Disclaimer: I do not own any characters on ER. Okay? Good enough? Good.

PG for some language. Alright. This chapter is a little bit more Cordano. There will be much, much more to come I promise. Also, please forgive my feeble attempt to write a trauma coming in. That's not an easy thing to do when you don't have any medical training. I'll probably revise this chapter as I start to pay more attention to the reruns.

Little note: Remember the name of the chapter as you read.

Chapter 5 - Fine

It was hot and muggy. All the air conditioners were working full blast at County General this morning. Thankfully they worked. Dr. Romano sat outside in the emergency bay taking a break. He was deep in thought as he played with the styrofoam cup in his hand. It was about halfway full with coffee, which by now was quite cold. He glanced up to find Dr. Corday making her way to the ambulance bay doors to start a brand new day. She hollered at him before she even got there.

"Robert, what are you doing out here? It must be 100 degrees."

He just shrugged.

"Bad day already?"

"Oh, let's see, 4 prostitutes, 5 stomach flus, 2 OD's, an infected belly button ring and of course the 3 year old with the Lego up her nose. Doesn't get any better than this. What time is it?"

She looked at her watch. "About 10:30."

He nodded and looked back down at his coffee cup again. She could tell he obviously had something on his mind.

"Are you alright?"

He didn't answer.

"Robert?"

Not moving his head, but only his eyes, he looked up at her. "Oh, fine." He wondered if maybe he should talk to her about what was bothering him. She sighed, and then sat down beside him. She thought she knew what was wrong.

"Look, Robert, I know it's hard. You're having to get adjusted to...everything. It's not fair, I know."

He changed his tone all of a sudden. He sounded almost professional, like he was now talking shop.

"Oh, yeah, I just remembered. I wanted to make you aware of a...," he paused to consider his words carefully, "recent development and get your opinion on it."

Elizabeth was a little taken aback by this sudden mood swing. "Okay," she said. They could hear an ambulance in the background.

"Okay, so...yeah, the thing is-" he started, but just then an ambulance pulled up and Doris was pulling someone out. Robert and Elizabeth got to work.

"MVA. Motorcycle vs. pedestrian on Lincoln Drive. Hit and run. Minor lacerations to the face and arms. Major cuts on the legs. Possible neck injury. Resps 80 over 110. Heart Rate 90." Doris spitted out.

"I was fine. I was just getting something to eat," the patient said confused. He was an elderly man, but not that old; maybe mid-sixties. His hair was graying and he was slightly heavy set, but not an unattractive gentleman. Robert and Elizabeth took him inside. Susan joined them when they got in.

"Sir, can you tell me your name?" Elizabeth asked him as they wheeled him down the hall.

"Nicolas...Nicolas Dublin," he replied.

"Okay, Mr. Dublin, where does it hurt?" she asked.

"All over," he moaned. "I'm just here for a convention."

They got him into Trauma Two. Susan took over.

"Okay," said Susan, "On my count. One...Two...Three."

They shifted him over and started going through the motions. Susan was on Mr. Dublin's right examining his chest while Romano was on his left feeling around his stomach. Elizabeth was examining his head and neck.

"Pupils are equal and reactive." She felt around his head and neck for injuries. "No obvious signs of spinal damage."

"Sir, is there anyone you'd like us to call?" asked Susan.

"My wife," he answered hazily, "she's in Wisconsin. I'm just here for a business convention. I was crossing the street. I didn't see him."

"Okay," said Susan to Haleh, "can we get a hold of Mr. Dublin's wife, please?" Haleh wrote something down and then walked out of the room.

"All organs intact," ripped out Romano. Romano took the man's hand in his. "Sir, can you squeeze my hand?" He did so. "Good grip." Romano shouted.

Elizabeth rushed from his head to his feet, bumping into Robert slightly as she went. She put her hand on the bottom of the patient's foot. "Nicolas," she yelled, "I need you to push your foot against may hand. Can you do that?" He did so. "Good lateral muscle control," she shouted.

"Good," said Susan, and she moved over to behind his head, "we're gonna take this collar off now, okay?" she said to Mr. Dublin and then did so.

"My leg," said the patient, wincing.

Romano examined his hip. "Yes, it is. You did a pretty good number on it." Elizabeth came up beside Romano to have a look, too.

