Chapter 13

Carter made it back to the ER. It looked busy, and wonder what the hell was going on. And the younger the students, they looked like they had not a clue of what the heck was going on. Where were some of the other residents? Jerry gave him a note to meet with Kerry. Ok he thought, was he in trouble for not being her. Carter walked upstairs to her new office and knocked on the door. "Dr. Weaver, its Carter you wanted to see me" he said to her as he waited for her to let him in

"Yes Carter," Kerry said looking up from her increasing tower of paper work, "there's something important that I want to talk to you about." She said looking at him. "Actually it has to do with your future here at County."

Carter stood there listening to Kerry. "About my future here, "he said. Um OK" he said to Kerry. He wonder what about his future here meant to him. He waited for her to reply. He just stood there waiting to here what else she had to say to him.

"Yes Dr. Carter." Kerry said, "please sit down." Kerry pointed to the chair. "As you know you residency will be over here shortly, and I am not aware that you were planning on leaving us here at County. We would like to offer you a position here on staff as an attending physician."

Carter was shocked. He was being offered to be attending, when his residency was up. "Yes Kerry I would like that" he told her. Finally no one was going to look down on him a gain. But Kerry was still his boss, and also she had been one of his mentors as well. "Thank you Kerry" He said to her

"There's no need to thank me Carter, you've earned it yourself. You've worked hard and proven yourself. Now go get back to work. I'm sure there's a board piling up down there with patients." Kerry said to him. "And thank you Carter for coming in. I know that you just finished your shift, but I'm short handed and I didn't want to leave the other new attending down stairs with out any help on her first day."

Doug shot a little more after Carter left. he knew tomorrow would be even harder then today. he would have to ask Kerry about his future at county and he knew he would have to face Carol. he looked at his watch, it was getting really late and he wanted to go to the hospital early. he walked inside without talking to anyone. after lying down for a little he finally managed to fall asleep.

Susan went home to change and wait for carol's call. she wasn't quite sure if she would bring up the subject of Doug or not, but she was just glad to have her friend back.

"All right" Carter said to her. wondering who the new attending was. "I see you later Kerry" he told her. He then went back downstairs and put his lab coat on and started seeing patients. He hadn't seen the new attending yet.

Carol was walking down the street when she saw a familiar person. "Anna," She said to her. Maybe she invite her to go along with her and maybe let her meet Susan.

Anna turned around at hearing someone call her name. "Oh hi Carol." Anna said surprised to see a familiar face after all this time. "How are you?"

I'm doing ok" Carol said to her. "So what you doing, would you like to go out with me and a friend of mine" Carol asked her

"I'd like to really but I have to work." Anna said, "they are expecting me and I think technically my shift started already." Anna let out a soft sigh. "It's a little harder to go back in there than I thought it would be."

Susan wondered if Carol was done shopping yet. she could really use a drink, she knew she was on tomorrow but she didn't care. she had done it before. she grabbed the phone and dialed the number; she cleared her throat as it rang.

"Don't worry you do fine" Carol said. "I got to go, but nice seeing you again Anna" Carol said to her. Carol heard her phone go off. "Hello?" She asked her

Anna turned and walked inside the ambulance bay doors. The ER was a lot different than she had remembered it. But some things were still the same. She went thru security and down to the lounge where she tossed her things into a locker before heading back out to check the board. She stood in front of it for a minute before she turned to start flipping thru glancing at the charts to see what if any interesting cases there might be.

"hey Carol. I cant get a hold of Abby, but if you want to go out just us it's fine."

Carter finished working on patients. He wonder where the hell the new attending was. He hadn't seen her in awhile, and he was here to help. He walked up to admit where Anna was standing, but he didn't realize it was her yet. "Your late, you should of been here awhile ago." he said sounding a little irritated, cause part of him was in charge of the ER at the moment.

Carol listened to Susan. "ok, well I'm on my way," She said to her

"all right, ill see you soon." Susan said as she headed out the door. since the bar was about a block from her apartment Susan wasn't surprised when she got there first. she went up to the counter and ordered a margarita as she waited for Carol.

