Stay with me (Sam Smith)
Emily was driving down the motorway. She had the music turned down and was driving really carefully in order to make sure that she didn't miss her exit. She was really excited but worried at the same time. She hadn't been back in Holby for years. She was planning on meeting up with Ethan and Cal whilst she was back. She had texted Ethan when she left London and he had responded by saying how much he looked forward to seeing her. She continued driving slowly down the motorway. It was eerily quiet, there were hardly any cars on the road. Suddenly she heard a sound behind her. She looked into the rear view mirror, and saw a car headed towards her at a high speed. Before she could do anything the car rammed into her pushing her off of the road and down a steep embankment. She closed her eyes bracing herself for the inevitable impact of the forest ahead. She slumped over the steering wheel as the car came to a sharp stop. Her head smashed against the windscreen, blood dribbling down her head. She cried out in pain as the front of the car crumpled around her clinging to her like plastic wrap. Her phone bleeped with another text this time from Cal. 'I've just spoken to Eth, so happy I can't wait to see you x' the text caught her eye as a single tear formed and rolled down her cheek.
A few minutes later an ambulance appeared on the scene and they began to perilous task of peeling her out of the wreckage. She cried out in pain as they eventually settled her onto a stretcher. 'Alright darling, we're going to get you to Holby ED, don't worry you will be in safe hands' the paramedic told her.
'M-my phone' she gasped.
'It's alright, its right here' the paramedic told her.
She took the phone and dialled a number. 'Hello, Ethan it's me, it's Emily. Listen I've had a minor accident and I'm on my way to the ED' she told him.
'What happened? Are you alright?' Ethan asked her worriedly.
'I'm fine, they just want to check me over and make sure I'm alright, listen can you meet me at the entrance, I'm just a bit scared and need a friendly face' she whispered.
'Sure no problem. I'll be there, don't worry I'm sure you are in capable hands and I'll make sure you are looked after sweetheart' Ethan assured her.
'Thanks Eth, I'll see you in a bit' she whispered hanging up the phone. She started to cry, she felt really scared.
They pulled up outside the hospital after a quick journey. Emily held her breath as the wheeled her towards the entrance. Ethan was stood there waiting for her. 'Ethan!' She shouted as she approached him.
'Geez Em, what the hell happened to you?' He breathed taking her hand.
'I'm so sorry Ethan' she cried as they wheeled her inside. It turns out the only doctor that happened to be free to treat her was Cal.
'Good afternoon, I'm doctor Knight but you can call me Cal' he spoke as he walked alongside the bed. 'Emily?' He paused as he recognised her.
'Hello Caleb' she muttered.
'Right this is Emily Jones aged 32 been involved in an RTC...' The paramedic informed the staff. Emily tightened her grip on Ethan's hand as they barged through the doors of resus.
'Right then Emily, I'm going to check you over but first we are going to move you across to this bed and then I'll take a look at your injuries. Ethan can stay here with you if you want' he explained. Emily nodded her head. 'Right on my count, 1,2,3' he ordered. Emily let out a shriek as they lifted her. Ethan put his hand gently on her shoulder.
'It really hurts, please help me!' Emily sobbed.
'Where does it hurt?' Ethan asked worriedly.
'My back, please make it stop' she sobbed. Ethan turned to his brother.
'Cal, I think she may have some spinal injuries, we need to do a log roll and find out, but can we get her some pain relief first' Ethan told his brother.
'Ethan, stop worrying, I've got this. You just stay with Em' Cal told him.
Ethan returned to Emily's side and tried to reassure her. 'I know it hurts but Cal's going to get some pain relief and then we'll roll you onto your side so he can look at your back. Don't worry I'm going to be here with you' Ethan assured him.
Cal took the stethoscope from around his neck. 'Okay, Emily I'm going to examine you quickly then we'll take a look at your back, I need you to just take a nice deep breath for me' Cal explained.
'Alright, your breathing is a bit shallow, but I think we can put that down to being worried' Cal told Emily. He replaced the stethoscope around his neck. 'We're going to roll you onto your side now, I need you to keep still and try not to worry, Ethan and I will look after you' he assured her as he undid the straps holding her in place. 'Okay on three, one, two, three' Cal ordered. They rolled Emily causing her to cry out in pain.
