THE AMERICAN PATIENT
Chapter Ten –Something Stupid
Ella woke sometime after three. Elizabeth got her up and the two of them spent the rest of the afternoon playing together. Robert slept right through and trudged into the kitchen as Elizabeth was just settling Ella in her chair for dinner.
"Well I guess you were pretty tired!" she laughed as he walked in still yawning.
Robert grinned sheepishly, waving at Ella who waved back. "Ohh spaghetti that could get messy," he chuckled.
"Usually does, which means this one's headed for the bath when she's done, and then I'll go get ready if that's all right?" she asked, looking at him coyly.
He grinned and nodded. "Look I need to go over to my place and check my messages and stuff, but I'll be back in an hour or so. Okay?"
She nodded and watched him leave before turning back to Ella.
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Robert was back within the hour as promised. He heard commotion coming from the bathroom and headed up the stairs, pausing outside of the bathroom to listen to Ella's giggles as she splashed her mother. He banged on the door and called out, "I'm back." Then he went into the guest room and emptied the bag he had just filled from home.
He was back on the couch when the girls appeared. Ella ran over to him and he scooped her up onto his lap.
"If you've got her I'll go get ready," Elizabeth said.
"Yeah, were good aren't we Ella?" He looked down at the little girl who beamed back at him.
She nodded and left them to it.
Looking through her wardrobe she was reminded of a one-sided conversation in the surgeons lounge years ago. They were supposed to go to the Surgeons Society Gala together, and he had arrogantly suggested what she should wear. She'd blown him off and gone out with another man, whose name she couldn't recall. Smiling she spotted the perfect dress.
When she reappeared nearly an hour later, Robert looked up from playing with Ella. His jaw dropped open before letting out a low whistle of appreciation. She was dressed in a slinky black number, short and off the shoulder and was in a word, stunning.
"Whoa!"
Elizabeth was revelling in the positive vibes coming of him. "That's it? 'Whoa'. Have I managed to reduce the great Rocket Romano to words of a mere syllable?"
He looked her up and down none too subtly. "Uh- huh."
"Making progress there Robert, but you might want to keep working on it...okay Ella, it's bedtime."
"Mommy pretty!" Ella chirped.
"She certainly is Ella...Lizzie, can I take her up?" he asked, regaining his composure.
She looked at the pair of them where they sat playing together on the floor. Ella having heard Robert's request looked up expectantly to her mother with hope in her eyes, and a huge smile on her face.
"You want Robert to take you up sweetheart?" Ella nodded her head furiously.
"Okay...only one story though Ella... don't let her con you into more Robert, because she will try."
He grinned and stood up scooping Ella with him. Elizabeth gave the little girl a kiss as he carried her past, before sitting down and flicking the TV remote. Minutes dragged by into half an hour and still Robert had not reappeared.
A knock at the door interrupted the quiet and made her jump. She glanced down at her watch. Eight o'clock.
Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat. Don't tell me the little sod really has fixed me up on a date!
She got up and went to the door, pausing briefly behind it. Nervously, she took a deep breath and reached for the handle and opened the door.
"Good evening ma'am, I have an order for Romano," said a man holding a large paper bag, from which a delicious aroma was escaping. Elizabeth just stared at him.
"Bang on time," Robert spoke from the top of the stairs. Elizabeth turned around at the sound of his voice and did a double take. He was dressed in a tuxedo, bow tie the works. She broke into a huge grin as he walked down the stairs towards her. As he leant past her he brushed up against her arm, causing her to take in a sharp breath and inhale his scent. Romano handed the deliveryman the money with a sizeable tip and took the bag of food. Elizabeth stood transfixed as he closed the door, and turned to face her.
He flashed her his best lady killer smile and she felt her knees go slightly week.
"Hi... friend of mine told me you had a 'thing' for bald men... care to have dinner with me?"
She giggled and punched him playfully on the arm. "I'd be honoured."
He took her hand and led her into the kitchen. They started working silently together dishing up the food and swapping sidelong grins at each other.
"This smells lovely, Robert."
"Oh trust me, it tastes even better...where'd you want to eat, here or the lounge?"
"Erm, the lounge. If you take it through, I'll open some wine if you feel up to it?"
He thought about it before nodding. He was nervous and a drink would do him good. "Just the one though."
He wanted to keep a clear head and not do something stupid, plus he'd taken a pill a couple of hours ago.
By the time Elizabeth carried through the wine Robert had laid everything out on the coffee table and to her amazement had lit several candles. He was stood by the CD player and clicked it on as she entered.
Katie Melua started crooning out, "Call Off The Search," in her unmistakeable voice. Elizabeth smiled at the choice of song.
"Robert, where on earth did all these candles come from?"
He shrugged his shoulders and smirked. "Why, do you like it?"
"Yes, it's lovely...just lovely," she replied still looking around mesmerized.
