Author's Note: Sorry this took me so long; went on vacation, and then got swamped with other stories. The word for this was 'contagious'.
PART TWO – COMIN' UP FROM BEHIND
The next day saw Ray leaning over a patient's bed, shining a light in their eyes, before he pocketed the tool and pulled his stethoscope from around his neck. Listening to the heartbeat for a few moments, he nodded, before hooking it around his neck again, grabbing up the chart once more, as he tried to get his pen to work. "Okay; it's pretty much just the flu," he told the patient; a young woman who'd been staring at his ass anytime he turned away, he was sure of it. He was pretty damn sure she'd tried to grab it at one point as well… so for now, he was keeping his back clear of her hands… not to mention his ass.
"Are you sure? Maybe you should check again…"
Inwardly rolling his eyes, he offered her a smile. "Miss Grady, it's just the flu."
"Call my Alyssa…"
"Alyssa… it's just the flu. The nurse will get you a prescription, okay?" With that, he beat a rather hasty retreat, not turning his back on her until he walked backwards out of her hands' reach. Breathing out a sigh of relief, he passed on the necessary information to Chuny Marquez at the desk, and crossed his hands on it… before thudding his head down on top of them. "Guh…"
He heard a soft laugh in front of him, and then a female voice say, "I thought you liked that kind of attention."
"Gah!" He shot upright when he realised it was Abby, and nearly fell backwards, gathering himself and steadying before he fell flat on his rear end. "Don't do that to me," he told her nervously, throwing her a wary look. She raised her brows, and laughed again, clearly amused by his flustered state.
"So, you gonna get back to me about tonight, or what?" she finally asked, and he stared at her for a moment, before literally slapping his palm to his face. Cursing inside afterwards, he quickly covered the move by rubbing his face, and saying, "Sorry, got wrapped up with patients." He smiled sheepishly, and sat down on the available chair next to him.
"I was thinking we could go to 'Luigi's'," he told her, as if he had had a plan the whole time… which he kinda had. He had been trying to think of somewhere since yesterday; when she had agreed to the date. He supposed part of him had never realised she could say yes to it at all, and as such, he hadn't planned this far in advance.
"I didn't know you liked pasta," Abby ventured, narrowing her eyes slightly as she cocked her head inquisitively.
"Oh, they do pizza too, don't forget," Ray quipped, smirking triumphantly.
"Ah, of course; how silly of me."
Ray quickly decided he liked this witty exchange, but they had work to do… unfortunately. The board was filled with pointless patients, but Lewis would kill them both if they didn't get moving. "So… seven-thirty?"
"Well, that doesn't give me much time to get ready, does it?" she teased, her tone half-serious, and for a moment, he almost bought it. He made to apologise, before he threw her a mock glare.
"Eight, then?" he offered instead, to which she nodded. Her hair bobbed in its ponytail with the motion, and he smiled, standing from the stool.
Don't say cool…
"Okay. I'll see you at eight." He made to walk off, to another patient, even as Abby called after him.
"Um… Ray?" He looked back to her. "Where?"
Is stupidity contagious or something? Have you been standing too close to Morris again? Nearly slapping himself in the face again, he threw her a grin, saying, "Well, 'Luigi's', of course." Chuckling to himself for the – he thought – good cover, he turned away, and walked across the admin area, letting out a deep breath of relief.
Well… that didn't go too badly… you're only a little bit of an idiot… well, more than you were before, anyway.
Promptly telling his brain to shut up, he busied himself with examining the new patient, inwardly groaning when he realised this one was right next to Alyssa Grady.
Kill me now… only six hours to go…
To Be Continued
