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jerzwriter · 5 months ago

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Second Thoughts If it were cannon... AU

A million years ago, someone asked me if I'd write a series that mimicked canon but with Tobias Carrick as head of the Edenbrook Diagnostic Team. While I don't have the bandwidth to take on a series at this point, as I'm doing my Open Heart re-read, I will rewrite select scenes that I think could be interesting.

Part one was the first night at Donahue's when there was a serious connection building between Dr. Tobias Carick and new intern, Dr. Casey MacTavish. But now, they've had a chance to sleep on it, do things look different in the morning light? Lack of sleep, misunderstandings, and a dash of fear lead Casey to make a choice. Will it be one she comes to regret?

Book: Open Heart Book 1 / Chapter 3 Pairing: Tobias Carrick x F!MC (Casey) Featuring: Bryce Lahela, Jackie Varma, Landry Olsen Rating: Teen Words: 2,200 Series: If it were canon... AU Summary: See above

A/N: A quick thank you to @angelasscribbles for helping me come up with a new nickname lol I was at a loss. And thank you to @alj4890 - because of you I'm inspired to continue with this!

Series Masterlist Tobias x Casey Masterlist My Masterlist

The second day of her internship was not going as planned. Casey hardly managed to get any sleep in the miniature closet she called her room. At least the stairs above her came in handy today. She accidentally set her alarm for 5:00 PM instead of 5:00 AM, and if not for someone stomping down those steps, she would have overslept and likely decided to return to Philadelphia in shame. Now, with barely 30 minutes before her shift began, she threw on a ratty old Henly that paired perfectly with the wrinkled pair of jeans at the foot of her bed. Hair and make-up? Not today. A messy bun and brushed teeth would have to suffice. Somehow, she managed to arrive at Edenbrook with ten minutes to spare; when she saw a group of surgical interns playing basketball outside. Bryce Lahela was amongst them, and suddenly she wished she had spruced up just a little bit more.

“Up top! I’m open!” A shirtless Bryce barely got those words out before he flew by her, catching a pass and dribbling confidently toward the hoop. He dunked the ball, then screamed out in celebration. “Ha! Who’s the king now?”

“King?” Casey laughed, “You nearly killed me getting to that ball! I think the king should at least get a traffic infraction."

“Damn! I didn't realize. I would have gladly given up two points for a chance to collide with you.”

Casey laughed as the other interns whooped and hollered when she saw the ball suddenly flying in her direction and caught it with both hands.

“Well, come on then, MacTavish!" Bryce goaded. "You gonna play, or you gonna send that back over?”

With a determined smirk, Casey slowly dribbled the ball, taunting him. “Come see if you can get it from me." Bryce sauntered toward her with what she’d come to know as his signature grin firmly in place.

“You’re making me look good,” he whispered upon approach. “I really am the king.”

“King of the surgical interns,” she laughed. “I guess that’s something, but....” without another word, she dribbled the ball around him, rushing toward the hoop with Bryce at her heels.

“Gonna make it tough on me, huh?” he laughed, wrapping his arm around her waist and spinning her around, but not before she shot the ball right into the hoop.

“That’s gotta be a foul, Ref,” she hollered, giggling in Bryes’s arms.

“It’s not a foul if you’re on my team,” Bryce defended. “And you are definitely on my team.”

Casey caught her breath as he put her on his feet, crossing her arms defiantly. “Says who?”

“Says me!” He replied with a playful shrug. “But seriously, you want to join in?”

“Nah, my shift starts in five, and I’d really like to make myself look decent before it starts.”

“You’re already looking good, MacTavish. Don’t go too crazy; I don’t want competition for hottest intern.”

“Ha!” she laughed, reaching up and flirtatiously pinching his cheeks. “I’ve already got that in the bag, Lahela!”

"Quite possibly," she beamed. "Hey, lunch later?"

"Sounds like a plan."

He smiled as he watched her run to the hospital entrance, pushing her way through a group of staff who had stopped to watch the game and assess the new talent.

“Excuse me. Pardon me,” she pushed through.

“You looked really good out there,” a pretty nurse winked.

