Chapter 20

Doug laughed. "Yeah, well...I like this girl once who was a ballet dancer. I thought if I learned how to dance I would impress her. the only problem was I couldn't dance ballet to save my life. I ended up switching classes to ballroom and swing." he twirled her again and brought her into a dip as the song ended. Doug clapped and looked back at Anna. "but don't tell anyone." he said with a wink. with in seconds the band had moved into 'I will always love you'. Doug straightened up; pretending to look sophisticated and bowed in front of Anna. "Mrs. Del Amico, would you honor me?"

Anna did her best to mock a curtsy as she extended her hand to Doug smiling, "Oh Dr. Ross it is I who would be honored. And your secrets are safe with me."

Doug gave her a twirl and put her arms around his neck as they danced. "did you really think I was a hot shot back then? I know the reason I didn't like you at first is because you showed me up." he whispered into her ear. "you know...you're a good dancer too. its nice to be with someone who doesn't step on my toes."

"Thank you Doug," Anna said almost blushing, "yes I did think you were a hot shot back then. You carried yourself in the ER with this flare about you like you were an ER cowboy. But then you appeared almost shocked when you found out that I already was a pediatrician and that I was double boarding in emergency medicine."

"cowboy huh? well I am from Kentucky. you know I was shocked because you were a hot shot too. there you go! we're a match made in heaven." Doug laughed at his own joke. it only occurred to him after he said it that they were both flirting with each other. because he didn't know if Anna noticed he just kept his cool and made another joke. "I mean, how often do you find two Peds docs that can both dance and play darts. next you'll be telling me you can play basketball, and then it will be scary."

"That's debatable." Anna said Here she was dancing, flirting and having a good time. She could still feel the heat in her cheeks. "I think I could do with another drink Doug. Does this place have anything stronger than a beer?" She wanted to forget about Max for a little longer but being so close to Doug was getting a little too hot.

Doug stepped back from her and ran his fingers through his hair. "Uhh yeah. what do you want? drinks are still on me. go grab a seat or something." Doug didn't mind. the song was over and he was getting tired anyways. a stronger drink sounded pretty good to him, anything to make him forget about his day.

Anna shook her head and smiled, "how about tequila shooters cowboy?"

Doug nodded. a few minutes later he was on his way back to the table with six glasses. he slide three over to Anna and sat down. after slamming one back and stuck his feet up on an empty chair. "so where are you staying now? some fancy apartment on Michigan Ave. with Max? It can't be worse than Carol's old house by the El."

Anna slammed a shot. "Fancy apartment on Michigan Ave ha-ha." She laughed. "No, it might not be as bad as Carol's old apartment next to the EL, but it's far from Michigan Avenue." She slammed back another, "Max makes sure that we as a couple will never be living any kind of high or rich life."

Doug noticed Anna drinking pretty fast. Clearly Max had made her more upset than she had let on. He took another shot and smiled at her. "You two will be ok. and if not I'll take care of it. I think I might have some Italian in me. those mafia connections go back far." he said as he winked at her. he slid his last shot over to her. "you want anymore or do you want to see how coordinated you are at pool?" Doug could feel he was getting a little buzzed, and he knew that she had to be too. He was trying to give her options to make sure she didn't feel like she was getting herself into a bad position.

She took the shot from Doug and slammed it. "Mafia sounds nice Doug. And the only reason I'm still with Max is because I didn't listen to Carter when he tried to warn me. Let's go shoot some pool. I don't think my coordination is all that bad yet."

Abby pulled her belongings from inside the locker and glanced down at her cell phone. She hadn't heard from Carter yet, she instinctively dialed his number and tapped her foot on the floor waiting for him to answer. She really wanted to get out of County but didn't want to leave not knowing where Carter was.

"All right" Carol said to her, Carol turned around and saw Susan. "Hey Susan," She said to her

Doug stood up with Anna. "You know you shouldn't have to be unhappy Anna. There are plenty of guys that would treat you better." he walked over and grabbed a stick. "Ok now the trick to winning in pool is all about the first break.' Doug stuck out the stick. "you want to try or do you want me to show you?"

"When do you get off Carol? you were here when I was." Susan gave her a big smile and walked around the counter. "besides, I'm sure you have more important things to do then be here."

