Have I told you lately just how much I love this fandom. You are the best at reviewing, favouriting stories. Thank you so much. Hope I don't disappoint. Onwards...

Charlie replaced the phone receiver down and made his way back to the cubicle, surprised to see only Rich and John there, "Hi, erm, they are ready for you now in CT so I'm going to get a porter to take you up if that's ok? Did you see where Dr Hardy went?"

Rich looked round, having not noticed that Ethan had left. He shook his head, but John spoke up, "H...he went through those doors," he told him, pointing the way.

Charlie smiled, "Thanks. It won't be much longer for you," he told them as he went in search of Max.

"Hey Max," Charlie called when he saw the young porter in conversation with Cal, "I've got a patient who needs to go for a CT. They are ready for him as soon as you can get him up there - Dr Hardy has already signed the form - cubicle three..."

Max nodded and began walking up to the cubicle. He pulled the curtain round and proceeded to wheel the bed from it.

"Hey Charlie have you seen Ethan?" Cal asked the nurse, suddenly realising that he hadn't seen his brother in a while.

"No. He was treating the young man that Max is taking to CT..." he broke off as he noticed Cal's expression change. He followed his gaze to John, who was being pushed towards the lift, followed by his brother. Cal recognised what was going on with the younger man and felt his blood run cold.

A patient, a young patient, with Huntingtons - no Ethan for a while - "Charlie, did you say that Ethan was treating him?" he asked nervously, already knowing the answer.

Charlie gasped as realisation hit him, "Yes he was - John said that he'd seen him go through those doors..."

Before he had chance to finish, Cal was striding purposefully towards the doors, pushing both open in his haste to find his brother.

Charlie hurried behind him, quietly berating himself for not getting another doctor, "Cal I'm sorry. I asked if he wanted me to get another doctor but he insisted that he was alright - and I didn't want him to realise that I knew, but in hindsight..."

"It's ok Charlie - you couldn't have known," Cal reassured him.

They made their way carefully down the desered corridor until they collided with one of the cleaning staff, "Oh thank goodness," she breathed, "There's a young man just through there in real difficulty - I couldn't get him to talk to me," she told them as she tried to get her breath back.

As Charlie thanked the woman, Cal sprinted through another set of doors, skidding to a halt when he saw his little brother slumped on the floor with his knees up to his chest rocking slightly.

"Ethan," he said quietly so as not to alarm the younger man.

When he got no response, he sat down next to him just letting his shoulder touch his brothers. He sat like that for a couple of minutes until Ethan suddenly looked at him, shock evident on his face, "Cal?" he questioned breathlessly.

"Hey, what are you doing on the floor?" his brother kept his tone light.

Ethan looked round, obviously confused, "How did I get here?" he asked no-one in particular.

Cal felt a stab of anxiety as he glanced towards Charlie, who had stayed a way back to give the brothers some space.

"You tell me. One minute you were treating a patient apparently, then you disappeared!" Cal explained, his heart skipping a beat when Ethan's expression turned slightly pained.

"John," he breathed, "My patient...he has Huntingtons and he's showing symptoms..."

"I know Ethan, I saw him going for his CT..." Cal told him sadly.

"He's only thirty five Cal - thirty five! He's not that much older than me...I thought I had longer!" Tears began to fall down his face as his breathing sped up slightly.

Cal, who had reeled when he heard how old John was, pulled himself together on hearing his brother's breathing change, he knew what that sound was, "Ethan, try to slow down your breathing mate or you'll end up having a panic attack...deep and slow, can you do that for me?"

He took hold of his hand, trying to ground the younger man. It seemed to work as Ethan's breathing returned to a more normal rythmn.

Cal stood and held a hand out, "Come on little brother, someone will notice that we're gone."

Ethan looked as if he was going to argue, but one look at Cal's concerned face made him get to his feet. Cal snaked an arm around his shoulders as he guided the younger man back towards the ED.

Ethan looked surprised to see Charlie, having not realised that the older man was even there, "Take him for a coffee or something," he advised Cal.

A few minutes later, they made their way back into the ED, "Ah, the wanderers return," they heard the unmistakable voice of the clinical lead.

"Mrs Beauchamp, I can..."

"My office now, both of you," she demanded as she flung open her door to allow them access - Charlie joined them.

"Care to explain why you both suddenly disappear from the department for twenty minutes?"

"It's my fault Mrs Beauchamp..." Ethan admitted nervously.

"It always is Dr Hardy. You seem to admit to anything to keep your brother out of trouble," she countered, staring hard at the young doctors.

Suddenly, for no apparent reason, her frustration towards the two men seemed to disappear. It was then she realised that they both looked haggared, "Are you both alright?" she enquired more gently.

"Yes," Ethan replied, far to quickly.

"No," Cal replied, his head lowered, not willing to look at her just yet.

