A Kiss On The Hand (Part 2)

A Kiss on the Hand (Part 2️⃣)

Book: Open Heart Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Sawyer Brooks) Rating: General Warning: None Category: Hurt/Comfort; Angsty Fluff Word count: 2.1K Series Summary: After realizing just how much they mean to each other, Ethan and Sawyer express their love through a sweet hand gesture. A/N: Artwork by the incredible @/artbyainna on Instagram. This is three-part series.

Part One: Soulmates

Part Two: Always Three Times

In his car after the memorial service … apologizing for his behavior when Louise showed up at Edenbrook … after making love at Dagger Mountain … before her flight to Las Vegas … the night of the gala … and a hundred instances in between. 

Those were all the times Ethan had held Sawyer's hand to his lips and kissed it. Always three times.

She found it charming the way he did it before saying "goodnight" or "goodbye." Other times, it was followed by "thank you." Occasionally, it was after “I’m sorry.” And sometimes, it seemed to be for no reason at all. 

Toward the end of her shift, Sawyer's phone vibrated in the pocket of her lab coat. It was Ethan calling.  

“Hi, how are y-” her greeting interrupted.

“Can you … can you meet me? I … I need s-someone to … I need you to drive me home … I would like to go home,” he slurred.

“What’s wrong? Where are you?” her voice was laced with concern.

“Uh … Ha-Harry’s.”

“Harry who?” Sawyer tapped open the map app on her phone and did a quick search. “Harry’s? Is that a bar? The one off of Commonwealth?”

“Mmhmm.”

“I’m calling for a car, okay? I’ll be there soon,” she promised.

Ethan's head was buried in his palms when Sawyer gently laid her hand on his shoulder a short time later. “Hey, you. Are you ready to go home?”

He lifted his head and turned to her in surprise. “You came for me?” 

“Of course,” she answered, softly running her fingers through the back of his hair. 

This was so out of character for him, Sawyer thought. Ethan was not one to get this inebriated. In fact, it was the first time she had ever seen him in an altered state.

“Did you settle up?” she glanced at the bartender who gave her an affirmative nod. With an appreciative smile, she turned back to Ethan and held out her hand. “Keys?” 

Aside from the “I’m sorry” he murmured falling into the passenger seat, Ethan was quiet during the drive home. 

When they got back to his apartment, he allowed Sawyer to take care of him. She managed to get him to hydrate and eat a piece of toast, only to watch him empty the contents of his stomach a short while later. After cleaning up, she helped him dress for bed and tucked him in.

Returning from the kitchen with another glass of water and aspirin, she warned, “You don’t have the ingredients for my miracle hangover cure, so you’ll have to settle for coffee and more aspirin in the morning.” She kissed his forehead, feeling sorry for him and the massive headache he would undoubtedly have the next day.

Sawyer got herself ready for bed, and joined Ethan under the covers. He rolled over to face her, taking her hand in his. Their arms each bent at the elbow, he clasped his fingers over hers, and stared intensely into her eyes.

“Are you challenging me to an arm wrestling match?” she raised an eyebrow and giggled.

Though she teased, Ethan was quite serious in his still drunken state. He brought her hand to his lips. One kiss. Two kisses. 

“How many was that?” he asked, fighting a big yawn.

“Two.”

He pecked it again. Three kisses. 

Sawyer was curious, “Why three times?” 

Ethan clumsily attempted to interlace their fingers. “Hmm?”   

“When you kiss my hand … it’s always three times. Why?” 

Inhibitions forgotten, he answered, pressing his lips to the top of her hand again. “I-” 

Then again, “Love-” 

And a third time, “You.” 

Sawyer's eyes welled up as she returned his love-struck smile. All those times before and she never realized. 

Struggling to keep his eyes open, she stroked Ethan's cheek, quickly lulling him to sleep. 

When his snores were loud enough to drown her out, she whispered, "I love you too, Ethan Ramsey."

<><><><><><><><><><>

A couple weeks later, a howling nor’easter had settled over Boston. The devastating storm brought heavy rain, flooding, and hurricane-force winds. The city was already experiencing widespread power outages. Traffic lights were out, trees were blown over, roofs were torn off, and cars floated down streets that had turned into rivers.

