A/N: Sadly the person who was originally putting this into story format did have to stop the project due to personal reasons. We didn't want to see the project stop because of the amout of time and effort that has been put into it by all those involved, so I have picked up where she left on and hope to be able to continue on with it. I will update as time allows, but here is Chapter 14 for In The Life, the RPG story from One Can Only Hope.

Chapter 14

Doug woke up when his watch alarm went off. he was freezing. somehow he had fallen asleep outside. he got up off the ground and went inside to get dressed. although a new set of clothes didn't make him feel any better, he looked good enough to talk to weaver. Doug left the Carter mansion without managing to talk to anyone. after he took the el to county he walked in to look for weaver. after not seeing her he looked up her pager number at the front desk and sent her a message to stop by the counter.

Kerry felt her pager beep and she headed down to the admit area. She looked around, "who paged?"

Doug turned around...it was show time. "Hey Dr. Weaver." he said sticking out his hand. "I guess you didn't get my message last night? I would love to talk to you for a second if you have some time." Doug was shocked. Even though he hadn't really seen Kerry in several years, she looked exactly like how he remembered. He only hoped that her memories of him were good.

Carol looked at Susan as she mentioned the name of Doug. "I don't know at the moment," She said to Susan. "Well I know he's my soul mate, we have beautiful daughters together. I just wanted him to get help, but has been taking it out on me," She said to her

Carter walked in to the lounge after awhile and Saw Anna there. "Busy night" He asked her. "If you want, want to get a cup of coffee, I mean to catch up on each other" he said to her

Kerry looked at Doug for a minute; he looked older and seemed tired. "Sure Doug I have a few minutes, why don't we go into my office and talk."

"Yeah it was a busy night." Anna said, "it's been awhile since I've worked in an ER. I'd love to have coffee and catch up with you."

"Great" Carter said to her. "Lets go then." He said to her. "Yea this busy ER now" he said to her

Anna pulled herself up off the couch. "It was busy when I left." She said to him. As she pulled her coat of the locker. "I got pampered working in Philadelphia. The hospital that I was at really never did get hit hard; I think that's why I wanted to come back here. I missed all the excitement."

"Wow" he said to her. "Yea I know what you mean, it still is busy here" he said to her as he helped her

"Well at least you have seem to find a place to call home and you seem to be happy." Anna said, "what's this new place across the street like?"

Doug walked with Kerry into her office. as they sat down he started to talk. "Well Dr. Weaver, I know last time I worked here I didn't exactly leave on the best of circumstances...in fact I know I should have been fired long before then. however, Carol and I are back in town and nothing would make me happier then to work back here again. and before you say anything please know that years can change people, I'm not the same kind of person I was back then..."Doug struggled with his words. he wished he didn't pick the night before to try and stop his problem. taking a deep breath he tried again, "look, what I'm trying to say is I would really like a job here, and I appreciate your time."

Susan saw how this hurt her. "I'm sorry for bringing it up Carol. you know this isn't Doug though, something's bothering him and once he figures it out I know he'll be fine. he's a strong person...and so are you."

Carol looked at Susan. "Its not your fault Susan, I know, I hope he works it out," She said to her.

Susan was about to walk into the coffee house when she caught a glimpse of her watch. she was on in thirty minutes. "Oh no..." she grumbled. "Carol I hate to do this but I have to go to work. but ill tell you what, do you like yoga? I go every Saturday and Carter goes sometimes too. it can really help you relax if you want to come ill call you."

"Doug, you know that you and I have never gotten along that well, but I won't hold that against you. But I have to have some assurances that what happened in the past is not going to happen again. As it is I am short handed doctors, the ER is being overrun with med students. I need someone who can teach, but not break the rules every time I am not looking. If I give your job back to you, there will have to be conditions attached to it." She said to him, "the last thing that I need is a renegade back in the ER."

Doug nodded. "I understand. ill be open to any conditions you have, and I wont go over the top. you have my word. I just really need this job. I can start whenever you want."

"You can have the job then Doug. But I want you to work under Susan for now. I want you to run all your narcotic prescription by her. I also want you to check in with me on a weekly basis to run your patients by me. You'll only have to do this for, let's say 90 days and then I will let you have a little more freedom, but Doug, Mark isn't here to cover your butt and protect you. You screw up and that's it there won't be any second chances." Kerry said to him. "You can start today. But don't expect all day shifts, and you will be expected to see adults as well as Peds cases."

"Well for now I do, but it hasn't all been that good," He admitted to her. not where to start how bad things got after she left or about the addiction.

"NO don't worry about, as a matter of fact I go with you. I need to talk to Kerry about getting a job there myself," She said. "yoga I don't know," She told her.

"All that matters is that you are happy now Carter." Anna said looking at him. Anna's cell phone rang and she turned away from Carter when she answered it. "No, got held up at County. Yes, I know, no I have to work same time as tonight. Don't yell at me." Anna hung up the phone, and turned her attention back to Carter, "sorry about that."

Carter looked at her. "Yea, things are getting better" he said to her. "That's OK" he said to her. "Anna there's some things you might want to hear from me, what's happened in the past. I really need to tell you this stuff as friends" he told her

Doug smiled and agreed. he didn't care he was just glad to have his job back. "thank you Kerry." he said before walking down to the ER to get his stuff ready and grab a patient.

"Whatever happened Carter in the past probably should stay there." Anna said looking at him, "just because we are friends doesn't mean that you have to tell me everything. When you're ready to tell me you can, otherwise I have a feeling that it's none of my business really."

Carter was looking at her. "Listen Anna, I feel the right that you deserve to know, I want to tell you. I don't want to hide it from you" He said to her.

