Standard disclaimers applied. See Prologue for further details.

Author's Note: It's so nice to open my email and get all your nice reviews. Thank you so much.


Chapter 14: The Change in the Tides

On the surface, County General is just as it always been three months ago since the plane crash. The moment that one steps through the emergency bay, the perpetual chaos that comes with the territory should be no surprise. Yet, if one chooses to investigate, the people who work within the ER have changed.

The rumour mill was buzzing with news of Luka and Abby sleeping together while nurse Sam was left by the sidelines. However, recent events with the disappearance of Sam's only son Alex, had brought the ever charismatic Tony Gates onto the scene. It seems that Alex was picked up by Gates with his bus and Alex thought that the whole paramedic ride was "cool." Of course, this was a severe tongue lashing from Sam who didn't know whether she should be relieved or angry at her son.

Then, there was Dr. Chen who recently came back to the States after spending time with her dying father. Carter had taken a few days off from work to meet her at the airport. While on the other hand, Susan and Kerry were trying to settle of matter of interest regarding the hiring of another attending. Throughout it all, there were Ray and Neela.

By now, everybody knew that they were more than just roommates. Ray always managed to find Neela throughout their shifts whether she was in a trauma or working in of the exams rooms. At times, it was just a brief touch of hand or a tattletale wink. It was subtle at first, but when the others caught on, there was a period of not-so-subtle jokes about the 'dangers' of falling in love with your roommate.

Despite all of this, there were parts of Ray that didn't change over night. He still discharged patients faster than other resident. He still had a way of getting under Kerry's skin with his rocker t-shirts and gelled up hair. Neela herself was still just as dedicated and hardworking as before. She was still obsessive compulsive about getting her facts straight and maintaining professional decorum.

However, while the people at work didn't think much of their relationship, both Ray and Neela were apprehensive of speaking with their parents about it. Not that, they needed their permission to date each other, Neela knew with certainty that her family won't view her relationship with Ray favourably. Ray on the other hand, could not really think of a reason why his family and friends wouldn't like Neela. With his mom's birthday coming up, Ray had been trying to convince Neela to take a trip down to Beaufort with him.

"C'mon, it's not like you have any other plans."

"How would you know?"

"Do you have other plans made?"

"I don't see why I have to tell you if I have plans."

"So, you don't and besides, it's not like you have a reason not to visit North Carolina. It's beautiful this time of year."

"I can just as easily spend it here in Chicago."

"There's no reason why my mom won't like you. She's one of the most down-to-earth people I know."

"How would you explain to her about us?"

"I will just tell her that I fell in love with my roommate who also happens to be smart, sophisticated and stubborn and somebody that I work with at the hospital. I told her about you already."

She was silent.

"Neela, you have to be fair," he implored.

Neela knew that it was a losing battle from the start. She really didn't have a reason for not going down to Beaufort with Ray except for her own insecurities. It was a definite point in their relationship. However, she was also worried about taking over Jamie's place. She didn't want to be taken as a substitute to Landon's late wife. At the same time, she wondered if Cynthia Carter would like her.

"Alright, I'll go," she finally conceded.

-o-o-

Taking a week off from work was a bit of hassle because of staffing issue, but eventually, everybody conceded to a mutual compromise. Ray and Neela were going to flying down to Virginia and then Ray would rent a car to drive them down to Beaufort.

On route on the highway, with Neela resting her head against the window pane, Ray found himself smiling at the scene. There was such serenity and for the life of him, he just wished to suspend the moment in time. His thoughts drifted to an early conversation that he had with his mom about coming down.

(Flashback)
"Hey ma."

"Landon? Honey, is that you? How's everything?"

"Everything is going really well."

"You know I was really scared to know that you were at plane crash scene. I'm really glad that you called me. I would have been worried."

"I think you would have been worried, even after I called."

"That is the right of a mother: to be worried about her child. So really, how is everything? You rarely call just randomly."

"Ma ..."

"Landon."

"Well, I'm coming down for a visit soon...but I'm bringing somebody with me."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, I met somebody. Well actually I met her a long time ago, but we just recently started dating."

"Who is she?"

"She's my roommate."

(End flashback)

He had taken some ribbing for his confession, as was the right of being a mother. Sure, his mom had called the apartment a couple of times and she had asked about his roommate on a couple of occasions. Ray just didn't realize how much he had talked about Neela until his mother pointed out the fact.

