March 5th-12th, 2002
;;;;;;;;
This is my version of what should happen to Mark on ER during Season 8, except through the eyes of Doug and Carol. But it's mostly a cast fic, with Elizabeth, Susan, Doug, Carol, Rachel, and Ella. Some other short parts involved.
It contains major spoilers (if you haven't seen up to now on Season 8) so if you are truly worried, don't read it. But this is *MY* version, no one else's (including the writer's of ER) so....read at your own risk.
;;;;;;;;
March 1st, 2002
Mark sat alone in his house, staring down at the telephone. He still hadn't told Elizabeth about his tumor being back. He knew he should call her, to tell her he was going to die, but he didn't know the number for the hotel. But he wasn't sure that if he knew it anyway if he would call her. He just couldn't find a way to tell her.
He sighed and leaned forward, holding his head in his hands as he pressed his palms to his eyes. All he could think about was that he was going to die within a few months. He'd never get to see Ella grow up. She probably wouldn't even remember him. And Rachel. She would remember him. He wasn't sure which was worse. Not knowing your father, or grieving because he wasn't alive anymore. Would Rachel even survive with Jen?
He'd never get to see either of his daughter's fall in love, get married, have their own children. He didn't want to die this young. He had so many things in his life that he still wanted to do.
And then there was Elizabeth. He loved her and was worried about how she would deal with raising Ella alone. Would Liz even miss him now that they were practically separated? He didn't know.
And Susan. His beloved Susan. He had always loved her, always would love her. He knew he loved Elizabeth, but Susan was the love of his life. The only reason he couldn't tell her now was because of Elizabeth and Ella. He couldn't betray them. But before he died, he thought he might tell Susan how he felt about her. Just so she would always know he had never stopped loving her. He thought she felt the same way about him, seeing as she actually talked to him, actually understood him better than Elizabeth did anymore. She had stayed with him after he had his treatment done.
What was he going to do? There were four women he loved, who he didn't want to leave. He didn't want to leave Rachel because he didn't want her to hurt. He didn't want to leave Ella because she had never gotten to know him. He didn't want to leave either of them because he wouldn't get to be in their future. He didn't want to leave Elizabeth because she didn't deserve to have to raise their child alone. He didn't want to leave Susan because he loved her and hadn't gotten what he had always wanted with her. A life. But he knew that even if he lived forever, he'd still never get that with her because he was devoted to Elizabeth.
Everything inside of Mark ached for the women he would have to leave. If only he knew a way to avoid dying. All the sorrow and pain was building up inside of Mark and he knew if he didn't talk about it, he would burst. He needed to tell someone. Anyone.
He picked up the telephone and dialed a number.
;;;;;;;;
In Seattle Doug and Carol sat snuggled together on the couch. Doug had his arms wrapped tightly around her and his hands were resting on her slightly rounded, pregnant tummy. They were watching a movie on the television and were half asleep. The girls were upstairs in their bedroom, sleeping.
When the phone rang, Doug groaned.
"Let the machine get it." He said.
"No, Doug. We need to get that. It could be something important." Carol said. Doug sighed and scooted out from underneath her.
"If it's the hospital, we're both deathly sick." He said. Carol smiled at him as he went to the kitchen to retrieve the cordless phone where they had left it. He picked it up and turned it on.
"Hello?" He asked.
"Hey Doug." The voice on the other end replied as Doug headed back into the living room.
"Mark." He said and glanced at Carol. She looked back at him, slightly surprised. "What's up buddy?"
"Nothing much. I uh, I just thought I should call. We haven't talked for a few months." Mark said, avoiding the inevitable.
"So what's been going on back in Chicago?" Doug asked, relaxing back against the couch. Mark shrugged and then replied because Doug couldn't see him.
"A lot, actually. But tell me first what's going on in Seattle." Mark said. Doug smiled widely.
"Carol's pregnant." Doug said. Mark's stomach began to ache.
"That's great news, buddy." Mark said sadly. Doug would get to see his children grow older, why couldn't he? Doug sat forward again.
"What's wrong, Mark? You don't sound very good." Doug said and glanced Carol's way. She watched him, worry fluttering over her eyes.
"Well, actually, Ella overdosed on E." Mark said.
"On what?" Doug asked loudly, shocked.
"Yeah. Rachel had some Ecstasy her book bag to take to a party and Ella got into it." Mark replied.
