House Of Cards
Chapter Twelve -
The sound of a key turning in the lock got Gretel's attention and she looked up hopefully from where she lay on the floor, on silent sentry duty. The door opened inwards and her patience was finally rewarded as Robert stepped in. She was up in a flash charging him down, nearly bowling him over in the process. His bad mood immediately dissipated, as he dropped to his knees and playfully fought off her licks, while giving her an extra long ear rub. "Heeey there, did you miss me girl," he cooed in a soft voice.
With him now spending as much time as possible at Elizabeth's, she'd also extended the invitation to Gretel to stop all the toing and froing. Ella had been absolutely thrilled with the idea but was also being very carefully monitored around her. So far both girls were unscathed, as were vases and furniture. When Elizabeth had broached the subject of Gretel staying, he'd finally come clean to her about the pony 'incident' and she'd taken great glee informing him she knew all about it. Apparently Ella had inadvertently ratted him out not long after the incident, when Elizabeth had spotted the new vase was defect free; something unbeknownst to him, the one Gretel had broken was not.
"Oh, thank God," Elizabeth said with clear relief as she stepped out from the kitchen. "She's been staring at that bloody door, looking miserable the whole time you've been gone!"
Robert didn't even look up at her and instead pampered Gretel with even more attention. "You're just not used to it here yet, are you girl?"
Feeling ever so slightly slighted, Elizabeth rolled her eyes. On hearing voices a dash of blonde hair ran past and threw herself into the cuddle fest by the door, this time succeeding in knocking him over. "Wobbuh!"
"Hey Ella!" he laughed.
Once both parties were appeased with hugs, he finally looked up and smiled at Elizabeth, who stood looking bemused with her arms folded across her chest.
"Hey," he said with a cheeky smile.
"Oh, so I finally get a look-in now, do I?" she said, and walked over offering out a hand.
"Just saving the best 'til last," he said and flashed her a seductive grin. Reaching up, he accepted her outstretched hand and let her pull him to his feet. Then he rewarded her with a slow, lingering kiss and she sighed into it appreciatively.
As Gretel and Ella, now placated, padded off back to the lounge he pulled back in her arms a bit and took a look at her.
"Is that an apron? Why are you wearing an apron? Are you...are you cooking?!"
She dropped her arms from his side and adopted an annoyed expression. "You're not the only one who can cook you know!"
He held up his own hands submissively. "I know, I know," he lied, trying not to grimace. "So what delights are we having?"
"Toad in the hole!" she announced proudly.
"Toad in the what now?"
She grinned. "It's a British classic...you'll love it," she sang then turned to head back to the kitchen to check on her latest culinary masterpiece.
Robert looked heavenward and closed his eyes. So far she'd served him up 'classics' of liver and onions, and steak and kidney pie. At least the pie had been edible even if it had sat in him for a whole week. All because he'd made some off the cuff, flippant comment about British cuisine. Now she seemed to be on a mission to change his opinion.
After dinner, wherein his opinion still remained unchanged, they sat on the couch together watching television.
"So how was your day?" she asked curiously.
"Not as good as yours...I'd have much preferred to have spent it with you and Ella," he said, pulling her closer to him.
By now, she'd grown wise to his distraction tactics and tried to press him again.
"Robert, answer the question. How was it?"
"Oh you know, if a yawn could yawn," he yawned for effect.
"Robert…"
"What," he said and leaned over to start nibbling on her ear. "It was the same as it always is...although today was extra special because I got to be puked on."
"Oh come on."
"What do you want me to say Lizzie? I'm getting up to speed with the journals and the latest emergency medicines...I can do it...I'm just not thrilled to be doing it."
"You need to at least give it a chance."
"Why? It's 70% boring with 30% not so boring...I hated the E.R when I did my rotation and nothing has changed."
"Well, what are you going to do about it?" she asked, her voice hitching a little as his lips moved deftly from her ear to her neck, leaving a trail of goose bumps in their wake.
