CHAPTER 25

Anna let her body give in to the sleep. Several hours later she started to wake again. She could feel someone there with her. Her eyes fluttered open and a smile crossed her face for a fleeting moment as she recognized Doug sleeping. There was a dull pounding ache coming from the back of her head. She gently stroked the back of Doug's head. "Doug," she gently called, "Doug wake up please."

Abby and Carter had been enjoying a nice lunch when Abby's pager started to beep. She glanced down at it. "It's Kerry," She said looking at Carter, "Anna must be out of surgery. Did you want to go and see her, make sure that she's alright? I know she's an old friend of yours."

Doug had been in a deep sleep when he felt someone touch the back of his neck. he opened his eyes at the sound of Anna's voice and sat up. After rubbing his eyes he gave her a smile, she looked better than before. "What's up?"

"I need something for the pain please Doug," she said, 'I can't find the button for the machine."

Doug stood up to check her IV. "wimp" he mumbled. he opened up a cabinet and injected some morphine into her drip and sat back down. "so besides the obvious, you doing ok?"

"Yeah, I'm doing okay." She said, "I can't believe you just called me a wimp." Anna looked at Doug. "How are you holding up? You look tired and upset still."

Doug rubbed his neck. Laying like that make the muscles cramp. "Well I'm a doctor...I'm always tired. and you are a wimp." he said looking serious at first then adding a smile. "as for being upset, in case you haven't noticed yet...I'm a perpetual downer."

"Yeah right and I'm Mary Queen of Scotts." She said back to him. "You are not a downer Doug. You have made me happier than I have been in years, and that's just from you being my friend." Anna paused she didn't know for sure where she stood with Doug. She knew where she stood with Max right now. "You gave me courage when I didn't think that I had any. You've giving me the chance to see how it feels to have someone care for you." Anna struggled to sit up in the bed. "What do I have to do to prove that I am ready to blow this joint, get back up on my feet and go back to work?"

Anna made his grin turn into a huge smile. "Well I'm always glad to give relationship advice...but you probably shouldn't take it from me." Doug grabbed her chart. "Well I could always chase down a surgeon to clear you...but I think they are going to want you to hang out for a little." Doug lowered the chart. He wanted to know how Anna really felt about him. The last thing he wanted to do is take advantage of her current situation and play knight in shining armor, or be a rebound date. After a second Doug realized he was staring at her. Snapping his eyes back to the chart he rolled his chair back. "But how about I go find out?"

"I want you to be serious with me Doug." Anna said looking him. "I care for you; really last night with you, it well, it meant something to me." She looked down and ran her hands down the side of her face. "How do I say this with out sounding like a total dork? I guess Doug what I really want to know is there any chance that there is, an us? Because I don't know if I can make what I'm feeling go away, and I don't want to make it go away."

Doug sat back down. "Not exactly a surgical question is it?" Doug thought on how to respond to her question, he couldn't blow their conversation like he did with Carol. "Anna, I've never been good at expressing...my feelings to people. I don't know how I feel day to day most of the time, much less a year from now. But if all I can ever tell you about us it's this: I feel good when I'm with you, and when I'm not I don't." Doug paused to read the reaction off her face. For the first time he honestly couldn't tell what she was thinking. "So I don't know if that's going to make us great friends...or something more." Doug held her hand again. "Just make sure you know what you really want. I'm not going anywhere...except maybe to get you out of here." Doug always had to end on a joke. Serious talks were hard for him.

"I'm not asking for a commitment. Just to know that you don't mind this." Anna leaned over and kissed Doug. She pulled back and ran her hand down along the side of his face. "This is what I really want. Go see about my freedom or at least get me a paper so I can find a place to live since I refuse to go home."

Doug grinned. "I don't mind that." He stood up. "Well I'll go see about your release status, and grab a paper so we can look for some apartments. I'm kind of homeless too." He didn't know if Anna could pick up on the fact that things hadn't gone very well with Carol, but he was sure it would come up later. "As for tonight, I hope you don't mind sharing a mansion again."

"As long as you're there I would stay in a cardboard box." She said grinning. She leaned back against the bed. Last night he had Carol on his mind and today it was different. Anna had a feeling that Carol hadn't budged on the shrink that she wanted Doug to see. You couldn't change people and her feelings weren't based on anything but who Doug was

"Ha-ha cardboard it is." Doug left the room and made his way down to the ER to grab some coffee and a paper. after getting both he saw Kerry sitting at admit. He took a sip of his drink and walked over to her. "Sorry about my tone earlier. I had no right to yell at you. I appreciate that you came and told me that Anna was out of surgery. For the life of me I can't remember County's rule on discharging patients. I haven't read your info packet yet and Anna is getting pretty restless to leave." Doug was trying to be careful not to burn any bridges, especially not this early in his return.

Kerry looked at Doug, "exceptions can always be made Doug provided she would have someone to watch her. You know as well as I do that head injuries are not to be taken lightly. And as for earlier just don't let it happen again. Who's her doctor and I will see if I can pull strings if I need too?" Kerry said looking at him, "I'm sure that they will be happy to free up a bed."

Doug nodded. "Yeah I am staying with her tonight. I think Hix is her doctor. Page me will you when you find out?" With that Doug skipped the elevator and bounded up the stairs to the SICU. "Come on say it!" he said sitting on Anna's bed and handed her the newspaper. "Who's the best? I do believe my boyish charm might have been enough to convince Weaver to let you leave us here." Doug couldn't help his beaming face. Being next to Anna just made him smile.

