A.N. I know this one is very long, but I just couldn't find a good place to split it up. Here's hoping you enjoy the next part of the journey.
Chapter 15 – Are You In?
Over the next few weeks, Grace and Romano were in the throws of carnal lust and had beome increasingly creative at seeking out all the best corners of the hospital where they could indulge themselves. It was a close call one day when Grace nearly walked in on Malucci, whose own partner in crime must have just left moments before. Upon nearly being discovered, he looked a bit surprised to see Grace coming into the supply room, but she quickly came up with a plausible story and Malucci was none the wiser. They had been able to keep their budding relationship on the QT and no one other than Susan and Carter seemed to suspect a thing.
As Grace returned from her 'break', Jerry waved her over. "Hey, Grace. Some guy's been looking for you. He's in chairs, says he's a friend of yours." Jerry said smiling rather mischievously.
Abby smiled and turned to her. "Some guy? Sounds intriguing, Grace. Are you keeping your new boyfriend a secret from us?"
"I guess the cat's out of the bag, Abby. Let me guess, Jerry, he's tall dark and handsome?" Grace replied sarcastically.
"That's him. Real good looking guy. Kinda reminds me of Bon Jovi, except he's got darker hair. I take it you were expecting him?" Grace had been joking but turned slowly hoping somehow she was not about to lay eyes on the one person she knew who fit the description. She screwed up her courage and spun around to face him, and her heart sank as she saw the figure before her.
"Steven?"
"Grace, it's so good to see you. You look fantastic!" He said, grinning ear to ear as he moved towards her.
She immediately took a step backwards and clutched a patient's chart to her chest, to stop him from embracing her. "What on earth are you doing here?" She demanded.
"I thought you might be expecting me." He replied nervously, looking slightly confused.
"Expecting you, why would I be?" She replied angrily.
"I'm heading the team that's doing the Nelson boy's surgery."
"That's you? Really? I guess I didn't realize, I've been kind of busy lately." She shook her head in disbelief as her mind flooded back with painful memories of the last time she'd been face to face with her ex-husband.
"I'm sorry I had to be the one to spring it on you like this." He smiled and suddenly sensed several pairs of eyes on him as the ER staff all watched with keen interest as a chapter in Grace's personal life was about to unfold before their eyes.
Grace picked up on it too and could feel her cheeks heat up with embarrassment. "I can't talk right now. I've got patients to see." She said, walking away quickly down the hallway, with Steven choosing to follow right on her heels.
A bit further away from prying eyes, he stopped her from going into an exam room. "I was hoping we would have a chance to talk, Grace." He smiled hopefully.
She looked up into his dark, smoldering eyes. His deep, soft, brown eyes that had swept her away on so many occasions, yet behind them hid all the lies and deceit that had destroyed their marriage and devastated her beyond belief.
"I can't do this, Steven."
He shot her his most charming gaze, "You won't even spare me a few minutes for a cup of coffee, Grace?"
Suddenly Carter appeared. "Grace can you find out what's taking social services so long to get down here? Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you were with someone." He said, sensing the man she was talking to wasn't a patient.
"I'll go call them again, Carter." She said, welcoming the interruption.
"Grace, I was really hoping we could spend some time together while in I'm Chicago." He said quietly.
Grace looked up at Carter and then Steven, and walked back to the admit desk to call social services.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?" Carter said, extending his hand. "I'm Dr. John Carter."
"Dr. Mancini from the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. I'm here to do Connor Nelson's surgery."
"Hmm. You're also Grace's ex-husband."
He wasn't sure how much Grace had told him about their relationship, but he guessed it couldn't be very flattering. "Yeah, I am. Listen, I'm not here to cause any trouble. I just wanted to stop by and catch up with Grace while I'm in town."
Carter shook his head, "Absolutely none of my business. Look, why don't we talk in here," He said, shuffling him into the lounge as several nurses were hovering around, trying to eavesdrop.
