A short one here, an alternate ending to Great Expectations so same time frame. Everything is true to that point; Doug knows Carol is pregnant but has honoured her requests that he not come back.

It's based on Blake Shelton's The Baby with a bit of a twist.

As always, thanks to Jo, my Doug/Carol beta reader who has been with me since the getgo, Em, Breigh and the rest of my LJ ER Fic filter. This story is dedicated to all the Doug/Carol fans still out there.

Characters not mine, no money, etc. I have no idea about the hospital in Seattle but this works.

It's probably not legally accurate, but this is fiction :) Steven Rudkins is the lawyer.

E-mail me with any questions or comments that you may have. This may or may not have a Part II

--

The Baby

--

'Carol, Carol? Can you hear me?' Mark asked, panicking.

'She's still out of it,' Coburn said. 'I know she didn't want it, but we need to do the hysterectomy, now,' she added.

'I know,' Mark said. 'Do you want me to be the second signature?'

'Please. I'm going to scrub.'

Mark paced in the surgical waiting room, anxiously awaiting some news. He turned quickly when he heard the door open. It was Weaver. 'I just heard. What happened?'

'She started to bleed out after the second baby was born by c-section. Coburn tried to control it, but the bleeding didn't stop.'

'Is she doing a hysterectomy?'

'Yes.'

'Do you think it was...?'

'No, no.' Mark said, 'And Coburn said as much as well. It could have been a pre-existing weakness, exacerbated by delivery or...We may never know,' Mark admitted, one of the hardest things for a doctor to say.

'When was the last time you heard anything?'

'When they went in about...45 minutes ago,' Mark said, glancing at his watch. 'There isn't anyone around to get any more information.'

'Can Elizabeth find out?'

'She's not on. I left her at home with Rachel and my father,' Mark said, thinking that he really should call them.

'I'll go see if I can find out anything. You'll be here?'

'I'm not leaving,' Mark said, glad that for once Kerry was going to put her authority to a use other than antagonising people. As she left, he went for the courtesy phone, he knew Elizabeth would want to know what was going on.

After two rings, Elizabeth answered with 'Happy Thanksgiving.'

This amused Mark, and he said with a laugh, 'Hi, it's me. How's everything going?'

'We're surviving,' Elizabeth said with a laugh. 'How are things going there?'

'They could be better.'

'What's the matter, what happened?' Elizabeth asked, sitting in shock. David looked over at her, concerned and she raised her finger and mouthed, 'One minute.'

'She delivered Tess in the ER, but there were some difficulties with the second baby. They were concerned about a breech, and a prolapsed cord so they did a crash c-section. Her uterus wasn't firming up at all, and there was a lot of blood loss. Coburn is doing a hysterectomy right now.'

'And the babies, are they...?'

'They're OK. Two girls.'

'Any news on Carol's condition? How long has she been in?'

'Just under an hour, but I've not heard anything since she went in.'

'Do you want me to call in?'

'No, no. That's OK. I'm sure you've got your hands full there. I'm sorry I had to leave. How's everything going?'

'We're all doing OK. Tell me, should I come?'

'Not right now, not yet. I'll call you if anything changes though.'

'Have you talked to Doug?'

'Not yet. Carol was adamant that she didn't want me to call him earlier. For now, I'll wait, but I may call later.'

'OK, call me as soon as you know anything, either way.'

'I will,' Mark promised. 'I love you. Does Rachel want to talk to me?'

'Love you too. I'll get her now.'

A moment or two later, Mark heard Rachel pick up, 'Hi Dad.'

'Hi, Rachel, how's it going?'

'OK, but I'm bored. There's nothing on the radio but football and they won't let me listen to my stations.'

'You could talk to Grandpa and Elizabeth you know.'

'I don't have anything more to say. When are you coming back?'

'I don't know, Carol still needs me here. I'll call you guys when I know more, OK?'

'OK,'

'Ask Elizabeth if she has any books you can read,' Mark suggested. 'She loves to read almost as much as you do.'

'Fine,' Rachel said. 'See you later.'

'Love you, bye.'

Mark resumed his pacing, while waiting for Kerry, or anyone with some news. After what felt like an eternity but was in reality, only about 10 minutes, he heard the door open again. Turning around, he saw that it was Coburn and while she didn't look distressed, she didn't look as Mark would expect someone to look after a save.

'What happened?' he asked cautiously.

'She's alive, stable for now, but she lost a lot of blood. I won't lie to you, it's pretty touch and go.'

