Chapter 9:

The red automatic doors slid open as Zoe and Rita entered the hectic ED. The waiting room was full to the brim with patients waiting to be seen, the reception desk being swarmed by anxious relatives trying to find out about their loved ones. As Zoe and Rita made their way to the staff room to get changed, Zoe was stopped by Cal.

"Where's Ethan?" Cal asked casually to Zoe who shifted nervously on the spot. After Ethan left the ambulance Iain rang Zoe to tell her what had happened. She had tried ringing Ethan herself but he didn't answer and she had no idea where he was. She didn't know whether to tell Cal or just give it a bit longer to see if Ethan turned up.

"He...er...he had to pop somewhere quickly on the way back." Zoe said trying to sound casual in the hope that Cal would believe her. She wanted to give Ethan just a little bit longer to get back and if he didn't then she would go out and look for him herself. It was the only way to keep his secret hidden.

"Where?" Cal asked confusingly as he looked at Zoe who was awkwardly brushing her hand through her hair. She hated lying to people.

"I don't know. He didn't say." Zoe said but she knew it wasn't working. Cal knew his brother and knew that he wouldn't 'pop somewhere' during his shift and even if he did he was bound to tell his brother about it.

"Come on Zoe, where is he?" Cal asked again, this time a hint of seriousness in his voice. Zoe thought back to when Dr Knight and Dr Hardy started and how they didn't get on whatsoever. Then she thought back to them now and how close they are and how they are actually getting on, having fun with each other and always looking out for each other.

"My office." Zoe said as she pulled Caleb up the stairs at the end of the corridor towards the direction of her office. She didn't know how Cal was going to react and didn't want any attention to be drawn to them and she didn't want anyone to overhear and know about Ethan's secret. At least her office was private with no chance of anyone barging in. Since Ash had left Zoe had the office to herself.

As the duo entered Zoe's office she shut the door quietly behind her, pausing whilst she took a deep breath before turning to look at Cal who was beginning to look rather worried about why he had been brought here.

"Zoe what's going on?" Cal asked nervously as he looked at Zoe. He could see her trying to work out the best way to explain what had happened but Cal was growing frustrated and just wanted her to spit it out.

"This morning on the way to the shout Ethan freaked out about getting in the car." Zoe said as she took a pause. She didn't know how to explain what had happened. She looked at Cal, his face etched with confusion about what Zoe was saying.

"I had to talk him into getting in the car but he was a mess all the way there. He said he hadn't been in a car since the accident and ended up having a panic attack." Zoe explained as Cal stood frozen to the spot looking directly at Zoe urging her to carry on.

"When we got there he went to help Iain but he couldn't do it. It reminded him too much of the crash so I told him to come back in the ambulance with Iain but half way back he got out saying that he would walk back." Zoe explained further as Cal slowly sat himself down on the sofa in the corner as he took in what Zoe had just said to him.

"So where is he now?" Cal asked quietly as he thought of his brother being out there all alone scared out of his mind. What if he had had another panic attack? What if something had happened?

"I don't know. I've tried calling him but there is no answer." Zoe said as she too sank into a seat opposite Cal. She felt bad for talking Ethan into getting in the car. If she had just listened to him when he said that he didn't want to get in then none of this would have happened.

"I need to find him." Cal said sounding determined as he shot up, taking large strides towards the door. He couldn't believe that Ethan had let himself get into such a state. Why didn't he tell Cal that he was scared about getting back into a car?

"Cover for me." Cal said as he swung open the office door leaving it wide open behind him as he dashed down the stairs leaving Zoe with no time to object as he snuck out the ED to find his younger brother.

Hello! So Cal is now aware of Ethan's secret thanks to Zoe but how will Ethan take it? Will Cal make it in time? I've just started a new college course so I'm going to be rather busy with work but I'm aiming to update this story twice a week (probably a Wednesday and either a Saturday/Sunday) but if I get any spare time then I will try to update it even more. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please remember to review what you thought and any suggestions/improvements!