#personally I’d have taken that breakfast and shoved it into mc’s lap

[livelaughlovecassie]

Somebody give Cassian a peace prize of some sort they had the patience of a saint

[commander-rahrah]

Residency (An Open Heart Fanfic): PART FOUR

Pairing: MC (Jordynne Holland) X Ethan Ramsey X Bryce Lahela; MC X Bryce; MC X Ethan

Masterlist: Click Here

Chapter Rating: T (Swearing, Kissing)

Word Count: 4500+

Description: Jordynne moves out of her Harry Potter room and into the apartment with the other medical interns. She gets a glimpse into Ethan’s world when she learns of his past relationship and meets one of his friends.

Disclaimer: Characters, storyline, and parts of the dialogue are taken from Pixelberry’s Choices. They fully own the characters, dialogue, backgrounds, etc. MC Jordynne’s background is my own creation, based loosely off of MC in-game’s personality and provided with more details.

Author’s Note: This chapter is establishing some history for my MC Jordynne Holland. I love the PB doesn’t get too specific with your MC for Open Heart. I also, got super nerdy and made a fake “pictogram” post for her, because it gets brought up in the chapter. I’m just a little extra. This chapter is leading up to one of my favorite (although devastating chapters) scenes in OH so far. As always, if you wish to be tagged in future updates you can reply or DM me! Thank you so much to everyone for the likes, reblogs and replies <3 

Taglist: @drakewalkerfantasy @owleyes374 @professorortegasstudent @mindlessdreaminxo @mayar-mahdy

Previous Updates: Part One, Part Two, Part Three

PART FOUR

Looking at the frigid, concrete storage closet she used to call a room Jordynne couldn’t help but smile. Pulling out her phone, she quickly snapped a picture before shoving it in the back pocket of her jeans. Sienna was sitting on a metal suitcase, waiting patiently as she finished up. “All good to go?” She asked excitedly, jumping off and grabbing the handle.

“Hell. Yes.” Jordynne exclaimed, grabbing onto a cardboard box and pushing it onto her hip. “You guys okay with that?”

Landry gave her a thumbs up from the top of the stairs, where he was balancing the top of the mattress. “Totally!”

She looked to Bryce, standing at the bottom of the stairs, holding the majority of the weight, “I’m pretty sure you’re stronger than Landry.” He whispered to her.

“Pretty sure? Don’t make me kick your ass Lahela.” She flashed him a smile.

“Okay. You definitely are stronger than him. I feel like he was just spotting me when we moved your bed frame.”

Everyone started maneuvering their way up the stairs, using the backdoor to go out onto the driveway where Jackie was waiting with the moving van.

“Thank god I was only renting here on a month by month basis,” Jordynne said, sliding her little box into the back of the truck. She looked back at the house, scrunching her nose up at it.

Landry smacked the side of the truck once her mattress was inside safely. “Okay, all set!” He said, rushing back over to jump in the passenger seat.

Sienna jumped to grab the cord to close the back, before rushing off to her little Kia parked out front. “Come on Jordynne!!” She squealed with excitement.

She lingered for a moment, finding Bryce leaning up against the side of the truck. “Thank you,” She wandered up to him, ”I owe you big time.”

“You owe me, hey?” A devilish grin crossed his face, and he quickly gripped her hands pulling her into him, “I think you still owe me from the last favor I helped you with.”

A smile flashed across Jordynne’s face as she remembered Bryce sneaking her into the observatory of the OR to watch Banerji and Ramsey. “I’ll add it to my tab?” She asked cheekily, pressing her lips softly to his.

Bryce’s lips hungrily pulled her in for more, his teeth biting her lip a little. The beeping alarm of his Apple Watch reminded them of the time. He pulled away reluctantly, “I gotta getting going if I’m gonna get it to the hospital on time.”

“And I,” she glanced at Jackie who was watching the pair of them through the side mirror, a furrow in her brow, “Have some new roommates who have been patiently waiting for me.”

Walking with him down the driveway, they waved Jackie down so she could reverse out. Sienna started her car, rolling down the window. “Thanks for the help Lahela! You’ll definitely be invited to the house warming now!” Her tiny voice called out.

