***the brain tumor storyline from season 7 is not used/mentioned/part of this fic. This is like.... if it never happened. This whole story stares from about "Rescue Me" but takes place around "Peice of Mind" remember: Marks brain tumor is not included at all and I am not going by anything that is happening in ER in season 7 except for the house, engagement and pregnacy of Mark and Elizabeth. Mr Patterson and his back storyline has happened and all the consequences of his whole lawsuite on Elizabeth have been resolved befor the fic so there will most likely be no mentionings . I can't gaurentee anything for sure. Sorry. I know I should have told you this in the begining I was just undecided.***
***I do not know anything about Adoption....leagal matters etc. Only a few things I read in an adoption book. Any of the medical info (OB stuff, mainly) I got from my Health/PDHPE class in 5th grade and an enclycopedia.***
Part 2
"Elizabeth?"
"Hummmm?" asked Elizabeth gently, doing a pelvic examination on Charlotte, Abby by her side assisting her.
"What's going to happen to me?" asked Charlotte cautiously poking her IV and wincing as Elizabeth took the necessary swabs.
"I don't know Charlotte." answered Elizabeth truthfully.
"They won't take me back there, will they?"
"No, Charlotte I already promised that they wouldn't." said Elizabeth closing her eye's for a moment as so saw the damage that had been inflicted upon Charlotte.
"Elizabeth?"
"Yeah?" said Elizabeth coming out of her short trance.
"Why do you have a round tummy?" at hearing this, Elizabeth smiled to herself. Abby chuckled and accepted another swab.
"That's because I have a baby in there."
"Is it a boy or a girl?" asked Charlotte, interested.
"I don't know yet. Charlotte, I have to go and make some phone calls. I'll be back soon, ok?" said Elizabeth getting up and gently easing Charlotte into the regular position and tucking the blankets around her tightly.
"Ok." whispered Charlotte.
"I'll be back." promised Elizabeth before leaving the room, Abby close behind her.
"I don't believe she noticed." said Elizabeth, shaking her head. Not many people on the staff even knew. Abby smiled to herself but proceded on with her question.
"Do you think that it was right to.... make a promise that you might not be able to keep?" asked Abby.
"Well, I don't suppose it's right but I have to give her something to hold on."
"Something that might fall?"
"A promise is a promise. I will get her out of that place." said Elizabeth stopping to face Abby.
"But the authorities-"
"Screw them!" yelled Elizabeth throwing her hands up in the air. The entire ER was silent, only the persistent ring of the telephone could be heard in the background. No-one moved to answer it. "What kind of legal system does this country have if they don't even protect their own children?" she asked softly before walking away.
~*~*~*~
"Hey!" said Mark approaching Elizabeth from behind.
"Oh, Mark, I didn't see you coming." said Elizabeth stopping to give Mark a peck on the lips, but the kiss lasted longer than anticipated and she pulled apart out of breath.
"I missed you." said Mark, as if to offer an explanation.
"Me too." Elizabeth answered, continuing on her way Mark by her side.
"I heard about your blow up this morning."
"I didn't blow up." said Elizabeth defensively.
"That's not what I'd heard. Care to share?" asked Mark, gesturing towards an empty suture room.
"Mark, I was just talking to Abby about the legal system and I guess that I got a little carried away." explained Elizabeth rationally.
"This was about Charlotte?" asked Mark gently.
"Yeah. I just promised that she wouldn't be sent home again."
"So what are you going to do, adopt her?" he joked, crossing his arms against his chest.
"Well....." said Elizabeth looking at an imaginary spot on the tiles
"Elizabeth, you know we can't."
"Why not?" she asked looking up into Mark's deep brown eye's.
"For one, how would we take care of her."
"She would be at school for most of the day-"
"Don't forget that we also have another little one on the way that will need just as much attention, maybe even more than Charlotte."
"Mark it was just a"
Suddenly, Abby's head poked through the door. "Sorry. Dr Corday there's a social worker out waiting for you at admin."
"Ok, I'll be there in a minuet." said Elizabeth walking towards the door. "Mark..." she began again, a 'I'm sorry but...' look on her face. "It was just a thought-"
"I know. Go." said Mark, pushing her gently. "Just don't forget that there's another little someone that need's your support too."
"How could I forget?" said Elizabeth sarcastically rolling her eye's before finally exiting the room with a kiss on her cheek.
