Doug sat alone in the lounge with his eyes closed and his fingers over his temples trying to ward off the inevitable headache that was sure to bestow him after his hectic day.  He was only two hours into his shift and he had already started to countdown from his twelve-hour shift.  He did not know how he was going to manage to get through the day.  As the lounge door was loudly opened, his headache was kicked into full swing.

“Dr Ross?” Haleh’s head appeared sticking around the door.

“What?!” He replied a little more roughly than necessary.

“There’s a six-year-old in 4 with a facial laceration”, she replied with as much attitude as Doug had given her.

“Alright”, Doug sighed, “I’ll be right out”.  It was going to be a long day.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As Doug was heading out to pick up the chart for the facial laceration from admit, he saw Kerry Weaver approaching him.

“Shit”, he mumbled under his breath.

“Doug, I’ve been meaning to speak with you.”

‘Cut to the chase,’ thought Doug, ‘I don’t want to have to spend unnecessary time with you’.

“I’ll be needing your fellowship research a week from tomorrow.  I trust you’ll have it completed by then?”

“Uh…actually Kerry I was hoping I could get a little more time for that…” Doug trailed off.

“No can do Doug, Anspaugh needs your research prior to the budget meeting.  He has to have some time to look over it to make his decision about renewing your fellowship for next year.”

With that she disappeared and left Doug standing there speechless.  Had she just informed him that he might be out of a job?

He was only pulled out of his state when Haleh tapped him on the shoulder with a chart.

“Dr. Ross? Dr. Ross?”

Doug looked at her blankly.

“The mother is getting impatient.”

He gruffly ran a hand over his face and took the chart from her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Before entering the room, Doug peeked in the door.  For a six-year-old most likely needing stitches the girl looked fairly calm.

‘Well that’s a plus’, Doug thought as he pushed through the door.

But as soon as the little girl saw him, she started to scream, adding to his rapidly growing headache.

Trying to calm the girl, Doug forced a smile, “Hi there, I’m Dr. Ross.  Looks like you’ve got quite a gash on your forehead Miss…ah…” he looked a the chart, “Kerry.”  He chuckled inwardly.  Two Kerrys were increasing the pounding in his skull, God, what a coincidence.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A little while later, Doug reentered the lounge and opened up his locker to get a couple aspirin.

That kid had really tried him: constant screaming and an obvious phobia of needles.  As soon as “Kerry Jr.” saw the syringe of lidocaine her foot connected with Doug’s crotch.

He had handed the patient off to Carter saying that he needed to go look over old charts for his fellowship research.  That’s when he decided to pop some aspirin before getting down to work.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Grabbing a stack of charts from admit, he headed down to an empty exam room and began working.

He knew his research had to seem substantial enough in order for Anspaugh to find enough money in the already tight budget to renew his fellowship.  So far he had barely anything, in no way could enough research be completed in one week.  This was not going to be an easy task.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

An hour and a half later, he walked out of the room stiff and feeling as if he had accomplished nothing.  The ambulance bay doors swung open and the minute he saw the patient lying on the gurney he had a bad feeling.

“Oh no, not today” he thought.  His patience wore thin when he spotted a footprint on the young boy’s lifeless body.  That was the last straw, he snapped. The days stress and bottled up hatred that had accumulated over the years was released as he launched himself at the boy’s father.

Fists flew and curses spewed from Doug’s mouth, Mark could not stop him with force.  Kerry Weaver attempted to get him to let up with threats of suspension.  But that did not work either.  It was not until he felt Carol’s calming hands on his shoulder that he stopped fighting and was left completely drained.

Embarrassed and with tears threatening to spill over, he ran out of the hospital.  He did not stop when Mark yelled at him to come back, nor when Kerry tried the same.  Even Carol’s attempts proved useless.  He did not stop running until he found himself sitting at a barstool ordering a scotch.  He started downing the shots like water as his emotions began to dull.  He did not notice the attractive female offer him her company, but he did notice the soothing voice that whispered in his ear.

This voice had a comforting effect that was only matched by the hands if the same owner.  Only one person had this ability.  He stopped downing his liquor and just sat in an almost unconscious state allowing his Carol to embrace him.  The only one that could calm him.