Rocket's Back [RP for Dubenko and Romano]
The alarm clock rang, an old fashioned affair, with a metal bell and hammer. Robert turned, and immediately sat up. Always best to just get going. He got dressed in silence, not even turning the radio on, as was his tradition. The only light was the streetlight outside his apartment.

He had sold the house before going to Romania. Since his mother had moved in with an old friend two years back, he had felt lonely rattling around the palatial building in East Chicago. Now he lived full time in his old “bachelor’s pad”.

Antonescu’s funeral had been a quiet affair, but everyone else seemed happy, celebrating his life in their own, Dacian way. Romano had felt empty, and had barely said a word to Antonescu’s daughter, who had, once upon a time, almost become Mrs Romano.

And now he was back. And today he went back to County. And the white shirt hung a bit looser than it had a year ago, and the grey slacks needed a tighter belt, and his mind felt numb. But let it never be said Rocket Romano backed away from his duty.

*

Lucien Dubenko was sitting in his office staring longingly into his cup of morning coffee. The dark liquid, now with one cream and two sugars was just about the exact shade of the pigment that colored Dr. Neela Rasgotra’s skin. He smiled at the thought. Neela. Dr. Rasgotra. He was at County now; it was Dr. Rasgotra…only Neela when they were alone.

Her sense of formality amused him. He was more casual with the staff, first name basis where possible. But she, like him, was a very private person and he was determined to respect her wishes to keep their relationship, if it could be called that, quiet.

He continued to stare at the hot brown liquid, not really seeing the beverage in the foam cup, but thinking about the young ER doc. Thinking about that impromptu kiss they shared, dinner afterwards. She kissed him first…he closes his eyes as he recalls that afternoon in the hospital corridor.

*

The El was unusually quiet today. It was still fairly packed, but everyone seemed to be staring at their shoes, none of the usual chatter. Even the panhandlers seemed subdued, merely proffering their caps, not hollering. It was like a public funeral day.

When it rattled to a halt down the street from County, Robert breathed in slightly, left the train and walked the final steps out onto the street. It was chilly, and a wind blew across his scalp. But no self-deprecating remark came to mind, not even in the quiet of his own thoughts.

He walked that last stretch fully expecting to find an electric chair at the end. But instead he found the familiar ambulance bay, slightly damp with early morning frost newly melted, and the battered, slightly squeaky doors. He pushed one, felt a blast of warm air. Saw Frank at the desk. The ex-cop looked up.

“Got an illness, Romano? Go to triage like the rest of the rubes!”

Romano looked at him, silent, for a good half minute, his body tense, his face blank. Then, he relaxed, and bowed.

“Of course, Almighty Gorilla of Reception! Meanwhile, I also want you to ring departments. Tell them that their Chief of Staff is back, and that for the next two hours you’re their personal assistant, and ANYTHING is allowed. And where’s that lovely lesbian, Weaver? She owes me holiday paychecks.”

*

Having opted to wait for the British doctor, Lucien is leaning against the wall opposite the classroom, studying, or so it seems, his shoes. Neela stops, startled when she sees Lucien outside of the room, "Dr. Dubenko, what are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you?" He gives her a hopeful smile before continuing, " I ah, thought perhaps you'd like to join me for dinner?"

Neela raises an eyebrow, "After the stunts you pulled in there?" She scoffs slightly and pulls her gloves on as she walks towards the doors.

He follows her, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"I'm sorry if I offended you...I didn't mean to." He adds lamely.

She sighs, "You were just rather obvious with your intentions infront of Dr. Kovac."

He furrows his brow. "I was unaware of the fact that my intentions were some sort of great secret." He takes her comment to mean that she doesn't return his interest and sighs, disappointed as he had thought they had quite a bit in common after their conversation a few nights earlier.

She shakes her head, "I just...I'd rather Dr. Kovac not know my business."

"Oh? Well regardless, I won't waste any more of your time, Dr. Rasgotra, with my antics or otherwise. Have a pleasant evening. Or what's left of it." He gives her a small friendly smile and a nod of his head, ready to turn towards where he parked his car earlier.

She grabs his arm, turning him back towards her, kissing him softly. When she pulls away she's surprised at herself, "I...I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry."

