This chapter rights the wrongs of episodes, 'Mars Attacks', 'Benton Backwards' and 'Flight of Fancy.' Happy New Year to Everyone! Guest Reviewer wanting angst...it is coming soon...
Chapter Eleven -
"So what did your parents say when you broke the news?" Robert asked Elizabeth as they walked up the driveway approaching the small, neat two storey house.
"Mother was as expected, apathetic, and Daddy...well he was, let's say, cautiously….concerned."
"And of course, you allayed any fears that he may have had?" he said, smiling smugly.
"Of course. Although, he did mention that he's looking forward to you officially asking him for my hand in marriage." That wiped the smirk of his face, she noted with some glee.
"He's what now?"
"Well, it it traditional to ask the father of the bride for permission..." she said sweetly.
He stopped and looked at her. "I hope you're joking?"
She raised her eyebrow in a challenge. "Am I not worthy of the gesture?"
"Why, yes you are, but let's say I was foolish enough to ask, and he says, no? Will you be willing to honour Daddy Dearest's wishes then?" That wiped the smug expression off her face, he noted.
"Fair enough," she said.
They finished the last few steps and Robert lifted his hand and knocked on his mother's door. "By the way, I hope you're not planning on dieting this weekend."
"What?"
"You'll see."
Elizabeth looked up as the door opened to reveal a small, elderly looking woman, wearing a large smile. She presented herself with an air of grace and elegance, and the word 'presence' came to mind. It suddenly explained to her, how Robert always managed to command so much of it, despite his short stature. Her long hair, now grey, was wrapped neatly in a bun, and her eyes, just as dark and intense as Robert's, were all seeing and as sharp as the day she was born.
Mary Patricia Romano, greeted Elizabeth with a maternal warmth that Elizabeth was ashamed to say, she'd never felt from her own mother, and pulled her into a warm embrace. "So you're the one," she whispered against Elizabeth's ear.
"I'm the one?"
"The one who stole my Robbie's heart."
"I guess, that would be me." Elizabeth beamed back at her. "I'm so pleased to meet you at last."
"Here, let me look at you." She stepped back, holding Elizabeth's hands out in front her. "She's beautiful Robert, for sure!"
"Yes, she is," he said.
"And an English lassie. I never would've thought you'd bring home an English lassie!"
She dropped one hand from Elizabeth and touched her sons face, pulling him in so she could hug the pair of them. "Come on in, come on in!"
Keeping hold of Elizabeth's hand, she led her into a bright and airy lounge, decorated in soft colours. An upright piano sat at the base of the stairs, and a mantelpiece framed a fireplace, where there sat two couches dressing off each other. It was very homely and Elizabeth relaxed straight away.
"You have a beautiful house, Mrs Romano."
"Thank you and please, call me Mary."
"I've been trying to get her to move, but she won't let me buy her anything," Robert said.
"And I keep asking him, why would I want to move...all my memories are here, its not just a house, its a home. So you have some news for me then?"
Robert smiled and lifted Elizabeth's left hand up. "We're getting married."
"Oh, that's wonderful news!" she said, her hands collecting at her mouth. "We must celebrate. Tell me, does your sister know?"
"Oh, like I'd tell her before I told you!"
"Good boy, Robbie," she said patting his cheek. "Shall I put the kettle on then? Nice cuppa tea?"
"Sounds lovely, may I help?" asked Elizabeth.
"Oh, away with you! No, you make yourself at home, Elizabeth. Robbie, move those bags upstairs before someone breaks their neck," she instructed as she left for the kitchen.
"Robbie?" Elizabeth whispered, somewhat amused.
"Don't even think about it. It's her term of endearment for me, and only she gets to call me it."
"Well now, that's hardly fair!"
"Remember when Edson tried calling you Lizzie, once?" She shuddered at the memory. "You didn't like it did you? And yet, you don't mind it from me?"
"But, you've more or less called me Lizzie since you met me!"
"Exactly. Term...Of...Endearment. You just didn't know it at the time," he smirked.
"Point taken."
