Like I said-one big chapter, keep reading.

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Elizabeth spoke a little more plaintively than she would have liked and he must have noticed because he turned and looked at her, confused. It must be the meds, he thought, she's still coming out of it.

'I mean,' Elizabeth continued, hastily, searching for words, 'I want to talk to you. I'm fine, I've been resting for hours, I'm perfectly awake.'

Slowly Robert sat down, looking decidedly uncomfortable. Elizabeth kissed Ella's head repeatedly, then finally pulled herself away. The little girl, being like all two-year-olds, didn't quite understand all the fuss and began playing with her black dog up and down the sheets.

Elizabeth smiled warmly, then looked up at Robert. His face was drawn and pale and he pressed his lips together avoiding her gaze. Oh dear, she thought, I have enough trouble with Ella and I have both hands.

'Robert,' she began, seriously, 'I cannot thank you enough. I really can't. When Jacy told me I...well I'll admit it, I was stunned.'

Robert let a rueful smile pass his lips.

'I'm not quite sure if that's a compliment,' he said, teasingly, 'but I'll take it as one.'

Elizabeth, still slightly behind things, quickly shook her head.

'Oh, no, no, it was a compliment,' she said, firmly, 'I mean-I have trouble with Ella, er, at the best of times.'

She didn't want to bring up his arm. She always felt bad when she mentioned it, but now she could understand at least some of the emotions he had been feeling. And all by himself too. You idiot Robert, she thought.

'It was hell,' he said, still keeping it light-hearted, 'at one point the police were called in and had to talk me off the roof.'

He felt on firmer ground talking like this, avoiding the serious emotional stuff. Elizabeth smiled and looked down at Ella.

'Thank you,' she said, again.

Robert caught himself gazing at her the way he always did when she wasn't looking and checked himself. His resolve was dwindling. You could never just get over her, he thought; you can barely be friends. Face facts bud, you're hooked and you know it.

'Truth be told and don't let this out, but I may have actually enjoyed it. I said may. Anyway enough thanking Lizzie, you're going to give me a complex,' he said.

'Tough,' she replied, with renewed strength, 'because I haven't finished yet. And you have to stay there because I've just been through an incredibly traumatic experience and it might impede my recovery if I don't get my own way.'

Robert looked a little stunned at her reply. She sounded not only like herself, undisturbed by events, but like the Lizzie he had not glimpsed for a long time.

Elizabeth grinned at his stunned astonishment and stroked her daughter's head. Impulsively she gathered her up and plopped her on her own lap, holding her arms around her loosely. Ella showed her her toy and they had a quiet moment as Robert recovered.

'So, you'll telltale to your therapist?' he finally came up with.

Elizabeth, still absorbed in Ella, nodded.

'Absolutely. He came in this morning talking about my recovery, all the states I'd go through, how I'd have to have sessions blah, blah, blah. Basically everything's going to be tough. Well, you know that,' she explained.

'I hate therapists Lizzie. They wanted me to go to one, but I told them it'd be better for her health if I didn't,' Robert said, conversationally.

'Well I'm a good girl. I listened to him. And he said no unnecessary stress which I'm taking that everyone has to do what I say.'

Robert raised his eyebrows. Elizabeth noticed the little laughter lines around his eyes.

'Unnecessary stress? You do realise that in the dictionary I'm under those words as a definition?'

Elizabeth rolled her eyes at him and stroked Ella's cheek. His heart leapt. Give it up, he thought, you don't have to tell her, but your sure not going to get over her.

'You did a very brave and amazing thing yesterday Robert,' she said, 'I...was with Martin and know what he was like. To talk to him, to listen and negotiate like that with no training? Just unbelievable.'

Robert just shrugged and placed his hand over his slinged arm.

'I had to do it. Besides lets not forget your input. You managed to convince him to send the Graham kid out where I nearly blew it.'

Elizabeth looked surprised. Despite yesterday's events being hazy, she did remember some things.

'How did you know?' she asked, curious, 'did someone tell you?'

'Ah, yeah, yeah,' said Robert hastily, not wishing her to be freaked out by the way he thought of her as superwoman,'it was Mrs Graham, Helen, she told us. They're both doing okay now by the way. The kids likely to pull through.'

'I know,' she said, 'Susan told me.'

'Dr Lewis was here?'

'She was my first visitor. She's quite all right actually. Your heroics aren't going to be secret for long,' Elizabeth said, with a mischievous smile.

'Thank you,' he said, 'but knowing the imbeciles down there, they'll all be getting into trouble and I'll be the one called into help. I don't want to get a reputation.'

'For what? Being a decent, no, brave human being? Heaven forbid!'

His nervousness slipped and he laughed, leaning forward. Elizabeth relaxed too. She felt better dealing with Robert when he was being himself. The vulnerable defeated side of him, whilst endearing and human, was just a bit scary at times.

'We're getting off the point,' she said briskly, 'you're getting us off the point, I'm going to thank you properly Robert if its the last thing I do. I want you to know just what an incredible thing you did.'

She said the last bit looking him full in the eyes, willing the statement into him. He let the words sink in, captivated by her gaze.

'I'm not sure what you want me to say Lizzie,' he said finally, rubbing his chin and breaking the stare.

Elizabeth kept looking at him even as he turned away. She wouldn't want him to change.

'Okay I'll drop it,' she said, 'although it's fun watching you squirm.'

He grinned, still looking sideways and ran his eyes up the drip.

