This is a series of one shots based on Pixelberry's Open Heart, featuring Dr. Ethan Ramsey and Dr. Cassie Valentine. The stories follow canon to a certain extent but diverge after book 1. In this AU, there is no trip to the Amazon and no need for a...
Summary: Cassie Valentine celebrates her first Christmas in a new city and finds that even a grinch has his weakness. Set during Book 1.
There was something about snow, thought Cassie Valentine, as she looked out the window of her apartment. White particles swirled in the wind before they fell, coating the pavement outside, covering cars parked on the side of the road, and blanketing the streets.
In a little while, the city would awaken, the plows trundling along to clear the slush and ice. But for now, she was alone in that quiet period just after dawn.
She could hear Sienna moving about next door, her ears tracking her friend's movements as she moved from the bedroom to the kitchen.
Her friends were coming together before shift for a quick Christmas snack of hot cocoa and treats; their only chance to make merry on an otherwise long day.
She felt a pang of homesickness as she imagined her family gathered at the beautiful estate in Newport. The fireplace in the family room would give off a cozy warmth with the fresh scent of pine wafting from the large tree tucked away in the corner, presents tucked underneath.
This was the first year that she wouldn't be with them, but likely not the last given the career she had chosen. She looked down when her phone pinged, a huge smile breaking across her face when she saw who it was from.
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By the time, Cassie clocked in at work and finished reviewing all the charts of patients assigned to her, the impromptu friend get together was a distant memory. She felt ready as she joined her cohort for morning rounds. She was glad she had done the extra work when she saw it was Doctor Ramsey leading.
She wanted to make herself small and hide, but knew it was pointless when those blue eyes lasered in on her standing beside Sienna. Ever since the PITA incident, there had been something unspoken between them; neither ready to let the words out for fear of what they'd say.
Aside from the occasional terse instructions related to Naveen's care, he had limited their contact to rounds or competition related updates in the atrium. No more coffee breaks at Derry to discuss Patient X or anything else for that matter.
She straightened as she met his dismissive gaze, her own expression turning determined so that he was the first to look away.
Victory, she thought with satisfaction. She was here to be the best, learn from the best, and she wasn't going to let him stand in her way. She was finally in the top five and the crown was in sight.
That's what she wanted, not him and not this...whatever was between them.
"Let's see which of you will falter today," he sneered, his gaze covering the group before it came back to her. "Valentine, you're up first."
For the next little while, she batted every question he or anyone else threw at her with aplomb. She deserved that number one spot; she was going to get it and keep it, no matter what.
