Archive of Our Own ^omega

There were three things to know about Dr Frank Langdon. 

One: he was a great doctor. 

Two: he was an extremely private person. 

And three: he loved his wife and kids. 

Both the staff and patients at ‘The Pitt’ Emergency Department knew these things not because Dr Langdon talked about himself very often, but because, over time, they had observed the man. 

The first one was clearly obvious. 

Dr Langdon was the kind of doctor people trusted instinctively. It showed in the way student doctors would hover a little closer when he was teaching, hoping to catch every explanation he would give while examining a patient. It showed in the way nurses often glanced towards him when a complicated case came through the Pitt doors, knowing he would already be piecing together the problem before the chart was even finished printing. 

He worked quickly, but never rushed. Most would say efficient without being careless. 

More than once, someone had watched him take a quick look at a patient from across the room, one simple glance, a few quiet questions and then calmly call out the exact test needed before anyone else in the room had fully processed what they were seeing. 

And nine out of ten times, he was right. 

Patients liked him, too. 

Not in the overly charming, overly talkative way some doctors relied on. Dr Langdon didn’t waste words. He used a steady voice, the kind that made people believe him when he said something was going to be okay. And it was. 

And when something wasn’t okay, he never lied about that either. 

Still, as skilled as he was inside the hospital, the man outside of it remained something of a mystery. 

Everyone knew Dr Langdon was married. That much was impossible to hide. 

The gold wedding band on his left hand never came off. Not during shifts. Not during procedures. Not even when he was scrubbing in, over time, the metal had worn slightly dull around the edges, the kind of subtle scuffing that only happens when a ring has been worn every single day for years. 

Beyond that, however, details surrounding Dr Langdon were scarce. 

The staff knew a few scattered facts they had pieced together over time, like fragments of a puzzle. 

Everyone in the Emergency Department knew he drank Red Bull far more often than any doctor reasonably should. 

They knew that on particularly brutal shifts, usually around three or four in the morning, he would disappear quietly for five minutes and reappear smelling faintly of cigarette smoke after a trip to the rooftop. 

They knew that he used humour as a pressure valve. Not loud jokes. Not attention-grabbing ones. Just quiet comments slipped into tense moments that somehow made everyone breathe a little easier. 

When a patient once apologised for ‘causing trouble’, Langdon had replied dryly, “If people stopped getting hurt, we’d all be out of a job”. The patient had relaxed (as much as one could with a broken leg) immediately after that. 

But the biggest mystery surrounding Dr Langdon wasn’t his habits. It was his family. 

Everyone knew he had one. The staff knew he had kids, plural. 

That much had been confirmed over the years through a handful of carefully worded schedule requests. 

The first time had been three years ago. He had requested a shift off for “my kid’s first day of school”. No additional information was provided, other than he was more than happy to pick up an extra shift on the back end of the month to ensure he could be there for drop off and pick up. 

The second time had been the following year, to the day or two, when he requested another shift off for “another first day of school”. This had raised a few eyebrows. 

The third time had been a sudden call-out when one of his children had come down with the flu, and his wife couldn’t stay home with them. 

This had confirmed it for the staff of the Pitt. Dr Langdon was not only a husband but a father to at least two children (although there was an ongoing bet on just how many children Dr Langdon had, it was at over $900). 

Beyond that, the information stopped. It wasn’t that Dr Langdon was ashamed. He spoke of them in passing almost every shift. Small comments dropped into conversation without elaboration, but always with a reserved smile on his lips. 

A “My wife made this lunch” when someone asked about the container he had pulled from his bag during a break. Or a brief “My kid is obsessed with dinosaurs” while comforting a nervous child waiting for stitches. 

But whenever someone tried to follow up with questions, how many kids? How old are they? What are their names? Langson had an uncanny ability to redirect the conversation somewhere else entirely. Not rudely by any means, just efficiently. 

After a few years of working with him, the staff of the Pitt had come to accept that this was probably all they were ever going to know about Dr Frank Langdon’s life outside the hospital. Which, naturally, only made them more curious. 

There had been plenty of theories over the years. Many believed he had two kids, based on the two first days of school. Others swore it had to be three. At one point, Santos had very confidently claimed she’d seen a photo on his phone that suggested at least four. 

This was where the famous betting pool began.

But no matter how many guesses were made in the break room, one thing remained true. Dr Langdon’s personal life stayed exactly where he wanted it. Private. 

And by now, new and old staff had mostly accepted that most of their questions about him were always going to remain unanswered. At least that’s what they believed, up until the moment a six-year-old girl with the last name Langdon walked through the emergency room doors with a broken arm. 

It was six hours into the day shift at ‘The Pitt’ Emergency Department, and it had hit the part of the afternoon where the waiting room had settled into its familiar rhythm of controlled chaos. The initial rush of the morning had faded, but the department was far from quiet. Conversations murmured across the room in overlapping layers. Parents quietly reassuring restless children, an older couple speaking in low voices, the soft rustle of magazines being flipped through, and videos playing on phones. 

From behind the triage desk came the steady tapping of keyboards and the occasional ring of the phone being answered. Somewhere farther down the hall, a monitor beeped steadily, followed by the quick footsteps of a nurse responding to it. 

The automatic door slid open with a mechanical hiss. A rush of warm air followed as a woman stepped inside, guiding a small girl carefully through the entrance. 

The little girl’s right arm was tucked tightly against her body in a makeshift sling fashioned from what looked like a school cardigan. The fabric bunched awkwardly around her shoulder, doing its best to keep her arms still. Her dark curls were messy, likely from the playground earlier in the day, and tear tracks glistened on her flushed cheeks. 

Every few seconds, a small hiccup escaped her as she tried, and failed, to hold back more tears. 

Her mother kept one arm wrapped securely around her shoulders, steadying her as they crossed the waiting room floor. 

“Mama,” the little girl hiccups “It hurts”, she whispers, her voice thin and shaky. 

Her lower lip trembled as she tightened her grip around her mother’s arm, fingers clutching the fabric of her sleeve like it was the only thing keeping her upright. 

The woman slowed slightly, glancing down at her with immediate concern, softening her face. “I know, baby,” she murmured gently, brushing a stray curl away from the girl’s damp cheek with careful fingers, “I know it does bug”. 

They reached the front desk together. Behind it sat the triage nurse, who looked up from her computer as they approached. Her expression shifted instantly when she saw the girl holding her arms so rigidly. 

“Hi,” the nurse said warmly, leaning forward slightly over the counter. “How may I help you today?” The woman offered a small, apologetic smile as she adjusted the slight supporting her daughter’s arm. “Hi,” she replied, “My daughter fell off the monkey bars at school earlier today, and the school teacher said she landed on her arm.”

The girl sniffed beside her, blinking away another set of tears as she leaned closer into her mother’s side. Her shirt was now soaked from her daughter's tears. 

The nurse’s eyes softened immediately as she stood slightly to get a better look at the child, “Oh, sweetheart, that must have been quite a fall”, she said gently, as the girl nodded miserably before pressing her face briefly into her mother’s side as another small hiccup escaped her chest. 

