March 5th-12th, 2002
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Doug and Carol headed into the hospital through the ambulance bay doors, out of habit. Normally people didn't walk through the ambulance doors. They stood close together; unaware of how many changes had occurred since they left. First they saw a strange man standing behind the admit desk.
"Who's that?" Doug asked quietly. Carol shrugged.
"I have absolutely no idea. Randi was here when I left." Carol answered as she watched the scene unfold.
"Frank, where's my muffin?" A big, burly man asked as he came up behind Frank.
"I didn't take it, Jerry! It must've been one of the lunatics in Chairs." Frank replied tersely.
"Yeah right, you know you ate it old man!" Jerry said.
"Oh, stick a sock in a it!" Frank ordered. Jerry snorted and turned, suddenly spotting Doug and Carol. His eyes lit up.
"Carol! Doug!"
"Hey Jerry." Doug replied with a wide smile as he walked to the desk.
"What are you doing here? I thought you left!" Jerry said.
"I thought you left!" Carol replied. Jerry chuckled.
"I just came back a few months ago because Randi quit." Jerry said.
"Why'd she quit?" Carol asked.
"Actually I think she found a job in fashion. Finally." Jerry said.
"That's great." Carol said. Jerry nodded.
"So what are you doing here?" He asked.
"Coming to visit." Doug replied. Jerry nodded.
"You'll be shocked at how much has changed. I was surprised when I got here!" Jerry said.
"Really?" Carol asked.
"Yeah. There's a bunch of new doctors and nurses and everybody who is the same has different positions and everything! Oh and guess what else?" Jerry asked with a wicked smile.
"What?" Doug asked. Jerry's voice lowered in mischief.
"Kerry's gay!" He said.
"What?" Doug asked, lowering his own voice with shock.
"Yeah, apparently a few weeks before I came, someone kissed her right here in the middle of everyone. And I've seen her leave the hospital every now and then with some woman."
"You've gotta be kiddin' me!" Doug exclaimed, his eyes alight with amusement.
"Not at all!" Jerry said.
"I should've known!" Doug said and turned to look at Carol, laughing. She grinned herself, not finding it as hilarious as Doug, but finding it funny enough to warrant a smile. He chuckled.
"So what else is new?" Doug asked. "Don't tell me Carter's married!" Doug said. Jerry smiled.
"No, he's workin' on getting with Abby." Jerry said.
"Abby?" Doug asked.
"She's the one who helped deliver the twins and she was in medical school when I left." Carol told Doug.
"Actually she's a nurse now." Jerry said.
"Oh really?" Carol asked, remember the first time Abby had come to the ER and Carol had been making fun of doctors. Hm, Carol thought, she did change paths. Good for her. Jerry nodded.
"Yeah. And there are a bunch of new people that weren't here before."
"Like who?" Doug asked.
"Well, Chen's back, and Susan. Plus I never met Luka. Abby, Peter's gone."
"Peter's gone! Since when?" Carol asked with shock.
"Since late last year. They said he quit because Reese's mother died and he needed better hours. So he went to a different hospital."
"Really? Wow." Doug said.
"I guess a lot has changed." Carol said.
"Carol?" Someone asked from behind. Carol and Doug turned to look at the tall, dark-haired man.
"Luka." Carol said. He smiled. Jerry faded away, letting the couple become reacquainted with others.
"It is you!" He said and leaned down to hug her. He felt the bump of her pregnant stomach against his ribs. Pregnant again, he thought with just a hint of regret. They hadn't parted on such good terms, but he had long since gotten over her and it no longer bothered him. And apparently Luka did not see the man standing beside Carol. She smiled. "Where are the girls?" He asked, anxious to see how they had grown.
"They're at my mom's house. I'm here with Doug to visit Mark." Carol said, motioning toward Doug. Luka turned to look at him, noticing him for the first time. Both he and Doug looked each other up and down, as if measuring each other's worth. Carol watched them and nearly rolled her eyes. Men, what were they good for? She asked herself silently. Finally Doug reached a hand out to shake Luka's.
"I'm Doug Ross. Carol's husband." Doug said for good measure. Luka nodded.
