Disclaimer: Nada, nothing, zip.
Author's note: Big thanks to everyone who has reviewed, especially moonlitclarity, princess-dreamer, dshortklutz and criss128 for their near instant reviews for the last chapter.
Neela had been down in the ER to see Abby when Tony, Luka and Ray rushed through with two gunshot victims.
"Anything I can do to help" She inquired towards Luka.
He glanced quickly between Ray and Tony, She noticed now that Tony's face was slightly swollen and his lip split.
"Sure help Ray out, Tony you're with me" Luka stated his attention swiftly back to the young man on the gurney.
Tony shot a heated glare in Ray's direction and looked like he was about to argue with Luka before they rushed into Trauma 1.
Neela pushed her curiosity down and concentrated on the teenage girl that was bleeding out, she listened to stats flow smoothly from Ray everything but the wellbeing of his patient forgotten.
They'd worked hard, Ray had worked hard and she could she the pain in his eyes, as he had to call it.
It never got easier losing a patient, maybe if it did then that's when you have to question your humanity.
"I'm sorry Ray " She was, if she knew how to take away his hurt she would and she knew she wasn't only thinking of the patient he had just lost.
She saw his hurt compounded as he looked down to where she had laid a consoling hand on his forearm. She removed it hastily, suddenly all too aware of the quiet in the usually hectic space. She felt suddenly self conscious and awkward.
She watched Luka and Tony through the glass as they still fought to save their own patient. Reflexively she asked, "What happened to Tony's face?" immediately regretting it as she felt tension solidify around him.
"He's your friend you should ask him," He said flatly leaving her to watch his ever-familiar retreating back.
She had pushed such a wedge between them that she had no idea how to start repairing the damage maybe it was too late.
She had stuck around to talk to Tony only for him to be hastily dragged off to the doctors lounge, she saw Luka call to Ray as they went. She watched from a distance as they all disappeared from sight before seeking out Abby.
"What was that about?" She questioned trying to sound casual.
"I have no idea, Heard Luka say something about acting like children but that's all I caught" Abby smiled deviously, it was clear she wanted to know too and although both had probably already realised that Ray and Tony must have been arguing it was unclear what it had been about, Neela had briefly considered she may have been the cause of it, then instantly dismissed it as egotistical and besides Ray no longer even cared what she did.
Ray left the room first his gaze briefly meeting hers then his eyes dropping away, He didn't speak as he strolled passed them and into the locker room. Abby smiled deviously and followed him in. Neela stayed to wait for Luka and Gates to come out; when they still hadn't exited she let her curiosity win and headed for the door in the pretence of looking for Tony. Her hand was on the door handle as she heard Luka say "he's suspended for two weeks without pay that is adequate as far as I am concerned, you can file an assault charge if you want but you might want to remember how rumours spread around here. I'm sure you wouldn't want to upset Neela".
Neela let go of the handle backing up quickly she had heard enough, or maybe too much and had that been a veiled threat from Luka to deter Tony from any further action.
She caught a glimpse of Ray leaving and stared shocked at Abby. She knew that Ray had been suspended and she suddenly felt fearful that he might not be back.