Title: Bless the Broken Road

Author: lyricalpeach

Summary: Ray's conversation and situation with Katey started my brain turning. After that, it churned on its own, in and out of the gutter. Spoilers for S13, Heart of the Matter and Jigsaw, future speculation. No ER action.

Rating: FRM. (you can read pretty far down without hitting it though)

Disclaimer: Without Prejudice. All the ER characters are property of NBC. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are used here without permission. Please don't sue me. The other words are my own. Please don't steal.

Notation: Ray's thoughts 'Neela's thoughts' Abby's thoughts Katey's thoughts (I'm not going to put Gates' thoughts in here.)

Chapter 4

Neela bent over to pick up her mail and opened her bag to tuck it inside, pulling out a bag of Krispy Kremes. Before she could stand up or say a word, or even hand it over, Ray squatted down, snatched them from her hands, opened the bag and gawked at the beautiful selection – chocolate with a hint of red jelly poking out, with chocolate sprinkles!! Ooooh!!

"Are these my favorites?" Ray grinned at her. "Is that raspberry jelly and chocolate on chocolate?"

"Did you think I wouldn't remember, just because I've been…" Neela trailed off, hoping Ray wouldn't focus on that anymore.

Ray noticed Neela's worried look and quickly scanned her face. Suddenly he caught sight of a bit of jelly at the corner of her already pink mouth. "Had some already, did you?" He teased.

Neela grinned, feeling easy with Ray again, a feeling as cozy as a warm fireplace after a London rain or a cold Chicago snow. "Couldn't resist."

"I knew you were a sucker for chocolate raspberry jelly doughnuts with chocolate sprinkles, " Ray said, pleased with himself.

"Actually," Neela teased, "Mine was a glazed vanilla with strawberry."

Ray pouted, "but I didn't get to taste that kind!"

"There's another just like it at the bottom of the bag for you," Neela started to say, but before she could finish, Ray had swiped the bit off the corner of her mouth and licked it off his thumb.

'What just happened?'

Ray looked smug. "Hmm, tasty, but no thanks, but I'll stick to my chocolate raspberry with chocolate sprinkles…" He looked at her mischievously. Neela's mouth gaped open.

"It reminds me of…" Ray didn't want to make her run away. 'What… ohhh.. well, my mind must be in the same place if I can guess that's what he thinking!' Neela looked like a clever child who'd figured out her latest challenging puzzle. Ray thought maybe she could read him, didn't everyone seem to think he was uncomplicated? Ooh, wonder if maybe she knows just what I mean.. but that means.. she thought it, too!

Ray couldn't quite focus after that, he kept looking at her creamy brown skin and her open mouth as she tried to get her tongue over to where the jelly had been.

Neela was the one who finally nudged him by putting her tongue back in her mouth and straightening up. "Don't you have the day shift today? Wanna ride in on the El with me?"

"Sure, let me get changed…" Ray smiled brightly. "Wanna come watch?" he joked.

Hiding what she really wanted, Neela gave him a stern look that said it was just too naughty of him.

"Alright, alright. Be right back." I saw that, she wanted to! He grinned as he sauntered off.

Neela watched him, her grin reaching ear to ear. Feeling happy, she thought 'This is what I want. The banter, the teasing, being witty and clever, feeling naughty, feeling happy and free.. and underneath, heat… longing, wanting to lose myself in him.'

Back in his room, Ray closed the door and leaned his forehead against it, closing his eyes. My best friend, you're back! I've been waiting so long to be more than friends with you, and now I finally feel like patience is all I need to have to make it – everything else, you're showing me it's there. He breathed her name, "Neela, Neela, Neela…"

"Yes?"

The walls are waaay too thin, if she can hear me from the front door!

"I'm coming!" Ray hurried and opened the door to find Neela standing there. No wonder she heard me… Why is she standing right at the door??

Ray opened the door, and there she was, smirking. "Coming?" Suddenly, Neela gazed up at him and took a step forward so that her neck was craned back quite a bit.

Not saying a word, Ray looked in Neela's eyes. Is she waiting for me to… With one swift motion, Ray pulled Neela into his room and backed her into the door, closing it with a soft click.

