Title: Blind Date
Author: henia1977
Disclaimer: The names of characters contained herein are the property of the copyright holder of "ER." No infringements of these copyrights are intended.

Summary: An old friend of Neela's comes to visit, and helps stir up a little fire in Neela.

"Neela, you have a phone call." Said Frank

"Thanks, I'll get it"

"Hello, Dr. Rasgostra speaking."

"Hey, Neela it is me Marie Holloway."

"Marie, Oh my god how are you?"

"I'm fine I really miss you Neela, I wanted to go to Chicago to see you."

"Oh God yes, please do. When are you coming down?"

"Is Thursday good. I have some vacation time so I'll be there for about four days."

"Yes, that would be great. I actually have the early shift all week so we can really hangout."

"Great I'll go book my plane tickets, and hotel room."

"Hotel are you crazy you are staying with me, and I won't take no for an answer."

"Thanks Neela, see you then Bye".

"Bye"

Neela's college best friend was coming down to send sometime with her and she was so excited. Neela really needed someone other then the people from the hospital to talk to. Marie knows Neela better then she knows herself. Marie was the wild child in school, and Neela was the wallflower. Marie and Neela where total opposites and that quality made them really good friends. Marie would bring the wild side out of Neela and Neela would help Marie be more focus. It helped because Marie is a high power attorney now and she credits her success to Neela for teaching her about responsibility.

Thursday, was here and the ER was busy as usual. Neela had about 10 minutes left on her shift; she could not wait until her friend came down. A tall red head walks over to the admit desk.

"Hi, I am looking for Dr.Rasgotra"

"Sure I page her for you so just hold on" said Timmy

Neela came down the hall and saw her friend. They ran into each other's arms and hugged.

"It is so good to see you, I miss you so much." Said Neela

"I miss you too." Said Marie

"I'm off in about five minutes let me go get my things."

"Sure, I'll wait in the waiting room."

The girls had a great time catching up on old times, and talking about things in the present.

"Neela guess what I am getting married."

"Oh my goodness you are, congratulations. When? What's his name?"

"We are planning it for August, and his name is Jonathan, Jonathan Burke. We work in the same office, he is senior partner."

"Wow that is great, I am so happy for you."

"Neela, I want you to be my maid of honor."

"Me?"

"Yes you who else, you have always been my best friend, I know we don't see each other much but, I love you Neela you are my sister."

Both women started to cry and then hugged.

"I'll do it, I am honored. I can not wait to meet him; anyone that can handle you is a bloody superhero." Neela joked.

"Well, he is going to be down here tomorrow for a day to meet a client so we'll go out to dinner."

"Sure that sounds great."

Next Day

"Hey Marie, I'm home."

"I'm in the bathroom. How was your day?"

"It was a pain in the ass. Remember that Doctor I told you about?"

"Yeah"

"He really pissed me off today, he wanted to questioned everything I did today, I think he just wanted to get me all worked up."

"But weren't you two friends?"

"Yeah, well things got complicated between us after I married Michael, and then when he died I kind of like pushed him away."

"Why?"

"I told you, it way too hard to separate them both. I cared too much about him and I felt guilty having those types of feeling for him and being married."

"Neela, you are human and you are a woman. We have needs too."

"Yeah, those needs got me in more trouble with him, I started seeing this intern, and that made our relationship even worse."

"How?"

"I think he got jealous."

"Oh love triangle I love it."

"Marie"

"Neela, grow up"

Marie was the only one that could tell Neela how it was, and not care if it hurt or not. Marie knew Neela needed someone to tell her sometimes that her about herself.

"Well are you still seeing the Intern, what's his name?"

"Tony Gates, and no, not really, he has a lot of problems right now."

"Problems like what?"

Neela told Marie everything about Tony, Meg and Sarah.

"Oh Neela I feel for him and the little girl but you need to cut him loose. You are to smart and too young to put yourself in that type of situation. Now the other doctor… Ray right"

"Right"

Does he have any issues?"

"No, Ray has matured so much in the past 2 years he is great. He has always tried to be there for me. He has had his occasional one night stands but he is…"

At that moment Marie's Cell phone rings.

"Wait hold that thought."

"Hello"

"Hey baby, how are you?

"Yeah dinner tonight we are looking forward to it."

"Oh you did, bring him along. Sure can't wait to meet him."

"We'll meet you at the restaurant."

"Love you too."

"Bye"

"Neela that was Jon he is going to meet us at the Restaurant. He is bringing his best friend from college he lives out here too."

"Don't try and set me up Marie, I'm warning you."

"No, Neela I'm not, Jon's friend lives out here too and he asked him to be his best man"

"Okay"

"So I get to meet him and Jon gets to met you. No strings attached. Promise"

"Okay I'll do it."

"Great let's get ready."