TITLE: In the Land of Dreams 3
SUBTITLE: The County Show
AUTHOR: Susan
E-MAIL: lilichild@aol.com
ARCHIVE: Past Editions can be found at the Lounge, http://er.neoxer.com
If anyone else wishes to archive this please archive it in its entirety and
tell me where. 
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters, I am beyond broke.  Draw your own
conclusions. 
NOTE: This is a continuance of a series.  Sorry, it took so long for Part 3,
that muse is flakier than I am <G>.  Just for continuity's sake this part takes
place BEFORE "April Showers"



She stood before the long mirror and smoothed her dress.  She had never been
so happy and so nervous at the same time.  
"Elizabeth, dear, relax" Her mother said from behind her.  "You look
beautiful" 
"I look like I'm ready to explode" She complained as she caught a glimpse of
her profile. 
"Yes, but there's not much that can be done about that now" Isabelle responded
calmly. 
She sighed, her mother was right.  Had they not waited so long to have the
wedding, she wouldn't be in this mess.  Not that the wait could have been
avoided though, what with Mark's cancer and all.  
"You do look beautiful, Elizabeth" Her mother said leaning in to hug her very
pregnant daughter. 
She felt herself tear up, her mother seemed so sweet.  "Thanks, Mum" she said
wiping back some tears. 
There was a knock at the door then and it was the limo to take them to the
church.  The ride was uneventful and they soon found themselves in front of the
grand structure. 
The driver and Isabelle helped Elizabeth out of the car and they made it up
the steps to the inside of the church.   There was just enough time for
Elizabeth to put some finishing touches to her makeup before the ceremony
began. 
Here I go, she thought happily as she walked down the aisle to Mark who stood
there grinning at her from the alter.  He took her hand when she reached the
end.   She smiled at her soon-to-be-husband.   As the ceremony began she found
herself not paying attention to most of it.  Instead she kept sneaking looks at
Mark. 
Something... odd seemed to be happening to him.  It was almost as if he was
shrinking. 
"And do you, Elizabeth Corday, take this man to be your husband, to have and
to hold for better or for worse, in sickness and in health as long as you both
shall live?" The minister said then. 
She put her worries about Mark's ever-changing appearance out of her mind.  "I
do" she replied. 
"And do you, Robert Romano, take" the minister began turning to the groom.  
"Robert Romano???" Elizabeth shrieked.  She turned to look over and indeed
Mark was gone, and Romano was standing next to her. 
"Lizzie, dear you seem shocked." Romano said grinning at her. 
"What the hell did you do to Mark? God help you, you little turd if you hurt
him" She threatened.  
"Come on, Lizzie, that's not my style.  The producers want this" He said
grinning at her. 
"What producers?  What the hell?" Elizabeth questioned. 
"Dr. Corday, Dr. Greene's contract is up next season.  The producers want a
lasting marriage on the show" Dave spoke up, thrilled that people were finally
listening to him.  "And since I have everyone's attention I think it's high
time I get a plot on this show!"
The entire assembly chorused "Shut up, Dave!"
"Show? What show?" Elizabeth asked.  Had the world gone mad?
"Elizabeth, we're the highest rated show on TV most weeks and have been for
seven years.  Well, with the exception of certain reality shows" Carter
explained.  At the mention of "reality shows" the entire congregation grumbled.

"On TV?" Elizabeth repeated dumbly.  What the hell was going on? Maybe SHE was
going batty. 
"Sure, haven't you ever wondered why nothing ever seems to happen in the
summer?" Carter replied. 
"Well, now that you mention it..."
"And the explosions and injuries always happen at key times of year. Such as
November, February and May?" Carter continued.
"Yes, what is WITH that?" Elizabeth pondered
"Sweeps baby!" Dave yelled
"Better watch it Dave, at this rate you'll exceed your set number of words and
not be able to say anything for the remainder of the season" Carter cautioned.