"He broke it," she said.

"Yep," Robert replied.

"Well, we can take care of that." Elizabeth then turned to Mr. Dublin. "I'm afraid you broke your hip, but there seems to be no other serious injuries. We will have to schedule a hip replacement, probably in a day or two, but that's it. You're going to be just fine." She paused. "You were lucky."

He snorted, "Yeah." Susan and some nurses then wheeled him away to the OR.

Things began to calm down. The nurses scattered and slowly left. Romano began messing with some stuff in the drawers in the corner of the room. He was stalling. He was still considering whether to talk to Elizabeth or not. Soon, Robert and Elizabeth were the only ones left in the room.

Elizabeth was writing on Mr. Dublin's chart while walking out. She was walking slowly, not really watching where she was going. When she got to the door, she was startled.

"Hey, beautiful!"

Dr. Dorsett had appeared right in front of her.

"God, you scared me," Elizabeth said.

"Oh, sorry," he said. He looked her up and down quickly without her noticing. Then asked flirtatiously, "How ya doin'?"

She answered rather cooly, "Oh, fine. Yourself?"

"Fine." He leaned his hand up against the door so she couldn't escape. "Hey, you know," he began, "last night was so great, I was thinking I could maybe come by your place tonight. Bring some steaks, some wine, maybe some candles." He leaned closer to her. "You wouldn't need a babysitter."

She was uncomfortable. She automatically glanced behind her at Robert, who automatically glanced back at her, and then continued to fiddle with stuff in the drawers. She was feeling awkward with Robert's being right there. Although why this made her awkward, she couldn't quite say.

"Ummmm," she whispered, "I don't know if that would be a very good idea."

Dorsett glanced at Romano's back then quickly returned to Elizabeth. "Why not?"

"Uhh..." She couldn't think of an excuse. Maybe she did want him to come by. She wasn't sure. She liked him okay, but something was stopping her. Maybe it was Mark, she thought.

"Excuse me," Robert barked loudly as he made his way through them and out the door. He didn't really want to hear this. Elizabeth took this advantage to leave, as well. However, Dorsett followed her.

"Well, what about tomorrow?" pleaded Dorsett.

Elizabeth stopped walking. Romano was long gone by now, thank God, she thought. "Listen," she stated quite clearly. "I thank you for your offer. Last night was...nice. But, I'm afraid, I'm just not wanting a relationship right now...with anyone."

Dorsett gave a look as if to say, 'Oh, come on, be real.'

She just looked at him desperately, "I just need a little time to sort things out. Please."

He hesitated, then "Alright...alright. I'll slow down. That's tough for me, though. I am Fast-Eddie. Remember?"

"Thank you." She composed herself and then said, "Can I put you down for a hip-replacement on Thursday?"

"Sure," he sighed, "why not. Who?"

"His name's Dublin."

His smile disappeared. "What's the first name?"

"Uhhh," she looked at his chart. "Nicolas." Dorsett turned white. "Do you know him?" Elizabeth asked.

"No," replied Dorsett quickly. "Umm, I gotta go," he said and left.

Elizabeth thought that was odd, but she shrugged it off and proceeded to walk off.

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"Jerry, what are all these charts still doing here? Some of these people have been here since Watergate," Romano yelled. "I have slugs in my garden that go out faster than these."

"I don't know," stated Jerry.

"Well I want you to page everyone who is not working right now and tell 'em to get in here and page everyone who is working right now and tell 'em to get up off their asses and get to work."

"Fine," said Jerry. He leaned over and whispered to Chuny, "Geez, what flew up his shorts?"

"I heard that," Romano snapped.

"Ummm, excuse me," said a young man from behind the counter. He couldn't have been more than 25 and he was a little soft spoken. He was thin with brown hair and brown eyes; no major or distinctive features.

"What do you want!?" barked Romano.

The young man jumped back slightly. "Uh, I was just looking for a Dr. Kerry Weaver?"

"Well, that's surprising," snipped Romano. "Wrong floor," he barked again.

"Oh, well I was told I was to meet her here."

"Well then, aren't you privileged. SIT DOWN!" He was still yelling.