(Flashback)

"It's always my roomie did this, or my roomie did that ... It's the same thing every time you call. Oh you know what my roomie said today... You know what Landon, I think I hear more about this roommate than I hear about you."

"How come you never mentioned it before?"

"Landon, I know you. You weren't ready, but eventually, you yourself would come around."

(End flashback)

Now that, he thought about it, he always thought of Neela as the 'roomie.' Yes, she was Neela, and at work, she was always Dr. Ragostra, but to be his 'roomie' has taken more of an endearing quality.

-o-o-

They had opted to stay in Ray's childhood home, though Neela had initially been apprehensive about doing so.

"I think my mom would skin me if she hears that we are staying at a motel or something. I promise that the house is clean and there is a spare guest room with an amazing view."

Neela recalled the first moment that she stepped through the apartment that she and Ray now rented. Now, standing at the back verandah of the Carter's home, she wondered about having a childhood in the backdrop of this quaint little port town against the shiny waters of the lake. The sight was almost surreal.

Inside the house, Landon and Cynthia Carter were having a scene of their own.

"Ma, what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, sweety."

"Ok, you really. What's the matter?"

"What would think that something is wrong?"

"You're putting salt into the salad, ma."

An uneasy silence settled in the kitchen. Cynthia stole what-she-assumed-to-be an inconspicuous glance outside to where Neela was standing, but Landon had caught it.

"It's Neela. You don't like her."

The silence lengthened. "I just didn't know what to expect, Landon," she said truthfully as she attempted to salvage the remains of her salad.

"Ma. Neela's intelligent and has a great personality. She doesn't drink, or smoke or have tattoos ... she's a doctor for goodness sakes!"

Cynthia Carter chewed on the side of her lip, her eyes did not leave the salad bowl that she was holding. However, Ray caught on as realization dawned on him. "She's Indian. You didn't expect her to be a different culture."

"I didn't know what to expect, honey. You never mentioned it on the phone."

"I didn't think it was an requirement for me to fall in love with her."

Dinner was a bit of tense. Neela was perceptive enough to note the tension in the air and it did not take a genius to figure out that she was somehow part of the reason. It would have been an awkward and sad affair if not for the fact that Eric and Dean also joined them that night. The guys reminisced over childhood scruples and Neela's eyes gleamed with excitement while Ray was mortified at the minute details that the both Eric and Dean had at their disposal.

The highlight of the night was when Cynthia Carter spoke of her son's childhood. "I remember one Mother's Day, you tried baking cookies. I think you went through three batches of burnt cookies before settling for a box of chocolates. I certainly hoped that living on your own has improved your cookie skills."

"I do cook sometimes," Ray defended indignantly.

"Ray, you burnt the last three sets of toast that you made for breakfast," Neela put in.

"There was another time when you tried cooking pasta and we ended up spending the entire night cleaning up spaghetti sauce and ordering pizza instead ... or that one time ..."

"Oh alright, I get the point, roomie. I'm already part time rocker, doctor ... cooking wasn't on my list of hobbies to learn."

"Neither does cleaning up after yourself, or paying the repair guy ..." Neela began to list.

The exchange went back and forth with Neela spilling stories about Ray's escapades at the apartment and at County. Eric and Dean savoured the juicy details to Ray's chagrin. Cynthia Carter saw everything at a different light.

After dinner, they moved the gathering outside. The guys went out to the docks to jump into the water like a bunch of hyenas. Neela did the sensible thing to opt out but she was joined by Landon's mom. Neela waited in baited anticipation, until the older woman broke the silence.

"I know that I haven't given you enough credit for you have done for my son."

Neela was stunned and the expression of her face spoke of her shock. "What do you mean?"

"I have never seen him so happy since Jamie's death. He is living again and I know that you have a huge part in that. Landon, Ray ... sometimes they are liked two different people. Landon, when he was seventeen, he was brash and naive. After Jamie, he left Beaufort with little hope for this world. Oh, he had his beliefs but he never let the real him enjoy life. When I look at my son now, Ray is more mature, but he hides his sadness. Seeing him tonight, just laughing about all the little things, it was liked seeing the two sides of him merging into one. I have you to thank, Neela."

Before Neela could mumble another word, Cynthia Carter had enveloped her arms around her. There were tears in both women's eyes when they broke apart. Neela managed to whisper, "You don't know this, but he saved me too."

End of Chapter 14


AN: So, how was that? Leave a review to let me what you think.