"Oh God. How is she?" Doug asked.
"She's alright now. She's home again."
"When did this happen?" Doug asked.
"About a month ago." Mark said.
"Good God, Mark. How are Rachel and Elizabeth?" Doug asked.
"Elizabeth took Ella and they are staying in a motel because I wouldn't send Rachel back to Jen. Rachel's taking it pretty hard. She feels horrible."
"I can imagine." Doug said and reached over to take Carol's hand. She scooted up next to him, but didn't interrupt, figuring she would have to wait to hear what Doug sounded so shocked about.
"I couldn't choose between my daughters, ya know? Elizabeth asked me to, but I don't love Ella more than I love Rachel, so how could I pick between them?" Mark sighed. "Elizabeth didn't understand, so she took Ella away."
"God, Mark, I'm sorry. How are you holding up?" Doug asked. Carol squeezed his hand, growing impatient. She was getting really worried. Doug glanced at her and sent a silent message through his eyes that he would fill her in. Carol knew, but she didn't want to wait.
"Not so good. My tumor's back." Mark said.
"What?" Doug asked, shocked once more.
"Yeah, I went to the doctor about three days ago. He told me it was back and that it's inoperable."
"Oh shit, Mark. I.."
"Only have three or four months to live at the longest."
"I don't know what to say, Mark." Doug said.
"It's okay." He said, understanding. What was he supposed to say?
"How is Elizabeth taking it?" Doug asked.
"I haven't told her yet." Mark replied.
"What? Why not?"
"She's been out of the house. She'll barely talk to me at work. I can't get through to her. She doesn't want to hear from me." Mark said.
"But she'd want to know about this, Mark. Get her to talk to you." Doug said.
"I..I know. But I...told Susan. She's been helping me a bit." Mark said. Doug understood what Mark wasn't saying. Doug knew that he still loved Susan and was glad that at least someone was there for him.
"Have you told anyone else?" Doug asked.
"No, just her and the doctors." Mark said. Doug was silent.
"Mark..You know if you ever need anything that you can call us." Doug said.
"I know..I, uh, that's why I called tonight. I need to talk to someone. Needed to tell someone else." Mark said. Doug nodded and bit the inside of his cheek.
"Well...Still, call us...If anything...happens." Doug said. Mark nodded and bowed his head.
"You know I will. I, uh, I better go. You need to be with your family." Mark said.
"So do you, Mark." Doug replied softly.
"Yeah, yeah, I will. Don't worry about me." Mark said.
"You know we will." Doug said.
"Yeah. Well, uh, I should go now." Mark said.
"Alright. Bye buddy. Remember to call us if you need something." Doug said. Mark nodded.
"Thanks, Doug. Tell Carol I said hello and congratulations. Bye." Mark said and hung up quickly. Doug hung up slowly and looked down at the phone. Carol tugged on his arm.
"What is it?" She asked.
"A lot has happened that we've missed." Doug said sadly and turned to her.
"Like what?" Carol asked. Doug sighed.
"About a month ago, Ella got into Rachel's book bag and took some Ecstasy." Carol gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
"Is she alright?" Carol asked, muffling her voice with her hand. Doug nodded.
"Yeah, she's okay now. But Elizabeth took Ella and they are staying in a motel because Mark wouldn't send Rachel back to Jen." Doug said.
"Oh, poor Mark." Carol said and reached down to take hands with Doug, thinking that was all of the trouble in Chicago.
"And there's something else." Doug said.
"Oh.." Carol trailed off, her heart racing once more.
"Mark's tumor is back." Doug said. Carol's mouth dropped open and she stared at Doug. "It's inoperable. He said he only has four months to live at the most." Tears suddenly rushed to Carol's eyes.
"Oh, no, Doug." Carol said.
"He hasn't told anyone but Susan."
"He hasn't talked to Elizabeth yet?" Carol asked in surprise.
"It seems that he thinks she has left him. She won't talk to him at work either. He hasn't had the chance to tell her or anyone but Susan. She's been there for him he says." Carol nodded as tears slid down her cheeks. She knew that the two of them still loved each other and was glad that Susan was there for him if Elizabeth wasn't.
"Oh, Mark. He won't even get to see Ella grow up." Carol said painfully and she placed a hand on her stomach. Doug covered her hand with his and they both silently hoped nothing of the sort would happen to them, even though they felt awful for their friend. "We should go to Chicago." Carol said.
