I'll work on the titles...
As for disclaimers, i'll leave that to the pros.
Yeah, i know you just want to read the damn story -go on.
* * *
Elizabeth walked hand-in-hand with Ella along the waterfront. Ella was keeping up the conversation without much help. Elizabeth looked out across the water, with the sun gleaming off it. She looked back to the path and saw Robert leaning on the wall, looking out at the same gorgeous view.
"Hello," she said, stopping beside him and turning to the view, "stunning, isn't it?"
He turned and looked at her, "Yes."
"Wobut!" Ella reached up to him. He picked her up.
"Hello Ella, are you taking your mother for a walk?"
"Yup." Ella giggled. Elizabeth smiled at him.
"We were just on our way to get a hotdog." Elizabeth said, unable to take her eyes off him, "You want to join us?"
"Sure," he smiled at her and put Ella down to walk. With his now-free hand he took hers and they walked along the waterfront toward a hotdog vendor in companionable silence, with a hungry and excitable Ella skipping ahead of them.
Robert laughed.
"What?" She looked at him.
"She's so happy. You must be doing something right."
Elizabeth smiled at him, "I have a brilliant nanny."
"No, she adores you. You can't be everywhere at once Lizzie." He stopped walking and turned to her.
"I know," she faced him, "but sometimes I put being a doctor before being a mom."
"Mommy." Ella tugged Elizabeth's skirt, "Come on."
"Well, you should at least feed her Elizabeth." Robert teased, "What'll it be?" he knelt down so he was the same height as Ella.
"Hotdog!" Ella grinned excitedly.
"With ketchup, for her, and just mustard on mine." Elizabeth told the hotdog vendor. Robert passed them to her and paid for them,
"Lets sit down." He nodded toward a picnic table. Ella jumped on Elizabeth's lap, waking her from her dream.
"Good morning sweetie." Elizabeth sat up reluctantly and took Ella on her lap, "did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Ella grinned, "Breakfast?"
"Okay," Elizabeth stood up and tucked Ella under the covers, "You stay here and keep warm in Mommy's bed. I'll be right back."
Elizabeth walked into the kitchen thinking about her dream. The night before she had been so confused about Robert, but in her dream it was so simple - everything was okay between them and now she was so relaxed. With toast and juice on a tray Elizabeth returned to her bedroom. Ella was sitting under the blankets, leaning on big pillows, in the middle of Elizabeth's bed. She looked so tiny in the big bed. Elizabeth got in beside her and they ate breakfast, excitedly talking about their day. An hour later they left for the park.
After Ella had run around the playground for an hour they walked along the waterfront toward a hotdog vendor. Elizabeth couldn't help but be disappointed that Robert wasn't there - even though she knew he would be in hospital for at least another day. This is so silly, she told herself, if you want to visit him then do so. But Ella was yawning from all the walking and Elizabeth needed some more sleep before her shift. So they took a taxi home.
At 3:30 Elizabeth woke from her nap, cosy and dozy on the sofa. She could hear Ella stirring but her body told her to stay right where she was, with the sunlight warming her body.
"Mommy." Ella called lazily down the stairs.
"Coming sweetie." Elizabeth called, pulling herself off the couch.
Twenty minutes later Chris arrived and Elizabeth walked to the El. She planned to get to the hospital, disappear into her office for two hours and get through a lot of paperwork, then buy something from the café for dinner and visit Robert. Assuming she didn't get paged. Sitting on the train she tried to relax. And she was still trying to relax an hour later when she sat up to her elbows in paperwork. She couldn't concentrate. She'd decided, during her mind's digression, to get Robert something from the gift shop. Now, as she continued to try and focus on the paper in front of her, her mind wondered what she could get him. Something that would make him laugh but also to show her concern and affection.
A few minutes later she stood up - it was no good. She'd go and visit him now and come back and do the paper work once she'd gotten him out of her system.
