Thank you all for your kind and encouraging reviews in my absence. Please enjoy.
"What do you see Dr. Gardiner?" William Darcy's steady voice asked on the O.R.
"Please don't ask me that." Lizzy's voice was shaky and weak.
"What are we looking at, please?" his voice was calm and somehow soothing.
Lizzy's voice cracked as she saw a second tumor growing on the screen. They hadn't even gotten to the one they desired and here was a second intruder, trying to take the life of their precious patient.
October 19th, 2009….later….
"You really are just a major weeper, like that little dope Jude Law played in The Holiday." Richard found Lizzy sitting in the locker room crying after Charlotte had given him warning. He had put on his brave face and waltzed right in.
"This is my third time today – this place makes me crazy, Rich. I know I have to give it more of a try than a couple months after so long but this is just one day. I can't do this everyday for the rest of my life, or even another couple years."
Richard sat down on the bench and she leaned into him. "You aren't here everyday, Liz. When you aren't here then find something you love. That way you have a distraction when you're gone and something to look forward to when you're suck here." The tears kept flowing silently as Lizzy thought about what he'd just said. "May I ask why you're even crying now? You aren't still upset about out argument earlier are you?" He felt her head shake no.
"There is a second tumor growing, Rich. It's not good news at all, more like a death sentence," her voice broke.
"Shit. That kid has had nothing but bad luck so far."
"Tell me about it."
"You'd best watch your elbows, William Darcy."
"You'd best watch your aim. You are severely lacking."
"I will win and then you will be sorry. Richard is unbeatable, and so am I. Together we are unstoppable, unbeatable, ungovernable, THE BEST! Although I may be drunk, I can drink you out – out drink you, then stomp you at one-on-one pong, guaranteed."
"Care to make a wager then, young lady?" Darcy asked and saw the gleam in her eyes brighten at the challenge.
"I would, and I am so confident I will let you make the stakes."
Darcy realized she was already more than a little tipsy. After four years with Bingley and Richard in college with him, he could hold his liquor better than most men.
"Lizzy, you don't know what you're getting yourself into. In college – " Bingley began.
"You have no idea of college champions old man. I am a champion. A CHAMP! until you've met me. I was the all-Greek single pong championay of mah school. I represent over 150 years! YEARS! of tradition, grace, booty – I mean beauty, and women from my sorority." Lizzy's inebriation being quite evident Darcy saw he had a real opportunity on his hands. He definitely had the sober advantage. At least at the moment. Richard couldn't stop laughing.
"YOU? You were in a sorority, Lizard? Please tell me you are kidding?"
"Delta Sigma Zata babyyyyyyyy!"
"Lord help me. I will be the referee here. There will be three rounds of 6-cup pong. One re-rack per round each. Two balls per turn. Best two of three rounds. Rebuts can be made at the last cup for a rebuttle game of three cups. Lizzy you will not be drinking all of yours. If Miss. Sororstitute Sue accepts the challenge here then Darce will make the stakes. Are we agreed?" Richard said in his official voice.
"Done. On condiments, I mean condition of the stakes." Lizzy said. "Work stays out of this. No conditions that I can't play operation." Lizzy managed.
"Fine." Darcy smiled, a smile that, even in her lessened mental state, made Lizzy a bit weak in the knees. It was a completely unguarded smile from Darcy, a first for her eyes.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen. Please take your seats. Charlotte you are in charge of the playlist. Keep it good or the privilege is taken away, woman. Dr. Darcy may we have the stakes?" Richard asked.
"Dr. Gardiner may have the honor of choosing my stakes. I'll write mine down and you may write yours down."
"Done." They shook hands and wrote down their requested stakes and handed their papers to Charlotte. "Char – will you put on Bottoms Up? I luuurve that song." I gots to get my game oooooon."
As soon as Nikki Minaj and Trey Songz came on the game was on. Darcy was off his game, not having played in a while. Lizzy made the first three cups, winning the first game with Darcy narrowly missing having to do a naked lap. However, he would not be beat by a drunken intern, his ego would not stand for it. He skillfully won the next game with ease. Lizzy's nerves had gone up and she feared for her drunken dignity. It was to be lost however, her mind was clouded with some crappy Svedka and she made not one cup. She couldn't stop laughing however when she realized her terrible defeat.
"And we have a winnerrrrrrrr!" Richard shouted, clapping Darcy on the back. "Now, young lady, I do believe you have lost the game without making a single cup on your last round. You do know what that means…" Richard winked.
