Title: In From the Cold
Author: little_miss_writer
Rating: PG-13 for some mild swearing. Hopefully the rating will be going up as the story progresses…
Disclaimer: I own nothing unfortunately. Elizabeth Corday, Robert "Rocket" Romano (wonderfully portrayed by Paul McCrane) and any other ER characters mentioned belong to Warner Bros, Michael Crichton and a variety of other lucky, lucky people. I wish I did own them, but I don't. This is a work of fiction so nobody get upset ok?
Notes: A few things to know. In this story Elizabeth is not involved with Mark, so no marriage and no Ella. Takes place sometime before "Lockdown". It's just a nice little piece about Romano and Corday's friendship. I have read the season nine spoilers (I wish I hadn't!), but nothing is given away here at all, so its entirely safe. Also I'm British and so is my spelling, you have been warned!
Feedback: Yes!! Always wanted!! Send it to little_miss_writer@hotmail.com. Please r/r!
In From the Cold: Chapter 1
It couldn't have been more than a few degrees, well Celsius anyway, she hadn't a clue what it was in Fahrenheit. Why did the Americans have to use such a strange scale was beyond her. Why not start at zero like everybody else did? Well it didn't really matter, Celsius or Fahrenheit, it was bloody cold.
Elizabeth Corday hopped from foot to foot, in an effort to try and restore some feeling in her extremities. She had been standing outside in the snow for at least half an hour, although she wasn't wearing a watch so she didn't know how long exactly. She sighed. This was ridiculous, a grown woman acting like a teenager. All she had to do was ring the bell. It wasn't as if she didn't know he were in. He was in. She could faintly hear music, somebody playing a guitar she thought, inside the building, and unless she was mistaken, she could hear him singing along occasionally. But what if he was in there with somebody? Another woman? No there couldn't be. She remembered what Shirley had told her, there wasn't anybody else. Don't be such a child. Just ring the bloody bell.
She pressed the buzzer, the music stopped, and almost immediately, there was a deafening barking as some creature flung itself against the door. Elizabeth smiled; at least the dog had recovered well. The barking continued, growing more intense, as the dog scratched against the door.
"Gretyl, come on girl, move would you? That's it, that's a girl, good girl."
Elizabeth smiled at the kind soothing tone; he really did love that dog. But why? How could he love a dog so much and yet be so cold to those around him? Always closed off, always sharp and cutting as though he were afraid to let people get close. It intrigued her. Yes, he was an arrogant, insulting bastard. But there had to be a reason for it, something had to cause that type of behaviour. It concerned Elizabeth that she had known him for several years but knew very little about him. Did anybody really know him? Did he ever give anybody a chance to?
The door was pulled open with considerable force, and she was face to face with Robert Romano. The annoyed expression on his face disappeared when he recognised his visitor, and changed to one of surprise and concern.
"What is – Lizzie? What are you doing here? You look half frozen! Uh, come in, Christ your hands are blue! Don't you wear gloves in England? One of those "class" things is it? Not high enough up the social ladder?"
Elizabeth let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding. At least he didn't seem to be angry, that was a good start. Why was she worrying so much? She was here to spend some time with a colleague and friend; at least she wanted him to be a friend. That was all. No hidden agenda. Although she couldn't help but take in his appearance. Slim fitting black jeans, a dark red v-neck t-shirt, and a pair of Nike trainers. Slightly different from his blue scrubs in the OR, or his various assortment of suits, she thought, but it did look good on him.
"I'm not interrupting anything am I Robert? I-I don't want to intrude or anything-"
"Yeah? Well I don't want to have to take you to the ER later with frostbite. Come in, I won't ask again."
Elizabeth stepped in, shaking her head of curls, sending snow flying everywhere. Snow, about an inch thick, had settled on her jacket. The majority of it slid off and fell to the floor, and onto a disgruntled Gretyl, who yelped and ran down the hall, into a room.
"Hey! I asked you to come in; you're not supposed to bring the damn snow in with you. Give me your jacket."
"Everywhere you go you always take the weather with you" Elizabeth quoted. " Are you not in the festive season Robert?"
"It snows here all year round Lizzie. That doesn't mean I have to act like Santa."
"Well that'll never happen Robert. I think Father Christmas is taller, and of course more humorous."
