Midnight Clear
Chapther Ten
By Triggersaurus
triggersaurus@hotmail.com

Okay, this is it - the Christmas fic. This really just follows Christmas in the lives of Doug and Carol, I wanted to get more characters in but I had so much to say about Doug and Carol that it became impossible! So I hope you all like it. By the way, there may be a bit of a drought for the next two weeks regarding my fanfics as I am Technical Director for our college musical, and I will be rehearsing and performing these next few weeks…wish me luck! Triggersaurus

Previously: Jerry’s wedding invitations are received by the ER staff, a small Christmas party is arranged to take place in the ER on Christmas evening, and Doug and Carol discover that there is another family who want to foster Ben.

The sun is coming up on Chicago, a bright clear day. Doug rolls over in bed to wish Carol a merry Christmas, but finds nothing but an empty space beside him. He sits up, confused, and yawns. He rubs his hands over his hair and swings round to get out of bed. As he does, he hears the sound of saucepans downstairs, and a gleam of realisation lights up in his eyes. He pulls on a robe and heads downstairs.

In the kitchen, a huge turkey sits in a baking tray. On several chopping boards lie potatoes, vegetables, and bowls of stuffing mix. Saucepans cover the small table in the centre of the room, some full with water, some empty, one even upside down. On top of the cooker sits a box of cereal and a milk carton. As Doug comes down the stairs, he sees Carol sitting in the lounge, legs crossed on the sofa, eating a bowl of cornflakes. She is looking at the small Christmas tree, with some boxes underneath it.

"Trying to guess what’s in them?" Doug says in her ear, wrapping his arms around her neck from behind the couch.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah…" she snaps out of her trance and outs her cereal down on the coffee table. She turns around and smiles at Doug. "Happy Christmas Doug." She wraps her arms around him this time and he hugs her back. "Happy Christmas to you too." He pulls back and kisses her.

"And why are you up so early on this beautiful Christmas morning when you could have been enjoying it in bed?" He grins mischievously

"Mmm. I would have loved that. But unfortunately I had a Christmas dinner to make for the army of relatives that are about to descend on our house."

Doug pulls a sad face. "When are they coming?"

"1 o’clock, but I thought we should pop into the hospital and see Ben this morning. So I thought, if I had it all in the oven by 11 we’d be okay." She kisses him again.

"Great. Now how about we get the most important matter of opening presents underway?"

Some hours later, Doug is in the kitchen and Carol is upstairs. Doug is standing at the counter looking at the bowl of stuffing and the rear end of the enormous turkey. As he stands there, Carol comes down the stairs in a new sweater and takes a peep into the kitchen. She looks at Doug looking at the turkey, and then at the stove, where a pan is frothing ready to over boil.

"Doug!" She rushes into the kitchen, grabbing the pan off the stove, spilling some of the hot water on the floor. Doug whirls around to look at what was going on. Carol is trying to look cross with him, but at the same time is trying not to laugh at his problems with the turkey.

"Sorry."

"Doesn’t matter. How long have you been standing there looking at it?"

"Ahem, um, I’m not sure. Here, let me get that." He takes a cloth out of Carol’s hand and wipes the floor up as she goes over to the turkey. She shakes her head as she looks at it.

"I can’t believe that someone who went through four years of medical school, someone who treats people with horrific skin conditions, someone who gets thrown up on, on a day to day basis, cannot bring themselves to stuff a turkey."

Doug looks up from his position on the floor, stands up and goes to the sink.

"Well, it’s gross!"

He wrings the cloth out.

"It’s gross?! C’mon Doug, I’ve seen you do much more gross things than this…need I go into that bowel disempaction a couple of weeks ago?"

"Alright, alright. Hand me that stuffing."

Carol gives him the bowl and he goes to the counter. He gets the turkey and tips it up, grabbing a fist full of stuffing. He pauses.

"Ugh…here goes…"

He shoves his hand into the turkey, screwing up his face and looking away. Carol cracks up, laughing so much her eyes tear up. She turns away to wipe them, turns back again to come face to face with the turkey waving around in the air on the end of Doug’s arm as he laughs manically.

"God, Doug!" She collapses in laughter again, and Doug proceeds to start a puppet show with the turkey still stuck on his arm. Eventually, they wind up kissing each other while Doug tries to dislodge his arm from the turkey, which is back in its tray.

"Okay, now is it ready to go in?" Carol looks up at Doug in their clinch.

"Yeah, I think its been violated enough…are you ready to go when that’s in?"

"Yep. You got the present?"

"Sure, it’s in the hallway."

Carol pushes the tray into the oven and sets a timer.