“House party hey? I’ll be there.” He grabbed onto Jordynne’s arm in a silent goodbye, “Make sure you dibs the best room Holland!” He called after her as he started jogging down the street, towards the hospital.

Jordynne ducked her head inside Sienna’s little car, before buckling up. Once she was ready to go, she found her friend smiling at her. “What?” She asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

“Come on, Roomie. You gonna tell me what’s up with you two?”

“Who two?” She asked in confusion, “Me and Bryce?” She asked, realization dawning on her. “Nothing!”

“Hmmm... Nothing seems like a really good kisser to me.” Sienna smiled at her, her hand playing with air as it hung out of the car window.

Jordynne flushed, “I mean,” She let out a breathy laugh. “Okay, yeah he is. But that’s all it’s been. It’s Bryce you know.”

Sienna scowled at her, her eyebrows furrowed — signaling she did not know.

“Carefree, go with the flow, can flirt with anything with a heartbeat Bryce.” She chewed her lip, “Whatever this is, it won’t be serious. We are two full-time doctors anyways — who has the time for a full-blown relationship between 14-hour shifts and overtime.”

“Me!” Sienna exclaimed, “Wayne and I make the time.”

Jordynne noticed her fingers twitch on the steering wheel slightly as she spoke. She didn’t quite believe her. “Yeah, well…,” She looked out the passenger window, avoiding eye contact, “I don’t. And after Brooks, I’m not sure I’d want to anyways.”

“Brooks?” She questioned, glancing over at her friend as they waited to turn.

Jordynne wracked her head against the window lightly, “My ex in Oregon.”

“Oh. Newly ex-boyfriend?”

Jordynne gulped, “He broke up with me a couple days after I got my acceptance for residency at Edenbrook.”

“What?!” Sienna shouted, her little voice projecting through the car. “Why?”

She turned her face away from hers, looking out at the window at the Boston skyline. “He said he didn’t want to compete — for my attention in a new city with a new job and new friends. But things had started getting rocky before my acceptance — I was in my final year of med school. I spent all my time studying, and in labs, and working. He barely got my attention living on the same campus, never mind if I was living on the other side of the country.”  

“How long did you guys date for?”

She finally let herself look at Sienna, pushing back tears, “Five years.”  

Her eyes widened, “He threw away five years because of long distance?”

“No. He threw away five years because he knew I would rather be a damn good doctor than just someone’s girlfriend.” Wiping the few tears that broken through, she ground her teeth together in a moment of resolve.

“Wow. I’m really sorry Jordynne.” Sienna left one hand on the steering wheel, the other one grabbing onto her friend’s hand. “You are a damn good doctor. One of the best I know actually.”

She mumbled an embarrassed thanks before the pair sat in silence for a bit. They pulled in behind the moving van in front of their apartment building — Landry, Jackie, and Elijah were already on the sidewalk unloading.

“Hey roomies!” Elijah shouted enthusiastically, rolling over to them with a couple boxes balancing on his lap. “Jordynne, we need a new nickname for you! You don’t live in the cupboard under the stairs anymore!”

“Chosen One no more.” Landry laughed, grabbing a nightstand from the truck. “What do we call you now?”

Jordynne furrowed her brows, “My name?”

Jackie flashed her a devilish grin, “Nice try Holland. We’ll come up with something.”

A laugh escaped Jordynne’s pink lips as she looked at the time on her phone, “If we hurry, we can get the TV set up then we won’t miss the game.”

Everyone but Elijah looked up to her in confusion, “The game?”

Elijah’s brown eyes went wide. “You like baseball?!”

Jordynne scoffed, “I’m a Holland. I love baseball.”

He grinned at her, “Oh my god. Yes!!! No one but my dad will watch games with me. Please tell me you’re a Cubs fan?”

She smirked, crossing her arms over her chest, “Try the Dodgers.”

His smile only grew bigger, “I can change that.”

Jordynne barked out a laugh, “My brother has been trying to get me to be a Giants fan for like 15 years. It’s not going to happen.” But the pair bumped fists anyway.

“How about you guys multitask — baseball talk and bringing our boxes up to the apartment at the same time?” Jackie asked, her voice strained as she picked up a heavy plastic container marked ‘textbooks’.

