I'm going away - leading a kids camp - for the next week or so, so this will be the last chapter for a little while, but I'll keep them coming as soon as I get back.
Thanks for all the reviews - I didn't think I'd get any.
You might want to read the end of the last one so you can understand the start of this one.
Disclaimer: characters/setting not mine. But if you're a scriptwriter from ER then please use this for season 10 - ta. If you're not, why are you reading my disclaimer - you've no reason to sue me.
* *
Robert climbed back into bed still breathless. His mind was spinning and the grin was firmly concreted onto his face. Then he saw the gift bag - no reason for the fun to end now, he thought, picking the bag up off the floor. Thankfully, she hadn't sealed the envelope of the card - he opened it and read,
"Robert, hope you are feeling better. If there's anything I can ever do please swallow you damn pride and just ask - you know I care and you have given me more than you can know. I don't offer out of pity - But I know you find that very hard to believe. Someone once said, 'what makes us human is not our minds but our hearts, not our ability to think but our ability to love.' Rather than focusing on what you can't do now - think of all the things you still can.
Yours, Lizzie."
Robert wiped the stray tear that had squeezed out and put the card on his bedside table. He opened the odd-shaped present first. A purple stress ball? Oh - it's a dog toy. He laughed. The faces were hilarious - like before and after pictures. Gretel will love it, he thought, opening the second gift. A cookbook? What strange gifts… but I suppose she has no idea what I would like.
Then he saw some writing on the back of the card,
"PS - hope you like them - the purple thing is for your dog, by the way. I didn't know what to get you - which explains the cookbook too - thought you could start your own TV show - we've had the naked chef - now we have the solo-armed chef. Maybe not. You'll have to try it out on Ella when you're babysitting."
Robert Laughed out loud. Seconds later one of the nurses poked their head in, "Are you okay, Doctor Romano?"
"Just fine thank you," He was still grinning and put the card back on the table.
"Okay," she looked at him quizzically, "are you ready to have your dressing changed?"
"And I was having such a great day."
"I noticed." The nurse said under her breath but he heard her.
"I don't care." He replied, "Yeah, go on, what's the worse you can do - rip my arm off?"
"Lets hope not, you don't have that many left." She said, sitting beside his bed. She began to loosen the tape around his arm. "So, when are you leaving?"
"You sick of me already?"
"Yep." The nurse made eye contact as she removed the dressing. "That's looking great. No sign of infection. It's healing well."
"I can see that." Robert gritted his teeth as she wiped the skin around the wound - it was still so sensitive - it ached all the time but when it was touched - wow, the pain level skyrocketed. The nurse quickly replaced the dressing with a fresh one and taped it to his shoulder.
"There you go. Am I going to need to come back tomorrow?"
"No, Lizzie - I mean Dr Corday, is signing me out in the morning. She can change the dressing."
"Everyday?" the nurse asked
"Yeah, but, oh, no, she's not staying with me - she's just…"
"None of my business," the nurse held up her hands
"True. You done?" he nodded to his left shoulder
"Yeah." She turned and left, leaving Robert to the realization that gossip spread like wild fire and this would be worse than his kissing Kerry in the middle of the ER - everyone knew they couldn't stand one another - Him and Lizzie were another story entirely. Lizzie had said people were already starting to talk and that was before he kissed her in front of God and everyone. But he still couldn't bring himself to regret it. She'd kissed him back and he had thought that would only ever happen in dreams.
The next morning Elizabeth got up early on her own - she was like a child on Christmas morning with all the anticipation of something really wonderful. Ella was happily playing in her cot and was obviously surprised to see her mother up and dressed and happy this early. Ella squealed and giggled reaching up for Elizabeth to pick her up. She did so and got Ella changed and fed in record time.
"We're going in to the hospital for a little while." Elizabeth explained, "so do you want to get some toys to take?"
"Mommy working?"
"No," Elizabeth shook her head, "Not today, we're going to visit Robert, you remember Robert right?"
"Wobut!" Ella smiled "Better?"
