Chapter Five -

Robert was bored. Bored beyond belief. The last few days had consisted of his good self being tortured by his sadistic physio. The behemoth of a woman took immense glee 'encouraging' him to commit acts of self-harm masquerading as therapy...and what else, oh that's right...boredom.

Sure he'd had visitors, but none that he cared for. There was only one face he was interested in seeing but the lean, mean, Greene machine had played a blinder there, hadn't he? Thrown out the old Hail Mary 'You're my girlfriend 'possession pass and bam, touchdown! No more special branded Lizzie medicine for Robert. He couldn't blame the man...well actually he could, and he did. A lot.

Oddly, he'd had a brief but entertaining visit from Jerry who'd brought him some exceptionally good coffee and been surprisingly funny. He'd made a mental note to upgrade the man-giant onto his 'just tolerable' list.

On the flip side Kerry had followed through with her threat to visit. To her credit, she'd sincerely thanked him for saving her while he sat there smirking it up. He'd enjoyed watching her squirm as he recalled a story he'd heard as a boy... That if you saved someone's life they were indebted to you for the rest of their days. Unfortunately, she recovered quickly and countered with her own version of the story where she'd heard that by saving a life, you in fact became responsible for that life. They'd both dropped it and stuck to safe hospital matters after that.

He was recovering but it felt painfully slow to him and he was going out of his bored mind. He missed Elizabeth's visits more than he cared to admit. He was pissed at Greene and the stupid gossips that had driven her away and he was taking it out on the nurses...who lets face it spread the gossip in the first place so it was only fair.

He lay back on the bed and closed his eyes. Emma was due back with Jess later and hopefully he'd be going home. In the meantime though. Had he mentioned he was bored?

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Elizabeth was miserable. Tired and miserable. Her routine was exactly the same as the last few weeks with the exception that she no longer visited Robert. It had quickly dawned on her that those visits had been the highlight of her day and the only times when she could recall laughing of late.

She was still drowning in paperwork and to top it all Edson had managed to sprain his wrist; so now they were down another surgeon to boot. Donald was getting prickly now that he had all the Chief of Staff admin and associated pains that went with the position back. He now remembered why he had given it up in the first place and was toying with the idea of letting Robert have some paperwork, 'So he can keep his mind healthy.' Elizabeth had said she was sharing too if that was the case, but Donald had said no, they would both just have to put up with it until Robert's return to work.

Mark had finally asked her out on a date, which she'd built up in her mind as the date of dates that would get them back on track. She'd dressed in a gorgeous summer dress, did her hair and make-up lovely...and he'd taken her to the movies! They'd watched some ridiculous action film he'd chosen even though she'd made it clear she had zero interest in it. She'd sat through the whole bloody thing disinterested and bored and he had either not noticed or not cared. Either scenario did not bode well. She'd spent most of the film wondering what Robert was doing and how his recovery was proceeding. She felt guilty for leaving him alone in that room and hoped he wasn't too bored or lonely. Then again, she was sat next to Mark, surrounded by people in a movie theatre and felt bored and lonely.

After the film he'd offered to take her out to dinner...which turned out to be pizza..and to top it off the pizza came not even served in a pizzeria, but in a box...on the way back to his place. She had then had to endure him droning on about the latest system Kerry had introduced into the E.R and how it was mucking up all his systems. She was quite frankly, bored. She'd claimed a headache, he'd told her to take a pill and she had called for a cab.

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Emma popped her head around the door and Robert sat up straight. "Hi," she said brightly.

"Hey!" Robert said smiling and looking beyond her. "Did you bring her?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "Yes, its nice to see you too brother dearest….How was your meeting Emma? Oh thanks for asking Robert, it was very successful..."

"Yeah, yeah...is she here?"

Emma smiled and opened the door wider allowing a teenage girl entry to the room. She ran in and flung herself at Robert, who held her tight giving her a big bear hug. Then they pulled apart leaving just enough distance to speak. Using their hands they launched into a conversation.

'Are you really okay?'

'I'm fine...hopefully coming home tomorrow. You look good….except for….what the hell is that thing in your ear?!'

'Duh, its called a gauge, Uncle Rob...and what is that thing on your face?'

'Its called a beard.'

'You look like Chewbacca!'

'That is rude, though not as rude as that thing in your ear. Your daughter is very sassy….a little help here,' he signed to Emma.

'Hah, you're on your own!'

'Story of my life.'

'Oh boo-hoo! Anyhow I see I have been relegated to second best so I'm going for coffee... give you two a chance to catch up."

They barely nodded before turning back to each other.

"Can I see the bullet hole?"

"Don't be weird….and there isn't a hole, dummy."

"Did it like, really hurt?"

"No it was like a kiss from an angel."

She shook her head in amusement, and left them to trading barbs.

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Emma was just leaving the cafeteria carrying a tray with coffee when she spotted Elizabeth in the corridor talking to another doctor.

"Hey Elizabeth!" She called out.