"So, shall we?" He walked towards her and offered his hand, which she took. They sat down together and began to eat in silence swapping the occasional smile as Katie wound down the song:
"And I won't spend my life gazing up in the sky, Wondering if love will pass me by. Now that I've found you I'll call of the search. Out on my own I would never have known, This world that I see today, And I've got a feeling it won't fade away. And I won't end my days wishing that love would come along 'Cause you are in my life where you belong. Now that I've found you I'll call of the search. Now that I've found you I'll call of the search."
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"That was fantastic, thank you."
"Pleasure...so whatd'ya want to do now?" he said pouring her another glass of wine.
Elizabeth glanced at him and smiled. "Did you have something in mind?" she asked more suggestively than she'd intended and blushed slightly.
He raised an eyebrow and broke into a huge grin as he ogled her.
She felt her blush deepen. Get a grip girl, its just Robert being Robert!
He continued to leer at her before walking back over to the CD player and selecting a new disc. As Frank Sinatra began to sing 'The Way You Look Tonight.' He turned back to her and held out his hand.
"Care to dance?"
"What here...now?"
"Why not?" he said still grinning.
She walked over and took his hand as he pulled her into his arms. They began to move together slowly, in time with the music. Robert moved his hand to the small of her back and pulled her closer to him. 'This cannot be happening' he thought. Elizabeth was thinking pretty much the same thing and as the song came to an end they both looked at each other and smiled. The song finished, and another started but neither of them registered it, as Robert moved his hands to either side of her face and searched her eyes for a signal to continue. Elizabeth closed her eyes and leaned in towards him as he pulled her face to his and kissed her, slowly and sensually on the lips. She gasped at the sweet caress and opened her mouth to him, allowing their tongues to explore each other. Robert dropped his hands from her face and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tighter to him. The kiss intensified, as they gripped each other in a passionate embrace and moved clumsily towards the couch, groping at each other the whole way. Once there he gently pushed her down and cast an appreciative eye over her before kissing her deeply and covering her body with his.
When they came up for air he opened his eyes momentarily and looked down at her. She returned the look, staring intensely at him. She felt giddy; he looked high, his pupils dilated.
"Elizabeth?" he softly asked waiting for her to make a move.
She wanted to surrender herself to her emotions, to let him take her, to make love to her as she knew he wanted, and as she wanted him to. She felt safe, loved and complete all at once.
Robert mistook her hesitation and sat up, breaking the embrace and the moment. He looked everywhere but at Elizabeth. She sat up and took his hand.
"Sorry,"she said quietly.
"No. No it's my fault, I don't know what got into..."
She shut him up with a kiss, her arms encircling him, and feeling new confidence flood him he pushed her back down again and kissed her hard, with all the love that he felt. When they broke for air again they touched foreheads to each other. Robert opened his eyes and looked down at her. She was so beautiful and he just wanted to take her right there. They were reaching a point where clothes would have to be removed and he didn't want to blow it by moving too fast, so instead he sat up slightly.
Elizabeth had come to the same conclusion where the removing clothes scenario was concerned, and sat up as well. They grinned goofily at one another.
"Can't remember the last time I made out like that!" he laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
"Did you still have hair?" she quipped.
He grinned and shook his head at her. They sat smiling at each other, the silence intangible.
'Oh Lord what do we do now,' she thought. Then she spotted the guitar.
"What was that you were playing this morning?"
He followed her eyes to the guitar. "Ah nothing...just something I tinker with now and again."
"What, you mean you wrote it? Oh go on, you have to play it for me."
He shook his head. "Nah, it's not finished."
"Well you have to play me something."
He squirmed uncomfortably. "I'm not really used to playing in front of people."
"Robert you've just had your tongue stuck down my throat and you're banding me together with 'people'?"
He looked at her with nothing short of adoration and pride as he remembered that not moments ago, he had indeed had his tongue stuck down her throat. The woman had a point. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled before walking over to collect the guitar.
"Any requests?"
"Surprise me."
Robert thought about it for a little while as a wicked smile spread across his face. He sat down next to her and lifted the guitar into position. "Now technically this is a duet, so if you want to join in...feel free."
Elizabeth gathered her feet up under her as she leant back into the couch.
I'm on a date with Robert Romano...I've just snogged him!...and now he's about to sing to me!...This is surreal!
His fingers began to expertly manipulate the strings, and she recognised the tune straight away, bursting into a huge grin just as he started to sing:
"I know I stand in line until you think you have the time to spend an evening with me. And if we go someplace to dance I know that there's a chance you wont be leaving with me. And afterwards we drop into a quiet little place and have a drink or two. And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like 'I love you'. I can see it in your eyes, that you despise the same old lies you heard the night before. And though it's just a line to you, for me it's true and never seemed so right before. I practice every day to find some clever lines to say to make the meaning come through. But then I think I'll wait until the evening get's late and I'm alone with you. The time is right your perfume fills my head, the stars get red, and oh the nights so blue. And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like: 'I love you' (I love you, I love you...)"
Elizabeth burst into applause as he finished. He smiled a little sheepishly before placing the guitar down carefully, at which point she jumped on him. In a flurry of arms and legs, they tangled themselves up in another passionate embrace as their mouths hungrily devoured one another. When the whole clothes removal issue arose again, Robert broke away and stared deep into her eyes.
