Kip's Dad is My President

"Such behavior makes interdepartmental relations difficult, especially when the ED works closing with the OR," Jack comments, his usual encouraging manner gone and replaced with a seriousness that Frank's wolf hates.

But there's certain things Frank himself hates more.

"That's unfortunate," Dr. Shen adds, easy going, mild manner disposition regretfully stoic. "Usually when situations things like this happen, there's still an opportunity to rectify things. If given the opportunity to have a meeting between the departments, would you offer apologies to Dr. Park.?

An olive branch, held out, dream at his finger tips and yet...

He can only imagine another situation where an alpha demands his way and everyone is made to cower. 

"You do what we say, cause we're the alphas. That's how it goes."

"Despite his rush to leave, a implied rejection, Frank actually wants to ask if they can try again, if they take it slow so he can warm up to it, allow them to touch him and kiss him because all he's been feeling for him still has his heart racing at the sight of them....but he knows what he’s asking for is more than they’re offering, more than they want.

The fact Frank has found out recently that the two alphas are mated throws him for a loop. The way they interact speaks of a close relationship, mutual trust and deep friendship, but he would have never guessed they're mated, except Frank now finds his eyes lingering on the faint bite marks peaking beneath the grey curls or the dark beard.

What really sits strangle in him is that they're fine with each other having sex with other people, people they work alongside with, not a jealous bone in their body. 

Frank can't wrap his head around it.

If he had a mate, not that he has plans to given all he's been through, he couldn't imagine sharing them with others; couldn't imagine letting others be pleasured by the one he promised his life to.

Frank cannot imagine how he's going to get through two months let alone two years here if this is any indication how things are gonna go. But then he chastises himself, reminding himself he came here for a reason, one not related to either of the two.

He made a promise to Dr. Shepherd that with this opportunity he would finish his residency, and he owes it and his life to that man to see it through.

Newly transferred 3rd year resident Dr. Frank Langdon comes to Pittsburgh Medical Trauma Center with the hopeful expectation that if he keeps his head down and does his job well, he'll be able to finish his emergency medicine residency without anymore hiccups.

Part 2 of The Quiet Work of Healing Series, sequel to 'before you touch me let me warn ya'

Frank feels a chill run down his spine, his stomach dropping to his feet, terrified.

The congenial expression suddenly stalls, the man realizing this reunion isn't a happy one for him. "Hey doc, you good?"

A cold sweat builds on his skin, Frank feeling like he's gonna puke up his guts.

Suddenly a presence enters the room, Dana with her signature smile. "Hello sir, I'm Dana you're nurse, here to assist Dr. Langdon-"

She trails off when she realizes the room she's walked into is tense atmosphere, the man on the gurney concerned while Frank is frozen.

"Honey," Dana nearing his side, touching his elbow which makes him flinch.

Part 2 of The Quiet Work of Healing Series, sequel to 'before you touch me let me warn ya'

"It can be heard now?" Robby asks, as if he's forgotten all medical information when he's the one personally involved.

"Yes," Tam answers gently. "It's quite a breathtaking sound." She then flicks a switch and immediately a loud whomping noise makes itself known, filling the room with the sound of their child's heartbeat.

God it's one of the most beautiful sounds he's ever heard.

"150 beats, sounding strong and well," Tamara shares.

Frank finds Robby's eyes glassy, caught in the glow given off by the monitor as he leans on the edge of the exam table. Jack, hand curled over Robby's shoulder, looks to be in no better shape, nose flaring the way one does when they're on the cusp of emotions.

Frank, exhaling with a full overflowing heart, doesn't stop the single tear from trailing down his cheek.

Part 2 of The Quiet Work of Healing Series, sequel to 'before you touch me let me warn ya'

He understands what Dana is getting at. How can you be with someones, share in the joys of pregnancy and fatherhood, yet hide parts of yourself you fear they'll come to know? But he thinks with well practiced smile, he can handle things.

Frank tries to tell himself surely his past doesn't matter, doesn't get to ruin this joy and happiness he has now. Surely.

