Title: Adjustments
Author: Listabets
Rating: PG13 may end up R but I'm not sure
Category: Robert and Elizabeth romance
Disclaimer: I do not own Robert or Elizabeth. I'm just borrowing them for a little bit for my own amusement, and hopefully for the amusement of those reading this.
Thanks so much for the reviews-this is the first time I have written fanfiction so the chapters are a bit short-I imagine they will get longer as I gain more confidence. Writing characters that are not of my own creation has been a real challenge.
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Elizabeth stood in the middle of the hall staring at Robert's closed door. With her mouth hanging slightly open in shock she began to shake her head.
'We have had our moments, Robert and I, but he just flipped me off!! Bloody little shit!" Elizabeth took a few steps back and leaned against the wall.
"What the hell did I do to deserve that!"? As much as she tried to get a good level of righteous indignation going Elizabeth realized that she had avoided Robert for the entirety of his convalescence. The barely conscious Robert admitting his feelings for her had sent Elizabeth screaming away in the other direction. Elizabeth rubbed her temples, but never took her eyes from the closed office door.
"So many people have said so many things to me as they came out of anesthesia-why did I take Robert's words so to heart" Elizabeth wondered. Before she had an opportunity to further explore that line of thought Abby came barreling down the hall.
"Dr. Corday-Multiple GSW's coming in. ETA about 2 mins and there are 3 that sound serious" Abby sped by heading for Trauma 1 and setting up for the most critical patient. Elizabeth followed in her wake trying to focus on the trauma to come.
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As she stripped off the gloves from her last surgical consult for her shift Elizabeth headed toward Romano's office. She didn't really expect him to be there, it had been at least three hours since their confrontation in the ER hallway, but she was going to press forward anyway. Banging on his office door elicited nothing more then sore knuckles and some odd stares from Gerry. Glancing at her watch Elizabeth was aware that at only 3 pm she had time to head to Roberts's house and still get back to Ella for an evening of toddler Mummy bonding.
Elizabeth headed back to her office to retrieve her purse and all the files she promised herself she would tackle before the next new day. Trundling down the halls toward the elevator, weighted down by files and other paperwork Elizabeth literally ran into Susan.
"I'm so sorry-I seem to be making a habit of crashing into people today" Elizabeth apologized to Susan.
"Not a problem Elizabeth-who else have you crashed into?" Susan smiled at her friend affectionately
"I had a rather big bang with Romano today, both literally and figuratively." Elizabeth admitted.
"Is he back? How is he doing?" Susan seemed genuinely interested
"Well, that is what our clash was about. I have no idea how he is doing or anything about him coming back to work because I haven't spoken to him at all since he has been on leave." Elizabeth shifted her files to a more comfortable position but she didn't feel any less awkward about her behavior.
"Here let me help you with those, I'm headed out too" Susan said as she relieved Elizabeth of some files. "I am surprised by that, Elizabeth. I was under the impression that you two were...well if not exactly friends..." Susan was at a loss for words
"It seems that as a friend I leave a lot to be desired. Even as a colleague I should have sent a card." Elizabeth shook her head ruefully. "He must be feeling more like his old self though, because after a few choice words he flipped me off!" Elizabeth reached into her pocket for her car keys and opened up the car. Tossing the files onto the passenger seat she straightened and demonstrated the classic gesture for Susan's amusement.
"He what?" Susan choked back laughter as she handed Elizabeth her files "He must be getting back to normal."
Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "Thanks for the chat Susan, do you need a ride anywhere?" Elizabeth tossed the rest of the files on top of the others and settled into the drivers seat.
"No thanks. I have some errands to run and it will be easier on the El." Susan waved goodbye as she headed to the train.
Elizabeth sat for a moment in her car mulling over the events of the day. Initially she had been very cross with Robert for being so rude. She had even wanted to storm over to his house and give him a piece of her mind. Now Elizabeth wanted to talk to Robert to explain. Resting her forehead against the steering wheel Elizabeth began to feel very confused. What exactly did she want to explain? That he had admitting his feelings for her in a drug induced moment of vulnerability? That she had taken those words to heart and avoided him? That she had begun to feel unsettled around him months before and didn't know what to do about it?
"Oh, Bugger!" Elizabeth snapped as she finally started the car, punched in the address she had scrawled on a scrap of paper into her navigation system and headed toward Robert's house.
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Pulling up in front of Roberts house Elizabeth was surprised by how handsome this place was. A lovingly restored Brownstone-one of the few left in the city that had not been broken up into apartments. A regal set of stairs led up to some rather imposing double doors, painted a glossy black. Elizabeth forced herself out of the car and up to the door. As she reached toward the bell Elizabeth was aware that she was trembling and her heart was pounding.