“Thanks,” Casey smiled. Completely unaware that her handsome attending was quietly sipping his coffee nearby.

“She was impressive, wasn’t she, Dr. Carrick?” The nurse asked.

“Yep," he nodded. "She sure was.”

After a quick change, sprucing up her hair, and even applying a dab of lip gloss, Casey was the last of the interns to enter the atrium, but still on time. She was eager to meet her senior resident, and when Dr. Ines Delarosa called her name, Casey gently pumped her fist. “Yes!”

“Why are you so excited?” Jackie asked.

“I met her yesterday, she’s amazing! Bubblegum and rainbows incarnate!”

“Gross!” Jackie grimaced. “I’d rather take my chance with the grumpy ass I've got. I’ll catch you on the other side!”

Ines clapped her hands with joy to gather her charges. “All right, young ones! You’ve got your assignments! Go forth and shine bright!”

And Ines greeted her interns with the same enthusiasm when they returned a few hours later. “I hope you’re all excited! We’re about to begin rounds!”

“Woo-hoo!” Casey yelled as Ines gave a thumbs up with approval.

“That’s the attitude I want to see! You’ll be even more excited when I tell you we have a very special guest! Dr. Tobias Carrick will be joining us for rounds today!”

Casey turned to see Tobias leaning against a wall, looking up from his clipboard at the mention of his name. He curtly nodded at the interns, and Casey’s mouth went dry. Why did he have to be so beautiful? One glance made her knees go weak, and when his ice-blue eyes locked with hers, she could feel her cheeks begin to flush. She had been fueled by liquid courage when she approached him at Donahue's last night. What kind of intern flirts mercilessly with her attending on her very first day? But with his eyes still on her, she felt the heat rising. Yeah, she thought, that’s why I did. But when he turned away without acknowledging her, she began to question her judgment again.

“Let’s do this,” Dr. Carrick said gruffly.

“We’re doing rounds with Dr. Carrick? This is amazing! Also, I’m going to puke!” Landry whispered softly but loud enough to hear.

Tobias stopped short and looked over his shoulder, catching Landry chatting with Casey. “Less chatting and more moving!” He scowled. “Or do you think you’ve learned enough to keep your patients alive with just one day on the job?”

Casey’s brow furrowed. He didn’t seem at all like the man she met yesterday: the one who patiently guided her through an emergency procedure before her shift even began, one whose jovial attitude kept the interns energized throughout the day, or with whom she flirted shamelessly last night, perhaps that last one was the problem. Still, she shook her head and whispered to Landry.

“He was so cool yesterday. Why is he acting like such a jerk today?”

Dr. Carrick screeched to a halt again, causing several interns to trip over themselves to avoid toppling on top of him.

“Something to say, Dr. MacTavish?”

Her wide-eyed peers whispered amongst themselves. How did he already know her name? Dr. Carrick didn’t expect an answer, but Casey was giving him one all the same.

“Yes, actually. I was wondering why you were so irritable today. I liked the Dr. Carrick I met yesterday much better.”

Tobias crossed his arms, biting his cheek to stifle a laugh, and Ines looked nervously between them. “Ha-ha!” She laughed. “Dr. MacTavish is so funny... haha! That will help make you a good doctor, but why don’t we get on with our rounds.”

“Wait,” Tobias held up a hand. “Dr. MacTavish, what role do you think attendings will play in your residency? Do you they – myself in particular - are here to amuse and appease you?”

“Nope," she replied, not backing down. "Not at all.”

“Good. Because all of us will be putting in long hours, sometimes you won’t sleep for days on end. You’ll be dealing with life-or-death issues, and sometimes, the losses will nearly destroy you. No one is going to be rainbows and sunshine all the time. So I suggest you learn to deal with irritable colleagues and patients alike. It’s as much a part of this job as anything else.” He looked directly at Casey, and even as he was admonishing her, his gaze still made her melt. “Is that clear?”

“Crystal,” she grinned as Tobias forced himself to look away. Casey was completely unaware, she had the exact same effect on him. b

“Good. So why don’t we start rounds with your patient then?”

