Once Romano and Elizabeth reached his car, it dawned on them that they had not really thought things through. Elizabeth usually traveled to and from work with Ella riding comfortably on her lap. Standing at Romano's car they both felt anything but comfortable. Elizabeth felt her arm stiffing under the weight of Ella; and Romano, who had been carrying his own briefcase, Elizabeth's purse, Ella's diaper bag, and three coats, was also not too interested in standing around hoping a car seat might magically appear in his car.
"Well, it's a pity Ella's asleep," Romano teased, "we could use her breaking and entering talents to take a car seat out of some other shlub's car."
"Robert, you are kidding about encouraging the larceny skills of my daughter, right? I may never take a nap with you around again."
Robert turned and started walking away from his car. "What can I say, she's got a gift. It would be a shame to not encourage her."
Elizabeth followed after him, "Come up with a plan, have you?"
"Well yes, actually I have. I was thinking that the three of us could trying slumming it with all of my ER rejects and take the El to you house… and to your car."
"Patients Robert, they're called patients."
"Right. All I'm saying is, I'm glad I have the two of you to protect me from the homeless, drug dealing, shoeless walking, insane…" he paused looking at Elizabeth, "color that makes the subway system of Chicago so appealing. I'm not too interested in going it on my own. Would you be willing to drive me back to my car later this evening?"
"Robert, I had no idea you were so sensitive." She shot back.
"Sensitivity has nothing to do with it. Having tempted death a couple of times in the last year, I just find myself not so eager to get into any gang banging skirmishes."
"Wimp."
Romano thought for a moment for an adequate rebuttal but instead answered, "I've been called worse. So do we have a deal?"
"Sure Robert. I'll take you back seconds after you pay our bill."
"My thoughts exactly."
They arrived to the platform just as the train made its approach. "Impeccable timing Lizzie, plan that did you?"
"Careful Robert, you might actually enjoy the ride."
"I certainly have so far," he reflected too quietly for Elizabeth to hear as they stepped onto the train and took seats next to one another. A bit more clearly he asked, "Lizzie, is today's nap consistent with Ella's usual sleeping schedule?" Ella was still asleep and it was nearing 7:30 pm. They both recognized that if this was just a "nap" that she wouldn't be sleeping again until dawn.
"Honestly, Robert, I don't know. She has been sleeping or not sleeping on her own accord for these last few weeks. I don't know what to do about it. I think having Chris away, and being in the daycare, is confusing her."
"What time to you have to be at work tomorrow?"
Elizabeth shook her head a bit confused by the sudden change in topic. "Uh… I don't have anything scheduled tomorrow. I was thinking I might go in to complete some Op Report dictations, but nothing is set in stone. Why?"
"I think maybe we should make another change in our plans tonight."
Elizabeth found herself both excited and nervous about how her work schedule tomorrow could affect their plans tonight. "What exactly are you proposing?" she asked a bit seductively.
Romano shivered. Every so often Elizabeth's voice took on a tone that seemed to cut right down to his spine. He had previously dismissed it as coincidental but it didn't limit the influence it had on him. "I think that the flexibility in your morning could work to an advantage with Ella's sleeping timetable. She looks pretty out of it now. What do you say to just letting her sleep through our dinner? We could just whip up something in your kitchen. And see if Ella sleeps through the night. I mean you can see if she sleeps through the night. I'm just here for the provisions."
"Are you sure, Robert? I mean truth be told, the option of taking a bath and then having dinner waiting for me in my kitchen while Ella sleeps, pretty much is a dream come true."
"Well call me your ruggedly handsome fairy godfather, assuming you do have food in your kitchen, I can work alone in creating dinner."