While all of that was happening outside, there was another storm brewing within the walls of Edenbrook. In a private office on the fifth floor. 

Sawyer threw her head back in frustration, “Annnd, here we go again.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“You always make it about my career! Ethan, I don’t need to be a famous or groundbreaking physician like you or Naveen or Harper. That’s not my goal. That's not why I got into medicine.”

“And you think that’s why I got into medicine?” he retorted.

“I know it’s not. But the fact is, that's the direction your career took, and it's the standard by which you judge mine.”

“That’s not true!" he objected. Vexed, he ran his hand through his hair. “Look, I know you don’t seek fame or prestige … but you did choose Edenbrook because you wanted to learn from the best. You are incredibly smart, Sawyer. The way you connect the dots to solve a case … I’ve never witnessed anything like it. I can only imagine the kinds of medical mysteries you will be able to solve, and the number of people you will be able to help … with the right training and resources. You have so much potential, and I don’t want to see it wasted or taken for granted at a place like Kenmore,” he disdained. “Not when you can finish your residency somewhere more prestigious and worthy like-”

“With an ethics trial and a two-month psychiatric leave of absence on my record? Ethan. I’ll be lucky if I get selected for residency at Boise Medical Center.”

“No one is going to pay attention to that,” Ethan argued, “... not when they see your name attached to the baumannii-bacteriophage diagnosis. And not when they see you were a junior fellow on the most sought after diagnostics team in the U.S. Plus, you have stellar references from both Naveen and me.”

Having gotten slightly off topic, Sawyer exhaled a deep breath and rubbed her forehead. 

“I don’t understand you, Sawyer. I’m telling you that I’ve made the decision to go wherever you want so we can stay together. I am willing to make this sacrifice for our relationship. I thought you’d be happy. I thought that’s what you’d want.”

“How would you know what I want? You haven’t bothered to ask!” With a sigh, “God, Ethan … when are you going to get it? It’s not about what you decided … it’s about the fact that you decided … you always decide what’s best for the both of us. You did it in Miami, and when you ran off to the Amazon-”

Gesturing between them, “Do you not want this anymore?” he cut her off curtly. 

"I don't know if that's genuine concern, or if you’re just being an asshole, but please don't go there," she fumed. “Of course I want this. Us. All I'm asking for is a conversation … one where we decide our future together. I don’t want you to resent me later because you sacrificed everything while I got everything I wanted. This is a big decision and I think it’s only fair that I have a seat at the table, Ethan.”

Suddenly their pagers sounded off, summoning them to the emergency room. The hospital was just a few weeks from closing, and many doctors had already transferred, leaving Edenbrook’s trauma center severely short-staffed. Naveen had called on every available resident and attending to fill the gaps.

“I guess we’ll have to finish this later,” Sawyer stood to leave.

“It’s probably for the best. This is neither the time nor the place to have this discussion.” 

"Right," she muttered under her breath, as working 16-hour clinic shifts seven days a week had not given them much time to have an at-length conversation.

They walked in silence toward the elevator bay, Sawyer trailing a few paces behind. She saw Ethan press the elevator button, but continued down the hall.

“Where are you going?” he called out.

“I’m taking the stairs,” she replied coldly.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Several hours had passed since their argument, but with the emergency room packed with storm-related injuries, Sawyer hadn’t had much time to dwell on it.

Waiting for an inbound ambulance, she propped herself against the wall and took a moment to catch her breath. No longer running the ABCs of trauma assessment in her head, her mind wandered back to the petty quarrel with her boyfriend. They didn’t fight often, but when they did, they were usually quick to resolve things. To signal the end of each squabble, Ethan would always kiss her hand three times.

It bothered her that this argument still hung over them. Her indignation had subsided and she felt regretful for walking away in anger. She didn't mean to come across as ungrateful either. She was touched that Ethan would be willing to uproot his life in Boston for her. It meant a lot, even if she needed more convincing that it was the right thing to do.

Behind her, she heard his voice giving instructions to a nurse. Sawyer turned around, saw him walking towards her, and met him halfway.

“Hey, can we talk real quick?” she asked. “Wait … why are you wearing scrubs? And a jacket? Where are you going?”

