Chapter Nine

Neela let go of Rays hand and backed away slowly, shock written plainly on her face. "You…what?" she managed to get out in a strangled whisper, her eyes wide.

"Neela…" his eyes were pleading with her, she didn't know why. She didn't know what he wanted of her.

"How long?" she started, her voice getting stronger now. "How long Ray? How long have you known?"

"A while," he answered. "At least…it didn't come as a surprise when you said it. I've known something wasn't right with you for the past couple of weeks. You were feeling ill all the time, you're mood swings, then tonight with the wine. It just all started making sense. And I'm supposed to be a doctor - I do know something about the signs of pregnancy. I've known for a while."

"Why didn't you just tell me you knew?" she said to him, still reeling. "Instead of letting me go through this by myself?"

"God Neela, you think this is how I wanted it? I know I should have said something, but I wanted you to tell me! I wanted you to be able to feel you could tell me."

Neela was having a hard time trying not to burst out crying. She usually did in situations like this, and this was so much worse then anything that had ever happened. It was scary, but she was relieved as well to finally have it all out in the open after weeks of secrecy.

"I know I should have told you earlier as well. And I tried…so many times to tell you. But it's only been recently that I really accepted it myself. I was just planning the right moment. And the whole thing has been so terrifying for me…I didn't know how you'd react or anything…"

"Am I that scary?" he asked her, trying to lighten things, make it easier for both of them.

"No. But I was having my own doubts as well…I'm still having them now. I don't know what to do and…I really need your help Ray."

He thought about her words for a moment, and then led her over to sit down.

"When I first guessed what was going on I was terrified to. And you know me right? Not the first thing I'll admit to. And…truth is, at first, it wasn't the best news I'd ever had. I mean, hell, I don't know the first thing about being a father do I? Or even being with someone I really care about. To be honest, all I wanted to do was run away."

She nodded. "I completely understand Ray I…"

"Just hear me out," he stopped her. "After a while, I actually started to get used to the idea. And now, after everything that's happened with Danny and Jess…I'm starting to think maybe I could handle things. I could handle them badly but still…maybe it wouldn't be the horror story I'd been imagining."

She actually laughed when he said this. But then she started to back down again. "Listen Ray…I can't let you do this. This is your life we're talking about here. I don't want you staying with me out of pity or…anything else."

"Now you're being crazy Neela. Who says it'd be out of pity? Maybe I really want to be with you. Maybe it's what I've always wanted."

She gaped at him. "Ray…you can't be serious. I mean…I'm not even you're type?"

"Neela," he said patiently. "That night that we spent together was the best night of my life. And that's not a line. And look…I must have had to have thought about you, even a little for anything to happen in the first place."

"But…I'd be throwing you right in at the deep end wouldn't I? I mean its one thing to start a relationship….but starting a family? Are we ready for that?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "I know I want to be with you. I'm willing to work through pretty much anything to make that happen."

"So, we're really going to do this?" she asked, wonder in her voice at the possibilities that lay ahead.

"Looks that way."

Then she looked up at him guiltily. "What about Althea?" she asked.

A shadow of guilt passed over his face as well. "You know I was only with her to make you jealous don't you? I mean, I don't think there was a point when we were ever really just friends, do you?"

Now Neela thought about it, she could see his point. "No. These past weeks, I have kind of felt like I'm living someone else's life. Like I'm only really me when I'm...well, when I'm with you."

"So…this night didn't turn out so bad after all did it?"

"Ray?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you ever going to shut up and kiss me?"

Struggling not to argue back that she had been the one doing most of the talking, he eventually gave in, leaned forward slightly, and obliged to her question.

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It didn't take long for word to travel round the hospital, and soon everyone had heard everything that had happened. Abby had been the first person Neela told, and then Susan had found out. Both had been shocked, but surprisingly supportive.

It was early evening, things were just calming down after a frantic day or car crashes and burn victims, and what had been a reasonably hot day was just beginning to give way to a cool breeze. Haleh and Malik were busy hanging up a congratulations sign in the admin area, for when Ray and Neela came in for their shifts. "I can't keep up with those two," said Malik, reaching for his bottle of water.

"One minute….world war three, next minute they're friends….please tell me we don't live in a soap opera"

"Well, you know its all drama down here," said Frank. "That end needs to be straightened out a bit," he continued unhelpfully.

"I'm agreeing with you," Haleh answered Malik, ignoring Frank. "Although things usually don't end up happily ever after here do they?"

"That's because to much happiness can get boring," replied Frank. "So after all this, I'm actually beginning to miss the days of Carol and Ross."

"Or Carter and Abby," said Chuny, joining in.

Their camaraderie was interrupted with the arrival of the new happy couple. Ray had one arm draped protectively around Neela's shoulder, and they were laughing at some private joke.

"So? Have you guys decided find out if it was a boy or a girl?" asked Abby, coming up to them excitedly.

"Wow, this is so amazing you guys," said Neela, pointing to the balloons and the signs.

"Susan's idea." said Abby quickly. "So? Come on, I really want to know. I mean, when it comes round to finding out, it'll be so much easier if you know. I mean, there's baby names, clothes you need to buy…."

"Well, actually," said Neela, disentangling herself from Rays embrace, long enough to help herself to some cookies. "Ray doesn't want to find out."

There was a silence. Then Abby groaned. "You won't keep that up," she promised them. "Sooner or later, you'll cave."

"Nope," said Ray. "We want it to be a surprise."

Frank rolled his eyes at this statement. "Right. Because there aren't enough of them around here!"

The End.

Ok so, I managed to make the end of this a lot shorter then I'd first thought. I know you all probably wanted to know if it was a girl or boy as well, but I really couldn't decide so I left it at that. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did writing it. I will at some point go back and repost, correcting any mistakes. I'm sure there are a few! I may or may not think of any ideas for a sequel, or i might just write a whole new Ray/Neela fic, once i've seen more of this series. So, until then...thanks again for reading and reviewing!