Ok, so this is my offering based upon last nights episode (7/3/15). In my story Ethan is not "on the verge of a nervous breakdown" as Dylan told Connie, but you know me and my brotherly fluff - so it contains tiny bits from the episode with a fluffy brotherly twist!

As usual I don't own anyone that you recognise - just get them out now and again to terrorize them - ha ha.

Exhaustion

"Lily!"

Ethan's head shot up at hearing the concern in Rita's shout. Presently he saw the young doctor being helped out of the cubicle that she had been working in with Dylan. He was concerned to see how white she looked as she leaned on Rita for support...very 'unLily like'. He stifled a yawn as he turned back to his patient and carried on taking a medical history. He was bone tired, just like the rest of the staff, but he was managing to keep his head above water...just.

"What happened to Lily?" His brother's voice broke through his thoughts.

"She fainted," Lofty told him, "She says that she just missed breakfast and that she's ok but..."

"Yeah," Cal sighed shaking his head, knowing full well the reason that his colleague had fainted, as did Ethan.

Ethan's attention turned back once again to his patient, who himself was looking a lot whiter than when he had first been admitted. Suddenly he sat straight up on his bed and promptly threw up over the young doctor. Ethan staggered back out of the curtain in shock, and turned to grab a bowl. Dylan, who was looking at some notes, suggested that he go and change his scrub top because he 'smelt like a farmyard'. Cal couldn't help but grin at him, but what actually caught the younger brother's eye was how tired he looked. His large as life older brother looked anything but at the moment. The bags under his eyes had bags of their own, "Glad you find it funny. I don't even know if there are any clean scrubs...you ok?"

Cal's grin faded somewhat, "Yeah," he sighed, "I'm trying to organise this fun run for Taylor's charity while studying and working, oh and trying to fit in some sleep...I'll be ok."

"Let me know if you need any help," Ethan offered.

"Thanks, but there's not to much you can do unless you can get me some more hours in the day...there's a clean scrub top in my locker," he told him as he threw him the key.

Half a hour later, saw Ethan changed and feeling fresher. As he made his way to his next patient, he glanced into Resus and caught his brother holding onto Lily, who looked like she might have been crying. As he put his head through the door to see if everything was ok he overheard Lily telling Cal about how hard she works and that nothing seems to be good enough for Connie. He saw his brother consoling her and giving her encouragement, so he decided to leave them alone.

Later, Ethan was checking a xray on the computer when he heard his brother's long footsteps advancing towards the reception desk. He looked up as Cal went to place a file on the desk, it missed. Grumbling under his breath, Cal picked it up but wavered as he stood up, "Cal!" Ethan called, running round the desk to steady him, "I'm ok, just stood up to quickly."

"You're not alright. You're dead on your feet," Ethan glanced at Dylan to see if he had heard him, "Go and get a drink, I'll finish up here," he insisted as he pushed his brother towards the staff room. When Cal had closed the door behind him, Ethan finished what he was doing and cautiously made his way towards Connie's office.

He waited anxiously outside her office for her to ask him to come in. Once inside, he nearly turned round and ran out, her icy stare chilling him to the bone, "What can I do for you Dr Hardy?"

Ethan cleared his throat, "Did you hear about Lily?"

"Yes I did, but she has had something to eat and is now fine. She should know better than to go without a meal," Connie replied.

"Well Cal has just nearly keeled over too, and he has been eating properly. But what neither have them have had is proper rest. They are working their fingers to the bone, studying hard, which may be a stretch for Cal, but I have been there with him, they are still trying to have some sort of life...it's to much Mrs Beauchamp."

"You seem to be alright," she commented, her gaze never leaving his face.

"I don't need much sleep anymore..." he mumbled.

"So what do you suggest Dr Hardy? That I cave in and let this department disintegrate..."

"With respect Mrs Beauchamp, your new rotas are running the department into the ground. Would you consider changing the rota..."

"New rotas? Already? I've got a day off!" Cal whooped. He had been surprised when the ice queen herself had delivered new rotas. He had been shocked to the core to see that he had a day off.

"So have I," Lily commented, a small smile gracing her features, "I think I might sleep for the whole day!"

Cal turned to his brother, who had been noticeably quiet, "What about you Ethan?"

Ethan didn't have time to answer, as a RTA demanded their attention.

Cal almost skipped into work following his day off. He had managed the best lie in ever, spent some time with Taylor, he had even managed to do some food shopping seeing as he wasn't sure when Ethan's day off was.

He noticed Lily parking her moped in the car park and jogged up to her, "Did you enjoy your day off?" he asked, knowing that hers had been the day before his.

