In her dream, the pillow was his chest and her face was pressed against its warmth, just over his heart. She could hear its soft steady thump and feel his gentle breaths as they made his rib cage rise and fall, rocking her like waves in a calm ocean. In the curve between their bodies Ella nestled sleeping, molding herself perfectly to their shape, curled up like a kitten. Elizabeth looked up, mindful not to move her head too quickly, careful not to disturb her favorite sleepers. She saw that he wasn't asleep but rather that he was looking down lovingly at her and her daughter. When their eyes met, they both whispered « shhhh » at the same time, not wanting to wake Ella, and then they both smiled as he bent his neck to softly move his lips to hers, pressing her gently against him with his right arm, completing the circle of their calm, effortless happiness.

**

When the phone rang, she burrowed her head deeper into the pillow, not wanting the dream to end but knowing already that it was only a dream. She groaned and reached for the phone. It was 6 :30am. The voice wasn't Robert's.

It was a man's voice and one she didn't know. « Dr. Corday, » it began haltingly, « I'm sorry to call so early, but no one here will help us, no one will explain. » She soon realized that the man on the phone was Kris's father and that Kris had had some complications. When Elizabeth got to the hospital, having reluctantly left Ella with an early-rising neighbor, Robert was already there giving orders at Kris' bedside. « I thought you didn't have surgical privileges here, » she whispered to him. He pulled her aside to a corner and looked at her gravely before responding in a whisper, « I don't, but the butchers who operated on her shouldn't either. » He pointed to an x-ray of Kris's stomach hanging on the light board and Elizabeth winced. A sponge had been left inside the abdominal cavity and was pressing on a vein. They'd have to open her again.

Elizabeth was wondering if Robert could wangle a way for her to scrub in. She knew there was no way he could be considering working on Kris himself. Suddenly, the door to the room opened and an older man marched in. It was Dan Marsh, chief of surgery at Mercy. Robert had called him at 7am.

**

As Marsh took over, Elizabeth led Kris's parents into the corridor and turned surprised to see Robert following. « She's in good hands, » he assured the couple. And then, more gently, he suggested, « What about a cup of coffee ? » Elizabeth and Robert led the Dunns to the cafeteria which was brighter and more cheerful than the one at County. On the way there, Elizabeth had silently reflected on the ease which with Robert had handed off the surgical patient to Marsh. Not insisting that he scrub in or jockeying for her to. Not wanting to observe the procedure. Just summoning the top doctor at the hospital and then stepping aside.

When the four of them found a table, Robert stayed standing to get the coffee. Elizabeth wondered how he'd manage four cups but decided to let him figure it out while she talked to the concerned couple before her. She wasn't sure how much Robert had told them or how much she should. The malpractice claim against the last surgeon could be substantial, but they needed to know, to understand, and Elizabeth began to explain.

When Robert came back with a tray, carefully balanced between hand and prosthetic, he didn't interrupt, just placed it on the table and sat down. Once Elizabeth was finished speaking Mr Dunn looked at Robert with a shake of the head. « Why didn't you tell us ? » he asked. Robert shifted in his chair. « My first priority was to find the best way to make your daughter better. My second priority was to protect the hospital. » He stood and picked up his coffee, and started to leave. « Dr Romano, » Mrs Dunn said softly, but there was nothing else to say.