Title: Encore!

Disclaimer: I don't own ER, Ray, Neela, or any of the music. I'm not trying to profit from any of the songs, it's for entertainment purposes only.

A/N: Again, thank you so much for the reviews! And Historianic, thank you! I don't ever get tired of you telling me how much you like my story. So keep it coming, because I love getting reviews!

The next day, Neela got off before Ray did. She went home and started watching TV. She sat there watching some of her shows that she had recorded.

After a while, she glanced at her watch. Ray was supposed to be home two hours ago. He probably got hung up at the hospital, but a part of her was still a little worried. She called his phone but he didn't answer. If he's with a patient then he can't just answer his phone, it's pretty unprofessional. He was fine, nothing to worry about, but usually he's home by now. He must have picked up some skanky nurse from the hospital, that sounds like Ray. She shook her head. That had to be it. Then, she heard Ray coming in through the front door. She was a little surprised when she glanced over and saw him coming in alone.

"Hey" he said, then made his way over to the couch and sat down

"Hey. I'm glad you're home. I was starting to get worried."

He looked at her. He liked the fact that she cared enough to worry about him, even though what she said made her sound like they were married. "You were?"

"Of course, you're my friend. I care about you."

He smiled at her sweetly but also looked like he had just been punched in the face. He was having mixed feelings. He thought it was sweet that she would worry about him like that, but her calling him her 'friend' made him feel so hurt. Not that he didn't want to be her friend, he was happy they were friends, but hearing that you're just a 'friend' from the woman you want to be with can feel like a slap in the face. He knew that that was all he was ever going to be, just a friend. He felt like she had just told him the best and worst thing she could have told him both at the same time. "I'm sorry I worried you." he shifted his position on the couch. He turned and faced the TV, which made him sit very close to her. All either one of them could think about was how their legs were now touching.

"Did you get stuck at work?" she asked while they started watching TV. She couldn't help but ask, she had been worried.

"No."

"I called you."

"My phone died when I was at the hospital, sorry."

She felt much better now that she knew he wasn't ignoring her. She didn't think he would do that, but it still made her feel better hearing it from him.

"I have a surprise for you." he reached his arm over to the side of the couch and brought out this big, long rectangular box. She looked at it, trying to figure out what it was. He placed it onto her lap. She hadn't even noticed that he was carrying anything with him when he came in, but then again she had just sort of glanced over and then looked away. On the other hand, in her short glance, she somehow noticed he was flying solo "Open it" he said.

After she was done unwrapping it, her mouth dropped. "Ray, how did…? I didn't even notice…What?" her mind was racing so much that she couldn't seem to form a coherent sentence anymore.

He was trying his best not to laugh at her "You don't like it?"

"No, I love it but I just…how?"

"I was walking home the other night and I was passing a music store. I went in and saw this on display. I don't know much about viola's but I thought this one was really nice."

She had been learning to play the viola since she was a little girl. Whenever her parents would drive her crazy or when she was going through some teen drama, she would play. It relaxed her. So when Ray had told her about why he started playing guitar, she knew where he was coming from. Maybe not exactly but she got the general idea.

She hadn't been able to play hers because she had broken the chin rest right off. She had it for about 10 years and it was starting to fall apart, obviously it was time for a new one. She couldn't believe it. She thought he was picking up some woman when he was really doing something nice for her. He never stopped surprising her. "This is what took you so long tonight, isn't it?" He nodded. "But this must have cost you at least $600, how could you afford it?"

"The owner and I worked something out. We traded."

"What did you trade?"

"My Fender."

"You traded your guitar to give me a viola?" He didn't say anything, he just gave her a look of affection. She hated herself for it but she couldn't help but feel guilty "I can't accept this."

"Why?"

"Because you loved that guitar. Please take this and get it back."

"I can't. The guy said that all sales are final. Looks like you're stuck with it."

She looked down at this new beautiful instrument that Ray had just given her. The second she saw it, she immediately fell in love with it. It was a golden brown color. It was so beautiful, which wasn't making this any easier. She wanted it, but she felt so bad for taking it knowing what he did for her.

Sensing this, Ray said "It's ok. You don't have to feel guilty. I just wanted to do something nice for you. Please take it, it would really mean a lot to me." he said, practically begging her to accept it from him. He knew how badly she wanted it but Neela was the kind of person who was always trying to do what was best for other people instead of herself. That's what being a doctor is all about, doing what's best for someone else. Maybe it wasn't always good for her because usually she did what was best for someone else and not what she really wanted to do and what was best for her.

