I Dreamed A Dream
Part Sixteen - Beating the Odds
By Breigh
breighbers@juno.com

Ok, this series needs explanation, and here's one:
This series starts around 6 years after "The Storm". When Doug left Carol was pregnant, and she decided to not tell him about the baby. Instead of having twin girls, she had twin boys, Ben and Joel. (You might not like the idea now, but trust me, it grows on you as the series goes along. Also, this story is one of my first, and the next ones are a lot better developed, and they're better than this one, this is just the one that explains everything and gets you into the series.) One day Doug comes back to Chicago for a conference and finds Carol and he meets the two little boys that he never knew he had, and that's where it all starts! Feedback is always appreciated, send mail to: Breighbers@juno.com

There is still no match to Justin's bone marrow, so Doug calls his mother.

Author's Note: Hey guys! Ok, I was reading over this series the other day and I came to realize that the date for when the baby was said to be born (May) Doesn't match up at all, in fact none of the dates match up. I don't know if you realized that, or if you just ignored it, but just forget all the dates I said in the past. We're going to say that it's now September 24th. Carol is 13 weeks, or a week over 3 months. The baby is due in late March. I have no clue how I screwed the dates up so bad, but just forget all the ones I've said in the past, and we're starting from here. Also, they legally changed the twins' last name to Ross. Ok, well that's all I wanted to say! I hope you like the story!

It's a week later. They're expecting the results of the bone marrow today. All the kids, including Carol are doing well. Well, I guess that's about it!

Doug slowly opened the door to the house and quietly stepped inside. He sighed heavily as he placed his bag and coat down, careful not to be too loud so that he wouldn't wake Carol or the boys, but he kept a folder in his hand and then he proceeded into the den and over to the computer. He plopped down in the chair and moved the mouse around to get rid of the screensaver. Next he set down the folder next to the computer. He opened it up and looked over the papers inside. He felt as if he could yell at the top of his lungs, but he refrained himself and rubbed his eyes wearily just as he heard footsteps. Glancing over at the doorway he saw Ben standing there looking at him.

"Hey pal…what are you doing up?" Doug asked spinning around in the chair to face him. Ben just shrugged and walked over to Doug. Doug pulled him up on his lap, placed one arm around him, and then spun back around to face the computer. "You should get back to sleep, it's late." He said as Ben laid his head back on Doug's shoulder.

"How late is it?" Ben asked innocently.

"A little after one."

"Whoa, that's late!"

"Yes it is." Doug said with a laugh. "And you have to get up for school in a couple hours."

"What are you doing?" Ben asked ignoring him and looking back and forth between the folder and the computer.

"Stuff." He answered. "But you really have to get to sleep, your mom will kill me if she finds out that you were up with me at one in the morning." Ben didn't say anything for a few minutes, and then he turned his head and wrapped his arms around Doug's neck.

"Will you sleep with me? Mommy's sleeping with Joel because he had a nightmare, and I want you to sleep with me."

"I have to do this, but if you want you can bring down your pillow and blanket and lay on the couch." Doug said glancing over at the couch behind them.

"Ok." Ben answered as he climbed off Doug's lap.

"Be quiet, and don't wake your mom or your brother." Doug warned.

"I won't." He said in a whisper and then tiptoed out of the room. Doug leaned over the papers in the folder and read the words to himself for what seemed like the millionth time…neither Ben, nor Joel, or even Carol matched even slightly with Justin. He hadn't told Justin yet, he knew he  should be the one to tell him, but he also knew that he couldn't face his reaction. Doug had been going on the internet looking at studies and cases where the kids were in the same predicament as Justin. Some were good, and some were bad; some kids recovered and had been in remission for a few years, and for others, they didn't make it. His thoughts were broken when he heard a blanket dragging against the ground, and then Ben walked into the room.

"I was very quiet." Ben announced proudly. Doug smiled and got up out of his chair. He walked over to Ben, picked him up and then carried him over to the couch.

