Hello, everyone! Yes, its a new story...lol! This one has been in the works since previews began to come out for the season finale back in May. We've just been working on a couple of other projects, trying to finish them up before we started something new. The one...well...that one isn't done yet, but this wouldn't wait any longer. We hope you like it. It's far from finished so don't worry:D Please let us know what you think. We welcome any and all comments you make.

Yours, as always,

butterflyswest and Erin Allen

1

They were at the grave when his phone rang for the second time. Pratt glanced down at it and scowled. He cursed inwardly. Didn't they understand that he was trying to bury his best friend? Couldn't they manage one friggin day without him? He sighed, fighting the urge to just pitch the damn thing and tried to tell himself that they wouldn't be calling unless it was urgent. Everyone knew what this day had meant to him.

"There's something going on at the ER," he said quietly, looking up from the display.

She still sat, her tear-stained face fixed into lines of grief. He didn't know what else to say to ease her pain. He didn't know what he could say that would ease his own. He'd said all he could, but it hadn't seemed to help either of them. The pain was still too close; the wound too raw to be healed with mere words.

"Neela."

She looked at him as if she were just becoming aware of his presence.

"I have to go. There's something going down at the ER."

She nodded and rose from the seat, casting a long look at the grave, her face set with determination.

"I'm ready."

"I'll just have the driver drop you at home before…"

"I'm going to the ER with you," she broke in.

He stared at her incredulously.

"You're not going?" he said, the words coming out like a question. He couldn't believe that she would go to work when she had just buried her husband. They could manage without her there.

"I have to do something besides feeling sorry for myself," she told him, wiping her face with the palms of her hands. "If they're calling you in, then they must need all the help they can get."

"Neela, you don't have to…"

"Yes, I do," she insisted sharply, giving him her best haughty frown. "I have nothing else." She laughed harshly, sounding just this side of hysterical. "I don't even have a home."

Her face twisted for a moment, and he thought she would start crying again. Instead, she took a deep breath; her eyes closed, and seemed to pull herself together.

"Take me with you or I'll find my own way."

He wanted to argue with her. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her to just go home, but seeing the stony look on her face changed his mind. Pratt sighed, knowing that it was futile to argue with her when she was like this. She could be stubborn as an old mule when she really wanted to be.

"All right. Let's move."

0000000

What the hell..? was all Ray had time to think before all hell did break loose. His first instinct was to duck behind the counter, but realized suddenly that that was futile. The bullets were ripping through the flimsy wood without pause, blowing splinters free to fly across the floor and offering no protection whatsoever. He frantically scanned reception and froze. Abby was at the desk, ducking down behind the counter.

He didn't give it a second thought. Ray ran across reception toward Abby, trying to keep his head down as the bullets started flying in her direction. Christ! If she got hit then Luka would go insane. The board shattered around them as a stray bullet hit it, raining glass and debris down over them. He caught her as she fell, twisting his body to shield her from the majority of the shards. Pain stabbed him in his back, and he grunted as the burning agony spread throughout his chest. They fell together, his body taking the brunt of the impact. More pain sliced through him and his breath was forced from his lungs. Not that he cared. It hurt too much to breathe anyway.

They lay there, in a puddle of glass and broken wood, listening to the screams and gunfire. The sounds of running feet and shouting were all that Abby heard as she squeezed her eyes shut. Please let everyone be OK, she thought frantically, followed closely by Please let Luka be OK. The litany seemed to run over and over in her mind, alternating back and forth into an insane little melody in her head. Deep heavy voices called the all clear, and she raised her head slowly. Her eyes snapped open at the sound of Morris's voice calling for help, and she thought that she would just stop breathing then. Oh, God! she thought. Who's hurt? Other voices were giving orders, calling for Luka. She pushed herself off of Ray and looked down at him.

"Are you all right?" she asked. It was a shock to her that she hadn't crushed him when she'd come down on top of him. She had gotten as big as a whale in the last month. No matter what, she would always be grateful to him. He'd saved her and the baby from being killed. She frowned when he didn't respond and leaned forward to check his pulse.

"Ray?" she said tentatively, when she found his pulse weak and thready.

It was then that she noticed the spreading stain across the floor beneath him. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight. Oh, shit, she thought, her breath coming in short gasps. This cannot be happening…

"I need a gurney over here!" she screamed out, yanking her stethoscope from her pocket. "Oh, come on!" she muttered through clenched teeth as she listened; only finding a faltering heartbeat. She didn't even glance up as quick footsteps crunched in the glass on the floor beside her.

