Title: Roomies Stick Together
Author: Leven
Rating: FRK
Disclaimer: I don't own Ray, Neela or ER in general. They belong to NBC and all the other people who have something thing to do with this show.
Spoilers: Some spoilers for 11x21 "Carter Est Amoureux"
Summary: Ray and Neela both had some bad days. Luckily they had each other to lean on. Post "Carter Est Amoureux". Short Ray/Neela Friendship-ish One-shot.


Roomies Stick Together

He hadn't had the best day.

So, as he usually did after a day like this, he was getting wasted at his favourite bar. He was used to the loud music and the cigarette smell. Every bartender that worked there knew him. But he couldn't relax today.

He knew it was because of her.

It never crossed his mind that she would actually agree to come with him. But here she was; sitting next to him with a gin and tonic in her hand. He glanced at her and drank the last of his beer.

"So." He said, not really knowing what to say.

"So." She responded.

"Crappy day, huh?"

"Crappy days, Ray. Plural." She sighed. "Did you hear?"

"Hear what?" He knew exactly what she was talking about.

"That I cried. In front of Pratt, no less. I was so embarrassed." She took a sip of her gin and tonic.

"Don't worry about it, Neela. Pratt's an ass. You're going to be an amazing R2 and then he'll be the one crying."

Neela smiled weakly. He was being sweet. Very sweet, but he only made her feel worse.

She knew what he had talked about with Susan, it was nearly impossible to keep secrets in the ER and Ray walking through their apartment with a strangely defeated face had only confirmed those rumours.

"She's wrong you know." She whispered.

"Who? Lewis? Nah, she's absolutely right." He drank his fourth beer in one quick gulp and sighed. "I mean, who am I kidding? Really? I shouldn't be a doctor. You were right, Neela, it's not a day job. Maybe I should just find something that is."

She stared at him in disbelief.

"Excuse me? Please, Ray, I was angry when I told you that. I wasn't serious." He snorted.

"Yes, you were." Neela felt like hitting him over the head with a bedpan. Instead she clasped his hands firmly and looked him straight in the eye.

"You are a good doctor, you are going to be an amazing doctor." Ray merely blinked. "I'm not just going to let you give up on your potential. And you aren't going to let me give up on mine. Okay? Roomies stick together. Ray? Look at me."

He reluctantly turned to face her.

"Come on. Lets go home." She slid off the barstool and held out her hand. He didn't take it though, instead he grinned, put his arm around her shoulder, squeezed her tight and muttered:

"Yeah, roomies stick together."


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