"Not now, we can't. We can go later when Mark is sicker, but if we go...for the...if we go now and later, you won't have enough days for maternity leave." Doug said. Carol nodded, knowing he was right.
"I still...Mark needs people." Carol said.
"Susan's there. And he's going to tell Elizabeth soon, I know it." Doug said. "He just needs a few days." Doug said. Carol sighed and wiped at her tears as she looked at Doug. He took her face into his hands and kissed her forehead before pulling her to him to cradle her softly against his chest so they could begin grieving for one of their best friends.
;;;;;;;;
May 1st, 2002
Doug stood in the kitchen, making breakfast for his girls. Carol sat at the table, talking to Tess and Kate. Doug smiled at them slightly, at his girls and Carol's rounded five-month belly. He wondered fleetingly if it was a boy or another girl. Either way it wouldn't matter to him.
"Here are your eggs." Doug said and carried them to the table. The two-years-and-three-month old twins sent him matching shining smiles as they looked up at him. He scooped eggs onto their plates and his and Carol's plates. Suddenly the phone rang. Doug smiled.
"I'll get it." He said and dumped the pan into the sink before picking up the telephone.
"Hello?" He asked.
"Doug?" He heard a British voice reply.
"Yes?" Doug questioned, a bit confused at first.
"This is Elizabeth." The woman replied. Doug's stomach clenched and he glanced quickly at Carol who was oblivious.
"Oh, hello Elizabeth." He replied. Carol's head whipped up and she stood quickly from her seat to make her way to him, thinking the same thing as Doug. Was Mark dead? They had only heard from him once since that first call and that was a week after he had called the first time. He had called the second time to tell him that he had told Elizabeth and things were okay and that he'd call them again later.
"I, uh, I was just calling about Mark." She said. Carol leaned her ear against the phone so they could both hear.
"What's wrong?" Doug asked quickly.
"Well, um...Mark asked me to call you." Doug and Carol simultaneously let out a breath. He wasn't dead, but the yet in the phrase hung heavily in the air.
"Yeah?" Doug said quietly. Elizabeth cleared her throat.
"He'd like it if you came to Chicago. He, uh," her voice broke, "he wants to see you one more time. The doctor said he only has about a week left." She said and suddenly she was crying. Carol felt tears building up in her eyes and she reached for Doug's hand. He took it and squeezed gently.
"Is it at home or in the hospital?" Doug asked.
"At home..He uh, he wants to be home." Elizabeth said and Doug and Carol both understood. He wanted to die at home.
"Okay, well, tell him that we'll get a flight as soon as we can. Tell him to hang in there." Doug said. Elizabeth sniffled.
"Alright. I'll, uh, tell him. Good-bye Doug."
"Bye Elizabeth." Doug said and hung up the phone. Doug and Carol looked at each other before she stepped into his arms and buried her face into his shoulder. She struggled to hold the tears in, not wanting to scare the girls. They simply stood there for a few minutes, holding each other, as the twins ate their breakfast.
Kate and Tess finally became curious. Kate hopped out of her chair and walked to her parents.
"Mama?" She asked, looking up at them. Carol backed away from Doug and looked down at her daughter. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Why you crying?" Kate asked.
"Mama's sad." Carol replied. Kate held up her arms and despite Doug and the doctor's warnings, Carol bent down to pick up her daughter. Kate snuggled softly against Carol and Carol hugged her sweet, warm little body. Tess, not wanting to miss anything, hopped off her chair and came running. Doug scooped her up into his arms and led Carol to a chair so she wouldn't strain her back holding Kate. She sat but kept her face buried in the little girl's curls. Kate simply sat and let herself be held, somehow sensing that her mother needed it. Tess perched on Doug's hip and looked down at her mother.
"What wrong wi'f Mommy?" She asked in a whisper.
"She's sad because our friend, Uncle Mark, is sick." Doug whispered back. Tess nodded gravely, not really understanding, but just knowing that her mother was upset. "C'mon, punkin', let's call the airport." Doug said and walked back to the phone.
"The a-port?" Tess asked. Doug nodded.
"Where all the airplanes are." He said. Tess nodded, having been fascinated with the planes she frequently heard flying overhead.
"Are we goin' on a airpane?" Tess asked.
"Yeah, we are." Doug replied and dialed the number for the airport.
