Chapter 2...
disclaimer: see chapter 1
* * *
Elizabeth let herself into Robert's office and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She took a blanket off the end of the couch and shook it out, then lay down and tucked it around her. It felt so good to lie down and her eyes were so heavy. She set the alarm on her watch and fell asleep almost immediately. Hours later felt like seconds and the alarm went up long before she'd had enough sleep. She sat up and stretched her back. Swinging her legs off the couch, she stood up. She had an hour until she was expected to start work - just enough time for a shower and a bagel from the cafeteria. In a fresh set of scrubs from her locker she got her bagel and went to her office. The paper work on her desk would keep her busy from at least an hour then she had surgery, a meeting, and two more surgeries. Nine hours later she collapsed on the chair in her office. The message light was flashing on her phone so she pressed the button and leaned back on her chair closing her eyes.
"Hello, Elizabeth, Chris here. My sister is sick and needs me to look after her kids and I didn't want Ella to get it so I left her at the crèche. I hope you don't mind, but I couldn't get hold of you. I should still be able to look after her tomorrow though - give me a call this evening and I'll confirm. Sorry about this. Oh - and the crèche closes at 8 so I hope you get this before then. Sorry, bye." Beep.
Elizabeth pressed 3 to delete before the pre-recorded voice could start.
"Hey Lizzie. Robert here. I just wanted to say thanks. And, um, I don't suppose you could grab some stuff from my office for me - there's a couple of manila folders on my desk - just bring all of them, and my CD player, and a couple of CDs, your choice. Just if you can - don't go out of your way. Hope your days been okay. I'll see you later I guess." Beep.
This time she pressed 2 to save and left her office before the pre-recorded voice gave her any more options. She changed into a navy blue skirt and a white blouse, threw her scrubs back in her office, grabbed her bag and took the elevator down to the second floor where the crèche was located. Ella and one other child were there. Ella ran to her mother as soon as she made eye contact. Elizabeth picked her up, "you tired sweetie?"
"No." Ella said and then yawned. Elizabeth smiled.
"I don't believe you but I'll just pretend." Elizabeth said as she signed Ella out and walked back to the elevator, Ella on her hip. As the door opened Ella struggled so Elizabeth put her down and let the toddler walk into the elevator. She swung on the handrail as her mother pressed the button.
"We're just going to get something then we're going to visit a friend of Mommy's" Elizabeth explained, talking Ella's hand. Ten minutes later the pair walked hand-in-hand into the Robert's room. Ella was carrying Elizabeth's bag and Elizabeth had Robert's stereo, several files and several CDs under one arm and Ella's hand in her other hand.
Robert's face lit up when he saw them. "Oh, thank you. I wasn't expecting them until tomorrow, but thank you."
Elizabeth put his stuff on his bedside table and picked up her daughter, "That's okay - Ella, this is Robert."
"Hello Ella." Robert smiled at Ella who giggled back at him.
"Say hello, Ella." Elizabeth prompted.
"Hellow Wobut." Ella said slowly. "You sick?"
Robert nodded, "but I'll be better soon, or at least I'm hoping that is what your mother will tell me."
Elizabeth smiled, sitting Ella on the end of Robert's bed. "The nurses haven't kicked you out yet?" She sat beside him.
"Not quite." He smiled, "How was your day?"
Elizabeth took a deep breath and nodded, "busy."
"You didn't fall asleep during surgery?"
"Almost. The highlight was a surprise meeting with Kerry."
"Glad it was you not me." Robert gave her a wry smile. "Lizzie, you don't have to stay - You're exhausted."
"What gave me away?" she asked yawning.
Ella crawled up and sat herself on Robert's lap. Elizabeth just watched and smiled. Robert held Ella with his right arm, "Will you take your mom home and make sure she goes to sleep early?"
Ella nodded and looked at Elizabeth who yawned again, "Why is mommy tired?"
"Cause she was looking after me when she should have been sleeping."
"Does she need to look after you now?" Ella asked
Robert shook his head after a slightly-too-long pause. Ella crawled back into Elizabeth's lap.
"How are you feeling?" Elizabeth asked him.
He nodded, half-smiling, "better."
"Really?" she searched his face for the truth.
