Hi all. Just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who reads, reviews or favourites my stories. I know I don't always say this, but I really do appreciate each and every one of you. I love that you love Cal and Ethan as much as I do and don't mind me hurting them in just about every story that I write - ha ha.
Anyway, this is another little offering regarding the results, and whether Ethan will tell anyone - not sure I would say there are spoilers as I don't know how this will play out on screen, if indeed it does. You'll see what I mean when you read it.
Hope you like.
As always, I don't own anyone that you recognise - just dust them off to torment them a little more!
A Family's Love
"Ethan, are you alright?" he heard for the umpteenth time in the last few weeks. He sighed deeply, why did everyone ask him that? He's turned up, got on with his work, he's met the department targets - everything that he should be doing, he's doing - so why did everyone fell the need to keep checking on him? Did they know?
"I'm fine thank you," he managed through gritted teeth.
"That's good...only you seem to have it in for that pen that you're holding..." Robyn smiled at his confusion, "You keep banging it on the desk and to be honest, it's getting a bit annoying."
Ethan looked at the pen as if he hadn't seen it before, then dropped it on the table, "I'm sorry," he mumbled before taking off into cubicles.
Two minutes later, Cal and Charlie sauntered towards the desk, discussing their most recent patient, "I said that it's up to him if he tells his wife or not," Cal was telling the nurse.
Charlie chuckled, "Would love to be a fly on the wall to that conversation," he said, causing the younger man to smile.
"Hey Cal," Robyn attracted his attention, "Is Ethan ok?" she asked innocently.
"Yes, he's fine - why wouldn't he be?" he demanded sharply as his stomach somersaulted involuntary.
"He's just been a bit quiet recently - like he's not with us...I'm sorry, it's been a terrible time for you both - I should just keep my nose out," she finished in a rush, her cheeks blushing.
"You don't know the half of it..." he countered, looking stricken as he turned away, "Erm, I need some air," he told them as he strode out of the department.
"Oh I never meant to make it worse for them," Robyn cried, "I was just worried about Ethan," she insisted.
Charlie patted her arm, "Don't worry, I'm sure you haven't. It can't be easy to find your real mum, only to lose her not long after. I'll go and talk to Cal."
The older nurse found the young doctor sat on a bench in the peace garden, with his head in his hands. He sat down gently next to him and nudged him slightly, "Robyn didn't mean to upset you," he explained.
Cal wiped his face, "I know she didn't...it's just hard you know? Ethan feels guilty that he didn't acknowledge her earlier on and I'm...I'm at a loss Charlie - I don't know what to do to help him, he won't talk to me."
"He'll talk when he's ready...anyway, you'll have to talk soon won't you - you need to arrange the test...if you're both going to take it."
Cal suddenly burst into tears, shaking his head, "We already have taken it...mum wanted to know before she died."
"Ahh," was all Charlie said, even though he tensed in readiness for Cal telling him.
"She passed smiling Charlie...we were telling her a story about Ethan and Kate, who we met at the cafe - mum wanted to hear about his life..."
"Good news then I take it?" Charlie questioned, his anxiety not lifting at the stricken look on Cal's face as he shook his head.
"Oh god, he'll kill me for this, but I have to tell someone..."
"Oh Cal - has Ethan..." Charlie couldn't go on. The younger man completely broke down as he nodded his head. Charlie shuffled up closer and put his arm around the stricken doctor, "I'm sorry Cal."
"My worst fear came true! He didn't tell mum though Charlie. He read the letter and told her he was clear - I was so relieved. Then after she passed, he showed me the letter, then he shut down - and he's been like that ever since."
"I'm sorry Cal, I really don't know what to say," Charlie felt his heart break for the two young doctors.
"Please don't tell him you know. He doesn't want anyone to know just yet," Cal pleaded.
"He won't hear it from me," the older nurse promised.
"Cal! Charlie!" Robyn trotted over to them, pretending that she hadn't seen Cal's state or that Charlie had his arm around him, "We need you. RTC on its way."
