Chapter 19

Carter was getting ready to leave; his eyes were still swollen from what had happened. "has anyone seen Abby?" he asked the clerk. "Also I need to let Kerry know I'm going home since that mace accident," He said laughing at himself

Abby went zipping by the admit area. She needed to get a vitamin H shot to the patient hanging out, literally in three and then get some blood drawn on a very cranky old man sitting in exam 2.

"Whoa Abby slow down, are we still on for the night?" he asked her "And have you seen Dr. Weaver," He asked her as she was zipping by

Abby slowed and smiled at Carter, "yeah we're on for tonight still. Go home take care of your eyes I'm not off until 8. And I haven't seen Weaver in a long time."

All right," He said to her

Doug had heard Carol's voice in the background. "Where are you in the lounge? I'll come over and get you." he said trying to keep the emotion out if his voice. he walked across the street and saw Anna on her phone. "oh there you are." he said hanging up. he could tell something had happened. Anna looked at him differently. "what's up?"

Anna smiled at Doug; she wasn't going to let Carol's words get to her. After all what ever happened between her and Doug was just that. She just wanted to get out and have some fun. "Oh nothing other than Carter managed to get himself maced in face." With that she laughed knowing that Carter wasn't with in ear shot, "let's get out of here before I get sucked back thru the doors. Burger, beer and if I remember right you said I had to let you win at darts? What kind of deal is that?"

Doug smiled back. Maybe he was just being paranoid. "Yeah I need to have some fun too. I've had a crappy day" Doug glanced at the hospital. he couldn't believe he was back here. "Hey you don't have to let me win at darts. I'm telling you now I'm going to kill you." he snagged his hat down and pointed to his car. "I'll drive. I know this great place...as long as it's still here. A lot of things have changed." Doug began the walk to his car. "So I guess Carter is over being mad at us then?"

"Yeah you sure could say a lot of things have changed." Anna said still laughing, "we need some fun. I think me being there to wash out Carter's eyes made him not nearly so mad at us, or maybe it was that he actually got to talk to Abby. I wouldn't know for sure. He is still the same klutzy Carter that he will always be with that baby face. But he's a lot more jumpy than I remember him being. But then I guess I would be too if I had to go thru what he did. Are you sure you want to drive? It's not like a minivan or anything is it since you're now a married man?"

Doug sighed and rolled his eyes. "No. I drive a jeep Cherokee...I wouldn't be caught dead in a minivan." stopping to look around he pointed to it. "see that black one." walking over closer he opened the door. "and actually, Carol and I aren't married. I guess we were both just waiting for the right time and it never happened." he sat in the car and waited for Anna to get in. after a minute he started the car. "me in a minivan..."

Anna laughed as she climbed into Doug's jeep, "okay you got me there. I think I can handle riding in a set of wheels like this. And you are so right a minivan doesn't suit you. But then I don't see me driving something as manly as a jeep."

"Ha-ha! manly. I like that." Doug laughed with Anna. it felt good to laugh. slowly he drove through the snowy Chicago streets looking for a good spot to eat. "here we go" Doug said pulling up at a wooden bar off of Michigan avenue. a sign with Buzzy's was held up above the entrance. "I used to come here with Mark. you're going to love it. they've got beer, burgers, darts, pool...and music." he got out of the car and waited for Anna to do so. "I hope you like to dance"

"Dancing too, wow Doug." Anna said looking at the bar. "I'm up for a very good time. This is something that Max would never to. Let's go get a couple of cold beers and kick back just like old times."

Doug looked around the bar. it wasn't too crowded. "well how about you grab a seat and I'll get some drinks." he went up to the counter and ordered a few beers and some food. by the time he turned around he had two bottles in his hand and was walking over to sit next to Anna. he slouched down in his chair and smiled. "you know I still remember when we didn't get along!" he said taking a drink. "so tell me about the new Anna del Amico... does she like long walks on the beach...or something more fiery like kickboxing?" Doug asked joking. he was glad he could be himself around Anna.

"You're right we didn't get along. But maybe that was because you were a hot shot fellow and well you saw me as just an annoying little resident." She said taking a drink from the beer bottle. "A round of kickboxing followed by a walk on the beach, assuming that I haven't beaten up my partner. I liked Philly for awhile but," She paused, "never mind. Come on why don't you beat me on this dart board if you can Dr. Ross."

