Here is the next installment!... I'm sure you can hardly control your joy!
Just kidding, I hope that it's all right... I'm trying hard to keep the story
up, though I may get Corday and Romano out of Character at times...
Let me know what you think....
Thanks, ~Natalie~ ******************************************************************
The morning air was chilly and bleak in the great city of Chicago. Distant police and ambulance sirens could be heard echoing through the seemingly empty streets. Elizabeth Corday pulled her jacket tighter around her body and entered County General Hospital; her second home.
She was still incredibly shocked about the occurrences of the previous night. She couldn't believe that Robert Romano had let his guard down, but even more so, she could not believe how quickly he rebuilt it. He told her that no one knew him, but while that was perhaps true, no one knew him better than she did.
She had often thought of Robert Romano as an arrogant, pompous ass that was so full of pride that he couldn't even see straight. In a way, she guessed, she still felt that way. He was full of pride, he was arrogant, and heaven knows he was pompous, but she came to realize that maybe somewhere inside he had a heart.
She was the type of person that completely despised excuses, particularly for behavior. But though she still hated the forming of excuses, she could see now that Robert did have a reason to be the way that he was.
Traumatized at such a young age... but there was still explaining to do. Why was he so cold and distant all of the time? Was he just afraid? She wanted to know. But she didn't want to want to know.
She had tried to be his friend, and he had pushed her away. But then, she probably would have pushed him away had the situations been reversed. They were the same type of people: Self-assured and independent. Neither one of them ever wanted to admit that they couldn't do it by themselves; they never let on to anyone that they needed someone else. Need was indeed their nemesis.
But damnit, she had reached out to Robert. And he had pushed her away. She had tried to offer him comfort, and he walked away. That pissed her off to no end because she felt embarrassed. She, too, had let her guard down, and Robert had embarrassed her. She was not so quick to put her guard back up again, and she didn't know why she was slow on the uptake.
Last night she had vowed that she would be there for Robert Romano. But that was before she had put her guard back up. Tomorrow WAS another day (today), and she had decided that she was angry. Her prideful nature would not allow her to beg for Robert's trust or friendship. She was going to treat Robert in the exact manner that he treated her. She didn't know why he was such an impossible man. Well, she did, but at the same time, she didn't. What had happened to him was awful, and she understood how it could make a person retreat into a cold persona, but she didn't understand how it could make him turn away from someone offering friendship and comfort.
But, then again, she also didn't know that Robert was in love with her.
She was bumped out of her reverie by the clinical smell of the hospital, and the elevator door chiming as it opened. She stepped into the elevator prepared to meet with Robert, and utterly prepared to fight fire with fire.
She stepped off the elevator and headed to the lounge to put her things away. She put on her lab coat and walked out of the lounge, prepared to meet with whatever it was Fate would bring her way. As she entered the surgical room to scrub in for her scheduled surgery, she saw it: The unmistakable scrub cap of Robert Romano.
She cautiously entered the room to find Romano scrubbing in as well. He briefly looked at her, but said nothing.
'Fine' she thought, as she picked up the soap and began to lather. 'Two can play at this game', and she didn't even acknowledge him.
The surgery was routine, and went fine. Neither of the two surgeons exchanged anything except for directions. "Suction." Etc.
Elizabeth made her way down to the ER for a consult, and on her way down she couldn't believe the audacity of that man! He was so incredibly infuriating. He bares his soul to her the night previous, and doesn't say word one to her the following day.
She asked by whom she had been paged, and she followed the finger to Exam 3, whereby she entered. She was introducing herself when she noticed Romano scrawling on the chart.
"You're late Dr. Corday." He said with finality.
She ignored his snide comment and proceeded with the examination.
"What's your analysis Dr. Corday?" he questioned.
'so formal' she thought. "Well, Dr. Romano," She said coldly, "This patient is in dire need of an appendectomy, the appendix is about to rupture, if it has not begun so to do already." She stated matter-of- factly.
"Correct" he said, matching her tone. Noticing her lack of movement, he urged "Well, then get the patient up stairs."
She looked at him with eyes of fury as she said: "Yes, Dr. Romano." If looks could kill, Dr. Romano would have been dead a thousand times over.
She performed the surgery and decided she needed a break. She was pissed again. Romano was completely cold towards her and she couldn't believe it. So, she made her way to the lounge.
But, as luck would have it, Romano was there.
"Afternoon Lizzie." He said casually.
"Good afternoon." She said through clenched teeth.
