"Hey Doug." Carol says. He smiles.
"Hey." He replies warmly. She smiles.
"I'm not going to be home for a little while." Carol says.
"Why?" He asks.
"Well...you know how I was on the paramedic ride along when we went to another old rape victim's house?" Carol asks.
"Yes." He replies.
"Well..me and the paramedic, Greg Powell, are going back to her house to see if we can find her cat. Because we know she had one, and I am worried about it. So we're going to go feed it." Carol says. He smiles.
"Okay. What time do you think you'll be home?" Doug asks.
"Hmm. I don't know. It depends on if we can find the cat and where it is." Carol says.
"Alright. I'll wait up for you." He says.
"I won't be late, I promise." Carol says.
"Alright then. I'll see you later Carol." He says.
"Bye Doug. I love you." Carol says.
"I love you too. Bye." Doug says and they hang up. Carol smiles.
"Come get your dinner." Carol says, calling out to the cat, after opening a can of cat food. The cat meows then hisses. "I think it hissed at me." Carol says, standing up. "He'll come out eventually." Carol says. "Whew!" She says, shivering slightly, wrapping her arms around herself. She walks up beside Greg.
"Pretty up here, huh?" He asks. She nods slightly.
"I'm just glad to be out of that apartment." Carol replies.
"Yeah..Yeah, me too." Greg says. He pauses before continuing. "Hey, you were right. What happened back there..it got to me...Reminded me of my mom." Greg says.
"Your mom?" Carol asks, surprised.
"When I was 9..she hung herself." He says.
"I'm sorry." Carol says softly.
"Yeah...Yeah, I was the one that found her...Seeing that lady with the ligature marks and her head turned like that, the cops all around.....I was pissed." Greg says.
"I'm sure she didn't mean for you to find her." Carol replies.
"But I did....Then I..started feeling guilty because I was thinking about myself, instead of that old lady...just like my mom was thinking only of herself....What a sick boy I am, huh?" He asks.
"When I tried to kill myself, it wasn't like that at all." Carol replies. He pauses.
"I'm sorry, I had no idea." Greg says.
"Why would you? It was a long time ago...I just was going through a rough time." Carol says. He nods slightly.
"And now?" He asks.
"Now I'm okay...I've gotten my life back together and I am confident of myself." She says, silently adding that it was because of Doug.
"That..that's great." Greg says.
"Yeah." Carol says.
"But what about you?"
"Me?" Carol asks.
"What are you thinking about right now?" He asks.
"I'm thinking that it's freezing out here and I wish that damn cat would come out." Carol says.
"I know it's getting late. If you've got somewhere to be.." He trails off.
"Yeah." She says. She looks at her watch, thinking how late it is and how Doug might be a little worried by now. I called him, he'll understand, she thinks. "No, I'm fine." Carol says. She pauses and looks at him. "What are you thinking about?" She asks.
"Thinking I'm not feeling the cold." He says.
"Yeah?" She asks.
"Yeah. And I'm thinking that cat will come out when she's good and ready." He says.
"Probably." Carol replies. He pauses.
"And I'm thinking if I look at you one more second, I'm going to have to kiss you." He says. She just watches, tense and waiting. She wasn't sure why she didn't speak up about Doug. He gets up from his seat, leaning closer to her. She thinks about Doug and how he has never cheated on her. She thinks about how Lisa Macken had tried to kiss him and he hadn't let her. Just before his lips are about to kiss hers, she pulls her head away. Surprised, he leans away from her.
"I'm sorry." Carol says quietly.
"No...no. I was out of line. I shouldn't have done that." Greg says.
"It's just that..I'm involved..with someone." Carol says, bringing her eyes up to look at him. He nods.
"Of course." He says. Why wouldn't you be?, he thinks to himself.
"I'm sorry." She says again.
"Hey, it's okay." He says. She looks away from him and sees the cat, eating.
"Hey, she came out." Carol says, standing. She walks to the cat, picking it up. The cat rubs against her cheek. She bends down picking up the food and bringing it up to the cat's mouth. It starts to eat again, as she holds it. It purrs loudly. Carol smiles and Greg stands up.
"Ready?" He asks.
"Yup." She says. He holds the door open for her as they go downstairs again.
Carol walks into Doc Magoo's, alone. She walks to the back of the crowded diner and picks up
a pay phone. She dials the number to her house.
"Hello?" Doug's voice asks.
"Hey Doug." Carol says.
"Carol, hey." Doug says.
"Can you come get me?" Carol asks.
"Where are you?" He asks.
"I'm at Doc Magoo's. The next train doesn't leave for 15 more minutes, so I thought you could come get me." Carol says.
"Sure." He says. She smiles.
"Thanks Doug." She replies.
"No problem Carol. I'll be there soon." He says.
"Okay, I'll wait by a window so I can see when you get here." She says.
"Alright. Bye." He says.
