A/N: I'm trying to find something to break up when we switch between Characters... get's a little confusing at times, and so that I wouldn't get lost putting it into story format I had to copy the posts as they came up.. hope the little help ease some of the confusion at times.

Chapter 53:

Doug dropped his head back down. "I'm sorry." he said in a whisper. He would apologize much better later. Not to get her back but just to let her know. This wasn't how he wanted their relationship to end. He hoped they could be close friends like they had before. After a second he walked back into the living room and picked up his papers. He didn't know what she was doing but he had to get some of this work done regardless. Dealing with other people's problems would help get his mind off things at least.

Abby carefully stretched so that she wouldn't disturb Carter. He looked so handsome laying there sleeping. She glanced over at Anna as she sat up, she was out cold too. She glanced up at the clock. She quietly walked out into the hallway and slipped up on the roof. She flipped open her cell phone and dialed Doug's number. She wasn't sure how she was going to break the news to him. She paced back and forth as she let it ring. She was afraid that he was busy with the girls since it was getting to be later in the evening.

Doug heard his phone ring and searched for it through the mounds of papers he had lying on the couch. He found it just before his voicemail picked up. "He..."He had to clear his throat. From all the yelling his voice was dry and raspy. "Hello?"

"Hey you don't sound to hot there." Abby said as she pulled her coat around her a little tighter, "if I'm calling at a bad time you can tell me to jump off the roof."

"Heh don't do that Abby." Doug said clearing his throat again. "I just need some tea or something. Where Are you? I can hear the wind...you're not outside are you?"

"Yeah I'm actually up on the roof." She said, "it's a bit brisk out here did you know that?" She couldn't help but let out a little laugh, "hey are you busy?"

Doug laughed at her. "You're crazy. But no I'm not busy." he said throwing down his pen and leaning back into the couch. "I was looking for an excuse to take a break. Why?"

"Yeah I know I am crazy but hey I didn't want to disturb the sleeping beauties down stairs." She said laughing, "I think that they are both out for the night now. I don't know how to say this so I am just going to come out and say it, you were right about Anna. She's planning on leaving. She thinks that you hate her Doug."

"Well that's an ego boost. Thanks Abs." he said sighing and setting his feet up on the coffee table. "Look I don't think I can take much more bad news today so unless this ends with a joke...I don't really want to hear it." He hated being rude to her but he had, had a long day and talking about Anna just made it worse.

"Sorry I don't have a punch line for that one." She said looking down at the cars below. Nah, she was just seeing things now. "I'm sure that everything will be fine after a goodnights sleep."

He sighed. "yeah I wish you drank...Carter told me that one, I could use someone to get drunk with." he joked standing up. "I guess its for the better...I mean, its not like she's leaving tomorrow or something."

"What the hell." Abby said leaning further over the edge. "I could have sworn she was sleeping." Abby started to run down the stairs, "yeah it's not like she thinks that she is leaving right now." Abby was breathing a little heavier now that she was running down the stairs towards the ER. AMA was a horrible thing, and one would think a doctor like her would know better than to push her luck a second time. "You know I think I am actually really going nuts."

Doug listened to Abby on the phone. He was getting more confused. "What the hell are you talking about?" He said as he opened a frozen dinner to heat up.

As Abby ran by the SICU she glanced in sleeping Carter, but no sleeping Anna. "Doug... do you have to fall in love with escape artists?" She said as she approached the nurses station, "Dr. Del Amico... where is she?" Abby said to the charge nurse. Abby wasn't sure if Doug had any clue as to what was going on, "Romano... downstairs... okay... okay." Abby starting running again.

"Escape artists? Come on Abby stop playing around...you talking about Anna? She has to be there. Romano would in no way let her leave before next Friday...Please tell me you're joking." He was starting to get a little nervous.

Abby ran up to Romano but there was no Anna in sight, "all right you little... where is she?" Abby was practically screaming now, "you did not just do what I think you did." She paused for a minute, "what you jackass!" Did you lose your medical judgment somewhere along the way."

Carter just woke up from his nap, he was sore, but now he was hungry. He looked over, and saw that Anna was no longer there, maybe she had been discharged

Doug was getting fed up; he wanted to know what was going on. "Abby, ABBY! Slow down. What's going on? Talk to me...I'm sure everything's fine."

"This short little man in front of me," Abby said pulling herself back together the best she could, "gave Anna the green light to fly out tonight. He thought that since she'd be staying with a doctor that it would for some unknown reason be okay for her to fly. She's headed for Midway."