"Okay, we have an hour and a half. Let’s go."

They enter the ER before heading upstairs, but no one can be seen with the exception of Randi on the main desk.

"Hey Randi, happy Christmas!"

"Happy Christmas to you too. I thought you were in later, both of you?"

"We are, we’re just dropping by to see someone upstairs."

"Oh, okay. The kid, right?"

"Yeah, the kid."

"Anyone else in?"

"Um, they’re around, but most are asleep I think…it was a long night."

"Sure. Okay, well we’ll see you later Randi, you gonna be here for the party?"

"Ah, no, I don’t think so."

"Oh. Okay then. Well have a good Christmas anyway."

"You too! Bye!"

They go to the elevator bank, and ride up to the Peds ward. Before they enter, it can be heard a mile off. Christmas songs are being played over the tannoy system, kids are whooping up and down the hallway on new bikes and a huge man in a Santa costume is parading up and down shouting "Ho ho ho!"

"Wow."

They stand and gape for a moment before going in. In the ward, the situation is very similar, except there are more children. The nurses are all wearing Christmas aprons and flashing badges. They look extremely tired, trying desperately to get the children to take their meds. Doug and Carol push their way through everything, being bashed into several times and hit by new toys. They trip over a group playing a new board game on the floor. Eventually, they make it to Ben’s bed, which is surrounded by the curtains. Carol pulls one back and goes into the small enclosure, Doug follows her. In the middle of the bed, Ben lies fast asleep, with the huge stuffed bear from the Taylors’ sitting next to his head. Carol looks at Doug, amazed.

"How can he sleep with all the noise?!"

Doug whispers back, "I don’t know! Maybe he just shuts it all out!"

"He must! How else would it work?!"

As they whisper, Ben stirs in the bed, and heaves himself up on his arms to see who is there.

"Hi."

"Hey Ben! Happy Christmas! We didn’t wake you did we?"

"Uh. Tired."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." He drops back down onto the pillow. Doug looks at Carol, mildly concerned. Just then, a head pops round the curtains. It is the nurse who was around last time to give Ben his meds. He recognises Carol and nods at her.

"Hey. Time for his meds now if that’s okay?"

"Sure, no problem. He’s kinda sleepy though, aren’t you Ben?"

The head on the pillow moves a bit in an attempt at a nod.

"I’m not surprised! They were all awake at about 4 this morning, it being Christmas and all."

Doug and Carol look at each other in relief. "That is kinda early."

"Yeah. Mind you, this guy here wasn’t very fussed by it all; he only woke up because everyone else was making such a noise! He liked the bear alright, did you get that for him?"

"Uh, no. We got him something else…it was under the tree. Didn’t he get it?"

"Um, I don’t think so. Was it all wrapped up?"

"Yeah. We put it there last night."

"Oh, hang on, let me go and see, it might still be there."

The head disappears. Doug sits down on the bed, Carol next to him, stroking Ben’s hair.

The head returns. He comes into the room and hands a box to Carol.

"Is that it?"

"Yeah! Where was it?"

"Behind the nurses station…I saw it this morning, and it seemed like it shouldn’t be the thing for the others to start bashing about."

"Thanks. I’m Doug by the way, this is Carol."

"I’m Sandy. Can I ask, what’s the relation between you guys and Ben?"

"Um, none actually, we’re ER staff. But we were hoping that we might foster him."

"Wow. You already have kids?"

"No…we were trying, but, well, then he turned up!"

"Quite a big step you’re taking though! I mean, what are you, doctors in the ER? That’s tough already, without a kid!"

"Yeah, it is a bit of an issue, but there are other staff with kids, I’m sure we could figure it out, if it came to that…"

"Of course! That other family who wants him! You’ll be, like, competing with them for him…"

"I hate that, I really do. It’s like he’s an object. But what can you do, huh?"

"Yeah. It’s not fair really. Ah well, have to get on. Nice meeting you, and good luck! I’ll bring his meds back in a while, okay?"

"Fine. Nice meeting you too, Sandy. I’m sure we’ll see you around."

"Sure."

He leaves. Ben moves in the bed again, and Doug leans over and taps him on the shoulder.

"Ben…hey, we got you something…you wanna see what it is?"

"Huuuhhh…"

He lifts himself up a bit, dropping down on the pillow again, then twisting his head to see them.

"Here…" Carol turns him onto his back so he can see.

"Why did you bring something? Is it like the cars?" The cars can be seen lined up neatly on the table next to his bed.

"Sort of, but this is for Christmas, buddy. You get presents at Christmas…didn’t you know that?"

