Thanks again for the reviews on my last chapter! As I said, this story was written back in December/January and so there are some things that have changed since then in the series however they still feature in my story. This chapter is quite long, I hope you enjoy, please let me know what you think about this chapter it's always appreciated thanks, Kayxxx :)

Chapter Four

The rush of the ED had died down by now and most of the doctors and nurses sat around the nursing station waiting for something, anything, to stimulate them. Cal sat with Lofty and Max but was keeping a watchful eye over Ethan who sat opposite him talking to Honey. He seemed happy enough. Cal had noticed recently how Honey was always the one to put a smile on his younger brother's face, this was something Cal thought impossible today but Honey worked her magic well.

"Well this is boring" Max announced.

"Very" Lofty agreed.

"What do you think about getting wasted tonight boys?" Max proposed.

"Sounds like a plan to me" Lofty smiled.

"Cal?" Max asked confused. Cal's attention had now been shifted completely over to Ethan having seen Rita approach him.

"Ethan, can I ask a huge favour?" Rita asked sheepishly.

"Of course" Ethan smiled.

"Well, I was wondering how you would feel about giving a dying woman a reason to smile?" Rita asked.

"I'm sorry, what?" Ethan asked confused. Cal stood slowly and edged closer, listening in to the conversation.

"Well, it's Betty. She doesn't have long left at all and all she keeps talking about is her son, she wants to see him one last time, to say goodbye. I was wondering if you'd go in there and talk to her, as Peter?" Rita explained. Ethan looked toward the floor as he felt his heart sink.

"He's not doing that." Cal butted in.

"I believe I was talking to your brother." Rita replied sternly.

"I don't care who you were talking to he isn't doing that, it's too much to ask of someone Rita, it's a lot of pressure, he's a doctor for God sake not a-" Cal was cut off.

"I'll do it" Ethan spoke confidently standing to his feet.

"Really?!" Rita and Cal spoke simultaneously, both in complete different tones of voice. Ethan nodded and headed for Betty's room.

"Are you sure you're okay to do this?" Cal whispered as he grabbed Ethan's arm stopping him in his tracks.

"Yes." Ethan replied, his voice shaking slightly.

"Oh Peter you're back!" Betty's old and withered face lit up as Ethan entered the room. Ethan smiled sadly and took a seat on the edge of Betty's bed. She looked as though she'd aged ten years since Ethan last saw her. Rita stood to the side of Betty's bed, everyone else watched from outside, Cal stood by the door looking in defensively. Betty took Ethan's hand in hers and spoke, "I still remember you as a little boy, my little boy, the apple of my eye!" Ethan looked down sadly at her hand intertwined with his, Betty's eyes filled with tears. "I never stopped loving you, there has never been a second that went by that my heart didn't beat anything but love for you. It won't be long before my heart does stop beating, that's no secret I'm best friends with the grim reaper you see, but I will always continue to love you my boy." She took a tighter grip on Ethan's hand "You're the reason I held on for this long, you kept me going, I knew I would see you again, I've always longed for this moment" She looked deep into his eyes, that were now filling with tears as he listened to the woman talk so highly of her son. He began to forget everything as his mind was flooded with the memories he had left of him and his mother. "You've always been there for me and looked out for me, I couldn't have asked for anyone greater in my life" Betty's voice had now morphed into the voice of his mother's in his head, the woman whose hand he held so tightly was not his patient's, but his mother's. "My handsome boy, I've never told you before but I'm so so proud of you. I'm so proud to call you my son." This was something Ethan had always longed to hear from his mother. Betty smiled and gently laid her old withered hand on Ethan's tear stained cheek catching some tears as they fell.
"Mum?" Ethan whimpered as his tears uncontrollably poured from his eyes, making their way down his cheeks and into his open lips that were quivering, some dripped from his wobbling chin. "You're proud of me?" Ethan continued to speak through his cry, his heart was aching. "Of course I am" she replied kissing his hand. Ethan smiled painfully as the tears still poured from his eyes, this was all he'd ever wished to hear from his mother, that he'd done her proud.

