Bored, bored, bored, bored…bored. Ray flicked through the channels on the TV. Nothing was on. What the hell was this crap? Who would watch it? Day time TV was really bad.
He sighed and switched off the set. Leaning back on the couch he let his head hang over the back. He desperately wanted to be at work, where he could do something and keep himself busy. Maybe he should just go in, his shift was only three hours away and they would probably welcome the extra pair of hands.
Levering himself off the couch, he stretched, ran his hand through his tousled hair and went to his room to search for a t-shirt. Once he had pulled the black, rocker shirt over his head he headed for the door, scooping up his bag on the way and grabbing his keys off the table.
As he walked towards the EL station he wondered what the day would hold. Most likely some kid puking on him or some distraught relative punching him. Ah well, being a doctor was never gonna be a walk in the park.
Taking a seat, beside a teenager with head phones in his ears and an elderly woman who seemed to be talking to herself, Ray settled himself.
"Hello, dear," the woman turned to him, a smile on her wrinkled face, "My friend, Valerie, was asking whether you had a lady friend." Ray frowned; he really didn't want to deal with a conversation with a doddery old lady who obviously had some issues.
"Erm, no, I don't," Ray admitted as she looked at him expectantly.
"See, I told you Valerie," the woman spoke to thin air, "Oh, no, I doubt you have a chance with such a handsome young man. Yes, fine, I'll ask him."
"Would you consider going out with Valerie?" Ray was tempted to tell her to piss off unless she could actually show him what this Valerie looked like but opted against it and decided to just get off the train as soon as possible even though it wasn't actually his stop.
"Um…this is my stop, nice to meet you and Valerie," Ray climbed off the EL and onto the platform. He reckoned that maybe he should have asked the woman to come to the hospital with him to get a psych consult but he really didn't think she was much harm to anyone so he left her.
The young resident realised he would have to walk the rest of the way to the ER but he didn't really mind. The journey could be refreshing and he had plenty of time to spare.
About twenty minutes later he arrived at County hospital and entered through the double doors. He was greeted by Frank at the admit desk.
"You are either very late or very early, I'm betting on the former," Frank commented.
"Actually, I'm early," Ray replied, smugly.
"Wow, that's a first and most likely the last."
"Yeah, thanks for the vote of confidence, Frank," the rock doctor headed for the doctor's lounge and removed his white coat from his locker before making some coffee.
"Hey, Barnett, I would get your butt into gear, you're late," Morris told him as he appeared.
"Why does everyone immediately assume I'm late?" Ray replied, indignantly, "Am I that irresponsible?"
"Yes, and they don't know the half of it, they don't have to live with you," came a cheeky voice he recognised as his roommate, Neela.
"Hey, Roomie, that's not very nice," Ray pouted. Oh god, how I love that pout. Neela blushed slightly but luckily no one noticed.
"Yeah, well I'm not a very nice person," Neela grinned, "Besides, it's absolutely true."
"Well I don't know why you have to go flaunting my flaws, I don't tell everyone how rubbish your cooking is." Neela laughed.
"Everyone knows, remember the cookies, Ray?"
"Oh, yeah," Ray smiled, chuckling slightly.
"And everyone knows you're disorganised and irresponsible but we all still love you." Christ, did I just say that?! Oh my god, oh god, no!
"I know," the young doctor smirked at his roommate's every so slight reddish tinge on her cheeks.
"Guys, Luka's called for a meeting at admit," Abby Lockhart popped her head round the door saving Neela from the awkward situation she'd dropped herself.
"About what?" Morris frowned.
"I dunno, but I think it's pretty important, Luka wouldn't tell me what it's about," Abby replied and the three doctors followed her.
A gathering had formed at the desk, Pratt was already there and Gates along with Luka. Neela was surprised none of the nurses were included in the meeting, they usually were.
"Oh, hello, Ray, I didn't think you'd be in yet, well, you need to be here too," Luka nodded at him and beckoned the four doctors.
"So, what's all this in aid of?" Morris queried, leaning against the desk.
"Well, erm, I guess I'll get straight to the point. I need four volunteers."
"For what?" Ray asked, suspiciously.
"You volunteer first and then I'll tell you," Luka remained adamant.
"But what if it's something crap like working extra shifts?" Gates stated. Luka shrugged.
"Your choice." There was silence as all the doctors considered there options. It wasn't like Luka to be this mysterious; usually he was straight and forward. That either meant this was something different or he was trying a new way of getting them to do extra shifts. Abby was the first to decide.
"Ok, I'll do it." Luka nodded and smiled at her.
"Anyone else?"
"If Abby's doing it I'll do it," Neela raised her hand tentatively and then felt stupid for acting like a bloody schoolgirl.
