#openheart2

His swore his heart skipped a beat when the door opened to her apartment and he seen her in that absolutely breath-taking outfit. They had been subtly flirting all night, the slight touch of the hands, His hand on her lower back as they took a photograph. The flickering of her eyelashes as they toasted to the evening.

When Katie over at him as the music changed, she caught him watching her, any other time he would he directed his eyes elsewhere and totally denied the accusation if mentioned…but he refused to let anything get in the way of them anymore. He wanted nothing more than to be with her.

Katie grinned as she made her way over to him as she watched the donor, Ethan smirked as she approached him, placing her hand gently on his back.

“you are holding up okay?” She asked as she motioned to the bar tender to get her and Ethan another drink.

“I will be once I get this next drink.” He sighed as he turned to face the bar, as did Katie.

“that bad huh?” she frowned; Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose as he squeezed his eyes shut.

“I just wonder…How did we come to this, Katie? We should be solving cases, not rubbing shoulders with smug idiots in bowties.”

“I know how much you hate this sort of thing…for whatever it’s worth Ethan, I’m really proud of you for stepping up anyway.”

“Stepping up, as you put it, is necessary.”

The bartender slid Ethan his drink across the bar top, he caught the glass, then lifts it to his mouth, he tipped the glass and swallowed the contents in one single swig.

“I always told myself I’d do whatever it took to save lives…whatever extreme measure was required. Which is why I’m compromising myself this way.” he turned to face Katie as he placed the glass on the bar.

“Katie, you showed me that ‘whatever it takes’ includes making moral sacrifices, too. In fact,…somehow you’ve managed to make them without weakening your convictions or becoming jaded and cynical.”

“Ethan, there is absolutely nothing unethical about what we’re doing. The donations from tonight will keep the lights on tomorrow, while we help people. Asking for money doesn’t compromise you as a doctor.”

“I know that now. I just wish I’d learned it sooner.” He sighed as he tapped the counter for another drink.

“honestly, Katie, it’s not even the shilling for money that’s bothering me, it’s letting Naveen down”

“what?! What are you talking about?” confusion written all over her face.

“when I lose a patient, I stay up half the night turning possibilities over in my head. things I could have done differently. And I can’t help but wonder what would be different now, with the hospital, if I hadn’t been so damned stubborn. Now that I see what I could have done…how will I tell Naveen that his legacy fell apart…because of me?”

“I suppose you would say exactly that” Ethan turned rapidly when he heard Naveen from behind him.

“you know it’s rude to eavesdrop” he stated matter of factly.

“True, but I never could resist a juicy conversation. Besides, I think this concerns me fairly closely, don’t you? Ethan, you do know that what I built here, what you helped me to build…it was never about my legacy, or even about Edenbrook. It was about the mission”

“For the people with nowhere else to go.”

“Precisely! And no matter what happens to Edenbrook, that mission will never end. You’ll carry it on wherever you go”

“you really believe that, Naveen?” he asked, Katie could see the hope in his eyes as he asked for confirmation from his old mentor. Naveen stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him with a smile, “My friend it’s the most important belief I hold. And for maintaining THAT legacy? I couldn’t be more proud of you.” Naveen pulled back, giving Ethan’s shoulder a gentle squeeze before walking back into the gala with a smile, leaving both Katie and Ethan at the bar, he seemed unburdened and somehow…reinvigorated.

“So…what’s next for Dr. Ethan Ramsey now that he’s not so ‘damn stubborn’ anymore?” Katie asked with a smirk, causing a chuckle to leave Ethan’s chest.

“well…I…the thing is,” he turned to face Katie, taking her hand in his “I’ve been meaning to…oh…to hell with it!” he grinned as he pulled her to his chest, cupping her face with both hands, he brought his lips to hers forcefully, with abandon. He had had spent so long acting the way he felt he had to…not allowing himself to be weak…but here he was throwing his head onto the chopping board…but he could not care less in this very moment. Katies lips melted into his as the kiss began to attract attention.

“ooohhh” Jackie whispered with a gasp

“oh my god! I knew it!” Sienna giggled

“people are starting to talk” Katie whispered between kisses.

“They can keep talking…I don’t care, the only thing I care about right now…in this moment is you” Ethan whispered before placing the softest peck on her lips, as he slowly pulled away again, a slow song began to play, he reached his hand out, offering it to Katie with a grin.

“shall we?”

