AUTHORS NOTE: The song in this chapter is "Stupid" by Sarah McLachlan. Lyrics courtesy of

Night lift up the shades let in the brilliant light of morning
But steady me now for I am weak and starving for mercy
Sleep has left me alone to carry the weight of unraveling where we went wrong
And all I can do to hang on, to keep me from falling into old familiar shoes

Unlocking the door of the hotel room, Doug tossed the key on the dresser and set Kate on the floor, who was quietly sleeping in her carrier.

"I'm gonna... return these calls," Doug said, turning to Carol, who was seated on the bed, feeding Tess a bottle. "It'll only take a minute," he promised.

Carol nodded silently as Doug picked up the phone from the nightstand and dialed Mark's number.

While Doug was on the phone with Mark, Carol rose from her position on the bed and began pacing the room with Tess in her arms. This is stupid, she thought. Doug has changed. Anyone can see that. So why am I freaking out over this? Especially when I'm not even sure what 'this' is! She sighed as Doug hung up the phone.

"Mark wants us to meet him and Elizabeth for dinner tonight," he told her. Waiting for a response, Doug took Tess from Carol's arms. "Carol?"

"Uh, yeah, that's fine," she said, nodding.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

"Yep."

"I've got a seminar in fifteen minutes," Doug said as he bounced Tess on his hip. "Advancements in Pediatric Medicine."

"Mmm... fun," Carol teased.

"You could always go and I could stay here with the girls," he offered with a grin as he pulled off his t-shirt and changed into a blue polo shirt and a pair of black pants.

Ten minutes later, Doug was ready to go. "You're gonna be late," Carol told him, checking her watch.

"Nah, how can they start without 'me'?" he asked with a grin as he softly kissed her. "I'll be back as soon as possible. Bye munchkins," he said, kissing each one on the forhead before shutting the door behind him.

Left alone with two sleeping infants, Carol couldn't help but wonder who the other message was from. She also couldn't help but realize that Doug had only returned Mark's message before he left. Suddenly she spotted Doug's jeans lying on the bed. Glancing towards the door, almost afraid that Doug would come back and find her snooping, Carol slid her hand inside the back pocket and retrieved the pieces of paper. She let Mark's message fall to the floor, only interested in the second one. Scanning the paper, Carol silently read: "Leslie Fielding - wanted to confirm dinner for this evening. Will attend conference."

Carol looked up from the paper, too shocked to even formulate her thoughts.

How stupid could I be
a simpleton could see
that youre no good for me
but youre the only one I see

That night, Doug and Carol left the girls with her mother and headed to the Rosebud for dinner with Mark and Elizabeth.

"What time are they meeting us again?" Carol asked, as they walked up the front steps of the restaurant.

"Uh... Mark said around eight," Doug replied, checking his watch.

"I hope we don't have to wait long," Carol scoffed, as she walked through the door Doug held open for her. "I'm starving."

"You haven't changed a bit," he chuckled.

Once inside, the pair scanned the dimly lit restaurant for their friends. Waving from a booth in the back corner, with lighting even worse than the rest of the room, were Mark and Elizabeth.

"What're you, vampires?" Doug cracked, as he sauntered up to the table.

"Hey!" Mark grinned, giving him a good-natured slap on the back. "How's it going?"

"It's... going," he smiled, as he slid into the booth next to Carol.

"Yeah?" Mark asked. "And you," he said, turning to Carol. "Thanks a lot for running off on us like that."

Blushing slightly, Carol grinned. "Sorry," she apologized.

"Uh huh, sure," Mark smiled at her.

"Leave her alone," Elizabeth insisted. "I think it's wonderful, Carol."

2 hours later

The laughter and drinks were flowing as the foursome talked after their meal.

"I think I'm gonna head back to the hotel," Doug said, looking in Carol's direction.

The look on Carol's face was a worried one as she asked, "Why?"

"The... alcohol's just, getting to me, is all."

"All right, well, it was nice seeing you guys..." Carol said, gathering her things.

"W-why, why don't you stay, Carol?" Doug stammered, shoving his hands in his pockets nervously.

Carol looked up at him, confused, then glanced back at Mark and Elizabeth. "You're sure you don't want me to come with you?" she asked, a puzzled expression etched on her face.

"Nah, I'm just gonna, catch a cab, go lie down... take a couple aspirin... I'll be fine. You-you guys enjoy yourselves. Mark, I'll talk to you later," Doug said, pointing a finger at his friend. "Elizabeth, it was great to see you again." Turning his attention to Carol, he gently rested his hand on her shoulder. "I'll see you later," he whispered, quickly kissing her neck and promptly leaving the restaurant.

Love has made me a fool set me on fire and watched as I floundered
unable to speak except to cry out and wait for your answer
and you come around in your time speaking of fabulous places create
an oasis that dries up as soon as youre gone
you leave me here burning in this desert without you
Doug immediately opted out of the cab idea, and walked the block to the hotel instead. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he took in the lights of the city and sighed. Fumbling in his pockets, he found what he was looking for. Running his thumb over the small packet, Doug began to whistle as he rounded the corner and headed into the lobby of the Hilton.

"Should we be worried?" Mark asked after Doug's sudden disappearance.

Carol shrugged. "You know how he is. Give him his space when he needs it and he'll be fine."

Doug put on his 'swagger' as he entered the lobby of the hotel. Scanning the tourists and conference attendees, he spotted her. She was leaning against the front desk, wearing a slinky red dress and four-inch heels. Her eyes were immediately glued to him. The way he walked and presented himself drove her crazy.

"Hey stranger," she said, as Doug walked up to the blonde-haired woman.

"Leslie," he nodded.

"So, your suite or mine?" she asked with a smile, as Doug put an arm around her and led her upstairs.

Doug's only response was a devilish chuckle.

How stupid could I be
a simpleton could see
that youre no good for me
but youre the only one I see

"I'd better head back," Carol said, slinging her purse over her shoulder. "Doug should be asleep by now."

"We'd better get going as well," Elizabeth agreed. "Would you like us to drop you off at the hotel?"

Carol smiled her appreciation. "No thanks," she said. "I think I'm just" she paused, sighing "just gonna walk back."

"You're sure?" Elizabeth asked again.

"Yeah," she nodded, glancing down at the table and back at her friends.

"Doug... oh God... please... don't stop," Leslie moaned breathlessly. "You're amazing," she smiled, as Doug laid down beside her.

"Yeah?" he laughed.

"Oh yeah," she replied, catching her breath.

Everything changes everything falls apart
I cant stand to feel myself losing control
In the deep of my weakness I know

How stupid could I be
a simpleton could see
that youre no good for me
but youre the only one I see

Carol walked slowly down the hall to the room she and Doug shared, pulling her leather coat tightly around her and crossing her arms over her shoulders.

"Wanna try that again?" Doug asked with a smirk.

"You bet," Leslie replied, propping herself up on one elbow. She leaned over and gave him a long and passionate kiss.

"You're incredible," Doug chuckled.

Knocking softly on the door, Carol paused briefly for a response. "Doug?" She tried again, this time knocking a bit harder.

Hearing muffled noises on the other side of the door, Carol leaned against the doorframe, just out of range of the peep-hole on the door.

Suddenly the door opened and Doug appeared, wearing an old, dark gray t-shirt. "Carol," he said, almost surprised. "Uh..." he stalled, looking over his shoulder.

"Who is it, baby?" Leslie asked, coming up behind him and cupping her left arm around his shoulder.