After a little bit, Elizabeth came to the desk and put up Mr. Dublin's chart. She saw Romano was there. She actually hadn't forgotten there was something he wanted to tell her.

"Oh, Robert, was there something you wanted to discuss?"

"What?!" he shot out at her.

Her forehead crinkled at him. "Was there something you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh, that, no. It's been taken care of."

Now she raised her eyebrows at him in disbelief. She had known Robert Romano long enough now to know when he was mad or lying or both and she could usually tell why, as well.

"Oh, stop it, Robert," she snapped. "You can't fool me. I know you."

He just walked away without saying anything. For some reason, (and she wasn't quite sure why) this infuriated her. She followed.

"Okay, fine," she whispered, glancing quickly over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening, "Yes, I had dinner with Dorsett last night, but for your information I didn't even really enjoy myself. And I'm not having dinner with him tonight, tomorrow or any other night in the future that I plan on. Happy now? And I want you to know that I am only telling you this out of my respect for you as a colleague." She emphasized 'colleague' very strongly. "Because my personal life is really none of your damn business." She then took in a deep breath of air.

He strolled into Exam Room One where a patient was waiting. Elizabeth didn't care. She still followed him in there.

"Well, Miss," he looked at the chart, "Star. What seems to be the trouble?" The patient was dressed in a leather mini skirt, a low neck, close fitting top, lots of makeup and high heals with no hose. She was obviously a hooker.

Elizabeth piped up before the patient could speak. "So, you're not talking me?" She was visibly upset; although she'd deny it in a heart beat.

Robert still ignored her, looking at "Star's" chart. "Says here you have stomach pains."

"Yeah," Star replied in a rather annoying, squeaky voice, "Right here and it-" She started to point to the area it hurt, when Elizabeth interrupted.

"Fine, don't talk to me, because really Robert I could care...less. I could use a little peace and quiet." And she stormed out.

Romano started taking the patient's blood pressure. Star crossed her legs and eyed Romano swinging her leg, "Little spat with the wifey?"

"Something like that."

"You know I could help ya with that."

Romano just glared at her. "Say ahh."

She shrugged, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh."

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Kerry stepped off the elevator to the ER. She was trying not to show it, but she was trembling on the inside. She was worried, because she knew what she was about to do...again. As she was walking down the hall she could see up a ways Romano burst out of Exam Room One. She shouted at him as she tried to catch up.

"Robert!"

He turned, but didn't slow down to let her catch up. She had to practically run.

"Well, if it isn't her highness the vampire-ess herself come to grace us with her presence. Come down to suck my blood, too, Kerry?"

She ignored his comment. She was too preoccupied to mess with him right now. "I'm expecting someone down here, Robert. Do you know if anyone's asked for me?"

He stopped and turned to her. He knew he had, but why should he be nice to her? "You know, as much as I would love to be your personal secretary, Elvira, I would rather get my arm chopped off. Oh...wait...that already happened."

Now she was getting miffed. She followed him and they made it to the admit desk. "Fine." She turned away from him to leave, then said under her breath, "Kiss my ass, Robert!"

He heard her, "Oh, are we swinging both ways now?" he spat out quickly. He usually had fun spitting out insults at Kerry to get her riled. However, it wasn't quite as enjoyable today. He was mad.

"Oh, Dr. Weaver?" said Jerry. Kerry didn't respond. She just stared at Romano trying to come up with a come back. Why did he always have to have the last word? And how could he always be so good at it?

"Dr. Weaver?" Jerry asked again.

"What?" she spat.

"There's a guy in chairs for you," he replied and pointed to the young man waiting patiently for Kerry. She suddenly remembered why she was there and forgot all about Romano instantly. She went over to the waiting area.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Weaver," she stated quietly and politely.

He stood up suddenly looking a bit nervous, "Hey, I'm Scott."

"How are you feeling, Scott?"

"Oh, fine I guess." He wasn't very convincing. He was very mild, polite, quiet, young and a bit thin. She had a hard time imagining this kid able to threaten the Alderman. Oh well, looks can be deceiving. But so can the Alderman, maybe Jonathan was stretching the truth.

"Okay, you can come with me now." She led him into a little exam area and closed off the curtain so they could have some privacy. Romano hadn't taken his eyes off Kerry until now.