Straining her neck, Jordynne looked up at the massive apartment building in front of them  — a big smile spreading across her face. No more concrete closet bedroom, no more guilt-tripping boyfriends. Just Jordynne in her new city, with her new job and her new friends.

______________________________________________

Jordynne scrolled through the replies on her pictogram photo, smiling as her friends and family congratulated her on her first apartment. A giant smile spreading across her face as she read them.

kenziexoxo: It looks so massive compared to your old dorm room 😂 Also, I spy that green dress Jordy, that is totally mine! Congrats babe 💖

j.holland: Proud of you Smartie. You can toss that Dodgers hat out though 🙄

caaaaaarter: Can’t wait to stay in Boston for FREE now when I visit. That room is big enough for me to crash, right?

Her blonde hair sprawled as she laid down on her new bedspread. All of the roommates had gone to USKEA the day before — everyone chipped in on the yellow sectional and dining room table that could actually fit all five of them and guests on it. Jordynne had picked up some extra stuff too — curtains, plants, a record player — determined to make Boston her new home.

It wasn’t really hard calling Boston her new home. She missed her family and friends for sure, but her new roommates were beyond amazing. Sienna was putting on breakfast spreads almost every day and gave the best advice; Elijah knew baseball inside and out and was always smiling; Landry was the best study buddy and definitely the mom of the group; and Jackie was always making Jordynne laugh, even if she didn’t mean to.

Glancing down at her watch, she realized they had better start heading to the hospital. Smoothing down her blouse, she headed into the living room. “Hey guys, you ready to head out?”  

Sleepy groans greeted her in reply, all of them shuffling to their feet — grabbing messenger bags, travel mugs, and headphones. Sienna forced blueberry scones into everyone’s hands as they went through the front door. They had started this routine together in the morning — their shift rotation was still the same for now, so they would all take the subway together. Jordynne sat quietly next to Jackie — both of them had their headphones in, not talking until they started walking to the hospital.

Sipping the final drags of her coffee, Jordynne stuffed the empty travel mug next to her messenger bag in her locker. She put on her white coat, folding up the sleeves a bit before giving everyone a wave.

Walking past the receptionist desk, she recalled the previous night — hiding behind it as she watched Dr. Banerji and Dr. Ramsey arguing. She looked to the hole that Ramsey had punched into a wall in his anger, to find that it was already being patched up by one of the construction workers from the new wing.

Jordynne still couldn’t believe that Dr. Banerji had retired — it seemed so out of the blue. Was that really why Ramsey punched the wall in anger? She knew he was his mentor, but it seemed a little extreme. She had never seen anybody that angry before in her entire life — it had kind of scared her.

Grabbing onto her patient’s chart, she started reading over the notes from the night shift as she walked down the hallway. Jordynne headed into the elevator, clicking on floor five without evening looking up. Not only were the five roommates getting into a morning routine at the apartment, but they were also really starting to feel comfortable in Edenbrook too.

Heading towards her patient’s room, Jordynne’s feet slowed down as she heard Dr. Ramsey’s voice from a nearby room. “This is preposterous, Harper! They’re not ready!”

She walked by the room slowly, glancing through the slats of the blinds in the window. Chief Emery was in the room with him. They were standing close together — Ramsey was fuming, but Emery seemed calm, a small smile spreading across her face.

“Oh, Ethan…” Chief Emery said his voice gently, reaching up and putting her hand softly on his cheek. The tactic worked, because the next words out of his mouth were much quieter — so quiet Jordynne couldn’t hear them.  

Jordynne’s mouth opened in shock, “Wait, what? Are they a thing?” Her eyebrows raised on her forehead in surprise, before she started to trip on her feet. Gotta get outta here. She tore away in the opposite direction without looking back at the room.

As she turned the corner, two familiar people brought a smile to her face. “Kyra!” Jordynne lifted her hands in surprise, placing one of them onto the patient’s forearm.

“Good to see you, Doc!” Kyra beamed up at her.

Bryce was at the top of her bed, and he wheeled her to a stop. He grinned at Jordynne. The pair met each other’s stares before she looked back down at the patient. “I haven’t seen you since the surgical interns stole you away.”