"County has a great reputation. I'm really looking forward to working with your staff to help Connor take a big step towards his recovery."
"I'm sure County's lucky to have you here to sharing your skill and expertise. So tell me, how is it you came be involved?"
Romano entered the lounge and quickly picked up on something between them. "Dr. Carter." He said, as he reached for a cup of coffee.
"Dr. Romano. I take you two must have already met?" Carter remarked.
"No, can't say we have. Hi, I'm Dr. Mancini." He said, reaching out to shake Romano's hand.
"Dr. Mancini, yes." Romano suddenly grinned as he recognized the name. "You're here to work with us on Connor Nelson. Well, Welcome to County Hospital. I've heard great things about you from Donald Anspaugh." He beamed.
Carter realized Romano had no idea this man was Grace's ex-husband and decided it best to leave quietly. "Well, I should get back out there. Nice meeting you, Dr. Mancini." He said, hesitating as he considered filling Romano in on his identity.
"Yeah, likewise, John."
As Romano completely ignored Carter and launched into the praises of not only himself, but the hospital, Carter smiled slightly to himself and left the room, deciding to let him figure it out on his own. Poor, arrogant bastard, he thought to himself.
Outside, Grace was back at the admit desk, trying to fight off a barrage of questions.
"Wow, Grace. You never told me he was so gorgeous." Abby said, fanning herself with a file.
"Yeah, if you like the wolf in sheep's clothing type."
"Hey, who's that hot guy I saw you with earlier, Grace?" Chuny asked as she joined the crowd.
Grace rolled her eyes. "You don't want to know, trust me." She said and walked away.
"That's her ex." Abby offered.
"Really?" Chuny commented. "My God girl! Any man who looks as hot as that deserves a second chance. Maybe even a third or a forth!"
"Grace, Grace!" Carter tried to catch her before her next patient.
"Hey Carter. Can you believe my luck? I don't think this day couldn't get any worse." She said, going into the prescription medicine cabinet.
"Guess again."
"What do you mean?"
"Are you sure you want me to tell you? You have to promise not to kill the messenger."
"I have a bad feeling I'm going to find out anyway. Spill it."
"Well, it seems that your new boyfriend has no idea who your ex is. I just saw the two of them talking in the lounge."
She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. "This can't be happening."
"I was with Steven when Romano came in. In his usual charming way, he provided a completely self-serving introduction of himself and County, so I decided to leave before the fireworks started."
"This is unbelievable, Carter. Where are they now?"
"I don't know. I saw them walking down the hall. Probably on their way up to Romano's office."
"Do me a favor, cover for me?" She said, running towards the elevators. Frustrated, she continued to push the up button, wondering why it was that you could never get an elevator when you really needed on.
When she arrived at his office, Romano seemed to be alone. He smiled when he saw Grace approaching. "Hey you. Much as I'd love to lock us both inside and have you play naughty nurse, I have a department meeting to get to."
She ignored him and looked around his office, "Where is he?"
"Where is who?"
"Steven."
"Dr. Mancini?"
She looked at him dumbfounded. "Yes, yes, Steven. As in my ex, as in what the hell is he doing here?"
"Mancini's your ex husband?" He shook his head. "Jesus, Grace. I had no idea. You never told me his last name, I always assumed it was Hanson."
"No, it isn't." She glared.
He rubbed his eyes and shook his head, "So, this must be a huge shock?"
"Try monumental. I guess I never expected to see him again and he just popped up out of nowhere. He said he's heading the team doing Connor Nelson's surgery?"
"And been given special privileges here at County to do the reconstructive portion of the boy's surgery."
Brenda suddenly interrupted, "Sorry Dr. Romano but Dr. Anspaugh's asking for you. They're waiting to start the meeting."
He looked down at his watch, "Damn it, I've got go, Grace. Find me later and we'll talk, okay?"
