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“So how’s the chief of surgery over at County doing on this fine Halloween morning,” Peter asks to come up to me on the train.
“Oh you’ve been like this ever since I’ve moved back,” I smile.
“Like what?”
“You’re always flirting,” I laugh. “That’s not the Peter Benton I remember.” He laughs along with me. “If I remember correctly I was the one who did all the flirting last time,” I tease.
“It’s been a few years, I've changed,” he chuckles. “You still dress up for Halloween I see,” he says looking at my outfit.
“It’s fun and I like it,” I say with a smile.
“What are you this year?” he asks with a dorky smile.
“I decided to go as a flapper,” I tell him and he looks at me. “What, I've still got it,” I say smiling and laughing.
“You know I never understood how you can be this confident,” he says, shaking his head laughing.
“Some people just have it darling,” I wink.
"Well this is my stop, I hope to see you soon,” I say getting up as the train comes to a stop.
“Hey wait, I uhhhh I was wondering if you wanted to go out later,” he blushes slightly.
“I’d like that,” I give a small smile.
“Meet me outside of County at like 10:00 then,” he smiles as I get off the train and it pulls away.
“He’s one strange fellow,” I whisper to myself walking down from the platform.
When I get to my office I decide it’s best to change into scrubs instead of staying in my costume all day today. I’m going around doing post-op notes and labs when I see Shirley smiling at me.
“What’s got you so happy today?” I ask, she looks at me. “Oh what has Carter told you?” I laugh.
“He’s told me nothing,” she gives a knowing look as she walks away when I’m called down to the ER.
“So Carter, what have you told Shirley?” I ask as I walk into the exam room.
“Oh just that you and Benton were getting close again,” he smiles. “
We’re just good friends, besides I don’t know if I’m ready to date again,” I tell him, holding up a film to the light.
“I think you should,” he says.
“Pardon?” I turn and look at him.
“You made each other happy the first time, I haven’t seen you this happy since before Mark died. You know he would want you to be happy,” he tells me with a warm smile.
“I know he does, I just don’t know with Ella and all,” I smile sadly.
“Well I also happen to know he has something planned for you today,” he says in a sing-song way.
“What are you, are you Doug or Morris? How do you know all this gossip,” I laugh.
“No, just close with Benton,” he says with a chuckle.
“There’s nothing surgical about your patient Carter, now stop gossiping about me and Peter,” I tell him amused as I walk out of the room.
I go to the lounge to grab some coffee before heading back to the OR, when I walk in everyone turns and looks at me smiling.
“There’s nothing going on, we’re just friends,” I laugh while walking out with the coffee. I roll my eyes and smile sweetly. It’s nice they want me to be happy.
I’m in my office doing paperwork when I start thinking about what Peter had planned for me, it makes me blush slightly. At maybe 8:00 he texts me and tells me to be in costume when I meet him outside later, it makes me smile again.
Once it becomes about 9:30 I change back into costume and finish what I need to do for the day. Once everything is done I head out to meet Peter waiting outside for me. I walk out to greet him. When I start laughing.
“Well hello John Shaft,” I smile, when I notice behind him he has a car set up with hay bales in it. “Oh Peter you didn’t,” I gasp.
“How could I forget that night, come on let’s take a ride,” he smiles brightly, making me blush once more.
“This feels familiar doesn’t it,” I laugh as he helps me onto the hay bails in the back of his car.
“Elizabeth, you remember my nephew Peanut,” he says, taking a seat next to me.
“Of course I do, how could I forget the first time we did this,” I smile at him, pulling the blanket he had gotten for us over us and leaning against him.
“God how could I. Your air tambourine and your lack of rhythm,” he laughs teasing me.
The car starts, we begin our hayride tour around Chicago. I can’t help but smile and laugh, I haven’t felt like this in. In forever. It felt just as fun as when we did it so long ago.
“It’s cold this time isn’t it,” I say, wrapping myself closer to him. His arms wrap themselves around me as well. I look up and smile seeing the stars dance around the sky. “I think that was one of the most beautiful nights of my life,” I look up at him.
“Me too,” he tells me, I feel the blush spread across my face even more.
Our ride continues and we talk and laugh, teasing each other about some of the frankly embarrassing things we’ve done together and over the years.
I look up and smile at him. “Peter?” I ask, his eyes meet mine as he smiles at me.
“Yes?” he asks, looking down at me again.
“Do you think it’s time we gave it another go?” I ask.
“Give what another go?” he asks.
“Us, we’ve been flirting like teenagers for a few months now, and honestly I think I’m finally ready for another relationship,” I tell him softly.
“You really think we could make it work this time?” he looks at me.
“Well we’re older and we now know what we want. Don’t you think it’s time to try again?” I ask coyly. He looks away laughing slightly, I can tell he’s blushing.
“I made you blush again didn’t I?” I tease him playfully.
“You haven’t changed one bit,” he says, shaking his head, smiling at me again.
“How could I ever?” I chuckle lightly, resting my head on his shoulder.
The ride goes on for a little longer before he has Peanut stop the car. He helps me out and takes me by the river to an area where there’s some music playing. He takes my one hand in his and placed his other on my waist. We start swaying to the music, it reminds me of the one night when I took him to play darts soon after I moved here. It brings back fond memories and a warmth to my heart. I smile and laugh as we dance to the music under the stars.
“I think you’re right,” he looks down telling me. “We should give it another go,” he softly says as the music fades, kissing me gently on the lips. Reigniting the spark that we had oh so many years ago.