Title: In From the Cold
Author: little_miss_writer
Rating: R. Told you it would be going up! I don't know if it quite justifies an R rating, but better safe than sorry.
Disclaimer: I own nothing unfortunately. Elizabeth Corday, Robert "Rocket" Romano (wonderfully portrayed by Paul McCrane) and any other ER characters mentioned belong to Warner Bros, Michael Crichton and a variety of other lucky, lucky people. I wish I did own them, but I don't. This is a work of fiction so nobody get upset ok?
Also, the music and lyrics of "Is it okay if I call you mine?" (which was featured in the movie "Fame") belong to Paul McCrane. I'm just borrowing them for a bit. I thought of a few songs to use for this chapter, but this one seems appropriate.
Notes: A few things to know. In this story Elizabeth is not involved with Mark, so no marriage and no Ella. Takes place sometime before "Lockdown". It's just a nice little piece about Romano and Corday's friendship. I have read the season nine spoilers (I wish I hadn't!), but nothing is given away here at all, so its entirely safe. Also I'm British and so is my spelling, you have been warned!
Also, I have done my best to correct my grammatical mistakes (that's the last time I rely on Word's grammar check) but after updating I did spot a few typos in the previous chapters. Sorry about that, I'll go over them with a fine tooth comb at a later date.
Feedback: Yes!! Always wanted!! Send it to little_miss_writer@hotmail.com. Please r/r!
Chapter 3
Is it okay if I call you mine?
Just for a time…
And I will be just fine
If I know that you know that I'm wanting
Needing your love…
It was a perfect moment. It could have been plucked right out of a romance novel or a movie. It felt magical, Elizabeth thought. Nothing else seemed to exist, nothing else seemed to matter. Everything else had no meaning at all.
If I ask of you is it all right
If I ask you to hold me tight
Through a cold dark night
Cause there may be a cloudy day in sight
And I need to let you know that I might
Be needing your love….
She sat in complete silence, Gretyl by her side, resting her head on Elizabeth's knee. The music seemed to have enchanted them both. Neither of them moved, as if afraid they would somehow break the spell. This was a special moment, one to be kept and treasured forever. It was three days from Christmas, snow gently floated past the window, it was going to be a white Christmas, as it often was in Chicago, and she was listening to Robert Romano, the supposedly arrogant, egotistical and mean spirited Chief of Staff of county, singing for her. It was so surreal, yet it felt so natural. She knew, without being told, that Robert never sang in front of people, it was something very personal, a little part of himself. And he was willing to share it with her. That had to mean something didn't it? That had to make what they had special.
And what I'm trying to say isn't really new…
It's just the things that happen to me
When I'm reminded of you…
Like when I hear your name,
Or see a place that you've been
Or see a picture of your grin,
Or pass a house that you've been in,
One time or another..
His voice was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful and completely mesmerising. They were sitting so close that she could feel, not just hear the music. Although he wasn't singing particularly loudly, his voice had no trouble filling the whole room. It seemed to surround her, capturing her, showering her with emotions. The guitar was the perfect accompaniment, suiting his voice wonderfully. He didn't play too loudly so that he was drowned out, or too quietly, so that he could not be heard. It was just perfect. The song was incredible, simple, and yet so full of feeling. Elizabeth found herself wondering whom he was singing about. Was it a past love? Somebody he'd lost? Was he involved with somebody at the moment? She didn't believe so, unless she had completely misread the situation, unless she had imagined him staring at her, imagined him blushing when he was caught, imagined the electricity between them when their eyes met. Maybe he was trying to tell her how he felt. Maybe he was saying it through song, because he was too worried, too scared to say it directly to her. Did he love her? Did she love him?
It sets off something in me I can't explain.
And I can't wait to see you again.
Oh, babe, I love your love…
And what I'm trying to say isn't really new…
Elizabeth drank in the sight of him as he sang. He concentrated fully on the task, keeping his eyes fixed on his hands when he changed chords, checking that he was moving his fingers to the right frets. Occasionally he glanced up and caught her eye. And when he did, she felt her heat quicken and shivers race though her body. It was the look in his eyes, those chocolate pools, warm and dark. The revealed so much, yet held so many secrets. She could see clearly the emotions running through them, joy, apprehension, desire. She could lose herself in those eyes.