The nurse rested her hands lightly on the edge of the counter. “Alrighty,” she said in a calm, steadying voice that carried the practised reassurance of someone who had spoken to thousands of worried parents before. “Let’s get you checked in so we can have someone look at that arm. How does that sound?” 

She turned slightly towards the computer beside her, waking the monitor with a quick tap of the keyboard. The pale glow of the screen reflected faintly across the desk as the patient intake form appeared. 

“What’s her name?” the nurse asked, fingers already poised above the keys. 

“Elosie”, the mother replied, gently smoothing her daughter’s hair away from her face. “Elosie Langdon.” 

The nurse typed quickly, the soft clacking of keys filling the brief silence. “And mum’s name?” 

“Mel” 

“Perfect, and what’s Elosie’s date of birth?” 

Mel answered while Elosie shifted uncomfortably beside her, trying very hard not to move the arm tucked into the makeshift sling. Her small fingers clutched tightly at the sleeve of her mother’s cardigan, knuckles pale from the effort. 

The nurse glanced up briefly. “Which arm hurts, sweetheart?” 

Eloise sniffed, lifting her chin just enough to show the sling, “My right one”, she basically whispered. The nurse nodded gently before returning her attention to the screen. “And what exactly happened today?” she asked, still tying. 

Mel let out a small breath, adjusting Elosie slightly so she could keep the arm supported. “The school said that she had been on the monkey bars during lunch, the playground teacher said that she had slipped and landed on her arm and started crying immediately. They took her to the school sick bag, and they made this makeshift sling and gave her an ice pack”. 

Elosie’s lip wobbled again as Mel recounted the memory. “It hurts really bad, Mama,” she murmured, Mel pressing a kiss against the top of her daughter’s head, before running her fingers through her daughter’s curls. “I know it does, baby.” 

The nurse’s expression softened further as she finished entering the notes. 

“Alright”, she said after a moment, printing a small wristband from the machine beside her. The label slid out with a quiet whir. She stepped around the desk and crouched slightly so she was level with Eloise. “I’m just going to put this bracelet on you, okay?” she said gently. “It helps everyone here know who you are”. Elosie held her good arm still while the nurse carefully fastened the band around her wrist. “There we go” the nurse said with a warm smile. “Perfect”. 

Elosie looked down at it curiously, moving her wrist a little to get a better look at the bracelet. 

“It’s tight” 

“It’s just snug enough so it doesn’t fall off,” the nurse assured her. “But if it bothers you later, you call us, and we’ll fix it”. She stood again and glanced back at the computer screen before turning to Mel. “We’ll have someone call Eloise back shortly so a doctor can examine her arm and probably take an X-ray”, she explained. “In the meantime, try to keep that arm as still as possible”. 

Elosie sniffed again, gripping onto her mum once again. “Will it hurt more?” 

The nurse gave her a reassuring smile. “We’ll be very careful with you”. 

Mel said her thank yous, guiding Eloise into one of the waiting chairs, pulling her phone out to check if her messages had been answered, but found no new messages. Elosie leaned into her, clutching her sleeve as they waited. 

Behind the desk, the nurse clicked one final button, sending Eloise’s information into the system. Eloise’s details appearing on the system. 

Around forty-five minutes later, Dr Samira Mohan stood reviewing a chart while balancing a half-finished cup of coffee between her hands. She had been moving between cases all afternoon. 

She had just discharged a patient with a sprained ankle, taking a look at the board to see 

Eloise Langdon

Possible arm fracture. 

Grabbing the iPad, Samira quickly reads over the brief triage notes. 

Fall from monkey bars. Right arm injury. 

Samira exhaled quietly, set her coffee down on the counter beside her, giving herself a little “alright”, and already moving towards the waiting room. 

Back in the chairs, Mel sat with Eloise tucked against her side. One arm wrapped gently around her daughter's shoulders while the other loosely held her phone, the screen still blank of new messages. 

Eloise leaned into her mother heavily, her small fingers still gripping the fabric of Mel’s sleeve like a lifeline. The adrenaline from the fall had begun to wear off, leaving behind the dull ache in her arm and the exhaustion that came with crying. 

“Mama”, she murmured quietly. Mel immediately brushed a hand through her daughter’s curls. “Yeah, Bug?” 

Elosie sniffed again, her voice small. “So you think it’s broken?” 

Mel hesitated for just a second. She knew she needed to keep her daughter as calm as she could “I don’t know yet,” she answered gently, but truthfully. “But if it is, the doctors here will fix it”

Elosie nodded slowly at her mother, though her lip still trembled slightly. 

A few minutes later, a calm voice echoed gently through the waiting area. 

“Eloise Langdon?” 

Mel looked up immediately. 

Dr Mohan immediately took a double look at the lady and her daughter. She obviously noted the last name as she read through the report and didn’t think twice about it. But staring at the little girl looking towards her, she couldn’t help but notice a familiarity about the six-year-old. 

Holding a tablet against her chest, she hoped her expression was still natural as she watched the mother give the six-year-old girl a small, reassuring squeeze. 

“That’s us”

Mel helped Elosie carefully to her feet, keeping one arm wrapped around her to support the makeshift sling. Eloise moved slowly, clearly trying very hard not to jostle the injured arm. They walked towards the doctor together. 

Samira couldn’t help but feel her face soften the moment she got a proper look at the child. Her cheeks tearstained, tired eyes, as she leans into her mother. 

“Oh, sweetheart”, she said gently as they approached, “That arm looks uncomfortable”. 

Eloise nodded miserably. “It hurts”. 

“I believe you”, Samira said sympathetically. She crouched slightly so she was closer to Elosis’s height. “My name’s Dr Mohan”, she explained softly, not wanting to frighten Eloise. “I’m going to take a look at that arm and see what’s going on. Is that okay?” 

Elosie immediately glanced up at Mel, looking worried. 

“Your mum will be there too,” Samira assured, a small smile appearing on her lips as she watched Eloise’s little body physically relax as she nodded timidly, but grabbed a hold of her mum once again. 

Samira smiled reassuringly and gestured towards the doors behind her. “Let’s get you somewhere a little more comfortable”. 

Mel helped guide Elosie as Samira took the pair of them into the treatment area, past several curtained bays and nurses moving briskly between patients. Samira stopped at one of the last rooms and gently pulled the curtain aside. 

“Alright,” she said, stepping in and gesturing towards the small hospital bed. “Mum”, Samira started, as she turned her attention back towards the pair. “Let’s get Elosie on the bed for me so I can get a better look”. 

Mel helped Eloise climb onto the bed, settling beside her while Eloise kept her arm pressed carefully against her body. Samira pulled a stool closer, opening Eloise’s chart on her tablet. 

“So,” Samira starts, glancing between mother and daughter, “I hear the monkey bars were the culprit today”. 

Eloise sniffed again, a little nod of her head. “They were slippery”. 

