Author's Note: Wow. I haven't written anything in a long, long time. Nearly 4 years in fact. I don't know where it came from, or why it's here but this chapter just begged to be written. ER has been gone for some time now, but if there are any avid Roomie fans left, please enjoy a continued homage to what was once a great pairing on a great show.

Chapter 7: Clothing Optional

"You're awake"

He stood awkwardly in the doorway of the bathroom.

"Very astute Ray." Neela responded. She stood parallel to the bathroom mirror, toothbrush in hand.

His eyes narrowed slightly, taking in her demeanor.

"How're you feeling?" he asked cautiously, as her eyes rolled slightly with apparent disregard for him.

She shot back an, "I'm fine" that Ray couldn't quite believe.

He also became very aware of how little clothing he was wearing, and apparently so did Neela. For a second he thought he caught her checking him out and a smirk formed on his groggy and disheveled face.

"Did you need something?" Her tone was stern but he could see a faint softness in her eyes.

He shook his head, "Take your time."

As he turned to exit the bathroom, he paused for a second…

"Do you want some breakfast?" he asked uncertainly, fighting with himself to get the sentence out.

Neela let out a short laugh, laced with disbelief. "Are you offering to cook?"

Ray sighed, "You have little to no faith in me don't you?" his voice was playful but she sensed he felt more truth in the statement than he let on.

Her smile faded slightly, "Ray-"

He cut her off before she could say anything. "I'm a man on many talents, Neela. These hands," he made of a show of motioning his hands in the air, "have accomplished miraculous things."

Her eyes rolled at his arrogance and unwavering smirk, "I know Ray, we share a wall."

"Your words wound me." He said, feigning offense. He sent a dejected glare in her direction and took off towards the kitchen. "You know I have to prove myself now?"

Neela finished brushing her teeth and scurried towards the door to grab her shoes. "Rain check. I promise I'll let you prove your masculinity another time." She considered her reply for a moment and continued, "Though maybe masculinity isn't the right word…"

"Again with the hurtful words." He shook his head and picked up a kitchen utensil. "Neela, do you know what this is?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly, "A spatula…" she slowly answered, unsure of where he was going with this though quite sure she didn't want to know.

"Yes, Neela. In the hands of an ordinary man, it is a spatula."

"Ray-" the amusement in her voice was faint but recognizable.

"Ah" he lifted a finger in the air to silence her, "But in these hands, it is a dangerous weapon."

"Really, Ray." She scoffed with good nature and challenged him despite her intuitive warnings, "And what dangerous power does it hold?"

Ray stepped smoothly towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Oh Neela. You're too full of disbelief. You're just not ready to know all my secrets yet."

He let his eyes absorb hers and relished in the familiar banter that they once shared.

Neela smiled slightly and reached for her purse. "You're something else, Ray."

"That's a good thing right?" he smiled hopefully.

He watched her leave, grabbed the orange juice from the fridge and hopped up on the counter.

Her head peeked in from the behind the door, "By the way, Abby will be here in a few hours, so you may want to consider clothing of some kind."

"I'll consider it." He gave her one last smirk before she disappeared.

Ray lifted the OJ carton to his lips and took a big gulp. Glancing around the apartment, he decided it was probably in his best interest to clean up a bit.