CHAPTER 24

Carter helped Abby into the car. "So where would you like to go madam"

Carol walked over to Kerry after that heated argument; she couldn't stand being with Doug any longer at the moment. "Excuse me Kerry, if you please may I go home, I need to sort some stuff out" she said to her

"Please, I'd rather it be you." She answered. "When you go by the nurses' station could you tell them that I need some more pain meds?"

"Carter anywhere that has food I am starving." Abby said.

"Yeah that's fine Carol, I thought that you were off anyway." Kerry said.

Doug rolled his eyes. he knew he was being selfish but he couldn't believe that Anna wasn't picking up on what he was trying to tell her. "Bye Anna." he smacked the door open and let it close behind him hard. "Anna Del Amico needs some more Demerol." he said to the nurse who promptly left to administer it after he signed the chart. as soon as he did Doug squinted, he had forgotten Kerry wanted him to let her know about all narcotics before he prescribed them. "Ahh screw it." he said to himself. Doug grabbed her chart and looked up Anna's emergency contacts. Once he found Max's name he dialed the number and let the phone ring.

Carter smiled at her as they were driving, "How about the new Italian place by your place" he said to her

"What do you want Anna, you don't call, you don't come home." A voice yelled into the phone.

"Oh I forgot since you know what" she said to her, "thanks Kerry" Carol said. She went back to the lounge and started getting her purse.

Doug was shocked to hear the voice on the other end. "Ummm Mr. Rocher? This is Doug Ross from County General. Anna's been in a car accident. I need you to come down to the hospital please."

"What is she dead or dying?" Max snipped.

Doug was shocked, he couldn't believe this guy. "Umm no sir she's in recovery. it's against hospital policy to give out anymore information over the phone. if you come to the hospital I will go over it with you."

"If she's not dead, not dying then she doesn't need me to sit there and hold her little hand," Max yelled, "she coming home on Demerol or Vicodin?"

"That would be fine Carter." She said kicking back, "hope that Anna is alright."

Doug dropped his head. If Max had been at the hospital he would have knocked his teeth out. "I don't see what that has to do with the fact that your wife is in the hospital in critical condition. Will you be here or not?" he knew he shouldn't get short with Max, especially because of his relationship to Anna but the guy was pissing him off.

"Not unless you are telling me that I need to come in and claim her body." Max said, "otherwise I don't need to be there."

"Fine I'll let her know." Doug said through his teeth. "Freaking ass!" he yelled slamming down the phone. Doug stood for a second looking at Anna. How could somebody treat her like that? He waited several minutes to work up the courage to go in and tell her that she would have to be alone tonight. He didn't want to see her but she deserved to know. Doug softly opened the door and walked in. Anna was still facing away from him so he walked around to the other side of the bed so he could look at her and sat down. "Max might be by later." he lied. "Is there anyone else that could stay with you? If they let you home tonight they are going to want someone to watch you." Doug talked to his feet even though he was facing her, but it was the best he could do.

John looked at her. "Abby when were on a date you can call me by my first name" he said to her. They were finally there, "So um you want to call the ER, and see how she's doing?" he asked her

She rubbed her head against the pillow trying to push her hair out of her face, "the only other person I have is you Doug. You're the only person who gives a damn."

Doug's eyes drifted up to hers. he leaned forward and tucked her hair behind her ear. "ok. when they discharge you I'll send you over to Carter's. it looks like I'll be staying there for awhile anyway." Doug couldn't help it anymore. the combination of exhaustion, anger, and stress and finally gotten the better of him. he could feel his eyes welling up with tears so he buried his head in the cushion of the gurney bed.

Anna leaned over and kissed the top of his head. "Doug I would hug you and hold you and give you my shoulder to cry on but baby I can't." She said to him. Her check rested on the back of his head.

Doug quickly wiped his eyes and sat up fast. "I'm sorry. here I am acting like a baby and you're the one who's been hurt today. I should be the one there for you." he rubbed his face. he had forgotten to shave and he knew he must look pretty ragged.

"No Doug you've had a long day and I'm sure me being up here hasn't been easy for you." Anna said she was really beginning to feel the need for the pain meds. "Come here Doug."

Doug scooted forward in his chair and rested his chin on the gurney bar a few inches from Anna's face. he didn't know why it was so hard for him to look Anna in the eyes. "what?" he asked

Anna stretch pulling the restraint against her arm tight to reach Doug's face. She felt the desire to kiss him; she needed to know that last night wasn't just her imagination. She hoped against odds that the man sitting there so close to her would kiss her back.

Doug looked at Anna's hand and undid the restraints. "those things are dumb huh?" he tried to joke. she was looking at him in a way that he couldn't decipher. He felt close to her now more than ever. Now he knew she had pain in her life too. He took her freed and brought it next to his face. again he rested his chin on the bar. "I'm here."

With her hands free from the side of the bed she gently ran her fingers down the side of his face. Then she brought her lips down onto his. "I don't want anyone else but you. I thought you didn't want me Doug. You don't have to lie to me, Max isn't coming, and he was sent divorce papers today. I gave the lawyer the go ahead and I was on my way to see him at work when I got hit." She closed her eyes for a minute and could still see the SUV hitting her car.

Doug didn't pull away when Anna kissed him, but he didn't kiss her back either. he heard her say she sent the divorce papers in and it made sense to him why max was so mad. he hand was shaking as he looked at Anna, who had her eyes closed. "I never said I didn't want to be with you." he said before moving his head off the gurney bar and kissing her back. the kiss lasted longer then he thought it would. slowly he backed up a little. he held his head on his hand. "well I should let you sleep shouldn't I? but I'll be back. you wont have to be alone Anna. not tonight, not if you don't want to."

"I don't want to be alone." She said looking at him. Her eye lids started to flutter shut as sleep started to take it's hold.

Doug laid Anna's head back. He took her hand and held it in his, and put the other on her forehead. "I stay here until you fall asleep ok?" while Doug watched Anna drift off he began to as well. He knew Kerry would page him soon anyway or come up herself and wake him up so he didn't fight the feeling to fall asleep. he let his head fall in Anna's lap and tried to dream away the things of the morning.