A/N: I am so sorry it took so long, but I hope the long chapter makes up for it ;)
Just a little heads up for this chapter, there's a bit of angst but nothing Ray and Neela can't handle…also Michael never went to Iraq…
When Neela and Abby arrived at the Indigo, Ray's band was just setting up
"Well looks like we're on time" Abby said "So that gives you a few to tell me what's going on between you two"
"Abby!" Neela said and couldn't help but laugh
"What?" Abby asked innocently "You still haven't answered my question"
Neela looked at Abby confused "What question?"
"You know, the 'was Ray good' question" Abby smirked
Neela's mouth dropped, then she sighed "You're not gonna let this go, are you?"
Abby grinned and shook her head
"Fine ok, he was good, great, fantastic, excellent, amazing and every time I see him I want to rip his clothes off…is that what you were looking for?" Neela said all in one breath
Abby was shocked into silence by her friend's forwardness
Neela shrugged sipping her beer "What? You asked"
"So you and Ray are finally together?" Abby said more as a statement
"What do you mean by 'finally'?" Neela asked suspiciously
"Well everyone with eyes can see that there's more between the two of you than just being roommates" Abby said knowingly
Neela laughed softly "Well you must be mistaken because Ray and I aren't technically together"
"What do you mean?" Abby asked confused
Neela sighed "We were drunk and well the second time was heat of the moment…we haven't really talked about it and well there's still Michael"
"Wait hold up a second…you're still with Michael?" Abby asked
"No…not really" Neela said "I just don't want to hurt him"
"I'm sure you won't hurt him" Abby said softly "Besides, you've seen him with the new pediatrician, if he can be with someone else, then so can you"
"I know" Neela said "But I mean…it's Ray, he wouldn't give up all those groupies for something serious…and to be honest I don't think I'm ready for anything serious either"
Abby laughed "Neela Rasgotra, I think you just labeled what you have with Ray, roomies with benefits"
Before Neela could reply, the band started playing and Ray's voice filled the room. She looked up and couldn't help but smile at him, he was so in his element; up on stage, he was a rocker through and through. Finally their eyes met and Ray smiled back at her as he sang.
'Stop staring Neela' she told herself as she struggled to look away with reddened cheeks
*~*~*
"Thank you all and have a good night" Ray said after they sang their last song of the night
He walked off the stage and went straight over to where Neela and Abby were sitting at the bar. He still couldn't believe she came, she was always ranting and raving at the band to keep the 'noise' down so when he asked her to come to his gig, he never thought she'd actually come 'Whoa Ray, what's it matter if she came or not, she's just your roommate…right?'
Neela smiled at Ray and handed him an ice cold beer, he gratefully accepted and took a drink "Thanks Roomie, you know me so well" he said with a smile
"You guys actually weren't that bad" Neela said
"Don't sound so surprised" Ray laughed "I'm amazing"
'Yes you are' Neela shook her head "You're also full of yourself"
"So, you're admitting I'm amazing?" he smirked then laughed "Why thank you Neela, you're pretty amazing to"
"Oh bugger off you" Neela muttered
Abby noticed Neela turn away to try to cover the blush that was rising in her cheeks; she couldn't help but smirk. It was obvious to her that Neela saw Ray as more than just a roommate, and by the way Ray was looking at Neela, she could say the same for him.
"Why are you smiling?" Ray asked Abby
"You were staring" Abby pointed out
"No I wasn't" Ray said trying to hide the fact that he was openly staring at Neela
"Whatever, lie all you want" Abby smirked
Neela was just glaring at Abby, even though she enjoyed seeing Ray squirm
Ray was about to say something, but stopped when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around smiling, thankful for the interruption
"Tina" he smiled
The ditzy blonde raised an eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest "Chloe"
"Right, Chloe" Ray shrugged, then put an arm around her waist "What do you say I buy you a drink" he then led her down to the other end of the bar
Abby looked at Neela guiltily, feeling it was her fault "Neela I'm so sorry"
Neela laughed "Abby it's fine…Ray and I aren't together" she said, although she could feel the jealousy course through her.
Neela finished off her beer then waved the bartender down "Whiskey" she said
"Neela…" Abby said
"Oh you want one to?" Neela interrupted "Make that two" she told the bartender
"No, Neela" Abby said "This is not the answer"
"What?" Neela said innocently, downing her shot of whiskey "I'm just in the mood for something stronger"
Neela looked over to where Ray was sitting with the groupie. Their eyes met and Ray smirked at her before he turned back to the blonde, making Neela laugh in spite.
