Neela sat in the staff lounge drinking coffee when Ray came in. "Now what?"
"Do I always have to be up to something or am I actually able to get coffee without getting the fifth degree?" Ray poured himself a cup and sat next to Neela. "Actually, though, there is something."
Neela sighed. "I am not covering…" She became quiet when Ray put a small box in front of her. "What's this?"
"Open it and find out." Ray sipped his coffee.
Neela looked at Ray and opened the small box. "How did you know I wanted these earrings?"
"A little bird told me." Ray grinned.
"Thank you!" She smiled.
"No, thank you. I know covering my shift on Saturday is not what you wanted, so I wanted to make it up to you in whatever way I could. This gig is important and I couldn't back out. So, this is my way of thanking you." He smiled.
Well, Ray Barnett has a soft side. Neela thought as she smiled back at him. "I know."
"Ray! Neela! Multiple GSW's. ETA five minutes." Abby poked her head in.
Ray was looking at the young man. "So, where does it hurt?"
The young man was defiant. "Bite me."
"I'm a doctor, not a vampire, so there'll be no biting, but I know someone who'll be more than happy to oblige." Ray smiled down at the young man's little sister.
"I'm not letting you do anything to me." The young man was still defiant.
Ray looked at him. "You're eight years old. I don't think you have much choice in the matter. Now, hold your head still and I'll…OUCH!" Ray snatched his hand back after the kid bit him. There were times that he wondered why he ever wanted to be a doctor, much less a doctor in the emergency room. He glared at the mother, who seemed to not notice or care that her son just bit him. "Fine." Ray threw his gloves on the floor. "Go home. Get tetanus. Get really sick and then come see me. Oh, wait. By then it may be too late. We may have to call a funeral director for you because there'll be nothing we can do about it." He stood up and turned to leave.
As Ray opened the door, the little boy cried. "I don't wanna get tetmus! I don't wanna get really sick!"
Ray smiled quickly before turning around and facing him. "We can ensure right now that you won't get tetanus and die."
The kid wiped some tears. "How?"
"Let me take care of that boo-boo you have on your head." Ray put on another pair of gloves. "Think you could let me?"
The little boy nodded. "Just don't let me get tetmus."
Ray smiled. "I won't let you get tetanus."
Neela stood at the door and smiled. Even his pout works on kids. Ray may have often tried to get patients out the door faster than the speed of light, but he had a way of getting the patients to do what he felt was best for them. I wonder if he does look at this as something he does part time while waiting for his music career to take off. Because if he does, he doesn't show that he does.
"There you go!" Ray snapped his gloves. "All done."
"Now I won't get tetmus?" The little boy looked up with puppy dog eyes.
"No. Now you won't get tetanus. However, come see me in a week and we'll get those stitches out, kay, buddy?"
The little boy smiled and gave Ray a high five. "Okay!"
Ray gave his mom a sheet of paper. "Here's an antibiotic I'm prescribing. He needs to take them all."
"Thanks, Doctor."
"No problem." Ray smiled. He turned around and saw Neela at the door. "Hi there."
"Hello. Look, listen. Those two GSW's are a result from the two last night."
"Gang?"
"Good job, Sherlock. I was wondering if you might be able to figure that out." Neela grinned.
"Bite me."
"'I'm a doctor, not a vampire.'" She quoted Ray.
Ray smiled. "Yeah, but you know you want to bite me." He brushed past her, leaving her with a perplexed look on her face.
Neela was looking over her chart when Ray approached her. "Is this a good time to ask what you want for dinner?" He adjusted his pack.
"I'm not hungry." Neela absently responded.
"You have to eat. You've eaten nothing all day."
"Ray, that's my business."
"No, not when I'm the one that will have to take care of you."
She looked at him. "Stop your puppy dog eyed pout."
Ray held his hands up and looked around. "I'm not pouting! I don't pout!"
"No, you just do this." Sam, who was listening, showed Ray how he looked. "You know that no matter what we're doing, or how busy we are, or whatever, you know that pout will always work."
"I DON'T HAVE A POUT!" Ray raised his voice.
"You have a pout." Clemente chimed in. "It works on everyone. I think I've been suckered once or twice by you and I'm a hard guy to sucker."
Ray sighed, exasperated. "I don't pout."
"Sure you do." Pratt smiled. "That was a perfect imitation, by the way, Sam."
"Thank you." Sam smiled.
"Fine. Whatever." Ray adjusted his pack again and left.
"Ray!" He heard Neela shouting behind him.
"What?" He didn't turn around to face her.
"How about some macaroni and cheese for dinner?"