I Dreamed A Dream
Part Twenty - A Halloween to Remember
By Breigh
breighbers@juno.com

Ok, this series needs explanation, and here's one:
This series starts around 6 years after "The Storm". When Doug left Carol was pregnant, and she decided to not tell him about the baby. Instead of having twin girls, she had twin boys, Ben and Joel. (You might not like the idea now, but trust me, it grows on you as the series goes along. Also, this story is one of my first, and the next ones are a lot better developed, and they're better than this one, this is just the one that explains everything and gets you into the series.) One day Doug comes back to Chicago for a conference and finds Carol and he meets the two little boys that he never knew he had, and that's where it all starts! Feedback is always appreciated, send mail to: Breighbers@juno.com

Halloween plans change when Joel becomes sick

Ok, this story takes place 2 weeks later, so it's October 31- Halloween. Justin is getting better. The infection is no longer as severe as it was, although he is still in the hospital, and has yet to receive the bone marrow transplant, although they are hopeful that he will be able to receive it in time. The twins are doing ok; they're both excited about Halloween. Carol went to the doctor and everything checked out fine. Both of the babies are healthy with good heart rates. She is now 5 months, or 20 weeks. Elizabeth is also doing well; she is 13 weeks, or a little over 3 months. Well, I guess that's it!

Doug was awaken by a tiny hand slapping his arm.

"Hey Joel, is everything alright?" Doug asked looking over at him. Joel shook his head. "What's wrong buddy?" Doug asked sitting up in bed. Joel coughed and gagged a little, and Doug knew what was coming. He hopped out of bed quickly and grabbed Joel by the waist and sprinted with him into the bathroom. As soon as he opened the lid to the toilet Joel threw up. Once he fisnihed he started bawling. "It's ok bud." Doug said picking him up and then flushing the toilet. "I've got you, it's ok." He said rubbing his hand up and down his back, but Joel continued crying. Doug would have worried about him waking Carol, but she was on the graveyard shift tonight, so it was just him and the boys. Joel did nothing, but Doug felt as he started to squirm, and he set him down on the ground, and once again he threw up. Doug sat down next to him, and Joel crawled over into his arms. Joel just sat there, and Doug leaned down and kissed the top of his head. He tried to think of what Joel had eaten before he went to bed, but he could think of nothing. Slowly he moved his hand down over his forehead and felt that he was burning up, and he was also shaking. Doug pulled him away a tiny bit and saw that he was just staring ahead, and it scared him to death. Ever since he was home neither of the boys had been sick. They had had colds, but nothing like this. He had only been dealing with Justin, and his illness, and the state Joel was in scared him. "Come on Buddy, let's get you into bed." He said lifting him up and carrying over to his and Carol's bed. Doug tucked him under the covers and ran his hand over his forehead. Joel was still just staring, and Doug figured that he was lethargic. "Um…ok, ok Joel, I'm going to go get you some Tylenol, and a cold compress for your head, ok?" Doug asked as Joel reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Don't go." He said quietly.

"I have to go. I'll be quick, I promise." Joel shook his head. "Ok, come on, I'll take you with me." He said picking Joel up and carrying him down to the hall bathroom and getting the Tylenol, and then making a cold compress before carrying him back into their room. He made sure he drank the Tylenol, and then got him under the covers again and placed the washrag on his forehead before plopping down on the bed next to him. "Joel, do you have a head ache?"

"Yes." He said in an innocent voice.

"Ok, just try to relax." Doug said rubbing his arm as he tried to think of what could be wrong. He hoped it was only the flu, but by the way Joel looked, and was acting he knew it probably was something more serious.

"I want mommy." He said as he started to cry.

"Mommy's at work." Doug said rubbing Joel's leg.

"So then Mark doesn't want to know?" The now apparently pregnant Carol asked Elizabeth. The two were sitting in the lounge talking. As always, the night shift was very slow. They had had probably a total of 7 patients in 3 hours.

"No, he wants it to be a surprise." Elizabeth answered referring to the sex of the baby.

