AN: The story takes place two days after ,,I don't". Rays accident never happened. Ray took two days off, what didn't surprise anyone after his fight with Gates. I'm very depressive at the moment and this story helps me manage it. Also I hope it stops my writers blockade.
P.S. My native language is German, so if anyone is interested in beta-reading let me know.
„Dr. Weaver, could I talk with you for a moment? It's urgent"
„Okay Pratt but hurry up. I still have to examine three patients"
„It's because of Ray...when he comes back to work, I would like you to test him on drugs"
„What?" Neela screamed excited, who has stood behind a corner and had heard Kerry's and Greg's conversation.
Pratt looked at her, unsure if Neela should know the reason for his demand. He was aware that Neela and Ray weren't friends anymore but he was sure that Neela would still care about Ray even if that wasn't reciprocated.
"Just say it Pratt. I think Neela has a right to take a part in this conversation"
Pratt hesitated for a moment.
"Okay, the reason for it is that, when I went home from Abby's and Luka's wedding, I saw Ray standing in front of a club, quite drunk. In his hand he was holding a joint"
"What?", Kerry freaked out, "why haven't you said something before?"
"We are talking about Ray Barnett here, Doc Rock, I just thought, that he was smoking a joint more often. But, I don't know, I just want to be sure that there isn't more behind it. After all that happened lately I'm really cautious when it comes to Ray"
"Thus, I have never seen Ray smoking a joint and he never acted like he'd take drugs from time to time" Neela gave to think.
"Okay, Pratt, Neela, I think this is reason enough for me to test Ray on drugs" Weaver said and let them standing there in thoughts to go to look after her patients.
Ray has entered the hospital 10 minutes ago and was now standing at the admit desk.
"Ray, hey man, didn't think I would see you again so soon. You know, after everything that happened. That was some fight between you and Gates" Frank meant.
"Yeah, probably" Ray turned him down and searched a case he could take over.
"Barnett, I have to talk to you" he suddenly heard Kerry Weaver's voice behind him.
"What is it?" Ray turned around bad-tempered but turned back immediately when he saw that Weaver got accompanied by Pratt and Neela.
"So, what do you want?" he snapped through gritted teeth.
"I want you to take a drug test"
"What?" Ray let the chart that he held so far in his hands drop and stared at Weaver. Frank just looked like he was gobsmacked.
"Man" Pratt helped Kerry out, "when I went home after Abby's wedding I have seen you with a joint"
"And? Do you count joints as drugs?"
"Yes, I do"
"Well, I don't. For me it's just a way to get rid of frustration. And because of this you want me to take a drug test? That's bullshit!" Ray roared.
Meanwhile he had the attention of the whole staff of County General.
"Maybe it's bullshit for you, but not for me! You're going to take this drug test or you're fired" Kerry roared back.
"Okay then, do it. But I can already tell you that the test is going to be positive" Ray meant with his head raised and an arrogant attitude.
"What?" Neela whispered but still loud enough that Ray could still hear her. She has never seen Ray's eyes so cold. Without any feeling, just pure rage reflected itself in Ray's eyes.
Ray ignored her and watched with satisfaction Pratt who opened and closed his mouth but couldn't say a word.
"What?" he yelled after a few seconds.
"You have heart right Pratt. Before I have come to work I gave myself a shot of heroine"
"You're plain crazy Barnett. Do you know how many people I have seen that destroyed themselves with heroin? You'll go into rehab immediately!!!"
"You just don't get it Pratt, do you? Drugs are my redemption, the sense of my life. And it's the perfect way to end this all!"
"What are you talking about? What is this supposed to mean?" Pratt freaked out. But he was also taken aback how someone could describe drugs as his sense of life.
Without any warning Ray pulled Neela to him and held her a gun to the head which no one had seen when he pulled it out of his trouser waistband.
Gates jumped at them.
"No, no, Gates. I wouldn't do that if I were you. I mean, you don't want to visit Neela at her grave soon, do you?"
Gates was shaking with rage but didn't risk to just take one step towards Ray.
"Nobody follows us or she will be..." Ray hit Neela's head with the gun, "dead..."
He dragged Neela in the toilet and blocked the door with a chair, so no one could open it.
He pushed Neela into an angle, where she stayed shaking with fear.
"You stay here or I swear, I won't hesitate to put an end to your life" he threatened with a low voice.
He let himself fall into the opposite angle.
Neela could only watch how Ray took out a syringe from his pocket, put a rubber band around his arm and scheduled the syringe to it.
"RAY NO!!!"
"Let go of me!! I have to go in there. Get the hell off me Pratt" Gates shouted and tried to pull himself out of Pratt's grap.
"No!! He will kill her if you go in there. Do you want to see Neela with a bullet in her head the next time?" Pratt yelled and pulled Gates away from the door.
"Oh my god!"
"Abby, wait!!"
Everybody turned around and saw how Abby came running towards the door with tears streaming down her face, Luka chasing her. When she reached for the door handle Luka caught up with her and jerked her back.
"Let me go!! Let me go Luka!! I have to go in there!! Why are you all just standing here? Why aren't you doing something? Neela will die, if no one helps her. What the hell is wrong with you?" she yelled and tried to free herself out of Lukas grip, kicking and struggling.
"Abby, calm down!! You can't go in there, he will shoot her!" Luka meant agitated.
Abby let herself fall back and catch from Luka. Sobbing she hid her head in his shirt.
"How could it come to this?"
"Let's think clear according to circumstances. I don't think that Ray would shoot Neela. I mean, he loves her, right? Even after everything that happened in the last months" Sam spoke.
Everybody thought about her words for a second before Morris pulled them out of their thoughts.
"Hey, what's this?" he asked and pointed to a folded piece of paper that lay on the ground.
"PLEASE DON'T!!!" Neela crawled on her knees towards Ray. Ray quickly lay the syringe to the side and took hold of the weapon.
"I'll warn you a last time Neela, stay where you are!"
Neela betook herself to the angle once again and leaned against the wall.
"Why Ray?" was the only thing she could say at this moment.
"You know why..."
"Please don't do this" Neela pleaded.
"Stop it. STOP IT! Don't act like you'd have a say in this. You can't prevent me from anything. Not since you moved out. And especially not now when you are together with Gates" Ray yelled inflamed with rage and pointed over and over again with the gun towards Neela, who crouched even more in the angle.
Ray lay the gun down beside him and scheduled the syringe for a second time.
AN: I originally wanted it to be a oneshot but it would have become too long. Leave a review and tell me what you think. Thanks! Andi