"You've got to go right to sleep, or else you're going to have to go up and sleep in your room." Doug said as Ben settled in and Doug pulled the blanket up around him.

"Alright Daddy…I love you." He said reaching up and wrapping his arms around Doug's neck and then pulling his face down and kissing him on the cheek.

"I love you too." Doug said rubbing his hand through Ben's hair, and then kissing him on the forehead. Ben sighed contently and rolled over, so Doug headed back to his spot in front on the computer.

The next thing Doug knew, Carol was gently shaking him.

"Huh? What…who?" He asked waking up.

"It's ok." Carol said with a laugh. "I got up to go to the bathroom and went in to check on Ben, only to see that he wasn't there."

"Yeah, he came down when I came home and I told him he could sleep on the couch." Doug said glancing over at the small sleeping figure on the couch.

"I figured that." Carol said as she wrapped her arms around Doug's neck and leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"You guys didn't match with Justin." Doug replied sadly.

"Oh god." She said as she moved back and stood up. She paused for a few minutes, and then put her hands on his shoulders. "So then what are you going to do?"

"Well, he needs the transplant…I think I'm going to have to call my mother."

"Have you talked to her at all since you've been out in Seattle?"

"I used to send her a card and a present for holidays and her birthday. But I haven't actually talked to her since I moved out there." Doug informed her.

"So then are you going to call her today?" Carol asked.

"Yeah, I'm going to call and see if she wants to have lunch." He said wearily. Carol nodded and then bent down and kissed him on the cheek.

"Why don't you come up to bed?" She asked.

"I will. Let me just shut down the computer, and then I'll bring Ben up."

"Ok, well I'm going back to sleep…Joel is in our bed, so you'll have to move him." She said as she once again ran her hands through his hair.

"Alright."

"Ok honey." She said as they kissed gently on the lips and then she left and headed up to bed.

Later that day Doug sat at the kitchen table holding the phone in his hand and on the table sat a piece of paper with a number scribbled on it. Carol had left for work about an hour ago, and the boys had since left for school. Doug took a deep breath as he dialed the number on the piece of paper. After a few rings there was an answer, but it was a little voice, one he didn't know, and didn't expect.

"Hello?"

"Uh, hi…is Sarah there?" He asked playing with the piece of paper.

"Can I ask who's calling?" The person asked.

"Yes, this is Doug." He answered.

"Ok." He heard, and then he heard them yell for Sarah, but they yelled grandma. From that Doug assumed that it was Howard's daughter, Jamie's daughter, or son. Within seconds he heard his mother on the other end.

"Hello?" She asked, hoping it was really Doug, but not knowing for sure.

"Mom…" Doug started.

"Oh God, it is you!" Sarah exclaimed. "I don't believe this…it's been what?" She asked.

"Almost 7 years." He finished.

"Well, how are you? How have you been? I've missed you so much honey." She rambled.

"I'm alright. I moved back to Chicago a couple months ago, and I wanted to see you. There are a lot of things I think we need to talk about." Doug said clearing his throat.

"Oh, I think that's a great idea." Sarah paused for a second. "Do you live where you used to? I'm actually coming down that way because I have to pick something up. If you're not busy I would love it if we could meet today." She offered.

"Today would be great."

"Ok, well how about at Dalton's at 1, is that good for you?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, that's great." Doug agreed.

"Alright then honey, I'll see you then."

"Ok mom." And with that their conversation ended. They hadn't talked in 7 years, but it seemed like they had just talked yesterday.

Doug walked into the restaurant a little after one, and scanned the place for his mother, and then he saw her. She was sitting over at a table near the back sipping a glass of water.

"Sir, can I help you?" The hostess asked.

"Oh, no, I'm meeting someone…and I see them." He said with a smile, and then he headed off towards his mother. As soon as Sarah saw him she got up.

"Oh Doug." She said as the two embraced tightly. "You look great." She said rubbing her hand down his face.