He brought his head back level with hers and looked at her with smoky eyes. "Right now? I'm going to take you upstairs and make love to you."
Okay she thought, melting into his touch. While she was indeed aware of his distraction tactics...she just wasn't immune to them. She closed her eyes and filed the conversation away for another time.
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"So what are we going to do about Morris?" Susan asked, and then stuffed the rest of her egg sandwich in her mouth.
Robert glanced around the busy cafeteria and released a groan as he leaned back in the uncomfortable chair. He reached up and covered his face with his hands; partially to get away from the smell of egg, but also to hide from the fact he really didn't want to be doing residents reviews. In the two weeks he'd spent in the ER, the second year resident had to be the worst he'd ever come across. It was bad enough having to work down there in the first place, but this guy was the worst kind of lazy and incompetent. "All we can do is document everything. He'll either quit or we fire him, hopefully before he manages to kill someone...or one of us kills him first!"
Susan nodded agreement and wrote something down, then looked back up. "Cooper?"
Robert shrugged and nodded. "He's okay. Very capable from what I've seen so far, but a little desperate to come across as likeable...he needs to stop thinking he can be everyone's buddy."
"Yeah, he'll learn," Susan drawled. "I give him six weeks before we have him hating like the rest of us. Speaking of hate...Pratt?"
"What can I say? Pratt is a prat. Keep him away from me!"
"What exactly is it that you don't like about him?"
"He's an arrogant ass?"
Susan smirked and stared pointedly at him until he grinned. "Let me qualify that," he started again, his face turning serious. "He's an arrogant ass without the necessary skills to back it up, and in my book, that makes him dangerous. He thinks he knows best and does sneaky run-arounds to get what he wants. He pisses off other Departments on a ratio even I find hard to compete with...he questions senior Doctors opinions when he doesn't like what he hears; he's tardy, he's..."
Susan held up a hand to cut him off mid-rant. "Okay, okay," she chortled. "I get it!"
He reached for his coffee cup and took a good swig of the now lukewarm liquid. "You disagree?"
She shook her head. "No, not at all. Yes he's everything you just said...but in fairness, he does actually care about what he does, and he is a half decent doctor."
"I never said he was a bad doctor, did I? He is, and to quote your good-self here...he's a 'half-decent' one...but, half-decent does not entitle you to that level of arrogance. He needs to learn respect and garner some humility."
Susan lowered her head and scribbled a few more notes down on Pratt's evaluation.
"Any news on when Kerry's coming back?"
"Why, sick of me already?" he quipped. "I can always take my skills elsewhere."
"What and miss out on your witty repartee," she pouted. "No, you don't get to escape that easily."
He shook his head. "No, I've not heard anything from Kerry, but then I didn't expect to...she's got another couple of weeks leave left before we send out the search party."
Susan nodded, but he could see her clear frustration. Whilst he could see she was managing the additional responsibility of acting Chief, she was also pulling a lot of extra hours due to the lack of attending's. He himself had been doing a lot more hours than he preferred.
"I have heard from Kovac though," he said and she looked up, her expression immediately hopeful.
"Oh please tell me he's coming back?!"
He grinned at her and nodded. "Should have his paperwork in order for him to start back next week."
Susan lifted her eyes to the heavens. "Oh thank you God!"
"Susan, Susan," he said, shaking his head playfully. "How many times do I have to tell you...Robert is just fine."
She answered him with an exaggerated eye roll and he popped the last bit of his own sandwich into his mouth. "Anyhow like I said, Kovac should be back which is perfect timing, 'cause you'll have to live without me next week...see I can escape if I want to."
Susan nodded. "Oh that's right, you're jetting off for another check up in the sun. How is it by the way?" she said, looking at his arm.
He held up his left hand and waved each finger independently at her. "Pretty good actually."
"I wish I could go with you," she sighed heavily. "I'd kill for some sunshine and a chance to relax!"
"Well, one out of two isn't bad," he said, grinning at her wolfishly. "So you're not doing too badly."
"What do you mean?" she said confused.