'Is she awake? I want to see her.'

'She should be waking up soon. You can go in, but please, keep it short? She needs to rest right now.'

'OK,' Mark said, knowing not to push Coburn too far. 'Thank you,' he said.

He slowly walked toward recovery, trying to prepare himself for the site of Carol, post surgery. Nothing however could have prepared him for the sight. She was so pale from loss of blood that she nearly blended in with the sheets and she had two IVs. On top of it all, she was still intubated. Mark slowly approached, trying to adjust. Just a day ago, Carol had been working a shift, and laughing with them, and now this. It reminded him a little too much of a scene a little more than five years ago. Quickly, he banished those thoughts from his mind.

He stood at Carol's side and gently took one hand. 'Carol?' he called softly. 'Carol, it's Mark. Can you hear me?' He didn't get any response, so pulled a stool over to her bedside. Sitting down, he began to talk about anything and everything that came to his mind, while still holding her hand. After a few minutes, he saw her eyelids flutter open. 'Hi,' he said softly. 'Did you wake up to tell me to shut up?'

Carol appeared confused, and grew frightened as she looked around the room. She tried to talk, but realised she couldn't. Mark could tell she was starting to panic as her heart rate rose. 'Carol, you need to relax,' Mark said, taking her hand. Thinking quickly of the questions rolling around in her head, he continued. 'The girls are fine, they are both in the nursery. Although Tess is wondering what to call her sister.'

This seemed to calm her a little, and then Carol pointed to herself. The toughest question, Mark thought. He could not lie to Carol, but could not tell her the full truth either because she'd panic. He was quiet for a moment, thinking of what he was going to say before he felt his hand being squeezed. Looking down at Carol, he saw a pleading look in her eyes. 'You're OK, for now,' he said. 'Coburn had to do a hysterectomy and you're in recovery.'

Mark noticed that Carol's gaze had drifted down to her midsection, and there was a tear sliding down her cheek. 'I'm sorry,' he continued. 'It couldn't be avoided. Coburn did all that she could. The bleeding was too heavy.'

Carol nodded, and again squeezed Mark's hand. Frustrated with her inability to clearly mouth intelligible words around the tube, she gestured for a pen. Knowing his time in with her was running out, Mark didn't want to take the time to get a pad. Instead, he reached in his pockets for a scrap of paper and took a pen from the chart. He put the paper on the clipboard so Carol would have something to lean on.

Mark looked on as she wrote one word

Doug?

'I didn't call him yet,' Mark said.' Do you want me to?'

Please

'Should I tell him what happened?'

Carol thought for a moment or two and then simply nodded.

'OK,' Mark said. 'I'll go do that now. Coburn didn't want me to stay long. I'll be back as soon as she lets me, OK?'

Carol nodded again, and wrote Thanks.

'You keep the paper, in case you want to write anything ,' Mark said, leaning over to give Carol a kiss. 'I'm not leaving the hospital, so have them get me if you want me.'

Carol nodded, and squeezed Mark's hand in acknowledgement.

Mark stopped back in the waiting room to quickly call Elizabeth. 'She's out of surgery, but she's intubated, and ...' Unable to finish that sentence he said, 'She lost a lot of blood.'

'I'm coming to the hospital. Would it be OK if I took your father and Rachel back to your place?'

'Sure, they'll be fine. Thank you,' Mark said. 'I have one more favour to ask. Can I use the phone in your office to call Doug? I want to have some privacy when I make the call?'

'Of course. I'll meet you there?'

'Or the surgical ICU if they've moved Carol by then.'

'OK,' Elizabeth said. 'Do you need me to bring anything?'

'I don't think so, but thanks.'

'You're welcome.'

--

I got a call in Alabama,
said come on home to Louisiana
and come as fast as you can fly.
Cause your momma really needs you,
and says she's got to see you,
she might not make it through the night.
The whole way I drove 80
so she could see her baby.

--

Mark had several numbers for Doug, but decided to try him at home first. After getting no answer there, he tried his cell phone, which was switched off. As a last resort, he tried the Emergency Department at Seattle General. 'May I speak with Doug Ross?' he asked.

'May I ask who's calling?'

'It's Mark Greene. Please tell him it's important.'

He was on hold for a few minutes before he heard Doug, 'Hey, what's going on?'

'Do you have time to talk?'

'Yeah, I'm in the lounge. The crazies are staying with their families through dinner so it's quiet for now, touch wood,' Doug said. Slowly realising that Mark would not have called him at work if it weren't something important, he asked, 'What's the matter?'

