The hospital had taken all the energy out of him. He couldn't give anymore. How could he provide the best possible care to his patients when the system restricted him? He would not be a doctor who reached targets just to please hospital management. Whatever happened to patient care comes first? Ethan shook his head and continued to scroll down the computer looking at other opportunities elsewhere.

"Australia?" Lily asked shocked as she came up behind him. "You aren't seriously thinking of moving to Australia?"

"I can't do it anymore."

"But, that's the other side of the world."

"So?"

"Have you talked to Cal about this?"

"No."

"So what? You're just going to leave without saying goodbye to your own brother?"

"It's none of his business. It's my life."

Lily, until then didn't realise how serious the situation was. She couldn't just stand back and watch Ethan throw everything away.

"Ethan, it's not your fault. You can't blame yourself."

"Can't I? I let a man die, Lily. And I almost let a kid die too. How can I not blame myself?"

"As doctors we can't save everyone. There's only so much we can do and last week was no exception. We were on a black alert and over-stretched."

"But, it shouldn't be like this. We shouldn't have to worry about understaffing. If management did their job properly we, doctors would be able to ours. Instead all management is worried about is ticking boxes and reaching targets. I'm not going to be that doctor."

"Ethan…."

"No, Lily. I've had enough. I guess I'm not cut out to be a doctor."

Ethan picked up some files and walked away. Lily watched on. She was not about to let him leave. She decided to take matters into her own hands. Approaching Connie's office, Lily hesitantly knocked on the door. She was asked to enter. Connie looked up from her computer screen.

"Ah, Dr. Chao. What can I do for you?"

"Um, this is about Dr. Hardy." Lily replied.

"Ethan? What about him?"

"I presume you received his letter?"

"The one where he wants to resign? Yes, I've received it and read it."

"Well, it's a mistake. You can't accept his resignation."

Connie comes round and sits on the desk top.

"Lily, I can't force Ethan to stay if he wants to go."

"But, he doesn't really want to go. He's just so confused at the moment he's not thinking clearly." Lily answered, trying desperately to convince Connie not to accept the letter.

"In his letter he sounds adamant about his decision to leave." Connie said.

"Please, Connie. He can't leave."

"Very well. I'll make up my mind by the end of the day. If I see Ethan is truly struggling to cope then I will accept his resignation. If not, then he will be asked to stay."

"Thank you." Lily responded gratefully.

Going back to her patients, Lily could see Ethan was still struggling. He still hadn't had any sleep or breaks since last week and she noticed he was trying to be the best he could. This was not healthy. If Ethan carried on like this he would make himself ill.

"Ethan, take a break. I'll take over for you." Lily offered.

"No, this is my patient. I'll deal with it." Ethan told her.

"Come on. You haven't had a break since two weeks ago. How are you supposed to give the best possible care if you can't look after yourself?"

"I said I'm fine." Ethan snapped. "Would you just leave it?"

Ethan walked away after he had finished with his patient. Over by the nurses' station Cal had overheard the small argument between them.

"What's wrong with him?" Cal inquired about his brother as he walked over to Lily.

"He's not himself."

"Clearly."

"If you're so worried about him why don't you ask himself yourself?" Lily snapped.

Cal watched as she walked away. Why was they both angry? Cal knew something was troubling Ethan so deciding to talk to him he went in search for his brother. Cal found Ethan outside the hospital. At least he was taking a break. Placing his hands in his pockets Cal slowly walked over where his brother was sitting.

"Everything alright?" Cal asked sitting down beside him.

"Yes, everything's fine. Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Ethan retorted.

"Come on, it's me you're talking to. I know something's up." Cal nudged him.

"Look, I told Lily and now I'm telling you. I am fine." Ethan repeated.

Again he walked away. Cal sighed. Why wasn't Ethan talking to him? Why wasn't he opening up to him? Then again, Cal couldn't blame him. He was doing exactly the same thing. Following Ethan back inside he took once last glance towards his brother and carried on with his work. Ethan was in cubicles treating a patient with a nasty head wound when the curtains drew back.

"Ah, Dr. Hardy. A word in my office, please." Connie demanded.

"Uh, okay. Robyn, could finishing cleaning up the wound and then stitch up. Afterwards he can be discharged." Ethan turned back around. Robyn nodded and took over from him.

"What is it you'd like to discuss with me?" Ethan asked as he stood in Connie's office.

"Dr. Chao assumes this is your last day. She's expressed that it would not be in your best interests if I didn't accept your resignation. Is this true?"

Ethan shook his head.

"No, it's not true. My decision still stands. I want to resign from position as registrar here at Holby."

"Right. So as this is your last shift you are entitled to leave earlier."

"I would like to stay until my shift ends."

"Okay, thank you, Dr. Hardy. You may return to your patients."

Ethan gave a slight nod. Spotting Lily he marched over to her.

"Who gave you permission to discuss my private affairs with Connie?" He hissed.

"I'm sorry, Ethan. But, you can't throw away your whole career just because of one mistake. We all make them."

"Sorry? You're not sorry. And anyway I'm not like you. I can't just ignore what I've done."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Lily glared at him.

"Alicia. You deliberately bullied her. Since then you've seem to have forgotten what you did to her."

Voices were soon being raised. It then escalated into a full blown argument with both Lily and Ethan saying unnecessary words to each other.

"Hey, come on, Ethan." Cal said stepping in. "Not in front of the patients."

Ethan pushed passed him storming off in the direction of the staffroom.

"Ethan." Cal call out. Ethan ignored him.

"Would you care to explain what that was all about?" Cal asked turning towards Lily.

If she couldn't talk sense into Ethan maybe Cal would be able to. After all Cal was his brother and she knew he would understand how to handle Ethan.

"Ethan's thinking about moving to Australia." Lily informed him.

Cal's mouth dropped open. He was shocked.

"What?"

"He's resigned. I found him looking at jobs in Australia."

Cal glanced towards the staffroom.

"Why didn't he tell me?"

Lily shrugged.

"Can you try to make him see sense?" Lily inquired. "Ethan needs to be able to cope with his shift today otherwise Connie's going to accept his resignation."

"I'll se what I can do. But, knowing Ethan if he won't talk to you, I doubt he'll talk to me."

"But, you're his brother."

"Have you ever seen us trying to have a normal conversation?"

Lily thought about it for a few minutes.

"Well, no." She finally said.

"Exactly. Our conversations begins normal but, then it ends up with me teasing him and him being annoyed at me." Cal added. "I don't think I'm the right person."

"So you want him to leave?"

"No, of course not."

"Then talk to him."

"Fine. I'll talk to him. But, don't blame me if we begin to annoy each other." Cal warned her.