"Something the matter?" He asked pretending as though nothing happened.
She wanted to reach out to him again... but her pride would not let her.
"No." she said.
"Very well." He said and continued reading his paper.
'This man is impossible!' she thought to herself, her anger getting the better of her. She was on the verge of lashing out once again, but something stopped her. She looked at him, and could see something in his eyes, though he wasn't looking at her, and it made her anger disappear. She still didn't understand why he was doing this, but she wanted to. And her pride, though it didn't want to let her, stepped aside, and she decided that she would talk to him.
"Robert" she began "talk to me."
He looked surprised. "Why Lizzie, whatever do you mean? I have been talking to you."
"That's not what I mean Robert, and you know it." She cautioned.
He did know it, but he didn't know what to say. So he shrugged and said "I don't know what you're talking about."
She felt herself get angry once again, but she kept her temper in check, she wanted to help him, despite the callous individual he had become. She couldn't help but envision the scared twelve year old boy that had lost both of his parents, and a sister with whom he had been fighting.
"Robert." She said sternly, it was an invitation to talk, it was a warning as well.
But he would not take the bait. "Lizzie." He mocked seriousness. He didn't want to talk about it. He hated not having control, and every single time he looked into her eyes he lost control, he had last night, and he didn't want it to happen again.
"Robert... why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?" he acted unconcerned.
"This." He said nothing.
"This. All of this pushing me away, why are you doing it? Can't you see that I am trying to help you? That I just want to... be your friend."
"Yes Elizabeth, I see that you just want to be my friend." He stated.
But she didn't catch his meaning. He was pushing her away because he loved her. Because he didn't want to get hurt. Because he knew that she could never love someone like him.
"Then why are you acting like this?" she questioned, still trying to be gentle.
"Maybe I don't want to be your friend... maybe I don't want your help." He said. As these words came from his mouth, he hurt. It hurt him so much to lie to the woman with whom he was in love. But he didn't have the courage to tell her what he felt for her.
He laughed mentally at the irony of the situation. Rocket Romano was scared.
And his words hurt her as well. She didn't understand why he was acting this way, she didn't understand why he was pretending he never opened up to her, she didn't understand why he had put his guard back up.
Elizabeth Corday didn't understand a lot of things...
.... Particularly the deep feelings that Robert Romano had for her.
She knew what he was doing... he was trying to make her angry, maybe even trying to hurt her, to push her away. She felt her temper flare once more, but decided that she wouldn't yell at him. Because she knew he didn't mean what he said. So she chose option B:
"Then why, Robert?" she questioned.
"Why what?" he asked, thoroughly confused.
"Why did you tell me all of that last night? Why did you bare your past to me only to act like this the very next day?" she was getting closer to him, and he didn't like the proximity.
He backed up. That wasn't in his nature, but he didn't know what else to do, so, he backed up.
"Everyone makes mistakes Lizzie."
"You're telling me that your baring your soul to me last night was a mistake? Just something you did on a whim, an action for which you are extremely sorry now?"
"Yes Elizabeth that is what I'm telling you."
That was it, she couldn't pretend that this conversation wasn't hurting her anymore, but she still did not let her anger get the best of her...
"Then quit lying to me Robert. I'm tired of playing this little game. And I'm tired of you trying to push me away. I'm quite frankly, just tired of trying. I don't know why you told me what you did last night, and I don't know why you're pretending now that nothing happened." She paused, he said nothing. "But I feel sorry for you Robert."
He was angry now, "That's the one thing I DON'T want Elizabeth! Don't you understand that? I don't want you damned pity! I don't want your damned Friendship! I don't want a damn thing from you!"
He tried to leave, but she wouldn't let him, she had something to say, and she was going to say it.
"If you would just shut up and listen for a change, Robert. That is NOT why I feel sorry for you."
"Oh, it's not?" He asked sarcastically.
"No, it's not Robert." She affirmed.
"Why then, Elizabeth" he humored her, "Why do you feel sorry for me?"
****************************************************************** Why does Corday feel sorry for Romano? Will Romano let his guard down for good?? Will Elizabeth put her guard back up?? Will there be yelling? Will there be love? Will there be angst?? Will there be kisses? ... And most importantly: Will they get together??? Tune in next time to find out! Well, there's chapter... 6! I hope it was more in character for Romano. I know Elizabeth is reaching out more that her character probably would, but if she didn't, I would have no story.
Frankly, if I kept them both in context, we would have the occurrences of the show...and nobody wants that!!!
