A/N You lot rock! That is all I have to say. I mean, that chapter was hard to write and I didn't think it was that good, but you all gave such nice reviews, so thanks a million!

Chapter 6- Ray

"I look at you and I fantasize, you're mine tonight."

-Eric Carmen "Hungry Eyes"

I slumped onto the bench, panting heavily. I hadn't realised how much energy it took out of you running round after a toddler. Of course, it gave me a chance to play on kid's stuff so I wasn't really complaining. I watched Neela pushing Jasmyn on the roundabout, sticking her tongue out at her as she came round again. I grinned, I have to admit I had never once seen Neela like that, even when she was drunk. Then again she probably did this all the time, all her friend's probably had kids and were married to soldiers. Bitter, me?

Someone else's kid got on the roundabout and the guy said he'd take a turn of pushing so Neela came over to sit next to me. She sighed as she sat down. "Bloody hell, I'm knackered!"

I smiled, "Me too."

"You know what he said? 'You're daughter's so cute.' I didn't know what to say, so I just said thanks."

I laughed, "I suppose she looks a bit like you, black hair..."

"She doesn't look half Indian though. She's quite pale."

I shrugged, "Genetics schmetics."

She rolled her eyes and then went back to the roundabout where Jasmyn was shouting something. A woman with a pram came and sat on the bench next. "Hi."

"Hey," I replied. This sure was a friendly park.

"Is that your daughter?" She asked, nodding to Jasmyn.

I was about to say no, but then remembered what Neela had said to that guy before, "Yes, she is."

"She's gorgeous."

"Thanks."

"Lovely black hair too, she gets that from your wife then?"

"My wife?" I asked.

She nodded back in the direction of the roundabout, "That woman's your wife isn't she? I just assumed since she was talking to you before..."

"Oh, we're not married," I said quickly.

"Oh, I see," The woman replied, though she still looked a little confused. "Well, your daughter's lovely anyway."

"Thanks," I said with a smile.

We were walking back to the van when Jasmyn began yelling again, "I'm hung-ery!"

"Alright, we'll get some lunch soon." Neela said, "I knew I should have brought something with me."

"We could go to mine if you want, it's closer than Abby's," I said, almost without thinking. It seemed logical at the time. Then I realised how weird it might be, for Neela and for me, having her back in what used to be our apartment.

"Um..." she said, dithering, "What about Brett?"

"He moved out yesterday, just left me a note," I said, giving her a look that said; same-old-Brett.

"Oh, well, it is closer. Have you actually got food in?" She asked, climbing into the van.

"Of course! What kind of rock'n'roll stud do you take me for?"

"Shut up. You're so bloody big headed."

"At least it's with reason," I said, before shutting the doors and walking round to the front of the van.

I sighed a sigh of relief as I found the elevator in working order. I really wasn't up for carrying Jasmyn in her push-chair all the way up the stairs. Neela smiled as we got in;

"Is this a regular thing now, the lift working?"

I shook my head and rolled my eyes, "Hell no, we're just lucky."

We got out and walked to our -my- apartment. I can't believe I still got mixed up about that. I tried to tell myself it was just because she was here, but I often walked in, expecting her to be there, to tell her about the shift I'd just had, or the gig I'd just done. She never was though. You'd think I would be used to that now, after almost two years.

"Wow, this is weird," she said, as I unlocked the door. "I mean, for one thing you have keys, and I've not been here since..." She paused. I knew exactly when she meant. When she'd moved out, the worst night of my life. And that included the night I'd been heckled on stage by this guy, the boyfriend of a girl I'd slept with -without knowing obviously- and he'd thrown a brick at my head. Seriously, a flipping brick. That was terrible, but Neela moving out beat everything.

Realising I hadn't spoken and an uneasy silence was building I said; "Yeah... strange. It's probably a mess, sorry."

I knew it wasn't a mess. I'd spent the whole of last night being unable to sleep, because I kept thinking of things I should have said to her. Then I'd got paranoid about looking like a fool, and then... well I'd cleaned. It was a trick she'd taught me actually, when in doubt -clean. So when we stepped into the apartment I wasn't surprised to see her mouth gaping in shock.

"Ray!"

"What?" I asked innocently.

"Bloody hell," she mumbled, walking into the kitchen. "What shall we eat then? You want me to cook?"

"No, it's alright!" I said, a little to quickly for her liking.

