Disclaimer: I don't own anything dealing with ER, with the exception of Arianne.
Author's note: This is the follow up to "In Dreams and In Pictures"
Doug Ross walked into the ambulance bay of County General, wondering what he would find. He hadn't been back since Susan's death all those years ago. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kerry Weaver. The red hair and the cane gave her away in a millisecond.
"Doug?" she asked, not believing her eyes
"That's me. How are you Kerry?"
"Umm… fine. Where are Carol and the girls?"
" Carol's mom died, and she is with the girls making arrangements. I figured I'd drop by here and see what's been going on."
"Well, you know where everything is, so help your self. I have to go, but nice seeing you."
"Yeah, you too." he added as she walked off "Witch" me muttered under breath when she was out of earshot
Doug made his way in to the ER by way of the sliding doors. Looking around, he tried to find a familiar face. When the search proved fruitless, he approached the desk clerk.
"Hi, I was wondering if Carter was here."
"Yeah, in the lounge. It's right over there." He pointed to the set of doors on the left.
"Thank you"
Doug walked over the lounge, trying to figure out what to say. He opened the door, and was met with the site of a young woman, sitting on the sofa, looking out the window, and playing with a necklace.
"Excuse me, but do know where Carter is?"
"You found her. Can I help you?"
"Carter! There's a nine-year-old with a GSW to the abdomen, ETA is three minutes." a nurse yelled into the lounge.
"If you'd excuse me. I'll be back soon, but please sit down and help your self to some coffee."
Doug got down a mug from the shelf, and poured himself some. Taking a sip, he started walking about the lounge. The lockers were filled with unknown names for the most part. The walls had been repainted, and the furniture replaced, but other than that, it hadn't changed much. The refrigerator still had the smell of rotten food coming from it and the counters were still stained with coffee and the like. Taking a seat on the sofa, he set down the mug of coffee and picked up a magazine. After a bit, the young woman came back.
"Sorry about that."
"Oh, that's fine. I understand."
"So you said you were looking for me?"
Doug studied her face. Her features looked so familiar, but her black, thick hair skewed who she reminded him of. She looked like he had seen her before.
"Yes, I was looking for Carter, but I've seemed to have found the wrong one."
"Let me guess. You were looking for a John Carter, right?"
"Right."
"I'm Arianne Carter, his daughter. But around here I'm just called Carter, and my father is called John. So now it's your turn. "
"I'm Doug Ross, and I used to work here, with your parents."
Arianne let out a laugh that sounded just like her mothers. It put anyone who heard it at ease.
"What's so funny?"
"Your Doug Ross? The one who pulled all those stunts as the peds attending?"
"You could say that."
"Then I know all about you. Chuny tells me stories about you. I am the current peds attending."
"Wow, so what all did you hear about me."
"Everything."
"So where's your father?"
"He's in his office. He's the chief of medicine now."
"That is too much! Carter being the chief of medicine, I knew him when he was fresh out of med school. Do ever I feel old."
"That's what people say when I tell them who I am."
"So where is Carol? That's your wife's name right?"
"Yeah, how did you know that?"
"I know just about everything about everyone who used to work here. Chuny tells me everything."
"She's with the girls making funeral arrangements for her mother."
"Oh, I'd love to meet her sometime."
"She should be swinging by sometime later. We're going to be in town for a week."
"Do you want me to take you to the Dr. Carter that you were looking for."
"Sure."
Arianne led Doug to the stairs, and started up.
"Why don't you just take the elevator?"
"It still takes forever to get to the ER, so the steps are quicker. Besides it's only three floors."
Doug stayed a few steps below Arianne the whole time. When she got to the third floor, she took a left and started down the long hall. Doug knew this hall well, as he was always seeing someone about his actions down in the ER. She stopped in front of a wooden door, bearing the tag of "John T. Carter III: Chief of Medicine".
"Poppa?" Arianne asked, knocking
"Come in." was the reply. Doug thought that the voice was too old, too serious to be the Carter that he once knew.
Arianne opened the door, and held it for her companion.
"Doug?" John Carter asked
"Carter?"
"How are you? Please, please come in!"
Arianne's beeper went off the same time she started to sit down with her father and his friend.
"Sorry, but I have to go. See you later, Poppa. Good Bye, Dr. Ross."
With that Arianne shut the door, and the men began to talk.