Susan and Romano continued sleeping, spoon position, both seemingly with grins on their faces.

The phone ringing jolted Roberts awake, furious. “What?!” He snapped, as he picked it up on the first ring, so as not to awaken Susan.

“Romano, It’s John….”

“Oh, what a pleasure, what do you want?” He asked, rich with sarcasm.

“Susan.” John replied.

“Excuse me?” “What, your naive little nurse not enough for you?” Romano quipped.

Now Carter was furious, but was determined to keep it professional. “Is Susan there?” He asked plainly.

“I don’t know, let me ask her if she wants to speak with you, we’re kind of busy, SLEEPING!” He shouted into the phone.

Carter sighed; finally, at least he knew where Susan was. At least he knew that she was safe, if anyone could be safe with Romano. He could hear sounds of kissing, laughing, moans, sighs and an “I love you.”

Carter held the phone out and just looked at it, not really believing what he was hearing, although he knew how Susan felt about Romano.

“Put Susan on the damn phone, you fucking bastard!” He yelled into it.

He heard a “Whoops” and some laughter and finally, Susan was on the phone.

“Hey Carter, what’s up?” She asked, giggling.

“Your job is about UP if you don’t get your ass in here.” He stated flatly.

“Oh shit, I forgot, I’m supposed to be on today….” She drifted off, giggling. “Yeah, well, you know, I really don’t feel too well.” As Romano started kissing her neck, her chest, Susan now sighing and giggling.

“Susan, you SOUND fine, I’m telling you, Weaver wants your head on a silver platter right now.” He said sincerely.

“Shit!” she shouted, “I guess I better come in then.” she sighed.

“So, I can tell Kerry that you’ll be right in then?” John chirped, sounding optimistic.

“Yeah, tell her I’ll be right in…” then she hung up.

She turned to Rocket, “Guess I better go in now” she said sadly. She hated leaving Rocket; even for one second, she wanted to stay in bed with him forever now. “I was supposed to go in today, but YOU sidetracked me!” She said, “Thank God!”

“Just call back, say that you won’t be in, besides, I’ve got a few things that you can do for me….” Robert said, as he leaned over for a kiss.

She accepted his kiss, and soon the kiss turned into 2 hours more of lovemaking.

They had so much desire and passion for one another.

She had never wanted a man so desperately, before Rocket.

He hadn’t wanted to open his heart again to anyone, EVER… Until Susan crept in. He was so grateful for her love; he wanted to show her every chance that he could.

“Wait, I’ve been surfing the net and downloaded some songs. I like to call it, “Our Soundtrack.” He said proudly, jumping out of bed to get it and insert it into his player.

Susan just smiled, she loved his energy.

The first song was from Evanescence - “Bring Me To Life.” “You brought me back to life again, baby.” He said, lying beside her as they both listened, gently holding each other.

Next was Eric Clapton - “You Look Wonderful Tonight.” He silently sang it into her ear, looking deeply into her eyes, “Reminds me of our first night together…” He whispered.

She smiled contentedly; work wasn’t on her mind at all now.

Next was Stone Temple Pilots - “Sex Type Thing.” Romano whispered the song to her, “You should ‘a never wore that dress” now grinning…

“I’m glad that I did wear that dress, I got exactly what I wanted too!” She reminded him, kissing him passionately now, nearly jumping on top of him, ready to attack with lust. That song had always turned her on, she didn’t know why, it just did.

Jo Cocker - “You Are So Beautiful,” was next, he climbed on top of her, hard again with desire. She let him do as he wished, she longed for him to do as he wished. As he started to sweetly sing the lyrics to her, they made love again. It was a beautiful, almost blessed experience for both of them. As each song played: Godsmack - “Voodoo,” Taproot - “You’re Mine,” Trapt - “Headstrong,” Puddle of Mudd - “Control” and “Blurry,” Audioslave - “Like a Stone,” even an oldie thrown in for good measure, Cream - “Sunshine of your love.” They made love through all of them.