When she first kisses him, he stiffens in surprise, caught off guard by her actions. Relaxing and letting himself enjoy what's left of the kiss, he licks his bottom lip when she pulls away, not sure what to say to her. "No need to apologize." He finally finds his voice and reaches up to cup the side of her face, thumb brushing across her lips briefly. "No need at all." He drops his hand quickly, realizing where they are and clears his throat.

Neela's face is as red as can be, she's clearly flustered by her actions, "I don't know what came over me."

He can't help but smile at her reddened appearance and lowers his voice to a conspiratorial tone, "Don't worry, I won't say anything to anyone about it, least of all Dr. Kovac."

She brings a hand up to her cheeks, rubbing her hands over them, "It's not like me to do things like that."

He nods, watching her closely. "I know."

She runs a hand over her head, still flustered, "I just don't want to rush into anything. Least of all a relationship or the beginnings of a relationship."

He smiles softly before pressing his lips together and looking at the ground. His voice quiet, "I understand. " He swallows a bit nervously, "I don't have any business pursuing a relationship currently myself...Perhaps sometime down the road..." He trails off as he looks at her again.

She nods, looking down as well, shifting a foot against the tile, "Neither do I."

He's puzzled by her comment, knowing his own reasons stem from his impending surgery and the possible ramifications of the procedure, but unable to think of any reason why the woman in front of him would feel she has no business engaging in a relationship with someone. "I see...no, actually I don't." He touches her chin, wanting her to look at him. "Why don't you have any business being in a relationship? I'm curious."

She looks up at him, "I'm a resident. It makes no sense to jump into something that I'll have no time for. When I do have a relationship with someone, I want to be able to commit to them rather than just see them every fifteen minutes or for a shag and have that be all there is to the relationship. I want substance."

He smirks at her reasoning and then gives her an apologetic look, "Then I'm afraid you don't ever really want to be involved with a surgeon...we tend to not be so good with the substance part of a relationship. Personal life somewhat suffers for the professional one."

She gives him an honest look, "How did you find time for your family once? How do you find time for your little girl?"

He leans against the wall, tucking his arms behind him as he considers her questions. "I wasn't very good at it to be honest. My wife knew what she was getting into when she married me, and she was more or less okay with the hectic and unpredictable schedule. We did work together, however, so it isn't as if we never saw each other." He frowns slightly and adds, "And before you ask, yes I do regret not spending more time with her. As for my daughter, I spend as much time with her as my schedule allows. I try to be home for her when she's out of school and I do rearrange my working hours as much as possible to accommodate her various activities."

She nods, attempting to understand, "And she understands?"

He chuckles and shakes his head. "She's ten. All she understands is that it's the perfect way to guilt trip me into letting her get her way about a great many things."

She nods again, sighing, "Where did you want to get dinner?"

He arches an eyebrow at her, "You don't have to...are you sure?" He doesn't want her to feel obligated to join him. "Where would you like to go?"

She nods, "I don't care, after that dreadful seminar I need some kind of alcohol."

"Tell me how it really made you feel, Dr. Rasgotra, and just what the proper actions should be to resolve those feelings." He teases as he stands up straight again and holds the door open for her. "Ike’s is nearby, or if you'd prefer something a little less crowded by colleagues, I've always liked the Mandarin."

Neela nods in thanks as she exits, "Somewhere less crowded with coworkers would be nice."

"The Mandarin it is then" He places a hand on the small of her back as he guides her towards his car in the staff parking lot, not really thinking about it as he does so.

*

The door flies open, and Dubenko is shaken from his reverie.

“You war criminal assmonkey, when I stand downstairs for 30 minutes whilst that gorilla ex-cop at reception tries to ring you, I expect you to pick up the goddamn phone!”

Lucien blinks, furrows his brow as he processes the other man’s words and calmly sets his coffee on his desk before getting to his feet. Lost in thought as he was, he’s completely forgotten that the chief of staff was returning today. He hadn’t even heard the phone ringing. He can’t resist a small smile at the realization that Neela, Dr. Rasgotra, has gotten to him that badly with a single kiss.

“Good to see you too, Dr. Romano.” He arches an eyebrow, ”War criminal assmonkey?”