Landry wanted to question Casey as they walked away. He wasn’t sure if she was his hero, if she was out of her mind, or a combination of both, but he didn’t dare speak after that exchange.

Casey and Landry went on to present. Or better said, Casey did. Landry was so starstruck by Dr. Carrick’s presence that he couldn’t bring himself to utter a word. Casey eyed him nervously, but when it was clear he was stalled, she jumped in to bail the duo out. Calmly and succinctly explaining that their patient had been in an accident and had internal bleeding as a result. She offered their prognosis and defended their treatment plan, even reassuring the patient when he expressed concerns about the length of his stay. Tobias was impressed with her, and halfway through her presentation, he couldn’t help but wonder why he was being so grumpy after all. It wasn’t like him at all.

“... so we have to get you healthy, Mike,” Casey said sweetly. “There are people counting on you.”

“Excellent, Dr. MacTavish,” Tobias approved, looking pointedly at Landry.

They proceeded to watch Elijah, Sienna, Jackie, Aurora, and other interns present.

“Congratulations!” Ines chirped. “You survived your first morning rounds! That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“Depends on who you ask,” Landry droned.

“Landry,” Casey frowned. “Don’t worry, you’ll get a chance to...,” but Tobias began speaking and drowned her out.

“All right, doctors! Your patients are all alive... let’s make sure they’re still that way when I see you tomorrow. You’re dismissed.”

Casey turned and walked away with the other interns, but she didn’t get far when Tobias called her back.

“Not you, Newbie. You have one more patient to see.”

“I... I do?” she stammered.

“And do I?” Landry asked.

“Did I say you?” Tobias glared.

“Nope,” Landry gulped, turning to Casey. “I guess I’ll see you later.”

Casey walked toward Tobias; while some interns gossiped, not even attempting to hide.

“What’s with them? One asked “Nothing! She just made a good a good impression on him.” “Yeah,” Another sneered. “A good impression on him at the bar last night!” “Well, I guess that’s one way to get ahead.”

Tobias didn’t hear, but Casey did, and she couldn’t conceal a frown as she walked his way. Seeing her distressed, he hoped his attitude had nothing to do with it. He greeted her with a warm smile.

“Hey there, Newb. Why so glum? You doing OK?”

“I’m good,” she sighed. “Very sleepy, but good. Hey, I want to apologize; I’m sorry if I was a jerk back there...”

“Nah,” he replied, and she realized his graveled voice had the same effect on her as his damn eyes. This would not be easy. “I was the one being the jerk. That’s why I wanted to talk to you...”

“Wait,” she crossed her arms with narrowed eyes. “Are you telling me there’s no patient? You just wanted to talk to me?”

“Two things can be true at once, grasshopper,” he smiled. “That’s good to remember in medicine. But I am sorry for being grouchy. It’s not like me; I guess we all have bad days.”

“And we're all entitled to them every so often,” she winked. “Just don’t let it happen again.”

She wasn’t your standard intern, and he couldn’t help but laugh when he caught a nurse looking at them intently. She scattered away when he met her stare, refusing to shift his gaze. Casey followed his eyes and understood at once. She lowered her eyes as he returned his attention to her, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “Listen, about our talk last night..”

Casey felt herself becoming sick, and she didn't think skipping breakfast was the culprit. Her cheeks turned red, and her breath quickened. What would all the gossips say about the two of them standing this close? She was a kid from the wrong side of the tracks in Philly, worked her ass off to get here despite all those who said it was just a dream. She wasn’t going to have anyone saying her success was a result of flirting with her attending. But, God, she wanted to pursue him. She hadn't felt a connection like this in so long, and he had said they could find a workaround. Then she felt her blood go cold. Listen, about our talk last night...

Oh, God! She thought. I made a total ass out of myself, didn’t I? I’m an intern, for God’s sake. He’s Dr. Tobias Carrick; he likely has his choice of any person in this hospital. Any person in Boston! What the hell was I thinking? Convinced he was about to tell her he wasn’t interested. Her blatant flirtation was about to make her look like nothing short of a desperate fool, and Casey never wanted to be a desperate fool.

