Hey! So, this is my first ever story on here. No idea how long it's going to be yet, but I've got a rough outline of what I think I'm going to write. Any requests or ideas will always be welcome. And, like I said in the summary, I will try to give some sort of explanation in the story for my weird last minute title.
It's not much but, it's a start, so I hope you enjoy the first chapter!
Iris(:
1.
"Alright, Nibbles?" Cal called from his sprawled out position on the sofa, as he heard keys turning in the door, indicating that Ethan had returned home after finishing his shift. It was almost one in the morning, so it had most definitely run over by quite a bit.
Cal heard some shuffling about from the hallway, and soft footsteps padding along the squeaky floorboards. "Caleb," Ethan sighed, tiredly entering the living room and depositing his bag on the dining table, "what are you doing up? – it's late and.. you've got an early-"
"-I wanted to wait up for you little brother," Cal cut in, fidgeting around on the sofa a bit, before moving into a sitting position and patting the spot next to him, "you seemed abit.. off, at work earlier." said Cal, slight concern lacing his words.
Ethan frowned dismissively, moving closer to where Cal sat, "really? Well.." he accepted Cal's offering of the seat and, wincing, rested his head in his hands wearily, "I'm fine."
Cal raised an eyebrow at the dismissive response; he could clearly tell by his actions that Ethan wasn't 'fine'. He smirked, "Ah, little brother, I think you'll find-"
Ethan interrupted, "-Caleb, really, I'm fine." He said more sternly, swallowing a cough, his face crumpling slightly with discomfort. Having a coughing fit now was really not likely to benefit his side of the inevitable debate that was to come.
After the past month or so, the younger doctor really didn't need – or want for that matter – anymore fuss from his older brother. Ever since the car accident that had nearly taken his life, Ethan had been ill on and off for most of the time, picking up any infection that passed through the E.D due to his immune system being compromised whilst he recovered. He'd only just gotten back to work at the start of this week, after being knocked down quite badly with the flu for two weeks. It really didn't help that winter had most certainly begun, and it was freezing outside. Ethan was pretty much constantly cooped up at home feeling rubbish.
Cal, of all people, had been watching his little brother like a hawk since the accident, and as he was pretty much already a pro at recognising any signs of illness or general discomfort in Ethan, there was a slim chance that Ethan would be getting away with hiding anything anytime soon.
The older doctor was worried that he hadn't been doing a very good job however, and he was worried that this week had been too soon for Ethan to return to work after the bout of illness that had him trapped miserably in bed for at least a week. It didn't help that Ethan always went stir crazy the second he started feeling better, which often masked the fact that he was still suffering.
This Friday night only confirmed the older sibling's suspicions, as Ethan looked completely exhausted and wiped out. Cal didn't miss the signs that his little brother was nursing a headache – he really was bad at hiding illness, despite how hard he always tried – and that he tried to hide his coughing every few minutes.
"Maybe you should get some sleep?" Cal suggested, finding an alternative approach to confrontation.
Ethan sighed tiredly, "really, Cal, I am alright…" he said, removing his glasses and rubbing his bleary eyes not-so-subtly. "Maybe just a little tired, but nothing I can't handle," he added after a moment of thought. Ethan new Cal wasn't stupid, so he had to conjure up some excuse.
"Eth, go to bed.." Cal sighed, pitying his younger brother as he sat sloppily on the sofa, head dropping into his hands.
"No, Caleb, really- I'm fine, back off!" Ethan raised his voice at the protective brother, however, this only caused agitation to his throat and he broke off coughing, desperately trying to stifle the sound into the back of his hand.
Cal wasn't stupid, though, after all he was the only other person in the room, and despite Ethan's attempts to hide it the coughing still wasn't unnoticeable.
Cal shot a sympathetic glance in his helpless brother's direction, which Ethan would've understood had he been wearing his glasses and if his eyes hadn't been filled with tears from the painful coughing.
"What, Caleb? I hardly think me coughing is that intriguing for you, so stop staring," he snapped, completely out of character, this alone would've been enough for Cal to know that something obviously wasn't right with his younger brother.
"Alright, Ethan, calm down," Cal sighed, earning another glare from across the sofa, "can I at least make you some tea?"
"Fine, Caleb," said Ethan.