"That's always nice, but it's hard. I couldn't wait this time." She said rubbing her hand over her stomach.

"I don't blame you. I don't know if I'm going to be able to do it." Elizabeth said with a laugh. "So, what are the boys being for Halloween?" She asked.

"Joel is Superman, and Ben is a wizard."

"That sounds nice."

"Yeah, except we couldn't find a wizard outfit anywhere, and he refused to be anything else, so I had to buy the cloth, and my mother made him an outfit, and a big hat." Carol said with a laugh.

"They must be excited about going out with you and Doug tonight." She commented.

"Oh God, are they ever! They both hung their costumes up on their closets before going to sleep."

"But they don't go out until night, right?"

"They don't go trick or treating, but they have a party at school, and they have to wear their costumes."

"Oh, I get it now." Elizabeth said with a smile.

Doug was rooting through the medicine closet searching for a thermometer. By touch, Doug felt that Joel had a high fever, but he couldn't find the thermometer to see how high it actually was. He heard footsteps coming towards him and turned around to see Ben coming towards him.

"Ben, what are you doing up?" He asked. Ben shrugged as he walked over and sat down on the toilet.

"What are you doing up?"

"Your brother is sick." Doug said turning back to the medicine closet for the thermometer.

"He can't be sick, it's Halloween." Ben stated.

"I know, but he is."

"Does this mean he can't go trick or treating?"

"Yeah, I don't think he's going to be going." Doug said as he finally found the thermometer. "Listen, I might have to take Joel into the hospital, so I want you to go get dressed, alright?" Doug asked.

"He's that sick?" Ben asked.

"Yes, he is, now hurry up, ok?" Doug asked as Ben hopped off the toilet.

"Ok." He said running out of the bathroom and running into his room as Doug walked into his room. Joel was still lying there in the same position, which he had set him down in. There was a hollowness in his eyes, as if he didn't know what was going on, but he was somewhat coherent. But this look still scared Doug.

"Alright Joel, I'm going to take your temperature." Doug said placing the thermometer in his mouth. Joel shut his mouth around the thermometer, and Doug reached up and ran his fingers through Joel's hair. He hadn't called Carol because he knew that she would panic, and he wanted to try to break Joel's fever by himself before taking him into the hospital, but it had been over an hour, and it appeared that nothing had changed. After a minute the thermometer beeped, meaning that it was finished. Doug took it out and read the reading. "103.2. Oh God Joel, we've got to get you to the hospital." Doug said setting the thermometer down. Doug ran over and slipped on his khakis, which were sitting on the chair, and then he slipped on a black tee shirt. He then ran down the hallway and into Joel's room. Joel only had on a pair of boxer shorts, so Doug found him a pair of pajama pants, and a sweatshirt for him to wear, and then ran back into his room.

"I don't wanna go." Joel said as he started crying again.

"I know bud, but we need to go and make sure that everything is alright." Doug said dressing Joel. He then picked him up and Joel wrapped his arms around Doug's neck. "Ben! We need to go!" He yelled as Ben ran out of his room just as Doug was coming down the hallway with Joel. When they got downstairs Doug flicked on the light so he could find his keys, and Joel screamed. "What? What?"

"It makes my head hurt more." Joel cried.

"Alright, sorry buddy." Doug said grabbing his keys and now turning the light off, and then the three headed out to the Jeep. Doug laid Joel down in the backseat, and Ben climbed into the front seat before they headed off towards the hospital.

Ben ran through the ambulance bay doors ahead of Doug, who was carrying Joel. Carol was at the nurses' desk, and as soon as she saw him she started to panic.

"Ben, what are you doing here?" She asked running over to him.

"Joel is sick." He said as Doug entered with Joel.

"Oh God, what's wrong?" Carol asked running over to Doug and Joel. Joel had stopped crying, and was just lying in Doug's arms.

"He's got a high fever, he's vomited twice, he was shivering, and he has a headache."

