A kind wolf is still a wolf

“Coffee that bad at PTMC?” you couldn’t help asking with a little smile.

His eyes widened. “You have no idea but how did you—”

“Scrubs kind of give it away,” you said gesturing to the black scrubs worn by all the doctors in the ED. “And, you know, it’s just across the street.”

He nodded and ran a hand down his face. “Right. I’m Frank by the way.”

You followed his lead and gave only your first name as you started to pack your things away.

“You’re really leaving?” And damned if he didn’t give the best puppy dog eyes. “I just got here.”

You stood and put your bag on your shoulder. “Well, I don’t even know you and I’m supposed to be meeting someone like five minutes ago.”

“Could I at least get your number?” he asked and you laughed.

“I don’t think so, Dr. Frank. But I tell you what. I’m in here at least three days a week. Find me again and I’ll give it to you.” You gave him a little wave and he turned to watch you go.

“Can I at least get your last name?” he yelled after you when you reached the door.

You looked over your shoulder with a grin. “It’s Robinavitch.”

Frank tried not to think about you. He did. He’d only seen you once for less than five minutes but for some reason he could not get you out of his head. And starting something with Robby’s daughter? Trouble with a capital T.

At least he assumed you were his daughter. You could have been Robby’s much younger sister, he supposed. A cousin, maybe. Frank shook his head. What did that matter? He walked past the coffee shop as he had every day though he’d never quite worked up the nerve to go inside. He didn’t even work tonight, yet here he was across the street from the hospital, pacing back and forth in front of the window.

Finally, he sucked in a breath and opened the door. His eyes immediately found you sitting at the same table. He sat in the empty seat across from you without asking and waited for you to acknowledge him.

You held up a finger to let him know you’d seen him and finished typing. Once you’d closed the lid of your laptop, you leaned back in your chair and looked him over. “You cost me twenty bucks, you know?”

His brow furrowed. “How?”

“I bet John over there $40 you wouldn’t come inside today either.” You indicated the barista with a hook of your thumb. He just grinned and waved.

“Okay,” Frank said, drawing out the word. “Two questions. One, what do you mean either? Two, how does that translate to you only losing $20?”

You grinned. “One, I have eyes. I have seen you walk by this window every day I’ve been here for the last week and a half. Two, Dana bet me $20 you’d be too scared of my dad to come inside.”

Frank blinked and went a little pale. “Dana knows?”

You hummed, lips twitching in amusement. “Dana’s practically my mom, so yes.”

He tilted his head as he looked you over. You didn’t seem to be annoyed with his hesitance, just amused. He licked his lips. “It just that Robby’s my boss, you know? And I respect him. A lot. I don’t want to put our relationship in jeopardy.”

“You planning to disrespect me, Langdon?” Your words were light but your eyes were sharp.

He swallowed. God, you had a lot in common with your dad. “That was not my intention, no.”

“Good boy.”

Frank choked as he shifted on his seat, heat flooding across his face and down his neck. “Shit.”

An elated grin lit up your face. “And here I thought you were going to be boring.”

“I—you can’t—Are you trying to kill me?” he finally managed to get out. 

“That was not my intention, no,” you said, echoing his earlier words.

He sighed and ran a hand down his face. “Look, you are—you are stunning. I can’t get you out of my head and I’ve really fucking tried but I’m just not sure this is a good idea.”

You glanced down and nodded your head. “I get it. My dad can be a lot.” He watched hopeless as you packed your things up, desperate for you to look at him again. You stood and put the strap of your bag over your shoulder. “I’d just hoped…It doesn’t matter.”

He watched as you walked over and put $40 in the tip jar. When you turned, you finally met his gaze and gave him a small smile. And god, the look on your face. When you walked out the door, he got his head out of his ass and hurried after you. He fell into step beside you as you headed to the corner.

You turned and looked at him. “What are you doing?”

“You didn’t give me your number,” he said, doing his best to appear nonchalant.

You closed your eyes and sighed. “I thought you said this wasn’t a good idea?”

“Oh, it is most assuredly the worst idea I’ve had in ages. If I piss your dad off, he could kill my whole career.” You turned your head away and he hooked a finger under your chin to turn it back. “I kind of think it might be worth it, though.”

Tension seemed to flow from you. “Alright, Dr. Frank. Give me your phone.”

When you handed it back, he chuckled at finding your number under the name Little Robby. He raised a questioning brow.

You shrugged. “It’s what Dana calls me.”

Frank convinced you to have dinner with him before you parted ways and it was fucking phenomenal. Your brain was almost sexier than the rest of you. And your sense of humor? God, you were perfect. He couldn’t keep the smile off his face.

