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.
Thank you so much for the reviews!! The feedback is very useful!
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"Can you feel that?" She had asked. Robert was glued to the spot on his patio where she had left him, and he couldn't stop staring at his hand. He could feel nothing else! Elizabeth's pulse beating wildly against his palm as she held his hand against her smooth skin.
The last time Robert had dared touch Elizabeth had been that hideous day in the lounge when he had reached out to stroke her cheek. The look of shock and confusion on her face had negated any pleasure he had felt at being able to brush his thumb across her cheekbone. Elizabeth had not welcomed his touch that day, but today she had insisted. She had forced him to experience the physical manifestation of the confusion he created in her.
Robert gathered together the paperwork he had been working on earlier in the day. He no longer had any interest in the needs of the ER. His thoughts were consumed by the very fiery red haired woman who had refused to back down and had the courage to admit her very conflicted feelings.
Robert brought his things inside and headed for his study. Reaching the bar he poured a very stiff two fingers of scotch and downed it in one gulp. Pacing the room his mind could not rest. He saw himself hugging a very stiff Elizabeth in front of a bank of elevators before her first M& M review at County. She had obviously not invited the hug but he had felt compelled. Robert could still remember the fruity smell of her shampoo and how rigidly she had stood in his arms.
There were occasional times that Elizabeth had touched him in a way that seemed conversely both casual and important-brief squeezes of his hand to support him through his arm crisis, holding this right arm in her hands as she wrote on it with marker-but nothing like today. Elizabeth had NEEDED him to feel her racing heart. Robert settled himself on one of the creamy leather sofas and absently massaged the scars on his stump. He had started the day so certain that he and Elizabeth were never going to be friends. He had been convinced that she would forever hold him apart from her, that her interest in him of late had been some sort of pity, or even worse, that she felt a motherly sort of protection thing. Now he was at a loss to understand what she felt for him and where that might lead.
Robert found himself pacing the study once again. He felt an overwhelming urge to go to Elizabeth's house and finish the conversation they had begun earlier in the afternoon.
"No..no...Not a good idea." Robert said to the empty room. She was royally pissed off when she left here and besides a one armed man, driving, having had a stiff drink on an empty stomach seemed more then a little stupid.
Robert wandered into the kitchen to warm up the meal Dorothy had prepared for him before leaving. Normally he enjoyed his own company but tonight he craved someone to talk to, someone with which to share the events of the day and to break bread with. Popping the plate into the microwave Robert glanced around his well-appointed kitchen. He had once loved cooking in here but since he had caught his arm on fire he tended to avoid doing much more then warming things up. Now that he had his prosthetic Robert found himself becoming more confident in his abilities. The Myloelectric arm was certainly more agile then his own had been in those weeks before he had lost all sensory function and most of his ability to control his left hand. Maybe he would try cooking again. It would be nice to create things in the kitchen and even better if he could share the results. Butterflies jumped in Roberts's stomach as he imagined having Elizabeth here to share a meal of his making.
"Yeah..that'll happen!" Robert laughed at his own imaginings as he eased himself up to the breakfast bar and enjoyed the meal Dorothy had prepared.
After cleaning up his small mess Robert once again found himself in his study. He could still feel the strong need to head to Elizabeth's house. Glancing at the clock he realized it was about 9 pm and he had no idea what she would be doing. What was her schedule like, being a single mother to a Toddler? Was she bathing Ella and getting her ready for bed? Was all of that done and she was doing household chores? Was she sitting alone in her house consumed with thoughts about what went on today on his patio. Robert could once again feel the silken texture of her skin against his palm and yearned to discover if all her skin was that amazing.
Sighing he wandered over to the computer. Turning on the power Robert wondered if he should send her flowers. A gesture that would mark the impact her words had upon him.
"Nope-too trite" Robert decided as he connected to the Internet. Musing about what would make a nice gift he suddenly decided to send her a bit of home. With a little bit of research Robert found an online store that specialized in the creation of gift baskets full of British foods and teas. Exploring his options Robert created a hamper full of Biscuits like Rich Teas, plain chocolate homewheats, custard creams and Jammie dodgers. He added in some fresh Scones and clotted cream because they reminded him of a wonderful time he had spent in Cornwall. He also made sure to include a selection of teas that happened to be favorites of his like Earl Grey and English Breakfast and some Cadbury's drinking chocolate for Ella. He finished off the basket with a new teapot and three cups. As he finished the check out process Robert got stuck when they asked what message he would like to include.
He wanted something witty, something that reflected the years of banter back and forth. That seemed the safest option. As he stared at the screen Robert came to the realization that safe wasn't what he really wanted; he wanted truth.
"Lizzie,
Thank you for being so honest today. We are both going through adjustments in our lives and I hope that from here on out we can help each other along. Nothing is more comforting then a good cup of tea. Enjoy, and if you need me then you know where I am.
Always, Robert"
Before he could change his mind he hit send and swiftly completed the transaction. Stretching and feeling more settled then he had in days Robert shut down the computer and headed to bed. The weekend stretched before him to be followed by his first day back in the ER since his amputation. More importantly Monday would probably mean he would see Elizabeth for the first time since her revelation in his garden and he looked forward to going back to County for the first time in many weeks.
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.
