Chapter 7 – The Sins of the Past

Grace was still thinking about her afternoon with Romano as she arrived at Doc Magoo's and how what she really wanted was a vodka, not a cup of coffee. Abby, Chuny and Susan were already there when she arrived.

"Sorry I'm late, girls."

"Complications with the procedure?" Abby asked.

"No, with Romano."

"I thought you were assisting Dale?"

"I was, until Romano changed the schedule. Arrogant bastard. I swear he has it in for me."

"My sympathies." Susan said empathetically. "But I actually think he likes you."

"Probably just wants a piece of ass." Chuny blurted out. "I'm sure he never gets any, probably one of the reasons he's always in a bad mood."

Grace shot her a look, "Well he certainly likes driving me crazy. He's impossible to work with."

"Amen to that." Chuny agreed.

"Come on, Grace. Why else would he be spending so much time in the ER lately, especially when you're working? He hates it down there and he's always complaining about how it's a cesspool of humanity." Susan said ignoring Chuny.

"You're serious? He's been making my life difficult for weeks."

"Grace, don't you remember being back in fifth grade, when the boy who liked you the most used to pull your hair and call you names? It's the same thing, only he's a grown man and never learned to play nice with girls."

"I remember that boy. I ended up giving him a black eye." She grinned. "Anyway, let's not ruin our evening talking about him. What have I missed in the ER the past few days?"

"Well, Malucci almost got fired. Again." Abby said.

"What was it this time? More of the same?" Grace asked.

"Weaver caught him doing a candy striper in the back of an ambulance." Abby said.

"She told Dr. Feelgood one more indiscretion and he's finished." Susan added and they all laughed.

"He's a complete waste of space! How he ever passed med school I'll never know." Chuny said.

"I can't stand guys like him, reminds me of my ex-husband." Grace said, rolling her eyes.

"I didn't know you were divorced?" Abby commented.

"It's true. He's the main reason I moved here from Detroit. He was a plastic surgeon and they're just the way you imagine them to be, pretty on the outside, shallow on the inside. I can still picture him with his fake, botox smile. Dr. Steven Mancini."

"Wait a minute, I think I've heard of him. You were married to that guy?" Susan said.

"I'm surprised you've heard of him? His practice is in Detroit." Grace replied.

"Well, he's got quite a reputation outside of his practice. I remember hearing about a malpractice suit involving very inappropriate behavior with a few of his patients."

"The problem is, men admire guys like that. They're so busy high-fiving each other for getting laid, they don't give a shit that the loving wife is always the last to know."

Abby nodded sympathetically. "My ex is a real prize too."

Grace smiled supportively. "Oh, it was so humiliating! I came home early one day to find him screwing one of his patients on the living room sofa."

"What a pig." Chuny said.

"Well, she was the one in need of a good plastic surgeon by the time I was finished with her." After a brief pause, Grace added, "Kidding!" Although they didn't look completely convinced.

"Sometime I'll tell you about how Richard kept me from finishing med school, cheap bastard." Abby added as she got up to leave.

"Yeah, sorry to cut and run, but our break's just about over." Susan said.

"I'm sorry I was late. Next time we'll pick a day when we all have more time."

Just before she left, Susan pulled Grace aside. "Look, it's not like I'm his biggest fan, but I've been here long enough to know the only other person Romano's ever tried so hard to aggravate was Elizabeth Corday. I think she really broke his heart. Just think about it, Grace."

When they got back to County, it was an usually slow night and Susan and Abby were shooting the breeze with Carter and Luka at the admit desk. The topic turned to ex's and after reminiscing about the famous fencing duel between Luka and Carter, Susan and Abby gave them the lowdown on Grace. One thing that never changed in the ER was that there was no such thing as a secret.

"Wow, I didn't know she was divorced." Carter said. "It's too bad, she's really sweet."

"Neither did we, but the guy sounds like the world's biggest jerk." Susan said.

"I think she took it pretty hard. Apparently she walked in on him doing a patient on the sofa." Abby added grimacing.

"Well let's just hope it was scotch guarded." They turned around to see Romano had been lurking nearby and joined into the conversation. "Dr. Lewis. So nice to see you have nothing better to do with your time than gossip with the dynamic duo."

"It's been a slow night." Carter chimed in. "You have to take the time to enjoy it, because it never lasts."

"Probably just the calm before the storm." Abby added.

"Well, I suggest you all find something to do before I decide everybody's replaceable."

When Grace arrived for her shift the next day, Jerry told her there was a message for her saying that Dr. Romano wanted to see her up in his office. "He said it's important."