"Seven" he told her [scale of 1 to 10 for pain]
Again Elizabeth desperately wished she could do something. "I don't start till two tomorrow so I could bring you some decent lunch and stay for longer - we should really be going." She stood up and put her bag over her shoulder.
Robert nodded, "thanks for bringing that stuff from my office."
"No problem," she searched his face.
"I'll be fine Lizzie." He squeezed her hand.
"Nights are the worst," she offered
He nodded, "but I'll try to sleep - we can't all function on the tiny amount of sleep as you do."
Elizabeth yawned, "Define 'function'."
He smiled. He wanted to say 'look that beautiful and be that generous' but what he said was "Lunch sounds good."
"Okay," she picked up her bag and squeezed his hand; "I'll see you then."
"Sleep well, Lizzie."
"You too Robert." She picked up Ella.
"Bye Ella." Robert waved. Elizabeth smiled as Ella leaned back,
"Bye Wobut."
Robert smiled at the toddler, then at her mother, who waved and smiled back. He looked much happier than last night, Elizabeth thought as she walked away.
"Wobut is sick." Ella said.
"I know." Elizabeth replied
"Did you look after him?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"Why isn't he better yet?"
"Because it takes a little while for his body to heal - just like when you have a graze on your knee - it takes a few days to get better." Elizabeth tried to explain.
"Did Wobut fall over?" Ella looked shocked.
"No," Elizabeth considered if she should explain it to Ella. She'd taken to Robert so well and she seemed to make him brighten up too. So if she were going to bring Ella up to see him again she'd have to explain it at some point - and better if not in front of Robert. "He had a big deep cut on his arm," she understated, "and it got bad bugs in it and they were making him sick."
"So are you making the bugs go away?"
"Yes, but the doctor had to cut off his arm because it wasn't getting better."
"Ow." Ella looked a little scarred. "Will Wobut be okay?"
Elizabeth nodded and said under her breath, "I hope so."
* * *
Elizabeth walked into Robert's room. He looked like he was asleep, until he said in a rather abrasive tone, "I said I'm not hungry."
"Well, in that case I'll give your half to Kerry." Elizabeth teased.
Robert opened his eyes, "Oh, Lizzie, I thought you were the lunch lady. Don't tell her, or her friend - the sloppy-and-disgusting-dripping-with-fat-burger, but I'm actually famished."
"Good," she sat down beside him and pulled a bottle of orange juice a pottle of ice cream and a chicken, cranberry and brie panini out of her bag and put them on the table beside his bed. His eyes widened, making Lizzie smile, "You seem much better."
"If I'm not I will be soon. Where's yours?"
Lizzie pulled another panini out of her bag.
"I'm impressed. If you weren't such a great surgeon I'd suggest you sign up in the kitchen." He took a bite of his panini.
Lizzie laughed, "good to know I have career options. So, when was this last changed?" she nodded at his shoulder, taking a bite of her own panini.
"Yesterday evening, just before you got here."
"Would you mind if I did it this evening?"
"Not at all, but you must have enough to keep you busy - don't you have med students this week?"
"No, they arrive next Tuesday. And I have a gap from 4 till 6 so, assuming I don't get called down to the ER, I'll come and do it then. What did they say yesterday?"
"Not much. Lots of irritating condescension, but at least no sign of infection."
Elizabeth nodded and smiled, "You seem much more positive."
"The nurse put on a Tony Robins tape." He said sarcastically, "Na, I got some work done this morning so I'm not feeling quite so useless, and the nights are the worst."
"Yeah, in know what you mean." Elizabeth nodded, pouring the orange juice into two glasses.
"What do you mean?" He looked at her with friendly concern.
"Oh, um, just that when Mark died, it was always worse at night." She swallowed, a little uncomfortable sharing that with Robert, but feeling she needed to open up a bit considering he had.
"Oh." Robert wasn't sure how to respond
"Don't look so worried, Robert. I'm okay. I just can't believe it's been almost a year."
He smiled. "Hope you heal better than me."
"I did. I don't miss him much anymore, but I wish Ella could remember him. I have lots of photos for her - I put them away at first because they made it harder on me, but I got them out again a couple of months back - after I lost my ring, and you found it again." This opening-up-thing got easier as she went, thought Elizabeth.