Samira nodded thoughtfully, her heart leaping at the innocence of the little girl in front of her. 

“That doesn’t sound too good”, Samira responded, as she read over the notes once again. Noting that the mother’s name was Mel. 

“Her teacher said that she had slipped during lunch”, Mel explained as she brushed her daughter's hair away from her eyes. 

Samira nodded, tapping a few of her own notes into the chart before asking, “And she landed directly on the arm?” 

Mel nodded at the question, “That’s what they told me and that she started to cry immediately after the fall. She wouldn’t let anyone look at her arm, but they took her to sick bay, where the school nurse was able to make this sling” 

Samira looked back at Eloise gently and noted that the school nurse definitely had the right idea. “Eloise, could you tell me exactly where it hurts the most?” 

Eloise nodded her head, slowly lifting the injured arm just slightly with the other hand and pointing to the middle of the forearm. “It hurts right here” 

Samira nodded her head again, gathering her notes. “Okay, I’m going to take a very gentle look, but if anything I do hurts too much, you tell me right away, alright? Can you do that for me?” 

Eloise glances nervously at Mel, Mel giving her a little nod and a small smile, “It’ll be okay, bug”. 

Eloise looks back at Samira and gives her own little nod and a small “Okay”. 

Mel leaned closer, pressing a kiss to the top of her daughter’s head. “I’m right here, baby”

Samaria carefully reached toward Elosie’s arm, her movements slow and deliberate so the child could see exactly what she was doing. “Let’s see what those monkey bars did, hey?” She said softly.  

Eloise took a small breath, bracing herself. Her fingers tightened slightly in the fabric of Mel’s sleeve as Samira gently examined the forearm, pressing lightly along the bone. 

“Tell me if this hurts,” Samira said calmly. Eloise only nodded in response. 

Samira’s fingers moved slowly along the arm until Eloise let out a hiss and flinched. 

“There?” Samaria asked immediately. 

Eloise’s eyes squeezed shut as she nodded. Mel continued to rub small circles against her daughter’s back and placed kisses on the crown of her head. “You’re doing so well, bug”. 

Samia nodded thoughtfully, already forming a suspicion but keeping her voice light. ‘Alright. That was the worst spot, so imma stop right there. But you did so well, Eloise” 

Eloise relaxed slightly as Samira pulled her hands back. 

“I think we’ll need an X-ray just to see exactly what’s going on”, Samira explained to both Eloise and Mel, making sure to look them both in the eye to make sure they were okay. “That way we know how best to fix it.” 

Mel nodded, a small frown appearing on her lips before disappearing when she noticed Eloise was looking at her. “Whatever you need to do”. 

Samira tapped a few quick notes into the tablet before glancing back up. 

“Good news is, you were very brave through that,” She told Eloise, a smile on her face. 

Eloise sniffed but looked a little proud of herself. 

“Really?” 

“Really,” Samira said with a smile. 

Out at the nurses’ station, the energy of the emergency department moved in its usual steady rhythm. Phones rang intermittently as monitors beeped. Staff moved past with chargers and tablets and half-finished coffees. 

Dana Evans, the backbone of the Pitt, stood leaning slightly against the counter while reviewing a chart on the computer screen. Beside her, Dr Trinity Santos spun lazily in one of the desk chairs while Dr Dennis Whitaker scribbled something onto a patient file. 

The patient board refreshed with a soft electronic chime, a new name sliding into the list. Whitaker’s eyes drifted towards the screen as he finished his last sentence. 

Eloise Langdon. 

He lets out a small chuckle, “Hey, we’ve got a Langdon”. 

Dana didn’t look up immediately, letting out a small hum in response as she ticked off another thing on her list before looking up at Whitaker. 

“What?” 

Whitaker nodded towards the board, reading over the limited information on the board. “Langdon. Six-year-old. Arm Injury”. 

That immediately drew Santos’s attention, leaning forward in the chair, squinting at the screen. 

Elosie Langdon. 

Santos squinted hard at the board, leaning forward until her elbows rested on the edge of the desk. The glow of the monitor reflected faintly in her eyes as she read the line again. 

“Langdon?” she repeated slowly, like she was testing the name out loud. 

Dana finally looked up from the chart in her hands, following Santos’s line of sight toward the patient board mounted above the desk. For a moment, none of them said anything. The three of them simply staring at the screen. 

Santos let out a laugh, a small shake of her head, almost like she couldn’t believe what she was reading, because she couldn’t. 

Dana looked down at her computer to see assignment of doctors to patients. Clicking on Elosie Langdon. 

Eloise Langdon. 

Age: 6
Possible fracture.
Assigned to: Dr Samira Mohan. 

Whitaker continued to look at the board, tilting his head as if a different angle might reveal more information. Santos’s eyebrows slowly climbed higher up her forehead. 

“Well,” she said after a beat, her voice casual but laced with her usual amusement, “that’s suspicious”. 

Whitaker let out a small scoff, pushing himself upright again and crossing his arms loosely. “You think that could possibly be one of Langdon’s kids?” 

Santos doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, she continues to stare at the board, tapping one finger lightly against the desk as if she were mentally piecing something together. Dana pushes off the counter slightly and leans closer to the keyboard, pulling up the chart with a quick click. The computer fan hummed quietly as the intake note opened. 

“Fall from monkey bars,” she reads aloud. “Mum says she was told by the school that she landed on her arm”

Whitaker winced, “Yeah, that tracks for a six-year-old.” 

Dana scrolled once, scanning the rest of the brief triage note before leaning back again. “Doesn’t say much more, and only family information is for mum”. 

Santos didn’t care for that; in her mind, she had already decided this had to be Langdon’s kid and that she was about to win a very hefty bet. (She bet $100 on Langdon being a girl dad). 

“It has to be. How many Langdons do you know? And they just happen to come to this hospital, which is probably the closest to the kid’s school. Like how could it not be?”

Dana rolled her eyes at Santos, shaking her head. She knew the kind of bets the staff had going, and she also knew that Langdon’s was most definitely the biggest pot and also the most intriguing. 

But she also could understand why Langdon was so private with his life. She had seen him break down on the roof enough times to understand why he liked to be able to separate his home life from work. Especially when you have kids. She was the same. If you can remove the thought of your own kids when working on a dying child in front of you, it helps with the nightmares. (No, it doesn't, but she definitely wasn’t going to let herself think about that). 

Whitaker blinked again before slowly nodding along with Santos' conspiracy. “That’s true, it is odd that they came to this particular hospital”. 

Dana let out a snort. “It’s odd that a mother brought her child to the hospital because she may have a broken arm?” 

Santos rolled her eyes back “No. I just mean that it can’t be a coincidence that Langdon has this big secret family, and a young girl with the same last name comes to what we are assuming is her local hospital, when we know that Langdon is not that common of a last name. And didn’t he swap shifts with you, Huckleberry, a few months ago so he could be at his kid’s first day of school and oh, would you look at that, she is the same age as someone who would have started school this year. And she came with her mother, not her father”. She kept pointing dramatically towards the patient board as she broke down her reasoning, Whitaker only nodding his head more and more rigidly in agreement, whilst Dana kept shaking her head. 

