Chapter Four -
For Robert another long, boring day passed, interspersed with PT and the odd visitor. A knock on the door made him look up and he was pleased to see the highlight of his days standing there.
"Hey, finally thought of something decent to ask me yet?" He asked Elizabeth by way of greeting.
"Ha-ha...and no, actually," she said smiling at the sad, pouty face he pulled. "Don't look at me like that. I just haven't had a chance to give it any thought yet."
"Ouch," he said holding a hand over his heart in mock hurt. "You didn't give it, and lets be clear here, by it I mean me...not even a teeny, weeny, single thought all day?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and closed the short distance to the chair which she rather ungraciously slumped down into. "No, Robert I haven't had time to think...let's see…I finished here yesterday, went to yours, walked Gretel, went home, ate and slept. Got up, walked Gretel, back here, paperwork, two appendectomies, three bogus E.R consults, paperwork, one splenectomy...more paperwork."
"Hah, you've inherited my life," Robert snorted.
Elizabeth sighed, and closed her eyes. "Well, you can have it back, its overrated."
"You know, I can help with paperwork," he said innocently.
"Nice try," she said. "Donald would have my head on a platter." She sighed and closed her eyes again. "I don't know how you do it to be honest…I'm shattered."
Robert watched her sitting there with her eyes closed, enjoying a rare quiet minute. He smirked at her unruly mane of hair, which was doing something very weird, trying to escape from its restraining band. He had to stop himself from reaching over and brushing some of the more unrulier bits back into place. She looked so very tired, but even in this tired state she was still stunningly beautiful. A rare twinge of guilt tugged at him for how tired she was.
Elizabeth opened her eyes suddenly and caught him staring at her. "What?" she said self consciously.
Caught out he stammered, "Err, nothing...I just wanted to say thanks again for everything and... that I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for?"
"Well, this is all my fault...your new crazy work load is all down to me."
She laughed. "It's hardly your fault now Robert is it? I mean, not even your God complex can claim responsibility for what happened."
"God complex?!" he said mock outraged.
"If the shoe fits."
He shrugged, but continued in a worried tone. "Yeah, but then you're helping with Gretel too, so y'know…little bit my fault."
"I've just thought of a question," she said suddenly leaning forward.
He smiled. "Go for it."
"Are you Catholic?"
He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What?! That's a bit out of left field isn't it?"
"I ask Robert, because you seem so intent at playing the burning martyr," she said sweetly, leaning back into the chair once again.
Robert sat up straighter folding his arms across his chest piously. "Actually, yes I am," he said his tone and expression serious.
That took her by complete surprise and her smile faltered as she worried she may have just unwittingly insulted him. "OH! Oh...wow!"
Pleased at having shocked and rendered her inarticulate once again, he held up a finger and thumb together and said, "Might be a teeny, tiny bit lapsed, though," he said cheekily breaking into a wide grin.
"Idiot," she muttered fondly trying not laugh.
Robert shook his head and a waggled a finger at her for good effect. "Nah-ah," he said. "Only Emma gets to get away with that."
"Yes," she said leaning forward again. "Why is that?"
He smiled. "You're an only child aren't you? Because if you had siblings you wouldn't need to ask."
It dawned on her then and she gave him a beatific smile. "Oh my, she has blackmail stories!" She said with far too much enthusiasm in her voice for his liking. Robert realised he'd just shot himself in the foot and quickly changed the subject. "So what's going on with your hair?"
Elizabeth's hand immediately sprang up to touch her hair. "Why, what's wrong with it?"
Robert waved his hands around. "Its doing something weird. It looks alive...are you sure you haven't got a wild animal in there?"
She scowled at him and reached inside her bag, retrieving her compact. Opening it up, she started identifying the more wayward strands of hair, pushing them back into place. "For your information, it was raining this morning when I walked Gretel and then it was humid as hell….and why am I even explaining this to you?" she said as he laughed at her.
She tweaked her hair back into an acceptable shape and moved the compact around looking at her tired reflection. "God, I look awful," she sighed.
