Chapter 7

AN: I own nothing.

Today is an exciting day. It's my first day back on a big job site since my industry shut down unexpectedly in March. It's a massive job and I honestly didn't expect we'd be here again. So to celebrate, I'm posting an extra chapter this weekend and when I get off work there will be Bunnahabhain 12.

Whisky consumed while writing: Laphroaig 10

Cigars smoked while writing: Rocky Patel and Zino Platinum

It felt like an excruciatingly long day for Elizabeth. She had been thankful that she wasn't on call for the ER, having to go down there after coffee at Doc Magoo's with Kerry Weaver would have been too much for one day. To make matters worse, Robert had been acting strange around her as well. He had asked if she would assist him on an appy, claiming he wanted the company and yet never saying a word to her unless it was medically relevant. It was odd behavior for Robert.

And now Elizabeth was trying to slip away at the end of her shift. She had almost made it through the day hiding out in the surgeons' lounge with 30 minutes left, and then Maggie Doyle came barging in. To say it was an unpleasant conversation was putting it mildly. Elizabeth having no desire to deal with Doyle, told the woman that she was 'rather poxy outside of the ER.' Doyle didn't know what poxy was but understood the tone none the less. It was not one of Elizabeth's better moments, but one she could leave behind with the end of her workday.

Elizabeth had almost made it to the elevator when she passed Anspaugh's office. For whatever reason, she glanced in and was caught off guard by a sense of nostalgia. Anspaugh was seated at his desk, buried behind a stack of paperwork, and looking somewhat irritated overall. It reminded her of visiting her father's office at the end of the day when he first took over Chief of Surgery, and she couldn't help but stop in.

"It's a Thursday night at the beginning of February, and you're stuck with stacks of paperwork. What's due tomorrow? Or is it past due at this point?"

Anspaugh looked up, slightly startled to see Elizabeth standing in the doorway.

"Everything. I've got all of my regular admin for surgery due tomorrow morning, and then everything with the ER is just get to it when I can.. Did you need something, Elizabeth?"

"Ah, no, sorry. I was passing by, and the sight reminded me of visiting my father's office as a teenager. Very often, if I wanted to spend time with him at the end of the month, I'd have to bring dinner to his office while he dealt with the last of the admin work."

"I often forget you're a surgeon's daughter. I'm struggling to make time for my own right now, and it's not been easy. It's been hard on her lately, and I was hoping to do something special for her birthday today. That's just not going to happen now that I've got the ER to deal with as well."

Elizabeth felt for him. She had spent countless nights waiting up for her father to come home, numerous summer afternoons hanging around the OR, and endless evenings having dinner in his office. Elizabeth, who adored her father to the point where she had followed in his footsteps and became a surgeon, felt her heart go out to Anspaugh's daughter.

"What's her name?"

"Evette, she's seven today. I was going to take her to dinner, but I won't make that now. How did your father manage it?"

"A nanny and then boarding school. He also didn't take on any admin positions until I got a little older." Elizabeth's father had gotten the promotion to Chief of Surgery when she was 13. Her mother had divorced him the following year and gave her father primary custody. The summer Elizabeth was 15, she spent several evenings a week helping her father with his paperwork. Charles Corday's goal was always to have the weekend free to spend with his daughter when she was home from school, and it brought them closer at a time where Elizabeth was starting to rebel against her parents.

"Tell me, Donald, how much work do you have left that's due tomorrow morning?"

"Oh, about 4 hours if nothing else comes up."

"Just enough to miss dinner. You know when I got old enough, I'd help my father with his paperwork so he could have weekends free to spend with me. I'm sure surgery admin in America can't be all that different than in the UK, so why don't you leave it with me this once. I can understand better than anyone how much it would mean for you to make it home this evening."

Donald Anspaugh leaned back in his chair, overwhelmed by the unexpected opportunity to spend time with his daughter. It had been almost a year since his son had died, and the appeal of spending more time at home was becoming harder to ignore.