“Boston F.D. needs more hands in the field," Ethan began to explain. "EMTs are struggling to keep up with the incoming calls and the road conditions are causing delay in response time. Not to mention the E.R. is overwhelmed. They’ve requested a few doctors to ride along and administer time-saving treatment in the field, and I volunteered.”

“No! It’s not safe out there. Look around,” she pleaded. “We just treated two EMTs who were hurt because a tree crashed on top of their rig … and … and a firefighter before that who got swept away in floodwaters...”

In an instant, their fight was completely forgotten, as anger and frustration gave way to fear and worry.

Acknowledging her anxiety, he tucked the loose strand of hair that escaped from her messy bun behind her ear. 

“It will be okay … we’ll be careful. And you and I will talk later. I promise.” He glanced over her head, through the rain-splattered glass door, where red lights flashed. “I really need to go, they’re waiting for me.” He gave her a reassuring squeeze on the wrist before reaching for the door. 

“Ethan, wait,” she tugged him back. 

Sawyer raised his hand to her lips and kissed it three times, never breaking eye contact.

She saw the moment it clicked for him … what she was doing … what she was saying. She watched as the edges of his mouth curved into a slight smile. 

Despite having agreed to a no PDA rule at work, Sawyer did not care at that moment. Apparently, neither did Ethan. Cupping her face in his hands, he placed a tender kiss on her lips, then on her forehead.

“And I you … more than anything,” he whispered before turning and walking out the door.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Sawyer stood at a desk situated in the middle of the emergency room, dictating lab orders to Megan, one of the trauma nurses. When a distinct ring pattern interrupted them, the nurse held her finger up to ask Sawyer to hold for a minute. Pressing the intercom button, Megan readied herself at the computer. 

“Edenbrook Trauma Center, go ahead,” she answered.

“This is Aid Car 23. We are inbound, ETA five minutes. Requesting level-1 trauma on arrival.”

Checking the E.R. board, she replied, “23, your request is granted. Go ahead.” 

“Patient is male, mid 30’s, status post-MVC, GCS 8 at the scene. Unrestrained at the time of the accident. Decreased breath sounds … obvious trauma to the chest … major head lac … tachy’s to the 120’s … BP is low and dropping fast.”

“Thank you, 23. We’ll be ready,” Megan confirmed.

The intercom cracked to life once more, “Edenbrook, be advised … patient is one of your own … Dr. Ethan Ramsey.”

Part Three: I Know What You Mean

Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics @potionsprefect @jamespotterthefirst @annfg8 @peonierose @socalwriterbee @tessa-liam @jerzwriter @quixoticdreamer16 @mysticalgalaxysstuff @inlocusmads @txemrn @trappedinfanfiction @mvalentine @takemyopenheart @openheartforeverinmyheart @doriopenheart @coffeeheartaddict2 @genevievemd @starrystarrytrouble @hopelessromantic1352 @kyra75 @lsvdw-blog @rookiemartin @headoverheelsforramsey

Fuck whatever makes sense. I’m giving my girl the job even if it’s way too soon. She deserves it after carrying the team on her back for two whole years😌

Drink Had Me

Book: Open Heart, Book 2 Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Sawyer Brooks) Rating: Teen Category: Fluff Word count: 3.3K Prompt: Ethan has too much to drink and winds up on Sawyer’s doorstep in the middle of the night. Event: I’m participating in the Song Rewrite Challenge hosted by @choicesprompts. This fic is a rewrite of Drink Had Me by Jordan Davis.

🎵Hell, I was up to nothing

🎵Just sittin' home alone

🎵Yeah, I was gonna cash it in

🎵About to put down my phone

🎵And I had a message waitin'

🎵Them boys won't let me sleep

🎵So I told 'em I would meet 'em out

🎵And just have one drink

Ethan was mentally and physically exhausted. He could feel the stress he’d been carrying deep in his bones. His muscles sighed as he sunk into the comfort of his couch and rested his head on the back cushion. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, enjoying the peace and quiet of his empty apartment. 

He tried to push aside the thoughts that had plagued him. The budget crisis. The selfish billionaire. The competition with Tobias. The situation with his mother. But mostly, it was Sawyer that occupied his mind. He worried that the constant push and pull between them was nearing a breaking point.