"Luka Kovac." He replied as they shook hands. Doug didn't look anything like what Luka had pictured in his head. Luka didn't look anything like Doug had pictured in his head.
"Nice to meet you." Doug said, forcing himself to be polite.
"You too." Luka replied and turned to Carol. "Well, I have work to do. Maybe I'll see you later." Luka said. Carol nodded and smiled at him.
"Hope so." She said and he walked away. She turned to Doug and gave him an annoyed look. "Jealous?" She asked. He shrugged.
"I just wanted him to know that you're mine now." Doug said. Carol did roll her eyes this time.
"Jesus Doug, isn't it enough for you to know that we are married now and I am five months pregnant with our third child?" Carol asked. Doug shrugged and grinned about.
"Just didn't want him getting any ideas." He said. Carol sighed.
"How do I live with you?" She asked. He chuckled.
"Carol? Doug?" They both turned to find Susan coming toward them quickly. Her face lit up as she saw it really was them. "Hey." She said, laughing a bit in that way she had. Carol went to her and hugged her enthusiastically.
"Susan!" Carol exclaimed. Susan pulled away but kept her hands on Carol's shoulders.
"Look at you!" Susan said and looked down at Carol's belly. Carol smiled widely. Susan released her to hug Doug.
"You look great, too." Susan said. Doug chuckled.
"As do you." Susan looked at the both of them.
"Wow. It's still hard to believe you guys are together."
"Married now." Doug said and held up his left hand to show the simple wedding band he wore. Susan shook her head.
"I never would have thought. Doug Ross getting married."
"Yeah, well, I didn't think so either." Carol said. Susan laughed as they all smiled at each other. Suddenly her face became more sober and serious.
"Have you been to see Mark yet?" She asked. Doug and Carol nodded solemnly.
"Yeah, we went yesterday and the day before. We took the girls to see him yesterday." Carol replied.
"Oh. Speaking of them, where are the twins? I haven't gotten to see them yet." Susan said. Carol smiled.
"They staying with my mom. Maybe you can see them before we go back to Seattle." Carol said. Susan nodded.
"That'd be great."
"Susan? What are you doing?" They heard the sharp question come from behind. Carol, Doug, and Susan all turned to find Kerry limping swiftly towards them. She slowed, hesitated when she saw Doug and Carol.
"Just visiting, Kerry." Susan said and turned around to roll her eyes at Carol and Doug. Doug nearly smiled but didn't think it would be best if Kerry found out Susan was making fun of her, under the circumstances.
"Isn't there a better time for that?" Kerry asked.
"It's nice to see you too, Kerry." Carol said, annoyed. Kerry nodded shortly.
"Good to see you, Carol. Doug." Kerry said, forcing herself to be polite. Doug merely nodded, sure if he opened his mouth he would burst into laughter.
"I'll get back to work in a minute, Kerry." Susan said. Kerry nodded and shifted to go around them.
"Don't take long, there are patients waiting." Susan rolled her eyes at Kerry's back.
"I should go. Maybe we can arrange for a time to catch up."
"How about tonight?" Carol suggested. Susan nodded.
"That's fine with me. I get off at five." She said.
"How about six then?" Carol asked.
"Good idea." Susan replied.
"I promised the twins I'd take them to McDonald's tonight." Doug said.
"I can go alone, if you don't mind." Carol said. He smiled.
"Go ahead. I'm sure I'd get lost in the girl talk anyway." He said, catching on to the barest hint Carol sent him about giving her some time alone with Susan. He knew she wanted to try to find out how Susan felt about Mark's condition.
"If I'm imposing.." Susan said, slightly worried.
"You're not." Carol reassured her. "So, how about you come pick me up at my mom's house. You can meet the girls and then we can go somewhere to talk and everything." Carol said.
"Sounds great. Do you mind if we eat in tonight? I can order Chinese to my apartment." Susan said.
"Mm, sounds good. We don't eat Chinese much in Seattle." Carol said. Susan grinned.
"Alright. Where does your mom live?" Susan asked. Carol gave her directions quickly before Susan decided she should probably get back to work.
Doug and Carol walked around the hospital for over an hour, talking with old friends and meeting new people.