It's just the things that happen to me
When I'm reminded of you…
The music faded into the silence. And they were left, staring at each other, and Elizabeth felt that spark again, that jolt of electricity between them. She thought of everything that had happened between them over the years, everything that they had shared. They had laughed together and fought with each other, although they had certainly fought more often. They had seen each other at their best and at their worst. They had been colleges and now they were friends. Could they be more? Could he be what she was looking for? Would he let her in?
Wordlessly Robert lifted the guitar off his lap and placed it onto the floor. Then he turned so that he was facing Elizabeth completely. They were so close, she could feel his breath on her face, could hear him breathing, could see everything she was feeling mirrored in his eyes.
"That was beautiful Robert." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Thank you." The low rumble of a reply sent a shiver racing down Elizabeth's spine.
"Did you write it yourself? For someone you cared about?"
He nodded, eyes never leaving her face. "Yeah."
"She must have meant a great deal to you."
"Yes, she certainly does."
He shuffled closer, and then reached out with his right hand, gently caressing her check. His touch was so soft. She watched as he leaned towards her, then felt her eyes fluttering closed, as his lips brushed against hers and –
She startled, and nearly fell off the couch. Gretyl yelped as Elizabeth's foot narrowly missed her tail. Robert pulled back, alarm clear in his eyes. "Lizzie? I'm sorry I-I – "
"No Robert, it wasn't you," Unfortunately she knew exactly what it was. With an unhappy smile, she reached behind her, retrieving her pager from her back pocket. She looked down at the tiny screen, and a wave of disappointment washed through her. "It's the ER, can I use your phone please Robert?"
"Of course," she could hear the disappointment in his voice. "It's, uh, on the table over there."
She gave him a slight smile and walked across to the table and punched in the digits into the handset. Who ever it was, she didn't care. Nobody was going to spoil this night.
"It's Dr Corday, what's going on? I see. Yes. Is nobody else free? Yes, I understand that but I'm not on call today. No." She sighed. "No, I understand. Yes, I'll be there as soon as I can, keep an eye on her."
"Problem?"
"Yes. One of my patients has come in, and refuses to be seen by anybody else but me. He won't even let the nurses carry out a blood test. He's been there for three hours. I'm sorry Robert but I'm going to have to go."
"I understand, it's ok. I'll drive you."
"You can't Robert." she gestured to the empty bottle of wine on the table.
"Oh. Well then I'll call you a cab."
"Thank you."
"And you wonder where my strong dislike of the ER comes from." He said wryly.
Robert called a cab, and then busied himself clearing the glasses from the table and taking them to the kitchen. Elizabeth felt suddenly deflated, it had been going so well, and now it was over. Who knew if she'd ever get another chance? The cab arrived far too soon for her liking, and, after she had said goodbye to Gretyl, Robert wordlessly escorted her to the hall, and helped her put on her jacket.
"I had a lovely time Robert, thank you."
"I'm glad you came Lizzie."
Elizabeth smiled, and turned, bracing herself for the wind and snow outside, placed a hand on the door handle.
"Elizabeth?"
She turned, and then felt a hand on the back of her neck, pulling her down. His soft lips brushed against hers, asking permission. She responded enthusiastically, returning his kiss, as his other hand gently ran through her hair. She felt his tongue trace her lips, and she opened her mouth to him, letting him in, feeling him exploring her mouth, learning every curve and hollow. Settling one hand on his shoulder, she ran the other down his back, pulling him closer to her, feeling the heat radiating off him. The kiss became more passionate as their tongues duelled, his hands roaming her body, down her neck, past her shoulder, down to her waist and back up again. She felt as though she were on fire. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he gently backed her up, never breaking the kiss, until she felt her back pressing against a wall. He pulled away for an instant. She knew he was making sure she was okay, checking that he wasn't pushing her too fast, that it wasn't all too much. Elizabeth knew for a fact that it wasn't fast enough. He leaned into her, a hand on the wall on either side of her head, and planted hot, wet kisses down her neck, and up again to her ear, nibbling on the sensitive lobe with his teeth. Elizabeth heard herself hiss with pleasure. She lifted his chin slightly with one hand and brought his lips to hers, then slid her hands underneath his t-shirt, caressing the soft skin of his lower back. She felt him moan into the kiss as she tugged his shirt higher –
A loud rap at the door startled both of them and they broke apart reluctantly. She watched Robert attempting to catch his breath, as she listened to the retreating footsteps.
