A/N Hullo there! Oh dear, I'm sorry, it's been like almost two days since I last updated, ages by my ER standards. Of course, my other stories have to wait months... oops.

Ah, I am having issues! I have a grand total of three more ER story ideas. One angsty pre-Reela (like the one I did previously and this one) one Reela-relationship thing, and one general ER one. I also have this one all planned (go me, I never do that) so it should move along quite quickly. But which to do next, that is the question!

Thanks for all your reviews! And I'm afraid my song choice isn't great for this chapter... but it was a really hard chapter to write... Not sure why. Anyway, it makes sense with the story it's just not particularly anything to do with this chapter. Well, a little... I'll stop rambling now shall I?

Chapter 5- Neela

"All you have to do is smile that smile, and there go all my defences."

- Dolly Parton "Here You Come Again"

I was woken up quite rapidly when Jasmyn decided I'd had enough of a long lie and jumped on my bed. She crawled under the covers and snuggled into me. "Neena up," she said, pushing me suddenly.

I laughed, "Ok, ok, I'm getting up."

She gave me a big smile, showing off her few front teeth. I got out of bed and she promptly lay in my place, closing her eyes and faking a snore or two. I pulled her out by the feet, amongst lots of giggling, and slung her over my shoulder. It was nice having someone small enough to do that with, I was so often the smallest. I blushed as I thought of the one time Ray had done this to me, I'd screamed so much he'd had to put me down, but then he had to tickle me.

I sighed, it had been so nice seeing him yesterday. He hadn't changed at all. Well, his hair was a little longer, as if he hadn't had it cut in a while but he was still my Ray. I mean, the same old Ray... he had never been my Ray.

"Oh sorry, I tried to keep her out of there," a dishevelled looking Abby said, rolling her eyes and taking Jasmyn from me.

"It's alright, it's too late anyway."

Abby smiled, "Want some coffee?"

"Yes please," I said, heading to the kitchen, "But I'll make it, you want one?"

"Thanks."

"Luka, you want a coffee?" I asked him as he walked towards the bathroom with a towel.

"Yes, thanks."

As I set to work making coffee I drifted off, something that always seemed to happen to me recently. I'd be trying to do something when my mind would drift off. I guess it could have something to do with me getting very little sleep. Anyway, I was standing in the kitchen when I thought I heard the doorbell. I looked backwards to the door then turned back to the kitchen and Michael was standing there. I jumped out of my skin, seriously. His eyes looked so sorrowful, then I blinked and he was gone.

"Shit... I need a therapist," I mumbled to myself, pouring out the coffee. "Shit," I said again, "I'm too American..."

"Neela, you alright?" Abby said, walking in to the room. Jasmyn was on her hip, talking incoherently to a barbie.

"Fine. Why does she have a barbie?"

"Oh, someone bought it her, I don't know who... she's called it Neena."

I pulled a face, "Great!"

She laughed, "So what are you doing today?"

I shrugged, "Who knows? Who's working today?"

"Luka, I have missey today."

"Missey!" Jasmyn cried.

"Strange child," I said, shaking my head.

"You're telling me." She looked at me and added, "Neela... why are you here?"

"What?"

"Look, I love having you to stay, and I love seeing you again, but you came two days ago with a bag, without a word beforehand and... I was just wondering if every thing's ok?"

I turned back to the coffee, "Every thing's fine."

"Well... if you ever want to talk."

"I know. Coffee's ready."

"Ok," she said, taking the hint.

Luka came out from the shower and took his cup, sipping it gratefully. His hair was all wet and his tie wasn't tied but he still looked great, he had that Croatian way about him or something. I felt like blushing at the thoughts I'd once had about him. I was glad that even when I saw him like that it didn't phase me. Shame I couldn't say the same about other County doctors.

"What are you doing today then Neela?"

"I'm not sure, I'll probably go shopping or something."

He began to say something then the phone rang. He gave me an apologetic smile then went to get it.

He came back a few minutes later and sighed, "That was the hospital, they need someone to cover for Pratt, he's phoned in sick."

"Well, I can't do it, I've got Jasmyn," Abby said.

"I know, I told them that, but they're really stuck," I noticed he glanced at me, then Abby did. I had a feeling they were doing some secret communicating. I decided to save them the bother.

"Do you want me to have her?"