"Well I wouldn't expect to find much sunshine in a disabled restroom, but you and Chuck certainly looked pretty relaxed when you came out of it earlier."
Susan clamped a hand over her mouth but not before she spat out some of her soda, and Robert recoiled. "How'd you know about that?" she laughed.
"You two aren't exactly subtle."
"Oh my God, does everyone know?!"
"You do know where you work right?" he said, laughing at her shocked expression. "So what's going on there anyhow...I mean besides the obvious. You two got divorced just so you could then get serious?"
She cocked her head and offered up a half-smile. "Robert, do you really want to have girlie chat with me?"
He grinned and shook his head. "No, forget I asked...I don't care."
"You don't care to hear about my sexcapdes? I don't believe you!"
"Well, when you put it like that," he laughed and leaned in closer. "Tell me more..."
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Elizabeth entered the cafeteria and heard familiar machine gun laughter. She quickly scanned the place and spotted Robert sat over by the window with Susan. Both were laughing and looking comfortable with each other as the remnants of lunch sat on the table between them. She started over in their direction and she didn't know if he sensed her or not, but somehow he managed to look up and spot her.
"Hey Lizzie!" he called out starting to rise up out of his chair. "I thought you were busy with an ex-lap?"
"He didn't make it," she explained, accepting the chair he gallantly pulled out for her. "I'm surprised to see you slumming it in here!"
"Yeah, that's probably my fault," Susan contributed, and nudged her head in Robert's direction. "Doctor deep pockets here said he'd buy me lunch and then brought me here."
Robert looked offended. "What? I thought I was catering to your palette? I didn't think you ate anything other than beige."
"Hah, you love a Weiner just as much as me!"
Robert's eyebrows shot up and he grinned lewdly, opening his mouth.
"Oh, don't even go there," she cut him off, laughing.
Still grinning Robert turned his eyes back to Elizabeth. "You eating Lizzie?" he asked, but then groaned as his pager went off. Glancing down, he pulled it off his belt to see who it was then looked back up. "My bloods are back," he said apologetically. "Ladies, if you'll excuse me it's time for me to go play ER doc again."
As he made to walk off he looked down to Elizabeth, who looked up to meet his eyes. They exchanged a warm smile and a shared look. Resisting the urge to reach out and touch her like he wanted to, he placed both hands in his pockets to ensure he didn't. Elizabeth looked longingly back at him and did something similar folding her hands together in her lap. Then with an almost imperceptible nod he left.
Susan watched the subtle interplay between them and a knowing smile formed on her face. Elizabeth's eyes which followed him as out as he left the cafeteria, returned to face a clearly delighted Susan.
"So I take it you've told him then?"
"Pardon?" Elizabeth stalled.
Susan smiling widely, shook her head. "Don't even! I just saw that lovey dovey look you both just gave each other!"
Elizabeth felt her cheeks warming as a blush took hold off her, and Susan slapped the table hard enough for the cups to shake, and gleefully exclaimed, "Yes!"
A few heads turned to look in their direction and Elizabeth glanced quickly about her. "Sshhh...keep your voice down," she said in a hushed tone, but then smiled and continued quietly, "Yes, I told him."
Susan adopted a conspiratorial voice. "And I think its a pretty safe bet to say he received the news in shall we say, a positive light?"
"Very positive," she confirmed.
"When?"
"As soon as he got back from his last trip to L.A," she confessed.
Susan's eyes widened in shock. "Elizabeth, that was over two weeks ago! I can't believe you didn't tell me!"
"Well, we're not hiding it...we just aren't exactly announcing it either," she said defensively.
"Clever," Susan nodded, leaning forward. "Hiding in plain sight, I like it."
"Something like that."
"Sill I wish you'd told me! He's been poking fun at me all this time about Chuck, and I could have been teasing him back! I feel cheated!"
"Well I'm sure you'll make up for it."
"Oh I will!"
"Don't be too mean to him though...I'm the one who'll have to live with it," Elizabeth grinned.
"So, has he moved in officially then?"