Bryce scoffed playfully, “You say ‘stole’. I say ‘rightfully took a surgical case’.”

The patient’s brown eyes flickered between the two of them, “Hang on, two hot doctors fighting over me? Did this cancer get me, because this feels like a ‘died and gone to heaven’ thing…”

She blushed at the comment but ignored it. “You have a very morbid sense of humor, Kyra. So your surgery is soon?”

Glancing up at the clock on the wall, Bryce answered, “It’s right now. A lobectomy, assisted by yours truly.”

She looked at Bryce startled, “What? Kyra! You’re having a lobe of your lung removed today?”

Kyra shrugged casually, “I know, right? It happened kind of fast after the CT results came back. But if the last thing I see before I die is your face, well… There are worse ways to go.”

Jordynne grabbed onto the patient’s arm again, “You’re strong, Kyra. I know you can survive this.”

She smiled at her, “I guess it’ll be harder to die knowing I have a friend cheering me on.”

Bryce intervened, “Kyra, what did we say about all the death talk?”

She grimaced, “Sorry, boss. I’ll start planning for retirement.” She gave him a mock salute.

A chuckle escaped his lips, “Good. Sorry Dr. Holland, but I have to get Ms. Santana here to the OR.”

He went to start to wheel her away, but Jordynne stopped him by grabbing onto his wrist “Bryce, just one more thing…” She pulled him over to the corner with her — out of the patient’s earshot. “Take care of her for me.”

He smirked at her, “She couldn’t be in better hands.” He grabbed onto Jordynne’s fingers, “Seriously, my hands are incredible.”

But Jordynne didn’t let his usually contagious smile take on her face, she looked up at him — her eyes serious. “I mean it, Bryce.”

He dropped his megawatt smile, moving his hand up to her shoulder. “I’m only assisting, but Dr. Zimmerman is an amazing surgeon. Kyra will be golden. We’ll bring her back safe.” He massaged his fingers into her neck slyly, causing her to relax a bit.

She let a small smile form on her lips,” Thanks, Bryce. Really.”

Returning the smile, he turned on his heel and headed back to Kyra. She waved goodbye to Jordynne as they entered the elevator.

An angry voice caused Jordynne to whip around. “Holland! What are you standing around for? Get down to the ER and see if they need any patients admitted!”

“Yes, Dr. Mirani!” She gulped, running towards the ER doors.

______________________________________________

Closing his office door shut, Ethan pulled out his keys to lock it just as he heard the familiar shuffle of slippers. “Hello Mrs. Martinez.”

She wheeled her IV stand over to him, “Oh, Dr. Ramsey. Where has my handsome doctor been?! I’ve haven’t seen you in a couple days darling.” He didn’t mind her pet names — she had one for everyone.

“I’ve just been busy. But I’m never too busy for you.” Holding out his arm for her, she grabbed on and they continued on with her laps.

She beamed up at the man before she continued speaking. “So you’ve been busy. Busy getting into trouble I assume?”

He smiled at her, “Me? Never, Mrs. Martinez.”

She barked out a laugh. “Oh, you can’t look at me with that handsome devil face of yours and tell me you never got into trouble.”

“Okay, there was one time. I was nine years old and I decided to make my parents pancakes in bed like they would do for me on my birthdays. Of course, it was a complete disaster — I split an entire bag of flour all over myself, tracked it all through the house in a panic trying to clean it up… “ Ethan’s voice trailed off as he noticed Dr. Holland get off the elevator, stopping at the nurses' station. He shook his head, continuing to speak, “Finally, my parents come downstairs, I am covered in flour, there are little white footprints all over the floor, and there isn’t a single pancake made.”

“So, what did you do?”

Ethan smiled down at the old woman, revealing his row of white teeth. “I blamed it on our dog, of course! Little tiny human footprints around the whole house and I blamed poor Buddy.”

Another wheezy laughed escaped her, “You wicked thing!” She swatted at his arm playfully, “Oh, but I’m sure you were a lovely boy.”

“More like a loveable scoundrel. I got away with everything.” He said with a laugh.

“Even that one?!” She said in disbelief.

