Chapter 103

Anna got up, she looked around the room, Doug wasn't there so the butterflies in her stomach settled down a little bit. The thought of him in the room was what was making her nervous. She wasn't sure if it was because of the way she felt about him, or not wanting to show off by being asked to do this. She started in on her presentation, "ladies and gentlemen of the medical profession..." She started in with the facts of their finding going as walked back and forth across the stage in an attempt to drive home her points. She had settled in and was comfortable now. They had turned the lights down so that she couldn't see much farther than the first few rows in the auditorium.

Doug found the door and almost ran in. he grinned shyly as everyone looked at him. He was surprised to see Anna on stage. He had totally forgotten that she was supposed to be presenting today. "Sorry" he said as he quietly walked over and sat down in a seat. He crossed his legs and tried his best not to smile. He knew she had to be nervous and he hoped he didn't throw her off track. He leaned back in his chair and waited for her to continue. 'She's going to kill me' he thought as he looked like he was listening tentatively.

She didn't break her stride. How could he show up late? Oh well, she couldn't worry about it now. She picked up right off where she had left off with out missing a beat. This was important to her and she wasn't going to let him being there shake her. "In closing I'd to see more hospital follow Philadelphia's led in using this as the treatment of choice. Thank you all for your time." Anna stepped of the stage. She had her back to where Doug had been sitting now as Alex walked up to her.

"Anna good job, you are wonderful at this."

She smiled, "ah that's just because you're my old boss."

He looked at her his expression changing to one more serious, "I'd like you to reconsider and rejoin our team, I have an opening for a director of research and I think that you would fit it perfect."

Anna looked at him a minute, "well Alex thank you for the offer, but right now my heart is here in Chicago. It's time for me to settle down and put other things first."

He held out his hand to her to shake it, "well I guess then that is our loss and it must be one lucky man to have you be willing to not take that offer."

She shook her head, "No, I'm the lucky one."

Doug stood up to tell her what a good job she had done and how sorry he was for being late when he heard what she had said. He walked up behind her and turned to her old boss. "Either that or she's just damn stupid. But then again, you'd fit right it at county." he said with a smile. He stuck his hand out to shake her old boss's and introduce himself. "Doug Ross. Dr. Del Amicos' new...and hopefully long lasting supervisor." He smiled at them both. "You did a wonderful job...sorry i was late, i got a little lost. I have to run but you give me a call later, I have something I need to talk with you about." he said touching Anna's shoulder. "Nice to meet you. Good job again." he said before making an exit. His mind was swirling with ideas to do something special for Anna. She had made his day just then, whether she realized it or not. An idea popped into his mind as he walked down the street. He grabbed for his cell phone and dialed an old friend's number. "Steve Delany...hey it's Doug Ross. I know its shocking I'm back in town. You ready for me to call in that favor?"

Anna stayed at talked a few minutes before heading out to the car. He wanted her to call him. She started the car and drove back to her apartment. The suit was driving her nuts. She just wanted to change clothes and relax for a few minutes. She walked into the bathroom and drew up a bath, lighting some candles to help her unwind after that. She turned grabbed her cell phone and turned on some soft music. She sat there for a little while unwinding, relaxing and letting her mind wander. There was no way that she could have taken that job right now, if he had asked her 2 weeks ago it would have been a different story. What did Doug want to talk to her about now? Curiosity was getting the best of her so she flipped open the phone and put her feet up at the end of the tub. He was still at the top of her speed dial list as she hit the number and waited for it to go.

Doug had just made it to his friend's bike shop. Steve had owed him a favor for a long time ever since Doug had bailed him out of jail. "This should do it" Steve said rolling out a nice Harley, with enough room for two people. "Don't you wreck it or anything ok?" Doug just smiled as he looked at the bike. It was so nice; he hoped Anna would be surprised. He drove it carefully back to his house and got changed into his new pair of jeans, black boots, a white t-shirt and a nice leather jacket that he had wanted to wear. He was about to call Anna when his phone rang. "Hello?" he asked as he slipped on his sunglasses and walked outside. Boy was she going to get a kick out of this.