Grace went back to the ER but was having a hard time focusing. She called upstairs a few times, but Brenda told her Romano was still in his meeting. When her shift ended, she walked over to Doc Magoo's to sit and stew over a cup of coffee until she could finish talking to Romano.
As she walked in, she noticed Steven was sitting at the counter. She panicked and turned to leave but he caught a glimpse of her and ran after her. "Please, Grace. Just one cup of coffee? I promise to behave myself."
"That would be a first."
He looked at her pleadingly and stroked her arm softly. "Please, babe."
"Don't call me that." She snapped back. "I really don't think there's anything left to say, Steven. We both made choices and moved on with our lives."
"Two coffees." He said smiling, and the waitress was happy to oblige by filling two cups on the spot. "See? Now you have to stay."
She begrudgingly sat down and took a sip from the cup.
"You look fantastic, Grace. It's so good to see you."
"Life in Chicago agrees with me." She said, averting his eyes. She had a tendency in the past to get sucked in by their magical allure.
"I've missed you."
"Steven, stop, okay? I'm not doing this," She said standing up.
"I'm sorry, please don't go. I promise I won't say anything else to upset you."
"Last chance or I'm out of here."
He nodded.
"So, how's your sister? I always resented the fact that when we broke up it meant sacrificing my friendship with her."
"She's fine, same as always. She misses you too, and told me to make sure to say hello. The whole family misses, you Grace. They all loved you and they never wanted to have to sever ties with you. It took a lot for them to do it."
"Not much, just you."
"Okay, I guess I deserved that. Look, we both know what I did and how I've said I'm sorry a thousand times even though it won't change what happened. Can't we at least have a civil conversation?"
"I don't know, can we?"
"Grace..."
"Okay, fine. I'll be civil, but know that it's under duress."
He smiled, having missed her sense of humor. "So, you like it here?"
"Yeah, everyone's great. Except for missing my beloved Redwings. " She grinned.
He nodded, "I still have the season tickets. You missed them raising the banner. Man, it was amazing!"
"Thanks for reminding me. I had to watch it on tv."
"So...I met Dr. Carter. He seems nice, but that Romano's a real piece of work, isn't he? He was practically falling all over himself, trying to impress me. Seems pretty cocky.
"Pot, meet kettle."
Steven ignored her comment and smiled. "He even went so far as to say he could pull some strings to get me a permanent position here."
"You're not serious?"
"Don't worry, Detroit's my beat. I have no plans to relocate." He said as she looked relieved. "unless you'd be willing to give us another try."
She stood up immediately. "I knew it. I knew you couldn't keep your word, not even for five minutes. You really think I'd give you another chance after what you put me through?" She began to walk out of the diner.
"Grace, wait. You have to understand, I've changed. I'm not the same man who hurt you."
"You'll always be that man, Steven." He caught her arm and pulled her towards him, kissing her before she had a chance to react. She immediately pulled away and slapped him before running outside and back towards the ER. With tears in her eyes she avoided the emergency doors and went back in through the side door. She went upstairs to wait for Romano and Brenda let her wait inside his office. Sensing Grace was upset, she offered to get her some water.
"Thanks, Brenda. That would be great."
After a few minutes, he arrived and not a moment too soon. "From the look on your face, I take it you found him."
"I went to grab a coffee at Magoo's, but just my luck, he was there. The bastard had the audacity to ask me for another chance and when I told him to forget it, he kissed me."
Romano looked on, concerned that in his big play to get the hospital a boat load of free publicity might have inadvertently put his relationship with Grace in jeopardy.
"Well, he sure didn't waste any time." He said quietly.
"Don't worry, it wasn't memorable for either of us, except maybe the sting he's feeling from my right hand connecting with his jaw."
She moved towards him, and he took her in his arms, stroking her hair away from her face. She clung tightly to him as though he was her lifeline at the moment. She closed her eyes and let out a few sobs before pulling back and turning away.
"You don't need to do that with me, Grace."
She wiped her face before turning back to face him. "What do you mean?"
