Disclaimer: All together now-'I do not own ER blah blah blah…'

A/N: What a wait! Sorry but I've been trying to figure out how to end this where I want it to. Basically we still have the trial to get through which is where Robert and Elizabeth will need each other most. Should be fun writing a trial, but anyway.

Oh yes-Ella's walking a bit in this. I needed her too. Also I'm pretty sure Elizabeth's mothers name is Isabel but if that's wring someone tell me.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two weeks later, Elizabeth was finally allowed home. It was not necessarily a great homecoming, seeing as her mother was still about, but at least it was home.

Charles Corday had, unfortunately, left a week earlier. He'd tried to shuffle his schedule, but Elizabeth knew he was busy and persuaded him to leave. Isabel, on the other hand, was much harder to remove.

Elizabeth packed her small range of garments slowly, waiting for Isabel and Ella to arrive in a taxi and take her home. Despite her feel for the place, she had had about enough of the hospital.

There was a knock at the door. A shot of panic sliced through her and she felt sweat bead on her brow. There is no reason to be afraid, she reminded herself and uttered

'Come in?'

It turned out to be Susan.

'Susan? Escaped again?'

'Barely. The patients were on me like hounds. I have bitemarks. Wondered if you needed any help?'

'I'm nearly done,' said Elizabeth, staring down at her small case, 'most of these were gifts and cards.'

'Really? Maybe I should get hurt I could do with a few new things.'

Susan grinned to emphasise the joke and Elizabeth managed a weak smile.

In truth, she was beginning to suffer nightmares and uncontrollable bouts of panic which neither medication nor therapy seemed to help. She hadn't told anyone. Well, anyone except Robert.

He had visited practically every other day since their last meeting and they had spent most of the time just talking. Sometimes they argued, but Elizabeth was glad he treated her as he normally would rather than something damaged. It made her feel normal, if only temporarily. Medicine, gossip, life, everything seemed suddenly open for discussion. Although of his family, he remained tight-lipped.

'You know, what with you leaving and Dr Romano moving on the same day, its all a bit of a merry-go-round,' said Susan, 'more than usual I mean.'

Elizabeth turned and looked at her, unconsciously dropping to sit on the bed. What was she talking about?

'Sorry? Robert moving? I don't follow?' she admitted.

Susan looked at her like she was mad and walked across to sit next to her, talking as she went.

'You know, the move? Romano and Kerry switching jobs, him being...demoted to Chief of ER? Oh. Ah. You don't know. Ah. Sorry, I figured, what with you two being close and him visiting but now I see...even the nurses didn't mention it?' Susan finished, looking awkward.

Elizabeth was stunned and made no attempt to hide it. Robert had been demoted? And he hadn't even mentioned it? All this time...all their conversations. Elizabeth felt a twist of anger and sadness all at the same time. Even Susan knew. Another feeling-jealousy? annoyance?-which disappeared quickly but felt odd all the same

'I suppose he didn't want to trouble you with his stuff,' said Susan, digging her way out, 'and he probably made sure the nurses kept quiet too. We only found out a couple of days ago and only because he's coming down to us.'

Elizabeth nodded. She bit her lip and crushed down the newly familiar feeling of panic. There was no reason behind it, no time or place but it persisted in showing up.

'He's moving today?' she asked, calmly.

Susan nodded.

'We got a memo. I guess he'll be packing stuff up now. Anyway, I'm going to go before I encounter another bout of foot in mouth disease. You call me if you need anything. I mean it Elizabeth. Oh and say hi to Ella.'

Elizabeth again managed a smile and the door swung shut. She sat for a moment and looked at her watch. Twenty to one. She had about twenty minutes before her mother arrived. She looked at her case. Right, she thought.

*

Robert looked around his empty office. His bits and pieces (slightly less since his furious routing of the place) were boxed up waiting to go...to go where? He had no office downstairs, that was how pathetic this new position was. And his home? That was a state. It needed to be cleaned thoroughly, preferably by someone with two hands. He gazed at a letter on his desk, part of that morning's post. It won't come here anymore, he thought, I wonder if the Chief of the ER actually gets any mail?

The letter was from a lawyer's office. The trial. They wanted to make sure he knew what to say and how. Well, bring it on. He could do with shouting at someone.

He heard footsteps at the door, which was propped open.

'Brenda I-'

He turned and stopped. It wasn't Brenda.

'Elizabeth!' he said, in a breathy, surprised way.

'Spring cleaning?' she asked.

Her eyes were narrowed. Oh great she's pissed, he thought. He had been congratulating himself at having made sure she didn't know about everything that had happened to him. Pride cometh before a fall. And after all they'd said about being open and honest. He had been, about his arm and everything. Just not this. He didn't want her to know about this.

'Yeah, well the dust has been lying a bit thick around here-'

'Don't'

'What?'