"Good."
"Yeah ok," Ray said almost immediately after he realised Neela was doing whatever it was. He didn't know why and hoped no one would notice his eagerness.
"One more, guys," Luka pleaded. The last of his colleagues looked very reluctant, "Alright then, I guess none of you want a week's vacation then."
"What?!" they all yelped and clamoured to be picked.
"Morris, you were first," the Chief of the ER decided.
"Yes!" Morris punched the air and did a little victory dance. Luka raised an eyebrow.
"You don't even know what it is yet."
"Huh?" Archie had a vague feeling he'd just been taken for a sucker and fallen into an unpleasant trap.
"Right," Luka enlightened them, "You four are going on a week's training, team building course at Lake Michigan." All the volunteers stared at him.
"A team building course?" Ray repeated.
"At Lake Michigan?" Abby added.
"For a week?!" Neela finished.
"Yup, the rest of you can have fun covering their shifts. You're leaving tomorrow. Bye." Kovac hurried off before he got something thrown at him, which was likely to happen after what he just did. He chuckled slightly as he went.
"Christ." Ray choked out.
"What the fuck?!" Neela said, "No way, there is no way I'm going."
"I don't think we have much choice, we volunteered."
"Without knowing the implications," Neela pointed out, furious Luka had done this.
"Ah well, it's a vacation isn't it?" Morris shrugged.
"A vacation?!" Abby groaned, "Going with you two morons, that's my idea of hell."
"Thanks, Lockhart," Ray retorted, "Well, we best get packing then."
"Ergh," the young Indian woman hit herself on the forehead, "Shit, shit, shit!"
Neela had packed all her stuff. She hoped it was enough. It had only just fitted. The young woman lugged the suitcase from her room and into the living room. There was no sign of her roommate.
"Ray, are you ready?!" she shouted.
"Yeah," he appeared seconds later, a single backpack slung over his shoulder.
"You can't be serious?"
"About what?"
"That one bag has all your stuff for the week?"
"Er…yeah," Ray replied as it was the most obvious thing in the world, "You seem to have packed the whole apartment." He commented dryly on her bulging suitcase.
"No, just the stuff I need, what have you got in there?"
"Boxers, a few shirts, spare pair of trousers, toothbrush, gel, condoms," Ray smirked at Neela's reaction to the last item.
"I did not need to know that!"
"Well, you did ask," the man grinned, "I reckon there should be a lot of hot girls up there."
"Shut up, Ray," Neela shook her head, "We better go or we'll miss the…transport? How exactly are we getting there?"
"I dunno," suddenly there was a honk from outside, "but we can go find out." He grabbed Neela's hand, sending tingles up her arm as his skin made contact with hers. How the hell does he do this to me? This is Ray bloody Barnett! I shouldn't have a crush on him. He's only interested in groupies and 'hot girls' of which neither category I fall into. Snap out of it!
The two of them arrived outside a couple of minutes later and froze at what met their eyes.
"It's a bloody VW van!" Neela screeched and cringed as she spotted Morris waving out of the driver's window, a huge smile plastered on his face.
"Wow, I haven't seen one of these in…ages," Ray ran a hand along the rusting metal body of the van. It was pretty old but still in reasonable condition. The red paint was peeling a bit.
"Man, now I feel like a hippy!" Neela growled as she dragged her bag into the van as Abby drew back the sliding door.
"I know what you mean. I guess the hospital's being cheap." Abby answered and closed the door after Ray hopped in behind Neela.
"Hey, isn't anyone gonna ride shotgun?"
"No, I prefer it back here thanks," Neela retorted.
"Ray-man?" Morris asked hopefully.
"Morris, it's not everyday you get to travel in the back of a van with two beautiful women, I'm staying put." Abby and Neela raised their eyebrows at him and he grinned, "What? I just needed an excuse."
"So, how long are we travelling for and where exactly are we going?" Neela questioned as Morris turned the key in the ignition and they rolled off.
"Er, some activity place so we can practice our 'team building' skills but I can't remember the name. It's on the east side of the lake somewhere. A fair few hours drive."
"Ooh, yay, I can't wait," Abby said sarcastically leaning back in her seat.
"How about we listen to some music?" Morris turned on the radio and began listening to some country western song.
"Nuh-uh, no way!" Ray dived forward and slipped a tape that seemed to appear from thin air into the player. Suddenly the Clash blasted out of the speakers and deafened the occupants of the van.
"Turn it down, Ray!"
"What?"
"Turn the bloody noise down," Neela yelled over the music.
"Oh god, I can just tell this is gonna be one damn long journey," Abby sighed.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Neela nodded.
Sooo...what do you guys think? Shall I continue?