Happy belated birthday Ash! Tried me best, but it just wasn't ready :-(

Many thanks to Kimberely who has beta read for me throughout. You are a gem! Flo, thank you very much for the pick me up yesterday.

Hunting High and Low

Part Eight – Chaos Theory

Robert opened his eyes to a painfully bright room. They'd not bothered to close the curtains last night, and the morning sun now invaded the room, penetrating everywhere. He snapped his eyes closed, in an effort to shut out the offensive rays. The thought of getting up and rectifying the matter crossed his mind, but on reflection he didn't actually give a damn.

Elizabeth's head lay on his chest, where they lay together, their bodies warm and intertwined. He twirled his fingers absently through her hair, playing with the curls that surrounded her face. He felt content, happy - at peace. The last time he'd felt like this, he had been but a slip of a lad. It had been Christmas, and for once he'd actually got everything he'd asked for. Staring up at the ceiling, he closed his eyes and smiled, pulling everything he had ever wanted closer to him.

Elizabeth stirred and snuggled into him, her hand gripping his waist, tracing up his side. She kissed his chest lightly, tickling him.

"Good morning," she whispered and turned her face to look at him.

"Indeed," he said softly, and moved his mouth down to hers.

Elizabeth rolled on top of him, moulding her body to his. She slipped her hands either side of his head, her fingertips dancing over his cheekbones, and deepened the kiss. Robert pulled her closer, determined to leave no molecule of air between them. Slowly, sensually, they moved together, joined for what seemed, now, a well-rehearsed dance. Afterwards, they lay together, silent, embracing - one.

"Are you supposed to be working today?" he said after a while.

"I am – but not until much later. I have the graveyard shift – my punishment for appearing dim in front of Innes."

"Who, or what is an 'Innes'?"

"My boss. And he's a right tosser!"

Robert gazed at her and smiled. "Say the word and I'll kick his ass for you."

"My hero," Elizabeth said and laughed, as she slid out of bed. "I need a shower."

Robert sat up and watched her. She stretched out her entire, bare frame, and he let out an appreciative whistle.

"Bloody hell – I ache all over," she moaned.

Robert snickered, and she turned trying to hit him playfully, but he swerved away and laughed even more.

"Thank you so much for the sympathy," she whinged.

Robert grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, don't blame me. You're the one who wanted to do the entire Karma Sutra in one night."

Elizabeth thought about lunging for him again, but instead smiled and licked her lips. "Actually, I believe we left out quite a few positions," she said softly.

Robert raised an eyebrow. "Really? You have a few tricks to teach me?"

Elizabeth giggled as she walked past him and closed the bathroom door behind her. Robert watched her go, then fell back down onto the bed wearing a broad smile, and closed his eyes.

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As Elizabeth climbed out of the shower, she thought she heard the telephone ringing. It stopped as she grabbed a towel off the rail and began to dry herself. She stood before the mirror and looked at the image before her. Smiling, she raised a hand and touched her reflection, saw the happy woman that beamed back at her, once again full of life. She wrapped another towel, turban style around her hair and slipped into a thick, luxurious dressing gown before walking out of the bathroom.

Robert had just placed the phone back into its cradle. When he turned towards her, his face was set grim, and she knew instantly something was wrong.

"What's the matter? Who was that on the phone?" she asked walking straight towards him.

"It was Kerry," he said quietly.

Elizabeth sat down beside him, and placed her hand on his thigh, squeezing it through the light cotton sheet. "Well, I can see how that would ruin your day," she chuckled.

Robert didn't laugh, but he reached down, took her hand, and turned to face her, his eyes deadly serious. "I have to leave today, Lizzie."

Elizabeth blinked, unprepared for that tidbit of information. "Today! But, why?" she said, her voice a mixture of shock and disbelief.

He pulled the turban off her head, and smiled as the unruly curls sprang to life. Staring at them fascinated, he lifted his hand and brushed one away from her face, revelling in the knowledge that now he could.

"Robert?" she prodded.