She had recently gone behind his back and opened Pandora’s box. She compromised the team’s mission. She called him a “goddamn diva” in front of his colleagues. Worst still, it’s what she said when helping him set up his Pictagram profile. “It’s love, Ethan. It doesn’t have to make sense. I guess you just… feel it.” The words nagged at him constantly, and not because she was probably right - like she was right about everything else - but because he felt something. Something unfamiliar. Something scary. Something he hoped was reciprocated. 

DING! That sound used to annoy him, but now it made him eager to check his phone, because there was only one person who insisted on texting him. Quickly reaching for his phone, he sighed disappointedly when he saw the message was not from Sawyer.

Ethan groaned. He had forgotten that this morning, while working out with his gym buddies, he made plans to meet them at Donahue's for drinks and a game of pool. In an attempt to rouse Rafael from his suspension-induced funk, Sawyer proposed the night out. And in all honesty, Ethan only agreed because he saw it as an opportunity to spend time with her. It was only after he committed to attend that Sawyer bothered to mention she had prior plans with Stephanie, their coma patient.   

Ethan arrived at Donohue’s thirty minutes later and swore to himself he would only stay for one drink.

“... and then she said, ‘Oh, would you prefer to be called a spoiled child or an entitled jackass?’ You should have seen your face, man.” Baz, who had wandered over earlier to say hello, couldn’t contain his laughter as he told the story of Sawyer calling Ethan a diva to everyone gathered around the pool table.  

Rolling his eyes, Ethan ordered another drink while the guys racked the pool balls for another game.

“... speaking of workouts... Raf, remember when you asked Sawyer why she liked to work out? And she said because she wants to look good naked. Dude. Best response ever,” Bryce recalled with a laugh as he shared another round of tequila shots.

Ethan gladly accepted, swallowing the cheap liquor in one gulp when the memory of Sawyer standing in front of his bedroom window came to mind. 

Every time Sawyer’s name was mentioned, which was surprisingly often, Ethan put a glass to his mouth. Better that than inadvertently slipping and revealing something he shouldn’t.

“Okay, time for a round of Fuck-Marry-Kill,” Bryce announced, earning a groan from Rafael. “Since you’re so excited to play, Raf, you can go first. JLo, Shakira, Taylor.”

“Easy. Fuck JLo. Marry Shakira. Kill Taylor,” Rafael answered. After taking a sip of beer, he turned to Elijah. “Your turn. Lara Croft, Leeloo from Fifth Element, and umm… Jamie Lee Curtis' character in Halloween.”

“Damn, man. Uhhh…” Elijah twisted up his lips as he pondered his answer. “I guess I’d fuck Croft, marry Leeloo, and go all Michael Myers on JLC.”

Raising his hand excitedly, Baz jumped in. “Oh, oh, I’ve got one for Ethan… Harper, June, and Sawyer.”

The other men snapped their heads to Ethan, bracing for the explosive impact. But to everyone’s surprise, Ethan threw back another shot and answered without hesitation. “Fuck Harper. Marry Sawyer. Kill June.” 

Reggie made the announcement for last call, and at midnight he kicked everyone out, including Ethan. The inebriated men stumbled outside to wait for their rides. Ethan decided to walk for a while, and bid them good night. He strolled down the block until he reached the rose garden near the hospital. Resting on a park bench, he dug his phone from his pocket. But instead of dialing for a ride to take him home, he called Sawyer.

🎵But the drink had me

🎵Callin' you up, talkin' all crazy

🎵Talkin' 'bout us

🎵And catchin' a ride over to your room

🎵And keepin' your roommates up past two

Sawyer’s phone lit up on her nightstand with an incoming call, but she didn’t notice. She had fallen asleep a couple hours ago.

On the other end of the line, Ethan heard her voice. “Hi there, you’ve reached Sawyer. Leave me a message.”

“Sawyer,” he sighed before continuing, “I don’t want to lose you.”

Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees and stared at the phone screen. Sawyer’s contact picture smiled back at him. “I’m sorry I’ve been an asshole lately. I just… I want you so fucking bad,” he confessed. “I need you to be with me.”

He dropped his chin to his chest in defeat and growled. “But I can’t have you.”

He took a deep breath and lifted his head to look at her picture again. “I’ve been losing my goddamn patience with this situation. I don’t want to push you away anymore. It kills me to know that I’m hurting you, but I’m still afraid of what might happen if people find out about us.”

