Title: The Missing Pieces

Rating: T

Disclaimer: As you all know I do not own ER or these characters, if I did, we would have gotten more than just two short scenes thank you.

Summary: This chapter picks up where the last one left off, somewhat spoilery.

A/N: Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews, you are all very sweet! Historianic, ITA I loved the scene where Neela would rather talk to Ray then go after her own boyfriend lol! After all the knocking that guy did every time they were trying to kiss, he deserved it! And thank you, I love the ending they gave us too and I'm glad their roomies again. I still would have liked a little more though, but then that's always true. The more Reela, the better!

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Neela got out of bed the next morning and got ready for work. Simon had made no attempt to talk to her since last night. The ice was broken after a while, but things still seemed a little distant between them. He may have been there physically, but he still didn't seem to be communicating with her. She didn't know what was going on with him. Neela didn't understand why her own boyfriend wasn't there for her, but she knew she always had Ray. He knew her better than anyone, better than Abby, and even better than Michael. She started to realize that if she wasn't getting the emotional support she needed from Simon, then maybe they just aren't meant to be together. He was talking to her yes, but not about things that really mattered like her and Ray did. She liked Simon, but it was different with Ray; he was there for her, he listened to her, and he communicated with her.

She got home from work around 4 but still no call from Ray yet. She started to miss him, so she pulled her phone out of her purse and dialed his number.....

"Hey, Neela" he answered

"Hi."

"I just got off work and was getting ready to call you, but I'm glad you beat me to it."

Neela could feel the blood start to rush to her face, she was just glad that he couldn't see her at the moment.

"Me, too" I guess we both have perfect timing when it comes to calling each other.

"So what are you doing?"

"I'm watching Ghost" she said half joking

"Are you sure you're not watching a basketball game?"

They both chuckled. Ray could hear the movie through the phone.

"Oh, you really are watching the movie!" he said as he was trying not to laugh

"Don't laugh at me. I didn't laugh at you when you were watching it" she said chuckling

"I told you I was not watching it. I don't watch movies like that, I watch manly movies like--" he was going to continue but was cut off by Neela...

"Titanic?"

"Hey, that was a good movie and you said you liked it."

"No I didn't, I fell asleep" she loved talking to him but, hearing his voice only made her miss him even more.

"I asked you and you said 'Yes'."

"Doesn't mean I was awake. Yeah, 3 bloody hours of depressing and crying, not to mention a tragic love story with nothing but sadness and death. Oh yeah what a great movie, Ray. I already knew the end it's so predictable, so I said to myself, 'Why stay awake'?".

He laughed, he loved it when she teased him. "Yes it's sad but, it happens to be a great story about what those people went through. Not to mention a romantic love story about two people who aren't supposed to be together facing everything that's thrown at them for each other and in the end, they're finally together".

Neela was stopped dead in her tracks. She still didn't understand why Ray liked that movie but, it had to have taken an idiot not get the double meaning behind Ray's words. "Which one of us is the girl again?" she said, and they both laughed.

"I've missed this." he admitted

"What? Us arguing?" she teased

"No, the banter. Me and you, the back and the forth. I've missed this.....I've missed us, you know just like the old days when it was just the two of us" he said the last part so softly that Neela could barely hear it.

She could feel a small tear slide down the side of her face "Me too. I miss you so much, Ray. It hasn't been the same since you left." After she said it she felt so relieved that she finally told him exactly how she was feeling when she was feeling it. Was this really happening? Did they actually just admit that they missed each other?

"I know what you mean."

There was a brief silence, and both had a bittersweet feeling inside of them after they had just admitted how they felt. "Well you did say 'See you soon' remember?" she asked hopefully.

"I remember, and yes I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again soon" he said, hoping he wasn't being too straightforward.

"Good. I look forward to it" a smile started to shine on her face as Ray once again, made her feel better.

"Me, too, as always" Ray's smile was beaming just as bright.

Neela could feel the blood start to rush to her face again. She didn't know how Ray made her act like she was a teenager back in high school, but only he could do that to her.

"Neela, I have to go now, because I have to go over and eat dinner with my mom. She wants to make sure we stay close, so she wants me to come over once a week and eat with her" he said hoping he wasn't sounding too much like a loser.

"That's so sweet, Ray. Tell her I said 'Hello', and I hope you have a good time." Instead of thinking Ray was a loser, Neela was actually seeing him in new light. What other guy would want to spend quality time with his mother? That was the Ray she knew and loved.

"Ok, I will, and thanks" he said, grateful that she didn't tease him about it.

"Bye."

"Goodbye, Neela."

After Neela hung up she continued to watch the movie for a while, until she remembered that she told Simon she would call him. She called, but no answer. She called again, but still no answer. She left him a message "Hey, Simon, it's me. Call me back".

The movie ended, but still no call from Simon. He had been so distant since their fight the other night. Her and Ray's friendship had always bothered him before, but she started thinking that maybe there was something else bothering him. She didn't know what it was, but she was certain that he was keeping it from her. As more time passed, she started to grow more and more upset with him. If he couldn't tell her what was going on, then what were they doing together? She tried her best, but she couldn't reach him or figure him out. As much as she tried, he wouldn't open up to her. There was nothing more she could do.

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A/N: Yes, I know both of these chapters have mostly just been phone calls between her and Ray. The reason I did it was to establish that Ray is that confidant she needs, and Simon isn't. Sorry, it's hard to think of different ways for them to communicate and the telephone is just one of the easier routes. The next chapter, however, will have them communicating over the Internet. It will also have a phone call between Abby and Neela. In the meantime, let me know how you liked this chapter!