;;;;;;;;
May 2nd, 2002
Doug and Carol walked into Helen Hathaway's house the next night. The girls were walking sleepily into the house, teddy bears dangling from their arms as they held Carol's hands with their other hand. Doug carried the stuff the girls would need to stay at Helen's house for a week or so.
Helen smiled widely at the identical girls and immediately her gaze went to their sleepy eyes to determine which one was which. The girls were identical except for their eyes. Kate had Doug's dark chocolate colored eyes and Tess had slightly lighter, hazel eyes that were much like Carol's.
"Hello Katie. Hi Tessie." Helen said. They smiled tiredly at her.
"Mamaw!" They yelled and ran to her. She bent down to give the both of them a hug. Carol and Doug smiled at the trio and Javier who was coming up behind them. Helen released the girls who ran to Javier to hug him. They didn't call him Grandpa, but they knew him like he was one.
"Hav, hav, hav!" The girls yelled his nickname as he bent down to hug them. Helen came to Carol and kissed her cheek and then Doug's. She had come to accept the fact that her daughter loved him and he was the father of her grandchildren.
"Hello Carol, Doug." Helen said.
"Hi Ma." Carol replied.
"Helen." Doug said.
"I've got the girls if you want to go see your friend." Helen said. Carol smiled sadly.
"Thanks Ma. We'll be back in a few hours. If we're not home by dinnertime, just feed the girls. Doug and I can find something." Carol said. Helen nodded.
"Alright. You go on. They'll be fine." Helen said.
"Thanks Ma." Carol repeated.
"You're welcome. Go." Helen said, ushering them to the door. Doug smiled and took Carol's hand as they walked back to the rented car.
;;;;;;;;
Doug and Carol rang the doorbell of Mark and Elizabeth's house. Within seconds they heard locks on the other side of the door being turned before Elizabeth swung the door open to face them. Carol and Doug smiled warmly.
"Hello." Elizabeth said, forcing a smile onto her lips. She didn't smile often these days. Carol looked at the baby on Elizabeth's hip.
"Well, look at her." Carol said. Ella leaned her head against Elizabeth's shoulder shyly. Elizabeth looked down at her for a moment.
"She's a shy one. Lord knows where she gets that from." Elizabeth said. Doug chuckled as they walked into the house. Elizabeth shut the door behind them and turned to look at the Rosses.
"And look at you." Elizabeth said, motioning toward Carol's belly. Carol blushed slightly.
"Yeah. I'm always growing." Carol said and placed a hand on her stomach. Elizabeth smiled sadly; remembering when she herself had been pregnant and now realized she'd never be pregnant with another of Mark's children ever again.
"Mark's upstairs, in the bedroom."
"He's not sleeping is he? If he is when can come back." Doug said, considerately. Elizabeth shook her head.
"I was just up there a few minutes ago. He was watching television. If he's asleep now, he doesn't matter. He'd want me to wake him if you were here. Doug nodded. Elizabeth sighed and began to ascend the stairs. The pair followed her as Ella looked at them curiously. "Thank you for coming. It means a lot to Mark."
"Of course we would come. Mark's our friend." Carol said. Elizabeth nodded.
"I know. I just..." She trailed off. Doug reached for Carol's hand silently and squeezed as they looked at Ella. They both understood the emotional pain Elizabeth was going through and didn't know quite what to say. Carol felt sorry for Ella, who would never know her father, and Rachel because she may never get over her father's death. Carol knew she surely hadn't for the longest time.
"Where's Rachel?" Carol asked, thinking of her.
"She's at a friends house. She's been really helpful lately, but I think sometimes it gets too stressful for her to watch him die, so she has to go away every once and awhile." Elizabeth said softly as they reached the top of the stairs. Carol nodded sadly and felt Doug's shoulder brush hers. Elizabeth walked down the hall a little ways and knocked on a closed door. Then she slowly pushed it open.
Mark was looking at them from one eye. His right eye was taped shut. He smiled a bit, but his mouth was stiff, like he had had a stroke, and it looked like he was grimacing instead.
"Hey." He said.
"Hey Mark." Carol said as she walked to his bed. For some reason, despite the fact that she was of a medical mind, she had pictured him to look absolutely normal. She wasn't prepared for this somewhat paralysis of his face. Even though she was unprepared, she showed no signs of it outwardly.
"Doug." Mark said. Doug smiled.