"Right now!" Doug yelled. "I-I don't have enough time...damn it!"

"She's on the 8 pm flight from midway." Abby said after almost beating the information out of Romano. "United Chicago to Huston, gate 5." She was about to tear Romano's head off now, of all people he should have known better than to let something like this happen.

Doug looked at the clock. It was just past seven. "Oh shoot." he said hanging up the phone. Within seconds he was out the door. He drove with the peddle to the floor the whole way there. He knew it was twenty minutes at least to the airport and then he'd have to somehow get through security and to the gate but he had to try.

Abby heard the phone go dead. She silently prayed that he would get there in time. Something had to go right for him.

Anna checked her bags in and headed to go thru security. She looked out the window over the city one last time. The stop by her apartment had cost her more time than she thought it would. She got into line to move thru the security check points to catch her plane. Slowly she moved along, not having much energy, sore still from everything but she just wanted out of the city right now and this was the fastest way to accomplish that.

Doug stopped his car right in front of the gate. There was no time to park. They could tow his damn car for all he cared. He ran into the airport and saw the endless lines of people. Without even thinking he made a choice. "Better to try and get shot then give her up." In a second Doug took off through the lines of people. He ran right through the metal detectors and squeezed past the rent-a-cops. They grabbed for him but missed, good thing he was in better shape than them, although it would only buy him a few minutes. With guards on his heels he sprinted to gate five pushing past the people around him. "Anna!" he yelled. He didn't get a reaction so he kept going. "Anna Wait! stop!"

Anna could have sworn that was Doug's voice calling her name, she turned around and couldn't believe her eyes, "what," she said stopping and taking a couple of steps towards him. How did he know, why was he here? Crazy, that was the reason that instantly popped into her mind, after their conversation last night he had to have been insane.

Doug stopped in front of her gasping for breath. He looked over his shoulder to see three cops halfway down the hall. "I have three reasons for you to stay." He said all in one gasp. "I was an idiot for being so mean to you and I was wrong...second, in about thirty seconds I'm going to need serious bail money or some medical attention." Doug was trying to get to what he really wanted to say but it was harder then he thought. He was still trying to catch his breath as the police officers caught up to them, "lastly I had to tell you..." Doug was cut off as the two cops tackled him to the ground. "No...wait..." he shouted to them as they stuffed his hands in handcuffs. As they started to pull him back Doug realized he had lost his chance. In one last try he looked over his shoulder and saw her face and it was enough... "I love you Anna! I'll always love you...I loved you the moment I saw you and I'll love you forever!" After Doug shouted out his final outburst he tried to look at her again but was unable too from the entire crowd. "Don't go Anna!" In a matter of minutes Doug was placed in a police car and headed for the Chicago Main Police Depot. He didn't know what he expected her to do but he realized that after she didn't come after him it was too little too late. A short list of names ran through his mind on who would bail him out. He had decided to call Abby once he got his phone call. At least she might understand.

Anna tried to fight her way thru the crowd towards where he was, he loved her. By the time she had gotten through the people he wasn't there anymore. She fought her way outside but they had already pulled away. "Damn it." She shouted. Jeep, the jeep! Oh thank god he had brought his car. They were about ready to tow it, but Anna gave them her best sob song and dance routine and the tow truck driver just smiled and said not to let it happen again. Today had been a good day to be blonde, injured, and cute when you were upset. She still had his keys, she was going to send them back to him, but hadn't had the chance to yet. Her head told her she shouldn't be doing this, god she shouldn't be driving. As long as she didn't move overly fast or reach to far it didn't hurt to move. Why couldn't he have gotten an automatic isn't of a manual! She drove thru the streets of Chicago, she was getting frustrated from trying to drive and shift with out pain, and she was overjoyed when she was finally in front of the main police station. She parked the jeep across the street and headed inside.

"Hey Anna whatcha doing here," she heard a voice speaking to her.

"Oh hey Joey, I need to bail a friend out. Can you help me out here?" She asked.

"Max again huh."

"Nope not this time, Doug Ross, he should have been brought in a little bit ago from the airport. He's a friend of mine from County." Anna bantered with Joey for a few minutes; he was one of her brother's friends. She paid the bail for Doug, "and Joey don't you dare tell anyone in my family about this. You can tell them the story but just say his insane girlfriend came and bailed him out, you know what I mean." She walked over and then leaned against the wall patiently waiting for him to be brought back up. She kept her eyes focused on the ground. She had no idea what she was going to do now, as long as Max was in jail, which from what Joey had let slip looked like it was going to be awhile, she could at least stay at the apartment. She had no intention of paying his bail or letting the charges against him be dropped. Doug's airport confession had thrown her heart for a loop.

