Chapter Three

I staggered along the hallway. I was ready. I was ready to see her, the love of my life, the woman I could never forget. I was ever so slightly drunk, but I was ready.

I knocked on the door, though it seemed more like banging as my hand seemed a little heavier than usual. After a while I called out "Neela!" I heard movement in the apartment then the door creaked open, still on the chain.

She peered out, with her lovely brown eyes staring at me, taking me in. I wondered what she would see. Some tall, scruffy looking guy, with dark hair that was a little longer than when she'd seen it last. Oh and I was swaying slightly.

"Ray?" she asked cautiously, "Is that... you?"

"Hey Roomie," I said with a goofie smile.

"God, are you drunk?"

"Brett took me out when I landed and it seems I can not hold my drink as well as I once could."

"Jeez, stop shouting, come in then. What time is it anyway?" She opened the door and ushered me in. I walked in and collapsed on the couch, my face pressed into the cushions.

"I don't know," I mumbled, "I just wanted to see you."

"Thanks... I guess."

"I love you Neela, you're the reason I came back from Africa."

"Sure, Africa. I'm sure you had a great time, now you just sleep it off. I'm going back to bed. I'll talk to you in the morning... or the afternoon as the case may be."

I nodded and felt her putting a blanket over me. I reached out and pulled her closer to me. "Stay with me Neela, I wasted too much time already."

"Look," she whispered, "I know you're probably not going to remember this, so I don't have to worry about hurting your feelings. Ray, you stink, there is no way I can stay next to you, I'm sorry. I'll talk to you in the morning, alright?"

"The morning," I mumbled, before drifting asleep.

I woke up in the only state that could be expected. My eyes were crusty, my throat was croaky and my head felt like someone had slammed a tree trunk into it. I sat up and peeled open my eyes. Much to my dismay I was in Abby's, which meant the scene with Neela had happened. I could hear movement in the kitchen, so I made my way in there, and poked my head around the door. Neela was washing up. I cleared my throat and she turned round. She folded her arms, rubber gloves and all, and looked me up and down.

"Don't look at me," I pleaded.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm a mess."

"I never knew you were so fussy about your appearance, Barnett."

I whimpered, "Please can I have a shower."

"Um... I'm not sure," she said with a wicked smile on her face.

"Please, Neela, I'll do anything for you... please?"

"Go right ahead."

In the shower I thought about my last day in Africa, it was better than thinking about what was still to come today. Carter had taken me and Debbie to the airport.

"You have fun back home, both of you."

"We will," she assured him, "And I'll see you soon John."

"Bye," he said, hugging her tightly. "Ray." He turned to me, "It's been a pleasure working with you over these last months, you're a great doctor, don't ever forget that." He hugged me, then added "Give everyone my regards at County, and here." He handed me an envelope. "This is for Kerry, she'll give you a job, you have good recommendation's."

"Thanks Carter, I mean John."

"Carter's fine, I'm used to it. Look, County was once my home, but it isn't any more. But for you, I think it still is. Make sure you get back there. Oh and," he gave me a knowing smile, "Say hi to Neela for me."

As we walked towards the plane Debbie nudged me, "So, who's Neela?"

I went out of the bathroom in only a towel. I felt slightly self concious but there was no way I was putting those clothes back on. Short of burning them, there was nothing much I wanted to do with them.

"Um, Neela, I didn't happen to come with a bag last night, did I?"

Her eyes travelled up and down my body, widened in surprise. Her mouth formed a little "O" but she didn't speak.

"Neela?"

"N-no, but I found that in the hall. I kind of assumed it was yours." She pointed to a bag in the corner of the room. It was mine.

"Oh good, thanks. Um, where can I..."

"My room's just in there," she said, her voice squeaking a little.

I turned away from her with a smile. See, I knew I freshened up good.

She was sitting on the couch when I came out, dressed. I sat next to her and gave a small smile. "Hey."

"Hi... were you really in Africa?"

"Yeah... Darfur with Dr Carter."

"Oh." Her fingers were tapping nervously on her knee. "I see."

"Neela, I went to... God... I don't know what to say to you."

"No, it's been a long time I guess."

I gave a chuckle. "That's not it, I never knew what to say to you. Are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad at you?" she asked, her voice showing that she probably was.

"Because I disappeared for two years? Maybe..."

"No, I'm not mad."

"Oh, well that's a shame." I sighed.

She turned to look at me, "That's a shame?"

"Mmm, if you were mad it would show you still cared about me."

"I... do still care about you," she said quietly.

"Obviously not enough, if you're not mad at me," I said, a small smile forming on my face. I could see her frowning, trying not shout at me, but I was being deliberately antagonising.

"Fine Ray, I am mad at you!" she snapped.

"Oh that's good, then I can make it up to you."

"Make it up to me how?" She raised her eyebrows. "How are you going to make up two years of you not being here, no letters no phone calls. For all I knew you could have been dead," her voice cracked, "and then, and then you turn up here drunk and I..."

"I'm sorry Neela, I'm sorry for everything."

"That's not going to cut it Ray."

I moved closer to her, so our sides were touching. "You said you would wait for me... do you remember?"

"I remember. But what if you took too long."

"If I took too long, then I'm sorry... But I would like to just... no, I took too long."

"What would you like to just?" she asked, not looking at me.

I slowly turned her face towards me, "I'd like to just..." I leaned towards her, looking into her perfect brown eyes. "I'd like to just..." I felt a little breathless. Then my mouth touched hers and everything clicked into place. For that moment everything was right, the past hadn't happened and the future was all ours. That moment was perfection.

"Ray..." she whispered as she pulled away from me. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. Now, I think I've got some making up to do... any ideas about how?"

She shook her head with a smile, "No, I can't think of anything at all."

"Do you know, I think I might have some ideas. Though, they need your co-operation, do you think you can manage that?"

"I don't know, two years is a long time... that's a lot of making up to do."

"Well, I'm free for... forever."

"Gee, you know what?" she said with a wide smile, "Me too. Except I've got a little job to do but you know that can wait."

"Oh good. Hey, do you think you could put in a good word for me?"

"Sure," she smiled again. "It's great to have you back... I can't believe you were in Darfur."

I looked at her, "I can't believe that either, right now." I captured her lips in a kiss, "I love you, I've loved you forever, I've roamed the world and all I can think about is you."

"Yeah, well, I've hated you," she said, before kissing me back.

"If this is hate, I'd like to see what it's like to be loved by you." I trailed my hand up and down her side.

"Mmm, well, you've got making up to do before that would ever happen."

"I don't think I mind too much."

"Me either." Then she added, "Hey, so you found your Zen then?"

"Yeah, Carter's been like my Zen master."

"Oh good."

I pulled back and grinned at her, we were now lying on the couch, "Are my eyes shining?"

"What?"

"You told me not to come back until my eyes were shining again."

"Oh yeah, they're shiny."

"Good, wouldn't want to disappoint," I said, giving a wolfish grin.

"I'm sure you won't."

A/N Don't shoot. Don't shoot! I'm afriad that the story is pretty much over, apart form a very very short epilogue. However...

I have decided, because of many persuasive reviews, pm's and IM conversations (you know who you all are) that maybe I should just take a break from FF, rather than quite completely. I think I was taking it all to seriously, the important thing is; I LIKE writing fanfic, so it would be silly not to! Also, I really DON'T like this story, and I don't want to go out on a bad note!

So, sorry to all those who thought they were getting rid of me, blame those people complimenting me. As I always say, the way to a girl's heart is to compliment her writing skills.

As Arnie says; "I'll be back"

hehehehe,

Love you's,

Moonlight x