Title: Vacations, Memories, and Homecomings
Author: Rorie
Distribution: Ask first, please... I'm pretty easy-going; I'll more than likely grant permission. I just like to know where my "children" are going.
Spoilers: "Union Station," various season 6 episodes
Rating: PG-13, nothing more than you'd see/hear at 10... 9 central.
Classification: R, A
Keywords: Mark, Susan, Carol, Elizabeth, cast
Summary: The birth of Carol's twins brings back memories and more for Susan Lewis.
Date began: 8-7-2000, 2:15am
Date finished: 8-10-2000, 1:15am
Disclaimer: The characters that you'd recognize and the concept of ER are not mine. They belong to NBC, Constant C, Warner Bros., and their portrayers. I'm not making any money off of this story, and no copyright infringement is intended. Please don't sue... I'll return them when I'm done... probably in better condition than I found them in (my momma taught me well). Don't complain to me if they get lost in the mail... blame the United States Postal Service.
Author's notes: Everything in the series up to this point is still the same, with one major difference... Susan still exists in this universe. I mean, she hasn't been mentioned in the show since a few episodes after she left for Phoenix. Highly unrealistic, if you ask my opinion.
Thanks: To my little sister, Jess--for betaing, even when your foot is all swollen and you're supposed to be packing for Denver. g To Pat and Lisa-- who probably don't remember this, but it started out of one of our RPGs... So to the best "Mark" and "Carol" around--Thanks.
More notes at the end.
SUSAN LEWIS' APARTMENT
PHOENIX, AZ
NOVEMBER 24, 1999
10:30 PM MST
Dr. Susan Lewis awoke with a start at the ringing of the phone next to her head. She had fallen asleep on her sofa over some paperwork. She grabbed the phone just as her answering machine was picking up. "Dr. Lewis." she said in a sleep-roughened voice.
"Susan?" the voice on the other end asked. "I didn't wake you up, did I?"
"Carol!" Susan exclaimed. "Yes, actually, you did. But that's okay; I was supposed to be doing paperwork." She paused. "Not to sound rude or anything... but why are you calling me? It's 11:30 there."
"Oh, nothing." Carol said with a laugh. "I just thought you'd like to know that you now have 2 goddaughters."
Susan was suddenly totally awake. "Oh, my god, Carol! Girls! Wow!" She paused to take a breath. "What are their names?" she asked much more calmly.
"Tess and Kate." Carol said quietly.
"Tess and Kate." Susan repeated. "I like them. Simple, yet absolutely beautiful."
"Thanks." Carol answered. "So, when do you think you can come see them? You have to be here for the christening, you know."
Susan sighed. "I know. It's so hard to get time off this time of year. You know that. Since I'm not married with children, I usually get stuck with the holidays to let those with families have the time off." She paused. "Tell you what... you pick a date, and I'll get the time off."
Carol agreed, "I'll let you know. I've... I've got to tell Doug. He'll want to be here, too."
"How did he take the news that he was now the daddy of two little girls?"
"I... I haven't called him yet. I wanted to save the hardest for last. We... we didn't part on the best of terms." Carol took a shuddering breath. Susan could tell that her friend was crying on the other end. "He was really hurt that I wouldn't move to Seattle with him. But... but I couldn't. I wasn't ready to give up my life here in Chicago yet." She paused. "I'm not as brave as you are, Susan. I couldn't give up my established life to be with the ones that I love."
Susan shook her head violently even though Carol couldn't see her. "I'm not brave, Carol." she said finally. "If I were, I'd still be in Chicago instead of here." She took a deep breath. "If I were as brave as you think I am, I would have gotten off the train and faced it when Mark said that he loved me. I would be with the man that I still love, instead of here alone... facing a holiday of working and paperwork." She took another breath and savagely wiped away the tears that were now creeping down her cheeks. "No, Carol, you're the brave one..."
The two women talked for a while longer, until it was obvious that Carol was getting very tired. They said their good-byes and Carol promised to let Susan know the date of the girls' christening as soon as possible.
