. She was still thinking about what she had seen when she stopped at the Pitt, ignoring Robby, Dennis, and Princess to turn her attention to Dana. "Did you know Frank was here?"
"As a patient?" Dana demanded quickly.
"No...he's with Baby Jane...changed into scrubs and everything."
She watched Dana's face soften into something compassionate and knowing. "Of course that idiot is." She huffed despite her snuggle. "I'll go check on him."
"Check on who?"
"Frank's with the baby," Dana explained to Robby, who opened his mouth but was cut off before he could say anything. "Leave it be, Robby. Just...leave it."
Robby gave a huff of exasperation but held his hands up. "Before you go, he-" Trinity stopped herself, "never mind, you'll see what I mean. Right, now off to a broken leg."
Dana found Frank five minutes later, walking around the Pede's room, baby firmly asleep against him, her first real sleep since she had been surrendered, trusting the hands that held her. Dana immediately knew what Trinity was trying to say earlier. "They always smell so good at this age."
Frank turned around at Dana's voice, half expecting a reprimand and not the look of pride that greeted him. "They do." He admitted. He was swaying now. "It's hard to put her down." He confessed.
Dana hummed, leaning against the door jam. "So don't." Frank's eyes widened.
"I should-"
"Just keep doing what you're doing, Frank. I'll keep everyone off your tail as much as I can." Frank could only nod. "I'm proud of you, kid."
With that, she was gone, leaving him behind, Dana's day a little brighter.
Frank was still there an hour later when Jesse walked in with no look of surprise and nothing to say, merely looking at Langdon, who was rocking back and forth in the rocking chair as the baby slept. Crouching down in front of Frank so he was more level with the younger man, Jesse smiled at the baby. "How's she doing?"
"Good. has opinions on sleep positions, and will need a bottle soon."
"Sure. Call if you need me, man."
"Thanks."
Jesse gradually stood up, silently taking in this side of the man he thought he knew, warmth settling in his chest at the development. "No worries, just me though, Dana's orders."
Frank gave a mock saulte and rested his head back against the rocking chair, closing his eyes and just enjoying the moment.
He was still with the baby when Dennis walked in a couple of hours later, looking hesitant and nervous. "Hi, Doctor Langdon, I'm supposed to give her her bottle."
Frank looked up from where he was once again sitting in the rocking chair, Baby Jane awake and facing him while telling her the premise of Princess Bride, Tanner's current bedtime story. "Of course, I'll get out of your hair."
"...actually, can you stay?" Dennis asked surprising Frank. "She's supposed to pace feed, and I think I know what that is but...oh I'm sorry, I shouldn't assume-"
Frank's chuckle was warm, rolling over Dennis in a pleasant wave. "Relax, I know what pace feeding is. Here-" in a smooth, practised move, he handed the baby to Dennis, switching spots, and kneeling before him. "You have her head and neck supported?"
"Yeah."
"Here," Frank adjusted Dennis' position so she rested closer to his chest and more upright. "It's supposed to mimic breastfeeding." Dennis took the bottle. "You want to hold it more horizontal, perfect," Dennis ignored the slight fluttering in his stomach. "Now the trick it to take breaks every three to five gulps, mimicking breastfeeding. You're a natural." He joked.
"I forget you have kids." Dennis breathed out.
"I forget they were ever this small." Frank's whole face was soft, his smile nostalgic.
"Ahem"
Both men looked up to find Robby leaning in the doorway of the Pede's room, his expression unreadable but not hard. His brown eyes firmly took in Langdon, who stood up, moving up and down the man searching for something Frank couldn't name. "You're still here."
"Sorry." Frank rubbed the back of his neck. "I didn't mean to be."
Robby hummed. "You're in scrubs."
"I want to keep her safe." Robby accepted the explanation without further comment. "Whitaker, when you're done with that, you have a patient waiting for you in north 5."
"Yes, Robby."
Frank was about to leave the room when Robby stopped him, a hand on his chest. "Five more minutes, and then you've got to go home."
"Five more minutes." Frank agreed. "Got it."
Robby's expression softened just for a moment before he walked away. Jack was waiting for him when he reached the Pitt, a worried expression on his face, taking in the look his husband was wearing. "Hi."
"Hi." Robby walked forward, wrapping Jack in a hug, before releasing him.
"Is this anything to do with Dana's text telling me to come get my man? What happened? Are you okay?"
Robby's genuine chuckle eased some of Jack's fears, feeling a little guilty for his husband's day off being interrupted by all of this. "Frank's here, Jack, not as a patient; he's okay." Robby quickly assured him when a look of pure panic flashed across Jack's face. "He's okay, not hurt."
"Then why is he here? It's his day off."
"...he's with Baby Jane Doe, has been here since ten am."
Something in Jack shifted at the words, processing the fact that Frank had been here for hours on his day off, just with a patient, and no one had sent him home. "Why?"
"Penny's not a baby anymore, neither is Tanner."
"....oh." Understanding dawned on Jack. "I need you to take him home...he's going to need someone around tonight."
Nothing more needed to be said as Jack followed Robby to where Frank was, only to stop mid-step at the sight that greeted him. Frank's freckles, curls Jack didn't know he had, the fact that he had the baby against his shoulder, swaying as she drifted back to sleep, the fact Frank looked secure there, good there, like there was nowhere else he was supposed to be. Jack could see the peace and the heartbreak that lay beneath it.
"Five minutes?" Frank's only greeting was looking up at the two men with a sad smile, eyes wet.
"No," Robby broke it to him softly.
Jack stepped into the room and gently took the baby from Frank, setting her in her cot and clapping a hand on his shoulder and not letting it go, giving it a firm grounding squeeze. "Let's go home."
His voice was impossibly tender.