'That all they're giving you?' he asked, inner doctor taking over, 'it's not exactly that strong, you should be on dop-'

'Er, hello, doctor too you know!' said Elizabeth, waving a hand, 'I'm fine. Besides too much and I'd be out of it and I want to be wide awake.'

She kissed the top of Ella's head. Robert watched her. Her determination to apologise had touched him and even made him feel a bit proud. But she shouldn't be thanking him. She should be smacking him.

'Elizabeth I'm sorry,' he blurted out, 'if I hadn't made you stay. I'm just an arrogant bas-ah-person. If you hated me I would understand. You want to shout at me, then really go ahead.'

Elizabeth paused. She hadn't wanted to talk about this but now she was going to have to.

'I had a lot of time to think whilst I was...disposed,' she said, in a very British manner, 'I saw some odd things, dreamt some odd dreams. Don't worry I won't go into them. But I've always been honest with you Robert. I've never felt the need not to be, it's the only way I could cope.'

Robert knew the last bit was a joke, but his stomach twinged nonetheless.

'I know,' he said, 'I've always admired that about you, its one of the things I...I like about you.'

His voice had lowered slightly and the air in the room seemed very still. Ella was staring sleepily out into the room, humming slightly. The machines thrummed in the background, but they and the noise of voices and telephones sounded far away. Elizabeth did not dare look at him. She knew she was in shock and high on meds and disorientated by everything, but she was filled with the need to have him there and listening.

'I did blame you Robert,' she said finally, drawing her eyes up and across his face, 'I did. Because you have to play these games with me, with everyone, and this time the game nearly ended in death. I nearly died. I am grateful beyond words for what you did for me and Ella, but that doesn't stop me being angry with you.'

The air remained still. Elizabeth ploughed on.

'Look at us,' she said, 'we're both in the same bloody boat. We've been battered by this job-literally. And, what's ridiculous is, is that its taken all this stuff with your arm to get you to open up to me and what's more its taken this to get me to open up to you. We're friends Robert. I lost myself somewhere Robert. And you lost yourself somewhere too, though God knows where.'

Robert looked at her during this speech, seeing determination flashing through her features. She had said they were friends.

'We're friends? You sure you want to admit that?' he said, his tone lighter, but still quiet.

Elizabeth cocked her head to one side.

'No stress,' she repeated, 'shush for a while.'

He did, grateful because he didn't know what to say. He just watched her, considering her words. She blamed him, she hated him and she was his friend. Well, their relationship had never been simple had it?

For a while, they sat in silence. Elizabeth felt she had said everything she could for now. She suddenly felt uncomfortable and tried to prop herself up more. She winced as she did so and without thinking Robert shot up and reached over to help her.

'I told you the dosage should be more,' he said, 'I mean its not like just had a bit of a stomach ache or anything-'

Convulsively, Elizabeth grabbed his arm. He stared at her, her face drained and breathing sharp.

'Lizzie? Elizabeth, what is it? What's wrong? Are you in pain, I'll get someone-'

But Elizabeth shook her head and tightened her grip on his arm. Robert sat down again, extremely worried.

Elizabeth didn't understand what was going on. She had felt a pain in her chest where she had been shot and-

And that was it. She had been shot. She rolled the words around inside her, just like she had done before but it wasn't real then, nothing was real, nothing made sense it was like she was in a film. Now it had hit her and she couldn't stop the sobs that choked out of her.

Tears began to stream down her face and she was crying. Robert stared at her, feeling her hand on his arm. He wanted to make the pain stop.

Without a word, he moved his arm slowly and her shaking hand slipped off and fell onto the bed. Then he sat on the bed beside her and placed his arm around her shoulders. Elizabeth let go and leaned into him. She let out all the pain and anguish that had welled up inside her.

Robert didn't know what to say or do, so he just held her and rocked slightly and smiled down at Ella's slightly bewildered face. He savoured her warmth and her closeness. He didn't have to tell her he loved her, but he didn't have to let go. He couldn't.

After what seemed like an age she whispered.

'I can't do this alone.'

Robert swallowed.

'Neither can I,' he admitted.

Elizabeth tightened her grip around his waist. It was just what she wanted to hear.

'So you'll let me help you?' she asked.

'I think you'll be needing the help first,' he said, quietly.

Elizabeth paused, then raised her head and made him look at her. Her eyes were watery pools of blue and Robert felt like he was flying.

'We'll have to do it together then,' she said.

Now it was Robert's turn to pause, before feeling bold and leaning forward to kiss her forehead. It reminded him of being back in that room, but this time she was warm and smelt fresh and alive.

'Chrissy!'

They both turned. Chris was leaning a little awkwardly against the doorframe. Ella had recognised her immediately and called out her name.

'Elizabeth, Dr Romano,' Chris acknowledged with a grin.

Neither Robert nor Elizabeth were eager to move but Robert took the initiative to save Elizabeth too much embarrassment and withdrew his arm, standing up.

'That's my cue,' he said, lightly.

He waved a goodbye to Ella, shot a last glance at Elizabeth and turned away.

'Thank you so much Dr Romano,' said Chris as he passed.

Robert dismissed her with a wave of his hand and stepped into the corridor.

'You'll come back won't you?' Elizabeth called after him.

Her turned and smiled.

'You have to ask?' he said.

And with that, he was gone. Elizabeth gazed after him and smiled.

'So you're..friends now?' asked Chris.

'Something like that,' said Elizabeth, unsure as to what they were really, 'something like that.'