Neela? Are you sure? Ray's look questioned hers. 'I want you.' Neela tried to push her thoughts at him, being unable to say the words. She looked at Ray, his bare chest broad before her tiny frame, and licked her lips, gently sucking them inward. As she released them, she looked back up at Ray, her mouth glistening.

Ray bent over gently, his neck stretching out, his head turning, licking his lips the same way before they reached hers. So soft… no dream was ever as complete as this one kiss. 'Yes,' Neela sighed, 'yes, Ray.'

Ray pulled back slowly, and touched his forehead to Neela's, putting a hand under her chin and looking deeply in her eyes. "Hi." Neela smiled, her eyes happy. "Neela.."

"Yes, Ray?"

Choked, Ray just pulled her tight into his arms.

Neela buried her head in his chest, his skin cold from standing up so long soon feeling the warmth from underneath. She felt his heart beat against her cheek.

"Ray, maybe we should go to work."

"Why?" came the muffled voice from her hair.

"We'll come home later." Did she say 'home'? 'Did I just say 'home'?'

"Okay" came the muffled voice.

"Well, get dressed then. And hurry, or your Krispy Kremes will have disappeared!"

"You wouldn't!" Ray's voice sang clearly. "leave my dough-neela-nut alone!"

"What?!"

"Don't pretend you don't know what I mean.." Ray laughed.

Neela wrinkled her forehead. At least they were in this together now.

"And I want the real thing later." Ray looked at her very seriously. The intensity in his eyes stopped Neela from making faces. She could see he meant it.

She swallowed. "Later," she agreed.

"Here, help me find a shirt…" "In which pile should I start looking?" "Umm, I'm not sure…" Feeling a little too warm, flustered and rushed, they struggled to find a clean shirt, get it on Ray and grab his things.

"Let's go!" Neela hurried Ray out the door.

It had been only two weeks since that early morning – in that short time, they'd picked up where they'd left off as friends and Neela had moved back in, since Abby was getting ready to give up her place. Everyone had noticed several things. The first was that every day Ray and Neela were now both perky and playful in a disgustingly happy way and Gates was a grouch. Secondly, Ray and Neela now took the same shifts whenever possible. Thirdly, the rumors were incredible anytime the happy roomies' backs were turned.

Ray and Neela, as per usual, were completely unaware of the rumors.

Pretty much everybody was happy for them, so nobody cared to bother them with it. It'd be true eventually, anyway, they figured.

Nothing really intimate had actually happened yet, since that first kiss, except for more kissing… They'd held off, difficult as that was. They had six months to catch up on, and some hard feelings to work out. But with Neela back in the apartment, and their agreement to take the same shifts, there had been lots of time to talk and feel out where things were headed. Both knew where it could go, the main thing was getting there the right way.

"Neela," Abby called. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure, what's up?" Neela walked toward Abby quickly. "I've got a consult in 5."

"I need to go shopping for a close friend, her wedding is coming up. Can you make it Saturday afternoon? Luka's going to spend some father-son time with Joe, says there's too much punk influence when I'm around." Abby laughed.

Neela thought about it for a moment. "Sure, I'm in. Michigan Ave, right?"

"Yup, dress warmly, I want to see a bunch of stores and it's realllly snowy outside. So, how are things going with you and Ray?" 'Me and Ray, it's nice to hear that there's a me and Ray now,' Neela thought to herself. She smiled. Things had progressed really nicely… and very naturally. She couldn't be happier.

Abby read her thoughts. "Both of you seem really, really, really happy." She smiled smugly and then pretended to look indifferent. "It's sickening, you are both so easy to read – it's completely obvious."

Neela laughed. "You just love seeing how much fun we are to be around now, don't you?" Several months had passed and life had never been better. Aside from girlfriend dates with Abby or Katey, Neela spent all her time outside of work either at home or out and about with Ray. Funny that Katey seemed fine with it, but given the casual attitude she'd always had toward Ray.. 'maybe because she knew Ray's heart belonged to me.' Neela felt her heart skip a beat, knowing that she and Ray were now deeply in love. And she and Katey had become good friends anyway.

"Oh, I've gotta run, Abby. Catch you later," Neela called back.