After hanging up the phone, Susan looked at the paperwork in front of her with distaste. She shoved it aside and leaned back into the sofa cushions. She finally gave into the tears that she had fought earlier. She knew that Mark had gone on with his life. She knew that he was involved with another doctor at County. She also knew that she was hopelessly in love with him and nothing was going to change that.
Finally, she headed to her bedroom and changed for bed. She climbed in and fell immediately into a restless sleep that left her feeling worse in the morning than she did when she went to bed.
UNION STATION
CHICAGO, IL
DECEMBER 9, 1999 (TWO WEEKS LATER)
Susan stepped off of the Amtrak, carry-on in hand. She was glad to be off of the train. Chloe had tried to get her to take a plane this time, but, Susan wouldn't hear of it. She still hated flying, and wouldn't do it if it wasn't necessary. The train trip between Phoenix and Chicago was a pleasant one, so a flight was out. However nice it was, though, it was always great to be at the end of the trip... to be able to fully stretch out the muscles that got cramped from sitting in one position too long.
She headed into the station towards the baggage claim. She managed to find her bags in a reasonable amount of time and was soon headed towards the exit. She was just about to hail a taxi when she heard her name being called. She turned towards the sound, a smile breaking out when she saw who was standing there. "Mark!" she exclaimed, wanting nothing more than to be able to drop her bags and run to him. However, she was in a very public place, and that wasn't the wisest thing to do, so she waited for him to come to her. She set her stuff down next to her and was soon engulfed in the arms of the man she loved.
"God, Susan, it's so great to see you! I've really missed you, you know." Dr. Mark Greene said as he released her.
Susan nodded as she reluctantly pulled back. "I know... I've missed you, too."
Mark picked up the larger of Susan's bags, and she picked up the other and they headed towards his car.
Once they had pulled out into traffic, he asked her where she was staying.
"At my parents' house. I'm here through New Year's." she answered. "I haven't taken a vacation since I started at Phoenix General; they decided that they could do without me for a while."
"That's great." Mark answered, somewhat distractedly. "So, how are Chloe and Suzie doing?"
"Chloe's great... she's pregnant again... due in February. It's a boy this time. She and Joe are going to call him Nathan. Suzie's ecstatic at the idea of being a big sister. She's already decided what she's going to teach him." She paused. "Suzie's a little upset that I won't be there for Christmas this year. But I explained that Gramma and Gramps needed to see me, too, so she accepted it. How are Rachel and Jenn?"
"Rachel's great. She spent Thanksgiving with me... and Elizabeth. She cooked. Dad's here, too. He's gonna stay with me for a while." Mark paused. "Jenn's okay... she's really happy with Craig. Happier than she ever was with me. They're expecting their first child in June. Rachel's not too happy about it. I think she's gotten so used to being an only child that she's afraid of someone else taking her place in Jenn's life."
"She'll get over it... you know about girls her age and babies. They can't resist them." Susan said by way of reassurance, trying to tamp down the feeling of jealousy she experienced when Mark mentioned Elizabeth.
Too soon, they pulled up outside her parents' home. Mark helped her carry her bags inside. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." he said hopefully.
"Yeah, I was going to head over to County and see everyone." Susan said with a smile.
"Well, okay, then." Mark said, shifting his stance uncomfortably. "I'll be seeing you." He turned and headed for the car. Susan waved as he pulled away, then dropped to the front steps and cried.
COOK COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL
CHICAGO, IL
DECEMBER 10, 1999
10:30 CST
Susan parked her mother's car in the visitor's parking lot and headed instinctively for the ambulance entrance to the ER. When she had gotten just outside the door, she realized her mistake and turned and headed for the main entrance. Walking through the door, she found herself immediately in the waiting area, full of patients waiting to be seen. Her mind and hands itched to pick up a chart at the nurses' station and jump right in. However, she didn't think that would be looked upon too kindly since she no longer had privileges at Cook County... she given them up 3 years earlier when she decided to transfer her residency to Phoenix General. Instead, she just walked quietly towards the desk to say 'hi' to whoever was there.