“You’re ridiculous”, Dana stated, though the corner of her mouth twitched upward despite her comment. These kids were actually crazy. 

“I’m serious”, Santos insisted, turning in the chair so she could look between both of them “Think about it”. 

Whitaker was clearly already on the team, turning his gaze towards Dana with his puppy dog eyes. Santos’ smile only grows further.

“Come on, Dana, are you seriously telling me you haven’t wondered once?” 

Dana folded her arms loosely. “Wondered what?” 

“What his life is actually like outside of here. This mysterious wife and his kid, kids?” 

Whitaker grinned in agreement, looking between Santos and Dana. 

“If Dr Langdon wanted us to know, we’d know, and I think we need to leave it at that”. 

Santos did not like that response, hence the groan that leaves her lips as she throws her head back and slumps back into the chair. “You are so boring”. 

Whitaker shifted his weight against the counter, still staring up at the patient board like the name might rearrange itself if he looked long enough. 

“So you think this is his second kid?” he said after a moment, half thinking out loud. 

Dana let out a quiet scoff through her nose, shaking her head as she leaned one hip against the desk. 

“Whitaker, please,” she says, pausing. “I always figured three”. 

Santos’s head snapped up immediately, “See!” she exclaimed, pointing sharply between the two of them like Dana had just proven her entire argument. “I knew you cared!” She pushed herself upright in the chair again, the wheels rolling a few inches across the floor as she leaned forward, animated once again. 

“This is going to be incredible” 

Whitaker lets out a small laugh as he folds his arms loosely across his chest. “You reckon we’ll get potluck for figuring this out? Langdon is like a CIA agent when it comes to talking about his private life. Surely we get rewarded for this breakthrough” 

Dana smirked faintly at that. “He does that thing”, she adds, gesturing vaguely with one hand, “where he answers the question without actually answering the question” 

Whitaker and Santos both nod in agreement. 

“Yeah. You ask him how many kids he has, and suddenly you’re somehow talking about hockey practice and lunchboxes, but you still don’t know the number” 

“Exactly,” Santos said triumphantly, snapping her fingers and pointing at them again. She turned back toward the board, rocking lazily in the chair as her gaze locked once more on the name glowing on the screen. 

Eloise Langdon. 

Age: 6
Possible fracture.
Assigned to: Dr Samira Mohan. 

Santos tilted her head slightly, clearly enjoying herself now. 

“This is incredible. The evidence is just too compelling. Like, how could it not be? We have to be geniuses”

“You just want the gossip”, Dana notes, a smirk on her lips as she shakes her head at the two doctors in front of her. 

“Obviously”, Santos and Whitaker reply immediately, both not even pretending otherwise. 

Dana pushes herself away from the desk slightly and glances at the board again. The name hasn’t changed, the room still occupied. 

She lets out a small sigh, almost letting a chuckle leave her lips at the pair, “You both are going to be very disappointed when this turns out to be a completely unrelated Langdon”. 

Santos leans back once again, balancing her chair briefly on its rear wheels like a bored teenager in a classroom. “Or,” she starts, raising a single finger in the air as if presenting her final argument to a jury, “is this how we finally meet the Mrs Langdon?”

Dana snorts loudly at that. 

“Oh, that would be incredible”, Whitaker responds wishfully. 

Dana chuckles quietly under her breath, shaking her head as she turns back toward her computer. “I guarantee you that’s not-”, but she stops mid-sentence. 

Because behind them, the curtain at the end of the hallway slid open with a soft metallic rattle. 

Footsteps approach as Dr Langdon steps out of one of the patient rooms, flipping a pen between his fingers as he finishes writing up the last note on a chart. His brows are slightly furrowed in concentration, the familiar look he wears when he mentally moves from one case to the next. 

He approaches the nurses’ station at an easy pace, sliding the chart onto the counter without really looking up. 

“-How we finally meet Mrs Langdon?” Santos finishes off. 

Frank pauses. 

It’s subtle, but all three of them notice it. His hand stops moving as he slowly lifts his head. 

“What?” 

The single word is quiet, but confused with a hint of humour. 

Whitaker immediately looks at Dana, Dana shakes her head with a smirk, tilting her head as she looks at Santos, almost to say, “Well, here you go!” 

Santos, completely unfazed, simply smiles as she turns her chair to face him. 

“We might have found your secret family,” She says casually. 

Frank’s brows twitch into confusion, “My what?” 

Whitake cleared his throat awkwardly, suddenly aware that maybe Santo’s joke wasn’t landing the way she expected. “There’s a kid on the board”, he explains carefully. 

Frank frowns slightly, only more confused now “Okay?” 

Santos lifts her hand and points lazily towards the patient board above them. “Six-year-old girl”, she starts, “Last name Langdon. Came in with a broken arm” 

Frank’s expression doesn’t change immediately. But all three of them watch as his eyes shift towards the board. Dana can pinpoint the moment it happens. The exact second the name is registered. 

Eloise Langdon. 

Frank’s posture stiffens almost instantly. 

Whitaker felt it too, straightening slightly. 

“Oh” spills from his lips, stepping closer to the desk. His eyes locked on the screen now. 

“Six?” he asks, his voice suddenly sharper. 

Dana nods slowly, “Yeah, hun.” 

Frank grabs the closest tablet, pressing open the assignments. 

Eloise Langdon. 

Age: 6
Possible fracture.
Assigned to: Dr Samira Mohan. 

The colour drains from his face instantly. His jaw tightens. 

“Where is she?” 

The question comes out fast, too fast. Dana straightens immediately. “Samira has her-” 

“-Which room?” 

Whitaker answers without thinking, “Four” 

They watch as Langdon starts moving before the word has even fully left Whitaker’s mouth. The tablet he’d been holding hit the counter with a dull slap as he turned sharply and strode down the hallway towards the treatment rooms. 

Not walking. 

Moving with the kind of speed that made two passing nurses instinctively step out of his way. The curtain at the end of the hall swung closed behind him. Silence hangs at the nurses’ station for about three seconds. Whitaker slowly turns towards Santos. 

“That’s actually his kid”.

Inside room four, Samira was still kneeling beside the exam bed, her attention focused carefully on Elosis’s arm. 

Eloise sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, her shoulder hunched and her injured arm now back carefully against her body. Her fingers twisted nervously into the fabric of Mel’s cardigan sleeve. Mel made sure to sit close beside her, keeping one arm wrapped around her daughter’s back and gently rubbing slow circles between her shoulder blades. 

“You’re doing so well, baby”, Mel murmured softly, pressing another kiss into the top of Eloise’s curls. Eloise sniffed again but nodded bravely. 

Samira glanced between them with a small smile. Just as she was about to explain the next steps, the curtain was suddenly pulled back with far more force than necessary - the sound alone making all three of them turn their attention towards the culprit of the noise. 