“Ha, even that one. I guess they saw the good intentions of it.”  Noticing Dr. Holland still lingering at the nurses' station her eyes on them, he stopped in his tracks. “Sorry Mrs. Martinez, I’ve got to get going.” He made sure she was sturdy with her IV stand before he started heading towards Jordynne.

“Why are you gawping like a fish that’s jumped out of its bowl?”

Her blonde ponytail whipped around as she turned to face him, her eyes going wide. “Nothing! It just looked like you were having fun.” She shrugged, looking back at her clipboard.

He set his mouth into a hard line, “I care for the wellbeing of the people who’ve entrusted their care to me, Rookie. That’s all.”

She licked her pink lips, “Righhhhhht. Okay, I gotta go. Dolores Hudson isn’t going to examine herself…”

Ethan blinked at her, “Did you just say, Dolores Hudson?”

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “Yes?”

What was she doing here? What had happened now? Ethan felt his mind starting to race, “I’m coming with you.”

Following Holland into the room, Ethan saw his old friend laying in the bed, a nose tube fed up through her nostril. A blue blanket was wrapped around her swollen stomach — God, how long had it been? She was so far along now.

“Hi Dolores, I’m…” But Dr. Holland was cut off by the patient.

“Ethan!” A bright smile spread across the woman’s face, tubes tugged on her arms as she propped herself up at the sight of him.

He returned her smile, shaking his head slightly, “Dolores! What have you gotten yourself into this time?”

Her shoulders shrugged, “There was a fire at my office. I was upstairs filing away some papers. The elevator shut down, and I couldn’t get down the stairs.” She grabbed onto her stomach, twisting her mouth.

Reaching over to grab her shoulder, he reassured her, “I’ll call your sisters so they can fly in from Minneapolis in the morning. I’m so glad you’re safe.”

Dolores patted his hand, “I’m glad you have a Superman on payroll. The EMT who carried me out was a total hunk.” She winked at Jordynne, who’s face went a little flush at the mention of the EMT.

Holland cleared her throat a little, trying to resume the conversation. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I’d like to listen to Dolores’ chest.” She unwrapped the stethoscope from around her neck.  

Ethan stepped up, introducing the two. “Dolores, this is Dr. Holland. Dolores was my very first patient when I was an intern.”

Jordynne looked taken aback, “Really? Wow!” She wrapped her hands around the railing of the bed, joining the conversation, “Dolores, was he always so handsome?”

Ramsey shook his head, unsure of what he just heard, “Excuse me?”

Dolores giggled, “He was cute, but to be honest, I think he’s aged like a fine wine.”

Ethan’s face went beet red, “Dr. Holland, the examination if you don’t mind?”

He watched as Jordynne bite her pink lip, trying to suppress a laugh. She warmed up her stethoscope with her palm, before placing it on Dolores' chest. He studied her, watching as she listened.

“Okay, a deep breath for me, Dolores.” She listened, staring up into Dr. Ramsey’s eyes as she waited. She gave him a quick shake of her head. “And if you don’t mind me asking, what brought you in back then?”

Dolores smiled, recalling the memory, “Burst appendix. I was totally freaked out, but Ethan calmed me down. Even kept in touch a bit over the years.”

Ramsey flashed a sheepish smile — he felt like his face was going to overheat from embarrassment.

“That’s really sweet. I got my first patient’s contact info, too! You’re making me want to email her and check in!” Jordynne exclaimed.

Looking over to Ramsey, Dolores gave him a smile. “You should! It meant a lot to me.”

Jordynne put her stethoscope back around her neck, putting her hands on her hips. “I’m surprised. It doesn’t seem like you to care about a patient once they’ve walked out the door.”

He rolled his blue eyes, “I was young. On hard days, knowing they were out there living life to the fullest… it kept me going.”

Jordynne stared at him curiously, before turning serious again. “Her breathing is short, as you’d expect. I think we should get her a chest X-ray.”

Grabbing onto her chart at the end of the bed, Ethan read it carefully. That’s not right. He thought to himself, a frown spreading across his face.

Holland moved to his side, noticing his expression. She spoke to him in a low voice, moving her head near his so she could read the chart, “What’s wrong?”

“Her elevated BP. Should be low after smoke inhalation. Let’s take a urine sample too.” He licked his lips, trying to not get worried.

