God's Little Gift
GOD'S LITTLE GIFT


These character's are not mine and no money is made off of them.

Scene 1

Scene opens in Ross home. It is early afternoon around 1:00 or so. Doug is working and Carol is at home enjoying her day off. She has continued working throughout her pregnancy since her doctor thought working around medical personnel would not cause a threat to her growing condition. Camera pans across the room to focus on Carol. She is very large and looks to be in a lot of discomfort. Her ankles are huge, almost three times their size, and swollen. She is in full term and is 8 days over her due date, July 6. We see her working at the large desk in the den. She is struggling with some numbers on some kind of book when the phone startles her and she reaches to pick it up.

Carol: "Hello Ross residence?"

Doug: "Hey babyface. How are we feeling?"

Carol:(annoyed) "I'm fine Doug. You don't have to call every ten minutes just to make sure I'm not in labor. I promise you I'll call as soon as anything happens, but now to answer your question I'm not having the most comfortable time."

Doug: "How so?"

Carol:(in distress) "My ankles keep swelling and the ice isn't helping, my back is killing me, the baby's kicking gives me pain, it's to damn hot and sticky, my Braxton Hicks are still going, I can never find the right combination of food to fit my craving, I keep getting telephone salesmen who try to sell me magazines, I have to pee every 20 min, and I'm struggling to find the right numbers to balance the check book since it seems you forgot to write a few checks in the back!"

Doug: "It seems like your having a lovely day darling."

Carol:(a tone of anger in her voice) "Wonderful, Doug, just wonderful!"

Doug(in the background, Get Ross NOW! He's crashing.): "Shoot, Carol I have to go, got a kid crashing."

Carol: "Ok Doug, but no more calls. Got it?"

Doug: "Fine, fine. Gotta go!"

Carol: "Bye!"

Scene 2

Later that day. Doug is sitting at the admit desk play cards with Mark and Malik. Mark: "So Doug, how was Carol feeling when you called earlier?"

Doug: "She sounded pissed, something I did with the checkbook, but also in a lot of discomfort. Her ankles and back are bothering her and her Braxton Hicks are starting to really piss her off. And it's just too hot for her."

Mark: "But Doug I thought you guys had central air?"

Doug: "We do and it's turned down to 60 degrees but for Carol it's just not good enough. I swear she'd turn it down more if she could just figure out how to un-program it."

Mark: "Why don't you just let her turn it down more?"

Doug: "Because Mark for one I have to wear a sweatshirt just to keep warm in there and two because I don't want to have to pay more than $300 a month to keep her cool."

Mark: "Ah, I see. I guess that makes sense."

Malik: "Man am I glad that Jade isn't pregnant and won't be anytime soon. I mean how do you deal with all those demands Doug?"

Doug: "Wait a second Malik, what do mean won't be anytime soon? You have been telling us a lot about your nights with her lately."

Malik: "She's on the pill and were using protection. Why, you think that she could be preg..?"

Doug: "Well Malik. You said she's been real moody latel..(cut off by Mark)

Mark: "And puking up cereal every now and then. Sounds like two warnings of a classic pregnant women."

Malik: "You think I should have her tested?"

Mark: "Well either that or at least ask her?"

Scene 3

It is around 8 PM. Doug and Carol are at home together watching a movie. Carol's head was in Doug's lap and her body is sprawled out along the length of the couch. Doug comes back in the room with a big bowl of popcorn and resumes his position allowing Carol to put her head back in his lap. After she is finished getting comfortable he places the bowl on top of her enlarged stomach.

Doug:(smiling and trying not to laugh) "You know you make a really great popcorn holder."

Carol:(trying to sound mad but laughing) "Douglas Ross how dare you call me a popcorn holder. Are you referring to me as fat?"

Doug:(trying to think of a good comeback) "Fat..,no, plump.., maybe."

Carol:(hits he over the head with a pillow while still laughing) "Plump! Why I oughta make you sleep on the couch for that."

Doug:(laughing) "What's the difference we don't do anything in bed anymore anyways."

Carol: "Doug it is not my fault we can't have sex anymore, the doctor said no to prot

ect the baby." Doug:(with a goofy look on his face) "I know, (still laughing)I know. I was just trying to get back at you. So you tired?"

Carol: "Yah, and I think I've had just about enough of Harrison Ford. Let's go to bed."

Doug: "Ok. Just let me turn off the t.v."