"Hey there," She said into the phone, "so what is it you want to talk to me about? I'm dying here to know." She said as she blew out the candles and started to climb out of the tub because the water was getting to cold for her. She wrapped a towel around her. "Say you need to talk to me about something and run off...curiosity is getting me."

"yeah sorry about that..." he said clipping his helmet on."You know what...I'm really sorry but I can't talk right now either...are you going to be by the phone for a little bit? its something important but a patient just came in." he wanted to make sure she would actually be at her apartment when he showed up there but he didn't want to give her any kind of heads up. She was going to be so happy with her new promotion and he couldn't wait to tell her.

She laughed, "Uh yeah, kind of hard to go anywhere when I'm standing here buck naked. Go take care of your patient. I'll talk to you after bit." She said snapping the phone closed. Oh he could be such a brat sometimes. She walked into the bedroom she pulled a pair of jean shorts out of her dresser and put them and her GU tee shirt on and went out to watch basketball for a little bit.

Doug made his way over to her apartment building. Boy he was glad he still remembered how to ride one of these. He stopped the bike on the street right outside her apartment. "This is going to be fun" he said to himself. Doug revved the engine a few times; sure that Anna would hear it. After that he called her house so she wouldn't look out the window just yet.

Anna thought she heard someone revving a motorcycle engine outside her apartment as she went to look out the window her phone rang. "Hello,' she said, she headed for the window only to realize that she was tethered to the wall. She was trying to inch herself closer to the window to look out, she put her leg up on the window ledge to push the curtain but the position that she was in now she was looking at the ceiling instead of out the window.

"Hey there Anna" Doug said smiling into the phone. "So tell me...what are you doing at this very moment?"

She laughed, as she lost her balance falling back onto the floor with a loud thud. "Trying to look out my front window but I'm tethered to the wall."

Doug smiled. "Now why would you do a silly thing like that? Why don't you just walk down...oh damn...got to go..." he said sarcastically hanging up the phone quickly. Doug leaned against the bike trying to set up a pose that would make her laugh. He fixed his jacket and sunglasses and leaned against the bike crossing his legs at his ankles. He hoped she'd take the bait and not leave him sitting down there forever.

She heard the click of the phone going dead. Walk down... what was he, oh hell. She untangled her self from the phone and grabbed her keys so that she didn't lock herself out again shoving them into her pocket. She closed her door and bounded down the stairs. She threw the door open and about had a heart attack. There he was sitting on a motorcycle. "Oh my God!" She squealed in delight as she giggled all the way over to where he was sitting, "a motorcycle Doug, "what are you doing?"

Doug pulled his sunglasses down on the bridge of his nose. "Well the Bonnie and Clyde team need a nice ride right? I mean...me as chief, you as the new peds ER attending...I thought the special news deserved a special ride for my best friend." he said standing up with a huge smile and tossing her a helmet. "That is if you want the job."

"Oh are you serious, really serious." She said as she threw her arms around his neck pulling him into a hug, "yes of course I do yes I want the job. Chief, oh man wow, you're the big man now I am so happy for you. Me an attending!" She was about to bubble over from the excitement. "A ride, yes, yes, yes!"

Doug smiled as he hugged her back. He was glad she was so excited. "Alright then...let's get going!" he said putting his helmet back on. Doug swung his leg back on the bike and turned it back on, revving the engine for her again. "Alright sweetheart. You better hold on tight."

Anna put the helmet on and slid on behind him as she wrapped her arms around his waist hugging against him tightly. "Let's go Clyde." She giggled. She couldn't believe that they were actually doing this, that he would take the time to do something special like this for her.

