Sorry this took so long. But the good news is, I think I might get to finish this over the holidays (Fingers crossed!). Anyway, enjoy this chapter and don't forget to review!
Where We Are
Chapter Twelve
This was bad. Very bad. So very bad that Mark could only stare at the envelope in front of him.
It was the morning after he had talked to Carol, Susan and Doug. He had arrived early to work since Rachel was now back with her mom and because he couldn't sleep. It was one of those days in the ER that the only patients that came in, the med students and interns were eager to work them up, leaving Senior Residents and Attendings with a lot of free time. Mark was the only Attending working at the moment, apart from Weaver who was sitting in the lounge doing paperwork and had asked not to be disturbed unless it was of utmost importance. And boy, was Mark glad she was out of the way now.
He picked up the envelope and read the addressee name again: Carol Tagilieri. That was not what had him worried though, it was the stamped name and title of the returnee on the top left hand corner of the envelope that worried him.
Wilson & Clark
Family Law Attorney
It had been hand delivered by a courier a half hour ago and still, Mark sat staring at it. After everything Tag had put her through, he was now suing her? She should be suing him! He was the one who had cheated on her and then smashed her across the face. But Mark couldn't feel anger, all he could feel was worry. He couldn't just call Carol up and tell her Tag was suing her. He didn't know what that would do to her in her fragile state. And for all he knew, Tag could have just started divorce proceeding and was intending to give her everything out of guilt. But he couldn't just dump that worry on Carol after everything she had already gone through. He needed to be sure.
He looked around the ER. Some patients were waiting in chairs, others on gurneys in Curtain Area 1 and 2 and the med students and interns were either with patients or nowhere to be seen. He took a deep breath and slit open the letter. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't imagine Carol being angry with him for trying to protect her and he just had to be sure.
His mouth fell open as he read through the letter, his eyebrows moving further and further up his forehead. That bastard!
Not only was he filing for divorce, he was also suing her for full custody of Zach. And on top of that he was suing her for taking Zach out of state without his permission. His fist clenched over the letter, pure anger coursing through his veins.
He moved as if he was on autopilot. He stormed into the lounge, almost shouted at Weaver to leave, which she did, surprisingly, and picked up the phone. His fingers trembled as he punched in the familiar number and he tapped his foot impatiently as it rang. After four long rings, the phone was answered.
'Jennifer Simon's office' said a pleasant, friendly voice.
'Addison, it's Mark. I need to talk to Jen. It's urgent' Mark told the young receptionist, who immediately patched him through to Jen's private line.
D&C
Susan didn't know what to do. It was 6am and she could still hear Carol's sobs through the thin wall separating their bedrooms.
Carol had arrived at her house about an hour after Susan had talked to Doug. She seemed tired, despite Doug having said she had been asleep earlier. She went straight to Zach, who was falling asleep on the couch and hugged him to her for well over an half hour, just sitting there, rocking back and forth, pressing kisses into the boy's brown curls. She then asked where they would be sleeping. Susan said Zach could stay in the room Susie used when she stayed over and that Carol could use the spare room. Then after thanking her friend, Carol put her son to bed and the shut herself into the guest room. A few minutes later, the crying started and it still hadn't stopped.
Throwing back the covers, Susan decided her couldn't lie in bed any longer. She got up, pulled an over large sweater over her head, donned a pair of fluffy socks and made her way downstairs. She was surprised to find Zach already sitting on the couch, watching an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants.
'Hey kiddo, you want some breakfast?' Susan asked, perching herself on the arm of the couch.
'Where my mom?' Zach inquired as if he had not heard Susan's question.
'She's still asleep. So how about breakfast?' she asked again.
Zach bobbed his head and looked back to the TV screen.
Susan stood and made her way into the kitchen. She took a bowl from the cupboard and filled it was the kiddy cereal Susie always asked for, splashed some milk over it and went back to the living room after grabbing a spoon.
'Here you go' she said brightly, handing the bowl to Zach.
He took it, examined it's contents, then handed it back. 'I don't like that' he said. Had he been an adult, Susan would have said he sounded depressed, but since he was only three years old, she thought recent events might be catching up on him.
'But Little Susie loves this. Why don't you try it?' she suggested.
Zach just shrugged in reply.
'Zach, don't be rude. You do like it, now eat it' came a voice from behind them. They both turned to see Carol descending the stairs, wrapping a large black cardigan around her shoulders, still wearing her pyjamas and a pair of slippers on her feet.
'I don't want it' Zach replied, crossing him arms and turning back to the TV.
'Fine, but you won't be getting anything else' Carol said, heading towards the kitchen.
Zach looked up at her and then at Susan, who raised her eyebrows and offered him the bowl again.
He took it and began to eat, a scowl upon his face.
Susan stood up and followed Carol into the kitchen.
