@kingdonmicrofic | july 18 | prompt: parade | 480 words

Now

It was the parade of the frat boys, and everyone in the pitt was having a good time with it. The group of ten young men arrived with dehydration and gastrointestinal problems following the consumption of a bad batch of jungle juice. They had them all lined up in different rooms, receiving fluids from IVs and holding buckets in their laps in case they threw up.

They were all in relatively good moods, despite the fact that they were being treated in the ED. Robby already had to put a stop to a wheelchair race, and Frank found four of them in one room, making catapults out of tongue depressors and cotton balls. That game was relatively harmless at least, so Frank left them to it.

Mel keens loudly, her back arching up off the desk as Langdon pushes into her again. 

She’s not worried about her volume, no one’s ever on the third floor of the science building. Not on a Sunday, not when most of campus is nursing hangovers.

Ever since that day in the library, the first time she kissed him and she realized just how cathartic sex with him was, it’s been like this. Invigorating and hot and always under the pretense of a study session. No dorms, no parties. If it happened anywhere else it would mean something, and this absolutely does not mean anything. 

Her heels dig into the back of his thighs, wanting him closer. Deeper. She can’t help it.

“Someone’s impatient,” he teases, pulling his cock out of her to run it up and down her folds.

“Well, if you didn’t waste so much of Saturday in that stupid homecoming parade,” she grits out as he pushes back in harshly, breaking her words apart. “We really — fuck, just like that — really have to get this presentation done.”

He pauses, smirk spread wide on his face, and she hates that she finds it so attractive. “Uh huh.”

His eyes twinkle with something competitive she’s only ever seen in lecture halls or when they’re like this. It sends a thrill through her — a lingering, electric tingling underneath her skin. It’s just adrenaline or endorphins or any chemical composition she can blame other than what she really knows is happening. This can’t be anything. They’re supposed to hate each other. 

“Oh, but I think you liked seeing me up on that float,” he leans over her, body covering hers. “You were blushing so pretty.” His lips press to her cheek, then move to the other, teeth nipping at the already flushed skin. “Pretty, pretty pink.”

“Just— just move,” Mel whines, urging her hips forward, chasing some friction. “Please Fr—”

“Come on sweetheart, just say it.” His eyes search hers, frantic and pleading. “It’s ok to say it.”

It's just after a particularly bad case, maybe one Mel and Frank just ran chief. It went sideways fast and there wasn't anything they could do and the person died. Maybe it's a peds patient or parent of young kids, something that would really hurt Mel deeply. She's already in the parking garage across the bay, tucked into a stairwell when Frank comes and finds her. He knows exactly where she is. Her glasses are gone and her face is all red from ugly crying and when she sees him she immediately dives into his arms that he already has outstretched towards her. Maybe it's not the first time something like this has happened. It seems she's been here before and she feels safe here.

Obviously he's so sweet. Shhh ing her and reassuring her and rubbing her back. Maybe he even rests his mouth on her head (not kissing her....but like bro what are you doinggg). Even though he just ran this same code too and (like we saw with the drowning girl in season 1) peds patients hit him particularly hard because of his own kids. But she's hurting way more than he is so he gets to be her rock. He's glad to be her rock. She needs someone and it's him.

That fucking loose ass wedding ring comes off and clatters to the ground (not down a storm drain though ffs we're not grays anatomy). He freaks out and breaks away to grab it but he takes one step before he turns and sees Melissa. She's a mess. Her braid's all disheveled and her eyes are red and maybe she's got snot coming out her nose (I'm an ugly crier too girl) and he immediately abandons the ring and envelops her in his arms again.

Someone—maybe a nurse or a tech—walks by, heading home for the day and sees them. They see Mel, the princess of the ED obviously beside herself (and the hot married R4 hugging her, but that's almost slightly irrelevant, cause it's Mel we're talking about, she wouldn't get involved in that kind of drama.....🙄). They kind of pause and almost step in but Frank kind of shields her from their gaze and waves them off.

Then we cut and let them have the rest of their little moment in private.

It's got symbolism for the kingdon girlies. Maybe some plausible deniability for the actors who are in denial for some reason. Some good old fashioned angst/comfort. Taylor and Patrick get to really play off each other and show their range. It's got something for everyone!