Title: the Choice
Author: SneetchesToo
Rating: PG-13 for most chapters (there are a few curse words); there is one chapter that will be M for Mature but I will indicate it at at the beginning of the chapter
Pairing: Ethan/Leanne; mentions of Noa/Mario later on in the story
Summary: Ethan is faced with a difficult choice and everyone but him seems to know the answer.
Author's Note: This story is based off of prompts from Tumblr. Each chapter is based off of a different spoken line. I will indicate the line at the beginning of each chapter, as well as a short glimpse at what the chapter is about.

**This is in the same universe as On a Mission, etc. this takes place about 7 months later, so about 3 months after Some Secrets ended. Again, I try to make it so that my stories can be read separate from each other, so I try not to link them together too much.

—

Chapter 1: Avoidance
"Why are you avoiding me?" – Ethan's been keeping a secret from Leanne.

Leanne knew something was up the minute Ethan didn't smile at her over coffee one Thursday morning. In fact, the simple fact that he didn't have coffee with her at all was enough to tip her off. She knew he had successfully dropped Ariel off at school, the teen having sent her a text to let her know she had made it okay. But when he didn't show up for their coffee date like they had previously planned she started to worry. Her first call had been to Campbell, asking him if he had called the Colonel in. But he said that he hadn't, and that he wasn't planning on seeing him until the start of his shift that evening. That was her first clue.

Her second clue came when she tried calling him, four times in a 10 minute period, and he didn't answer. She contemplated driving by his apartment to see if he went home, having spent the previous night at her place with Ariel while she finished up a 48 shift. However, she didn't want him to feel like he was being watched, she wasn't one of those women, honestly. But as worried as she was, she decided to just wait it out.

Her third clue came when Ariel called her at 3:00, telling her that Ethan had never shown up at the school like they had discussed. Telling the girl that she would be there immediately she quickly threw on some shoes and got in her car, pulling her phone back out to give the man a call. Voice mail, again. This time, she decided to text him, hoping for a better outcome than her previous attempts.

Is everything okay Ethan? She hit send before pulling out of the driveway and heading towards the school. She wanted to be angry with him, leaving the teen at school on her own was unlike him, but something deep inside her told her that he must have his reasons. She just wish she knew what those reasons were.

Her fourth clue, the one that really concerned her, came when she showed up for her shift the following evening, 48 hours after having last talked to him, to find that he was nowhere to be found. She searched the locker room, the break room, the on-call rooms, and even the roof, all resulting in the same discovery, Ethan Willis wasn't there. She decided to go to Campbell, knowing that it would either work in her favor, or against, to get the ER director involved.

"Where is he?" The words left Campbell's mouth before Leanne could even knock and she straightened herself up immediately, setting her eyes on the man on the other side of the desk.

"I was going to ask you the same question." She crossed her arms in front of her. "I haven't been able to get a hold of him for the past 48 hours."

"He called out sick last night." Campbell stood, moving to lean against his desk on the other side, a gesture Leanne recognized as him trying to make a not-so-calm conversation seem calm.

"Sick? Ethan's been here a year and I've never heard him so much as sneeze." Leanne was getting angry now, if he really was sick, why couldn't he just tell her that? She would've been at his side in an instant. Unless that was exactly the opposite of what he wanted.

"He said he was throwing up." Campbell sighed, dropping his arms to his sides. "He sounded like he had been crying though. You two have a fight or something?"

"No." Leanne felt her shoulders slump, the anger leaving her body, knowing that if Ethan had let even the smallest amount of emotion show while talking to Will that something had to be up. "We were fine Monday night when we were last together." She paused, waiting for the inevitable huff from the man, but she didn't receive one. "He stayed with Ariel while I was working. When we talked Wednesday night everything was fine."

"You haven't heard from him since then?" Will was getting concerned, knowing that the two had become quite inseparable the past 7 months, their show in the middle of Center Stage nearly 3 months ago still being talked about around the water cooler.

"No." She turned her head downward, cupping her hands together in front of her before continuing. "He dropped Ariel off at school yesterday and that's the last either one of us has heard from him." She sighed, fighting back tears that she knew she couldn't show in front of her boss. "He hasn't even returned Ariel's calls. She was pretty upset this morning too." She remembered the look on the teen's face when she had discovered that Ethan wasn't at the breakfast table like normal. "He was supposed to be taking her hiking tomorrow."