"Well what do you think is wrong?" Carol asked stroking Joel's forehead.

"I want to do a spinal tap."

"Doug, do you think it could be meningitis?" She asked in a panic.

"It could be." He said as Kerry walked over to them.

"Is everything alright?" She asked.

"I need to do a spinal tap on Joel, I think he could have meningitis." Doug explained.

"Um, alright, well you can take him into exam 2, and call me if you need anything." Kerry told them.

"I'll take him and start to prep for it. You get Ben settled in, and see if you can get Elizabeth and Haleh to help."

"Ok." Carol said with a nod as Doug carried Joel down the hall, and Carol walked over to Ben. "Hey Ben, why don't you come in the lounge and lay down?" Carol said picking him up.

"Is Joel going to be ok?" He asked as Carol carried him into the lounge. Elizabeth and Haleh were both in there talking.

"I hope so honey." She said lying him down on the couch.

"Carol, what happened? Why is Ben here?" Haleh asked as she and Elizabeth both stood up.

"Joel is really sick. Doug thinks it may be meningitis." She said biting her lip to try to contain her tears.

"Oh god." Elizabeth said as she placed her hand over her mouth.

"Yeah, can you guys help him with the spinal tap, he's in exam 2."

"Of course." Haleh said as they both headed off.

"Ben, try to get some sleep, ok?" Carol asked.

"Ok." He said with a nod. Carol kissed him sweetly and then headed out of the lounge and down the hall to exam 2. Doug was cleaning the spot on Joel's back where he would do the spinal tap, and Elizabeth was preparing everything while Haleh tried to comfort Joel.

"Mommy." Joel cried as he saw her come into the room. Carol pulled over a stool and set it in front of Joel so that he could see her.

"I'm here baby, mommy's right here." She said stroking his cheek and then looking up at Doug. She could tell that he was worried, and that scared her even more.

"I wanna go home." He said trying to catch his breath.

"I know you do, but you have to let Daddy do this so he can see if you're ok." She said taking his hand and kissing it gently.

"But now I can't go trick or treating." He moaned.

"We'll figure something out sweetie." Carol said as Doug got the needle ready to give Joel the anesthesia.

"Alright Joel, I need you to bring your knees up to your chest, and then tuck your head down as close to your knees as you can, alright?" Doug instructed.

"Ok." Joel answered as he moved in the position that Doug instructed. Haleh held Joel still, while Carol tried to comfort him. Slowly Doug stuck the needle into Joel's back, and Joel let out a scream, which was followed by sobs. "Stop! Stop! Mommy make him stop!"

"It's almost over buddy, you're doing good." Carol said as she started to cry, and she gently caressed his cheek.

"Alright Joel, it's over…we're going to just wait a little while before we do the tap." Doug said looking over at Elizabeth, who was getting the needle ready, and Haleh, who let go of Joel.

"No…Mom don't let him do it!" Joel squealed.

"Joel, he has to. We have to make sure that you're ok." Carol said as Doug took a deep breath. "Doug, maybe you should let Elizabeth do it." Carol advised, knowing that Joel screaming would be hard on him.

"I can do it." Doug said sternly as he took the needle from Elizabeth. Haleh once again held Joel so he wouldn't move. "Alright Joel, this is going to pinch at first, but it won't last for too long." Doug informed him. Carol held Joel's hand tightly as Doug proceeded to put the needle in his back. Joel started screaming and crying almost immediately.

"Daddy, please stop! Please! You're hurting me!" He cried. "Daddy, you're hurting me!" He repeated, and Carol saw how this remark hit Doug. He bit his bottom lip and blinked quickly.

"Shhh, Joel it'll only hurt for a minute longer." Carol said trying to calm him down as Mark appeared in the doorway. He had just come on, and he heard from Kerry about Joel. Doug took a deep breath as he continued to spinal tap. Joel heaved heavily, trying to catch his breath.

"Try not to move baby." Haleh said gently.

