After Iain had gone to work the next morning, Lily smiled to herself. It had been so lovely to spend the night with him, and she knew she was lucky. It was nothing but a relief that they finally managed to settle their disputes. The relationship was still budding but every minute of uncertainty in the build up to it felt worth it. She'd happily go through all the arguments again, take the brunt of all the conflict, if it meant they'd stay together. She loved him and she'd moved a mountain for him. A text pinged through.

'Thanks for making yesterday so special. I forgot to add, there's only one rule about these letters. You must open them all before September.'

Lily thought about this. It gave her six months. She nodded to herself.

'Sure. Hope your shift isn't too stressful, I'll try and catch you at some point.'

'Thanks darling. I'll call later? Xx'

Lily paused, not knowing whether he meant via phone or in person. Deciding she was comfortable with either, she typed a message back quickly.

'Okay x'

Her eyes skimmed back over the instructions that sat with the envelopes. Intrigued, she gently tugged out letter 14 - to be opened once she'd had a good day. She had, so she might as well. Sliding her a thumb along the seal, she pulled the piece of paper out and sat it on her knee. Surprisingly, Iain's handwriting managed to be very neat and much more legible than her own.

'I am happiest when you are happy. Whatever we've done today, I am over the moon that it's brought a smile to your face. There's nothing I love more than knowing you're content, because you deserve that Lily.

There will be so many good days, I promise. I like the zoo. We'll have to go at some point, just us. That's if we've not been already. Even if we have, we can go again. The beach is also good. There's some really pretty ones in the southern parts of the country, though you can't beat the ones abroad. Anything at all.

Back to the subject though. I'm managing to ramble even on paper, how does that work? Chances are, if you had a good day, so did I. Every day is a good day when I'm with you. You make me happy, Lily. There'll be the bad days, and the normal days, and the good ones too. I mean what I said all those months ago. I'll be there for you, if you'll let me, and we'll be something special for as long as we are.

My psychic powers tell me this will be one of the first you open. I know you well. I've worked this out using Lily logic. You wouldn't want to spoil the other more meaningful ones, yet you were curious enough to open this. Am I right? I could be wrong, and then that would be embarrassing. I'm sure you'll forgive me though.'

Lily giggled, tears springing to her eyes.

'I do wonder what made the day good. Maybe I'm just too funny. Maybe we watched a good film? Maybe I amazed you in some other way? Who knows. I just want to ask one thing of you. Will you make a note of it in some way? Write it down, you're good at that. I'm kidding, but I don't mind how. Just please put it on paper.

This is a rubbish letter compared to the others, but there's not much to say. You're already on cloud nine, and you should stay that way.

I love you.'

She folded it back up neatly, placing it back in its envelope for safekeeping. She wanted to preserve it, make sure it didn't get tatty, then scribbled a quick note of the previous day on a loose scrap of paper.

-x-

Heart feeling full, she practically skipped into work.

'Someone's looking happy.' Ethan observed, noticing the wide smile on Lily's face. It was the sort of smile that would only be worn if a good evening was had the day before. The dark circles that took residence under her eyes, accompanying the smile, described to onlookers exactly the type of night that she'd had.

'I am happy.' She said.

'I can tell.' He smiled back, as he sorted the papers that were in front of him.

'It's the look of love!' Ethan tilted his head to the side.

Lily blushed slightly. 'Do I really wear my heart on my sleeve so much?'

'Afraid so.' He cleared his throat as he clocked Iain approaching.

'If it's not my favourite woman!' Iain greeted, moving up behind her and planting a kiss on her cheek.

'Not at work!' She hissed, batting him away but smiling anyway.

'PDA, can't beat it. Makes it even better.' He said, leaning against the wall as he spoke to her.

'Wait... how do you... Patent ductus arteriosus?' Lily asked.

'What?' Iain replied.

Ethan chuckled, stepping in to clear things up. 'I-I believe he meant public display of affection, Lily. And Iain, Lily thought you were describing a foetal abnormality - condition, rather - that's abbreviated in the same way.'

'Ah.' Iain looked amused. 'Trust you, what're you like?'

'A reasonable thing to think,' She huffed, feeling humiliated for missing the joke.

'That's what years of extensive training in cardiology does to you. I don't envy you.' Ethan raised his eyebrows, leaving reception to take the next patient.

'How has your morning been?' She asked.

'Reasonable.' He nodded. 'It's not the same without Jez.' He replied.

'Yeah. When is it the new paramedic arrives?'

'In three or four weeks or so.' Iain answered.

Lily's head snapped round when she heard Ethan shout. And, again, even louder. 'Lily! Need some help over here!'

