Thanks so much to everyone who has read or sent reviews- They were great! I am a reela fan and I do plan to have these two together but I want to make it interesting for all of you and entertaining. I did want to say thanks to everyone who sent a review they were really kind and encouraging.
The next few days went quickly, Ray started back at work and would frequently call the hospital to get updates on Neela. Everyone at County visited Neela after their shifts except for Ray. Neela enjoyed the distraction but couldn't understand why Ray didn't visit her. Each time someone came by, she asked for Ray and sometimes they told her he was working and other times they said they didn't know, when they asked Ray he gave a different reason for not visiting. Most of the time he told them he was still sore from the accident and working a whole shift left him with no recourse other than to go home and rest up. Each time Neela asked for Ray a disappointed look crossed her face but she tried to be understanding, after all, Ray was in the accident too and she understood that he needed to rest as well.
Ray walked up to the admin counter to put down some of the charts he had, Pratt walked up at the same time.
"Hey man…you're shift almost done?" Pratt asked as he swung around Ray to the other side of the counter.
"Yeah just about" Ray said without looking up
"You uh…going to see Neela?" Pratt asked. Pratt was concerned about why Ray hadn't been to see Neela yet- he knew Ray had feelings for Neela- even if he hadn't told him- he just knew.
"Don't know" was all Ray said again without looking up
"What's up with you two? I mean a few weeks ago- you were all over this girl and now you don't even want to go visit her??" Pratt asked
Ray looked up sharply… "I told you before- with my injuries I need to rest up and I want her to have some time for herself to rest" Ray said sternly
"Is that the real reason? Or is it something else?"
"I told you why…" Ray said in a tone that said the conversation was over
"Alright man- I won't push you to tell me…"Pratt started…"Good" Ray interrupted him…"but listen" Pratt continued…he walked up close to Ray so he was within earshot and said 'each day, every day that girl asks for you….and each time we tell her you aren't coming to see her, her eyes fill with disappointment – so think about that" Pratt said and then he walked away
Ray sighed and put down the file he had in his hands. After what Pratt told him about Neela he held back the anger and sadness he felt. He was so angry to be in this situation- all he wanted was to run right then to Neela and hold her in his arms and be with her each day of her recovery. He wanted to be there for her but he knew how it went, she would always run back to Gates. When he tried to be there for her before, she had pushed him away for Gates. He just couldn't do it anymore, he couldn't go and be there for her only to find out she wants Gates. He was not only sad because he wanted to be there with her but he was angry. He was tired of the games, he wanted Neela to choose- either him or Gates. As he had said to her once before she can't have it both ways. For so long it was him trying to be with her and now he wanted her to find him, because then he would know she wanted to be with him and he wouldn't have to go through the same thing again. She had gone back to Gates at Abby's wedding and again at the hospital when she told Abby she didn't want him there. Ray knew that now he wanted Neela to decide if she wanted Gates or him.