"Pretty much. As you enjoyed pointing out on several occasions, we were already all but living together. Gretel's moved in, so yeah, I guess its official."
"Who's Gretel?"
"His dog...his very large dog."
"Romano has a dog?!"
"Yes, a bouvier."
"I never thought of him as a dog person before."
"Oh, he adores that dog and now so does Ella. I actually feel relegated sometimes," she chortled. "You know a few years ago Gretel was ill, and he actually brought her into the O.R!"
"What?!"
Elizabeth nodded laughing, and Susan watched her friends face light up at the memory. "Yes, we actually operated on her together, can you believe that? Shirley and I had a good old giggle at his expense that day. Oh, and to top it off, my mother was in town visiting and met us outside of the O.R with an anaesthetized Gretel on the gurney! Robert made a complete arse of himself trying to be charming," she recollected fondly.
Susan shook her head at the crazy story. "I'm very pleased for the both of you, but I can't believe I didn't see it earlier! It certainly explains why he's not been rampaging around the ER, like we all thought he would be," Susan said. "Here was I, just thinking he was taking it all in his stride and it turns out he's actually been strutting around the whole time! On behalf of everyone in the E.R, I thank you!"
Elizabeth gave an over exaggerated shrug and smiled. "How is he doing?" she enquired honestly.
Susan nodded her head. "Good actually. I've recommended him some reading to help get him up to speed on the latest Emergency medicine and he's taken it on board."
Elizabeth smiled, happy to hear that. She knew he wasn't enamoured with working there, so to hear positive feedback made her feel a bit better. "You two seem to get on very well," she commented, and Susan nodded.
"Yeah, though to be fair we've always got along okay. I think we share the same weird sense of humour y'know? He's funny...when he's not busy being a total jackass that is...well actually, even then he can be pretty funny! As long as I'm not on the receiving end!"
"No, that is something you don't want to be on the end of," Elizabeth agreed, having experienced it herself first-hand. Ancient history now she thought fondly.
Susan watched Elizabeth drift off into space again, her features soft and a whimsical smile graced her lips.
Susan smiled knowingly and shook her head in bemusement. "Ohhh, you really have got it bad haven't you?"
"Hmmm?" Elizabeth grunted.
"So what's he like in bed?" she ambushed.
"What?!" Elizabeth said shocked.
"C'mon, give me some details..."
Elizabeth laughed. "No, I'm not doing details, Susan!"
"Oh come on...don't be stingy!"
"No!"
"Well, that's not fair. As someone instrumental in bringing this union together I demand answers...marks out of ten at least?"
Elizabeth folded her arms across her chest and grinned smugly. "Eleven."
"Whoa! Really?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Really."
Susan leaned in. "Oh now, you have to tell me more!"
Elizabeth glanced around quickly to check no-one was eavesdropping, then returned her attention to Susan. "No I don't...but since you were, as you say, 'instrumental' in bringing us together, then I guess its only fair you should know I'm enjoying the best sex I've ever had...and that is ALL you're getting!"
"Ah c'mon!"
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Susan's eyes drifted upwards, looking over the head of her small patient who was attempting to follow her finger with their eyes. "Will you excuse me for just a minute," she said to the girls mother, and replaced her pen light back in her lab coat pocket. "I'll be right back." Quickly moving forward, she intercepted a clearly harried looking Robert before he made it to the admit desk.
He looked worried as hell and she sought to reassure him straight away, holding up her hands in a stop motion. Taking in a deep breath, she spoke in a calm voice. "She's okay. I literally just checked five minutes ago...Shirley said the surgery went well and they've already moved her into recovery."
He closed his eyes briefly and offered up his silent thanks. "Really?"
She nodded and smiled. "Really."
He ran a hand over his face and let out a relieved breath.
Susan motioned towards his shoulder and extended her hand. "Here, give me your bag and I'll stash it for you."
