Hey! More! 2 in one day! and no more silly disclaimer, got it out of my system. this starts where the last one left off - had an epiphany walking from one job to the other today - and then the rest are fairly clear on where they go in the great scheme of things. actually, minor disclaimer for this whole story - i've pulled lots of lines, and medical stuff straight out of the real ER (well, you know, 'real' as in the one on tv... so not real but about as good as this story...)

"That was painless." Mark was surprised that Rachel went to bed as soon as he asked.

"There's hope yet." Susan said wryly, "I should probably go. I didn't get much sleep last night. I got some this morning, but you must be exhausted." She stood up, wrapping a scarf around her neck.

Mark nodded and walked to the door. "Seven till seven – three very powerful words."

"So what time should I pick up Rachel?"

Mark hadn't assumed she was serious.

"Really, I want to." She laughed at his incredulous look.

"Okay, meet us for lunch." He put her coat over her shoulders and turned her to face him. "One o'clock yeah?"

Susan nodded and yawned right on cue. Mark followed suit. "It's catching," she smiled at him. She reached up to kiss him, her hands on his neck. "I love you." She breathed between breathless kisses.

"See, you are crazy." He replied pulling back reluctantly.

She shook her head, a smile playing in her eyes, toying with the idea of staying the night. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Mark had known the look in her eyes but nodded in agreement giving her a very disciplined quick kiss and wistfully watching her walk away.

(See episode, "Partly Cloudy, Chance of Rain")

Susan found Mark arguing with a patient.

"Mark, I wanted a second opinion…"

"Hold on," he turned back to the patient frustrated and she watched amused, "How many heart attacks have you had?"

"Just one."

"So you went to work, directing traffic, instead of finding a doctor immediately? Now it's too late."

He was going a bit overboard on the scare tactics she thought.

"What, I'm gonna die?" it was working

"No, I just mean any damage you did to your heart is already done," Mark looked at the chart, "You'll need to stay overnight for observation." He finally turned to Susan whose eyes were raised, questioning his tone wordlessly.

"What kind of bedside manner is that?" she asked as soon as they were out of earshot.

Mark sighed dramatically and rubbed his tired eyes, "the idiot has had an MI after stenting, and he stands in the rain for eight hours."

"I don't think yelling's going to help."

"It might."

She could tell he was tired so she let it drop. "Are you okay?"

"MedEvac is coming our way with an almost-drowned kid aboard." Abby interrupted.

"Yeah just tired, must be bad if they're flying him over in this weather." He headed toward the elevator.

"Mark." Susan jogged to catch up, "Go home, I'll cover your shift."

"I'm fine, plus Rachel's at a friend's tonight."

"So? You're exhausted. Go." She stood in his way.

He didn't speak or nod but his eyes relented and he let her get in the elevator without him. She gave him a simple smile as the doors shut.
Susan dropped onto her bed exhausted, pushing the flashing red button on her phone.

"First new message – Hey Susan. Thanks for putting up with me today, I… hope your shift wasn't too long or anything… Just wanted to say thank you, for everything. I'm off tomorrow. I'd love to see you – we've been so busy. Well, you know where I am… (pause) Love you." The machine beeped violently. She smiled and looked at the time. She'd call him tomorrow.
Mark opened the door and smiled when he saw her. He was still in the tracksuit he'd slept in.

"Good morning." She stepped inside, "You feeling better?"

"I am now." He kissed her. She touched his face, quite clearly checking his temperature.

"I'm fine." He insisted. "You had breakfast?"

She shook her head.

"I'll just get changed, we should go out." He headed to the bedroom.
"She makes me feel old." Mark admitted sitting on his sofa, facing Susan, feet up beside hers in between them. Rachel had just headed off to bed.

"What?" She laughed at him.

"You know anything about trinomials?"

She shook her head.

"Apparently we did them in school but I'm not sure I can spell trinomials."

Susan laughed.

"And I got all the dates for the revolutionary war wrong."

"Good thing you don't need to know them to save lives." She took his hand, silently laughing at him.

"Yeah, I know it's silly. But it's humbling not to be able to help your fourteen-year-old with her homework. Was it really that long ago?"

"Yup. Time to get out our yearbooks and cry over the faded yellow photographs."

He laughed and then it faded to a comfortable silence. They'd had the whole day together, muddling around, getting very little done.

"I don't want to leave." She smiled at him.

"I don't want you to leave. But Rachel's in the next room."

"And there's no hurry, I know. I just…"

"I know. I've wanted this for as long as I can remember. It seems weird to wait now."

"And on that note I should go."
Susan walked into the lounge and spotted Mark, on the phone but not talking. "What is it about Christmas that brings out the best in people?" She rolled her eyes, relieved her shift was over.

He smiled, "Yeah, I'll pick you up at four, from the station, on Thursday, sure… yeah, okay, merry Christmas. Love you… bye." He hung up. Rachel was with Jenn for Christmas.

"How is she?" Susan asked, facing her open locker.

"Okay, I think her and Jenn have drawn a truce."

Susan shut her locker and turned to him. "You ready to go?"

He nodded and let his eyes linger on her with a smile. "You know what you are?" he wandered toward her.

"What am I?" she closed the gap between them impatiently, slipping her arms around his waist.

"You…" he kissed her forehead, "are like home."

She wasn't sure what he meant but she was touched.

"Even with everything spinning in a whirlwind," he sighed and with a cheeky smile sing-songed, "all I want for Christmas is you."

She laughed and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Let's go home."

"Come to mine." He stepped back and she nodded, following him out the door.

They sat cross-legged in front of the hearth, roasting from the gas-fire, hypnotized by the flames… amongst other things.

"I got a card from Chloe and Suzie today." Susan put her wine glass back on the coffee table. She'd been wanting to tell him.

"Really?" he was surprised she hadn't said anything earlier.

She nodded without a spark of joy, "Didn't say much, just the usual."

"At least they're okay." He offered.

She tried to smile.

"You miss Suzie don't you." It wasn't really a question. "Why don't you tell me?"

"Doesn't make any difference." She met his eyes, knowing he had a point, waiting for him to make it. So he did:

"I've unloaded all my baggage on you – brain tumour, delinquent teenager, receding hairline."

That got her smile.

"So if you're hurting… I want to be there for you like you are for me."

She smiled, "okay." She whispered. "I just thought, you had enough on your plate, with Rachel and everything. I didn't want to make things more complicated."

"You haven't. You've been perfect. Too perfect." He took a deep breath, his eyes lingering on her face, candlelight dancing across her features charmingly. "You know I'm not going to let you leave tonight…" he kissed the hand he held lightly.

She smiled, "good."

He forced himself not to look into her eyes, getting onto his knees in front of her so he could continue kissing a trail up her arm.

She swallowed, taking a controlled breath, full of anticipation.

He stopped when he faced her, only a few mere inches away but too far by any estimation. "I love you." His voice faltered.

She smiled, "then what are you waiting for?" she teased.

"Permission," he dared her to keep teasing.

She smiled one more time before kissing him.