Robert smiled, "right, the laparoscopic camera and snare trick."
"That's the one. You want your ice cream?"
"Sure. Do you want to put on a CD? - Good selection by the way."
Elizabeth passed him the ice cream and looked at the CDs she'd picked, "Tracy Chapman?"
Robert nodded with the plastic spoon in his mouth.
"Good look." Elizabeth laughed and pressed play. The promise started playing:
If you…wait for me
Then I'll… come for you
Although I've travelled far…
I'll always hold… a place
For you in my heart
"Good song." The both said at once. Robert took another spoonful of ice cream and told himself not to get his hopes up - but it was too late.
"You okay Robert?"
He looked up at her, "Um, yeah, sorry."
"Did you sleep well last night?"
"Eventually." He nodded, knowing the reason he'd not slept sooner was because he couldn't get her out of his mind, and he didn't really want to. "You?"
"Like a log." She smiled, "Don't you love going back to your own bed after you've spent a night somewhere else?"
He nodded, "Yeah, I'm certainly looking forward to mine."
"Did they say anything about how long it is till you can go home?"
"A few days to a week, but I won't be back here for at least another two weeks."
"You've got to be glad about that."
"Not really, I'll be bored out of my mind."
"Well in that case I'll drop all my paperwork in your mail box each evening and pick it up on my way in to the hospital a couple of days later."
"Only if you'll come in for a meal while you're at it - keep me company." He said sincerely, hoping she would consider it.
"I'll come for a visit but I was kidding, I'm not going to give you my paper work, as tempting as that is. You'll need your rest." She smiled at him, surprised that she was looking forward to visiting him.
"Okay, well I wasn't particularly anticipating the paperwork, but what do you propose I should do for ten days? What do you do on your days off?"
"Play with Ella, sleep - honestly I'm not home long enough to get bored."
"Well, I'm sure I'll be sleeping some of the time but I don't suppose Ella would like to visit?" He suggested, again stepping out on a limb, hoping she'd consider it.
"Ella would be ecstatic - she talked about you all the way home - at least until she fell asleep."
"Yeah, I have that effect on women."
Elizabeth laughed then changed her tone, "are you serious? I mean could you take Ella for a bit?"
"I'd love to."
"I wouldn't usually ask, but Chris, my nanny, has to look after her sister's kids this week cause her sister is sick - she's still looking after Ella but at their house and I don't want Ella to catch anything."
"Well I'd love to take her - maybe you can get me out of this place a day or two earlier and then we'll call it even?" Robert grinned at the prospect - he could be going home soon, seeing Elizabeth almost everyday and babysitting her daughter.
"I'll try - I can change the dressing just as easily at your place as here, that should swing them around."
"It's a deal," Robert smiled. He was hoping for her again - something he promised he wouldn't do unless she made the first move - but she wasn't running away like she had before and he couldn't help but want to be near her - dangerous maybe, but what if she could like him? There was always the chance, no matter how small, that she felt something. So he hung onto that little bit of chance and desperately tried to ignore all his doubts.
Elizabeth could hardly believe what was happening - she was going to leave her daughter with him - this was way beyond patient/doctor relationship. What surprised her most was that she didn't doubt the Ella would be fine with him - solo arm, quick mouth and all. And she'd probably be good for him - he'd have to stop thinking about himself and his shortcomings, if you could call them that. Yeah, it was a brilliant idea - Ella would get to know him too - she didn't know why that was important, but it was.
Elizabeth was brought back to earth by her wristwatch alarm. It was quarter to two.
"I have to go." She said reluctantly, turning off the alarm.
"What happened?"
"Oh, no it wasn't my pager - I'm on in fifteen minutes though." She stood up.
"Oh. What am I missing?"
"Um, a gallbladder I think."
"Well you'd better find out for sure Lizzie." He teased. "Thanks for lunch, highlight of my day."
"Mine too." She smiled at him and he caught his breath in his throat - she was so beautiful. "I'll be back in a couple of hours to fix up your dressing. Why don't you try and get some sleep?"
Robert yawned, "How'd you guess?"
