Let Me Help You



These characters are not mine and no money is made off of them.

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**I'm sorry but I'm not up on all of these medical terms and stuff so please bare with me and if some of it's wrong I'm really sorry.**

Any questions or comments can be made at the same e-mail address as the fanfiction.

Scene 1 It is mid-afternoon on a warm sunny day. Carol was walking around the house making sure it looked neat and tighty with Caitlin close at her heels.

Caitlin: "Mommy, why are you picking up so much?"

Carol: "Because, sweetheart, Nana Helen is coming for a visit."

Caitlin: "But you don't pick up this much when Nana Sarah comes over!"

Carol: "Well, your Nana Sarah isn't as picky as your Nana Helen is. Now would you please go play while I wait for her?"

Caitlin: "Sure mommy."

Carol:(yells after her) "And don't make a mess!"

Caitlin:(groaning) "Yes mommy."

Caitlin pounded her way up the stairs as Carol watched her disappear down the hall. She was all excited about telling her mother that her sister Courtney had called from California saying she was coming for a visit. But she knew she couldn't, it was going to be a surprise for Helen's 70th birthday. She also couldn't wait to tell Helen that her and Doug where now on the same end of this baby making issue.

Scene 2 Doug stammered around the hospital in spite of a place to hide. He was sick of seeing patients and listening to Kerry ramble on about how they shouldn't chose their patients from the rack but pick them in the order they had come. He had just chosen a patient he knew and if Kerry hadn't seen him he still would be with that boy. But no, yet again she had swooped down like a bat out of no where, lectured Doug about the first come first serve rule, and then managed to hand the patient to Anna more or less dishing him with "a fever in four." And yet she always seemed to have the best cases and the greatest journal articles. Bitch, he thought.

Doug:(sees Mark) "Um, Mark can I a, talk to you?"

Mark: "Sure, what about?"

Doug: "That bitch Kerry Weaver."

Mark: "Doug whatever differences you and Kerry had this time your going to have to work them out without coming and dumping them on me."

Doug: "Come on Mark, can't you say something to her?"

Mark: "She is just as much as your boss as I am Doug, so try and treat her with as much respect."

Mark walks off leaving Doug in the blue. Doug just doesn't see why Mark can't stand up to her. He figures Mark is chicken.

Scene 3 Carol is still waiting for her mother to arrive. She had said she'd be here by four Carol thought. It's five now, why isn't she here? Caitlin walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. She sees Carol and runs up to her.

Caitlin: "Mommy when is Nana Helen coming over?"

Carol: "Soon sweetheart, soon."

Caitlin: "Can I go play in the backyard?"

Carol: "Sure, but wait, let me go with you."

Carol grabbed her sandals and the cordless phone, just in case anyone called. Caitlin and her went out on the deck. Caitlin picked up a red ball, bounced it a couple times, and then put it back. She then walked over to Carol who had sat down on a lawn chair with a book.

Caitlin: "Mommy, will you push me on the swing?"

Carol:(looking up from her book) "Sure Caitlin."

Carol got up from the chair and took Caitlin in her arms. They walked down the stairs and over to the swing set. Carol placed Caitlin in the toddler swing and buckled her in. She walked around the back of the swing and gave her a huge push. Caitlin giggled and cried out for more. The two were having a marvelous time as Carol realized how much she missed being there for her daughter. Carol had just recently gone back to work at the hospital after spending the last 2 and a half years of Caitlin's life at home with her. Caitlin stayed with their neighbor, Megan, during the daytime.

Scene 4 Doug had just finished with his patient when he heard the ambulance doors crash open.

Paramedic: "MVA, 69 year old female hit head on, multiple fractures, internal bleeding, crashed once on the way over, bagged her, but couldn't get a line."

Doug: "Ok we got it from here."

Doug leaves her in the hands of Mark as he goes back to the ambulance bay for more patients. He retrieves a boy about 7 or 8 that was also in the accident and takes him into Trauma 4. (About 5 minutes later.) Just as was about to bag the boy Mark yelled for him from another room.

Mark: "Doug, you'd better come take a look at this patient."

Doug: "Mark your delaying my patient's care, your patient can wait a minute."

Mark: "No Doug! I mean it. Anna is coming over there to finish for you now come here!"

Doug finishes putting in the bag and then lets Anna take over. He is obviously mad and bangs threw the side doors to Trauma 3.

Doug:(mad and yelling) "Now Mark what the hell was so important to delay my patients care and then have him taken away from me?"

Mark:(pointing) "Just look!"

Mark points down at the elderly women and Doug's face goes pale as he sees who it is. He gasps for a breath and then speaks.

Doug: "Oh my lord, Helen are you alright? I'm sorry I didn't see you before."

Helen:(laying helpless on the gurney) "That's alright Douglas, I just want you to tell me the truth, what is wrong?"

Suddenly Helen goes unconscious and the heart monitor shows flat line. Mark grabs the paddles and shocks Helen once. It fails and he repeats it again. It fails again and he shocks her once more and the heart monitor beeps.