'How much longer is your shift?'

'I'm on until 4, it's one here. Why? Mark? Tell me what happened.'

'It's Carol, there were some complications. You need to come.'

'Wh-what? I spoke with her on Monday after her OB appointment and she said everything was fine. What happened?'

'There were complications with the delivery, nothing anyone could have expected. The babies are both OK.'

'I'll call the airlines and call you back. Where are you?'

'Elizabeth's office. The number is 312-555-4333.'

'Sit tight, I'll get right back to you.'

'I will.'

Within five minutes, the phone rang. 'I got a flight. It leaves in an hour, I get to Chicago at 8, your time.'

'O'Hare or Midway?'

'Midway, I'll take the El and I should be there by nine at the latest.'

'Get a cab if you can,' Mark said, seriously.

'OK,' Doug said, the gravity of the situation sinking in. 'I'll see you when I get there.'

Of course Mark had known it was serious, but somehow talking about it made him realise just how serious it was. He realised the distinct possibility that Carol might not pull through. Not wanting to think about this, he realised he needed to let them know downstairs, they were waiting for news on her condition.

Not wanting to face anyone just yet, he again reached for the phone on Elizabeth's desk. When Randi answered, he asked, 'Who's around?'

'Weaver, Carter, Cleo...Who do you want?'

'Give me Weaver,' Mark said, glad that he wouldn't have to start from the beginning again.

Almost immediately, Mark heard Kerry get on the line. 'ER, this is Kerry Weaver.'

'It's Mark, I wanted to fill you in,' he said, telling Kerry what he knew. When he finished, he was met with silence. 'Kerry? Are you there?'

'I'm here, just in shock. I'll be up there in a minute.'

'I'm in Elizabeth's office, but I'm going to head down to recovery to see if they're going to move her. I'll meet you there.'

'OK.'

When Mark got there, he asked the recovery nurse about her status, 'Oh, you're Dr. Greene. She was asking for you earlier?'

'Why didn't anyone come get me?'

'We didn't know how to reach you. They said down in the ER that you weren't on today.'

'Damn,' Mark swore in frustration. Taking a piece of paper, he wrote down his pager number. 'If she needs me again, this is my pager number.' Taking a few extra pieces of paper, he asked, 'May I go see her?'

'Yes, but keep it short, she's still under sedation and needs her rest.'

'I know. When Kerry Weaver comes up, tell her where I am.'

Mark walked to Carol's bedside, and saw that she was sleeping again. He gently took her hand in his and said, 'Carol, it's Mark.' As he waited for a response from her, he saw she'd written more. Some; Mark, Dr Greene, and please call were ones he expected to see, but it seemed she'd continued when he hadn't arrived.

Called Doug?

Is he coming?

I'm scared

And the one that alarmed him, I want to get papers in order

That hadn't occurred to him, he didn't want to think like that, and didn't want Carol to either. After a few moments, Carol's eyes opened. 'Hi,' he said. 'I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier. They said they couldn't reach me, but now they have my pager number.'

Carol nodded and then pointed to some of her earlier writings. 'I reached Doug, he got a flight and should be here by nine at the latest.'

Mark was glad to see a relieved expression cross Carol's face as she started to write again. Move me?

'I don't know,' Mark admitted. 'I was going to ask the nurse when I came down but then when she said you were looking for me, I came right in to see you.'

Thank you.

'I'll go ask now, but first, tell me about this,' Mark said, indicating her writing that had worried him.

In case, Carol wrote. Make sure girls are OK. With Doug

'OK,' Mark said. 'I'll see who I can contact.'

Thank you

'And I'll go check with the nurse about them moving you. I'll be right back,' he added, giving her a kiss.

He walked back over to the nurse's station to see Kerry speaking with the charge nurse. After waiting for a pause in their conversation, he asked, 'Carol is asking when she might be moved. Any ideas?'

'When Dr. Coburn came around earlier, she said it should be sometime between 4:30 and 5. She hasn't been around since, so I don't know if there have been any changes since then.'

'Thanks. Kerry, are you going in to see her?'

'Yes, I wanted to.'

'Then please pass that information on to her and tell her I'll be in when you're done?'

'OK,' Kerry said.

'May I use the phone?'

'Sure.'

'Do you have a phone book by any chance?'

'It's not the latest one.'

'That's fine,' Mark said as he began searching for the section he was looking for.

A few minutes later, as he was speaking with one lawyer who he'd pulled away from Thanksgiving Dinner, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw Elizabeth. He held up one finger and mouthed, 'One minute,' as he continued listening to the lawyer.