"Jesus!" Morris said, crouching beside her. "What the hell happened?"

Abby shot him a look so fierce that he would have just died if that were possible.

"What the hell do you think happened?" she snarled. "Just do your damn job and help me get him to a trauma room."

He gave her an odd look before he turned and started shouting for anyone to come and help. At that point, Abby didn't care who came just so long as Ray was taken to a trauma room. If she could have, she would have just lifted him to a gurney herself. He'd saved her child and her. He would get everything he needed if she had to see to it personally. She didn't move until the two orderlies lifted him carefully to the gurney and started rolling him away. Then she was on her feet beside them.

"Who else got hurt?" she asked Morris, surprised to find him on the other side of Ray.

"Jerry," he said with a grimace. "I cannot believe that this is happening."

"Believe it," she said. "How bad is he?"

"Bad," he answered shortly as he began to assess Ray's injuries. "A shot to the chest…and…another one for Barnett. Beautiful."

Abby felt her blood go cold. Goddammit! She started working, calling orders as Morris ran toward Trauma One to check on Jerry. She ignored the officer that came into the room asking questions until he annoyed her. She shouted for him to get out, and he thankfully left. Unless someone was dying, she didn't care what injuries they had, and he had looked perfectly healthy to her.

"Chuni, call down for O neg…all you can get. Jesus! He's losing blood too fast. Call the OR and have them on standby. As soon as I get him stabilized he's going up whether they're ready or not."

Chuni ran to the phone on the wall and started dialing, her voice a drone in Abby's subconscious. All she could do was focus on her patient. If she stopped and thought about who this was, she really would go insane. She'd never thought to be working on a friend. Especially not a friend who had saved her life.

"What the hell happened here?"

The voice cut through the intense concentration that Abby had sealed herself in. She glanced up as she finished intubating to find Kerri Weaver standing in the doorway.

"We could use a little help here," Abby said without slowing down. "Bag him," she ordered Chuni.

Kerri stared at her for a long moment before she took the offered trauma gown and crossed the room. Her eyes widened at the sight of Ray's face.

"Oh my God!" she breathed.

"He's losing blood from somewhere but damned if I know where," Abby said in frustration.

The pulse ox monitor began to scream at them.

"He's losing pressure," Chuni called out, sounding almost hysterical.

"Son of a bitch!" Abby ground out between clenched teeth. "Push the saline until we can get blood in here."

"We don't have time for surgery to get their asses down here," Weaver said. She grabbed a scalpel from the tray. "We'll have to open him up and find the bleed."

Abby raised her eyes to fix her with a look of shock. Weaver glared right back, undaunted by the look.

"I'm chief of staff here," she said. "If surgery has a problem with me doing their job for them, then they can complain later." She leaned forward and began to cut across Ray's chest. "Where the hell is Luka?" she muttered with a grimace.

A brief flash of fear and pain went through Abby like a lightning bolt. That was a good question. One she didn't have time to contemplate. She couldn't think of Luka right now. Not if she wanted to save Ray. She blinked back tears and watched as Weaver worked, following orders just as she had when she was an intern. It was scary how easily she fell back into that old routine. Weaver giving orders. Abby following them, feeling totally incompetent.

Morris burst in and skidded to a halt as he saw what Kerri was doing.

"Are you even supposed to do that?" he asked incredulously.

Weaver ignored him.

"How's Jerry?" Abby asked.

"Stable enough to go up to OR," he answered. "They need his next of kin forms."

Another stab of fear took Abby's breath away. It had never occurred to her that one of them could die. It had never even crossed her mind. They were in a hospital for Christ's sake! She glanced down at Ray, and realized that she didn't have the slightest idea who to call for him. She knew that Jerry had a mother, but Ray…She didn't even know if his parents were still alive.

"I'll get them," she said dully. "Take over for me, Morris."

Morris took her place as she moved aside.

Abby stripped off her gloves and tossed them, not caring where they landed. She pushed through the doors into still more chaos. Hospital staff and police officers were still running around, seemingly without purpose. Without someone there to direct them, they were running in circles. With Morris in with Ray and Luka MIA, there was no one else. She grabbed a nurse on her way by.

"I need you to do something for me."

