It had been a long day. New med students to train, and finally getting that extra bit of authority. Now it was time for rounds and she followed Crenshaw around the surgical floor, a herd of new surgeons behind them. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed as Crenshaw raised his voice once more at the frightened young students and made sarcastic comments about their glasses or their size. One poor girl had even been dubbed the nickname melon! As according to Crenshaw, that was the shape of her head. Having had an entire day of putting up with this Neela was finally getting sick. She had taken a select few under her wing, the ones that Crenshaw was giving the hardest time, and had gotten into so many arguments with him that she had lost count somewhere around lunch time. As the next argument broke out, a crowd began to form, watching the action unfold and all of which found it highly amusing.
"For the last time Dusty, leave the poor girl alone. She what 23?" She snapped at him.
"Actually I'm 24." The girl informed.
"Fine she's 24 and this is her first day. She's probably never been in this position before. She's still just learning. It's hard you know? You've bound to have been there, or are you just too old to remember?" This comment had earned her a grin from a nearby Dubenko, whom was pretending to check a patients chart. Harold was beside him, grinning wildly at the whole situation. Crenshaw reddened.
"And it doesn't help when you make fun of her. Her head ISN'T the shape of a melon." By this time, Dubenko had put down the chart and was watching the argument unfold. Nurses had joined him and Harold and were asking what they had missed, having already been entertained by these arguments throughout the day.
"How many times have I told you Neela? They need to be scared of you, it's the only way they'll learn." She huffed and crossed her arms. One student's eyes widened in fear.
"Is that why Harold has turned out just fine?" All eyes turned to Harold who had instantly lost his enormous grin. He sheepishly waved.
"Oh yeah he's a BIG success." He chuckled crossing his arms to match her angry stance.
"And that'll be enough of your sarcasm. I'v had it up to here with you and your sarcasm today." She confessed, Raising her hand to a point above her head to indicate where she'd had it up to. "And I swear one more little comment like that and there's no telling what I'll do." At this Crenshaw grinned and leaned back on the wall. He loved to wind her up, and it was just too easy to do. Dubenko and Harold had, by this time, sat on one of the spare beds, the med students were looking highly amused and even the patients (those that were conscious) seemed to be enjoying the apparent soap opera that was unfolding before their eyes.
"One more comment eh? One like maybe, and I quote 'Doctor Jumbo mart'?" He grinned and waited for the explosion, that comment was sure to hit a nerve. However, none came. Everyone waited eagerly for the response, something huge, something funny, something maybe even embarrassing (of course on Crenshaw's part). Nothing. Brows were beginning to furrow and Neela appeared to be staring off into space.
"Stunned silence." Crenshaw grinned. "Can't come up with one good enough to come back from that." He waved his hand in front of her face. "Earth to Neela? Anybody home?" Nothing. Everyone held their breath, wondering just what was going on, what she was going to say, why she hadn't replied in so long? By this time, some people had begun to worry, Lucien Dubenko being the main one. He rose form his seat on the bed and made his way over, putting a hand on her arm to lead her away, check she was alright. Suddenly, however, she made to move and headed down the corridor.
"Well that was weird." Stated one stunned medical student. No one had even seen the lone figure standing down the corridor, no one but Neela. Still worried about his favourite surgeon, Lucien commanded the students to stay where they were and motioned for Crenshaw and Harold to follow him. However when he saw the man down the corridor he changed his mind, knew what had caused Neela's strange behaviour and the three remained to watch. The man smiled as he saw her coming, and as she stopped before him took two large steps towards her and embraced her in a hug, picking her up in his arms, where she belonged. The nurses and Harold could be heard emitting small 'aww' sounds. The man placed Neela back on her feet and captured her lips in his, an even bigger crowd forming all the whole. They reluctantly pulled apart, her arms now securely around his neck.
"Ray." The tears were freely flowing down her face as she looked up at the man she had just separated from. He had finally came back to her.
"Doctor's lounge?" He asked. She nodded her reply and he brought his hand up to wipe the tears from her face, before taking her hand and making their way to the surgical lounge.
"Slap head!" Her sarcastic reply to Crenshaw on her way past. Sticking her tongue out before closing the door to the lounge. His jaw fell slightly, and his hand self consciously went to his head.