Campbell sighed, moving forward to put his hands on the older woman's arms. "I'm sure everything's fine Leanne. Maybe he's just trying to avoid getting you guys sick too." Will wanted to believe that. He wanted to believe that the man wasn't purposefully avoiding his family. Unfortunately, something inside told him differently.

"I'm sure you're right Will." Leanne offered him a smile and straightened up. "Let me know if you hear from him again?"

"Of course." Campbell pulled back, returning the smile as she walked out of his office and back to the busyness of the hospital.

—

Leanne's shift came and went without incidence, a relatively quiet night helping to ease some of the concern on her mind. She bid her goodbyes to the residents and Jesse and headed to Campbell's office, hoping the man had heard from Ethan at some point during the night, her calls and texts still having not been returned.

"I haven't heard from him Leanne." Campbell's voice sounded defeated and she stopped in her tracks. "I left him a message to see if he was coming in tonight, but I never got an answer."

"When was that?" She was starting to fear the worst, and the dread in the pit of her stomach increased.

"Four hours ago." Will checked his watch to make sure he was correct.

Leanne sighed, "I'm going by his apartment. Will you do me a favor?" She hated to ask this, but she knew the director would be leaving soon, having to get home to his own daughter.

"Anything." She expected hesitation, smiling a little when he responded immediately.

"Can you stop by and check on Ariel on your way home? Just for a minute?" She would've asked Jesse, or even Noa, if she had thought about it before they had both left, but she also didn't want to bring any more attention to the situation than necessary.

"Of course." Campbell pulled his phone out and typed something real quick. "I'll pick her up, take her and Emily to get some breakfast." He offered her a smile before continuing. "Maybe help distract her a little?"

"Thank you Will." Leanne offered him a smile. "I'll let her know to get ready."

Will nodded, returning to the file in front of him as Leanne walked away, pulling her phone from her jacket pocket.

After alerting Ariel that Will would be by within the hour and that she should be dressed, she texted Ethan again, hoping that this time she'd get a response.

I don't know what's up with you but I'm coming over to make sure you're okay. She hit send just as she entered the elevator to the parking deck, thankful for the silence the empty car provided her.

Please don't do that. He responded almost immediately and her heart dropped.

Why not? She typed back, praying that the elevator would stay empty all the way to the 5th floor, knowing that she was barely holding back the tears that were threatening to fall.

I'm fine. She huffed, slamming her hand against the wall.

No the fuck you're not. She wasn't one to cuss, finding the use of the explicit words often unnecessary, but she was pissed and she didn't care if he knew it.

Leanne Marie don't you dare come over here. She huffed again, glad that the elevator had finally reached its destination and the doors were open. She raced to her car and got in, typing back a response before backing out of her space.

Nice try. Your use of my middle name just confirmed that my arrival is necessary, if only to kick your ass. She didn't even stop to read his response, just made the quick 10 minute drive to his place in silence.

When she arrived at his apartment building she quickly pulled her car into a space, throwing it in park, and shutting the car off immediately. She got out, checking her phone as she slammed the door behind her. His words stared up at her and she felt her heart break, knowing instantly that something was seriously wrong.

Please just go home Leanne. I can't face you right now. It's just too much. Please. She read his last message again, debating whether or not to turn around and go back, knowing that there was a pleading in his words that she'd never experienced before. Sighing to herself she decided to go ahead and go up to his apartment. She took the stairs two at a time, stopping when she got to his apartment door. She knocked, knowing that even though she had a key, now was probably not the best time to put it to use.

"Go away Leanne!" She heard his voice through the door, the silence around her seeming to echo the sound.

"Not happening." She replied, reaching down to sort his key out of the others. "Either open the door, or I'm unlocking it myself." She waited a few minutes, prepared to unlock the door from her end, when she heard movement inside.

The lock turned and the door opened, Ethan appearing on the other side. The sight of him normally made her heart do somersaults, however, today the sight of him made her heart sink. He was ragged looking, his hair disheveled, eyes dark and blood shot. He had obviously been crying at some point, that much she could tell, and he looked as though he had probably slept in the jeans and white t-shirt that he was wearing. She wanted to reach out and pull him into her arms and kiss away all his worries. But then she remembered why she was here.

"Why are you avoiding me?" She asked, her arms crossing across her chest, her face set in a stern expression.