"What?" The girl was new and Abby couldn't for the life of her remember her name. Her blue eyes were wide and startled looking. She was shaking as if she were frozen to the bone. Abby knew exactly how she was feeling.

"Get on the phone and start calling in every available doctor, nurse, orderly…whatever. Call them and get them in here now."

"But…"

"No buts!" Abby snapped. "I don't care what you have to tell them to get them here, just get them here."

The girl nodded and went to reception, seeming glad to have someone tell her what to do. Abby went with her, stepping over shattered wood, her feet crunching in broken glass. She gingerly stepped over the blood on the floor where Ray had been, pointedly ignoring it, and yanked open the drawer that held the files for the staff. Her fingers skimmed quickly over the tabs on the folders and pulled out the files she needed, tucking them under her arm. She spun around and went to the lounge where it would be quieter. It was bad enough that she had to make these phone calls without the recipients hearing screaming in the background.

She opened Jerry's file and scanned down until she found his mother's number. She winced as she heard the woman's voice answer and did what she could to keep calm. Abby could hear the tears in her voice, though she tried to be strong. By the time Abby hung up, she was ready to cry herself. She swallowed back the urge, and opened Ray's file. Just one more call to make, and she could get back to what she knew best. She had never been good at this emotional crap anyway.

She froze as her finger came to rest on the line that read "Next of Kin". Her breath faltered as the full impact of the black and white words typed neatly in the box truly meant.

"Oh my God, Ray," she breathed, shocked to her core. She turned with the file still in her hand and shoved through the door. She jogged back to Trauma Two to find that Morris and Kerri were still working on him. They glanced up as she entered, but went right back to work.

"Did you get the files?" Morris asked tightly, placing a clamp precisely where Kerri told him to.

"Yes."

"Well, did you make the calls?"

"I called Jerry's mom. She's on her way now."

Kerri looked at her through the safety glasses at her odd tone.

"And Barnett?"

"I think…I think we have a problem with that."

"What's that?"

Abby took a deep breath and closed her eyes. This couldn't be happening…

"Ray listed Neela as his next of kin," she said bluntly.

Kerri and Morris both snapped their heads around to look at her as if they couldn't believe their ears.

"Excuse me?"

"Neela is his next of kin," Abby repeated. "That's what it says here. She's the only one authorized to make any decisions about him."

"Which is one hell of a problem at the moment," Kerri snapped. "She is at her husband's funeral isn't she?"

"Uh…yeah."

"Call Pratt. You know he'll have his phone on. Get him and her here now."

Abby whirled from the room. She didn't need to be told twice. She was halfway across the ER when the doors opened and Pratt stepped in, looking dazed. Abby paused, about to start grilling him about Neela, when she came through the doors as well.

Her eyes were red rimmed from crying, and she still wore the black dress that she had worn to the funeral. She caught sight of Abby and took a step forward.

The first thought that went through Neela's mind at the sight of the devastation was Ray. Where was he? She saw Abby standing there staring at her with wide eyes and relaxed. Abby was ok. Ray would be ok. He was probably in with a trauma. Her eyes drifted lower and her breath caught at the sight of a large red stain on Abby's maternity shirt.

"What the hell is this?" Pratt demanded, his eyes wide with shock.

"I don't have time to go into detail," Abby said shortly. "Weaver and Morris need your help in Trauma Two." When he didn't move, she frowned and stepped forward. "Move, dammit! There's no time for this."

He got moving, stripping off his sport coat as he went. Abby turned to Neela and took her arm.

"Come with me, we have to talk."

"Abby, I thought you said there wasn't time…" Neela began as Abby dragged her to the lounge and swung her in. "What the hell is wrong with you? They need help out there!"

"Yeah, they do," Abby said. She took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut before she leaned forward to look directly in Neela's eyes. "Honey, Ray was hurt."

Neela felt her world tilt on its axis yet again. How many shocks could she take before she just fell apart. First her husband and now Ray.

"Hurt," she repeated dully, her heart beating faster. "He'll be all right."

"I don't know at this point," Abby said bluntly. "He was hit in the back and it looks like it tore through his chest."

Neela took a step back, shaking her head.

"This isn't funny, Abby."

"I'm not trying to be, sweetie."

Neela took a deep breath and looked back toward the doors. She couldn't believe it. She wouldn't believe it until she had seen for herself. She went to the door and pushed it open just as a gurney went flying past surrounded by Morris, Pratt, and Weaver. Neela had one moment to glimpse the face of the patient and thought that her heart really would stop beating.