Robert nodded gratefully and passed her his heavy travel holdall. The morning had been going well and he'd gone out running after his meeting with Doctor Symmons, to mull a few things over in his head. That serenity had lasted until he got back to his sister's house only to discover several missed calls from Shirley and Susan. Upon checking his voice messages, Tess had watched him go pale as he'd learned Elizabeth had been taken into surgery. Last night when he'd spoken to her, she'd complained of a stomach ache, blaming it on something she must have eaten. He'd made another joke about her cooking skills which hadn't gone over too well with her, and she'd shortened the length of the telephone call dramatically. He'd felt bad enough already, but then he learned she'd actually doubled over in pain that morning in the scrub room. Fortunately, Anspaugh had been present and not some idiot resident, as he'd quickly deduced acute appendicitis and rushed her into surgery himself. Robert had made a few frantic calls and managed to get himself transferred onto an earlier flight while Tess threw his gear together, then drove him to the airport. The three and half hour flight had been the longest three and a half hours of his life.
He sprinted off for the stairs, figuring it would be quicker than waiting for the elevator and burst onto the fourth floor, heading straight for Recovery. There he found Donald Anspaugh and Shirley checking over a still unconscious Elizabeth.
Donald looked up as he entered, clearly surprised by his sudden appearance. "Robert, what are you doing here? I thought you weren't due back until Friday?"
Robert, focusing only on Elizabeth, ignored him and went straight to the bed, taking Elizabeth's hand into his. It felt reassuringly warm in his and his eyes quickly swept over the rest of her "You went in laproscopic?"
Donald nodded. "Yes, we got to it before it ruptured...how did you know?" he asked, his initial look of surprise now changing to one of confusion.
"I called him," Shirley said, and shifted her eyes to Robert. "I knew you'd want to know."
Robert's eyes drifted up to meet hers and he nodded gratefully. Donald registered the coded look and with Robert's obvious concern, and sudden appearance, began to finally put two and two together. He placed a comforting hand on Robert's shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze. "She's going to be just fine, Robert. I'll, err...I'll leave you to it."
Robert nodded briefly then returned his gaze to Elizabeth's face. She looked pale but peaceful and he reached out a hand to caress her cheek before lowering his mouth to press a gentle kiss there, then moved slightly again and whispered against her ear, "I'm here, Lizzie."
When he brought his head back up he found Shirley watching him keenly. "How did you know?" he asked.
Shirley actually made a derisive scoffing noise to demonstrate what a stupid question she thought that was, then reached inside of her pocket and produced a carefully folded up piece of paper. "I was going to keep this for leverage, but under the circumstances...here, I think maybe, its one for the fridge?"
Roberts eyes narrowed with curiosity and he accepted the paper from her. Carefully unfolding it he broke into a small grin as he recognised Ella's artistic sketching. It was a drawing of her playing with Gretel while two other figures, dressed in what he supposed were blue scrubs, stood holding hands in front of a big house. The taller figure had lots of wavy red hair whilst the slightly smaller one, had none.
Unable to hide her smirk Shirley leaned forward, pointing a finger. "That's Wobbuh," she said in a very convincing impression of Ella. "Wobbuh lives with Ella and mommy and now Gwetel does too."
Robert actually laughed. "That kid keeps ratting me out," he said, shaking his head. "How did you get this?"
"I watched Ella for a few minutes last week when Doctor Corday got a last minute call," she explained. "Besides being a talented artist she's quite the chatterbox isn't she?"
He agreed, nodding. "She certainly is...so, tell me then Shirley, 'cause I'm really curious now...if you knew about us," he said, waving the drawing at her, "How come Anspaugh was so surprised to see me here, just now?"
She shrugged nonchalantly, folded her arms and smiled warmly at him. "Because I'm pleased for the pair of you and it's nice to see you both happy again, especially after what you've been through the last year...so I figured you deserved a break and decided not to say anything."
Robert nodded his gratefulness towards her. "Wow, Shirley that's very uncharacteristically noble of you...that must have half killed you?"
She nodded agreement and laughed. "You have no idea."
He grinned. "Speaking off Ella...do you know where she is? She up in day-care or with Kris?"