"Bye Doug." She replies and hangs up. She walks to the window, standing, watching for Doug. A few minutes later he arrives and she walks out of the diner. He opens the door of the jeep, standing up and watching her. She smiles and goes around to the passenger side. She opens the door as he gets back in.
"Hey." She says.
"Hey Carol." He replies, turning the heat up. She reaches for his hand, taking it in hers and pulling herself closer to him, needing to feel the closeness of his body. She kisses his cheek lightly and he smiles at her.
"So..did you get the cat out?" Doug asks.
"Yeah. She was on the roof. We had to bribe her with food." Carol says, smiling. He chuckles. She is silent for a few seconds. "Doug?" She asks.
"Hmm?" He answers.
"We need to talk about something." She says, slightly nervous. He turns to her slightly.
"Okay." He says.
"Can we go to the lake or something?" She asks. He gives her a puzzled look.
"Yeah sure." He says.
He pulls the car to a stop, turning it off. She turns to face him, giving him a nervous smile. He smiles back, his stomach flopping.
"Doug...I need to tell you something that happened tonight." Carol says.
"Mmm hmm." He murmurs.
"When I was talking to Greg Powell up on the roof, he told me that when he was nine years old, his mom hung herself and he found her. I told him that I tried to kill myself. We just talked for a little bit, when he asked me..what I was thinking....I told him I was thinking it was cold and that I wished that cat would come out." She says, pausing. She swallowed nervously. "Then I asked him what he was thinking. He said he wasn't feeling the cold and that the cat would come out when she was ready. Then..he said if he looked at me one more second...he would have to kiss me." Carol says. She can visibly see Doug's body tense. He feels like he is going to puke.
"And?" He managed to choke out.
"Well....I was surprised by him saying that so I didn't say anything and he leaned in...and just before he kissed me I pulled away. All I could think about was how you hadn't kissed Lisa Macken even though she had tried to kiss you and that you would never kiss another woman. I didn't want to kiss him and I didn't want to hurt you." She says, swallowing. Tears fill her eyes. "Oh, Doug. I'm sorry. I wish I hadn't gone on that stupid ride along today." She says. He doesn't say anything and she begins to panic. She looks away from him as the tears spill over onto her cheeks. Her hands raise to her mouth as she holds in a sob, swallowing hard. "I'm sorry." She whimpers, through her hands. He touches her arm and she looks at him. He pulls her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"It's okay Carol. You didn't let him kiss you and that's what matters." He says. She sobs.
"Oh God. Doug..I never wanted anything like that to happen." She says.
"Shh..It's okay Carol." He murmurs. She buries her face into his shoulder and cries softly for a little bit. Then she brings her head up and looks him in the eye.
"Doug..are you mad at Greg?" She asks. He thinks about this for a little bit but doesn't answer. "Doug..he didn't know about you. I didn't tell him. He had no way of knowing I was dating someone..dating you." Carol says. Doug nods slowly.
"I'm not mad at him..he didn't know. I just don't like the idea of him trying." Doug answers. She nods.
"It's not really his fault." Carol says. Doug nods. He brings his hand up to her cheek. She nuzzles her cheek into his palm before turning to his hand and kissing it. He smiles slightly before pulling her closer and kissing her. She wraps her arms around his neck, pressing her mouth to his. "I love you Doug. And I'm sorry." Carol murmurs against his lips. He smiles slightly.
"I know." He kisses her gently. "I love you too."
"Oh Doug." She murmurs, pushing herself closer to him, reveling in the feel of his lips against hers.
Doug is driving them home watching the road carefully. It is dark and the roads are icy. Carol is sitting beside him, watching out the window, just listening to the music. Billy Myers song, "Kiss the Rain" comes on over the radio. Carol smiles.
"I love this song." She says and reaches down to turn the music up louder. He watches her for just a second before he feels the car start to slip out of control. "Doug!" Carol shrieks as the car spins on a patch of ice. Doug can hear the glass shattering and metal crunching as the car slams into a tree. He flies forward, hitting his head on the steering wheel as everything goes black.
Doug is being wheeled on a gurney towards an ambulance.
"He's waking up." A paramedic says. They climb up into the ambulance as he realizes what happened.
"Oh god. Carol?" He says, beginning to panic. "Carol! Where's Carol?" He asks, frantically.
"Was she the passenger?" The paramedic asks.
"Yes. Where is she?" Doug asks.
"She's in the other ambulance." The man says.
"Is she okay?" Doug asks.
"I don't know. By the time we got you out, she was still being taken out of the jeep." He says.
"HOW IS SHE?" He asks.
"I don't know Mister." The man answers, annoyed.
"God dammit. I need Carol." Doug says.
"Calm down sir." The other paramedic says.
"I will NOT calm down until you tell me what is wrong with Carol!" He says angrily. The paramedics sigh and look at each other. Doug finally grows silent, becoming more worried by the second.
Doug is wheeled into the ER and Mark comes up.
"Doug?" He asks.