'Don't even try and wiggle your way out of this.'

She shook her head and walked into the room. She had a slightly twisted way of walking to compensate for her injury but it didn't slow her up much.

'When were you going to tell me?' she demanded, 'when? On the day I came back and went to find you only to find your office with the great Kerry Weaver inside it?'

Her eyes blazed. God she's beautiful when she's angry, he mused, what a cliché, but so true. Perhaps that's why I tried to always make her so, he thought.

'Elizabeth, when have you ever come looking for me? Apart from when you wanted to kill me?' he shrugged.

'True,' she admitted, folding her arms, 'I suppose this should please me. But Robert-'

'Now you don't,' he said, forcefully, 'I don't think I can take that.'

'What?'

'The condolences. The oh-so pitying stare, the it-will-be-all-right I'm-sure's. I haven't had any of that, I'll admit, but for once I am glad everyone hates me. They're all laughing behind their hands up here and applying for extra health insurance downstairs. It's a joke but I'd prefer you to laugh,' he said.

Elizabeth took a deep breath.

'Ha, ha,' she deadpanned, 'Robert I thought we had an agreement?'

He shrugged and stood defiant, but he squirmed inside.

'And you trusted me? You should know better Lizzie. Besides I didn't want to tell you and last time I looked, oh yes, it's a free country.'

He rummaged in a box and hoped she would leave.

'Fine,' she said, icily, 'do what you want. You always do.'

She turned and headed out, but suddenly Robert didn't want her to go.

'Elizabeth?'

She stopped.

'Please?'

She turned back. The fire in her eyes died a little.

'Sorry,' he said, staring at her, 'I'm pissed off, and I don't have to explain why.'

She didn't say anything but came back and sat down.

'I'm used to it,' she said, blankly.

He nodded half to himself.

'It's not so bad,' continued Elizabeth, 'it could be a great opportunity-'

'Oh please-'

'That was not a platitude!' she said loudly, 'That was me being bloody honest!'

'Really? Well let me be bloody honest,' said Robert, fixing her with a stare, 'I know old hubby dearest loved his little job down there but come on Lizzie. You know you'd hate being down their twenty-four seven. Our job is to visit, to breeze in and sweep the patients away to health and happiness and we thank God we don't have to stay there. Especially me. I'm a surgeon, that's what I do. I'm no ER doctor, Chief or otherwise. This is all so much bullshit so they can keep me employed. I wish they would fire me because it would look like discrimination and then at least I could sue them.'

He held her gaze then sat suddenly on his desk. The letter he had picked up was still clasped in his hand. He felt relieved, yet guilty and angry all at once.

'You...you could have said all of that before,' said Elizabeth, finally, 'its not like you haven't been able to get hold of me.'

Robert rolled his eyes and folded his arms.

'Yeah, yeah, I know. But remember I'm me-an idiot.'

'I'm not arguing with that,' agreed Elizabeth with a small smirk.

She surveyed the room, then added,

'I'm going in about ten minutes you know.'

'I know,' said Robert, 'I was going to come and see you before you left.'

'You would have run into my mother,' said Elizabeth, 'are you sure you would have wanted that?'

'My arm got sliced off and I talked down a gun-wielding psychopath,' Robert said, pragmatically, 'and I looked after a two year old-your two year old-with a temperament to match-with one arm. Your mother is nothing. Walk in the park.'

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows.

'A safari park,' she said, dryly, then changing the subject, 'what's that?'

She gestured to the letter in his hand. He tried to hide the letterhead but Elizabeth was quick and noted the name.

'Merchant and Sons? God that's the lawyers isn't it. I had one from them; my mother brought my mail in. I've been trying to ignore it, though. It's all about meetings and everything. I don't really want to think about it,' she said.

'Well, I'll have to do it too,' said Robert, walking over and sitting opposite, 'I'll help you, we'll be fine.'

He was pleased at how convincing he sounded and at her slightly relieved expression.

'Thank you,' she said, firmly, 'and this...this is only a minor thing. You're bigger than this. Metaphorically.'

She grinned a little. She's making fun of my height, he thought, she's taking the mick out of me and I'm happy about it. You know, I could just-

Something or rather someone stumbled into the room. Robert looked around the edge of the sofa.

A big pair of blue eyes looked back. Ella had stumbled inside and was now clinging onto the sofa's arm. She made to walk towards him and he saw her fall. In one swift movement he reached out grabbed her in one arm and swung her up onto his hip.

'Robert! Goodness, Ella!' exclaimed Elizabeth standing up.

The little girl waved at her mother.

'Heyba!' she said.

'How on Earth-' began Elizabeth.

'Ella! Come back here!'

Isabel Corday's voice drove a knife into Robert's brain. He winced and Elizabeth noticed.

'Be thankful she's not staying at your house,' she murmured.