“It’s alright!” she interrupted, though right now, nothing felt alright. “We both had a few drinks, and it was late... it’s not surprising that we both said some things we didn’t mean.”

“Oh,” Tobias said, clearly taken aback. “I didn’t realize that...”

“Hey, Casey,” Bryce smiled, walking past with his team. “See you at lunch!”

“Oh,” Tobias repeated, images of the two of them kissing and their flirtatious game on the hospital court rushing to his mind. He recovered quickly this time. “It’s fine. I’m glad we’re on the same page then; this way, we don’t have to be awkward. We’re cool?”

“We’re cool,” she faked a smile, not understanding why his apparent dismissal brought the sting of bitter tears to the back of her eyes.

“Good! So, I do have a patient for you,” he said, nodding in the direction they were about to walk. “Her name is Kyra Santana, and her doctor thought a golf outing was more important than being here today. But, his loss is your and Ms. Santana’s gain...”

Casey took notes as he spoke. She never needed notes; she remembered almost everything, but she'd find any excuse to avoid looking into those eyes.

“Hey, Dr. Carrick,” a beautiful nurse winked. Casey looked up momentarily but rushed her eyes back to the pad in her hand.

Thank God she quickly covered, she thought, her cheeks flushing with a mix of relief and embarrassment. He was Tobias Carrick. As if he’d have any real interest in her. It was bad enough that she had it this bad for her attending—the last thing she needed was for him to find out. That would be no way to start this phase of her life.

Tobias stood before the door, and, damn it, he smiled again. "You ready, Dr. MacTavish?"

"I like to think I am," she smiled as she walked through the door.

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Tagging others separately.

#open heart #open heart fanfics #open heart choices #choices open heart #tobias carrick #tobias carrick x mc #bryce lahela #landry olsen #jackie varma #choices #choices fanfic #choices the stories you play #playchoices #playchoices fanfic #if it were canon au

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coffeeheartaddict2 · 1 year ago

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When life has other plans (3/16)

Enemy Within

Book: Open Heart (AU)

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC Casey Valentine

Warnings: language, sexual references

Word count: 4209

Category: Angst

Rating: PG

Summary: the competition is still going and despite sabotage Casey is still maintaining top spot. A study session leads to an idea to hopefully cure a long term patient and the fall out.

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Pixelberry.

Authors note: next few chapters will be angsty fun.

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Casey was back from Miami, spurred on by the knowledge she had acquired there. She was finding it odd that she was having a quiet morning until another resident wanted to know why she was not answering her pages. She looked at her pager and thought it odd, it was on but had not received any pages. Just then Sienna walked by and Casey told her what had been happening. They look at the system and Sienna stated that her pager was marked as off. Casey looked confused . There is a function where you can have it switch on automatically after being off. I utilized this and it was meant to switch back on automatically this morning 2 hours before my shift.

“Well that did not happen.” Stated Sienna as she switched Casey’s pager back on.

“That is odd, there must have been an update. That could have been bad.” Sienna nodded in agreement. The week went on and there was some bizarre instances of charts going missing, a change in medication that was caught before it could have been dangerous for the patient. Despite this Casey was keeping on top of the rankings. Landry was fuming. In his head, there is no way that she should have maintained top spot with files going missing and changes that were made. He knew that she was been favoured, there was no other explanation. He had asked other attendings and residents about his rating and he disbelieved the feedback he had been given. Was Dr Ramsey blackmailing them? Was nepotism that rife that only favourites and family members of the chief no less were being favoured and thus making the competition unfair. He vented his frustration with Jackie. She did not think that Casey was being favoured. She said that Casey gives a damn about her patients,not just the outcome that is why she is on top.

Casey and Ethan continued with their treatment of Naveen and their arrangement. Late nights at work were the hardest. One thing that turned Casey on the most was the breadth of his compassion and knowledge. Ethan had to admit that she was attractive when she was earnestly studying. Naveen knew something was up. Ever since Miami he noted that Ethan had seemed less stressed and much more rested. He presumed it had something to do with Dr Valentine. He had seen a few looks but with how unwell he was, he put it down to that but he asked one day.

