Chapter 1

" Excuse me Dr. Eddward , you have a call on line 2, caller won't say who he is or where he's from but it sounded urgent "

He looked up at Nurse Jenna, exasperated, it was 2 AM in the morning, he had just finished a rather complicated appendectomy and was about to grab a few winks when she had barged into his office.

" Wasn't there anyone else you could bother ? " he asked, reluctantly getting up from his chair.

" I'm so sorry but the caller asked for you specifically " was all she could muster. He was known to be cordial to all his subordinates and he was an excellent surgeon, but his temper was legendary.

" You're new here, aren't you? "

" Yes Sir, I just joined here two weeks ago ", she answered as her face turned red.

" Well if that's all you may leave and for God's sake please inform Dr. Mathews if there are any other calls, he's on call today, not me."

As he picked up the phone and mouthed a hello he was greeted by a weary voice.

" Hallo Double Dee, it's... it's me, Ed. It's happening all over again Double Dee. I don't know what to do, I've sent May and the kids over to my sister's place in Florida. The rest of us are staying over at my place. "

He hadn't been called that name in 32 years, not that he was offended by it, but it felt like being sucker punched in the gut. The last time he heard it he was 18 and now here he was just shy of turning 50, it made him feel old all of a sudden. A chill travelled down his spine as he realised what Ed was talking about. The years had been good to him and had granted him the dangerous luxury of forgetting what had happened so many years ago.

" Err... hallo, Double Dee you still there? " said Ed's disembodied voice over the phone.

" I'm here Ed, I was just overwhelmed when you called me that. I...I haven't heard from you in...in 10 years and now you call me? " was his weak reply which he regretted instantly.

He couldn't blame Ed completely, hell, he couldn't blame him at all, he was solely responsible for drifting apart from him. His career demanded his time, his attention and every iota of his being yet here he stood feeling guilty over Ed. Even his family life had begun to suffer, Marie who was fed up with his late hours at work had started drinking herself to sleep. He found himself drifting in his thoughts again only to be interrupted once again by Ed's disembodied voice.

-A/N-

Please tell me what you thought, I have no idea where I'm going with this !

All suggestions appreciated!