She'd been avoiding him all day, which was slightly more challenging a task than usual since he'd been up on the surgical floor since morning. While Dorsett and Anspaugh worked on one of his pedes patients, Robert paced in the waiting area of the OR like a racehorse forgotten in the stable during the derby.

When Elizabeth emerged from the lounge, she crashed right into him, and all there was to do was to reopen the door and beckon him in with a knowing, « Coffee while you wait ? »

Over the coffee, they sat in uncomfortable and unaccustomed silence. Elizabeth ran a million opening lines through her head, but instead of any of them, she just blurted out, « So, back to blondes ? » « What ? » Robert answered too quickly and a little angrily. « That nurse from Mercy. »Elizabeth was regretting her question already when to her great relief the door opened and Dorsett thrust himself through it, still trailing his surgical mask and scrub coat.

Robert snapped to attention but Dorsett had his back to him, tearing off his mask before throwing it to the floor in disgust. « Someone fucked up the blood types, » he spat, « We couldn't use the kidney. »

**

Later that day, Robert was in his office, papers flying furiously across his desk, tracking the test results of the failed subject, trying to find the source of the error for which he ultimately would be held accountable.

He was interrupted by a very timid knock and Chen leaned in a little. « Help me find the damn labs or get the hell out, » he barked at her, looking back down to his desk, « Umm, Dr Romano. » « What the hell is it ? » he broke in, looking up with a glare and looking like he might fly across the room and break her. « I thought you might want to know that they moved Dr Corday to medicine. » « What ? » he asked less angrily and more confused. « She vagaled in the ER a while ago, nothing serious, but.. » Robert sprung out of his chair and flew out the door.

**

Elizabeth woke with what felt like the worst hangover she'd ever had. Through her bleary eyes she saw Robert, sitting in the corner of the room, seemingly intent on studying the pattern of the linoleum squares on the floor. « Robert, » she whispered, just loudly enough for him to hear her. He stood, straightened, and walked to the bed, sitting down carefully by her shoulder. « You vagaled in the hall, but everything's okay. CT is fine. Blood pressure meds are in. You just need to rest. Well, and ice the bump. » As Elizabeth reached up to gingerly touch the knot on the side of her head, Robert stood to leave. « Are you leaving ? » she asked a bit pitifully. He turned and smiled reassurance, « I'll be back. I'm just going to call your house to see that someone can watch Ella tonight. »

As he turned back to the door, it opened in his face and he was eye to eye with Isabelle Corday.

**

Out in the waiting area, Chen was entertaining Ella, but when the toddler saw Robert she immediately clamored for him to pick her up. As Chen's pager sounded, Robert took Ella in his arms and smiled a little at Jing- Mei. « I'm okay here, » he said. Sitting back down with the child, he spoke to her in a quiet voice, teasingly asking if she'd been enjoying her grandma's visit. « Does she read you your horoscope at bedtime ? » he whispered with a chuckle, « Does she let you play catch with her crystal ball ? » Robert's already familiar voice soothed Ella who just looked at him with big eyes and sucked on the end of his silk tie. Oh well, he shrugged, it's an honest mistake. After all, the bright blue tie was patterned with little bunches of red, juicy-looking cherries.

When Isabelle reemerged a little while later, she fixed the pair with a stare and then softened to a smile. « You've never heard of a baggie full of cheerios ? » Robert asked her with a pointed look down at his slobber- drenched tie. « This kid is starving. » « Well, » countered Isabelle, « I'll buy you both a treat at the cafeteria. If you're good. » Robert nodded, following her, still carrying Ella in his arms.

After buying a snack for Ella and tea for Isabelle, Robert joined them at a table. They didn't have anything to say to each other and just watched Ella eat a banana and drink some milk. « She wants to see you before you leave, » Isabelle finally said. « Of course, » Robert answered.

**

When he reopened the door to Elizabeth's hospital room, she was dozing. He took the moment to study her face. Her dark eyelashes looked thick and soft against her milky cheek. Her mouth looked moist as she opened it to take a deep breath and then to let out a soft sigh. As she turned in her sleep, Robert watched the graceful movement of her arm, gently sliding across the top of the sheet to fall again at her side, slender fingers open as if waiting to hold his hand.

His throat tightened as he thought about how beautiful and fragile she looked there. Nothing could ever happen to her, Robert reassured himself. I can't ever let anything hurt her, he thought. I have to always be close, always make sure, even if being this close without us ever being together is the most painful thing of all..

« You could work on your bedside manner, » her voice lilted through his last thought.

He smiled at her, approached the bed, and when she gestured with her head at a spot beside her, he sat down. And impulsively, he took her right hand in his. She looked at their hands together, her mouth moved as if to speak, but then her lips trembled a little as she began, « I know I wasn't there for you. » Robert squeezed her hand gently to stop this apology, saying « I knew you were busy. In the ER. » « B-but, » she stammered, then insisted, « I was there in your surgery. You'd just fallen asleep on me. » She ended with a little teasing smirk and Robert quirked an eyebrow in surprise. « You were there ? » « I guess you don't remember our little conversation in recovery, then ? » she continued, now dazzling him with a wide grin. « Oh God, » he groaned, « Who else was there ? What did I say ? ? ? »