RocketMan

Chapter 1

Macy's Day Parade

Author: Lockhart

E-mail: Katie@ballantyne24.freeserve.co.uk

Rating: PG13 1/? parts

Category: Robert Romano

Spoilers: Season 7 and 8

Archive: Yeah sure but please let me know first.

Author's Notes: See end of fic

Disclaimer: I don't own Er or any of the charcters or any of the charcters though I have asked Santa very nicely if he could bring me John Carter wrapped up in a pretty pink bow........ Also all of Romano's past is purely fictional, if the show won't give him a decent storyline I WILL!! You can work for me any day Paul McCrane, see if you can persuade Noah Wyle to come along too.........

Summary: As Robert's mother makes an unexpected return into his life, the arrogant male surgeon decides it's time to finally face the demons in his life and the past that has made him so cold-hearted.



Robert Romano rubbed the temple of his forehead irritably. He suffered from severe migraines regulary and today was yet another day where he would have to endure the throbbing pain in his head. Reaching for the glass of cool, refreshing mineral water beside him, he took a small sip before swallowing the two paracetemol tablets that lay in the palm of his other hand. "Damn migraines" he cursed whilst switching on his large widescreen television. It had been terribly expensive to purchase but what was the point in having all that money if you couldn't buy little luxuries every now and then. The bright light from the television screen lit up the dark, gloomy sitting room. The early morning news was reporting on the preperations for the annual Macy's Day Parade in New York. Robert remembered how much he loved watching the parade as a young child. That was about one of the very few good memories he had from his childhood....... Glancing at the wooden clock that stood proudly on top of his fireplace, he noted the time and proceeded to get ready for work. It was simply another day in the life of 'Rocket' Romano.

********

"Where's Kerry?" Robert demanded to know as he stormed angrily into the Er reception. "You" he shouted over to Randi who stood by a computer twirling a lollipop around her mouth. "Where is she?"

"I don't know" Randi shrugged her shoulders as she tried her best to avoid his vengeful glare. "Probably in an exam room somewhere"

"Really?" Robert nodded his head slowly. "Well perhaps I don't know why exactly I pay you to work in my hospital because you obviously don't seem to work efficiently!"

"Dr Romano" Cleo called out his name as she approached the male surgeon.

"Dr Finch" he smiled with the slightest bit of sarcasm in his voice. "I thought you would be home playing happy families with Peter"

"I paged you for a consult almost thrity five minutes ago" she spoke calmly, not wishing the arrogant little toad to find out any more information concerning Peter's custody bettle for little Reese.

"Ah you adore me that much you are even keeping tabs on me"

"The little girl is in curtain two" she handed him the chart.

"Yeh well you will have to page Elizabeth, I have a budget meeting scheduled with Kerry if she actually bothers her shirt to turn up in time"

"It will only require five minutes of your time" Cleo persisted, following him down the corridors towards the trauma rooms. "She's complaining of stomach pains"

"Yes and I have a throbbing headache but you certainly don't hear me moaning about my problem"

"Robert........."

"You address me as Dr Romano" he snapped as he gave her a cold stare whilst folding his arms. "I've alreday told you I'm busy so pester another surgeon" When did I become so cold-hearted, he suddenly realised as he watched Cleo stalk slowly back towards the reception. I couldn't even show compassion for a little child, what kind of a monster am I? Then again why should I treat people with respect when the world can't show me a tiny ounce of love or care? I am correct..........aren't I?

********

"I also want a report by next week stating all outgoings and purchases for the ER department" Robert ordered as he sat opposite Kerry Weaver in his grand, lavish office. It had taken him a month to decorate the room to his own individual tastes, Donald Anspaugh had simply no sense of style at all. He planned to run this hospital for a few good years to come so why not furnish the room to suit his own tastes? Bigger and better had always been Robert's motto. Besides, an attractive office office might just impress that cute looking pediatrician that had recently just started work at Cook County........

"Next week?" Kerry exclaimed, breaking the Chief Of Staff out of his thoughts.

"Yes, seven days from now"

"I know when next week is Robert!" she barked angrily.

"Calm down Kerry" Robert laughed sarcastically. "I don't question your intelligence for one minute. Honestly, women and their moods"

"Pehaps it's arrogant, mean-spirited, male pigs who can't seem to sympathise with female problems" the woman growled, unable to contain her growing anger and frustration at the man.