Elizabeth nodded, "He's going home today - so we're going to help him." She shepherded her daughter out the door and locked it behind them. Ella stood by the passenger door, a bedraggled soft toy dog hanging by its ear from her right hand.
"You're in the back seat today sweetie," Elizabeth moved the car seat and settled Ella in.
"Why?"
"Because we're going to take Robert to his house." Elizabeth explained, backing out onto the road.
* * *
Robert woke up early as well. When nine o'clock rolled by he was dressed in khakis, a short sleeved shirt and trainers, sitting on the edge of his bed with all his belongings packed into a sports bag beside him. Impatiently he flicked on the cd player and lay back on the bed, putting his feet up on his bag. 'The Promise' came on again.
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
If you think of me
If you miss me once in a while
Then I'll return to you
I'll return, and fill that space in your heart
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way
Back to you
If you'll be waiting
If you dream of me
Like I dream of you
In a place that's warm and dark
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way
Back to you
If you'll be waiting
I've longed for you
And I have desired
To see your face your smile
To be with you wherever you are
Robert relaxed and started singing along,
"Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way
Back to you
Please say you'll be waiting
I've longed for you
And I have desired
To see your face your smile
To be with you wherever you are"
He closed his eyes, imagining Lizzie's smile, her laugh, the way her face showed her emotions,
Together again
"It would feel so good to be
In your arms
Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise
If its one that you can keep
I vow to come for you
If you wait for me…
And say you hold
A place, for me
In your heart
A place for me in your heart"
He opened his eyes and leaned over to press backtrack so he could listen to it again. Then he saw her standing just inside the door with Ella on one hip. Ella's finger was on her lips, like she was telling herself to be quiet. Elizabeth was just smiling at him, holding his eye contact.
"Hi." He said awkwardly, sitting up, cross-legged [same as Indian-style, except I live in New Zealand so as far as I'm concerned, it's 'cross-legged'] on his bed. Elizabeth walked over.
"All packed eh?"
"Yeah, can't wait to get out of here." He confessed, "sorry about the concert just then."
Elizabeth shook her head, "I'm not. That was amazing."
"Told you I could sing." He grinned, "Hi Ella." He took her from Elizabeth.
"Hi Wobut." Ella said, a bit shy. Robert just smiled at her. She reached out to touch his left shoulder.
"No, Ella…" Elizabeth began.
"It's okay." Robert said quickly. He put Ella down on the bed and sat beside her then pulled up his sleeve so she could see.
"No arm." Ella murmured. Robert shook his head. "Sore?" Robert nodded. Ella kissed her hand and touched his shoulder lightly.
Robert smiled, "thank you, you'll make a good doctor, just like your mum."
Elizabeth watched him until he turned to her and caught her staring, "could you take them?" he pointed at the CD player and bag.
Elizabeth nodded and Robert gathered Ella back to him
"We all ready to go?" she asked. Robert nodded, then Ella did. Elizabeth smiled, Ella loved him already - it had taken Elizabeth a lot longer to figure out that she did, but a child knew straight away…
"Am I all signed out?" Robert asked.
"Yep - you're a free man."
"Good. Lead the way Lizzie." He stood up and followed Elizabeth out. Ella leaned her curly head against his good shoulder and comfortably played with his collar. Elizabeth turned to walk beside them and couldn't help but smile. She knew the nurses had had a field day yesterday after their public display of affection, but this would be the icing on the cake - walking out of the ward like a happy family. She could feel their curious, confused looks but ignored them and pressed the elevator button.
"So, will you two stay for lunch? - I mean, when we get home."
"Are you sure?" Elizabeth looked at him. Ella sat up in his arm and looked at Elizabeth,
"Yes, mommy, please…" she whined.
"We should pick something up on the way." Elizabeth suggested,
"No, no." Robert replied, "there's plenty of food, my housekeeper did the shopping last night when I told her I was coming home."
"Okay then." Elizabeth led him to her car and watched him put Ella in the car seat. He struggled for a moment with the belt until Ella held one side so he could just push the other one in. Elizabeth watched, fining herself smiling again - not really such a bad thing.