"Thank you, Elizabeth. You've turned out to be quite a surprise. It's rare to come across the kind of work ethic and dedication you've displayed this year by starting over. Particularly after your rather, shall we say rocky fellowship last year. Yes, I've heard about that. The next time you decided to drop that kind of news on Dr. Weaver, I'd like a heads up so I can request that week off."

"I did make sure to tell her in a public place, least I have her ire directed on me. And I haven't been particularly proud of my behavior last year." This was not the conversation Elizabeth anticipated when she stepped into Anspaugh's office, but she couldn't be shocked at where it had turned. It was unsurprising that Weaver would be angry about her testimony and that she would have brought it to the Chief of Staff.

"I think I'll take you up on the paperwork offer; it's even a suitable penance for not giving me a heads up about your conversation with Kerry."

"I am sorry." Elizabeth was laughing though, as was Donald, the serious tone of the conversation having passed.

Anspaugh spent the next five minutes going over what needed to be completed before tomorrow morning, all straight forward enough that Elizabeth didn't foresee any issues. She confirmed that there wasn't an issue with completing the work at home before telling him to enjoy his evening with his daughter and then slipped out the door.

About 10 minutes later, Elizabeth had finally managed to exit the hospital. Standing in the car park, she was trying to juggle her keys and the paperwork when she heard her name being called.

"Lizzy!"

Robert had finally managed to track her down. He had been avoiding speaking with Elizabeth all day, unsure of her motivation and thus not knowing what to say. By the time Robert had decided to talk to her, she was nowhere to be found. Robert had all but given up on talking to her that day when he ran into a harried-looking Anspaugh. Never one to pass up a chance to get ahead at work, he asked how being the Interim Chief of the ER was going. Anspaugh was willing to call him 'almighty god' upon realizing Robert was offering to take over until they found a permanent replacement. If Robert couldn't find Elizabeth to speak to, then having the Chief of Staff feeling grateful towards him was an excellent ending to his day.

Robert was almost to his Jag when he saw her struggling with her car keys and swearing under her breath. It felt like now or never to say something to her.

"Lizzy! Here, let me help you."

Elizabeth turned to look at him. There was no disdain, just gratefulness. Robert knew that had more to do with her hands being full than seeing him, but beggars couldn't be choosers where Elizabeth was concerned.

"Thanks." He took the stack of paperwork from her, curious as to what kind of work she was taking home.

"Don't tell me you've gotten behind on chart review. Or has Peter still not hired a nanny and is using you to keep up at work?"

"No, but he really should. I get so tired of listening to him complain about his son being in daycare. I'm actually finishing up Anspaugh's surgical admin that's due tomorrow. It's his daughter's birthday today, and he wasn't going to make it home in time."

Well, that explained why Anspaugh was in such a hurry to hand off his work.

"So between you and me, Donald has a lovely laid back weekend to look forward to." Seeing her questioning look, he continued. "I offered up my services I take over as acting chief of the ER while they find a replacement. It never hurts to stay in the Chief of Staff's good graces. Something I learned the hard way with the last one." Robert's tone was light and teasing, testing the waters to find out her mood.

"I suppose not antagonizing the Chief is an excellent lesson to learn. Offering to help with admin is an improvement over your previous tactic of convincing the boss's daughter to move to another country." Elizabeth gave him a wicked smile, and they both laughed.

"Did I ever tell you that your father gave me a copy of Basic Surgical Techniques on my last day working for him?" He got an outright laugh at that; in fact, Elizabeth was laughing so hard that she was leaning against her car for support. "It's not funny, Lizzy. I know that's what med students who are starting their surgical clerkship read. I suppose he couldn't find a copy of Surgery for Dummies to give me instead."

"I'm sorry. My father doesn't think you're an idiot; he wouldn't have hired you if he did."

" Well, he certainly didn't think highly enough of me to approve of my sponsoring you."

