Title: Giving Thanks: Neurological Night
Author: Jen Zoromski
All other information is in the first chapter.
Author's Note: Hope everyone is having a great holiday season!!!! Sorry that it has taken so long to update. If the writers get a hiatus so do I -- lol. Thanks for the awesome feedback!!! Enjoy
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December 4, 2003
5:19 p.m.
"Dr. Romano?" Pratt questions as Romano storms through the ER, not paying attention. He puts a chart away looks at the clock and heads for the lounge.
"Dr. Romano!" Pratt yells again.
"What?" Romano spits turning around, glaring at the man.
"Are we going to have that meeting or not?"
"No," Romano smirks as he heads into the lounge.
"What do you mean no? I've been waiting around since this morning --"
"That's your problem."
"Damn prick," Pratt mutters under his breathe.
"Pratt, if I were you, I'd watch what you say," Romano replies, "You wouldn't want me to have as Dr. Anspaugh would say 'witnessed documented cause' by others in the ER as ammo for your termination."
"So you already talked to Anspaugh?"
"Yeah."
"What'd he say?"
"That's confidential."
"It's my career."
"Maybe you should have been concerned about it before."
Romano gives him a huge smirk and opens his locker, taking his jacket out and putting it on. He's done. The lounge is quiet and he looks over to the couch -- it looks comfortable and the throb in the back of his neck is starting to give him a headache.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he sits down on the couch, muttering under his breath, "What the hell am I doing back? I was in a coma just a few weeks ago."
Of course no one answers in the darkened lounge. Thoughts of insanity go through his mind and he laughs at it. Elizabeth probably thinks he is insane to be back at work. In the ER non the less.
He leans his head back on the couch -- the throbbing stops momentarily. Closing his eyes makes it easier to bear the pain, but upon opening them again it takes a moment for everything to come into focus.
"Crap," he mutters under his breath focusing his eyes on the wall in front of him, "not now."
The door opens and the clicking of heels echoes on the tile.
"Dr. Romano, you okay?" Susan questions walking towards him.
"What do you think?" Romano bites.
"Are you dizzy?"
"Not yet."
"Do you have a headache."
"Yeah."
"Trouble seeing."
"It comes and goes," he replies quietly.
Susan takes a small flashlight out of the front pocket of her lab coat and shines it into his eyes.
"Your pupils are a little sluggish."
"Wonderful," Romano responds sarcastically.
"Follow my finger with your eyes."
Susan moves her finger in front of his face going from side to side and then up and down. Romano does as instructed.
"I want you to get a CT," Susan says.
"I'm good."
"No you're not. You had a serious accident and you were in a coma for a week. Your body doesn't recover overnight. You should know that Dr. Romano."
"Fine, I'll get the damn CT," Romano grumbles and tries to stand, but the dizziness sets in and he nearly loses his footing. Susan helps him back down on the couch.
"I'll go get you a wheelchair."
"I refuse to be wheeled through the ER in a wheelchair."
"Would you rather walk and collapse?" Susan asks.
"Well --"
"They'd be talking about that one for weeks -- about Romano fainting in the ER."
"Get the wheelchair."
Susan walks towards the door, but turns back, "Elizabeth's doing a consult -- would you like me to --"
"No," Romano says flatly.
"Are you sure?"
Romano's expression says otherwise.
"I'll tell her," Susan replies before disappearing out of the door.
He closes his eyes and tries to take in deep steady breaths. This can't be happening to him -- it was supposed to be easy -- you wake up from a coma happy to be alive and initially everything was good, better than expected.
That's why he wanted to come back to work this early -- he didn't want to be looked down upon again as the has been surgeon who nearly got his when a helicopter landed and knocked him out cold for a week. He wanted to be seen as someone who is still the hard assed man who wouldn't take a coma to hold him back.
The door swings open again -- he doesn't have to open his eyes to know that it's Elizabeth. Her perfume and the delicate click of her shoes on the linoleum are good enough for him.
"Robert, are you --"
"I'm fine, Lizzie, just feeling a little sick. You can never be too careful about these kinds of things -- you know since I did have a head injury."
"Regardless of the head injury you're still the same old Robert."
"Thanks for the concern, Lizzie."
"Anything for you."
Robert opens his eyes and looks at her -- a grin comes to his face, even though his head is pounding.
"Don't you have a consult to do?" Robert questions.
"Yeah. I'll come up and check on you if I'm not in surgery."
"Thanks -- but they aren't going to admit me."
Elizabeth gives him a motherly look, "Robert, don't fight with them. You need to be careful about how much you do. You've got to get better."
"That's what I'm trying to do."
Elizabeth gives his arm a gentle squeeze and a small smile, "You'll be fine."
"I know."
Elizabeth leaves the lounge as Susan wheels Romano up to CT. Romano's pounding head and the bright light of the ER cause him to close his eyes and keep them closed -- he doesn't care who sees him now -- all he needs is something for the pain. Anything.
10:39 p.m.
Much to Robert's dislike and distaste he is sitting in a hospital gown in County's Neurological Wing under observation. He is sleeping peacefully or at least appears to be.
Elizabeth opens the door and walks into the dark room taking a chair next to Robert's bed. She takes a grasp onto his hand and doesn't expect him to squeeze her hand back.
"Robert?"
Robert opens his eyes and smiles up at her.
"Lizzie, are you trying to take advantage of a man in a hospital gown?"
Elizabeth laughs, not sure exactly how to respond. Nothing quick witted comes to her -- it's been a long day.
"What cat got your tongue?"
"Obviously the cat gave yours back."
"Yeah I had to fight him for it."
Elizabeth squeezes his hand reassuringly, "How are you doing?"
"After they gave me some Tylenol with codeine I've been good."
"What'd they find?"
"Nothing -- they said that going back to work after only two weeks wasn't the best thing I could have done."
"So what'd they tell you?"
"Take a few more days off -- and only take half shifts for awhile."
"I'm sure you're heartbroken over that," Elizabeth says sarcastically.
"Well, I won't get to see you everyday," Robert replies, sincerely.
"Maybe you'll have to make an effort to come and see me," she responds.
"Are you inviting me over?" Robert snarks.
"Take it as you wish, but I've got a daughter to get home to."
"Of course you do."
"Robert you'll get through this."
"You known I always do."
"Good night."
"'Night Lizzie."
TBC
*****
More to come! R&R
~Jen