Ethan stood and held the phone at eye level as if trying to look her in the eye. “I feel like I’m on the verge of losing you, Sawyer.”

He began to pace back and forth and rambled on. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said a couple weeks ago. It really fucked me up, because I don’t think I’ve felt like this before.”

“God, Sawyer, you’re the best I’ve ever had,” he admitted, running his fingers through his hair. “I don’t want anyone else.”

He closed his eyes and whispered to himself. “Sawyer, say it back. Please say it back to me. I don’t want to be alone in this feeling.”

There was a long pause while Ethan stared at his phone, hoping for some sort of reply. “Fuck it. I’m coming over.”

<><><><><><><><><><>

It was nearly two o’clock in the morning when there was a knock on the apartment door. Sienna, who was still up baking, checked the peep hole and unlocked the door. “Dr. Ramsey! What are you doing here so late?”

His eyes were bloodshot and he smelled of whiskey and beer. The drink and exhaustion rapidly stripped away what little control of himself he had left. Ethan steadied himself with a hand on the doorframe and answered, “I need to talk to Sawyer. I need to see her. Is she here?”

Sienna invited him in. With her five-foot-nothing frame, she nervously guided the towering and swaying six-foot-four-inch sack of muscles into a seat at the kitchen table. “I’ll be right back.”

Gently knocking first, Sienna let herself into Sawyer’s room. “Sawyer? Sawyer, wake up,” she whispered loudly.

Sawyer awoke with a start, finding Sienna crouched at the side of her bed. “What’s wrong?” she panicked.

“Ummmm… Dr. Ramsey is here.”

“What?” she asked, confused.

“He said he needs to speak with you,” Sienna explained.

Sawyer threw her covers aside and stumbled out of bed wearing nothing but a t-shirt and underwear. She quickly checked the time on her phone, noticing the missed call and voicemail notifications from Ethan. “I swear to God, if he’s here to drag me out of bed for another diagnostics case…” she trailed off.

“I don’t think that’s why,” her friend said, leading her down the hallway.

Once her eyes adjusted to the fluorescent lighting in the kitchen, Sawyer spotted Ethan sitting at the kitchen table, his head buried in his hands. His body language reminded her of the times when he had felt pretty hopeless, like when Dolores died and when Naveen was sick. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Ethan lifted his head and let out a small sigh of relief recognizing her. “I wanted to talk to you,” he said, his voice tired and gravelly.

She followed his eyes to Sienna, who had gone back to her baking. “Let’s go to my room.”

Ethan stood and followed her down the hall. A sudden wave of dizziness washed over him and he threw himself against the wall to keep from stumbling over. Sawyer grimaced at the loud thump, hoping it didn’t wake her other roommates. She quickly tucked herself under his arm and helped him the rest of the way.

Just as her door clicked closed, Jackie poked her head into the hallway. “What the hell was that?” she called out.

Sienna came into view from the kitchen. “Sorry, Jackie, that was me. Sorry I woke you.”

“Do you ever sleep, Trinh?” Jackie yawned, shutting her door and going back to bed.

🎵The drink had me

🎵Wantin' one more

🎵Wantin' to forget what we broke up for

🎵And doin' that make up, wake up thing

🎵I just went in there to have one drink

🎵But the drink had me

Sawyer sat Ethan down on the side of her bed, then stood in front of him casually crossing her arms. “What’s going on? Did something happen? Is this about your mom?”

His head felt like a sloshing fishbowl when he shook it. Focusing on her bare feet, he attempted to ground himself.

Getting more worried, Sawyer stroked her fingers through his hair. “Hey, talk to me.”

Slowly lifting his head, Ethan’s eyes trailed up her long legs to the oversized Hopkins t-shirt she wore. “Is that my shirt?”

Glancing down at the heather gray tee, she replied with a hint of embarrassment, “Yes.”

Sawyer braced her hands on his shoulders to keep her balance when Ethan tugged her close. Standing between his knees, he hugged her tightly around the waist and rested the side of his face against her stomach.

“I miss you,” he mumbled.

A beat later his hands dropped to the back of her thighs. His fingertips lightly caressed her soft skin, eliciting goosebumps. Lifting his eyes to gauge her reaction, he slowly slid his hands higher, palming her backside and giving a gentle squeeze.

