Far Away

Chapter 2 – The Proposal

A/N: I am completely ignoring what is supposed to happen in episode 12.9. This is my own little version, and depending on reviews, there might be a third chapter. I love writing Neela/Gallant stories so it doesn't matter to me. If you want a third chapter, review!

Summary: Set right after chapter 1, Neela and Gallant talk about the important things in life, and judging by the title of the chapter, Michael gives Neela a big surprise.

Waking up in Michael's arms was like heaven to Neela. Even though they had had a long night, she felt completely rested when she woke up at 8:00 the next morning. She had the day off, and was planning on spending the whole day with him, possibly even meeting his family.

She had her head on his chest, and his arm was around her back. After a couple of minutes of tracing circles on his hard stomach, she felt him begin to stroke her hair.

"Hey, sleepyhead. It's about time you woke up. I was about to do it the fun way…" Neela said as she looked up, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"Oh, in that case, I'm going back to sleep…" This earned him a playful slap on the chest, and a girlish giggle from his girlfriend.

"Get your mind out of the gutter, soldier," she said in the most commanding, deep voice she could muster. Now it was Michael's turn to laugh.

"You mean that wasn't what you were really thinking?"

"No, of course not…" said Neela, still smiling.

"Okay, I guess that means I get to do it the fun way…" Laughter erupted from both of them as Michael began tickling Neela. She squirmed under his weight, and tried to attack back, but soon Michael realized he needed to stop. Neela was gasping for breath, her wheezing seemed to have gotten much worse. She looked up at him fearfully, and he helped her get dressed. Once he was dressed himself, he called 911, and tried every breathing technique with her, but nothing seemed to be working. She was growing paler by the second, and the second the ambulance arrived, Neela passed out.

"Is she going to be okay? What's your diagnosis?" Gallant whispered to Abby. She sighed, and turned to face him. They were standing at the door of Neela's room, watching her on the bed. She was still asleep from earlier, and they had to put a tube down her throat. He felt more than guilt. Pain, anger, and sadness all mixed around inside of him as he watched the love of his life just lie there.

"Well, we are definitely sure she had an asthma attack," Abby said, still watching her.

"She doesn't have asthma, does she?"

"She could have just developed it. She had a rough night yesterday. Didn't she tell you?"

"No. I mean, I know about the crash. She helped out by taking care of everyone."

"That's not all. Now, I don't want to be the tattle-tale here, because you might be a little angry when you hear this, but…"

"What did she do…?" His tone was nothing short of scared, and Abby felt really bad about telling him about Neela's stupid, but brave firefighting story.

"There was a building on fire, and they had a woman and her daughter outside. The woman kept trying to get someone to go inside and save her son, but I guess no one would. So, she went in herself, and Neela ran in after her. Tony Gates, the ambulance driver that was escorting Neela around that day, went in too. He got the woman out, and Neela got the boy. She had singed nose hairs, which meant…"

"Chronic smoke inhalation…" He finished. She nodded slowly, and they continued to watch Neela.

"She should be okay, though… right? What did you get from the exam?" Michael asked, pulling up a chair next to the bed and sitting down.

"Well, her breathing is very shaky so we are going to keep that tube down her throat until she is conscious. She should be fine, but she will have to do several breathing treatments and keep an inhaler with her at all times for about a week, just to be on the safe side. I have more patients, but I will be in to visit a little later." Abby squeezed his shoulder reassuringly, and left the room.

Neela woke up a considerably long time later, and Abby took the tube out of her throat. She was still very pale, and her breathing wasn't at all the way it was supposed to be. Michael stayed with her nonstop, and the next day, Abby decided to send her home.

"Michael I am so sorry about all this… I didn't realize how sick I was. I ruined everything, I am so sorry!" She began crying the second they got home. Ray's apartment was empty, which reminded him Ray was now working the night shift. He made a mental note to get up extra early tomorrow and give Neela a surprise. As for right now, he knew he needed to get her in bed.

"Baby, it's ok. You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. I am the one who should be sorry! If I wasn't tickling you, then you wouldn't have had that episode."

"But Michael, if I had listened to Abby, and gotten the treatment, then this would have never happened!"

"You got home right at the perfect time. Neela, if you had stayed, you wouldn't have seen me all night. I would have checked into the nearest hotel, and seen you today… I am glad we spent last night together. It was really, really great. I would have been devastated if I couldn't see you right away." She regained her composure, and began wiping away her tears. She smiled at him.

"It was pretty great, wasn't it…" He laughed. "I just… I was planning out the whole day, and I was so excited about going out with you. I have to work tomorrow, so it would be the last quality time we spent together before next Friday…"

"Well… that's okay. Unless you are searching for another guy, we have plenty of time to go out somewhere. And… I wanted to save this as a surprise for tomorrow, but… I got a job at County."

"What?" She looked at him incredulously. She started laughing, and threw her arms around his neck. "That's great! Now that you have a job, we can start saving for an apartment of our own!"

"Wait… I thought you said you weren't sure you were ready just yet…" He asked skeptically.

She let go of him, and began walking to the bedroom, holding his hand, and leading him along with her. "Well, I have thought about it, and I think because you have nowhere else to go, really, you could live here. You can help Ray and I pay rent, and buy groceries… And if I can stand you, we can get a place of our own. Is that okay…? I haven't really asked Ray yet, but I am sure he won't mind. As long as we are quiet, of course. I can hear him through the wall and it is rather annoying." She smiled again, and led him to the bed. They snuggled close together, and once they were in a perfect position, he answered her.

"I think that is the best idea I have ever heard. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you." And with no response or objection from Neela, they drifted off to sleep.