Mel is so touched. She doesn’t read it as romantic, because why would Frank make a move via a card, but having written confirmation that she makes him as happy as he makes her is so comforting.

She hugs him, thanks him for the card, says sorry she didn’t get him anything. And Frank, the idiot, thinks this is her letting him down gently, and he slowly gets sadder all day long until Cassie asks him what’s up. He says he shot his shot and got turned down. Cassie, who has functioning eyes, can’t believe Mel turned Frank down, and asks him to elaborate.

“Langdon… Mel is a brilliant doctor, but social cues are not her thing, you know that. Have you considered that maybe that was too subtle?”

Frank hasn’t and the idea of going to Mel and being more clear and getting turned down face to face makes him queasy, but when she waits for him after work so they can go to their cars together, he does do it. Mel is floored, and very very interested, so it does all work out for them.

Mel is such a relief because she a) likes his default and b) just doesn’t guard that kind of thing.

It all goes fairly well all through spring, summer and fall, but Pittsburgh winters are no joke and while sleeping in his car most days had been killing his back all along, the additional cold is hard on him when winter rolle around. He tries to do as many double shifts as he can, because the few hours sleep in the warm hospital bed are a huge reprieve, but it also means he and his strained body are exposed to more patients.

It’s only a matter of time before he gets miserably sick. Still, he keeps on working with a mask on, because being sick and cold in his car is worse and he needs to get better fast because he’s meant to have the kids later in the week.