“Ethan,” she warned, gripping his forearms to prevent his hands from wandering any further.

“I want you,” he said, kissing her belly through the t-shirt she had stolen from him.

“Ethan, you’re drunk.”

“Say it back,” he whined.

“Say what back?”

“That you still want me.”

She sighed deeply. “Ethan…” When he looked at her with desperate, pleading eyes, she took a seat on his knee. “I want you too,” she repeated and cupped his cheek, “but not like this. Not a drunken mistake.”

“It’s not a mistake,” Ethan asserted. “I know what I want.”

She shook her head. “I know you, Ethan. You’ll regret it in the morning when you’re clearheaded.”

Ethan began to protest when the nausea hit. “I won’t… I–,” he paused and swallowed, “I’m going to be sick.”

Sawyer jumped off his lap and grabbed her garbage pail just in time. Ethan wretched the contents of his stomach while she soothingly rubbed his back. When he was finished, Sawyer offered him a tissue and a sip from her water bottle. She then knelt before him and removed his shoes and socks.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting you ready for bed. You’re in no shape to go anywhere right now. You can stay here and sleep it off.” As she stood, she reached for the hem of his shirt and lifted it over his head. “Scoot back and lie down,” she instructed. Ethan complied.

She met his hooded eyes, giving him a look of warning. “Don’t get any ideas,” she said before unbuttoning his pants. “Lift your butt.” After carefully tugging off his jeans, she neatly folded his clothes and set them atop her dresser. Returning to his side, she tucked him under the covers.

“Where are you going?” he murmured when she stepped toward the door.

“I’m just going to clean this up and grab you some aspirin,” she answered, picking up the small waste bin. “Do you need or want anything else?”

Ethan shook his head.

“I’ll be right back,” she promised with an assuring smile.

When Sawyer returned a few minutes later, Ethan’s eyes were closed and he was lightly snoring. She turned out the lights and crawled under the covers. Hugging the edge of her full-size bed, she resisted the urge to curl up next to him, and soon dozed off.

🎵Next morning came too early

🎵Heart poundin' in my head

🎵And it took me just a second

🎵To realize I know this bed

🎵And it ain't where I belong

🎵But you got my T-shirt on

🎵I blame the alcohol

🎵No, it ain't my fault

🎵The drink had me

Ethan’s head throbbed. The sound of distant, muffled voices had woken him. He cracked his eyes open, thankful for the dim surroundings. Blinking away the fog in his vision, he focused on the ceiling. There was something familiar about the dangling light fixture overhead. A single lightbulb hung from a rope cord. The gentle breeze that wafted through the window caused it to sway back and forth in a hypnotizing motion. Aware that he was not at home, Ethan’s eyes swept the small bedroom, taking in every detail. As recognition set in, his heart began to race, intensifying the pounding in his head.

Taking a deep breath through his nose, his senses were overwhelmed with the sweet smell of her. Daring to cast a quick look downward, he found Sawyer tucked into his side. Her arm was draped across his torso, her thigh across his waist, with a foot nestled between his legs. Ethan’s right arm was at her back, holding her close. His left hand gripped the back of her bent knee, as if he had been using the leverage to keep her locked in place. She was wearing his t-shirt, and he was only wearing underwear.

He reached into the black box of his mind for any remembrance, but came back empty handed. He didn’t know what to be more upset about. The eventual fallout from this reckless encounter, or the cruel twist of fate of taking Sawyer to bed again and not remembering a damn thing about it.

When her alarm rang out, Ethan silently cursed. “No, not yet.” He needed more time to figure his way out of this mess. More time holding her body against his.

Sawyer groaned in frustration as her phone sang a melodic tune of chirping birds. As she did every morning, she buried the tip of her cold nose into her pillow and inhaled. Only it wasn’t her pillow she smooshed her face into this morning. It was Ethan’s chest. His warmth and scent aroused her senses, and she was instantly awake.

Seeing that he was too, she pushed back from him and tried to cover herself with the forgotten comforter. “Shit, sorry,” she whispered, rolling away to silence her phone.

Her surprise and embarrassment confused him. “Why are you apologizing?”

