Chap 10

Weaver said, "Dr. Barnett, nice of you to join us. Get that stupid grin off your face. We have a car versus semi coming in with 3 criticals and 2 non-criticals and you're getting a new intern today. Are you sure you're up to it? I heard you got a concussion."

"Never been better, Dr. Weaver. Today, I can handle anything." He purposefully walked over to Neela who was just getting on the elevator and kissed her lightly, in front of everyone. "I guess that will have the rumor-mills going for awhile." He smiled at her.

Neela was surprised Ray wanted to show everyone the change in their relationship. It made her feel special to know he wanted their friends to see them together. He really has changed.

Tony Gates brought in the car wreck patients. He looked like a wreck himself. He was still hung over and felt like crap. He was mad at Neela for "leading him on" but he did feel bad about hitting Barnett. He looked sheepish when he saw Ray was the doctor leading the trauma team for the patients he was bringing in. After he had taken care of the patients, Ray looked at Tony and smiled. He couldn't help it. Tony Gates had brought Neela and Ray together, whether he wanted to or not.

"Hey man, no hard feelings, okay?" Ray said. Once upon a time I would have kicked the crap out of this guy – I think I may actually be considered a grown up now.

This was almost too much for Tony Gates to take. Barnett was actually being nice about it. "Does Neela know?" Tony asked.

"I haven't told her, it's our secret. To tell you the truth, I don't think Neela would have acted on her feelings toward me if it weren't for you. So thanks, man." Ray stuck out his hand and Tony shook it. Just then Neela came down for a consult on the car wreck patients.

"What was that about?" She asked to no one in particular.

"Nothing," said Ray and Tony in unison.

Ray went to check on his patients and he ran into Abby on the way. "So you finally made your move. I am proud of you, Ray. But if you hurt her, I will have to kill you."

"Actually, Neela made the first move." Ray said with a grin. "And don't worry. You won't need to kill me. I know what I have and I am not going to mess it up."

The new interns were being assigned later that day. Abby got a kid named Joseph, Pratt got Harry and Ray got a tall, beautiful auburn-haired, green-eyed girl name Lisa. When they had introduced themselves, Lisa said, "Rumor has it you're in a band."

"That's right. Why?" Normally Ray would flirt with a girl like Lisa. She was beautiful and she seemed to be up for flirting with him, but he really wasn't interested. He would not screw up what he had with Neela for anyone.

"Just wondered if I could come see you play sometime." Lisa put her hand on his arm just as Neela came out of the elevator. Neela turned away before she saw Ray move his arm away from Lisa's hand.

Neela thought, He can't stop himself. What was I thinking? I can't handle this. I love him. I don't want him flirting with other women. I thought I'd have a little more than just one day with him. She walked into the supply closet to get away from him.

Ray excused himself from Lisa and ran after Neela. Even when I don't do anything, I get in trouble. Where did she go? He looked around and figured his best bet was the supply closet. He ducked in and found her with tears in her eyes. He smiled at her. It made him just a little bit happy that she was jealous. Childish, I know.

Neela was furious and humiliated. Of course Ray would flirt with a beautiful, sexy, tall, long-legged witch. When Neela saw him come in the closet after her with a grin on his face she lost it. He was laughing at her. She slapped him hard. She wanted to slap that grin right off his face. "I hate you, Ray Barnett. You are such a bloody asshole. What, you can't manage to keep your hands off anything in a skirt for more than one day? Do you even know what love means? Or do you say that to every girl you sleep with?" She was on a roll, now. So much for being cool about the other women. Okay, so I lied. She swung her fist at him but he stopped it from hitting him by holding her arm gently.

"Neela, you are so beautiful and sexy when you are mad at me that it almost makes me want you to stay that way for a few minutes more, but I cannot tell a lie. Lisa put her hand on my arm without any provocation from me, and if you had stuck around you would have noticed I pulled out of her reach two seconds later. I love that you are jealous, but there is no need to be. I love you. And no, I have never said that to any girl before. Just you." Ray put his hand up to her face and kissed her gently. Neela slugged him with the arm he wasn't holding. Then she kissed him fiercely.

"You are mine, Barnett. Don't make me hurt you." Neela put her hands under his shirt and up his back as she deepened the kiss. She loved him so much. She kissed his cheek where she had hit him. There was still a red mark there. I'll be interested to see how he explains that to Weaver. Hopefully it will go away before he sees her.

Ray sat down on a stool and pulled her down to sit on his lap, still kissing her passionately. Neela straddled him and pushed him against the wall as she kissed him back. "Ray…" she said breathlessly. "Ray…." she said a little louder while he worked his way down her neck. "We have to stop." Just then Lisa came into the supply closet looking for Ray.

"Oh, there you are. Sorry to interrupt. Hello, my name is Lisa." She said in Neela's direction, while still looking at Ray. Neela thought Lisa didn't look all that sorry to interrupt. In fact she had looked pleased to interrupt and possibly a little irritated that it hadn't been her in the supply closet with Ray. Neela figured she was going to have to watch out for this one. She started to climb out of Ray's lap but he pulled her back down onto his knee.

Ray said to Lisa, "This is my girlfriend, Neela. Neela, this is one of the new interns, Lisa." Hopefully that will settle that, Ray thought.

Neela could not believe her ears. He said I was his girlfriend. He basically told a beautiful girl to back off. Neela looked at Ray and smiled. He kissed her lightly then joined Lisa.

Lisa said, "Man she must have some right hook, you can still see her hand mark on your face." And all I did was touch his arm. Hmmm. Next time I'll have to make sure we are hidden from view. And there will be a next time. He is too yummy to let go easily. And if everything I have heard about him is even partially true, it won't take much to get him away from his "girlfriend". It's not like I haven't wrecked a few homes before. And this one will definitely be worth it.

A/N: The plot thickens…..