Chapter 27

NOTE The medical stuff discussed in this chapter is just my take on what could happen, not based on any medical knowledge I have.

Tuesday 8 30 am

Robin and Cruz were having their second official Coffee Club breakfast, they had decided to meet at Kelly's every Tuesday and Friday before work.

"What are you doing next weekend?" he asked

"I'm supposed to have dinner at The Outback Sunday night. It's Felicia's idea of a way to make my dad and uncle be forced to spend time in the same room. Want to come and help me cut some of the tension? I am thinking a chainsaw might be the appropriate tool."

"Sounds...awful. But okay." He smiled. No matter how laid back he was being that smile sent shivers through her. "I was asking about this weekend because I got us tickets to see Nickleback on Saturday but the concert is in New York City. We'd have to stay over night. If you don't think you can get away, I'll just give them to one of the guys down at the station..."

"Um..." Wow, a weekend away together, wow, is all Robin could think. She said "Wow."

"Wow?"

She gave him a look that said, Are you sure about this?

Cruz smiled. "Too soon, Dr. Scorpio?"

"To hear music together. No, I think we are right on time for that. Yes, I'll go."

She decided to think about all the who will sleep where questions later and for now just enjoy him smiling at her.

Tuesday 9 am

Nikolas rushed through the halls of Wyndermere, following the nanny's hurried steps. She wanted him to see for himself the rash on Spencer.

The baby lay in his crib, red faced and wailing.

Nikolas scooped him up and said, "He's burning up. I'm taking him to GH."

Before he left the island, Nikolas made one phone call and then he was bundling his son up and speeding toward help.

Robin was waiting in the emergency room. She took the baby from him and moved into a examining room where other doctors joined her in treating the little boy.

Tuesday Noon

Kelly walked with one of her patients toward the elevator, telling the woman some last minute advice about how to treat heartburn during pregnancy. She spotted Nikolas standing by the nurse's station.

"Everything all right?" she asked, noting his haggard expression.

"I had to bring Spencer in today."

Kelly stilled. "Where is he? What's his symptoms?"

"He'll be fine," Nik gave her a weak smile. "It was an allergic reaction to his vaccination. His resting in the nursery while they monitor him. Robin calmed me down or else I would be climbing the walls right now."

"Robin? She's not a pediatrician. Did she happen to be in the ER when you came in?"

Nikolas noted her tone. He paused. "I called her."

Kelly would have felt worse if it was Emily he turned to, that might be too much for her to deal with. Not that Emily and Nik could not be friends but Kelly wanted Nikolas to turn to her first now. To, at the least, think of her first.

She felt like she was playing catch up. Robin had some bond with him from back in the day. Liz was his sister- in- law. Emily his ex. Everyone but Lainey was closer to Nikolas than her.

And that hurt.

(Where do you go when you're lonely?
Where do you go when you're blue?


Where do you go when you're lonely?
I'll follow you.


When the stars go blue,
Stars go blue,
Stars go blue,
Stars go blue.) ( Tim McGraw)

Tuesday 5 pm

Ned waited in the hall outside of Lainey's office door. He didn't want to knock and disturb her if she had a patient.

Besides he didn't mind waiting on her. He had waited so long, more than forty years, for her and yet never knew he was. Ned had thought, in those first few days after the Ball, that he was smiling more, humming more, more creative, because someone had asked him out. Like it was an ego boost.

But now he could see clearly, it was her. All her.

She was pure grace, a calming force in a town full of crazy. And yet Lainey was also tender hearted, almost brand new at this falling in love thing. His opposite. It was that fact that made him want to protect her, to love her in just the perfect way.

Twenty minutes later she stepped out of her office, "Hey there. You should have knocked. I was only doing paper work."

She eased into his arms and kissed him hello, amazed she could be so bold in public and it would feel natural.

"I know we were supposed to meet at the restaurant," Ned said "but I couldn't wait."

"Good. Don't wait," she murmured softly "I'm done waiting too."

Together they walked out of the hospital and towards something that was looking more and more like that four letter word Ned mentioned in his first note to her.

Tuesday 10 pm.

Emily and Milo were coming home after eating dinner at Eli's and ran into Melana in the hallway. She carried a basket of clothes that she had just washed in the laundry room downstairs.

"My my," she smiled.

Then her eyes moved to Emily, registering surprise. It was as if she assumed they were just neighbors, Emily and Milo, and not more. Now, as they held hands in front of her, the truth was clear.

"Hey, Mellie. How you doing?" Milo's tone was easy going.

"Better now that you are here." Melana smiled at him.

Emily wanted to gag. Did they do this little routine every time they saw each other? she wondered.

"Hello again," she told Melana.

"Liking the building so far?"

"Loving it," Emily said to her. "It's nice to live so close to Milo."

"Oh," Melana said "sure."

The look on her face was so sad that Emily nearly felt sorry for her. But not quite. The woman was New York runway model pretty. Emily figured she did not need her pity.

Later, when Milo was in the bathroom, Emily asked Max about Melana.

"What do you think of her?" Emily tried to sound casual.

Max said, "I think she had a lot of sadness in her life, a lot of loneliness."

"She's gorgeous! I find it hard to believe she can't get a date."

"I don't know. It's just something I noticed in her eyes. Like she is desperate to find someone to love her." Max knew the feeling well.

Emily said, " Or maybe she is in love with someone and hasn't told him yet."

Coming up- Nem scene, Scrubs scene, Lois shows up at the gate house, and Pete gets brave.