"Plus, when she does calls me Robert, it usually means I'm in trouble," he said and took their travel bags upstairs as instructed. Elizabeth smiled and carried on looking around. There were pictures of Robert and Emma covering the mantelpiece and sideboards. Emma's wedding day, pictures of Jess, a lovely one of Robert dressed in naval uniform, standing proudly next to his sister, in her wedding dress. She sat down relaxed, soaking up the love and warmth of the house and hoped that one day she'd have one just like this.
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Later as they sat for dinner, Elizabeth glanced over at Robert, amazed at the sheer amount of food on one table.
"Told you," he whispered. "Prepare to put on your own body weight in one meal."
Mary reached for her sons hand and he in turn reached for Elizabeths. She followed his lead and dipped her head as Mary said grace, finishing up by giving thanks for Elizabeth bringing joy to her son.
After dinner, Robert offered to load the dishwasher, while the two women went off to the lounge with coffee. They sat down together, in front of the fire and Mary brought out the family albums. As they started flicking through the pages Elizabeth asked, "What was he like as a boy?"
"Oh, he had his moments to be sure, but on the whole he was a good boy. Bit too sensitive for his own good sometimes, but determined. I expect you know all about that trait already," she chuckled.
"Determined yes, but I would never have thought of him as 'too sensitive,'" Elizabeth scoffed.
"Well now, that's because people change, and 'cause he had it kicked out off him for a while there."
"What?!" Elizabeth said looking horrified.
"Have you no seen what a scrawny thing he was?" she said pointing at one of the photos in the album. "He was bullied for a while...he was a wee skinny, sensitive, intelligent lad who topped it off with red hair. Might just as well as painted a bullseye on his head every time he left the house, bless him."
"What did he do?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
"He ate like a pig and asked to learn karate. Wasn't long before they learned to leave him alone. That's the fighting Irish in him," she said proudly. "He can scrap just like his da did."
Again, Elizabeth looked horrified.
"Look, you have to understand Elizabeth. Robert's had to fight for most things in life, so he sees things mainly in black and white. There are problems and there are solutions. It's why he loves surgery so much...he sees the problem, he fixes it. He has learned to be pragmatic but, in essence, you are either for him or against him and its how he sees the world; and in turn that's how he comes across. Now, for you to see past that and see him? That's how I know you're right for him."
Elizabeth nodded, considering her words. It would certainly explain the tough, facade he presented to the world. His need to attack first, to protect himself. Wanting to shift the conversation on, she looked over at the piano, and pointed at it. "Is that Robert's or yours?""
"That would be mine now, but I did teach him to play on it."
Elizabeth actually felt a twinge of jealousy at the thought of the pair of them sat side by side, sharing hours upon hours together. A mother passing down skills and knowledge. Her own mother couldn't even be bothered to take her to the Brownies, always too busy with other matters. It always fell upon the nanny.
"Did you teach him the guitar also?"
"Ahh, now guitar he taught himself," she chuckled. "And between you and me?...I suspect he only took it up to impress girls."
Elizabeth giggled. "Did it work?"
'Oh, yes. And when he made the swim team, well..."
"What's she telling you?" Robert said emerging from the kitchen.
Elizabeth looked up at him and smiled. "Your secret life as a teenage gigolo?"
"My, what? Oh, oh, great she's brought out the album! The one thing I asked her to not bring out."
"Oh, my God, Robert you were adorable!" Elizabeth laughed, flicking through the pages, literally watching him grow up before her eyes with every turn of the page.
"Why for the past tense, Lizzie?" he pouted, sitting down next to her.
"You had sooo much hair," she laughed looking at a picture of an adolescent Robert sporting a red affro.
He brushed a hand over his bald head and shook his head ruefully.
"So is it Elizabeth or Lizzie?" Mary asked.
"It's Elizabeth."
"Robbie, why don't you give her her name?"
"What, like you mean like you give me mine?"
"Hah, that's just a wee term of endearment, boy."
"Actually I kind of like it," Elizabeth said smiling. "But only from him."
Robert folded his arms across his chest and smiled smugly.
"So have you fixed a date yet?"
"Not yet, but we're not waiting long," he said.
