Hey, me again. Just a little something to make up for no Casualty this week. It features our two favourite doctor brothers and this time I don't actually hurt them to much...
As usual I don't own anyone that you recognise - hope you like it.
Today's a good day...
"Good morning little brother!" Cal called as his brother dragged himself into the kitchen.
Ethan looked at him in surprise, "What's wrong with this picture?" he groaned.
Cal looked confused, "Excuse me?"
"Well, you're disgustingly chirpy for this time in the morning, and secondly you're not on shift until 2 so why are you even awake at this time?" Ethan was not a morning person.
"Ah, well, you see Nibbles, today's a good day! Today I transfer the last payment of what I owe you into your bank, so I thought I would go to the bank in person so that I can make sure it goes through and then cancel the standing order there and then!" He grinned happily.
Ethan rolled his eyes at the use of the dreaded nickname, but he couldn't help smiling at his brother, whose enthusiasm was infectious, "I have to say Cal, that I'm very impressed that you have managed to pay it back - it's not easy to pay back that amount of money," Ethan told him sincerely.
Cal shrugged his shoulders, "It was my fault that Taylor got the money - I shouldn't have taken it, especially from my own family so I had to make sure that you got it back."
"Well, I'm very grateful Cal, thank you."
Cal busied himself buttering some toast, placing it on the table in front of his brother, "Now I can concentrate on getting my life back in some sort of order. Once I've paid you I can start saving for a deposit on my own place, then I can be out from under your feet finally."
Ethan almost dropped the toast that he had taken a bite out of. That had been the last thing he had expected to hear coming from his brother. His stomach turned as he caught his breath. He actually felt his eyes moisten slightly. Suddenly he jumped up, "I need to take that to go. I need to get to work..."
"Why? You've got ages yet, why the sudden rush?" Cal was confused.
"I've just remembered that I've got some paperwork to finish before my shift starts..." Ethan told him, glancing round at him quickly as he dashed out of the door. Cal sat stunned as he heard the front door slam shut behind his brother. Although the abruptness of his departure surprised Cal, what had stunned him was seeing tears shining in his brother's eyes after he mentioned finding his own place. He thought that Ethan would have been dancing a jig when he told him, but that didn't seem to be the case - his brother had looked upset.
A couple of hours later, Cal was still pondering over Ethan's reaction as he stood in a small queue waiting to be served.
"Good morning, how may I help?"
Cal looked up in surprise, having not realised that he had made it to the front of the queue, "Oh yes, good morning. I would like to cancel a standing order please..."
He politely chatted with the assistant called Matthew, as the young man's fingers glided over the computer keys, "So you want to cancel the standing order to Dr Ethan Hardy..."
"Yes that's right, my brother..."
They spent the next couple of minutes discussing siblings and how annoying younger brothers/sisters could be.
"There it's all done. Is there anything else I can..."
His sentence was cut short by the sound of shouting and screaming. Everyone spun round to see what was happening...Cal soon wished that he hadn't.
Two masked men, both brandishing rifles, were striding through the bank, their guns raised shouting at everyone to get down on the ground. Everyone did as they were asked as the gunmen stopped at Matthew's position, and told him to fill the bags that they had with all the money he could get his hands on, "There isn't much...we've only just opened..." he stammered.
"Just put in what you've got, then we'll go to the safe!" He shoved the rifle in the young assistant's face. His young face paled significantly as he started doing as he was asked. Cal dared to look up , noticing two more gunmen further up the bank asking for mobile phones. Next to him, a young woman was trying to quieten her tiny baby, but she was finding it difficult because she was crying herself, "Hey, it'll be alright," Cal tried to calm her, "Your baby is picking up on your distress so you need to try to stay as calm as you can...for your baby."
She nodded her understanding, taking some deep breaths and speaking quietly to her baby. One of the gunmen strode over and dragged her to her feet, "If you don't shut that brat up - well I'm sure you can guess what will happen..." he yelled at her as he pointed the gun at her baby, who had once more started wailing. Cal jumped to his feet,"Hey! Pointing a gun to her baby is not the best way of ..."
"I didn't ask for your opinion!" The gunman once again yelled, "Perhaps I will point it at you..." he turned his gun on Cal, who although was feeling pretty weak at the knees with a weapon pointed at his face, he was determined not to show any weakness. Before he knew what was happening, the gunman turned the rifle around and used the butt of the gun to deliver a blow to Cal's abdomen. The young doctor felt the air leave his body as he doubled over. He was vaguely aware of hearing screams and crying from the children, but it seemed far away, "Does anyone else want to challenge me?" he shouted to no-one in particular.