"You look beautiful Elizabeth," he said without thinking.
Elizabeth's hands stilled and she felt a blush creeping up over her neck and cheeks, as Mark's words from yesterday came back to haunt her. Had she given him the wrong idea? Mark had said everyone was talking about them…
He watched her movements freeze and saw her eyes and expression quickly change. Idiot, he thought inwardly kicking himself. Had he just crossed this new friendship line?
Lowering the compact, she dropped her eyes to her lap, unable to meet the ones that she could feel burning into her.
"Elizabeth?" He said but she didn't move.
"Lizzie, please," he tried again. "I didn't mean anything by that, you have to believe me...I mean, I meant that you're beautiful because you are….but...look, I know you're with Greene," he stuttered. "I wasn't trying anything on...I meant it as a compliment.. Lizzie?" God! He hated how she could reduce him to a bumbling idiot. She still wasn't saying anything and he figured the next logical step was where she left. He bit down on his bottom lip. "Have I just fucked everything up?" he asked softly.
Something in that contrite, soft tone made her look up and see the genuine worry in his eyes. He looked upset and instinctively her hand reached out to reassure him, but she caught herself mid-movement and pulled it back quickly. The gesture was not lost on Robert and he prepared himself for her inevitable exit.
She thought she should probably leave, but the truth was she didn't want to. After years, they'd finally got to a point where they could be honest and comfortable with each other and she didn't want to throw it away. She thought maybe she was probably being oversensitive and a tad paranoid because of what Mark had said.
Still, she folded her hands together in her lap lest they decide to independently reach out to him again, and gave him a reassuring smile instead.
When she didn't leave and in fact smiled, Robert relaxed and offered up a silent prayer of thanks to his lapsed God.
"No, you haven't messed up...its just when you said...what you said," she stammered a little embarrassed.
"When I paid you a compliment," he helped her out.
She nodded gratefully and smiled. "When you paid me...what was actually a very nice compliment," she acknowledged and Robert dipped his head to her briefly. "I think I panicked because of something Mark said yesterday."
Robert felt a sense of foreboding return and looked at her expectantly. "Tell me."
Irrationally she looked at the door to check no one was there then turned back and lowered her voice. "He told me that people are talking...about us."
"Us?" Robert scoffed.
"Yes. I know its silly but you know what the rumour mill is like..."
"Yeah I do, which is why I wouldn't worry about it Elizabeth. So we made the front page again, so what?" he said dismissively.
She nodded and then realised what he'd said. "Wait, what do you mean, again?"
Robert looked right at her. "As in again….Lizzie, you do know this is not the first rumour about us?"
"What?! "It isn't? When? How many? And how come you know and I don't?!" she spluttered and he watched amused as her expressions changed from disbelief, to outrage, to annoyance at being out of the loop. She watched in horror as he began counting playfully on his fingers and he couldn't help but laugh as her eyes opened wider and wider.
"Whenever there's a rumour that involves me, the mouth that is a Shirley-a-gram can't resist and delivers every time. Look Elizabeth, the point is as you said yourself...it's silly...and it'll blow over just like the others did. Don't worry about it; I know I'm not."
"But..."
"But, what?"
This time there's some truth to it, her inner voice said. "Well, this time...I suppose I can see how it could look….I mean, I have been spending a lot of time with you." And zero time with Mark she acknowledged to herself.
"It's just gossip," he said. "Why are you so worried about it? Or is there something else? What aren't you telling me?"
Damn he can read me so well, she thought.
"Well, there's Mark to consider too," she admitted, looking down at her hands. "He thinks I'm spending too much time with you."
"Oh," he said quietly. Game over, he thought.
When he didn't say anything further she chanced a quick glance at him. He looked lost in thought, absently scratching at his growing beard. "Say something, "she said.
"He's probably right," Robert conceded wearing a sad smile. Try as he might he could see only one solution and so, decision made, slowly turned his face to meet her searching eyes.
"The last thing I want to do is cause problems for you…so this is what's going to happen," he began and Elizabeth looked at him curiously.