She let her mouth slowly go into a soft smile. She leaned forward and placed her lips to his cheek and then gave him a hug. "Thank you" she whispered into his ear.

"You're welcome, roomie." he said while gently massaging her back. She pulled back and admired her viola one last time before placing it carefully back into the box. She inched her way closer to him on the couch. There was now no space between them.

"What I don't understand is that they put a bunch of hair on a stick and run it along some strings and then get music somehow. It's pretty cool, but how does that work?" he said, which made both of them laugh.

Neela couldn't believe what the feeling of Ray next to her was doing to her, it took all her self control not to grope him right then and there. She had her doubts of course, but she also couldn't help the way she was feeling either. How would it work? They haven't even been able to kiss each other yet. It's like something was keeping them apart. Maybe they just weren't meant to be together. She wanted him so badly that it hurt. She wanted him to touch her, to know what it would feel like to have his arms around her, wanted his lips all over her body. They weren't even having any skin on skin contact but it was doing so much to her. She couldn't even imagine what it would feel like if he was actually touching her skin. He smelled so good. Whatever he was wearing, she thought that it was made just for the sole reason of turning her on. No, he's her friend, it would never work. He drives her crazy. He was definitely driving her to the point of insanity right now that was for sure.

"You hungry?" he broke her thoughts

"What?" she tried not to look at him.

He thought she was acting a little weird. Why wouldn't she look at him? "You want something to eat?"

It took a little while for it to register what he just said "Oh. Ok, that's fine."

He stared at her for a couple seconds which wasn't helping her with her little situation right now and then went into the kitchen. He came back out a few minutes later with some chips and beer. She started eating her chips hoping it would take her mind off of him.

She was being way too quiet for him and it was starting to make him a little uncomfortable. Usually she talks and talks, and most of the time he has no idea what she's talking about. Something had to be wrong. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. Why?" she still couldn't look at him

"You're just really quiet. Did something happen at work?"

"No." hearing his voice seemed to only make it worse. She loved his voice. She always thought that was one of the best things about him. She didn't want to say much to him because she didn't want to let anything come out of her mouth by accident, like how she wanted to jump onto his lap and do very unroomie-like things to him. Not only that, but maybe the less she said then the less he would say, too, so she wouldn't have to hear his voice right now. At least she hoped. She wanted to hear his voice, yes, but at the same time she didn't want to just as much.

Now he was worried. If it wasn't work then it had to have been him. What did he do? Was she upset with him about the gift? "Is it me?" he was almost afraid to ask.

She was hoping that he wouldn't ask that. He always knew when something was bothering her, and always knew when she needed to talk but, why now? She would always talk to him about anything but he was the last person she wanted to talk to about this. Of course it was him, but not in the way he thinks. "No" she was only half lying. It was him, yes, but not in that way. He had done nothing wrong.

"Are you sure?"

He knew her too well. She just really needed him to stop asking. Any more questions and she was going to either break or go insane, or both "Yes. I'm fine. Just tired."

He didn't push her any more. He knew Neela, and if he kept asking or tried to push her then she would get really pissed off. It was so hard for him because he knew there was something she wasn't telling him and it was killing him but, he cared about her so much and he wanted to be a good friend. So if she didn't want to talk about it he understood. He didn't like it though, because he wanted to be there for her. If she wanted to tell him then she would, and he would rather she told him by her own choice and not because he dragged it out of her.

After a while, they both were getting really tired and were starting to fall asleep on the couch. Ray looked over and noticed Neela was eating the chips again but, the funny thing was that her eyes were closed now. He started chuckling. "How can you eat with your eyes closed?"

"I'm hungry but I'm too tired to open my eyes. I know where my mouth is." she continued eating the chips.

Since she had her eyes closed he continued to watch her. He thought it was so funny but also very sexy at the same time. It was probably a little weird that he would find something like this attractive. Was he sick or did he just have it way too bad? He was laughing quietly to himself while he kept watching her but, also couldn't stop staring at her lips. She was right there. This girl he had been thinking and dreaming about. She was so beautiful, but she was forbidden, which only made him want her even more. He had to look away before he did something. He faced forward again and then closed his eyes, trying his best to drift off to sleep with her sitting right next to him. Eventually, sleep finally came for both of them.

A/N: Sorry that there wasn't much going on in this chapter, but like I already said, I'm building on this gradually. I don't want to rush this story. Keep reading because I promise it will pick up. I know it's a little boring right now but, this chapter and probably the next chapter are going to be sort of build up chapters. After that, I'm going to start getting into where I'm going with this.