Lara (Guest), thank you for your review. I'm really glad you think it isn't too OOC. Ethan would never normally do that, but he thinks he's doing the right thing.

20BlueRoses, I agree Kate would much rather know the truth, no matter how painful it is, but Ethan isn't thinking as clearly as we are. It's so good to know you feel sorry for him, even when he's being so cruel. I really like your point that the disease is taking things from him already - I hadn't thought of that, but you're right. Thank you for your review.

ETWentHome, I'm so glad you can see what I'm aiming for with Cal and Ethan's behaviour. I agree with you that Kate needs to find out the real reason for Ethan's behaviour, but I'm not sure how yet. Thank you for your review.

Gillian Kearney Fan, thank you for your review and for making clear you're disappointed in Ethan and not me. It is a bit scary making nice characters do bad things!

CBloom2, I'm glad you like Kate. Ethan was very harsh! I think Ethan will always do what he thinks is best for other people, but he's so upset and shocked, he can't think straight and he's got it wrong. Thank you for your review.

LittleBritishPerson, thank you for your review and I'm so relieved you can imagine Ethan doing this. I always planned for him to hurt Kate, but the episode made me feel I could take things a little bit further.

tracys dream, thank you for your review. I really am so happy you think it's a good story and I'm glad you have sympathy with Ethan.

Tanith Panic, don't worry. It's easy to miss a chapter sometimes. I'm so glad you liked it - I thought the cat fight was a mess! Looks like I'm wrong again! Ethan did mess up, but I'll try to sort things out! Thank you for your review.

Thank you to rhibee4 for the follow.

Kate sat alone in the cubicle, dabbing desperately at her tears, trying to stop crying before the nurse arrived to help her with her sling. Ethan would probably laugh if he could see her now. She didn't know how she'd ever imagined he was kind.

He was cruel. Horrible.

Heartless.

And yet a part of Kate didn't believe that. He'd said the words, but he'd seemed far more upset than disgusted or angry.

Stupid, blind, lovesick idiot! She told herself as she tried not to sob out loud. So stupid and so blind, she hadn't even been able to see he wasn't interested.

A part of her didn't believe that either.

Wishful thinking! she told herself as she wiped her eyes again. That's all it is.

A hand touched her arm and for one incredible microsecond, she thought it was actually Ethan, but of course it wasn't. It was a very pretty nurse with red hair. "Hey, sweetheart." She gave Kate a hug. "Don't cry. I'm Robyn."

"I'm Kate." Kate sniffed. "I'm sorry. I'm being stupid."

"You're not stupid," said Robyn. "It's always upsetting coming to hospital. Is there anyone with you?"

"My friend should be in the waiting room," said Kate. She wiped her eyes and realised the tissue she was using was probably the one Ethan had given her. She remembered the look in his eyes as he'd held it out to her. He'd looked so kind and concerned.

But probably not as though he was interested.

"Here." Robyn held out a fresh tissue and threw the used one away. She waited while Kate wiped her eyes and nose. It was slightly clumsy with her left hand, but she could manage. Work would be more difficult, but she wasn't due back until the day after tomorrow. Perhaps her hand would have stopped hurting by then.

Robyn took Kate's injured hand gently in hers and put it onto her opposite shoulder. Gently and deftly, she manoeuvred Kate's arm into the sling, tying it at the neck and twisting and tucking in the tip by Kate's elbow. "There you are, Kate. Keep it on for a day or two and see how you do."

Kate couldn't bring herself to say that Dr Hardy had said three to five days. That would involve saying his name. "Thanks, Robyn."

Robyn smiled. "Oh, that's okay. Come on, sweetheart. I'll take you back to the waiting room."

"That's kind of you, but you don't have to," said Kate. "I don't want to take you away from your work."

"This is part of my work," said Robyn. "Besides, Dr Hardy told me to look after you and I've got to do what he says, haven't I?"

Kate knew it was more likely Ethan wanted her escorted off the premises, but there was no awkwardness or embarrassment in Robyn's smile; no sense that she was covering up for Ethan.

Perhaps she really believed Ethan was kind. And if so, wasn't it most likely she was right? She knew Ethan better than Kate did.

But perhaps Robyn has never thrown himself at Ethan and been rejected, thought Kate.

When they arrived at the waiting room, Milly rushed over to hug Kate, careful of her arm. "Kate, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," said Kate, trying to fight back more tears. "I'm sorry. I just want to go home." Her voice wobbled at the end and she felt Milly's arms tighten.

"Of course we can go home." Milly stroked Kate's hair. "We'll go right now."

Alicia came to join them and gave Kate a hug too. "I'm so sorry you got caught up in all of this. I think you're right: you should go home and rest. Milly gave me your number and I've texted you so you've got mine too. I hope we can meet up again soon."

At any other time, Kate would have been pleased, but all she could think of now was that Alicia knew Ethan. "That sounds lovely, Alicia. I hope we can. I'm so sorry: I should have asked before. How are Honey and Louise?"