Hearing his words again in her head put a smile on her tired face and tears of joy into her eyes. He had to have known that she wouldn't have gotten on that plane after hearing those words from him. She had wanted to run to him right there and then but she couldn't get thru the crowd, but she was here now and to her that was all that mattered. She should have listened to Abby, but that didn't matter now, he had said all that she needed to hear from him. It was more than enough to make her want to stay, she moved from leaning against the wall to sitting down on one of the hard wooden chairs. She put her head down between her hands, sighing softly as she closed her eyes to wait.

Joey walked down the hall to where they were holding the doc, "Yo Doc, you're outta here." He said sliding the holding cell door open, "you must be pretty special to your friend out there. I don't know if I'd come bail you out. Let's go we don't want to leave your friend out there with Chicago's worst for long."

Carter just was alone in his room, not sure what to do, he turned on the TV to just look. He wished Abby would come back soon. She had kept him warm earlier

Abby walked back up to the SICU. She stood in the doorway watching Carter for a minute before she walked inside and sat down next to him. She was silently hoping that Doug made it to the airport and caught Anna before she left. There was nothing more that she could do for them now. She wanted them both to have the happiness that she had right now with John. "Hey baby, sorry that I took off on you like that, but something came up that I needed to take care of." She said smiling, "can I snuggle with you some more?"

Doug was sitting in the cell when the officer came back to tell him he had been bailed out. "That was quick." he thought. He had only just left a message at the front desk for Abby. He stood up and tried to straighten out his rumpled shirt. He sighed and walked out of the cell. It seemed like his spur of the moment idea hadn't turned out all the great. When he turned the corner he stopped in his tracks. Sitting there in front of him was the last person he thought would be there. "Anna?" he whispered out. He couldn't believe it...she hadn't gone. she had come back for him.

Anna lifted her head up. She was tired, sore, her eyes lit up when she saw him standing there. She pushed her hair back out of her face and stood up. "Doug," she wanted to run over to him and hold onto him forever, but the best she could do was a slow walk towards him.

Doug dropped his head but had a grin on his face. He wanted to talk to her but not in the middle of the police station. he touched her arm and walked outside with her. "I didn't think you were going to stay off that plane..." he said softly as he gently held her in front of him by holding both of her hands. but I'm glad you did."

She softly whispered her eyes cast downward, "I couldn't leave after all of that. The most important thing to me is in Chicago."

"mmm" Doug said stepping closer to her. "yeah well...i couldn't let you go to Texas. I don't think I could pull off the whole urban cowboy thing." he said with a small laugh. Doug moved even closer to her but didn't want to push anything to quick that she wasn't ready for. "Is it ok if i kiss you?"

Anna put her hand over her mouth as she stifled a giggle, "urban cowboy huh," a smile radiating from her face as she just shook her head, would he have chased her all the way to Texas to tell her that. "I thought you'd never ask, of course you can." She said as she brought her hands up around his waist.

Carter smiled as he saw her walk in. "That's ok, I must been asleep most of the time you were gone" he told her. John was glad to see Abby back in his room. "Yes please snuggle up with me" he told her

Abby climbed back up onto Carter's bed. "I love you." She said snuggling in next to him, there was no place that she would rather be.

"I love you to "John told her, "You know when I was in there, in the where house with that...man...all I could think about was you Abby. I was like what if I never saw you again or something... I was really scared, scared that i never get to hold you in my arms again"

"I'm not letting go of you that easy John Carter." Abby said, "You and I are here right now and that's all that matters."

Doug grinned at her response. "Don't bite." he whispered before he leaned in to give her a soft kiss. He reached down and lifted her off her feet as he kissed her again. He set her back down softly and set his head next to her. "I really do love you." he whispered into her ear.

She snuggled in against his warm body. "I know you do," she said her voice not much more than a whisper, "You know I love you too."

"I'm glad to hear that ...I don't want to scare you like that ever again "he told her as he held her in his arms in his hospital bed. He gave her a passionate Kiss. "I love you Abby."

Abby smiled and kissed him back. "I know you do, I know." She said, "now close your eyes, cause I am closing mine. Running down 7 flights of stairs is more than enough for me."

"All right" John said as he closed his eyes then heard her say that she ran down seven flights of stairs. "Why you do that?" he asked her

She sighed, "let's just say that I was trying to keep two people from making a mistake."