She turned to face him, making sure to keep a safe distance. “I tried to keep to my side. I must have rolled over in my sleep and snuggled up to you.”

“Keep to your side? Did we not…?”

She shook her head.

Ethan looked up at the ceiling and expelled a breath.

Sensing his relief, Sawyer swiftly climbed out of bed. “I’m going to get ready for work. Your clothes are on the dresser and your phone is charging on the desk. My roommates should be leaving soon.”

“Sawyer-”

“It’s fine, Ethan,” she said, rummaging through her dresser drawers. “We can talk about it later when you feel better. Or if you prefer, not at all, because nothing happened.” Ethan rubbed the spot between his eyes. “There's some water and aspirin on the nightstand,” she pointed out before stepping into the hall and closing the door behind her.

A while later, they left the apartment and shared a ride to the hospital, successfully avoiding the topic of last night. They limited their conversation to simple questions and one-word answers, merely enough to get out the door and on their way.

“Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Sawyer said, and not waiting for reciprocation, she hurried away.

Ethan watched until she disappeared through the sliding doors of the hospital’s main entrance. He cursed at himself the entire walk to Donohue’s to retrieve his car. They may not have slept together, but he still ended up on her doorstep last night and tangled in her bed this morning. He hoped once the hangover cleared, he would remember why, so they could clear the air.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Sawyer was slow to leave the diagnostics office when their team meeting ended the next day. The tension between her and Ethan was so thick it felt like it could be cut with a knife. She couldn’t take it anymore. She turned to study him, watching as he stacked case files, doing his best to ignore her. “This feels like the morning after Miami all over again,” she finally spoke.

Ethan stopped what he was doing, took a deep breath, and braced himself for the conversation he had been dreading. “I’m sorry for inconveniencing you the other night.”

She shook her head as if she didn’t care about that. Shifting her gaze out the window, she bit the corner of her lip before speaking again. “Do you remember calling me? Leaving a voicemail?”

Ethan swallowed hard. He had checked his phone yesterday and knew that he dialed her number, but didn’t recall leaving a message. “No. I only remember bits and pieces after leaving Donahue’s.” He took a cautious step toward her. “What... what did I say?” he asked, trying to hide his nerves.

“It doesn't matter,” she sighed, still looking out the window, “you probably didn't mean it.” She downplayed her disappointment with a quiet chuckle, “I never pegged you for a sappy drunk.”

Ethan stepped in front of her, cupping her chin to force her to look at him. “I meant it,” he said firmly.

“You just said you don’t remember–”

“I don't,” he interjected, “but if the result was me showing up at your door, and waking up with you in my arms, then whatever I said… I meant it.” Gazes locked on each other, Ethan gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. He breathed a sigh of relief when Sawyer’s lips finally turned up in a small, forgiving smile.

That smile slowly changed to a mischievous one. Ceasing the opportunity, she started to back away as she spoke. “Well in that case…" She bit her lip to keep from laughing. “I want to get married in June. A fancy church wedding and a huge reception. Oh, and let’s honeymoon in Paris! It will be so romantic.”

“Funny–”

“But you should know, I plan to keep my last name,” she continued teasing.

“You’re a brat. Get out of here,” he demanded, playfully tossing a pen in her direction as she scrambled to leave.

“Hey!” she yelped, using the door as a shield.

“Oh, and I want my shirt back!” he hollered.

Poking her head back in, she offered a deal. “If you can get me out of it, Ramsey... it’s yours. See ya!”

A/N: Ethan's drunken confession was also inspired by the song Say It Back by Nicklas Sahl.

Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics @peonierose@potionsprefect @trappedinfanfiction @jerzwriter @queencarb @coffeeheartaddict2 @quixoticdreamer16 @jamespotterthefirst @liaromancewriter @zealouscanonindeer @tveitertotwrites @tessa-liam @youlookappropriate @kyra75 @socalwriterbee @txemrn

You either die a hero

Or live long enough to see yourself become the villain

ethan’s reaction to marissa getting up in the middle of the night to get water or something & then coming back & giving him a lil smooch on his forehead thinking he’s asleep? what about if it was the other way around? im in a fluffy sappy mood lol 💖

Mal bestie<3 I love you sm! Thank you for sending such a brilliant of an ask. You inspired me to write this! ❤

IN YOUR ARMS (ETHAN x MC)

Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Dr. Marissa Sanders)

Book: Open Heart (Beyond)

Word Count: 642 words

Rating: Fluff

Warning(s): Few lines alluding to suggestive themes.