"You're doing great sweetie." Carol said as she continued rubbing his arm. Finally Doug finished, and Joel winced as he removed the needle. He handed it to Elizabeth and then walked right out of the room, passing Mark and leaving everyone to wonder where he was going. Carol would have run after him, but she knew that she needed to stay with Joel.

"Where did Daddy go?" Joel asked as he started to calm down. Carol looked over at Mark, who nodded and then walked away to go find Doug, while Haleh started cleaning up, and Elizabeth put a bandage on Joel's back.

"He just went to see Ben, he'll be back in a minute." Carol told him.

"Alright Joel, you're going to need to lay on your back for a few hours." Elizabeth said finishing up.

"Does this mean I can't go trick or treating?" Joel asked sadly as he looked up at Carol.

"Probably not, but we'll figure something out. We're not letting that Superman suit go to waste." She said with a laugh. Joel nodded.

"Carol, I'm going to give him a morphine drip, and I want to give him some fluids so that he doesn't dehydrate." She said rubbing Joel's leg.

"Ok." Carol said as she lifted Joel up and moved him over on his back. "Joel, I'm going to get a blanket for you, and I'll get a book to read to you so maybe you can get some sleep." She said kissing him on the top of the head. He nodded, and Carol and Elizabeth both left. Elizabeth went to get the IV and medicines, while Carol went to find a book and a blanket. As Carol was rooting through a pile of books they had in the waiting room Kerry walked over to her.

"How is he?" She asked.

"Um, he didn't really like the tap." She said as she found the book she was looking for. "Kerry, I know I've taken a lot of time off lately, but…"

"Don't worry about it." She assured her. "Stay with him until your shift it over."

"Thank you." Carol said heading off to get Joel a blanket.

Mark had looked all over the hospital for Doug, and finally when he was about to give up he walked outside. As he looked around the ambulance day he looked over and saw Doug standing against a wall just staring ahead. It was still rather dark out, and the air was crisp.

"Doug, what are you doing out here? It's freezing." Mark stated.

"Can't feel it anymore." Doug shrugged.

"What's wrong? Is it Joel? I'm sure everything will work out."

"He told me I was hurting him." Doug said lowering his head. "I used to say that to my dad when he would slap me around, and I promised myself that I would never hurt my kids, that I would never hear them tell me that I was hurting them." He said trying his best to hold in his tears.

"Doug, it wasn't the same kind of hurt. You were doing it to help him. You weren't beating him."

"He still said it, and it hit me the same way."

"Doug, I know you. You love your kids more than anyone I know. You are the best father that I know, and quite honestly I have no clue how you do it."

"Look Mark, I just need to be alone for a little bit."

"Ok, well I'll go back in then." Mark said as Doug nodded, and then Mark walked away.

"It's over." Elizabeth said as she finished putting in Joel's IV. "You did great." She said smiling down at Joel, whose eyes were red and puffy, and his cheeks were tearstained. Elizabeth glanced over at the clock; it was now a little past 4:30. "I'm off Carol, if you want I can take Ben to your house and he can get some sleep, and then I can get him on the bus in the morning."

"Oh Elizabeth, I don't know. I mean it's a lot." Carol said rubbing her fingers through Joel's hair.

"It's nothing. Just tell me what he needs for school, and I can do it."

"Are you sure?" Carol checked.

"Yes, I'm positive." She assured her.

"Ok, well let me give you my house key, and I'll let you know what he needs." Carol said getting up. "Joel, I'll be right back, are you ok?"

"Be quick."

"I will." She said kissing his forehead and then walking out of the room with Elizabeth. "Ok, his costume is hanging up on his closet. He'll wear that, and he doesn't need a lunch because they're having a party. He gets the bus at 8:30, and he does need to get a shower before he leaves." She said as they walked into the lounge. Ben was sleeping silently on the couch, and Carol walked over to her locker and got her key ring. She removed her house key and handed it to Elizabeth. "He gets up around 7:30, and if he wants breakfast there's cereal in the cabinet."

"Ok." Elizabeth said slipping the key in her pocket.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Carol checked.

