#rotating them

Children of the Bat

Variations under the cut

and do we think that, after frank punched in mel's number, he kind of just sat on the edge of his bed with his hands shaking, staring at her number on the screen wondering what the hell he was doing before finally getting up the courage to press dial?

and do we think that mel was kind of confused and very cautious when she heard the sound of his voice because they've only really known each other for, like, a day or two altogether and she shouldn't be upset that he just disappeared for, like, a week without notice but she was, only for him to chuckle softly and kind of sad and say, "so. i won't be coming into work for a while" and then all the upset just kind of faded away?

and do we think that she was like "why" and he hesitated, so she lowered her voice (she was at the hospital and he could hear it when she ducked away) and was like "did you do something bad?" and well. yeah. yeah actually he did do something really bad. and he's heard the words addict and junkie and asshole and bad husband ringing in his head, making him angry and defensive for days now, but it's just that question, just that one—no accusation, just curiosity—that made him say, throat tight, "yeah. yeah i did something bad" and mel said "oh" and then he said "and i don't know how often i'll be able to talk" because in-patient drug rehab is hanging over his head like the blade of a fucking guillotine but then mel perked up and was like "oh! that's okay! i can just write down everything and let you know what you miss so you're all caught up when you get back" and he could picture her so clearly with her bright eyes and a purple sticky notepad and it made him Ache somewhere deep in his chest and he kind of felt like crying but he didn't want to Do That while they were on the phone so he just laughed a little and cleared his throat and said "sounds good" and then they talked for two minutes more before mel had to go and she hung up before he could say bye?

and do we think that he kept the phone pressed to his ear like he could still hear her voice on the other end of the line even after she was long gone?