Title: You Forgot Something

Author: SneetchesToo

Rating: General

Pairing: Ethan/Rox

Summary: Ethan hadn't wanted to say goodbye to Rox that morning. But he especially didn't want to explain to his father why she was still asleep in his bed.

Author's Note: Not really any spoilers here.

—

Ethan had been reluctant to say goodbye to Rox that morning. Especially when she looked so adorable curled up under his blankets with her chestnut hair wild against the pillow.

She looked like she belonged there.

He was honestly starting to believe that she did.

He had showered and gotten dressed before making his way downstairs for coffee. And then he had returned upstairs to tell her goodbye.

She had been the most adorable sight he had ever seen.

And when he had told her that he would leave her a key. Well, he had thought that his heart might explode at the excitement in her eyes.

He had kissed her goodbye before he could change his mind about leaving and he had been almost out the door when he heard his father's voice behind him.

"You forgot something son." He turned his attention toward his dad and raised an eyebrow.

If there was ever a time when he hated that his father was an early riser. This was it.

"What dad?" He was already going to be cutting it close. Not that he cared if he was late. At this point Campbell could kiss his ass.

"There's a woman in your bed son." Ethan rolled his eyes. The man made it sound like he was nineteen, not forty-six.

"Yes dad." He let out a sigh as he leaned back against the door. He assumed there was a point to this inquisition. "Rox is going back to sleep. Which is what you should do."

"You're just going to leave her up there?" His dad almost looked ashamed. It's not like he was dipping out on her. He had said goodbye and everything.

"I told her I was leaving." He closed his eyes as he scrubbed a hand over them. "It's early dad. I'm not gonna make her leave. She's exhausted."

"Well aren't you a gentleman." His father rolled his eyes this time and Ethan couldn't help but chuckle.

"What do I suppose I do dad?" He was really curious as to what his father wanted him to do about this situation. He didn't have much choice in the matter.

"Call out of work." He wished that was an option. "You work too much as it is. You two need to rest."

"I can't call out dad." He huffed. He would in a heart beat if he didn't think Campbell would show up at his house and break down the door. "Leanne and Noa are both still out."

"Not your fault son." His dad had a point.

"I gotta go dad." He wanted nothing more than to stay. Of that he was certain.

It was supposed to be a rather nasty day in the city. Rainy and slightly chillier than normal. September was certainly not starting off well for them.

He wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed and tuck Rox back against his chest and waste the day away with her.

But he couldn't. Not today. And probably not any time soon.

"You need to take some time off Ethan." He could see the worry in his dad's eyes.

He understood that he was worried about him going off the deep end again.

That he was worried that he would lose it and start seeing dead people.

In all honesty, he was surprised that Robert hadn't shown back up at his side after the way the past few weeks had gone.

"I will when the others get back." He honestly had no idea when that would be.

Noa was scheduled to be back on Monday. A week from tomorrow. But he wasn't entirely certain if that was still going to happen or not. His conversations with the girl had been short the last few days, him busy with work, her busy with recovering. He hadn't exactly gotten a good grasp on her feelings about returning to Angels just yet.

And from what he understood, Leanne wasn't scheduled to return for another few weeks. If she even did that. He knew that things with Ariel had been tough. That the summer had been hard on them both. He felt for the woman, and the teen, but he knew that Angels wasn't the same without her.

"Soon Ethan." His dad's voice was pleading, his eyes soft as he tried to convey his feelings without having to actually vocalize them. "Before it's too late."

He didn't miss the way his father's eyes shifted upward toward his bedroom at his last statement.

He knew that Rox needed him. That she was struggling too.

He vowed that he would talk to Campbell today. That he would do his best to get some time off so that they could be together for a bit.

He knew it was a long shot. But he supposed if he threatened to quit that Will might just give in.

—

After his chat with his dad that morning Ethan had been on edge all day.

He just wanted to get the day over with and get home.

But more than anything, he just wanted to see Rox.

He had tried for an hour straight to get away so that he could sneak into PT with her. But he hadn't been successful. He felt horrible.

He just wanted to see her.

He knew that she wanted to see him just as bad.

Sorry I couldn't get away. It's hell down here. XO

He felt ridiculous signing his text with a hug and kiss. He wasn't fourteen for Christ's sake.

It's okay. Rough day. I wasn't much for company.

He let out a huff. She had been having more rough days than good days and he wondered if they were pushing her too hard.

He understood that PT was a delicate process. But sometimes therapists forgot about the mental and emotional injuries and solely focused on the physical ones. He feared that's what was happening to her.

You okay? You still here? Come downstairs and find me if you are.

He let out a huff as his patient growled at him again. This man was surely going to be the reason he lost his job.

He had given up on trying to get the tests done that he needed and instead he had mumbled at Jesse to take care of it. Something about having the special touch and knowing just what to do.

Jesse had chuckled at his words, but he sensed that the head nurse understood his desire to step away for a minute.

He had just reached for his stack of charts when he saw Rox out of the corner of his eye and he froze in his place. He waited to see if she would come find him like he had asked.

She stopped and chatted with Elliot for a second before her eyes locked with his from across the room.

He offered her a smile. Which she greatly returned and then she pulled her phone from her pocket, gesturing toward it with her head.

Can you sneak away for a cup of coffee?

He swallowed as he read her message. For her he would sneak away for anything.

Give me five minutes. :)

He desperately needed to finish this chart before he went away. He knew that Campbell was waiting to get this patient upstairs as soon as everything had been squared away.

He watched as she nodded her head before sliding her phone back into her jacket pocket. He couldn't help but chuckle at the small smile on her face.

"Flirting with our resident paramedic again are we?" Jesse's voice caused him to roll his eyes.

"What's it to you?" He knew that Jesse was just joking with him. He hoped that he understood that he was joking back.

"She's a tough cookie." He patted his arm then, eyeing him softly. "I think you two would be good together."

"Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow as his eyes lifted upward and across the room again.

But the object of his desire had moved on and was no longer in his line of vision.

"She's been through some rough stuff." The softness of Jesse's voice made his heart hurt. So his guesses about Rox's rough past were true. "I think you could help bring her out of that."

"I plan to try." He offered the other man a soft smile, and a wink, before placing the chart back in it's spot and heading in the direction he had seen Rox disappear in.

He was most certainly willing to try and fix her. If she wanted fixing. And he was most certainly willing to bring her out of a rough patch if that's what she needed.

*Don't forget to comment.