Doug rolled around in the oversized bed. he had finally fallen asleep and now he was up again. he rubbed his face before he sat up. after a moment he was up and walking through the mansion. he couldn't believe all this was Carter's. after awhile he walked down to the kitchen and opened up the refrigerator. finally he grabbed a beer and stepped outside to carter's basketball court again. he sat down on the basketball as he drank. he knew he needed to set up an appointment with Kerry tomorrow to talk about getting his job back, but he didn't want to deal with talking to her tonight. instead he went inside and called the front desk. jerry answered the phone. "hey Jer, its Doug Ross. could you leave a message for weaver for me? tell her to call me when she is free tomorrow ok?" he hung up without saying goodbye. this was not something he looked forward to, especially after the scene he pulled today.

Carol went and got her stuff ready. She then went and met up with Susan. "Hey Susan," She said to her

Susan turned around. "Hey! what's going on? there aren't many good looking guys in this one." she said with a half laugh. "your day get any better?"

Anna picked up a couple of charts from the rack and headed off to see patients. From the looks of the waiting room it appeared like it was going to be a long night. As she came out of the exam room after tending to her first patient she couldn't' believe the doctor she saw standing not that far from her.

my days getting to be ok" Carol said to her. "I mean I just need to have a girl's night out with you," She said to her

Carter was still pretty irritated. "You were late, and I had to drag my behind in here, after I got off to cover for you" he said still not aware of it being Anna.

"I was just a couple minutes late Carter." Anna said she was under the impression that he didn't recognize her. She looked at him, "are we high and mighty in the ER now?"

Susan smiled. it was good to hear. "All right then. let's order you a drink!" she said as she motioned the bartender over. Susan knew once they got a few drinks down they would both be in a lot better moods. "So you're staying for sure?" she asked as they got their drinks.

Carter looked at her, All of sudden he felt awful, but still anger for Anna leaving him. He had confessed his love. "I'm sorry Anna," he said to her But he had been hurt by her leaving him for max. But he was now happy with Abby.

Carol looked at Susan, "Yes can I get vodka" she asked. she wanted to drink heavily tonight. At least her mama told her it was time to get out and have fun.

"Hey don't be sorry Carter; it's been a long time." Anna said as she twisted the ring on her finger, "I'm kind of surprised to see you still here. I thought that you would have moved on by now."

"Well I'm still here, and a lot of things have happened since you left" he told her He didn't know how to tell her about his past, the past that haunted him each day of his life, He hadn't told anyone that he still sometimes get the back pains "I'm chief resident, but I was just offered a attending position here" he told her

"Attending Carter wow that's great for you." Anna said. "You're chief resident. Maybe we can catch up later. I have a pile of patients that need to be seen."

Carter smiled back at her. "That would be great Anna" he said as he went to work on his own patients as well. It would be hours to see her again

Anna finished seeing her last patient for the night. She headed into the lounge and flopped down on the couch stretching out for a few minutes. She could see the daylight once again start to stream in thru the window. She glanced at her watch a little after 5 am. Max should be leaving for work in an hour. If she drug her feet a little longer she wouldn't have to deal with him. Maybe she would get her coat and head across the street to get coffee.

After a long night of drinking Susan looked at the clock on the wall. she was amazed the bar tender hadn't kicked them out yet. it was getting into the early morning and her and Carol hadn't really talked about anything substantial. "Ohhh I have to work today" she grumbled pushing away her drink. "Want to get some coffee before we go our ways? we can walk and talk." Susan suggested. she wasn't quite sure if Carol wanted to bring up Doug or not, but sometimes it felt better to talk.

Anna drug herself off of the lounge couch and headed off across the street. She slid into a booth with a cup of coffee and the morning's paper. She figured this was as good of place as any to kill time; at least she wasn't at the apartment arguing with Max for the 100th time about dragging him away from Philadelphia back to Chicago.

Carol looked at Susan. "I take a walk and talk," She said to her

Susan got up with Carol and walked outside. it was fun to get out with an old friend. "So Carol, how did you like Seattle? it must have been beautiful over there. I still remember the day Mark called me and told me how you just flew away to see Doug..." she stopped as she said his name. "you and Doug will be ok. you're perfect together."