“Ethan, my boy. I can’t help but notice how much less stressed you have been…”

Ethan stopped what he was doing.

“I have been a little less stressed…” said Ethan.

“And has young Dr Valentine been the cause of the less stress?” Said Naveen, with a mischievous glint in his eye.

Ethan groans and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Is there any hiding anything from you, Naveen?”

“Well I did think some of the looks I saw were a figment of my imagination but I am glad they were not.”

“Well it is moments like these Naveen that I am glad you are not in the main hospital.”

Naveen chuckles before he starts coughing.

“I better let you go and rest” says Ethan.

Naveen nods and settles back down into the bed. He was lonely here but he knew what he asked. Treatment in secret, he was thankful in a way though, most of all though, he was glad that his mentee had appeared to have found some happiness, albeit with the intern who was leading the competition, what he did know though is that Casey was a very capable doctor, she worked well with Ethan so he knew that she earnt the spot.

A few weeks later Casey once again found her having a lovely chat with Mrs Martinez and being told about all the adventures she wish she could have if it were not for her diagnosis. She really hoped that there was something that could be done. It seemed almost too cruel being stuck in the hospital. Back at the apartment she started researching and got the gang involved. Even though none of them were her doctor’s, they too wanted to see Mrs Martinez happy. The only one who was reluctant was Landry. He stated that she was alive and that she should be happy.

“She is alive, that is true but she resents being stuck in the hospital for her treatment. Surely there is better.?”

Landry was dumbfounded. Surely being alive would be better than being dead. He did agree to help research as it was a puzzle but all the while he was formulating a plan to bring Casey down. Jackie sat next to Landry, she whispered, “again, this is why Casey is on top, she wants the best outcome.”

“How is being alive not a good outcome?” He whispered back.

Jackie shook her head in annoyance, she wondered how Landry could be so dense when it came to not only the physical well being but also the mental well being. Knowledge was good but at the same time people were more than numbers and there was no getting that point across to Landry.

After a couple of hours Bryce came and joined in the session. He had gotten to know Mrs M a little bit too and he wanted to help. As the night went on, the gang started to fall asleep until it was just Casey and Bryce and all of a sudden got excited. He had stumbled onto a forum for disgruntled former Research and Development employees. There was a person on there who used to work for Panacea. Stating that a treatment they had been working on had the potential to cure Rhodes but the funding for it was cut. Casey and researched the data that was given and Casey formulated a plan to get the drug.

Bryce hugged her in celebration then attempted to kiss her, but Casey stopped him.

“I do not see you like that Bryce, I am sorry.” Bryce was understanding for which Casey was thankful. He took his leave and Casey went about presenting her case to Mrs M.

She made her way in and stopped by to see Naveen. He was asleep so Casey let him rest. She was making her way back to the main hospital and she came upon a stressed Ethan.

“I can not get the hospital out of the deal with Panacea.” Said Ethan, “I have sold all that the team stood for out…”

Casey guides Ethan to a deserted closet and kisses him.

“Ethan, you did not sell out, you did whatever it took for your patient.”

“Yes, but at what cost.”

The thoughts of what she read last night come to her mind but she did not tell him. She knew there was a chance that Mrs M could die if what she was planning came to fruition and she did not need Ethan embroiled in it. He kissed her again, hungrily. Both had agreed early on that the hospital was off limits to partake in any physical activity but desperate times called for a bending of that rule. It was quick and intense but it was what was needed. Casey straightened herself up as best she could and made her way out to the hospital. She made her way to a nurses station to get her files for her patients. Landry saw her. He did wonder if she was up to something. For someone who was on top and whom was frustrated with the sabotage she sure seemed relaxed. Maybe if the nursing staff don’t do anything for her he thought to himself. While he was thinking about how to get the nursing staff against her, Casey was having a chat to Mrs M. She told her about the information that she found and the chances of success and failure. Casey had figured that there was a forty percent chance it would fail given the information that was available but Mrs M said you could have told me it had a ninety-nine percent chance of killing me and I would still say yes. Casey went about constructing the email and request for the medication and hoped that it worked.