'It's alright Em, I'm here. You're doing really well. We're nearly finished now sweetheart' Ethan soothed gently taking her hand.
'Okay, there is significant bruising on her lower back and some swelling, we'll need an x-ray and potentially an MRI' Cal explained as they put her back into place on the bed.
'It's okay Emily' Ethan soothed as she tried to catch her breath. She started turning pale and she couldn't get her breath back. 'Emily, are you alright?' Ethan asked. Emily shook her head.
'C-can't breathe' she gasped.
'Alright darling, I'm going to lift your top and have a quick look at your chest, I won't hurt you I promise' Ethan assured her. He gently rolled her top up to reveal bruises scattered across the side of her chest. He placed his hand on the side, and gently pressed along her side. She whimpered and let out a small sob. Cal hurried over and held her hand gently. 'Looks like a possible haemothorax, Caleb, she needs a chest drain urgently' Ethan informed his brother. Cal went to fetch the equipment leaving Ethan to explain what was going on.
'Listen Em, Cal's going to put a tube into your chest because you have a build-up of blood which is pressing on your lung causing it to collapse. It might be uncomfortable but I'm here and if you need us to we can stop' Ethan assured her. Emily nodded, a tear snaking down her pale cheek. Ethan wiped it away with his thumb. 'Don't worry, it will be alright' he soothed.
Cal returned and handed the equipment to Ethan whilst he pulled on a gown. Ethan laid the drapes over Emily and wiped some iodine onto her side. He resumed his position beside her, his hand clasped tightly around hers. He bent down and kissed it as Cal put an oxygen mask on her face. She smiled at him weakly.
'Right, Emily we are going to give you some morphine and then I'll inject a local anaesthetic. To do this I'm going to ask Ethan to insert a cannula so that we can give you fluids after the procedure' Cal explained. Ethan grabbed some equipment and set to work finding a suitable vein. Once he found one he cleaned her arm and in one swift motion the cannula had been inserted, taped down and the morphine had been administered.
Cal picked up the syringe of anaesthetic and rested one hand on the side of Emily's chest. He steadily inserted the needle into her ribs and began injecting the medicine. She whimpered as the cool fluid was injected into her chest. 'Okay, now I'm going to start the procedure, can you feel me touching your chest?' Cal asked. Emily shook her head.
'Right then, if you need me to stop, please tell me but I promise I'll be as gentle as I can' Cal assured her as he picked up the scalpel. His hand started trembling as he prepared to trace the same line on her chest as he had done on thousands of patients before. He had never had to deal with his hand shaking before, maybe it was because he saw Emily as his little sister. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He pressed the scalpel into her ribs and dragged it along, create a deep incision.
'Ow, ow, ow, it hurts' Emily whimpered as he cut her chest open.
Ethan tightened his grip on her hand, 'it's okay darling, it's all going to be okay' he soothed. Emily gripped his hand tighter and tighter, 'I know sweetheart, it'll be over soon' he whispered.
'This next part is going to be uncomfortable, but try to keep still and breathe for me' Cal told her. Ethan placed a hand on her shoulder to hold her still. 'Take a nice deep breath for me' Cal instructed. As she took the breath he pushed his fingers into the incision, spreading them as he pushed them further into her chest.
She yelped in pain and squirmed slightly on the bed. Ethan held her as still as he could. 'I know sweetie, just stay calm, I'm here' he murmured.
'Alright Emily, I'm going to put the tube in now, this might still be a bit uncomfortable but it shouldn't be too bad' Cal told her. Emily nodded. Cal carefully threaded the tube into position much to Emily's discomfort. 'Can you cough for me please' he asked. Emily coughed and the drain bubbled into life.
He stitched it into place before cleaning up the equipment. He then left to go and write up Emily's notes. 'How are you feeling darling?' Ethan asked her.
'Hurts' she whimpered.