"Mark where's Carol?" Doug asks.
"They're behind us." The paramedic says. Mark looks at the gurney being wheeled in behind Doug's.
"Carol?" Doug shouts.
"Doug!" He hears her reply. Relief washes over him. At least she was awake.
"Mark, find out what's wrong with her." Doug says. Mark nods and goes to Carol's gurney.
"Bullet?" He asks the paramedic she is with.
"31 year old female, broken arm," The paramedic continues with the medical stuff.
"Only a broken arm?" Mark asks.
"Look's that way to me." The paramedic says.
"What's wrong with Doug?" Carol asks.
"I don't know yet. But he's awake and asking for you. He should be fine. Let me go check for you, alright?" He asks. She nods. Mark walks into Doug's room where Carter is working on him.
"How's Carol?" Doug asks frantically.
"Just a broken arm." Mark says.
"Thank God." Doug says.
"What's wrong with you?" Mark asks, mainly talking to Carter. Carter gives him the bullet.
"Does it hurt when I do this?" Mark asks, pressing down onto Doug's stomach.
"JESUS Mark!" Doug shouts.
"Sorry sorry!" Mark says then tells Carter what he wants.
"I'm going to go talk to Carol." Mark says. Doug nods as Mark pushes his way through the swinging doors between Carol and his room.
"Wait!" Doug calls out. Mark turns around. "Prop the door open!" Doug says. Mark sighs and props the door open.
"Doug?" Carol calls out. She cannot turn her head because they have her neck in a brace.
"Carol, are you alright?" Doug asks looking at her. He had already got his brace taken off.
"Yes. Mark get this damn thing off of me!" Carol calls out to Mark. He sighs.
"Hold on Carol, we have to check for damage." Mark says.
"Dammit Mark, my neck is fine!" Carol says. Doug smiles as he watches her.
"That's my girl." He whispers.
"Don't move until I tell you." Mark warns her sternly. She rolls her eyes.
"Fine. Just take if off." Carol says. Mark takes it off.
"Turn your head slowly to the left." He says. She does. "Good. Now to the right." He says. She does and smiles at Doug. He returns the smile.
"See!" Carol says sarcastically to Mark. He sighs.
"Why do I put up with you two?" He asks.
"Cuz you love us." Carol says, looking at him and smiling. He chuckles. She turns back to Doug, lifting her hand out to him. He reaches his hand out to hers and smiles, even though they are too far apart to touch.
"How's your arm?" Doug asks.
"It's fine. How are you?" Carol asks.
"Good. Just have a badly bruised stomach. Damn seatbelts." He says. She smiles.
"Your head has got blood on it." She says.
"Just a small lac." He says. She smiles.
"Mark. Can I get up?" Carol asks.
"We really need to take you to get a cast." He says.
"Mark...just let me go in to see Doug really quick. I swear I will come and let you put me in a cast as soon as I see Doug." Carol says. He sighs.
"Give it up Mark!" Doug calls through the doors.
"I'm never going to win this one. Okay, go on. But only for a few seconds." He says. She smiles and sits up slowly. After she makes sure she can walk okay, she stands up and hurries to Doug's side. She takes his hand into her own, keeping her other arm in the sling.
"Hey." She says. He chuckles.
"Hi." He says. She leans down and kisses him.
"You'll be okay." She says, pulling away from him.
"I know. Now, go on. Mark's getting impatient. He might get a blood clot in his brain if you don't go. Come see me when your done." Doug says. She smiles.
"Okay. I'll be back as soon as I can, okay?" She asks. He nods.
"Of course. Now go." He says. She smiles and let's go of his hand, following Mark out of the room. Mark walks her into an empty exam room and gets the supplies ready.
"What color do you want?" He asks.
"I don't care." Carol says impatiently.
"Come on Carol. You know how important it is to pick a color." Mark says, grinning. She sighs, annoyed.
"Lime green." She says, picking the first color that she remembers there is.
"Going to be daring, huh?" He asks.
"Just get it on, Mark." She says.
"Sheesh. Somebody's bitter." He says. She smiles.
"I'm sorry...I just want to get back to Doug." She says. He smiles.
"I know. I'm sorry I'm being annoying." He says. She smiles.
"No, I'm just irritable." She says. He chuckles.
Carol walks out of the exam room and goes to the desk.
"Randi, where'd they put Doug?" She asks.
"Exam 4." Randi replies. Carol nods her thanks and walks back to Exam 4. Doug is sitting up in the bed with Chuny and Carter standing by.
"Doug." Carol says, as she walks in. He smiles at her.
"Hey. Nice color." He says. She smiles.
"I just picked the first color I remembered we have." She says. He chuckles. She sits beside him on the bed.
"How are you?" She asks.
"I'm fine. Just a bruised stomach." He says. She nods.
"Do you get to go home?" She asks. He nods, smiling.
"Yeah." He says.
"Good." She whispers. She kisses his cheek gently.
++++++++++++++++