"Thanks…so do you." Doug observed.

"So, what have you been up to…I want to know everything." Sarah said as the two sat down.

"Ok, well, I came back to Chicago about 5 months ago for a conference, and I decided to look up my ex-fiancée, Carol. I think you may have met her once or twice." Doug explained.

"I think, but you talked about her all the time." She said with a laugh as the waitress came over.

"Are you ready to order?" She asked looking back and forth between them.

"Uh, yeah, I'll have the chicken sandwich, and an ice tea." Doug ordered.

"And I'll have the Caesar salad." Sarah said as the two handed the waitress their menu's before she walked away. "Ok, now back to your story." Sarah urged.

"Ok, well before I left we were trying to have a baby, but it never happened- or so I thought. I met up with Carol and found out that she was pregnant when I left, and she had twin boys, Ben and Joel."

"Oh god." Sarah responded.

"Yeah…I know." Doug said shaking his head. "They're so great…they're-amazing." He said reaching into his pocket and pulling out his wallet, he opened it up and flipped to two pictures, one of Ben, and one of Joel. "There they are." He said pointing them out.

"Oh god Doug, they're adorable." She commented.

"Yeah…and so I Carol and I got back together. We're engaged again, and we're raising them together."

"That's wonderful honey."

"Yeah, and she's pregnant again…with a little girl this time." Doug said taking his wallet back and flipping to another picture, it was Hailie's ultra sound picture. "There....Hailie Mackenzie. She's due around the end of March." Sarah smiled as she looked at the picture, and then she looked at the picture next to it and saw a picture of Justin.

"And who is he?" Sarah asked pointing to Justin's picture. Doug cleared his throat and took back his wallet. He looked at the picture of Justin for a few minutes, and then looked back to his mother.

"Remember when I told you about how I had had a son before?"

"That's him?"

"Yep. I met up with him a few weeks ago. He came into the ER." Doug paused for a minute. "He has leukemia, and he needs a bone marrow transplant…that's why I called you. We've tested everyone, and no one matched."

"What happens if he doesn't get it?"

"He probably won't make it. Chemotherapy and radiation haven't done anything, this is his last hope."

"I'll try." Sarah said reaching across the table and taking Doug's hand. She saw how hard it was for him to talk about it.

Carol sat at the nurses' desk twirling her hair and looking through a magazine.

"What's that?" Elizabeth asked walking up behind her.

"It's a decorating magazine thing. I'm looking for ideas for the nursery."

"It'll be nice to do it in pink this time, won't it?" Elizabeth asked looking over her shoulder at the magazine.

"I'm most excited about the clothes. Doug and I were at the mall the other day, and we saw the most adorable little dress." Carol paused. "When are you and Mark…you know?" She asked as she closed the magazine. Elizabeth didn't say anything, but a grin slowly crept across her face. "You're not!" She said with a gasp. Elizabeth clenched her lips tightly and widened her eyes before running off to the lounge. Carol grabbed the magazine and chased after her. "Elizabeth, are you pregnant?" She asked.

"Yes." She said happily.

"Oh my god! This is so great!" Carol exclaimed as the two hugged. "How far along are you? I don't believe this!"

"I'm 8 weeks."

"Oh my god, so then the babies are going to be like 6 weeks apart! This is great!" Carol said happily.

"I know! I could hardly believe it when you told us that night."

"This is just….how is Mark? I mean is he happy?"

"Ecstatic." She answered simply.

"I have an idea." Doug said as he and his mother walked out of the restaurant.

"And what would that be?" Sarah asked.

"When do you have to be home?"

"Whenever." Sarah said shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, I was thinking of going to get the twins out of school early and maybe we could take them out."

"I'd love that." Sarah said with a smile.

"We could take them down to the ESPN Zone. I took them there the first day I met them…they love it, and they haven't been there since."

"That sounds great." Sarah agreed.