Mark: "She's stable get her up to surgery stat!"

Doug: "What should I do Mark? Carol and I are her only family in the state."

Mark: "I think you should go call Carol, Doug. It is her mother. I'll give you the rest of the day off so you can stay with Caitlin."

Doug: "Thanks buddy. I appreciate it."

Doug made his way to the phone and dialed the house number. Meanwhile Carol and Caitlin were still outside playing on the swing set. Carol was playing hide and seek with Caitlin when she heard the phone ring.

Carol: "Just one sec Caitlin, I have to answer the phone."

Carol walked over to the deck and picked the cordless phone.

Carol: "Hello, Ross residence, Carol speaking?"

Doug: "Carol, sweetie, um hi."

Carol senses that something is wrong and she immediately asks.

Carol: "Doug what's wrong?"

Doug:(not sure what to say) "Um, well Carol I don't know how to tell you this but it's your mom."

Carol:(hysterical) "Omigod! What happened Doug is she dead? Is she alright? What will I tell my sisters?"

Doug: "Carol please try and clam down, she was in a MVA, some guy dodged a drive-by shooting and hit her straight on. He had a kid in the car. The boy didn't make it. Your mom seemed ok when I finally found out it was her but then she crashed. She had internal bleeding and was in surgery, but she's in the ICU now, it doesn't look good. She was bleeding internally for too long at the scene. They're going to run some tests but, I, I don't think she'll make it."

Carol:(bawling) "Oh my lord, what will I do? This is all my fault. If I'd never asked her to come over she wouldn't be dying. My sisters will blame me. Oh lord Doug."

Doug: "Carol they won't blame you and I'll make sure they don't. You didn't do anything wrong. Now I want you to come to the hospital, bring the babe, and I'll take her home when you get here, kay?"

Carol:(sounding frantic) "Yeah, bye!"

Carol hangs up the phone and begins screaming at Caitlin to come here. Caitlin is shocked by this wild outburst of behavior, after all her mother was just laughing and talking and having a good time with her minutes ago and now she was screaming at her. Caitlin began bawling but Carol didn't care. She ran over, picked Caitlin up, carried her to the car, and took off.

Scene 5 Carol rushed through the doors at County with Caitlin still crying in her arms. She rushed over to Doug and passed the child off as if this were some kind of relay race.

Carol: "Here Doug, take her, I'll find my mother now."

Doug: "But Carol wait..."

But she was no longer in earshot, already up to the second floor.

Doug:(saying it quietly to himself) "Wouldn't you like to kiss your daughter goodnight?(turning to Caitlin) What's the matter sweetie?"

Caitlin:(sobbing in between words) "Mommy screamed at me and then threw me in the car."

Doug: "Your mommy didn't mean it sweetheart, she's just very upset about what happened to Nana Helen."

Caitlin: "But Nana Helen was supposta come over taday."

Doug: "Didn't your momma tell you anything?"

Caitlin nods no.

Doug: "Well then,(he hesitates not knowing if he should tell her), I guess I'll tell you. Your Nana Helen was in a car accident."

Caitlin: "Is she gonna be alright?"

Doug: "We're not sure sweetie, but I think you should go up and see her, alright?"

Caitlin: "Ok."

Doug carries Caitlin over to the elevator. They walk in and proceed to the fifth floor. Meanwhile Carol has just walked down the hallway to her mother's room. She sees Dr. Amsted and he walks over to her.

Carol: "How's my mother, will she be alright?"

Dr. Amsted: "Your mother's resting comfortably."

Carol: "Oh, thank god, may I see her?"

Dr. Amsted: "Carol, there's more. There was too much bleeding Carol, despite our best efforts your mother's going to die. But you may see her."

Carol: "What?! But you just told me she was resting comfortably?"

Dr. Amsted: "She is, we gave her morphine so she couldn't feel the pain. I'd say she has an hour, two at most. Then she'll expire.

Carol:(crying in a panic) "An hour that's all your giving me?"

Dr. Amsted: "I'm sorry Carol, we did the best we could, if Mark hadn't decided to open her, she would have died on the table."

Carol:(between sobs) "Thank you for being honest. May I see her now?"

Dr. Amsted: "Sure, would you like me to call family or anything?"

Carol: "No, my husband will do that."

Carol walked slowly into her mother's room. Helen saw her and looked up.

Helen: "Carol darling, thank goodness you came."

Carol: "How could I not, as soon as Doug called I came."

Helen: "I know I only have a short time left on earth, but could you please get a hold of Courtney and Stephanie for me? I need to say goodbye. I also must see Doug and Caitlin."

Carol: "Doug, why Doug?"

Helen: "Carol, I know I always led you to believe I hated Doug, and I'll admit I wasn't to fond of him at first but when I saw the love you two had and how much he loved you when he first found out you were caring his child, well Carol, I couldn't miss that love and I realized what I was doing was making you and him miserable. This is hard for me to say but I can accept him now. And I told him that too. He was up here talking to me before you came."

Carol: "Oh mama thank you. But I'm sorry."

