Short, way too sweet, and totally to the point, this one is for my dear
friend Karen, who just can't get enough of the sappy, romantic stuff.
Lactose intolerants - be warned: the following contains enough cheese to
feed the entire state of Wisconsin for a month (there's a shout-out to my
good buddy and fellow PMC worshipper Meg).
Seven o'clock came, and Erin greeted it with a groan. She trudged down the corridor to the lounge. "I have never been so ready to get out of here." Susan Lewis was standing in the triage area reviewing a chart, and she jumped suddenly. "Erin! Hey Erin, wait!" She gestured for Abby to take over as she excused herself from the patient. She followed Erin into the lounge. "Have you got a few minutes? I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Susan," Erin groaned. "It's been a really shitty day, and I want to go home. I don't want to run the risk of getting sucked back in here, if you know what I mean."
"Hey, that's no problem. I could use a break." She waited until Erin had locked her labcoat in her locker and was dressed in just her sweater and skirt. "There. Now you look like a civilian. Let's go up to the roof."
"Fine," Erin relented, following Susan to the elevators.
"So I was out with Chen and Chuney the other night - " Susan began as the elevator doors closed. Erin tried to focus on what her friend was saying, but without much success. It seemed that she was just rambling on and on, with no real point to make. Erin chided herself for being unfair, and tried to clear her head. Finally, they reached the top floor. Erin stepped off the car, and Susan moved to follow her, then smacked her forehead. "Oh, dammit! I forgot my pager. I'll be right back."
Erin tried to re-enter the car. "I'll come with you."
"No, no, no, I would hate for you to get snagged. I'll just get it and meet you out there in a few minutes. Go on, save us a spot," Susan urged.
"'Save us a spot'? It's a roof, Susan, not a movie theater. We're probably going to be the only two people out there!" Erin was exasperated.
"Just go wait on the roof!" Susan called as the elevator doors closed.
Erin turned on her heel, annoyed. "Just go wait on the roof," she repeated aloud as she stalked towards the exit. "Fine, I'll just go wait on the roof." She pushed the door open in frustration.
The first thing that struck her was the scent; a heady mixture of jasmine, lily, rose, and smoky air. She realized that the entire roof was covered with glowing white hurricane lanterns, their flames dancing in the evening breeze. The flora that perfumed the air was also scattered across the gravelly surface.
And, a few feet away, standing next to a portable stereo system, was Robert.
He was dressed in the same russet colored suit she'd seen him in a dozen times before, complete with the horizontal-striped silk tie she had once mentioned was her favorite. His right hand was stuffed deep into his pocket. His left, free of the brace, held a single, perfect red rose. He was looking out over the city, but when she voiced his name in a whisper, he turned to face her. His eyes were dark and smoky, and his jaw was set in determination.
"Robert? What-"
He lifted a finger to his lips to shush her, then pressed the power button on the CD player. He moved slowly towards her as the music* began.
"Would you dance - if I asked you to dance - " He offered her the rose.
"Would you run - and never look back - " She accepted it with trembling fingers.
"Would you cry - if you saw me crying - " His eyes burned into hers as he slipped an arm around her waist.
And would you save my soul tonight?" He mouthed the words in perfect time with the music.
Erin slid her arms into place as he began to move her body slowly, a single tear streaking her cheek. She returned his gaze with the same intensity as the chorus filled the air. "I can be your hero, baby. I can kiss away the pain. I will stand by you forever. You can take my breath away." As the second verse began, she drew his head down to hers and kissed him warmly.
The lyrics just kept ringing in her head: "Am I in too deep? Have I lost my mind? I don't care - you're here tonight." The passion of their kiss increased, and by the time the song had ended, they were both a bit out of breath. She stroked his face lovingly as he wiped the tears from hers.
"Did I lose you?" He asked hoarsely.
Erin shook her head. "I'm so sorry - " She began, but he covered her lips with his once more.
"I love you," Robert said strongly. "You and only you."
"I know," she reassured him. She lifted the rose he had given her and inhaled its fragrance. "How did you do all this?"