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Later that night at shortly before six o'clock, Susan walked up the steps of Helen Hathaway's house. She knocked briskly on the door, waiting slight impatiently to see the girls. She could already imagine that they would be beautiful children. Moments later the door to the house opened and Carol peeked out.
"Hey Susan." She said. Susan smiled widely.
"Where are they? I can hardly wait!" Susan said as Carol opened the door fully so Susan could come in. Susan walked in.
"Hold on. Let me round them up." Carol said.
"Girls!" She said, raising her voice just enough so the girls in the kitchen could hear them. Moments later they came walking out of the kitchen, Doug on their heels. Susan smiled widely. They are cute as hell, she thought.
"We baking wi'f Grandma." Tess said, clearly impatient with being called away from her duty. Carol grinned.
"I'd like you girls to meet a friend of mine. This is Susan." Carol said.
"Hi." The girls chimed in at the exact same moment.
"Hello." Susan said.
"The one on your left is Kate. The other is Tess." Carol cleared up for Susan.
"What are you baking?" Susan asked them.
"Chalk-it chit cookies." Tess replied matter-of-factly. Susan chuckled.
"My favorite." She said.
"Me too!" Kate replied in awe. She now had a hero.
"Mine is sugar cookies." Tess said.
"Mine too, kiddo." Doug replied. Tess smiled up at him, knowing this.
"Susan and I are going to go eat dinner. Make sure Daddy doesn't let you have any cookies before dinner." Carol said and unconsciously rubbed her stomach. Doug chuckled as the twins "awwww"-ed in unison.
"Momma!" Kate whined. Carol shook her finger.
"You know the rules." She said. Tess sighed but then turned and smiled sweetly up at her father. He chuckled and held up his hands.
"Momma's the boss." He said. Carol smiled.
"That's right." She said. Doug and Susan chuckled. "Now you go on and help Grandma." Carol said. The girls nodded and scrambled wildly back to the kitchen. Carol looked at Doug.
"I don't know when I'll be back. I won't be too late." Carol said. Doug chuckled.
"Remember girls, no drinking and driving. And especially no men!" Doug said.
"Yes, Dad." Susan replied and she and Carol left the house laughing.
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Carol and Susan took the El to Susan's house, where Susan had already ordered their Chinese. It would arrive within a few minutes.
"Do you eat Chinese a lot?" Carol asked as they walked into the house. The two had ordered their dinner on Susan's cell phone as they were waiting for the El to arrive. Susan nodded with a laugh.
"Yeah. I can't help it! A lot of the time I am too tired to make my own dinner. So I know that it takes them exactly twenty-one minutes to deliver the food; therefore, it should be coming within," Susan checked her watch, "four minutes." Carol laughed.
"I'm glad you know that so well." She said. They simply sat and made small talk until their food arrived. As they dug in, they told each other stories about what they had done since they last saw each other. Finally as the last noodle was slurped, Carol thought it was finally time to ask Susan how she felt about Mark dying.
"When did Mark quit working?" Carol asked. Susan sighed and placed her drink back onto the coffee table.
"Only a month ago. His tumor got worse a lot faster than predicted. He should have had three, even four months. Instead he's barely hung on past two." Susan said.
"Have you gone to see him since he went home?" She asked. Susan nodded.
"Yeah, I go once a week or so. I don't want to intrude on Elizabeth. Sometimes I think she resents me. I don't want to screw up her time with him." Susan said sadly.
"But what about the time you need with Mark?" Carol asked.
"What do you mean?" Susan asked.
"You have feelings for him, right?" Carol asked. Susan dropped her gaze from Carol's and didn't reply for a few moments.
"Of course. He's always been a good friend to me." Susan said. Carol sighed.
"Mark said you were the first person he told about his tumor being back. Obviously he trusts you with a lot." Carol said. Susan looked up.
"And your point is?" She asked, growing upset. She didn't want to talk about Mark dying. Nothing she could say or do would prevent that from happening.
"Do you love him?" Carol asked. Susan stood up from the couch and walked away from Carol and to the window. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked out on the city street below as a single car passed quietly in the darkness; it's headlights cutting through it softly.
"Does it matter?" Susan asked.
"Hell yes, it matters!" Carol said and stood herself.
