Hello there! I'm starting a new story. I haven't forgotten about Clash Of The Titans but I couldn't resist the urge to get this one down. I hope y'all like it. It's set after season 13. I don't think anyone has used this idea before and I thought it was really different. But I'll let you guys be the judge of that. It's a short chapter. Just introducing the plot really. Anyway…here we go…

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Chapter 1

'I am so bored' Ray thought to himself.

The ER was practically deserted. It was the beginning of December and almost every doctor was on shift as the hospital had been expecting even more patients than normal being that time of the year. But it seemed that they were wrong because the ER could have been mistaken for a ghost town. Only about two or three people had come in and even they had only had minor problems. Even Dubenko had come down from surgery to look for some company.

Ray thought back to the times when he was an intern and would have loved for it to be this quiet but it was different now. Ever since his accident, Ray had found a new appreciation for his job. He wanted to be able to help people just as much as he had been helped. Sure he may have lost his legs but he was still alive and for that he was truly thankful. After everything that had happened at Abby and Luka's wedding with Neela…

And there was that name again. Neela. His thoughts drifted back to her as they did so often when there was nothing else to distract him. He had tried over the past few months to forget about her but all his efforts were in vain. He would never be able to forget her. She had changed him. Ever since he had returned to Chicago he and Neela had been tentatively trying to repair their broken friendship.

During his time in Baton Rouge, Ray had accepted the fact that the accident was nobody's fault but his but that didn't mean he was completely able to forgive Neela. He was still in love with her he knew that but he still struggled with his emotions. As much as he cared for her and wanted to be with her, Ray couldn't get over his insecurities that she would hurt him again, especially now that he was a cripple. He couldn't look after her like a proper man could and despite everything they had gone through he firmly believed that she deserved that.

'Woo hoo. Ray?'

Ray jumped as he was snapped out of his thoughts by Abby waving a hand in front of his face.

'Sorry. I was thinking.'

'Well that's new.'

Ray could see that everyone was looking at him with amused looks on their faces and he just laughed.

'You got that right Lockhart.'

'So what had you so captivated that you zoned out in the middle of my story about how Joe coloured my brand new Jimmy Choos with his crayons.'

Ray knew that Abby was only joking but he smiled sheepishly all the same.

'Just thinking about my dad' Ray replied, the lie seeming to just slip from his mouth.

'Oh yeah' Pratt said 'How's that going? You haven't seen each other for like ten years.'

'I know but I thought it was time I get to know him again. What he did to my mum was wrong but everybody makes mistakes. He's not a bad person and I don't want to regret cutting him out of my life.'

'You sound enlightened.' He heard Pratt laugh and felt a smile grace his face.

'Yeah.' Nearly dying tends to do that to you.'

You could have heard a pin drop in the silence that fell over the doctors and Ray fought the urge to roll his eyes. He knew his friends were trying to be sensitive to his feelings but he was ok now. He'd gone to therapy, he'd reflected and accused and accepted what had happened. He was coming to terms with his situation.

'Relax guys, it was just a joke.'

When nobody replied he felt a sense of unease start to grow but luckily he was saved when Katey jumped in and started to talk about how nice his father was when she had met him. Katey had been a good friend to him throughout his ordeal and Ray didn't regret keeping in touch but he had a feeling that she was hoping for more than he was willing to give. He really liked her, she was a sweet girl but he didn't have those sorts of feelings for her. Admittedly, inviting her to spend holidays with him and taking her to meet his long lost father probably hadn't been the best way to send the message across but he couldn't change that now.

Pulling himself out of his thoughts once again he realised that silence had descended on the ER and tried to think of a suitable topic to talk about but his mind drew a blank.

Just then he heard someone clearing their throat behind him and turned around. His mouth just hung open, shock taking away his ability to speak.

'Dad?' he asked incredulously when he found his voice.

'Hey, I thought I'd come round and surprise you. It's not a problem is it?' he asked apprehensively.

'No no I was just surprised that's all. Let me introduce you to everybody.'

Ray's dad shook hands with everybody and soon everyone was talking again. It was apparent to everyone that Ray took after his father. He had only been here five minutes and already he had made friends with them all.

'So Ray, I guess we all know where you get your looks from now' Hope stated happily.

Ray felt himself turn red but before he could say anything his dad replied for him.

'I always thought so. I knew my boy would have to ward of the girls with a stick one day.'

My face must be on fire Ray thought to himself. He looked at his dad who just grinned back. He was obviously enjoying this.

'So what do you do?' Abby asked.

'I'm a professor at…'

'Neela? What are you doing down here?' Everyone turned to see Neela walking towards the desk at Dubenko's remark.

'Crenshaw sent me. Apparently he has enough hands helping out' she replied sarcastically.

'Neela' Abby called 'You haven't met our guest' and turned to Ray giving him an expectant look.

'Oh right. Neela, this is my…'

'Neela?' Ray heard his his father exclaim and looked round to find his dad and Neela staring at each other with the most astonished looks.

'Nate?'

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So? What do you think? Please review. I'm quite apprehensive about this one. So…Review please. LOL! I can't seem to think of anything else to say.