Chapter one: Robert and Susan meet.
I rub my face listening to Weaver and Chen go back and forth about who killed a patient. At this point I could care less, I've been in this building for 24 hours and the only sunlight I get it is through my windows. I smirk as Kerry tries to backtrack. "Yes Dr. Weaver it's always fun to rewrite history though that doesn't always go very well." She stops talking and glares at me, while Chen looks like she's won. "Nobody wins here the patient is still dead Chen, there's plenty of blame to go around." Burst that bubble.
"Robert I just don't find this to be a fair inquisition." Inquisition? Like the Spanish one? Leave it to Weaver always feeling persecuted even when she's in the wrong, that's why I really don't like her. I don't care if she sleeps with every woman in the city, I'm not homophobic but I know it annoys the hell out of her when I imply it. I sit there fiddling with my golden stethoscope waiting for Chen to make a move but she doesn't, no backbone in that one either. It's a pity, none of my staff have backbones lately, except maybe Benton and I'd never tell him that.
"Weaver, you never think anything is fair when it comes to yourself, suck it up, be the man you were born to be." Really? After all of these years I can still shock her with a one liner? I need a challenge, even Corday is a bore now, Greene rubbed off on her the wrong way. "That's all for now, I'm sure one or both of you should be talking to your malpractice adjuster." Chen bolts out of my office nearly knocking over Brenda who is on her way in with more paperwork. I live for paperwork these days don't I? My secretary informs me I need to sign off on the new ER doc. "Hold it there Kerry! You hired another bottom feeding moron to run around and cost MY hospital money?" Weaver mumbles about being short staffed, I don't listen I sign and hand the paperwork back to Brenda. "Go forth and heal and don't let the door hit you on the way out."
When the morons are out of my sight I stand up, I've been behind this desk too long. It's time to go home and shower and get my precious Gretel for a walk in the park.
I'm back, I'm here in Chicago after 5 years away and little has changed or so it seems. The hoop is still in the ambulance bay waiting for a staff member needing to let off some steam, The staff locker room is the same and so is the lounge. It's still cold. I must be insane moving back here after living in the desert, truth be told I was craving the cold bitter chills of Chicago by the end.
The nurses station is more open and cheerful than I remember, in fact I would say the whole place has been spruced up a bit I am eager to get back to work. Kerry is in charge and more of a raving bitch than I remember Mark is a father again and clearly loving it.
I step outside later that day in to the crisp evening air, it's been an eventful day, catching up with old friends and making new ones. I already adore Abby she's lovely and Dr Kovac is a gentle and kind man. I don't feel like going back to my apartment yet, I feel like a walk so I head for the park. It's chilly I wrap my coat tighter around my body suddenly feeling stupid for having ventured out. I'm shivering like a moron after the desert heat. "Damn it" I curse when a big hairy bear type animal bound up to me and knocks me flying. All I can hear as the dog attempts to lick me to death is "GRETEL GRETEL HEEL"
Instead of chasing her ball Gretel finds the first person she sees and knocks her to the ground. All I can see is black fur and a large coat, this chick is wrapped up like an Eskimo. "Gretel get off of the nice lady!" She finally obeys and staring up at me is a gorgeous blond haired blue eyed woman. I awkwardly offer my hand and mumble an apology. When I'm at County I'm in charge, I can flirt, say anything to anyone I please, out in the rest of the world I turn back into the short,skinny ginger boy I was in high school. The woman smacks my hand away and gets up on her own.
"Your dog needs manners mister!" But she's grinning as she says it, I won't correct her on the mister part, it would just appear to be me showing off. I watch as she dusts off her backside as I continue to mumble apologies and scold Gretel. "You could make it up to me sir." She's a bold one, maybe even has a backbone.
"How's that miss?" She'll probably want money for drycleaning. "I'll have your coat cleaned if that's the issue. I really am sorry." She really is gorgeous.
"No,no it's machine washable unlike that robelike garb you are wearing. Buy me some coffee, I'm freezing. And I'm Susan by the way." I could fall over this never happens to me, unless the woman knows I'm a surgeon and she's a gold digger. I extend my hand which she finally takes introducing myself as Robert, no last name required.
"Okay there's a great place down the street, Gretel can wait outside. Wouldn't want you to freeze to death. Do you always wear such heavy coats? It's only 50 degrees." We pleasantly banter about nothing in particular, she just moved here from Arizona, she's single, I'm single, no talk of work which is nice. By the end of coffee she says she has an early day and needs to leave but graciously takes my phone number. I hope she uses it...soon.
TBC