"I have my methods," he grinned. "No one has mastered the Grand Sweeping Gesture like me, gorgeous."
"Really?" She grinned herself. She looked around once more. "Please tell me we don't have to clean this up."
"Why? Somewhere you need to be?"
Erin nodded, her eyes full of desire. Robert caught her meaning. "Let's go home."
"Huh-uh." She demurred. "I can't wait that long." Besides, she thought to herself, I'd hate to disappoint John after smacking him like that. "Come with me."
Minutes later, they were alone in his office behind a locked door, feverishly pulling at each other's clothing. They collapsed onto the couch together, ever mindful of Robert's injured arm. Erin gasped against his neck as his hand sought purchase beneath her blouse. She tried to assist him with the buttons, but anticipation overtook him. The sound of tearing fabric resonated through her body, and she arched up for his touch. She could feel her skirt riding higher and higher, and then he was there, inside her, crushing her with his weight. He was bruising her lips with the force of his kiss, and then she tasted his tongue against hers. She wrapped herself around him, welcoming him, repeating his name over and over. He rose up slightly to look down on her, and she shivered under the weight of his gaze. "I love you," he spoke slowly and deliberately, and she lifted her body to meet his. Their passion quickly crested, and they melted into each other, bodies glistening with perspiration, air tearing in and out of their lungs.
A short time later they rose from the couch to begin dressing. Erin surveyed her sweater piteously. "Toast," she mumbled.
"Oh, sorry about that." The old Rocket had returned, nonchalant and self- satisfied.
"You are not." Erin laughed and threw the shredded fabric at him. "How am I supposed to get out of here, smart guy?"
Robert crossed the room to the coat rack and held his trenchcoat open for her to slip her arms inside. She smoothed it down over her camisole and skirt as he surveyed her thoughtfully. "You know, you could just take the rest of that stuff off, and we could have some fun when we get home."
Erin tied the sash about her waist and crossed the room. She came up behind him and slid her hands up over his back. She hugged his neck as he secured his left hand back into the brace, wincing slightly as he did. "You all right?" She asked catching his earlobe between her lips.
"As rain. Come on." He slipped his arm around her waist, and she kissed his cheek as they walked out the door
*"Hero" as performed by Enrique Iglesias
Seven o'clock came, and Erin greeted it with a groan. She trudged down the corridor to the lounge. "I have never been so ready to get out of here." Susan Lewis was standing in the triage area reviewing a chart, and she jumped suddenly. "Erin! Hey Erin, wait!" She gestured for Abby to take over as she excused herself from the patient. She followed Erin into the lounge. "Have you got a few minutes? I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Susan," Erin groaned. "It's been a really shitty day, and I want to go home. I don't want to run the risk of getting sucked back in here, if you know what I mean."
"Hey, that's no problem. I could use a break." She waited until Erin had locked her labcoat in her locker and was dressed in just her sweater and skirt. "There. Now you look like a civilian. Let's go up to the roof."
"Fine," Erin relented, following Susan to the elevators.
"So I was out with Chen and Chuney the other night - " Susan began as the elevator doors closed. Erin tried to focus on what her friend was saying, but without much success. It seemed that she was just rambling on and on, with no real point to make. Erin chided herself for being unfair, and tried to clear her head. Finally, they reached the top floor. Erin stepped off the car, and Susan moved to follow her, then smacked her forehead. "Oh, dammit! I forgot my pager. I'll be right back."
Erin tried to re-enter the car. "I'll come with you."
"No, no, no, I would hate for you to get snagged. I'll just get it and meet you out there in a few minutes. Go on, save us a spot," Susan urged.
"'Save us a spot'? It's a roof, Susan, not a movie theater. We're probably going to be the only two people out there!" Erin was exasperated.
"Just go wait on the roof!" Susan called as the elevator doors closed.
Erin turned on her heel, annoyed. "Just go wait on the roof," she repeated aloud as she stalked towards the exit. "Fine, I'll just go wait on the roof." She pushed the door open in frustration.
