This isn't the sequel to Face the Truth - I'm afraid that one is being quite troublesome and refusing to write itself - but I hope you'll enjoy reading this story.

Cal made up his mind as soon as he saw her. If pushed, he might have said she wasn't his usual type, but he honestly felt his usual type was 'female' and she certainly qualified in that category. Her long, dark hair fell in waves over her shoulders and halfway to her waist (she'd have to do something with it when she started work, of course, but Cal appreciated a girl who maximised her assets when she could). Her skirt hugged her hips snugly and she moved gracefully her slim calves and ankles were definitely worth a second look (and a third, and a fourth) and she wasn't wearing either a wedding or an engagement ring.

Cal had a feeling this could turn out to be a very enjoyable week.

When it had first been announced that three undergraduates would be joining them in the emergency department for a week, Cal had been hoping he wouldn't be one of the doctors chosen to look after them. But once Cal had found out that at least two of the undergraduates were female (Sophie and Amber had to be girls and he had high hopes for Ashley), he'd started to view the project with considerably more enthusiasm.

An enthusiasm that had risen still further in the last few seconds.

He went up to the girl and held out his hand. "Hi. You must be one of our new work experience undergraduates. I'm Cal."

The slim hand she placed in his was soft and sent the predictable bolt of electricity up Cal's arm. He usually knew the exact scientific term for this particular medical phenomenon, but as he lost himself in deep blue eyes, he couldn't remember very much at all.

"I'm Sophie," she said. "Sophie Matthews. I'm so glad you've come. I feel like I've been waiting here for hours, which means I must have been here for at least five minutes. I don't want to be late on my first day and no-one I've spoken to seem to have any idea of what I'm supposed to be doing. Are you Dr Chao?"

Cal had never wished he was Lily before, but there was a first time for everything.

"No, I'm afraid I'm not," he said. "I'm Dr Knight. Dr Chao is a woman. I imagine she's here already. Lily isn't usually late for anything. Me, on the other hand…"

"You, on the other hand, would be so late for your own funeral, the church will be in ruins," said Sophie.

Cal laughed uncomfortably. "Most likely." He wondered if it was a bad thing that she was thinking about him being dead already. Most girls didn't start wishing things like that at least until he'd broken up with them.

"What's Dr Chao like to work with?" asked Sophie. "It's stupid, but I actually never considered that she might be a woman. I have no idea why. I mean, I'm the last person who's going to think that women don't make good doctors. They better had do or I'm going to need a sex change."

"No. I don't think you need a sex change," said Cal after a moment's consideration. "I think you look just fine as you are. But I'm sure you'll get on well with Lily. She's a very good doctor. It might be better if you avoid flirting with her – that tends not to go down too well - but I'm hoping that won't be a problem for you."

"No, that's not a problem," said Sophie. "I'm here to work. So I might avoid flirting with everyone."

"That would be a shame," said Cal, and smiled at her. "Come on: I'll take you to meet Lily."

Sophie fell into step beside him. "Thank you, Cal. If you're not too busy."

"I'm never too busy to make a new member of the team feel welcome," said Cal. Not when she was female anyway. "Now: where would Dr Chao be at this moment?" Cal pretended to think. He guessed Lily was probably in the staff room, so he decided that would be the last place they would look. "This way."

It didn't take Ethan long to realise Cal was at it again. Assuming the girl wasn't a patient, she must be one of the student doctors, which meant she was supposed to be going to the staff room. Cal's posture, particularly the arm that was practically around her waist as he ushered her through a door ahead of him, suggested his destination was far more likely to be the area behind the bike sheds.

Ethan strode down the corridor, caught the door before it swung shut in his place, and adopted a sharp tone. "Dr Knight."

Cal jumped and then turned to face Ethan. "What do you want, Nibbles?"

"I want you to stop calling me that for a start," said Ethan – a useless request, he knew.

Cal was smiling. "You followed me all the way down the corridor just to tell me that?"

Ethan told himself he wasn't fazed. He lifted his chin and tried to match Cal's tone. "I thought you looked a bit lost, Dr Knight. The student doctors are supposed to be going to the staff room."

"No, Dr Hardy, the student doctors are supposed to be meeting their mentors, and as far as I'm aware, Lily is-"

"-in the staffroom," said Ethan. "Unless you're suggesting she flew out of the window on a broomstick."

A smile played about the corners of Cal's mouth. "I would never suggest anything so disrespectful, Dr Hardy."

Ethan stared at him in horror. "No. No, I didn't mean…"

"I hope you didn't," said Cal. "Now, if you've quite finished insulting our colleagues, allow me to introduce Sophie, one of the new student doctors."