"Ray!"

Abby caught her before she could move after them.

"They're taking him to the OR, Neela. You know as well as any that every second counts."

"Dammit, Abby, let me go!" she cried, fresh tears streaking down her face. "I have to be there…"

"You have to calm down and listen to me," Abby said, taking her shoulders in a tight grip. "Do you know why Ray would put you down as his next of kin?"

Neela froze and turned her eyes from the hall to stare at her.

"I'm what?"

"You are his next of kin. He listed you."

Oh my God! Neela thought. She couldn't think, she could barely breathe. She didn't hear the cries of the wounded behind her or the shouts of nurses as they called for more supplies. All she could see was the look in his eyes as she had gotten into the taxi that night, and the pain in his eyes as he had looked at her on the roof. All she heard were his words echoing over and over in her head. You're the best friend I've ever had…

She wrenched herself from Abby's grip and ran toward the lift. She started jabbing buttons frantically. Bloody hell! What was taking so long?

"Come on," she muttered, ignoring Abby as she came up beside her.

"Do you know why, Neela?"

"No, I don't. But if I am, then I need to be up there. I have to be…"

With him…her mind finished for her. New agony sliced through her as the elevator doors opened. She shoved through the occupants and hit the button for the surgical floor. She was surprised to find Abby there with her.

"Why are you here?" she asked. It was rude, but she didn't care. All she could think of was Ray, alone, hurting. Perhaps dying…

She slammed and locked the door on that. She wouldn't consider that possibility. Not now, not ever.

When the doors opened, she ran out without waiting for Abby, and down to reception.

"A trauma was just brought in here," she said frantically to the startled looking nurse. "Dr. Ray Barnett. What OR is he in?"

"I can't give you…"

"You'll give it if I have to beat it from you," Neela shouted. "Where?"

"Four," the nurse said in a small voice. "But you can't go in there!"

Neela was already down the hall. She'd go in there if she bloody well wanted to. She was a surgical resident for Christ's sake.

"Neela! Wait!"

She looked over her shoulder to find Abby doing her best to keep up. She slowed a little.

"I'm going in, Abby. Don't try to talk me out of it."

"Neela, what you should be doing right now is signing papers. If he needs…"

The doors to four opened up and Dr. Albright stepped out dressed in scrubs, her face fixed into the familiar sneer. She caught sight of Abby and Neela and stopped.

"Dr. Rasgotra! I'm surprised to see you here." Her eyes flicked to Abby, and she frowned. "Did you get ahold of his next of kin?"

"Uh…yeah," Abby said, and gave Neela a significant look. Albright's eyes widened.

"You're shitting me, right?" Looking from her to Neela and back again. Abby shook her head. Albright sighed and turned to Neela.

"The bullet entered his lung through the back. That would have been bad enough, but it hit a rib in his chest and bounced back. His aorta has been nicked and we're doing all we can to stop the bleeding."

"Is he going to die?" Neela asked, holding on by only a thread. What she wanted to do was just collapse in a heap and cry. Wail out every ounce of her grief.

"We're not sure. What I want to know, is how much do you want …"

Neela felt her mouth drop open. She knew what she was being asked, but couldn't believe that the woman had had the outright gall to ask her. She took a step forward. Though Albright was taller than she was…almost everyone was…she took a step back from her.

"Don't you let him die," Neela said harshly. "Save him. I don't care what it takes, you just save him."

Albright inclined her head before glancing at Abby.

"Make sure she fills out the proper forms, Lockhart."

Neela watched the OR doors close, blocking her view of Albright and the rest of the surgical team. Slowly she turned to face Abby. She had expected her to have accusation in her eyes. Instead, all she found was compassion. Neela shook her head. She supposed that she owed her an explanation, but she was too raw right now to do so. Instead, she covered her face in her hands and gave rein to her tears. She sobbed against Abby's shoulder as she put her arms around her.

"Oh, God, Abby!" she choked out. "I don't know if I could take it if anything happens to him. I just don't…"

Abby said nothing, as tears pricked her own eyes. The pain in her friend's voice was more than she could bear. Abby didn't have the answers that would help her. She wished that she did. All she could do now, was hold Neela as she cried, and pray that Ray would come through.

She didn't know what Neela would do if he didn't.