He sighed heavily, and forced his eyes back to hers. "Well, it would appear I can't leave that place for more than five minutes without it falling apart."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow impatiently, and he elaborated. "The whole of County's been quarantined for two weeks, courtesy of the inept ER – the idiots let Monkey pox or something in. I'm not convinced they actually know what disease it is, yet."

"Wow," Elizabeth exhaled loudly, trying to imagine the chaos her former colleagues must be coping with, and yet relieved too, she was no part of it. She threw her legs over his so she straddled him. "Well – if the hospital's closed why do you have to leave? If anything, this means you can stay longer," she said and kissed him softly.

Robert pulled his mouth away. "Lizzie."

"I can take some time off – it'll be fun," she said smiling, pulling him back to her.

"Elizabeth, I have to go back today," he said firmly.

Elizabeth pouted and climbed off him.

"Why? I don't get it. The hospitals closed, Donald's covering for you, so..."

"Lizzie, no," Robert interrupted.

"Or, is it now that you've had what you came for, you can't wait to get away?" she snapped.

Robert grabbed her hand and pulled her back down. He took her face in his hands and kissed her hungrily, before pulling away. "First, don't do that – you know I love you, so stop being so insecure or paranoid, or whatever it is that you're doing. Second, you really need to let me finish my sentences - okay?"

"Well then?" she said.

Robert took a deep breath. "It's Donald. He was on the roof, overseeing the evacuation of patients when he – well, he had a massive heart attack."

"Oh, God!" Elizabeth said quietly.

"He never recovered Lizzie," Robert said softly, watching her as his words sank in. "So, do you see now? I have to get back there as soon as possible. Kerry sounded like a headless chicken on the phone, and the press are all over the place, along with the Centre for Disease Control. To top it off, apparently we still have staff in there, who are quarantined for the duration."

Elizabeth rubbed her hands over her face, and sighed. "What time are you leaving?" she said resignedly.

"There's a flight at four p.m."

The reality of the situation hit her. She'd known he was leaving soon, but so much had happened in such a short period of time, and she felt like she was losing her lifeline.

"I don't want you to go," she said quietly.

"You think that I want to? After last night?" he said, hugging her close to him. "It's my job Lizzie, my responsibility."

Elizabeth shook her head in defeat. "I'm going to miss you," she said, folding her arms around him.

"So - come with me."

"Robert, we talked about this last night."

"Yes, we did. Doesn't mean we can't talk about it again," he said nuzzling her neck.

"As tempting as it sounds, and trust me it is - I just can't drop my father in it, like that. But, I promise you I will give notice today, okay?"

Robert smiled sadly; he knew when not to argue with this woman, so he buried his head into her neck some more.

Elizabeth whispered against his ear, "And when you can guarantee me that County is pox free - Ella and I will hop on the next available flight."

"You'd better," he grumbled.

"Or what?" she said, grinning.

"Or I'll come get you," he said, his voice low.

"Have to find me first," she teased.

Robert lifted his head from her shoulder, his expression serious. "Found you once, I'll find you again – and just for the record – I would hunt high and low for you, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth pulled his face close and stared deeply into his eyes. She smiled at what she saw there, and then kissed him passionately, pushing him backwards down to the bed.

"Four p.m., huh?"

Robert smiled against her mouth. "I have to be there at two," he said.

"Then let's not waste a minute," she said and spread herself over him...

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Elizabeth stood so close to the thick glass that her nose almost pressed against it. She watched as a Boeing 747 climbed into the sky, taking Robert with it. In her hand she clutched an unopened envelope that he'd handed to her, before he'd gone through to the departure lounge.

That parting had been painful, uncomfortable and drawn out for both of them. After check-in, they'd sat over coffee in a packed restaurant, trying to pretend that the impending separation would not be difficult, nor for a long period. At the gate they'd clung to each other, and tried to burn the sensation of their touch, the flavour of their kiss, the warmth of their embrace to memory. Her lips curled into a smile, as she remembered the one that had graced his features, revealing perfect dimples; the light that had illuminated his eyes - all because of her. Because, before she had released him, she had whispered, "I love you, Robert."

She remained still and blinked as the plane disappeared from view. That was it – he was gone, and once again, she was alone. The thought depressed her, and with slumped shoulders, she turned around quickly and collided with a man.