Down in the gift shop she flicked through some cheesy cards and balloons. Nothing was right for him. Maybe a magazine - something to keep him busy. Or a recipe book - he'd said he cooked - or at least he'd said it was more difficult with only one arm. Yeah, she'd get him a cookbook. What kind of food did he like? She had no idea - well something basic that he could use frequently would be best. She picked out a desserts one with a giant chocolate cake on the cover. Her stomach growled. She took the book to the counter. While they were gift wrapping it she saw a basket of dog chew-toys. She went and rifled through them until she found a big dimpled purple ball. It had a happy face on one side and a grumpy face on the other side. Robert's got a dog. It made her laugh, and hoping it would have the same effect on Robert she handed it to the shop assistant. She picked a little card from beside the counter - a cartoon of a man covered in bandages like a mummy, lying on a bed with an arm and leg lifted in slings. It was silly and he probably wouldn't really like it but she could write something decent inside and that'd make all the difference. Anyway, her stomach was protesting to hunger at a volume that allowed everyone within two meters to hear it. With the presents in a bag she headed to the cafeteria and ordered a big bowl of potato wedges. While she ate she wrote in the card. And then with two decaf cups of coffee in one hand and a gift bag in the other she took the elevator up the Robert's ward. She was terrified her pager would go off and she wouldn't get to see him. In anticipation she walked into his room.
"Lizzie." He smiled at her, sitting up in the bed. He wasn't wearing the hospital gown anymore - his housekeeper must have brought him some clothes. He looked a lot better, in a blue short-sleeved shirt, open at the collar, and khakis. And he had more colour in his face.
She smiled at him, "Hi. How are you feeling?" she offloaded the coffee onto his bedside table but held the gift bag.
"Much better - it's good to get into my own clothes."
"You look better," she nodded. "Oh, I got you something." She put the bag beside him on the bed.
He looked at her confused and surprised, "Lizzie, you didn't need to do that."
"I wanted to," she shrugged and he took the two packages out of the bag, "Oh, don't open them now." She put the empty bag on the floor.
"Oh, but the anticipation." He teased.
"No, don't."
"Okay, at least I'll have something to look forward to when you leave." He leant over and put them back in the bag. "How was your day?"
"Good - me and Ella went to the park, got a hotdog for lunch and then slept all afternoon. Then I came in here and have been locked up in my office with a rainforest worth of trees in paper."
"You should have taken my offer."
"Looking after Ella will keep you busy enough - though it's probably more dangerous than paperwork."
"You still want me to?" He asked, unsure of himself.
"Yeah, if you're brave enough."
"Well now I don't have a choice." He pretended to be frustrated but soon smiled.
"Good - I still have my babysitter. Oh, by the way, I can sign you out tomorrow if you think you're ready to go."
"Really? Absolutely." He nodded. She was looking at him a little unsure if it was his pride talking. "I'll be fine." He assured her, taking her hand.
"Okay. It's my day off so I can come in and give you a hand." She offered then noticed her slip. "Sorry."
"It's okay. And don't come in on your day off - give them the paperwork tonight. I'll be fine."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"What? I'm not, it's your day off and I will be fine," he said, as much trying to convince himself as her.
"Robert, I'm coming in." She held his eye contact stubbornly, challenging him to disagree.
"Oh come on, why do you care so much?" Robert said what he was thinking before he could stop himself.
"Why do any of us care, Robert? None of us are worthy of compassion… or love… or whatever you want to call it, but we get it and give it anyway. Plus, this is how we work - you and I - we are cruel and sarcastic most of the time but occasionally we help each other out - it's how we work."
"No. It's how you work. I never gave you anything."
"You've never been pregnant - you don't know how important food is when you're pregnant." She insisted. "And you sent me home to Mark when I thought I couldn't go. I never thanked you for that, but…" she trailed off unsure how to continue, "thank you."
