Romano had awoken early that morning. He missed Elizabeth but it had been her idea for them to take things slow for Ella's sake. He didn't agree with her precautions, since Ella had shown a real affection for Robert over these past few months, but he respected them. Robert folded his newspaper up and set it on the table before flipping through the mail he had let pile up on his counter. Various magazines and promotional ads for credit cards were tossed casually into the garbage. He looked over at the clock on his stove. It read 8:02. That's not TOO early? Right? He picked up the phone and stared at the numbers. As if these few minutes of hesitations would be the ones that would assure her being awake. Be awake. Be awake. Be

The phone rang.

It startled him and he dropped the phone.

He picked it up and spoke seductively into the phone, expecting it to be Elizabeth, "Helllllloooooo." He smiled at the idea of her not being able to wait to make this call either. He imagined her sitting at her kitchen table watching the seconds tick by. Trying not to sound too eager but knowing this phone conversation was the best possible way to start the day off.

"Robert. It's Kerry."

Ugh. He sighed

"I can sense by your silence that you are happy to hear from me this morning."

"What do you want?"

"Now is that any way you should speak to your former employer?"

"Don't romanticize it Kerry. I was never subservient to you."

"Well that's true, Robert" she was cringing behind her jovial remarks. It killed her to make this call, a textbook necessary evil. "Listen, the fact of the matter is, you need a job. And I have learned County might just have a spot available. Part time. On call. Weekends and nights."

"Goodbye, Kerry." Romano stated briskly clicking the phone off.

"Shit." Kerry cursed as her phone line went silent. She stayed at the receiver weighing her options. Well that didn't go as well as it could have. Her eyes darted about the room as she considered the least painful next step. Her phone started to beep from it not being hung up. She set the receiver down. "Shit."

What the hell was that? Romano questioned. He looked down to the phone puzzled. There was no reason to rethink his actions. Kerry's offer was ludicrous. But it confused him all the same.

"Snarfffff," Gretal sneezed from the living room. It interrupted Robert's thoughts. "Gretal? Want a walk?" He stepped out of the kitchen and grabbed his coat and her leash, "What to go outside?" Reluctantly Gretal stood and walked over to his side as if she knew that this walk was more for him than for her.

The pair opened the door and both took a small step back surprised that the stop was not empty. "Gallant. Hi. Um. Hello. What are youplease come in."

"Thank you sir. I am sorry to disturb you this morning."

"No, it's fine. Gretal was just trying to talk me into a walk. She is so needy." Robert explained removing the leash from her collar.

"Shurloph!" Gretal shook in protest then retreated to her pillow in the corner.

"Don't you take that tone" Robert began in feigned protest to Gretal.

Gallant cut him off, " Dr. Romano there is something important about to happen with our little project."

"Hmm I figured. The wicked wench of the southbeach gave me call this morning."

"The who? Sir."

"Never mind. How did you come across this information?"

"Shirley overheard to the nurses."

"Awe, County's very own Underground Railroad."

"Something like that. Shirley heard that Kerry has sent a request to the board to open a new center at the hospital for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Health Care."

"Hmm a modest proposal."

Clearly missing the Jonathan Swift reference Gallant continued, "But don't you see Sir? This means everything Kerry did, she can cover, now that her patients will have records that are legit."

"Yes, I see."

"But" Gallant began again confused, but then realizing he had nothing further to add he ended, "is there anything more that I can do."

"No. You've been a big help Gallant. Really. And don't worry about this little bit of news," Romano comforted, the wheels in his brain clearly spinning a plan. All it does is speed up my plans a bit."

Romano bid Gallant a good day before retiring to his study. He had an e-mail to write. An e-mail and a meeting to plan. It wasn't until much later that he realized the day wasn't turning out to be that bad after all, even without his morning call to Elizabeth.