Helen: "Sorry for what dear?"

Carol: "Sorry that I did this to you, I mean if I hadn't asked you to come over you wouldn't be dying."

Helen: "Oh, Carol don't talk like that, you didn't do this to me. I wanted to come over. I wanted to visit my daughter and granddaughter. I wanted to have tea and crackers, and talk about life with you. If anything Carol, this is my fault."

Carol: "Mom, this isn't your fault. How could you think that?"

Helen: "If I hadn't been late in leaving, I would have missed the drive by shooting and that man wouldn't have hit me. It was just wrong timing."

Carol: "Oh mama, what am I ever going to do without you?"

Helen: "You'll get over me Carol, and you'll live a happy life with your husband and daughter and all those babies yet to come."

Carol:(blushing slightly) "Oh mom. But still what about Courtney and Stephanie?"

Helen: "You call them now and let me talk to them, I want to say goodbye and tell them how much I'll miss them, and you too."

Just then Doug and Caitlin walk into the room hand in hand.

Caitlin: "Oh Nana."

Caitlin runs over to Helen and wraps her little arms around her tightly. She gives her grandmother a kiss and then pulls away.

Caitlin: "Nana Helen, are you gonna die?"

Helen: "Yes sweetheart, I am going to die. But I want you to always remember me alright?"

Just as Helen says she is going to die Doug pulls Carol by the hand out in the hall. He looks into her eyes and sees she is crying.

Doug: "How long does she have?"

Carol: "An hour, two at most. Would you get a hold of my sisters please?"

Doug: "Sure."

Both Doug and Carol walk back into Helen's room. They find Caitlin curled up in Helen's lap reading a story. Carol's eyes fill with tears and even Doug's seem to, too. As soon as Caitlin finishes the book Doug calls for her.

Doug: "Caitlin, say goodbye to Nana Helen now."

Caitlin: "Bye Nana Helen, I'll miss you."

Helen: "Oh baby I'll miss you too."

Helen wraps Caitlin close and hugs and kisses her. Caitlin feels her grandmother's warm embrace and truly knows it is the last time she will feel those warms arms around her. Doug takes Caitlin's hand and they leave the room.

Scene 6 It is about an hour later. Helen has already talked to her other daughter's and is now finishing with Carol. Doug had taken Caitlin home and got someone to babysit her. He decided to come back to the hospital to help Carol get through this.

Helen:(her and Carol are saying their goodbyes) "Goodbye sweetie, I'll always be there."

Carol "I know mom, I'll miss you."

The two hug and kiss and embrace each other for a few minutes and then Carol leaves the room. She walks into the hallway and sees Doug sitting in a chair. She is crying. He walks over to her and is about to give her a huge hug but she pulls away.

Carol: "Doug, I can get through this on my own so just leave me be!"

Doug:(knowing she is just upset) "No, you can't get through this alone and your not going to. I'll help you. Carol, I didn't come her today to watch you try and heal yourself. I came to help you. Just like our vows said "till death do us part" well it's the same now, not just then. Let me help you, please?"

Carol:(looks up at him) "Your right."

Carol wraps her arms around Doug and he does the same. He holds her there for several minutes as she can feel his warm embrace dry her tears.

Doug: "Come on sweetie, let's go home."

Carol:(sniffling) "Ok."

Scene 7 Doug and Carol have just gotten home. Doug has arranged for Caitlin to stay at a friend's house over night. Doug was hoping it would relieve some of the tension from them all.

Carol: "I just want to go to bed."

Doug: "No way. You know you shouldn't just let your body shrivel up like that. Let me give you a bath."

Carol: "No, Doug, I said I just want to go to bed."

Doug: "Carol, I don't want you doing this to yourself. Now come on."

Doug takes Carol's hand and leads her up the stairs. He rounds the corner and takes her into their bedroom. He lays her down on the bed and goes to run a hot aroma bath for her. When he comes back he is surprised to see she is still dressed and laying on the bed.

Doug: "Well, if you not going to undress yourself I'll do it for you."

He placed his hands at the top of her sweater and began unbuttoning the buttons. Once is was done he placed his hand on the zipper of her jeans and slid them off her slim body. He removed her socks and just stopped a minute to stare. Even though she was still in her bra and underwear, he still thought she was glamorous. He slid the straps of her bra down and pulled it over her head. He leaned over and kissed her nipple hoping she would give a response but she didn't budge so he just gave up. He knew he shouldn't push sex, after all her mother had just died. He slid her panties down her legs and again stopped to stare. She looked just as beautiful and he was getting aroused. But he decided against sex unless she wanted to. He helped her up and took her over to the tub. She just stood there like a lifeless being so he lifted her into the tub. After about 20 minutes of just running his hands around her body with the soap and washcloth he decided she needed to rest. He helped her out of the tub and helped her dry off. She walked into the bedroom and put on a nightgown. Doug walked in after clearing the bath and stripped down to his boxers. The both climbed into bed and fell asleep.

This story was written by Christina on September 11, 1998.

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