"Is that why you became a lesbian Dr Weaver?" he smirked in reply. "All girls together?"

"Oh forget it" the female doctor shook her head before storming angrily out of the room. The tension had been boiling over for the whole meeting until the point came where she literally thought she was going to explode.

"Just remember that report for next week" the male surgeon called after her, victorious that he had won yet another triumphant battle over the inferior doctor. Throwing the silver ballpoint pen with his initials inscribed on the side onto the polished, mahogany desk, he stretched his arms behind his head and leaned back into the comfy, leather chair. Opening a drawer Robert stumbled upon a small, velvet box containing a tiny, golden ring. "Piece of cheap crap" he muttered under his breath as he carefully examined the piece of jewellery. It was rather plain and also slightly dirty apart from the three words inscribed in tiny lettering barely visible to the naked eye. 'Love, hope and friendship' Three silly words that he had once been stupid and immature enough to believe in. Three words 'she' had once promised enough, only to later cruelly break that promise. In a fit of angry petualance, he threw the itm in question across the office, smashing it against the cream wash walls. "Why can't I just forget about my past?" he whispered to himself before holding his head in his shaking hands. "Even now it still haunts me. I just want to move on"

********

"Dr Carter" Robert called out as he pushed open the grand double doors that led into Trauma Three. "What was so vitally important it required the interruption of my well deserved lunch break?"

"Mr White complains of chest pains and abdominal tenderness" Carter explained as he started an IVon the patient he was talking about. "EKG is perfectly normal though"

"Good afternoon Mr White" Robert tried to sound enthusiastic in treating the man. "Heard you are not feeling so good today"

"I had to wait twenty minutes in the waiting area before a doctor could see me" the patient complained. "Twenty minutes! Wasn't even offered a refreshment either, twenty minutes I was sitting through there! What if I had a meeting to attend to or a........."

"Yes it's terrible Mr White" Robert interrupted so not to hear any more of the tiring complaints. "Then again I do employ dim witted children as my staff" he mumbled whilst pressing his hands down on the man's abdomen.

"What did you say?" Mr White shouted, under the false illusion that Romano had been talking about him.

"Order a CBC, Coag panel, Cardiac Enzymes and another EKG in an hour" the surgeon instructed, choosing to ignore the patient's rantings. John listened carefully in fear of another outrageous comment or insult thrown at him by his bolshie superior. "A word of advice Dr Carter" teh older man continued quietly. "Page another surgeon next time, if I'm not on call to the Er do not interrupt my lunch"

"Fine" John sighed as he walked away shaking his head.

"Remember the annual pay reviews take place next month" the Chief of Staff called after him, frustrated at the younger doctor's lack of respect for his boss. "That's Mr Vicodin for you" he chuckled nastily to himself, loving every minue of his continual torture aimed at the once drug ridden physician.

"Robert" a familiar, ecstatic voice shouted as Robert headead in the direction of the elevators. "Robert sweetheart it's me!"

"Oh great" the man groaned, turning around just in time to catch a glimpse of his dear mother running at full speed towards him. She was a rather petit woman with short chestnut hair that lay above her shoulders and usually wore bright, vibrant, colourful clothes that immediately attracted other people's attention wherever she went. "Mother" he practised his usual fake smile as she wrapped her arms tightly around the waist of her son.

"Oh Robert you are looking very well" Julie gaspd as she took a long, admiring look at the male.

"Mother why are you here?" he nervously asked, fully aware that she had attracted the attention of many of his staff who looked on in amazement and wonder at who the mysterious woman was.

"I came to see my darling son of course" she replied smiling cheerfully. "The last time I saw you was when you treated me to an all expensives paid shopping trip in the city for my Mother's Day surprise"

"Well I have been really busy..........." he tried to think of a quick excuse there and then.

"My son, Chief Of Staff" Julie leaned forward and kissed him gently on the forehead. "I can't tell you how much I'm proud of you"

"Get back to work now Dr Kovac and Nurse Lockhart" he growled at the two women who stood giggling at him. "Perhaps you would find it funny if you were to both lose your jobs"

"Now Robert don't get yourself worked up over some silly little matter" his mother tried to calm him down in a soothing tone. "Why don't you give me the keys to your house and I'll cook us something nice and tasty for our dinner tonight?"