"I can cook," she said with a pout.

I grinned, "You're pouting."

"I'm not pouting."

I nodded. "You are."

"Stupid idiot."

"Thanks."

She groaned and walked out the room, "Fine!"

I grinned. I loved our banter, it amused me a hell of a lot to get her annoyed, I guess because she was always so controlled the rest of the time, I liked that I could make her get so exasperated with me. I liked it better when I made her lose it in other ways, like when I made her laugh so much she couldn't stop, but getting pissed at me would do for now. I began to get food out of the fridge. Like the kid I was, I really wanted to impress her. She was right, I was an idiot.

When we had finished, Neela collected the plates from the table and put them on the side. She started filling the sink up.

"I'll do that," I said, getting up.

"No, you cooked, it's only fair!"

Jasmyn gave a yawn. "Do you think she's trying to tell us something?" I asked, smiling at her.

She yawned again and Neela laughed, then picked her up. She snuggled into Neela's shoulder, closing her eyes. "Guess we better go home," she said with a small smile.

I didn't want her to leave. "You don't have to go," I said, hoping I didn't sound desperate.

She gave me a look, "She's almost as tired as I am, Ray."

"All the more reason to just let her sleep here. She can sleep in my bed."

Neela raised an eyebrow, "I'm not so sure that's a good idea."

I laughed, "It's clean, I made it this morning!" She looked at me in disbelief and I added, "Come on I'll show you."

We went to my room and I wasn't surprised to see that her mouth gaped open in shock. The sheets were clean, the bed was made and you could see the floor.

"God..."

I grinned, "You sound so surprised."

"I am!" She said, putting Jasmyn down on the bed. Neela took off Jasmyn's sneakers and jackets then but her under the covers.

She gave another yawn, "Teddy," she said, wistfully.

"I don't have one, sorry."

"Teddy," she said again, louder.

"Um..." I looked around my room. There were a myriad of posters but no soft toys, except. "Aha!" I said, going to my wardrobe. I dug in the bottom draw and pulled out an old, fluffy bear. "Here you go."

She gave me a wide smile and hugged the bear tightly. "Na-night Wray. Na-night Neena."

"Night," Neela called, backing out of the door. I followed her and closed it. She was trying to hide a smirk.

"What?" I asked, heading for the kitchen.

"Ray Barnett has a teddy bear!" She cried, giggling.

"It was... I..." I held up my hands, "There's nothing I can say to defend myself is there?"

She shook her head then went to the sink.

"Neela, I'll do the dishes."

"It's fine."

"Neela, it's my apartment."

"Ray, you cooked."

"You're the guest."

"I don't mind."

"I do!"

"Tough for you then."

"Oh god!" I said, exasperated. "Fine!"

She smiled, "One all." I gave her a look, "You won before, I won now. So it's one all."

"Oh we're keeping count now are we?"

"Oh yeah."

I was about to say something else when I heard a knock on the door. "Sorry, one momento!"

I went to the door and saw Brett standing there. "Hey man, I've come to get my stuff."

"Oh well I just," before I could finish he walked in.

"Dr Neela!" He cried, as he walked into the kitchen. "Barnett never told me you were home!"

"Hi Brett," she said, rolling her eyes at me over his shoulder as he gave her a big bear hug. "I'm just visiting for a while."

"Aw, that's too bad. Will you still be here for Saturday?"

"Yeah probably, why?"

"Oh nothing," I interceded, glaring at Brett. "I'm sure Neela will be busy."

"I'm sure she can work around it, we'd all love to have her there."

"Have her where exactly?" Neela asked.

"We've got a gig at Indigo."

"Oh right."

"You don't have to come," I said quickly.

She gave me a smile, "No, I'd like to."

"Oh."

"Earth to the doctors!" Brett called and I realised I'd been staring at her. Idiot, I said to myself. "You are still a doctor aren't you Neela?"

She nodded, "Unless it'll get you to stop calling me Dr Neela?"

"Never," he said with a grin. "Well, I'll grab my stuff and then I'll have to steal Ray."

"Why?"

"Practise, man!"

My eyes widened, I'd completely forgotten about practise today. "Oh I can't, I mean Neela's here and..."

"Ray, we've got a gig this Saturday! We need to practise. I'm sure Neela won't mind hanging out here for a bit?"