"First off, I want you to know you've been brilliant and I really am very grateful," he began and she smiled. "Donald thinks I should be good to go home by the end of the week but either way, Emma's back around then." He took a deep breath and continued. "Soooo...I would like you to go and find Greene and spend some time with him, or go eat or sleep, or do whatever it is girls do when you're doing 'you' time. What you're not going to do is visit me any more."
"What? No!" Elizabeth said shocked. She heard his words and heard the sense of what he was saying but she didn't like it, or agree with it. She looked forward to her visits more and more and was enjoying their new friendship, and didn't want that to stop. She looked torn. "But I want to," she blurted out.
Robert smiled pleased to hear it. "And I really want you to...but I'm also not going to be the cause of problems for you."
"Well, how about I still visit, just not as much," she counter offered.
He dismissed it with a shake of his head. "Won't make a jot of difference in rumour world," he said. "You don't visit any more? It's over...they'll figure we've argued, or you've come to your senses, blah-blah, whatever...but trust me, it'll stop and they'll find someone else to talk about."
"I suppose you're right, but Robert, its so unfair," she said sadly and looked quite unhappy.
"True, but on the plus side I get to indulge the burning martyr God complex you've attributed me with," he smirked.
She burst out laughing and Robert broke into a wide grin, happy that he'd managed to make her smile again.
When she stopped laughing she smiled at him affectionately. "I'm so happy we can do this now, you know? Talk honestly, I mean."
"Certainly makes for a less bumpy road," he agreed.
"It certainly does," she agreed chuckling.
Neither spoke for a minute and just enjoyed each others company as they tried to delay the inevitable. Then, Robert figured if they were going to do this they may as well tear off the proverbial sticking plaster and he feigned a yawn.
"You're tired," she said seeing him yawn. "I suppose I'll let you get some sleep." She stood up and gathered her bag.
He looked up at her, hating the fact that he didn't know when he'd see her again. "Would it cross a line if I say I'm going to miss you?" he asked.
She smiled and reached into her bag pulling something out. "No it wouldn't….and I'm going to miss you too," she said and placed a packet of M&M's in his hands. Then before she knew she'd done it, she leaned down and kissed him lightly on his cheek.
"Good night," she said and left, leaving him staring after her with one hand raised touching where her lips had just been, the other holding the packet of his favourite candy. He grinned to himself triumphantly, as he realised that despite her hectic day and claims to the contrary, he had in fact featured in her thoughts long enough for her to buy him the sweets. He opened the bag and popped one into his mouth and the candy had never tasted so good.
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Elizabeth strode purposefully towards the elevator. She wasn't happy at the prospect of no longer visiting Robert. He'd said he'd miss her, and she knew she felt the same. She also recognised the sacrifice he was making on her behalf and again marvelled at how far they had come as friends in such a short time. The car arrived and she got in, punching the button to take her down to he E.R.
As the car descended she thought back to their conversation. She couldn't believe that so many rumours had previously circulated about them. She thought they spent most of the time sniping at each other and wondered what on earth it was that people saw that made them the subject of gossip?
The doors pinged and opened up to an unusually quiet E.R. She headed for the admit desk, where she could see Jerry typing into the computer.
"Hi Jerry...is Mark around?" she asked.
Jerry looked up at her and smiled warmly. "Hi Doctor Corday, yeah I think I saw him go in the lounge."
"Thanks," she said and started to turn but stopped when Jerry spoke again.
"Hey, how's Doctor Romano doing?"
She felt the paranoia set in and wondered if it was a genuine question or if he was he just digging for gossip. She absolutely hated this, having to second guess everything trying to see your actions through the eyes of someone else. It was why she hated being the subject of gossip. Keeping her voice as neutral as possible she said, "He's doing very well actually."
"Ah good," Jerry said. "Will you give him my best next time you see him?"
"Why don't you give it yourself? He'd appreciate a visit," she said.