The first thing that struck her was the scent; a heady mixture of jasmine, lily, rose, and smoky air. She realized that the entire roof was covered with glowing white hurricane lanterns, their flames dancing in the evening breeze. The flora that perfumed the air was also scattered across the gravelly surface.
And, a few feet away, standing next to a portable stereo system, was Robert.
He was dressed in the same russet colored suit she'd seen him in a dozen times before, complete with the horizontal-striped silk tie she had once mentioned was her favorite. His right hand was stuffed deep into his pocket. His left, free of the brace, held a single, perfect red rose. He was looking out over the city, but when she voiced his name in a whisper, he turned to face her. His eyes were dark and smoky, and his jaw was set in determination.
"Robert? What-"
He lifted a finger to his lips to shush her, then pressed the power button on the CD player. He moved slowly towards her as the music* began.
"Would you dance - if I asked you to dance - " He offered her the rose.
"Would you run - and never look back - " She accepted it with trembling fingers.
"Would you cry - if you saw me crying - " His eyes burned into hers as he slipped an arm around her waist.
And would you save my soul tonight?" He mouthed the words in perfect time with the music.
Erin slid her arms into place as he began to move her body slowly, a single tear streaking her cheek. She returned his gaze with the same intensity as the chorus filled the air. "I can be your hero, baby. I can kiss away the pain. I will stand by you forever. You can take my breath away." As the second verse began, she drew his head down to hers and kissed him warmly.
The lyrics just kept ringing in her head: "Am I in too deep? Have I lost my mind? I don't care - you're here tonight." The passion of their kiss increased, and by the time the song had ended, they were both a bit out of breath. She stroked his face lovingly as he wiped the tears from hers.
"Did I lose you?" He asked hoarsely.
Erin shook her head. "I'm so sorry - " She began, but he covered her lips with his once more.
"I love you," Robert said strongly. "You and only you."
"I know," she reassured him. She lifted the rose he had given her and inhaled its fragrance. "How did you do all this?"
"I have my methods," he grinned. "No one has mastered the Grand Sweeping Gesture like me, gorgeous."
"Really?" She grinned herself. She looked around once more. "Please tell me we don't have to clean this up."
"Why? Somewhere you need to be?"
Erin nodded, her eyes full of desire. Robert caught her meaning. "Let's go home."
"Huh-uh." She demurred. "I can't wait that long." Besides, she thought to herself, I'd hate to disappoint John after smacking him like that. "Come with me."
Minutes later, they were alone in his office behind a locked door, feverishly pulling at each other's clothing. They collapsed onto the couch together, ever mindful of Robert's injured arm. Erin gasped against his neck as his hand sought purchase beneath her blouse. She tried to assist him with the buttons, but anticipation overtook him. The sound of tearing fabric resonated through her body, and she arched up for his touch. She could feel her skirt riding higher and higher, and then he was there, inside her, crushing her with his weight. He was bruising her lips with the force of his kiss, and then she tasted his tongue against hers. She wrapped herself around him, welcoming him, repeating his name over and over. He rose up slightly to look down on her, and she shivered under the weight of his gaze. "I love you," he spoke slowly and deliberately, and she lifted her body to meet his. Their passion quickly crested, and they melted into each other, bodies glistening with perspiration, air tearing in and out of their lungs.
A short time later they rose from the couch to begin dressing. Erin surveyed her sweater piteously. "Toast," she mumbled.
"Oh, sorry about that." The old Rocket had returned, nonchalant and self- satisfied.
"You are not." Erin laughed and threw the shredded fabric at him. "How am I supposed to get out of here, smart guy?"
Robert crossed the room to the coat rack and held his trenchcoat open for her to slip her arms inside. She smoothed it down over her camisole and skirt as he surveyed her thoughtfully. "You know, you could just take the rest of that stuff off, and we could have some fun when we get home."
Erin tied the sash about her waist and crossed the room. She came up behind him and slid her hands up over his back. She hugged his neck as he secured his left hand back into the brace, wincing slightly as he did. "You all right?" She asked catching his earlobe between her lips.
"As rain. Come on." He slipped his arm around her waist, and she kissed his cheek as they walked out the door
*"Hero" as performed by Enrique Iglesias