Hello everyone! Here is the first chapter of a story I've had planned for a while now, I hope you enjoy, please let me know your thoughts on it and where you think it will go, I always enjoy hearing your thoughts! Happy reading, Kayxxx :)
Home for the holidays – Chapter one
Cal had been away for six months now. After some intense research he found his birth family, there was one thing about them though, they weren't exactly a bus ride away...they lived in Australia. After a few months of communication with them and planning, he decided to fly over there to meet them which Ethan was fine about knowing Cal meeting his birth family would make him find himself again so to speak, it was only when Ethan got a phone call from Australia saying Cal wasn't going to use his return ticket did reality hit in...He was losing his brother to the other side of the world. Now of course Ethan being Ethan thought it only right to be happy for his brother, so during Skype or phone calls he would act how he usually would, it was only when the Skype and phone calls stopped in the fourth month of him being away did he realise he'd lost his brother to the other side of the world. All he could do was hope he was happy, because in reality Cal wasn't really his brother as they had discovered almost a year ago, though Ethan found it evidently harder than Cal to move on with life however after two months of having no contact that task was getting slightly easier.
Cal strolled through the ED doors bombarded with many bags though he didn't seem to be struggling, "Cal when did you get back?!" Robyn called in shock as she spotted him, she ran straight over to hug him causing him to drop his bags.
"About twenty minutes ago, came straight from the airport to here" he explained with a smile as she helped him pick up his bags and head for reception, "is Ethan in today?" He asked.
"Yeah he's-" she was cut off.
"Caleb?" Ethan's voice called from behind him.
"Surprise" Cal replied awkwardly as he turned to look at the shocked expression on the younger man's face.
"What...what are you doing here?" Ethan asked confused; he looked as though he'd just seen a ghost.
"I thought I'd spend Christmas with you" Cal replied with a smile, "If that's okay obviously" he added awkwardly.
"Of course it is!" Ethan spat out; the wondrous smile on his face gleaming, the two months of lost contact completely disappeared; Ethan had his brother back even if it was just for Christmas.
"Yeah spending Christmas over there in the 30 degree heat is not exactly Christmassy, our summer is your winter so we spend Christmas Day having a huge barbecue on the beach with everyone in the neighbourhood, I'd miss my huge turkey dinner spread" he explained with a chuckle.
"It's nice to see you back Cal" Zoe smiled from behind reception.
"It is" Ethan agreed.
There was an awkward silence that fell over the pair once more as they both got lost within their own thoughts of how to go about this reunion after six months of separation.
"Oh come here Nibbles" Cal spat out as he pulled Ethan in for a hug.
"Ah Christmas is going to be great Cal, I was actually planning on working this year but I'd rather spend it just the two of us, it'll be nice, just like the old times" Ethan smiled excitedly as he began planning in his head.
Cal looked at him awkwardly, "Ah well actually..." He was cut off.
"Caleb if it carries on snowing we deffo have to build a snowman!" A voice with a thick Australian accent called from the ED doors.
All eyes turned towards the doors, "There will barely be two inches let alone enough to build a snowman, this isn't the North Pole" Cal laughed back; he was the only one who didn't turn towards the door; he knew exactly who it was.
Ethan's smile quickly dropped when he realised Cal wasn't alone on this trip back home, he looked through the crowds of people flooding in and out of the ED doors in wait of the owner of this voice to appear.
"Well it bloody feels like it, I'm freezing!" A young boy replied as he appeared out of the crowd, he was covered head to toe in layers, he had old worn out doctor marten boots on his feet, black jeans, a thick green jumper, a black bobble hat on his head leaving some of his bleach blonde hair poking through the front and to top it all off a huge green Parker pulled on over everything, "Wow your hospital is way bigger than ours!" He spoke amazed as he spun around slowly to scan the entirety of reception.
Cal sprung into action when he noticed him about to walk straight into Connie Beauchamp, "Lockie watch where you're going-" Cal was cut short when the boy ran straight into her causing her to lose balance in her heels for a slight moment before she stood up straight with a snarl.
"Oh sorry" the boy replied awkwardly as Cal pushed him toward reception and stayed to apologise.
"Sorry Connie, he has a habit of walking backwards" he shot a snarl toward the boy.
She looked at him as if she'd just seen a ghost, as Ethan did earlier.
"Home for the holidays" he explained with a smile.
She turned and head off down the hall, Cal watched her leave and then turned to the boy, "you're such a liability I swear" he shook his head at him.
"I'm sorry I'm just excited" the boy replied as he scanned reception, his scanning came to a halt when he noticed Lily, "wow" he spoke out in amazement she looked up at him with a snarl.
"What are you looking at?" She muttered looking up from her notes.
"Something extremely beautiful" the boy replied.
"I think I'm a bit too old for you" she muttered.
"Age is just a number my dear" he replied, his Australian accent stronger than ever.
"You disgust me" Lily scoffed and started off down the corridor.
"I'm not too sure of the lingo around here but I'm guessing that means I'm in with a shot eh?" He called after her with a grin causing everyone to chuckle, except Ethan who stayed frozen; he kept his head down in his notes though he was overly aware of Cal's travel buddy.
"Wrong woman to choose, believe me" Cal laughed.
"Ah, I'll win her over I'm sure" the boy replied confidently, "I've learnt from the best" he added giving Cal a nudge.
"Take your hat off indoors" Cal ordered him.
"What? Why?" He sulked in reply.
"Because it's manors that's why" Cal replied.