Cal wiped his eyes once more, took a deep, calming breath and made his way back into the ED.
A couple of hours later, the ED had an air of calm around it. The RTC was not as serious as first thought, so the patients had either been discharged or they were comfortable waiting for a bed.
Cal had taken a well earned break, which was just what Ethan was ready for. However, as he made his way to the staff room a panicked man burst through the doors pushing a wheelchair, "Are you a doctor?" he asked.
Ethan nodded, "Dr Ethan Hardy, what's the problem?"
"It's my brother - he's had a fall..." the older man told him as Ethan showed them through into a free cubicle.
"Ah, Charlie, have you got a few minutes to assist?" Ethan asked the older nurse as he passed him sat at the computer.
"Yes of course," he answered.
"Right then, can you tell me your name?" Ethan asked the patient.
"J...John," he stammered, causing Ethan's heart to skip a beat.
"Ok John, can you tell me where it hurts?"
"My sh...shoulder and m...my legs..."
"Did you hit your head at all?"
John started to shake his head, "You should know that he has Huntingtons...so he may not know..."
"I know w...what hurts Rich," John shot back impatiently. He then turned to Ethan, "He's a bit overprotective," he explained to the young doctor, who was turning paler by the second.
"With good reason little brother, if today is anything to go by," his exasperated brother retorted.
"I was only try...trying to m...make you some lunch," the younger man huffed.
Charlie smiled at the bickering brothers, they sounded just like two other brothers that he knew. He looked to one of them, who was frantically writing in the notes, "How old are you John?"
"Thirty five..."
Ethan nearly dropped the pen. He wasn't that much older than him and he was already starting to show symptoms - he'd thought he'd got longer before it would happen to him.
Charlie suddenly appeared by his side, "You alright? Should I get another doctor?"
Ethan spun round to face him, "Why would you do that?" he asked suspiciously.
"Only because it's not that long since your mum passed..."
"I'm perfectly fine, thank you. Right John, I'm going to examine you..." he told his patient as he glanced pointedly at Charlie, who got the hint.
"Would you mind just stepping out while the doctor examines him. We'll be just outside the curtain..."
Rich looked like he was going to argue, but his brother had other ideas, "I'll be f...fine - go and get a cuppa if you want," he told him.
"Not until I know you're ok. I'll be just outside," Rich replied, as he turned to follow Charlie.
As Ethan pulled the curtain around them, Rich jumped slightly, "How long has he had it?" Charlie asked him.
"We've known about it for about ten years - our dad had it. His symptoms started a couple of years ago..." the young man dragged in a deep breath, "I try and help but sometimes John's temper gets the better of him. It's hard to know whether you are doing the right thing or not. He pushes me away a lot of the time - tells me to get a life, but..."
Charlie heard the catch in the younger man's voice, "He's my little brother, he is my life."
Charlie felt a lump in his throat as he listened to the devoted brother, thinking about the young doctor who was treating the younger one.
A few minutes later the curtain swished open and Ethan appeared looking pale and ragged, "Ok," he breathed, "John is going to be fine," Rich exhaled with relief, "But I do want to get a CT just to check that he didn't damage his head - could you sort that Charlie?"
"I'm on it," the older nurse told him. He then turned to Rich, "You can sit with him while we arrange the scan if you like."
Rich nodded and immediately dragged a chair to his brother's side.
Ethan finished writing everything up, glancing up at the two brothers. The older one had both of John's hands in his as if he was trying to stop the shaking, or at least that's what Ethan thought.
"It's the start of it all Rich..." he heard the younger man tell his brother as a few tears began to fall.
"Hey, we don't know that," Rich told him as he gently wiped the tears away, his own voice catching.
"I think we do..." John whispered as Rich jumped up and perched on the bed, bringing his brother into a gentle embrace.
His heart pounding and his ears ringing, Ethan spun out of the cubicle and disappeared through the doors.
Looks like this is going to be a two shot. It kind of took on a life of its own.