A/N: A bit late but inspiration struck and I couldn't stop myself from writing this! I hope you guys will enjoy this! Thank you ❤

~~~~

The outside world was still wrapped in a deep slumber, the night sky glowing with bright city lights from beneath, adorned with the pale crescent moon and endless vast of luminous stars from above. Its luminescence impenetrable through the spectacular ceiling-to-floor windows of his lavish apartment, unexpectedly, begrudgingly awakens his girlfriend during the fathomless night.

Two hours before his prompted alarm goes off, Marissa, still swathed in a dreamlike state, mindlessly searches for her phone on the nightstand to grasp the unruly time. 

2:47 A.M.

She silently drops the phone on the stand, splaying her right hand across the stand in search of the glass she keeps beside her, only to find an empty one.

Marissa releases a defeated sigh, mentally preparing herself to rouse out of the bed, and paddle across the bedroom to the kitchen to get herself a glass of water to quench her unrelenting thirst.

She throws on his shirt over her petite frame, carrying his intoxicating scent with her — the one mindlessly abandoned on the floor just a few hours ago, before they purely lost themselves into each other for an endless hour and hours of sweet pleasure, bodies moving in an ecstatic rhythm.

After a few minutes, that seemed hours to her, she returned to their room, fully sated, only to be transfixed by the vision in front of her.

Ethan peacefully laid asleep on their bed. One leg prompted up majestically; his facial features — calm and relaxed. The comforter barely clad on his glorious naked body. Marissa approached him with deliberate steps to avoid waking him up. 

She gently caressed his face, tracing the faint frown lines, going on a journey with her slender fingers, smiling to herself.

There are some things one can not describe why they do. What takes over them to do things having little to no effect.

Just pure and simple. 

Maybe they do have an effect, but Ethan wasn't in the state to gauge the simple effect.

She leaned down to kiss him on the forehead, her touch full of love and tenderness, before returning and making herself comfortable on her side of bed.

When suddenly, she feels him. His strong arm drapes across her lean body, pulling her close towards him. Ethan nuzzles her neckline eliciting a shiver down her spine.

“All this time, you were awake?” She inquired, chuckling, her laughter music to his ears.

“Mmmmh,” he hummed pleasantly as a yes, eyes still closed. “Perhaps it's instinct, but I'm able to sense whenever you are away in my sleep, and I seem to miss your presence whenever you leave my side, even for a minute,” he said, his voice reverberating a sense of vulnerability.

Marissa turned around to face him as Ethan opened his eyes. Blazing blues meeting her beautiful browns, creating the same scenery as it was behind their closed doors.

“You're drunk on sleep,” she jested. “Careful, Dr. Ramsey. To me that sounds evidence enough for the basis of being soulmates.”

An even beautiful smile broke out on his face.

“Jury's still out,” he quipped.

She gives him an aghast look before playfully hitting him on the shoulder as Ethan's laughter reverberates around the room.

“You're my righteous path when I'm lost, Marissa.”

That catches her off-guard at his sudden somber tone, his revelation. She closes her eyes, drinking in his words, her features softening and melting into complete adoration and love.

“Ohhh Ethan…” 

Ethan leaned towards her, kissing her forehead before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss, leaving her heart fluttering.

“I love you.”

He said as he kissed the inside of her wrist, where 'I IV III' that meant the three words he just uttered in Roman numerals was tattooed. 

“I love you too, Ethan. So much.”

His heart soared at the mere words, the feeling igniting as she cuddled close to him, his arms always welcoming and comforting to her.

Soulmates. Maybe there was a biological basis to that.

Tagging in reblog

So, we all see the Faceclaim for Drake is Daniel di Tomasso but.... I couldn't get passed those blue eyes. I changed his eye color to make him more Drake-like.... NOW I CAN SEE IT😁👏 #Drake Walker #Choices #TRR #TRH #Faceclaim #Daniel Di Tomasso #Drake x MC #HANA LEE #MAXWELL BEAUMONT #KING LIAM #THE ROYAL ROMANCE #THE ROYAL HEIR