"Don't put on a brave face for my sake. Cry, scream, yell. It won't change how I feel about you."
"I'm fine." She lied. "Besides, he's not worth it anyway." She tried to hold it in, she hated crying in front of anyone, and would do almost anything to prove to herself and everyone else how strong she was. She had fought hard to get her life on track after her divorce and stand tall after being humiliated. Not to mention that it drove her crazy to see women who turned on the tears when the slightest thing went awry. She then directed her pain at Romano, becoming angry. "So, how could you not know? I mean, I've know I've told you about him. I must have mentioned his name?"
"You didn't, believe me, I would remember." He said emphatically.
"And when will this all be over? When is Connor's surgery?"
"Next Monday."
She made a non descript noise, roller her eyes and shook her head in disapproval. "Fine, then. I can just avoid him for a few days. It's not like he should be anywhere near the ER anyway."
"Grace…"
"I just can't believe he would think after everything, after all this time, that I would even consider taking him back."
"Grace, I finagled you on spot on the surgical team for Connor's operation. It was going to be a surprise, but I thought it might help springboard your career to be included in such a high profile case."
"No, Robert. I can't! Please, you can't ask me to. Not now."
"I had to pull a lot of strings to make this happen, Grace. I can't very well go to Donald and tell him you're not interested." He said quietly.
"Don't you think you should have consulted with me first? My God, what made you think I'd want to do this in the first place?"
"Well, with your experience working in that field, which by the way was something you did mention to me, as well as the years you spent in the Detroit Hospital OR, I actually thought you'd jump at the chance."
She shot him a look, but realized none of this was his fault. "You're right. I would have under other circumstances, and circumstances being what they are, I don't have a choice, do I? I'll just have to suck it up."
"I'm sure it won't be as bad as you think. You survived operating with me when you were vehemently against it."
"Mmm, right. I still think you're the one who switched the schedule that day."
"My not so subtle way to spend the day with you."
"I knew it!"
"Besides, I'll be in the OR for the entire surgery. I can keep the hot shot in check in case he tries anything…"
She finally managed a small smile. "I can only imagine how much fun that would be! She paused for a moment and added, "Okay, I guess I'm in. Thanks."
"For what? Making your life miserable?"
"No, for making me feel better about this…situation. At least a little bit." She said gesturing with her hand.
"I know a way I can make you feel a lot better." He smiled, pulling her towards him.
"Actually, I'm feeling a bit drained after today. I think I'll just head home and take a bath."
"I don't like leaving you like this."
"I can handle it."
"But you don't have to do it alone."
She smiled and nodded, "I just need a bit of time on my own, okay?" She said as she turned to leave. He seemed reluctant to let her go of her hand and resisted as she pulled away from him.
"Grace…I love you."
She smiled as she gazed into his eyes. "You really do, don't you?" She said, kissing him desperately, holding onto him, needing him more than he could know. "I love you too, Robert. Although I feel like I should warn you that I can be more than a handful at the best of times and right now, I'm a bit of a mess."
She paced a bit, and then turned back to him. "When I married Steven, I thought I was utterly and completely in love with him. I gave him everything." She whispered, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she added, "Afterwards, I tried to move on and I came to realize that the only sure way to get through it, to be safe, was to depend on myself. It was hard, I had never really been out on my own, and now I'm not sure if I can be completely…I mean I want to. I really want to be able to give myself that way again. The longing, desperate, unconditional, whole, perfect…"
"Gracie, nothing is ever perfect."
"Robert, I do love you. You need to know that. But I'm just not sure if I can give myself to someone that way again."
He looked at her intently. "You know, I spent the better part of my meeting thinking about beating him within an inch of his life. But then I realized I really should be thanking him. If he hadn't hurt you and betrayed you, completely destroyed what you had, then I never even would have met you, Grace."
"Funny old world, isn't it?"
"Let me take you home."
"Okay." She nodded, too tired to argue or to admit she really didn't want to be alone.