"What was it like?" he asked, unsure of his footing on this topic.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked away, "awful. Seeing someone you love in agony makes you realise how much you really do care - I didn't think I had it in me. But it's the same whenever Ella is sick and it was the same with you when I was changing your dressing yesterday. It just surprised me how affected I was."
"You have an amazing capacity to give, Elizabeth. I don't have a clue - and I'm not too crash-hot at receiving it either - as you know."
"Well, there's only one way to learn." She looked at him earnestly, her eyes speaking volumes.
He quickly looked away, "How many times can I play the 'momentary weakness' card?" he mumbled frustrated. He looked back at her when she didn't reply. She was still looking at him the same way - so openly, full of anticipation and fear, hope and compassion. "Elizabeth, don't toy with me." He begged.
"I'm not."
"You don't want this." He insisted, unable to break her eye contact.
"You don't know what I want."
"Then tell me."
Elizabeth took a controlled breath: in and out. "You." She whispered.
Bleep! Her pager went off, startling both of them. She checked it and rubbed her forehead. "I have to go." She practically fled the room.
Robert sat there in shock for a second, then swung his legs off the bed and ran after her. Hearing the doors open and shut behind her Elizabeth turned around. Robert was walking towards her. When he reached her he put his hand behind her neck and pulled her into his kiss - right there in front of the nurse's station - not to mention the immediately curious passers-by.
"This some sort of strange ritual? First Kerry and now this one?" One of the nurses turned amused to another.
"No." the nurse replied wide-eyed, still staring at them. The other followed her stare - Dr Corday was kissing him back? He broke away…
"I have to go." Elizabeth said smiling breathlessly.
Robert just smiled in reply and watched her back into the elevator. Desperately ignoring the shocked looks of everyone in the vicinity he returned to his room, biting his lip to keep from grinning.
Elizabeth was grateful to be alone in the elevator. She closed her eyes and smiled, tasting her lips. The elevator dinged and she wiped the grin off her face, walking into the ER as if everything was normal.
As for disclaimers, i'll leave that to the pros.
Yeah, i know you just want to read the damn story -go on.
* * *
Elizabeth walked hand-in-hand with Ella along the waterfront. Ella was keeping up the conversation without much help. Elizabeth looked out across the water, with the sun gleaming off it. She looked back to the path and saw Robert leaning on the wall, looking out at the same gorgeous view.
"Hello," she said, stopping beside him and turning to the view, "stunning, isn't it?"
He turned and looked at her, "Yes."
"Wobut!" Ella reached up to him. He picked her up.
"Hello Ella, are you taking your mother for a walk?"
"Yup." Ella giggled. Elizabeth smiled at him.
"We were just on our way to get a hotdog." Elizabeth said, unable to take her eyes off him, "You want to join us?"
"Sure," he smiled at her and put Ella down to walk. With his now-free hand he took hers and they walked along the waterfront toward a hotdog vendor in companionable silence, with a hungry and excitable Ella skipping ahead of them.
Robert laughed.
"What?" She looked at him.
"She's so happy. You must be doing something right."
Elizabeth smiled at him, "I have a brilliant nanny."
"No, she adores you. You can't be everywhere at once Lizzie." He stopped walking and turned to her.
"I know," she faced him, "but sometimes I put being a doctor before being a mom."
"Mommy." Ella tugged Elizabeth's skirt, "Come on."
"Well, you should at least feed her Elizabeth." Robert teased, "What'll it be?" he knelt down so he was the same height as Ella.
"Hotdog!" Ella grinned excitedly.
"With ketchup, for her, and just mustard on mine." Elizabeth told the hotdog vendor. Robert passed them to her and paid for them,
"Lets sit down." He nodded toward a picnic table. Ella jumped on Elizabeth's lap, waking her from her dream.
"Good morning sweetie." Elizabeth sat up reluctantly and took Ella on her lap, "did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Ella grinned, "Breakfast?"