Dr Frank Langdon was standing in the doorway. It’s quiet for a moment. Frank’s chest was rising slightly faster than normal. His eyes scanned the room immediately, taking in the scene in front of him before he landed on the small figure sitting on the exam bed. 

Eloise. 

The tension in his shoulders instantly relaxed. 

“Hey bug” he said softly, almost instantly, Elosie’s face crumpled as she let out a cry “Daddy! 

Her words came out with a wobbly sob before she slid off the edge of the bed and attempted to launch herself towards him as best she could with her one good arm. Frank crossed the room in two quick strides, dropping to one knee just in time to catch her carefully against his chest. His body relaxes once again, as his daughter grips onto his shirt. 

“Hey, hey, hey” he murmurs, one arm wrapping securely around her while the other hovered protectively near her injured arm “Take it easy, bug, it’s okay. Daddy’s here” 

Eloise buried her face into his shoulder immediately, her body shaking from the tears falling once again. “It hurts, Daddy. Lots” she sniffed into the fabric of his scrubs. Frank presses a kiss into the top of her hair without hesitation. “I know it does buy, I know baby. But we’re going to get it fixed, okay” 

Behind them, Samira has gone completely still. Her eyes flicked slowly from Langdon to Eloise in his grip and towards Mel before going back to Langdon. His hand was rubbing circles on her back, his wedding ring sitting on his finger. 

Oh. 

Huh. 

The pieces clicked together so fast that it almost made her laugh. 

She knew Eloise looked familiar. But now, seeing her next to Langdon, she couldn’t believe she even questioned it. 

Mel let out a little nervous laugh, Samira turned her attention back towards her. A slightly apologetic smile sat on her lips as her shoulders dropped a little. “I did try to text him”, she said softly. 

At the sound of his wife’s voice, Frank finally looked away from Eloise and towards Mel and Samira. It took him a second or two before the professional doctor mask Samira was used to seeing slid back into place as if he had just remembered exactly where he was. 

“Oh! Sorry, Dr Mohan,” he started quickly, still crouched down with Eloise in his arms. “I didn’t mean to barge in like that. It’s just that-” 

Samira waved it off immediately. “Dr Langdon, it’s fine”. She glanced once again between the three of them, her smile only growing. “Your daughter is very brave, by the way” 

Frank looked back down at Eloise again, his expression softening once again. Eloise looked back up at her dad with a sad but proud look on her face at the comment. “She is, aren’t you bug”, he agrees. Winking down at his daughter before placing another kiss on her forehead. 

Eloise sniffed in response, looking away from her dad and taking in the room once again. “You work here Daddy?” 

Frank huffed out a small laugh, nodding his head, “Yeah, bug. I do”

All three adults let out small laughs at Eloise as she looks almost offended by this revelation. “You didn’t tell me that, Daddy. And Mama says we should always tell the truth. Isn’t that right, Mama?”

“That’s right, baby” Mel answers. 

“Ellie, I did tell you” he started, shaking his head as he chuckled a little. 

“Oh,” she pauses to think before adding, “Sorry, Daddy.” 

Samira stood up from her seat, a small grin on her face as she watched the pair. “Well” she said lightly, “since dad’s here now, how about I give you guys the full update?” 

Frank rose to his feet, making sure to keep a steady hold on Eloise as he made his way back towards the bed, placing her down before sitting on the other side of Eloise so she was sandwiched between her two parents. 

“I’m fairly confident it’s a small fracture in the forearm” she started to explain to Eloise, making sure to keep eye contact with the young girl to see if she was understanding what was being said. “To make sure, we’re going to send you through to get an X-ray, and once we know exactly where the break is, we’ll put a cast on”. 

Eloise looks between her two parents with a horrified look painting her face, “A cast?” 

Mel keeps rubbing circles on her back, “It’s okay baby, it won’t hurt”. 

Eloise looked back at Frank, “Do I have to wear it forever?” 

Frank immediately snorted, shaking his head at his daughter's innocence. “No, bug. Not forever just for a few weeks so your bone can heal”. 

The three adults watch as Eloise takes in the information, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. 

“Do I get to draw on mine. Because when Luca got a cast at school, we all got to write names on his cast and pictures, and I want mine to have even more names because Luca is annoying. Can I, Mama?” 

Samira grinned, “How about once you get your cast on we can get you a marker and you can get mum and dad to be the first to sign it?” 

Eloise grinned for the first time since arriving, “And you sign it too please?” 

And how could she say no to that, “I would be honoured”. 

Frank ran a hand over his face as he watched Samira and Eloise discuss the best places for names, as Mel grabbed his hand from behind Eloise. 

“Hey” she whispered, tilting her head looking over her husband “You okay?” 

He gave a short nod, a small smile before squeezing her hand before turning his attention back to their daughter. 

“-and most kids like to decorate them with stickers too. I’ll see if Dana has some at her desk” 

“I like stickers. Oh! Do you think she has hockey stickers? Freddie loves hockey. Daddy can we get hockey stickers for Freddie? And maybe flower stickers for Sophie” 

Samira couldn’t help but ask (to be fair, she did have $30 riding on Langdon having three kids and it seemed she was giving this opportunity on a silver platter), “Freddie and Sophie? Are they your friends?” 

Frank couldn't help but shake his head at the obvious real reason his co-worker was asking the question but did laugh at his daughter's face at the absolute disdain that the thought. 

“No! Oh my gosh. That’s no silly.” she says laughing at the idea “No Freddie is my brother and Sohpie but her real name is Sophia but I call her Sophie is my sister. My little sister. And Freddie is my older brother and mama has another baby in her belly but daddy said that they don’t know what it is yet but i really want it to be another girl because sometime Freddie is annoying like Luca is but Luca isn’t my brother he’s a boy from school who is mean sometimes but he’s still my friend because he has cool toys”. 

Samira’s smile kept growing as Eloise got more and more excited talking about her siblings. She also watched as Langdon rubbed his temple as Mel’s cheeks grew a little red. 

“Well, we can definitely see if Dana has some stickers for Freddie and Sophie too. And I’m sure once you get home they can both sign your cast too if you would like” 

“That would be so cool! Mama did you hear? Freddie and Sophie can sign my cast too!” 

“I heard baby, that’s very cool”

Eloise beamed towards her mum as a noise caught Samira and Frank’s attention. 

“You know it’s rude to earsdrop” 

As if summoned by the comment, the curtain shifted ever so slightly, Eloise and Mel now also looking towards the curtain. 

“We’ve caught you, you may as well just come in” Frank states, already having a feeling he knew who was standing on the other side of the curtain. 

“We were just walking past” a muffled voice answered immediately from the other side. Frank walked over in a few steps, pulling the curtain open to see Dr Trinity Santos and Dr Dennis Whitaker standing around looking almost guilty for getting caught. 

They both tried to play it off pretending (very poorly) to reorganise a supply cart, Dana only shaking her head before walking further in the room with a warm smile on her lips. 

“Hey sweetheart, I’m Dana and I heard that we might need to raid my stickers collection once you get your beautiful cast done. Is that correct?” 