"Ok, well first I have to call Carol and make sure it's ok that I take them out." Doug said pulling out his cell phone and dialing the number to the hospital. Jerry answered, and got Carol for him. "Hey baby, how are you doing?" He asked.

"Great! You'll never guess what happened!" She exclaimed.

"What?"

"Elizabeth and Mark are pregnant too. They're 8 weeks! The babies are going to be like 6 weeks apart!" She rambled excitedly.

"Oh man, that's great!" Doug said happily.

"I know! It's going to be awesome, we can go shopping together, and everything!"

"I know baby, it's wonderful." Doug agreed. "But listen, I just had lunch with my mom, and I want to go get the twins so she can meet them, and we want to take them out to the ESPN Zone."

"That's fine. I'm probably going out with Elizabeth after work anyway."

"Ok, then I'll see you later tonight then."

"Alright honey, I love you."

"Love you too." Doug said before hanging up, and then he turned back to his mother. "She said it was ok." Doug said as the two headed off towards the car. They decided to take Doug's Jeep, and then Doug would bring her by later to get her car.

Doug pulled up at the school about 20 minutes later.

"I'll be right back." Doug said hopping out of the car and heading into the school. He walked through the doors and headed down to the office. There was an older lady sitting behind the desk.

"Can I help you?" She asked looking him over.

"Um, yes, I'm here to sign out my sons." He said walking up to her.

"What are their names and whose class are they in?"

"Ben and Joel Ross…I think they're in Mr. Bryant's class."

"Oh, they're your boys?" The woman asked with a smile on her face.

"Yes, they're my boys."

"Those two are the most adorable little things!"

"Well thank you." Doug said laughing.

"Here, you have to sign this, and I'll call them down." The woman said handing Doug a sign out sheet. He signed his name, and both of the boys' names, and then waited a few minutes before he heard the boys talking. He turned around and saw them walk into the office.

"Dad!" They both said at the same time.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Joel asked.

"Hi boys." The woman behind the desk said with a huge smile.

"Hi Mrs. Kelly." The boys both said with a smile.

"Oh you're so cute!" She commented as she shook her head back and forth.

"Alright guys, lets go." Doug said placing a hand on each of their backs. "Thank you." Doug said to Mrs. Kelly before he turned and left.

"Dad, why are you here?" Joel asked again.

"Yeah, where are we going?" Ben added.

"Well, my mom is here, and she wanted to meet you guys, and so I thought you might want to go to the ESPN Zone cause we haven't been there in a while."

"Really?" Ben asked excitedly as Doug opened the door and the two boys walked outside.

"Really." Doug said smiling at their reaction. The boys spotted the Jeep and sprinted over to it, and then the both jumped into the back seat as Doug climbed in. Sarah was looking back at both of the boys.

"Doug." She said quietly. Doug smiled.

"Hey guys, this is your Grandmom." He said motioning to Sarah. "Mom this is Ben," Doug said putting his hand on Ben's head.

"Hi." Ben said raising his hand and he waved slightly.

"It's nice to meet you Ben." Sarah greeted him.

"And that's Joel." Doug said removing his hand from Ben's head and pointing to Joel.

"It's nice to meet you too Joel."

"Nice to meet you too." Joel greeted her. Sarah smiled at both the boys and then turned around as Doug started the car and headed off towards the ESPN Zone.

"They look just like you when you were little." Sarah commented. The boys were paying no attention. They were both already absorbed in their Gameboys. "Did they warm up to you right away? Or was it hard because you were gone so long?" Sarah inquired.

"Actually we clicked right away. I guess it was that father son bond. I love them so much…they're my world." Doug said looking up in the mirror and glancing back at the boys. "It's hard to remember what I did before them."

"You sound like a great father." Sarah said. "The odds were against you considering how your father was with you…but you beat them."

"Thanks mom, that means a lot." Doug said once again looking back at the boys. This time both boys looked up and smiled back at him. Those two smiles could turn even the darkest day around, and at times he couldn't believe that he helped to make them.