"Oh really? You have some other little surprise for me?" Mary said, looking pointedly at Elizabeth's stomach.
"Mom!"
"No!"
"Well why else would you rush a wedding?"
"We're not rushing, we're just getting on with one," Robert said.
"But you have no date fixed? Not much getting on with going on there."
Robert turned to Elizabeth and raised his eyebrow. "Care to set a date, darling?"
She put the album down on the coffee table. "Actually, I was thinking maybe around New Year? New year, new start, that sort of thing..."
Robert nodded and smiled liking the idea. He turned back to his mother, nudging his head at Elizabeth. "What she said."
"Excellent. I shall start shopping for a hat."
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Back in Chicago a few days later, Elizabeth was relaxing on the couch, enjoying a glass of wine having just had a bath when she heard Robert getting in.
He came into the lounge and went straight to the bar, pouring himself a generous scotch.
"Bad day?" she ventured gently.
He turned around to face her, swirling the liquor around in the heavy glass tumbler. "Very bad, thanks to your pal, Benton, who by the way I just fired!"
"What?! Robert, you only just hired him!" she said putting her own glass down on the table.
"Right? You'd think I'd get some loyalty there! A team player he promised he'd be."
"What did he do?"
"He screwed me over Lizzie! Reported me for an EMTALA violation and now I have an audit pending and no doubt, a hefty fine! He is so not a team player, and he's gone."
"Well, what did you do that he felt like he had to report you?"
He stared at her his eyes growing darker by the second. "And there you go immediately jumping to his defence! Can't have been poor Peter's fault now can it?" He threw the rest of the scotch down his throat and called for Gretel grabbing her leash. "I'm going out!"
"Robert!"
"Don't Robert me," he said and slammed the door shut.
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Elizabeth was in her small office by the filing cabinet when Peter knocked on the half open door. She glanced back as he stepped in and silently cursed to herself, painting on a fake smile.
"Peter, what are you doing here?"
"Did you get any of my messages?"
"Yes, and I meant to call you," she lied. "I've just been incredibly busy." Then she shook her head and chastised herself. "Oh, look, I'm sorry, Peter. I just didn't know what to say to you."
"Yeah, well its okay."
"No. No, its not okay, I've been avoiding you for days." To be honest, she felt torn between a rock and a hard place. She wanted to help him, but Robert was still very upset with her and had suddenly become very busy, staying at work later and later. She knew he was avoiding her and they'd barely spoken to each other for days.
Peter let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I got that."
"I'm sorry. I think what Robert did was wrong, and I've told him as much. I just wish there was something I could do."
"Well, I didn't exactly expect you to resign in protest."
"That's a relief." She smiled.
"There is something you can do," he said. "You can put the word out. I know you've got a lot of contacts at other hospitals."
"Of course. I'm surprised you haven't been snapped up already."
"Yeah, well it seems lately my reputation has taken a hit," he said confirming what Elizabeth had suspected.
"I'll see what I can do. You know what? I spoke with a friend in Philadelphia just the other day, who's looking for someone. I just wasn't sure you'd care to move."
"At this point, I'm open to anything."
"Leave it with me," she said.
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Robert found her that evening in the kitchen preparing dinner. He watched her from the archway, as she stood by the island, absently stirring a pan, and took a moment to try and get a hold of his anger. He asked the question that had been going round and round his head for days, trying for a neutral tone when he spoke, but failed. "Why do you always take Benton's side over mine?"
"I don't," she said carefully, feeling her back stiffen.
"Yeah, you do." He stepped in closer to her.
"What are we talking about, exactly?"
"Don't play dumb, Lizzie, it doesn't suit you. You always assume the worst by me and take everything he says at face value. I don't get it!' he said, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "I tell you he screwed me over and your first instinct is to defend him, and I keep asking myself, why is that?"
She stopped stirring the pasta sauce and turned to face him. The look in his eyes, left her in no doubt that he was spoiling for a fight, and she immediately went on the offensive herself.
"I was just showing some loyalty to a friend. His intentions were at heart, noble."