After a few more minutes he said, 'Yes, thank you. I appreciate this very much. I'll see you in about a half hour at the main entrance.'

Hanging up the phone, he thanked the nurse and turned to Elizabeth and gave her a kiss. 'You look wiped,' she said. 'What can I do to help?'

'Nothing really, it's just been a bit of a whirlwind.' Leaning back against the desk, he added, 'And it's not going to slow down,' as he spotted Coburn. 'Walk with me?' he asked.

'Sure,' she said, as Mark tried to get Coburn's attention.

'Do you have a second?' he asked when he got her attention.

'Just, I wanted to check on Carol and a few other patients.'

'Well that's good because I wanted to talk with you about Carol. She wants to know when she'll be moved from recovery.'

'If she's been stable so far, I'm going to move her to the SICU in just a few minutes. I want to make sure she's somewhat alert.'

'She is, and she knows how serious her condition is,' Mark offered.

'I didn't want to tell her. She doesn't need that additional stress while recuperating.'

'She asked me and I wasn't going to lie to her.'

'And just how did she ask you since she's intubated.'

'I gave her paper and pen. Please let's not argue. We both have the same interests at heart; Carol's health.'

'OK, I'll go check on her now.'

As she walked away, it took all of Mark's strength not to punch the wall. 'Explode at me,' Elizabeth said, taking his hand. 'My ears will recover more quickly than a broken hand.'

'I don't want to blow up at you, you didn't come here to listen to that, but thank you, I appreciate it.'

'You're welcome,' Elizabeth said. 'I can't imagine how difficult this is for you and I want to help you in any way I can.'

'You have, in many ways,' Mark said, hugging Elizabeth.

'I'm glad for that. Tell me, were you able to reach Doug?'

'Yes, he got a flight and should be here by 9.'

'It's good that he was able to get a flight so soon.'

'Let's just hope it's soon enough.'

Elizabeth inhaled sharply with surprise at Mark's comment. 'So that's why you were speaking with the lawyer?'

'Yes. She wants to make sure the paperwork is done.'

'Is that really something she needs to be concerned about?'

Mark nodded sadly, 'It's very touch and go, she lost a lot of blood and they're still worried about cardiac arrest.'

'I see,' Elizabeth nodded. 'I guess I just...I never thought.'

'I never did either.' Glancing at his watch, Mark added, 'I'm due to go meet the lawyer downstairs in a few minutes. Would you stay with Carol while I do that? I'm going to tell her where I'm going, but I don't want her to think I'm leaving her alone.'

'Of course,' Elizabeth said as they walked towards Carol's bed. Coburn had just finished when they approached so Carol was awake. 'How do you feel?' Mark asked.

'OK,' Carol indicated with her hands.

'I reached a lawyer. I told him I'd meet him downstairs and then we'll come up, OK?'

Carol nodded and wrote SICU

'Good!' Mark said. 'Elizabeth will be here and I'll be back in a few.'

THANKS

When Mark reached the main entrance he saw a gentleman standing there with a briefcase. 'Mr. Rudkins?' he asked.

'That's me. Are you Dr. Greene?'

'Mark, please,' he said, extending his hand. 'Thank you very much for coming out on a holiday.'

'I tend to be available, that's why the hospital has me on file.'

'It's a handy resource,' Mark admitted. 'Will today being a holiday have any effect on drawing up this document?'

'No. I have a document printed out. All we need to do is fill in the details for this situation and have it witnessed and notarized. It can be filed with the courts tomorrow.'

'OK. And what signatures are needed? The mother is here, and the father is on a flight from Seattle but we are concerned that he may not arrive in time.'

'Is he the man that the mother intends to have listed on the birth certificate?'

'Yes, he's her...' Mark paused, not exactly sure how to explain Doug and Carol's relationship.

'Partner?' the lawyer offered.

'That works,' Mark agreed.

'Then there is no problem. I assume no one plans to contest her decision?'

'No.'

'Then there shouldn't be any troubles.'

'Just one question. Does Carol need to be able to verbally express her requests or can she write them in your presence?'

'Is she a mute?'

'No, she's intubated, but she's alert and oriented.'

'It's no trouble.'

Mark stopped at the nurse's station in the SICU and asked 'Which room is Carol Hathaway in? I'm a doctor in the ER and this is her lawyer.'

'Yes, I was told to expect you. She's in Room 4.'

'Thank you.'

