Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who read and reviewed this. Here's chapter 2. Have you guessed where Ethan is going?
Well, if you have or haven't, then you'll find out now. You may or may not need tissues as it could be quite a sensitive subject.
Family Matters - Chapter 2
Twenty minutes after leaving the ED, Ethan parked the car and just sat for a moment. He stared out of the windscreen, thankful that the sun had continued to shine, causing the temperature to rise comfortably. The young doctor couldn't shake the disappointment he felt about his brother not being sat in the car next to him. Since the crash Cal had been there for him whenever he had needed him, but he really needed his big brother today, and he wasn't there. He sighed deeply as he grabbed the bouquet of white and pink roses that he had bought on his way out of hospital.
He walked slowly towards his destination, glancing left and right, a sensation of peace washing over him.
Suddenly he appeared to be where he wanted to be. How had he got there so quickly? He hadn't noticed.
"Hey mum...it's me," the young man crouched in front of his mother's gravestone, "I've bought you your favourite flowers," he said aloud as he started the place the flowers into the vases in front of the stone.
"I can't believe that it's already been a year since you left us...Time flies by so quickly," he smiled, "It's been a busy year. You know I got that new job at Holby ED...I love it mum. It's extremely busy and our boss can be a bit of a witch, but I work with some amazing people. I'm sorry, I'm repeating myself aren't I? I bet you're fed up with listening to me prattle on..."
"She never got tired of listening to you talk..." a voice from behind him caused him to jump to his feet.
"Cal...?" To say he was surprised to see his brother stood there, his arms full of flowers too, was a bit of an understatement, "I..."
"You thought I'd forgotten...I know," Cal looked sad for a moment. If he had been honest, he had been a little hurt that his brother would have thought that of him, but he also remembered that Ethan had carried all the responsibility for his mum during and after her illness, so he would never have said anything.
"Truth is," Cal began, "I was waiting for you to say something...but you didn't."
Ethan couldn't help but chuckle, "I was waiting for you to say something...and when you didn't...well..."
Cal smiled, "I know. I had a bit of a shove from a certain curly haired nurse. I'm sorry Ethan..."
"Do you know what? Let's not do that ok? You're here, now, and that's what's important. She would have been so proud of you, you know? You've kind of turned your life around, apart from one or two relapses, but you're making something of yourself - you're a great doctor Cal, just like she always knew you would be."
Cal felt his eyes well up listening to his brother say that, "Ethan, I..."
Ethan put up his hand to stop him, "Just take it. I may never say those words again!"
The brothers both smiled and fell into a comfortable silence as they tended to their mother's grave, "You know, I still can't believe it's been a year," Cal commented sadly, "So much has happened."
"I know," Ethan replied quietly, not wanting to be drawn into a conversation about the past year, "Hang on. I had the car, how did you get here?"
"I got a taxi. I knew this is where you would be so I knew I'd be able to get a lift home." Cal then glanced at his watch realising that they had been there nearly a hour and the light was fading, "Speaking of which, let's go home. I've got a surprise for you," he told his younger brother as they both stood. As one, they took a step back and admired their handiwork, "It looks beautiful," Ethan breathed, looking at the gravestone as it stood tall in a sea of white and pink roses, "She would've loved it," he finished as a tear dropped down his face. He tried to wipe it away without his brother seeing. Cal had noticed but decided not to say anything - today was a day for whatever emotion seemed appropriate. He slung an arm around his brother and led him back to the car.
On the way home they picked up some pizza and a bottle of nice wine to toast their mother. As Ethan was busy finding plates and wine glasses, Cal set about sorting out his surprise.
Ethan placed the glasses on the table, but no plates, "Where are the plates?" Cal asked.
"Pizza is better out of a box - isn't that what you always tell me?"
Cal laughed, "Yes! Finally! You're finally coming round to my way of thinking!"
"Don't get used to it," Ethan warned.
As Ethan poured the wine, he realised that Cal was putting on a DVD, "Oh no," he groaned, "Not Die Hard again."
Cal settled himself as he shook his head.
The DVD began to play and Ethan nearly dropped his glass of wine.
His mother's face was staring at them from the TV screen, "What...how..." he stuttered.
"I found some old films when we were clearing out her things. I realised that they were films of us as boys, holidays etc, so I had them put onto DVD so that we could see her whenever we wanted to," Cal told him, pleased that Ethan hadn't got angry with him for not telling him about the films.
They sat in silence for the next half hour, watching their childhood play out in front of them. There were films of Cal trying to teach Ethan how to play football - Ethan trying his hand at cricket - sandcastle building (with a few tears from a young Ethan when his castle collapsed - tears that turned to smiles when Cal went to help him rebuild it) and all the time, the films were peppered with their mum, smiling, laughing, running, dancing, the way they remembered her before she was ill.
Cal could feel rivers of tears falling down his cheeks, yet he couldn't help smiling too at the memories. He glanced to his brother, who had his face in his hands and was sobbing deeply. He sighed. He hadn't want to upset his little brother even more. 'Another great idea Cal' he chastised himself. He shuffled over on the sofa and put a comforting arm around the sobbing young man, "I'm sorry Ethan, I didn't mean to make you so upset," he told him honestly.
Ethan lifted his face out of his hands - his eyes were red from crying. He leaned into his brother's embrace just slighly, to feel his comfort. This is what he had been craving all day - his big brother to look after him, "This is perfect," he told him between sobs, "I couldn't really remember mum's smile...her real smile. She would try her hardest to smile when she was ill, but it was always forced - she was trying to make me feel better. So to see her real smile is a great gift - thank you Cal, this has made my day."
More tears cascaded down the older man's face, "You know I'm sorry Ethan, don't you? For not being there when you needed me."
Ethan nodded, "You're here now and...I really need this," he leaned even more into his brother's embrace. Cal swallowed a huge lump in his throat on hearing this and wrapped both arms around his little brother, relishing the closeness and vowing never to do anything to hurt him again.
But will he be able to live up to that vow? Hmmm
Hope it was ok. See you soon.