Afterwards, as they lie there, basking in the afterglow, she looked over at him and asked, “How did you know?” smiling. Not really believing that he actually knew nearly song that she loved.

“I don’t know baby, all those songs I like, I just thought you might like them too, and they all reminded me of us. Besides, it gave me something to listen to when you weren’t here and I had to beat off thinking about you.” He laughed, they both laughed hysterically.

“Well, I guess I’d better jump in the shower, I told John I’d be right in.” She sighed.

“Hey, have you got any sick time saved up, any vacation time?” He asked eagerly.

“Yeah! I do! You are simply brilliant, now I don’t have to leave you today!” she chirped happily.

She picked up the phone to call County.

“County General, Frank here.”

“Hey Frank!” She said happily.

“Yeah, hi Dr. Lewis, listen, I know this is none of my business, but you should know. You’re ass is grass here, if you don’t mind me saying.” He stated flatly.

“What?” “With who?” She sounded concerned now. “Carter mad that I didn’t come right in?”

“Nope, Weaver, she’s furious, kind of like her normal day-to-day PMS, but far worse” he whispered into the receiver.

“Who’s that?!” Susan heard Kerry shout at Frank.

She heard Frank desperately try to defer Kerry, “Uh, it’s uh…”

“Frank, you better give me that damn phone, or YOU’RE out of here!” Kerry screamed at him, grabbing the phone out of his hand.

Susan had never heard so many expletives in one sentence before, nearly every other word, was fucking, or bitch, or shit, God damn…

“But I…..” Susan tried to get a word in edgewise, Kerry cutting her off every time.

She whispered for Romano to listen as she held out the phone, no need to hold it to his ear, he could hear from that distance.

He snatched the phone out of Susan’s hand.

“Listen here you dyke bitch!” He screamed into the phone.

Kerry stopped yelling, “Romano?!”

“Yep, your wet dream, alive and in person.” He said bitterly, rich with sarcasm.

“What are you doing with Susan?” She asked, not quite believing that they would be anywhere together, she thought they were like oil and water.

“Well Kerry, since you’re gay, I don’t think you could fully appreciate or understand just exactly what Susan and I have been doing.” He said with a laugh. Susan laughed out loud at that one.

“Jesus Christ” she said, “Sounds absolutely thrilling…”

“Now, how about YOU tell me why you’re yelling at Suzy?” He asked, diligently.

“Suzy?” Kerry felt like she was “out of the loop” here, maybe everyone knew about this new relationship of theirs, everyone but her.

“It doesn’t concern you Romano, it’s personal.” She retorted.

“If it involves Suz, it involves me, now.” He said, not backing down.

“Romano,” Kerry raised her voice again, “Don’t push it.” Meanwhile, Frank stands there, now putting two and two together, just from listening to Kerry’s side of the conversation, rolls his eyes, and walks towards the board.

“I’m telling you bitch, you better spill it - NOW!” Again, screaming into the phone.

Kerry sighed, she wasn’t gonna win this one, “Ok Robert, I’ll tell you. You’re new lover is so close to losing her job and you can’t do a thing about it!” “Just think, just think, because “Suzy” is so busy fucking you now, she’s been neglectful here that is when she is here.” “And if she loses her job, it’ll be on your head, but then again, if she does lose her job, I guess you two will have plenty of time to screw your damn heads off for all I care.” She snapped.

He was silent, but only for a second. “Fine, we’ll be in at 8 o’clock sharp. You better be sitting in that damn stink hole that you call an office too.” He said as he slammed down the phone.

“Well?” Susan couldn’t stand the anticipation of just what they had been talking about.

Rocket didn’t want to concern her, didn’t want to tell her, but he could see the insistence in her eyes.

“Ok, I’ll tell you, but it’ll cost ya.” he said grinning, raising his eyebrows up and down cheekily.

“I’ll play, how much?” She asked eagerly.