"It meanss I lose. That I'm a loser. I am lost."
"It also means your earned yourself a naked lap."
"No! Please, please pleaseeeeeeee. I don't want tooo."
Darcy was amused by his cousin but also had some sympathy for poor Lizzy. He could tell that the newest round of alcohol was hitting her hard and she was getting a little too tipsy for his taste. He could usually hold whatever he drank, as could Richard, and this intern was both young and tiny. His better judgment was telling him they shouldn't have allowed her to drink six cups of beer in such a short time. Elizabeth was taking long blinks and sitting, he quickly recognized this. His college girlfriend drank like this every weekend and once she slowed down and the drinks hit her, it was a tell tale sign she was about to be sick or need to go to bed. He cut into their conversation.
"Richard." The warning in Darcy's voice made his cousin stop the teasing and make a quick evaluation of Lizzy.
"Dollface, I think it's time for bed for you. Think you can make it?" Richard asked, immediately going over to her and steadying her with a hand on her lower back. Darcy's eyes immediately went to it, knowing if he even tried to touch her there how upset she would be. "I think you'll be staying here, love. Darce would you grab a pair of my sweatpants and a t-shirt for her?" Darcy nodded and went to Richard's room and came back with the clothing. Elizabeth was already asleep on Rich's couch.
Charlotte stepped in, "As much as you care about her Richard, I know for a fact she'd never speak to me again if I let you or Dr. Darcy undress her while she is for all intents and purposes unconscious. She isn't blackout but she is the sleepiest drunk I've ever met, and once she is asleep she is done for the night. I'll get her into some looser clothes and stay in here in case she gets sick, can one of you just grab me some water and a trash can in case?"
"I'll stay with her, I'm not intoxicated and I have some reading I should do for an operation I have on Thursday. You get some sleep Dr. Lucas, you work tomorrow afternoon, and we don't."
"Thank you, Dr. Darcy."
The cousins gave the girls some privacy while Charlotte struggled to get a zombie-like Elizabeth into some pajamas. Norman made the task even more difficult as he thought it prudent to jump on the couch and snuggle up to Elizabeth, whom he obviously loved more than Richard. However, some how it was done and Charlotte left Lizzy to Darcy's care.
William Darcy didn't mean to watch her sleep, but she was beautiful, even in her less than sober state. She was peaceful, and nothing witty, impertinent, or controversial was coming from her lovely lips. Those were the qualities he most admired about her, but she was breathtaking when all the stress of the hospital was wiped off her face and she was just sleeping peacefully.
He finally found sleep somewhere around 2:30 AM and dosed off on the couch. He woke, regardless of the amount of sleep he got, at 7:30. Elizabeth had rolled onto her side, exposing the front of her lower hip. Her curls were strewn all over her face, framing it perfectly for Darcy's taste. Norman had nestled his way into Lizzy's arms and she was clutching him like a teddy bear. His face was nestled in her neck. Darcy had known the dog from the day Richard had gotten him and had never even seen him take to anyone the way he had with Lizzy. He loved Richard, but he did not leave Lizzy's side whenever she was near, constantly guarding her. She shifted in her sleep, which disturbed her canine companion. This set the pup to shift his movement and stand on all fours around her body and set to licking her face until she acknowledged him with a huge bear hug. Darcy was so caught up in the moment that he did not have time to adjust his gaze and avoid the awkwardness that came with openly staring at a sleeping person who strongly dislikes you. Elizabeth didn't realize another person was in the room quite yet, however.
"Good morning, my little handsome devil," she said as she scratched both ears. He continued to try and lick every single part of her face he could manage. "I think you need to go out, don't you? Let's get everyone coffee and give you a nice long walk, hmm? You're too lucky you don't have deal with the hangover I'm sure to have the moment I sit up, you lucky puppy." Lizzy then tried to sit up and then her stomach lurched, releasing all the dizziness she felt, and making her realize WIliam Darcy was staring quite intently at her. He saw the shudder right before she was about to get sick and was quick to be next to her.
He had an empty trash can ready for her before the vomit came and his hand on her back, steadying her wrenching heaves. Norman was very nervous by whatever was happening, sensing Elizabeth was ill. Darcy held the bin for her as she got rid of the remnants of the previous evening's festivities.
"I'm sorry, you shouldn't be doing this." Lizzy managed, thoroughly mortified and very aware that her arrogant and jerk of a boss had just seen her at an entirely new low.