"Why?" Susan asked.
"Because Mark loves you! He needs to know you love him in return before he dies!"
"How will that help anything? It'll just make him more upset with dying. I don't want to make this any harder for him than it already is."
"If you ask me, it'll make it easier on him if he knows you love him in return." Carol said, annoyed with Susan's attitude.
"How do you even know he still loves me? He married Elizabeth. He had a child with her. That's more than he's ever done with me!" Susan said.
"That's because you weren't here! He never expected you to come back! He had to move on with his life. Would you really have wanted him to stay here in Chicago, always pining away for you and never being happy because of it?" Carol asked.
"I was never happy in Arizona!" Susan said, knowing it was a childish argument.
"Because why?" Carol asked. Susan broke down.
"Because I love him! I needed him!" She exclaimed and went back to the couch and sat.
"Is that why you came back?" Carol asked quietly. Susan nodded.
"Just to find that he has moved on, whilst I haven't!" Susan said. Carol sighed and sat beside Susan on the couch. She hugged Susan quietly as Susan cried into her shoulder. "I don't want him to die! Even if he can't be with me, I'd rather he be alive." Susan said.
"We all would." Carol replied softly. Susan sighed and pulled away from Carol so she could wipe her cheeks with her hands. "You should tell him how you feel." Carol said. Susan shook her head.
"I can't."
"Why not?" Carol asked.
"Despite the fact that you seem to think it will help, I don't. I think if he does really still love me and I tell him I love him, it will make him wish he wasn't dying."
"Don't you think he's already wishing that?" Carol asked. "Of course he is. But if you tell him how you feel, he'll know that you'll always carry him in your heart. He'll know that what he felt wasn't wasted. I doubt that Mark regrets Elizabeth and what she has given him. But you can be sure he regrets what he never got to have with you." Carol said. Susan sniffled.
"Still..I don't think I can tell him. I don't have the same outlook as you." Susan said. Carol sighed.
"I think you are making a mistake in not telling him." Carol said.
"Maybe I am. And if I am, I'll live with it." Susan said.
"And Mark will die with it." Carol said. Susan sighed.
"Talk about making a person feel like shit." Susan said. Carol smiled a bit.
"I'm sorry. I just don't want you to do something you'll always regret. I just want what is in the best interest for both of you and I think by avoiding this, you aren't doing what is best. But because that is how you feel, I won't press you on it anymore." Carol said. Susan smiled.
"Thank you." She said. Carol nodded.
"I think Doug and I are going to go see Mark tomorrow. Maybe you should drop by too." Carol said. Susan nodded.
"I'm about due for a visit anyway." She said. Carol nodded.
"Alright. Well, I better get back." Carol said. Susan nodded as they said their goodbyes and Carol left to take the El back to Helen's.
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The next day Susan rang the doorbell to the Greene house. She could hear the baby crying inside and wondered if she should just turn around and leave. Maybe Elizabeth hadn't heard the ringing above the yell of the young child.
Suddenly the door opened quickly and Rachel stood on the other side.
"Oh, hey Susan. Come on in." Rachel said and opened the door wider. Susan stepped inside.
"Doesn't sound like somebody's very happy." Susan said
"Yeah, she's hungry and I think Elizabeth ran out of milk." Rachel said.
"Oh, I see." Susan said. Rachel nodded as she shut the door.
"You know where his room is, right?" Rachel asked. Susan nodded.
"Yeah, I'll just head on up." Susan said. Rachel nodded.
"I'll tell Elizabeth you are here." Susan nodded in return and headed up the stairs. Rachel walked toward the kitchen. Susan knocked quietly on the door to Mark's room.
"Come in." She heard him rasp behind the door. She pushed it open and walked in. He smiled as best he could, although every minute it was becoming harder for him.
"Hey." He slurred. She smiled, fighting the tears that threatened to fill her eyes and spill over.
"How are you?" She asked and sat beside him on the bed. She patted his hand gently.
"I'm okay." He said. She nodded and they both turned their attention toward the door when they heard a soft knock. Elizabeth came into the room, Ella on her hip. The baby had finally stopped crying but her face was red and angry.
