The rain slapped against the windshield hard, forced to by the winds that blew off the lake, as Doug drove down the Interstate. He looked out over the lake for as long as he could without steering into a barrier, remembering times by the lake both when he was new to the city and when he was an old-timer. A fresh burst of rain smacking the front of his car brought him out of it, his eyes snapping back to the road which was full of slow moving traffic. He leaned over and turned the radio on, tuning it into the local station, and nearly missed his exit.
He spoke aloud as he cut his speed and indicated, trying to cut across the two other lanes and quickly became the brunt of many car horns. He pulled off the interstate and out of the system, finally drawing into the city he called his hometown, even if he grew up in Kentucky. Realising that he had no accommodation for the night, he opened the glove compartment and pulled out an old, crumbling A to Z, flicking through the pages whilst keeping one eye on the road. Finally, grappling with the rush hour traffic and an atlas on his lap became too hard, and he pulled over into a lay-by, finding the page he wanted.
Huh. Hope it's still there. He grunted as he manoeuvred back out into the traffic, heading towards a small motel he remembered from the days before he found an affordable apartment. Mentally, he cursed giving up his apartment when he skipped Chicago. Here he was, eleven months later, back in the city with nowhere to live when he knew full well that his old apartment was sitting empty for the next two weeks, waiting for its new tenants. Squinting out of his window, he drove into a car park and slowed by the entrance of the building.
Jolene's Five Star Motel. This'll do.
He threw the A to Z back onto the passenger seat and pulled into a parking bay, switching off the ignition. He went to the trunk and got out a small sports bag, put it over one shoulder and went into the motel, taking a glance back over his shoulder at the rain coming down onto Chicago, making his clothes and hair wet, but all the same making him feel very much at home.
After Doug got a room he changed into dry clothes he picked up the phone and started to dial an all too familiar number, but before he finished he hung up
"I can't call Carol yet, and besides she's probably at work." Doug thought.
He laid on the bed and watched TV for about 30 minutes then he decided to call and see if Mark was on now. He dialled the number, after a few rings Randi answered.
"ER, how can I help you?"
"Is Mark Greene on right now?"
"Who's calling?"
"Doug Ross."
Randi looked around for Mark
"Dr. Greene, telephone."
"Who is it?"
"Doug Ross."
"Yeah, real funny Randi. Who is it really."
"I told you, it's Doug Ross."
He threw her an odd, slightly confused look, and she handed him the phone
"Hello?"
"Mark, it's Doug."
"Doug, where are you?"
"Jolene's Five Star Motel in Chicago."
Mark swiveled round, looked around the ER, then whispered back into the phone You're HERE?
"Yeah, don't tell anyone, and make sure Randi doesn't tell anyone, especially Carol. What time are you off?"
"7:00, look Doug, I don't know what you're playing at exactly, but I'll stop by the motel when I get off."
"Ok, well I'll talk to you then."
"Bye."
Carol came out of Trauma 1, she heard part of Mark's conversation with Doug.
"Motel?! Mark, is there someone you want to tell me about?!"
"No, nothing like that. Just an old friend stopped by there."
"Old friend. Right." Carol wandered off, still looking at Mark, grinning over her shoulder.
Mark walked away, shaking his head.
Doug was sitting on the bed when he heard a knock at the door. He answered it and wasn't surprised to see Mark.
"Hi Doug"
"Hi Mark, c'mon in. Good to see you!
"You too Doug. But what are you doing here? Something happened in Seattle?"
"Nothing happened in Seattle, that was the problem! But, I don't wanna talk about that right now. In all honesty, Mark, I don't really know what I'm doing back here."
"Oh. How long are you staying? Is this just a trip, or what?"
"I don't know. Maybe forever. Maybe a few days"
"Well your not staying here, you're staying with me."
"Mark..."
"Doug, don't argue, just hurry up and pack your stuff. You've put me up plenty of times before.
Doug knew Mark wasn't going to take "no" for an answer, so he packed his things, and they went to Mark's apartment.
"So, uh, how's Carol?"
"She's good Doug."
Doug nodded, concentrating on unpacking his bag.
She misses you.
Uh huh.
There was silence in the apartment. Doug finished unpacking, and grabbed his keys from the table.
Don't wanna seem rude Mark, but I'm just going to go for a drive.
I'll be back
Doug took his car keys and left. He drove around the all too familiar streets of Chicago, past the ER, past Doc Magoo's, and finally, pulling up outside Carol's house and parking across the street. He wasn't sure if he should go in or not, so he sat and stared at the porch.
