Standard disclaimers applied. See Prologue for further details.
Author's Note: Again, I have changed the events in The Human Shield and Two Ships.
PLEASE NOTE I considered this chapter to be darker, with more mature themes. The rating for this chapter has been raised to a T to be on the safe side. Consider yourself warn!
Chapter 10: What Was Found Amongst the Wreckage
The aftershock could be heard from the people at County. One switch of the television screen alerted the staff of the plane crash. Carter immediately and efficiently rounded up his staff, while cancelling any non-critical surgeries.
"Alright people, we're probably expecting a large amount of casualties. I want everyone to be prepared."
"We should probably send somebody off to the site," Susan put in.
Carter nodded, "Yes I'll be going. Susan, I'll leave you in charge along with Luka. Call the OR. Abby, Sam, I want the both of you ..." He continued to assign everybody with other tasks to prep the ER for the casualties.
As Carter headed off, Ray followed him. "What is it, Ray?"
"I want to tag along. Neela's probably going to be there," Ray put in.
This stopped Carter in tracks. It was rather touching that Ray's first thoughts were on Neela above all else. He knew that in all fairness for all of the residents and med students, Pratt should be the one to be on site, but the touch of anguish on Ray's face, swayed his decision.
"Alright Ray, you can come with me. I'll let Pratt go up to the rooftops and meet the helicopters."
-o-o-
The problem was pretty obvious by the time, Zadro, Gates and Neela arrived on scene. A single-engine craft had struck a passenger plane in mid-air at low altitude moments after takeoff. Chaos was everywhere in the pandemonium of burning buildings and motionless bodies. Some were walking around in a daze, while others were screaming in agony.
The medical personnel took a moment to reorient themselves. Gates took a hold of Neela as if to bring her back to reality, "Come on," he urged.
Zadro followed off to the side behind them with some of their equipment. The threesome stopped at the first body. Neela mechanically took off her stethoscope to listen for a vital sign. Gates again reached forward to still her hand, "We don't have a lot of time. The best that we can do for now is to give them tags, green is nothing, yellow is urgent, red is critical, black is dead."
Neela blinked as if struck by the seriousness of his tone. She wanted to be angry at his uncaring attitude but one look and she knew that he was right. Yet all the same, she wonder if this was the same person who had just called her 'Mayday?' Gates offered a weak smile before moving off to her left and began his search. The process was mechanical until the three were joined by others, accompanied by the sounds of ambulance in the distance.
In the thick of everything that's happening, Neela lost count of the colours and the number of tags that she placed on the crash victims. The mush of rainbow colours all transcended into black. The hours faded into the night. Bodies were covered and retrieved, categorized and lost. People, mostly medical personnel came and went, disappeared into the backs of ambulances among the blinking red. She tried to tune out her feelings as she walked the body-filled site. Everywhere she looked, she was greeted by the silence. That is until she looked up.
She was shock and then numb, but an immediate feeling of relief rushed through her. There in front of her was Ray, her dear sweet roommate in the backdrop of still-burning building. He stood staring at her, stethoscope in one hand, and a medical bag in the other. His lab coat barely covered his rocker t-shirt. She didn't even realize that she noticed all the little details about him, down to the single ring which suspended from his customary silver chain around his neck. His eyes bore into hers, relief at the sight of her. There was something else that she couldn't identify, but she didn't bother analysing it as she crossed the distance for him to envelope his arms around her.
In the midst of tears and hugs, Ray only tightened his hold around the lithe form of a woman in front of him. "Neela," he whispered into her hair.
When they finally pulled apart, there needed to be no words, for none would adequately explain the amount of emotions between them. They stuck close together and renewed the process among the victims. They met up with Dr. Carter who was staring at a pile of wreckage. Amongst the debris was distinctive red carry on bag.
"Red," murmured the older doctor. Before either roommate could stop him, Carter dug through the remains to pull out the bag for inspection. He examined it from all sides in search for something.
Seeing the bewildered expressions on Ray and Neela's faces, Carter tried to explain, "Deb ... she was supposed to be on a plane to visit her sick father. ... I bought her a red luggage set once ... she said that it was her favourite colour."
He trailed off, but there was no need for blatant explanations. His implications were clear. Carter looked to Neela who could only shake her hand, "No, I didn't see her."
The trio wordlessly started on a new section of the site. This time they had a purpose in mind, hoping that they won't find their fellow colleague and friend in amongst the wreckage. Tony Gates joined up with them, part way through their search. Carter acknowledged him cordially, having met him earlier at County. He gave a brief description of Deb. "Have you seen anybody ..."
Gates shook his head, "Nothing that specific but ..." Both men knew how hard it is to keep track of each body that you went by. Some bodies needed to be identified, while others were unidentified unless by scientific means. Like everybody on scene, Gates knew better to offer false hope, but it was his nature not to discourage anybody either. "My partner, Zadro is over there, maybe you can ask him."
Carter nodded but before he could say anything, Ray interrupted, "We'll finished off here and then we'll join you later."
They watched him leave, until Gates turned to Neela with a hint of mischief, "How are we holding up, Mayday?" he asked.
Neela frowned, while Ray laughed which he tried to cover unsuccessfully with a cough. "Mayday?"
"That wasn't very nice, Gates," Neela pouted, sounding exasperated. However, she would never admit how grateful she was for the sheer normalcy in hearing that dreadful nickname. She gave a slight punch at Ray's arm to stop his laughter.
"Don't go there, Ray, you know I have plenty of blackmail to embarrass you right now."
Ray quickly countered, "Right back at ya, Roomie."
Neela knew not to encourage Ray further as she offered to do the formal introductions. "Ray, this is Tony Gates, a very annoying paramedic. Gates, this is Ray Barnett, the very annoying roommate that I happened to live with."
Even, Gates had to laugh at that as the two men shook hands. "I think we have to compare notes, Gates."
"Oh?"
"Yes, on my very annoying Roomie here," Ray said tongue in cheek.
Gates wisely ignored the indignant Neela when he agreed, "You mean, Mayday here? Sure, name the time and place and I will even bring the free coffee."
-o-o-
If either men were surprised at their quick friendship in the whirlwind of a plane crash site, they didn't mention it. The saying is true that tragedies pull people closer together. The fragility of human life really makes you value your friends, families and those around you. At one point, Ray pulled out his cell phone to call his mom. "Mom, it's Landon ... yes ... I'm fine ..."
If Neela who was nearby, caught his sudden name change, she made no visible reaction. However, she was debating whether or not to call her own sister and family. Gates was perceptive to her line of thinking. "Do you have somebody to call home to?"
Neela purposely sidestepped the question, "I don't have a boyfriend, remember? Besides, my roommate is here. I don't have anybody else to call home to."
"Then maybe, we should remind Zadro to call his coffee lady. She'll probably wonder if she still has business the next day."
Neela smiled at Gate's attempt to relieve any awkwardness. "Do you have somebody to call home to, Tony?"
It was the first time she had called him by his first name. "Don't you remember that I have a fear for married woman, Neela?"
End of Chapter 10
AN: I know, this is a short chapter, but I think there is already a lot of emotions. No, I'm not making this a Gates/Neela fic. I did say it was going to be a Reela in the summary!
Think of it as an exploration of sorts with hints of different levels of friendships. I mean I don't won't it to be just a fic about Ray and Neela because human nature is so complex. I am trying to delve into the human psyche. I just hope you guys enjoy the experience as much as I like writing it so far. Let me know how you guys find it 'k.