"What about showing some loyalty to me? How come I don't warrant that? And if he was such a good friend, how come he screwed you over for the trauma fellowship? He was very noble and loyal to you then, wasn't he?! Or have you conveniently forgotten?"
"Look, he came to see me, and asked for my help. You really shouldn't be stopping him from making a living, Robert."
"I'm not stopping him from making a living, Lizzie! I am trying to teach him a God-damned lesson!"
"By sacking him and making him unemployable anywhere else?!"
"His tittle-tattling to the inspector general cost me a $50,000 fine, which my insurance doesn't cover, and cost the hospital an AMTALA fine. I had to recoup the monies from somewhere so I eliminated the Attending position!"
"And conveniently sacked him?"
"Should I have fired someone else instead? It's his own self-inflicted bad!"
"You could have talked to him, like an adult!"
"What, like he didn't do me the courtesy off?"
"I just think there are better ways to have resolved the situation."
"Oh? Oh, really, go on then Lizzie, by all means tell me, with all your infinite wisdom of running a hospital...if you were me, what should I have done? Should I have turned the other cheek? Let him undermine me and wait for the next time he decided to do whatever the hell he pleases, so I can bend over and take that up the ass too! Go on, tell me!"
"I don't know," she admitted. "But that still doesn't excuse you rubbishing him all over town and making him unemployable!"
"You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about! The word I put out, was not to touch him because he wasn't available! I don't want him going anywhere else, because I'm not idiotic enough to lose an excellent surgeon...but his personality sucks and he needs putting in his place. I offered him a perfectly good job, granted with punitive consequences, but he he needs to learn the lesson."
"Oh," she said surprised.
"Yeah, bet boy wonder failed to tell you that piece of information didn't he?"
"Well, I guess he didn't want it then, but I found him a job in Philadelphia," she said turning back to stir the sauce.
"Yes I know, Lizzie!" he growled, his voice dangerously low.
She looked up, but not at him.
"Carl called me. You do remember him, right? Old pal of mine from way back...the one I introduced you to when we were in Philly?"
She had the grace to look embarrassed.
"You wanna know what I'm finding difficult to reconcile through all of this, Lizzie?"
"What?"
"You. I find it hard to believe that you're actually using my contacts to set up your ex, the one who screwed me over? That and the fact that, you don't seem to see anything wrong with that picture?"
Okay she thought, when he put it like that, it really didn't sound very good, so she tried a conciliatory tone. "Robert, I was simply trying to help him out...and I thought that if it got Peter out of Chicago, you'd be happy!"
"Well I'm not happy Lizzie, and for your information, he's not going anywhere!"
"What?! But when I spoke to Peter last, he said he was taking the position? Oh, Robert, please tell me you haven't made Carl withdraw the offer?!" she said, and immediately knew she'd said the wrong thing again. She saw the hurt and disappointment in his eyes before he turned away from her and leaned his back against the island.
Loosening his tie, he ran a hand over his tired face and sighed, feeling all of the fight leave him. The niggling self-doubt he'd been experiencing the last few days reared up its head once again, taunting him; telling him that she didn't love him enough to believe in him, and he hated her in that moment for making him feel this way.
"Thank you Lizzie, for once again thinking the absolute worst of me, but no. He turned it down all by himself and accepted my offer...the one he neglected to tell you about...he starts back tomorrow."
"Oh."
"Yes, 'oh,'...so now, he's fat, dumb and happily re-employed while I'm substantially out off pocket, painted as the villain of the piece, and fighting with you!"
She could actually see his point, but her own stubbornness stopped her from verbalizing it, until she heard Mary's words ringing in her head, 'you're either for him or against him,' and knew she'd failed him. She reached out a hand to his, holding it tightly when he tried to pull it away. "Robert I'm sorry, okay? Look, can we just forget about Peter? I don't want to talk about him any-more...and I especially don't want to fight with you...I've missed you."
"I don't want to fight with you either," he said softly and squeezed her hand.
"Good. Here taste this," she said, offering up a spoon of tomato sauce in an effort to break the tension and put things back to normal.
He gave her a sideways glance and smirked. "Lizzie, I hate to break it to you, but your cooking is never going to bring about world peace!"
