Note/Disclaimer: I don't own NBC, or ER, or the characters of Elizabeth Corday and Robert Romano. The ending of the last chapter wasn't really what I meant to do. I just got this crazy idea in my head and it wouldn't go away until I wrote it down. I'm still not sure if I like how it ended up but I decide to go with it and see if it could maybe work. As always, I love feedback. Thanks for reading!

Elizabeth could here Robert calling her name, but she didn't want to wake up and face reality just yet.

"Five more minutes" she mumbled. She heard his voice called her name again.

"Noooo," she groaned again. She was slightly more alert now but still feigning sleep. Elizabeth thought back over the day she'd had and groaned again. That last thing she wanted was to wake up and try to make conversation. He was in one of those moods where the best thing to do was to steer clear. Unfortunately in the cramped airline seat she didn't really have that option. She turned slightly as Robert mumbled something else to her that she didn't quite catch. Elizabeth was about to mumble some retort when she felt someone plant a feather-light kiss on her lips.

"Robert!" cried Elizabeth as her eyes flew open and she saw him backing away guiltily while at the same time looking very pleased with himself.

"Lizzie, have a nice nap?" he asked coyly.

"I was until you had to go and wake me up" she answered grumpily.

"Okaaay, someone woke up on the wrong side of the plane this evening. And its not my fault, pilot's orders, we're landing."

"Its about time," exclaimed Elizabeth as she returned her seat to its upright position. She was surprised at her self for not being more angry at Robert. In fact she was more surprised than anything. It just seemed like an odd and out of character thing for him to do. Elizabeth knew that he still had feelings for her, but since that time in the lounge he never stepped over those boundaries again. So why now? She glanced over at him again and saw that he actually looked content….no, relieved maybe. For whatever reason it looked like he'd just had a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.

"Are you always this hard to wake up?" he asked, bringing Elizabeth out of her thoughts.

"Do you always wake people up like that?" she shot back.

"Well I had to make sure you were OK."

"What?!?"

"You know, I had to make sure you were breathing. Come on Lizzie, didn't you learn anything in med school? Maybe I should rethink my decision to let you in the OR with me" he pouted.

"Wait….what?!?" she asked again.

"You heard what I said" he started before continuing without letting her get a word in. "Sitting here, I've been thinking. I must remember to thank the pilots for being so incompetent that they can't land the plane just because of a little fog. You see Lizzie, while these morons have been flying around in circles looking for the airport, I've made a decision."

Elizabeth just started at his face for a moment. His tone was still playful and light but his expression was dead serious.

"And…" she prompted.

"And what?" he asked innocently.

"You know what I'm talking about. Care to share your decision with me or do I have to guess?" she asked exasperatedly.

"I thought I already did. Lizzie I have to say I'm hurt that you weren't paying more attention."

Elizabeth's mind raced back over the past few minutes before finding what she was looking for. A big smile slowly spread across her face as she comprehended what he had meant. "Your going back in the OR."

"Very good. So you either were paying attention or you're a good guesser. Does this mean you want a gold star?"

"I think I'll be fine without one" she answered dryly.

"Good" he said smiling ruefully. After a few moments he asked, "So Lizzie, I'm surprised you haven't asked me how I plan to accomplish this feat considering that I have a piece of dead weight hanging off my shoulder."

"I was kind of curious" she confirmed.

"Well I'm not going to tell you. You just have to trust me on this. Someday very soon I will be back in the OR."

"Robert…."

"Look Lizzie, I know what your going to say. The worse my arm gets the less chances I have, but that is exactly why I know I will get back in there. No one expects I'll do it, so I guess I just have to prove them wrong."

"Whatever you say Robert. You are the most stubborn man I know and if you set your mind to something I know you'd try your hardest to make it happen, but some things just might not be possible. I…I just don't want to see you disappointed" she stammered.

"Aww, Lizzie, I'm touched. But don't worry. I won't be disappointed. My life's already fallen apart, how much worse can it get."

"Robert…."

"Lizzie. Don't say anything else, OK. I've made my decision and nothing is going to change my mind. I'm determined to do this, the least you could do is be supportive."

"OK, fine" she said while mentally kicking herself. She'd been determined just to try and listen to what he had to say without passing judgment. Unfortunately that didn't seem to last very long. However when she looked over at him again she saw he wasn't angry or upset. In fact he seemed quite the opposite. Much more relaxed than she had seen him in a long time.

"So Lizzie, will you be there to join me in my return to the OR" he asked cheerfully.

"Whatever you want Robert."

Satisfied with her answer, Robert turned and looked out the window and watched as the plane descended through the fog and into San Francisco.