"That bloody wanker" she spat 'Who does he think he is…he's doing this just to get to me, well I'll so him nothing he does gets to me…it just doesn't'
"You gonna drink that?" Neela asked Abby, downing the other shot of whiskey before Abby had a chance to answer
She got up and walked up to the stage where Ray's friend Bret was putting away his guitar 'I'll show you Barnett' She thought as she tapped Bret's shoulder
He turned around and smiled "Dr. Neela, I didn't expect you to come"
Neela smiled back "You guys aren't half bad" she said "Do you need some help packing this stuff up?"
Bret looked at her curiously then he looked over her shoulder; he saw Ray sitting with some groupie who was all over him, but Ray didn't seem to be paying attention, no he was too busy watching Neela's every move. Bret smirked, catching on to what Neela was up to 'This is gonna be fun'
"So you wanna make somebody jealous eh?" Bret smirked
"I…uh" Neela stuttered
"I'm happy to help" he smiled "Besides Ray should learn to help pack up after a gig"
Neela walked closer to him, putting her arms around his neck; she leaned in and whispered in his ear "Is he watching?"
Bret whispered back, putting his hands on her waist "By watching you mean does he look like he wants to kill me…then yeah he is"
Neela smirked and gave Bret a lingering kiss on the lips, Neela turned them around so she could see ray's reaction and what a reaction it was 'Gotcha' between completely ignoring the groupie and the clenched fists and jaw, she could tell he was very jealous. Although she didn't know why he was jealous, she enjoyed the fact that she was able to do this to him. She broke away from Bret and pulled him behind her off the stage and out of Ray's view, Bret burst out laughing as did Neela
"Dr. Neela, I didn't know you had it in ya" Bret joked still laughing "He's gonna kill me"
"Why would he kill you?" Neela asked "He's just mad that he can't have his cake and eat it to"
"Neela I can assure you that's not how he thinks of…wait did something already happen between you two?" he asked
Neela turned beat red and looked away; Bret took that as a yes "So you and Barnett finally saw the light"
"Huh?"
"I knew there was more between you two than just being roomies" he smirked knowingly
"We're not exactly together…it was a one time thing that uh…um happened again"
Bret looked at her with a raised eyebrow "You mean you slept with him twice"
Neela put her hands on her hips "Well in my defense, we were drunk the first time"
"Well you'd have to be to give him a shot" he joked, then smirked "And what about the second time?"
Neela looked away from him; her cheeks beat red "I was well uh…curious"
"Curious?" Bret laughed
'I can't believe I'm talking to Bret of all people about this…' Neela's cheeks turned even redder "I um…I should go, uh…Abby, she's um waiting for me"
"Alright" he smirked "And if you don't mind, could you tell Ray to get off his lazy ass and come help pack up"
"Sure" Neela said with a devious smile "I'll be sure to tell him"
Neela walked out still smiling, to where Abby was sitting at the bar "You know…Ray was watching you the whole time"
"Really…I had no idea" Neela joked, then smiled a mischievous smile "So you ready to go?"
"Sure" Abby said 'Neela what are you planning?'
They walked up to Ray who was now standing with his back to them; he was facing 'what's her name', obviously pretending to be listening to what she was saying
Ray could tell she was behind him; he was prepared for a lip lashing from her, telling him not to keep her up with his 'date', so he was absolutely shocked when he felt a hand grab his ass 'Whoa'. He jumped around suddenly to see Neela smirking at him and before he had a chance to react, he felt her lips on his. He felt himself being pushed back against the bar and couldn't help but kiss her back; she brought out feelings in him that no other woman ever had before, and he had no idea why or how. When he started to kiss her back however, she pulled away. 'Wow that was not the kind of lip lashing I was expecting' he thought to himself.
"Bret said to get off your lazy ass and help pack up" she smirked
Still in a daze, he watched as Neela walked out with Abby, but no before she turned around, winked at him and gave him a seductive little wave. He didn't even hear Cathy? No that's not it, Carrie? No Cindy?, well what ever her name was, he didn't hear one word she was saying.
"Neela, what's gotten into you?" Abby laughed as they hailed a cab
"I'm never drinking again" she replied
*~*~*
Neela was sitting on the couch in the apartment, listening to The Clash. She would never admit it to Ray, but she loved his music and nobody would ever think that Neela Rasgotra was into punk rock.
All of a sudden, she heard high pitched giggling, 'Huh?' She turned off the music and walked closer to the door; then she heard it again along with a voice that was unmistakably Ray's, 'That bloody bastard brought her home?!' When she heard Ray's key in the lock, she backed away from the door a bit 'I'll show him'. As soon as the door opened and Ray entered the apartment, that's when Neela jumped him. She jumped on him and he instinctively caught her; Neela wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist and he stumbled back against the door, slamming it in his would-be date's face.
"Ne…" Ray started but was cut off when Neela kissed him passionately and he immediately kissed her back. Clothes quickly discarded and needless to say, they didn't make it to either bedroom.
