Chapter Text
“Med Students” Group Chat
Friday, June 19, 12:31 p.m.
Vic
Have you guys received your rotation schedules yet?
12:43 p.m.
Trinity
Just now [thumbs-up emoji]
12:45
Mel
I’m starting with the veterans—where are you guys?
12:47
Vic
Pediatrics
12:48
Trinity
Emergency room
12:48
Dennis
Emergency room too
12:49
Mel
You can’t be serious. Which one?
12:51
Trinity
PTMC
12:51
Dennis
PTMC
12:52
Vic
Lucky you guys, at least you’re together :)
12:53
Trinity
As if we don’t see each other all day long [eye-roll emoji]
__________________________________________________
Private chat Frank/Dennis
Friday, June 19, 1:16 PM
Dennis
I have the rotation schedule...
1:18 PM
Frank
Do I have to pry everything out of you? :D
1:19 PM
Dennis
My first shift is the ER...
1:19 PM
Frank
That’s great [thumbs-up emoji]
1:20 PM
Dennis
Yeah, sure... but it’s yours.
We start at the same time
1:21 PM
Or rather, I start a week earlier...
1:22 PM
Frank
Then you’re a week ahead of me :D
Then you can already hear all the rumors about me
1:22 PM
Dennis
Very funny [eye-roll emoji]
Do you really believe that?
1:23 PM
Frank
What?
1:23 PM
Dennis
That people are talking about you?
1:25 PM
Frank
Of course, a hospital thrives on rumors :D
And my departure wasn’t exactly my finest moment :D
1:27 PM
Seriously, Dennis, they’re going to talk about me .
But don’t worry about it, okay <3
1:28 PM
So, are you starting on Monday?
1:28 PM
Dennis
Yeah, the week right before July 4th :D
1:29 PM
Frank
That’ll be fun :D
We’re gonna rock July 4th together [cheering smiley]
Frank stared at the chat for a moment longer before lowering his phone and setting it down on the coffee table.
The smile that had been on his lips just a moment ago slowly faded.
In two weeks, he and Dennis would be working together in the emergency room.
And Frank knew it was going to be tough.
Not just because the week before the 4th of July was always hell, but because he knew how grueling working in the ER could be.
He slowly stood up and stretched.
His back cracked softly, and Frank winced briefly.
He was just about to head to the kitchen when his phone started vibrating again.
This time it wasn’t a message, but a call.
Frank picked up the phone again. The lock screen read “Mom.”
He hesitated briefly before answering the call.
“Hey Mom,” he said cheerfully and automatically started pacing around the apartment with the phone in his hand.
“It’s not your mom, it’s your dad. I just grabbed your mom’s phone,” came Jack Langdon’s gruff voice.
“Hey Dad,” Frank replied, smiling briefly.
“Listen, son, what’s the deal with the 4th of July? You still haven’t gotten back to us. Are you coming over with… what was his name again?” his father asked on the other end.
“His name is Dennis,” Frank replied quietly and sighed.
“Oh yeah, right… Dennis. So, are you and Dennis coming over?”
“No, Dad… Dennis and I…” but before Frank could finish his sentence, he heard a rustling from the speaker, and shortly after, Doris Langdon’s voice rang out: “Frank, sweetie, it’s your mom. “Please don’t tell me that you and this Dennis… haven’t broken up too.”
Frank sighed again. “Mom, we haven’t. We… just have to work.”
“Work? What do you mean, work?” his father asked, irritated.
“Dennis is starting his rotation, and I… am starting back up in the ER.”
There was silence on the other end.
Frank thought the line had gone dead, but then he heard a soft cough and his father asked in surprise, “You’re going back to the ER? When were you planning on telling us that?”
And his mother chimed in, “Sweetheart, do you really think that’s a good idea?”
Frank closed his eyes for a moment.
Of course these questions would come.
Frank leaned heavily against the kitchen counter, sighed again, and replied:
“Yes, I’m starting back up soon. And I feel ready.”
On the other end, his mother clicked her tongue softly.
“And what does Robby say about it?”
“Robby… has to deal with me being back. He’ll get over it,” Frank replied quietly, pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers.
“And Abby? What does she say about it?” his mother asked.
Frank let out a deep sigh.
“Abby’s okay with it. She says it’s my decision and she won’t interfere.”
He paused briefly.
“As long as I don’t neglect the kids because of it.”
“I don’t know, sweetheart… are you really ready for this?” his mother asked, and Frank heard the genuine concern in her voice.
“Yes, Mom, I am,” Frank replied wearily. “And besides… Dennis is here too.”
There was a brief silence.
“The guy you’ve only known for a few months?” his mother asked cautiously. “Dennis is nice, but can he really handle this?”
Before Frank could say anything in reply, his father spoke up again.
“Your mother’s right, Frank. Dennis and you… that’s really none of our business. It really isn’t. But how long have you two been together now? Eight months?”
Frank remained silent.
“That’s not a long time to rely on someone like that.”
“Listen. Even though Dennis and I have only been together for eight months, he’s helped me a lot. He was there when no one else was…” Frank began.
But his mother cut him off immediately.
“Frank,” she said quietly. “You’ve barely been in touch with us.”
Frank remained silent.
“We only found out about a lot of things after the fact. And not even from you, but from Abby.”
Frank clenched his teeth involuntarily.
“So please don’t accuse us of not being there for you,” his mother continued calmly. “We would have done more if we’d known how bad things really were for you.”
“I’m sorry, okay? I know this hasn’t been easy for you either. But please… this is my decision, and I want you to respect it,” Frank replied, pushing himself away from the kitchen counter.
“I have to hang up now. I have a meeting with my sponsor in a minute.”
And before his parents could say anything in response, Frank hung up.
For a few seconds, he just stared silently into space before massaging his temples wearily.
He truly loved his parents, but sometimes they drove him crazy.
With a weary sigh, Frank went into the bedroom, got changed, gathered his things, and left the apartment.