Return A Stranger
Chapter 4

Legal Notes: The characters and locations are property of Warner Bros and I make no money off of them. I do however, own Mykalla and Joelianne, so you can't have them!

The school year progressed fairly normally, observations went smoothly on the whole and fall was working its way in with the normal sports injuries involved. Ella was starting to get excited at the prospect of Halloween which was now a little over two weeks away. She had found a way to connive Mykalla into going Trick or Treating with her, and forcing Ray to come along with them as they went around the neighborhood with Andrew, Joelianne's neighbor and Ella's new friend.

Mike was also anticipating a big event, but this one was much closer. She was going to Abby and Carter's wedding that afternoon with Ray, and Joelianne and Jake. Mike was worried about spending the whole afternoon with Ray without the pretenses of work or Ella involved. Sure, she would often attend some of his gigs at Self Expression, but usually Joelianne and Rissa and the rest of her friends would be there. This was going to be a different experience for the both of them, and she wasn't sure what was going to come of it.

The ceremony itself was breathtaking. The Carter family held nothing back from the flowers to the musicians, to the location itself. The reception was even more grandious, all by Elenor's insistence of course. The lawn of the mansion had been transformed into an amazing extravaganza. It was unike anything Mike or Ray had ever seen before. The buffet wazs spread out over four tables, covered with everything you could possibly think of. The Carter's had even booked The Fins to be the band for the reception.

Ray and Mike were seated at a table with Jake and Joelianne, Dave and Luka and Sam. They had spent the afternoon laughing at Dave's antics, dancing, and just enjoying each others company. Ray had even gathered enough courage to try to kiss Mike during one of the slow dances, but was interrupted by laughing at Dave acting like a fool again. Now Mike was sitting at the table with Joelianne as the rest of the table wandered around socializing with the other current and ex-County folk. In her purse, Mike's cellphone began to ring incessantly. She would have ignored it if it weren't for the fact that it was from the babysitter she had hired for Ella for the day.

Ray came back to the table just as a serious looking Mike hung up her cell phone. Finding her purse and jacket she stood to leave. "Hey, where are you going in such a rush?" asked Ray holding on to her. "Talk to me."

Mykalla tried to wiggle out of Ray's grasp, but it was no use. "I have to get to the hospital, Ella got stung by a bee at the park."

"Where are they taking her," he asked, knowing that Ella was highly allergic to bees.

"County," she replied pulling herself towards the door. "I have to go Ray. We'll talk later."

"We're coming with you," replied Joelianne who was now standing next to them. "You can't get there without a car, and you won't want to sit around by yourself and you know it."

Not wanting to argue with her best friend, and Ray, she gave up as she followed Ray to his van to head to County.

To Be Continued