Gap-Filler: "The Domino Heart"

By: Lori (SixteenOzs)

DISCLAIMER: "ER," the characters and situations depicted within are the property of Warner Brothers Television, Amblin Entertainment, Constant c Productions, NBC, etc. They are borrowed without permission, but without the intent of infringement. The story presented here is written solely for entertainment purposes, and the author is not making a profit.

Please do not post or redistribute without the disclaimer above, or without the consent of the author.

Feedback is welcome. Please send all questions, comments or criticisms to SixteenOzs02@yahoo.com

SUMMARY: Continuation of the opening sequence of the episode "The Domino Heart"

RATING: PG

Elizabeth groaned as she turned over and hit the snooze button on her alarm. But the ringing didn't stop. Propping herself up on one arm, she looked at the clock and saw that it was slightly after five in the morning, and it wasn't the alarm that was going off. It was the telephone.

In the moment before the phone rang again, she tried to figure out who would be calling this early. The hospital always tried paging her first, and her pager was silent next to the phone. It could be one of her parents, if they miscalculated the time change, but she doubted that. Smiling, she was almost certain she knew who it was.

"Hello?" she said as she picked up the telephone.

"Hi, it's me."

"Me, who?" she asked with a grin.

"Mark," he replied. She could hear the laughter in his voice.

"I hope you've got a good reason for waking me up this early," she teased.

"I missed you?" he suggested.

"Okay, that's a pretty good start," she laughed. "But really, what's up?"

"Dad was awake around four-thirty this morning, watching The Weather Channel with the volume as high as he could get it. Woke me up, and the neighbors. I was going to go into work early, but then I thought about bringing you breakfast," he explained.

"Breakfast?" she questioned. "Okay, you've got my attention."

He laughed. "You just have to provide the coffee. We're out."

"I can handle that," she assured him.

"I'll be there in a little while," he said.

"I'll be waiting," she said softly. "Bye."

"Bye."

She hung up the phone then laid on her back, staring at the ceiling. She stretched slightly and smiled. Even though she was up before five-thirty, this day was getting off to a pretty good start. She was still smiling as she got out of bed, pulled a robe over her pajamas and walked into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.

As she waited for the coffee, she walked to the sliding door that lead out onto the deck off her apartment. She grinned as she watched the snow falling on the small grill sitting in the corner. She seemed to remember Mark promising her a mid-winter barbecue before he had to fly to San Diego last week to check on his father. Maybe she could cash in that rain-check tonight.

She sighed as she remembered what else was going on that day. The detective was at the hospital again, asking her to convince Dean Rollings to tell them where he left Jenny Cordova's body. It was the day he asked her to kill him, and she almost did. She hated to admit just how much she had enjoyed the power she had over him at that moment, how much she'd wanted to kill him, to rid the world of a piece of scum like that. But she couldn't do it. When it came right down to it, the oath she'd taken when she became a doctor meant more to her.

Mark called her from San Diego that night. They ended up talking for nearly two and a half hours. He finally convinced her that the most important thing was that she didn't let him die, and she gave the Cordovas closure. She knew Mark was probably right, but she was still glad Rollings was being discharged today. If she ever had to deal with him again, it would be too soon.

She continued to watch the lightly falling snow until she heard the knock on the door. She smiled as she walked to the door. After looking through the peephole to make sure it was him, she unlocked the door and opened it.

"Good morning," she said with a soft smile.

"'Morning," he smiled as he stepped into the apartment and kissed her gently. "You look wonderful. Sorry I woke you up so early."

"Thank you, and don't worry about waking me up," she assured him. "I've been having trouble adjusting to sleeping alone again anyway."

"I know," he nodded understandingly. "I've missed you, too."

"So, what time are you on?" she asked as they walked into the kitchen.

"Eight. You?"

"Same," she nodded.

"I wasn't sure what you wanted, so I got bagels and muffins," he said, referring to the bag he sat on the counter. Removing his hat and scarf, he commented, "I can't believe how cold it is out there this morning."

"I've got a few ideas as to how you could get warm," she grinned seductively as she stepped closer to him and slipped her arms around his neck.

"What exactly do you have in mind?" he grinned, encircling her waist.

"This," she whispered just before her lips met his and they started to move towards the bedroom.

"We should do this more often," she said with a smile as she rested her head against his shoulder.

"What? Breakfast?" he grinned.

She turned over so she could look at him. "Actually, we still haven't gotten around to breakfast," she pointed out.

"And whose fault is that?" he asked with a laugh.

She smiled suggestively, but didn't say anything.

"You can be VERY distracting," he remarked.

"I didn't hear you complaining earlier," she grinned.

"I wasn't," he smiled.

His smile faded as he watched her, prompting her to ask, "What?"

He hesitated a moment, then said, "I was just thinking that we haven't been spending much time together lately, and I don't just mean like this."

"I know," she nodded with an understanding smile.

"I've missed you," he said softly.

"I've missed you, too," she said, still smiling.

"I'm sorry," he said simply.

"For what?" she asked in confusion.

"I feel like this is my fault. I've been racking up my frequent flyer miles between here and San Diego, and now, with Dad here..." he trailed off.

"It's not your fault," she assured him. "Your father needs you right now. You're all he has left. I understand that. I also understand that there may not be as much time for us right now, but we're going to get through this."

"How can you be so sure?" he asked.

She grinned. "Because I'm used to getting what I want. And I want to be with you."

He laughed and shook his head. "Have I told you how incredible you are lately?"

She pretended to consider this for a moment. "I don't think so. So, feel free to reiterate the sentiment."

He brushed her hair back from her face, and smiled. "You are truly amazing." He slipped his hand behind her neck and pulled her closer, kissing her deeply.

She pulled back reluctantly. "I need to take a shower, get ready for work," she reminded him.

"We could call in sick," he suggested.

She considered this for a moment. "You don't think anyone at the hospital would get suspicious that we were both out? Besides, your father would probably end up calling the ER and blow your cover."

He stared at her for a moment, then grinned. "I hate it when your right."

"You could always join me in the shower," she suggested with a grin.

"So instead of taking the day off, we'll just be late?" he questioned.

"Something like that," she nodded as she reached for his hand and pulled him out of bed.

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