"I'd better go, you did tell them it was an emergency."
Robert stared up at her, his eyes dilated and filled with desire, face flushed, lips kiss swollen. He looked wonderful.
"Yeah, I guess."
He opened the door for her, and she was instantly hit by the biting cold. She missed Robert already, his heat, his scent, his kiss. She started making her way down the steps, then turned back to face him.
Robert took her chin in his hand and looked into her eyes. "You're beautiful." He said simply. And she felt awash with joy, because she heard the love and sincerity in his voice. The cab driver rolled down the window and yelled something about not having all night.
"Alright, alright!" Robert shouted back.
"Take care Lizzie."
"You too Robert."
"And don't give that loud mouth a tip."
He kissed her briefly. Then she turned, wrapped her coat tight around her, and hurried to the cab. As she reached it, she smiled. Across the cold night air came the faint sounds of Hark Ye Herald Angels Sing. Turning, Elizabeth saw a small band of children making their way through the snow by candlelight. Dressed in thick winter coats, gloves, scarves and hats, they sang, their high voices drifting across the night air. Recalling Robert's opinions on Christmas Carols, Elizabeth grinned and called up to him, "They sound in need of a tenor Robert. Maybe you could lend some assistance?" Without waiting for a reply, it was sure not to be a pleasant one, she leapt into the car, laughing at the expression on his face, pleased to see that no matter how hard he tried to hide it, he was laughing too.
********
Elizabeth sighed. After finally persuading Mr Truman that nurses were perfectly capable of drawing blood safely, despite what he read in the papers, she was on her way home. She resisted the urge to ask the cab driver to go past Robert's house to see if he was still awake. Instead, she relived the evening in her mind, remembered Robert's voice, remembered him cooking for her, singing for her, kissing her. It had gone better than she'd hoped, better than her wildest dreams, well, maybe not her wildest dreams exactly. She didn't know what she had expected when she decided to go to Robert's house, but that evening had certainly exceeded all expectations.
Feeling a strange mixture between being completely exhausted, and deliriously happy, Elizabeth paid the cabby, tipping far too much, and ran to her door, which she could barely make out through the snow. Dumping her jacket and bag in the hallway, she noticed her answer machine's light flashing. Pressing the play button, she somehow knew who it was before the message started.
"Hey Lizzie, it's Robert. I-I, uh, just wanted you to know that I had a really nice time tonight, and uh, I hope you did too. I was wondering if you're not busy on Christmas Eve if you'd like to come over for a meal or something, just if you want. So if y-you do just give me a call or something."
There was a pause and she was about to push stop when she realised he hadn't finished speaking yet.
"Oh yeah, one more thing. You wonder why I don't like carols? Did you hear those kids? All the boys were sharp and all the girls were singing flat. What they lacked in talent, they made up for in enthusiasm, and they lacked a lot of talent. I tell you one think, if my old choir master had heard singing like that, he'd have strung the lot of them up. Mind you, I actually made a donation, so I probably deserve to be strung up for encouraging them." she could hear the amusement in his voice. "Anyway I hope I see you soon."
She smiled; he really was quite a character. She had learned so much about him in just a few hours, and she had a feeling that was just the tip of the iceberg. As she made her way upstairs she didn't think she could feel any happier, until she reached the tenth step, where she was suddenly filled with a deep sense of dread. She had Christmas Eve off, which was wonderful. She was going to be spending it with Robert Romano, which was also wonderful.
But what in God's name was she going to wear?
To be continued…
Well what do you think? Please let me know, send all thoughts, comments and suggestions to little_miss_writer@hotmail.com Please r/r!