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: When it comes to Christmas, there's one tradition that Cassie Valentinewould be happy to forget.
Cassie Valentine loved Christmas. The upbeat music put an extra pep in people's steps. The holiday decorations and festive lights brought much-needed brightness at a time of year when it was usually dark early.
The only gripe she had with the season was the presence of a stupid elf. It was creepy, and no one would ever convince her otherwise. The last thing she wanted after a long day at work was to come home and find it staring at her from the unlikeliest places.
None of the Roomies copped to it, but she suspected it was Sienna and Jackie. The other day she went to get a glass of water and almost screamed when she found the elf hanging upside down inside the fridge.
She barely slept last night, thinking about what it was doing now. For all she knew, it was outside her bedroom door, ready to pounce. She was pretty sure it came alive when no one was around. Like Andy's toys.
Cassie shuffled on tired and aching feet to the nurses' station on the fifth floor. She had patients on three different floors today. Only two more hours to go, she thought.
Yawning and rubbing her tired eyes, she leaned over the top of the counter to grab a pen, only to jump back with a loud scream instead.
"Dr. Valentine, are you okay?" Marlene asked, eyes widening in concern as she looked away from the computer screen.
Cassie didn't respond, her eyes narrowing to slits as she stared down the elf hugging a plastic penholder tight in its grip, the creepy blue eyes and evil grin on its face daring her.
"Dr. Valentine? Cassie?"
Cassie shook her head as the worry in Marlene's voice broke through. She forced herself to look away from the elf on the desk. She could've sworn there was a wicked twinkle in those eyes as if he sensed victory.
"I'm sorry." Cassie forced a smile when she looked around and realized everyone was staring at her. "I thought I saw a mouse, but it's just sleep deprivation. No rodents here whatsoever. No sirree. I need coffee. Like right now."
She was babbling. She knew she was babbling. She started walking backward, practically running, wanting to put some distance between her and the elf. All of a sudden, she bumped into something hard and immovable, or rather someone.
Cassie glanced over her shoulder and sighed in relief when she saw it was Ethan. However, his raised eyebrow and perplexed expression told her he'd witnessed the whole sordid incident and expected an explanation.
He started to say something, but the shrill sound of her pager interrupted whatever it was. Saved by the bell, she thought and made her escape.
It was almost eight o'clock at night when Cassie unlocked the door to her apartment and stumbled inside. She had managed to successfully avoid Ethan for the rest of her shift, hoping he'd forget all about her bizarre behavior by tomorrow.
Hanging her thick parka and scarf in the hallway closet, she hopped on one foot as she unzipped her snow boots. She started sliding the closet door shut when she saw a flash of red from the corner of her eye.
She managed to hold back a shriek this time, but it was a near thing. An elf clung to Jackie's winter coat hanging inside the closet, looking ready to pounce.
Cassie quickly grabbed her parka and boots, slammed the door shut and ran into her bedroom, locking the door behind her with a satisfied click.
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