Eloise now shy from all the new attention hides in her mother's side, her grip firmly holding onto Mel’s hands. Mel mumbles something into her ear as she places a kiss on her daughter's head. 

“Dana is like mama here at the hospital, she makes sure everything runs smoothly” Franks states, trying to coax Eloise out of her shell. 

Eloise looks up at Mel, before looking back at Dana a small smile appearing on her lips once again “Can I really take a sticker?” she asks timidly. 

“Sweetheart, you can take as many as you want cross my heart” 

A nurse walks into the now crowded room, noting that they are ready for the X-rays. Eloise immediately froze up once again. 

“Mama I don’t wanna go. I stay here with you” 

Mel looks towards Frank, hoping he can come save the day but logically they both know that Frank was still technically on shift and wouldn’t be able to hang out waiting for the X-rays to return. 

“Your mum can come with you, Eloise, but when they take the pictures, she’ll have to wait outside the door but I promise it won’t be for more than a minute or two at most” 

Eloise’s fingers tightened around Mel’s sleeve as Samira walked towards the door, Mel brushing a curl back from Eloise’s forehead. “It’s alright baby” she murmured softly. “I’ll be right there the whole time” 

Eloise’s lower lip trembled slightly, “But the lady said you have to wait outside” 

Samira made her way back to Eloise and Mel, crouching down so she was eye-level with her. “Only when the camera takes the picture. It’s know of like when someone takes a photo at school. Everyone has to stand behind the line and wait their turn.” 

Eloise’s lip stops trembling but a suspicious look appears instead. Frank was watching the whole scene unfold, watching his daughter think it through. “It’s quick, bug. You’ll barely have time to blink before it’s done”. 

Eloise glances towards her dad, “You promise daddy?” 

“I promise”

She sniffles once more before giving a very small nod. “Okay” 

Samira smiles warmly, “Alrighty superstar, let’s go take these pictures”. 

Frank makes his way back to the bed, carefully helping Eloise down from the bed, and all of Langdon’s co-workers don’t miss the subtle kiss Langdon leaves on the side of his wife's head as she raises her hand to give his arm a quick squeeze. 

Eloise sticks herself to Mel, her eyes looking Santos and Whitaker up and down before slowly making their way towards the door. At the last second Eloise twists around to look back at Frank. 

“Daddy?” 

Frank steps closely immediately, “Yeah bug?” 

“You be here when me and mama come back?” 

His expression softens, a smile appearing on his lips “I wouldn’t miss it, okay. I love you and be good for you mum and Dr Sarmia for me okay?” 

“Okay daddy. I love you too” 

The pair make their way out of the room, following the nurse as Samira slows her step, turning around to give Langdon a quick reassuring nod before the curtain slides closed behind them.

The room fills with silence, without Eloise’s small voice filling the space; the room feels oddly quiet.

Frank hadn't moved from where he was standing beside the exam bed. One hand now resting on the edge of the mattress where Eloise and Mel had been sitting only moments earlier. 

The faint sounds of the department drifted in around them anyway, monitors beeping somewhere out in the main bay. A murmur of nurses talking at the station, a phone ringing briefly before being answered. 

Behind him, Santos slowly pushed herself upright from the wall where she’d been leaning throughout Eloise’s exam, rolling one shoulder back as she straightened herself. Her arms still loosely folded as her eyes settled immediately on Langdon’s back with the sharp, curious focus of someone who had just realised they had just stumbled onto something extremely interesting. 

Whitaker shifted his weight beside her, one foot sliding slightly against the floor as he adjusted his stance, his arms too folded across his chest while he watched Langdon. His expression narrowed in thought as he concentrated on him trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. 

Dana watching the three doctors had an amused look on her face, a knowing smile growing as she looked between Langdon, Santos and Whitaker. 

She held her laugh at Santos who was practically vibrating with curiosity and questions. 

It didn’t take a genius to figure out what everyone in the room was thinking. The silence stretched just long enough to become awkwardly noticeable. 

It couldn't have been more than ten seconds before Santos slowly started lifting her eyebrows as the corner of her mouth twitched upwards. “So Langdon, anything you wanna share with the class?” 

Whitaker tilted his head a little, studying Langdon more openly now. 

Frank didn’t even bother turning around. Instead, he let out a slow breath through his nose, his shoulders sinking as Santos’ question had confirmed his secret he had been protecting. 

“Funny”. The word came out tired and flat, the tone of someone who knew perfectly well that saying anything wasn’t going to stop his co-workers. 

“Hot wife you got Langdon. How’d you manage that?” a smirk planted on her face as she watched Langdon finally turn around, dragging one hand slowly down his face and shaking his head. “Don’t hit on my wife, Santos” 

“Oh, but where’s the fun in that?” The corner of Santos’ mouth lifted a little higher, her grin sharpening the moment she saw the look on Langdon’s face. This was fun. 

“Eloise seems great” Whitaker starts, trying to steer the conversation to what everyone wants to know. The mysterious children of Dr Langdon. Dana, Santos and Whitaker all note the smile appearing on Langdon’s lips at the mention of his daughter. 

“Yeah she is, when she’s not causing trouble” 

Dana watches with a knowing smile. 

“You’ve been holding out on us, Langdon” Santos starts again, her tone almost biting but with a faint glint in her eyes, Langdon knew she was joking (somewhat). “And to think I thought we told each other everything” 

“No you just have this weird obsession with telling me about all your night quests to make me embarrassed” 

“Oh and how fun it is to see the look on your face. But seriously what the hell, Langdon? We’re your friends, right?”

Langdon drops his hand from his face, fixing both of them with a long, unimpressed look. For a moment he doesn’t answer, his jaw shifting slightly as if he were debating whether responding at all would only make things worse. 

He catches Dana’s amusement, a quiet laugh slipping from her lips as she pushes herself off the wall she occupied and moves her gaze between the three of them, clearly content to sit back and watch the unfolding interrogation. 

“Dana don’t encourage them” Frank mutters, letting out a sigh as she shifts his attention to her direction. 

Dana only lifts her eyebrows innocently, “I’m not encouraging anyone” she states lightly, “I’m just here to observe”. 

Santos snorts at the idea. 

“Come on, we’ve already caught you. We know you have three kids and another one on the way. And that you have a smokin' wife. What’s the point in hiding it anymore?” 

Frank dragged a hand back through his hair, the motion slow and slightly distracted as he exhales through his nose “I’m not hiding my life Santos” he starts, sounding faintly exasperated “I know like to keep them separate”. 

Whitaker hums thoughtfully at that, but Santos doesn’t accept it. 

“Why? Don’t you trust us?” 

Frank gave her a look. 

“Of course I trust you guys, I just” he pauses, trying to explain his reasoning in a way that they would understand “This job can be very hard and I feel like when I can try and separate the two, I don’t allow myself to dwell on thoughts that wouldn’t get me anywhere” 

Dana agrees almost instantly in her mind. The things they see come through those doors are heartbreaking enough; picturing them being your kid or wife only creates more issues. 

