Chapter 102

Doug moaned as his alarm went off at 5:30. "Oh man" he said to himself whacking it to shut up. After lying in bed for a few more minutes he got up and got dressed. He put on some of his new clothes, black slacks and a grey shirt, after he got himself cleaned up he walked into the living room and saw his lab coat. Just like he thought it would...it made him smile. After packing up his papers and sticking a pop tart in his bag Doug jumped into his car and drove for county. It was really foggy and hard to see, but nice none the less. The sun hadn't come up yet and the world was still quiet. Doug parked in the parking deck and walked quietly to the ambulance bay. He knew this would be the only time he would have to himself for the rest of the day so he wanted to soak it up. He almost laughed when he came up behind Anna throwing a basketball in her cast. No one had played on that since him and mark and one could tell. Rust was everywhere, but Doug could still remember the games and fun they had. On the next shot the ball bounced past Anna. Doug picked it up with one hand and shot it from the top of the key making it go in with a swish. He was silent as he watched the ball go in and kept walking a few steps. He didn't know what she was doing here but she looked better than last night. "Good morning" he said without any facial expression at all. He was tired and couldn't exactly be cheery just yet.

She turned around, seeing Doug, "morning." She tried to give him a smile. "I, uh, know that I uh promised I would call, but umm I thought it would be just as easy to stop by since I was out running and all. Uh, let you see that I'm umm okay." It wasn't a complete lie. She was mostly okay, she would be okay eventually but it was just going to take some time, to get over it. She wasn't as hurt as she was last night, but still sad and he didn't need to have to have her bring him down so early in the morning. She wasn't sure if it was just last night that had her down or a combination of the past few days. She walked over and set the ball back under the hoop. "I uh guess now that I've done that I'll be going. Besides I'm sure that County's chief of pediatric emergency medicine has a busy day, someone has to work." With that she gave him a half hearted smile and fake laugh as she started to walk back out of the bay, it was easier to walk away, hide the hurt than to let him see it, she choked out, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Doug nodded as she walked away. "Yeah" he watched her leave and then walked inside. He made more meetings than work to do today. He had to talk with Romano at nine and attend a presentation later in the day. He was glad Anna was looking better, but he was looking forward to tonight. He and Lynn were going to the culls game with his courtside tickets. Even though he knew he was going to be in trouble with her at first they might just have a good time. Doug put his stuff in his locker and looked at the clock. He had enough time to see a few patients before his meeting with Romano. He grabbed the one peds chart he found and walked into exam two.

Anna got back to her apartment and looked thru the closet she had almost completely forgotten she had to do the research presentation today! She had so much other stuff going on at least it had been moved to Chicago instead of someplace else or she would have been running for a flight. She flipped open her computer to double check everything, found her slides and then when she knew she had all of that together she grabbed her keys and ran down to the copy shop to get some stuff copied that supported what they had found. She might be able to get everything done in time for her to make it there. Her stomach growled as she swung into a star bucks drive thru for a latte and muffin. She parked and ran into catch a NA meeting before it got to be to late. She was going to prove to both Kerry and Doug that she could do this. She kept constantly checking her watch afraid that with her mind scattered she was going to be late. There was one thing on her side right now and that was that she knew the material by heart after all this was her baby, she had come up with the idea and gotten the hospital in Philadelphia to let her try it.
Romano sat in his office looking over the list of names that he had been given. He couldn't believe that he had to give the ER bonnie and Clyde med students and residents, but the board thought that since they were a teaching hospital it would be good to give them experience in kids and trauma. Robert wasn't going to argue with the board. Hopefully those two ER cowboys could keep them from killing anyone.

Doug finished up his two patients and headed up to Romano's office. He was right on time, down to the minute, as he knocked on Romano's door. He hoped he didn't keep him too long. He had another meeting to be at soon.

Romano looked up, "come in Dr. Ross." He said motioning for him to sit down, "Since you are now in charge, god only help us now, of the pediatric ER downstairs, I have medical students and residents to help you out." Robert handed him the list of names, "I expect you to teach them to do as you say not as you do. You and Bonnie down there had better not let them kill anyone or let them pick up your bad habits of breaking the rules."

Doug rolled his eyes. He liked the bonnie and Clyde comment though. "Well we don't break the rules as much as we...bend them." he said with a grin. "I take it all these start in the upcoming semester? That's not very much notice for me you know?" he said looking over the long list of names

"Yeah actually I know it's not much time." Robert couldn't help but grin, "but unfortunately that's management. They are you're responsibility, teach them, and then send them on. I don't care what you do with them as long as I don't have to deal with it...they are your scut puppies. Now get out of here."

Doug gave a sarcastic salute and stood up to leave the room. He only had about thirty minutes before he had to be at some presentation. He hadn't even looked at what it was about. Doug ran across the street to docs for a quick food break. He didn't feel like eating the pop tart he had brought from home so he decided for a brunchy salad instead.

Anna parked and quickly ran up the stairs to her apartment, she didn't have much time to get everything together and get out the door. She threw on her business suit. Smoothing out the wrinkles with her hands as she quickly threw on some make up to make herself look as professional as she could before darting out and gathering up her stuff. She drove over to the med school and took everything inside. She wasn't sure but she was actually a little bit nervous about the whole thing now. She took a couple of deep breaths as she sat down and waited, she hoped that this all went over well.

Kerry saw Doug walk over to Doc's she followed holding his new budget in her hands. "Hey you forgot this." She said as she sat down, "I know that you are on your way over to that trauma presentation, but this is your new budget now that you are actually a chief. I never thought that I would be sitting next to Doug Ross, Chief of Pediatric Emergency medicine." Kerry chuckled, " I know that you will do an excellent job with it, but hey you are going to have to hire an attending to help you with the student loads, if you can't find one I know of a certain pediatrician that would come with excellent references, she's hard working, dedicated to her job, doesn't mind long hours and is great with kids. I would hate to lose her from my ER, but I think knowing that she had an attending position with you would make it worth it."

Doug smiled at he took the paper from her. He hadn't heard he had got the nod but decided to play it off anyway. "Yeah I know the perfect one." he said finishing his salad. "Are you going to the presentation too? I hope it doesn't last too long. I hate those things."

Kerry smiled, "no, I don't have to attend a pediatric trauma presentation...I'm a grown up doctor."

Doug made a face at her when he stood up. "Gee thanks. Little people are special too." he joked. "I'll give Anna the good news when i see her. Have a good night Kerry!" he said as he flew out the door. He was already going to be late now. Doug hailed a cab and made his way to the med school. He jogged around the campus. It had been awhile since he had been there and had forgotten where the auditorium was. He glanced at his watch as he asked a security guard where it was. As he directed him to the other side of the campus Doug sighed and started to jog again. 'How can i be late for my first one of these?' he thought