"I would never see you as hiding from me Carter." Anna said as she reached out for his hand, "you will always be my dearest friend Carter no matter what has happened. So if you want to tell me then just spit it out."

Susan smiled at Carol. "Oh come on. yoga is more fun then it sounds." she joked as they walked up to county. "I know you'll get your job back! it'll be so much fun to work with you again!" it had been a long night and Susan wasn't really relishing the fact that she was on. as they walked into the hospital Susan cringed when she saw Doug reading at the desk. he didn't notice they had walked in.

Carter smiled as Anna took his hand. "Ok Well a few years ago I was stabbed, along with my med. student. She didn't make it. Then a few months later I started taking more pain meds. I'm addicted to drugs Anna" He said to her finally. "I been sober for a few years now, But I still go to AA meetings" he finally told her

Carol looked at her. "Can I think about it," She asked her joking back. "I hope so," She said to her as they walked in. She then noticed Doug there, but she didn't want to talk to him.

Susan looked over to Carol. "want to go to the lounge?"

Doug was reading about all the new policies Kerry had added in the past few years. he didn't notice anyone coming in. it wasn't a heavy day yet since they were in those awkward hours that no one seemed to get sick in. he was glad Kerry had given him another shot, although he was still wondering about the whole 'report all cases and narcotic' thing...he decided he would just let it go, for now.

Kerry came back down to the ER. She wasn't fully comfortable having Doug working there again, but hopefully he had changed over the years that he had been gone and she could lift what restrictions she had put on him soon. "Doug," She said when he saw him sitting there reading, "I was wondering if you wouldn't mine being on call for L&D today, they are short and I was hoping that you wouldn't mind floating up there if they need you."

Doug looked up. "Oh...yeah Kerry that's fine. how long of a shift do you want me to work anyway?" sitting there Doug had started to feel better about moving back. if nothing else, at least he had a job now, which is more then he could say for Carol.

"Thanks Doug, I know how much you love kids and I know that you'll be a big help welcoming those new babies." Kerry said. "If you can stay until 3 that would be fine."

"Carter, it takes a lot of courage to openly admit that." Anna said, "you're recovering that's great. I know if must be hard, but I also know that you are strong and will make it. At least you have the will power to change when you see yourself headed down the wrong road."

"Sure Kerry, I'm here for you." he said cracking a smile. "oh Kerry, I think Carol was looking to find you sometime today also. if you talk to her will you tell her I'm hanging with Carter tonight? I never know when I'll see her." he said lying. he didn't need Kerry knowing their business, but he wanted Carol to know that he had a place to stay.

"I'll tell her if I see her Doug," Kerry said as her eyes glanced out over the triage waiting area that was now starting to fill up, "now get to work there's a board with patients."

Carter smiled at Anna. "I know" He said to her, "I ...there's well still days I want to go to the drug cabinet and take something, But then I remember my steps. Also I would like you to meet someone later, she basically save my life, I mean if she hadn't caught me in the trauma room. I don't think I would of been here" he said to her

Sure" Carol said to her. "What has changed the place so much," She asked her friend

"I'm glad that you have someone Carter, and I would love to meet her sometime." Anna glanced down at her watch and let out a deep sigh, "I'm assuming that she works at County. What does she do?"

Doug nodded as he grabbed a clipboard and started off for curtain one. "Thanks again Kerry!" looking over the chart he saw the young man had an elevated temp and complained of stomach pain. "Hello, I'm Dr. Ross." he said to the kid. he was happy to be able to say that at all.

"Kerry's summer renovation." Susan said with a laugh. "you should have seen it in July! workers everywhere, I think the lounge was under a pile of ruble. it was pretty bad. but then again, ever since Romano officially took over as chief of staff and Kerry for the ER it has been a mess since they never agree on anything." Susan looked outside the lounge. it looked like it was starting to build up but she wasn't on for another ten minutes. "so when are you going to talk to Kerry?"

Kerry walked into the lounge to get a cup of coffee before going up to knock heads with Romano one more time over some budget issues, and her being understaffed in the ER. She was surprised to see Susan and Carol both in there. Kerry didn't say anything but continued to get coffee.

"Hey Kerry." Susan said with her usual perky voice. "Having a good morning so far? it doesn't look too busy yet." she said standing up to open up her locker. she didn't want to hear anything about not working up patients yet so she decided to pretend she was getting ready and make small talk.

"Yeah Susan it's been fine. You have help today; Doug is on as attending today so you won't have to run the ship yourself." She said, "I have some board meetings today I'll be back and forth between upstairs and down here. Page me if you get buried and can't get out other than that I'm leaving you in charge Susan, you're the senior attending."

Carol smiled at Susan's comment on the renovation, but she could tell when Kerry had walked in, she had over heard it. "Ah I see," She said. "Hello Kerry," She said

Susan smiled, "Oh I'm all over it." she was surprised Kerry had given Doug his job back just like that, but she was glad. after she put on her lab coat and stethoscope she went and sat back down next to Carol. "So are you going to be alright today?" she asked

Doug had started to work up the young man when all of a sudden the kid threw up all over him. "Ohhh." Doug said as he took a step back. "That's ok...I'll be right back." he said before making his way to the lounge to change his shirt. Doug could only see Kerry through the small window in the door so he opened it. "hey Kerry where are the extra scrubs?" he asked before he looked up to see Susan and Carol.

Kerry nodded, "Hello Carol." She then turned her attention back to Doug, "There should be some in the supply closet just off Trauma 2 Doug."

Doug stood holding the chart in his hand. he had heard Kerry but he wanted to wait for Carol to say something to him, or at least recognize that he was there at all. He had almost put her out of his mind once the shift started, but as soon as he saw her everything came back. all he felt was pain.