"Hey, bud, how do you feel?" Doug asked.
"I'm okay."
"Mark, I'm going to go change Ella." Elizabeth said. Mark nodded, and all of them knew she was really leaving to give the friends a private reunion. Mark lie in the middle of the bed, so Doug and Carol each took a sitting position on either side of Mark. Mark smiled at Carol.
"Look at your belly." He said. She smiled and rubbed her hand across it.
"I'm not as big as a house this time." She said. He chuckled a bit, even thought it was difficult for him. Carol reached for his hand.
"Long time, no see." Mark said to Doug. Doug nodded.
"I know." Doug said and felt a little guilty. That was mostly his fault. When he and Carol came back to pick up the girls, Doug had avoided the hospital and all the people there at all costs. Now he wished he hadn't. You never knew when you would lose a friend. "I'm here now, though." Doug said. Mark nodded.
"Where are the twins?" He asked.
"We dropped them off at Helen's before we came." Doug replied. Mark nodded.
"Bring them over sometime. I'd like to see them." Mark said.
"How about we bring them to visit tomorrow." Carol suggested, glancing quickly at Doug. He nodded a bit.
"I'd like that." Mark replied with a soft smile.
;;;;;;;;
Doug and Carol sat in a small diner a few miles from Helen's house. They hadn't made it home in time to eat dinner with Helen, so they had stopped to get themselves something to eat and to talk in private.
Carol sat, staring down into her water, as she rubbed her fingers against the condensation on the side of the glass.
"I didn't expect him to look like that, ya know?" Carol asked. Doug reached out and touched her wrist. She looked up at him.
"I know I should have, but I didn't either." Doug said. "I expected him to look like normal old Mark. I forgot there would be signs of it." Doug said. Carol's eyes filled with tears.
"I feel so awful for his daughters. And Elizabeth. Susan even." Carol said and sniffled, forcing the tears to go away.
"Me too." Doug said and leaned toward her. He touched her face. "But we shouldn't dwell on it. It'll make us sad." Doug said. Carol nodded a bit and closed her eyes. When she reopened them, they were clear.
"I know." She said.
;;;;;;;;
May 3rd, 2002
"Where we goin' a'gen?" Kate asked from the backseat.
"To visit Uncle Mark." Doug replied as he drove.
"He sick." Tess stated.
"Yes, Mark's sick. You girls have to be very careful when you talk to him, okay?" Carol asked and turned to look at them. The girls nodded solemnly. They had already had this discussion and knew this was serious. "Don't jump on him and be nice when you ask him questions, okay?" Carol asked, knowing it was useless. If the twins had a question, they didn't hold any regard for whether it was appropriate or not. Not that Carol really expected them to. After all, they were hardly two years old. She turned back around in her seat and met Doug's supportive gaze for a moment before he began watching the roads again.
;;;;;;;;
Carol and Doug finally pried the twins away from Ella. They had been amazed with her and had wanted to play. Doug and Carol had promised they could play later before they led the girls up the stairs and into Mark's room.
The pair stood in the doorway, each of them holding a twin's hand. Tess and Kate stared quietly at Mark when they turned to look at him. He smiled a bit.
"Hey girls." Mark said quietly as they crept up to the bed.
"Hi." Kate whispered.
"Mama said we be kayfull." Tess said. Mark nodded.
"Which one of you is which?" He asked.
"Kate." Kate replied.
"Tess." Tess replied. Mark chuckled a bit and patted the bed awkwardly with his hand.
"C'mon up here and sit on the wagon." Kate smiled as the twins climbed up to sit beside him.
"It's no wagon, it's a bed!" She said. Mark chuckled.
"It's a special wagon. Only special people can sit on it." He said slowly. Tess and Kate's eyes widened.
"We special?" Tess asked. Mark nodded.
"Very." He replied. Tess turned to look at her parents.
"Mama and Daddy, too?" She asked. Mark nodded.
"Sure they are." He said. Doug and Carol smiled at him.
"We all special." Kate announced. Mark chuckled and nodded.
"We saw a baby 'ownstairs." Tess said quietly. Mark nodded.
"That's Ella." He said.
"Daddy said she you daught, daught," Kate tried.
"Daughter." Mark said. Kate nodded widely.
"Mama said we play wi'f 'er later." Tess said.
"You can." Mark said. Tess and Kate nodded, satisfied with that. "You're going to have your own baby in your house pretty soon." They nodded again, amazed that he knew.