"Don't worry about it, Richard took care of me so much in college I figure I owe the universe some time."
"This is different, I'm sober now. Well, I think I am. What time did we go to bed? 12?"
"About. I had to catch up on some work." Darcy said.
"Soooo, you were, here? All night?"
Darcy turned pink at her mention of him there, but managed a reply. "Dr. Lucas has a shift at 10 this morning so, in case something were to have happened, I gave her some sleeping time. I think, however, Norman managed just fine without either of our help." At the mention of his name, the dog's tail began to wag furiously. Elizabeth just nodded, though she wasn't entirely sure why. She felt awful and her stomach was very queasy. Norman continually pressed his nose to her leg, signaling he needed to go outside soon.
"You have terrible timing," she said to the dog.
"I'll take him, you stay here and get some more sleep. I can get coffee and breakfast for everyone." Elizabeth was more than a little stunned by Darcy's offer.
"No, I wouldn't ask that of you. I think a little fresh air is just what I need anyway. Let me just brush my teeth and change."
Darcy knew from experience that any girl that told him she needed to change would invariably take at least fifteen minutes. His darling sister takes no less than twenty minutes when she utters, "Just give me one minute."
Lizzy was not too disgusted with her post-vomit appearance. She grabbed her bag and brushed her teeth quick and stole some of Richard's deliciously man smelling face wash and rinsed her face. She threw her hair into a ponytail and donned her NY Jets hat. Her go to wake-up-in-the-morning-feeling-like-PDiddy fix was her YSL Touche Eclat eye concealer. With that and some chapstick and a pinch to her cheeks she was good to go. She changed into tight black yoga pants and grabbed Richard's favorite Harvard hoodie. She stuff herself into her uggs rolled down and grabbed a pair of sunglasses. Her eyes were always very light sensitive, even more so after a night of drinking.
She'd barely been gone two minutes and Darcy was stunned to see her actually ready. He'd turned on the news and settled into the couch, thoroughly expecting to have been waiting much longer.
"I'm sorry I took so long. Vomit isn't always the best way to wake up."
Darcy stood up and coughed awkwardly. They'd rarely been alone in their short acquaintance and now he was faced with the time that he'd been secretly hoping for, but was at a complete loss how to proceed. He was always a quiet man, not shy perse, but only said something when it was worth saying.
Elizabeth grabbed a plastic bag for Norman and his leash. She stuffed some biscuits into her pockets, which did not go unnoticed by Darcy. He smiled as he realized her secret for Norman's constant companionship. Although there was no denying how wonderful she was to him, regardless of the hidden treats. She attached the leash to him, though he would never dream of running from her, and they set out.
Richard's apartment was only a few blocks from Penn station and Elizabeth was determined to go to the Tim Hortons there. They walked on in silence, Elizabeth giggling every few moments at Norman's sheer excited pride to be walked. Darcy fought in his head on what to say. He resented the silence their pairing demanded when she was so free and open with Richard. He gave work a shot.
"What did you think of Marissa's surgery?" She was startled to say the least when he spoke. When Elizabeth looked up at him, though, he wished he hadn't ventured that direction. Her face was pained and her eyes glassy.
"I don't mean to be rude Dr. Darcy but I would prefer to leave work at work. Marissa is the dearest of children I have yet to come across, except for Joey, and I can't bear to think of the cruelty of it all. She has done nothing to deserve her condition and yet almost all hope is set against her. And She doesn't even know." Elizabeth's words were bitter, the unjust nature of something so undeserved in such a sweet girl made the mere idea of it more than she could bear to speak of.
Norman slowed and turned; checking to make sure Elizabeth was there. Indeed she was, much as she may not have wanted to be. He was rewarded with a loving scratch. He sniffed at her pocket and tried to lick through the fabric at the delicious treats within. Darcy chuckled.
"He reminds me of my own dog growing up." Darcy tried again; hoping a topic they shared a mutual affection for may be safer ground.
Elizabeth's face softened and she even smiled – though just slightly.
"Norman has become a particular favorite these past few months. What was your pet like?" Elizabeth wondered at his answer.
"I had many growing up in England. My family house is set on a rather large park, which allowed me the advantage of bigger dogs. I often wonder if Norman would be much happier with more room to run. I had a set of hounds, Duke and Viola. They were my own, my sister and parents also had some."
"Duke and Viola? I take it this was most likely before the smash hit 'She's the Man' so they were likely from Twelfth Night?" Elizabeth could tell he was confused and so gave him a break. "It's a movie, Doctor."
