Open Heart One Shots (Choices)

Under the Mistletoe

Premise: Ethan Ramsey is not one to kiss anyone under the mistletoe, but he's willing to make an exception just once.

I. Intern Year

Snow fell prettily outside, dusting the skylight above Edenbrook Hospital's atrium with white crystals. Standing just inside the entrance under the glass dome, Cassie Valentine gazed in wonder at the snowflakes swirling above.

She felt like a figurine inside a snow globe and spread her arms out in delight. Giggling, she twirled on one foot and almost tripped when a masculine voice boomed behind her.

"Rookie, what are you doing?!?"

Ethan Ramsey stared at her askance, a bewildered expression on his face. He must have just arrived, for he was wearing a woolen winter coat with a bluish-gray scarf wound around his neck. Snowflakes dusted his hair.

She shrugged nonchalantly, unable or maybe even unwilling to explain. "The moment seemed to call for it."

Ethan opened his mouth to, no doubt, make a cutting remark about the childishness of interns. But before he could say a word, someone bumped into him from behind, causing him to curse as coffee splashed on his coat from the to-go cup in his hand.

"Oh, Dr. Ramsey. Hi!" The woman beamed flirtatiously before her gaze trailed upward. "What a lovely coincidence."

Cassie didn't know the other doctor's name, but she'd seen her around. She was a senior fellow in the Hem/Onc department and, Cassie thought, had a kind smile.

Ethan stared at the other woman waiting expectantly and then up at the mistletoe that an enterprising soul had hung from the light fixture just inside the entrance.

"Dr. Johnson." He practically sputtered the name as realization hit, and his face flushed.

Cassie guffawed at Ethan's sudden discomfort, swallowing her laughter with a loud cough when he shot her an annoyed look. She could practically see the gears in his brain working overtime to avoid kissing under the mistletoe.

Leaving him to handle his admirer, she rushed off before he could berate her for not showing a modicum of decorum. As she changed in the locker room, she wondered if he'd given in to tradition just to save face or made his escape.

Definitely the latter, she decided as she began her shift. Ethan was still a closed book at times, but she was absolutely positive about this. Doctor 'Attraction is just a neurochemical response to close proximity' Ramsey wasn't the kind to kiss anyone under the mistletoe.

II. Second Year

Ethan didn't know what it was about the holidays that made capable adults turn into horny teenagers. He'd already been accosted by nurses, interns and even patients under the guise of holiday traditions.

His brows snapped in annoyance. This would be so much easier if people didn't automatically assume he was single. He'd already declared his relationship status to a few million people a couple of months ago. Did no one watch national television anymore?

As he headed to the elevator bank, he glanced warily at the ceiling for any signs of the offending plant and breathed easily when he found none.

Naveen had ordered all mistletoe removed from the hospital after someone filed a sexual harassment complaint. And yet, sprigs of mistletoe kept appearing with a message from someone calling themselves the Elf of Edenbrook.

The custodial staff had their work cut out for them, he thought, getting off the elevator at his floor.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ethan spied the new nurse from the fifth floor strolling toward him. She flipped back her red hair in a practiced move and thrust out her impressive chest. He pretended not to notice and increased his stride.