It was fun, sparring like this. They had something together, a wonderful chemistry. Yes, he could be annoying, and arrogant, and rude, and – well so much else. But there were times when she saw another side of him. Something more human. He kept that side very well hidden, but he did have it. She had seen it when he brought his dog into the ER, when they operated on Lucy Knight, and many other times. Just a look, or the tone of his voice said so much. And was much more meaningful than his usual sarcasm and bluster.
He looked up at her, brown eyes twinkling, "Well maybe you could take up the job?"
Elizabeth gasped, "Robert Romano are you calling me fat?"
"If the shoe fits Lizzie." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Uh, well then, come on, I wanna find Gretyl, you scared her off." He spun round and walked down the hall, turning into the same doorway the Bouvier had. Elizabeth had no choice but to follow him.
The living room was large and spacious, decorated in a vaguely Victorian style, and led into the kitchen where Robert was hunting for something in a cupboard. Along one wall of the room was a large book cabinet, containing medical reference books, along with a sizeable collection of novels. Elizabeth grinned when she saw copies of The English Patient, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and Watership Down. An interesting selection, that was for certain. Not the type of books she had envisioned Robert enjoying. Gretyl was stretched out on a rug in front of a three seater settee, a few chairs formed a semi circle with the sofa around a glass top table. Elizabeth smiled, that dog was spoilt. Like an only child with at doting father. Child. She wondered if Robert had any children, or a wife for that matter. She had never asked, and he had never volunteered any information on the subject.
"Drink Lizzie?" The question brought her out of her musing. Robert was standing in the kitchen holding two glasses.
"Um, yes thank you."
"Wine ok?"
"Fine."
"Red or white?"
"White please."
Robert seemed satisfied and appeared carrying a bottle of white wine and the two glasses. "Sit down. Don't mind Gretyl, she won't bite."
Elizabeth grinned, stepped carefully over Gretyl and sat at one end of the settee. Robert followed suit and sat at the other end, uncorking the wine.
They talked, briefly about work, how hectic their schedules were, how badly the ER was understaffed, how Robert was doing his best to fight for more funding. After a short time, a comfortable silence settled between them.
"So….Elizabeth…"
"Yes Robert?"
"What brings you here so close to Christmas? Surely you should be out enjoying yourself?" Robert allowed her to taste the wine before filling her glass completely, and then pouring himself a glass. He sat back and looked at her quizzically.
"Well, I-I thought you might enjoy the company actually. I didn't want to spend another night alone with the television."
Robert nodded silently, absently rubbing Gretyl's stomach with him foot. He didn't seem upset, or offended that Elizabeth expected him to be alone. Or surprised that she suddenly wanted to be friendly despite their uneasy working relationship.
"I know how you feel."
A trace of surprise crossed his features, as if he didn't mean to say it out loud. He cleared his throat loudly, and topped up his glass, even though he'd only taken a mouthful. Elizabeth realised that he was embarrassed and smiled slightly. How could she learn more about him when he was so closed off? Well, she was going to try.
"You have a beautiful home." She did like it, but it did make her a little bit uncomfortable. It seemed so big and imposing and impersonal. She was sure it must have been very expensive, more than she could afford certainly. There were no signs of photographs of family and friends, or many personal touches at all. It didn't really looked lived in.
He glanced at her and smiled slightly. "Thank you. I like it here, I think Gretyl does too, though she doesn't say much on the subject."
"Ah, the strong silent type?"
"Just like her owner Lizzie."
Elizabeth laughed. "Hardly Robert."
"Did you come over here just to insult me Elizabeth? I think you do quite enough of that in the OR already."
"Robert I've known you for years, you are anything but silent. I'm sure Gretyl's only quiet because she can't get a word in edgeways."
"Oh really?" Romano raised his eyebrows. "Hey what d'you think Gretyl?"
The giant dog raised her head, stared at them both, and resumed her position stretched out on the floor, exhaling heavily.
Elizabeth grinned at Robert's annoyed expression. "I believe I win that one Robert."
"Hmmm, no treats for her tonight anyway."
"How long have you had her?"
Robert looked thoughtful for a moment, "Six, maybe seven years. I got her when she was just a puppy, she was a hell of a lot smaller then. She grew so quickly I was scared she'd end up taller than me. Please don't comment on that. You got any pets Elizabeth?"
