Disclaimer: One disclaimer to rule them all, one disclaimer to find them, one disclaimer to bring them all and in lawfulness bind them-so you can't sue me!

After this, no-one else is getting unconscious, okay?  Right.  Now then,  this bit should technically be at the end of t'other chapter but then said chapter would be extremely looooong.  Next!

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-Mummy?  Mummy, wakup!  Wakup!'

I can't lift my legs.  Just let me sleep.

'-Mummy come wakup!  Ple Mummy!'

'Elizabeth?'

Without thinking, Elizabeth's head shot up and she gasped for breath.  Her head throbbed and she felt dizzy, sick.  Her limbs were heavy.  She took one long breath then bent over again to stop herself throwing up.  She dimly realised that she was still sitting in the seat outside, head between her knees, one hand struggling to support her head.

'Elizabeth?' said a low, comforting voice, 'Its okay.  You had a panic attack.  I'm going to help you inside, into the house.  But you have to help me.  Can you stand?'

Elizabeth made a sound of confirmation and she felt herself being pushed upright.  She closed her eyes and kept them that way.  It hurt to open them.  She felt her right arm pulled over a shoulder, soft cool cotton under her fingers.  The hand left the arm and gripped around her waist, pulling her upright with surprising strength. 

She heard a voice quietly telling Ella to go into the house and wondered vaguely how she would manage she could only go a few steps, but somehow she was and then that voice told the girl to sit on the armchair and not to worry.

A cold leather sofa appeared beneath her and she sat, then slumped sideways, leaning over the arm and breathing deeply.  A hand stroked the hair out of her face.

'I should ring an ambulance,' said the voice, 'get you checked over, blood pressure might be low I don't want you slipping further-'

'No...ambulance,' she managed.

Some part of her brain was refusing to be seen in public like this.

'Just give me a minute,' she said, feeling stronger.

Then there was silence, with a whispering conversation happening somewhere to her right.  Elizabeth opened her eyes and found it did not hurt anymore.  She managed to focus and set about re-gaining control.

Half an hour and three glasses of water later, Elizabeth felt she had regained control but lost a certain amount of respect.  She felt embarrassed.  How must she have looked-mouth open, grunting like a drunk.  Oh pull yourself together he's seen you far worse-tears streaming, covered in blood, sweating, leaking milk!  Seeing you a bit out of it is not going to change anything. 

Ella curled under her arm, yawning and close to sleep.  Elizabeth felt awful for her daughter, seeing her like that.  Mothers and fathers are strong, she's al ready been scared by Mark's death.  She clung to Ella's small frame and was comforted.

Robert, the soft voice, had been pottering in and out of the house, cleaning up, asking if she really didn't need an ambulance and keeping quiet.  Now he came and sat on the armchair opposite.  He took his arm out of the sling and moved it back and forth and couple of times.

'How does it feel?' she asked.

He glanced up, startled.

'It...'he shrugged, 'it is what it is.'

He quickly put his arm back in the sling and looked over at her, clearing deeply concerned.

'I should be asking you that.'

'Oh, I'm fine it must have just been...'

She trailed off, unable to find a suitable explanation.  Then all of a sudden, she was hit by what had happened and just wanted to leave.  Leave the house, get out, get back home and crawl into her bed and lay there forever.  She stood up abruptly, causing Ella to cry out and stare up at her with sleepy eyes.

'I have to go...I'm sorry, we should go now,' she said, hurriedly.

'How long have you been having these attacks?'

'Since…it.  They're just some mild panic attacks, nothing serious, I have medication-'

'Nothing serious?  Lizzy you nearly gave me a heart attack, I was terrified you'd relapsed!  You're body is rebelling at the stress, you have to talk to someone-'

'Oh please, and you're going to tell me you saw someone after what happened to you?  You talked to a professional about it?  I don't think so!'

Elizabeth turned away, grabbing hers and Ella's jackets.

'All right, I'm not the poster boy for therapy,' agreed Robert, 'I think its a waste of time but I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about you.  I mean, I said I would help you and I want to but I don't know if I can!'

Elizabeth turned back to him and saw nothing but concern in his face, his hand held out to her palms upward, offering.  She sagged and sat down again.  Ella snuggled into the armful of coats she held.

'You have,' she said, 'I've told you more than I've told anyone.  I'm very grateful for everything.  I never thought…'

She felt a lump in her throat and pushed it back, changing the subject.

'And I said you could talk to me and you didn't.  You didn't even tell me when you got-'

'Demoted?'

'Moved.  Robert, how are you feeling?  Really, honestly, tell me.'

Robert looked down at the limp hand lying across his chest.  He should have been feeling cotton and warmth but he wasn't.  He should have been able to curl his fingers or wave his hand, but he couldn't.

'Nothings changed Lizzie,' he said quietly, 'it improved...but now it's just back to what it was.  I'm surprised I'm still employed at all.'

Elizabeth carefully moved the coats off her arm and left Ella asleep.  She slipped off couch and crouched down beside him in the chair, instantly reminded of the time she'd done this before, in the surgeons lounge.  It seemed years ago.

'I'm not,' she said, 'you're a doctor first, Robert and a damn good one.  Or you could be.  If you have to be an ER doctor then be the best one they've ever seen.  Arm or no arm.  It'll be just like surgery.  You were top of your game there, you'll be top of your game downstairs too,' she said.

He chuckled.  He had quite a sweet smile.

'How very practical,' he said, 'And just so we're clear, I was the best?'

'Occasionally,' said Elizabeth smiling, 'on my days off.'

He turned to her, leaning forward slightly and Elizabeth was struck by how brown his eyes were.  You could drown in those, she thought.  Then another thought; how much she liked seeing these sides of him.  It made him more real.  Then she was also aware that there weren't many lights on and they were very close.

'Mummy?'

Elizabeth whipped round and stood up in one movement.  A sleepy looking Ella was sitting up on the couch, looking dazed.

'Hi sweetie, its okay I'm here.'

She scooped up her daughter and turned around.  Robert hadn't moved.  He was watching her as though in a daze.  Slowly he stood up. 

Elizabeth was reminded of her dream, of facing Robert with Ella in her arms and no-one saying a word.  How had that ended?  Had it ended?  What had she done then?  What should she do now?

What she did surprised them both.  She moved swiftly over to him and pressed her lips gently against his.  He didn't move.  She pulled away and turned without saying a word.  Robert heard the rustle of her coat and bag, the door open and close and then...silence.

They were both left thinking the same thing -'What the hell happened there?'

Mmm could this make things even more awkward?  Probably.  I hope it's up to the usual standard, only I haven't written in a while so I'm a little out of practice!