Title: Finally Found (2)
Author: Emony Rating: FRT Disclaimer: The names of characters contained herein are the property of the copyright holder of "ER." No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and said characters are used here without permission. Spoilers: Season 11 including finale.
A/N: Next part… happy that I finally got it written after being bitten by other plot bunnies.
Summary: It's been one of those days and Neela's feeling the urge to let her hair down. It's the day after the night before…

Neela woke to the bright sunshine filtering in through her light curtains. Groaning she rolled over, barely remembering to stand as she reached the edge of her bed. She walked the several steps to her alarm, placed well out of reach from her bed, to turn off the loud bells before it woke Ray. Lucky sod.

Hangover in full force, Neela puttered about the apartment readying herself for her shift. Downing the last of her second cup of coffee she left, locking the door behind her.

Everyone at work seemed far too cheerful and far too worried about her health, which she passed off as lack of sleep, perhaps mixed with a light cold.

Several hours into her shift, already ready to go home, Neela had an unwanted patient.

"Hey! Hey! It's Doc Neela!"

Grimacing as she turned to face him, it was Bret. She hadn't seen him for more than a few minutes since their ill-fated dalliance some weeks earlier.

"Bret." She forced a smile, "What seems to be the problem?"

He waved a bloody hand under her face.

"Oh. Well, let's get that cleaned up; see if you need any stitches. How did it happen?"

"Kitchen knife, trying to slice a bagel."

"Ah."

She set about cleaning the wound. Abby appeared at the next curtain over to treat a teenager with fainting spells. Unfortunately for Neela, Bret decided to try for a conversation.

"So, Dr Neela, that's some hangover you've got there."

"Hangover?" Oh Shit "Don't be silly, I'm just tired is all, you know the kind of noise Ray makes when he's had a gig."

A knowing look crossed Bret's face. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to use Ray as an alibi, especially when Abby seemed to be taking such an interest in their talk.

"Sure, play it like that if you want Doc," he sneaked a look at Abby, "I know what you were up to last night."

Shit. Shit. Shit. Wasn't he supposed to be at a gig with Ray? Create a diversion, girl.

"Well, Bret, it looks like this will need sutures, I'll just go get a kit, I won't be a moment."

Neela almost ran to the nearest stock cupboard for a kit. When she returned Abby was smirking in her direction. On reflection, perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to leave Bret with Abby. She sat on a stool by the bed and began the stitches.

"Looks like you'll only need three, then I'll bandage it and you'll be free to go, Bret."

"You trying to get rid of me?"

Yes. "No."

Abby snorted. Neela glared. Abby went back to her patient.

Once Bret was on his way, Neela threw herself into work and by the end of her shift her hangover was almost gone. She'd spent that time treating patients, dodging Abby, and wondering what the hell Bret had been going on about. As she was leaving via the ambulance bay, Abby finally caught up with her.

"So, I know that lack of sleep thing was a lie."

"It was not."

"Sure. So, when did you become such a big fan of Ray's music?"

"Huh?" Eloquent, Neela.

"The gig you went to last night, Ray's gig?"

"I wasn't at Ray's gig." Was I?

Abby laughed.

"Sure, Neela, that's not what Bret says, nor that hangover. Or the fact that you've spent the entire shift humming his music."

"I've what?"

"At least that's what your good friend Bret told me."

"I- well, this next train's mine, see you Abby."

Thank God.

"We will talk about this, I swear, even if I have to go through Ray to do it." She shuddered.

Neela grimaced at the thought as she stepped onto the train, her thoughts running at full tilt, playing her day and the previous night over and over looking for some truth in Bret and Abby's words.

Ray finally succumbed to sleep within an hour of Neela leaving for her shift. The night had been long and hard; thoughts constantly appearing, ideas shot down in denial, he was exhausted. He slept soundly until early afternoon, awakened by the harsh ring of the phone, followed by a voice shouting to him through the answering machine.

Ray stumbled, sleep ridden, from his bedroom to the phone.

"Hello."

"Ray! I need help man!"

"Bret?" he wiped the sleep from his eyes, "What time is it?"

"Afternoon. I need doctor help."

The last vestiges of sleep fell away. "What happened?"

"I cut myself, there's blood everywhere."

"You did what? How? Where?"

"Knife. Bagel. I slipped, it went through my hand."

"Right through?"

"No."

"Bret, you need to get to the ER as soon a possible. Do you have any bandages?"

"No."

"Towels?"

"Yeah."

"Wrap one gently round your hand then get to County."

"Can't I come to you?"

"No, I don't have the stuff."

"What about Neela?"

"What about her?" Was that jealousy creeping into his voice?

"Does she have stuff?"

"She's at work."

"Oh. I'll call later."

"Get to the ER, Bret."

Once again, Ray found it hard to return to sleep, only this time it wasn't just thoughts of Neela keeping him awake. Half an hour later, he picked up the phone again, dialing a number from memory.

"County General, ER."

"Jerry?"

"Yeah. That you, Ray?"

"Yeah. Listen, Jerry, you got a guy named Bret Michaels there, knife wound to the hand?"

"I'll check."

Ray waited, listening as Jerry rifled through charts.

"Found it. Yeah he's here, Neela's got him. You want me to get her?"

"NO! Uh… no, that's fine, just wanted to make sure he got himself in to you guys."

"Whatever, Ray."

"Thanks, man."

Barely awake an hour on his second day off, and he'd already dealt with two calls about work. Sighing, he plopped himself down in front of the TV, turning to some documentary channel.

"-and the bears mate-"

"No, thank you." He flipped the channel.

"All you wanted was somebody who cares-"

"Ugh, no." Again he flipped, settling on an old action movie. Watching Bruce Willis shoot stuff and things blowing up should take his mind off of things.

He was still watching the movie when he heard Neela coming up the stairs; he stiffened with nerves, wondering for the billionth time how on earth he was going to deal with this one.

Lyrics from Michelle Branch – All you wanted.