Warnings: mentions of addiction, language, eludes to physical violence, references to masturbation
Catergory: Angst
Rating: Mature
Word count: 2335
Summary: It is the annual softball game between Mass Kenmore and it is an evening full of surprises.
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Pixelberry
Authors note: In all my realities of Open Heart, I have had the softball game as a turning point for not just the relationship between MC and Ethan but also for Tobias. Up until this point all he knows is what June has told him and any speculation he hears on the grapevine but this is the first time he sees them together in a more social setting and he starts making his own mind up coupled with what he remembers him being like. So enjoy the softball game in this AU and enjoy the Dr Carrick perspective.
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There was excitement in the air. Not only was he the lead of the study in relation to Stephanie Hill but it was one of his favourite days of the year. The annual softball game between Mass Kenmore and Edenbrook. In the last decade that he has played, all the games had been close and the atmosphere enjoyable. He was, as always, looking forward to it but this year he seemed to be more so than normal. He had gotten his hand on the team list for Edenbrook. There was some names he did not recognize but there was one that caught his eye straight away. Dr Casey Valentine. He knew about her mainly from June and Aurora Emery, not to mention the inter hospital gossip but he was intrigued to lay eyes on her and start forming his own opinions.
It was game time and the pre game atmosphere was buzzing. He was spying the Edenbrook side from the dugout. Some of the doctors were familiar to him and he presumed the one’s he did not recognize were the names he did not recognize. Then he had to do a double take. Ethan Ramsey. He was shocked to see him. He had not seen him in a non professional capacity in years and it was a shock but then his eyes looked beside Ethan, to a woman that he presumed to be Dr Valentine. They both seemed at ease in each other's company, Ethan even smiled at something she said. He had not seen an at ease and jovial Ethan since college and he had wondered if that part of him existed, which it did.
Meanwhile at the Edenbrook dugout, the team was getting ready. Ethan had never participated in the game, he did not care for softball as a sport but when the team was suddenly short, he found it difficult to say No to Casey. It had been a few weeks since he and Casey agreed to being friends again and things seemed to be well on the surface but mixed feelings were close to the surface, what he felt for Casey and the hurt he felt at the events when he returned, that and the revelation after seeing Louise, well he was surprised that he was keeping it together. Casey went off with her friends and he sat down. Naveen came up, surprised to see Ethan there but he was also happy to see him, not only at the game but appearing to be in a better space than a few weeks ago. Ethan rolled his eyes at the knowing look from Naveen. Ethan also thanked him for the lists of counselors that he provided. He said he has chosen one affiliated not with Edenbrook but he felt that Dr Knowles was a good fit for him for which Naveen also agreed.
The game was tight, Tobias liked it when it was close. He had figured out who Dr Green was and he was impressed with the tactical knowledge that he appeared to be providing, not to mention some serious skill as catcher. At the halfway point there was a break. He went to a drinks cooler and noticed that Dr Valentine was there and also alone. He went up.
“So you must be the Dr Valentine I keep hearing about?”
Casey looks up.
“And you are…” questions Casey
“Dr Tobias Carrick”
“So you are the one who poached my patient?”
“You had a lot of competition, surely finding a way to prevent what that family had to go through is important?”
“What? So you were not stoking the fires of competition then?”
Tobias smirked, surprised that this woman knew that there was history with him and Ethan.
Ethan spied the interaction and made his way over.
“Really Tobias, here I was thinking that nothing had changed since Medical school. “ asserted Ethan. Tobias noted the protective posture. He had never seen that from Ethan before. He did start to wonder how much truth was in the gossip. “Surely he would not be this protective if he only slept with Casey to get her on the team.” He thought to himself.
“What scared I am going to poach your star pupil as well?”
Ethan's eyes flashed with anger, both Casey and Tobias saw it.
“Well it would not be the first time you took something of mine.” Said Ethan through gritted teeth.
Just then Dr Mendoza came along. Tobias rolled his eyes, he knew he was here to shit stir but he seemed to be leering in the direction of Dr Valentine.
“Don’t go throwing threats you can’t follow through on!” Exclaims Terrance, “not all of us are big pharma reps you can punch!”
“Please calm down!” Yells Casey. Glaring at Tobias. “Your overall intention is disgusting and you better be looking after Stephanie.”
Tobias was taken aback. Sure he made a play and so had many others, he had happened to win out, and yeah he had to admit it gave him an ego boost at beating Ethan but it was not the sole factor.
“Of course we are.” Said Tobias. “Believe it or not when I heard about Stephanie it was a good study that would benefit so many others and hopefully prevent what did happen.”
“Yeah well I am not convinced” said Casey before turning and making her way back to the Edenbrook side. What happened next surprised Tobias. He was expecting to get into another verbal stoush which had all the potential to get physical with Ethan but instead he followed after Casey. He could see her calm down when he caught up to her and say something. He was surprised. He did wonder if there was more than friendship there. The game resumed but the atmosphere had changed. It was still close but seemed much more competitive. It was the final ball of the final inning and the bases were loaded. Kenmore was three runs ahead and Edenbrook had two outs. He was quietly confident that once again Kenmore would prevail. Casey came up to the plate. He pitched the ball. He noted the determined look before he pitched and he smashed her over left field. Those who were on the bases made it home. Tobias stood and watched as Casey made her way around the bases, duly impressed. It was going to be close, the ball was making its way to the catcher, he had it. He saw her start to slide, it was like a crash happening in slow motion. She collided with their catcher, she was declared safe but that was not the end. He could see Terrance infuriated that she made it and he pulled Casey off the catcher. Then he witnessed something he thought he would never see again, Ethan Ramsey riled up. He could not hear what he said but he could see he was furious at Terrance for touching Casey. He went in to see if he could break it up but a brawl had erupted by the time he arrived. It did not last long and the referee was appalled. The brawl broke and he noted that Casey was limping. She made her way to Ethan, who looked very concerned. Tobias made his way to the dug out to get ready to go. He glanced over at the Edenbrook side, he saw Ethan bandaging up her ankle. At that moment he did not know what their current deal was but he knew that any emotion that Ethan had towards Casey was genuine. He was surprised but he was also deep down happy. Happy that it appeared possible that he could not get in his own way of his happiness.