"Who am I kidding, she doesn't want me here." Doug said out loud, turned the ignition and drove away.
As Doug arrived back at Mark's, he got to the doorway of the apartment and met a pizza delivery guy about to ring the bell.
Hey, here, I'll pay for that.
He got out his wallet and handed the boy some bills, and takes the pizza. He knocked on the door and Mark let him in.
Wow. I knew things were bad Doug, but you didn't have to go and get a job delivering pizza!
Doug grinned and put it down on the table, taking off his coat. They settle down on the couch, with the TV tuned in to a basketball match.
Mark said, mouth full, You going to tell me why you're back here?
I couldn't get a job in Seattle. Doug didn't flinch and stared straight at the screen, picking a mushroom off the top of his pizza.
Mark's mouth dropped open temporarily, but he closed it, and took another bite of his slice.
You couldn't get a job?
Well, you know, murder doesn't look too good on my resume. This time, Doug looked at him, grinning as he cracked the joke. Mark didn't laugh, but pulled a forced smile and shrugged his shoulders.
Doug's grin faded, and he turned back to the match. Silence descended once again. After some time, Mark cleared his throat.
Look Doug, I know you don't want me interfering, but Carol
Carol doesn't want anything to do with me, Mark, she didn't want me back here, not for her, not for her children.
Mark was quiet again, but then said, very softly, They're your kids too, Doug.
Yeah, well, doesn't seem she wants it that way. So I think it's best for all concerned if I keep out of the way. Maybe it was a bad idea, coming back.
If it means anything, we've all kinda missed you
Doug looked up at him, and smiled. Yeah, right. You miss having someone to beat up on!
Mark grinned back.
"Yeah, and I can still beat up on you!"
Doug stood up and pulled Mark up off the couch.
"You think so?"
Mark tackled Doug and they wrestled around on the ground for about ten minutes, laughing and yelling. Sometime later, after they've recovered, Doug sat back on the couch, and Mark on the floor, picking up pieces of pizza that were scattered during the fighting.
"So Mark, how's things with you? How's Rachel?
She's good. Settled into life in St Louis okay.
That's great.
What's changed at County, since I left?"
"Well, Romano's chief of staff."
"And let me guess, Weaver's ER Chief?"
"Yep, how'd you know?"
"Unlucky guess."
"And we've got tons of new doctors."
"I'm going to drop in tomorrow."
"Doug...You're not coming to the hospital."
"Yes I am Mark. It's up to you, either I go with you, or I take my car. It really doesn't matter to me."
"I'll make you a deal. Carol's on tomorrow. If you come with me you gotta promise me that you'll talk to her.
Doug shrugged, looking down at his feet. Sure, whatever. It's not me that doesn't want to talk.
Mark and Doug talked for a few more hours, watched another basketball match, then went to bed, both feeling a mix of joy and trepidation for the day to come.
An alarm buzzed.
"Doug are you coming with me to the hospital?"
"Uhhh. Yeah."
"Okay, you're going to have to get a move on then!"
Doug and Mark got dressed and left the house at 6:15. Mark had to be at work at 7:00.
"You wanna stop, get coffee or something? We have time."
"Sure."
They drove in the direction of a coffee house, trying to avoid traffic, but ended up in it anyway.
"What's all this about so early in the morning? Don't remember it being THIS bad!"
"That's because it isn't normally. I don't know what's going on."
As they pulled closer to the front of the line they were stuck in, they saw a crowd up ahead.
"What's going on here?" Doug asked
"I dunno. I can't see much. Looks like...uh oh. Oh no."
"Uh oh? Uh oh's not good. What is it?"
"Looks like someone on the floor"
Before Doug could react, Mark swerved and swung the car over to the side of the road, pulled up the handbrake and turned to Doug. But Doug was halfway out of the door, slamming it behind him as he jogged to the crowd. Mark followed. As they pushed through the crowd, explaining their qualifications, they saw a kid, about 8 years old, with blood all over his face, bruises on his body.
"Anyone know what the hell happened here?" Doug yelled
"I don't know, he stumbled out into the road and passed out. No cars hit him though., someone in the crowd answered.
"Someone go call 911 NOW!!!"
Doug and Mark took turns doing CPR 'til the ambulance arrived.
"Where did you learn CPR?" the paramedic asked.
"We're doctors"
"Doctors? What hospital?"
"County General" Mark answers, as Doug was preoccupied with breathing for the boy.
"Ok, come on then. What's your names?"
"I'm Dr. Greene, that's Dr. Ross, we need a backboard, c-spine immobiliser, and we need to tube and bag him."
