Once again I would like to thank you all who read and reviewed my last story, I get the best reviews from you Casualty fans.

A shout out to Soozer 8 who gave me this suggestion - the boys are involved in a car crash where they have to rely on each other until help arrives - and for the purpose of this story, help arrives quite slowly.

Of course, one or both of them are going to be hurt - there will be some comfort and hopefully a bit of brotherly banter so that it doesn't get to depressing.

As usual I don't own anyone who you may recognise. So onwards...

Stormy Night

"Well I'm glad I don't work there!" Dr Ethan Hardy exclaimed as his brother Dr Caleb Knight, started to drive out of the car park. They had been sent to shadow some doctors in a different hospital for a day as part of Mrs Beauchamp's new idea of how they could raise standards in their own ED.

"What makes you say that?" Cal wondered.

"I think I'd die of boredom before whatever was wrong with me killed me..." Ethan uncharacteristically blustered, causing Cal to burst out laughing. Ethan looked across at his amused brother, "Oh ha ha. I know I may not be the most fun loving, excitable person to ever walk the planet, and that sometimes I have the sensitivity of a plank of wood, what was it you called me...a robot - but honestly, there was no sympathy, no empathy...just nothing! It was like walking around a cyborg facility. I can't remember anything that they told me today, can you?"
Cal shrugged, "Oh wait, you never listen anyway so there's no point asking you."

"Oi!" Cal argued, "I do listen...when there's something interesting to listen to. But you're right, that place made Connie look like Mother Theresa and Princess Diana all rolled into one! I just hope Mother Theresa doesn't start grilling us on what we learned today."
"We'll just have to make it up," Ethan answered glancing out of the window.

"Well there's a first. Ethan Hardy 'making things up'," Cal chuckled.

"Oh shut up and drive."

A couple of hours later, the two young doctors were still a good half hour away from home and Cal was starting to tire. He'd opened the window a little to let some fresh air in and kept stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders to ease the ache, "Shall I take over Cal? You're obviously getting tired," Ethan asked him.

"No, I'm ok. We haven't got much longer, I'll manage. If it really does get to much, I'll let you know."

Ethan nodded and settled into his seat once more, glancing up at the now menacing dark sky, "Looks like rain," he commented.

No sooner had the words left his mouth, then the first raindrop his the windscreen, "Can't keep you big mouth shut can you?" Cal growled at him.

The drops soon turned into a deluge. Ethan started rummaging in the glove box, "You got any snacks?" he asked his older brother.

"It's your car, why would I get snacks?"

"Why wouldn't you? You knew how long the drive was..."

"I was driving so I assumed you would supply snacks!"

"Oh for goodness sake..."

Suddenly, they both jumped out of their seats by a intensly bright flash of lightning, followed almost straight away by a loud clap of thunder, "Great, this is all I need," Cal grumbled as he ran a hand through his hair and massaged his temple as a stress headache was already making itself known.

Ethan sat up a little straighter too. He was not to keen on thunderstorms as it was, but being out in one was not his favourite way to pass the time.

By now, day had almost turned into night, the sky was so angry. Cal had slowed right down partly because they were driving on some windy, country roads just before they got to Holby, but also because the rain was lashing down in torrents. The windscreen wipers were on full yet they were struggling to keep the water off the windscreen. That coupled with the extreme darkness of the storm made Cal slow his speed.

"Hate thunderstorms," Ethan mumbled under his breath.

Cal couldn't help smiling. Ethan had never liked them, especially as a child. He'd always find his way into Cal's room whenever one was crashing above their house. When he had been really small, Cal had let Ethan get into his bed so he little brother could get some sleep. Obviously, that had changed as Ethan grew up, but Cal never once turned away his frightened brother. He quickly glanced at said brother, who had a vice like grip on the passenger door and was staring out in front of him, "You ok?" Cal couldn't help but ask.

Ethan turned and caught his gaze, "What do you think?"

"Well, judging by the pallor of your skin and they way you're gripping that door - I would say no."

"Then you would be right...Cal watch out!"

Just before Ethan's warning shout, Cal had turned his attention back to the road. The rain was still bouncing off the tarmac and he could hardly see a hand in front of him.

Suddenly, seemingly from out of nowhere, a figure of a child appeared. It turned towards the oncoming car, eyes wide with fear, "Cal watch out!"

Cal yanked the steering wheel causing the car to veer, hopefully, around the child. Cal didn't feel a thump, so he couldn't have hit the child. He blew out a short breath of relief, but it was short lived. Due to the fact that the road was so wet, the car carried on skidding. Cal battled desperately to get the car back under control, but it just didn't seem to be happening. He delved into the deepest corners of his mind to try to think of ways to stop the car - but he couldn't. Another flash lit up the dark sky over the deserted country road, alerting them to the fact that they were heading towards a huge, old tree...

So there's chapter 1.

This story hasn't been written in advance so I'm not really sure how long it will take. It will probably be two or three chapters long. Let me know what you think, thanks xx