"No. But I like it!"

"Yeah, I’m sure you do! So, do you want this or not?!"

"Okay." He takes the box from Doug and puts it on his chest. Carol grapples with the bed until it is more upright and Ben is sitting up. He pulls at the paper on the gift, taking some time over it, finally breaking through to the contents. He gasps in delight and tries to pull what ever it is out, but fails. Carol takes it and lifts it out. It is a bright blue cassette radio stereo system designed for children.

"Wow, wow! Is this mine?"

"Yeah, it’s all yours!" Doug beams at Ben, then Carol, who is also grinning broadly. Doug leans over and plugs it in to the socket behind the bed and flicks some switches until the radio plays.

"Yea! It works!"

"Come on Ben, would we give you anything that didn’t work?!"

Ben is bouncing around in joy, and presses all the buttons on the stereo. Then he stops and looks up and checks the curtain, as if looking for someone. He stares at it for a while, then looks over to Doug and Carol. He shuffles forward a bit and grabs Carol, hugging her, then moves over some more, hugging Doug. "Thank you very much"

Doug smiles at Carol. "That’s okay Ben. Actually, come here…" He lifts him onto his lap and reaches behind him, pulling out another, slightly smaller box. "This is for you as well." Ben takes the box, pulling off the wrapping a bit quicker this time. He pulls out a remote control car.

"A car!"

"Yep. But you just wait and see what this one does!" Doug takes it from him, puts in some batteries and then puts it on the floor. He picks up the remote. "Okay…now, this should work…" The car whizzes under the bed and crashes into something. "Hmm, okay, it’s working…hang on a sec…" He moves some controls until he gets them figured out. The car comes shooting out from under the bed and into Carol’s foot. He reverses it and drives it out under the curtain. A nurse squeals and Doug shouts "Sorry!" and drives it back in and stops it. He looks at Carol and Ben, who are both creased up with laughter, and he grins. "Here kiddo, I think you should give it a go." He hands the remote to Ben, and they watch as he plays.

An hour or so later, Doug and Carol are running down the sidewalk at full speed. They run up the porch steps and crash through the front door. Carol goes straight to the kitchen, where the smell of roast turkey overpowers the room. Doug stands in the hallway, puffing. He catches his breath and walks into the kitchen to check that everything is okay. As he goes in, he is handed a pile of plates with a heap of folded serviettes on top.

"Go and set the table Doug, quick!"

"Okay, okay…" He goes out to the small dining area at the front of the house and lays the table, returning to the kitchen for cutlery and a holly decoration for the centrepiece. As he puts it down and realises there aren’t enough glasses, the doorbell rings. "Ahhh!" shouts Carol from the kitchen.

"Don’t worry, I’ll get it! Um, Carol, I don’t suppose we have any more glasses anywhere?"

Carol comes out of the kitchen, still wearing oven mitts. "We don’t have enough glasses?!" she hisses, slightly panicky. The doorbell rings again.

"Okay, don’t worry about it, I’m sure we’ll find some somewhere. Let me go and get the door."

Carol goes back into the kitchen and Doug goes to the door. He pulls it open to see a man and woman on the doorstep. The woman resembles Carol. Doug smiles.

"Hey, come on in. Sorry for the delay," he glances over his shoulder to the kitchen and then leans closer to them and whispers, "We have a little situation with drinking glasses. I’m Doug by the way." He shakes the their hands.

The man introduces himself, grinning.

"I’m Pete."

Before the lady can say anything, Carol rushes out of the kitchen, minus the mitts this time, and throws her arms around her.

"Christina! I can’t believe it’s been two years! How’s New York?!"

"It’s great! You haven’t changed a bit, have you?!"

Carol laughs. "Hey there Pete! How are you holding up? You know, being married to her and all!"

Pete grins again. "I’m doing just fine, Carol. How are you?"

"I’m okay. I see you guys have met Doug."

"Yeah, we did for a short moment there! The turkey smells great Carol, by the way!"

"Thank you!"

"Nice place you have here…" The doorbell rings again.

Some time later, everyone is sitting around in the lounge talking. Doug is telling Pete and two of Carol’s uncles about a golf course he once visited. Carol is catching up with Christina, and Helen Hathaway is talking to her two other daughters with Javier. Two children are playing on the floor with new toys. The doorbell rings, and Carol leaps up and runs to the door. Doug watches her, but then dismisses it and returns to his conversation. Carol comes back grinning, and sits forward in her chair, whispering something to her sister and smiling. Doug excuses himself and goes over to her.

"What was all that about?"

Carol glances at Christina, and then looks back at him.