The paramedics put the kid in the back of the ambulance, Doug and Mark climbed in as well, continuing to help treat him, and it drove away
"What about your car?" Doug asked.
"We'll come back and get it later."
The EMT driving picked up the intercom
"County General, come in County."
"County, over." Carol answered, out of breath, and laughing could be heard in the background
"We got a Dr. Greene and a Dr. Ross here, they found a kid in the street, he's beat up bad."
There was a momentary silence.
"DOUG Ross?"
Doug nodded at the paramedic, who was looking at him.
"Yeah, why?"
"Ok, we're ready for you. Bring them in."
"Ok, who knew Doug Ross was back in Chicago?" Carol shouted over all the noise of the ER.
"Me, and Mark Greene." Randi said.
"How."
"He called last night, he asked for Mark."
"Call me when they get here." Carol said as she headed off to the trauma room, grabbing a stack of dressings angrily. About 5 minutes later the ambulance entrance doors slammed open as a gurney hit them, closely followed by Doug and Mark. Kerry Weaver rushed up.
"What have we got?"
"Kid found in the road, not MVA, staggered into the road and collapsed, pulse thready, resps 16, had to do CPR on the scene. He responded well but still a potential for brain damage, we don't know how long he was out for."
"Bp's 70 over 40, GCS 5."
They crashed through into Trauma 1, and Doug grabbed an IV line to start a drip. Before he could insert it, he was pushed lightly in the chest, and Mark leant over the gurney.
"Get outta here Doug, you know you can't do this. And don't argue with me, you're not in a position to be defensive."
Doug stared him out, but stepped away from the bed, hands raised in defeat. He looked down at the body on the bed, then went out of the room, and stood by the doors, gazing through the windows at the ER team working on the child.
"Hey Doug. Coming through."
Doug jumped at the voice and spun around to come face to face with Carol, pushing a trolley laden with equipment. He stepped out of her way, absent-mindedly, and went to reply to her. But before he could get anything out, she swept past him with a cart, into the trauma room.
Ten minutes later, Mark came out of the trauma room, snapping off his gloves. He went to the admit desk, after taking a glance around him, and stopped by Randi.
Randi, have you seen Doug?
He was here a few moments ago, just gone into the lounge.
He went to the lounge and stopped when he saw Doug putting his coat on.
Hey Mark, I'm going back to the apartment, I decided it was a bad idea coming back. How did the kid do, by the way?
Uh, he's okay. You're going back?
Yeah, I think I'll just pack up and move on, go see New York maybe, or Florida even, I could live with a bit of sun!
He grinned, straightening his collar. Mark didn't return the grin, and grabbed him by the coat sleeve and sat him down in an armchair, then took the seat opposite.
We had a deal Doug, and you'd better keep to it. Now either you go and talk to Carol, or
He stopped as the door clicked open loudly and Carol came in, pulling off her scrub jacket.
She saw them as the door closes behind her, and she froze. Doug's eyes widened a little, but Mark, clearing his throat loudly, broke the tension.
I'm just gonna let you two have a little time to yourselves, I'll make sure no one comes in.
He got up, heading to the door, but turned once he was behind Carol and gave Doug a look that warned him not to try anything. He opened the door and left. The silence hung heavily in the small room, and Carol un-froze, continuing to pull off her jacket. Doug watched her, uncertain of her reactions and what they meant, and uncertain of his own actions, what they should be. She went to her locker, still not a sound between them, and Doug hung his head, a bit more convinced that Carol couldn't care about his existence anymore. But just as he was preparing to stand up and leave, he was alerted to a small noise from the lockers. He looked up to where Carol stood, now facing him, and with her eyes full, only one spilling over. He got up, now sure that his time was up, but Carol met his eyes and stopped him.
she blurted out, her eyes watering some more, Doug, howwhy didn't you call? I've it was her turn to look at the floor now, and she sniffed and looked back at him again, I've missed you so much. Finally both cheeks were covered in tears as she stood in isolation by her locker. Doug, standing a distance away, was thrown, and held one hand out, unsure of the place they were in now, and Carol took it, moving to him, grabbing him and holding on tighter than she ever had before. Doug's eyes read his surprise, but he put his arms around her after he recovered the initial shock, and he closed his eyes as he tried to absorb what this will mean for both of them.
Later that day, Mark and Doug were talking at his apartment.
"What kind of job are you planning on getting Doug?"
"Ideally or realistically?! I'd love to stay in emergency medicine, peds emergency medicine if I can."
"At County?"
"Wherever they'll have me. The odds of going back to County are kinda slim, don't ya think?!"
