Disclaimer: Okay I do own it, I stole it yesterday and the police have a pretty good description of me. They are looking for a big fat liar with flaming pants.
Author's Note: I am really happy with the responses I have got so far for this story, they spur me on to try update quickly. So thank you all.
"Hey Neela, you want go grab something to eat?" Abby called to her as she tried to catch her up. Neela stopped and turned, she and Abby didn't get to spend much time together at the moment.
"Sure" She smiled warmly, she needed a friend with the day she was having.
They strolled out and across the road to grab burgers. After they'd chatted inanely over their food Abby looked her square in the eye and asked solemnly. "So what's going on between you and Gates?"
"Nothing he's just a friend" Neela protested defensively.
"Does he know that?" Abby questioned one eyebrow rose expectantly.
"Yes of course he does, he's just a friend he knows that" She was starting to get annoyed "can we just drop it and talk about something else?" She asked sullenly pushing her forgotten fries around her plate.
"Okay so that was a pretty good spot by Ray on that tamponade, I mean what are the odds of that anyway" She watched her reactions cautiously, both knew bringing up Ray could kill a conversation dead.
"Cardiac tamponade occurs in less than two percent of all patients with chest trauma, it's a lot less than that in blunt trauma cases." She pulled the vague statistic from deep within her textbook type brain. "It was a good call" Neela shrugged she couldn't help notice that Tony was always Gates when Abby talked about him whereas Ray was only ever Barnett when they were busy in the ER.
Abby had changed the subject almost as if she hadn't mentioned Ray at all, they soon fell into the easy banter they often shared when they hadn't had so many life altering things to deal with and for that Neela found herself undeniably grateful.
It wasn't until they went back in through the ambulance bay that Abby brought Ray up again.
"You know Ray's still your friend too don't you" She said a brief comforting hand on Neela's shoulder before she disappeared leaving Neela stood dumbstruck staring after her. Why did she have too be so right all the time. The warm feeling that their friendly chatter had given her had evaporated leaving her feeling like a complete bitch for the way she had pushed Ray away. She knew she had pushed him too far because he had gone beyond giving her space and gone for full blown cold indifference.
She willed the tears back from the corners of her eyes and strolled back inside. she had no right for self-pity, the distance she had put between them was her fault and she had no right to grieve for the friendship she had thrown away.
Okay, it's short but I wanted to update again quickly so I am sure you can forgive me.
Raven