This story follows on from another of my fics called 'Torn'. I do not own ER or any characters from it – no copyright infringement is intended.

Many thanks to Kimberley for beta reading.

Hunting High and Low

Part One: Keeping The Faith

The sky was a clear blue as the sun's rays shone down and baked the earth and all its inhabitants. The idyllic scene was replete with the sounds of birds and insect life going about their daily business. It was a perfect summer's day, a day for families and friends to get together to celebrate life. It was not a day for sadness.

Robert Romano looked around him, at the circle of people who had gathered to remember one Mark Greene. They had come together on many personal levels to pay their last respects - to take a final opportunity to say goodbye, to mourn the loss of a colleague, a friend, a husband and father. He lifted his eyes to the sky and blinked rapidly as the irony of the brightness of the day struck him. Today of all days should be grey skies, cold and wet. It should be raining, a drizzle that penetrated whatever outer shield you chose to wear, soaking you to the bone. That would do justice to the mood of the occasion. Of course, some would make the argument that the day was perfect... a glorious day to celebrate the life of a man who was much loved and revered. Robert knew which he preferred.

The minister launched into his spiel about how great a man Mark had been. Robert looked towards Elizabeth, who sat there hugging her daughter tightly to her. She sat upright, her eyes staring stoically dead ahead. Despite being surrounded by family and friends she cut a figure of somebody utterly alone in the world. He gulped as he felt the urge once again to walk over and take her in his arms. Instead he gripped his hands behind his back, and chewed down on the inside of his lip. Lowering his gaze to the grass at his feet, he closed his eyes.

What was she thinking? What was she feeling? Grief? Sadness? Anger that she had been robbed of her husband in the prime of his life. Or was she relieved that no more would she have to watch him suffer the pain of his illness? Did she draw comfort from the knowledge that somewhere he was at last at peace? Did she feel fear and apprehension at the stark, new reality of her life as it dawned on her? She was not only a widow, but a single parent.

The minister's voice talking about God penetrated his thoughts. Robert glanced at Ella. How could a merciful God allow this to happen? What lessons here were to be learned? He recalled his last conversation with Elizabeth when she had asked him to pray – and he had, too. But here they were.... So what was the point?

They were standing now. Throwing earth onto the coffin, shuffling past, mumbling to Elizabeth how sorry they were. Like an obedient sheep Robert joined the back of the line that formed and waited his turn....

Elizabeth stood still, trying desperately to hold it all together as her friends began to file past her offering her their condolences.

"Elizabeth, I'm so sorry." Susan's voice quivered with her own personal pain.

Elizabeth nodded in return but kept her eyes lowered. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ella wriggling in her grandfather's arms, bored, not understanding what was happening. Someone else was talking now – the same meaningless platitudes; token words meant to offer comfort, yet ringing hollow in her head.

He was a great man, it was a tragic waste, the world is an unjust place – if there was anything they could do...

She wished they would all just simply disappear. She wanted to grab Ella and run far, far away. More people moved past her and she closed her eyes. It was then she sensed his presence.

"Lizzie." He spoke softly, the way he only seemed to do around her.

Unconsciously they stepped closer to one another.

She looked up to meet his eyes and immediately wished she hadn't. She saw the love and concern she knew he felt for her. She remembered the strong, warm safety of his sweet embrace and wanted him to fold her into his arms so she could lose herself again. Closing her eyes she berated herself to remember where she was and why....

Robert swallowed and watched her struggle with her demons, unsure of what to do. There were no words that he could say that would offer comfort, and she'd probably heard them all anyhow. At a loss, he simply pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. Elizabeth hesitated for a fleeting second then buried her face into his neck and clung to him for dear life.

In that moment of silent embrace they felt time freeze. Elizabeth felt safe for the first time in days. Her uncertainty and guilt were pushed aside, such was the comfort that she drew from him. She inhaled his scent and was assailed by memories of nothing but love.

Someone, somewhere coughed and brought them both back to the now.

"Elizabeth, Ella's getting restless," Charles Corday said sounding a little agitated.

Robert relaxed his grip but did not release her. Moving his mouth to her ear he whispered, "Remember, I'm always here for you, Lizzie."

As if on cue they dropped their hands to their respective sides. Elizabeth attempted a weak smile and looked into Robert's eyes. Thank you, they seemed to say.

Charles stepped forward and delivered a squirming Ella into Elizabeth's arms, before subtly positioning himself between Robert and his daughter.

"Doctor Romano, thank you for coming," he said.

Robert shrugged his shoulders slightly, and looked down at his feet. He could hardly say it had been a pleasure.

"I've been wanting to speak with you about Elizabeth," Charles continued.

Robert looked back up, first to Charles and then to Elizabeth who remained at her father's side, suddenly looking more uncomfortable than he had ever seen her.

"She thinks it's for the best if she returns with me to England. There's nothing here for her, now."

Robert felt gob smacked. His eyes desperately shot back to Elizabeth's face for verification and saw it instantly in her beaten, sad expression.

She mouthed the word 'Sorry' and dipped her head, unable to watch the hurt that appeared on his face.

Robert inhaled deeply and attempted to regain his voice and composure. "If that's what you feel you need to do," he said, looking pointedly at Elizabeth. "But there'll always be a place for you at County – you have options."

Ella began to fidget impatiently in her mother's arms. "I'm sorry Robert – I have to go," she said. Charles nodded once at him, and placed a hand gently on Elizabeth's arm, guiding her to the waiting cars.

Robert watched her walk away feeling utterly crushed. The woman who held his heart was leaving, putting a whole ocean between them. He wanted to call out to her, to run and catch her and plead with her not to go. But what right did he have? None. He had to let her go, let her grieve and find herself. He just hoped that one day they would meet again.

He watched as Elizabeth passed Ella to someone he couldn't see already in the car. As she was about to climb in, she turned around and looked up. They stared at one another briefly, her eyes seeking understanding. Robert offered her a brief smile and lifted a hand to wave, which he turned into an image of a telephone and held to his ear. Elizabeth nodded, then climbed into the car.

He watched the black limousine pull away from the kerb and swatted at a fly that seemed to take joy in dive-bombing in front of his face. Cursing, he thrust his hands into his trouser pockets and looked back up into the bright sky. The same beautiful clear sky, the same sounds of life. He looked around at his colleagues who were discussing the logistics of transportation and felt the loneliest he had ever felt in his life.

"It should be fucking raining," he muttered.

To be continued...

R&R