AN – I know it's been ages and once again, sorry! If only there were more hours in the day…well, you get the picture. Thank you all so very much for the reviews, you've all been so kind! I promise to get the next chapter up soon.

Chapter 26 – Dodging Bullets

"Grace? Grace!" That voice will haunt me, she thought, as she could hear Elizabeth approaching her from behind. Initially pretending she couldn't hear her, Grace finally turned around to acknowledge her.

"Oh, Dr. Corday. It's so nice to see you." She lied.

"I'm looking for Mr. Silverman, the rule out MI?"

"He already went up to the Cath lab. Dr. Edson was here a few minutes ago and took him up."

"Lovely. I wish someone would've bothered to tell me! That's the second time this week Edson's high-jacked one of my patients.

"I'm sorry you had to waste your time coming all the way down here, Dr. Corday." Grace replied.

"Oh, never mind, it's not your fault. I suppose I'll have to take it up with Romano. Dale can deal with the wrath of Rocket's red glare." Corday said as she sent Grace a knowing glance, "But I'm sure I don't have to tell you."

"Excuse me?" Grace asked anxiously.

Corday looked at and winked. "It's okay, dear. I know."

"You know? I don't understand, Dr. Corday?" She blurted out, as her cheeks became warm.

"About you and Romano." She said matter-of-factly.

"Me and…"

"One of County's worst kept secrets." Pausing, she added, "Are you okay, Grace? You look a bit flushed?" Grace was silent for a moment, suddenly unable to breathe as Corday continued. "I know all about him blasting you with that acerbic tongue of his. Shirley told me you quit after he accused you of killing a patient, humiliating you in front of several colleagues."

With a hint of relief, Grace finally managed a quick breath. "Dr. Corday, that's all ancient history as far as I'm concerned."

"I doubt there's an ER nurse here who hasn't endured the ordeal of one of Robert's tirades. It gives his ego a boost to come down here and flaunt his authority, even better if he brings someone to tears in the process."

Grace could feel her head spinning, but managed to keep her composure.

"He is the Chief of Staff and this hospital's best surgeon, and I really do feel indebted to him for offering me my job back. However, that man has an elephantine ego and believe me, on more than one occasion I've wanted to beat the living daylights out of that bombastic little…"

Grinning slightly, Grace replied, "I think I get the picture. So, you're telling me this because?"

"Grace, I don't want you to be under any undue stress in your condition." She said, placing her hand gently on Grace's arm. "I know all too well how infuriating that man can be. If you ever feel as though he's crossing the line with you, I want you to feel you can come to me. You just let me handle him."

"Let you handle him?"

"Look, I know Kerry runs the ER, but you can't always depend on her. She may just leave you swinging in the breeze when you least expect it. You're probably not aware of this, but Robert and I have a long history at County." She smiled. "He knows better than to step out of line with me and it's a rare occasion when I can't defuse him during an outburst and bring him down to something of a dull roar." She added, somewhat cockily.

"I really don't think it will be an issue…"

"Well, one can only hope, but..."

"And I can take care of myself, Dr. Corday."

"Just promise me you'll remember our little chat, Grace." Corday smiled.

"I'll definitely take it under consideration, Dr. Corday." Grace nodded slowly, thinking to herself that her beloved was definitely not the only one at County with a rather high opinion of himself.

"Brilliant! So, is this your first baby?" Corday grinned.

"Yes it is."

"How lovely. You and your husband must be thrilled."

"I'm not married, Dr. Corday."

"Oh, sorry. I guess I just assumed…well then…"

Grace, now taking pleasure in Corday's turn in the hot seat, didn't rush to bail her out.

"Well, you look…very healthy, Grace." Corday finally added awkwardly. "You must be very excited to be getting near the end. I remember those last few weeks, I couldn't wait for it to be over. I was completely knackered!"

"Not me. I really love being pregnant. The first trimester was pretty rough, but I'm feeling so good right now. It's the thought of the impending delivery that scares me more than anything."

"I have one word for you – epidural!"

"I'm hoping to get through it without any meds, but we'll see." Grace replied, becoming increasingly uncomfortable discussing this with Corday.