Carter had gone home, but was looking forward to his date with Abby, he decided to get some sleep, but he was also Kerry would call him back in, cause he never told her that he left for the day after that incident.

Abby watched the clock that seemed to tick by so slowly. She just wanted to get out of dodge. She was now sitting at the admit desk working on the nursing schedule. When she saw Carol, "hey Carol, can you take an extra shift on Thursday night?"

Doug nodded. he understood her not wanting to talk about her love life just like he didn't want to talk about his. "oh don't doubt my dart throwing ability. if you beat me in this I'll take it all in pool." he said standing up. Doug walked over and grabbed the darts out of the board. "you want to go first or just say I've already won?"

Anna snatched the darts from Doug's hand laughing, "like you could do either of those Doug." She stood behind the line and threw them effortlessly at the dart board hitting her target with ease. "Oh did I tell you that when I was in college on the weekends I played in tourneys."

Doug's mouth dropped as she hit the targets. He hated to loose. "ok" he said retrieving the darts. "its on...no mercy." biting his lip he tossed the darts. his shots were about the same as Anna's. switching positions he handed her the darts and her beer. "maybe if I get you drunk first I can win." he said laughing. "what so you're telling me you play pool too? you cant take both away from me."

Anna took a couple of swigs from her beer bottle. "It's been awhile since I've played pool." She said throwing the darts again. "You don't want to talk about Carol; I don't want to talk about Max. But tell me Doug have you been nursing that knee as long as I've been patching together my bad marriage?"

Doug lost his focus throwing and the smile faded off his face. Trying hard to keep his cool he locked his eyes on the dart board. "What do you mean Anna?"

Carol turned around when she saw Abby, it had been awhile, she had just returned. "Your the nurse manager?" She asked her. "What happened to med school? and of course I can take a the shift on Thursday night

"I don't mean anything by it Doug." Anna said softly, she could tell by Doug's reaction that she had hit a sore spot with him. "I was just curious about your knee that's all and how long its been bothering you."

"Yeah nurse manager that's me." Abby replied, thanks for taking the shift. Long story behind med-school and me for now it wasn't meant to be. Ahh 8 o'clock is finally here and now I can leave before some tragedy pulls me back into this never ending vortex."

"Uhh just for a few months." Doug replied. He threw the dart and missed the board completely. "Well, that's enough of that. Let's eat something." Doug walked back over to their table and sat back down. By now there were two hamburgers along with two more beers there too.

Anna sat down across from Doug, "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable Doug." She said as she started to eat. She avoided eye contact with Doug and watch a small band start to set up in the corner of the bar.

Doug scratched at the small stitches in his hand. "nah you didn't. seems like everything is bothering me today." he took a bite of his food and noticed Anna looking behind him. turning around he smiled. "looks like we're going to have some music. you like to dance?" he was looking for anything to change the subject and he had found it. he didn't know if Carol would be upset with him for going out with Anna but he didn't care. she looked beautiful and he had a good time with her. as the band started to play Doug stood up and held out his hand. "will you dance with me?"

"Well its nice to be working with you as a nurse, and I understand the med. school bit. I tried it to," She said to her. Well have fun whatever your doing," She said to her

Anna looked at Doug, "I would love to dance with you." She said reaching for his hand. She was here to have a good time. She would deal with whatever Max came up with later. She was sure that he would have some excuse to be mad at her and throw a fit or two, but right now that really didn't matter.

Abby shut the schedule book and looked at Carol, "I plan on it, everyone is one their own cause I'm officially off and I'm not coming back." She said smiling as she headed towards the lounge to get her things.

Doug took Anna's hand and spun her out of her chair. He was glad he had actually learned how to dance. The band kicked off with 'Great Balls of Fire' just as they reached the floor. "Here we go." he said with a smile, giving her a spin and laughing.

Susan finished cleaning up in exam room one and finally made her way into the lounge to put up her things. "Hey Abby. You going home?"

"Not sure just what I am doing. I think that Carter and I are going out, not sure if it would still be considered a blind date or not." Abby let out a giggle. "I'm not sure if he was coming back here to get me or if I'm supposed to find him."

Anna giggled as she spun. Doug wasn't a bad dancer and she was having a great time. "Where did you learn to dance like this? You're great."

"oh well I'm sure you'll have a good time. if I see him I'll let him know you're in here." she said walking out. she hated night shifts. almost all her friends were gone. walking over to admit to get a chart she spotted Carol. "hey Carol. you doing ok?"