"See, Lizzie dear, my contract still has years on it, as does yours." Romano
said taking her hand.  "So we're going to tie the knot"
"The hell we are!" She said pulling her hand from his grip.  "Where'd Mark go
anyway?"
"Oh, probably to Phoenix, Susan's coming back to the show next year.  They're
going to date before he drops dead" Carter said casually.
"And just what makes YOU such an expert, Carter?" Elizabeth snapped.
"I've been on the show the entire series.  I know how these things work.   Hey,
I'm the star once his contract ends" Carter said shrugging.  "God, you've been
on the show since the fourth season, you should know by now"
Okay, he's simply crazy, Elizabeth thought, that's it.  Carter's past has
caused him to go batty. 
"Anyway, let's get this wedding on with before the episode is over" Romano
interrupted then "Hey, minister guy, I do"
"Huh? Well *I* don't, I'm not marrying YOU" Elizabeth protested
"Too bad, you already said "I do"" Romano retorted "You CAN'T take it back
now"
"I don't want this!" Elizabeth exclaimed
"You don't have a choice" A voice spoke up from the back of the church. 
Everyone turned to see Kerry crutching her way up the aisle. 
"Kerry, we didn't invite you" Elizabeth reminded her.
Kerry ignored Elizabeth's remark "Look, we all get plots we don't want.   I
sure as hell didn't want to make out with that chick from the psych
department."
"But I thought you were a lesbian!" Elizabeth exclaimed. 
"Not by choice.  Have you SEEN a lot of the guys around here.  I could have
been paired up with any of them." She noticed Romano leering at her then "Not
YOU, Robert.  I meant Carter, Dave or Luka.  Hell, I'd make out with Doug Ross
given the opportunity."
"You hated Doug, Kerry" Elizabeth said, clearly baffled
"Have you seen him? He's hot!" Kerry responded.  She looked around the church
and then continued.  "Hey, Carter when's the last time you got some?"
"Well this morning, actually..." Carter began.
"Bet I can do it better" Kerry said grabbing Carter and kissing him. 
"Hey!" Rena exclaimed pulling herself to her feet
"Wow..." Carter said breathlessly when they parted. 
"How dare you!" Rena exclaimed coming towards Kerry. 
"Aw, be quiet, you're only a recurring character.  You'll be gone in a few eps
anyway" Kerry said brushing her off. 
"Chief!" Malucci exclaimed "Why not me? We have chemistry"
"Dr. Malucci, making out with you would be plot suicide.  Carter's going to be
the main character soon.  You might not even have lines next season" Kerry said
affectionately patting him on the arm.
"Aww." Malucci looked down for a moment, then brightened "Hey Rena, wanna do
it?"
She shrugged "Okay, might as well".  She took his arm and led him out of the
church.
"Come with me Carter" Kerry ordered. 
"Okay" Carter replied eagerly following her down the aisle of the church.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" Elizabeth exclaimed, all the more puzzled by what
she'd just seen.
"Beats me, Lizzie, but we're married, so let's go honeymooning!" Romano
replied grabbing her arm.
"No! No!" Elizabeth yelled as Romano dragged her down the aisle admist a
flurry of confetti. Then everything faded to black and all Elizabeth saw were
some names before her face.

****************************

"No! No! No!" Elizabeth moaned "NO!"

"Elizabeth, Elizabeth, wake up honey" Mark said gently

  She opened her eyes then to see Mark. "Oh, Thank GOD" she said grabbing him.


"I had the most horrid dream, we were on this bizarre television show and I
was being made to marry Robert" She said shuddering

"Elizabeth, we are on a television show" Mark said seriously
Elizabeth's jaw dropped and Mark grinned.  "I'm kidding"

"That's not funny!" Elizabeth exclaimed hitting him with a pillow. 


~ Susan (lilichild@aol.com)
Proud to be Head of the International Society of Carterholics Anonymous
http://www.geocities.com/suechru/er/carterholic
"Why do you chose your pain if you only knew how much I love you" - Sister
Hazel  <HONK>