"Okay," Elizabeth stood up and tucked Ella under the covers, "You stay here and keep warm in Mommy's bed. I'll be right back."
Elizabeth walked into the kitchen thinking about her dream. The night before she had been so confused about Robert, but in her dream it was so simple - everything was okay between them and now she was so relaxed. With toast and juice on a tray Elizabeth returned to her bedroom. Ella was sitting under the blankets, leaning on big pillows, in the middle of Elizabeth's bed. She looked so tiny in the big bed. Elizabeth got in beside her and they ate breakfast, excitedly talking about their day. An hour later they left for the park.
After Ella had run around the playground for an hour they walked along the waterfront toward a hotdog vendor. Elizabeth couldn't help but be disappointed that Robert wasn't there - even though she knew he would be in hospital for at least another day. This is so silly, she told herself, if you want to visit him then do so. But Ella was yawning from all the walking and Elizabeth needed some more sleep before her shift. So they took a taxi home.
At 3:30 Elizabeth woke from her nap, cosy and dozy on the sofa. She could hear Ella stirring but her body told her to stay right where she was, with the sunlight warming her body.
"Mommy." Ella called lazily down the stairs.
"Coming sweetie." Elizabeth called, pulling herself off the couch.
Twenty minutes later Chris arrived and Elizabeth walked to the El. She planned to get to the hospital, disappear into her office for two hours and get through a lot of paperwork, then buy something from the café for dinner and visit Robert. Assuming she didn't get paged. Sitting on the train she tried to relax. And she was still trying to relax an hour later when she sat up to her elbows in paperwork. She couldn't concentrate. She'd decided, during her mind's digression, to get Robert something from the gift shop. Now, as she continued to try and focus on the paper in front of her, her mind wondered what she could get him. Something that would make him laugh but also to show her concern and affection.
A few minutes later she stood up - it was no good. She'd go and visit him now and come back and do the paper work once she'd gotten him out of her system.
Down in the gift shop she flicked through some cheesy cards and balloons. Nothing was right for him. Maybe a magazine - something to keep him busy. Or a recipe book - he'd said he cooked - or at least he'd said it was more difficult with only one arm. Yeah, she'd get him a cookbook. What kind of food did he like? She had no idea - well something basic that he could use frequently would be best. She picked out a desserts one with a giant chocolate cake on the cover. Her stomach growled. She took the book to the counter. While they were gift wrapping it she saw a basket of dog chew-toys. She went and rifled through them until she found a big dimpled purple ball. It had a happy face on one side and a grumpy face on the other side. Robert's got a dog. It made her laugh, and hoping it would have the same effect on Robert she handed it to the shop assistant. She picked a little card from beside the counter - a cartoon of a man covered in bandages like a mummy, lying on a bed with an arm and leg lifted in slings. It was silly and he probably wouldn't really like it but she could write something decent inside and that'd make all the difference. Anyway, her stomach was protesting to hunger at a volume that allowed everyone within two meters to hear it. With the presents in a bag she headed to the cafeteria and ordered a big bowl of potato wedges. While she ate she wrote in the card. And then with two decaf cups of coffee in one hand and a gift bag in the other she took the elevator up the Robert's ward. She was terrified her pager would go off and she wouldn't get to see him. In anticipation she walked into his room.
"Lizzie." He smiled at her, sitting up in the bed. He wasn't wearing the hospital gown anymore - his housekeeper must have brought him some clothes. He looked a lot better, in a blue short-sleeved shirt, open at the collar, and khakis. And he had more colour in his face.
She smiled at him, "Hi. How are you feeling?" she offloaded the coffee onto his bedside table but held the gift bag.
"Much better - it's good to get into my own clothes."
"You look better," she nodded. "Oh, I got you something." She put the bag beside him on the bed.
He looked at her confused and surprised, "Lizzie, you didn't need to do that."