Mark walked off in the other direction, deep in thought about what Elizabeth had just said. 'Why not?' was a phrase that ran back and forth in his mind like gurneys out of an ambulance for the rest of his shift.
~*~*~*~
"Dr Elizabeth Corday?" asked a dark skinned woman, dressed in a pair of jeans and a huge coat.
"Yes, you are Mrs... Garrison?" said Elizabeth looking down at the post-it note in her hand .
"Call me Cathy." said Cathy, offering her hand. Elizabeth shook it warmly. "I'm here for your patient Charlotte Withford."
"Oh. Yeah, she's in exam four." said Elizabeth leading the social worker to the room. "Do you know what's going to happen to her?"
"Well, we'll find out if there are any relatives that can take care of her. If there aren't any she'll either go to a halfway home or into foster care but that's only if she admits to the abuse." said Cathy, a serious expression on her face.
"What about adoption?" asked Elizabeth.
"Well... we can try, but it is almost impossible to find a willing family to adopt a child as old as Charlotte especially one that has a past with abuse."
Elizabeth nodded understandingly and opened the door to Charlotte's room.
"Charlotte?" called Elizabeth softly.
"Elizabeth is that you?" asked Charlotte from beneath the blankets.
"Yes it's me."
"Who's that behind you?" she asked fearfully.
"It the woman who I said would come to talk to you." explained Elizabeth walking to the side of Charlotte's bed and sitting on the stool there.
"Hi Charlotte, I'm Cathy." said Mrs Garrison, introducing herself.
"She won't make me go back home will she Elizabeth?" asked Charlotte, still under the blankets.
"Well that depends. If you talk to her and tell her everything she wants to know she might not." said Elizabeth kindly.
"I have to tell her everything?" whined Charlotte, slowly pulling the blanket from her face.
"Yes, Charlotte everything."
"Ok. Will you stay here with me?"
Elizabeth looked up at Cathy to see her response. She shook her head.
"I'm sorry Char, but your going to have to do this alone."
"Your not leaving me-"
"No. I'll be right back after Cathy leaves, alright?" said Elizabeth standing up to leave Cathy and Charlotte alone.
"Ok, you'll be back soon?" whispered Charlotte.
"Yes, I will be back soon." said Elizabeth. Mrs Garrison gave Elizabeth a smile and mouthed the word 'thankyou' before she began to question Charlotte.
Elizabeth left the room and sighed as she closed the door. There were more things besides Charlotte that she had to worry about.
~*~*~*~
"You know that she's going to ask the question." whispered Mark into Elizabeth's ear. The two were in another part of the hospital- a waiting room much quieter than the ER's one.
"You know my answer, Mark I don't want to take a chance with this baby." answered Elizabeth rubbing her belly and looking down at it. "I'm already getting so big."
"Which is surprising considering that your barely eating anything." muttered Mark under his breath.
"I heard that! I'm eating tones- even more than you." said Elizabeth defensively.
"Don't bet on it."
"Mark- don't worry, I'll be fine and I don't want an amniocentesis."
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry. I just worry about you." said Mark looking up at Elizabeth clear greeny-blue eye's.
"Well don't. You'll make me worried about you worrying too much about me." pleaded Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth Corday?" called a nurse, a clipboard in hand, wearing those hideous lavender scrubs.
"Here we go." muttered Elizabeth getting up with Mark out of the hard plastic chairs they were sitting on.
"You can change into this gown and Dr McLucas will be ready in a few minuets." said the nurse, leading Elizabeth and Mark into a small room with a bed and a few pieces of equipment in it and then leaving them to themselves, closing the door behind her.
"Do you want to find out?" asked Mark watching as Elizabeth put on the thin paper-like gown. "Find out what?" she asked finally putting the last bit on and sitting down beside him.
"If it's a boy or a girl."
"Well, I hope we won't be able to tell."
"Prefer the surprise?"
"Yeah."
There was silence. "Are you nervous?" whispered Elizabeth looking at Mark's eye's.
"No. Everything's going to be fine. You?" said Mark as confidently as he could.
"Yes, very." admitted Elizabeth.
"Don't worry, it'll be ok." comforted Mark, rubbing her back protectively as Elizabeth put her head down on his shoulder.
Dr McLucas entered the room.