"Not at the moment, I don't have time, my boss keeps paging me into the OR at ungodly times." Robert snorted at that. "I used to when I was a child, my mother gave me a horse for my twelfth birthday. The next year I was sent to boarding school so I hardly saw him. They sold him eventually; it wasn't fair to keep him, especially when my mother took an interest in him. She had him in so many dressage competitions, I swear the animal rolled its eyes when he saw her coming."
"I used to ride, a long time ago." His eyes took on a far away look, as though he were remembering something that happened lifetimes ago. Then he suddenly seemed to snap himself back into reality. "How about dogs?"
"No, my mother wasn't fond of dogs, unless you count those hideous toy breeds. And spaniels, she loved spaniels."
"Dogs are wonderful creatures Lizzie, they give love unconditionally, and they forgive all your faults. Incredibly loyal, loving, intelligent animals."
Elizabeth was quiet for a moment. Then said quietly, "There are people like that Robert."
"Really Lizzie? I'm afraid I'd have to disagree with you there. Have you eaten tonight?"
She was thrown for a moment by the sudden change of subject. Then realised that she had not eaten anything since she woke in the morning. A particularly difficult GSW had prevented her from making it to the canteen at lunch, and she hadn't had time for a snack from then on for the rest of the day.
"No, I haven't actually."
"Good, I was just about to make something. How do you feel about spaghetti?"
"Oh you don't have to – "
"I'm making it anyway."
"In that case spaghetti is fine."
"Good, follow me Lizzie, Gretyl."
Elizabeth followed her host to the kitchen, Gretyl padding gently behind her. The kitchen was large, and simply decorated, the walls mainly tiled. A large dinning table stood in the centre of the room with several chairs, a dog basket lay next to the fridge, toys spilling out onto the floor, all the kitchen units were modern, and to her surprise she noticed a washing machine. Robert Romano washed his own clothes? Did he know how to iron? The image of Robert with an iron just didn't quite click for some reason.
"Have a seat Lizzie." He said, gesturing to the table, "This shouldn't take too long."
"You don't want any help?"
"Nope, I don't want my food to suffer from post-op infection thank you very much."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and took a seat, glancing round the room, absorbing her surroundings. She smiled as Gretyl walked over to her basket, nosed around, making sure everything was just so, and then collapsed.
Robert noticed this and sighed, "Obviously had a busy day."
Lizzie laughed, "Quite."
There was a comfortable silence as Robert prepared the food quickly and confidently, obviously he was used to cooking. Elizabeth let her gaze wander again, and then noticed a guitar propped up behind the couch in the living room.
"You play the guitar?"
"Yeah, since I was a kid."
"You sing as well?"
He turned from preparing the mince, "How did you know that?"
"Oh, I-I heard you, when I was at the door. You've got a lovely voice."
He turned back, but not before Elizabeth noticed a slight blush colouring his cheeks. She was amused, who would believe that Robert Romano blushed? She always thought of him as the type of person who lapped up compliments. If she was mistaken about that, she thought, who knew what else she would discover.
"Thanks."
"Any chance of a live show, uh, I mean, guitar, that you could, um, play?"
Now it was her turn to blush, she could feel her face burning, red tones creeping into her pale skin. Oh, that really had sounded awful, a "live show"? Good lord. But Romano's reaction surprised her. He turned and grinned, "Dinner and a show? Well you never know. Maybe we could get Gretyl to dance and do a few tricks as well?"
Gretyl raised her head at the sound of her name, looked at them quizzically, then dropped her head back onto her forepaws and yawned.
"Yes I'm sure she has far more star potential and charisma." Lizzie shot back, trying to cover her embarrassment. God, she'd only been in his house for half an hour and she was already making suggestive comments, "live show" indeed. She wanted to get to know him as a friend, didn't she? That was all. Just a friend. Oh god she was an idiot.
Robert looked at her, then at Gretyl, back to her, and raised his eyebrows. "You really think so?"
"Possibly."
"Only possibly? Very diplomatic of you Lizzie."
"Yes Robert, a quality that you are obviously not familiar with."
"I'm sorry. Did you say you wanted arsenic with your meal?"
To be continued..
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