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**The next day**
"The next time you call for a surgical consult, please make sure that it is actually something that requires surgery!" Elizabeth snapped at the med student cowering in front of her. As the hapless student scurried away, Elizabeth dropped the chart in the rack at the Admit desk and sighed as she rubbed her temples with one hand. There was an ominous throbbing behind one eye that was threatening to turn into a full-blown headache.
"Glad to see my surgeons being put to good use!"
She heard Robert's drawl and turned to him with a smile. As he reached her, he leaned in with a grin and said so only she could hear, "And even happier to see that I'm rubbing off on you."
"Well, it's not an easy thing to avoid. You are a bad influence."
"I do try," he said, "How about we adjourn to somewhere a little less public?" Elizabeth glanced around the Admit area, noting the presence of no less than five desk staff and three doctors. "Good idea," she said as she followed him to the lounge. Once inside, he pulled her against him and leaned against the counter. He kissed her, "I missed you."
Elizabeth laughed, "Robert! I was gone for all of fifteen minutes."
"Yeah, it was torture," he sighed dramatically. He grinned mischievously, "So, I was thinking. How would you like to go to dinner tonight?"
Elizabeth's heart jumped up into her throat. A date. A date with Robert Romano. Just a short time ago, she would have found the idea repugnant, but now it was enticing. The disparity struck her as funny and she giggled. Robert put on a wounded expression, "You laugh? Lizzie, I'm hurt!" His tone was teasing, but Elizabeth could see a very real fear of rejection in his eyes. She kissed him reassuringly, "That sounds lovely, Robert." He brightened up instantly, "Great! When is your shift over?"
"Seven."
"How about 8:30 then?"
Elizabeth nodded and she giggled again. Robert's face took on an aggrieved look, and he said remonstratively, "You, know, Lizzie, laughing at inopportune moments like that could really do damage to a man's ego."
Elizabeth let her head fall forward and she laughed into his shoulder, "Oh, Robert, nothing could damage your ego!" He snickered along with her, "You do have a point." As she laughed, Elizabeth realized how good it felt to laugh with him. Something about Robert with his guard down just felt so natural.
Suddenly, the door opened. Elizabeth tried to back away, feeling uncomfortably like a teenager caught in the sudden glare of porch lights, but Robert tightened his grip on her waist, preventing her escape. Carter stood in the doorway, a momentarily nonplussed look on his face. Then, realization dawned and he grinned. Robert cleared his throat loudly, "What do you want, Carter?"
"We've got some major traumas rolling in and we need both of you. ETA is about 5 minutes, " Carter said, still grinning. He started to head out the door, but he stopped and turned back to them, "And don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I always hoped you two would get together." The door swung closed behind him and Elizabeth collapsed against Robert, laughing with relief. He chuckled, "I knew I liked that kid."
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"Time of death: 6:45."
Elizabeth pulled off her gloves and gown. The young man on the gurney had never had a chance. She looked through the window into the next trauma room where Robert was still working feverishly. He looked up and their eyes met. He shook his head and barked an order to a nurse.
Elizabeth sighed heavily. Two kids out for a joyride had plowed into the back of a SUV at a stoplight. No alcohol or drugs had been involved, just simple freakish chance and teenage foolishness. She watched as Robert stepped back from the table and ordered compressions stopped. He called time of death and stormed out of the trauma room, pulling off gloves and gown as he went.
Elizabeth caught up with him at the Admit desk. He angrily spat, "When will kids ever learn? They know what's gonna happen to them and they still think they're invincible!" He seemed to deflate a little, and sighed, "How's the other family?"
"They're fine. Minor injuries, one case of whiplash, and a concussion, I believe." She glanced at the clock, "Robert, it's 7, let's get out of here. I just need to call my nanny to see if she can stay longer to watch Ella."
"All right, I'll go and grab my stuff. Shall I get yours too?" he asked. She nodded and fished her keys out of her pocket. She handed them over and Robert headed for the elevators.
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