Okay, wow, another chapter that I never expected to be a chapter. After chapter 13, I wasn't exactly sure where I wanted to go (even though I have a pretty good idea of where I want this story to end up) and this is just what came out. I guess that just proves that I can plan a story as much as I want, but I still have to go with what I'm thinking at that moment. I just want to quickly thank everyone for their constant support because this turned out to be a lot longer than I expected and I appreciate your patience and kind words. Thanks again!

Chapter 14

7:35 AM

Ray stomped away, heading towards the front desk. His head reeled with all of the different things he should have said. She was right, he had betrayed her, and he wasn't sure if she would ever be able to forgive him, or if he would ever be able to forgive himself.

"Ray." Ray turned around as Abby walked towards him. "How is she?"

"You mean besides the fact that she basically hates me and never wants to speak to me again?"

"Yeah, besides that."

Ray shook his head. "Not good."

Ray began to walk away, not wanting to talk about it anymore.

"Look, Ray, I'm sorry," Abby apologized, following him down the hallway.

"It's not your fault," Ray assured her, as he continued to walk. He knew that the only thing that would take his mind off of the situation would be to work.

"I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn't listen to me," Abby continued.

"She won't listen to any of us," Ray replied.

"What are we going to do?"

Ray stopped walking and turned around. He shrugged.

"I don't know, Abby. We can't make her do anything that she doesn't want to do. Right now I just want to focus on getting her back."

Ray continued to walk again.

"She doesn't hate you, Ray," Abby called down the hallway.

He didn't turn back to respond.

5:04 PM

Ray pulled on a pair of latex gloves and began examining the ankle of the young woman who was lying on the gurney before him. Her ankle was swollen about four times its normal size. Her skin had already turned a purplish blue.

"Well, Ms. Veto, I'll have to take an X-Ray to be sure, but it looks like you've got a fracture," Ray said.

"Please, call me Sandy," his patient replied.

Ray looked up at her and smiled. Normally, he would have seen her as a sexy, flirtatious woman with gorgeous, red hair and a nice rack, but he barely noticed her. All he could think about was Neela.

"I'll send you up to X-Ray and then we'll put a cast on. In six to eight weeks, you'll be as good as new."

"Maybe you could come over and help me exercise it," she commented, smiling. Ray shook his head and began to concentrate on her chart. "Not interested, Doc?"

"I'm…ah…I'm sort of seeing someone," Ray muttered.

"Was that a 'I'm in a committed relationship' kind of response or a 'I'm interested in someone, but she won't give me the time of day' kind of response?"

"That was a thank you, but I'm not interested response," Ray responded. He looked back at the woman's chart.

"Okay, Mr. Hunter, I'm just going to ask you to hop up on this bed," Neela said as she walked by Ray and his patient, wheeling a man in a wheelchair. She stopped at the bed next to Ray and put the breaks on the wheelchair.

"Need some help?" Ray asked as he took the few steps over towards Neela.

"No," Neela snapped.

She held onto the elderly man's arm and helped him onto the gurney.

"Neela…" Ray began.

As soon as the patient was securely on the bed, Neela grabbed the curtain that surrounded the gurney and pulled it closed. Ray stared at the fabric wall that kept him from Neela.

"She must be the one who doesn't give you the time of day," Sandy speculated.

Ray turned to face her.

"I'll go alert X-Ray that you're on your way," Ray said, ignoring her.

"You want to talk about it?" Sandy questioned, as if she and Ray had been friends forever.

Ray shook his head. "Talking about it is what got me in trouble in the first place. Someone will be by to wheel you to X-Ray in a little while."

"Well, if you change your mind, my number's on your chart."

Ray couldn't help but smile. He had never before been faced with a beautiful woman who was so obviously coming on to him, and felt nothing. Ray took one last look at the curtain that separated him and Neela before walking away.

"Hey Jerry, can you call X-Ray for me?" Ray asked as he approached the main desk. "I've got a patient in curtain one with a broken ankle."

"Am I your personal assistant now?" Jerry replied sarcastically.

Ray dropped Sandy's chart on the desk and reached for the phone.

"Fine, I'll do it myself."

Ray dialed the number for X-Ray and waited for someone to answer the phone.

Neela pulled opened the curtain that surrounded her and stepped away from her patient. She didn't even look in the direction of where Ray had been examining his patient, not wanting to see him or the beautiful woman he had been working on. She had heard the woman flirting with Ray and, although she didn't want to admit it, Neela was jealous.

Neela briskly walked to the desk. She spotted Ray, but tried to ignore the fact that he was standing there.

"Jerry, can you call X-Ray for me?" Neela asked, picking up a chart for another patient.

"You two in cahoots or something?" Jerry replied. "Get the memo, I'm not your personal secretary."

Jerry walked away. Neela rolled her eyes and picked up another one of telephones.

"I'll call for you," Ray offered, since he was already on hold with the X-Ray department anyway.

"Don't bother," Neela replied.

"I'm already on the line," Ray explained.

For the second time, Neela rolled her eyes. She took the chart that she had grabbed and began walking away. Ray hung up the phone, making a mental note to himself to call them back. Ray followed her through the hallway.

"Stop following me," Neela commanded.

"Not until you talk to me."

"I've got patients to see."

Neela attempted to open one of the exam room doors, but Ray put his arm out in front of her, blocking her.

"Look, our shifts end in an hour. We can grab some dinner and just talk."

"I've got a double shift."

"Since when?" For the past week, Ray had become an expert on Neela's schedule. He knew that he and she were supposed to work the same hours.

"Henry's got the flu so Kerry needed to stay home with him. I took her shift."

"Neela, you barely slept last night. You can't work for twenty hours."

"You can't tell me what I can and cannot do," Neela exclaimed.

"I'm trying to look out for you and your patients."

"I don't need you to look out for me or my patients. Now get out my way!"

"Fine, but I'm going to wait for you."

"What?"

"I'll wait until your shift ends. Then, we can talk."

"That's ridiculous. My shift won't be over until three AM and your shift starts again at 5. You scold me for not getting enough sleep, but it's you who's denying yourself sleep. "

"I'll sleep in the lounge."

"I already told you, Ray, I don't need you anymore!"

"I'll see you at three."

Ray walked away. He wasn't sure if he had succeeded at doing anything except making her angrier, but at least he was trying. He was determined to get her to talk to him.

Annoyed, Neela opened the exam room door. She knew that Ray was right. She was tired and fatigued. She had already had three coffees just to keep her eyes open, but she would never admit that to him. She was convinced that she would still be able to do the best job possible for her patients.

"Hello Mr. Landrie, I'm Dr. Rasgotra," Neela introduced herself as she approached her patient, stifling a yawn.