Ethan had barely spared her a glance before, but now he did, he felt more discomfited than ever. He mumbled something incoherent, then lost the ability to speak altogether. She wasn't just a girl. She was a pretty girl.

"Hi," she said, smiling at him. "It's really nice to meet you, Dr Hardy."

"Ethan," said Ethan. All things considered, he was quite proud of himself for remembering. "Um… welcome to the ED, Sophie. I… hope you have a pleasant stay."

Cal gave him an amused look. "Ethan, it's not a hotel."

"No. No, of course not."

"Thank you, Ethan," said Sophie. "And I am staying in a hotel, so you're not wrong. Do you know where the staff room is?"

"Yes. Yes, I think I know where it is," said Ethan vaguely.

Cal laughed. "You think?"

"Oh, that's good. I'm glad somebody knows," said Sophie. "Because I literally have no idea and I'm not sure if Cal does either because that looks like a bike shed or something through there. I know the budget cuts have been pretty bad, but I'm sure you can still afford a staff room."

Ethan glanced at Cal and saw him opening and shutting his mouth. Ethan couldn't resist a smile. He wasn't sure if Sophie had intended to make a dig at Cal or not, but it had certainly found its mark.

Ethan stepped forward and held the door open for Sophie. "The staff room is this way, Sophie. I'll show you."

They walked away quickly, leaving Cal staring after them.

"What's Dr Chao like?" Sophie asked as they walked along the corridor. "I asked Cal and she sounds really scary."

Ethan wasn't really sure what to say. He was inclined to agree that Lily could be scary, but he didn't want to worry Sophie on her first day. On the other hand, maybe he should warn her. "She's a good doctor."

"That's what Cal said," said Sophie. "But I am a bit nervous. What if I panic and make a mistake and I kill someone? I've got this kind of recurring nightmare that I'll end up in jail."

"It's okay," said Ethan as reassuringly as he could. "If you kill a patient, Lily will kill you. So you have no reason to worry."

Sophie laughed. "Problem solved, then! So what else can you tell me about Lily? I did hear a rumour she has a broomstick…"

Ethan's cheeks grew hot. "I don't suppose you can forget I said that?"

"I don't think I'll ever forget," said Sophie. "The look on your face, Ethan! But I could always never mention it again."

"I would appreciate that."

"I promise I'll never mention broomsticks to you again for as long as I live," said Sophie dramatically, pressing a hand to her heart.

"Thank you."

Sophie gave him a mischievous look. "Of course, black pointy hats and spell books are entirely another matter."

Lily was surprised when Ethan approached her in the staff room. She was even more surprised that he had a girl at his side. That wasn't usually the kind of behaviour you'd associate with Ethan. His brother, yes.

"Lily, this is Sophie," said Ethan. "She's one of our students."

Lily looked her new protégée up and down. She had been told that first impressions were often wrong, but that hadn't always been Lily's experience.

"Hello, Lily!" said Sophie. "It's so nice to meet you."

"My name is Dr Chao," said Lily. "I am a doctor and you are a student, so I feel that is appropriate."

"I'm sorry, Dr Chao," said Sophie. "Cal and Ethan said I could use their first names but I suppose my relationship with you is completely different. I'm Sophie and I'm really looking forward to working with you. You already know I'm a medical student, but I'm 24 years old, I've wanted to be a doctor for at least the last twenty years, and I'm really hoping to work in an ED in the future."

"I don't need your life story or your future plans," said Lily as pleasantly as she could. "The present is all that concerns me. Here is your uniform: will you please change into it quickly and meet me back here."

"Yes, Dr Chao. Of course," said Sophie. She took the uniform Lily held out to her and scurried out of the room.

Ethan waited until she'd gone then moved closer to Lily. He lowered his voice. "Lily, you will go easy on her, won't you? I know she doesn't seem it, but she's nervous."

"Then she'll have to get over it," said Lily. She didn't see herself as being harsh. She was speaking the simple truth. "There's no time for nerves here. There are lives at stake."

Ethan subsided into silence.

When Sophie returned, she was properly attired and she'd piled her hair up on her head in a way that made Ethan stare at her even more than he'd been doing before. Lily was staring herself, though no doubt with completely different feelings from Ethan.

"Sophie, you can't wear your hair like that in an ED. It is impractical. It will come loose. Please change it and be quick. We are starting work in five minutes and I like to be early."

"Of course, Dr Chao. I wear it like this at university and it's never been a problem, except once on another placement where a little boy grabbed hold of it and decided to pull all the pins out, but I'm happy to change it if you'd like me to. I'll put it in a bun like yours: that must be okay, mustn't it?"

Lily watched her go with narrowed eyes. It seemed her new charge was nervous, impractical and had a disturbing inclination for loquacity.

If they were going to work well together, Sophie was going to have to change. And quickly.