She scowled at him and thrust the spoon into his mouth.
"Needs more salt," he said pulling a face.
She picked up the salt cellar and shook it vigorously over the pot, then stirred again. Dipping the spoon back into the sauce once again, she tasted it and cursed the fact that, it did indeed taste better. She dipped the spoon once more, and took a small mouthful before leaning across to kiss him, sliding her tongue inside and around his mouth. Still kissing him, she dropped the spoon into the pan and turned off the burner. When he moaned in response and his hands wrapped around her waist she knew she had him. "How does it taste now?" she said silkily.
"Perfect," he smiled against her mouth, crushing her to him, powerless to stay annoyed at her...
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Lying in bed together later, Elizabeth snuggled into him. "I missed you...missed this," she said playing with his chest hair. "Let's not fight again."
"Agreed...though to be fair, the making up part was nice."
She giggled. "Still, lets not. I love you Robert."
"Love you too," he sighed.
"What is it? Why do I feel you wanted to add a 'but'?"
He rolled back on top of her and covered her mouth with his. "There's no 'but.' Its just sometimes..." He moved his lips to her neck. "I just need to convince myself that this is real."
"What do you mean?"
"Some days I look at you and I just can't believe my luck...you're this amazing, beautiful woman who lets me love her...and I wonder what you're doing with a guy like me? Part of me is scared to death that you'll leave me one day."
She pulled his head back up and looked into his eyes. She saw the vulnerability that he always fought so hard to hide, but now she also saw the sensitive boy in there too. The one that the bullies hadn't completely managed to kick out off him.
"I love you, for you Robert."
"Let's just go down city hall tomorrow and get married," he smiled.
"Oh, I'm sure your mother would love that! And no! I want a church wedding, I want a white dress, doves, champagne, guests, the full monty!"
"So we're keeping it small, then?"
She scowled up at him and he flashed her a cheeky smile. "I'm serious, Lizzie! I want to marry you in front of our families and a few friends, but let's keep it simple."
"Well, what about people at work? We have to invite them."
"The hell we do! I don't even like most people at work, why would I invite them to our wedding?"
"Well, I'm glad you remember its our wedding."
"Look, I'm okay with the church, the dress, family, friends. Anything else is superfluous," he said nuzzling her neck.
"We'll talk about it in the morning, sweetie."
His head shot up and he looked at her. "Sweetie?"
"Yes, sweetie," she purred and rolled them over so she sat on top off him. She leaned down and kissed him with each syllable to drive her point home, as she said, "Term...of...endearment."
He smiled and closed his eyes as he lay back and let her love him...
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Robert was at the jewellers collecting the wedding bands they'd bought and had resized. "Care to try it on, Sir?" asked the sales clerk.
He shrugged and thought, why not? He took the proffered band of gold and placed it on his finger, admiring and appreciating everything it represented. It fit his finger perfectly and he had to admit his excitement of everything that it symbolised; tying him to Elizabeth forever. The clerk put Elizabeth's ring into its velvet box just as his pager went off. He took out his cellphone and dialled the displayed number.
"Romano. What is it?" He listened and shook his head, groaning.
The clerk looked over at Robert with the empty box that housed Roberts ring, but he batted her away with his hand, while he tried to listen. She put the box in the bag along with Elizabeth's and handed him the bag.
He reached for it and nodded thanks. "Yes, yes, I'm on my way now, I'll be there in ten!"
It actually took him thirty minutes to get across town, and he walked into an already semi-chaotic ER. He spotted Mark Greene talking on the phone and walked over. "Hey Greene, I need you to buff up a recurrent bowel obstruction I have on the way."
Mark rolled his eyes and snorted. "What are we? Jiffy-lube?"
"I need a sugar-tong splint in three, hey is Kovac still MIA?" said Malucci and Robert felt an ER headache coming on. "Kovac missed his shift?"
"I'm sure he's on his way in," Abby tossed out over her shoulder.
"Where's Kerry?"
"It's her day off," Mark said.
"She's at a chrysanthemum show," Randi said, and Robert shook his head and snickered. "Great, the one day I need her she's off playing Martha Stewart," he said checking out the state of the board.
