Chapter 1: Hold Me
Ethan rested his head on his hand and watched Cal in his peaceful slumber. His eyes were closed, this time, from simply being asleep. His face held no indication of pain or worry, and if it wasn't for the cuts and bruises and dressings that littered his face, no-one would have guessed he'd been a millimetre from death just a few hours ago.
But his body beneath the covers held another story. His leg was raised from the bed and in a cast, ripped to shreds and sewn back together. His chest was bandaged heavily and his entire body held cuts and bruises, just as his face. One arm was in a sling - one shoulder having been popped back into place.
And Ethan? Well, his heart was being held together with just a string. Cal had only woken up briefly after surgery but fallen back to sleep a few minutes after. And until Cal woke up again and Ethan could see, truly and utterly, that his brother was alright, his heart would stay fragile.
So he watched and waited for Cal to wake up. But he didn't expect the once peaceful Cal to turn restless and distressed in a matter of seconds.
It started off slowly. Cal's closed eyes flickered slightly, his finger flexed, his breaths only increased minimally. Ethan sat up straighter, knowing the only slight change in Cal's sleep could mean something.
But then it became more violent. Cal's hand grasped at the sheet almost desperately, his eyes flickered more, his breathing became rapid, his injured body started to move around and through his fast breathing, he was muttering.
Ethan knew better than to wake someone from their sleep, but Cal was seriously injured and if Ethan didn't wake him up soon, his injuries would only get worse.
He carefully sat on Cal's bed, lifting Cal's head just a little so it rested on his lap. He placed one gentle hand on Cal's arm (the one in a sling) for protection, and the other went to stroking his hair. He leant closer to Cal so he could whisper. Talking loudly might only disturb him more, and by the looks of it, the nightmare that Cal was stuck in wasn't pleasant at all.
He remembered when he used to get nightmares and wake to Cal comforting him and hugging him, and although it was years ago now, he still remembered the methods that Cal had taught him to calm a nightmare. So, just like Cal did when they were children, Ethan whispered soothingly to his brother, stroking his hair and hoping that this would calm him enough and he would wake up with the nightmare gone.
But Cal woke up screaming, thrashing around in Ethan's arms, only semi-awake and still living in his nightmare.
Ethan held Cal carefully, trying to calm him, mindful of his injuries. "Shhh, it's okay, Cal. It was just a dream. You're safe, your safe with me. Your brother, yeah? You're safe. It's okay." And as he talked, repeating phrases and talking calmly, Cal began to relax and wake properly.
He opened his eyes fully after a few more seconds, his breathing slowing as he started to recognise where he was and who was holding him.
"Cal, don't worry, here -" he handed Cal the morphine button, which a dazed Cal took carefully "- press this."
It didn't need a second prompt. Cal pressed it instantly, a small dose of morphine entered the IV and slowly crept into his bloodstream. Ethan was silent as Cal closed his eyes and groaned quietly, waiting for the pain relief to kick in.
"Ethan…" Cal slurred, voice thick from being recently awake, "go okay? The… the surgery?"
Ethan held his brother tighter. "Yeah, yeah it went okay. It's all okay now. You're alright."
"How bad?" Cal said as he tried to look up at Ethan. "Honestly?"
"Not so bad it couldn't be fixed without complications." Ethan knew lying to his brother wasn't for the best, but the chances of him remembering the conversation they were having were minimal thanks to the morphine, the anaesthetic probably still wearing off and the fact Cal had only really just woken up. He could learn about the complications later when his body was better and his mind was clearer.
"Thank you."
Ethan knew, from his position holding Cal, that his brother couldn't see his face. But he smiled regardless, just so Cal could even just feel that slight glow of happiness. "You're my brother. There's no need to thank me."
"I know. But thanks… anyway. For saving me."
"It's my pleasure, Caleb."
But the slight glow of happiness didn't last long because Connie Beauchamp just walked in. Ethan prayed that she wouldn't divulge the complications Cal faced in surgery, or just how bad Cal's condition was, but from the smile on her face, she didn't look set to blurt out all the ins-and-outs of his injuries.
She looked searchingly at Ethan for a moment, perhaps wondering why he was sat on Cal's bed, holding Cal (and so, okay, he wasn't supposed to be on Cal's bed, but his brother needed his help and this was the only way), but she let it drop almost a second after.
"How're you feeling Cal?"
"Better," he whispered, probably still sore despite the morphine.
"Good." She picked up his hospital notes and flicked through them. "I've just spoken to your doctor, and they said if all goes well within the next couple of weeks, you can be discharged."
Cal nodded slightly. "Thanks."
"Now, rest up and get better soon, I'm going to need you on the shop floor." She walked out without another word.
"Was she… being nice?" Cal said, humour dripping from his hoarse voice. And it was this small quality alone made the string wrapping Ethan's broken heart thicken and tighten. This was the Cal he wanted to see. Not pale, unconscious and nearly dead. No, humorous and calm Cal, even lying in hospital with serious injuries.
"Yes. Yes, I think she was."