Elizabeth had gotten quiet at Robert's statement, he knew he was treading on very delicate ground now, and one false step would be disastrous.

"You know, for a while, I've thought that you didn't have much respect, if any, for me." Robert had spoken softly enough that he wasn't even sure if it was out loud. "And frankly, I'm not sure what to think after today."

"Ah."

Elizabeth was fidgeting under Robert's gaze; a hand went up to rub the back of her neck as she tried to find somewhere other than him to look. Robert had no intention of giving her an easy out, though.

"You know what I'm really struggling to understand is why you told Weaver that story." Robert was hoping she would take the bait and have a real conversation with him for once. He desperately wanted to know where they stood.

"Well, to start with, it's the truth."

"Elizabeth, I had no idea you knew what that was. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful you learned in time for your little tête-à-tête with Weaver, but I thought you were blind to your behavior last year."

Elizabeth recoiled as if slapped. A grimace appeared across her face, and she pursed her lips. Robert thought she was spoiling for a fight.

"I guess I deserve that. I did, after all, spend a great deal of time with my head up my arse.". There was no anger in her voice, just an evident disappointment in herself. "Weaver and Doyle had set out on a Cromwellian witch hunt and wanted me to play along as Goody Corday. It was evident to me when Kerry first brought this up that she and Doyle believed I was the key to their investigation and did not like it when I told her I had nothing to add. Maggie Doyle was so incensed by this that she spoke to me directly, all but accusing me of having no self-respect because I wouldn't help her cause. She was going to use my name with or without testimony from me. If I testified for her great, but if I wouldn't say anything, then all the better. They could say I was too intimidated to speak up, having already lost my job once. And people would probably believe them. My name was going to get dragged into this either way, and I wanted it to be on my terms, not Weaver and Doyle's. I've been a liar once where you were concerned, and I wasn't going to be one again."

Robert had been holding his breath while Elizabeth spoke. While he knew she had stood up for him to Weaver, it was utterly different to hear it coming from her directly. What's more, Elizabeth hadn't looked away from him once. While she never had issues glaring at him in the past, it was unusual for her to hold eye contact during any conversation that came remotely close to meaningful.

"I see. And you didn't believe Doyle? Not even a little?" Robert hoped she would say no. Instead, she laughed.

"Robert, I can easily believe that you poked Maggie Doyle with a stick just to see what she would do. That's not a stretch of the imagination by any means. However, in the time I've known you, I've never seen you do anything other than back down when asked. Doyle says she told you to and that you didn't, and that's what I don't believe. You love to see where people draw the line and if they have a backbone, and if you find a spine doesn't exist, then you encourage them to develop one."

Robert didn't know what to say to this woman that he believed ignored him daily when confronted with the idea that she had, in fact, been paying attention to him. Maybe not in the way he would like, but he had her attention none the less. Well, part of her attention and Robert was happy to start with that. He knew he couldn't give one of his standard flippant remarks. A response of 'well Elizabeth I'm thrilled that you've been paying so much attention to me' would not go over well right now.

"I didn't realize you knew there was a...method to my madness. And thank you, Elizabeth. You went so far out on a limb for me that I think you left the tree entirely." Robert was rewarded with a full smile, slowly taking over her face. A look that he always enjoyed but was rarely directed at him.

"I owed you an apology for treating you like a meal ticket out of London, you were far more than that and deserved my respect. I didn't believe you would put much stock in an apology from me, rightly so, and instead thought I'd work on my actions. I didn't plan on a grand gesture, but..." Elizabeth looked at him sheepishly. A grand gesture indeed. He took pity on her loss of words.

"The wicked witch of the ER flew in on her crutch and gave you the perfect opportunity."

"Robert! That's terrible. You shouldn't say that about Kerry."

"Lizzy. You're the one laughing here, not me."

