CHAPTER 13.

The sun shone brightly, as Robert walked to work. Whistling to himself, he thought about what he had learned the night before, and about the day ahead, and the things he wanted to say to Jessie when he saw her. Ahead, he saw a familiar figure, wrapped up warm against the cold, her shoulder-length blonde hair escaping from the woolly hat she was wearing. Increasing his pace, Robert caught up with her; it was Susan Lewis.

"Good morning, Dr Lewis!" Robert beamed at his colleague. "And how are we this morning?"

Susan turned to face Romano, her forehead creased with confusion.

"Hello, Dr Romano. You look happy. Um, did you win the lottery last night?" She asked.

Robert laughed and shook his head.

"No, Dr Lewis. Although perhaps I should start playing! Maybe my luck's changing?" Robert looked at Susan, as if noticing her for the first time. "Can I just say that you look fantastic, Dr Lewis. You're positively glowing!" He paused, considering her. "Now, I may not be a family man, but I am a doctor, and I know that look. Forgive my impudence, but are you…?" He trailed off, and gestured at her tummy with his hand.

Susan stared at Robert in horror. How did he know? She'd only done the test that morning. She hadn't even told Chuck.

"Are you psychic?" She demanded. "How could you tell…?"

Robert laughed again.

"A lucky guess," Robert answered. "Definitely time to start playing the lottery. Don't worry, Dr Lewis. Your secret's safe with me. Congratulations!" He walked off, whistling. Susan watched him go, open-mouthed, wondering when the aliens had replaced her bitter, hateful boss with this half-decent, polite man.

vvvvvv

"Good morning, Jerry!" Robert smiled at the man behind the counter, as he made his way through the ER.

Jerry stared after his boss, trying to remember the last time Romano had wished him a good morning. After casting his mind back, he decided it had never happened.

vvvvvvv

"Bring him over here, let's have a look," Kovac instructed, as the paramedics wheeled another patient into Exam Room 1.

Kovac and Carter worked steadily, assisted by Sam Taggart, explaining to the medical students what they were doing, and asking them questions about the treatment they should give. Robert stood in the corner of the room, watching his colleagues. He was thinking about what Jessie had said in her report about him; 'highly intelligent' was one phrase which stuck in his mind, along with 'strong evidence of improvement'. He brushed quickly over 'frustrated and irritable' and resolved to forget 'emotionally unreachable' altogether. His mind wandered; what would she be wearing? Would she agree to see him? Could he…

"Doctor Romano, could you come here for a minute, please?" Carter asked, his voice shattering Robert's daydream. Carter glanced up at his boss.

"Of course," Robert said, hastily. He moved clumsily to Carter's side. As he did so, his prosthetic caught the tray of instruments and it clattered to the floor.

"Damn!" Robert swore. "I'm sorry," he continued, "it was an accident!"

Carter and Kovac stared at Robert. He met Sam's eyes. She, too, was looking at him, an unreadable expression on her face.

"I'm really sorry about that," Robert repeated. "I'll get another one." He moved to the drawers in the corner of the room, but Sam beat him to it.

"It's okay," she said, "I've got it." She shooed Robert back in Carter's direction, and began to assemble another tray.

Robert moved back to the patient.

"What have you got for me, Doctor?" He asked Carter.

Suddenly, the machine monitoring the patient's pulse began to whine, as he flat-lined.

"Quick, give me the paddles. Charge to two hundred!" Carter said, as he and Kovac worked on bringing the man back to life.

Robert looked at his colleagues. They seemed perfectly able to manage without him, so he retreated out of the room quietly, his thoughts already returning to Jessie and her report.

"He's asystole," Carter stated, flatly. "Charge to three hundred. Clear!"

The shock jerked the patient, but it did not produce a pulse. Carter tried again. This time the machine beeped, and the patient's heart re-started.

"Okay, bag him – let's get a surgical consult down here, and I want a full blood-work."

Carter stripped off his gloves and moved to the door.

"Is it me," he asked the room, " or did I actually hear Romano apologize?"

"Twice," Kovac added, not looking up from the patient.

"I don't think I've ever heard him say the S-word!" Sam grinned, as she helped Luca to put a tube down the patient's throat.

"I didn't think he knew it." Carter deadpanned, as he pushed open the door. "Jerry said earlier that Romano actually wished him a good morning. It's very bizarre. I wonder what's happened to the man we know and love to hate?"

vvvvvv

Robert's good mood continued through the morning, as he thought about when he should go and see Jessie. As lunchtime approached, he considered buying her a sandwich and taking it up to her office, when he heard someone squeal his name. Turning towards the voice, he saw Emily running towards him.

Dropping to a crouch, Robert scooped the little girl up in his arms and gave her a big hug.

"Hey, Little One! How are you? I was just thinking about you!" Robert cried, as Emily wound her arms around his neck.

"Hello, Doctor Romano," said Mr Hutchinson, as he approached them. He moved to hold out a hand, then, realizing that Romano had his hands full, so to speak, changed the handshake to a little wave.