Elizabeth looked over from where she was talking to Mark and spotted her. She waved back at her.

"Who's that?" he asked.

"Roberts sister."

"Oh, good she's back….so does that mean you're off the hook for dog walking and babysitting?"

For some reason the babysitting comment really irked her.

"Yes. I should really go and say hello….I'll see you later," she said and walked towards Emma.

"It's a date," he called out after her. Better bloody well be this time, she thought!

"Hello," she said. "How are you?"

"Good. A bit jet lagged but good," Emma said. "Just taking his Lordship his coffee. You coming up?"

"Oh, erm, sorry I can't...I've got a hernia scheduled."

"Eww, sounds fun!" she said pulling a face. "But we'll see you later then?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "Not sure if I can," she said. "I've got so much work on."

Emma frowned detecting some hesitation. "What's he done?" she demanded.

"What's who done?"

"My idiot brother...what's he done?"

"He hasn't done anything," Elizabeth said and Emma raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Honestly."

"So come by later then….even if it's only for a few minutes...you can meet my daughter, Jess!"

Elizabeth looked down as her pager starting beeping and checked the number. "I'm really sorry I have to go...but please, tell him I said 'hi'," she said and set off at a rush towards the elevator.

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Balancing the tray of coffee precariously, Emma nudged open the door to Robert's room with her shoulder. He was sat on the bed by himself and she did a quick scan of the room.

"Where's Jess?" she asked, handing him over a cup. He pointed in the direction of the bathroom and took the proffered drink.

"Ah," she said. "So I just bumped into Elizabeth downstairs," she said carefully watching his reaction.

Robert smiled involuntarily at the mention of her name and tried to mask it by blowing on his coffee. "Yeah?"

"Have you upset her?"

He looked up. "No. Why would you ask that? Did she look upset?" he asked concerned.

"No, but she just didn't seem keen on coming up here."

"And so you just assumed that I'd upset her? Gee thanks, sis."

"Well, she's nice and you're you...so it seemed like a logical conclusion."

Robert rolled his eyes. "And people ask me why I never mentioned you before," he muttered. "Well, I haven't done anything. Lizzie and I are all good. Better than good."

"Yeah? Are you sure, because when I asked her if she was going to swing by for a visit she didn't seem too keen...so you must have done or said something...you're just too socially retarded to know you've done it."

"Your faith in me is one of your more endearing qualities. Look, seriously I haven't done anything, okay? She just has a lot of extra work placed on her at the moment. She's tired and probably just stressed."

She didn't buy it and narrowed her eyes at him. He stared back at her in return.

They were still staring at each other when Jess came out of the bathroom.

She looked at them then sat down on the end of the bed. 'What am I missing?'

'Nothing. You want a coffee?'

Emma handed a cup over and when Jess's back was to her she mouthed the word 'later' at Robert who studiously ignored her.

'So tell me more about this new boyfriend of yours,' he signed.

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A little while later, a knock on the door interrupted them. Robert looked up to see Donald enter the room.

"Hello Emma, nice to see you again. How was your journey back?" he asked shaking her hand.

"Long," she said. "He looks a lot better; thanks for taking good care of him."

"My pleasure," he said and they both turned their attention to Robert and Jess.

'Who's the old dude?' Jess signed.

'My doctor, so be nice...he's the one who says if I can go home tomorrow.'

Donald raised a questioning eyebrow to Emma.

"Sorry, this is my daughter Jess, Robert's niece. She's deaf as you might've already gathered," she said.

"Yes, I see," he said watching the easy and rapid exchange of hand movements passing between the two. He chuckled to himself, and shook his head slightly. Yet another skill of Robert's he'd been unaware of.

'Why is the old dude looking at me?'

'Probably staring at that stupid thing in your ear...and I told you already be nice!'

'God, you sound more like a granddad than an uncle...get over it!'

Jess turned to face Donald with a big smile and got up. She offered her hand and he shook it warmly, before releasing it. She made some more motions with her hands and Donald looked to Emma for help.

"She said 'thank you for looking after him,'" she said.

Donald smiled and said, "Can you tell her, she's very welcome."

"No need, you just did….she can lip read," Emma said.

'Can he come home now? He looks fine.'

"She wants to know if we can take him home?"

"I'm not a friggin puppy," Robert muttered under his breath.

"Well, actually that's why I'm here. That, plus the petition form the nurses wanting him gone, but good news Robert. I'm more than happy with your progress and since your family is here to keep an eye on you, I am discharging you into their care."

Robert closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you," he said sincerely shaking the elder surgeons hand.

"I'll want to see you again in a couple of days though and you need to schedule some out-patient physical therapy, but otherwise you're healing up nicely." He made sure Jess could see him so she could read his lips. "He is to take it easy though, ladies. Nothing strenuous. Maybe a bit of paperwork which I can have sent over to you if you like? Just to break you back in slowly?" Robert nodded gratefully and Donald smiled. "Rest up Robert and you'll be back with us in a couple of weeks."

TBC