Chapter Text
Becca and Ethan sat on the couch in the diagnostics office reminiscing about the past over their Chinese takeout instead of researching for the case they were meant to be reviewing. Their topic of conversation moved to her very first day at Edenbrook, from first impressions to first cases and mistakes. Becca’s legs were folded under her and her body facing Ethan as she shoveled some chow mein into her starved mouth.
Mmm ohmygod this is so good, she thought to herself momentarily taking her away from their conversation as the savory noodles met her taste buds.
Ethan brought her back to their conversation by adding, “And then you tried to kill another patient.”
He looked over to her slightly. Ethan sat on the opposite side of the couch a half seat away from her. He was hunched over the container of chicken, his long legs stretched out past the coffee table. His tie was loose of his neck, the only feeling of comfort he allowed while under the hospital roof.
The glint in his eye told her he was kidding, but the accusation still stung deep to her core.
“Don’t bring up Annie,” she quickly scolded. “I still feel bad about it.” There was a pause while she finished chewing. “Did you save two lives on your first day?”
“No…” Ethan conceded with a chuckle, “I actually kept all my patients alive without any drama.”
“Lucky you,” Becca rolled her eyes playfully. “I’m glad Jackie was there to help. Less so that you humiliated me for a second time that day.”
The office was dark save for the warm lamps by Ethan’s desk and the one nestled between the couch and the chair. The light peering in through the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the free clinic gave them a sense of security. No one would come looking for this this late in the evening, nor would they be privy to the sight of the two comfortable colleagues.
“You learned from it, didn’t you.” It wasn’t a question, they both know she did.
“But if I wasn’t so confident I probably would have given up medicine that day,” She lamented with a frown. “I’m glad you lightened your approach to interns.”
He shifted his large body on the couch to face her. Ethan raised an impish eyebrow, “I didn’t have a choice in the matter.”
Becca chuckled before sliding closer to him so their knees nearly overlapped. “I’m glad my good graces are rubbing off on you.” She placed a quick kiss on his temple. “If it wasn’t for Bryce talking some sense into me who knows what would have happened.”
“That’s because he wanted to get in your pants,” he said with complete malice.
“Hey! You didn’t even know who either of us were back then. He was a shoulder to cry on in the supply closet when you made me feel like shit.” She retorted playfully, noticing how his clear blue eyes immediately darkened at the thought of her with anyone else. “What’s with that face?”
“I don’t think he was professional at all.”
Neither are we,
she thought to herself. If Becca did say those words out loud Ethan was sure to backtrack once again, and she didn’t want them going through another game of chicken between feelings and morals. Third year of residency is only three months away. Becca has been tiptoeing around, trying her best not to scare him off before she makes attending and they can
hopefully
openly be together.
“He was a friend,” she told him. “He’s still my friend.”
Ethan raised his fork, “A friend that wants to date you.”
“Ethan, that was almost two years ago!” she exclaimed. “And anyway your adorable jealousy is misplaced. It should really be directed towards Rafael.”
Without a moment of hesitation he all but shouted, “You and the EMT!?”
Becca would be lying if she said his outburst wasn’t entertaining. As annoying as having to constantly explain her simply platonic relationship with Bryce had become, she’s adoring the way he’s flared up now.
With the slyest of smiles she shrugged, “Yes. I may or may not have a type.”
“Why have you just told me this? I workout with him every morning!” Ethan’s dish was now left abandoned on the coffee table. His loosened tie hung low and his sculpted arms were folded tightly around his chest. Any ounce of previous amusement had been drained from his system. “How long were you together?”
“You also workout with Bryce every morning,” she pointed out the flaw in his weak rationalization. Becca took a second for him to digest that little detail. Unfortunately for her he didn’t register the remark. With a long breath she clarified, “We were never together. We did have a thing for a little while.”
A brief moment of panic flashed through Ethan at her words. Does she consider us to be of the same fate given our undefined relationship status?
Although they weren’t official, Ethan considered him and Becca to be in an exclusive partnership. He made a mental note to follow up with her on this at a later occasion.
“How long was a little while,” he asked warily.
“A few months.” She could see the wheels turning in his head. “We fizzled out after Miami…”
His features visibly relaxed, “Good.”
You’re so cute, she thought as she continued to taunt him with notions of the past.
As Ethan sat before her with the remnants of a scowl on his worn features and his eyes shut to let his shoulders relax, all the memories came flooding back to her - of Miami and the way Ethan let her slowly know him as he truly is, vulnerabilities and all clouded her mind.
She played over every seemingly romantic moment of intern year swiftly in their silence. Briefly her relationship with Raf came to light.
Becca’s eyes widened just a little bit.
“Actually I lied,” she said as she remembered her final encounter with Raf. “We hooked up in the on-call room the day you quit.”
“Explain.” Ethan’s hand flew to pinch the bridge of his nose.
“You left the hospital. You left me . I was so hurt and rejected and full of feelings. We both agreed it was a poor choice of timing.”
“And?”
Becca threw her hands up in honest surrender, “And it was completely above board.”
“You didn’t…” Why couldn’t Ethan think of the goddamn word? He was a doctor. Years of training had taught him countless ways of asking a patient about their sex life, so why was he blanking now? “...Consummate?”
“We didn’t have intercourse, no. Completely above waist pleasure.” Becca tried so hard to bite back the smile breaking through. “That ok with you?”
Ethan’s fingers abandoned their position on his nose and flopped down on the couch. “No.”
“We weren’t together, Ethan.” Becca shook her head. Is this argument really worth it? Why can’t he just let it go... “ You made that choice for us again and again. It doesn’t even matter now. He’s marrying the love of his life and starting a family. It’s all worked out for the best.”
Letting out the breath and all the insecurities he had bottled up over the last few minutes he sighed, “Good.”
Ethan leaned over to the divine woman on his right, snaking his arm around her back to tug her closer. The jolt sent her fumbling right into his chest.
She exhaled with contention as she breathed him in, How does he always smell so good.
He let out the smallest chortle as he leaned in and pecked her nose. Ethan looked Becca over as he held her so securely in his arms. He went back to reminiscing, “You actually did make an impression on me that first day.”
Ethan was looking straight ahead as if the memory was playing out on a stage before him. “It’s a lesser fond memory of our relationship, however still important.” Becca craned her neck to get a better view of him. Ethan Ramsey had an idyllic smirk as he continued, “You ordered me a scotch. Neat.”
Her eyes lit up at the memory. “Oh yeah. You accused me of bribing you.” She pulled away from him just enough to wiggle around and face him head-on. “Is that when you fell for me? Because I knew my way around a bar?”
Ethan wasn't listening, still so transfixed in the memory. “You thanked me for making you better.”
“And you told me never to take the job home.” Her brown eyes followed his to the dark corner of the room. Now they both watched their beginning play out in the days eclipse. “Failed at that one.”
Ethan tore his eyes off the past and to the future sitting next to him. He lifted her onto his lap.
“Subjective.”
He wiggled his eyebrows and shot her a wink.
Becca laughed at his attempt to play coy, “Oh my god, Why do I love you?”
Ethan smiled back just as brightly, “Heaven knows.”