“I guess” Santos pauses “When you put it that way it makes sense” 

Frank looks up at the trio, noting the guilty looks on Santos and Whitaker at his confession. He swears they both look like kicked puppies and as much as they annoy him, he is fond of the pair. 

“We have three kids, well four. Baby’s due in 5 and a half months. You’ve met Eloise but we’ve also got our son Freddie. He’s eight and our youngest Sophia and she’s three” 

Santos eyes almost burst with excitement at him finally confirming what they had heard. 

“And the babe?” 

“Please don’t ever call her that. Her name is Mel and we’ve been married for twelve years” 

Whitaker chokes on air. “12 years? What? How?” he splatters out. 

“We married young. Knew from day one I was going to marry her” 

“And was day one the same bloody day you married her?” Santos asks back, shocked at the growing amount of information he was willingly giving out. 

That makes Frank laugh for a moment, shaking his head a little. “No, no. We grew up in the same town. I’ve known her since I was five. Asked her out when I was fifteen and married her when I was twenty-two” 

“Holy shit” 

“Dude what the fuck?” 

“I believe what these two idiots are trying to say is congratulations” Dana finishes off, coming off the wall she was leaning on and pulling Frank into a hug “Proud of you” she whispers privately to him before giving him one last squeeze and pulling away. 

Before Santos could ask any more questions giggles could be heard coming towards the room, the curtain being pulled back as Samira, Mel and Eloise came floating back into the room. Eloise’s cheeks had dried in the time she was gone, now replaced with a growing smile. Frank notes the new teddy bear sitting in my good arm as Mel helps guide her back towards the bed. 

“Daddy! You stayed” If possible her face brightened even more. Frank met her halfway, holding his arms out so she could come into his embrace. “Of course I did, I promised didn’t I?” 

He crouched down slightly, Eloise still in his embrace as his eyes looked over her. His eyes stayed on her now bruised arm. “You doing okay bug?” 

Eloise nodded immediately, her curls bouncing “I didn’t move at all. Right Mama?” 

Mel nodded, her smile growing as she took in her husband and daughter. “You did very well baby, like I knew you would” 

Frank smiled, “You are so brave Ellie”

Her smile somehow managed to grow at the praise from her dad. 

“She took it very seriously” Samira starts, as she pulls the X-ray films from the envelope and holds them up towards the overhead light panel mounted on the wall. The faint click of the switch fills the room as the light illuminates. The rest of the adults still occupying the room instinctively lean slightly closer. 

All three doctors and Dana spot the fracture immediately but for the benefit of Eloise and Mel Samira points gently towards the thin white line on the image “You see that Eloise, that’s a small fracture in the radius. That’s why your arm is hurting” 

“Ouch” Eloise mumbles, looking at the picture in front of her with wide eyes. She’s never seen an X-ray before. 

Frank steps closer, studying the image for a moment before nodding. “Clean break” he notes towards Samira as she nods in agreement. “Exactly what we expected, it’s a good fracture though. Simple and straight so it should heal up nicely once we get your cast on. How does that sound?” Her attention was brought back to Elosie to try to involve her as much as she could. 

“Is that bad?” she practically whispers out, looking between Mel and Frank with worry filling her eyes. Frank immediately turns his attention to back to Eloise. “No, bug” he starts gently, “It just means that your arm needs a little help staying still while it heals”. 

All the adults watch as she takes in what her dad told her; her eyes widen slightly. “Oh” she states, as she looks down at her sore arm  “Does that mean I can get the pink one?” 

Instantly, all the adults in the room let out small chuckles, as Samira nods her head, “Yeah we can definitely get you the pink one”. 

Elose grins proudly, looking back at the X-ray with intrigued eyes. 

Behind her, Santos leans over slightly towards Dana, a smile on her face as she whispers under her breath, “How did Langdon get such an adorable kid?” 

Dana smirks but doesn’t disagree. 

Samira moves towards the supply cart beside the sink, pulling open one of the drawers and retrieving the rolls of casting material. She begins explaining what was what and what she was doing and why to Eloise to help minimise any stress to the little girl as Mel plays with her hair. It takes Frank a moment or two to remember that Santos, Whitaker and Dana were still in the room watching his family. 

He breaks his attention away from his daughter and wife, looking towards the door and immediately sighs. Several more nosy people have gathered. He knew once word got out that his wife and daughter were here The Pitt workers wouldn’t be able to control themselves. 

Leaning casually against the doorframe was Robby, watching the scene with open amusement. Behind her stood McKay with her arms folded and a raised eyebrow following Langdon’s direction. 

Behind them stood Princess and Perlah, both not even pretending to act like they had legitimate reasons to be standing there, but with small smiles on their faces as they whispered between themselves. 

“Hello everyone!” he states sarcastically, “Fancy seeing you all here” 

Besides McKay, no one else has attempted to look sorry. Their grins are only growing. Robby pushes himself off the wall, walking further into the room. 

“Miss Eloise, I thought we talked about being safe on the school equipment” 

The sound of her name makes her turn around before letting out an excited squeal, “Grandpa Robby! What are you doing here?” 

Frank hears the gasps at the name, Santo slapping Whitaker’s chest as she chokes “Grandpa?”  

“I heard someone was playing on the monkey bars. I hope you didn’t go on them because of Luca”

The remark makes her cheeks grow a little red, “B-but he dared me. I had too” 

Robby only laughs as he bends down and places a kiss on the top of her head before moving over to Mel and pulling her into a tight embrace. Placing a kiss on her forehead as well, “How are you doing sweetheart?” 

“Could be better, could be much worse” she says back, leaning into his embrace a little further. 

“Where are Fred and Soph?” 

“Jake’s picking them up and he’ll take them back to our place” 

“I’ll call him and tell him to stay for dinner and I’ll pick something on the way home. Saves you the trouble” 

Mel’s smile grows at the thought and nods her head “Thank you” 

“You know you never need to thank me” before placing one last kiss on her forehead and moving back towards the stunned group of workers in front of him. 

“And what do we have here? Group of stagglers" 

It takes a few seconds for the scene in front of them to connect in their heads, Santos’s being the first to break. 

“I’m sorry, what just happened? You know-. You’re her grandpa?” 

Robby smiles at the question, “I am the very lucky person who gets to call this wonderful lady my daughter and this even more wonderful lady my granddaughter. Isn’t that right, Ellie-bug?” 

“Yep!” she squeals in delight, her cast finally on her arm. “Pa look at my arm. It’s pink!” 

“It is! You’ll have to let me sign in when we get home okay?” 

“Of course” she states strongly, “I promise”. 

He laughs at her seriousness, “I know you do bug” 

Frank’s moved around to Mel at this point, her head leaning on his chest as he rubs her stomach. Eloise looks at her new cast, as the rest of the room watches in shock. 

Eloise finally seems to notice the additional individuals in the room, suddenly getting shy again as she finds herself hiding in Robby’s leg. Taking each new person in. 

