Elizabeth was exhausted. Her nanny had been on vacation for a week and it seemed she was the only surgeon ever scheduled at County General. Being acting Chief of Surgery, she knew that they were short staffed and that she should hire another surgeon, but she just couldn't bring herself to replace Dr. Romano. She felt awkward in this position… clerical work was never her strong suit. During her residency, she found herself forgetting a couple of patients at one point, and it has haunted her ever since. Just in these past couple if weeks she had thought that there were people in rooms on her floor without scheduled surgeries. This was ridiculous of course, Shirley was in charge of scheduling and she was nearly flawless. It was probably just the lack of sleep.
She often rationalized, that there was the one good thing about being this busy. She hadn't had too many chances to the think about the last time she had see Robert. In was nearly a month ago now. And while she was quite upset in the beginning as time drew on she realized that their relationship was a selfish one… a guilty pleasure. As strong as her feelings were for Robert, she was somewhat relieved that he left that night. With the anniversary of Mark's death on the horizon she had been feeling lonely. But Elizabeth wasn't alone in this world. Robert and Ella hadn't spent any significant time together and Elizabeth knew that she could never be happy with someone who didn't absolutely love Ella. If it were ever to happen between Robert and Elizabeth, Robert was going to have put forth genuine effort to make Ella a part of his life. Robert hadn't even put forth the effort to get in contact with Elizabeth since that night in her living room.
Elizabeth was disappointed when she walked into hospital's daycare center. Ella hadn't taken a nap earlier and the staff explained that she had just crashed after a very cranky last half hour. Elizabeth knew that she wouldn't be able to carry her daughter on her chest all the way home. Like most young children, when Ella was sleeping she weighed about three times her normal weight and raised her body temperature at least double what it is supposed to be. Having Ella in that state, resting against her, was sure to put Elizabeth out before the first El transfer.
She gathered Ella into her arms and headed back up to her office. She figured a power nap would add wonders to her disposition. Unfortunately that too was not in the cards. Maintenance needed to install new energy saver lights and they were not at all interested in coming back despite her yawned request.
Elizabeth decided to just steal away to unoccupied recovery room. Down at the end of the wing there were a couple of empty rooms. She was thankful that the room she choose was next to a closed off room for repairs. It would be absolutely silent. Not that this was a problem she needed to worry about. Less than five minutes after she settled Ella and herself into a lowered hospital bed, she was softly snoring.
Romano was in his makeshift office at County General. He had been successful in flying under the radar for the last two weeks. He was actually quite surprised how easy it was to sneak into his room a few times a week. So far he had been able to keep the number of people at the hospital who knew of his presence under five. The three who were essential to his work: Gallant, Weaver, and Shirley and one who had sworn her secrecy, Susan Lewis.
Tonight Romano didn't have a surgery scheduled and let Gallant head out for the day. Romano was sitting quietly at his computer sending e-mail updates about his progress in the operating room. Once he had been let back into the hospital he had begun researching ways in which he could get reimbursed for some of the medical equipment that he had self-financed. He had a few leads but no checks had been sent to him yet.
He heard a door open and close. He froze. Interesting, he thought the only occupied rooms were on the other side of the registration desk. Nah, it must have just been his imagination. He reread the last sentence he typed and heard a door open and close again. It sounded like it was the door just next to his. Couldn't be. He reread the sentences again. Open. Close. Curiosity got the better of him and he walked over to his door and peaked out. He saw the door next to him open about six inches and then close again. He looked over to the nurse's desk and saw it unoccupied. "Shirley must be screwing around with me," he thought. He quickly moved to the door and waited for it to be cracked again. Slowly it was pushed open. Romano grabbed the handle and threw it open. A smiling little blond girl stumbled out, falling to the floor. He glanced into the room for a brief second seeing Elizabeth asleep on a bed on the floor. Reaching down to help the door-opener up, the door closed.
"Ella?" He asked. And the little girl looked up at him taking his hand to stand back up. Romano tried to drop her hand once she was at her feet but Ella held strong.
"Upah" she said reaching up with her free hand. Robert squatted down to take her into his arms. She squealed once she was sitting in the hook of his right hip. She pointed down to his left hand. "Dolly" she giggled.
He looked down to his hand to see what was so funny too her. Piecing it together he smiled wide and gently bumped his forehead against hers. "Yup Ella, just like a Barbie doll."
Susan came up behind him, "A Barbie doll, Robert?" She had a way of appearing out of nowhere at the most inopportune times. Or, looking at her point of view, the most opportune moments.
He looked at Susan and then back at Ella, pulling her close so their heads were touching again, "I mean, just like a manly G.I. Joe Doll." Ella giggled not because of what he said but because it looked like he had one eye. She wrapped her arms tightly around the neck of her dolly with one eye.
Romano's heart boomed in his ears. Having Ella's pudgy arms enclosing about his neck filled his heart and made him feel like some kind of superhero. He hadn't felt this good in… well in a month since he was last with her mom. Romano turned his head slightly to Susan and tried to make eye contact without pulling away from Ella.
"Alert Weaver, I think it's time I come out of the closet."
Susan laughed, "Well finally, Robert, the ER nurses know I've been keeping a secret. They are ruthless."
Romano wasn't listening as his attention was turned back to Ella who was now rubbing the top of his head and placing her fingers to her lips absolutely giddy at the feeling. Susan started to walk away.
"Lewis!" He barked. "Can I get you to do something else for me?"
"Sure Robert, I live to serve."
He didn't recognize (or didn't care to acknowledge) the sarcasm. "Can you make sure Shirley tells Elizabeth that Ella's with me, once she wakes up?"
Susan was going to tell him she's not his secretary, but seeing him happily walk back into his room while faking pouty-faces at Ella, she went ahead and completed his task.