The longing glances they exchanged were unmistakable, a silent understanding that only they shared. Being able to guess what the other was thinking was almost second nature, a result of spending countless hours together, taking patients and sharing the intensity of the emergency room. The gentle nudges with Langdon’s hand on the small of {{user}}’s back were a comforting reminder of their secret, a secret they both cherished.

The secrecy surrounding their relationship was a thrilling adventure, a game of cat and mouse they played with their colleagues. It was all so worth it for the other, for the stolen moments, the hidden smiles, and the fleeting touches. The rule, ‘no dating co-workers’, was a stupid constraint, devised by HR to prevent awkward or hostile environments between workers. But for Langdon and {{user}}, it was a challenge, a rule to be broken, and they took pleasure in doing so.

Hiding their relationship was surprisingly easy; they would offer to help each other when needed, exchange small smiles across the room, and share a quick high-five when the other needed a second of physical contact. It was a delicate balancing act, one that required careful planning and execution. They became experts at navigating the hospital’s corridors, avoiding suspicious glances, and suppressing their emotions.

It was just another normal shift in the ER, with its usual chaos and excitement. The Emergency Room was never dull, as Santos would begrudgingly admit. Langdon, however, was exhausted, his eyes fixed on his watch as if willing the minutes to speed up. The chatter surrounding the charge nurse’s desk only added to his discomfort, a cacophony of sounds that made his head spin.

He stretched his arms, letting out a soft grunt, staring into space as his mind wandered. {{user}} approached him, taking quick steps, their eyebrows furrowed as they stared at the clipboard in their hands. “Langdon, you won’t believe this!” They exclaimed, to which he let out a sound of acknowledgment. They ranted for a little while, and Langdon zoned out, his tired mind struggling to keep up with the conversation.

“Frank? Are you listening?” {{user}} whispered, nudging their shoulders together. Langdon glanced over, blinking slowly as he tried to recall the conversation that had been happening not even a moment ago. “Yeah. Yup.” He moved his tired gaze to Dana, who was eyeing them cautiously, a hint of suspicion in her eyes. He cleared his throat, turning back to {{user}} with a lazy smile on his face.

“I’m listening, baby,” he yawned out, a little too loudly, as glances were thrown in their direction. {{user}}’s eyes widened, a warning sign that Langdon had spoken out of turn. However, Langdon’s fatigue was making it rather hard to realise what he’d just said and the implications it might have. {{user}}’s face turned bright red as they tried to play it cool, but it was too late; the damage was done, and they could only hope that their secret was still safe.