"Yes." Elizabeth said with a nod as Carol walked over and shook Ben gently.

"Ben, sweetie, get up." She said as Ben started to wake up. "Elizabeth is taking you home, and then she'll get you ready for school." Carol said as Ben sat up.

"Ok." He said as he slowly got up off the couch.

"Are you ready?" Elizabeth asked looking down at him.

"Uh-huh." He said with a nod.

"Alright then, let's go." She said taking his hand.

"Bye buddy, I love you!" Carol called as they headed out of the lounge.

"Love you too mom!" Ben called back. Carol rubbed her hands over her eyes and then headed back to Joel, who had fallen asleep. As soon as she walked over to pull the covers up around Joel she heard someone walk in the room. She looked over and saw that it was Doug.

"Where have you been?" She asked in a whisper. Quietly Doug walked over next to Joel and rubbed his hand over the little boy's tiny arm.

"He was really looking forward to going trick or treating." Doug said leaning down and kissing him on the forehead.

"We'll figure something out so he can go." Carol said sitting down. "Let's just hope it's nothing too severe." She said taking the book that was sitting next to Joel and moving it over to the table. "Are you ok?" She asked noticing the drastic change in Doug's attitude. Doug didn't say anything, but pulled up a chair and sat the opposite side of the bed that Carol was on. He reached down and gently rubbed his fingers up and down Joel's tiny arm. "Doug, what's wrong?" She asked. Doug didn't say anything for a few minutes, but then he spoke up.

"He told me I was hurting him. He said 'Daddy, you're hurting me." Doug paused for a second. "I used to say that to my Dad when he would hit me, and I promised never to make my kids say that."

"Oh Doug." Carol said reaching over and rubbing his arm.

"I know it may not have been for the same reason, but he still said it."

"Doug, you were helping him. I know he didn't see it that way, and that's because he's a five-year-old. You would never lay a hand on any of the boys, and you love them more than anything. And they know that. He just said it in the spur of the moment."

"Maybe." Doug shrugged.

"He knows that you would never hurt him. And I know that you would never hurt him, or Ben, or Hailie, or Tess when they're born."

"It was just hard to hear." Doug said. Carol knew how much this was effecting Doug. She remembered when they were trying to get pregnant years ago, and he was worried about what his child would think of him, if they would love him. But Doug did tell her one thing that she remembered to this day. He told her that he would love them no matter what and that no matter what he would never hurt them.

"I know." She said nodding.

It's an hour later. They're waiting on the results of Joel's test. Joel is still sleeping.

"How are you feeling?" Doug asked walking up behind Carol and rubbing his hands up and down her arms.

"Nervous." She scoffed.

"Me too." He said kissing her cheek. "But everything else alright?"

"My back hurts." She stated.

"Why don't you go home? I can stay with him." Doug said rubbing Carol's back.

"No, I'm staying." She said with a yawn as she shook her head.

"Well then maybe you should go and lay down in the on-call room."

"Doug, I'm fine." She insisted as Joel started to wake up. Quickly Carol headed over to him, and Doug followed. "Hey baby." She said sitting down next to him and rubbing his hand.

"Hey Joel." Doug said standing next to him.

"Can I go home now?" Joel asked looking back and forth between them.

"Well buddy, we have to keep you here for a little while longer, and then we're going to move you upstairs so we can watch you and make sure you don't get any sicker. And you'll probably have to stay the night." Doug said as Lydia walked in.

"Uh Doug, I got Joel's results." She said calling him over. Doug quickly walked over to her.

"What is it?" He asked quickly reading the paper.

"It's negative, it's probably just the flu." She said with a smile.

"Oh thank god." Doug said letting out a sigh of relief before Lydia walked away. "Do you hear that bud? You're ok, it's just the flu." Doug said happily. Carol was smiling widely as Doug walked over and kissed Joel sweetly.

"So do I still have to stay here tonight?" Joel asked.

