This is Part 4 of You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This, please see Part 1 for the relevant background information. To refresh your memory, Carol has just started back to work at County after a meeting with Mark. This piece takes place on the Saturday following Part 3, or 7 December 2002
Some character explanation:
Abby is an ER nurse. Never went to med school and (obviously) never delivered Carol's twins since they don't exist.
Jing Mei, Carter, Luka, and other nurses are also there.
Marcy is an ER nurse.
As always, thanks go to Jo for being a loyal beta reader, Lori for her feedback on the Mark/Elizabeth/Ella scenes, and my LJ ER Fic Filter for all your suggestions. Also, thanks to everyone for the information I needed. Characters, etc, not mine, no money.
E-mail me with any questions or comments that you may have.
Elizabeth got home around 1:30. The house was quiet, except for the faint sound of the TV. After unlocking the baby gate, she followed the sound to the den. Mark was laying on the couch with Ella in front of him, both were asleep. Mark had his arm around Ella and Ella had hers around her stuffed bunny. Elizabeth smiled at the sight, and couldn't resist going for the camera. After she took the picture, she switched off the TV. To her surprise, Mark opened his eyes. I didn't mean to wake you,' Elizabeth whispered, leaning over Ella to kiss Mark.
I wasn't asleep,' Mark said, carefully manoeuvring from behind Ella. The stores were crowded?'
Insane, especially the supermarket. I still need to get the rest of the groceries from the car. I've only made one trip so far.
I'll get them.'
I'll make some lunch while you do. Or did you eat with Ella?'
Lunch would be great.'
When Mark came back in, Elizabeth said, The only perishables are the milk and the ice cream. The rest can wait.' As they sat down, Elizabeth said, I picked up the photos as well.'
As Mark looked at the enlargements of photos from their trip, he came across one that was quite different. He looked up at Elizabeth who was smiling. When did you have this done?'
This morning. My OB is booked solid for the next month, and I didn't want to wait that long for the first ultrasound so I went to the ER to get it done.'
How far along are you?'
7 weeks. I wanted to surprise you, but knew I'd never be able to wait a month.'
When did you find out?'
I did a home test last night while you gave Ella her bath.'
So we'll have a ...summer baby?' Mark asked, quickly doing the math.
July is what I've calculated. I'll get something more precise when I go to the OB.'
Who did the ultrasound?'
Abby was just going off so I asked her to do it so I wouldn't have to wait. She was happy to be the first to say congratulations.'
I wonder how long it will stay quiet?'
She promised not to say anything.'
I doubt she would, but nothing stays quiet at County.'
Just a minute or two later they heard the pitterpatter of little feet. Boo!' Ella said, giggling. Then she saw Elizabeth was home. Mommy!' she squealed.
Hi, sweetie,' Elizabeth said, lifting Ella into her lap. As she did so, she said, Ooh, someone needs a new diaper.'
Me?' Ella asked as Elizabeth carried her to her bedroom.
Yes, you. Did you have fun with Daddy today?'
We drawed and played and...'
What did you draw?'
I show you,' Ella said, trying to get up.
Let me finish your diaper, and then you can show me,' Elizabeth said, kissing Ella.
When they finished, Elizabeth picked up Ella to carry her back to the kitchen but Ella said, Mommy, down!'
OK,' Elizabeth said, letting her run to the kitchen. Incoming!' she called to Mark.
I got her!' he said, scooping Ella into his arms Gotcha,' he said, over her giggling squeals.
Daddy, let me go. I wanna show mommy'
What are you going to show mommy?'
What we drawed'
Here they are,' Mark said, handing them to Ella. Here, tell mommy about the pictures.'
This is a duck and it is walking to the tree and saying hi'
And what did the tree say?' Elizabeth asked.
Trees can't talk, silly' Ella said.
Really. I think one talked to me yesterday' Mark said.
Ella looked up in amazement, Really? What did it say?'
It said I was short' Mark said, thinking quickly on the spot.
But you're big!' Ella said.
Yes, but trees are bigger!'
Carol arrived around 6:30 with a batch of brownies she'd made. Come in,' Elizabeth said. Mark is still getting Ella settled.'
Oh! Did I come too early?'
No, not at all. She just wasn't in any hurry to go to sleep. Watch where you sit and excuse the mess. This is very much a toddler's place.'
I don't mind,' Carol said, sitting on the couch. I know Mark was off, but you were on today?'
No, I was off as well.'
Oh, I thought I saw you there. I must have been hallucinating.'
No, you saw me. I was just there for some testing.'
I hope you're OK,' Carol said, genuinely concerned.
I am...' Elizabeth was silent for a few moments before adding You'll hear it from the rumour mill anyway so you might as well hear it from us. I'm pregnant.'