"Honey has a head injury," said Alicia. "It doesn't sound too serious, but she'll be kept in at least until morning. Louise has a broken leg, but it's not as serious a fracture as it could have been. Rita - that's her boss - is treating her, so I'm sure Louise is giving her hell - and enjoying it!"

"Poor Louise," said Kate with feeling. "I'm sorry she's so badly hurt." She didn't think she knew any of them well enough to say that Louise was provoked, but she hoped Alicia would get the message.

Alicia nodded. "She shouldn't let Honey get to her, but you've seen what Honey's like after a few drinks! Thanks for asking after them. They'll be pleased."

Robyn touched Kate's arm. "Why don't you sit down for a bit and I'll order you a taxi?"

"Oh, no, there's no need," said Kate. "Thank you, but we'll be fine."

Robyn smiled. "Dr Hardy's orders. He wanted to make sure you got back to the station safely. By the way, you won't have to pay anything. Dr Hardy's taken care of that."

Kate felt a rush of gratitude at his kindness. Then she just felt confused.

"Aw, isn't that just like Ethan?" said Alicia. "He's adorable. I can't think why Honey broke up with him."

Robyn smiled. "Neither can I! I'll just be a minute."

"Will you be okay if we go?" Kate asked Alicia. "You must be so worried. You shouldn't be on your own."

Alicia smiled and patted her shoulder. "I'll be fine. I'll go and find Honey's dad; we can keep each other company."

Dylan was almost running towards Cal, a look on his face that was close to panic.

"What's wrong?" said Cal, startled.

"I think you should go to the staff room. Now."

"What for?" said Cal, but there was an ominous prickling at the back of his neck, and he didn't think it was because Max was standing behind him, playing some ridiculous joke on him.

"Ethan," said Dylan. "He's… I think he's rather upset."

Cal didn't wait around for details.

He ran for the staff room, nearly knocking over a couple of nurses on the way, and pushed opened the door.

The sight that met him almost made him wish he hadn't come. Not because he didn't want to help Ethan. But because he didn't believe he could.

Ethan was sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth. He was hugging his knees to his chest and resting his cheek on his knees. His face was wet with tears and they were still falling, running sideways across his face and over his nose. From his lips came a keening sort of sound, like an animal that had just discovered the loss of its baby.

"Oh, Ethan," whispered Cal, almost in tears, himself. "Oh, Nibbles…."

Ethan seemed to have no idea of his presence. He continued to rock and moan. Cal began to tremble. The way Ethan was rocking from side to side made him feel shivery and faint. He wondered if he was repulsed by the sight, but he quickly realised he wasn't. He was just horror-struck. Heartbroken. Terrified.

Cal realised he was staring, but he couldn't persuade himself to move at first. He wanted to turn and run; he wanted to wake up and find it was a dream; that he had the gene and not Ethan.

But he couldn't run. Not this time. Not from his little brother.

Cal was sobbing quietly as he walked towards Ethan. He knelt down beside him and wrapped his arms around him. It was strange, when Ethan's rocking had disturbed him so deeply, that he found himself rocking Ethan too. "I'm here, Nibbles. I've got you. I'm not leaving you."

Ethan didn't seem to hear, or even to know he was there.

"I know it's awful," said Cal, through his tears. "It's the most horrible thing that could have happened and I'm devastated. But I know it must be so much worse for you. I know there's nothing I can do. I know I can't take it away. If I could take the gene from you and have it myself, I would do that in a heartbeat. But I'm here and I will always be here. I'll look after you and I know you'll look after me too. That's what you always do and I know nothing will change that. You will always be Ethan. You will always be my baby brother who's actually more like a big brother a lot of the time. Nothing will ever take that away from me. Even if it seems like it has."

Kate and Milly sat in the taxi as it sped towards the station. Kate stared down into her lap, grateful for Milly's arms around her. She wanted to assure Milly she was okay, but she was shocked and confused and unable to process the events of the last few hours.

If only they hadn't come to Holby. If only.

No, that wasn't quite true. It had been good to see Alicia again and she liked Louise, even though she could be scary when annoyed. And Honey… she was very beautiful and it would be unfair to judge her on her behaviour when she'd had so much to drink.

"Kate, you don't have to tell me anything now," said Milly. "Or at all, though I hope you will. You know I'm here for you, don't you?"

Kate nodded and roused herself to speak. "Yes, of course, Milly. Thank you. But don't forget you're injured as well. I'm going to look after you too." She was going to stay at Milly's flat for the night. Milly had insisted and much as Kate wanted to be alone, she knew it would be better not to be.

Milly hugged her more tightly. "I don't suppose you'll be able to help yourself! But listen, Kate. You don't have to tell me anything, but I really hope you can answer one question for me. About Nibbles. Did he do anything to you that we should notify the police about?"

"No!" Kate was surprised to feel not only horror at Milly's words, but also hurt and anger. She swallowed it down: she knew she'd given Milly more than enough reason to worry. "Not at all. Nothing like that happened - and if it had, I'd have said something before we left."

She knew she would have been physically safe from Ethan even if she was one of the top doctors in the world.

But her heart… her heart was in pieces and only one doctor could put it back together.

And he never would.