As he moved off, the young mother crouched in front of Cal, "Are you alright?"
"I've been better," Cal gasped, as he lowered himself to the floor.
"I can't decide if you were very brave or very stupid," another voice came to him. The voice sounded like Ethan. No, it couldn't be - Ethan was at work. Please god, let him be at work. He spun round expecting to see his brother sat next to him, only to find, thankfully, a man probably in his 50's sat next to him shaking his head.
"Definitely the latter..." Cal conceeded.
A few minutes passed, although to the people in the bank it felt like hours. Suddenly sirens could be heard. The gunmen looked to each other, then the hostages, "Who did this?" one of them demanded. No-one answered, although everyone knew that it must have been one of the assistants who had set off the silent alarm. Another masked man dragged Matthew to his feet roughly, "Was it you?" he demanded of the frightened young man. Although it was plain to see that Matthew was scared out of his wits, he resolutely refused to answer the question. The gunman slapped him across his face, causing the young man's lip to split, "I'm asking you politely, was it you? You don't want me to ask you again believe me."
Matthew still wouldn't say anything. His eyes were brimming with frightened tears, but Cal could see that he was determined not to say anything. Once more he was on his feet before his brain engaged, all be it a little slower this time due to his painful abdomen, "He's just a kid. Leave him alone..."
One of the other gunmen dashed up to Cal, getting right into his personal space, "If you don't shut it...need I go on?"
Suddenly they all heard a female voice shouting for help, "Can someone help me please - I think my husband is having a heart attack!"
Cal was on his feet in an instant - all thoughts of his own injury forgotten. He noticed the gunman in front of him snarling ready to push him back down, "No, please, I'm a doctor!"
He didn't wait to be told. He quickly made his way to the frantic woman, who was kneeling in front of a man who was sat up leaning against the wall for support - obviously in a lot of pain.
"My name is Dr Caleb Knight and I work in the Holby ED. Can you talk?"
"Just about," the man gasped, "Joseph Brown - have had 2 heart attacks so know what it feels like..." he was turning paler by the second - sweat stood up on his forhead and he was rubbing his left arm quickly.
Cal did some basic observations - it was cut and dried, "He needs a hospital," he told the gunman stood behind him.
"Thought you were a doctor," he sneered.
"I am but I don't have my kit or anything, which is why he needs to be in a hospital."
"I don't know if we can...
"Look! You came here for the money - if this man dies then you're looking at a murder charge. You wouldn't see the light of day!" Cal yelled, breathing hard.
While Cal was dealing with Joseph, the gunmen grouped together to discuss their rapidly dwindling options. They decided that when the police got in touch they would let Joseph go - they didn't want a murder wrap to deal with.
"Ok, when we can, we'll let him go and the children..."
"Hang on, we didn't agree to that!" The other gunmen were surprised.
"I know, but we don't want these kids snivelling all day either - would do my head in!"
The others looked at each other, nodding their agreement at getting rid of the kids.
Suddenly one of the phones rang, the first gunman answered, "Yeah? No, no-one is hurt - we don't want to hurt anybody - we've got a man having a heart attack but we've got a doctor too, which is handy, but we are going to send the man out, with the kids - all they do is cry. I will send out the man and his wife and all the kids, then we will talk business..." he put the phone down.
He walked over to where Cal was trying his best to keep Joseph calm, now the pain had become crushing, "Right on your feet - you're out of here - you too lady," he told Joseph's wife, "You'll need to look after the kids though."
"I can't manage them all," she cried, noticing that there were three babes in arms, "I'll help you," Matthew piped up, eager to be busy.
The gunman nodded, "No funny stuff - I want you back in here..."
Five minutes later, Joseph, his wife, the kids and Matthew carrying a couple of the smaller babies, made their way out of the bank. It was slow going as Joseph was in a really bad way. They were met by police officers who took the babies and tried to persuade Matthew to stay with them, but he refused, he didn't want to be responsible for anyone getting hurt because he didn't do as he was told. As he made his way back to the bank, the man who had spoken to Cal earlier shouted, "Don't be a fool! Stay with them! Go back!"
Cal, who was watching from the doorway, felt the gunmen tense, bringing up his rifle into position, as they all watched Matthew desperately trying to make the right decision. He caught Cal's eyes that were telling him to run. He nodded slightly then turned back towards the police, "Run Matthew!" Cal shouted as loud as he could. Suddenly, all hell seemed to break loose. There was shouting and screaming. The door to the bank slammed shut - a gun shot rang out...
So that was the first chapter. I'm not particularly good with hostage situations, which is why I didn't drag it out very long. Next chapter is Ethan's p.o.v. - hope you like.