"Hi! Sorry I took so long." she said before sitting down. Mark smiled a 'It'll be ok.' smile at Elizabeth as she lay down on the gurney and lifted the gown so that McLuas could pour some of the cool jelly like liquid on her stomach....
~*~*~*~
"Didn't I tell you that everything would be fine?" asked Mark as they entered a waiting elevator that would take them to pediatrics where Charlotte was being admitted.
"Yes, you did but I don't think a high B.P and low weight was what you ment as being 'fine'." said Elizabeth tiredly. "I hope Charlotte will be ok for tonight."
"Elizabeth, you have to stop worrying that could be one of the reason's why you blood pressure is up." said Mark as the elevator began to descend.
"I'm trying but it's not very easy."
"I'm sure she'll be fine."
"Yeah, I suppose so." agreed Elizabeth reluctantly as the two exited the elavator and came into another quiet part of the hospital. Elizabeth yawned.
"You should be in bed by now." said Mark as they approached the nurses station.
"It's only eight." protested Elizabeth. Mark gave her a knowing look.
"Excuse me, do you know what room Charlotte Withford is staying in?" asked Mark.
"Yeah, in a private room.... number 205." said the nurse, looking at the board.
"Thankyou. So," said Mark leading Elizabeth by the hand to a small room. "When do I get to meet Charlotte?"
"Tomorrow. She'll scared of nice guys at the moment." answered Elizabeth before going into the room, leaving him to watch from the window.
"Charlotte?" whispered Elizabeth, walking beside her bed and sitting on the edge.
"Elizabeth?"
"Yep, it's me." Suddenly, Charlotte burst form underneath the covers and gave Elizabeth a huge surprise hug. "Woah! What a welcome."
"I thought you wouldn't come and you said you would and you did!" said Charlotte into Elizabeth's jumper.
"Of course I did but I had to go to the doctor."
"But you are a doctor..." said Charlotte confused.
"Yes I am but I'm not a baby doctor." explained Elizabeth, peeling Charlotte off her.
"Is the baby ok?" asked Charlotte anxiously.
"Yeah, it's fine just a cheek up. Charlotte, I'm going to have to go home soon."
"Can't you stay here?"
"No, I'm sorry Charlotte. I'll stay till you fall asleep though and I'll be here in the morning." said Elizabeth tucking the blankets around Charlotte.
"Ok. Goodnight Elizabeth." whispered Charlotte before closing her heavy eye's and falling into a deep sleep. "Good night Charlotte." said Elizabeth before kissing Charlotte on the head and leaving for home with Mark.
~*~*~*~
***I do not know anything about Adoption....leagal matters etc. Only a few things I read in an adoption book. Any of the medical info (OB stuff, mainly) I got from my Health/PDHPE class in 5th grade and an enclycopedia.***
Part 2
"Elizabeth?"
"Hummmm?" asked Elizabeth gently, doing a pelvic examination on Charlotte, Abby by her side assisting her.
"What's going to happen to me?" asked Charlotte cautiously poking her IV and wincing as Elizabeth took the necessary swabs.
"I don't know Charlotte." answered Elizabeth truthfully.
"They won't take me back there, will they?"
"No, Charlotte I already promised that they wouldn't." said Elizabeth closing her eye's for a moment as so saw the damage that had been inflicted upon Charlotte.
"Elizabeth?"
"Yeah?" said Elizabeth coming out of her short trance.
"Why do you have a round tummy?" at hearing this, Elizabeth smiled to herself. Abby chuckled and accepted another swab.
"That's because I have a baby in there."
"Is it a boy or a girl?" asked Charlotte, interested.
"I don't know yet. Charlotte, I have to go and make some phone calls. I'll be back soon, ok?" said Elizabeth getting up and gently easing Charlotte into the regular position and tucking the blankets around her tightly.
"Ok." whispered Charlotte.
"I'll be back." promised Elizabeth before leaving the room, Abby close behind her.
"I don't believe she noticed." said Elizabeth, shaking her head. Not many people on the staff even knew. Abby smiled to herself but proceded on with her question.
"Do you think that it was right to.... make a promise that you might not be able to keep?" asked Abby.
"Well, I don't suppose it's right but I have to give her something to hold on."
"Something that might fall?"
"A promise is a promise. I will get her out of that place." said Elizabeth stopping to face Abby.
