Chapter 11

"Hey, Em?" Ray called as he walked through the door. "I'm back! I'm just going to go help Neela bring the rest of it up!" He perched the laundry basket with freshly folded clothes on the arm of the couch. He looked at it, then thought better as he set it on the table instead. With that, he walked back outside to meet Neela.

He found her still in the laundry room, folding the last of Emily's shirts. She stuffed it on top of all the others.

"Here, I can take that," Ray offered, walking past her as she held the door open.

"It's almost two," Neela said, glancing at her watch. "How far away is her doctor?"

"Morgen's office is a couple blocks away from County," he answered.

"Morgen, Morgen..." Neela muttered, searching her memory, "I know I've heard the name."

"Yeah, we refer Peds cases to her, she specializes in adolescents." They rounded the stairs, and soon were back in the apartment.

"I'm going to check on her and let her know we're going to need to leave in a little bit," Ray said, setting the basket down next to the first one. He rapped lightly on her door.

"Come in," Emily called.

"Hey," Ray said as he sat down at her feet. "It's just after two, we've got about twenty minutes before we need to leave." Emily groaned. "Aw, come on," he groaned back, being over the top to make her laugh. "It won't be that bad, only this bad," he teased, holding his hands up to "measure."

"Hey, not funny!" she whined. "I'm freaked!"

"There's nothing to be freaked about sweetie, you know what's going to happen. See, if you didn't know, then you could be freaked. But since you do, you can be apprehensive," he explained with the mock air of a professor. "Get it? You're three whole syllables up on just being freaked."

"Whatever, freaked or apprehensive, it doesn't matter. Try this: I don't want to go!"

"Well look Em, I understand you're…" he hesitated, "nervous, but like I said, you're going to be fine. It's just a boring old exam and a quick blood draw, okay? And don't worry, if they bring out the stretching rack, I'll kick their asses—"

"The what?"

"Don't worry, don't worry!" Ray said, rubbing her arm. "Yeesh, I was only joking! You're really tense, you know that?"

"Yeah, maybe because my brother seems to think it's funny to scare the crap out of me!"

"Okay, okay, calm down honey," Ray said, sensing that he needed to tone it down. "You're going to be fine, and I'll stay with you! If it gets to be too much on you, we'll work through it together. Deal?"

"Deal."

"All right, we're cool then?"

"Like ice."

"And, Em? Just on a side note, when you're better and everything, we need to work on your comebacks!" She playfully swatted him as he stood up, pretending to shield himself. "You should get dressed in a few minutes though, okay? Do you want Neela to come and give you a hand?" he said at the door.

"Uh, I don't think so, but could you bring me the laundry you just did?"

"Sure, be right back." He slipped out and reappeared a moment later with her laundry basket.

"Thanks, I'll get ready."

"Okay, I'll just be hanging out in the living room."

Ray walked back down the hall, but paused when he saw his bedroom light was on.

"Oh, sorry!" Neela jumped as she saw him standing in the doorway. She was fluffing his pillow, and turned to face him as she set it down in its place on his well-made bed.

"What're you doing in here?"

"Oh, just trying to be helpful. Sorry, I didn't mean to invade your space or anything."

"Nah, it's fine, I'm just trying to remember the last time I actually tucked the sheets under the mattress."

"Yeah, that's me, ER doctor slash sheet-tucker," she said, shrugging her shoulders with a smile. "It's a habit, I have an obsessive bed-making quality, and always feel the need to do others'."

"Well, thanks I guess," Ray said. "But, bed-making quality?" he asked with a grin.

She laughed. "It's a talent, really."

"I'm sure. Just like that washing machine magic you worked earlier!"

"What can I say? I'm a sucker for housework!"

Before either of them realized what was happening, they were both just inches apart, like they had been in the laundry room. Without warning, Ray tilted Neela's chin up and enveloped her lips with his. She ran one of her hands through his hair, the other caressing his shoulder. It briefly crossed her mind how very muscular he was, and she was surprised she hadn't taken notice of it before. However, all thoughts flew from her mind as Ray deepened the kiss, lightly running his tongue against her bottom lip and she allowed it to slip inside.

"Whoa," she said softly after a few moments. "What just happened? Did we kiss? We're kissing?" her voice rose slightly.

"Well, not anymore, technically speaking," Ray said in a whisper, the amusement and happiness apparent.

"But…can we do that?" Neela whispered back, her voice wavering.

"I don't exactly see the Thought Police crashing through here, so I'm guessing it's a go!"

"Ray," she said quietly but forcefully, putting a hand on his arm, "I meant, can we do that?"

Ray glanced at the clock behind her. "Well, we can't do it now, Emily and I have to get going. We'll talk about this okay? But, uh…" he touched a finger to her bottom lip, and continued gently, "it was great."

Neela smiled, touching the spot when he put his hand down. "I'd better get going too, I'll call though, and maybe come by later?" she asked.

"Absolutely. Later, just call," he said, turning and walking out of his room. He went back down the hallway. "Em, honey we've got to go!"