AN: a few hours earlier today, but I just wanted to upload it and hear what people thought of it. I'm not 100% happy with this chapter, but I couldn't find any other way to alter it, so all reviews would be much appreciated, and as always I welcome criticism :)
CHAPTER FOUR:
Four weeks had gone by since Ethan had received the money from his brother. They were getting on extremely well, considering their rocky past. Four weeks had gone by and they hadn't actually had an argument - which is an achievement for them two. Sure, they had the occasional moment when Ethan would moan about Cal not tidying up, and Cal would complain that Ethan needed to 'loosen up a bit', but all in all they were getting along just fine.
For the last two weeks, Cal had met someone at Trinity Street and handed over exactly four hundred pounds of cash. It had been a different person each week, the first it was someone who looked barely over the age of twenty, and the second week it was a man who looked big enough and strong enough to pick Cal up and throw him off the face of the Earth. It made Cal wonder just how many people this 'Stevie' bloke had working for him, and where he got such a range of friends.
It was just another day at work for Cal, him and Ethan had both been given the early morning shift, starting at 6am, and so far there had been no big trauma cases. The elder registrar was currently dealing with a young patient who had fell over and injured his arm on the way to school that morning when his phone vibrated in his pocket, indicating a call. He ignored it and continued examining the boy, assuming that the caller would just leave a message on the voicemail if it was important. However, the vibrating just continued, the caller must have rang at least three times when Cal excused himself from the patient and his worried mother and left the cubicle heading to the staff room. Along the way, he caught Ethan stood by the Nurses Station and walked over him, pulling his phone out and glancing at the number pasted across his screen - Charles.
"Ethan, I need to quickly take this call, can you keep an eye on cubicle five for me please" he said, walking off before Ethan had a chance to respond, resulting in an eyeroll.
Entering the staffroom, Cal pulled out his phone as the fourth call rang through; thankfully there was no one else in the room at the time.
"I'm at work, what is it?" Cal snapped, annoyed that Charles had persisted calling him after he had ignored it the first time. If Connie caught him taking an impromptu break in the middle of his shift again, he'd be in for it.
"Cal, there's been a problem. Steve's side business has gone bust. He needs all the money back ASAP" Came Charles rushed voice on the other end.
"What-why-how,what!" Cal had so many questions, in shock at what he had just heard. What did he mean, Steve needed the money back? Did they really expect Cal to be able to cough up a lump sum of money?!
"Listen, come meet me now and I'll explain." Charles stated, not answering any of Cal's questions.
"I can't, like I said I'm working" Cal replied, hanging up, before the worry became clear in his voice. He threw his phone down on the side and leant against it, trying to calm his anger and come up with a logical solution to this problem.
Eventually, Cal reasoned that if he ignored the situation, it would all sort itself out. He'd phone Steve, and explain to him that he didn't have the money up front, and he'd continue paying the loan back in installments. Yes, Cal decided, making a mental note to ring Steve once he had got home.
And with that, he picked up the stethoscope he had pulled off in frustration, and walked out of the staff room focussed on his patients and putting the money situation to the back of his mind.
A mental reminder, it seemed, was not good enough for Cal's memory. After a gruelling eight hour shift, he had been asked to work a few hours overtime due to a great RTC incident, sweeping the emergency department off its feet. Cal and Ethan came home from their shift, both two tired to even think about anything other than going to bed. Ringing Steve was far from Cal's mind as he fell asleep, within moments of his head touching the pillow.
It wasn't until six p.m the next evening when Cal's phone vibrated yet again during his shift. This time however it was a text message. I need the money by 12:30 tomorrow. Borrow money, sell your belongings, I don't care just get me the money. It was clearly from Steve. Cal cursed under his breath - this really wasn't what he needed right now. This shift had been a tough one, after losing two young patients, all Cal wanted to do was either go to the pub and get absolutely smashed, or go home. Either way, he didn't want to face Steve.
Just then, Rita burst into the staffroom, making him jump. "Sorry, but you're going to have to cut your break short - an incident is coming in, eta five minutes and Connie wants you on hand as we're not sure of the severity." She said, snapping Cal out of his thoughts. Once again, Cal decided to ignore the messages, deleting them to ensure Ethan didn't accidentally see them of course, and continued with his day, with more important things on his mind.
Two days later, however the text messages and the phone calls were getting more frequent, even to the point where Connie was noticing that his phone seemed to be going off constantly. They were also getting more threatening, violently telling Cal that there "would be consequences" if he failed to repay the money immediately. The messages sent shivers down Cal's spine, sparked a hint of worry deep within him. All day Cal couldn't shake the feeling of worry, it disturbed him slightly; he wasn't one to feel worried or frightened - he entered a limousine that was hanging off a ninety foot high bridge on his first day in the ED for crying out loud! But still, he couldn't stop feeling like something was about to happen, almost like a sense of foreshadowing.
It was a late shift that evening, as Cal messily folded up his scrubs and chucked them in his locker, as he routinely did, and proceeded to walk out of the Emergency Department, glad to be out of the busy hospital and into the fresh, crisp winter air. As he sighed, his breath showed up, grey against the dark midnight sky, instantly transporting him back to a much younger time in his life.
After a lot of begging, Cal had finally agreed to walk home with Ethan via the park. It was a much longer walk, and it was the middle of autumn, and if he was honest all he wanted to do was get home and into the warmth. But, Ethan pleaded and pleaded and Cal struggled to say no to his puppy eyes.
"Look Cal, I'm a dragon! Grrrr" Ethan yelled laughing as he ran ahead, fascinated at the 'steam' coming from his mouth. Cal chuckled to himself, no matter what, this little boy always seemed to cheer him up. Ethan The Dragon circled Cal and launched himself onto his big brother, engulfing him in a hug before running off ahead into the empty play ground.
Caleb was instantly snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of footsteps. Caught up in his thoughts, Cal had walked on autopilot, taking the route around the empty, silent park - a route he took almost everyday when walking by himself. He much preferred this walk, peaceful compared to the loud and bright hospital. It gave him the chance to just think, about anything and everything - almost therapeutic.
Used to walking alone, especially at a quarter past midnight, Cal instantly twisted his head round, where he was met with the faces of grown, angry men. Was there five, wait no four, maybe it was six, Cal couldn't remember as they circled round him and a piece of fabric with a distinct chemical scent was pressed against his face. After struggling helplessly for what felt like eternity to no avail, Cal's eyes slowly closed shut.
