Gap-Filler: "Great Expectations" - Thursday Night

By: Lori (SixteenOzs)

DISCLAIMER: "ER," the characters and situations depicted within are the property of Warner Brothers Television, Amblin Entertainment, Constant c Productions, NBC, etc. They are borrowed without permission, but without the intent of infringement. The story presented here is written solely for entertainment purposes, and the author is not making a profit.

Please do not post or redistribute without the disclaimer above, or without the consent of the author.

Feedback is welcome. Please send all questions, comments or criticisms to SixteenOzs02@yahoo.com

SUMMARY: Continuation of the episode "Great Expectations," focusing on the events of Thursday night.

RATING: PG

As Elizabeth stepped off the elevator, she surveyed the ER looking for Mark. Not seeing him, she approached the admit desk and asked, "Haleh, have you seen Mark?"

Haleh considered this for a minute, then said, "I think I saw him go into the lounge with his father and Rachel earlier."

"Thanks," Elizabeth replied before turning towards the lounge. Entering the room, she saw David and Rachel playing cards, with a football game on in the background. Walking over to them, she said, "Hi. Do you know where Mark is?"

David looked up from the game and replied, "He said he was going to get some air, then check on your friend before we went home. That was about ten minutes ago."

"Okay," Elizabeth nodded. "Do you know if he took his coat?"

"Now that you mention it, I don't think so."

"I think I know where he is," Elizabeth commented as she walked over to Mark's locker, opened it and removed his overcoat. "Is there anything either of you need?"

"I'm fine," David said. "Rachel?"

"I'm okay," she nodded.

"We'll be back in a little while. If you need us, they can page us from the admit desk," Elizabeth told them before picking up her own coat and leaving the room.

Five minutes later, she walked onto the roof and found Mark staring out at the city. She smiled as she walked closer to him. "Please tell me you realize that you are going to catch pneumonia out here without a coat on, and when that happens, I'll be the one who ends up taking care of you."

Turning to face her, he grinned, "I can think of worse things."

"I brought your coat," she smiled.

"Thank you," he said as he took it from her and put it on. After a moment, he said, "I owe you an apology."

"For what?" she questioned.

"For running off and leaving you with my family. And for blowing up at you down in the ER. I'm sorry," he said sincerely.

"You don't need to apologize," she assured him. "Carol needed you, and I told you to go. As for what happened downstairs, I'm willing to chalk that up to the shock of the situation."

Shaking his head, he admitted, "I figured I'd have at least another two or three years before I'd have to deal with this."

"Your little girl's growing up, Dad," she teased.

"Don't remind me," he muttered. "Man, I just feel -"

"Watch it," she warned. "I'm the same age you are, and I am NOT old."

Laughing, he asked, "So, how were things after I left?"

"You've been though enough for one day. I'll tell you later," she replied.

"That bad?" he questioned with a sigh.

"After Rachel locked herself in the bathroom, there was a brief, fleeting moment where I wondered which closet would be best for your father," she grinned, "but that passed."

"Well, I don't know what you did, but it looks like you won them both over," he said with a smile as he slipped his arms around her waist.

"Really?" she questioned.

"Yeah," he nodded. "After you stitched him up, Dad told me he liked you. And I wasn't picking up nearly as much animosity from Rachel when I talked to her in the lounge."

"It's a girl thing," she grinned.

He laughed. "She's going back to Saint Louis tomorrow. If you think I'm bad, you should have heard Jen."

"Somehow, I'm guessing that I'm not exactly her favorite person right now," she suggested with a smile.

He smiled reluctantly, then tried to change the subject. "Did you see Carol and the twins?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "They're perfect. It was sweet naming Kate after your mom."

"Carol seemed to like that better than Ruth," he smiled. After a moment, he admitted, "I was worried there for a while."

"Why?" she asked in a concerned tone.

"Kate's cord prolapsed, cutting off the oxygen and we had to do an emergency C-section. When she came out, she was blue. Carol could see her, and she kept asking me what the Apgar was. I wouldn't tell her. I waited and gave her the five-minute, which was eight. Then Carol started bleeding out. Coburn was ready to do a hysterectomy, but Carol said no. I pushed the point with Coburn, telling her that Carol was a nurse and she understood the risks. I knew if that was the wrong decision, she was going to die," he said quietly.

"She didn't die," Elizabeth reminded him as she gently rubbed his back. "She's fine, and she's got two beautiful little girls."

"Doug should be here," he commented after a moment.

"She called him," Elizabeth told him.

"You're kidding," he said, looking at her dubiously.

"No," she said with a smile as she shook her head. "She told me she called after you came down to the ER. They talked for a while, then he let her go so she could get some rest. He told her he'd call back tomorrow."

"At least they're talking," he commented.

"Would you have done it if she hadn't?" she wondered.

He smiled guiltily, "Probably."

"Come on," she smiled, "let's go check on Carol, then head back downstairs. Otherwise, your father and Rachel will think we got lost."

"Okay," he nodded. His arm still around her back, they started to walk towards the door. "Thank you."

"For what?" she wondered.

"For being truly amazing today," he smiled. "I'm sorry your dinner got ruined."

"There'll be others," she said with a smile.

"Really?" he questioned.

"I hope so," she said somewhat hesitantly.

"So do I," he agreed, kissing her gently.

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