Chapter Text
"Finally. You're really here?"
"Yeah. I really am."
These are such simple words and yet the meanings behind them are so much more and they both know it. They both know hes not just asking if she is there in Baton Rouge, he's asking if she's there for good if they will finally get to have what they should have had all along. And she knows when she answers that she really is.
Ray couldn't believe that she was finally here. He hadn't thought she'd pass up on Duke but here she was standing in the physical therapy room of his hospital. They stand there staring at each other for a few more seconds before Ray finally moves and pulls her into him and hugs her tightly. She laughs gently and hugs him back. When he sets her back down on her feet Ray feels someone put there hand on his arm.
"So Ray you gonna introduce me or what" The man goads.
Neela blushes a little as she realized they had probably made a bit of a scene.
Ray chuckles a little and turns to face the man, "Chris this is Neela Rasgotra, Neela this is Chris Davis my attending."
Chris shook Neela's hand "Ah so your the surgeon from Chicago right?"
Neela nodded her head, "Well sort of, I was in Chicago but I just took the attending position here so."
Chris laughed again "Well lucky us. Ray get out of here and show the girl around I got stuff here today, I'll see you tomorrow."
Ray tried to protest but Chris waved him off and they walked out of the therapy room. Ray grabbed her hand as soon as they were in the hallway and lead her to the break room.
"So you took the job." He said as he walked over to his locker.
"Yeah I did. I would have been here this morning early but my flight was delayed because of the weather."
"Well I need to check in on one patient and then we can get out of here." They walked hand in hand to the elevator and once they were inside Ray pulled her back to him again hugging her like he was afraid she would vanish if he let go. The elevator doors opened and they stepped out onto the pediatric floor; Ray lead them to a room where he knocked on the door as he entered.
"Hey dude how's it going today?" Ray spoke to the young boy in the bed.
He was probably around 11 and was sitting up in bed; when they walked in he smiled at Ray.
"Pretty good. You know how it is just ready to be back up and moving again." The kid laughed.
"Yeah I know. Tim this is Neela she's a friend and a new surgeon here."
"Nice to meet you Tim." Neela said softly
"Oh so this is Neela huh." Tim questioned.
"Yeah it is now shut it. I just thought I'd come check on you before I left. You gonna be ready to start with the leg tomorrow?" Ray asked
"I hope so man." Tim stated.
Ray nodded and they said their goodbyes. They made it out of the hospital and Neela followed Ray back to his house. It was a small one story home with 2 small bedrooms and an open living and eating area. Neela noticed that it wasn't nearly as dirty as their apartment in Chicago always seemed to be but it was still quintessentially Ray. There were CD's lined up on the the walls and one of his guitars on a stand by the couch; it was all very plain and simple just what he needed and no real decoration to speak of.
"Here"
Neela looked up and saw Ray standing there with a beer in each hand one held out for her.
"Thanks. It looks nice in here a lot less messy then I remember you being."
Ray chuckled as they moved to sit on the couch.
"Yeah Mom insists on coming over every few days and cleaning up."
They sat cuddled on the couch each drinking their beers for a while simply talking and listening to the music; when the Sparklehorse / Flaming Lips cover of Go came over the speakers.
Neela laughed and stood up pulling Ray with her. They danced for a while and then Neela looked up at him. Ray couldn't stand it any more he leaned his head down and brought his lips to hers. Neela sighed into the kiss and brought her hands up to rest on his neck and feel the soft new hair at the back of his neck.