Thanks for all the reviews - I didn't think I'd get any.
You might want to read the end of the last one so you can understand the start of this one.
Disclaimer: characters/setting not mine. But if you're a scriptwriter from ER then please use this for season 10 - ta. If you're not, why are you reading my disclaimer - you've no reason to sue me.
* *
Robert climbed back into bed still breathless. His mind was spinning and the grin was firmly concreted onto his face. Then he saw the gift bag - no reason for the fun to end now, he thought, picking the bag up off the floor. Thankfully, she hadn't sealed the envelope of the card - he opened it and read,
"Robert, hope you are feeling better. If there's anything I can ever do please swallow you damn pride and just ask - you know I care and you have given me more than you can know. I don't offer out of pity - But I know you find that very hard to believe. Someone once said, 'what makes us human is not our minds but our hearts, not our ability to think but our ability to love.' Rather than focusing on what you can't do now - think of all the things you still can.
Yours, Lizzie."
Robert wiped the stray tear that had squeezed out and put the card on his bedside table. He opened the odd-shaped present first. A purple stress ball? Oh - it's a dog toy. He laughed. The faces were hilarious - like before and after pictures. Gretel will love it, he thought, opening the second gift. A cookbook? What strange gifts… but I suppose she has no idea what I would like.
Then he saw some writing on the back of the card,
"PS - hope you like them - the purple thing is for your dog, by the way. I didn't know what to get you - which explains the cookbook too - thought you could start your own TV show - we've had the naked chef - now we have the solo-armed chef. Maybe not. You'll have to try it out on Ella when you're babysitting."
Robert Laughed out loud. Seconds later one of the nurses poked their head in, "Are you okay, Doctor Romano?"
"Just fine thank you," He was still grinning and put the card back on the table.
"Okay," she looked at him quizzically, "are you ready to have your dressing changed?"
"And I was having such a great day."
"I noticed." The nurse said under her breath but he heard her.
"I don't care." He replied, "Yeah, go on, what's the worse you can do - rip my arm off?"
"Lets hope not, you don't have that many left." She said, sitting beside his bed. She began to loosen the tape around his arm. "So, when are you leaving?"
"You sick of me already?"
"Yep." The nurse made eye contact as she removed the dressing. "That's looking great. No sign of infection. It's healing well."
"I can see that." Robert gritted his teeth as she wiped the skin around the wound - it was still so sensitive - it ached all the time but when it was touched - wow, the pain level skyrocketed. The nurse quickly replaced the dressing with a fresh one and taped it to his shoulder.
"There you go. Am I going to need to come back tomorrow?"
"No, Lizzie - I mean Dr Corday, is signing me out in the morning. She can change the dressing."
"Everyday?" the nurse asked
"Yeah, but, oh, no, she's not staying with me - she's just…"
"None of my business," the nurse held up her hands
"True. You done?" he nodded to his left shoulder
"Yeah." She turned and left, leaving Robert to the realization that gossip spread like wild fire and this would be worse than his kissing Kerry in the middle of the ER - everyone knew they couldn't stand one another - Him and Lizzie were another story entirely. Lizzie had said people were already starting to talk and that was before he kissed her in front of God and everyone. But he still couldn't bring himself to regret it. She'd kissed him back and he had thought that would only ever happen in dreams.
The next morning Elizabeth got up early on her own - she was like a child on Christmas morning with all the anticipation of something really wonderful. Ella was happily playing in her cot and was obviously surprised to see her mother up and dressed and happy this early. Ella squealed and giggled reaching up for Elizabeth to pick her up. She did so and got Ella changed and fed in record time.
"We're going in to the hospital for a little while." Elizabeth explained, "so do you want to get some toys to take?"
"Mommy working?"
"No," Elizabeth shook her head, "Not today, we're going to visit Robert, you remember Robert right?"
"Wobut!" Ella smiled "Better?"
