Look I updated :- ) Sorry it's been so long. As usual, the character's are not mine. Ummm...yeah, I give you, Chapter 10. Hope you like!
He'd been worried when she'd stormed out of her hotel room. He hadn't seen her but it would have been hard to miss the slamming of her door on the way out. Normally Robert knew when he was making her upset, but this time he was clueless. Well, maybe not clueless. He knew that his reluctance to open up to her was making her upset, but that still didn't explain why she was so upset. Maybe that kiss did mean something to her, and maybe she was telling the truth when she said that she actually cared about him and wasn't trying to help him only out of pity. He desperately wanted to believe that, but he was determined to hold fast to his resolve to never reveal his feelings for her again unless he knew that she reciprocated them.
After Elizabeth had stormed out to who-knows-where, Robert decided that getting some fresh air wasn't such a bad idea. He'd turned left, knowing from previous visits to San Francisco that the waterfront was in that direction. He remembered hearing about how the whole area had been redesigned after the last earthquake, and it was pedestrian friendly with benches and grassy areas along the main path. A walk would probably do him some good.
Robert saw her when he was still almost half a block away from the water. He'd recognize that hair anywhere. His steps faltered as he started to approach her. What should he do? What should he say? Should he say anything?? Deciding that he was probably one of the last people she wanted to see at the moment, he turned right when he reached the path, once again walking away from her. After walking for another five minutes he stopped and leaned with his back against the rail, admiring what he could see of the city skyline.
Maybe he should just talk to her and stop running away from everything for once. Contrary to popular belief he really could carry on a normal conversation. It couldn't be that hard to bury any romantic feelings he had for her and let her in on his secret plan. He could separate the unrealistic romantic images from the much more realistic friendship he desperately wanted from her, couldn't he? He could certainly use her help and support right about now.
Robert had been so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed her coming toward him until she was only about six feet away. She paused for a moment after they made eye contact, then continued walking until she was leaning against the rail next to him. He was unsure how to react considering that last time he'd seen her he'd pissed her off...again. He cautiously offered a slight smile in greeting, hoping that she hadn't come over to take her anger or frustration out on him by dumping him into the bay.
"Hey" she said softly. Robert relaxed, a little.
"Hey" he echoed, glancing behind him.
She caught his look and smiled, "Don't worry I'm not going to push you in."
"Well that's a relief. I was worried that you were out here plotting my demise."
"I think you're safe for now." Elizabeth paused for a moment before continuing, "Look, Robert, I just wanted to apologize...I shouldn't keep pushing you to tell me about you're arm. You're entitled to you're privacy."
He was surprised by her statement, "Wait, I piss you off and then you come back apologizing to me? I'm not sure what I did but I'll have to remember for next time."
"Don't push you're luck mister."
"Hey, it's doctor, not mister" he said with mock hurt in his voice.
"Yeah I know."
"You're forgiven Lizzie." He paused for a beat before continuing, "It's just that if I tell you that means it's real."
"Robert," she began gently, "I'm sorry to say that it's real whether you tell me or not. And it's been real for quite a while now."
"Yeah, I know. But I still like to pretend that it isn't. This whole ulcer thing has kind of made me wake up and smell the coffee and see that my arm really isn't going to get better. I know that it won't get better, but I still like to pretend that it will. I guess it's easier to do that if I keep things to myself."
"Yeah, I understand" she said quietly. Neither one of them said anything for another moment or two. "Robert it's freezing, I'm going to go back to the hotel. I'll see you in the morning."
"Lizzie...wait!" he called as she started to move away from him. He reached for the sleeve of her coat to keep her from leaving, but missed and grabbed her hand instead.
Both of them froze for a moment as they felt the electricity flow through them during their brief moment of contact. Robert blushed slightly and dropped her hand. Elizabeth shivered slightly, a gesture that wasn't lost of Robert.
"Never mind, you're right, it is freezing. We should go back inside" he said.
"No, I can tell you have something important to say. I'll be fine."
Robert shook his head, "You're shivering."
She didn't know how to tell him that she had shivered more from his touch than from the weather. Elizabeth didn't know what he had to tell her, but she sensed it was something big. And she was determined to find out what it was.
Seeing that she wasn't going to move until he told her what was on his mind, Robert said, "Look, I'm going to talk to you about this. But not here. It'd take too long. I'll tell you everything as soon as we get back inside. How's that?"
Elizabeth eyed him suspiciously, she thought they had made progress, but she wasn't sure. She wanted to know what he had to say but knew they couldn't stay outside forever, and she had intended on going back when she'd spotted him further down the railing. "I guess that'll have to do."
"Good"