"Cal," Ethan hissed under his breath.

Connie watched the interaction with interest - there was definitely something going on with the two of them, and if Charlie's expression was anything to go by, it was something serious.

"I know it's been a tough few weeks with your mum and everything - please know that my door is open if you need to talk and I do mean that," she told them with a slight smile on her face.

Ethan nodded, desperately trying to hold back more tears, Connie had noticed. She couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for the two young men, finding out about being adopted - finding their real mum only to find out that she had Huntingtons. Suddenly the penny dropped.

"You've had the test done haven't you?"

Seeing the outright shock and terror on their faces, Ethan's in particular, would have made Connie chuckle on any other day, but today their expressions filled her with dread.

Cal was the one to speak up, "Yes, mum wanted to know before she passed," was all he offered - but Connie knew.

"Ethan..." she pushed gently.

Ethan suddenly found the floor very interesting, but she could see the tremors running through him as he fought to control his emotions, "I have it," he whispered, "I have the gene."

Although shocked to hear the admission, Connie nodded, "I'm sorry Ethan - so very sorry..."

Suddenly Ethan hurled himself to his feet, "You're sorry, Cal's sorry - everyone's sorry - but sorry doesn't help me does it? My life will be chipped away and there's not a damn thing I can do about it!"

Cal couldn't move. He just sat and cried. He felt like his heart was being squeezed in a vice like grip hearing his brother in such pain.

Connie rose and approached Ethan, "You are right," she told him quietly, "Sorry just doesn't cut it, but why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Ethan dropped his head once more, this time in shame, "I was in denial - we both were," he replied as he glanced towards Cal, who was nibbling his lip nervously, "I didn't want anyone to know - I didn't want people constantly checking up on me, making sure I was 'alright' as if I was already on my way out," he wiped furiously at his face.

When he had calmed down a little, "How will this affect my job Mrs Beauchamp?" he asked hopefully.

"I can't see that there's a problem with your job at the moment. I won't lie Ethan, we will have to monitor you - but I promise you now that I will do everything in my power to help you stay in your job for as long as possible."

Ethan sat back down, "Thank you," he breathed.

"Can I give you one piece of advice Ethan? Tell the others - they won't mollycoddle you - they haven't got the time, but they would want to know so they can support you. You might not think it now, but they are all really fond of you and will want to help - don't push them away."

Ethan glanced at Cal, who nodded his agreement, "Ok," he sighed, "I'll tell them tonight."

Connie smiled at them, "Good - now get back to work," she ordered.

"Do you want me to treat your patient?" Cal was asking his brother as they left the office.

"No, I'm perfectly capable," Ethan retorted.

"That's not what I meant..." Cal was saying as they turned the corner.

"Oh Charlie - I can't believe it!"

Now that the brothers had gone, Connie let her emotions surface, "Those poor boys. After everything, they've now got this hanging over them."

Charlie took the seat vacated by Ethan shaking his head, "I know - it's just not fair. Do you know Ethan is treating a young man at the moment who had a fall? He's got Huntingtons - he's thirty five and already showing symptoms...that's what set Ethan off."

Connie looked shocked and sad, "No wonder - that's not much older than Ethan is now. Why didn't he get someone else to treat him?"

Charlie smiled, "I asked him but he insisted on treating him - you know what he's like."

Connie nodded her agreement, "You know Cal told me," Charlie carried on, "That when they opened their results, Ethan told their mum that he was clear so that she wouldn't know that it had been passed on."

"That must have been so hard for him, trying to make it seem that everything was ok. He's such a selfless young man," she felt a tear track down her cheek, "How's Cal holding up?"

"He's trying his best. He's really come on in the last year. He's adament about being there for his brother, and I think he will be as long as Ethan lets him."

"Well they are both going to need our support, so maybe once Ethan has told the rest of the staff, you could just have a word about being supportive but not to coddle him - we know that he doesn't like that."

After the two young doctors left Connie's office, they stopped for a quick drink in the staff room, "You feeling better?" Cal asked anxiously.

Ethan managed a small smile, "Yes a bit. It actually felt better after telling Mrs Beauchamp," he admitted.

Cal patted his arm, "I'm proud of you buddy - that took guts."

"I don't know about that, but it's done now," he replied as he grabbed a marker pen and wrote on the board, PUB TONIGHT - EVERYONE INVITED - FIRST ROUND IS ON ETHAN.

"First round on you eh? Count me in," Cal chuckled.

Leaving that one there. I think it's a bit long and a bit dull - I hope I'm wrong.

Next chapter is the last one (not bad for a oneshot) and I'm hoping to fit in a bit of Rich and John talking with our boys (I need to think about that as I want to do it justice) plus the reveal to the rest of the staff.

If you have any ideas, please feel free to mention them to me - I'm always happy to get some more ideas.

Til next time.