She wondered if her actions had landed her in trouble and braced for the next round in the battle. Romano usually recovered quickly and like a wounded animal, could turn just as swiftly on the attack. Arriving at his office, she knocked once and then went right inside.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Close the door. Have a seat."

"What is this about?"

"Please, sit down, Grace."

She sat down slowly as her mind raced.

"Upon careful consideration, I feel the need to apologize for my behavior the other day. I'm concerned it may have affected your decision to consider the position available in the OR."

She was completely caught off guard by his sudden candor.

"I've seen your work, both in the ER and now the OR and I would hate to think my actions have prevented this hospital from having the best staff where they're needed the most. If you reconsider, I can offer to stay out of your way."

"What's the catch?"

"No catch."

"Has something happened?"

"Oh, and starting next week I've put you back on your regular ER shifts."

"So you admit you were messing with me. Why the sudden change in heart?"

"Call it an early Christmas present."

He seemed so different from the Romano she had come to know so well. He was apologetic and his entire demeanor had changed.

"You're scaring me a bit. This isn't like you."

"I recognize that my level of intensity can get out of hand, from time to time."

"I'll say."

"And that sometimes I fall back into bad habits. I'm sure we all carry around old baggage with us, wouldn't you agree, Grace?"

"You mean my lecherous ex-husband…or are we talking about you?"

"Both. Well me, mostly."

"Are you referring to Elizabeth Corday? I've heard a few rumors." She added softly.

He looked at her and tilted his head slightly, just a subtle gesture to let her know she was right. He now seemed suddenly vulnerable. "You finally made me see how much I was getting to you. In the hall, when you leaned in and then turned and walked away, well, it nearly killed me."

"I didn't mean to…"

"Yes, you did. And it took being hit between the eyes to finally make me realize I should never have crossed the line with you. I don't want to make the same mistakes I've made in the past."

"For weeks, every conversation, every encounter has been a turbulent wave of conflict and tension." Grace argued.

"I don't do well with relationships, Grace. Especially with people who I actually like."

"So this wasn't about trying to see how much torment I could withstand before I went completely mad?"

"I am the way I am, Grace. I know most people don't like me. I don't care, I don't like most people. But I care about you, and what you think, and I would hate to drive you away from something that you love and that you're so damn good at."

She now felt guilty and debated whether she should let him off the hook completely. After all, he had seemed to make a sport of making her life difficult, and wondered if this sudden confession was truly sincere. Inwardly, she questioned his ulterior motives and tried to comprehend this complete change in his demeanor. She then thought about what Susan had said to her.

He reached across the desk to gently stroke her cheek, half expecting her to pull back, but she didn't. She looked into his eyes as though she was finally seeing him for the first time.

"I'm sorry, Grace."

Grace closed her eyes for a moment. "I don't know what to say." She said softly as he moved his hand away. She stood up and tried to process everything.

He got up from behind his desk and walked towards her. "Well, telling me you don't find me completely repulsive would be a good start." He said nervously.

She turned back to face him, smiling. "How about annoyingly intriguing?"

"I'll settle for that. At least for now." He looked at her for a moment and then throwing caution to the wind he pounced on the opportunity, as she stood mere inches away from him. He put his arm around her waist and pulled Grace firmly towards him, kissing her. It was a slow, warm, soft kiss that began to make her stir inside, as the kiss deepened.

She was taken off guard by his bold move, although she didn't fight it. She wasn't sure if it was the fact that she hadn't been kissed in a very long time, or because her feelings of irritation towards him had somehow manifested into adrenaline induced excitement.

As he explored her mouth lusciously with his tongue, he pushed her firmly up against his desk. Grace let out a soft moan, which seemed to increase his urgency to taste her soft, white skin. He began kissing her neck, moving up behind her ear. "Mmm, Grace. You smell incredible."

Suddenly realizing that everything was happening too fast, Grace broke free from his embrace. "Wow." Was all she could finally bring herself to say. Inwardly, she was reeling from what had just happened and could barely think straight. "I wasn't expecting that."

"Neither was I. I mean, I didn't plan this. Bringing you up here just to…" He said, trying to catch his breath.

"I know." After a brief moment of silence between them she added, "Well this is a bit awkward. I should probably get going. I'm late for my shift and I'm sure Weaver will be all over me when I get down there."

"I'm sure she will. You're practically irresistible."

As she closed the door behind her, Grace shook her head, mystified at having seen a completely unexpected layer to the notorious Chief of Staff.