Neela just stood there speechless she could not believe the image that was in front of her Ray Barnett. She looks straight into his beautiful green eyes and was mesmerized. All the emotions Neela had lost was all coming back to her.
"Ray, what are you doing he..."
Before Neela could finish her question, Ray grabbed her waist gently with one arm and kissed her passionately on the lips. Electricity rushed through both of them. Ray didn't want to start their first encounter since the hospital with awkwardness; he felt they had enough time apart to evaluate their feelings for each other. He had never stopped loving her and with his bold move he was hoping she would have the same feelings. Neela could not believe what was happening but her only reaction was to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him harder. They briefly separated to breathe. Ray saw how beautiful she looked her hair was still wet and she had on his shirt. The shirt he longed to see her in.
"So, can I come in?"
Neela was still in shock, she could not stop looking into his eyes.
"Neela, earth to Neela."
"Oh, Um, sorry, yes come in."
"Thanks I need to sit down these things are killing me."
Neela had briefly forgotten about what had happened to Ray, she quickly snapped back to reality and remembered and this started to cause her great sadness. Ray noticed her expression change.
"Neela, Stop."
"Excuse me?"
"Stop doing what you are doing?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I see in your face it just hit you that I have prosthetics right, I know you have been blaming yourself for this."
"Ray, I'm so sorry. I can't help not blame myself. I should have stop being so indecisive and dealt with everything sooner."
"Woulda, coulda, shoulda, it is not your fault I lost my legs. I should have gone home that night. I decided to get more drunk and walked out into the street like a complete asshole. I just could not stop thinking about you and Gates together."
"But, Ray I broke up with him that night."
"I know, but we can talk about that later, right now I want to sit here and hold you in my arms if you still want me."
"Ray since you left I have been a wreck, I can't walk around the ER and not see you there. It is driving me mad."
"I'm sorry I left too especially after what happened to you."
"How did you find out?"
"Well, let's just say a little mean bird called me and told me everything."
"Abby, I'm going to kill her."
"Neela I am glad she told me it helped me to get stronger. I had a reason to get better I had to see you and to take care of you."
"Take care of me?"
"Yeah, I know I'm not that well off myself but I taught we could take care of each other."
Neela lend over and hugged Ray, he kissed her on the neck and ear. He could not help it he wanted to touch her, smell her, hold her and kiss her. Neela was weak in the knees when he kissed her.
"Neela had separated from Ray; she was feeling a little hot in the apartment. Ray was feeling the same.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Yeah, do you have soda?"
"Soda?"
"Yeah alcohol is the last thing on my mind these days." As he looked down at his legs.
"Oh right sorry."
"Neela stop saying sorry."
"Okay I'm sorry."
"You see you did it again."
"Ray you are stressing me out right now."
Ray let out a laugh.
"That's why I am here for to turn your life completely upside down."
"Piss off you."
Ray and Neela sent most of the night talking about good times; they really did not bring up the topics about what had happened to them. They felt they both knew they have been to hell and back so bring it up on Christmas Eve would be too painful. They laughed and teased each other for hours by the time they looked up the sun were coming up and it was Christmas.
"Oh shit the sun is coming up, what time is it?"
"I don't know but I don't care I have the rest of the week off."
"I know."
"How? I never told you."
"Well Abby knew I was coming down so I asked her if there was a way she could convince Dubenko to give you some time off."
"Ray, you did all of that for me?"
"Yeah, I want to know if you can come with me to Baton Rouge, for the rest of the week."
"What, are you kidding me?"
"Neela I wanted to come here and see you but I feel bad leaving my mom alone."
"Ray yes I will go back with you."
"Yes, good shit, I have a ticket for you for today."
"Today?"
"Yes the flight leaves at 3pm."
"Okay I'll go pack."
"Perfect once you are finished we head to my hotel room I have to pick up my stuff."
Ray was waiting for Neela in the living room when her cell phone rang. Neela heard her phone and asked Ray to answer it. When Ray looked on the caller Id he saw his name. Ray took a deep breathe and answered.
"Hello" Ray said with a forceful tone.
"Hello, is Neela there?"
"Yes she is she's getting dressed. Gates"
"Who the hell is this?"
"Ray"
The phone went silent.
"Barnett, what the hell are you doing with Neela's phone?"
"Even though it is none of you business, She asked me too pick it up."
"So, you are back."
"Yes I am but, I'm going back, and Neela is coming with me."
"She is doing what?"
"You heard me."
At that moment Neela walked in and noticed Ray was having a heated argument with whoever was on the receiver.
"Ray, who is it?"
He never answered her but by the look in his face she could see who it was.
"Ray give me the phone."
Ray just looked at her and handed her the phone. Ray's old jealous nature was creeping back up.
"Tony what do you want?"
"Merry Christmas to you to Neela."
"Merry Christmas Tony, now what do you want? I am busy."
"Why are you still harping on Barnett, he can not taking care of you Neela?"
"Shut up Tony I am with Ray now and I am going to Louisiana with him for the week so please don't call me anymore."