ROLE CHANGE
(This is another AU story, and features Lofty, Dylan, Cal and Ethan. This time, however, the relationship between Dylan and Lofty is pure bromance and they're both straight. When a horrific accident changes his life, Ethan has to struggle with adjusting to his new situation. Will he cope? Meanwhile, Lofty is drawn into a situation that could bring him both heartbreak and danger. Thanks once again to lovely Sweeet-as-Honey for her generous input.)
January 2015
Robyn, Cal and Ethan leapt to their feet and applauded enthusiastically as the cast of the musical version of "Dear Brutus" took their bows. They had been surprisingly impressed by Ben Chiltern, or Lofty, as he was affectionately known, who had played the jaded, cynical alcoholic Dearth. Not only could he sing but his acting was spot-on as well. True, it was an amateur production and Ben wouldn't get a penny for his hard work, but that only confirmed how he loved his hobby. He'd even taken a precious week's leave to appear in the show.
"Ben, you knocked our socks off" nurse Robyn Miller told him later in the pub when he'd bought everybody drinks with his usual generosity.
"You impressed me, mate" handsome Doctor Caleb Knight told him.
"Does this pub sell pies?" mused Doctor Ethan Hardy, who, despite his slight build, could eat like an ogre.
In the corner, two men watched the small group. One of the men was heavy-built and looked, cliché though it was, like everybody's favourite uncle. He had greying hair and was in his mid-fifties. His colleague was tall, painfully thin, blond and gave an aura of coldness. He was younger than 'favourite uncle' and looked a deal less trustworthy.
"He is the one" 'favourite uncle' affirmed.
"He has fulfilled the criteria. Well, thank goodness we fly back tomorrow and will not need to come to this city again for at least two months. Let us hope that Mr Chiltern does not decide to leave the country till then."
'Favourite Uncle' laughed.
"I doubt he will be going anywhere for a while on a Nurse's wages."
The blond snowman merely nodded.
Before these two returned to Holby, two lives would already have been devastated. Their return would devastate a third life.
"So was he good?" Dr Dylan Keogh asked Cal the next day.
"He was brilliant. You'll get a treat on Friday, mate."
"I hope so. It was a bit of a blow that I couldn't get Dervla into Doggy Day Care last night. They've promised me they'll have her on Friday so I'm trying my luck with a ticket for the show that night."
What Dylan meant was that he had a ticket for Friday's performance of Dear Brutus sitting in his drawer.
Iain and Dixie, the affable but competent paramedics, rushed through with a woman on a trolley.
"This is Aileen, thirty-five years old, broken arm and facial injuries. Suspected domestic violence…" Dixie lowered her voice.
Aileen was rushed to Cubicle Six, where Doctor Ethan Hardy waited. He became aware of a tall, muscular man rushing alongside the trolley.
"Please, Sir, you can't be in here."
Dermot Bassett glared at the young doctor.
"She's my wife and I want to stay here with her-"
Iain put his hand on the man's arm, with enough pressure to show that he could turn nasty if he had to.
"Wait outside, please, Sir. Better still, how about going and getting a coffee and letting Doctor Hardy do his job?"
"I want to talk to my F***ing WIFE!"
Ethan came over.
"Sir, I appreciate you're anxious about Aileen but we need you to let us do our job."
"Five minutes" growled Dermot, and went off to get a coffee.
Aileen gave a groan of pain.
"We'll get you something for that; Robyn, we need…" and Ethan was fully in charge.
"Aileen" Ethan said gently when the painkilling injection had been given, "Anything you tell us in here will be treated in the strictest confidence."
Aileen whispered:
"It's his job. He's under pressure…"
Dermot Bassett burst into the cubicle.
"What's she been saying?" he bawled.
"Come along, Sir, I need you out of here while I treat Aileen…"
Ethan grabbed Dermot's arm. As Robyn pressed the security alarm, Dermot not only shook the slim form off, but threw a punch at Ethan, knocking the young doctor to the floor. There was a sickening noise and the pain for Ethan was unbearable. He sank into merciful unconsciousness.
When he came round he found himself on a trolley and Cal the one walking beside him. He felt another wave of nausea and was grateful for the bowl placed under his nose.
"Ethan, where are you feeling the pain?"
"My back…"
"Anywhere else?"
"Can't feel it anywhere else."
"Okay, we're taking you for an X ray and a MRI scan. We'll also see you get a CT scan, in case of internal bleeding."
Ethan nodded, but felt sick in spirit as well as in body. One afternoon, doing his job, and now his life could be changed forever. Nightmare scenarios were racing through his mind.
Two months later
Lofty came off shift later than usual but not begrudging the time under the circumstances. The good news was that Ethan's back was healing and would improve over time; the bad that he'd already been put through a lot of treatment and soon would need indefinite therapy before this could happen.
He sauntered through the carpark and was making for the road where he could pick up a late bus, when he heard a quiet voice saying:
"Mr Chiltern, please get in the car."
He looked round slowly, unease filling his mind.
Two men sat in a car that obviously couldn't be bought on a NHS worker's wage without a massive loan. One was tall and angular, with the coldest eyes Lofty had ever seen. The other looked like everybody's favourite uncle.
He was about to walk away when the request was made a fraction louder than before. He saw the gun in the younger man's hand.
The carpark was deserted. If he ran for it he'd be injured at the least.
Trying not to let the fear envelop him, he walked to the car and took the seat indicated.