"Pull yourself together!" She hissed to herself.
The bell echoed inside the house and a few seconds later the door was opened by a plump older woman.
"May I help you?" she questioned politely
Having prepared her self to be greeted by Robert, Elizabeth tried to cover her surprise. "Yes please. I'm here to see Dr. Romano. I'm Elizabeth Corday and I'm afraid he is not expecting me."
"Please do come in." The woman stepped aside to allow Elizabeth to enter the foyer. "If you will just wait here a moment I will see if he is available" As she disappeared from view Elizabeth admired her surroundings. The floor was beautiful hardwood parquet that had a circular inlay. In the center of the design was a wonderful table that complimented the colors used in the floor perfectly. A curved staircase reached up to the second floor and was covered with a runner that seemed to be beautifully made. It was all very simple but very elegant.
"Dr. Corday if you will just follow me. Dr. Romano is in the Garden and would like you to join him there." Elizabeth moved through the house after the woman and got brief impressions of well-made furniture, harmonious colors and rich finishes. On the far side of the living room two sets of French doors flanked a fireplace and led onto a flagstone patio. Robert was sitting at a table piled with files. As Elizabeth joined him outside he rose to meet her.
"Thank you Dorothy. You can go for today if you want. I don't think I need anything else."
"If you are sure Dr. Romano. There is some dinner in the fridge and I will see you first thing tomorrow. Goodnight"
"Have a good evening" Robert replied. He then turned his attention to Elizabeth.
"Well, well.... two encounters in one day Lizzie. To what do I owe the honor?" He was no less sarcastic then he had been this morning.
Elizabeth found that her mouth was very dry all of a sudden and she wasn't sure what to say. "I wanted to say I am sorry." She said simply. "I am sorry for not calling, or stopping by or even sending a card."
Robert face didn't soften and he let Elizabeth's apology hang in the air for a few beats.
"Thanks for that. You have apologized, I will accept it and now you can leave with a clear conscious and the pleasure of having done your duty." Robert turned away from her and began straightening the papers on the wrought iron table clearly expecting her to do as he asked and go.
Elizabeth wasn't quite so willing to be dismissed and stood her ground. " I'm not here because of duty. I came to genuinely acknowledge that I have not been there for you and to talk about it." She stepped over to the table and placed her hand on his trying to get him to stop tidying up and look at her. "You are obviously furious with me."
Shaking off her touch "You know what. Yes I am. I am pissed off about this whole damn thing. More that a year of my life gone-taking my arm with it. My career is in the toilet and I was stupid enough to think that I could count on a bit of support from the one person who has never been intimidated by me."
Robert clamped his mouth shut in a tight line and took a deep breath. "I am aware that you were there for the procedure and I appreciate that so lets just drop this. It doesn't really matter why you haven't been around. I really would like for you to leave now." Robert gestured toward the French doors.
"You are not going to get rid of me that quickly. Damn you Robert I am going to say what I need to and then, and only then, will I leave." Elizabeth straightened her shoulders and faced him squarely. "I was there in the OR and I was there in recovery with you. The truth is that I have been avoiding you because of something you said in recovery." Elizabeth hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest.
"What the hell did I say? Robert dreaded the answer
"That you loved me." Elizabeth answered quietly
Robert groaned and rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. "For Gods sake Lizzie, I was on more Drugs then most Junkies and you took what I said seriously? I've had patients tell me they are aliens and that they will be going back to the home planet. I never ran screaming into the woods!"
"Robert, can we stop playing this game now? We both know you have feelings for me. You have made it clear on a number of occasions." Elizabeth refused to allow him to side step the issue. She was determined to clear the air.
"We also know that you find me to be a reprehensible human being, arrogant, argumentative and generally unpleasant, so now that we know where we stand, can you get out of my damn house? I don't need, nor do I want, your pity!" Robert growled at Elizabeth as he interrupted her.
"You just won't listen, will you!" Elizabeth was angry now. "You can be damned unpleasant, amazingly arrogant and there is certainly no denying that you are argumentative, but I do not find you to be reprehensible. In fact in the months since my return to America, and your accident, I have found myself to be increasingly drawn to you. Then you expressed your feelings for me in recovery and I was scared."
Elizabeth drew in a shuddering breath and grabbed Roberts's hand. She lifted it up to the base of her neck and placed it against her skin.
"Can you feel that?" She questioned. Robert was standing very still absorbing the feeling of her racing pulse against his palm.
"I wasn't scared of your feelings for me, I was scared of my feelings for you! Pity? I don't know what I am feeling, but it is certainly not bloody pity!"
Pushing Roberts hand away from her Elizabeth spun on her heel and stormed into the house and out the front door. Before Robert could move from the spot where she left him Elizabeth was gone.