“oh, I don’t know, Dr. Ramsey. I thought this wasn’t even a date” Katie grinned

“just shut up and take my hand”

Ethan took her hand, leading her out onto the dancefloor. Ethan wrapped one arm around the small of Katies back whilst the other took her hand in his. Katie cuddled into his chest as he they swayed back and forth; Ethan lifted their hands to place a kiss on the back of hers.

“I honestly can’t believe you just kissed me like that, in front of the entire hospital…” Katie chuckled as she breathed in his cologne.

“I’m just sick of pretending…pretending that every time I see you, I don’t want to just grab you and kiss you like there’s no tomorrow. Pretending that I don’t want to spend every night with you…” Katie looked up at him, with the biggest smile on her face he had ever seen, her eyes seeing no one but him. Ethan gently let her hand go, as he gently cupped her cheek, she wrapped her newly free arm around his back, never taking her eyes off of his. He leaned down slowly, his lips just a breath away from hers, “pretending that I’m not madly in love with you” he whispered before placing his lips on hers. Katie gasped as they kissed, holding him as tight as she could…they were finally out…they didn’t need to hide anymore.

“Ethan” Katie whispered as they pulled apart., their foreheads pressed against each other. “Yes, Katie?” he replied in the same tone.

“Ethan…” Lorelei’s voice was calm, controlled and laced with promised absolute as she stared at the back of his head, although her eyes resembled that of a tumultuous storm – she was petrified of what could potentially eventuate tonight. Lorelei knew she had his undivided attention now, even though he was not looking at her, she could tell by the increased heaving of Ethan’s shoulders with each breath he took that he was waiting for what was to follow.

“Ethan, if you walk out of this room and get on that plane. If you leave this country, this hospital… Ethan, if you leave me…” she paused, preparing herself to say the next words and willing herself strong enough to follow through on them “I won’t be here when you get back”.

That was it, her last-ditch effort to persuade him to stay. She was out of options and yet felt so very ashamed of how disreputable she had become through sheer desperation. She knew her attempts were feeble however, nor did they serve any purpose, for Ethan had checked out long before she could have convinced him otherwise, and that was what destroyed her the most.

Ethan visibly bristled at her words and slowly, as he began to register with what she was saying, he could feel himself becoming indignant at her ultimatum. Ethan stood and weighed the reality of her words with his back still to her for what felt like a lifetime before he eventually spoke, his voice barely above a whisper “I’m doing this for you… “.

“I’m sorry what?!” Lorelei raised her voice incredulously, her eyebrow cocked, she could feel the confusion and anger begin to burn within the pit of her stomach, feeling it progressively burn and seep into every crevice of her being and consume her, removing all rational thought from her mind, as she continued watching the back of his head “Jesus Christ, Ethan! Could you be a man and at least turn around and look me in the eyes if you’re going to break my heart?!”.

 Casey rolled her eyes. “Goodbye Bryce.” She said as she waved to him. Bryce was her best friend he was super supportive of her relationship with Ethan despite their past chemistry and she was thankful for that.

Casey made her way to Ethan’s apartment. She opened the door and felt a wave of heat hit her face. The air was thick. She smelt  the faint smell of spice in the air. Ethan was trying to cook again.

Casey sat her bag by the door and shut it behind her. Sure enough as she turned the corner she saw Ethan standing by the stove a pot in hand. He had a blue towel draped over his shoulder. Casey could see the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. She sneaked behind Ethan and snaked her arms around his waist.

“Whats cookin’ good lookin’?” Casey said with a smile playing on her lips. She peeked her head from the side of his body. She could see a piece of chicken covered in what looked like a sauce. 

“Hey…” He said placing his hands over hers. “Its supposed to be spicy Chinese chicken I suppose.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh?” Casey said as she removed her arms from Ethan’s waist and moved next to him observing what he had concocted. “At least you tried.” Casey said.

Ethan laughed a little. He grabbed Casey’s waist and nudged her near the counter opposite of them. He lightly kissed her neck slowly making his way toward her lips.

Casey broke away giggling. “What about the food? It’s going to burn!” She said a little surprised at how desperate Ethan seemed to touch her.

Ethan turned his head to the food sizzling behind them. “Oh well, it was a lost cause anyways.” He said with a small smile. “Besides your hotter than then that food could ever be.” 

Casey giggled and wrapped her hand around his neck. “Ethan Jonah Ramsey that is officially the cheesiest thing I have ever heard you say.” She said smiling.

“Yes, I admit it did sound better in my head.” He said kissing her once more. “But it is true.” He whispered as he placed his forehead on her own.