Part 2 of The Quiet Work of Healing Series, sequel to 'before you touch me let me warn ya'

He's been pinching himself, trying to be sure it wasn't all a dream and he had, in fact, spent the most amazing night with Jack and Robby.

The way they touched him, kissed him, and showed him how much pleasure he could experience was everything Frank had wanted as he continued to heal his relationship with his body.

But now with the revelation he's taken more from the steamy night with them than just a good time, Frank is having to come to terms with how to tell them the news, all the while still holding his devastating secret close to the chest.

“Scared us, you know?,” Jack admits, the apartment in a reverent lull.

Frank’s earlier teasing trails off, hearing the emotional undercurrent his voice. Robby himself is silent, his hushed presence testament to Jack’s words.

"Everything happened so fast, coming out of an exam room to find you on the ground, bleeding out," Jack exhales through his nose, chin set. "Hadn't been that terrified in a long time."

Frank remembers in his haze the fear on Jack's face, in Robby's voice as he shouted for him to stay awake.

“Put a lot of things into prospective," Jacks continues, his thumb running down his neck.

Feeling the mood shift into something different, he swallows thickly. “Like what?” Frank dares to ask, wanting to know, eyes held by Jack’s.

There's a long pause, thick with tension, standing on the edge of a precipice.

“Like I really want to kiss you,” Jack finally says calmly.

Record scratch. Mic Drop. Flatline on the monitor, someone call the doctor!

"We don't mind at all," Robby steps closer, looking down at him, back of his knuckles brushing Frank's wrist.

"I-" the touch and maybe that one beer making his head and heart all jumbled.

"Frank," he meets Jack's brown eyes, something on his face speaking to more than just a ride home. "We're happy to help, if it means spending more time with you."

The fragile impact of the words sinks into his chest, and Frank feels all resistance to fighting these feelings, crumbling. 

Dropping his arms slowly, he stands there, not moving to hop in the shower he had meant to be taking. Frank's instead picturing his pale skin with pink hand marks on his waist, a small desperate part of him, wishing Robby and Jack's touch permeated through his dinner jacket and shirt. He swears he can almost feel exactly where they were.

There's a sense of shamefulness for wanting two taken men in a committed relationship who are his closest friends. 

But just as support group has been hammering in, there's no shame to be had for ever feeling want and desire again.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/77190346/chapters/211858446

"Frank hands pause, has to remind himself to breathe because fuck.

Falling for a taken man doesn't bode well for him. And falling for the man he's taken by doesn't bode well either.

You think 6 weeks of reprieve and only a few visits would allow Frank's feelings to die down, but then that care basket broke down his walls he was still in process of building and now being back here, with them, he's reminded at every turn why he's falling despite the fruitlessness of it all."

Watching his coworkers from night shift fill his empty apartment, Frank suddenly feels his emotions getting the better of him, could have never imagined the sight in front of him now.

Not when returning home after the worst night of his life to an empty home, feeling he'll never be whole again. Not after 10 months spent in his apartment, crippled by his trauma to deal with alone, no one checking in on him except his sponsor. And not on the night after that semi-public drug test, trying to claw out the emotions that wouldn't release even in the safety of his own miserable isolation.

God, Frank from so many months ago, wouldn't even have believed this right here would be possible.

He told Mikey he wouldn't touch another pill for as long as he lived, something he's sure the guy has heard from every passing person who's entered inpatient, sat in those hard unforgiving metal chairs. They probably stopped keeping a tally of how many showed back up again with the same solemn promise as if they forgot they already broke it the first time.

Addiction is a constant fight, where the opponent learns how to lose more than they'll ever win. Relapse expected, it's just how it goes.

Frank just has a devastating reason to be so terribly certain he won't.

In the aftermath of a harsh sober reality, Dr. Frank Langdon returns to The Pitt to face whatever mess he left behind while trying not to fray apart at the seams.

story is: Frank Langdon centric fic. Pre-relationship of Frank/Robby/Jack. Established relationship of Jack/Robby.

Part 1 of a 3 series work.

warnings: story revolves around the aftermath of a sexual assault and the healing journey for frank. (tagged a non-con and sexual assault but does NOT include rape)

Heated Rivalry now sits at #56 on IMDb's Top 250 shows of all time!