The Way It Should Be
Chapter One
By: Carrie Verkman
carebear1025@juno.com

As you know, none of the ER characters belong to me. They are Warner Bros. property. However names that appear in my stories that have no relation to ER belong to me and you may use them if you wish to. I really don't want to get sued by Warner Bros. because I make minimum wage and I'm only 15. I don't need a lawsuit on my hands. 

I want to hand out a big huge thank you to Cathy Roberts and Anna Rousseau. Since I have only been watching ER since Season Five, they helped me out with some background info on Anna Del Amico. Thanks to them, I now know more about Anna and what she was like. If I do have anything incorrect in my story about Anna or something else, let me know so it can be changed. Cathy, Anna, you guys were a big help and I really do appreciate it! Thank You!  



Her name was Anna. Anna Del Amico. He had no idea what the name Anna meant or what ethnic background Del Amico was, but it was one of those names that just rolled off your tongue when you said it. Anna Del Amico. Was it Italian? French, Russian, German, or even Spanish? It didn't matter to him. The name seemed to fit her well. As did everything about her. Her soft blond hair hung perfectly around her well-rounded face when it hung down. Other times she had pulled the hair back in a ponytail or in a messy, but sexy, bun with a large hair clip. Anna had thin pink lips that were soft and kissable. Her smile showed two rows of straight shinning teeth. God, how he loved her smile. Most of the time she was happy, and she laughed often. Her laugh was like bells ringing from a far off church. When he heard her laugh, he felt it as music to his ears. Anna had the same eyes as him. They were a rich chocolate brown that always shinned. Anna was perfect. 

John Carter sighed. He sat a few feet away from where Anna was sitting at the front desk. John watched her work. He watched everything she did. Anna was filling out charts while quietly humming to herself. She wore a black skirt, a blue blouse and of course her white lab coat. Today her hair was pulled up in a bun, the way John liked it. John was busy too, but every so often he stole glances at Anna. God, she is so beautiful, he thought, if only we were together. John sighed again. He was lovesick for Anna. 

Anna heard him sigh loudly, "Did you say something John?" 

He looked up, "What? No." 

"How is Chase doing?" Anna asked. 

That was another reason why he loved Anna so much. His cousin Chase was a heroin addict. From Anna's experience with narcotics, she helped Carter detox Chase. John never knew why Anna had been so knowledgeable about heroin. But their efforts to keep Chase clean never worked; he was left brain damaged. 

"He's doing okay," John answered. "The Kenner Institute has been working with him around the clock. He has improved some… but he'll never be the same."  

"That's good to hear." Anna said. 

"Yeah it is. Anna I wanted to tell you something. I know you've been helping me with my family a lot, and I just want to tell you how much I appreciate all you have done." John said in one breath. 

"John you've thanked me enough. Really, it was no problem. Now I have to get back to work." 

Anna left and went back to her patients. John nervously ran his fingers through his hair. He knew why Anna was acting this way. Sure they had gotten along great when they first met, but things had gotten tense between them. He did ask her out on a date. But to John, doing laundry wasn't really romantic or anything. Still he got to see Anna. Anna got upset when John lied to her about being rich. That's when things got worse. Anna bailed him out of jail too and she didn't seem happy doing it. The only way John could make it up to her was to kiss her. Only one kiss, and John knew he was in love with her. He knew Anna didn't feel the same way though. There was some reason why and John wanted to find out.     

He jumped when Doug Ross called out his name, "Hey Carter! Oops, didn't mean to scare you. A penny for your thoughts?"

John then realized he was just sitting there thinking. "Oh hey Doug. I just have a lot of personal things going on in my mind, you know with Chase and all that." He lied. 

"Oh yeah," Doug said. "Do you think you can put it all behind you at the ER ball?"

"Oh my God, I totally forgot about that!" 

"Are you saying you haven't asked anyone yet?" 

"Am I supposed to?" 

Doug chuckled, "Relax, it's only tomorrow evening. I'm sure you'll find someone to take. Catch ya later." 

As if there wasn't enough on his mind, he had to find someone to take to this ER ball. He immediately thought of asking Anna. When pigs fly, John thought. 

John had been living with Kerry Weaver for almost two months now. He greatly appreciated her kind hospitality. He also appreciated her cooking. It had been so long since he had a good home cooked meal. When he had first tasted her cooking he said, "Damn Kerry! If I had known what a good cook you were I would have moved in with you earlier!" 

Now the two of them were sitting at Kerry's dining room table eating pasta. John was usually a big eater, but tonight he just sat and played with his food. 

Kerry noticed he had hardly touched a thing. "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?" 

"Not that I remember." 

"What's the matter?" Kerry asked sympathetically. 

"Nothing." John lied. 

"You're awfully quiet tonight and you haven't eaten my pasta which you love. It's got to be something." 

John sighed. "Kerry I don't want to bore you with my problems." 

"Nothing you say can bore me.  Now spill your guts." 

John put his fork down. "It's Anna." 

Kerry's eyes lit up. "Anna? Our Anna? Anna Del Amico?" 

"Yes." John then spilled his guts as Kerry asked. "Oh Kerry, everyday when I see her I just want to scream out how much I love her. I have been attracted to her ever since I first saw her. Anna is so great. She's sweet, kind, sophisticated, bold and just so beautiful." 

"What's the problem then?"

"Kerry, I know that she doesn't feel the same way. We did go on one date-well we only did our laundry-but to me it meant so much and to Anna it was just another date. Then when she bailed me out of jail I wanted so badly just to tell her everything I felt, but I knew that would bother her since getting me out of jail was enough of a problem. Then even today Doug Ross asked me if I was taking anyone to the ER ball. And guess who I thought of?" 

"Anna." Kerry answered.

"Yes. I want to ask her, but what if she says no? I love her so much." Just thinking about Anna made John become hard. "I hate to ask you this, but what should I do?" 

Kerry smiled.  "First of all, I want to say you are acting like a high schooler asking a girl to the senior prom. Don't be so nervous! Act like a mature adult. Tomorrow ask Anna to the ER ball.  If she says yes, then you will have a date. If she says no, then you will just be how you are now. Lovesick, single, and um…hard." Kerry couldn't help but notice John's erection. 

John blushed, he was embarrassed. "Thanks Kerry. I'm sorry I acted like such an adolescent. And I'm sorry I didn't eat your dinner." 

"That's okay. All is forgiven. Now eat up, you've got a big question to ask tomorrow." Kerry smiled. 

"Oh God. I'm already nervous." John continued to eat, but he didn't know if he could keep it down. 

End of Chapter One