Congratulations!'
Just then, Mark came down. Hey, Carol,' he said, giving her a hug.
Congrats,' Carol said, hugging him back. I just heard.'
Thanks, I said to Elizabeth earlier. I wonder how long it will stay quiet at the hospital. I'd rather you heard it from us.'
It will stay quiet for about as log as it took for the rumours to start flying about Doug and I.'
They've started already?' Mark asked, incredulously.
Yep.' Seeing that Elizabeth looked confused, Carol explained Before I got married and moved away Doug and I had been together. And now if people see us in the same room, let alone talking, they assume we're together.'
That's one story I don't believe I ever heard.'
I think it faded some after I left. And I'd been gone, what, two and a half years when you came to County?'
Just about,' Mark said.
I can't believe I was gone for more than seven years. It doesn't feel like it now that I'm back. I gave Carter the shock of his life today.'
How so?'
He and Haleh were treating a patient when Haleh was called away. She said she'd have Carol' come in. Carter asked, Carol who?' and she said New nurse.' So then I walk in and had to scrape Carter's jaw off the floor. He said he expected next to look around and see himself back in surgery and without the Doctor' in front of his name.
You must have been shocked to see him in the ER?'
Not really. Someone had mentioned in a letter or a call that he had switched. It's always good to see another familiar face.'
Who else have you worked with since you got back?'
Doug, Haleh, Lydia. Yosh, Malik, Deber Jing Mei and the foreign doctor whose name I can't pronounce so I've dubbed him Dr. K. There were others, of course, but too many names to try and remember.'
There's been a lot of turnover,' Elizabeth said, It's hard to keep up even when you're there.'
In surgery as well? I didn't know any of the surgeons who came down for consults today.'
In every department'
And of course we have the obligatory romance in the ER,' Mark said with a laugh.
Really, who?'
Abby Lockhart, who I'm not sure you've met and Luka Kovac, the foreign doctor. They've been engaged for about a year.'
I think I briefly met Abby today.'
She's a former OB nurse who transferred down to the ER a few years ago.'
What a switch'
She handled it really well and she's a great nurse, all of the ER nurses are.'
That makes life easier. The night I first met Susan for dinner we talked a bit about County and I was surprised at the changes, but also at how much was still the same. I'd known from your Christmas Card about both of your promotions. But I hadn't known about Susan's. When she suggested I apply to County, I'd asked who I'd still know.'
I'm glad you came back,' Mark said. Even if the circumstances were less than ideal.'
Thanks.' Turning to Elizabeth, she added I assume Mark has told you the story.'
Yes,' Elizabeth said.
Mark added, I didn't think you'd mind.'
Of course not. There's more to the story that I need to tell you both.'
If you don't want to, you don't have to.'
I want you to hear it from me.'
After dinner, they were back in the Living Room enjoying the fire and just talking when they heard a burst of tears from the baby monitor. I'll get her,' Elizabeth said, heading down the hall. She turned on the hall light and then opened Ella's door. Ssh, shh, ssh, Mommy's here.' Ella was standing in her crib, holding on to the side rail, and crying. Elizabeth picked her up and held her close, pulling her head to her shoulder. What's the matter?'
You had a bad dream? Do you want to come with Mommy and Daddy?'
And Bugs?' Ella asked, still crying but calming down.
Of course, Bugs too,' Elizabeth said, taking Ella's bunny from the crib and handing it to her. When they got back to the Living Room Elizabeth sat in the rocker, hoping the rocking would soothe her.
The way the chair was placed, Ella could just see Mark. He waved and she turned her head the other way. Ouch!' Mark said with a laugh.
She's a mama's girl?' Carol asked.
Not really, she just tends to stay with one person once she's settled.'
Around 9:30, Carol said, I suppose I should go. I'm on early again tomorrow.'
What did you do to get that evil schedule?'
For now I'm working Marcy's schedule. I'll get a schedule of my own when she gets back from vacation.'
I forgot about that,' Mark said. Let me get my keys.'
I can take the El'
Not alone at night.'
Carol was going to protest, but she could see from the look on Mark's face that she wasn't going to win this one. Thank you,' she said simply. While Mark went to get his keys, Carol said goodbye to Elizabeth. I enjoyed this evening. Thank you for dinner.'
And thank you for dessert. I enjoyed getting to know you. Please come again anytime, you're always welcome.'
And when I find a place, the three...or maybe four of you by then...will be welcome there.'
The next morning Elizabeth woke up at 8:30. Not to Ella's chatter, and not to Mark tickling her, but rather to the sun streaming in her bedroom window. Amazed that she'd slept in so late, she wondered where Mark and Ella were. She looked over to her nightstand, which usually held a clue if Mark had gone out early, but there was no note.