"But the authorities-"
"Screw them!" yelled Elizabeth throwing her hands up in the air. The entire ER was silent, only the persistent ring of the telephone could be heard in the background. No-one moved to answer it. "What kind of legal system does this country have if they don't even protect their own children?" she asked softly before walking away.
~*~*~*~
"Hey!" said Mark approaching Elizabeth from behind.
"Oh, Mark, I didn't see you coming." said Elizabeth stopping to give Mark a peck on the lips, but the kiss lasted longer than anticipated and she pulled apart out of breath.
"I missed you." said Mark, as if to offer an explanation.
"Me too." Elizabeth answered, continuing on her way Mark by her side.
"I heard about your blow up this morning."
"I didn't blow up." said Elizabeth defensively.
"That's not what I'd heard. Care to share?" asked Mark, gesturing towards an empty suture room.
"Mark, I was just talking to Abby about the legal system and I guess that I got a little carried away." explained Elizabeth rationally.
"This was about Charlotte?" asked Mark gently.
"Yeah. I just promised that she wouldn't be sent home again."
"So what are you going to do, adopt her?" he joked, crossing his arms against his chest.
"Well....." said Elizabeth looking at an imaginary spot on the tiles
"Elizabeth, you know we can't."
"Why not?" she asked looking up into Mark's deep brown eye's.
"For one, how would we take care of her."
"She would be at school for most of the day-"
"Don't forget that we also have another little one on the way that will need just as much attention, maybe even more than Charlotte."
"Mark it was just a"
Suddenly, Abby's head poked through the door. "Sorry. Dr Corday there's a social worker out waiting for you at admin."
"Ok, I'll be there in a minuet." said Elizabeth walking towards the door. "Mark..." she began again, a 'I'm sorry but...' look on her face. "It was just a thought-"
"I know. Go." said Mark, pushing her gently. "Just don't forget that there's another little someone that need's your support too."
"How could I forget?" said Elizabeth sarcastically rolling her eye's before finally exiting the room with a kiss on her cheek.
Mark walked off in the other direction, deep in thought about what Elizabeth had just said. 'Why not?' was a phrase that ran back and forth in his mind like gurneys out of an ambulance for the rest of his shift.
~*~*~*~
"Dr Elizabeth Corday?" asked a dark skinned woman, dressed in a pair of jeans and a huge coat.
"Yes, you are Mrs... Garrison?" said Elizabeth looking down at the post-it note in her hand .
"Call me Cathy." said Cathy, offering her hand. Elizabeth shook it warmly. "I'm here for your patient Charlotte Withford."
"Oh. Yeah, she's in exam four." said Elizabeth leading the social worker to the room. "Do you know what's going to happen to her?"
"Well, we'll find out if there are any relatives that can take care of her. If there aren't any she'll either go to a halfway home or into foster care but that's only if she admits to the abuse." said Cathy, a serious expression on her face.
"What about adoption?" asked Elizabeth.
"Well... we can try, but it is almost impossible to find a willing family to adopt a child as old as Charlotte especially one that has a past with abuse."
Elizabeth nodded understandingly and opened the door to Charlotte's room.
"Charlotte?" called Elizabeth softly.
"Elizabeth is that you?" asked Charlotte from beneath the blankets.
"Yes it's me."
"Who's that behind you?" she asked fearfully.
"It the woman who I said would come to talk to you." explained Elizabeth walking to the side of Charlotte's bed and sitting on the stool there.
"Hi Charlotte, I'm Cathy." said Mrs Garrison, introducing herself.
"She won't make me go back home will she Elizabeth?" asked Charlotte, still under the blankets.
"Well that depends. If you talk to her and tell her everything she wants to know she might not." said Elizabeth kindly.
"I have to tell her everything?" whined Charlotte, slowly pulling the blanket from her face.
"Yes, Charlotte everything."
"Ok. Will you stay here with me?"
Elizabeth looked up at Cathy to see her response. She shook her head.
"I'm sorry Char, but your going to have to do this alone."
"Your not leaving me-"
"No. I'll be right back after Cathy leaves, alright?" said Elizabeth standing up to leave Cathy and Charlotte alone.
"Ok, you'll be back soon?" whispered Charlotte.
"Yes, I will be back soon." said Elizabeth. Mrs Garrison gave Elizabeth a smile and mouthed the word 'thankyou' before she began to question Charlotte.
Elizabeth left the room and sighed as she closed the door. There were more things besides Charlotte that she had to worry about.
