After the Kiss

This is not a part of my regular series, but rather a story that was inspired by the episode, "Such Sweet Sorrow" that aired in the US on May 11th. Accordingly, it contains spoilers through this episode.

This is the NC 17 rated version of this issue. It is rated this way for sexual content and is not appropriate for readers under the age of 18. You may also read the PG version, if you wish. Songs used in this piece are: "Let's Make Love" by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

Please e-mail me with any feedback.

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After the Kiss

by Cari
SKingList@aol.com
 


As Doug and Carol walked toward Doug's house, he asked, "Do you want me to get your luggage from the car?" 

"I actually don't have any except for this small bag," Carol said with a laugh. "When I found that the last flight for Seattle left in only 45 minutes, I just got to the airport as quickly as possible." 

"That's ok. We can go to the store if you need. I'm glad you made the flight," Doug said as they walked into the house. 

"I am too, I almost missed it. This house is gorgeous." 

"Thank you. Do you want the grand tour?" 

"Sure."

They walked around the house, and Doug showed the three bedrooms, a wood paneled study, a large family room, and a bathroom with a hot tub, among other things. 

"That must really be nice," Carol said, referring to the hot tub.

"It's a great way to relax after a long day." 

"I can imagine," Carol said with a sad look on her face. 

"Baby, what's the matter?" Doug asked, drawing her close. 

"Today is just starting to catch up with me." 

"What happened? I knew something had to have happened for you to come out here all of a sudden. Is everything ok?" 

"Yes. No. I don't even know anymore," Carol said, breaking down. She lay her head against Doug's chest and just started to cry.

Doug gently picked her up and walked her into the bedroom where he sat in the rocking chair with her and just held her as she cried.

A few minutes later, after she had calmed down a little, Carol said, "I missed you being able to hold me when I was upset. I swear you are the only person who can calm me down." 

"I'm glad that I can help," Doug said, gently rubbing her back. "Do you want to talk about what happened?" 

"Yes...It's not just today though, I've been stressed for such a long time," Carol admitted. 

"I know. Mark called me to tell me you were upset, that's why I offered to come out a few weeks ago." 

"I'm sorry that I asked you not to," Carol said. "It was just I was trying to hard not to let you see how hard this was for me and I know I couldn't do that with you there. I didn't want you to feel guilty, like you had to come back." 

"I would never feel like I had to come back. If I thought you and the girls needed me, I would want to come back." 

"A few weeks ago, it all hit me. The girls had trouble with their nanny, I bought a used car, and it broke down right away, and the stress at work.... Last week I finally broke down at work. Kerry asked me to get some figures for a meeting and I just had too much to do, I forgot. I went into the supply area and just started to cry. Going home in tears everyday is just not the answer." 

"No, it isn't," Doug said pulling Carol closer as she started to cry again.

A minute or two later, Carol continued. "Then today, we had a terminal cancer patient come in. She had a young family, and it was just so hard. Dr. Kovac and I assisted her breathing when she stopped even though she was a DNR. Her girls weren't there to say goodbye and her husband asked us to. I did it, and don't feel guilty at all. I gave a woman a chance to say goodbye to her family, what is wrong with that?" 

"Let me guess, Kerry didn't see it that way?" 

"No, I got in a fight with her and Dr. Kovac about it. In a way, she was right, but...She even suggested that maybe I shouldn't be working there any longer, and in some ways, I think she may be right." 

"Really?" 

"I just...I can't do it anymore. The stress and the politics of the job are killing me. I always said I would get out when it wasn't fun anymore. And lately, nursing is less about the patients then it is about hospital politics, and I just can't take it anymore. It's become a war, and that's not why I became a nurse." 

"I know it isn't. That's why I knew my time in the ER was coming to an end. Even before the incident last winter, it just stopped being something I loved."

"Plus working at County just isn't the same without you there. I really miss you, and not just at work."

Doug leaned over and gave her a kiss and said, "I miss you too."

"A few minutes after we got the woman breathing again, we took her daughters in to see her. Her oldest daughter said to me that she didn't want her mom to die, that she wanted them to be a family again like they used to be. That was just too much. I saw myself on that table, I saw our girls without a family...But that was not the last straw...After the woman died, her husband asked me if I believed in soul mates, if there was only one person that we were supposed to love.... And that's when my head started to listen to my heart. My heart has been in love with you since I was 23 years old. I've always loved you Doug; you have to believe that. When I didn't come with you last year, it didn't mean..."

Doug gently covered her mouth with his finger and said, "I know you love me. I have always known that. I felt so bad leaving you. You're more then a lover to me, you are my best friend and my soul mate. That's what made you different from any of the other women. They were only about sex. You and I, we have a mental connection as well as physical." 

"I understand now why you left. Something just had to go...That's how I feel now. I'm going to miss Mark, Carter, and Elizabeth.... But I just can't do this anymore. I want a family, I want my girls to have a dad, and I want you Doug. You are what's most important to me. I want us to be a family." 

"I feel the same way." The scene fades out as they kiss passionately.

Later that evening, Doug and Carol are in the hot tub, enjoying each other's company. The song playing in the background is:

Let's Make Love 

Baby I've been drifting away
And dreaming all day
Of holding you, touching you
The only thing I wanna do is be with you
As close to you as I can be

Let's make love
All night long
Until all our strength is gone
Hold on tight
Just let go
I want to feel you in my soul
Until the sun comes up
Let's make love

Do you know what you do to me
Everything inside of me
Is wanting you, and needing you
I'm so in love with you
Look in my eyes
Let's get lost tonight
In each other

Let's make love
All night long
Until all our strength is gone
Hold on tight
Just let go
I want to feel you in my soul
Until the sun comes up
Let's make love

Let's make love
All night long
Until all our strength is gone
Hold on tight
Just let go
I want to feel you in my soul
Until the sun comes up
Until the sun comes up
Let's make love
Let's make love
All night long
Let's make love

Carol moves over and sits in Doug's lap, leaning back against his chest. Doug puts his arms around Carol's waist and allows himself to feel the touch of her skin against his; something he had missed in the past year.