Doug kicked back the kick stand and hurled them off into the street. Once they got to the highway he nailed it up to sixty five. He knew Anna liked the whole wind-in-her-hair thing. As he sped up he leaned down and took her past the city. There were far better places to go in Chicago then by the buildings and busy streets. While he was driving he thought of somewhere nice to take her. 'Got to be the tire swing' he thought to himself. He had found it one year when he was looking for a Christmas tree. This tiny little tire swing in a cleared field right on the lake. It must have been part of a farm but no one was ever out there and it wasn't too far away. 'It'll be perfect' he thought to himself, as he could see the sun was starting to set.

There was a grin a mile wide on her face now as they flew out of the city. The wind against her felt absolutely wonderful. She leaned against his back holding onto him. This couldn't get any better. Well it could get better, but that just wasn't going to happen. He had a girlfriend and she was just his friend. She held onto him but not as tight now that Lynn had crossed her mind. Nothing was going to take the smile off her face as long as the wind was blowing in her hair.

Doug got off the highway and slowed down as he turned down a dirt road. He stopped a little further out so they could walk a little bit. He turned off the bike and sat up a little to stretch. "This is one of my favorite places Anna" he said standing up. He took off his helmet and tried to fix his matted hair. He held out his hand to help her off the bike. "I use to come out here all the time. Its absolutely beautiful...you'd never know you were only minutes from the city." he said as he started to walk. He noticed the chill in the air as the wind picked up and took off his jacket, throwing it around Anna's shoulders as they walked. He set his glasses on the top of his head as he stepped behind Anna, putting his hand over her eyes. "This is something you just won't believe. You have to keep your eyes closed though. The first time you see it is always the best...it kind of stays with you." he said softly into her ear.

She giggled. "Just don't let me trip there Clyde." She said as she felt the soft ground beneath her feet. "I trust you, I'm sure that is it wonderful."

Doug walked her over to the swing and sat her down in it. He stood behind her and let his hand down over her eyes. The sun was setting on the lake and it could be seen perfectly through the clearing of trees. Doug leaned against the tire swing hoping she would like it as much as he did. He had always been sentimental for these kinds of things. He looked into the sun and sighed...it was times like these he forgot they were nothing more than friends. That he had almost ruined her life twice and somehow she still liked being around him. It was times like this he wanted to drop everything and tell her the truth...his heart belonged to her, but he couldn't hurt her again.

"Oh." She gasped when he took his hands off her eyes. "It's beautiful." She said softly. As she leaned back against him taking it in. "I'm so glad you brought me here." She was smiling a true and genuine smile now as she looked down at the lake.

"Really?" he asked as he gave her a small push in the swing. "I'm really proud of you Anna." he said after a moment. "Somehow you can manage to have life knock you...but you just stand back up and keep on going. You have to know...no matter what kind of stupid things I do in the future, that you mean the world to me, and I'm really glad that out of all the people you could choose to spend your time with, you pick me. Cause I wouldn't be half the person I am without a friend like you."

"I do know." She said leaning back to look at him, "but just know that I couldn't keep getting back up if I didn't have you." She said. Oh that probably didn't sound right. As she looked up at the old tree. She wanted to change the subject fast before she said something that would give away that she didn't want to be just friends. "Uh Doug are you sure that branch is going to hold?"

Doug grinned an evil grin. He stuck his foot on the tire and stood up. "Ohh oh no!" he joked as he jumped on it. In a leap he jumped over the swing and landed in front of her. "Come here you." he said as he pulled her into a loose headlock. Once her got her up and put his hands around her waist and lifted her up. "You know it'd be really mean to throw you in that lake." he said taking a few steps forward. "Cold water and all...you'd be really pissed."

"Oh no," She giggled, "You wouldn't dare." She looked at him trying to figure out if he was serious about dunking her in that cold water. "Oh yes you would. I'd have to go medieval on your butt like I did last night. You'd be so sorry. Cause I could kick your butt buddy." She was laughing and wiggling now she didn't want him to let go, but she didn't want to end up in that lake either.

