Hi, I'm back again with part 2 :) Thank-you all so much for the wonderful, kind and supportive reviews and comments I have received about this little story. I really am grateful and so pleased that so many of you are enjoying my rambling. This part is very much focused around Ethan and Cal's relationship as it is something I really enjoy on screen. Talking of on-screen, how amazing was last nights episode?! I continue to be stunned by the quality of Casualty at the moment, it really has come on leaps and bounds since I started watching religiously two years ago. Anyway, hope you enjoy :)


"So this is Esther Thompson's CT scan," Charlie spoke to Cal quietly, enquiring about a patient. "I think judging by the swelling she needs an MRI, what do you think?"

"Hmm yes," Cal replied non-committedly, distracted by the arrival of Robyn behind the older nurse. Charlie frowned at his response noting the doctor's distant glancing and turned to see the young nurse waving a card behind them.

"Alright Robyn?" he enquired gently, knowing the nurse had been unusually quiet since being involved in Lily's treatment earlier in the day. The incident seemed to have shaken up a lot of the staff, reminding them not only of the fragility of their lives but also the vulnerability that faced them in their jobs – it was hard enough coming to terms with Jeff's death whilst on duty not so long ago, but to see Lily so badly injured in the middle of the ED, a place they considered a safe haven compared to the places the paramedics frequented, was a big shock.

There was a strange feeling around the department, one that Charlie had experienced only a few times. The atmosphere remained tense, with police still prowling around and collecting statements and patients who were earlier rowdy were now withdrawn and quiet.

"Yep, I have a card for Lily from everyone in the ED, would you two sign it for me?" Robyn replied enthusiastically. Charlie smiled and nodded in response, before taking the card from the young nurse.

"She's not even out of theatre yet, she might not even make it out-". Charlie turned in surprise to see Ethan hovering by the nurse's station looking visibly upset by unfolding events.

"Ethan-", Cal warned gently, looking just as shocked as Charlie felt by the young doctors' comment.

"No Cal, this is ridiculous. You lot didn't see her just then," Ethan's voice sounded tight, like he was trying not to cry. "She might die Robyn, don't be so premature." Cal was about to step in before Ethan said something he'd regret but the younger doctor simply turned and walked away out of sight. Cal sighed heavily, before smiling apologetically at a bemused looking Robyn and leaving to chase his brother down the corridor.

"He really cares about her, doesn't he?" Robyn commented, smiling sadly at Charlie before placing the card under the desk out of sight.

"I don't think Ethan meant to snap-." Charlie started, but Robyn cut him off. "I know he didn't. He's right anyway." She replied simply, grabbing a patient's file and disappearing into a cubicle, leaving Charlie stood alone at the nurse's station.


Cal hovered by the staff room door for a few seconds after he saw his younger brother enter. Watching him through the windows, he noted in concern the troubled look pasted upon his paler than usual face and the way he seemed to slump onto the sofa. Ethan was well known in the department for not being one to take breaks and of course the generally chirpy nature he presented whilst at work and so this was highly unusual. Cal thought he knew the reason for his little brother's behaviour this afternoon, and it worried him. He'd seen the relationship between Ethan and Lily strengthen in recent months, although they'd always been good friends, since the minibus crash he'd noticed they had spent a lot more time together. Though the young man had had his brief encounter with Honey, he never let slip the coffee meetings he'd have with his younger friend. He'd tell Cal they were working on a research project together but in reality, Cal could see his little brother falling for the feisty junior doctor.

Of course, Ethan would never have acted on his feelings, being way too socially awkward and chivalrous for Cal's liking – but he could see that Lily's assault had hit Ethan hard. Maybe now all it would take, if Lily did pull through, was a little push from his older brother to finally bite the bullet and tell her how he felt. Cal took a deep breath to ready himself for the inevitable bickering as he gently pushed open the door, trying not to startle the man who was sat with his head in his hands.

"Well, that was maybe a little out of order Nibbles," Cal started on a joke, hoping to garner a reaction from using his pet name.

Ethan glanced up momentarily, rolling his eyes at his older brother. "Seriously Caleb, if you've come to be irritating I'd be much obliged if you left sooner rather than later," he quipped, but Cal could see straight through his sarcastic tone. He smiled gently at the younger man, before frowning as he contemplated the best way to start this conversation. The two men had rarely had "brotherly" chats, in fact the first proper discussion they'd had since their father's death during their teenage years had come after Taylor was arrested a few weeks ago. Cal had been trying hard (and often failing miserably) to make up for the previous fifteen years of general absence by being there for Ethan but he was so stubborn, so world weary, that Cal often found Ethan was the wiser of the pair.

"I don't think Robyn deliberately meant to be insensitive you know," he started tentatively, relaxing slightly as the younger man seemed to acknowledge his words.

"I know," Ethan smiled guiltily, any irrational anger he felt at the young nurse having ebbed away. "She's a good friend to Lily. If anybody, I was the premature one."

"I'm sure she'll forgive you," Cal grinned. "Lily is going to be alright you know Ethan."

Ethan just shrugged and looked to the floor, and Cal could almost see the barriers going up around his younger brother.

"Talk to me Eth," he tried, "I am here for you, as annoying as I can be."

"I'm just worried I've left it too late, yet again. Showing my cowardice and now Lily might die without me ever getting a chance to actually talk to her." Ethan exclaimed, evidently frustrated at himself. Cal resisted the urge to place a comforting hand on the younger man's knee knowing it'd probably wind him up further.