She immediately turned and rushed over, heels scraping against the floor. Instead of springing into action, she shuddered at what she saw.

'Steven Brooks, impaled by this metal pole when working on a construction site. GCS 10 on arrival, it's now 7 and dropping. This is not my area of expertise at all. Waiting on paramedics for full information, they'll be two minutes.' Ethan explained.

Lily took a shaky breath, nodding. Her stomach lurched when she saw the man and his gaping wound. Not usually squeamish, she clapped a hand to her mouth.

'Lily?' Ethan urged, worried expression turning to expectant.

'Yes, take him in, Bay 3.' She asserted, mustering the authoritative tone from somewhere deep inside.

'We need to find some blood. How many units am I crossmatching for?' He asked.

'Whatever you think best,' She replied, sweeping the hair out of the back of her shirt and pulling gloves on.

'But-'

'You also have a degree in Medicine, okay?' She snapped, exasperated.

He took this well and on the chin, nodding meekly and pulling the drawer out to look for equipment.

The frenzy of beeps alerted them both and David. All three jumped.

'He's arrested.' David announced. Both medics froze. 'Shall I start compressions?' The nurse asked.

'No.' Lily said. 'Don't do anything.'

'We've got to do something, or we risk brain cell death.' Ethan urged.

'We'll impale it further in, which risks in even worse internal damage.' She explained.

'Obviously, that's understood, but we must keep the blood circulating. That is paramount to his survival.' Ethan replied, unwavering. Lily glanced back at the patient.

'I'll need to find Mrs Beauchamp or Dylan, one second.' She dashed out, slowing to a walk. Dazed by what she saw, her eyes managed to scan the room for someone professionally higher than herself. Although usually competent, she felt rocked by what she'd seen. Inside, she knew it wasn't fair to leave Ethan, who was both less experienced and visibly panicked.

'Mrs Beauchamp.' She managed to croak.

'One minute.' The clinical lead answered, pressing the phone against her ear.

'I really need your help now!' Lily's voice wobbled.

Connie excused herself down the phone, pressed her lips together and marched through into resus, where Ethan was ineffectually pressing down on the man's chest.

'I never said to start with CPR.' Lily told him.

'No, that's true, but you did tell me I had a medicine degree of my own and so I should think for myself. This is what I've done.' Ethan argued.

Expertly Connie moved Ethan out the way, taking over. 'Has either one of you ordered a CT scan?'

They both fell quiet. 'I did.' David piped up.

Connie scoffed. 'So, neither of my most reliable medics in the room has managed to do anything productive.' She gave them a baleful look. 'And instead, it fell down to the staff nurse? All credit to David, he has been the doctor. Over 15 years of training between the pair of you and you fail to take the most important steps. Unbelievable. Disappointed isn't the word.'

They all watched as Connie moved round the patient. 'CPR was started way too late. If he survives, brain damage is a very real possibility. Someone call ICU, please.' She said, breezily, as she settled the patient into sinus rhythm again.

David obliged, heading out the room without a word.

'Ethan, why didn't you start CPR earlier?' Connie addressed him coolly. 'This could have cost this patient.'

He dropped his eyes, not about to drop his friend in it, despite everything. Lily knew what Ethan had been through. He couldn't bear the brunt of this, it could be devastating for his career. She wrestled with her morals. Gulping back the lump in her throat, she opened her mouth to speak.

'I requested that he didn't.' She said quietly.

'Because of the obstruction to his chest?' Connie nodded.

'Yes.'

'In Dr Chao's defence, I do think she was being vigilant and observant, considering any additional potential risks. They are good qualities - a careful doctor is a competent one.' Ethan added.

Lily felt a surge of gratitude. He stuck up for her when she had made him feel so low, so worthless.

Connie pursed her lips. 'Since you were the assisting medic, Ethan, I'll need you to write a statement on this. An echo of what you've just said, or if you have anything you'd like to add too. Just a precautionary to cover our backs if the family should sue. After your shift will do.'

'That's fine.' Ethan nodded, meeting the clinical lead's eyes with his own.

'And Lily...' Connie turned on her way out. 'It was the wrong call, but it was a good observation. It could have been tragic - fatal, perhaps - if the object had been further embedded into his chest, so. Well done.' She said, with a slight nod of approval. 'Make sure you both chase David up, he's stable and so needs to go to ICU after the scan. Okay?'

'Thanks for your help, Mrs Beauchamp.' Ethan said, which Lily echoed.

'It's my job. You are both still good doctors, alright? I lost it a bit, I was worried for the patient... and for us all. I now see things more clearly.'

Lily breathed out slowly, turning to Ethan and finding herself at a complete loss for words.