A few days later, Casey was frustrated. She thought that she got along well enough with the nursing staff but today none of them spoke to her, were rude when she asked for some assistance. Aurora saw what was happening and took pity on her. She knew that Casey had earned her spot, anyone that could beat nepotism deserved to be there. She had heard the malicious gossip that she was sleeping with Dr Ramsey but she knew of Dr Ramsey from her aunt and she knew that no favour would be granted if that gossip was true. She went up to Casey.

“I do not know what has happened but the nurses would not let their issues with you get in the way of patient care.”

“Thank you Aurora, I swear someone has been out to get me since getting back from Miami.”

“I am surprised that I was not targeted when I was on top but then again if my aunt found out…”

“I suppose that they would be expelled.”

“For the record I do not believe the gossip about you and Dr Ramsey but does he know about the sabotage?”

“No,” said Casey, “I have not told him because we know he would get to the bottom and I do not want to give those any more ammo.”

Aurora nods, “I understand the reasoning but if it gets any more serious, you must tell someone.”

Casey thanked Aurora and went on her way.

Meanwhile Ethan was frustrated. The meeting with Panacea was slated for a few days' time. He had hoped that he would get out of not only the meeting but get the hospital out of the deal but he could not. He did not want to betray the confidence of Naveen so he did not state it was illness that was the reason for the deal being made in the first place. What was making him regret the deal more was that he was still no closer to figuring out what was wrong with Naveen.

Casey received the outcome of her request for Mrs M. It was denied. She was disheartened. She presumed because it was a trial technically but then remembered what Bryce said, why market a cure for a disease when the treatment lasts a lifetime?

Casey was then angry, the mental well being of not just Mrs M but other Rhodes Disease sufferers elsewhere was being disregarded for the sheer amount of profit was frustrating. She was aware of the meeting with the hospital brass with Declan and she decided that she would make her own path. She met with the gang at Donahue’s. Casey told them of the predicament and the plan. Landry did not want to be a part of it. Casey said it was his decision. Landry however stayed. He was not going to alert Dr Emery to the plan but he sure as hell was going to tell the family if it all went pear shaped.

Meeting and heist day came. Casey stayed at Ethan’s the night before. The sex as always was fantastic and it did help each other take their minds off their respective problems for just one night but morning came and the what if’s again came to the fore for both. The only difference being is that Ethan had no idea why Casey was troubled. Time came for the heist and each member played their part well. They got the drug and Casey went and gave the dosage to Mrs M. Ethan however did see a briefcase swap and he found it odd. He quickly asked Casey but she said what he does not know will not hurt him. He disagreed, however he had to go and suffer the consequences for the deal with the devil and what he saw would have to wait.

Over the coming days Mrs M condition started to improve. It surprised all of the doctors in the hospital. Casey was relieved that Mrs M appeared to be on the sixty percent working side, she had figured that if it was not going to work it would have done so right away. Meanwhile Landry was fuming. He wanted to see Casey fail and he knew that murdering a patient would get her booted not only from the competition but also the program. Also the loss of license. The thought of that made him excited but it was not happening. He was also annoyed as he was dropping further down the rankings also. She had to be influencing Dr Ramsey somehow and this made him more annoyed as the competition was now even more unfair.

After a week of Mrs M improving and not needing her regular medication she was discharged and ready to start on her travels. The hospital threw her a surprised party with many staff sad to see her go but also happy. Casey was happy most of all because she finally got to do what she wanted to do. She saw her off into the cab. A few days later Casey, among many other staff members received an email and attached was a photo of her standing out the front of Sacre Du Couer. Casey was excited to see it and she was glad that she was able to do what she always wanted. This gave Casey another shot of confidence which again only irked Landry more. All was going well until the news spread about Mrs M. She had passed away in Argentina. Casey was shook. She thought if the treatment was going to fail it would have done so right away. Her friends understood her frustration but they like her were happy that Mrs M got to go out doing something she wanted to do. Landry feigned being sorry for her but on the inside he was ecstatic. His chance to topple Casey had fallen right into his lap. He set up an anonymous email and sent the following.