“Not with money baby, with kisses.” “You give me three kisses, just the way that I want them: The first one has to be your basic, run of the mill peck, the second one has to be quick, but with a little tongue, and the last one has to be so full of desire for me, you’ve gotta really convince me that you want to know what I know.” He said slyly.

She was more than willing to accommodate his demands. “How about 4 kisses?” she asked looking at him seductively.

“Even better.” he grinned.

She gave him the first, second and third kisses, just as he had commanded.

She reached under the sheet, gently stroking him, already hard. Her lips slowly kissed their way down his chest and took him into her mouth, softly. “I love this” she sighed as she licked him lovingly. “I love you…” She began to love him in the way that only true lovers can, as he started breathing heavier.

She was so willing to do this for him, to him.

It hadn’t always been that way. On one of her drunken one-night stands, she had done this, but there was no love involved at all. She didn’t even know the guy, yeah he was cute enough, and he was young. Much younger than Susan, that’s why she chose him.

She had wanted for him to experience what it was like with a real woman, not a girl that he was used to having, she was sure.

He had to have been in college, a frat boy.

This kid was so inexperienced she thought, he hadn’t even told her he was about to come, he just grabbed her by her hair, and thrust himself deep into her throat, and made her swallow.

Afterwards, she had gagged so much; she threw up all over the bed. “Great job, you fucking slut.” he said, as he slammed the door and left her there, feeling cheap and used. She swore that she would NEVER perform that again, on anyone.

But with Rocket, it was different, she loved him, loved every inch of him, and he loved her. She continued loving him “Does that feel good baby?” She asked him, briefly stopping, she was getting really turned on by his body movements and his moans of pleasure.

“Wait!” he exclaimed, “Come to me baby, I want to return the favor.”

She eagerly obliged, now in the sixty-nine position, he began to love her as she had been loving him. He knew exactly how she liked it, knew just where to go. Soon she was moaning with pleasure, breathing heavily as well. So much so, that she could barely concentrate on pleasuring him.

“Baby, you’ve gotta stop, I’m gonna come.” He pleaded.

She was close too, she knew that if he continued at the rate he was going, that she would come too, and she wouldn’t be able to finish for him.

“I don’t want to stop…” she sighed, “I want it.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, he had never been with a woman willing to do that for him.

“Mm-Hmm.” she sighed..

“Ahhhh!” he moaned as he let it release, feeling a little shy, and a little guilty, as he had stopped loving her at that moment, he simply couldn’t, it felt too good. She didn’t stop, waves upon waves of pleasure, and she didn’t stop.

Finally, he rolled her over and eagerly yet slowly continued licking her softly into a long, sweet climax.

“Oh God, yes!” she sighed deeply, contraction after contraction, smiling with pleasure. He looked up at her, he loved to see her face when she reached the point of ecstasy, and she was beautiful, glowing, smiling. It turned him on to see her so happy with pleasure. He didn’t want to stop; he could love her like this seemingly forever. Just tasting the sweetness of her, no woman he had ever known had tasted so sweet.

Both were so physically drained, they drifted off to sleep quickly and contently. Something had awakened Susan, and she glanced over at the alarm clock.

“Sweetie, it’s 7:30, we better hit the shower and go.” as she kissed him lightly on the neck.

“Wha?” “Oh, ok, yeah, let’s go.” “I can’t wait to give that damn bitch a piece of my mind.” as he jumped out of bed to go start the shower.

Susan lie there for a moment, wondering what Romano meant, she still didn’t know what any of this was about, something about her not coming in that day..

“Chop chop, Lewis!” he yelled for her to join him.

“Yeah, I’m coming!” as she ran into the bathroom and joined him in the shower. Each soaped up the other, rinsed, and they went to get dressed.

He gave Gretyl a quick pat on the head, “We’ll be back shortly, girl.” He said as he grabbed his wallet and keys. Susan grabbed her purse and they were out the door.

“Let’s take my car, I’ve got a good spot in the parking garage.” he said, opening the passenger side door for her.