Doug and Carol head slowly up the stairs while kissing as they make there way towards their bedroom.

Scene 4

It is now the next day, Wednesday. Doug and Carol are both at work. Carol is sitting at the nurses station with Chuney awaiting there next patient. Carol sees the er doors fly open and is expecting a critical patient but is shocked when she sees Susan.

Susan: "Carol is that you?"

Carol: "Susan, what are you doing here? Don't you live in Arizona now?"

Susan:(shocked to see Carol is pregnant) "Yah but I came for a visit. Carol you look as if your about to pop. When are you due?"

Carol: "I was due 9 days ago. I just wish this baby would come out."

Susan: "We have a lot of catching up to do, how about lunch?"

Carol: "Sure I do lunch in ten minutes."

Susan: "Great! I'm going to say hi to everyone else and then we can leave?"

Carol: "Fine with me!"

Scene 5

Carol and Susan are at Doc Magoo's across the street from County. The have been there a little over a half and hour and Carol is up to the point in her life (since Susan left) about the baby.

Carol: "Yah, Doug and I both flipped when we found out. We were both really scared but also really happy. It was so unexpected."

Susan: "So do you guys know the sex or have a name picked out?" Carol: "We don't know the sex yet, but we really don't want to know. We want to have a healthy baby and be surprised. We do have two names picked out but I can't tell you yet."

Susan: "Why not, I mean I'm sure everyone else knows?"

Carol: "We aren't telling anyone the names yet. Just in case someone doesn't like one and then tries to talk us out of it. After the baby's born they'll be stuck with it."

Susan: "That's a good idea. So are you going to have a c-section done?"

Carol: "If the baby isn't born in 5 days my doctor says she'll induce labor or break my water and if that doesn't help any she'll have to do a c-section. Personally I don't want one, but if that's what it's gonna take to bring a heathly baby into this world than I'll take it."

Susan: "Well, I shouldn't impose on your time any longer. Besides I hafta go find a decent hotel to stay in tonight."

Carol:(shyly) "You could stay with us?"

Susan: "That's ok. I don't what to burden you two love birds."

Carol: "Well ok. I better be going."

Carol grabs her purse and heads towards the door.

Carol: "Bye Susan."

Susan: "Bye Carol, it was nice talking to you."

Carol: "Same here."

And with that Carol exits Doc Magoo's and walks back to the hospital.

Scene 6

It is late at night around 1:30 am. Doug is sound asleep in bed but Carol is awake. She feels around the bed to make sure Doug is besides her. When she feels his warm back she is reassured but then feels something cold and wet on the blanket. She turns on the lamp on her night stand is horrified at what she sees.

Carol:(with a blood shrieking scream) "DOUG! Omigod, Doug!"

Doug:(still half asleep) "What, what's wrong Carol?"

Carol: "Doug look at all this blood!"

Doug looks over to Carol's side of the bed and sees that the sheets are covered in blood and it looks to be coming from Carol. He immediately helps her sit up on the bed. Doug: "Carol lift up your nightshirt."

Carol follows Doug's orders. As she lifts it up for him to look under, her upper thighs and vagina are cover with blood.

Doug:(demanding) "Carol do you still feel the Braxton Hicks?"

Carol: "No, but I do feel a surge of pai.......Ahhhhh, Doug it hurts stop it please!"

Doug: "Carol, it's not me, your in labor, fully dilated, and the baby's crowning. I need to call Mark for back up."

Doug grabs the cordless phone off the night stand and pushes *6, the number programed for County.

Mark: "Hello Cook County ER how can I help you?"

Doug: "Mark it's Doug. I need your help. Carol is..."

Mark: "Slow down Doug, what's wrong?"

Doug: "Mark, Carol woke up and found blood all over the sheets and she woke me and now she's in labor and the baby's crowning, but I don't know why there's all this blood."

Mark: "Ok, Doug will have Unit 59 over there in a min."

Mark picks up the receiver and dispatches Unit 59 to Doug and Carol's house. In the meantime Doug is trying to deliver his baby.

Doug: "Come on Carol push. Push just a little more and it'll all be over."

Carol:(in distress) "I'm trying Doug it's just to hard I can't do it."

Doug: "Yes you can Carol."(He thinks of something.) "Give me your hand."

Carol: "What, no Doug!"

Doug: "Just give it to me Carol!"