Robert smiled at Emily's parents as they approached him. He hadn't seen Emily for a couple of months and was wondering if he'd see her before Christmas. He'd been keeping a present in his locker just in case she'd turned up at the hospital.

He deposited Emily on the counter, next to where Jerry stood, busy in conversation with Susan Lewis. Emily refused to relinquish her hold on him, and clung to his arm.

"How are you doing?" Robert asked Mrs Hutchinson as she shook his hand.

"Very well, thank you, Doctor. Emily's making great progress. We've been to see Doctor Rhodes a couple of times and she's been a great help."

"Can we see Jessie?" Squealed Emily.

Mr Hutchinson grinned.

"Emily has brought a present for Doctor Rhodes. For Christmas." He dropped his voice to a whisper. "I think she might have brought you one too, Doctor Romano."

Robert smiled at Emily.

"Well, now, isn't that funny? He said. "I might just have one for you, too." He looked at Emily's parents. "How about you guys go to the canteen, and I'll get Emily's present. I'll tell Jessie to meet us there."

The Hutchinsons made their way to the canteen, and Robert realized that the time (and the opportunity) had come for him to speak to Jessie. Swallowing his nerves, he turned to Jerry.

"Jerry, could you do me a favour, please, and ring Dr Jessie Rhodes's office?" Robert asked. "Could you let her know that Emily's here in the canteen, and would like to see her as soon as possible? Thanks."

Susan had been listening to the conversation, and realized that she had to tell Romano that Jessie wasn't in her office. As Robert went to get Emily's present, she intercepted him.

"Um, Doctor Romano, can I have a word?" she asked, hesitantly.

"Of course, Doctor Lewis!" Robert beamed. "If you'll just step into my office…"

He pushed open the door to the employee lounge, and went to his locker. Susan followed him in, and stood at the door.

"I thought you should know, Romano; Doctor Rhodes isn't here." She said.

Robert continued to rummage in his locker, his back to Susan so she couldn't see the look of disappointment which flashed across his face.

"Oh, damn. Emily will be disappointed. Will she be in tomorrow?"

Susan hesitated. How much should she tell Romano? She didn't want to betray a confidence.

"She's gone to Boston." She said, finally.

Robert turned to face Susan.

"Holiday?" he asked.

Susan shook her head, but said nothing.

"So, what? Where's she gone? When will she be back?" Robert persisted.

Susan didn't answer, and looked at her shoes.

"Come on, Doctor Lewis. If you don't want the Iron Bitch to know about Mini-Me in there, I suggest you spill the beans."

Susan's eyes widened at Robert's nickname for Dr Weaver, but he didn't care. In just over a month he'd be gone from this place and it wouldn't matter what he said about Kerry Weaver. He was more interested in Jessie's whereabouts. If she wasn't on holiday, then why had she gone to Boston? He gestured impatiently at Susan, and she sighed. I've got to tell him something, she thought.

"She's got a job interview," Susan muttered.

Robert just stared at Susan. A thousand responses flashed through his mind. He wanted to shake Susan; scream at her. Why? He wanted to know. Why did she want to leave Chicago? Was it me?

"I think that perhaps she felt she wasn't welcome here anymore," Susan added, as if reading Robert's mind. "I just thought you should know." She nodded at Romano, and left the room, hoping she'd done the right thing.

In the employee lounge, Robert was thinking furiously. What was he going to do now? When would he get a chance to tell her? Then he remembered Emily and her parents, waiting patiently to see him. He grabbed Emily's present, and closed his locker forcefully.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" He yelled, kicking the lockers, angrily. So much for a change of luck. He just hoped that Jessie would come back to County before his final shift at the end of December. Otherwise he might never get the chance to apologize.

Shaking his head at the situation, Robert left the lounge. As he passed the desk, Jerry called out.

"Dr Romano, I tried to contact Dr Rhodes, but…" Jerry began.

" I know: she's not here." Robert scowled. "Never mind, Jerry. Go back to eating your body weight in pizza, or whatever it is you do round here!" He glanced round at the other members of staff. "And as for the rest of you, haven't you got any work to do? Come on – you're making the place look untidy!" He stalked off, clutching Emily's present, a sour expression on his face.

Susan moved over to Jerry and patted his arm gently.

"Okay, Dr Lewis," Jerry said. "What on earth did you say to him to cause a mood swing like that?" He looked at Susan, eyebrows raised. Romano's remark had stung a bit, but he knew what to expect from him after all this time. "Oh well," he shrugged, "so much for the spirit of Christmas – seems Ebenezer Scrooge is back with us! Okay, now let's see…" He consulted his watch, then addressed the ER in general, "I think we can safely say Doctor Romano's good mood has officially ended. Who had one-thirty?"

Susan watched Romano's retreating back. She thought about what Jerry had said. Could her news about Jessie have changed his mood? And if so, did that mean…?

Susan grinned to herself. Things were getting interesting.