So Robert and Lizzie refuse to go quietly into the good night and are rage, rage raging to stay in the limelight. Cue, plot bunnies have done what bunnies do best, and bred baby plot bunnies….so with a new finish line in sight, I give you this wee interlude…Happy holidays and see you all in the new year!

Chapter Nine -

Taking in a deep breath, Elizabeth adopted an air of brash confidence that she in no way felt, and walked into the ER. Focusing solely on her target, namely the elevator, she steeled herself for the walk of shame she was about to do and wondered, just how in the hell she had let him talk her into this!

No sooner than she had passed chairs, she heard the wolf whistle. Ignore it, her inner voice said, but her peripheral vision caught Jerry, Chuny and Haleh behind the admit desk staring. Keep going, don't look at them, you're nearly there she told herself. Her wolf whistler caught her up and blocked her path. Malucci! She should have known. He stood before her sporting a wide grin. "Hey Doctor Corday! Looking good!"

"Thank you."

"Late night?"

"Evidentially," she said snootily and barged past him, her eye back on the target.

She made it there and punched the call button once, twice, then another for good measure. She could feel the eyes and smirks boring a hole into the back of her head. Come on, come on she thought, willing the doors to open. When they did, she came face to face with Mark, who's jaw dropped open at her appearance. She took a small amount of smug satisfaction as she saw his eyes dip down, then crawl slowly all the way back up her body. That's right, laddie, she thought. Have a good look at what you gave up.

"Mark."

"Elizabeth," he said and exited the elevator as she entered, in an awkward sideways shuffle.

As the doors closed behind her, she let out the breath she felt she'd been holding in the whole time. I'm going to kill him, she thought.

By the time the doors opened to the surgical floor, there seemed to be a disproportionate gaggle of people, just casually standing around by the front desk. Not facing the front desk, but facing the elevator. Word travels faster than the speed of light in this place, she thought. She put her chin up once more, and ignored the looks and smiles as she made a beeline for the locker room, where she knew, there lay the uniform anonymity of plain old surgical scrubs. As she closed the door behind her, she leaned back against it. Yes, she thought, she was most definitely going to kill him.

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After taking Gretel out for her morning exercise, and making a few calls, Robert spent the rest of the day finishing Elizabeth's paperwork. He lost all track of time until the telephone rang, bringing him back to the real world.

"Hello?"

"Its me," she said.

"Hey! You done already?"

"No, not for a while yet. I was actually just calling to say thank you for the flowers. They're beautiful Robert….and a very nice touch with the card, by the way. 'All my love, M.' Shirley just about peed herself with excitement."

"You're welcome," he snickered.

"It still won't save you though. I can't believe I let you talk me into going in like that! It's quite possibly the worst idea you've ever had!"

"So it worked then?"

"Robert, did you not hear me, I'm going to kill you!"

"No, you won't," he said with far too much confidence for her liking.

"Don't be so bloody sure!"

"You won't kill me, because I sent you a beautiful bouquet of flowers and I've finished all of your paperwork," he said sweetly. "And if you stop threatening to kill me, I will let you bring me some more."

"You are a very crafty sod, Robert!"

He smiled. "Speaking of crafty, I also called Brenda and let it be known I would be returning to Chicago in a couple of days."

"You are far too good at this. Ah, bugger my pagers going off, sorry I'm going to have to go."

"Okay, well call me when you want collecting."

"Actually, I think I'm going to get a cab. It may just be the paranoia factor or just the sheer amount of money I believe people are betting, but I actually wouldn't put it past some bugger to try following me when I leave."

Robert laughed. "Okay. But you're coming here, right?"

"I'm going to mine first, for actual clothes, and then I'll come to you."

"Great."

"Oh, and before I go, has it gone?"

"Has what gone?"

"You know bloody well what!"

He laughed. "Not yet, but the baby cheeks will be back by the time you get here."

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Later that evening, he opened the door and presented his face for inspection. She smiled and ran her fingers over each cheek, feeling the freshly shaven skin below and inhaled his cologne.

"Pass muster?"

She nodded. 'I'll miss it, but I'll live, or rather my skin will."

He picked up her very full looking briefcase from where it lay at her feet, and snagged the travel bag from of her shoulder. "Moving in?" he remarked feeling the weight of both bags.

"Well that one is full of paperwork. Thought we could tackle it tomorrow."

"We?"

"Yep. I'm off. All day."

"Awesome," he said understanding her meaning and already planning what they could do.

She followed him inside and he deposited both bags at the bottom of the stairs, then turned around and took her in his arms and kissed her. She melted into him, returning the kiss.

"You hungry?" he asked when they pulled apart.

"Starving."

He smiled and tried to lead her to the kitchen, but she yanked on his hand suddenly, pulling him up short and he turned to look at her, a brief look of puzzlement on his face. She smiled at him and nudged her head in the direction of the stairs.

"Oh, you're that kind of starved," he said smiling, and let her lead him up the stairs, where she let him love her all over again, until Monday when real live intervened and they were both due back at work.

TBC

Happy holidays for now