"Yes i do" Doug said looking back at her. "you know...i have my house all to myself. so if you want a place to crash..." Doug gave her a small grin. he was still a little shy about it all. "then just say the word."

"A house all to yourself." She said grinning, "I'd love to sleep over at your house." She winked at him. She lifted his hand up and set his keys in them, "thought you might like those back, since if we are going anywhere you have to drive. It hurts to bad to drive that damn stick of yours."

Doug laughed at her as he took the keys. "I thought they would have towed it." he said as he put his arm over his shoulder to walk with her. "i guess a stick shift is more of a guy thing anyway." Doug walked her to his jeep and opened the door for her. after getting in himself he started the drive to his house. he was glad that he wouldn't be spending the night in a jail cell. Doug made the drive in record time. He parked his car and went to help Anna out. "Welcome to the old...yet new house by the tracks Heh. i should give you the tour."

She smiled at him, "I'd love one Doug." She said as she stifled a yawn.

Doug smiled. "Hey I saw that. Maybe it should wait till tomorrow. I don't want to wear ya out." he said nudging her with his shoulder as they walked to the door. He opened it up and was glad to be greeted by the heat of his home. He slipped off her coat and took of his. "You must be hungry, can I get ya something? I can make it or go out..." he said tilting his head to catch her smile and taking a few steps toward her.

"Not really." She said smiling at him, "no offense but I have been offered and forced to eat more food than I eat in a week. I don't want to get fat. Besides you can't buy what I am hungry for."

Doug rolled his eyes. "You wont get fat." it took him a moment to register the last part of what she had said. He looked from her to the ground, his cockiness fading. She always seemed to make him blush. "What..."

She lowered her voice so that it was soft and barely audible, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have been so forward. I'll behave." She hadn't meant to make him blush or to feel awkward around her.

"I need to be a man and get over it." he said laughing at himself. "I...I just don't want to hurt you. I mean you had some serious surgery and last time I put ya in the hospital again. "he joked. Doug took her hand and led her over to his couch. He moved all the papers aside and sat down.

She curled up next to him, her head in his lap. "Oh yes, Doug you definitely know how to send a woman to heaven." She moved so that she was looking up at him now, "besides maybe I am just hungry for a good old fashioned make out session and a little bit of time wrapped up in your arms."

Doug dropped his head in front of her and grinned. "Man I am back in high school...without the dark brown hair." he gave her a small kiss on the cheek and leaned back into the couch. he kicked off his shoes and propped his feet on the coffee table. "you know I use to be really popular in high school too. I don't think anyone ever made me blush this much though." he liked that Anna was comfortable talking to him like that, it was just a little strange being this close to someone different again. he was going to put it out of his mind. he didn't really miss carol. He had the love of his life right here in his arms

"Ohhh high school." She said, "god I went to a Catholic girls school in Philadelphia. I was this wreck of a thing, shy, quiet...terrified of the nuns. You could have called me nerdy, always had my nose in a book. Didn't date much either. My mother hated when I did so I tried not to, but then all girls' school made it hard to find guys. But then I guess I wouldn't have had the nerve to double board either if I hadn't been such an overachieving book worm."

"I find that hard to believe" Doug smirked kissing her neck. "I was shy in high school too. Didn't go to any kind of private school but I was the star point guard on the basketball team...third base on baseball, but I was also in the key club...so I wasn't a total jock." Doug scooted her over to be in a more comfortable position. "Don't want you to get the wrong impression or anything." Doug put his arm around her shoulder. "Regardless of who you were then, you are a hell of a woman now...besides I bet I would have dated you in high school anyways, or cheated off of you in chemistry." He joked looking into her eyes he was happy and he could really see himself being with her.

"Cheated off me in chemistry maybe." She said laughing. She felt so comfortable right now. "Hell of a woman huh...well yeah now that I have grown into myself. Private school well it's not all that's it cracked up to be. My older brother's didn't have to go. They got off easy, had lots of friends, but being the baby, sucked. I think that by the time my parents got to me, they were terrified. I had to move to Chicago to get away from them. My oldest brother is 15 years older than I am. By the time I was a teen they were all gone from the house. But now that I look back at all of it. I don't think I would have wanted it any other way." She snuggled even deeper into him she didn't want to close her eyes, she yawned as she spoke, "but here, now, you know I haven't felt like this in a long time, it feels like I belong here. Safe, warm, loved. The only thing that could make it any better was to know that I had a home and a job."