"So you do really like her," Cal smiled at the man noticing the way his cheeks reddened slightly. "Just as well, I was worried that black eye you gave me was for nothing," he quipped, causing both brothers to chuckle slightly.

"I tried to kid myself, distract myself-"

"And nothing worked. Right?" he smirked as the younger man nodded. "That's love little brother. I know Lily, Ethan, and I think if you were to talk to her she'd probably surprise you. She might give off that icy persona but deep down I think all she really wants is acceptance and to be loved by somebody. If you can give her that, tell her." Cal didn't know when he'd suddenly become equipped with the ability to give decent advice but he decided he was on a roll.

"It's not nearly the same, but you know after the crash, when you were really sick and we weren't sure if you'd pull through;" Cal closed his eyes as memories of that day flooded through his mind. "I sat by your bedside and there were so many things I wanted to say to you. What came out was a jumbled load of rubbish, you heard that for yourself but it felt good to finally say all those things I'd been holding inside. You have your opportunity to do that now, with Lily. Take it."

Ethan nodded slightly, turning to smile fondly at his older brother. "I think that's the wisest thing I've ever heard you say," he joked, desperate to lighten to mood despite recognising the truth in his brother's words.

"Me too," Cal grinned in response, before turning as the staffroom door opened slowly and a sombre looking Zoe entered. Both brothers seemed to subconsciously straighten as the consultant walked closer.

"Lily's out of theatre," she said, a relieved but tired smile creeping across her face. "It's still touch and go, she's in ICU and ventilated and the neurosurgeons said there's a fair amount of damage but they think she'll make a good recovery."

"Thank god for that," Cal breathed in relief, letting his hands run over his face before noticing his brother seemed particularly quiet.

"Yeah, more like thank the NHS for that," Zoe quipped, "I think she'd be alright for visitors now. I've given her parents a call but they live in Durham, it'll be a while before they get here so she could do with someone to sit with her."

Cal nudged his brother gently, smiling as he seemed to jump back to earth. "Right you, go and see the Ice Princess. Tell her I'll be up to see her later to tell her off for ruining my macho reputation."

Ethan chuckled, knowing his older brother was somewhat embarrassed by his state of shock after Lily's assault earlier in the day.

"Is Caleb in there?" the three doctors heard a shout from outside the room, recognising the voice as Rita's. "Tell him to stop slacking and do some work, his woman in cubicle 8 is asking for him!"

"Ah yes, the 88 year old with a fetish for young doctors in grey scrubs," Zoe snorted, "good luck with that one Dr Knight."

"Yeah, that's my cue," Cal mumbled and sloped out of the staff room, not before giving his little brother a quick reassuring pat on the shoulder.


Ethan always marvelled at the peacefulness of the ICU. It was not a place he frequented often but compared to the chaos of the ED, despite being equally emotionally charged, it was incredibly quiet.

"Hi," Ethan almost felt the need to whisper to the nurse at the desk in order not to disturb the quiet equilibrium. "I'm Dr Ethan Hardy from the ED, I'm here to check on one of my colleagues, Lily Chao?"

"Ah yes," the ward sister smiled reassuringly at the doctor, seemingly sensing his nervousness. "Lily is just this way if you want to follow me." The nurse led Ethan through the maze of incredibly unwell looking patients who only served to further heighten his anxiety. "We don't think Lily will be here for very long. She's doing well so far – is she a particularly stubborn person Dr Hardy?"

Ethan laughed, nodding knowingly. "The most stubborn person I know."

"Yes you can tell," chuckled the nurse. "It's serving her well this time. She's a tough cookie. Here she is," the nurse led Ethan to a side room. "You'll know all about the tubes and wires of course, but they might still be a bit of a shock."

The nurse was right – Lily seemed to be swallowed into the bed, drowning in the ventilators and IV lines attached to her. She looked impossibly small and Ethan was genuinely shocked. "I'll leave you to it, let me know if you need anything." the nurse commented gently before disappearing back onto the ward.

Ethan was reluctant to even touch the younger woman, she looked so fragile. Her head was wrapped in a huge dressing from the surgery with drains coming out at all angles, and the ventilator was distractingly noisy.

"Well, you don't do things by halves Dr Chao." Ethan smiled gently, sitting down in the chair placed by her bed. "You're going to be so annoyed when you see your hair though," he commented, knowing a large chunk would have had to have been shaved for the surgery.

"You know my brother gave me some viable advice today," Ethan quipped, feeling somewhat silly talking to a comatose person but knowing he should practise what he preached to families of ventilated patients in the ED. "You'd laugh at me if you could – probably remind me of how manipulative and dodgy he is…I don't know. I think he's alright really, Lily, he is trying. He told me I needed to talk to you properly and tell you how I feel. I think whilst you're asleep is a good start, don't you?"

Ethan knew he'd have to have this conversation again, when Lily was eventually conscious, but practicing now wouldn't hurt, not to mention all that evidence that suggested coma patients could hear what was going on around them.

"I think what I want to say is – I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not telling you before how much you mean to me. You've been a brilliant friend to me and I'm not the easiest person to be friends with." Ethan smiled, reaching to grasp the cold hand of his friend. "You make me so happy, even with your pig headed doctoring, cello-playing at 3am and obsession with sushi." He stood up, gently brushing some loose hair from the young doctors eyes and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Yes, I think I do love you Lily Chao," he commented with finality.


Well that's it! I thought this was a good place to leave this story, didn't want it to drag out for too long. I hope it lived up to your expectations, please do let me know what you thought :) I'll be back very soon with some more stories, fic-writing is proving rather cathartic for exam stress at the moment! Bethany x