It was true. Elizabeth was laughing at the apt description Robert had painted. Always quick with his words, she often found herself trying not to laugh at his verbal antics. It had been one of her favorite things about working with him in London; he wasn't afraid of giving the boss's daughter a sharp response and daring her to keep up. Often the remarks were witty, and she had found herself drawn into a natural back and forth with him. At some point, that ease had disappeared, and she didn't know when.

That was a lie, and she knew it. Elizabeth had felt a great deal of guilt over Alison Beaumont ending up in a coma and had no idea how to talk to Robert about it. To make things worse, instead of speaking of her concerns with Robert, she had turned to Peter. Elizabeth had furthered her personal relationship with Peter, who had been reluctant at best to get involved in the beginning; while ignoring the professional relationship with Robert, her sponsor, and mentor.

"Laughing, I may be Robert; you're still the one who said it."

A challenge had been issued.

"Yeah, well, you were thinking it. You know, I'm dying to know what Weaver's face looked like when you talked to her this morning."

"Like I shat in her coffee and told her it was champagne."

"And with that line, Lizzy, I think you win."

They were both leaning against her car and laughing as if a weight had been removed from their shoulders. They both were afraid to break the mood, but it was inevitable. Robert needed to go home to Gretel, and Elizabeth had work to do.

"Look, Lizzy, why can't we get along like this more often? I've never wanted to be at odds with you, and yet somehow, that's where we've ended up."

Elizabeth didn't want to be at odds with him either. At this point, it was too tiresome for something that did not benefit her. More importantly, she missed the easy camaraderie that was once between them, and she wanted that back.

"I don't want to be at odds, either Robert."

Robert gave her a smile that illuminated his whole face, reminding her of the smile he wore on Christmas eve. Elizabeth had never seen him that relaxed before, and it caught her off guard how attractive he looked.

"I know you've got this lovely stack of paperwork waiting on you, but why don't we grab drinks tomorrow night. Try and start over as friends." It was a stretch, and Robert knew it. Coffee or lunch would have been safer, and more likely to elicit a yes from her.

Elizabeth was reminded of the last time he offered to get drinks after work. It had been an olive branch then as well, and while she had been genuine in her reason for turning him down, she had agreed to 'any other time.'

"Under one condition."

"Which is?"

"You don't turn out to be a bloody lightweight. I swear if I have to put one more American in a cab because they're sloshed after two drinks, I'll move back to London."

Lizzy was teasing him, and Robert was ecstatic. He loved it when she gave him a smirk and challenged him by raising a delicate eyebrow. Robert took a step closer to her.

"Lizzy, I don't know what kind of people you hang out within your free time, but I'm insulted that you would put me in the category of lightweight with them. I think that has to be one of the more offensive things you've said to me, and I'm going to have to insist you get the first round of drinks to make up for it."

"Fine, the first round is on me then."

Elizabeth walked towards him, smiling and stopped just in front of him. She was so close Robert could smell her perfume and had to resist the urge to reach out and stroke her hair. It didn't matter because Elizabeth was reaching out to him.

"Robert, I need my paperwork back now. I really do have a deadline." Elizabeth was staring at him, expectantly.

He blinked. Of course. The paperwork. Robert had been momentarily distracted by how close Elizabeth stood and was consequently struggling with the relatively simple task of forming a response.

"Right, sorry. It's been a long day, and I uh, guess I'm a little more tired than I thought." Robert passed off the stack of paperwork, the conversation having run its course.

"Yes, well dealing with an irate Weaver is rather taxing."

Robert opened the car door for her, trying to prolong the close proximity he was sharing with her, not ready for it to end. Once Elizabeth was settled in the car, she looked back up at him, and Robert couldn't help but smile again. He couldn't remember ever smiling this much at work before.

"Have a good night Lizzy."

"Goodnight, Robert."

With a parting smile from her, Robert shut the car door and watched as she drove off. He waited until her car turned the corner before breaking out into a huge grin and proclaiming a loud "Yes" accompanied by a fist pump. Robert 'Rocket' Romano was going to have drinks with Elizabeth Corday.