Review if you'd like... please.
Thanks!
~Natalie~
Let me know what you think....
Thanks, ~Natalie~ ******************************************************************
The morning air was chilly and bleak in the great city of Chicago. Distant police and ambulance sirens could be heard echoing through the seemingly empty streets. Elizabeth Corday pulled her jacket tighter around her body and entered County General Hospital; her second home.
She was still incredibly shocked about the occurrences of the previous night. She couldn't believe that Robert Romano had let his guard down, but even more so, she could not believe how quickly he rebuilt it. He told her that no one knew him, but while that was perhaps true, no one knew him better than she did.
She had often thought of Robert Romano as an arrogant, pompous ass that was so full of pride that he couldn't even see straight. In a way, she guessed, she still felt that way. He was full of pride, he was arrogant, and heaven knows he was pompous, but she came to realize that maybe somewhere inside he had a heart.
She was the type of person that completely despised excuses, particularly for behavior. But though she still hated the forming of excuses, she could see now that Robert did have a reason to be the way that he was.
Traumatized at such a young age... but there was still explaining to do. Why was he so cold and distant all of the time? Was he just afraid? She wanted to know. But she didn't want to want to know.
She had tried to be his friend, and he had pushed her away. But then, she probably would have pushed him away had the situations been reversed. They were the same type of people: Self-assured and independent. Neither one of them ever wanted to admit that they couldn't do it by themselves; they never let on to anyone that they needed someone else. Need was indeed their nemesis.
But damnit, she had reached out to Robert. And he had pushed her away. She had tried to offer him comfort, and he walked away. That pissed her off to no end because she felt embarrassed. She, too, had let her guard down, and Robert had embarrassed her. She was not so quick to put her guard back up again, and she didn't know why she was slow on the uptake.
Last night she had vowed that she would be there for Robert Romano. But that was before she had put her guard back up. Tomorrow WAS another day (today), and she had decided that she was angry. Her prideful nature would not allow her to beg for Robert's trust or friendship. She was going to treat Robert in the exact manner that he treated her. She didn't know why he was such an impossible man. Well, she did, but at the same time, she didn't. What had happened to him was awful, and she understood how it could make a person retreat into a cold persona, but she didn't understand how it could make him turn away from someone offering friendship and comfort.
But, then again, she also didn't know that Robert was in love with her.
She was bumped out of her reverie by the clinical smell of the hospital, and the elevator door chiming as it opened. She stepped into the elevator prepared to meet with Robert, and utterly prepared to fight fire with fire.
She stepped off the elevator and headed to the lounge to put her things away. She put on her lab coat and walked out of the lounge, prepared to meet with whatever it was Fate would bring her way. As she entered the surgical room to scrub in for her scheduled surgery, she saw it: The unmistakable scrub cap of Robert Romano.
She cautiously entered the room to find Romano scrubbing in as well. He briefly looked at her, but said nothing.
'Fine' she thought, as she picked up the soap and began to lather. 'Two can play at this game', and she didn't even acknowledge him.
The surgery was routine, and went fine. Neither of the two surgeons exchanged anything except for directions. "Suction." Etc.
Elizabeth made her way down to the ER for a consult, and on her way down she couldn't believe the audacity of that man! He was so incredibly infuriating. He bares his soul to her the night previous, and doesn't say word one to her the following day.
She asked by whom she had been paged, and she followed the finger to Exam 3, whereby she entered. She was introducing herself when she noticed Romano scrawling on the chart.
"You're late Dr. Corday." He said with finality.
She ignored his snide comment and proceeded with the examination.
"What's your analysis Dr. Corday?" he questioned.
'so formal' she thought. "Well, Dr. Romano," She said coldly, "This patient is in dire need of an appendectomy, the appendix is about to rupture, if it has not begun so to do already." She stated matter-of- factly.
"Correct" he said, matching her tone. Noticing her lack of movement, he urged "Well, then get the patient up stairs."
She looked at him with eyes of fury as she said: "Yes, Dr. Romano." If looks could kill, Dr. Romano would have been dead a thousand times over.
She performed the surgery and decided she needed a break. She was pissed again. Romano was completely cold towards her and she couldn't believe it. So, she made her way to the lounge.
But, as luck would have it, Romano was there.
"Afternoon Lizzie." He said casually.
"Good afternoon." She said through clenched teeth.
"Something the matter?" He asked pretending as though nothing happened.