Dana looked up when he got to the hub and smirked. “Nice job, kid. Even if you did cost me $20.” He glanced around to make sure Robby wasn’t in earshot and Dana waved her hand in dismissal. “I won’t tell him until she’s ready. Unless you make her cry. Then you’re screwed.”

“Hey, Langdon,” Robby said in greeting as he stepped up beside him.

Frank swallowed his panic. “Hey, Robby.”

“Hey, anything going on with my girl I should know about?” the attending asked Dana.

Her gaze darted between the two men as she put on an innocent expression. “No, why?”

Robby frowned. “She canceled our plans last night. That’s not like her.”

You didn’t tell him you’d had plans with your dad or he wouldn’t have been so insistent. Who was he kidding? He absolutely would have been.

Dana shrugged. “Maybe she met someone?”

Frank was gonna kill their charge nurse. Everyone would forgive him for it eventually, right?

Robby shook his head. “Nope. Not possible.”

“She’s not a little girl anymore, Robby,” Dana said with a chuckle. “It has to happen sometime.”

“I am very much aware of the fact she is not a little girl anymore. Thank you, Dana. But she said she wasn’t going to date until she started her residency.”

“That’s not very far away. Besides, maybe he’s a special guy.” Dana shrugged. “Or maybe she had a paper to write.”

“Yeah, let’s go with that,” Robby said slipping on his glasses to look at a chart. He looked at Frank over the top of them. “Don’t you have something to do, Dr. Langdon?”

“Yes. Yep. Going to work now.”

Keeping things from Robby didn’t get easier as time went by.

Sometimes it was because he just really wanted to tell someone about you.

“Park beers?” Donnie asked toward the end of a shift.

Frank glanced at the clock. “Can’t. Have a date with my girlfriend.”

“Did you say girlfriend?” Heather asked, slowing her steps as she passed by.

Frank nodded, pressing his lips together to keep from rattling off everything he liked about you.

Collins tucked her tablet under her arm as she gave him her full attention. “How long have you been seeing her?”

“Two months and four days,” he answered without hesitation.

Donnie chuckled. “Oh, you’ve got it bad man.”

Robby walked by as he headed to a room and looked between all of them. “Don’t you all have work to do?”

“Absolutely, sir.” Frank said before hurrying off in the opposite direction.

Robby glanced at Heather and she just shrugged.

And sometimes it was because he really loved talking about you and forgets he works with your dad.

Frank was taking a break to drink a bottle of water and scarf down a protein bar at the hub. “She’s amazing, Dana. She’s pretty, yeah, but she’s so smart. Smarter than me. She’s going to be an incredible doctor.”

“I know, Frank,” Dana said, amusement coloring her voice.

“Do you know what she said last—”

Robby’s voice cut him off. “Your girlfriend’s in med school?”

Frank’s mouth snapped shut and he nodded. “Mmhmm. Yep.”

Robby crossed him arms over his chest. “Anyone we know?”

“No. Of course not,” Frank rattled off with a snort. “That’s ridiculous.”

The attending’s brows lifted as a smile curved his lips. “Okay there, Langdon?”

“Yep. Break’s over. Got to go. Patients to see.” He rushed off, leaving Dana and Robby chuckling behind him.

And sometimes it was because he was sleep deprived and really fucking stupid.

Frank hadn’t seen you in over a week. You had finals and he’d had to pull an extra shift. He’d argued that he could help you study, but you told him the last thing he needed to do in his time off was think about medicine. He was supposed to see you after his shift and he would go insane if you canceled on him again. Hell, he’d just sit there while you studied if you didn’t want his help. He just needed to see you.

He pulled out his phone and sent you a quick text before going back to work.

Robby found him an hour later. “Langdon, have a minute?”

“Uh, sure.” He followed the attending to a quiet spot at the side of the hallway.

“I am going to assume that you did not mean to send this to me?” Robby showed him his phone screen.

God, I miss you so much, baby. Can’t wait to see you tonight. Don’t fucking cancel.

Fuck. Frank’s face couldn’t decide if it wanted to heat up or drain of all color. At least it had been a relatively tame text compared to some of the ones he sent you.

He cleared his throat. “Sorry, Robby. Must have clicked the wrong contact.”

Robby nodded. “Figured as much. You might want to resend it to the right person this time.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that. Thanks.”

Then sometimes it was because you surprised the fuck out of him.

It was nearing the end of shift when Frank stepped out of a patient room to find you standing at the hub talking to Dana. He hadn’t seen you in the ED once the entire time he’d worked there. Your name fell from his lips in disbelief and you turned with a smile on your face.

“You two know each other?” Robby’s voice came from behind him.

Shit. Shit. Fucking shit. Frank turned slowly to find Robby standing with his arms crossed looking between the two of you. The resident gave his best innocent smile. “W-who? Me and her?”

“Yes, Langdon. You and my daughter. How do you know each other?”