Ethan didn't reply, just leaned against the door frame and sighed. They stood there for a few minutes, staring each other down across the few feet of space between them. He was the first one to break the silence, stepping back and opening the door fully, gesturing for her to come in. "I have to talk to you about something."

Leanne's heart sank, her gut telling her to turn around and run, that nothing good could come out of this conversation. "Okay." She whispered quietly, following him into the apartment. She stopped just inside the door as he shut it behind her. He then lead her into the kitchen, handing her a piece of paper that was laying on the kitchen counter. "What's this?" She asked, taking the paper from him but refusing to look any further when she saw the words 'Department of the Army' printed in bold black letters at the top.

"It's a job offer." His voice was quiet, reserved, and she could see his hand shaking as she took the paper from him.

"But you have a job." She leaned back against the counter, needing the support to keep her from falling.

"Just read it Lea." He dropped to the nearest chair, his head going to his hands, and he waited.

Leanne sighed before taking a deep breath, letting her eyes fall over the words on the letter in front of her. She didn't understand some of it, place names and job titles seeming alien to her, but she understood the gist of it. "What does this mean?" Her voice trembled, the tears threatening to fall, and she collapsed into the chair across from him.

"It's an offer." He reached out, gently taking the letter from her hands and glancing at it, before laying it on the table. "Not an order."

"Which means what exactly?" Her eyes found his and she choked back a sob, reaching out to take his hands in hers.

"I don't have to say 'yes'." There was a hint of something more in his voice, and Leanne feared the worst.

"But you want to say 'yes'?" She asked, her heart already breaking in two at the thought. She had just gotten used to having him around, how could she adjust to him not being there anymore. And what would she tell Ariel? The girl was so in love with the idea of them being together, a family, she couldn't bear to break her heart like that.

"I don't know." She barely heard his response, but it was enough to send her heart for a lurch.

"What do you mean, 'you don't know'?" Her voice cracked at the end of her question, and she no longer held the tears back, letting them roll down her face as she pulled her hands from his and stood, pacing the kitchen floor.

"I haven't made a decision yet." He sighed, placing his hands in his lap before continuing. "I have 2 weeks to make up my mind. I just need some time to think about it."

She wanted to slap him, so that's just what she did. Hard and firm and it sent a crack through the silent apartment. He reached out to pull her close but she backed away, holding her hands out in front of her as she struggled to speak. "You shouldn't have to think about it Ethan." Her voice was barely a whisper and she wrapped her arms around her stomach to keep herself from breaking.

"It's a great offer Leanne," He stood, trying to move closer to her, stopping when she pushed him away with both hands, "I'd be an idiot not to consider it."

"You'd be an idiot to even think about it!" She shouted this time, her face red in anger, her hands trembling as the tears of sadness turned to tears of anger. "You should already know the answer!" She pushed him again, shoving him so hard his back hit the kitchen counter. He reached out and gently grabbed a hold of her wrists, pulling her to him despite the punches she continued to throw at his chest. "You should want to stay." She whispered, her body failing her as it collapsed against his chest, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist as he pressed a kiss to her head.

He couldn't find the words, everything that he wanted to say just sounded wrong, so he decided to stay silent. They stood that way for a few minutes, her crying into his chest, his hands running through her hair and down her back. She pulled away when she heard her phone ring and he tried to stop her from going, but then he heard her voice catch as she greeted the young girl he'd grown to love like his own, and he stopped. "Ariel." He whispered her name and his heart broke. He hadn't even considered how this would affect her, and he didn't want to even think about having this talk with her. The tears he'd been holding back since Leanne arrived started to threaten to fall again and he choked back a sob.

"I've got to go." Leanne shoved her phone back into her jacket pocket and walked to the door.

"Leanne please…" He was pleading with her now and he knew how pathetic he sounded, but he didn't want her to go. He wanted to take her to bed and make love to her and just forget this impossibly hard decision that he was being forced to make.

"I'll see you at work tonight Ethan." And then she slammed the apartment door shut for good measure, leaving him alone in the kitchen, the tears finally falling from his eyes when he realized just how badly he had screwed this all up.

*I'm trying to not make Campbell look like a dick in this story, because to be honest, he's kind of growing on me after having watched season 2 for like the 4th time. I also think that he has the potential to have a good relationship with both Leanne and Ethan, so I'm trying to make that apparent here.

**I'm also apparently a sucker for Ethan/Leanne angst, so here you have it!