"It was most enjoyable thank you, did you?"

"I don't think I've ever enjoyed a day off so much," he smiled as they walked through the doors together.

After wishing everyone a good morning, the two doctors stepped into the staff room, surprised to see a certain young doctor fast asleep on the sofa.

Cal threw a smile at Lily and promptly sat himself by the side of his brother and poked him in the side. Ethan didn't move. Cal frowned a little and began to shake the younger man's arm in order to rouse him...nothing. He sat back on his knees and looked up at Lily, who looked as confused as Cal, "Is he ok?" she asked.

Cal looked at his brother once more, checking for signs of illness or something, but he was just fast asleep.

Suddenly, the door opened, allowing Charlie to enter, "Is he still here? He said he was going to catch a couple of hours in the on call room, before his next shift started - doesn't look like he made it."

"Hang on...how long has he been here Charlie?" Cal questioned, his brain beginning to work overtime.

"Erm, I don't actually know..." Charlie wondered, as he looked at the younger doctors confused.

"Was he here when I was off Lily?" The young woman nodded her head, "He was here when you were off...and I can't remember seeing him at home."

Suddenly, Cal got to his feet, running a hand through his hair in agitation, "You know what he's done don't you?"

Lily and Charlie looked at Cal, who was already half way out of the door, "I'm going to kill him!"

A couple of minutes later, Cal was knocking on Connie's door. He opened it quickly, "Dr Knight?"

"I won't keep you long Mrs Beauchamp, did Ethan cover our shifts so we had a day off?"

"Yes he did. I thought you knew about it."

Cal shook his head, "No we didn't. I'm going to kill him," he growled.

"I would've thought you would want to thank him - you certainly look refreshed..."

"He's currently laid out in the staff room - he didn't even make it to the on call bed!" Cal could feel anger and concern for his brother mounting.

"Well he told me that he didn't need much sleep and assured me that he could handle the extra work, which he did extremely well I might add..."
"It's not that he doesn't need much sleep, he just doesn't GET much sleep because he still has nightmares about the crash!"

Connie looked surprised at this, "I had no idea...well I suppose he's sleeping now..." The clinical lead decided against saying anything more as she realised that the young man in front of her was simmering, "Take him home Dr Knight. Make sure that he is alright before you come back - I will sort cover for you."

Cal took a deep breath to reign in his temper, "Thank you."

Cal made his way back to the staff room, bumping into Lily on the way, "What's happened?" she asked, as she was left completely in the dark about what had made Cal so agitated.

"Ethan arranged with Connie to do some of our shifts so that we got our days off - which is why he is currently comatose in our staff room!"

"He did what? So he also thinks that I can't do my job! Of all the nerve..." She looked up at Cal, suddenly realising what she was saying, "I'm sorry Cal. I'm just a bit touchy about what people think..."

"One thing you can be sure about Lily, is that Ethan has no doubts about whether you can do your job or not - me on the other hand, I'm not so sure about," he laughed, which brought a smile to the young woman's face.

"Connie's told me to take him home, so that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to get him settled then I'll be back."

Lily nodded, "When you've finised lecturing him about how stupid he has been pushing himself like that - will you thank him for me."

"Of course."

Twenty minutes later saw an exhausted Ethan being supported up the stairs to the apartment that the brothers were sharing. He had woken briefly when Cal pulled him up to take him out of the hospital. He had fallen straight back to sleep in the car and now he was only half awake, "Why are we here?" he asked.

"Because my do gooder of a little brother has worked himself into a coma!" Cal exclaimed, causing Ethan to grimace at the volume of his voice.

"You and Lily needed the rest. I'm fine."

"Ethan you need rest too - and don't give me that rubbish about not needing much sleep - the only reason you don't get much sleep is because of the nightmares, not because you're some super ninja who can survive on two hours sleep. Come on, let's get you to bed - then I've got to get back to work."

Cal left him sat on his bed while he went to find his brother something to sleep in. When he got back Ethan was already laid out, his breathing soft and even. Cal grabbed a fleece blanket from the cupboard and placed it over his softly snoring brother. As he smoothed the blanket, his hand lingered on the top of Ethan's, "Thank you little brother."

So that's it. Probably out of character but hey, it's fan fiction. Anyone seen the spoilers for next week? Looks good.

Just to let you know that if I continue to do these one shots based on episodes, I will only ever make it about Ethan and Cal. They are my favourite characters and I love their relationship. If ever there is a stand alone story about a character I may just change it to feature the brothers or not do one at all. Hope that's ok!