Please be kind first attempts at fan fiction usually aren't real pretty, right?

I don't own anything. Well ok, I own a few things a home, a bed, a TV, a car, etc. But I don't own NBC or ER. If I did I doubt I would be able too find the time to write short stories.

Blinking Romano opened his eyes to the stale light of his hospital recovery room. He ground his teeth briefly at the ache coming from his left arm. Instinctively he reached across and tried to work out the soreness. Nothing. His hand fell sharply to the bed. Romano closed his eyes again letting his head heavily fall back deeper into his pillow.

"Damn." He softly said as his mind caught up to his current state. He turned his head to the right before opening his eyes again. He looked at his arm willing to imagine it duplicated on his other side. It was then that he noticed the remaining black pen marks. Disappointment settling in. "Elizabeth said she would be there," he thought to himself. A barely audible, "Lizzie" escaped from his dry lips.

"Yes Robert." A breathy voice came from the other side of the room. Romano instantly stiffened. He held his breath wondering if it was only his imagination.

Elizabeth continued from her chair in the corner, "I was wondering if you were going to wake up before I went home tonight."

A smile crept up on Romano's lips and flooded his chest as he turned to face her. He took a quick breath before beginning. "You're not wasting Weaver's budget by babysitting me here are you? You better be off-the-clock. We have both seen the bitter side of Kerry." Pausing to let his cocky grin fade in a full smile he tried to continue, "I mean that red hair"

"Actually, Robert, being as I am here with you I went ahead and took the liberty of charging the ER for my specialized services," she challenged before he finished.

"Services?" He repeated slowly letting the sensuality of the word redden the checks of his favorite banter partner. "What services were you planning to provide me, while I sleep, exactly." He lifted his blanket and looked down to his body. "Now, now, Lizzie you wouldn't take advantage of a man in a loose fitting gown would you?"

Elizabeth's mind raced for something to say. Something witty. Anything.

A silence fell between them.

Robert dropped his blanket back down and turned his head back to the overhead lighting. Perhaps he had gone too far. For the last year, since Elizabeth returned, it had not been nearly as fun to render her speechless. "Well, thanks for waiting up for me, but gee mom, I am sure it's past your bed time or at least past Ella's." Coolly he finished, "you can go now."

Elizabeth stood and stepped over to his bed, "You know Robert, you aren't my boss anymore." She looked down at his dark eyes and saw him freeze up. She leaned in closer, whispering, "you don't control me anymore." Hesitating for a moment she ran her eyes down to his lips, now only inches away from her. Abruptly she straightened herself and turned to the door, "not that you ever did."

Romano let go of his breath. "Now who is rendered speechless," he thought to himself.

Shaking the daze her closeness brought him. "Lizzie!" He barked just as her hand reached the door, "wait."

She turned to face him. But didn't say a word.

"Uh so did you really just stick around to see that I woke up?" He smiled internally seeing that she wasn't leaving. "You weren't beginning to distrust the surgical staff here as much as I do? Afraid they slip something lethal into my IV here?"

She walked back slowly to the right side of his bed, "no Robert, I doubt we have anything strong enough to keep you down." Pausing she slyly added, "Don't think I haven't tried."

Romano puffed up his chest, "yeah, helicopters aside, County General hasn't found a way to get rid of me yet." He looked over to his left arm. Or rather what was left of it. It was the first time he really had a chance to study it. "Hmm not bad. I mean I assumed the hacking from a hack, such as it was, would be much more ugly."

Elizabeth touched his hand causing Robert to shift his gaze quickly to his right side and up to Elizabeth's sorrowful eyes. "Don't," he said gently, "please."

Swallowing hard she blinked back her tears. She looked down to the end of his bed and took a step back to regain control. After a beat, "hey now, I wouldn't strike ugly from your description quite yet." She looked back up to his eyes again, "I mean you only left the poor resident so much to work with you know."

A smile spread across both of their faces.

Eventually Robert asked, "so tell me Lizzie, did Captain America in the ER let you off in time to see the clean up?"

"Robert I was there for the whole, uncomplicated procedure" she began.