For the last two weeks, I've been having an ER marathon on TV. Also, when I wasn't sitting in front of the TV, I was reading CORDANO fanfiction. Oh, but there's just not enough of those - so I wrote one of my own. Sort of, anyway.
No time for second chances
Lost in thought and with a hint of sadness, Elizabeth looked at the photos, the flowers and the burning candles in front of the hospital. The pain inside her at this sight was overwhelming. Even now, she couldn't believe it. He was dead.
Robert Romano was dead!
He was dead, and she was alone again. And just a few weeks ago, her life had seemed very different. A few weeks ago, she had believed that she could be happy again. That she would share her life with a man again. That she had been given a second chance. That she would let a man into her life again. Him. Robert.
Three months ago he had been standing in front of her door one evening. It had been an evening when all she wanted to do was forget - everything. She wanted to forget everything that had happened.
Taking an open bottle of wine from the refrigerator, Elizabeth looked around her kitchen for a clean wine glass. But there was no clean glass left.
Sighing, she stared at the dirty dishes that were piling up in the sink. She had no energy left today to do the dishes or put them in the dishwasher. Working at County and Ella claimed all her strength. With Robert no longer allowed to do surgery, her workload had increased. Way more.
Maybe she should just put the wine back in the fridge and make herself some tea. And then take a hot shower before going to bed.
However, before she could think about it any further, there was a knock at her door.
Probably a neighbor who wanted to borrow something - some flour or something. Mind you, when she opened the door, it was him standing outside. Robert.
"Robert," she looked at him in surprise.
"Hello Lizzie."
Actually, she was surprised to see him here. Mentally, she went through all the reasons why he might be here. Had she forgotten to sign a chart? Had one of her orders for a patient been wrong and he was going to confront her about it now? Well, considering the day she'd had, she didn't care.
I mean, Elizabeth had had to tell a young woman that her husband hadn't made it. The man had been a father, and the child the same age as Ella. Right then, Elizabeth had had to think of Mark. Of all the moments in Ella's life that he would never be around to witness. As well as the young man who had died in her care.
If she closed her eyes, she could see the very moment before her mind's eye. Quizzically, she had looked at him. She had been about to ask him what he was doing here, when her eyes had landed on the paper bag in his hand. Ice cream. It was the same kind he had bought her back then. After the surgery. When she had been pregnant with Ella.
Well, she had wanted to send him away, but the thought of eating ice cream had been too tempting. And the way he looked at her. The silent conversation they were having with just their eyes.
Elizabeth smiled at the memory of it. It had felt like a beginning, that moment back then. It had felt so good. So right.
Elizabeth sat cross-legged on her sofa. In her hand the ice cream tub and a spoon. Robert sat next to her on the sofa.
"Good?" he asked.
"Yes, thank you," Elizabeth smiled at him. Oh, she hadn't thought how badly she needed this. All of this. The ice cream. The company. Just a moment of silence.
Robert eyed her. She looked tired. Exhausted. Oh, how he'd love to take some of the weight off her shoulders. To do something for her. Something more than just buying ice cream for her. And he knew it wasn't easy for her - life as a single mother and a doctor.
And since the helicopter had taken away part of his life, his ability to perform surgery, she had to work even more. And she had even less time for her daughter. And for herself.
" How about you take a bath and I'll cook us something in the meantime," he suggested when he heard her stomach growl. Well, maybe he should have brought a pizza instead of the ice cream.
"Robert, I-"
"Lizzie," he interrupted her, reaching for hers with his right hand, "take a bath. Relax. And when you're done, there's a home-cooked meal waiting for you."
"But-"
"Please Lizzie, I . . . Let me do this for you," he pleaded with her softly, even though he had really wanted to say different words. Even though he had actually wanted to say that he wanted to be there for her. Right now. And later too. For as long as she would let him. Then again, maybe now wasn't the time for those words.
Elizabeth hesitated only briefly before nodding. Well, maybe it was time to accept help, albeit just for tonight.