I looked at her, "Sure Ray, it's fine." Was it just me being paranoid or did she sound a little hurt.

"I'm sure you guys can do without me for one day."

"Ray, it's fine, just go. I'll tidy up, then get Jasmyn and we'll go back to Abby's."

"No, she's sleeping, you may as well just stay here until she wakes up. I've got the same t.v channels as Abby."

She gave me a smile, "Alright."

"Great." I hoped I'd be able to get back from practise before she had to leave. Then I might get a little extra time with her.

As Brett and I walked into Matt's living room Brett said; "Guess who I found in Ray's apartment?"

"Who?"

"Dr Neela!"

There was a chorus of "Oh!"'s.

"She's just visiting, god!" I said, taking off my coat.

"Sure Barnett, whatever."

"She is!"

Matt grinned at me, "The one that got away, right Ray?"

"Don't be a twat," I said, with a scowl.

Matt looked at me, confused.

I groaned inwardly. I'd really let myself in for it now, "It's British," I said quietly.

They all laughed uproariously, "And who do we know who's British? Oh I know!" Brett called.

This was going to be a long rehearsal.

"Neela?" I called into the apartment when I finally got back. There was no answer. Shit, I thought, she's gone back to Abby's. Then she poked her head out of the kitchen. "Hey Ray."

"Hiya Roomie," I said with a grin.

"Look, I'm really sorry to ask you this but... is it alright if me and Jasmyn stay over tonight? It's just Luka just phoned and asked how everything was, and was telling me how grateful him and Abby were, and they're only at bloody work so I said why don't they go out for a meal after work and I'd look after Jasmyn and..."

"Neela," I interrupted, "Of course, it's fine. I owe them anyway."

"What for?"

"Oh you know, I always owe someone something," I said.

She smiled, "Thanks, sorry to be a bother."

"You're no bother Neela, never will be. Where's madam then?"

"She's watching t.v."

"I may go and join her. That rehearsal was..." I shook my head. "Annoying."

"Why, what happened?"

"I let myself in for a hell of a lot of teasing, that's all." She raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything more, thankfully.

"I'm just going to get a shower first, that ok?"

"Your apartment," she said.

"Ah, but tonight you're my Roomie again," I said, showing in my smile some of the joy I was feeling.

As I hosed myself down with the broken shower I realised how lucky I was. Neela was staying over. She was staying here again. Almost two years had passed since she'd moved out and now she back and... I was just so happy. I hoped the evening would go really slowly so I could savour every moment. In fact, I thought to myself, what the hell was I doing wasting time in the shower?

When we had finally gotten Jasmyn to bed Neela and I could do little else but sit on the sofa. "I am never having kids," she said, "They're too bloody energetic. And I thought you were bad."

I laughed, "Thanks."

"Any time," she quipped.

"So, Neela, how come you're here?"

"What?"

"I mean, how come you're up in Chicago?" I'd been wondering it ever since I'd first seen her in the coffee shop but hadn't gotten the nerve to ask until now.

"Abby asked me the same thing this morning."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I'm guessing that my "I'm here for a visit" line isn't going to do?"

I shook my head, "Nope."

"Well, you know I told you that I'd been trying to get the surgical rotation at my new hospital?" I nodded, "I didn't get it. I found that out the night I e-mailed you."

"Oh, right."

"Well, Michael told me then that he had to go on a three month training thing in Texas. So I decided to visit."

I still felt there was something she was missing out, but I knew that this was all she was willing to tell me tonight, and I didn't want to push her. "I see," I gave her a hug, "You miss him?"

"Yes," she said, leaning into me.

I am a bastard, I decided, I was pretending to be such a great friend, asking about her marital woes when all I could think about was how good it felt to have her in my arms. I leaned back on the couch, still hugging her and she rested her head on my chest. I wished we could always be like this. All my old feelings were now new, they were still there, I thought I'd dulled them but they were as strong as ever. All I wanted was for her to be with me.

I realised then that sweet heaven was in Neela-form.

A/N Wow, that was quite long, ey? 7 and a bit pages on word! Did you like? Tell me all! That last line was in reference to chapter 4, where he said "sweet heaven was in caffeine form". Just thought I'd point that out. Also, I'm planning a sequel, but I'd like to know whether people'd be interested. This has about ten more chapters to go, btw. I did a lot of planning today when my mum was hogging the computer (usually my job-lol)