"You're not the only one who has that effect on the opposite sex." She laughed as she walked out. He watched her walk away and closed his eyes smiling. The afternoon sun warmed his feet as he sunk into the pillows and slept.
disclaimer: see chapter 1
* * *
Elizabeth let herself into Robert's office and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She took a blanket off the end of the couch and shook it out, then lay down and tucked it around her. It felt so good to lie down and her eyes were so heavy. She set the alarm on her watch and fell asleep almost immediately. Hours later felt like seconds and the alarm went up long before she'd had enough sleep. She sat up and stretched her back. Swinging her legs off the couch, she stood up. She had an hour until she was expected to start work - just enough time for a shower and a bagel from the cafeteria. In a fresh set of scrubs from her locker she got her bagel and went to her office. The paper work on her desk would keep her busy from at least an hour then she had surgery, a meeting, and two more surgeries. Nine hours later she collapsed on the chair in her office. The message light was flashing on her phone so she pressed the button and leaned back on her chair closing her eyes.
"Hello, Elizabeth, Chris here. My sister is sick and needs me to look after her kids and I didn't want Ella to get it so I left her at the crèche. I hope you don't mind, but I couldn't get hold of you. I should still be able to look after her tomorrow though - give me a call this evening and I'll confirm. Sorry about this. Oh - and the crèche closes at 8 so I hope you get this before then. Sorry, bye." Beep.
Elizabeth pressed 3 to delete before the pre-recorded voice could start.
"Hey Lizzie. Robert here. I just wanted to say thanks. And, um, I don't suppose you could grab some stuff from my office for me - there's a couple of manila folders on my desk - just bring all of them, and my CD player, and a couple of CDs, your choice. Just if you can - don't go out of your way. Hope your days been okay. I'll see you later I guess." Beep.
This time she pressed 2 to save and left her office before the pre-recorded voice gave her any more options. She changed into a navy blue skirt and a white blouse, threw her scrubs back in her office, grabbed her bag and took the elevator down to the second floor where the crèche was located. Ella and one other child were there. Ella ran to her mother as soon as she made eye contact. Elizabeth picked her up, "you tired sweetie?"
"No." Ella said and then yawned. Elizabeth smiled.
"I don't believe you but I'll just pretend." Elizabeth said as she signed Ella out and walked back to the elevator, Ella on her hip. As the door opened Ella struggled so Elizabeth put her down and let the toddler walk into the elevator. She swung on the handrail as her mother pressed the button.
"We're just going to get something then we're going to visit a friend of Mommy's" Elizabeth explained, talking Ella's hand. Ten minutes later the pair walked hand-in-hand into the Robert's room. Ella was carrying Elizabeth's bag and Elizabeth had Robert's stereo, several files and several CDs under one arm and Ella's hand in her other hand.
Robert's face lit up when he saw them. "Oh, thank you. I wasn't expecting them until tomorrow, but thank you."
Elizabeth put his stuff on his bedside table and picked up her daughter, "That's okay - Ella, this is Robert."
"Hello Ella." Robert smiled at Ella who giggled back at him.
"Say hello, Ella." Elizabeth prompted.
"Hellow Wobut." Ella said slowly. "You sick?"
Robert nodded, "but I'll be better soon, or at least I'm hoping that is what your mother will tell me."
Elizabeth smiled, sitting Ella on the end of Robert's bed. "The nurses haven't kicked you out yet?" She sat beside him.
"Not quite." He smiled, "How was your day?"
Elizabeth took a deep breath and nodded, "busy."
"You didn't fall asleep during surgery?"
"Almost. The highlight was a surprise meeting with Kerry."
"Glad it was you not me." Robert gave her a wry smile. "Lizzie, you don't have to stay - You're exhausted."
"What gave me away?" she asked yawning.
Ella crawled up and sat herself on Robert's lap. Elizabeth just watched and smiled. Robert held Ella with his right arm, "Will you take your mom home and make sure she goes to sleep early?"
Ella nodded and looked at Elizabeth who yawned again, "Why is mommy tired?"
"Cause she was looking after me when she should have been sleeping."
"Does she need to look after you now?" Ella asked
Robert shook his head after a slightly-too-long pause. Ella crawled back into Elizabeth's lap.
"How are you feeling?" Elizabeth asked him.
He nodded, half-smiling, "better."
"Really?" she searched his face for the truth.