Doug smiled at her as he hugged her back. "I'm glad you feel that way...cause, being your new boss and all at county, i need my employees to feel safe."Doug grinned as he said it. He had been meaning to slip that one in there for awhile. He hoped that she would be happier for him then Carol was when he told her that Weaver had appointed him peds attending.

Anna about knocked herself off the couch, "what, my new boss at County?" She said smiling at him, "Did Weaver quit? I thought that we have to pry her out of there? Tell me Doug what are you talking about." She was talking 90 miles an hour now curious to get answers, as she bounced on his lap.

"Nah she didn't quit." he grinned. he wanted to tease Anna but decided to get it out. "she just made me ER peds attending again! she said i could pick all my staff and handle all the cases. so if you want the job..."

Anna threw her arms around his neck, "oh my god, I am so happy for you, your an ER peds attending, oh wow, that is so awesome!" She was so excited for him, "what are you kidding do I want the job, of course I do! My god that is the best news, okay second best news I have heard today."

Doug hugged her back. He could feel tears coming into his eyes. This day had gone from being terrible to being one of the best of his life. He didn't know what to say to her so he just smiled. He covered up his face before he leaned back. One to cover his smile and two to cover his tearing eyes.

Anna took a breath and settled down. She hoped that those were tears of happiness that he was trying to hide from her. "Hey," She said smiling, "I know that you are now this big ER pediatric attending physician and all, and I'm just a lowly peds doc, who is getting to be pretty worn out from all this excitement. Would you mind if I took a nap?" She reached behind her smacking him playfully with one of the pillows on the couch.

After he composed himself a little more Doug moved his hands. "Yeah why don't you go jump in bed. i have a bunch of paperwork to do anyways. it'll be good for you to get some sleep in a nice bed. I'll stay on the couch tonight." he said hitting her back with the pillow. "and don't make me tackle you...cause I'll do it."

She laughed as she swung back at him, "tackle me ooook." She looked at the floor and then up at him again taunting him, she was trying not to loose it in hysterical laughter, she couldn't help herself it felt so good to be so light hearted and happy around him, "and just where is this bed that I am supposed to jump into? huh? huh?"

"Errrrr" Doug playfully growled and he let a scheming thought cross his mind. Before Anna had a chance to react he scooped her up. He walked down the hall with he and, although carefully, tackled her onto the bed. he laughed as he held himself up over her. "good thing i cleaned up today." he said as he kissed her neck. "now you be good."

Anna smiled up at him. Her neck tingling from where he had kissed her, not that she was going to tell him that. Instead she batted her baby blue eyes at him, "and if I'm not?"

Doug squinted at her teasing question. "Ahh that's killer. do you have any friends?" he joked kissing her again. "well i could always fire you i suppose. but that would be too weaverish...but I'm sure i could find something's to make you scream." he said poking gently into her ribs. he knew where she was ticklish but didn't want to make her laugh too hard because of her injuries. "you're lucky you're hurt...no mercy next time."

"Yeah lucky me." She said still smiling as she glanced up at him, "you know I won't bit you don't have to sleep on the couch. Or at least let me have your company until I fall asleep." She hoped that he would take her up on one of the two of those offers. She wanted to sleep but she also wanted just 5 more minutes with him before drifting off. She didn't know if she was dreaming and any minute was going to wake up to a cold sterile hospital room.

"Well that's a hard decision." Doug joked. He stood up and walked to the other side of his bed. he took off his sweater and slacks. he was embarrassed to realized he had put on his snoopy boxers a friend in Seattle had given him. he laughed and jumped under the covers.

Anna buried her head in the pillow to hide her laughter. Before rolling over next to him. "You're to cute." She said to him nudging her way next to him so that her head was laying on his shoulder. She closed her eyes, "I love you."

"Don't laugh." he teased. Doug kissed her cheek and laid on his side, pulling her back against his chest, resting his hand on her stomach. he rested his head behind hers and sighed. this felt too good to be true. he hoped it lasted forever. "i love you too" he whispered into her ear. "i love you now and I'll love you forever." he kissed the back of her neck and shut his eyes. "goodnight Anna, sleep well." soon after Doug closed his eyes he fell fast asleep. he had nothing to worry or plague his dreams tonight. just the promise of a better day and more moments with the woman he loved.

The warmth of being in his arms, feeling his chest rise and fall against her back lulled her into a deep peaceful sleep. She was finally happy and wanted to stay that way. She believed him when she heard him say that he would love her now and forever.