Ray looked in the box and groaned. "Oh God! What was this woman thinking?" He mumbled.
"I gotta see this!" Abby made her way over and looked over Neela's shoulder. She started laughing. "Oh my God, Ray!" She took out a lacey bra. "Guess Mrs. Johnston had her eye on you more than she did John!"
"What's this?" Neela laughed. "Oh, bloody hell, Ray!" Laughter overwhelmed Neela and Abby as Neela pulled out some pictures. "How the dickens do you get into that position?" She turned the picture around and her and Abby's heads tilted to try to get a better angle. "That's a really…"
Ray snatched the stuff and put it back in the box. "This isn't funny." He tried to keep from laughing, but Neela and Abby smiled and he found himself laughing. He looked at the picture. "I can show you how to get in that position, Neela." He smirked at her. "OUCH!" He yelped as she hit his shoulder. "Abuse! Abby's a witness now!"
"I didn't see anything." Abby laughed.
Ray put the stuff in the box. "I'll be right back, Abby. Shouldn't be more than 10 minutes." He stood up and walked out.
"I'll be back." Neela smirked at Abby.
"I expect a full report!" Abby teased. "Then I'll pass the information on to Luka and we'll spice things up." She and Neela laughed.
"RAY!" Neela yelled as she ran out.
"What?" He stopped.
"Where you going?"
"Come on. You'll see." Ray took her hand. "It really isn't funny, Neela."
"I know, but you admit there is some humor." She put her other hand on his arm.
"It's a little humorous because she's dead. It'd be scary if she were alive." Ray sighed.
"You're pouting."
"Am not." Ray pouted.
"Are we going to dance this dance again, Barnett, because the music is boring me." She winked.
Ray stopped. "I'll dance whatever dance you want." He turned around. "Hey, Henry."
"Doc Barnett. How are you?" The older homeless man smiled.
"I'm good. How about you? How's your leg?"
"Feels good. At least I can walk with little pain." He saw Neela. "That's a purdy young lady you have with you, Doc."
"Thank you." Neela shyly hid behind Ray.
"He ain't gonna bite, Neela. This is Henry Wilshire, but we all call him Henry Higgins." Ray smiled.
"Why? Why Henry Higgins? Isn't that from 'My Fair Lady'?" Neela asked.
"Yes, it is. They call me that because I used to be an English teacher until I allowed drugs and alcohol to take over my life. Doc here has been helpful in getting me together, but I'm so used to life on the street, I wouldn't know what to do with a warm bed." He smiled.
Neela looked at Ray in amazement. Just when you think you have Ray Barnett figured out, he does something like this. Who knew he helped a homeless man with his leg? Ray is a total enigma.
"What's that, Doc?" Henry noticed a box in Ray's hand.
"Just something I need to burn and I knew you'd need more fuel for your fire." Ray tossed the box in. "Take care, Henry Higgins. You come see me if you need any more help with your leg, hear me?" Ray shook the homeless man's hand.
"You bet, Doc." He smiled a toothless smile.
After they were a good distance away, Neela broached the subject. "Talk to me, Ray."
"About?" Ray put his arm around Neela's shoulder.
"Henry. How you met him and why you…"
"You remember how I pouted to get medicine and whatever?" Neela nodded. "It was for him. I was on my way to work and noticed he'd taken quite a spill and it was apparent he broke his leg. He has no insurance, so nobody would take care of him. I did what I could. So…" He stopped as Neela stood before him. "Well, hello."
She wrapped her arms around his waist. "You are full of surprises, Ray." She stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed him. "This isn't just a day job for you, is it?"
Ray smiled down at her. "Never was."
"Ray…"
"I know how it looked with the gigs and stuff, but I became a doctor because I wanted to." He leaned down and kissed her. "Shall we return to the land of many emergencies?"
"I'd rather not, but we have to, right?" This time, it was Neela that pouted.
Abby smiled as she saw Ray and Neela walking in. "So, where'd you two run off to?"
"Full report?" Neela giggled.
"Yeah, so I can tell Luka." Abby giggled back as she nudged Neela playfully.
Ray grabbed a chart. "Told you it was an easy position." He dodged away before Neela could playfully hit his shoulder. "Not today, honey. Not today!" He smiled as he went to Exam 3.
Neela shook her head while laughing. "He's a complete enigma, Abby."
"Tell me about it."
"Well, first of all, I told him last night about what I was feeling and he was rather nonchalant about it. I tell him I love him and all he says is 'I'm glad you came tonight.'"
"Tell me you're kidding." Abby linked arms with Neela.
"Nope. But, we did talk and we did kiss and we kissed some more." Neela smiled. "But, he burned the box."
"No blackmail?"
"I've still got blackmail on him. Believe me!" Neela grinned. "But, we go to where there's this homeless guy and he's got a fire going and Ray talks to him about his leg and how he's doing and if it bothers him, he needs to come see Ray."
"Really?" Abby didn't know how to respond. Ray had always given the impression that his music was more important than being a doctor. "Our Ray?"
"Yeah. And it's why he's pouted to get medicine for this homeless man who has no insurance." Neela looked at Abby. "You can't say anything. If Kerry were to find out, she'd fire him."
"So, despite all appearances, Ray loves being a doctor." Abby was trying to mull the idea over in her head.
Neela sat on the couch, waiting for Ray to come home. She got up when she heard a knock on the door. "Michael!" She sounded surprised.
"Where's Barnett?" Michael pushed his way through.
"You can't come barging in here like that." Neela closed the door.
"Where's Barnett?"
"He's not home yet. Why?" Neela found herself getting defensive.
"Can you find him?"
"Michael, tell me what this is about." Neela stomped her foot.
Michael sighed. "We had a homeless guy come in and ask for Ray. He looked pretty bad."
"Hang on." She ran to the kitchen and called Ray. "I've got to go, Michael." She opened the door, indicating that he needed to leave as well.