"Look hold on," Mark said into the mouthpiece of the phone. "Robert, I've got a helicopter transport waiting for me. We're gonna have to call in backup."
"Why don't you wait until eight-thirty? He's never late," Abby said.
He was about to start getting annoyed when he spotted Peter Benton walking by with a loaded gurney, and smiled to himself. "Peter what's this?"
"Hot appy. O.R's ready."
"Great, I will take him up. Doctor Greene needs your help here."
"Trauma coming in?" Peter asked.
"No. You're gonna cover the whole of the ER," he said picking up three charts.
"What?"
"Yep. This'll get you started. Diarrhoea, ear pain and weak and dizzy all over."
"Wait a minute. 'Weak and dizzy' wasn't part of our per-diem agreement."
"Sure it is. 'Per diem' means 'per my discretion,'" Robert said smugly and left him standing there with his mouth open.
When he exited the elevator on the surgical floor pushing a gurney, Shirley came over. "Is that the bowel obstruction, already?"
"No, he's not here yet. This is a stray hot appy I just picked up in the ER, courtesy of Benton."
Jacy came rushing over to help.
"Doctor Romano, perhaps you'd like to go scrub," Shirley suggested.
"Gee, you think Shirley? The thought had never occurred to me."
Instead of the patented scowl he was expecting back, she kept looking at him odd, and he raised a quizzical eyebrow as Donald Anspaugh approached. "Robert do you have a minute?"
"No, he's about to go scrub, Doctor Anspaugh," Shirley said, looking pointedly at Robert.
He followed her strange gaze down to his left hand where the wedding band still sat proudly on his finger, and whipped his hand quickly into his trouser pocket.
"Not really Donald, I have this gentleman's appendix to remove followed by a bowel resection, who's also on the way in. Can it wait?"
"I suppose it will have to. Find me when you're free?"
"Yes Sir."
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He found Shirley later in post-op and lowered his voice. "Thanks for earlier. Very eagle eyed of you," he said.
"What on earth were you doing wearing it?" she whispered. "I thought maybe you'd eloped, but then I thought Doctor Romano wouldn't do that, and not tell me?"
"No we haven't eloped! Jeezus Shirley, I was just trying it on for size when you paged me."
"I bet you were one of those kids who couldn't wait at Christmas, and sneaked a present from under the tree," she chuckled.
"Err, one, that's rude and two, no...I was just trying it on for size, on account of just having had it resized!"
"Uh-huh, and did you come through the ER wearing it?"
"Yeah," he groaned. "You think anyone saw?"
"I highly doubt it. If the boss was seen sporting a wedding ring, my spies would have reported to me by now."
"Well, it didn't take you long to spot it!"
"Yes, well that's me. They are but mere amateurs down there," she said.
Robert laughed. "Thank God. I owe you one!"
"Oh, you owe me more than one, Doctor Romano! I'll add it to your growing list," she said sweetly and actually sashayed away from him. "Oh, and by the way?"
"What?"
"It looked good on you."
He smiled and had to agree.
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Elizabeth was sat at the ER admit desk on the telephone, waiting for Mark who had been bringing in a patient by helicopter, but had been forced to emergency land. They were now in-bound by ambulance, and she was trying to get through to them. "Can you patch me through to the ambulance," she spoke into the mouthpiece.
"Doctor Corday, surgical consult in four."
"I'll be there," she called out, then said into the phone. "Look, just give me the number." She finished jotting it down and looked up to see a nervous looking woman waiting in front of her.
"Excuse me I'm looking for Doctor Corday?"
"Are you Janet?" Elizabeth asked, hoping it was the transport patients fiancé, she had left a message for.
"Yeah."
"Elizabeth Corday." She stood up and shook her hand. "We're expecting them very soon."
"How's Tom doing?"
"Quite well, I understand. Apparently, no one was hurt in the landing."
"What landing?"
"Just something minor with the helicopter," she said trying to sound nonchalant and not cause any further worry. "So how long have you two been engaged?"
"Three years. So he's not in the helicopter?"
"No, in an ambulance. My goodness, three years! That seems like a long time."