He heard you start to speak up behind him and held up a hand before taking a deep breath. “Robby, I am absolutely crazy in love with your daughter. We’ve been seeing each other for the last eight months.”

Robby’s brow furrowed as he stepped closer. “And if I gave you a choice between her and continuing your residency here?”

Frank’s stomach dropped but he shrugged. “Her. I’ll always choose her.”

The attending’s head dropped forward and he shook it slowly. “Shit.” He sighed and looked up as he pulled out his wallet and started counting out bills. Frank followed the line of his arm to find him handing the cash to you.

“Told you, daddy,” you said as you happily pocketed the money before going over to take some from Dana as well.

Frank blinked. “What did I miss?”

Robby’s hand landed on his shoulder. “Known about you since the second date, Langdon. My girl doesn’t keep secrets from me. Remember that.” He squeezed and Frank winced slightly.

You moved over and gave him a quick kiss. “They bet you wouldn’t fess up.”

Frank blinked again, though his hands found your waist. “You bet with Dana and your dad on whether I would tell the truth about us?”

You nodded looking very proud. “Uh huh and extra that you’d pick me over your spot here.”

He couldn’t help the smile that covered his face. He was beyond thrilled that you had so much faith in him and his feelings for you.

“What’s going on here?” Abbot asked as he arrived for his shift.

“He fessed up,” Dana said.

Jack’s gaze moved to Robby.

“He picked her.” Robby tried to sound disgruntled at losing the bet but his wide smile gave away his happiness for his daughter and his favorite resident.

Jack sighed and pulled out his wallet pulling out several bills to pass them over to you. You hopped on your feet and kissed Abbot’s cheek. “Thanks, Uncle Jack.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered. His gaze locked on Frank. “I assume I don’t need to actually remind you that I used to be in the service? Or that Robby and I know dozens of ways to kill you and get away with it?”

Frank swallowed. “No, sir. I am very much aware of that.”

Jack smiled and patted the shoulder Robby wasn’t holding onto. “Good.”

“I think Dana wants you, sweetheart,” Robby said, holding on Frank when he tried to follow you. He pulled the resident back and bent so he could speak in a low tone. “I won’t repeat what Jack said, but I will add that if you even think of proposing before she’s an R3 I will not be happy.”

He gave it three days and then he headed to the one place he was sure to find you. You owned a small estate in Southern Ireland that you’d turned into a private library. Access limited to only those you allowed. Books. Maps. Information. Weapons. A veritable treasure trove. Unknown to most, your private residence was tucked away in the guest house on the grounds. He’d been inside exactly three times and he was hoping for a fourth.

He drove to the estate and decided to start with the main building. Jogging up to the door, he looked at the camera that confirmed his identity to allow him entrance. The guard just inside nodded as Deckard walked in. He returned the gesture and headed for the actual library. Every time he’d been here, he’d found you curled up in a chair with a book in your lap and a smile on your face.

His eyes scanned the room as he stepped inside, but he didn’t see you. Instead, he found your assistant Benjamin. “Mr. Shaw. Is there anything in particular I can help you with today?”

“Where is she?” Deckard’s voice was clipped, rough. His worry had him doing away with pleasantries.

The man didn’t blink. “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to share that information.”

Deckard took a step forward, stopping when he heard the click of a safety disengaging behind him. He held up his hands to show he wasn’t a threat. “Look, she’s not responding to messages or answering her phone. I’m concerned for her wellbeing. That’s all.”

Benjamin’s brow furrowed. “I assure you that we have received no messages.”

Deckard clenched his teeth and a muscle in his jaw twitched. “I didn’t send them to you.”

He watched the realization cross the younger man’s face that he had direct access to you, a privilege you didn’t give to many. He opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by your voice coming from the level above.

“It’s fine, Benjamin. Mr. Shaw is a friend.”

Deckard glanced up and found you standing at the top of the curved staircase that took up the middle of the room. His gaze ran over you, making certain you were whole and unharmed.

“Leave us,” you instructed as you started down the stairs. “Close the door.”

Your assistant hurried to comply with your instructions and soon enough you and Deckard were alone. “Hello, Dove,” he greeted.

The corner of your lips kicked up in a smirk. “Hello, Deck.”

He immediately moved into your space as soon as you on the same level as him. His hands found your hips and his lips found yours. Eventually he pulled away to breathe and rested his forehead against yours. “You didn’t respond to me. I was worried.”

You hummed in acknowledgement before pulling away from him and moving to your desk. Your fingers traced the edge of a thick folder on top of it. “The information you’re after…it was better that you come here.”

“And you couldn’t just tell me that?”

Your eyes found his and for the first time since he’d met you, he saw genuine fear there. “They can’t know I was involved. That I told you anything.”

His brow furrowed as he stepped forward. “I never even told you what I needed.”