Hi guys, remember me? I've been struck by a splash of inspiration (not sure how long it will last, so let's run with it)
This is very loosly based on spoilers from the winter trailer but I'm sure it will turn out nothing like this.
As always it's involving Cal and Ethan, with a smattering of Alicia in this one, although by the end of it you may not like her very much (and me, sorry Alicia fans). And as usual, I will be hurting my favourite character, so if you don't like it or find it tedious, then look away now!
I don't own anyone that you recognise. If I did we wouldn't be subjected to this awful 'triangle' storyline.
Better To Have Loved and Lost...
Ethan sat by the computer tapping his pen on his bottom lip. New Year's Eve in the ED - how had he got roped in to doing that? Oh yes, he volunteered - what an idiot!
He hadn't been particularly busy, thank goodness, but he knew that it was just the calm before the storm and that in a couple more hours the department would be inundated with highly intoxicated revellers. He finished writing is notes and keyed in the relevent data into the computer then just looked around him.
"Cup of tea Ethan?" he heard from in front of him. He started slightly at the interruption, then smiled when he saw Lily's natural smile, "Yes thank you Lily, that would be lovely. Noel, Dr Chao and I are just going to the staff room while we have a moment," he told the receptionist.
"No problem Dr Hardy. I'll come and get you if you're needed," he reassured the two doctors.
Once in the staff room, Ethan proceeded to make the tea as Lily watched him carefully, "You could take a picture Lily, it would last longer," Ethan joked as he became aware of her staring.
"What's going on with you?" She asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Why would anything be 'going on with me'?" he replied.
"You seem different...I can't put my finger on it," she mused, "Are you seeing someone?"
Ethan ducked his head as Lily's eyes lit up, "That's it! That's what's different. You are seeing someone aren't you?"
"Kind of," he told her, "It's complicated," he sighed.
"Oh come on Ethan, you don't do complicated," his friend shot back.
"I do this time," he conceeded, "I've been seeing Alicia."
Ethan wanted to laugh at the expression on his friend's face, but it was to serious an admission to laugh about it.
"But she's with Cal."
"I know, and I was fine with that. I even told him a few months ago that we were never going to be compatable, which meant that Cal could persue her, but just lately..." Ethan ran a hand through his hair, "Cal's hasn't been treating her properly and I hate seeing her so upset...but I hate myself more for doing this to Cal."
"Like he hasn't done it himself," Lily blurted out, immediately looking sorry for her outburst.
"I know he has. He's done it on numerous occasions, particularly with girls that I've liked - but two wrongs don't make a right."
"What are you going to do?"
"I've got to tell him, before he hears it from some do-gooder who gets the story all wrong," Ethan told her sadly.
Before Lily could say anything else, Noel burst through the door, "Doctors come quick!"
They both ran out of the door to see Louise helping a young man in obvious discomfort, clutching his arm that was dripping blood, "Get him to resus..." Ethan started, but the man grabbed hold of the young doctors arm.
"You've got to help her," he insisted.
"Who? Who have we got to help?" Ethan pushed.
The man looked him straight in the eye, "That hot young doctor...he's going to kill her..."
Ethan and Lily traded shocked glances, "He must mean Alicia! Take him to resus Lily..."
"What are you going to do? Ethan?" Lily shouted as her friend began to run towards the doors.
"I'm going to find her!" And he was gone.
Ethan dashed into the freezing night air, frantically looking around for any signs of Alicia. Who would want to hurt her? And why come to the hospital? It just didn't make sense.
Ethan couldn't see anyone vaguely resembling Alicia in the general area, so he began to make his way round the back of the hospital. As he rounded the second corner, he jumped as he came face to face with a man not much older than he was at first glance, "Sir, are you alright? I'm a doctor, do you need any help?"
Even in the dim light of a security light on the back wall of the hospital, Ethan could see the sneer on the man's face, "It's to late for that. You doctors think you're god - well you're not! You're just flesh and blood like me and you let her die..."
Ethan's reply died on his lips as he felt a sharp pain in his chest. The man grabbed him and pulled him towards himself, then twisted his hand and pushed the young doctor away from him. He spun on his heel and took off in the opposite direction - not once glancing back at the now slumped young man he left in his wake.
Meanwhile, in resus, Lily was just putting the finishing touches to some stitches in the young man's arm, "You were very lucky. The knife didn't hit anything major. It will be uncomfortable for a while but that is all."
The man nodded, "Can I go now?"
"I think the police may want to speak with you," she told him.
"Why would they want to do that?" he demanded, his anxiety obvious to see.
"Well you saw one of our doctors being attacked, they will want to question you."
"He gave me a hundred quid to tell you..."
"Excuse me?" Lily was confused.
"The guy...outside...he gave me a hundred quid and told me to come in here a get a doctor to go outside..." the young man babbled.
"Why would he do that?" Louise demanded as she took out her phone and sent a quick text to her friend.
"I don't know. He just said that he wanted to see a doctor..."
Louise glanced at her phone when the message alert went off. She read the message, then looked up at Lily, her face full of fear, "Alicia's in the pub and has been for two hours..."
"So where's Ethan?" Lily and Louise dashed from the room.
So where is Ethan? Any ideas? I'm not sure how long this story is. I've got a basic outline but if anyone has any ideas, I would be happy to hear them.
Not sure how quickly the updates will be as I'm writing this as I'm thinking it so we'll see.
Just in case I don't update before the new year, I would like to wish you all a very happy new year. I hope 2017 brings you good health and happiness.