Jerry lowered his voice. "Really? I don't know, I mean he was always kinda scary before...and now I know he knows karate, I'm kinda terrified! I mean he fairly flew over this desk like Jackie Chan!"
Elizabeth laughed. "Trust me Jerry, he'll appreciate a visit. Just don't go empty handed. A cup of decent coffee will score you a thousand brownie points." If she couldn't visit, she'd at least try and send some company his way.
Mark came out of the lounge dressed in his street clothes along with Dave Malucci. He spotted Elizabeth and snuck up behind her tapping her on the shoulder, making her jump.
"Hi," he said smiling as she turned around. "Whoa, you look tired!"
Elizabeth's mouth dropped open and she heard Malucci and Jerry snicker. "Doctor Greene you need to work on your lady skills dude," Malucci said shaking his head.
"How wonderful and charming of you to point that out Mark, thank you that makes me feel really great," she said crossly.
He placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into him. "Hey, you know I love you," he said squeezing her arm. "What're you doing down here anyhow?"
"Looking for you," she said straightening up the collar on his shirt. "I'm off now and all yours...what do feel like doing? Movie or dinner?"
"Oh," he said clearly surprised and exchanged a glance with Malucci. "Erm, talk to you a minute," he said and nodded his head in the direction of the lounge. He led Elizabeth away and called over his shoulder to Malucci, "Two minutes."
Malucci waved at him and carried on talking to Jerry.
Once inside the lounge he closed the door.
"Is there a problem?" Elizabeth asked worriedly.
Mark smiled a bit sheepishly and shook his head. "No, no problem. It's just….I kinda already agreed to go watch the Bulls game with Dave," he said. "He got given some really great tickets."
"Oh. Oh, okay..."
"Yeah, I'm sorry, but I kinda figured you'd be busy walking Romano's dog or something, so I said yes."
He was still smiling but she thought she detected a snide tone accompanying the words. "Well, actually I met his neighbour this morning and he said he'd walk her tonight," she said.
"Oh," Mark said and looked down at his feet. "If you'd told me earlier..."
"Well, can't you blow him off? Or give the ticket to someone else? It's not like you've paid any money is it?"
Mark looked at the floor awkwardly, clearly not keen.
This wasn't getting them anywhere so she tried a playful approach and put her hands around his waist. "We could go catch that nap you wanted yesterday," she said flirtatiously.
"Yeah the thing is...they're really good tickets...court side."
"Oh," she said disappointed, her ego bruised. She pulled her hands away from him and dropped them to her side.
He gave a little eye roll and said defensively, "Elizabeth, how was I supposed to know you were free tonight? You've been too busy the last few weeks to see me. Its a bit unfair of you to expect me to not go, just because suddenly you've found some time."
She could see his point, she mused. She had been remiss in the girlfriend department of late, but then he hadn't exactly been the considerate, understanding boyfriend the last few weeks either; and there was something in his tone that she'd never heard before, and didn't much care for. She realised she no longer wanted to go out, instead preferring the idea of a long, luxurious soak in the bath and a glass of wine.
"You're right...its fine Mark. Honestly, go and have fun," she said trying not to sound too pissy. "As you pointed out I could clearly use an early night and I need to wash my hair anyhow." At the mention of her hair she broke into a large smile remembering Roberts teasing words and laughter from earlier.
Mark saw the smile and assumed it was for him. "Yeah? So we're good then?"
"Yeah, I think I'm going to go and have a nice long, indulgent soak in the bath. Maybe even open a bottle of wine."
He gave her a brief kiss on the cheek. "Okay, I need to get going. Have a good night," he said already heading for the door.
She looked around the empty lounge when the door closed, and felt a bit at a loss. That hadn't gone according to plan she thought. In all honesty she couldn't blame Mark and to be frank, a night in did sound like heaven right now. She felt the temptation to nip back upstairs just to see Robert's surprised reaction if she did. She knew with absolute certainty it would be a warm and welcome one, despite his advice to no longer visit. But, she also remembered his tired yawn and didn't want to disturb him on a whim if he was sleeping either. Instead she headed out alone.
TBC