Disclaimer: I don't own the quote in this chapter. It is owned by TPTB of e.r - yes the same ones who decided to kill Romano off - Bitter? me? (sarcasm!) This chapter involves things from the episode 'finders keepers" ***** They had both decided they didn't care who knew about their relationship. They loved each other and Laura felt that Robert was beginning to accept the loss of his arm. They had planned that Tuesday to be the day when they told everyone, the day when everyone would know they were an item, but it wasn't that easy. It never was. That damn Tuesday.

Laura had driven in with Robert and parked in the lot as usual. He had kissed her goodbye and gone to his office. They had planned to tell everyone after his board meeting, and so when someone mentioned they'd seen him in the hall a little after one she presumed he had finished early.

She suddenly heard his voice bellowing "You will treat, you will street or you will dispo. Anyone late for his or her shift, be advised that I am now in charge of this human cesspool. Say goodbye to the warm fuzzies of the Weaver era and hello to the age of efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Any questions? Didn't think so."

She wondered what was going on. As chief of staff he'd always been in charge of the E.R , and every other department for that matter but he'd never been this mean.

She came up to the admit desk.

"Robert?" She asked

He ignored her and stormed into exam 1. His new office.

"He's been demoted to chief of emergency medicine." Luka informed her

"What??" She asked

"Laura we need you." Susan shouted coming in with a patient.

"C-spine, chest and pelvis. Type and cross for four units." Susan shouted

They worked on the patient until he was stable and he had to go up for surgery. The consult had been terrible. She was talking to the relatives of a dead child when she heard Robert shouting. She wanted to go to him but she had to be professional and had think of her patients.
When she came out from talking to the relatives she found out Robert had gone home. It was the end of his shift, he usually told her when he was going but she guessed he was too hurt. She found out that someone had called for a surgical consult and a young resident had come down. Robert had suggested the patient go to surgery but the resident had continued to question the patient. Laura knew the doctor had to do her job but she knew how Robert would have felt being undermined by a resident.

She was worried about what he may do and so as soon as her shift finished she went over to his house. He didn't answer the door which made her even more worried. She went round the back of the house and entered through Gretel's doggy door. She would usually have never even considered going through there but in the circumstances that was the least of her worries.

"Robert." She called

She looked around the house and he was nowhere. She didn't know whether to be relieved that he hadn't came back and done stupid or more fearful that he could be anywhere. She tried to ring his cell but it was switched off. She paged him but the beeping coming from the kitchen told her he'd left it at home. All she could do is wait for him. She got a blanket off of his bed and sat on the sofa. She must have dozed off as a little after 12 she woke up to the sound of someone opening the door.

She shot up from the sofa and went to the front door. It was Robert.

"Robert I was worried sick." She said running up to him

She noticed numerous cuts and bruises on his face

"What happened?" She asked

"Nothing" he said

He stormed past her into the kitchen, made himself a large glass of whisky and sat down in the lounge. She sat down on the sofa and hoped he'd come over from the armchair and sit with her but he didn't, he just sat their silently. It was as if she could hear the thoughts in his head, the anger, the pain, the embarrassment.
She just sat there and waited, and waited until finally he came over to her and kissed her.

"What happened?" She asked

He shook his head. She realised this meant he didn't want to talk about it. She got some antiseptic and started to clean his cuts. He winced in pain and she looked at him, her eyes giving him a silent apology in which she was sure he accepted.
After she had cleaned his abrasions they went to bed. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow -he was exhausted. She was so happy that he was safe and she was determined to let him know she was there for him. She slipped off to sleep and the house was left in silence as it had been only hours before.