It's been months since the crash that nearly killed Dr Ethan Hardy, months since his brother, Dr Cal Knight, saved his life, and months since the two of them started learning how to be brothers again.
The day started out like any other in the very busy Holby City Emergency Department, and the two brothers were going through patient files in reception. Ethan turned to Cal. "Hey, are you still coming over this weekend?"
"Yeah, of course," Cal replied. "I promised, didn't I?"
Ethan smiled. "Yeah." He looked at his brother and noticed the look of distraction. "Are you ok?"
Cal looked at him. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm just tired, that's all."
"Ok."
Before either one could say anything else, Mrs Connie Beauchamp walked over. "Dr Knight, a doctor has been requested at a crash site, car vs minibus. I would like to join the paramedics."
"On my way," Cal replied. He turned to Ethan, and passed him his patient files. "Looks like these are yours now, little brother."
Ethan took the files with a frown. "Be careful, Caleb."
Cal smiled at his concern. "I'll be fine," he said, before rushing to get ready.
Cal arrived at the scene, and was greeted by Iain.
"Joining us are you?" Iain said when he saw him.
"Connie said you needed a doctor, so what have we got?"
"School minibus was hit head-on by the car, whose driver appears to be drunk," Iain began to explain. "The driver of the car has already been taken to the ED. The minibus contained 12 people including the driver and two members of staff. The teacher and most of the kids were relatively unhurt. The worst injuries were to the ones sitting in the front."
"Who were they?" Cal asked as he looked at the wreckage.
"The driver, the teaching assistant and a student. The driver and assistant have already been taken care of and are on the way to hospital, but the young girl is still trapped. She has a puncture wound to her leg, and arm is trapped between the seats."
"How old is she?"
"Five."
"Shit," Cal exclaimed.
"Yeah," Iain agreed. "Her teacher is over there. Can you try and get some information, while I see how long before the fire crew can get her out?"
"Sure," Cal said, before walking over to a scared looking woman. "Excuse me?" The teacher turned and Cal recognised her immediately. "I know you from somewhere, don't I?"
The woman gasped. "Oh god. You're Maddie's uncle, aren't you?"
"You're Maddie's teacher," Cal remembered. "Was she here?"
"I'm sorry," she cried. "She wasn't feeling well, so I let sit at the front."
Cal heard a shout from behind him. "We've got a leak!"
Cal spun around, and ran to the minibus, ignoring the shouts of his name. Cal climbs through the broken window, carefully situates himself next to the injured girl. "Maddie? Can you hear me?" The young girl gave a slight nod. "Can you open your eyes for me?" Maddie slowly did as he asked, and looked up at him. "Hey, Sweetheart. You're gonna be ok." Iain appeared next to him. Cal turned to him. "We need to get her out of here."
Iain nodded. "We need to make sure even more damage won't be done. The fire crew about to start cutting. Keep talking to her and make sure we know all her injuries, whilst I see how bad her leg is."
Cal turned back to Maddie. "Maddie, I'm going to ask you some questions, and I need you to answer honestly, ok?" Maddie nodded. "Do you remember hitting your head?" Nod. "Does it hurt?"
"A little bit," she whispered.
"Does anywhere else, apart from your head, leg and arm hurt?"
"My tummy."
Cal checked her stomach and chest. He turned to Iain. "Possible broken ribs." He turned to Maddie. "Anything else?"
"No."
"Ok," Cal said. "I'm just going to check your head, and ask your some questions to see if your memory is ok." Maddie nodded. "Do you remember my name?" he asked as he shined a light into her eyes. Nod. "Can you tell me?"
"Uncle Cal," she replied.
"Good girl," Cal smiled, ignoring Iain's look of shock. "And where do I work?"
"At the hospital with Daddy."
"What is the name of your favourite teddy?"
"Caleb."
Cal chuckled. "Your head seems to be ok, but I'll check it properly at the hospital, ok?"
Maddie nodded, before asking, "Uncle Cal, where is Caleb?"
Cal looked at her. "Did you have him with you?"
"He was in my bag."
Iain saw a rucksack, and reached down to grab it. "Is this it?"
"Yeah, thanks, mate," Cal said as he took the bag. He opened it, took out a brown, fluffy monkey and gave it to his niece.
Iain watched the exchange with a slight smile. "Why did you call him 'Caleb'?" he asked.
"I gave it to her for her birthday," Cal told him.
"Daddy said it reminded him of Uncle Cal," Maddie said.
The sound of breaking broke their thoughts. The minibus was cut open. Iain looked at Cal. "I'm going to get the trolley."
Cal looked at Maddie. "Maddie, Sweetheart, I'm just going to try and move your arm from between seats. It's going to hurt, but I need you to try and be a brave girl for me, ok?"
Maddie nodded. Cal gently took her arm, and started to pull. Tears started to fill his eyes when he heard his niece starting to scream in pain. Finally, he managed to pull her arm free.
"There we go, Sweetheart," he cooed softly. "All done."
Iain came back with the trolley. "Cal, I need you to lift her through the window, and I'll take and put her on the trolley. Just be careful of the glass in her leg."
Cal nodded. "Ok, Maddie. I'm going to lift you up and pass you to Iain, then I'll climb out and we'll go find Daddy at the hospital." He carefully lifted her and passed the young girl to his colleague, before quickly climbing through the window, and rushed over to the ambulance as Iain settled the young girl in the back. "I'm going to give you something for the pain, ok?" Cal said to Maddie. "It's going to make you tired."
Iain watched as Cal gave Maddie the morphine. "I'm guessing she's Ethan's daughter," he said.
Cal looked at him. "Yeah."
"I didn't know he had a daughter," Iain said as the ambulance started to speed away.
"You know Ethan, he doesn't like people knowing about his private life."
"I noticed." He looks at Cal, and sees the fear and love he has for his niece. "She's gonna be ok. Everyone will make sure of it when they realise who her dad is."
"She better be ok," Cal replied quietly. "Cause if she's not, it's gonna destroy him. I nearly lost him once, and if something happens to her, I know I'll lose them both." He looks up at Iain. "I don't think I would cope."