"Oh, right. Yes, they were from the play. It's a particular favorite of mine. Orsino was too soft a sound to call, so I settled on Duke."
They walked a little further and finally arrived at their destination. Elizabeth had frequented here enough times that Norman was welcome to accompany her in.
"Good Morning, Peter!" Elizabeth was delightfully cheery.
"What can I get for you Dr. Gardiner?" The young boy working there was clearly twitterpated with Elizabeth. "Dr. Darcy, it's good to see you as well." He was sincere and Darcy relaxed as he said a polite "Hello."
"I'll take three everything bagels, two blueberry bagels, a half dozen assorted donuts and four coffees, Peter. That should be enough for Richard and Charles. Charlotte likes blueberry bagels like me. Dr. Darcy what would you like?" She looked to him.
"Your usual, sir?"
"Yes, please. A large though, I think," Darcy said.
"Would you like a large, too?" Peter asked Elizabeth.
"Sorry, a large what?" Elizabeth was dumbfounded.
"English Toffee cappuccino. Your usual, as well."
Elizabeth smiled good-naturedly and said, "It would seem we have something in common Dr. Darcy. Who would have guessed?"
Darcy half smiled and pulled out his wallet. "How much Peter?"
"$19.87 please."
"Dr. Darcy this was my idea, please – " Before she could finish she was cut off most shortly.
"Absolutely not." Darcy said. He'd meant to sound softer, but that was not in his nature.
Elizabeth smiled awkwardly and turned her attention to Norman. They walked back in companionable silence to Richards with very few words uttered between them. Elizabeth wiped Norman's paws with the supply of wipes the doorman now gladly kept for her. The normally stoic man who Darcy had rarely seen speak was illuminated with the sight of Elizabeth.
"Good Morning, Lizzy!"
"Good Morning, John!" She hugged him and kissed his cheek. "How was the championship?"
"It went very well, I was well on my way to crushing my grandson but my conscience won out in the end. The young man beat me to a pulp 263 to a mere 174."
Elizabeth was laughing and said, "We shall have to play one of these afternoons you have off in the park. Scrabble has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Are you free next Wednesday?"
"Indeed I am, Lizzy. But why would you want to waste your time on me when you could spend it in the company of those closer to your own age and with those you find much more enjoyable?" His eyes motioned to Darcy and Elizabeth colored.
"Forgive me John, this is Dr. Darcy. He is Richard's cousin and fellow attending at the hospital, Dr. Darcy this is Mr. John Quinn. John is a good friend of mine as well as Richard."
"A pleasure to meet you, Doctor. Richard has always spoken most highly of you."
"Likewise, sir." Darcy shook his hand.
"I'll see you later, John. Oh, wait. I nearly forgot." She pulled out one of the coffees from the holder and handed it to him. "Two creams, two sugars." She smiled as she handed it to the older gentleman.
"You are an angel, my dear. Thank you."
Elizabeth smiled and pressed the elevator button. Elizabeth and Darcy and Norman made their way up to Richard's and opened the door. They were not prepared for the scene at it's sudden opening. Norman ran to take his spot on the couch that Elizabeth had usurped for the night and sat proudly there as if nothing was amiss.
"Busy, Richard?" Elizabeth asked breaking the silence. She was trying very hard not to smile as wide as she could but she wanted to give Charlotte a moment to collect herself. Walking in on anyone, especially a couple, in the middle of a romantic interlude is always awkward but this was particularly so. Charlotte scrambled from the counter where she had been perched in Richard's embrace and he kept his face down. Charlotte immediately knew what Elizabeth was about but Richard was unsure how to proceed.
"I think you'll find your shirt is on the faucet Charlotte. Coffee anyone?" Elizabeth walked in and Richard gave his cousin a heated and embarrassed look. He knew Darcy's opinion of work relationships and this would be no different. He worried how Elizabeth would react. They had a clear boundary of friendship but this complicated things. She sat down next to Norman and looked up and addressed both of them.
"First Charlie and Jane and now you two. Will I never cease to be the awkward single girl third wheel?" She droned sarcastically as she opened up her bagel.
"Lizzy – " Richard began.
"Stop Richard. You are two people I care most about in the world. Just promise you won't be as disgustingly adorable as Charles and Jane. I might vomit if you started calling each other 'baby' right away."
"I should get to work." Charlotte said and left through the door.
"She's liked you since we first met, Richard. You hurt her and you answer to me."
That would be a scary sight, he though.