"Can I walk you home?" he said, his voice a low growl.
"Robert, I hate to break it to you, but I am home."
"Well, can I walk you to your door?"
Elizabeth giggled. "Erm, yes."
He took her hand and led her up the stairs, but they didn't make it far before they were kissing again, and fumblingly they made it to her bedroom door.
"So would you like to come in for coffee?" Elizabeth asked teasingly, inwardly surprised at her own forwardness.
'YES! YES! YES!' screamed Robert's mind.
"Oh, I think you know the answer to that Lizzie," he said his voice low and sultry. Still staring into the deep pools of blue he momentarily lost himself. Elizabeth gulped, took his hand and pushed the door open with the other. She stepped in only to stumble back slightly when he did not move. Her eyes darted to his face seeking a reason for his immobility.
Robert let go of her hand before reaching up both of his to cup her face, never once breaking eye contact.
"Lizzie I wanna go in there with you, do not doubt that for a second. This," he kissed her fully on the lips before continuing, "is something I have dreamed off, but this, and correct me if I am wrong here, is all a little new for you?"
Elizabeth smiled at him and nodded her head ever so slightly.
"Which is why I'm going to say 'goodnight'. Lizzie I don't want you to rush into this, then wake up hating me tomorrow. I couldn't," he inhaled deeply, trying to find the right words, "I couldn't bear to have that happen."
Elizabeth searched his eyes and saw his quiet determination. He was not going to change his mind, well not if she didn't try anyway. And she so wanted to try, but a small part of her mind told her that he was actually making sense; maybe waiting would be a good idea. This was all still new; she was being bombarded with feelings she had never before experienced, even with Mark.
Mark. That single thought shattered the mood. She nodded her head, barley perceptibly.
"Robert Romano, are you trying to be a gentleman?"
He snickered at the description. "It would appear so wouldn't it? I gotta say it sucks!"
She smiled. "I think you're right, we should maybe slow down. I need to think and you...you need to take a cold shower!" she said glancing down at him. Robert followed her eyes and laughed a little, before pulling her into a tight embrace. He ran a hand through her hair and dropped the other to her back tracing his fingers in lazy circles.
"Sweet dreams, Lizzie." He kissed her once more, almost chastely, and turned away heading for the guest room, before stopping mid stride to glance back round. She stood still, by her door watching him. Robert smirked and gave her a wink before heading for the bathroom instead. She laughed and entered her room, closing the door behind her. Once on the other side she sat down on the bed and closed her eyes, a huge happy smile on her face.
She couldn't recall feeling this good. This, whatever this was, was completely different to what she had felt with Mark. With him, it had been warm and safe, and she cringed to use the word, a platonic kind of love. In her conscience, she knew they would never have stayed the course. She had already become...bored? No...too harsh a word, but she had been aware that something was lacking in their relationship. Passion. There it was. That, which Mark and her had never shared. What they had had, was love, companionship, respect, a shared attraction; but that one little, but or so vital ingredient had been missing she realised now.
It was there with Robert she knew. She wanted him, wanted to taste him, wanted him inside her to be joined with her. Passion...It was in his eyes whenever she looked into those coffee coloured pools. But after these few days together she now knew he could provide her with everything else. He could be her lover, her friend her confidante; he respected her as a person; he was considerate of her feelings. Christ, he had just walked away from her just minutes ago, not wanting to take advantage of her, to allow her time to think. And – he loved her!
He loved her, had loved her unconditionally from afar for all these years. He had watched her with others, watched her pledge her life to another, bear another man's child. And after all that, instead of giving up, his love had only grown for her even more. He was great with Ella and she was obviously beginning to adore him. Why should she wait? She wanted this, she knew now; there was no doubt in her mind and the realisation made her laugh out loud.
"I want Robert Romano." There, she'd said it out loud and the world did not stop revolving. She reached for the door and opened it.
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Robert was about to climb into the shower having decided to heed Elizabeth's advice. Self-control was a crock of shit he decided. But he knew he had done the right thing. She had to be clear of what she wanted. He turned at the sound of the door handle and grabbed for a towel quickly.
"Forget something Lizzie?" he asked. "Or just hoping to get a sneaky peek?"
She entered the room smiling, but did not say anything, just drank in the sight of his bare chest and strong arms.
Robert studied her face. She was different he decided; there was a different air about her than when he had left her, just moments ago. She seemed almost tranquil, at peace, her eyes raking in the sight of him. He actually thought he felt his cheeks begin to redden, under her intense scrutiny.
"Elizabeth?" he asked quietly.
She walked over to him and slowly extended a hand. Romano watched transfixed, as her hand reached for the fabric of the towel and she lowered her mouth to his ear.
"I've thought about it Robert, and you don't need to take a shower."
His breath caught in his throat at her words, and he reached both hands to her face as she flicked the towel from his waist and dropped it to the floor...
TBC
"Call of the Search" written by Mike Batt
"Somethin' stupid" written by Parks