"Yeah. You're the one who was looking for Dr. Greene, yeah?"
"Yes. I found him...but I'm supposed to meet him for lunch. Where is he?"
"Trauma 1"
"Thanks." She headed for the trauma rooms.
"You can't go in there!" Allie yelled, making no real effort to stop her.
"Yes I can. Dr. Susan Lewis. I used to work here, and I need to find Mark." Allie sighed, knowing she couldn't stop Susan even if she wanted to try and turned back to her Cosmo.
Susan mouthed to Mark *how long?*
*Sorry, go on without me. i'll meet you for dinner.*
*it's ok, meet me in the lounge after this trauma*
*ok, about 20 minutes*
She walked away from the trauma room doors as she heard Kerry screaming for the rib spreader.
*****
Susan held a large paper bag of takeout from Doc Magoo's as she stuffed quarters into the soda machine. Thankfully it released the ice cold colas with less trouble than the vending machines that had been around when she worked at County. She balanced the cold cans in her arms next to the bag and made her way to the lounge. She hunted for paper plates and cups in the cabinets, grabbing napkins from the counter. She set up the round table in the middle of the lounge for a nice lunch.
*****
Mark sighed as he opened the door to the lounge. He had been working for way too long.
"Hey, Susan, sorry about lunch. How about..." He trailed off before he could suggest making it up to her with dinner. The table was neatly set and sandwiches lay on the plates. 2 cans of coke were placed in the middle of the table and Susan was seated, waiting.
"Hey, I wasn't giving up on lunch so easily after all this time!" He sat next to her, staring at her radiant smile. Her hair was almost the same length he remembered it. Her eyes were just as bright and she was just as beautiful....he pushed the thought out of his head, reminding himself of his very pregnant fiancee at home.
"Susan, are these Doc Magoo's turkey sandwihes?" she nodded. "I can't believe you remembered!"
"How could I forget?" She smiled again at him, almost melting his heart. He looked away and then began to eat. She made polite conversation while they ate, side by side at the table. She asked about Rachel, he asked about Suzie, she asked about County, he asked about Phoenix. No one mentioned dating, love lifes, or pregnant fiancees, although Mark probably should have.
"Listen, Mark...I felt awful leaving you when I did...I didn't mean to hurt you, and I'm sorry."
"It's OK, Susan...it hurt, and I miss you...I always have. But you had to go. I know that. I never held it against you, I just missed you."
"I missed you too, Mark. And I wanted to come see you again because..."
"Why?"
"Mark, I still love you. I know, it's been a long time, but..." She trailed off and looked into his eyes. She leaned closer to him, pressing her lips onto his, wrapping her arms around him. He could have stopped her immediately. He should have. But he let her kiss him for a few seconds before he pulled slowly away.
"Susan...I have to talk to you about something..."
*****
Elizabeth ran (or waddled quickly in her rather pregnant state) away from the lounge window out the automatic doors, not believing what she had just seen. She tried to make it back to the El, but she had to sit down on the curb in the ambulance bay, trying to find some reason to explain what she had just seen. But there was none. She burst out into tears and sat with her head in her hands for a few moments before collecting herself and walking out to the El station so she could get home. She hoped Mark had a good explanation when he got home, or he'd be incredibly sorry.