Half an hour later, when she came back down the stairs, she thought for a moment she was in the wrong house. The scent of freshly cooked food drifted towards her nose. All the dirty dishes from the sink had magically disappeared and she heard the dishwasher running. Robert had set the table in the kitchen and was pouring some wine into glasses.
"Sit down," he said, "We're having lasagna a la Romano."
A smile crept onto her lips at the memory of the evening. The evening had changed for the better after all. The lasagna had been delicious. And afterwards, the pleasant conversation between two adults. Something Elizabeth had missed so much, too. By the time Robert had gone home that night, she had felt a lot better than she had in a long time.
As well as the other evenings when he had been at her door. When they had cooked together. When he had taught her the recipe for lasagna a la Romano. And not only that.
Elizabeth could still remember their first kiss very well. The feel of his lips on hers.
Elizabeth was standing at the stove when Robert stepped up behind her. He stood very close behind her, so that he could almost touch her.
Elizabeth felt his warm breath on the back of her neck. Next, she felt his lips delicately touching her neck. She felt him kissing her.
Oh, and then, finally, there was his hand wrapping around her waist, pulling her close to him.
Elizabeth leaned back in his embrace. Closing her eyes, she simply savored the moment. Oh, it had been a very LONG time since she had been this close to a man.
Turning in his arms, Elizabeth looked at him for a moment.
Tenderly, she placed her hand on his cheek. Elizabeth felt the stubble of his beard under her fingertips.
"Robert," she whispered his name softly.
Aaaand then he kissed her. Feeling his lips on hers was utterly wonderful. The kiss intensified, a wonderful tingling sensation filled her whole body.
Out of breath, they broke apart.
As if in a trance, Robert raised his hand. With his fingers, he explored Elizabeth's chest, teasing the sensitive nipples that strained hard against the fabric of her shirt. Brushing his lips against the skin on her neck, he sucked gently, then blew a soft kiss on the reddened area.
Elizabeth tilted her head to the side to give him a little more room. The thrill of arousal rippled through her body like a tidal wave. Oh, how long it had been since she had a man, since anyone had touched her like this. Oh, and she wanted him so badly that everything blurred before her eyes and the sheer excitement almost took away her breath. Oh yes, she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
" Follow me," she whispered, reaching for his hand.
Back then, Elizabeth hadn't hesitated for a moment when she had led him into her bedroom. It was something she had wanted. Everything. Every single moment with him. Every kiss and every touch. And just for a brief moment, she had felt guilty because there was suddenly another man in her life. A man that wasn't her husband.
For a brief moment she felt guilt rising up inside her. Guilt because she was lying here in her bed with another man. Because she was enjoying this moment with another man who was not her deceased husband.
Ah, but then, when she finally felt him between her legs, as he entered her, every thought was forgotten. Oh, and there was no right or wrong. Just this moment and this wonderful man existed. There was only Robert and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth thought she was about to melt and a pleasant, warm tingling sensation ran through her body.
The feeling became more and more intense until she thought she would burn inside.
Finally, she pulled him over the edge with her. Right then, the wave of passion swept them both away.
All night Robert and Elizabeth had not slept a wink. They had made love again in the early morning hours. Very gently and full of passion. They had explored each other's bodies. Touched and kissed every inch of skin.
And at that moment they both knew that something had changed between them.
Whereas, things had been different between them for quite a while. Elizabeth was so happy, right here - right now - with him.
Elizabeth and Robert had been so happy in the weeks that followed. They had shared a life outside the hospital, and it had made them believe that everything was going to be all right. It had made Elizabeth believe that she was finally getting her happily ever after.
But then the helicopter had crashed. Crashed on top of Robert. And had destroyed all hope for a little happiness.
Unconsciously, she put her hand on her belly. A tear ran down her cheek and then another one.
She then knelt down and placed the red rose she had been holding in her hand with the other flowers.
"We'll miss you," she whispered softly.
THE END
