Standard disclaimer: All characters and material related to the ER belong to well, I'm guessing here, NBC, various production companies, the writers and all others associated with it. I'm sure they don't belong to me and I won't be making any $.
Neela sat in her hospital bed eagerly, but uneasily waiting for Ray to arrive. She had taken a shower after settling in to her new room. She didn't have much hair and she didn't have any makeup here at the hospital. She thought she looked pretty good, considering everything. She was feeling nervous, but it wasn't because of how she looked. Over the course of their acquaintance, Ray had seen her in a variety of states, many of them quite unattractive. She was apprehensive about how to behave with him. It felt strange to be contemplating a date with Ray Barnett. Although she'd been out with him plenty of times, this was the first time that felt like a date. Of course, how much of a date could you call sharing a hospital meal? The more she thought about this, the more she was driving herself crazy and the more ridiculous she felt. Where was Ray, anyway? And just as her anxiety was turning to annoyance, Ray wheeled himself through her doorway, looking very pleased with himself.
"You're not wearing that, are you?" Ray said, indicating her hospital gown.
"Well, I don't have a lot of choices. I don't have any clothes here, Ray. Mum is going to bring me some tomorrow."
"Crap. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, I didn't think I needed to dress up for dinner here. Hospital gowns are usually…"
Now he sounded disgusted. "You thought we were having dinner here? What kind of date would that be? I brought your coat." He tossed her lab coat, complete with staff badge, on the bed. "You're going to break us out of here."
"Are you crazy?"
"Yes, Neela, I am stir crazy. I have been living here for nearly four weeks. I want out. I want a normal meal. I want a beer. And if we stay here arguing about this too much longer we're never going to be downstairs in time to meet the cab."
"You called a cab."
"Of course I called a cab. I certainly haven't learned to drive with these things" indicating his prostestics "and the stairway to the El isn't happening yet either. So, I'm thinking you walk out with me like we're going down the hall. We pick up a pair of scrub pants from the supply closet and we'll go to my room where you can change. I'll loan you one of my T-shirts. Unless you want a scrub top, too. Then you wheel me out to the entrance where the cab will be in" looking at his watch "fifteen minutes. So get out of that bed."
"Ray, we can't just leave."
"What's the big deal? They're probably going to spring you tomorrow and they've started pushing me out the door already, too. So, let's get out of here for a night on the town. Well, part of the night. We'll be back by the time evening visiting hours are over. No one will miss us."
Neela consented to follow Ray's plan. They managed to meet the cab on time. It was a beautiful June evening and it did feel good to be outside. It was still rush hour and the cab was crawling through the streets. The cab driver hadn't been thrilled to see the wheelchair, but Ray had dealt with it competently. He stood up, using the car for balance and they managed to get the chair folded and into the trunk. Neela had been a little concerned about how much exertion it had seemed to be for him, but he'd looked happy. She had helped him into the cab; Ray had taken her hand then and was still holding it now in an easy grasp. Neela marveled at how even that slight contact affected her; she guessed that was what people meant when they talked about chemistry. "Where are you taking me?"
"Worried?"
"No, I'm just not dressed very well" and she touched what little there was of her hair a bit self-consciously.
Ray looked at her then. "You look beautiful." He thought the short hair brought out her eyes. "And, I'll have you know, that T-shirt is a classic. Besides, it's just a pub. I'm on a budget, you know."
"I can pay my share."
"Neela, I'm joking. Lighten up. There's a band I thought you might like. And here we are."
They reversed procedures to get Ray back in the wheelchair from the cab. Unfortunately, Ray had forgotten that most of the seating in the pub was either up a few steps or down a few steps. Amazing how things he never considered before were now so important. Only the bar was at the level of the entrance and there was no way he was sitting at the bar. The wait person was flustered and embarrassed, so Ray did his best to put her at ease. "If you could just find us a table close to a set of stairs and keep the wheelchair for us, we'll be fine. I can manage a few steps." He fervently hoped that would be true. With Neela's assistance, it was.
True to his word, as soon as they were seated Ray asked Neela if she wanted a beer. "What have they got you on for pain? Are you sure you should be drinking?"
"Dr. Rasgotra, I didn't ask you if I could have a beer. I asked if you wanted one. Let me worry about my prescriptions. It's going to be depressing enough to limit myself to one beer with my dinner; at least let me enjoy it. So, for you, yes or no?"
Ray ordered two beers for them. The band was on a break which gave them a chance to study the menus in silence.
"How is your pain management going Ray? Is this going to be too much for you? I'm not sure this was such a good idea. You've had to do an awful lot of exertion…"
"Neela. This is kind of going to be my life; I need to get used to it. I'll admit tonight was more of a struggle than I thought it would be, but we're here, and I haven't fallen on my ass yet. This is shaping up as an excellent evening. Have you decided what you're going to have?"
"How English is this place? Will the bangers and mash be any good?"
"That's their signature dish. I'm sticking with a burger. And chips."
"Oh, jolly good, Ray."
"Look, the band's going to start." They didn't have a great view from their seats, but they could hear them just fine. They played a variety of old rock songs with definite musical talent, but a completely humorous approach. It wasn't what Neela had been expecting. It was more in line with her taste than Ray's.
The food was good and Ray was in an excellent mood. He'd meant what he told Neela. The outing was going well. He had been kind of apprehensive. He noticed people staring when they came in and were trying to figure out the logistics, but now that he was seated and the chair was out of sight it was possible to almost pretend that it was all as normal as it looked. It did feel terrific to be out of the hospital. As scary as it was to think about what day to day life on his own was going to be like, he began to feel that he was ready to try it.
Neela said,"They're talking about releasing me tomorrow. It's going to be a while before I'm cleared to go back to work; they still want to do some more assessment, especially speech and motor."
"They aren't too worried, are they? You seem fine."
"It's just—the kind of job—you know. The State Medical Board has some requirements."
"Yeah. Well, I still don't know whether I'll ever be able to finish my ER residency. But I did some reading this afternoon. The social worker pointed me to this online publication for amputees and I read a really good article written by a doctor who is also an amputee. It's about how it affected his practice, in a positive way. It was really an encouraging article. I contacted him by email to see if he'd be willing to answer some of my questions. Anyway, I feel better than I did this afternoon. I am sorry about that. There's a lot going on and I'll admit I get scared sometimes. Still angry, too, sometimes."
"That sounds really normal to me, Ray. You've got a lot to adjust to. Tonight you said they were trying to kick you out. Just what did you mean?"
"Well, they think I'm ready to finish up the rest of the physical therapy as an outpatient. So, I'm going to need to go apartment hunting. They're being understanding about it. I think I'd be getting more pressure if I weren't on staff. Oh, good, I was afraid the band wasn't going to play it. Listen, Neela."
She smiled as she realized that the band was now playing the familiar strains of That's the Way (I Like It). "That's not my favorite, you know."
"Oh, just wait." That's when she realized the band was playing a medley of the greatest hits of KC and The Sunshine Band. She thought about what a lot of trouble Ray had gone to for their date. It did make her sad to realize they wouldn't be doing any dancing. It had been fun the night of Sam's party. She thought about all the time they—mostly she—had wasted. Ray cut in on her thoughts.
"Technically, I'm still employed at County, although I'm on medical leave. But that will be running out. I've been thinking that a roommate might help cut expenses. Know anybody who might be interested?"