"It's easier to say you're going to walk away than actually walk away. I have had plenty of chances to walk away from him but find myself always being drug back in." Anna said to him, "you go ahead and break you are the pool master. I wanted to come back to Chicago to be near people I know, people I could trust."

Carter heard his cell, the traffic was awful. "Hello," He said answering the phone as he waited for the other person on the other line

"Hey Carter," Abby said walking out of the lounge toward the bay doors. "I'm off and walking out of the ER, where are you at?"

"People you trust huh? that include me?" Doug walked over and started to chalk up the stick. "I know all about walking away. That's my special gift, not being able to commit to anyone... but trust me, you deserve to be happy." after a second he realized he had REALLY used a lot of chalk and he searched to change the subject back to something else. "Come here, I'll give you a good breaking technique." he handed Anna the stick and stepped behind her placing his hands over hers.

"Okay, good breaking technique." Anna said. She noticed that her hands were shaking. She tried to shake it off as nothing more than not wanting to be shown up by Doug on the pool table. But the shooters were starting to catch up with her. "Let's do this."

Doug turned his head to look at Anna; she did look a little loopy. he put his hand on top of hers to get it to stop shaking. after it didn't he turned his head to the side to look at her? "you know what? why don't I take you home? I don't think my ego could take another beating." it almost felt strange to him being so close to another woman. he hadn't even gone out for a drink with anyone but Carol in the last four years, but it was different with Anna. he knew she liked him, even if it was only as a friend. but there was something in the back of his mind that asked him why he had never asked her out six years ago.

"I'm backed up in traffic," He said to her.

"Why don't you just drop me off back at County, I'll sober up at Doc Magoo's with coffee before heading home." She said to Doug, thinking to herself that she probably wouldn't go home.

"Do you want me to meet you someplace or wait here for you?" Abby asked.

Doug stood up straight. "I mean, we don't have to go. I-I just thought you wanted to." Doug heard his own words and the tone of his voice and decided he needed to clarify. The last thing he wanted was for Anna to get the wrong idea. "I mean, I don't really have anywhere else to go." With that he screwed on a fake smile and tossed Anna the pool stick. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go splash some water on my face real quick."

When Doug got back to the table, Anna reached out and grabbed his arm, "it's not that Doug, I just don't want to go home. I didn't want you to think that you have to baby-sit a drunk. Max thinks I'm at County tonight and I can't go home smelling like I fell into a tequila vat."

Doug nodded. "Well by the time we both sober up we will have to go to work. I'm on at six I think." Doug looked at his watch, it was well past twelve. He knew he couldn't stay at the bar forever, and he was getting pretty tired, he just didn't want to be alone. "Well, actually I am staying at carter's...really big house. he has like 50 extra rooms. you could catch some sleep there and then I could drive you to work tomorrow. I know he wouldn't mind, he probably wouldn't notice."

Anna struggled to remain upright now as the alcohol in the shooters hit her. "Yeah, I think that might not be a bad idea."

Doug smiled as he grabbed her arm to keep her steady. "look. Uhh come on I'll let you get your jacket." he walked with Anna over to their table and draped her coat over her. after setting some money down on the table he put his arm around Anna to keep her steady while they walked to his car. "I didn't know you couldn't hold your liquor." he said with a laugh. Doug opened the door and dropped his head as he saw the falling rain. "Ohhh man. alright, watch your step."

Anna let Doug help her. But she couldn't help giggling. She felt like she was on top of the world right now. Slowly fighting to keep her words from turning into one giant garbled mess. "Thank you Doug. I've had the best time that I have had in a long time."

Doug helped her into the car. he heard Anna's slightly slurred words and couldn't help but laugh. "I bet so huh?" quickly he ran to the other side of the car and jumped in. after a few minutes on the road he decided to spark up some conversation. "I'm glad I still have the ability to make woman want to get drunk when they're with me. maybe it's a personality trait." he saw Anna out of the corner of his eye. he was glad she didn't know about Carol, he didn't want her to think different of him. "you know Anna, I'm trying to remember but it seems you were the only ER doc...aside from weaver that I never went out with. you know you screwed up my track record."

Anna rolled her eyes at him, "you never did ask me out. But then you can just think that you were respecting Carter's territory. I walked away from a good thing when I left him. He warned me about Max and I didn't listen. Now here I have been miserable for the last four years, watching him move from hospital to hospital, rehab to rehab. Working double shifts to avoid being near him." It felt good to let it all come rolling out.