Chapter 27

Abby let go of Carol when she saw Doug's look. She pulled at Carter's arm, "let's get out of here."

"I run all the way to Seattle and tell you I love you Doug, what the hell is wrong with you..., I don't know if I'll ever trust you, so leave me the hell alone" she said to him. She started walking off again, she had been hurt and Doug probably didn't understand how badly he was hurt.

Carter followed Abby. "I can't believe Doug would do that to her, I mean they went back and forth for years. Carol then leaves, cause she knows there soul mates. "He said to Abby."How am I suppose to talk to Anna, when she's also in the middle of this mess" he asked her. "I'm so confused on talking to Anna or not"

Abby looked up at Carter, "you know it's a two way street. Whatever happened in there it wasn't just Doug and it wasn't just Anna. You know she's been thru a lot today Carter. She could probably use a friend. We just have to be there for the three of them, I don't know Anna, John so whether or not you talk to her is up to you."

"I think I go talk to her" Carter said to her. "Your right they have been through a lot lately. I'm going to see how Anna is doing" He told her, "Wan't to come with me?"

"No why don't you go in and talk to her yourself." Abby said patting his arm and smiling, "I think that it be best if she had friends, real friends around her right now. I'll wait here for you." Abby looked over at the room that Doug had come out of, "isn't that Anna's room there Carter. There's no one in there anymore."

Doug ran to catch Carol again. "Carol, what do you think happened in there? Anna was scared so i gave her a hug...she's just a friend!" Finally he caught up to her and pulled at her arm. "Come on Carol, it's just a misunderstanding, just let me explain."

Anna sunk down into the couch she wasn't all the way asleep anymore but she didn't feel like moving right now. The couch wasn't comfortable but she wasn't in any kind of pain yet. The last dose of Demerol Doug had given her was fully kicking in.

Susan strolled into the lounge. She had been at Doc's for awhile and her shift was about to start again. She saw Anna on the couch and hadn't heard any of what had recently happened. "Hey Anna." she said putting her things in her locker. "What's cracking?" she said in a cheerful voice.

Anna sleepily sat up her eyes red and puffy still, "my head that's what's crackin." She said focusing on Susan. "It's a cracking from my car this morning and that cherry red SUV that forgot that red means to stop."

Susan turned white and walked over to sit next to Anna. "I'm so sorry! I had no idea, are you ok?"

Anna fought back the tears, "yeah I'm fine, and I will be fine. Doug was supposed to take me home and now I don't know what's going on with that. I came down here to get my stuff and go god only knows where, I went from being miserably married this morning to getting into a relationship with a man who has prior commitments, giving my husband divorce papers and knocking myself for a loop in a car accident. I don't what to do or where to go. I should just get in a cab and either find a hotel or go back to my husband. But I've never been as happy as I have been when I'm with Doug. I can't just turn those feeling that are there off."

Susan was shocked. She had no idea Anna was interested in Doug, or that Doug would ever leave Carol. Instead of offering much advice Susan did what she always did best. She pulled Anna close to her to let her have someone to cry with. After a few minutes she had finally thought of something worthwhile to add. "Things like this always work out in the end. Doug's a pretty complicated guy but he's also really giving with this feelings and time. I'm sure he'll be down here any second to take you home." Susan knew if he wasn't she would make him. "You will figure it out Anna, you're a stronger person then I will ever be and i figured it out."

Anna sniffled, "thanks for understand Susan. I don't think today could get much worse than it already has. I think that Carol saw me kiss Doug and it blew up in his face. I know he loves her, I hope it all works out I really do. I want him to be happy that's all."

Susan just nodded. Although it probably wasn't wise for Doug to kiss Anna she understood. "Anna you know, Doug is one of those men who is truly happy when he feels he has a connection with someone, when he feels someone understands him. I've known him an awfully long time and he hasn't changed much. What I'm trying to say is that if he took the time to be with you and is going to take the time to take you home, he must feel that way with you. And i don't know why he wouldn't...you're pretty special." Susan rubbed her back trying to get Anna to smile. It looked like she had been through a lot already; Susan just wanted to take off a little pressure.

"You know maybe he and Carol just need some space. I've done nothing but cause tension between them over the 24 hours. Maybe we are better off as nothing more than friends." Anna said rubbing her eyes. "I'd rather walk away from him now than have him hate me for coming between him and Carol. I should just call Max bite the bullet and go home. I can call Doug in a couple of days and explain why I did what I did. I never set out with the intention of stealing her man, I didn't want to hurt Carol and I didn't want to push her away from Doug. She's a lucky woman to have a man like him. When I came down here Doug was talking to her, I left with out even telling them where I was going."

Susan stood up, she knew Kerry would kill her for being late for work but she didn't want to leave Anna alone. "Well, if you think you need to call Max then do it, but I know once Doug gets done getting yelled at he'll be worried if he doesn't know where you are. Feel free to hide out in here if you need to...or to come get me. I'll try to keep Kerry out of you're way ok?" Susan tried to smile through it all. No matter what Anna chose to do Susan was going to page Doug down. She knew his conversation with Carol would end like it always did and there was no sense in both Anna and Doug being miserable alone tonight.

"Thanks Susan." She said, "I'll hide out here for a little while longer and try to think things threw a little bit longer before I make a decision." No one knew she was down here and she knew that this was a safe spot to sit and think about things.

Susan nodded and left. She looked around for a minute and typed in a small message to send to Doug's pager. it simply said, "The lounge is a good spot for hiding out." after she sent it a minor trauma came in. Susan gladly took it and went to work. "There's nothing like good drama in the morning." she said to herself out loud.

Doug was waiting for Carol's reply when his beeper sounded. He checked the message and sighed. "Carol we need to talk about this later." Doug started down the stairs and came close to opening the door to the lounge. he stopped when he saw Anna sitting on the couch. he was sure that he was the last person Anna wanted to see. he wanted to cool down anyway. Doug put off talking to Anna and walked across the street to Doc's.

"You call that a hug Doug, You kissed her. I know you did, and don't lie to me, I can see it all in your face that you kissed her, and she kissed you too" she said to him. She said as tears slipped down her face as she was crying

Carter looked at Abby, she was right, "She's not there, where would she go, she should be admitted" he told Abby as he looked at her

Anna got up off the couch and walked over to pick up the phone. She held the receiver in her hand a few minutes before setting it back down. She dug in her pocket. She couldn't find the paper she was looking; she dialed the number of Doug's pager. She hoped that she wouldn't be getting in their way if they were still talking. She entered the number for the lounge since it was the only one that was in front of her at the time.