"Right after he gave me the ring he got the flu. We thought it was no big deal, but then the virus went to his heart. We spend a lot of time in hospitals."
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Robert stormed into the ER fuming, and immediately spotted the cause of his ire. "Peter I just heard from the 'Trib'! Tell me we're not closed to trauma!"
"We're not! As of now we're open!" said Kerry who appeared out of nowhere. He really didn't like her but quite frankly, right now, he could kiss her.
"How can we, when we can't see another critical patient," Peter said.
"Get me the nursing supervisor. I want every remotely stable patient moved out of the ICU!' Kerry railed at Abby and he nodded approvingly. He turned his attention solely on Peter. "I was under the mistaken impression that you could manage an ER!"
"I was the only Attending physician, Kovac never showed!" Peter whined.
"He didn't show?!" screamed Kerry, also listening.
"He might have switched a shift," Abby offered from the sidelines.
"In twenty years, I have never been late for surgery, but I guess you people work on a different standard. Peter, based on your performance, maybe you're not the guy for the per diem job!"
"Doctor Romano, I need you for a surgical consult!"
"Corday's already down here, find her!" he bellowed back at the nurse who's name he couldn't recall.
"She's busy with the transport patient!"
He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. God he hated coming down here. "Fine, show me!"
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He was in the process of extracting himself from the ER to head back upstairs, when Elizabeth's voice stopped him.
"Robert!"
He turned to see her walking hurriedly towards him, wearing a huge smile and his mouth involuntarily formed into an equally wide smile. "Lizzie."
"Come with me," she said, bouncing with excitement and grabbed his hand pulling him along with her.
"Where?" he said looking round to see if anyone was watching them, trying to extract his hand. The woman had a vice like grip when she got excited.
"A wedding!"
His feet stopped moving and she stumbled backwards into him. "A what?! Lizzie, are we getting married?" he asked quietly.
She looked at him confused and then laughed. "No! A patient is, and we're going to be witnesses."
"Oh," he said, actually a little disappointed, and let her drag him off again.
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"By the power vested in me, I can now pronounce you husband and wife. Go ahead and kiss your bride, Tom."
"Congratulations," everyone chorused.
"I'm gonna break all the rules and allow you to have one sip of champagne," Elizabeth said.
"Thanks," Tom said.
"Well since this is the honeymoon suite, I think you're entitled to a little privacy."
"We're very grateful, thank you." The newly weds both chorused. "Yeah, for everything."
"Nice folks. Tell them to get a license and I'll do it again, no charge," the priest said as they left the room, and he carried on his way.
"Wasn't that just beautiful?" Elizabeth said.
"It was, and it also proves my point that simple can work...don't suppose it put a different perspective on your wedding plans for us?" Robert asked cheekily.
"Oh, you know what, to hell with it! You're right!"
His feet stopped working again. He hadn't expected her to cave that easily. "What? Say that again!"
She did a quick double-take when she realised he was no longer by her side and turned around. "You're right, simple is best, you said so yourself."
"Since when did you start listening to what I say?"
"When you started being right."
He joined his hands together in prayer and offered them up to the heavens. "And thank you God, for fulfilling yet another fantasy."
She tried not to laugh, and punched him playfully in the arm. "I don't want a rose-entwined arbor with trained doves. I don't want champagne served out of crystal flutes."
He nodded enthusiastically. "Keep going."
"Who cares about a bloody ice sculpture?"
"Not me!"
"I just want to get married in a simple ceremony."
"Preaching to the choir, Lizzie. You don't have to convince me."
"And let's stop hiding! I don't want to hide any more. I love you and want people to know that! And I want you to kiss me...right now!" she said.
He smiled, but took a step back holding his hands up in a back-off gesture. "Trust me Lizzie, I want nothing more than to oblige, but I am a man of honour and never welch on a deal...just give me five minutes and you can probably come find me…Shirley works fast."
The penny dropped for Elizabeth as she watched his retreating back heading for the elevator.
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Robert strutted out of the elevator wearing a huge grin. "Shirley," he bellowed and she looked up from behind the surgical front desk, with a bored frown. "Yes, Doctor Romano?"