"Elizabeth!" Susan said enthusiastically as she approached them. "I heard you were back, it's so good to see you!" She smiled as she hugged her old friend.

"Thanks Susan, it's good to be back. Except for dealing with Edson who's still treating me like I'm an intern." They then shared a laugh muttering 'weasel' in unison under their breath.

"You look great! How've you been?"

"Me? Same as always. How's Ella?"

"She's fabulous." Corday beamed. "I can't believe how quickly she's growing up. Rachel's doing well too."

"Do you have any pictures?" Susan gushed.

"Oh, not with me, but I'll stop by later and show you one from Ella's last birthday. She looks so much like Mark."

Susan looked empathetically at Corday and tried to lighten the mood, "Tall, skinny and bald? I hope not!"

Grace offered a few words, "I'm so sorry about Dr. Greene. I've heard so many great things about him and I really wish I would have had the opportunity to meet him."

"You're so kind. Thank you, Grace. It's certainly not been easy, and I could never have imagined how difficult it would be raising a child on my own, but I think I'm doing okay under the circumstances." Looking directly at Grace, she added, "Oh dear, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."

"No worries at all. I won't be raising the baby on my own." Grace replied without providing any further information and took the opportunity to go check on a patient.

Turning back to Susan, Corday added, "I take it her child's paternity is a closely guarded secret…someone who works here, perhaps?" Susan merely shrugged, pretending to be disinterested. "I didn't mean to make her uncomfortable, but it seemed like everything I said rubbed her the wrong way. I kept getting a bit of a weird vibe from her."

"I wouldn't worry about it, Elizabeth. It's probably just hormones." Susan added reassuringly.

"Well, I'd better be getting back upstairs before Edson absconds with any more of my patients."

After Corday left the ER, Susan gave Grace a sympathetic glance and motioned her to join her in the lounge. "How are you holding up?"

"Depends on the day, sometimes the hour. Right now, not so hot."

Susan put her arm around Grace's shoulder and after having tried so hard to keep her troubles to herself, Grace was well overdue for an honest talk with someone who understood what she was going through; carrying Romano's baby and dealing with the return of Corday.

"I'm trying, really trying, not to think about her…about them, but she just keeps popping up in the ER every time I turn around! This is supposed to be such a wonderful time in my life but all I can think about is whether he's falling in love with her all over again…or if he ever really stopped."

"He loves you, Grace. You have to believe that." Susan said reassuringly.

"I do. Well I did, before she came back. Now he's with her almost every day. God, Susan, she's this brilliant surgeon with her proper British accent, not to mention being a gorgeous red head, and here I am…looking like the good year blimp."

"Grace, you always look beautiful and I'm not just saying that to make you feel better. I've never known you to be insecure, this just isn't like you. Besides, you can't keep comparing yourself to Elizabeth. You'll just make yourself crazy."

"I'm trying not to hate her, you know…just because, but I nearly lost it when she actually suggested that I should come to her if Romano gives me a hard time. Promised to handle him for me."

"You're kidding?" Susan chuckled. "I'm sorry for laughing, but it is pretty ironic. God, if she only knew!"

"Well, I wasn't exactly thrilled at continuing the conversation, needless to say. Susan, do you think he ever really got over her?"

"Stop worrying so much. It's not good for you or the baby." Susan replied, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "One thing's for sure, Romano doesn't talk to anyone about his personal life. You seem to be the only one to have cracked open that vault. But to be honest, Elizabeth was never interested in him anyway. Even if he is carrying around some residual feelings, I really don't think you have anything to worry about. Here, let me buy you a candy bar. Time and chocolate heals all wounds." She offered, moving towards the vending machine.

"No thanks. It'll just go directly to my ass and give me something else to get depressed about. But thanks for listening."

"Any time." Susan smiled. "You know it's been strangely quiet around here today. Why don't I give you an ultrasound? We could find out if you're having a boy or a girl. It might cheer you up?"

"I think I'd like to be surprised on the big day." Grace smiled wistfully.

"Well, if you change your mind let me know. We can sneak you into the exam room when Weaver's on a break."

After Susan left, Grace took an extra moment before facing the ER once more. With all of Susan's reassurances, she couldn't get over the feeling that there was something a little unsettling in the way Corday spoke about being able to handle Romano.