Open Heart One Shots (Choices)

Come Back to Me

Summary: A couple of weeks intotheir new relationship, Ethan is seconded to a medical mission to tackle anoutbreak in the Amazon. Cassie is counting down the days until his return, butwill absence make the heart grow fonder or will it cause a reset?

A/N: I wasn't sure that Iwould ever write an Amazon fic because I had decided long ago that my two lovebirds were going to be together after Book 1 ─ no reset. However, I started wondering what ifEthan did go to the Amazon just as they decided to start a relationship. Howwould they cope?

Ethan hung up the phone and stared unseeing at the transparent walls of his new office. He had moved into the state-of-the-art workspace a couple of weeks ago after his appointment as Head of Diagnostics.

After several years of having an office to escape to with concrete walls and a wooden door, the see-through, soundproof walls and touch-activated sliding glass door took some getting used to. As did the lack of privacy.

His desk was set back and to the side, with a frosted wall on one side so that he didn't completely feel as if he was in a fishbowl. As well, with a touch of the button he could darken the exterior panes in case the team was working on something sensitive. But more often than not, the walls remained translucent.

At least this hallway didn't see as much foot traffic, thought Ethan, given it was a fair distance from the elevators and its sole purpose was to reach the Diagnostics office.

He knew he was procrastinating with these nonsensical thoughts, one of thousands running through his mind. The primary one being how to break the news to Cassie while things were still so new and fragile between them.

The decision was taken away from him when he saw her stop outside the office, a couple of to-go cups and a paper bag in her hands.

For a few minutes he just sat there, blue eyes tracing her windswept blonde hair, memorizing the sparkle in her green eyes, the way the skin along the curve of her neck felt so soft beneath his lips and the sensitive spot behind her left ear that was guaranteed to leave her quivering.

He would miss her laughter more than anything, and the way she could tease him out of a bad mood.

Ethan came out of his reverie when he heard her knock on the door, forehead furrowed as she regarded him through the glass.

He stood up to get the door, but before he could take another step, she managed to juggle her load and press the handle that slid the door open.

"Hey! Since you couldn't join me for our morning break, I thought I'd bring coffee to you," she told him, placing the cups and bag on the coffee table before taking a seat on the couch and tucking her legs beneath her.

"Tough case?" she asked when he stayed standing next to his desk, her smile fading as the silence stretched. "Ethan?"

"I have some news," he said quietly.

He pressed the button to activate the privacy wall before joining her on the couch. Reaching for her hand, he laced his fingers through hers.

"WHO is putting together a team to tackle an outbreak in the Amazon, near Manaus in Brazil. It's a virus of unknown origin with a pathology similar to that of Ebola but more contagious and lethal. They have asked me to lead on-ground efforts to identify and analyze the strain. We fly out in three days."

"How long will you be gone?" asked Cassie neutrally when he didn't say more.

"Undetermined. The situation on the ground is evolving and they don't know how long the mission will take."

"Promise you'll come back to me." Cassie's voice broke as tears gathered in her eyes.

"Cassie..." he started.