"Oh yeah, I've been learning the British poshness and politeness" he smiled to everyone before clearing his throat, "Please and thank you" he spoke mimicking Cal's accent, everyone laughed along.
"You sound like Oliver Twist" Max chuckled.
"Nah, he's the orphan" the boy teased referring to the fact he was adopted as he nudged Cal who pulled off his hat and held it up above his head so the boy couldn't reach, even if he jumped his highest.
"Give it back Caleb I'm freezing in this weather!" He shouted as he tried to grab it.
"You're the one who moaned to come!" Cal replied with a smirk.
"Give it back!" The boy laughed as they started play fighting, everyone watched on with smiles on their faces, Cal put the hat in his back pocket.
He looked up at Ethan who watched on confused which then reminded him that no one knew who the boy was.
"Oh, everyone, this is Lachlan my youngest brother" Cal finally introduced the boy.
Of all the things Cal could have come out with, he never thought it would be that. All his life he had heard the words "this is Ethan, my younger brother" come from Cal's mouth. It felt so heart shatteringly wrong to hear another name in that sentence. He just buried his head back into his notes, though really he felt like running and hiding away in the staff room for the rest of eternity.
"Oh my God I thought he was the image of you" Robyn spat out amazed as she watched the pair.
"Aw he's so cute" Louise smiled as she pinched his cheeks causing Lachlan to blush.
"How old are you mate?" Max asked.
"Ten" Lachlan replied.
"Ah not old enough to go out to town with us yet then" Max sighed, "I'm sure we can sneak you in somehow" he winked causing the boy's face to light up.
"That won't be happening" Cal butted in protectively.
"Anyway I'm surprised you've come with your brother and not a new love interest, don't tell me our dashing doctor knight is still single after six months in a new country?" Robyn asked with a smirk.
"He's not a Knight anymore, he's a Wolfe" Lachlan informed them. Ethan had never felt so small.
Cal rolled his eyes and ignored his little brother, "Well obviously there was the odd girl here and there but I had more important things, I have priorities" he spoke flashing a slight smile at Lachlan.
"I thought your priorities were girls?" Lofty asked confused.
"Not anymore" Cal replied.
"What about you kiddo? Have you lived in Australia all your life?" Max asked.
"Yep" Lachlan replied.
"Aren't they meant to have golden tanned skin because it's constantly sunny? You're paler than me!" Max laughed confused.
Cal and Lachlan exchanged awkward glances, "yeah I'm the palest in my family" Lockie replied.
"But-" Cal cut Max off,
"Anyway..." He began as he looked towards Ethan who still had his head buried into his notes, "Lachlan there's someone I want you to meet" he smiled as he pushed the boy in front of Ethan who looked up awkwardly and pushed up his glasses.
Lockie's face lit up as realisation overpowered him, "Oh my god you're Ethan Caleb's adopted brother!" he grinned.
Ethan was taken aback completely, the use of the word "adopted" hitting home.
"I'm Lachlan but you can call me Lockie, it's such an honour to meet you, I've heard so many stories" Lachlan spat out as he threw his arms around the doctor for a hug.
"Oh..." Ethan announced in shock and stood frozen as the small boy held him.
"Lockie what did I tell you?" Cal sighed.
He pulled away from Ethan having heard his brother's voice, "Oh sorry you don't like hugs do you Nibbles?" he teased.
Ethan's face reddened instantly, "Did you just call me Nibbles?" he asked.
Lachlan nodded "Yeah Cal told me the story about-"
Ethan cut him off "yeah okay I know it well..." he huffed giving Cal daggers.
"Why don't we all build a snowman together if it snows enough?" Lachlan suggested.
"Um..." Ethan mumbled awkwardly.
"He's never seen snow before he's a bit excited" Cal explained as he ruffled his little brother's hair.
Cal's phone began to ring, "is that mum?!" Lachlan asked in excitement.
"Yes" Cal laughed as he pulled it out.
"Give it here!" Lachlan shouted as he snatched the phone from his brother's hands and hurried off back to the car park, "mum guess what! It's snowing!" He called down the phone as he left.
Cal watched him leave with a grin on his face before he turned back to Ethan, "so...your little brother" Ethan spoke awkwardly as he looked down at his notes.
"Yeah he's mental" Cal laughed "but really he's just a big kid I can guarantee he'll call home crying tonight because he's missing mum" he added quietly.
"Oh well it's a good job he's got you then" Ethan replied, his interest seeming unconvincing as his statement was actually sarcasm more than anything.
"How about you take your break now and you two can get to know each other more? We could go to the café or something?" Cal suggested enthusiastically.
"Caleb mum wants to talk to you!" Lachlan called from the doorway.
"One minute" Cal replied still looking towards Ethan.
"No" Ethan replied easily, Cal looked at him confused, "I mean, no I'm busy, I was thinking of working through my breaks and lunch today" he replied.
"I can take over what you're doing if you like Ethan, give you you too time to get up to date-" Ethan cut Zoe off.
"No" he spat out suddenly shocking everyone, "There's no need honestly" he added forcing out a smile.
"Okay well then we'll wait here until your shift is up and we can do something then" Cal proposed.
"I'm busy" Ethan replied quickly, "I'll call you" he told him.
"Ethan what's gotten into you-" Lachlan cut him off there.
"Caleb come on, do you have any idea how much it costs to call from Australia hurry up!" He urged impatiently still with Cal's phone pressed to his ear.
Cal turned to look at him, "Okay I'll be there now one sec" he called back, he turned back to face Ethan but he had already gone, disappearing back off to work.