“To the family of Mrs Martinez,

I am sorry for the loss of your mother but this needless death could have been prevented. An intern named Casey Valentine befriended your mother and took it upon herself to seek alternative treatments. Her research was successful and your mother wished to proceed with the treatment. It was rightfully denied through proper channels but this did not perturb her, illegally gaining the drug and administering it. I do not know if she was aware of the risks, I am aware consent was given but I can not be sure if any undue pressure was put on your mother. When you get the body back into the United States I urge you to get a full autopsy as I am certain this unauthorised treatment was the cause of your mother’s death.

Regards

A concerned physician”

“Fucking Dr Ramsey is not going to save you now, you bitch” Landry said under his breath as he hit send.

Meanwhile, Casey was struggling. The death of Mrs Martinez. She kept second guessing herself and felt guilty for what had happened. She headed to the cafeteria where she happened upon Ethan, who was engrossed in an article. Unable to hold everything in she told Ethan about the study session, the buried test results, telling Mrs M, how she willingly agreed, the refusal through official channels and the heist on the day of the meeting. Ethan listened. He always admired how she put the mental well being of her patients at the forefront of their care. He stated that she did Mrs M a kindness but wish she thought about the implications of her career. Ethan then had a thought as it was becoming clear that he was not going to get Naveen’s results tonight. He takes Casey to the opera. Casey is overwhelmed by the fact that Ethan has a box, he states that he does not use it as much as he would like. The opera tonight is a tragic love story which Ethan narrates for her as it is in Italian. While he is narrating his hand moves up her thigh and to her core. He plays with her clit before slipping one and eventually two fingers inside. Casey bites her own hand as she comes all over his hand. The opera ends and he kisses her. They head back to his apartment. The session is intense, exactly what Casey needed to take her mind off what had happened to Mrs M. It also helped Ethan take his mind off Naveen. The sepsis treatment had appeared to work but now it was not and he was not looking forward to receiving the results back. They have a brief nap before Ethan drops Casey home. They kiss each other goodbye in the car. They were so engrossed that they did not see Dr Olsen walk pass. He did a double take. Ethan Ramsey’s car was not what he was expecting to see but the sight he saw did not surprise him. Them in the front seat, kissing. In that moment the rumours he first heard were true and he knew that the competition was now rigged.

After dropping Casey off, Ethan made his way to the hospital and collected the lab results. He sat in his private office and read the results. He knew they would be bad but what he read was daunting. Naveen had only a month to live. It was a puzzle he had failed to solve. He was sad, angry, helpless. A combination he had not felt since he was eleven years old.

Casey arrived to the hospital and she was greeted with the news that there would be an investigation into the death of Mrs Martinez. She needed Ethan’s guidance as a mentor, not her lover but he could not be there for her, slamming the door on her. He felt bad of course. He read that there would be an investigation but he felt like everything he touched was turning to shit and he did not want to be a hindrance to her. Casey tried her best to carry on but her thoughts were all over the place. WHO had betrayed her? What was now wrong with Naveen? How much longer would she have a job? Casey kept on keeping on, despite being on tenterhooks and now being babysat by Aurora Emery.

The next day came and Ethan was still in a daze of failure. He saw Casey and apologized for his behaviour the day before. He stated that he had some results for Naveen and they were bad and it has thrown him. He asked her to come with him to break the news. Casey agreed. She too was disheartened. She knew how much Ethan had put into it, compromising the team in the process and she knows that she had put in the effort too. They arrived to where Naveen was staying in secret. He saw them holding hands and then he saw the looks on their faces.

“How long have I got?” Asked Naveen.

“I am so sorry Naveen. I, no we thought we could cure you but we can not. From the test results it appears that you have a month at most.”

Naveen was quiet and then said.

“You have not failed me, there are medical mysteries that can not be solved, and I am one of them. I know you put your all into solving this. And Dr Valentine, it has been a pleasure.”