~*~*~*~
"You know that she's going to ask the question." whispered Mark into Elizabeth's ear. The two were in another part of the hospital- a waiting room much quieter than the ER's one.
"You know my answer, Mark I don't want to take a chance with this baby." answered Elizabeth rubbing her belly and looking down at it. "I'm already getting so big."
"Which is surprising considering that your barely eating anything." muttered Mark under his breath.
"I heard that! I'm eating tones- even more than you." said Elizabeth defensively.
"Don't bet on it."
"Mark- don't worry, I'll be fine and I don't want an amniocentesis."
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry. I just worry about you." said Mark looking up at Elizabeth clear greeny-blue eye's.
"Well don't. You'll make me worried about you worrying too much about me." pleaded Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth Corday?" called a nurse, a clipboard in hand, wearing those hideous lavender scrubs.
"Here we go." muttered Elizabeth getting up with Mark out of the hard plastic chairs they were sitting on.
"You can change into this gown and Dr McLucas will be ready in a few minuets." said the nurse, leading Elizabeth and Mark into a small room with a bed and a few pieces of equipment in it and then leaving them to themselves, closing the door behind her.
"Do you want to find out?" asked Mark watching as Elizabeth put on the thin paper-like gown. "Find out what?" she asked finally putting the last bit on and sitting down beside him.
"If it's a boy or a girl."
"Well, I hope we won't be able to tell."
"Prefer the surprise?"
"Yeah."
There was silence. "Are you nervous?" whispered Elizabeth looking at Mark's eye's.
"No. Everything's going to be fine. You?" said Mark as confidently as he could.
"Yes, very." admitted Elizabeth.
"Don't worry, it'll be ok." comforted Mark, rubbing her back protectively as Elizabeth put her head down on his shoulder.
Dr McLucas entered the room.
"Hi! Sorry I took so long." she said before sitting down. Mark smiled a 'It'll be ok.' smile at Elizabeth as she lay down on the gurney and lifted the gown so that McLuas could pour some of the cool jelly like liquid on her stomach....
~*~*~*~
"Didn't I tell you that everything would be fine?" asked Mark as they entered a waiting elevator that would take them to pediatrics where Charlotte was being admitted.
"Yes, you did but I don't think a high B.P and low weight was what you ment as being 'fine'." said Elizabeth tiredly. "I hope Charlotte will be ok for tonight."
"Elizabeth, you have to stop worrying that could be one of the reason's why you blood pressure is up." said Mark as the elevator began to descend.
"I'm trying but it's not very easy."
"I'm sure she'll be fine."
"Yeah, I suppose so." agreed Elizabeth reluctantly as the two exited the elavator and came into another quiet part of the hospital. Elizabeth yawned.
"You should be in bed by now." said Mark as they approached the nurses station.
"It's only eight." protested Elizabeth. Mark gave her a knowing look.
"Excuse me, do you know what room Charlotte Withford is staying in?" asked Mark.
"Yeah, in a private room.... number 205." said the nurse, looking at the board.
"Thankyou. So," said Mark leading Elizabeth by the hand to a small room. "When do I get to meet Charlotte?"
"Tomorrow. She'll scared of nice guys at the moment." answered Elizabeth before going into the room, leaving him to watch from the window.
"Charlotte?" whispered Elizabeth, walking beside her bed and sitting on the edge.
"Elizabeth?"
"Yep, it's me." Suddenly, Charlotte burst form underneath the covers and gave Elizabeth a huge surprise hug. "Woah! What a welcome."
"I thought you wouldn't come and you said you would and you did!" said Charlotte into Elizabeth's jumper.
"Of course I did but I had to go to the doctor."
"But you are a doctor..." said Charlotte confused.
"Yes I am but I'm not a baby doctor." explained Elizabeth, peeling Charlotte off her.
"Is the baby ok?" asked Charlotte anxiously.
"Yeah, it's fine just a cheek up. Charlotte, I'm going to have to go home soon."
"Can't you stay here?"
"No, I'm sorry Charlotte. I'll stay till you fall asleep though and I'll be here in the morning." said Elizabeth tucking the blankets around Charlotte.
"Ok. Goodnight Elizabeth." whispered Charlotte before closing her heavy eye's and falling into a deep sleep. "Good night Charlotte." said Elizabeth before kissing Charlotte on the head and leaving for home with Mark.
~*~*~*~