“You wanna say hi to every Ellie?” Robby asks quietly, not wanting to push her. She takes another look at everyone, before lifting her arms up indicating she wanted Robby to lift her up - which he (of course) does. 

Robby plants a kiss on the side of her head before moving closer to Dana. “This is Dana, she runs this place and makes sure that your dad and I and everyone else is doing the right thing”

“Hi, sweetheart,” Dana smiles as she offers a small wave. Eloise returns, “You have the stickers?” Robby looks at Dana with a confused look, “We met briefly before she went for her X-rays and yes I do have the stickers. They’re at my desk waiting for you”. 

That brings a smile to Eloise’s face again. Robby moves over to Santos and Whitaker. “This is Dr Santos and Dr Whitaker. They’re good at their job,” he loudly whispers the next part, getting a giggle out of Eloise, “Sometimes”. 

“Hi” she softly says, as she waves at them both. 

Robby moves closer to the door, towards McKay, Princess and Perlah. “This is Dr McKay, and these two beautiful ladies are Princess and Perlah, and they are two of our best nurses here. They work with Dana” 

Eloise beamed at Dana’s name, waving to all three ladies as her head slipped into Robby’s neck. “Hi” 

“Hi pretty girl” McKay responds “I love your cast, great colour choice” 

The mention of her pink cast only excites her more, as she raises her arm out to give her a better look. “Pink’s my favourite colour” 

“No way! Mine too” McKay gasps, before putting her hand out to give Eloise a high-five, which Eloise obviously does. 

“Do you want to introduce Mummy to everyone?” Robbie asks, knowing that one of Eloise’s favourite things to do when she meets people is telling them about her family. He gets excited nods from her in response before turning her body towards Mel. 

“This is my mummy. She’s really pretty and really nice” Mels cheeks redden at the comment, but she sends a small “thank you, baby” towards her daughter's direction before looking back at the rest of the adults and offering a small wave (now they know where Eloise learnt it) 

“It’s lovely to meet you all officially, although I’ve heard lots of things from these two. Great to be able to put names to faces now”

“I’m sorry but I still can’t get past” Santos pauses, trying to think what to say. 

“Which part? Actually seeing Langdon’s wife and kid in the flesh or Dr Robbie being Langdon’s father-in-law?” Whitaker notes back, looking between Santos, Langdon, Robbie and Mel. 

“Yeah that” 

“I’ve told you guys about Mel plenty of times” Robbie starts, shaking his head at his nosey workers. 

“Yeah, but you never mentioned she was Langdon’s wife!” Santos responds. 

“Wasn’t my news to tell, really”

Frank decided to step in here, figuring it was probably his time to clear the air. 

“I asked him not to say anything; I didn’t want people thinking I was getting special treatment because I was married to his daughter. And I didn’t talk much about Mel and the kids because it was my way of being able to control myself when I got cases that made me think about them. I love Mel and I love my kids so much and it’s kind of a relief that you guys know the whole story because I love talking about them but I just need you guys to respect if I don’t want to talk about them too” 

Dana smiles a proud smile towards him, making her way to him and pulling him into a hug. “You know we got you, Honey, and now we have your family. You know we look after our own” 

“Thank you” he mumbles, his shoulders shagging as if a whole bunch of weight has been lifted off them. “And thank you guys for being so understanding” 

They all give their own version of ‘it’s okay’. Watching the scene in front of them with smiles on their faces. 

“Now I don’t know about you Miss Eloise but I think we can get you and your mum on the road” Dr Samira breaks the conversation as she cleans up the little mess she made. “Everything looks good, but there are some housekeeping rules we tell our patients so we don’t have to see you guys back until it’s time to take the cast off” she went to give the ground rules before looking up towards Langdon and Robbie before stopping herself “although i’m sure Dr Langdon or Dr Robbie will be able to help you with that” 

“Thank you” Mel responds regardless, “And thank you for all your help today. Sorry you got caught up in all of this but it was really nice to meet you” 

“You too” 

“Okay bug, let’s say goodbye to everyone and make our way home okay. Uncle Jake has Freddie and Soph and I’m sure they’re both so excited to sign your cast.” She makes her way to Robbie and tries to grab Eloise out of his grip before he shakes his head and pulls her closer to him. She rolls her eyes lovingly before shaking her head “I can carry her” 

“Nope. I’ll follow you out. Can’t miss out on my Ellie-bug cuddles can I now?” 

“No way papa!” Eloise responds holding tighter onto Robby's neck. 

“Okay. Okay” she retreats, arms raised as she turns to Frank. “Say bye to Daddy and all the lovely nurses and doctors” 

“Bye Daddy! Bye everyone” she starts waving at them all before looking at Dana with a smile on her face. 

“Let’s get you some of those stickers hey!” before Dana, Robbie and Eloise make their way out of the room and towards the desk. 

The others seem to follow out, too excited to catch ‘Grandpa’ Robbie and Eloise in action leaving Frank and Mel alone. 

Frank immediately pulls her into a hug, letting out a huge sigh as he kisses her head. “God that was terrifying” he mumbles into her hair. She only lets herself fall further into his grip as she hides her face into his chest. “Let’s never do that again” 

He laughs at her comment, hugging her a little tighter. “You sure you’re okay? You didn’t carry her from the car did you?” 

“No, Dr Langdon. I’m fine and she’s fine and the baby is fine. She’s just indulging herself because she knows you and Dad will carry her.” 

Frank doesn’t deny that part. 

“Okay. Okay. You get home okay, let Jake look after the kids and Rob or I will get dinner on the way home okay. Are you or baby craving anything in particular?” 

His hand was rubbing her small bump, a small reminder for himself that although his family were in their emergency department, they were okay. 

“Happy with anything” 

Frank hums in response, allowing himself to hold her a little longer before they both pull away. 

“I love you” he mumbles on her lips as he kisses her

“And I love you”

“Hey lovebirds! We have incoming get out here Langdon” Santos yells out

One last kiss before they both walk out, Mel walking towards Dana, Robbie and Eloise and Frank walking towards Santos and Whitacker. 

“Oh and Princess! I’ll collect the potluck at the end of shift” Frank calls out with a smirk on his face before disappearing into the next room. 

POTLUCK: Langdon’s family 

Holdings: Ahmad

Married & two kids: 

• McKay, $60
• Javadi, $50 
• Garcia, $50 
• Perlah, $75 + extra $20 (for boy & girl)
• Princess, $75 + an extra $20 (for two girls)

Married & three kids: 

• Santos, $75 + an extra $25 (for all three kids are girls)
• Mohan, $30 
• Mateo, $60 
• Donnie, $75 + an extra $30 (for all three kids are boys)
• Kiara, $70 + extra $30 (for two boys, one girl)

Married & four kids: 

• Langdon, $100 (anonymous, code name King)  

Married & five kids: 

• Abbot, $25 

Made up family: 

• Ahmad, $35 

Total: $905 

Winner: ‘King’ (evidence shown) 

Note: 

Fuck you Langdon! 

From Santos