"She's up in day-care. I already explained to them about Doctor Corday and they know that you're on your way in."
He nodded his thanks again and looked back at Elizabeth.
Shirley followed his eyes. "She's out for another half hour at least I'd say."
Robert nodded and squeezed Elizabeth's hand. "Okay. Guess I'll go upstairs and collect our budding Frida Kahlo then, before you wake up."
He walked into day-care and spotted Martha the day-care manager, who immediately asked him how Elizabeth was doing. He updated her on her status and explained she'd probably be able to go home tomorrow. Martha nodded clearly relieved. Ella spotted him talking, her small face lighting up with obvious surprise to see him. She waved excitedly, then bounded over towards them with her arms held up. "Wobbuh!"
"Hey Ella," he said lowering himself to scoop her up and she planted a kiss on his cheek. He smiled at her and gave her one back.
"Want to go home?" he asked and she nodded.
"Okay, before we do, I have to go check on mommy. She's got a tummy ache so she's going to stay here tonight to make her feel better."
Ella nodded, taking him at his word and he took her back down to the fourth floor. With her small hand in his he wound his way back to Recovery looking for Shirley. She spotted him first and came up from behind him.
"She's awake, but still a little groggy," she informed him before he could even ask.
He nodded. "Scary groggy or snoozy groggy?" he asked glancing down at Ella.
Shirley followed his eyes and smiled. "Maybe five more minutes?" she said and stretched out her hand towards Ella. "Hey Ella, would you like to draw me another picture?"
Ella nodded emphatically and he handed her over to Shirley with a grateful smile, then turned and pushed open the doors to the Recovery room. He walked over and pulled the stool closer to Elizabeth's bed, sitting down beside her. He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Lizzie? It's Robert. Can you hear me?"
She tilted her head, peering at him with slightly glazed eyes, but the slight tug at the corners of her mouth in an attempted smile, made his own curl into one. He squeezed her hand gently again.
"Rohberr," she slurred.
"Hello beautiful."
"You really here?"
He reached out to touch her face. "I'm really here. How are you feeling?"
"How you here?" she asked, still sounding a little loopy to his ear and he smiled.
"The magic of flight."
"I love flight," she mumbled. "Flights are lovely. And you're lovely...I love you Robert."
He shook his head amused at her drug fuddled ramble. "I'm gonna let the fact you had to be in a drug induced state to actually tell me that slide for now," he grinned. "But you should know...I love you too."
She smiled up at him and reached out a hand that he caught. Her hand moved to his face and started patting at his cheeks. "Dimples...you're cute."
"And you're beautiful."
She made a scoffing noise and flailed her hand wildly in the air. "Don't feel beautiful," she croaked. "Look state of me."
He caught her hand again and smiled warmly, his eyes bright and full of love even in the darkened room. "Oh, Lizzie trust me on this...you've absolutely no idea of just how beautiful you look right now," he said, reaching for the cup of ice chips Shirley had left next to the bed.
He held it to her mouth and she swallowed a few, enjoying the relief it brought to her throat. She nodded a fraction to say she'd had enough and he placed it back down then returned his eyes to hers.
"You know, if you wanted me to come back early, all you had to do was ask. Elaborate ruses like this are not necessary...you scared the hell out of me Lizzie," he said, his voice both soft and serious.
"Sorry," she mouthed with a small smile.
"Don't be," he said and leaned down to kiss her gently. 'Just never do it again."
Feeling a little stronger she reached up a hand to cup his face and he leaned into the touch, his lips grazing the palm of her hand. "You're really here...the one face in recovery I wanted to see," she smiled.
"And who could blame you," he grinned. "I am devilishly handsome."
She giggled and then winced slightly. "Stop it, you'll make me tear my stitches."
"Rude," he grinned, bringing his own hand up to hold hers before kissing it. "Listen, Ella's outside with Shirley. Do you feel human enough to say goodnight to her if I bring her in?"
She smiled gratefully and nodded. "Yes please."