Anna couldn't help but laugh. "You're the best Doug." She said as she threw her arms around his neck. "Out of here, into human clothes again." Her mouth dropped when she said that. Everything that Anna owned was over at her and Max's apartment. The only thing that she had now was a bloody hospital gown and a wreaked car.

Doug felt her droop and turned to look her in the face. "See what I tell you? I'm a downer." he said sarcastically. "What's wrong Anna? you're out of here soon."

Anna shook her head, "it's not you Doug, and it's me. I don't have clothes, my car it's totaled. I'm screwed. I can't go back to that apartment if he's there." She looked up at Doug, "God he has to be furious by now and I don't trust him."

Doug nodded, he understood her not wanting to see Max. After talking to him on the phone he wasn't sure he wanted to either. "Well, since I'm feeling especially magnanimous just tell me what you need and I'll get it for you. I'm sure he's gotten a chance to cool down. It's not that big of a problem for me to go over there." Doug wanted to make everything easy for Anna today. He knew extra stress never helped.

"I don't need much Doug just some clothes." She said, "Max can keep everything else. Do you have any idea how grateful I am?"

Doug shrugged. "Ahh well. I still owe you for listening to me complain last night. I need to go grab some lunch anyway." Doug took back the newspaper and ripped off two pieces from it. on one piece he wrote his cell phone number and the other he handed to Anna. "write down your address and I'll go get some clothes for you." he handed her his cell number. "if I'm not back by the time they want to discharge you or if anything has changed give me a call."

Anna scribbled her address on the paper. "Down in my locker is an extra set of keys, hopefully Max is working and you can just slip in and out. My stuff is in the closet on the right. Just grab what ever you can find. I think that there is a duffle bag sitting on the floor of the closet."

Doug nodded as he took the paper and stood up. "Secret op. I got it." he waved his hand goodbye to her and walked down to the lounge to grab his coat and her keys. Her apartment wasn't very far from the hospital so he thought he would just walk. Doug stepped outside and shivered, even though the sun was out it was still well below freezing. it didn't take him very long until he reached her building. he made it to the third floor and stood in front of the door. he didn't know if he should knock or not. if max was in there it would not be smart to let himself in. Doug gave three knocks on the door and waited for a response.

Max got up and stumbled towards the door. He opened it coming face to face with someone who he didn't know. "What do you want?" He recognized the face but he couldn't place it.

Doug clenched his jaw. Max looked drunk and he didn't really want to deal with it. he might have had patience with Anna but after talking with max on the phone he had none with him. "Max. I'm Doug Ross, we met many years ago...I'm a friend of Anna's. she needs some of her things and I'm here to get them so if you'd excuse me." said as he attempted to walked past max who stood in the doorway.

"Yeah sure whatever." Max said letting him by. "Tell me did she bat her pretty eyes and you to get you to do her bidding as well, or did she put out."

Doug ignored the question and shot Max a glare as he walked past him. He wanted so much to turn around and deck him. he found the duffel bag on the floor and started to fill it with her things. after grabbing as many clothes he could find he zipped up the bag then threw it over his shoulder. "Is there anything else here that she want?" he asked coldly.

"If there's anything else she wants she can come and get it herself." Max said to him, "she has no reason not to come back here. Its our home. When you see my wife remind her that until I sign those papers that's what she is."

Carter looked at Abby, "Yes I would like that" he told her. "If you don't mind" he said to her

"No Carter I don't mind." Abby said to him, "we can go anytime that you're ready. I know how nerve wracking it can be to have friends and family in the hospital and not know how they are doing."

Doug turned to face him. He was a good bit taller than Max and he did his best to look intimidating. "You may be her husband on paper, but just know that when it counts, you don't mean anything to her." As Doug spoke he could feel himself start to loose him temper. With all that had happened in the past few days it didn't take much. He took a step closer, slightly bumping Max's chest. "What the hell is wrong with you? You didn't even come to the hospital when she needed you. So as far as I'm concerned I never even saw you."

"All right, yea I been worried about her for awhile. I never seen Anna act that way before. And I know something was wrong" Carter said to her as he got up to pay the check

Max brought his hands up, "what are you the little trollop's protector now. Anna is nothing but self-centered. The world revolves around her, her wants, her needs, her, her, and her. Why would I spend my night with her?"

Abby watched Carter as she put on her coat. It was chilly outside today. She crossed the room and put her arms around his waist and stepped up on her toes. "I'm sure she's going to be fine John."

"I'm just her friend. But don't make the mistake in thinking that if you hurt her it'll go unpunished." he said as he turned to walk out. That wasn't how he remembered Max, but maybe Anna had been right after all. She didn't deserve someone treating her like that.

John looked at Abby and put his coat around her. "Here you go" He said putting his jacket around her. As they walked over to his car, he opened the door for her

Anna had gotten the chance to speak with Doctor Hix. Everything was looking better, but she didn't like someone telling her she had to be careful with a hole in her head. She looked at the clock. Doug hadn't gone for awhile now and she debated on whether or not to call his cell phone or just wait. She was antsy to get out of there. But he'd be back soon. She filled out all the discharge papers, promised to come back if anything seemed out of the ordinary. She laid back on the bed, closed her eyes and though of Doug.