Disclaimer: I don't own ER, wish I did, I'd put things right. This chapter's a bit shorter than the rest, and the scene didn't even exist until Friday when I realised it was needed to explain things. Remember reviews are like chocolate, addictive, so please review!

'Did anyone ever tell you what happened at your wedding?' he glanced at her in the rear view mirror.

'What do you mean, what happened at my wedding? What's that got to do with this?' Her gaze never left Neela.

'The fight?' another glance revealed that she was looking at him in surprise 'between Ray and Gates over her? I don't know if its got anything to do with all this but…'

'You've lost me, what are you talking about? There was a fight?' she placed her fingers on Neela's neck and felt for her pulse, it was still rapid but weak.

'Ray was pretty drunk, I think something had happened between Neela and him earlier in the evening, though I'm not sure' he paused while he signalled to turn right. 'Gates said some things, he said some things back, they threw a few punches. Morris and I pulled them apart' he glanced at her again 'I took Ray outside and told him to go home' he paused again.

'What else happened?' It was apparent from his voice that that wasn't all.

'He didn't go home; he went to a bar, continued drinking, and when he eventually left he was hit by a truck. They had to do a double below knee amputation' he saw her turn pale.

'Shit, poor guy, is he okay?' she rolled her eyes 'Stupid question I guess, how's he doing? Where is he? Why's this the first time you've mentioned this?'

'He's getting there. A lot better than he was a few months ago. His mom took him home, back to Baton Rouge; he's been there for the last six months' he stopped as a van cut in front of him.

'I've been down twice to visit, the first time was really hard, he was swinging between denial that anything had happened, and thinking that his life was over. Man, it was soul destroying to see him like that.'

'I can't imagine what he's gone through, god he's not even had the support of his friends here. You said you've been twice, how was he then?' She was stroking Neela's hair partly to calm her own thoughts, she felt like she'd been living in a parallel universe for the last six months where none of these things had happened. Her own problems seemed so unimportant when faced with what Ray had been through.

'Last time was a few weeks ago, he seemed to be accepting it, he's walking with prosthetics, but it's hard to see, he used to be so laid back and at ease, now everything's an effort. But he'll get there; he's stubborn enough. He's convinced that there's no reason that one day he won't return to County as an ER doc'

She again looked up at him in surprise, but when she thought about it, there was no reason why not.

You have to admire him, especially when you think how far he's come since he first started, remember we called him Dispo Doc' he half smirked, and she laughed, but his smile faded fast 'I didn't say anything because he made me swear not to tell anyone, he didn't want any pity. You have to understand, Abby, I blame myself for what happened. I knew how he felt about her, I could see how cut up he was that night, I should have put him in a cab, not let him wander off alone. I had to keep that promise, I owed him that much at least'

'But' she fell silent, trying to process her thoughts 'why did she ring him then?'

'I really don't know, he doesn't mention her, everyone else, but not her. I didn't even know they were still in touch'

'So why are you breaking your promise now?' Her mind was reeling from all the revelations that the day had brought.

'Because I've let her down as well, I promised Mike that if anything happened to him that I would look out for her, I haven't done that'

'Neither have I' she murmured.

He continued as if he hadn't heard her. 'You can see the state she's in, you saw her apartment, something serious is going on with her, and she's going to need all the support she can get. He might be able to help'