"You have a green light...go forth and blab!"
Her eyes widened with delight. "Really?!"
"Just said so."
"Full disclosure?"
He smiled, nodded and carried on strutting to his office.
Jacy hearing the exchange looked at Romano's departing back and then Shirley. "What do you know?"
"Oh, you are going to need to sit down for this," she said already reaching for the phone.
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"Hey did you hear about Romano and Corday?" Jerry said to Haleh and Abby. They both nodded laughing.
"I can't believe it, myself," Haleh said.
"You know, come to think of it, Romano has definitely been happier of late. He actually complimented me on a job well done the other day. I figured it was down to his brush with death, but I guess it was good old fashioned love."
"Corday and Romano, sitting in a tree," Jerry starting singing.
"What's that?" Mark said walking up to the desk.
"Oh, sorry Doctor Greene, I didn't see you there."
He shrugged his shoulders. "What about Elizabeth and Romano?"
"Err, apparently they're an item. Like a serious item…like, they're getting married!"
"What?! No way! I don't believe it."
"It's true. Came down from Shirley herself, who's known about them for ages!"
"No, I don't believe it."
"Well, there she is...ask her yourself."
They all turned to face Elizabeth as she rounded the corner heading for the elevator.
"Hey Elizabeth, wait up!"
Elizabeth had just made it to the elevator, having given Robert more than his five minutes, thanks to a trauma. She wanted to find him and kiss him in public, when Mark's voice stopped her. She turned as he trotted up to her. "Yes?"
"Got a minute?"
She made a show of looking at her watch, but sighed. "One minute," she said.
He pulled her towards the lounge and closed the door behind them.
"What is it," she asked.
"So I'm hearing a rumour?"
Wow! Shirley does indeed work fast she thought impressed. "About Robert and I?" she ventured.
"Yeah."
"What are you hearing?"
"That not only are you involved with him, you're getting married?!"
"It's true," she said.
"You're actually marrying him?!" he spluttered.
She smiled. "Yes. We love each other Mark...can you try and be happy for me?" she asked appealing to his better nature.
"Is he the reason we split up?"
Okay, so no congratulations, then she thought, her smile fading into a frown. She folded her arms crossly against her chest. "No Mark, we split up because you finished it with me!"she said, but then carried on in a gentler tone. "And the reason you did, is because we were both miserable and not working."
"We were working just fine, until he got shot and you started spending every waking moment with him!"
"No, we weren't. Mark, please don't make this is into something its not."
"Were you seeing him while we were together?"
"No, absolutely not! I did not cheat on you, and I very much resent the suggestion you think I could!. We got together after you ended it, and actually, if you hadn't ended it, then I would have for the reasons I've already outlined. But yes, he was...is, the reason I didn't want to get back together with you. Look...I'm very, very happy Mark and I hope you can be happy for me."
Mark took a deep breath in and closed his eyes. When he exhaled he said, "He'll hurt you, Elizabeth. He's hurt you before."
She shook her head. "He loves me."
"Maybe...but some time down the line, he's going to hurt you. I know men like Romano."
"No Mark, you know absolutely nothing about him!"
"Nor about you, apparently!" He turned away and left her standing alone in the middle of the lounge.
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Robert looked up and smiled when she entered his office and he glanced at his watch. "You took your time."
"Got waylaid."
Something in her tone made him look at her worried. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. It's just Mark intercepted me downstairs."
He stood up and walked around his desk. "And he upset you?"
She walked into his arms and kissed him. "A little, but its all better now."
"Where's your ring?"
She reached into her blouse and pulled out the necklace that currently suspended her engagement ring.
"Put it on," he said nuzzling her neck and she reached around and easily unclasped the chain. He caught it and removed the ring, then slid it onto her finger. "I love you," he said. "Want to go strut?"
She nodded smiling and he opened the door to his office and took her hand in his.
They'd no sooner cleared his office when they were set upon by well wishers, some genuine, some not so much. Robert stood by her side enjoying the moment, as he watched Elizabeth show off her ring, her smile enough to power the needs of a small continent.
TBC