Getting out of bed, she slid her feet into her slippers and wrapped her robe around her. Chicago winters are still too cold for my liking,' she thought to herself.
She walked down the hall, first stopping in the bathroom, and then to the kitchen, which was also empty. By now, she realised the house was far too quiet and there was no way that Mark and Ella were home. On the kitchen table she saw a vase with a single flower in it, with a piece of paper underneath.
Hope you slept well! We went out for a bit to run some errands. See you around 10.
Love, Me
Elizabeth smiled, and picked up the newspaper which was on the table next to the note. She poured herself a glass of orange juice, and took the paper into the living room and curled up in a corner of the couch, where she remained until Mark and Ella returned a little later in the morning.
Later that week, Carol was sitting at the kitchen table, her papers spread around her. When Susan got home, Carol asked, How was your day?'
Not bad, yours?'
Busy. I'll get these papers out of here in just a minute.'
They're fine. I'm in no hurry to eat or anything. Doing research?'
No. Stuff I need to overnight to my new lawyer.'
New lawyer?' Susan asked, surprised.
Carol thought for a moment. That's right. You missed all that the afternoon you were down with the migraine. Doug helped me find a lawyer willing to help me fight Tag's claims of adultery.'
Your other one wouldn't?'
Not at all, he wanted me to just accept it. I was so angry that afternoon. I'm amazed you didn't hear me. I was alternating between crying and cursing.'
You should have woken me up.'
You were too sick. It wouldn't have been right.'
Was Doug here at least?'
Yes, and he was great During the worst part I was crying but trying to hide it. He didn't push, didn't try to make me talk. Just stood there, waiting for me. And I went to him. It was a big step for me. I wasn't afraid.'
I'm proud of you,' Susan said.
It was something I had to do. And I told him. I always knew I could trust him, it was just a question of listening to the trust.'
I'm glad you could do that, since you're engaged and all,' Susan said, laughing.
Wow, that was fast. When I got off work last night we were together but not engaged. I just hope someone tells me when I'm getting married so I don't miss the wedding.' Carol said, laughing so hard she could barely speak. The county rumour mill never ceases to amaze me.'
Me either, but look at the bright side, maybe you'll get some engagement gifts.'
That would be amusing.'
I'm glad he was there for you when I couldn't be. I owe both of you a drink for taking care of me that day.'
Don't worry about it.'
Actually,' Susan said. I have a bottle of wine Mark gave me for Christmas. Feel like breaking it open?'
Sure,' Carol said, gathering her papers. Is there a place to make copies near the post office?'
I think so. Do you have a lot to copy?'
Not too much. All filings are matters of public record so he got it straight from the courthouse. And I faxed over a signed letter allowing him to get the police report and the paperwork from the restraining order. It's just a question of getting copies of the other paperwork: bank statements, tax returns...'
What do you expect will happen?'
He will fight me tooth and nail, but I can support my claims of abuse. He can't support the adultery because it never happened. I don't want alimony, I want no contact. When I left Massachusetts, I still had holiday and sick time left so they let me take that in lieu of two weeks notice so I'm not cash strapped. If I were, things would be more difficult.'
Will you have to testify?'
I hope not. I don't want to have to see him. I'm hoping to just speak with the lawyers.'
If you have to, and need or want moral support, I'm there.'
Thanks. I can't believe I've been here for two weeks.'
Does it feel like more or less?'
I don't know...Both. It feels like I just got here, but at the same time it feels like two lifetimes ago that I was working out leaving Tag.'
How did you work it out?'
It was always an idea, but in the last 6 months a plan took shape. I had to save money, and I was gathering documentation. We had fighting down to an art form. The words didn't even hurt anymore, but the physical abuse was worsening. It was at the beginning of November that he broke the first rib and knocked out my teeth.'
Knocked out your teeth?!' Susan interrupted.
That was one of our worse fights.'
Did they both happen in the same night?'
Within minutes of each other. He punched me for talking back and I stood back up, started screaming at him, and in the process, spit blood on him. So he shoved me sideways into the table and my rib cage made first contact. I was in such pain, I sunk to the floor and couldn't even get up for about an hour.'
You are so amazing to have survived that'
Or stupid to have stayed for Round Two.'
You couldn't have known.'
If it happens once, it can happen twice...But you know the rest...I haven't seen him at all since Round Two. By the time I was able to move enough to get my bag, he'd passed out. So I went to the police, then the shelter. I left the next afternoon.'
If I ever saw him, I'd kill him.'
You, Doug, Mark Thanks, it means a lot'
-16 March 2003
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