Dolores speaking again, caused them both to snap back to reality — pulling their heads away from each quickly. “Excuse me, Dr. Holland? I remember having my purse on me when the hunk carried me out. Did they bring it in?”

Holland quickly found the purse and gave it to Dolores. But a furrow line developed between her eyebrows as she searched through it. “It’s not here! I must have dropped it outside the office…” Her voice turned sad, her eyes welling up with tears, “It sounds stupid, but I saw this adorable stuffed frog on my lunch break and had to buy it for my little tadpole.” She wrapped her hands around her pregnant belly, “Both of my parents are gone, and Ethan you know, the father’s not in the picture. I just want everything to be perfect for him.”

Ethan gulped guiltily. He did know all those things — he hadn’t spoken to her in so long. She was going through all of this alone. “God, I’m a terrible friend”. He thought.

Jordynne spoke up before he could, “It doesn’t sound stupid, Dolores. In fact, it sounds like you’re going to be a great mom.”

A small smile spread across her face, as she remained stroking her belly. “Thank you. I just… I really wish I hadn’t lost that little frog.”

Holland’s green eyes met Ethan’s blue ones — twinkling at him. A flash of confusion went over his face as he stared at her. What was she plotting?

“I have an idea! Ethan and I will go find it!” Holland blurted excitedly.

Ethan’s eyebrows raised up in surprise at Jordynne’s suggestion. Dolores sat up straighter in the bed, “Really, Ethan? You’d do that for me?”

“Er,” Ethan hesitated, feeling unsure. Was wandering around with Jordynne alone, in the middle of the night with rooms full of patients really the best idea? “Well,” He looked between the two women — both of their eyes pleading with him. “Of course, but Dr. Holland, let’s get that urine sample off to the lab first. I’ll give you ten minutes, then I’ll meet you in the lot.”

Dolores burst out laughing, “I’m twenty-six weeks pregnant. Not gonna take ten minutes to get me to pee!” Dr. Holland strode over to Dolores, helping her sit up.

“I’ll meet you down there, Rookie.” Ethan gave Holland a curt nod, before turning on his heel — heading towards his office.

Unlocking the door, he found his car keys sitting on top of his wooden desk. He jingled them nervously, before putting them in his pants’ pocket. He hung up his white coat, exchanging it for his black rain jacket instead. So, first they share a couple drinks at Donahue’s and now they were driving around at night together for a patient? Ethan shook his head at himself as he walked down the hallway, headed to the elevator. “Whatever happened to work/life balance,” He thought to himself.

Heading outside into the staff parking lot, he clicked his key fob to unlock the door to his sleek, black Mercedes-Benz. Sliding into the leather seat, he drummed on the steering wheel nervously — keeping his eye out for Dr. Holland. When he saw her exit through the door, he made the engine hum to life and pulled the car in front of the sidewalk for her to get in.

“Thanks,” She sayssaid, breathless as she got into the car. She had changed out of her lab coat as well, putting on a thick, grey cardigan with a hood. “Whoa. Great car.” She said as she looked around, pulling her seatbelt over her chest.

Ethan scoffed, “What did you expect, a rusted-out jalopy?”

She rolled her green eyes at him, settling into the leather seat. She played around with her hair, taking pieces of it that had been tucked into her cardigan and flicking it out. Again, her scent wafted over Ethan — jasmine, vanilla, orange blossoms. Why does she keep having to do that? Ethan thought, internalizing the pleasant sound that almost escaped his mouth.

Trying to distract himself, Ethan turned on the radio — a concerto coming on through the speakers. God, of course, this plays first. She’s going to think I’m some pompous asshole who only drinks scotch, drives a Mercedes...  

But before he could finish his thought, Jordynne started humming along to it absent-mindedly — staring out at the passing buildings and lights in downtown Boston. Who is this woman?! He thought to himself, swallowing hard. If she just doesn’t speak, and just keeps staring out the window this will be fine.

Dread filled him as he heard her speak up, “So, what’s up with you and Dr. Emery?” His knuckles turned white on the steering wheel, his teeth grinding together. That was the last thing he had expected her to bring up.

Part Five