She didn’t want to ask, she hated to ask, but she had to know.

“Rocket, have you even driven since your surgery?” looking up at him, seriously.

“Just buckle your sweet ass into the seat.,” he said as he closed the door.

He got in on the other side, put the key into the ignition and started the engine. Reaching over to click on his seatbelt. “To answer your question, no, I haven’t driven since the surgery, but I’m gonna have to learn sometime, I promise I’ll be careful.”

She looked over at him sadly. She was so pissed for what had happened to him, to his arm, now gone.

As if he could sense it, he looked over at her, and grabbed her hand, kissing it. “Don’t worry babe, I will adapt, I will definitely adapt, I’m not going to let this god-forsaken disability ruin my life, besides, luckily we live here in America and everything’s on the right side, and it’s an automatic!” he smiled. “If we lived abroad, I guess I’d be shit outta luck.”

He put the car in reverse, and soon his Lexus Turbo was safely transporting them to County.

They stood at the double doors, each taking a deep breath, holding hands. “Here we go, “ he said.

Chuney happened to be waking by, couldn’t believe what she was seeing and dropped a patient chart on the floor, smacking the floor loudly enough for everyone to look up from what they were doing.

“Woopsie daisy.” He said sarcastically.

She picked it back up, “Screw you, Romano.” she said and walked off, swiftly.

Susan could see Jerry, mouth open wide, eyes nearly popping out of his sockets at just what he was seeing.

This was entertaining for Susan and Romano and they decided to observe the reactions that they were receiving, both looking at each other, he winked at her and smiled.

“Uh Jerry,” he quipped, “It’s no wonder that a triple cheeseburger can fit into that pie-hole of yours, surprised to see me back so soon, are you?” Romano said with a sarcastic twinge, nearly laughing hysterically.

Gallant was standing next to Jerry, but he didn’t say or even project anything regarding what he was seeing. He was far too respectful, had been taught too many manners, and he really respected Susan as a doctor. He just walked away, he knew this was nobody’s business, let alone his own.

Chen and Pratt rounded the corner, each stopping dead in their tracks at the sight of Susan and Romano standing there, holding hands. Pratt just put his hands on his hips, looked down at the floor, and started laughing.

“Uh, Hey Susan, Dr. Romano.” Deb said, trying to sound as if nothing was out of the ordinary. She wasn’t in the mood to be picked apart by Romano today.

“Hi Deb, Pratt!” Susan yelled, they seemed so far away.

Pratt looked up, still laughing, “I’ll be God-damned” he whispered under his breath.

“What’s so funny, Dr. Pratt?” Romano asked sharply.

“Oh, nah, it’s aight, Chen here just told me a funny joke is all.” he said, with a smile on his face, hands still on his hips.

“Care to share it with the rest of the family?” Romano asked, knowing that it wasn’t a joke Pratt was laughing at.

“Nah, besides, you wouldn’t get it.” Pratt said, walking to chairs. Deb hurried to follow him. Susan could hear Pratt laughing all the way down the hall.

She knew this wasn’t going to be taken lightly, by anyone. The only two people who knew, were Carter and Abby. And she didn’t even think that they accepted it. Everyone knew how Susan and Romano would argue, how he constantly stirred up trouble for her, even hitting her with Kerry’s cane once and running away, laughing. Everyone else had seen it too, “this really must be kind of weird for them.” she thought.

She looked to her left, and could see Carter storming towards her; he didn’t look happy, not happy at all. “Great job, Susan! Lounge, NOW.” He yelled.

She let go of Robert’s hand and headed for the lounge, Robert started following, “No babe, we need to talk alone, Carter and I.” “I’ll be fine.” she assured him.

Against his better judgment, he let her go. He walked his way towards Weaver’s office.

“Hey Carter, what’s up?” She asked meekly.

“What’s up.” “What’s up?!” He asked her, his voice rose.