Doug took her to the edge of the lake but stopped. He wouldn't dump her in the water when it was still cold outside. He set her down and spun her around. "I couldn't do that to you...I can't loose another fight especially not to a..." Doug winced when he thought of that. "Ohh damn" he said grabbing for his phone. He was supposed to have picked Lynn up a half an hour ago for the basketball game. He took a few steps away from Anna as he called her home phone. "Hey...I'm really sorry for being late...we can still go, I mean they're great seats...not in the mood anymore." the words made Doug's voice get low. He didn't want Anna to hear this conversation. "Uhm, well why don't you just stop by my house, we can have dinner. I'll be home in a half an hour. See you then." he said as he closed his phone. He looked back at Anna and sighed. "I'm afraid I need to go." he said with a weak smile. He knew he was in trouble with Lynn, he just hoped he'd be able to fix it. The last thing he wanted to be was alone.

She wasn't going to say anything, damn that man had stood up his girlfriend to bring her out here, "it's starting to get cold anyway." She said as she started to walk back the way that they came. "Thanks for all of this; it means a lot to me that you would do something like this for me."

"Yeah I'm sure" he said walking back to the motorcycle. He hopped on and waited for Anna to get situated before starting it again. He pulled out of the dirt road and got back on the highway. He was probably about right with the time. After he dropped Anna off at her house and got home it would be thirty minutes. He thought about what he had in his fridge as he drove. He had some chicken he could throw on the grill for the two of them. He didn't know why it was so easy to think of things to do for Anna but so hard for everyone else. Doug sped up as they hit an open patch of highway. He still wanted Anna to have a good time on the way back. Something about her holding onto him the way she did made him feel good. He was glad she trusted him so much.

She leaned into him holding on as if it was the last time that she would get to do this with him. The trip back into the city went faster than she wanted it to and they were in front of her apartment building once again. She unwrapped her arms from him as she slid off the back of the bike. "I guess then I will see you tomorrow there Chief." She said as she took the helmet off and shook her hair free. "What time am I on boss?" She asked him as she started back towards the door of her apartment. She didn't want to keep any longer than she had to, but he was so cute sitting on the bike.

Doug grinned as he took the helmet from her. "7am" he said with a wink. "You think I can pull off this bad boy look?" he joked before revving the engine and peeling out of the side of the street. He gave a small wave as he drove past her on his way home. By the time he got there Lynn was just pulling up.

"Motorcycle huh?" she asked as they both parked. "Yeah...Anna got an attending spot so I took her for a ride. I really am sorry about tonight. It just slipped my mind." he said walking over to her. She took his hand and walked him into his backyard.

"Yeah that happens when you're in love...other things slipping your mind." she said to him.

Doug opened his mouth to say something but Lynn stopped him.

"Doug...you're a great guy, but I can't win against someone you're in love with, and I don't want to. You really need to tell Anna how you feel. And don't you dare tell me you don't love her. I see the way your eyes light up when you talk about her. You need to grab her up before she's gone." Lynn reached up and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "You're a good friend though. Why don't you call me up sometime when you want to shoot some hoops or go out for a beer?"

Doug just nodded. He knew nothing he could say would change her mind.

"Good luck Doug." she said before walking away.

Doug felt down as she left. How could he ruin something that was so nice like that? He was so stupid. After throwing some chicken on his grill Doug turned on his radio and sat down in his chair swing in his back yard and looked up at the stars. 'I don't want to be alone' he said to himself as he took a sip of one of the beers he had brought out. He propped his feet up and tried to think on what Lynn had said. 'Maybe she was right. But how do I tell Anna that? What if she doesn't feel the same?' he would be crushed that's what. He finished the beer and opened another one as he played with the cross on his necklace. 'Someone tell me what to do' he thought to himself, while he sat there alone.