Rating: PG13 may end up R but I'm not sure
Category: Robert and Elizabeth romance
Disclaimer: I do not own Robert or Elizabeth. I'm just borrowing them for a little bit for my own amusement, and hopefully for the amusement of those reading this.
Thanks so much for the reviews-this is the first time I have written fanfiction so the chapters are a bit short-I imagine they will get longer as I gain more confidence. Writing characters that are not of my own creation has been a real challenge.
............................................................................ ...................................................
Elizabeth stood in the middle of the hall staring at Robert's closed door. With her mouth hanging slightly open in shock she began to shake her head.
'We have had our moments, Robert and I, but he just flipped me off!! Bloody little shit!" Elizabeth took a few steps back and leaned against the wall.
"What the hell did I do to deserve that!"? As much as she tried to get a good level of righteous indignation going Elizabeth realized that she had avoided Robert for the entirety of his convalescence. The barely conscious Robert admitting his feelings for her had sent Elizabeth screaming away in the other direction. Elizabeth rubbed her temples, but never took her eyes from the closed office door.
"So many people have said so many things to me as they came out of anesthesia-why did I take Robert's words so to heart" Elizabeth wondered. Before she had an opportunity to further explore that line of thought Abby came barreling down the hall.
"Dr. Corday-Multiple GSW's coming in. ETA about 2 mins and there are 3 that sound serious" Abby sped by heading for Trauma 1 and setting up for the most critical patient. Elizabeth followed in her wake trying to focus on the trauma to come.
............................................................................ ...................................................
As she stripped off the gloves from her last surgical consult for her shift Elizabeth headed toward Romano's office. She didn't really expect him to be there, it had been at least three hours since their confrontation in the ER hallway, but she was going to press forward anyway. Banging on his office door elicited nothing more then sore knuckles and some odd stares from Gerry. Glancing at her watch Elizabeth was aware that at only 3 pm she had time to head to Roberts's house and still get back to Ella for an evening of toddler Mummy bonding.
Elizabeth headed back to her office to retrieve her purse and all the files she promised herself she would tackle before the next new day. Trundling down the halls toward the elevator, weighted down by files and other paperwork Elizabeth literally ran into Susan.
"I'm so sorry-I seem to be making a habit of crashing into people today" Elizabeth apologized to Susan.
"Not a problem Elizabeth-who else have you crashed into?" Susan smiled at her friend affectionately
"I had a rather big bang with Romano today, both literally and figuratively." Elizabeth admitted.
"Is he back? How is he doing?" Susan seemed genuinely interested
"Well, that is what our clash was about. I have no idea how he is doing or anything about him coming back to work because I haven't spoken to him at all since he has been on leave." Elizabeth shifted her files to a more comfortable position but she didn't feel any less awkward about her behavior.
"Here let me help you with those, I'm headed out too" Susan said as she relieved Elizabeth of some files. "I am surprised by that, Elizabeth. I was under the impression that you two were...well if not exactly friends..." Susan was at a loss for words
"It seems that as a friend I leave a lot to be desired. Even as a colleague I should have sent a card." Elizabeth shook her head ruefully. "He must be feeling more like his old self though, because after a few choice words he flipped me off!" Elizabeth reached into her pocket for her car keys and opened up the car. Tossing the files onto the passenger seat she straightened and demonstrated the classic gesture for Susan's amusement.
"He what?" Susan choked back laughter as she handed Elizabeth her files "He must be getting back to normal."
Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "Thanks for the chat Susan, do you need a ride anywhere?" Elizabeth tossed the rest of the files on top of the others and settled into the drivers seat.
"No thanks. I have some errands to run and it will be easier on the El." Susan waved goodbye as she headed to the train.
Elizabeth sat for a moment in her car mulling over the events of the day. Initially she had been very cross with Robert for being so rude. She had even wanted to storm over to his house and give him a piece of her mind. Now Elizabeth wanted to talk to Robert to explain. Resting her forehead against the steering wheel Elizabeth began to feel very confused. What exactly did she want to explain? That he had admitting his feelings for her in a drug induced moment of vulnerability? That she had taken those words to heart and avoided him? That she had begun to feel unsettled around him months before and didn't know what to do about it?
"Oh, Bugger!" Elizabeth snapped as she finally started the car, punched in the address she had scrawled on a scrap of paper into her navigation system and headed toward Robert's house.
............................................................................ ................................................
Pulling up in front of Roberts house Elizabeth was surprised by how handsome this place was. A lovingly restored Brownstone-one of the few left in the city that had not been broken up into apartments. A regal set of stairs led up to some rather imposing double doors, painted a glossy black. Elizabeth forced herself out of the car and up to the door. As she reached toward the bell Elizabeth was aware that she was trembling and her heart was pounding.