Elizabeth nodded, "He's going home today - so we're going to help him." She shepherded her daughter out the door and locked it behind them. Ella stood by the passenger door, a bedraggled soft toy dog hanging by its ear from her right hand.
"You're in the back seat today sweetie," Elizabeth moved the car seat and settled Ella in.
"Why?"
"Because we're going to take Robert to his house." Elizabeth explained, backing out onto the road.
* * *
Robert woke up early as well. When nine o'clock rolled by he was dressed in khakis, a short sleeved shirt and trainers, sitting on the edge of his bed with all his belongings packed into a sports bag beside him. Impatiently he flicked on the cd player and lay back on the bed, putting his feet up on his bag. 'The Promise' came on again.
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
If you think of me
If you miss me once in a while
Then I'll return to you
I'll return, and fill that space in your heart
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way
Back to you
If you'll be waiting
If you dream of me
Like I dream of you
In a place that's warm and dark
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way
Back to you
If you'll be waiting
I've longed for you
And I have desired
To see your face your smile
To be with you wherever you are
Robert relaxed and started singing along,
"Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way
Back to you
Please say you'll be waiting
I've longed for you
And I have desired
To see your face your smile
To be with you wherever you are"
He closed his eyes, imagining Lizzie's smile, her laugh, the way her face showed her emotions,
Together again
"It would feel so good to be
In your arms
Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise
If its one that you can keep
I vow to come for you
If you wait for me…
And say you hold
A place, for me
In your heart
A place for me in your heart"
He opened his eyes and leaned over to press backtrack so he could listen to it again. Then he saw her standing just inside the door with Ella on one hip. Ella's finger was on her lips, like she was telling herself to be quiet. Elizabeth was just smiling at him, holding his eye contact.
"Hi." He said awkwardly, sitting up, cross-legged [same as Indian-style, except I live in New Zealand so as far as I'm concerned, it's 'cross-legged'] on his bed. Elizabeth walked over.
"All packed eh?"
"Yeah, can't wait to get out of here." He confessed, "sorry about the concert just then."
Elizabeth shook her head, "I'm not. That was amazing."
"Told you I could sing." He grinned, "Hi Ella." He took her from Elizabeth.
"Hi Wobut." Ella said, a bit shy. Robert just smiled at her. She reached out to touch his left shoulder.
"No, Ella…" Elizabeth began.
"It's okay." Robert said quickly. He put Ella down on the bed and sat beside her then pulled up his sleeve so she could see.
"No arm." Ella murmured. Robert shook his head. "Sore?" Robert nodded. Ella kissed her hand and touched his shoulder lightly.
Robert smiled, "thank you, you'll make a good doctor, just like your mum."
Elizabeth watched him until he turned to her and caught her staring, "could you take them?" he pointed at the CD player and bag.
Elizabeth nodded and Robert gathered Ella back to him
"We all ready to go?" she asked. Robert nodded, then Ella did. Elizabeth smiled, Ella loved him already - it had taken Elizabeth a lot longer to figure out that she did, but a child knew straight away…
"Am I all signed out?" Robert asked.
"Yep - you're a free man."
"Good. Lead the way Lizzie." He stood up and followed Elizabeth out. Ella leaned her curly head against his good shoulder and comfortably played with his collar. Elizabeth turned to walk beside them and couldn't help but smile. She knew the nurses had had a field day yesterday after their public display of affection, but this would be the icing on the cake - walking out of the ward like a happy family. She could feel their curious, confused looks but ignored them and pressed the elevator button.
"So, will you two stay for lunch? - I mean, when we get home."
"Are you sure?" Elizabeth looked at him. Ella sat up in his arm and looked at Elizabeth,
"Yes, mommy, please…" she whined.
"We should pick something up on the way." Elizabeth suggested,
"No, no." Robert replied, "there's plenty of food, my housekeeper did the shopping last night when I told her I was coming home."
"Okay then." Elizabeth led him to her car and watched him put Ella in the car seat. He struggled for a moment with the belt until Ella held one side so he could just push the other one in. Elizabeth watched, fining herself smiling again - not really such a bad thing.