Slowly, he allows his hands to venture upward, giving Carol time to tell him no if this is not what she wants. She makes no effort to stop him, and Doug allows his fingers to explore the soft skin of her breasts. She shudders with pleasure, enjoying a touch she has not felt in more than a year.

Carol could feel Doug's erection beginning to press against her butt. She shifted slightly to remove some of the pressure, and also to give her better access. She gripped the base of his shaft firmly, and slowly and sensuously worked her way to the tip.

Doug groaned with pleasure as he moved from nibbling on Carol's ears to sucking gently on her breasts. He moved his hands further down her torso, pausing to lightly tickle her stomach before arriving at their final destination. His fingers had the pruned look, from being in the water for so long, that this added texture only enhanced his ability to pleasure Carol through clitoral stimulation. 

He lovingly rubbed his fingers along this sensitive area as Carol said, "Ooh Doug. Gently, he positioned Carol so that she was resting in the crook of his right arm. Her gentle sucking of his nipples became more frantic as she edged closer to orgasm with his every rub of her clitoris.

He took her in his arms and carefully climbed out of the hot tub. He lay her on the towel across the bed. He knelt next to the bed, and his tongue began to devour every inch of Carol's body until he worked his way up to her mouth. When their lips met, he lay on the bed and pulled Carol over on top of him.

Their tongues darted ferociously, as if in a contest of whose could get further inside the other's mouth. Doug's penis found where it needed to go and because Carol was wet from his earlier stimulation, insertion was no problem. Carol took one of her hands and lightly rubbed her finger back and forth over his nipple, which caused him to moan with pleasure. 

Doug reached over Carol and gently caressed her inner thigh. This was all it took for her to climax, and with her contractions, Doug quickly came to. It was a great sensation on their first sexual experience in more than a year to climax at almost the same moment, for it showed that their bodies had remained in tune with each other.

"I love you sweetie for being able to make me feel this way," Doug said to Carol.

"I love you too, you are the best."

They continue to kiss, albeit with less intensity and they fall asleep in each other's arms.

It is around 8 the next morning, and Carol wakes up, still in Doug's arms. She turns to face him and he says, "Hello beautiful." 

"Hey. I was worried that this was just a dream." 

"Me too." 

"It's so great to wake up in your arms again." 

"It feels permanent this time." 

"It does...and I'm glad," Carol said as she put her head on his bare chest.

It is now about an hour later and Doug walks into the kitchen, "I got us reservations on the 1:30 flight." 

"That's great. Did you call your mom?" 

"Yes...."

*************************************FLASHBACK**********************************

The screen splits as Helen picks up the phone.

"Hi mom, how are you?"

"I'm great. How about you? Did you get the answer you were looking for?"

"Yes mama. I got exactly the answer I needed."

"I had a feeling. I haven't heard you sound this happy in a long time. I'm glad."

"You are?"

"Yes. Doug and I may have had our differences, but I can tell how much he means to you. And if he makes you this happy...Then I am glad. What I want most is for you to be happy. I'm going to miss my granddaughters with all my heart, but I've never been to Seattle, so this will give me an excuse to visit."

"I'm so glad to hear you say that mama. You will always be welcome here."

"Are you coming back today or...?"

"Yes. I'm going to make plane reservations. I'll call you when I have more information. Give the girls a kiss for me." 

"OK, I will."

***********************END FLASHBACK******************

It is much later that afternoon, we see a car pull up to the front door of County, and Carol, Doug and the girls emerge. They walk in through the ambulance bay, each of them holding one twin. Mark is at the desk, and he is the first to see them. 

"Hey guys!" he says, coming over to them. "I see the dynamic duo is back together again." 

"We are," Carol said with a smile. 

"I'd be careful," Mark warned. "Weaver is on the warpath, and you seem to be her target." 

"Oh great," Carol said. "Can you take Tess while I go take care of something?" 

"Sure. I'm on break now. Doug and I will be in the lounge."

Carol knocked on Weaver's door and Weaver answered, "Come in." 

Carol opened the door and instead of hello, she was greeted with, "You know Carol, I expect more from you. You are a senior member of this staff. What would the board think of the ER head nurse abandoning her position in the middle of her shift..." 

"Kerry, I quit." 

"You are usually more responsible, but I can't risk this happening again. I think I will have to suspend you, for a month, at least." 

"Kerry you can't suspend me. I quit." 

"You what?" 

"I can't do this anymore. My family means too much to me. The girls need a dad, and I need Doug." 

"I don't think your making a wise decision, but that's your choice. I will miss you though, you are a great nurse." 

"Thanks. I appreciate what you have done to help me lately," Carol said as she turned and walked out the door.

She had tears in her eyes, and as she walked past the desk, Haleh asked, "Are you ok?" 

"Never been better," Carol said as she walked into the lounge. 

Doug immediately saw that she was crying and asked, "What happened?" as he put an arm around her. 

"Well she suspended me," Carol said. 

"She WHAT!?!?!?" Mark asked. 

"She suspended me. For my actions, I guess she was right, but it doesn't really matter. I quit." 

Mark said, "I'm not surprised. I saw this coming. I'm going to miss you like hell, but I want you to be happy. And the only way for the two of you to be happy is together." 

"You'll come visit us in Seattle, won't you?" Doug asked. 

"Of course.... When are you going to tell the others?" 

"Now is as good a time as any," Carol said.

Fade to black as they walk out of the lounge.

-August 19, 2000