She wanted to reach out to him again... but her pride would not let her.
"No." she said.
"Very well." He said and continued reading his paper.
'This man is impossible!' she thought to herself, her anger getting the better of her. She was on the verge of lashing out once again, but something stopped her. She looked at him, and could see something in his eyes, though he wasn't looking at her, and it made her anger disappear. She still didn't understand why he was doing this, but she wanted to. And her pride, though it didn't want to let her, stepped aside, and she decided that she would talk to him.
"Robert" she began "talk to me."
He looked surprised. "Why Lizzie, whatever do you mean? I have been talking to you."
"That's not what I mean Robert, and you know it." She cautioned.
He did know it, but he didn't know what to say. So he shrugged and said "I don't know what you're talking about."
She felt herself get angry once again, but she kept her temper in check, she wanted to help him, despite the callous individual he had become. She couldn't help but envision the scared twelve year old boy that had lost both of his parents, and a sister with whom he had been fighting.
"Robert." She said sternly, it was an invitation to talk, it was a warning as well.
But he would not take the bait. "Lizzie." He mocked seriousness. He didn't want to talk about it. He hated not having control, and every single time he looked into her eyes he lost control, he had last night, and he didn't want it to happen again.
"Robert... why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?" he acted unconcerned.
"This." He said nothing.
"This. All of this pushing me away, why are you doing it? Can't you see that I am trying to help you? That I just want to... be your friend."
"Yes Elizabeth, I see that you just want to be my friend." He stated.
But she didn't catch his meaning. He was pushing her away because he loved her. Because he didn't want to get hurt. Because he knew that she could never love someone like him.
"Then why are you acting like this?" she questioned, still trying to be gentle.
"Maybe I don't want to be your friend... maybe I don't want your help." He said. As these words came from his mouth, he hurt. It hurt him so much to lie to the woman with whom he was in love. But he didn't have the courage to tell her what he felt for her.
He laughed mentally at the irony of the situation. Rocket Romano was scared.
And his words hurt her as well. She didn't understand why he was acting this way, she didn't understand why he was pretending he never opened up to her, she didn't understand why he had put his guard back up.
Elizabeth Corday didn't understand a lot of things...
.... Particularly the deep feelings that Robert Romano had for her.
She knew what he was doing... he was trying to make her angry, maybe even trying to hurt her, to push her away. She felt her temper flare once more, but decided that she wouldn't yell at him. Because she knew he didn't mean what he said. So she chose option B:
"Then why, Robert?" she questioned.
"Why what?" he asked, thoroughly confused.
"Why did you tell me all of that last night? Why did you bare your past to me only to act like this the very next day?" she was getting closer to him, and he didn't like the proximity.
He backed up. That wasn't in his nature, but he didn't know what else to do, so, he backed up.
"Everyone makes mistakes Lizzie."
"You're telling me that your baring your soul to me last night was a mistake? Just something you did on a whim, an action for which you are extremely sorry now?"
"Yes Elizabeth that is what I'm telling you."
That was it, she couldn't pretend that this conversation wasn't hurting her anymore, but she still did not let her anger get the best of her...
"Then quit lying to me Robert. I'm tired of playing this little game. And I'm tired of you trying to push me away. I'm quite frankly, just tired of trying. I don't know why you told me what you did last night, and I don't know why you're pretending now that nothing happened." She paused, he said nothing. "But I feel sorry for you Robert."
He was angry now, "That's the one thing I DON'T want Elizabeth! Don't you understand that? I don't want you damned pity! I don't want your damned Friendship! I don't want a damn thing from you!"
He tried to leave, but she wouldn't let him, she had something to say, and she was going to say it.
"If you would just shut up and listen for a change, Robert. That is NOT why I feel sorry for you."
"Oh, it's not?" He asked sarcastically.
"No, it's not Robert." She affirmed.
"Why then, Elizabeth" he humored her, "Why do you feel sorry for me?"
****************************************************************** Why does Corday feel sorry for Romano? Will Romano let his guard down for good?? Will Elizabeth put her guard back up?? Will there be yelling? Will there be love? Will there be angst?? Will there be kisses? ... And most importantly: Will they get together??? Tune in next time to find out! Well, there's chapter... 6! I hope it was more in character for Romano. I know Elizabeth is reaching out more that her character probably would, but if she didn't, I would have no story.
Frankly, if I kept them both in context, we would have the occurrences of the show...and nobody wants that!!!
Review if you'd like... please.
Thanks!
~Natalie~