Disclaimer: I don't own ER, etc, or intend any infringement on characters (1) by J.M. Barrie

Note: this isn't the strongest chapter by any means but needed an easy out to get the roomies to the next stage of where I want them to be for the next chapter. Apologies in advance. Oh, should have mentioned at the start that this fic takes place after Neela gets together with Gallant but before they are married. It's my "get out of jail free" card to avoid any moral dilemmas of Neela cheating on her husband.

"Urghh…" Ray let out a low groan as he tried to straighten himself out of the half-twisted slump that he had ended up falling asleep in. He frowned as he rubbed the nape of his neck, he knew his spine was going to pay him back for that mistreatment tomorrow. Taking care not to disturb the blanketed heap next to him, Ray ran long fingers through his half-spikey, half-flattened bed hair as he squinted at the wall clock. 5 in the afternoon, at least the whole day hadn't been slept away and the summer sun was still shining brightly.

Ray looked down as a muffled snort/cough emanated from somewhere near his elbow and he allowed himself a smile as he recalled how easily they had slumped together before falling asleep. He had half-expected Neela to shrug him away when he rested his arm around her shoulder but if anything, she had simply nestled closer to him.

He watched in amusement then laughed as the blanket stirred like a strange quilted volcano that erupted with Neela's head appearing over the top, strands of night-black hair sticking up like she was auditioning for a role as a scarecrow. Even though Ray knew that this was not one of his roomie's more flattering looks, it was a vision he would be more than happy to wake up with each morning.

Blinking bleary-eyed at him, her voice croaked out one word.

"Water."

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Neela ran her tongue over dry lips and immediately regretted it. The high salt and sugar intake combined with alcohol had left her mouth feeling as though she had swallowed a bucket of sand and then covered her tongue with cotton wool. She swallowed, coughing at the parched-ness of her throat, grateful that Ray had heard her plea and was returning with a pint glass of water.

Neela studied him enviously – it wasn't fair that he looked so well when she felt like crap. Look at him! There's definitely a spring in his step. Not only was her stomach still making itself known by gurgling ominously, her brain was feeling more than a little fuzzy too. Any spring that might have been in her step had relocated itself to the rolling motion that was taking place in her gut.

"Here, I put in a couple of slices of ginger – it's supposed to help nausea." Ray placed the glass into Neela's outstretched hands, their fingertips touching briefly. She thanked him with her eyes as she gulped the contents as if it were going out of fashion, draining every last drop in 5 seconds flat.

"Impressive, "he said admiringly, "that must be a new world record."

Opening her mouth to retort, what actually came out was, "B-E-E-L-L-L-C-H-H-H." Neela clapped her hand to her mouth, mortified.

"I take that back. That was impressive!"

"I'm so sorry, that was so gross." Neela couldn't believe what she had just done. In all the time that they had lived together, sure they had had the odd burping contest but she had never emitted such a loud, protracted and, yes, smelly belch. At least, not in front of him. "He must think I'm a complete slob." She wanted to curl back under her blanket. "Bet none of those groupies ever did anything to gross him out."

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Ray had been transfixed by the sight of her smooth throat moving up and down as she glugged the water but the transfixion ended abruptly by the huge belch which had followed. There was no way that could ever be deemed sexy but he loved that Neela wasn't one of those girls who acted as if normal bodily functions didn't apply to them.

Noticing that Neela's usually glowing skin had taken on a drawn pallor, Ray decided that fresh air was the way forward.

"Right. The sun's still shining, we'll get you out and feeling better in no time."

"Are you off your head?!" The look of disbelief on her face was almost comical.

"It'll be fine, " he said soothingly before adding, "it's just what the doctor ordered."

Neela groaned. "That's terrible." However, Ray didn't miss the small smile playing at the corners of her mouth before replying.

"The old ones are the best ones."

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Neela let herself be pulled up from the sofa and guided in the direction of her room. Even if she had protested, she had the impression that resistance was futile and if truth be told, she wasn't certain that she wanted to resist anyway.

Pulling on a loose green summer dress that wouldn't restrict her delicate stomach, she slipped on her battered flat pumps that should have been thrown out long ago if they weren't so comfy. After dragging a brush through her hair, Neela grabbed her bag and stepped out to where Ray was already waiting by the front door.

He, too, had changed and she couldn't help but notice how his grey T-shirt skimmed and clung to his leanly muscled torso in just the right places. As he turned towards her, she saw his back catch the sunlight.

"Hold still a second." Neela went for a closer look and chuckled.

"What is it?" He tried to peer over his shoulder.

"It would seem that you are to be our very own ER Tinkerbell for a while longer. That glitter is everywhere."

Using her hands, Neela brushed the silver specks from his back, stretching up to reach properly. She knew she was letting her hands play over his shoulders longer than was necessary but she couldn't help herself. Any legitimate reason…

"Uh…Neela, is it off yet?" Ray was loathe to end the welcome sensation of her light touch but he wasn't sure what to do.

"Hmmm?...Oh. Yeah, um, yeah it is." She cleared her throat and walked around him to open the door when she heard him guffaw.

Looking into his face, she felt a sinking feeling. "Oh no, don't tell me!"

"Yup."

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Ray sent up his eternal thanks to whichever power had provided this rare and long-desired opportunity. He took a tissue and began wiping Neela's face gently to remove the sparkles which had come off him onto her. After a few minutes, he spoke in a serious tone.

"Dr. Rasgotra, I'm sorry to inform you that you also have 'Tinkerbell Syndrome' but the long-term prognosis is good. The effects of Sparkus Glitterii is not believed to be permanent."

A few seconds passed as they searched each other's eyes before they burst out laughing at the same time, enjoying the shared humour of the situation.

Still laughing, Neela finished opening the door and pulled Ray out after her, "Let's go."