Rita slowly made her way to the door "I told you he shouldn't have done this" Cal spoke concerned "it's our mum's anniversary today, that's why he's been acting off all day. He didn't cry when she passed, I don't think it's really hit in until today, he doesn't handle grief well" He sighed. As the beep of Betty's heart rate slowed she opened her mouth to speak once more "I love you Peter" she whispered as the beep remained long and constant. The mention of Peter's name made Ethan snap back to reality, this wasn't his mother. His mother had passed away exactly a year ago today and today's events made it evident to him the fact he was still grieving hard.

His job was done. Ethan slowly raised to his feet and turned for the door, still with slight tears trickling down his cheeks. The tears in his eyes made the world around him a huge blur but he knew as he left the room, the man who embraced him with a hug was his older brother Cal. "It's okay" Cal whispered as he held him tight, Ethan crumbled into him. His cry turned into a sob, his body felt weak, he felt as though his heart had completely broken. "She's gone, Mum...she, she's really gone" Ethan whimpered, his voice muffled by Cal's body. "I know Eth, I know" Cal replied as he buried face into his brother's blonde hair, his eyes too were filled with tears. Cal's grey scrubs were stained by the tears of his brother. "Ethan" Cal whispered as he pulled away from his broken brother holding him in front of him, a hand on each shoulder, Cal bent down slightly so he was eye level with him even though his eyes were still pouring with tears. "Ethan mum was so proud of you I promise you. When I went to see her before she passed all she did was lecture me about how I should be more like you Eth, she loved you so much, can't you see that? She was so proud of you okay?" Cal spoke "okay?" He spoke again shaking Ethan slightly trying to break through to him, he nodded slowly "okay" he whispered squeezing his eyes tight. He took a deep shaky breath. Although these words didn't come from his mother's mouth they were good enough, it felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Cal pulled his brother in for another hug as all their colleagues stood watching, he didn't care that all eyes were on him, all he cared about was being there to comfort his brother. Cal led Ethan to the staff room as he slowly pulled himself together more and more.

The room was silent. Cal sat at the counter looking at Ethan and Ethan sat on the couch staring blankly ahead. "Hello" Honey whispered as she walked into the staff room holding a cup. She was the only one who had enough courage to go in there after seeing Ethan's emotional outburst. She took a seat on the couch right beside Ethan and took his hand in hers. He was still staring blankly ahead of him, it was as though he hadn't even noticed she was there. "I've made you one of my specialties" Honey smiled, holding out the cup in front of her "it's got honey in" she added with a wink causing a slight smile to grow on Ethan's face. Adding honey to drinks had now became an inside joke between the pair after the "find the honey" moment. "Thanks" Ethan took the cup from her hands and took a sip. "I never knew my mum, she died when I was two, I lived with my granny growing up, every time I'd miss my mum my granny would always make me this tea and it would always make me feel better. I added in the Honey though, I knew you'd appreciate it" she smiled. Ethan didn't know how to reply he just stayed quiet. "I know it's hard to believe but I promise you it will get easier Ethan, I'm here for you" she placed her hand on Ethan's back "and you too Cal" she smiled looking toward Cal who was still sat at the counter. "Thank you Honey" he smiled sadly, looking at his brother protectively.

"Ethan you up for drinks mate? We're going to get wasted tonight!" Max announced as he, Lofty and Robyn made their way into the staff room.

"Not today, thanks" Ethan spoke as he stood up, he placed his cup down on the counter.

"You should come" Cal urged.

"No I'm going to walk home, it'll give me a chance to clear my head" Ethan replied making his way to the door.

"I'll come too" Cal stood to his feet.

"No Cal, go to the pub I'll be fine I promise" Ethan protested.

"Are you sure?" Cal asked concerned

"Yes I'd rather be alone" Ethan replied as he buttoned up his coat.

"I might just come and stay like five steps behind so you are technically alone, just to annoy you" Cal teased.

"Oh God please don't" Ethan laughed as he walked out of the staff room.

"I'll check he's okay" Honey smiled and followed Ethan out, Cal smiled at her thankfully.

"Right! Let's go get pissed!" Cal announced to which everyone replied to with a cheer.