"Sorry," she muttered and looked around.

Heathrow was, typically, heaving with life – a sea of bodies everywhere you looked. Elizabeth pushed her way through the mass of people and wished she didn't give a damn what people thought about her. Had she done the right thing letting him go? Should she just have taken Ella and gone with him? Surely it was her happiness that counted, and not other people's opinions. Was she doing him a disservice, wanting to keep them quiet? He said he understood. He said he thought she was right. But she knew Robert, too - knew that he always put her first in everything.

Once outside, she climbed into a waiting cab and issued the driver instructions. Elizabeth looked at the envelope and opened it carefully. She took out the card, opened it and smiled. It was full of British Airways vouchers. Robert's unmistakable scrawl covered one side....

Lizzie, I asked at the desk and there are enough vouchers here to get you and Ella to Chicago, in true Romano style. Make sure you use them! And if I know you as I think I do, you're probably beating yourself up right now. Stop it, okay? We're doing the right thing - on all counts.

I can wait Elizabeth. Trust me, I've had 6 years practice. I love you, Robert.

She read it over and over, until she got home. After checking in on Ella's day with the nanny she got herself ready for work. Before she left, she called her father and asked him not to leave until she arrived.

"What's this about, Elizabeth?" he'd asked her down the line.

"I've made a decision Daddy – I'm going home," she said.

He paused. "I thought this was coming." Another pause, longer this time. "Okay, come on in - I'll wait for you," he finished.

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Robert stood behind his office desk, fighting a losing battle with his temper. "What in the hell were you thinking, Kerry?" he yelled.

"I thought I was helping," she snapped in a nasal voice that made Robert wince. It was like someone running a nail down a chalkboard.

"Well, do me a favour and don't think! Just do as I say, and trust me, you'll be happier for it."

A loud knock at the door cut off any retort Kerry could come up with. They both turned their heads.

Robert stood rooted to the spot and stared at Elizabeth who stood in the doorway, beaming back at him. He slowly became aware of himself grinning like an idiot.

"Kerry – you can go now," he said.

Kerry rolled her eyes and walked over to Elizabeth. She paused by the door.

"Elizabeth, how are you doing?"

Elizabeth's eyes wandered briefly to Kerry, and then fixed back on Robert. "Fine," she said.

"Good, well err, we'll catch up downstairs," Kerry said, looking decidedly uncomfortable.

Robert came out from behind his desk and closed the door. He turned to face her. "You're here," he stated.

"In the flesh," she said.

Robert's eyes ran all over her. "You have to stop looking at me like that, or we'll be outed in no time."

"Ditto."

"Nearly two months Lizzie."

"I know."

"You're a day early."

"Wanted to surprise you."

"I want to kiss you."

"I want you to kiss me."

"Sure you want to keep this quiet?"

They moved towards each other, until they were so close they could feel each other's body heat. Robert's pager went off, and he scowled when he saw who it was.

"I hate that cesspool – still, I gotta look on the bright side - this is your job again as of tomorrow."

Elizabeth smiled, and Robert drank it all in. He felt himself falling deeper, with every smile, every laugh. "Elizabeth," he said softly, his eyes serious.

She shook her head, and put a finger to her mouth for a second. "Later. That's what I came to say."

"Very eloquent," he said.

"Ha-ha, you! No, what I mean is you're buying me dinner, later. Fetch it round to mine when you finish."

"I have to work all day, and buy dinner?"

"I have to unpack boxes all day and entertain Ella."

"You want to trade?"

The pager went off again, and Elizabeth laughed. "Think you'd better answer that, you ER slave, you."

He rolled his eyes, and she backed away towards the door.

"Don't I even get a kiss?" he said.

"Sorry. Wouldn't want to fuel speculation now would we? And you did say you were good at waiting," she said in a singsong voice.

Robert silenced the persistent pager and looked up. She was smiling broadly, winked and blew a kiss – and then turned, opened the door and left.

He grinned, and grabbed his lab coat. Shrugging into it as he walked, Robert was reminded of the last time she'd said sorry and walked away from him. That time had broken his heart – and now, it held nothing but promise for their future - together.

End

R&R