Chapter 58:

Doug wrapped his arms around Anna's. He finally fell asleep just as his alarm sounded. his mind blocked it out as he remained to sleep.

Anna stirred hearing the beeping coming from the alarm clock; she laid there for a minute listening to it before it dawned on what it was. She shifted in his arms, so that she could poke at him with one arm as she covered her head with the pillow. She didn't want to get out of the warm bed. "Alarm Doug." She said as she gently jabbed at him.

Doug didn't move until he felt something poke his chest. He swatted at her hand. "mmm... knock it off." he groaned still half asleep.

Anna sat up now looking at down at him. She didn't want to be a witch to him but if he wasn't going to call in sick he needed to get moving. She looked at the clock ugh it was almost 6 now, "look mister if you don't get moving you're going to be late...either you get up or I am going in for you." She smiled that outta get him out of that bed. She had no intentions of going into County today period. Not to work, not to visit, she was staying away from the hospital today and taking a day to herself.

Doug's head shot up and the sound of Anna's loud voice. "what?" he asked. slowly he turned and looked at his clock. "Ohhh damn it." he said sitting up. he rubbed his face and stood up lowly. he didn't even bother to go into the bathroom. he walked over to his dresser and grabbed a pair of slacks and the scrub top he came home in. it took him a moment for jumping around to get his balance enough to put on his pants. then threw the top over his tee-shirt and went to sit back down on the bed. "so you're going shopping today?" he asked holding his head. "buy something nice." he said turning around to give her a kiss.

She kissed him back, "yeah of course I will." She said as she curled back up on the bed. "But first I am going back to that dream where you and I are sitting on the beach drinking mia tias."

"I'll come do mia tias with you tonight." he said with a wink. He breathed in deep and stood up his whole body ached. he walked out of the room and shut the door behind him. After grabbing some of his folders and the research Anna had gotten he put on his coat and left the house. He would let Anna have the jeep again. even though he felt awful he would feel worse knowing that she would have to take the EL carrying all the clothes she bought. After making his way to the train and to county Doug drug himself through the doors. he plunked down in a chair at admit setting the folders down. he dropped his head and let his rest on the files. out of the corner of his eye he saw weaver. "don't you ever go home?"

"Yeah," She said then very bluntly added, "you look like crap Doug. No flu shot this year? Stick around for an hour while I float someone down from peds. The last thing I need is for another doctor to become useless." She said as she started to walk off, "next time when I say flu shot time, get it."

"You know...maybe it's a different strain of something." he said sarcastically with his head still down. Doug grumbled to himself as he managed to sit up. he looked on the board to find a simple peds case that didn't require much thought. he grabbed a chart for a 5yr old with croup and headed into exam one.

Anna climbed out of the bed and walked into the bathroom. Ugh, she sighed as she walked out toward the living room and picked up her bag. She dug thru it finding a hair brush that she pulled thru her tangled computer mangled hair. She the reached back down and pulled out clothes. God it was a business suit but it would work. She quickly changed out of what she had on into it. She zipped the bag up and kicked it under the coffee table. Before finding her coat. She picked up her laptop shoving it back in its case, the stupid machine. She looked out the window noticing that Doug had left her the car. He should have taken it with the way he was feeling. She zipped up her coat and headed out the door. She pulled up in front of a cyber cafe for coffee and internet to send off her emails before going shopping.

Kerry walked back to the admit desk, she had finally gotten them to float down a resident peds doc. It wasn't Doug but it would work, she waited patiently for him to finish up with the patient that he was with before telling him to go home and rest before he got the rest of her staff sick.

Doug handed the mother of his patient a script that "should clear it right up" Doug said walking back over to admit to find another simple case.

Kerry looked up at Doug, "get out of here." She said, "they sent down a resident from peds to get me thru the rest of the day. Susan is on at 11 and Pratt will be here. So I have enough hands."

Doug opened his mouth to protest but when he started coughing again he decided he better take the charity. he gave her thumbs up and he grabbed his things to leave. "i better tell Anna where i am" he thought. once he was outside he dug through his pocket and pulled out his phone. somehow she had made it up his speed dial to #1. he hit send and waited for her to pick up.

Anna felt her phone vibrate as she walked towards the jeep. She fumbled with the keys, bags and tried to answer the phone. She flipped it open as she threw the bags in the back seat, "Anna."

"Hey it's Doug." He said into the phone. Doug looked up at the falling snow. He was glad he was getting out now before the EL got packed. "Weaver has a heart. She told me to leave before I infected the rest of her staff. Are you out shopping already?"

"Yeah I am." She said laughing, "I even hit the cyber cafe. I can pick you up so you don't have to take the EL if you want baby. I'm only maybe 5 or 10 minutes from County."

Doug looked around. He really didn't want to take the EL but Anna deserved a day to herself. "Nah...I'm a tough guy. I want you to have a great day. Go out and have some fun...just take care of my jeep."

"Yeah the jeep take care of your jeep." She smiled. As she locked the doors and headed for another store. She stopped, "hey get some sleep I'll be home before you know it okay." She didn't want to sound to sappy, but what the hell, "I miss you."

"Oh I'm sure." Doug said before hanging up. "me too." he jumped on the el and made his way back to his house. after he made some tea he sat down on the couch and cracked open the unfinished files he had. after working on a few Doug leaned his head back to rest on the back of the couch and fell asleep.