Carol gives Doug her hand and he gently pulls in between her legs. He sets it very lightly on what is their baby's head.

Doug: "That's our baby's head honey."

Carol: "Oh, Doug it feels wonderfully....AHHHHH!"

Doug: "One more tiny push, go!"

As Carol pushes with the rest of her might, Doug guides the baby's shoulders through the vaginal opening and the baby slides out.

Carol: "The baby's not crying Doug, do something."

Doug: "I'm trying Carol just give me a second."

Doug pats the baby's back and then clears it's mouth of blood and fluid and the baby begins to cry. He sets his newborn baby on Carol's stomach and says, Doug: "Carol, I'd like you to meet our new baby GIRL!"

Carol: "Oh Doug she's just beautiful. Hi, little one."

Carol tottles with the baby as Doug tries to clean both of them up and just then the paramedics and Mark arrive.

Mark: "How's she doing Doug?"

Doug: "She did great and she brought our beautiful little girl into this world."

Mark: "She's done?"

Doug: "Yah, it was so cool."

The paramedics pack Carol and the baby up in the ambulance and head for the hospital. Doug stays back at home to clean up a bit and get Carol's bag. He then will head for the hospital.

Scene 7

It is early morning in Carol's hospital room. Doug is there but asleep in a chair next to Carol's bedside. The baby is in their room and begins to cry. Carol awakes and lifts the baby from the small bed. She hums to her a she unties her hospital gown and lifts the baby to her breast. The little girl attaches quickly to Carol's breast as she begins to nurse. Carol watches the baby and then looks over to see Doug's eyes just beginning to open.

Doug: "What a wonderful thing to wake up to."

Carol: "I'm sorry we woke you."

Doug: "No that's alright, I'd rather be watching my two favorite girls, especially during this time."

Carol: "Doug, the nurse said we had a little problem filling out the birth certificate last night."

Doug: "Why, what's wrong with it?"

Carol: "Well, they don't have a time to put for time of birth since the baby wasn't born at the hospital."

Doug: "But I know when she was born, 1:42 am."

Carol: "Why don't you go down there and fill it out then."

Doug: "Ok. I'll be back."

Scene 8

It is later that afternoon and Carol is getting ready to take the baby down to the ER to see her co-workers. She is dressed in a lovely spring dress with sandals, and her hair has been washed and brushed. Doug is downstairs working so she will have to make the trip by herself. She lifts the small bundle out of the bed and walks downstairs. When she gets to the ER everyone is waiting at the admit desk.

Abby Keaton: "Hey look who's coming."

Everyone's attention turns towards Carol and the baby coming down the hall. They all run toward her and take there time to go goo-goo ga-ga over the little girl and then there is a hush when someone's voice speaks up.

Susan: "So now can you tell us her name?"

Carol: "Sure since you've all waited the past 9 months to meet her I'd like you all to met little Caitlin Emmalee Ross."



Susan: "What a beautiful name, but how'd you two every agree on a name?"

Carol: "Well, Doug liked the name Caitlin after his favorite soap opera character, and I like Emmalee because that was my best friend in high schools name so we put them together.

After Carol finished talking to her co-workers and showing off little Caitlin her and Doug were going to leave to bring her home for well, kinda the first time. Doug pulled the Jeep along the curb to the sidewalk leading to their front porch. He walked around and opened the car door for Carol. Carol stepped out of the car, went to the back seat, and got Caitlin out of her car seat. Then Doug, Carol, and Caitlin walked to the front door, opened it, and stepped into their house.

Carol: "I'd better put this little one to bed."

Doug: "Yah. Hey Carol, I have a question first."

Carol: "What is it Doug?"

Doug: "Did they ever find out why you lost so much blood when Caitlin was born?"

Carol: "Didn't they tell you Doug, it was just from a tare. But don't worry they stitched it up and gave me some cream. Don't worry about it."

Carol went up to Caitlin's nursery and placed her in the little bassinet. She then left the room and went back to the kitchen. Just as she was about to sit down she heard Caitlin start to cry.

Doug: "I'll get it you rest."

Carol: "It's ok Doug, you can't solve this problem for her."

With that Carol proceeds up the stairs to get the infant. Doug stands in the kitchen confused but then understands when Carol comes back into the kitchen with the infant latched to her breast. Carol sits back down in the chair and Doug hovers over them watching as the closing credits roll.

Written by Christina on August 2, 1998. Back To Fanfics