He started to rise, but looked questioningly at her as she tugged at his hand. "Robert."
"Yeah?"
She concentrated on his eyes and tried to convey how serious she was. "I may be a little woozy, but I meant it earlier...I do love you." From the wide smile that graced his face, she knew she'd succeeded.
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He found Susan signing off on paperwork by the admit desk, and she looked up at him with an expectant eyebrow as he approached.
"She's okay. Textbook procedure and we can take her home tomorrow."
"Oh, that's great news," Susan said and gave Ella a little finger wave.
"Jerry, can you call a cab for me?" he asked.
The larger man nodded and reached for the phone, and Robert returned his attention back to Susan. "Lizzie rode the El this morning apparently," he explained. "Weee, are not doing that are we Ella?"
Ella looked up at him smiling and shook her head vociferously.
"Your bag is down here," Susan said, pointing down behind her.
"Great," he said, then looked around and lowered his voice. "Listen Susan, thanks for letting me know about Elizabeth."
"Hey, no problem," she smiled. "I'm just relieved she's okay, y'know...and how about you? How are are doing? You must be running on fumes by now."
He shrugged, not bothering to deny the fact he was exhausted. "Assuming you and Lizzie haven't been at my Laphroaig again, I'll be fine."
Ella tugged at his hand becoming bored and he lifted her up, sitting her on top of the desk. From her new vantage point she looked around, distracted for at least another minute. Unfortunately she also acted as a cutie homing beacon attracting the attention of Haleh, Chuny and Jing-Mei who wandered over to make a fuss of her.
"Hey Doctor Romano...are you branching out into child-care now?" Chuny grinned.
Robert rolled his eyes and ignored her. "Jerry, how long for that cab?"
"Shouldn't be long," he said grinning, clearly enjoying his bosses discomfort.
He watched Kovac approach next with Pratt, and acknowledged him with a nod, while completely ignoring Pratt. "Kovac… good to see you back."
"Thanks. How is Doctor Corday doing?" Luka asked. "We heard she had appendicitis?"
Robert looked around at all the genuinely inquisitive faces.
"Lizzie's fine and recovering nicely," he announced. "I'm taking this one home now and I'll be back for her mom tomorrow."
"You're...looking after her?" Pratt asked, astonished.
He was saved from answering as Jerry nudged his nose in the direction of the entrance and pointed out. "Your drivers here Doctor Romano."
Robert nodded his thanks. "Okay, we're out of here. You ready Ella?"
"Pony," she chanced with a big smile, and wanting to get out of there as fast as he could, he nodded and crouched down a little. She scrambled over and climbed onto his shoulders.
"You holding on?"
Ella nodded. "Can't hear you," he said squeezing her leg.
"Gidd up, Wobbuh," Ella said impatiently, rocking a little on his shoulders. He tightened his grip around her ankles as he looked upwards and grinned. "Corday women are sooo bossy."
Ella giggled down at him and everyone broke into smiles. Susan picked up his bag for him. "I'll walk you out...I could use some air." He nodded his thanks to her, very aware of the looks and smirks being exchanged as he turned to leave.
"Well I'll be damned," Haleh chuckled, with a disbelieving shake of the head as they watched him leave. "Now, that's a sight I never thought I'd see!"
"Awww!"
"I still don't get why he's got Corday's kid?" Pratt said, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice.
"He's obviously looking after her for Doctor Corday," Chuny said.
"But he was in L.A? You're telling me he jumped on a plane just to look after a friends kid for a night?"
"Oh, I don't think its too much of a leap to say they're more than just friends," Haleh said knowingly.
Pratt shook his head side to side. "Nah, no way. I don't believe it!"
"Why not? I think they're well suited," Chuny said.
"Because it's Romano!" he spluttered looking around at all of their bemused expressions. "Am I the only one struggling to see this? Come on people! A woman like Corday wouldn't give that tyrannicidal little shit the time of day?!"