"You're staying?" Robert sounded surprised.

"I'm back here in Chicago to look after you" she said whilst fixing her son's crooked tie. "We'll be a proper family, mother and son"

Proper family, Robert repeated the words inside his head. All through my life I haven't had a proper family, and I propbably never will experience that wonderful feeling.. It's just a lifelong dream that I know will sadly never come true.

********

"What about steak and kidney pie for dinner?" Julie inquired as she stood by the entrance to his latge kitchen.

"Sure, anything" Robert answered as he watched the Macy's Day Parade on television. The tall, outrageous yet beautiful floats travelled dwon the streets of magical New York City in a grand procession. Each float very different from the other but all were every bit as special as each other. The large crowds in the street celebrated the event as colourful balloons and steamers were thrown into the pale blue skies. Gretyl his faithful dog lay on the couch beside him, her small head resting comfortably on the man's lap as she watched Julie with the upmost suspicion.

"I honestly don't know why you didn't buy a turkey" she replied. "It's Thanksgiving after all"

"There's no point if it's only for one person" Robert spoke sadly, realising the daily lonliness he lived through. The tragic irony of it all was that he had caused that lonliness. His cold, egostistical manner and usual brashness had forbidden any person from wanting to enter his heart. Then again perhaps it would be better to spend an eternity alone than run the risk of being hurt once more. What was the point in having a heart if it would be broken by another fellow human. As Robert stroked Gretyl's head and stared sadly at the television screen, memories of an earlier Thanksgiving immediately flooded into his mind.

** Young Robert Romano sat on the dirty, carpeted floor and eagerly waited for the start of the annual Macy's Day Parade. He loved Thanksgiving and liked nothing more than to watch the dazzling parade, then sit down to his mother's fine cooking. She had spent the whole day in the kitchen preparing a mighty feast to make this year's Thanksgiving a day the family would not forget. They especially needed some happiness and cheer after the tragic accident that took place on last year's Christmas Day......... Suddenly the front door slammed shut with a terrifying clash, it had been the moment young Robert had been dreading for the past hour or so.

"Is my dinner ready?" the drunken Neil stumbled into the household, the strong, overpowering scent of cheap whiskey following him wherever he walked. "What are you watching that garbage for?" he spatat the sight of his son watching the television.

"That parade is brilliant" the young boy whispered quietly.

"If you talk back to your father once more I'll have to teach you a lesson again" he warned, clenching his fists by his side as he managed to stumble into the kitchen in his drunken stupor. Robert looked away, not wishing to receive another beating from his powerful father. You could still see the bruises from last week when he was beaten black and blue for making a joke at his father's expense.

"Is my dinner ready yet?" Neil asked once more, raising his voice slightly as he repeated the sentence.

"In a minute love" Julie answered.

"Stupid, slow woman!" Neil shouted as Julie screamed in agony when the man's fist met her eye. Robet broke down in a flood of tears, realising his mother was receiving yet another beating for not meeting his father's ridicolous demands. He wanted to rush into the kitchen and protect his mother from the cruel, vicious man but his whole body suddenly felt numb with fear. Sometimes life could be so very cruel. **

Robert Romano opened his eyes and tried to block out the horrible nightmare from his head. Life could still be bitterly cruel but Robert suddenly began to realise he wouldn't be able to move on in life if he couldn't let go of his past. He had tried his best to avoid the early years of his life as much as possible but now the time had come for him to face his inner demons. "I am not afraid of the past" he whispered to Gretyl who playfully licked his fingers with her moist tongue. "All you need is hope. All you need is love"

Author's Notes: Sorry Chapter 1 was perhaps a little slow but it's the stepping stone for the next chapters to explore Romano's past. The last line 'All we need is love' is a line from a Beatle's song of the same title, they truly were an inspirational band. So what secrets is Robert hiding from his past? What happened to his father? Who did that mysterious ring belong to? How will the unexpected return of his mother affect events? And will Romano finally face the demons of his life? Find out in chapter 2 of Rocket Man!! As always feedback and ideas are welcome, e-mail me at Katie@ballantyne24.freeserve.co.uk