“What the hell do you think is up, I called you, you said you’d be right in, I put my ass on the line for you. We’ve had trauma after trauma in here, I’ve been on for 16 fucking hours, I’m doing your job and mine.” “That’s what’s up.” He said accusingly.

“Oh that, yeah, I’m sorry, I kind of got sidetracked.” Susan said with a grin.

He looked over at her, she just standing there, grinning. He could have literally choked her to death at that very moment, he was so furious.

“Yeah, well, Abby and I get “sidetracked” too, but we manage to bring our asses in here, day in and day out.”

“You think you’re the only one in the world who has a sex life?”

“Hell, maybe Ab and I should just take some time off, not even bother calling in, and just fuck for days on end, we’d love that!” He said screaming.

“But Carter, you’re Chief Resident.” “You HAVE to be here.” She said, now getting frustrated by not only his anger, but also at his obvious jealousy that he had regarding she and Romano new relationship.

“Yeah, and you’re a fucking doctor, we NEED you here!” He screamed, turning to push the table over in anger.

Susan jumped; she had never seen Carter so mad before. Just then, Abby came into the lounge.

“John, I can hear you all the way down the hall, Jesus, what happened to the table?” she asked, looking around at all of the papers, cups, spilled coffee, all over the floor. Then spotting Susan.

“What did you say to him?” she asked her, accusingly, walking towards her.

Susan just stood there in silence. “Well?” Abby said, now in Susan’s face. “Tell me what you said!” now shoving Susan on the shoulder.

Susan could feel her cheeks starting to burn with anger, shoving Abby back on her shoulder. “Back off Abby, this doesn’t involve you.” She said bitterly, eyes filling with anger.

“Take a look at John, she said, you can bet your sweet ass it involves me.” she yelled. Abby wasn’t willing to let John take any shit from anyone, not even her best friend.

“He started it.” Susan said, lying.

John turned to look at her, “I started it?” “I started it?!” “No Susan, YOU started it, you think that just because you’re getting laid now by that prick, that you don’t have any obligations to this hospital?”

Now Susan was furious, she ran for John, wanting to slap him in the face for his comment.

Abby ran to grab her, and Susan turned around and punched Abby in the face, throwing Abby into the couch. Reaching to pick up Abby and slug her again.

“Hey!” John screamed, pushing Susan off of Abby, pulling her up off of the couch. “You ok, babe?” He asked her, looking at the shiner on her eye, already puffed up.

“God damn you Susan, how dare you do that, don’t you ever touch her again, I mean it, I hope your sorry ass does get fired, you don’t deserve this job, and you certainly don’t deserve Abby’s friendship.”

“Shit, what did he inject into you when you were fucking, stupidity? You‘re just like him now.”

“Get your shit out of your locker and get the hell out of here - Now!” he said, pointing to the door.

Susan didn’t get anything from her locker, she just ran out of the lounge door.

Everyone was at the front desk, they had heard everything. All of them staring at Susan with anger, fury, even Deb, Halleh, Chuney, Frank, even Lydia.

She looked desperately for Rocket. Couldn’t see him anywhere, she looked in chairs, he wasn’t there. She ran for the steps and bolted up them, two by two. Finally reaching Kerry’s office.

“There you are.” He said. “Told you she was here, Weaver.” Romano quipped.

“Look, Rocket, I’ve got to go….” she sighed. He could see something different in her eyes, and she was rubbing the knuckles on her right hand, now quite red.

“Hey, what happened?” “Let me take a look.” He urged.

“No.” “Susan, take a seat.” “This conversation has been a long time coming.” Kerry demanded.

Susan did as she was told, and took the seat next to Rocket.

“Susan, it’s no secret that you’ve been quite neglectful in your duties here. Not to mention how you have undermined not only my authority, but John’s as well. When you are here, you’re not here, you’re distant, and quite frankly, I’m surprised you haven’t killed any patients, with the way you’ve been acting.” Kerry said frankly.

“Now wait just a minute, Lezbo.” Rocket retorted.