"Sorry to interrupt." Elizabeth said. Susan smiled slightly. "I ran out of milk, so I was going to take Ella and go to the store on the corner really quickly." Elizabeth said. Mark nodded.
"Okay." She said.
"I thought it would be okay if I went if Susan and Rachel are both here." Elizabeth said.
"I'll be fine. Go get Ella some milk." Mark said slowly and thickly. Elizabeth nodded.
"Okay. Do you need anything?" She asked.
"No, I'm good." Mark replied. She nodded.
"Okay. I'll be back soon." She said and turned to leave the room. Susan watched her go before she turned back to Mark.
"She'll take care of your baby really well." Susan said. Mark nodded.
"I'm just glad she loves Ella as much as she does. I wouldn't feel safe leaving my daughter with many other people." Mark said, although it took him some time to form so many words because of his little muscle control of his face.
"Yeah." Susan replied and squeezed his hand. He swallowed.
"There's something I wanted to tell you." He paused. "I know I don't have a lot of time left. And I've been putting this off for months." He paused to swallow again. Susan's heart began to pound and she licked her lips. She had a feeling that she knew what was coming. "But I want to tell you this before I die. Because if I don't, you'll never…know." Mark said.
"Mark…I." Susan said, her throat working and tears threatening to come once more.
"I love you." He paused and watched her face out of his one working eye. "I've always loved you." He stopped as the first tear spilled down her cheek. "I love Elizabeth. She's my wife; I wouldn't have married her if I didn't. But I've always known that you were the one. You were the one for me."
"Don't Mark..Please, I can't.." Susan hung her head as the tears continued to slide down her face. He squeezed her hand with the little bit of strength he had left. His breath rasped in his chest.
"It has…to be said." He said. Susan looked up at him. "I know that you may not want to hear it. But I didn't want to leave you without you knowing, even if you don't feel the same." Mark said.
"I do, Mark. I love you, so much, I.." She sobbed a bit and reached her free hand up to cover her mouth. "I don't know what I am going to do without you here."
"Shh, don't cry." Mark said softly. "I'll always be with you. Just remember that." He paused, working to get the words out. "I know we haven't gotten to live our lives together, but that can't be changed. I just want you to go on with your life. Don't hold back because of me, okay?" He asked. She nodded as tears streamed down her face. "Promise me." He said.
"I promise." She whispered. He nodded.
"Good. I love you. Always remember that." He said.
"I love you, too." She said and reached up to brush a hand over his forehead. Then she bent down and pressed her lips to his in a short, sweet kiss even though he didn't have the strength to kiss her back.
Then she pulled back and wiped her eyes with her hand. He smiled.
"I'm glad I told you." He said. She smiled.
"Me too." She said and realized how relieved she really was to have told him. Suddenly were interrupted by another knock on the door. Rachel poked her head in.
"Dad?" She asked quietly.
"Hm?" He replied softly.
"Uh, Doug and Carol are here." She said and stepped into the room. Susan could see Doug and Carol standing behind Rachel.
"Have them come in. And you stay too, Rach." Mark said. Susan felt her chest tighten. He didn't want her to leave. Under normal circumstances would he want her to stay when the rest of his visitors were his adult friends? Susan wondered.
"Okay." Rachel said, slightly apprehensive. She wasn't sure how to react around him anymore. She was scared to death of him leaving her, leaving her alone to survive with Jen. She didn't want to grow up without him. She felt the onslaught of tears and forced them back down her throat as they prickled the backs of her eyes.
Doug, Carol, and Rachel all shuffled into the room. Doug and Carol walked up to Mark's bed, holding hands.
"How are you doin', buddy?" Doug asked. Mark smiled as best he could and let out a raspy breath.
"Not so good." Mark said. Worry passed over all their faces.
"Do you need anything?" Doug asked, releasing Carol.
"Another pillow, behind me, please." Mark requested. Doug and Susan helped prop Mark up with one more pillow. He smiled at them.
"Thanks guys." He said. Susan stepped back and came up to Carol's side. They looked at each other momentarily and Carol could read the pain in Susan's eyes. They must've talked, Carol thought sadly. Mark cleared his throat a little just as Elizabeth walked into the room, holding Ella.