"Pull yourself together!" She hissed to herself.
The bell echoed inside the house and a few seconds later the door was opened by a plump older woman.
"May I help you?" she questioned politely
Having prepared her self to be greeted by Robert, Elizabeth tried to cover her surprise. "Yes please. I'm here to see Dr. Romano. I'm Elizabeth Corday and I'm afraid he is not expecting me."
"Please do come in." The woman stepped aside to allow Elizabeth to enter the foyer. "If you will just wait here a moment I will see if he is available" As she disappeared from view Elizabeth admired her surroundings. The floor was beautiful hardwood parquet that had a circular inlay. In the center of the design was a wonderful table that complimented the colors used in the floor perfectly. A curved staircase reached up to the second floor and was covered with a runner that seemed to be beautifully made. It was all very simple but very elegant.
"Dr. Corday if you will just follow me. Dr. Romano is in the Garden and would like you to join him there." Elizabeth moved through the house after the woman and got brief impressions of well-made furniture, harmonious colors and rich finishes. On the far side of the living room two sets of French doors flanked a fireplace and led onto a flagstone patio. Robert was sitting at a table piled with files. As Elizabeth joined him outside he rose to meet her.
"Thank you Dorothy. You can go for today if you want. I don't think I need anything else."
"If you are sure Dr. Romano. There is some dinner in the fridge and I will see you first thing tomorrow. Goodnight"
"Have a good evening" Robert replied. He then turned his attention to Elizabeth.
"Well, well.... two encounters in one day Lizzie. To what do I owe the honor?" He was no less sarcastic then he had been this morning.
Elizabeth found that her mouth was very dry all of a sudden and she wasn't sure what to say. "I wanted to say I am sorry." She said simply. "I am sorry for not calling, or stopping by or even sending a card."
Robert face didn't soften and he let Elizabeth's apology hang in the air for a few beats.
"Thanks for that. You have apologized, I will accept it and now you can leave with a clear conscious and the pleasure of having done your duty." Robert turned away from her and began straightening the papers on the wrought iron table clearly expecting her to do as he asked and go.
Elizabeth wasn't quite so willing to be dismissed and stood her ground. " I'm not here because of duty. I came to genuinely acknowledge that I have not been there for you and to talk about it." She stepped over to the table and placed her hand on his trying to get him to stop tidying up and look at her. "You are obviously furious with me."
Shaking off her touch "You know what. Yes I am. I am pissed off about this whole damn thing. More that a year of my life gone-taking my arm with it. My career is in the toilet and I was stupid enough to think that I could count on a bit of support from the one person who has never been intimidated by me."
Robert clamped his mouth shut in a tight line and took a deep breath. "I am aware that you were there for the procedure and I appreciate that so lets just drop this. It doesn't really matter why you haven't been around. I really would like for you to leave now." Robert gestured toward the French doors.
"You are not going to get rid of me that quickly. Damn you Robert I am going to say what I need to and then, and only then, will I leave." Elizabeth straightened her shoulders and faced him squarely. "I was there in the OR and I was there in recovery with you. The truth is that I have been avoiding you because of something you said in recovery." Elizabeth hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest.
"What the hell did I say? Robert dreaded the answer
"That you loved me." Elizabeth answered quietly
Robert groaned and rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. "For Gods sake Lizzie, I was on more Drugs then most Junkies and you took what I said seriously? I've had patients tell me they are aliens and that they will be going back to the home planet. I never ran screaming into the woods!"
"Robert, can we stop playing this game now? We both know you have feelings for me. You have made it clear on a number of occasions." Elizabeth refused to allow him to side step the issue. She was determined to clear the air.
"We also know that you find me to be a reprehensible human being, arrogant, argumentative and generally unpleasant, so now that we know where we stand, can you get out of my damn house? I don't need, nor do I want, your pity!" Robert growled at Elizabeth as he interrupted her.
"You just won't listen, will you!" Elizabeth was angry now. "You can be damned unpleasant, amazingly arrogant and there is certainly no denying that you are argumentative, but I do not find you to be reprehensible. In fact in the months since my return to America, and your accident, I have found myself to be increasingly drawn to you. Then you expressed your feelings for me in recovery and I was scared."
Elizabeth drew in a shuddering breath and grabbed Roberts's hand. She lifted it up to the base of her neck and placed it against her skin.
"Can you feel that?" She questioned. Robert was standing very still absorbing the feeling of her racing pulse against his palm.
"I wasn't scared of your feelings for me, I was scared of my feelings for you! Pity? I don't know what I am feeling, but it is certainly not bloody pity!"
Pushing Roberts hand away from her Elizabeth spun on her heel and stormed into the house and out the front door. Before Robert could move from the spot where she left him Elizabeth was gone.