"Maybe you can't see it because you're a shallow, selfish person, incapable of loving anyone other than yourself," Jing Mei said caustically and walked away not bothering to wait for a response.
Haleh and Chuny laughed out loud at his shocked expression and Jerry turned around to hide his smirk. "Ouch," he scoffed. "I think she's still pissed at you."
"Hey Pratt, maybe you should ask Romano for some relationship advice," Luka said with a cheeky grin. "He seems to be faring much better than you in that department."
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Four days later, Elizabeth half lay in her own bed listening to the constant tap, tap, tapping of the bouncing rain as it splashed against the window. She watched fascinated as raindrops impacted against the glass to form familiar rivulets. Rhythmically, they began their descent, snaking their crazy downwards dance, criss-crossing, meeting, twisting, turning, changing direction for no apparent reason. It was hypnotic, soothing and somehow, oddly comforting. Well it was from where she lay snuggled up against Roberts warm, firm body, also now so familiar and comforting to her. She moved her head to rest against his chest, and smiled when she felt the reciprocal weight of his chin atop her head as he shifted to accommodate her.
It was Sunday. A cold and wet Sunday morning to be precise and they were lazing in bed, neither of them keen to leave the warmth their combined body heat created beneath the duvet. By some miracle, Ella had made no noise to summon them, and so they half lay there. Her, mesmerized by the falling rain and Robert engrossed in his medical journal. She was snuggled up against him, enveloped by his left arm, his hand in hers, while she absently straightened and flexed each of his fingers. The very action was second nature and as familiar as the rain itself. Shifting slightly against him, she reflected over the last bizarre few days.
Feeling ill, she remembered thinking Robert's trip to LA couldn't have been worse timed for her. Ella, always unhappy when he was away, had started playing up to communicate her displeasure, and Gretel had done nothing but constantly pace between the window and the door looking for him. Diane had kindly offered to take her for a few days, but on reflection she'd had to turn her down fearing the tantrum that would certainly erupt from Ella, if she was to lose both of her favourite 'people' at the same time.
So she'd channelled all of her professional stoicism and soldiered on, feeling simply dreadful as she stepped up to the sink to start scrubbing for surgery...she remembered Donald entering the room and saying something to her, but she hadn't been able to process it as a wave of excruciating pain had hit her; and that's where it all went a little hazy. She remembered hands lifting her up and touching her, recalled voices sounding strangely discombobulated and flickering light fading to darkness.
Then she'd woken up feeling disorientated, confused and very sore. Lights were shone in her eyes and fruitlessly, she tried to bat them away. Then a touch here, a squeeze there, and voices began to sound familiar as the fog in her head began to clear. She picked out Robert's voice and felt his hand holding hers. Turning her head, her eyes had finally focused to see chocolate brown ones staring back at her with such concern, it momentarily caused her to feel guilt for worrying him. She'd attempted to smile, so pleased she was to see him there. Robert. Her Robert. Solid and dependable Robert who had jumped on the first available flight to get back to her and Ella. She cuddled against him appreciating the warmth of his body, feeling grateful to have him there. He'd organised everything so that she didn't have to lift a finger. Meals were cooked, housework was done. He'd rented videos galore for her to watch, bought her magazines. She hadn't had to ask for a single thing, it was just there...like him. Dependable, loving; constant.
She reflected back on how utterly miserable and alone she'd felt over a year ago as she went through the daily motions of life. She'd thought then her future looked rather bleak and lonely; felt it was her and Ella against the world. And then came along Robert in his own world of pain and she couldn't have imagined, not even for a moment, that nearly a year on she'd feel so loved and safe once again. Susan was right. They had indeed fixed each other, and she realised that the future now looked bright, because the future, their shared future, would be one spent together.
"Lizzie, you need something?"
"Hmmm?" She managed, breaking out of her reverie.
She felt him shift to get a better look at her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she smiled.
"You sure, 'cause you just let out one hell of a sigh."
"Did I?" she chortled, and squeezed his hand. "Well don't worry, it was a content sigh, because I have everything I need right here."
And she meant it.