'You know, you could stay at mine if you want,' he offered, half jokingly.

She grinned as the door burst open and Isabel Corday strode into the room.

'Ah there you are,' she said to Ella, 'you should not be walking at your age!'

'She only does it occasionally, mother,' said Elizabeth, ' and it's more a combination of walking and crawling.'

'Its fast whatever it is,' her mother answered.

She looked at Robert and her face did a marginal impression of a smile. Isabel was even worse than her ex-husband at hiding her dislike of Robert.

'And it could take her to the worst places,' she said, stonily, 'Dr Romano, I haven't seen you in...far too long.'

Robert, aware of both Elizabeth and Ella's presence, smiled placatingly.

'You too, Mrs Corday,' he said, 'but here we are so all is right with the world.

Isabel clasped her hands together and turned to Elizabeth

'Elizabeth, a taxi is waiting, do you have your bags?'

'One bag mother, its just outside,' replied Elizabeth, trying to diffuse the tension.

Isabel nodded and turned back to Robert.

'Once you've finished manhandling my grand-daughter,' she said, holding out her arms.

Ella had been very peaceful and calm with Robert, showing him her latest toy-a battered Barbie doll.

'Mother honestly, I've told you how Robert took care of Ella, when I was in surgery,' reminded Elizabeth.

'Do you want her?' Robert asked Elizabeth, ignoring Isabel.

Elizabeth smiled and gratefully took her daughter.

'Shall I get your case?' he asked, aware that his dutiful and polite manner was irritating Isabel no end.

Elizabeth hesitated, looked at her mother and felt a spark of rebellion.

'Thank-you Robert that would be very...helpful,' she said, smiling at him.

Isabel made an obvious tut-tut noise, but both Elizabeth and Robert ignored her as he lead the way to the elevator.

'I...heard of your little accident,' Isabel said, primly as they rode down the floors, 'its sounds terrible, I am very sorry.'

Robert rolled his tongue over his teeth and forced another smile.

'Thank you.'

'And now you've lost your job as well, how perfectly awful,' Isabel continued.

'I am still going to be working in the ER,' Robert answered levelly, 'I haven't been fired just yet.'

Isabel flicked her head sideways in a movement Elizabeth recognised as mild irritation. She was watching the conversation like a viewer at a tennis match. It was mesmerising to see anyone other than her father or herself battle with her mother. Almost entertaining.

'Well that's wonderful. And with your escapade with the police! Helping out like that, must have been terrifying. I'm surprised that they let you talk to him, you know. I guess its an American thing but really...he did end up shooting a number of people,' said Isabel, shrugging.

'Robert ending up saving five peoples lives mother, including my own,' interjected Elizabeth.

She glanced at Robert who flicked his eyes onto her. A silent word passed between them.

'Oh look here's our floor,' said Elizabeth, with mock-cheerfulness, as the lift dinged and the doors opened.

She removed Ella from the tense atmosphere and walked outside into a watery sunlight. Isabel stalked off to find the taxi and Robert placed her case beside her. Elizabeth seemed to tense suddenly and brushed a hand across her face. Must be her mother's presence, Robert thought.

'So Lizzie, we'll expect you back at work oh, tomorrow?' he said, jokingly.

Elizabeth chuckled, relaxing a bit. Ella joined in with a little giggle of her own. Robert couldn't help but grin at her, but quickly hid it when he saw Elizabeth looking.

'One less patient, much money saved,' he said, 'if I still had my old job I'd be happy.'

'Robert-'

'Lizzie, this is not the time nor place. Go home, be with your daughter, try not to kill your mother and get better.'

'Right. And you...go make someone cry in the ER. I'm sure it'll make you feel better.'

They both smiled as the taxi drew up and Isabel ordered the driver to get the bag. He all ready looked like he was contemplating crashing his own taxi to get away from her.

Robert drew back and Elizabeth opened the door, handing Ella to Isabel. The child waved to Robert, who responded in kind. Elizabeth turned to him, hand on the door and hesitated. Then she drew out a card from her pocket.

'Pen?' she asked.

Robert, bewildered, dug one out and handed it to her.

'Here. My number,' she said, writing, 'call me, I mean it, I will be very annoyed if you don't. We still have things to get through.'

And in one movement, she placed the card in his top pocket along with the pen and kissed him on the cheek. Then she climbed in the cab and was gone.

Robert took a moment to recover. What on earth was that? Wait a minute, I don't give a damn what that was cause she kissed me. He almost forgot it was moving day. Almost.

Turning round he re-entered the hospital and frustration immediately began to swell. Make someone cry? Fuck it, I'll make someone quit, he thought venomously. He reached into his top pocket and drew out the card. I sincerely hope I haven't slipped into a parallel universe.

Upstairs he surveyed his cleared office and saw the lawyer's letter still on the desk. Reality snapped back. It's not over yet, he thought.