Ethan and Casey leave the room to give Naveen some privacy while he dressed. Casey gave Ethan a hug and he gently kissed the top of her head. They walk out with Naveen through the Atrium, many people shocked to see him and looking so frail. They accompanied Naveen to the bus stop where he said his final farewells. He told Ethan that he had not failed him and told Casey to persist with him, he has never seen Ethan so happy and he did not want to see Ethan get in the way of his own happiness. A bus pulled up and it was the one Naveen needed. They walked back towards the hospital. They stopped and he hugged her before kissing her, gently but deep. Casey was taken aback by such an overt display of affection so close to the hospital, especially given the rumours about her and Ethan. He ends the kiss and they enter the hospital. They are greeted by Harper who asked if it was true that Naveen was here.

“He was but now he has gone,” whilst ripping off his badge, “ and so am I. I quit.” He threw the badge at Harper and stormed away, Casey followed, he looked at her torn, “I am not the doctor you thought I was, what good am I if I can not save the people I give a damn about.” He said clearly emotional. Casey was dumbstruck but he had left before she could get a word out. She then proceeded with her day.

Casey was troubled for the rest of the day and Ethan eventually called her apologising for his conduct. He needed a few days to get his bearings and would be in touch when he was ready. Casey understood and bid him good night.

The next day came, the vibe in the hospital was weird with no Ethan Ramsey yelling at people and also no clue as to what was happening with the competition. Casey also had a very frustrating case that she was working with Aurora. They had ruled out all the external sources and they were baffled. Then Casey had a thought, what if it was something already there, especially since the patient had been on antibiotics. They ran a test and found that the antibiotics had damaged some of the good bacteria and it had turned toxic. There was not much in the way of treatment but to ride it out and a course of probiotics. Aurora was impressed, she congratulated Casey on the solve. She thanked Aurora and also thanked her for not ratting her out to her aunt. Casey made her way to the locker room. The person she was expecting to soo was there.

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

“Of course it was, you killed someone, willingly.”

“She knew the risks, she was willing to take them, even if she had a one in one thousand chance of survival.”

“What, no coercion? You expect me to believe that?”

“Believe what you will but many of the staff who knew her well would agree. She resented being stuck in the hospital.”

“But she was alive, you have deprived a family of their mother.”

“There has to be more to this Landry?”

“Yeah there is, despite everything you are still on top, has spreading your legs for Ethan Ramsey being that advantageous to you?”

Just then Jackie and Sienna walk in, shocked at what they heard.

“There was no advantage in the competition.”

“But you are not denying you have been fucking him.”

“Ok, what the hell is going on?” Asks Jackie.

“It was Landry that ratted me out to the family.”

“Landry, no!” Exclaims Sienna.

Landry was shocked. She knew the group was on board with the heist and the study session but fucking the head of the team they were all competing to be on, where was the line?

“So you are on the side of his harlot?”

“Casey is no Harlot, as I said to you in that study session, Casey cares about her patients, relies on more than just a test result, that is why she is top.”

“But she had files go missing, wrong medications, bad mouthed the nurses…”

“That was you? You son of a…”

“How was not fucking Ramsey being an advantage to you. Despite all of those mistakes you were still on top.”

Just then Aurora walks in.

“If anyone had an unfair advantage it was me, just because of who my aunt is. I knew anyone who could overcome that deserved to be there.”

“No she does not!” Exclaims Landry, “Nepotism and a voracious sexual appetite are what gets you ahead in this competition. How the fuck is that fair?”

“I was working with Casey, when she was not on her game and she still solved a complex case, yes she does, I have heard of some of your failings Dr Olsen, instead of blaming others, why don’t you look at yourself more closely.”

Landry was dumbfounded. Sure he had some things go wrong but it was not his fault surely. What he did know is that he was on the outer permanently.

“I will find somewhere else to stay.” He said before scurrying off. He ran past Elijah who then entered the room. Jackie filled him in on what had just happened. Elijah was shocked. Just then they all received a page. An all hands on deck emergency. The fallout from that confrontation had to wait.

——

Authors note: well she got a little long but I wanted the showdown to be in this chapter and the lead in. Landry is a rat in any universe but you can see some of the digressions from canon, especially with Aurora, I can see her being happy she was not on top as she always thought she was only there because of her aunt and let’s face it, we all know Naveen knew something was up with Ethan and Casey.

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