I've finally finished this story, it's taken awhile so I hope you enjoy it.

A Shoulder To Cry On

Chapter 10

If Oliver thought he was about to be eased gently back into work, he was wrong. A young boy, named Charlie had been rushed in with a severe anaphylactic shock to peanuts. The 13-year-old boy had come in with his parents and identical twin brother Leo. He was suffering from swelling around his face and throat, and was having difficulty breathing. He was rushed into Darwin. Where Oliver and Mr Hope immediately inserted an intravenous drip, and also administered an injection of adrenaline to try and ease Charlie's immediate symptoms. Oliver glanced over to Charlie's family. "Has he suffered such a severe allergic reaction before?"

"No, never like this, one minute he was laughing and joking with us - and then before we knew it he couldn't get his breath." We always try and be so careful, we check the labels without fail."

"So had Charlie eaten anything before hand?" Elliot asked, as they moved him over to the bed as carefully as possible.

"I honestly don't know how this could have happened, he hadn't eaten since breakfast this morning." Mrs Robinson looked at her husband who looked equally bemused. "Yes he was fine, wasn't he Leo?" Leo just nodded as if he was too traumatised to speak.

Elliot was relieved to see Charlie's conditon had already improved slightly as the fluids began to take effect and his heart rate slowly returned to a more normal speed. "Well the good news is, Charlie's condition has stabilised. If his condition continues to improve at its current rate we should be able to give him some antihistamines which should reduce his symptoms any further." It was crucial you acted as quickly as you did otherwise it could have been a lot worse."

"Thank you, Mr Hope." Ollie could see Leo almost shrink back in the chair. He looked so scared - seeing his identical twin in such a sorry state must be terrible. Mr Robinson looked at Elliot with a bemused expression. "I still don't understand how this could happen?"Elliot gave Mr Robinson a reassuring smile.

"Sometimes it doesn't take much to trigger such a strong reaction, the contact only has to be minimal." Maybe Charlie had touched a work surface that had been accidently contaminated with peanuts, not realising he then could have put his hand to his mouth and that would have been more than enough to cause a severe anaphylactic shock." But the good thing is he is out of immediate danger." Leo suddenly said in a voice that was barely audible,"It was my fault, I'm the one to blame."

"Of course you're not sweetheart, don't be silly." His mother gave Leo a hug but he quickly pulled away. He was on the verge of tears and couldn't look his parents in the eye. "It was my fault," he was crying now as he blurted it out. "I'd eaten something before lunch, it must've had traces of nuts in it." I forgot to wipe the surface clean, Charlie must've touched the surface." Leo sniffed hard, before continuing, "I'm sorry, it was stupid of me I just didn't think."

His father was the first to break the silence, "Don't worry son, Charlie's going to be fine - there's no harm done." The doctor said he should be well enough to go home soon."

Charlie's eyes fluttered open and he murmured something unintelligible before closing his eyes again. His mother gently stroked his hand and kissed him gently on the forehead. Oliver felt a wave of déjà vu sweep over him, his mind going back to a few of weeks ago when he had been lying unconscious in his hospital bed his own mother whispering soft words in his ear.

"When will he wake up properly?"

"Once the antihistamines take full effect it shouldn't be too long before he's fully awake." Oliver sensed everybody take a huge sigh of of relief. Himself included, his first day back at work was far from an easy one and it wasn't over yet...

A few later Ollie went to check on Charlie, as he entered the room he heard voices and the sound of quiet soft laughter. "Hey it's double trouble I see! "How are you feeling now young man?"

"Not too bad." The boys started to laugh again.

"Care to share the joke? "

"Can you tell us apart? Because most people can't ,even mum and dad don't always know which is which." Oliver studied their faces carefully. He shrugged his shoulders. "No, don't tell me you've tricked me? You'd find it hard though considering one you has a tube attached to your hand." Charlie gave a look of fustration. "I know, otherwise we could have fooled you!"

"Yes I'm sure you would have." He listened to Charlie's chest. "Well everything seems OK now."

"Does that mean I can go home tomorrow?"

"I should think so." By the way where's your mum and dad?"

"They have just gone out to get a coffee from the vending machine."

"I'll leave you two to it then, and make sure you get some rest Charlie." The teenage boy rolled his hazel eyes and smiled. "You sound like my mum now!" Thanks for helping me though Dr Valentine."

"My pleasure." He felt very contented as he shut the door .This is what people do the job for, he thought walking down the corridor with a confidence he had not felt in such a long time. Michael Spence caught his eye. "Hey, if it isn't the boy wonder, how has your day been?"

"Pretty good actually."

"Nice one, some people might disagree with me when I say it's good to have you back Valentine."

"Thank you Mr Spence."

It had been a long day for Ollie as he finally finished his first shift back. He was shattered but proud of himself as he drove away from the hospital. There was one more think he had to do though.

Malick was watching TV and munching popcorn, when there was a knock at the door. Who was that? He sighed impatiently as he got up to answer the door, he opened it - still chewing on a mouthful which he quickly swallowed, when he saw Oliver standing in the doorway. "Can I come in?" Oliver was hoping his voice didn't sound as nervous as he felt. "Yeah, sure." Malick stepped aside to allow Ollie in. Malick turned the volume down on the TV. "You look better then you did since the last time I saw you."

"Yeah, well that's down to you, thanks for everything you did for me." I owe you one and I know I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for you." Malick gave a nonchalant shrug of his broad shoulders as he said, "I was just doing my job, it could easily have been somone else."

"You saw how low I was, losing Penny was the most painful experience I've been through." Then coming clean to Hanssen, and the guilt I felt afterwards..." On top of that telling my parents - of course I knew it would be tough." Malick was sitting listening nodding his head slowly. "At least we're back on speaking terms." But it's going to take time for them to trust me again."

"It'll happen, you all just need space." Oliver nodded, he knew what Malick was thinking. So he finally asked the question. "About the letter you sent me?" Malick grinned, "I don't send those types of letters to everyone y'know, but I had to be honest with you."

"I appreciate that, maybe it's what I needed, to make me think, and be honest with myself for once in my life." I never thought I was that way inclined -"

"It's alright to say the word 'gay' I won't bite your head off!" Oliver felt himself blush. For the first time since his arrival he was struggling to find the right words. He felt like a spotlight was on him. Malick was quick to pick up on his colleague's unease. "I'm sorry," Malick's voice was sincere, the last thing he wanted was for Ollie to feel under pressure. Malick now wished he'd not written such a personal letter, he should have waited. "I shouldn't have told you; like I said I can understand if this is going to effect our friendship."

"It won't, I don't want that to happen." Ollie sighed, "the truth is, I need time to get my head around everything, I need time, OK?" Malick nodded. "Of course, I totally understand," he said calmly. As Ollie looked Malick straight in the eye, he realised he did understand him. As Oliver got up to leave he put his hand on Malick's shoulder. "Thanks again, for everything."

"No need, what are friends for?" Nothing more was said as Ollie turned to go. For now at least there was nothing else to say.

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