"Oh Neela, I couldn't ask you too, I mean you're on holiday."

"It's fine, we'll go to the park or something."

I saw Luka's eyes widen and him shake his head before Jasmyn started wailing at the top of her voice, "Park! Park!"

"Are you sure Neela?" Abby shouted over her daughter.

"Um... yes. I think."

Abby smiled, "Thanks. I guess we need the money a little too..."

Luka shrugged, "I'll wait for you to get changed."

"Park!" Jasmyn wailed.

"Alright," I said, "But you can't go to the park in your pj's can you? And Neena can't either, come on. Have fun you two!"

"Thanks again," Abby said, pulling a brush through her hair.

"No problem," I lied.

It took Jasmyn and I an hour just to get out of the apartment. Then, when we'd manoeuvred the buggy down the stairs because the stupid lift was broken, I realised I had no idea where there was a park in Chicago. I began walking, but all we passed were apartment buildings and then shops. Not even a tree was in sight.

Jasmyn was making quacking noises as I pulled the pram to the side of the street. "Park?"

"Yes, sweetie, just a minute. Let Neena think." Who the hell would know where a park was? Who did I even know in Chicago? I pulled out my mobile phone and scrolled through the phone book. I got to the B's and pressed call.

"Barnett," The voice answered, with a yawn.

"Hey Ray, it's Neela."

"Oh hi," he sounded tired, "How are you?"

"I'm um... lost actually."

"Oh?" He sounded a little concerned now, or maybe I was imagining it.

"Yeah, I'm looking after Jasmyn for the day so Abby could work and we can't find a park."

"A park in Chicago ey?" He paused. "Oh I know! Want me to pick you up?"

"Would you mind?" Please don't mind, please don't mind.

"Of course not," he said with a chuckle, "Swing parks are my favourite!" I rolled my eyes, he was so immature sometimes. In an extremely cute way...

"Thanks Ray," I said, before my musings could go any further.

"Abby is going to kill me," I said, as I sat in the back of Ray's van, holding tightly onto Jasmyn's buggy with one hand, and the front seat with the other. Ray turned back and laughed;

"You could let it go you know, she'd just roll around."

"If you don't look at the road this instant I'm going to..."

"Alright already," he said, turning to the road with a grin. After driving for a while, my knuckles turning white and my eyes firmly squeezed shut, he finally pulled up. "Ta da! Doctor Ray has done it again."

I shook my head, "You, my friend, are an idiot."

"Yeah my Mom always tells me that," he said, before getting out and walking round to open the back door. He pulled them open then pulled the buggy to the back, before jumping out again. Then he took the buggy again and carefully levered it down onto the ground.

"You drive like a maniac then take care getting her out of the van?"

He smiled, the shrugged. "I'm an idiot, what can I say?"

I jumped down and looked around. "Um Ray... there's no park."

"It's down the street."

"Ah."

As we turned the corner I saw a flash of green. Then some primary colours, then I saw the swings. There was a roundabout too, a rusty slide and some bedraggled looking parent's running round after toddlers. "Park!" Jasmyn shouted, trying to pull herself out of the buggy.

"Come on, let's get you out of that slow pushchair," Ray said, un-clipping her. He picked her up and then ran towards the park, "Come on Neena! There's swings!"

"Oh god," I muttered trying not to grin. Ray jumped onto the roundabout and began pushing it with one foot, while still holding Jasmyn in his arms who was giggling eccentrically.

I wondered whether the fact he would have the same mental age as any kid he met would make him a good dad or a bad one. Then I walked faster, why the hell was I thinking about what kind of dad Ray would make? I put the buggy to the side and walked up to them.

"Push us on the swings?" He asked with puppy dog eyes. I shook my head. "Please Neela," he gave me a smile, "Pretty please!"

"Please Neena!" Jasmyn said, joining in. I was being double-teamed

"Fine, I just can't say no to you can I?"

He gave me a small smile, and his eyes looked sad. "I'm sure you could, if you wanted to."

I would do anything to wipe that look of hurt form his eyes, especially when it felt like I might have caused it, however long ago.

"Come on then, swings," I said, walking over to them. He sat down with Jasmyn on his knee and I pushed him.

"Wheeee!" Jasmyn cried.

"Wahoo!" Ray yelled.

I just rolled my eyes. I had a feeling this was going to be a long day.