'I'll get you some pain relief and then we'll chase up the x-rays' Ethan said as he injected some more morphine into the cannula. He then left the room and returned with his brother.
'We're going to take you for an x-ray of your back and ankle now and then we'll leave you to get some rest, you must be shattered' Cal told her. Emily smiled at him weakly. A tear rolling down her cheek. Ethan wiped it away with his thumb.
'There's no need to cry, we're both with you and we won't let anything happen' Ethan assured her.
They took the x-rays and wheeled Emily back to resus. They ruled out any significant spinal injuries but her ankle was broken so she would need to use crutches and have it put in a cast. Ethan removed the tapes and collar and helped her make herself more comfortable.
He sat beside her watching over her. She reached a hand out shakily and held it against his cheek, he lifted his hand to cover hers and kissed the tips of her fingers. 'I-I've missed you Eth' Emily breathed.
'I've missed you too Em' he whispered. A silent tears traced down his cheek.
'What's wrong?' Emily asked taking his hands in hers.
'I'm sorry, I just really missed you and I was worried about you' he replied his voice shaking slightly.
'I'm here now baby, and there's no need to worry, not when I have my two boys with me' Emily smiled.
'What happened?' Ethan asked.
Emily explained and Cal showed two police officers into the room to take a statement. By the time they left Emily was fast asleep. Ethan went to get changed as his shift had ended and Cal went to the pub with Max and Lofty.
Ethan was keeping a watchful eye over Emily whilst she slept. Cal had filled out the discharge forms before he left and so Ethan was just waiting for her so they could take her home. 'You know, a photo would last a lot longer' Emily whispered lifting herself into an upright position.
'How are you feeling?' Ethan asked.
'Better, especially since I'm back home with the two loveliest people' she smiled. Ethan smiled back at her.
'Can we go home?' Emily asked. Ethan nodded and brought a wheelchair over.
'Unfortunately we don't have your bags here with us so you'll have to borrow some of mine and Cal's. He's got a pair of trackies and I have a shirt you can wear' Ethan offered. He helped her get dressed, she left her tank top on under the shirt and rolled up the sleeves like she used to when she wore one of his shirts.
'You haven't changed then' Ethan commented as he watched her putting the clothes on, her habits were the same, button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a pair of trackies and her hair screwed up into a knot so it was out of her face.
He lifted her out of bed and into the wheelchair but wasn't surprised when she heaved herself out of the chair, grabbed the crutches and hurried towards the door. 'Old habits die hard' she shrugged as he gave her a soft glare. She was never one to sit down and have people wait on her hand and foot, she preferred to get up and do something.
As they left the ED Cal was stumbling out of the pub. He had decided it would probably be best to go home as he wanted to spend the day with his brother and Emily instead of being hungover. As he staggered towards them Emily lost her footing and Cal leapt to her aid. He threaded an arm around her waist. 'Steady there, anyone would think you liked getting hurt' he whispered helping her stand up.
'Only because it means you two get to play nurse and practice looking after people, especially you seen as your bedside manner seems to be practically non-existent' Emily joked.
'Nibbles, tell your girlfriend to stop bullying me' Cal whinged.
'Why do you still insist on calling me nibbles? Honestly Caleb, you can be so irritating at times' Ethan told him as they continued to the car. Cal laughed.
'Because you're my little nibbles, nibbles' he said ruffling his brother's hair. He then turned to Emily. 'Maybe one day you'll be my little Mrs Nibbles?' He joked ruffling her hair too. Ethan held a hand out to her and helped her into the car, he put there things in the back and climbed into the driver's seat. Cal sat beside Emily, his arm slung around her shoulders. The drive was quite especially as both Cal and Emily had fallen asleep.
When they arrived home Ethan lifted Emily out of the car and into his arms. 'Caleb, wake up, we're home. I'm not carrying you into the flat, come on time to get up' he called over to his brother who eventually followed him into the flat. Emily began to stir as he walked in. 'Shh, its okay, we're home baby. I'm going to take you upstairs to my room and I'll take the sofa tonight' Ethan told her.
She grabbed his arm tightly. 'Stay with me' she whispered.