"Seven" he told her [scale of 1 to 10 for pain]
Again Elizabeth desperately wished she could do something. "I don't start till two tomorrow so I could bring you some decent lunch and stay for longer - we should really be going." She stood up and put her bag over her shoulder.
Robert nodded, "thanks for bringing that stuff from my office."
"No problem," she searched his face.
"I'll be fine Lizzie." He squeezed her hand.
"Nights are the worst," she offered
He nodded, "but I'll try to sleep - we can't all function on the tiny amount of sleep as you do."
Elizabeth yawned, "Define 'function'."
He smiled. He wanted to say 'look that beautiful and be that generous' but what he said was "Lunch sounds good."
"Okay," she picked up her bag and squeezed his hand; "I'll see you then."
"Sleep well, Lizzie."
"You too Robert." She picked up Ella.
"Bye Ella." Robert waved. Elizabeth smiled as Ella leaned back,
"Bye Wobut."
Robert smiled at the toddler, then at her mother, who waved and smiled back. He looked much happier than last night, Elizabeth thought as she walked away.
"Wobut is sick." Ella said.
"I know." Elizabeth replied
"Did you look after him?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"Why isn't he better yet?"
"Because it takes a little while for his body to heal - just like when you have a graze on your knee - it takes a few days to get better." Elizabeth tried to explain.
"Did Wobut fall over?" Ella looked shocked.
"No," Elizabeth considered if she should explain it to Ella. She'd taken to Robert so well and she seemed to make him brighten up too. So if she were going to bring Ella up to see him again she'd have to explain it at some point - and better if not in front of Robert. "He had a big deep cut on his arm," she understated, "and it got bad bugs in it and they were making him sick."
"So are you making the bugs go away?"
"Yes, but the doctor had to cut off his arm because it wasn't getting better."
"Ow." Ella looked a little scarred. "Will Wobut be okay?"
Elizabeth nodded and said under her breath, "I hope so."
* * *
Elizabeth walked into Robert's room. He looked like he was asleep, until he said in a rather abrasive tone, "I said I'm not hungry."
"Well, in that case I'll give your half to Kerry." Elizabeth teased.
Robert opened his eyes, "Oh, Lizzie, I thought you were the lunch lady. Don't tell her, or her friend - the sloppy-and-disgusting-dripping-with-fat-burger, but I'm actually famished."
"Good," she sat down beside him and pulled a bottle of orange juice a pottle of ice cream and a chicken, cranberry and brie panini out of her bag and put them on the table beside his bed. His eyes widened, making Lizzie smile, "You seem much better."
"If I'm not I will be soon. Where's yours?"
Lizzie pulled another panini out of her bag.
"I'm impressed. If you weren't such a great surgeon I'd suggest you sign up in the kitchen." He took a bite of his panini.
Lizzie laughed, "good to know I have career options. So, when was this last changed?" she nodded at his shoulder, taking a bite of her own panini.
"Yesterday evening, just before you got here."
"Would you mind if I did it this evening?"
"Not at all, but you must have enough to keep you busy - don't you have med students this week?"
"No, they arrive next Tuesday. And I have a gap from 4 till 6 so, assuming I don't get called down to the ER, I'll come and do it then. What did they say yesterday?"
"Not much. Lots of irritating condescension, but at least no sign of infection."
Elizabeth nodded and smiled, "You seem much more positive."
"The nurse put on a Tony Robins tape." He said sarcastically, "Na, I got some work done this morning so I'm not feeling quite so useless, and the nights are the worst."
"Yeah, in know what you mean." Elizabeth nodded, pouring the orange juice into two glasses.
"What do you mean?" He looked at her with friendly concern.
"Oh, um, just that when Mark died, it was always worse at night." She swallowed, a little uncomfortable sharing that with Robert, but feeling she needed to open up a bit considering he had.
"Oh." Robert wasn't sure how to respond
"Don't look so worried, Robert. I'm okay. I just can't believe it's been almost a year."
He smiled. "Hope you heal better than me."
"I did. I don't miss him much anymore, but I wish Ella could remember him. I have lots of photos for her - I put them away at first because they made it harder on me, but I got them out again a couple of months back - after I lost my ring, and you found it again." This opening-up-thing got easier as she went, thought Elizabeth.