"Yeah sweetie. You had a high fever, and you were dehydrated. We just want you to stay here for the night so we can make sure that it is only the flu." Carol explained.

"But what about trick or treating?" Joel moaned.

"Hey, I told you that I'd figure something out, and I will. Don't worry about it." Doug said trying to comfort him.

It's later that night. They moved Joel up to his own room, and Carol is up there with him. Mark and Elizabeth are going to be taking Ben trick or treating. He was somewhat upset at first, but then he was just happy that he was going to be going. Doug is going to stay the night with Joel so Carol can go home with Ben, and hopefully get some rest.

"I bet that Ben's got a whole bag full of candy by now." Joel said lying his head back.

"Well maybe he'll share it with you." Carol said trying to make him feel better.

"Maybe." He shrugged. "Where did Dad go?" Joel asked.

"Dad…is right here." Doug said walking into the room along with Justin, who was pushing a wheelchair.

"Justin, what are you doing here?" Joel asked.

"Dad had an idea, and he asked me if I wanted to help." Justin said with a smile.

"Doug, what are you doing?" Carol asked as Doug pulled out Joel's superman costume from behind his back.

"I'm taking Joel trick or treating." He said carrying the costume over to Joel.

"Really?" Joel asked as his eyes lit up.

"Well, it's going to be around the hospital, but it's trick or treating all the same." Doug said as he helped Joel put the costume on so that he wouldn't rip out his IV. "I'll push you around in the wheelchair, and Justin is going to be in charge of pushing the IV pole." Doug said with a smile. "Just let me tie your cape, and we can go." Doug said tying the red cape around Joel's neck. "There we go." He said as he moved one arm under Joel's knees, and the other around his back, and then carried him over to the wheelchair.

"Hey dad, he needs something to put the candy in." Justin said looking around.

"Justin's right." Carol said as she started looking around. She and Doug exchanged a quick smile and then she continued looking for something to hold the candy.

"I got it!" Justin said running over and grabbing a basin and handing it to Joel. "Here."

"A puke bucket?" He asked.

"Hey, it holds candy." Justin argued.

"Alright, well let's go." Doug said getting behind the wheelchair. Justin took the IV pole, and Carol followed next to them. He pushed Joel over to the elevator, figuring that they'd go down to the ER first. As they were waiting Carol leaned over and whispered something in Doug's ear.

"I love you so much for doing this." She said softly.

"I told him I'd figuring something out." Doug said with a smile as the elevator doors opened and the four got on. They rode them down to the ER, and then Doug pushed Joel off, while Justin stayed close with the IV pole, and Carol trailed behind.

"Trick or treat!" Joel yelled as Doug pushed him into the ER. Chuny was at the desk, and she smiled down at him.

"Now look at you!" She exclaimed.

"I'm superman." Joel said proudly as he stuck out his chest to show her the giant 'S' that was on it. "Do you got any candy?" Joel asked again.

"I think I can find something." Chuny said going under the desk and pulling out a bowl of candy bars. She smiled and then poured them all into Joel's bucket.

"Wow!" He said looking up at Doug and Justin.

"What do you say?" Doug asked putting his hand on Joel's shoulder.

"Thank you." Joel said innocently.

"You're very welcome."

"Alright, well we've got a ton more floors to hit, so we better get going." Doug said as he turned Joel's wheelchair around and ran with him down the hall. Carol walked slowly behind and had a huge smile on her face. She couldn't be happier with the way her life had turned out. When Doug had came back all those months ago she didn't know if things would ever be the same, but they were. Actually they were better. She loved watching him with the boys, and she couldn't wait to see him with their daughters. Her life had turned out as good, if not better than she could have ever imagined.

"Hey mom! Look at me!" Joel yelled from down the hall. Carol watched as Doug pulled the wheelchair back so it was on the back part of the wheels, and ran with him, followed by Justin who was trying to keep up with the IV pole. Carol just laughed as they all headed back to the elevator to head to the other floors. This was a Halloween like no other she had ever had…it was a Halloween to remember.