"Dr. Lewis!" Randi exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
Susan smiled at the receptionist. "Just visiting... Carol's girls' christening... the holiday." she said by way of explanation.
"Oh, yeah, right, you're the godmother." Randi stated, snapping her gum in thought. "Dr. Greene's in trauma 2... Carter's in exam 1... Weaver's in trauma 4... And Benton's in trauma 3." she said, naming off the doctor's that Susan would know.
"Thanks, Randi." Susan said, heading in the direction of exam 1, knowing that she would be least likely to disturb the case there.
"Hey, Dr. Lewis?" Randi called after her. Susan turned to see what the woman wanted. "You want to take a patient or two? Non-acute, of course."
"I'd love to, Randi, but I don't have privileges, remember?" Susan replied. Randi nodded and shrugged. Susan continued on her way.
She reached exam 1 just as Carter was letting his patient leave. He wrote some notes on the chart then handed the prescription to the patient. As he was preparing to leave, he saw Susan. "Dr. Lewis, welcome back." he exclaimed, engulfing the other doctor in a hug.
"Thanks, Carter." Susan said, pulling out of his embrace. "But I'm not back... just on vacation." she corrected him.
"Oh, yeah, I know." Carter said. "But, you'll always belong here, so you're back."
Susan blushed, "Thanks." The duo walked back towards the nurses' station so that Carter could drop off the chart and grab another.
He picked up a chart and handed it to Susan. She looked at him with a question in her eyes. He smiled and explained, "I'm head resident around here these days, so it's okay. Go see what the patient needs. You're one of the best. You can grab a lab coat in the lounge."
Susan smiled and headed for the doctor's lounge to grab a jacket. She then headed for chairs. "Gabrielle Carr." she called.
Soon a mother carrying an infant girl approached. Susan smiled, "I'm Dr. Lewis, let's get Gabrielle checked out."
TWO HOURS LATER
No one had objected to Susan's jumping in to help. In fact, they welcomed it. Finally, "chairs" was cleared out. It was quiet. Susan was just about to suggest that Mark accompany her to Doc Magoo's for some lunch when a British voice behind them called out to him.
"Elizabeth." Mark stated flatly, obviously less than happy to see her at that time.
The British doctor joined them. "Are you ready?" she asked, ignoring Susan's presence. Susan felt her hackles go up... she already didn't like the other woman.
"Just about." Mark answered. "Oh, Elizabeth, this is Dr. Susan Lewis. Susan, Dr. Elizabeth Corday."
Elizabeth then turned to look at Susan, a fake smile plastered on her beautiful face. "It's an honor to meet you, Dr. Lewis. Everyone here speaks very highly of you." she said, extending her hand.
Susan took the proffered hand and shook it. "Thank you, Dr. Corday. Mark and Carol have told me a lot about you." She paused then turned to Mark. "Well, you two had better get going... you know how the ER is."
Mark chuckled, "I know, Suz. See ya tonight at Carol's, right?" Susan nodded. Mark took Elizabeth's hand and the two of them headed to the doctor's lounge to grab their coats.
Carter came up behind Susan in time to see her wipe away a tear. "Susan?" he asked. "I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch with Lucy and me?"
Susan turned around to see Carter standing with a blonde. "Sure." she answered. "I'd love that." She extended her hand to Lucy. "I'm Susan Lewis." she said.
Lucy smiled and took Susan's hand. "Oh, the famous Dr. Lewis. It's a pleasure to meet you. Carter said that if you hadn't left you'd probably have gotten attending here."
The three left the ER to head to Doc Magoo's. When they arrived they deliberately took a booth on the opposite side of the restaurant from Mark and Elizabeth. They were soon joined by Haleh Adams and Chuny Marquez.
"Don't worry, Dr. Lewis." Chuny said. "He still loves you." Susan looked at the nurse in shock. "Dr. Greene. He still loves you."
No one said a word to dispute Chuny's claims, but Haleh nodded slightly.