"Yeah. Guess it's gonna be quite hard where ever you try. Ever thought about a private practice?"
"Yeah, I had a few interviews in Seattle, but I miss the adrenaline. It's just not the same, y'know?"
"Doug...I'm going to be honestthere is no way...not after Ricky Abbott."
Doug looked at him blankly. "Thanks for your support."
No, I'm not trying to rub your face in it, listen. Douglisten to me
Doug grabbed his car keys from the table, and disappeared into the spare room to get his coat, but Mark grabbed him by the arms as he came out again, and pushed him back. Doug whirled his arms out, knocking Mark's hands off him.
Get off me.
No Doug, sit down. How are you going to solve anything by running away? Doug. DOUG!
Doug was headed for the door and out of it in seconds, making to slam it behind him as he walked off down the hallway. But Mark caught the door before it slammed and followed him out into the hall, stopping outside his door to call after him.
Doug, if you do this, you're no better than Ray.
Doug stopped, still facing away from Mark as the comment hit him.
You always said how Ray ran away from his problems and everyone else's, yours included. Now you're doing the same thing, ditching Carol and your children like he ditched your mom and you. Mark was red in the face with anger.
Doug stood, facing away from him, stock-still in the middle of the hallway. He absorbed Mark's words. He turned around slowly, to see Mark standing by his doorway, hands at his sides, still red.
That hurt. That really hurt, Mark.
He turned around and walked off, car keys jangling. Mark broke his own anger and swallowed, looking at the floor, then sighed and went into his apartment, shutting the door behind him.
In his car, Doug sat, head against the wheel in the dark. He sat up suddenly and put the keys in the ignition, and swerved out of the car park. He drove across Chicago, passing the hospital and pulled up five minutes later outside Carol's house. He got out and went up the steps, and rang the doorbell. As soon as he did he heard wailing from the upstairs window and cursed for not thinking of the time. The door opened and Carol's face peered out, looking tired and washed out.
Hey Carol. I'm just dropping byI, uhI just came
Carol smiled, still tired, and held the door open wider. You wanna see the kids? Well, since you just woke them up He stepped in.
A certain tension can still be felt between them, and Doug looked more uncomfortable than Carol did. She sensed it, and gave him another weary smile.
"I know we've got a lot to talk about, but can we just leave it until the morning?"
"Uh, yeah, sure."
The air now a bit clearer, Carol tipped her head towards the staircase.
"C'mon then."
Doug followed Carol up the stairs.
"Uh, was it, I mean, did it go okay? The birth and everything?"
"Kerry delivered them. And you owe Mark our future kids."
"Weaver? That scares me." As Carol pushed open a bedroom door, Doug looked down, and mumbles, "Carol, I know you don't want to talk about it now, but I just, I'm really sorry I wasn't there."
She turned back to look at him, not saying anything, but nodded, and went into the room, over to a crib. Doug remained on the threshold of the room, uncertainty showing in his face as he watched Carol lift a small, but very loud, baby in the air. She turned back to him, trying to shush the baby.
"You wanna hold her? This is Kate, the loud one."
Doug smiled lopsidedly. "I can tell! Can I?"
She handed over the screaming infant, and Doug cradled her gently, swallowing as the baby stopped crying, staring in fascination at the eyes looking down on her.
"I guess she knows who you are."
He looked up at Carol, smiling, and looked back down at his daughter again, completely swept away by it all. He only snapped out of it when Carol came over to him with another baby, this one quiet but clawing at the mittens that covered her hands.
"Carol.... they're beautiful."
"I know."
They stood in the room, watching the twins as they fall asleep in their arms. Carol leant forward after many minutes of silence, and whispered to Doug,
"How was Seattle?!"
His eyes flicked up to meet hers, and they registered guilt.
"I need to be here now, Carol."
"Are you staying?" She whispered this with fear of the answer, quieter than before, refusing to look at Doug.
"What? And leave this?" he said, motioning towards the twins. "I don't think I could."
They laid the twins back down in their cribs, and he and Carol headed downstairs. Carol motioned to the couch, and Doug sat with her as she cleared some of the baby stuff from it.
"Stop." Doug said, and she looked at him, only to find him grinning at her as she frantically collects stuffed toys and baby wipes. He beckoned to her, and she leant back, resting on him. As she leant back to kiss him, she whispered,
"I'm so glad you're home."
Doug smiled, kissed her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder as she leant against him, her eyes closing.
"Carol? Carol?" Doug whispered, some moments later.
When he realised she was asleep he decided he shouldn't wake her, and reached for a pillow, tipping his head against it and letting his eyes shut.