Robert smiled, "right, the laparoscopic camera and snare trick."
"That's the one. You want your ice cream?"
"Sure. Do you want to put on a CD? - Good selection by the way."
Elizabeth passed him the ice cream and looked at the CDs she'd picked, "Tracy Chapman?"
Robert nodded with the plastic spoon in his mouth.
"Good look." Elizabeth laughed and pressed play. The promise started playing:
If you…wait for me
Then I'll… come for you
Although I've travelled far…
I'll always hold… a place
For you in my heart
"Good song." The both said at once. Robert took another spoonful of ice cream and told himself not to get his hopes up - but it was too late.
"You okay Robert?"
He looked up at her, "Um, yeah, sorry."
"Did you sleep well last night?"
"Eventually." He nodded, knowing the reason he'd not slept sooner was because he couldn't get her out of his mind, and he didn't really want to. "You?"
"Like a log." She smiled, "Don't you love going back to your own bed after you've spent a night somewhere else?"
He nodded, "Yeah, I'm certainly looking forward to mine."
"Did they say anything about how long it is till you can go home?"
"A few days to a week, but I won't be back here for at least another two weeks."
"You've got to be glad about that."
"Not really, I'll be bored out of my mind."
"Well in that case I'll drop all my paperwork in your mail box each evening and pick it up on my way in to the hospital a couple of days later."
"Only if you'll come in for a meal while you're at it - keep me company." He said sincerely, hoping she would consider it.
"I'll come for a visit but I was kidding, I'm not going to give you my paper work, as tempting as that is. You'll need your rest." She smiled at him, surprised that she was looking forward to visiting him.
"Okay, well I wasn't particularly anticipating the paperwork, but what do you propose I should do for ten days? What do you do on your days off?"
"Play with Ella, sleep - honestly I'm not home long enough to get bored."
"Well, I'm sure I'll be sleeping some of the time but I don't suppose Ella would like to visit?" He suggested, again stepping out on a limb, hoping she'd consider it.
"Ella would be ecstatic - she talked about you all the way home - at least until she fell asleep."
"Yeah, I have that effect on women."
Elizabeth laughed then changed her tone, "are you serious? I mean could you take Ella for a bit?"
"I'd love to."
"I wouldn't usually ask, but Chris, my nanny, has to look after her sister's kids this week cause her sister is sick - she's still looking after Ella but at their house and I don't want Ella to catch anything."
"Well I'd love to take her - maybe you can get me out of this place a day or two earlier and then we'll call it even?" Robert grinned at the prospect - he could be going home soon, seeing Elizabeth almost everyday and babysitting her daughter.
"I'll try - I can change the dressing just as easily at your place as here, that should swing them around."
"It's a deal," Robert smiled. He was hoping for her again - something he promised he wouldn't do unless she made the first move - but she wasn't running away like she had before and he couldn't help but want to be near her - dangerous maybe, but what if she could like him? There was always the chance, no matter how small, that she felt something. So he hung onto that little bit of chance and desperately tried to ignore all his doubts.
Elizabeth could hardly believe what was happening - she was going to leave her daughter with him - this was way beyond patient/doctor relationship. What surprised her most was that she didn't doubt the Ella would be fine with him - solo arm, quick mouth and all. And she'd probably be good for him - he'd have to stop thinking about himself and his shortcomings, if you could call them that. Yeah, it was a brilliant idea - Ella would get to know him too - she didn't know why that was important, but it was.
Elizabeth was brought back to earth by her wristwatch alarm. It was quarter to two.
"I have to go." She said reluctantly, turning off the alarm.
"What happened?"
"Oh, no it wasn't my pager - I'm on in fifteen minutes though." She stood up.
"Oh. What am I missing?"
"Um, a gallbladder I think."
"Well you'd better find out for sure Lizzie." He teased. "Thanks for lunch, highlight of my day."
"Mine too." She smiled at him and he caught his breath in his throat - she was so beautiful. "I'll be back in a couple of hours to fix up your dressing. Why don't you try and get some sleep?"
Robert yawned, "How'd you guess?"
"You're not the only one who has that effect on the opposite sex." She laughed as she walked out. He watched her walk away and closed his eyes smiling. The afternoon sun warmed his feet as he sunk into the pillows and slept.