When they walked in, Mark was pleased to see Carol settled there, extubated. 'Congratulations,' he said. 'When did they extubate you?'

'Just now,' Carol said, her voice scratchy.

'I'd like you to meet Steven Rudkins. Mr. Rudkins, this is Carol Hathaway.'

'Pleased to meet you,' Mr. Rudkins said, extending his hand.

7:00 PM

Carol had been reintubated, much to everyone's dismay. Her sats had dropped to 82 on room air, and they didn't want to chance it any further. Of further concern, her heart rate and blood pressure had been dropping, yet there was no identifiable source of bleeding.

Mark and Elizabeth had remained with her the whole time, with short visits from others, as the news spread around the ER. While she was extubated, Carol had named her second daughter Kate, and the SICU nurses had looked the other way when they were brought in for a brief visit.

Carol was resting now, drifting in and out of consciousness. Once again, Coburn appeared at the door. 'Has she changed her mind?'

'No,' Mark said. 'She said she wasn't going to, that she'd made her decision.'

'Do you think it's a wise decision?'

'It's not my decision, or yours,' Mark said, pointedly. 'She made her decision and we have to respect it

'Think as a doctor,' Coburn implored. 'She'll listen to you. She won't listen to me.'

'She's heard both arguments, and she made her decision. She wants any chance she can have. You've worked with her for years, you know her as both a nurse and a person. Did you expect that she'd make any other choice? If you didn't want her to consider surgery you never should have brought it up.'

'She's a fighter,' Elizabeth added.

'Then OR 2 is open,' Coburn said. 'I'll have an orderly come down,' she added, before turning on her heel and walking out.

'I hate her,' Mark said, making no effort to hide his disdain.

'She's always rubbed me the wrong way,' Elizabeth acknowledged. 'I'm sure she's going to say no, but I'm going to see if I can scrub in and observe. Unless you'd like me to stay with you,' Elizabeth added after a moment's hesitation.

'I would, but I'd much rather Carol not be alone. Go. I'll be OK,'

'I'll let you know as soon as I know anything.'

Wanting to make the most of his time before the orderly came, Mark took Carol's hand in his and talked softly to her. 'I want you to pull through, more than anything, but if you need to let go, if you can't hold on, know that you will be loved and remembered. Doug is on his way to Chicago, the paperwork is taken care of, and he will love the girls and raise them to remember their mother. You are a great friend, and a great person. I will miss you,' he said, wiping the tears from his eyes. After a few minutes pause, he continued, 'Elizabeth is going to scrub in and observe, so she'll be there with you throughout the surgery and I'll be here waiting for you when you come out.'

8:30 PM

--
She looked like she was sleepin'
and my family had been weepin'
by the time that I got to her side.
And I knew that she'd been taken,
and my heart it was breakin',
I never got to say goodbye.

I softly kissed that lady
and cried just like a baby.

--

The cab pulled up in front of County and Doug hurriedly paid the driver. As he pulled out his cell phone to call Mark, he noticed there was a voice mail message, but decided to leave it for now. Realising that Mark's phone was off in the hospital, he headed straight up to the SICU.

'I'm looking for Carol Hathaway?' he told the nurse.

'She's not here.'

'Where is she?' Doug asked, impatiently.

'They took her up to surgery about an hour ago. She hasn't come back.'

Doug took the stairs two at a time as he headed to the surgical floor. 'I'm looking for Carol Hathaway?' he asked the first nurse he saw.

'Are you friend or family?'

'Close friend. Please. I just flew in from Seattle. Where is she?'

'You should speak with the recovery nurse. Down the hall on the right.'

'Thank you,' Doug said as he hurried away.

The nurse had stepped away from the desk, so Doug went through the door into Recovery. Across the room, he could see Mark and Elizabeth sitting next to Carol. He quickly crossed the room, and as he got closer, he noticed that the tube down her throat was not connected to anything, and she wasn't on any monitors.

'NO!'

'I'm so sorry Doug.'

Wh-what happened?'

'She went into cardiac arrest on the table. She died about 20 minutes ago. We did everything we could. We tried to keep her alive until you got here. But we couldn't get a rhythm, there was just too much blood loss. I'm so sorry,' Elizabeth said, putting her arm around Doug.

'Did she know I was coming?' Doug asked, softly.

'Yes,' Mark said. 'Have you checked your phone's voice mail?'

'No. I saw there was a message, but rushed up here.'

'Play the message,' Mark said, putting his hand on Doug's shoulder.

-1 March 2003

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