“Robert, you haven’t been here. You haven’t seen the way she’s been acting, you haven’t heard the complaints from other staff members, you haven’t seen how uncaring she is to her patients, and I especially don’t like the way you accosted Dr. Corday the other day, regarding Romano.” she said, now addressing Susan.

“Accosted?” Rocket asked.

Susan again, could feel herself begin to blush. She still hadn’t told Rocket that she had heard about his declaration of love for Elizabeth. Honestly, at this point in their relationship, she had forgotten all about it, forgotten how she warned Elizabeth to stay away from Romano, that he was hers now, even though he really wasn’t yet.

“What did you say, Suz, to Lizzie?” He asked her gently.

She looked at Kerry, “Tell him Susan, or I will.”

Susan swallowed hard. Looked over at Romano, he looking at her waiting for an answer.

“Go ahead babe, “ he urged her.

“babe.” “My God.” Kerry said softly to herself.

“Ok, I wasn’t going to tell you Robert, It’s all in the past now anyways.” “It just hurt me so, I simply had to tell her.,” she said as if he knew what she was talking about.

“What hurt?” he asked her, as she was now looking down to the floor.

“Ok, I heard about what you told Elizabeth after your surgery, I heard that you told her that she was beautiful, you told her that you loved her, Rocket!”

“You were with me just the night before, it hurt me so bad, I even knew that first time I came to visit you.”

“I was hoping that it wasn’t true, but I wasn’t sure, so I went to her and told her to stay away from you.”

“No, I warned her to stay away from you.”

“That’s why I didn’t come back to see you. When I came to your house that day, and you were already home, I was going to get my shit and leave because of what you had said to her.” Susan said, now softly sobbing.

Kerry was board with this fluff, she sighed deeply, and handed Susan a Kleenex.

“Ok, ok, this is all so very romantic, but that’s not why we’re here. You two can talk about this elsewhere.” “Susan, you are being put on un-paid suspension indefinitely.

“What?” “What for?” Susan looked up at her pleadingly.

Rocket just sat there, silently, not even looking at Susan, just looking forward, past Kerry.

“Susan, it’s called harassment in the workplace.” “You threatened a valuable staff member with physical harm.“ “Elizabeth has taken her vacation time because of this, you frightened her.” Kerry said flatly. “And no harassment of any kind will be tolerated in this hospital, not by anyone, not you, not Romano, not even myself.

Susan sat in silence, she felt like she was sitting in a Principles office, being reprimanded for beating up the school bully.

“Beating up…” she thought. Now suddenly remembering that she had punched her best friend in the eye, not 15 minutes earlier.

She put her hand on her forehead, shaking her head in disbelief at everything that had happened since she came to the hospital.

“Ok Kerry, when does it start?” she asked.

“Now.” Kerry said. “And I think it would be best if you cleared out your locker for the time being.”

Romano stood up first, and left Kerry’s office. He wasn’t going to leave Susan there, he decided that they really should talk this through, they’d grab a bit to eat, go home and talk. He waited outside the hall for Susan to emerge.

“Now Susan!” Kerry screamed, as Susan got up and exited Kerry’s office.

She saw Rocket standing against the wall, waiting for her. He started walking towards the steps, she followed. Neither one saying a word, all the way down the steps. As they headed for the double doors, she looked over at the front desk. Halleh had an ice pack to Abby’s eye. She looked down sheepishly and went into the lounge to get her stuff.

John was sitting at the table, now upright, drinking coffee, legs crossed. He watched Susan walk slowly to her locker, get her stethoscope, her lab coat, and watched as she took her name off of her locker.

She walked past him, not saying a word, “Fuck you, Susan.” was all he said.

Susan and Romano walked to the car, he still opened the door for her, but slammed it hard shut.

Neither one said a word to one another, not at the restaurant, and not on the drive home.

All would be said when they reached Romano’s house.

Susan was scared, but all she hoped for was that Romano could forgive her for her actions against Elizabeth. She wasn’t sure he would…..