"Mama say she finks it a boy." Tess said. Mark nodded seriously.
"What did your Daddy say?" He asked.
"He don' care if it's a boy 'er girl." Kate replied. Mark nodded and smiled at Doug and Carol.
"That's good." Mark said. "What do you think about having a brother, maybe?"
"Fun!" The twins said at the same time. Mark chuckled.
"You probably won't always think so." He said and the girls merely stared at him. Finally Kate asked what she was dying to ask.
"Why you eye closed?" She asked, meaning the tape. He smiled a bit, even as Carol realized it was hopeless.
"'Cause I can't shut it on my own." Mark said.
"Why?" Tess asked.
"'Cause I'm sick and I can't." Mark said. Kate and Tess nodded, satisfied with that.
"Why you talk funny?" Tess asked.
"My mouth is like my eye and I can't control it so well." Mark said, seeming to not be bothered by their curious questions.
"Can you get out of duh wagon?" Kate asked. Mark shook his head.
"Not by myself. I can with lots of help." He said. "But I haven't for awhile."
"How come?" Tess asked.
"I can't walk by myself." He said. "My legs are like my eye and my mouth." Mark said. The twins nodded, satisfied with those answers for the time being.
;;;;;;;;
The girls kissed Mark good-bye before Carol took them downstairs. Doug stayed behind to talk to Mark for a few minutes.
"They are gorgeous." Mark said. Doug smiled widely and nodded proudly.
"They are. I can't wait for this new baby." Doug said. Mark smiled.
"Enjoy it." Mark said sadly. He hadn't been able to hold Ella by himself for over a week now. Doug patted his hand briefly. "Thanks for bringing the girls though. I just wanted to see them before I died." Mark said. Doug sighed and bent his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words would come. "You don't have to say anything. I know it's not the easiest subject. But I'm ready now. I just want to say my final good-byes." Mark said.
"Well, this isn't ours yet." Doug said. "Carol and I will be back soon. Maybe tomorrow." Doug said. Mark nodded.
"Alright." He said. Doug smiled sadly.
"Bye for now, Mark." Doug said and turned to leave the room.
;;;;;;;;
The next morning Doug and Carol lie in the spare room bed, wrapped in each other's arms. The girls were on the floor, curled closely together and sleeping soundly inside the heaps of blankets Helen had provided for them.
"Doug?" Carol asked quietly.
"Mm?" He murmured.
"I want to go to the hospital today." Carol said. Doug nodded.
"Alright." He replied softly.
"Are you going to come with me?" Carol asked.
"Would you like me to?" Doug asked.
"If you want. I don't want to make you do it if you don't want to go back there. I understand if you don't." Carol replied. He shrugged his shoulders slightly.
"I know I wasn't ready to go when we were last in Chicago." Doug said, referring to the time right after Carol had come to Seattle and they had went back to Chicago to pick the girl's up at Helen's. Carol had gone back to the hospital to resign and get her things. Doug had refused to go. Even then he hadn't been ready. First of all he thought everyone at work would be upset with him over the Ricky Abbott incident and be mad at him for leaving Carol. But now he wasn't so sure he wouldn't mind going back. He hadn't seen his friends there in a long time. Plus Susan was back. It had been years since he had seen her.
"Are you now?" Carol asked quietly.
"Right now I don't really care what Kerry has to say if she sees me. I'm not even worried about her anymore. But what will everyone else think if they see me?" He asked quietly. Carol looked up at him.
"I think they'll be happy to see you. Nobody blamed you for leaving, Doug, except me. And everybody knew I was being stubborn and not talking to you, and that what happened was as much my fault as yours. Nobody dislikes you. Maybe Kerry does, but you just said you don't care what she thinks. Romano never comes down to the ER because he thinks what we do is pointless. Dr. Anspaugh is no longer there. So everybody who may still be upset with you is no one you need to worry about. But it's really up to you whether or not you think you can handle it." Carol said. Doug squeezed her a bit.
"Let me think about it a little more. I'll decide soon." Doug said. Carol nodded.
"I don't want to leave until after lunch anyway." She said. Doug nodded.
"I'll let you know at lunch time then." He said. Carol nodded.
"Alright." She agreed.
"We should wake the girls." Doug said and turned his head to look at them. Carol nodded once more.
;;;;;;;;