The next morning Neela woke up first to the bright sun shining through the window of the lounge. Thankful for the day off, she sighed as she looked around realizing that she was on the couch and by the warmth beneath her, she knew she wasn't alone. When she looked up, she saw that she was on top of a sleeping Ray; memories of the night before flooded her mind, making her smile. She placed a kiss on Ray's naked chest and he inhaled sharply, still asleep. She then kissed a trail up his neck, she couldn't help but giggle when he let out a sleepy moan; she placed a kiss on his lips, as she was about to pull away she felt his hands travel up the smooth skin of her back and to her head, his fingers tangling in her hair as he deepened the kiss. Just as the kiss was growing even more intense, there was a knock on the door.
"They'll go away" Ray mumbled and continued to kiss Neela
The knocking became more persistent and Ray groaned as Neela got up. He watched as she scrambled to get dressed. When Ray made no effort to move, Neela whispered hurriedly "Get some bloody clothes on Ray!"
Ray smirked "That's not what you were saying last night"
"Ray!" she said loudly
"Alright, alright" he said getting up off the couch and slipping on his boxers
Neela walked to the door slowly hopefully giving Ray enough time to get more clothes on, she opened it just enough to see who was there; she didn't expect to see Michael.
"Michael! What are you doing here…this early in the morning?" she asked still out of breath
He looked at her confused "I thought you might have a shift so I wanted to see if you wanted to go out for breakfast…why are you so out of breath?"
"I…uh" she stuttered 'I was just making out with my roommate, when you interrupted' She didn't have a chance to say anything before Michael pushed the door open the rest of the way. The sight he was greeted with was Ray in the kitchen in just his boxers.
'Damn it Ray, I told you to get some clothes on' She thought
"Morning" Ray says casually
Neela turned back to Neela, taking in her attire; she was wearing a shirt that was far too big for her and it was inside out "You're sleeping with HIM?!"
Before Neela could say anything, Ray said "Don't yell, you'll wake the neighbors" he then took a drink straight out of the milk jug. Neela gives Ray a look as if to say 'Be quiet!' and he just shrugs
Neela pulls Michael outside and right away he tears into her "What the hell are you thinking?!"
"What?" she asked
"Why are you with him?" he yelled
Neela sighed "I'm not exactly 'with' him…and what does it matter anyway?"
"So what, you're just sleeping with him? You're just one of those groupies that fall at his feet? I guess the 'roomies with benefits' rumor was true" He spat
*SLAP*
"I've had enough of this conversation" Neela said, turning around to go back inside but he stopped her
"I'm not finished" he said angrily
"Michael, what do you want?" she asked "We're not together anymore so why do you even care what I do with my time? Why are you throwing this childish hissy fit?"
"Neela, even if we're not together anymore, I still care about you" he said "I know that if you're with that sleazy wannabe rock star, you'll get hurt…people like him don't give a damn about anyone other than themselves"
She was overwhelmed by the strong urge to defend Ray "Well you don't know Ray like I do…he's the best friend I ever had, he'd never hurt me!" Neela said confidently 'Whoa, where did that come from…best friend?!'
"Whatever, just don't come crying to me when he dumps you for the next best thing…and he will" he spat
"Michael, I wish you the best, I really do…but please stay out of MY business, it shouldn't concern you" she said calmly and with that she walked back inside, leaving him speechless.
When she entered the apartment, she saw Ray sitting at the kitchen counter with a bowl of cereal
"Are you alright?" he asked
"Yeah" she said, pouring a bowl of her own cereal
"You sure?" he asked again
"Ray I'm fine" she smiled "Really"
Ray just nodded then took a bite of his captain crunch. He looked up when he felt her eyes on him "What?" he asked curiously
"There's no milk left" she told him "When are you ever going to learn not to put the empty jug back in the fridge?"
"Sorry Roomie" he said with a cheeky grin "Wanna share mine?"
"You want me to eat that sugar crap?" she laughed
"Sure, it's good" he smiled pushing the bowl towards her "Try it, and it's not sugar crap…it's captain crunch"
Neela sighed "Alright, if you insist" she took a bite and was shocked that it was actually good "That's actually not that bad" she said taking another bite
"I know" he said getting another spoon so he could eat to "So what are you doing today?"
"Well it's my day off" Neela said "So, just relaxing I guess…after I go grocery shopping, since 'someone' forgot to get milk" she said with a joking accusatory tone "What are you doing?"
"Grocery shopping with you" He said with a grin a mile wide, luckily he had the day off as well.
A/N: So there you have it, what did you think, was it worth the wait? Hmmm...next chapter, Roomie grocery shopping and what ever will they do on their day off ;) Hopefully it won't take me so long for the next chapter...