Thank you so much for the reviews!! The feedback is very useful!
............................................................................ ..............................................
"Can you feel that?" She had asked. Robert was glued to the spot on his patio where she had left him, and he couldn't stop staring at his hand. He could feel nothing else! Elizabeth's pulse beating wildly against his palm as she held his hand against her smooth skin.
The last time Robert had dared touch Elizabeth had been that hideous day in the lounge when he had reached out to stroke her cheek. The look of shock and confusion on her face had negated any pleasure he had felt at being able to brush his thumb across her cheekbone. Elizabeth had not welcomed his touch that day, but today she had insisted. She had forced him to experience the physical manifestation of the confusion he created in her.
Robert gathered together the paperwork he had been working on earlier in the day. He no longer had any interest in the needs of the ER. His thoughts were consumed by the very fiery red haired woman who had refused to back down and had the courage to admit her very conflicted feelings.
Robert brought his things inside and headed for his study. Reaching the bar he poured a very stiff two fingers of scotch and downed it in one gulp. Pacing the room his mind could not rest. He saw himself hugging a very stiff Elizabeth in front of a bank of elevators before her first M& M review at County. She had obviously not invited the hug but he had felt compelled. Robert could still remember the fruity smell of her shampoo and how rigidly she had stood in his arms.
There were occasional times that Elizabeth had touched him in a way that seemed conversely both casual and important-brief squeezes of his hand to support him through his arm crisis, holding this right arm in her hands as she wrote on it with marker-but nothing like today. Elizabeth had NEEDED him to feel her racing heart. Robert settled himself on one of the creamy leather sofas and absently massaged the scars on his stump. He had started the day so certain that he and Elizabeth were never going to be friends. He had been convinced that she would forever hold him apart from her, that her interest in him of late had been some sort of pity, or even worse, that she felt a motherly sort of protection thing. Now he was at a loss to understand what she felt for him and where that might lead.
Robert found himself pacing the study once again. He felt an overwhelming urge to go to Elizabeth's house and finish the conversation they had begun earlier in the afternoon.
"No..no...Not a good idea." Robert said to the empty room. She was royally pissed off when she left here and besides a one armed man, driving, having had a stiff drink on an empty stomach seemed more then a little stupid.
Robert wandered into the kitchen to warm up the meal Dorothy had prepared for him before leaving. Normally he enjoyed his own company but tonight he craved someone to talk to, someone with which to share the events of the day and to break bread with. Popping the plate into the microwave Robert glanced around his well-appointed kitchen. He had once loved cooking in here but since he had caught his arm on fire he tended to avoid doing much more then warming things up. Now that he had his prosthetic Robert found himself becoming more confident in his abilities. The Myloelectric arm was certainly more agile then his own had been in those weeks before he had lost all sensory function and most of his ability to control his left hand. Maybe he would try cooking again. It would be nice to create things in the kitchen and even better if he could share the results. Butterflies jumped in Roberts's stomach as he imagined having Elizabeth here to share a meal of his making.
"Yeah..that'll happen!" Robert laughed at his own imaginings as he eased himself up to the breakfast bar and enjoyed the meal Dorothy had prepared.
After cleaning up his small mess Robert once again found himself in his study. He could still feel the strong need to head to Elizabeth's house. Glancing at the clock he realized it was about 9 pm and he had no idea what she would be doing. What was her schedule like, being a single mother to a Toddler? Was she bathing Ella and getting her ready for bed? Was all of that done and she was doing household chores? Was she sitting alone in her house consumed with thoughts about what went on today on his patio. Robert could once again feel the silken texture of her skin against his palm and yearned to discover if all her skin was that amazing.
Sighing he wandered over to the computer. Turning on the power Robert wondered if he should send her flowers. A gesture that would mark the impact her words had upon him.
"Nope-too trite" Robert decided as he connected to the Internet. Musing about what would make a nice gift he suddenly decided to send her a bit of home. With a little bit of research Robert found an online store that specialized in the creation of gift baskets full of British foods and teas. Exploring his options Robert created a hamper full of Biscuits like Rich Teas, plain chocolate homewheats, custard creams and Jammie dodgers. He added in some fresh Scones and clotted cream because they reminded him of a wonderful time he had spent in Cornwall. He also made sure to include a selection of teas that happened to be favorites of his like Earl Grey and English Breakfast and some Cadbury's drinking chocolate for Ella. He finished off the basket with a new teapot and three cups. As he finished the check out process Robert got stuck when they asked what message he would like to include.
He wanted something witty, something that reflected the years of banter back and forth. That seemed the safest option. As he stared at the screen Robert came to the realization that safe wasn't what he really wanted; he wanted truth.
"Lizzie,
Thank you for being so honest today. We are both going through adjustments in our lives and I hope that from here on out we can help each other along. Nothing is more comforting then a good cup of tea. Enjoy, and if you need me then you know where I am.
Always, Robert"
Before he could change his mind he hit send and swiftly completed the transaction. Stretching and feeling more settled then he had in days Robert shut down the computer and headed to bed. The weekend stretched before him to be followed by his first day back in the ER since his amputation. More importantly Monday would probably mean he would see Elizabeth for the first time since her revelation in his garden and he looked forward to going back to County for the first time in many weeks.