"I'm back." She said. "I thought you guys might be here." Elizabeth said, talking to Doug and Carol. They nodded and Doug stood back and took Carol's hand again. Carol, Doug, Susan, Rachel, and Elizabeth holding Ella all stood at the foot of Mark's bed. He smiled at them.
"You all look so sad." He said. A small sob shot out of Rachel's mouth before she could cover it up.
"Oh, baby, I'm sorry." Mark said. "C'mere." Rachel climbed onto the bed and curled up into his right arm. She buried her face in his chest and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry that I won't be here for the rest of your life."
"Daddy, don't go, please." She begged him as tears rolled down her cheeks. Elizabeth, Carol, and Susan all had tears rolling down their faces. Carol quickly turned her head into Doug's shoulder at Rachel's words. Doug felt tears burn the back of his own throat, but he wouldn't let them out. He felt he needed to be strong for Mark and for Carol.
"Bring Ella here." Mark said softly. Elizabeth bent over him and placed Ella on the bed. She crawled her way towards Mark's face. He smiled and wished with all his might that he could bring his arms up to hug his daughters. Dear God, he would miss them. He was so afraid to leave them alone.
"I love you, Rachel." Mark said. Rachel sobbed and wrapped her arms tightly around him.
"Daddy." She whimpered. Mark looked at Ella.
"I love you, too, Ella. I'm sorry that I'll never get to know you." He murmured. Ella merely stared at him, as though aware that something very important was happening. Mark closed his eyes for just a moment, before reaching inside of himself to find the strength he needed to go on. He opened his eyes and looked at the people at the foot of his bed. His four best friends: the love of his life, Susan; his wife, Elizabeth; his brother, Doug; his sister, Carol. He smiled at them.
"I love all of you, too. Thank you for giving me the wonderful life I've had." He said. Elizabeth simply watched Mark and their daughter, tears silently rolling down her cheeks. Susan sobbed, but covered her mouth with her hand, trying to push those sobs back in. Carol watched him, her head leaning on Doug's shoulder and her free hand resting on her belly as tears rolled down her cheeks. Doug fought the tears that were in his eyes as he watched his friend smile one last time before closing his eyes. Rachel sat up quickly and looked down at him.
"Daddy?" She asked, panic flashing in her voice. "Daddy? Please, Daddy, come back." She said as tears streamed down her face. "Oh Daddy." She said as realization that he was never coming back settled over her. She bent her head, placed it on his chest, and wept. Ella reached out and touched Mark's cheek with her tiny finger. Then she began to wail at the top of her lungs. Elizabeth went to her and picked her up, as the baby buried her face in Elizabeth's shoulder and tangled her tiny fingers in the red curls and her little tiny body heaved with sobs. Elizabeth burrowed her face into the chubby neck of her daughter and let the tears come. Susan turned away from the bed, her hands, fisted, and pressed against her mouth as uncontrollable sobs filled her. Carol and Doug turned to each other and Carol buried her face in Doug's shirt, letting her own anger and sadness spill into him.
Finally, after a few moments, Susan came to her senses and realized Rachel had no one to comfort her. Susan walked to the bed and eased on it, still crying. She quickly checked Mark's pulse to find one not there. She sobbed a bit before she grabbed onto Rachel and pulled the girl off of Mark. Rachel turned her head into Susan's shoulder, not really caring whose shoulder she was turning into at that moment. Her father was dead. She would never see him alive again. She would do anything to get him back.
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Finally, hours later, when they had gotten everything settled in, Mark sent to the appropriate place, news sent to the hospital about his death, information sent to all the right places, and everything else that needs to be done after a person's death, Doug and Carol headed into Helen's house. It wasn't even dinnertime yet, but Carol knew she had to go to bed. She was emotionally exhausted and needed to escape for a while in the realm of sleep.
As they walked into the house, Helen smiled widely at them, unaware. As soon as she caught sight of Carol's face, the smile disappeared.
"Mama, can you take care of the girls for the rest of the night?" Carol asked. Helen nodded grimly, realizing what had happened.
"Of course."
"Can they sleep in your room?" Doug asked, his arm firmly around Carol. Helen nodded.
