Open Heart One Shots (Choices)

Kindred Spirits

Summary: Alan Ramsey is wary of his son's medical hero, but one meeting is all it takes to change everything.

Alan Ramsey was a simple man who lived an ordinary life. He'd graduated high school, did one year in trade school, and taken an apprentice job at the local cable company to provide for his family.

Once upon a time, he might have dreamed of more. But when Louise told him just before graduation that she was pregnant, he exchanged those dreams for a marriage license. And then he held his baby son in his hands and knew it had all been worth it.

His marriage ended, but his love for his son never did, even if the boy was a whole lot smarter than he'd ever been. Alan didn't always understand Ethan's fascination with medicine or his incessant curiosity about everything. But he knew his job was to support him and help him achieve his dreams.

He worked two jobs when Ethan was in college so his son wouldn't have to. And when Ethan got into the medical school of his choice and then his residency at Edenbrook, no one was prouder than Alan. After four years away, his son would once again be close enough to visit.

The first time Ethan came home during his internship, Alan knew something had changed. There was an energy about him, a hungry look in his eyes that he hadn't seen before. They sat at the kitchen table eating pot roast while Ethan told him about Dr. Banerji.

"He's so smart, dad," Ethan said, shoving mashed potatoes in his mouth like he'd been starving for weeks. "Dr. Banerji agreed to mentor me and teach me everything I need to know. His diagnostic skills are excellent. I've never seen anything like it...."

Once a month, Ethan would come home to Providence, and Alan would listen to his son talking about his medical hero. Dr. Banerji eventually became Naveen, and Ethan became Dr. Ramsey. A reserved yet sophisticated man who went to the opera, not bowling; an accomplished physician of some renown who inspired others as he had once been.

Naveen helped his son become the man Alan could never have. And he was grateful and resentful at the same time. So, when Alan found himself standing outside Naveen Banerji's townhouse one evening, he wondered which emotion had led him here.

He rang the doorbell, standing with one foot on the stoop and another on the step below. When Alan got his first look at his son's mentor, a part of him felt like he'd just met a kindred spirit.

"Hi. Dr. Naveen Banerji?"

"Yes?" The other man looked confused, but his face cleared as Alan stepped into the light. "Are you Ethan's father?"

"Yeah. Alan Ramsey. A pleasure to meet you." He stuck out his right hand, smiling when Naveen gave him a firm handshake.

"Come in, Mr. Ramsey. Please." He held the door open wide.

"Alan will do," he said, wiping his workboots on the mat before stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

"Then you must call me Naveen."

Alan followed Naveen into the living room, his head craning to take in the subtle signs of wealth surrounded by bold colors and evocative imagery that spoke to the occupant's heritage. His eyes fell on a picture on the mantel of Ethan standing with Naveen. His son was beaming proudly as they posed together, the cover of his recent book held up for all to see.

Diagnostics Principles by Dr. Ethan Ramsey, M.D.

"Your son is one of the brightest physicians I've ever met," Naveen said, standing beside him. He took the picture frame off the mantel and placed it in Alan's hands.

"He was always whip-smart, asking questions that I didn't have answers to," Alan told him, taking his eyes off the photo to meet Naveen's perceptive gaze. "But you did."