Ethan had went to the ED straight after his appointment. He didn't know why, he was feel particularly rough and the best thing for him to do would be to go home to bed but he just didn't want to be alone. Being surrounded by his colleagues was the next best thing.

"Doctor Hardy. I thought you had today off?" Lily asked as she approached him noticing him coming out of the lift curious as to why she was here if he was too.

"Um yeah. Sorry Lily. I'm not on shift." He told her knowing this would only lead to more questions.

"So why are you here?" She frowned.

"I had an appointment upstairs." He told her. "I need to see Cal. Have you seen him?"

"He's just on a break." Lily told him. "He's being even slower than usual today. I hate working with him."

"Lily. It's our Mum's anniversary today." Ethan looked at her feeling quite defensive of his brother's behaviour. "As much as Cal will try to deny it, he is going to be upset."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Lily spoke sheepishly.

"Well no, I wouldn't expect you to." He glared at her.

"Doctor Hardy." The familiar voice of his clinical lead rung out and Ethan spun around to face her. "Everything ok here? Haven't you got patients waiting doctor Chao?"

Lily gave a nodded and scuttled back to work as Ethan watched her sighing.

"Now, I have to ask. Why book a day off, not tell your brother and then turn up to work?" Connie questioned.

"I needed a word with Cal. I needed a word with you too actually. It's quite important." Ethan told her forever feeling nervous when communicating with his boss.

Connie nodded. "Doctor Knight has just been sent out on a call. But I have a spare 10 minutes if you want to come through to my office." She spoke and walked towards her office.

Ethan was unsure about confessing all to his clinical lead before his brother but by the looks of things was not going to get much of a choice in the matter.

Connie sat behind her desk and Ethan came in noticing how hot the room felt against his skin he took a deep breath before closing the door and taking a seat.

"So what is it?" The clinical lead asked.

Ethan faltered slightly looking down at his hands which were becoming quite clammy and shaking uncontrollably. "I had an appointment today. Upstairs."

"Yes?" Connie listened. "And?"

"Well." Ethan looked up and around the room a little.

"Is this a slightly delicate situation?" Connie asked having seen people act this way before.

Ethan nodded and closed his eyes swallowing hard.

"Are you ill in some way?" She continued to question and received another nod.

Ethan looked up at her fear evident in his eyes and his face had visibly paled he pulled out the leaflet from his pocket that the doctor had given him earlier. Connie took it and seeing the title sighed.

"Medulloblastoma." She stated.

"Grade 2." Ethan added. "They want to admit me tomorrow, surgery then chemo and maybe radio therapy."

"Well you can rest assured that you will have a job waiting when you return. We can get a locum in to cover your shifts while you're away." Connie smiled.

"Thank you." Ethan smiled back a little gratefully.

"Explains why you look like death warmed up right now though." She told him and poured him a glass of water placing it on the edge of the desk closest to him.

He took it gratefully and sipped it. He was a little taken aback at how well it had gone. He just hoped Caleb would take it well too.

"I need to speak to Cal." Ethan spoke. "He doesn't know a thing."

"You didn't even tell him you weren't feeling well?" Connie frowned. "Surely he noticed."

"It's been easy to hide, he did ask me once but I put it down to a stomach bug." Ethan explained. "But I need to tell him. Today of all days too."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"A year ago today our Mother died. Of cancer." He laughed ironically.

"I see." Connie didn't know what to say to the young doctor. She had seen cancer destroy lives of families but for the same small family go through it twice was going to be hard for both boys. "I will send doctor knight straight through when he get back from his shout. You can stay in here. Drink that water." She told him standing up.

"Thank you Mrs Beauchamp." He smiled gently and watched her leave.

Another chapter done. I really should start updating with longer chapters but i don't plan. I just write and when the story feels like it should pause it does. It can be my new years resolution. Let me know your thoughts guys. Love J x