"You know they can. If you need anything, come get me." She said. Doug nodded and led Carol back to the spare room where they were sleeping.
"C'mon, Carol, let's get in bed." He said.
"Don't leave me, Doug." She said. He nodded.
"I won't." He said as he helped her slide under the covers.
"Okay." She said. He slid in beside her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He placed his hand on the back of her head and pulled her toward him.
"Go to sleep." He whispered. She snuggled in.
"Doug, I loved him like a brother." Carol murmured. Doug nodded.
"Me too. Sleep, darling, sleep. You need your rest." He said. She nodded and quickly drifted off, too exhausted to do otherwise. Doug simply lied there, holding her, thinking of Mark and wondering where he was now.
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A few days later the funeral took place. Doug and Carol attended, along with everyone from the hospital. Mark's ex-wife was there, and so were both his daughters. There wasn't a dry eye in the entire place as words were said about their friend, a wonderful doctor. There wasn't a dry eye in the place when his casket was lowered into the ground.
And there was hardly a dry eye as everyone left the cemetery to go on with his or her lives.
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September 16th
At two AM Carol awoke, experiencing severe back pains. She groaned and waited, hoping the pain would cease. She placed her hands on her belly, recognizing the contractions she had once felt nearly three years before. Nearly thirty seconds later, the pain began to fade.
As soon as it ended, Carol leaned over and began to shake Doug's shoulders. He rolled over and blinked his eyes up at her.
"Carol, what is it?" He asked.
"It's time." She whispered. He sat up quickly, nearly knocking her backwards.
"Now?" He asked. Carol nodded.
"I just had a really big contraction." She said.
"Oh, okay!" Doug jumped out of bed. "We have to get the girl's up!" Doug said. Carol managed to push herself up out of the bed. She followed Doug out of the room and into the girl's room.
"It's time?" Tess asked, yawning widely. Doug nodded.
"Come on, girls, we have to get your mommy to the hospital and you to David's house." Doug said. David was a colleague at the hospital Carol and Doug worked out, who adored the girls and had promised to take them at any time of the day when Carol went into labor.
Doug managed to round all of them up and got them into the car.
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Doug stood nervously beside Carol's bed in the hospital. She was taking a cat nap because she had just gotten her epidural and the pain had finally ceased. The doctor said she wouldn't need to push for a little while yet.
David had come to the hospital hours earlier to pick up the girls. They were now at his house, probably sleeping, Doug thought.
Doug was so nervous. Probably even more nervous than Carol was. He was anxious because he had missed the twin's births and so this was his first time experiencing one of his children being born. Plus there had been some complications with Kate's birth and he didn't want anything to happen to Carol, or the new baby.
He sighed and began to pace the floor, knowing it'd never be able to stay sitting still until this baby was out and both it and Carol were safe.
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"It's a boy!" The doctor announced as their child slide into the world, wailing. Tears filled Doug's eyes and he couldn't hold them back. He had a son and he'd been there for the entire birth. Doug smiled down at Carol as their son was lain on her chest. She laughed, hugging and kissing her newborn baby. She looked at Doug and he bent his head, pressing his lips to hers before they both turned back to their child.
Moments later the nurse took the baby away to wrap him up and weigh him. Doug leaned down and kissed Carol again.
"You did great." He said. She smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too, Doug." The doctor looked up from her place between Carol's legs. She waited for their moment to end before she asked her question.
"Does he have a name yet?" Doug and Carol looked at each other and nodded as a silent grief passed between them. Then Doug looked up and met the doctor's gaze.
"Mark Nicholas Ross." He said. The doctor smiled.
"Mark. That's a good name." She said. Doug and Carol smiled.
"We thought so." Carol said and met Doug's gaze once more. He leaned over and kissed her once more.
"Mark would be happy." Doug said. Carol nodded and touched is cheek.
"I know." She replied. Then the nurse brought their own son back to them. Carol smiled and kissed his forehead. Doug touched the baby's tiny curled fist. Mark opened up his fingers and wrapped them around Doug's.
"We love you, Mark." Carol whispered softly.
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I don't know much about brain tumors, so I really don't know if what I typed fits medically. I just wrote what I need for this fic! Please send me feedback!!
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