Summary: I guess if I'm going to have a love interest for Ray in another story (see Ultimate NBC Crossover) I should explain how she got there.

Disclaimer: I don't own ER, But Dr. Abbi Laynce, so there!

Author's Note: Ha…three in one day! I rock! GO ME!

Love and Let Love

Noon couldn't come sooner for Abbi. She was excited to learn more about the mysterious Dr. Barnett. She couldn't help it. She was drawn to the punk rock doc like a moth to light. He just seemed so interesting. So full of life.

Ray on the other hand, was dreading noon. Not because of Abbi, in fact she was the only thing keeping him going back. He was so tired, and almost hung-over, but not quite. God, why did he have to play that gig last night, he thought. He rolled over from his pile of blankets and clothes to see what time it was. The clock flashed 11:15. Forty-five minute to get to work, he thought to himself again. He staggered from his room and into the kitchen, pulling on some pants as he stumbled. He looked up to pull a shirt off the blue light on tome pf the stereo, to see Neela. "Crap, I forgot it was your day off," he mumbled, as he made his way to the small refrigerator in the corner.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I wake you up. Cause if I did, I didn't mean to, not like you coming in at 4 this morning all drunk."

"Oh, you were awake for that…" he started, but decide not to finish his sentence. "I'm going to work. If they call in and hour, asking where I am, tell them I've fallen asleep on the El, cause that's probably the truth."

Across town, Abbi was boarding her train. She looked solemnly at the ads along the lights and thought about Nashville. Why did she leave, she thought. She could have stayed, gotten a place away from him; her colleagues would have protected her. Oh, well, can't turn back now. Her train pulled up to the station, just as another on did. Ray got off looking, cold, tired and miserable. Abbi pushed herself to say hello, careful not to push him over the edge.

"Hi, Ray, is it?"

"Oh, hi Abbi," Ray answered. He walked down the stairs and on to the street, while she followed behind. Both stopped at the coffee kiosk on the corner. Abbi ordered a hot chocolate with a shot of espresso, while Ray ordered a black coffee. Abbi glanced at his decision.

""I see someone needs a wake-up," she joked as they walked towards the ambulance bay.

"Yah, well, that's what you get when you play a gig until 3 in the morning."

"Why don't you take earlier gigs?"

"Yah…" he laughed, amused by the statement. Abbi smiled back, almost to laugh herself. Both the doctors walked up to the desk.

"Dr. Barnett sutures in curtain 2, kid with a cold and fever in curtain 4, and broken arm in exam room 3," Carter said, handing a stack of charts to Ray, as he took of his jacket. "And you must be Dr. Laynce. Hi, I'm Dr. John Carter, an attending here."

"I'm Dr. Abbi Laynce. It's a pleasure to meet you." Abbi replied.

"Okay, well, for you we have a teen pregnancy in exam room 5, a jammed finger down the hall, and kid with a stomach ache in exam 2. Have fun!"

Author's Note: Wow, I've written another chapter! Go me! And I'm writing 4 stories at once! Holy Crap!