She was sitting at the table, her head in her hands, her bushy hair completely covering her face.
'Coffee?' Susan offered, taking two mugs from the cupboard.
'Yeah, thanks' Carol said, raising her head.
'I only have instant' Susan told her, flicking the switch on the kettle.
'It's fine' Carol said. Her voice was void of any sort of emotion, her eyes downcast, watching her fingers as she fiddled with the buttons of her cardigan.
The kettle boiled, Susan poured two mugs, added the coffee granules, stirred them and brought them to the table with a carton of milk.
'Thanks' Carol mumbled, taking a mug and adding a drop of milk.
Susan watched her as Carol stirred the coffee absentmindedly. Sitting this close to her, Susan could see that the nurse's eyes were red and puffy from the previous night's crying. Although Susan was due in work in under two hours, she knew she could not leave Carol alone like this. She stood up and went to the phone on the wall and dialled the number for work.
It was answered by none other than Scott West.
'Hey Scott, could you tell Willis I won't be in today?' she asked. She saw Carol's eyes flick up to her but she didn't protest.
'Yeah, sure, is everything okay?' Scott asked.
'Yeah, everything's fine. Thanks Scott. I have to go. See you tomorrow' Susan said and hung up before Scott could say anything else. She sat back down at the table and picked up her coffee.
'You don't have to miss work on my account. I'll be fine' Carol said. Her voice wavered though, and Susan knew that wouldn't be the case if she went to work.
'It's fine. I want to spend some time with you and Zach anyway. And I've loads of holidays saved up' she said, which was true too.
Carol nodded and a small tear slipped from her eye.
'Oh, Carol' Susan sighed and got up. She went around the table and wrapped her arms around her friend.
'I'm so confused, Susan. I don't know what to do' Carol admitted.
Susan pushed the bushy brown hair away from her friend's face and wiped away her tears. 'Carol, everything's going to be fine. Tag isn't going to bother you here' she tried to reassure her.
'Everything's not fine though, is it? I've ran away from my own husband, my child is miserable and then Doug Ross shows up! Everything's a mess!' Carol sobbed.
Comprehension dawned on Susan. It was Doug that had her in this state.
'My marriage has just fallen to pieces and all I can think about is Doug!' Carol almost shouted in frustration.
There was nothing Susan could say, so she just hugged her friend tighter and prayed everything would turn out alright.
D&C
'So he can't sue then?' Mark asked making sure he had it right.
'Not for taking the child away without permission. Zach was with his mother and she has every right to take her child where ever she pleases. He can sue for custody, though. And obviously, the divorce. But suing for taking Zach to another state is ridiculous. I can't even believe an attorney even agreed to that one' Jen explained.
'So is there anything she can do to stop him getting custody?' Mark asked next.
'Not really, other than show up for the hearing and plead her case. The fact that he's hit her will count against him, but unless it's evident that's he's a danger to Zach there's no reason he can't gain custody. Carol's just going to have to put up a very good defence' Jen explained.
Mark cursed under his breath.
'Mark, if she wants, I'll be more than happy to represent Carol' Jan offered.
'You're not a Family Law Attorney, though' Mark replied.
'I know but I know Carol, I know Tag and I'd like to help. It probably wouldn't hurt to have someone who knows the situation on her side, anyway' Jen countered.
'Yeah, I suppose your right' Mark admitted. 'I'll suggest it to her when I tell her about the letter.'
'About that, Mark. Why exactly did you open the letter if it was addressed to Carol?' Jen asked.
'Because I had a feeling what it was and I wanted to make sure before I worried her. Carol won't mind' he told her.
'Okay, but keep me up to date. If I'm going to represent her, I'll need to know everything that goes on, alright?' Jen said.
Mark sighed, wondering what exactly was going to happen next. 'So how's Rach?' he asked.
'She's good. I'll tell her you said hi' Jen replied.
'Yeah, do that. And thanks Jen. I'll keep you posted' Mark promised.
'No problem. I'll talk to you soon' she said. They said goodbye and hung up.
Just then the door of the lounge opened and Kerry Weaver came back into the room.
'Is it safe yet or do I have to go somewhere else to finish my paperwork?' she asked, giving Mark a look that he took to mean she wasn't happy that he had unceremoniously kicked her out of the lounge.
'Sorry Kerry. It' was an emergency' he said, moving past her towards the door. At the last minute she called him back.
'Mark...How's Carol?' she asked.
Mark sighed heavily. 'She's fine' he told her, 'For now' he added once the door of the lounge had swung shut behind him.
AN: (Don't have the patience to write one)
This chapter is dedicated to my wonderful cousin, Gabby, who turned 18 yesterday and who also experienced her first hangover today, haha. Happy Birthday Gabs, Love Kate, Noah-J and Rory :) xxx