"Oh, just some carol singers…I gave them a dollar."

"Okay…" He goes back to his chair, still a little bemused, but too full from dinner to do anything about it. He looks back at Carol every now and again, and notices that she keeps looking out of the window. Then she turns to him and smiles sweetly.

"Doug, could you go and get that book you bought me? I want to show it to Christina…"

Now he really does look confused.

"Why can’t you get it?"

"Aww, Doug, I spent all morning cooking…" She looks at him until he snaps.

"Alright, alright, I’ll go. I don’t know what you’re up to but I’m sure it’s no good." He watches her, looking at him as he goes upstairs. He goes into the bedroom and grabs the book off the nightstand, looking out of the window as he passes it to see if he can see what Carol is up to. He goes back downstairs, and sees that Carol’s seat is mysteriously empty.

"Hey, where did Carol go?" As he says this, Carol creeps up on him from behind and slips a piece of black cloth over his head, covering his eyes.

"Doug…"

"Carol, I don’t think this is the time for kinky games…"

Everyone laughs.

"No Doug, this is something different. Come with me, okay? Here…" She takes his hand and leads him to the front door. The assorted family members all follow, smiling.

He stumbles to the door and trips over the step as he goes through it.

"Whoa!"

"Okay, steps coming up…right foot first…that’s it, okay, nearly there…" They get to the bottom and go around the corner of the house to the backyard. Carol stops Doug on the patio.

"Can I take this off now?"

"Not just yet. Hand me that, Pete…"

She puts a basketball in his hands.

"Carol, what is this? I’m not playing catch with a blindfold on."

"Okay…"

She unties the knot in the blindfold, and it falls onto his shoulders as he blinks in the light and then looks up to see a brand new basketball hoop and board. His mouth drops open.

"Wow. That’s incredible." A huge grin creeps onto his face and he reaches behind him to put an arm around Carol, not taking an eye off the hoop. She comes and stands next to him, also beaming. He stops staring and grabs her in a hug, kissing her.

"Carol, that’s great, its beautiful! Thank you so much!" He kisses her again and then looks back at the board. He bounces the ball a couple of times and takes a shot. It swishes through the hoop, and everyone claps and cheers. He bows and puts an arm around Carol again.

In the ER that evening, the lack of patients is considered a miracle. The staff cannot quite believe it. But that hasn’t stopped them from taking advantage of it. Everyone wears a Santa hat, trays of mince pies and turkey sandwiches are on several gurneys that are transported across the room when someone requests them, and there is a Christmas album playing over the tannoy. Jerry is even wearing a whole Santa costume. Doug and Carol enter and immediately find hats being clamped on their heads and mince pies in their hands. Mark comes out of the lounge, Rachel with him in a red and white dress, wearing musical earrings. She waves hello and disappears in the direction of the nurses who are dancing to the music in a corner.

"Hey! Good Christmas you two?"

"Yeah, it was good. How about you Mark? I thought Rachel was on her way home tonight?"

"She is. Jenn’s coming to pick her up from here."

Carol nods and takes a bite of her pie.

"You know what? You guys should bring Ben down here. Have you seen him today yet?"

"Yeah, we came in and saw him this morning."

"Do you think we should?"

"Yeah, why not?! It can’t harm anyone. If things get busy, one of us can always run him back up again."

"Sure?"

"Yeah, go ahead!"

"Okay, I’ll go and get him!" Carol takes the last bite of her pie and leaves.

"So how has your day been Mark?"

"Nice, quite calm actually. Rach was up at about 6 am, but I thought that was okay after last year when she woke up at 4.30!"

Doug laughs.

"Yeah, we had a good day, stayed at home mostly. Y’know, eating, watching TV, eating some more…."

"Yeah, I know! I thought I’d never stand up again after dinner; Carol did a great job on the turkey. Actually, I had to stuff it, so it was a joint piece of work."

"I hate that! I had to do that as well, Rachel thought it was very amusing that her father the doctor didn’t want to put his hand up a turkey’s ass!"

"Carol thought it was pretty funny too. Women, huh?!"

Mark laughs.

They mingle at the main desk for a while, and Doug invites everyone over to play ball sometime. Carol returns with Ben, who sits on the desk as everyone talks to him and makes a fuss. Eventually, everyone ends up dancing to "Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?" even Ben, who swings between Doug and Carol, laughing until tears come to their eyes.

Okay, please send me feedback, please, please, please! I need to know what you all think so I know if it’s worthwhile continuing! Especially the ending to this fic, I’m a bit worried that it was really pathetic! My mail address is (as if you don’t know by now!) triggersaurus@hotmail.com