After bandaging her ankle, Ethan asked Casey if she would come back to his place for dinner. Casey was shocked to hear the request but she accepted. She knew if it got too late there was a guest bedroom. They went back to the hospital to get changed. Casey did question the choice of top, it was more of a party top but when she picked it, she was not planning on coming to Ethan’s after the game. She caught his eyes wandering briefly before turning away. She should have been appalled but she liked it. They went to his apartment and they went into the kitchen and started making Georgian stuffed chicken. They laughed and talked and it made Ethan yearn for a more simpler time. Casey then asked why he really asked her here. Ethan took a breath.
“Do you remember a few weeks ago when you tracked me to Derry’s with my dad?”
Casey nodded.
“Well he told me that my mother, who had walked out on us, had been in touch with him, wanting to contact me.”
He paused to allow Casey to ask any questions but none were forthcoming.
“I realized that after the Stevenson case that not confronting your past can ruin your future, and I have let my fears from that day ruin too much so I decided to confront her.”
“Did she say why she left?” Asked Casey quietly.
“She resented her life and even though she loved us. She, instead of facing her feelings, ran away. She is an addict and well it was confronting especially when I realized that I was not much better than she is.” Said Ethan, his voice full of emotion.
“Did you talk to your dad again?”
Ethan shakes his head. “How do I tell him that the woman whom I presume he still loves is an addict? Tell me Casey? How do I tell my dad that I am no better than her?”
Casey wanted to know why Ethan thought that he was no better than her but there was a knock at the door. Ethan goes to answer it and he was surprised to see Alan there. Ethan invites him in.
“I was not aware that you were in Boston.” Stated Ethan.
“Well son, I had not heard from you and I know you are busy but I was worried…” Alan then spots Casey, “but it appears I am interrupting.”
“Of course not Alan, there is plenty of food.” Said Casey. Casey mouths to Ethan, talk to him which Alan sees. Alan was about to say something when Ethan blurts out.
“I went and saw Louise.”
Alan was shocked. He did as he told Louise and would pass on her details but if he was honest, he did not expect Ethan to reach out.
Ethan moves to the living room and gestures for Alan to join him.
“I am surprised you reached out.”
“So am I,” said Ethan, “we had just wrapped a case up at work and it made me realize how the past can come back to haunt you so I reached out.”
Just then Ethan spotted Casey trying leave quietly.
“Excuse me dad, I will just see Casey out.”
Deep down Ethan was frustrated, yes he had told Casey about his mum but he did not get everything out. Also as much as he was happy to be back in a friendlier place, he could not deny he still wanted more. As they reached the lobby Casey stated she had ordered an Uber whilst still in the apartment. She gave Ethan a hug.
“I am sorry to hear about your mum, at least you have some type of closure. I can sense there is more you want to say but you also need to talk to your dad.”
Ethan squeezes her tighter, her vanilla perfume intoxicating.
“There is so much more, not all about my mum either.”
He tilts her head and leans down, he brushes her lips lightly against hers. In that moment there is nothing Casey wants more than to continue the kiss but she pulls away. Ethan is shocked.
“Believe me, I have wanted nothing more than to kiss you but you need to speak to your dad. I’m sorry.”
She receives an alert on her phone. “My Uber is here, good night Ethan.”
He stands and watches her drive away. He is torn, Casey did state she wanted more but he did wonder if there was more to her refusal.
Meanwhile, on the drive home Casey was also a mix of emotion. As much as she still had deep feelings for Ethan she knew they needed to properly address the elephant in the room, the fallout from her abortion. She also knew that their reporting lines would be an issue and she did not want her private business known to June Hirata. But she also wanted to be back at Ethan’s hoping her brains fucked out because she did miss him.
Ethan told his dad about the meeting with Louise. How she told him that she said he was not their first, and how she came to resent her life, the addictions she did tell him about and the addictions he presumed she suffered from now. Alan was shocked, saddened but in a way he too now had closure. Alan asked about him and Casey. He stated they were friends and nothing more. Alan could sense he was not being fully honest but he left it. When Alan left, he messaged Casey to see if she got home safely and to state he still had leftovers if she still wanted some. He went and had a shower, thoughts of what he had hoped to be doing instead overtook his mind and he masturbated in the shower before having a nightcap and going to bed.
Casey replied to his message that she would very much like to have some leftovers and said that she hoped the talk went well with Alan. Her mind wandered to the near kiss and all the feelings that had unleashed. She reached for her top drawer and took out her vibrator. “This will have to do” as she began to pleasure herself to thoughts of what she was still unsure she could have.
——-
Authors note:
There we have it the softball game. With some changes obviously. For those who have endured thank you for reading. Not the end of the angst either but things start looking up after the attack.
August 26, 1948: When actor Gene Kelly came to bat in the film and radio stars’ softball game in Hollywood, it was announced over the loudspeaker that it was his birthday. The game was stopped and Eddie Bracken ran onto the field with a birthday cake and fell right in front of home plate burying his face in the cake.