"I wanted to," she shrugged and he took the two packages out of the bag, "Oh, don't open them now." She put the empty bag on the floor.
"Oh, but the anticipation." He teased.
"No, don't."
"Okay, at least I'll have something to look forward to when you leave." He leant over and put them back in the bag. "How was your day?"
"Good - me and Ella went to the park, got a hotdog for lunch and then slept all afternoon. Then I came in here and have been locked up in my office with a rainforest worth of trees in paper."
"You should have taken my offer."
"Looking after Ella will keep you busy enough - though it's probably more dangerous than paperwork."
"You still want me to?" He asked, unsure of himself.
"Yeah, if you're brave enough."
"Well now I don't have a choice." He pretended to be frustrated but soon smiled.
"Good - I still have my babysitter. Oh, by the way, I can sign you out tomorrow if you think you're ready to go."
"Really? Absolutely." He nodded. She was looking at him a little unsure if it was his pride talking. "I'll be fine." He assured her, taking her hand.
"Okay. It's my day off so I can come in and give you a hand." She offered then noticed her slip. "Sorry."
"It's okay. And don't come in on your day off - give them the paperwork tonight. I'll be fine."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"What? I'm not, it's your day off and I will be fine," he said, as much trying to convince himself as her.
"Robert, I'm coming in." She held his eye contact stubbornly, challenging him to disagree.
"Oh come on, why do you care so much?" Robert said what he was thinking before he could stop himself.
"Why do any of us care, Robert? None of us are worthy of compassion… or love… or whatever you want to call it, but we get it and give it anyway. Plus, this is how we work - you and I - we are cruel and sarcastic most of the time but occasionally we help each other out - it's how we work."
"No. It's how you work. I never gave you anything."
"You've never been pregnant - you don't know how important food is when you're pregnant." She insisted. "And you sent me home to Mark when I thought I couldn't go. I never thanked you for that, but…" she trailed off unsure how to continue, "thank you."
"What was it like?" he asked, unsure of his footing on this topic.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked away, "awful. Seeing someone you love in agony makes you realise how much you really do care - I didn't think I had it in me. But it's the same whenever Ella is sick and it was the same with you when I was changing your dressing yesterday. It just surprised me how affected I was."
"You have an amazing capacity to give, Elizabeth. I don't have a clue - and I'm not too crash-hot at receiving it either - as you know."
"Well, there's only one way to learn." She looked at him earnestly, her eyes speaking volumes.
He quickly looked away, "How many times can I play the 'momentary weakness' card?" he mumbled frustrated. He looked back at her when she didn't reply. She was still looking at him the same way - so openly, full of anticipation and fear, hope and compassion. "Elizabeth, don't toy with me." He begged.
"I'm not."
"You don't want this." He insisted, unable to break her eye contact.
"You don't know what I want."
"Then tell me."
Elizabeth took a controlled breath: in and out. "You." She whispered.
Bleep! Her pager went off, startling both of them. She checked it and rubbed her forehead. "I have to go." She practically fled the room.
Robert sat there in shock for a second, then swung his legs off the bed and ran after her. Hearing the doors open and shut behind her Elizabeth turned around. Robert was walking towards her. When he reached her he put his hand behind her neck and pulled her into his kiss - right there in front of the nurse's station - not to mention the immediately curious passers-by.
"This some sort of strange ritual? First Kerry and now this one?" One of the nurses turned amused to another.
"No." the nurse replied wide-eyed, still staring at them. The other followed her stare - Dr Corday was kissing him back? He broke away…
"I have to go." Elizabeth said smiling breathlessly.
Robert just smiled in reply and watched her back into the elevator. Desperately ignoring the shocked looks of everyone in the vicinity he returned to his room, biting his lip to keep from grinning.
Elizabeth was grateful to be alone in the elevator. She closed her eyes and smiled, tasting her lips. The elevator dinged and she wiped the grin off her face, walking into the ER as if everything was normal.