Cal looked at the others and then at Zoe as soon as she spoke to him. He didn't like the tone of her voice.
"No." Cal spoke quietly. "He can't be dead."
"No, he's not dead. But, he is in a coma. He's been without oxygen for a long time and his brain is starved. We don't know how long he'll be like this. I suggest you may have to prepare yourself for the worst." Zoe explained to him.
"I'm not going to give up on him."
"Neither are we. We'll do everything we can."
"Can I go and see him?"
Zoe nodded and left Cal to visit his brother in ICU. Inside the room it was quiet apart from the steady beeping of the heart monitor and the ventilator that was keeping Ethan alive. Cal pulled up a chair and sat down beside Ethan. He took his hand in his and placed it against his cheek.
"You better not die on me." Cal whispered stroking Ethan's hair. "Not now, Ethan because you know what? You and I belong together. That's where you belong. You belong with me like I belong with you. I don't care what some blood results say. Yeah, I know somewhere out in the world my real mum is around but, she's the one who gave me up. She's the one who didn't want to keep me. I'm not sure if I want to find her. All I know is that you're my family now. You alway were. You'll always be my little brother, Nibbles. And I'm the one who should be grateful to have a brother like you. You've put have with my constant teasing, my mess ups and everything your entire life. You've always been the one to pick up the pieces when things get tough. You've been the sensible the one our entire lives. It should be the other way round. I should be the one looking out for you because I'm supposed to be your big brother. I promise you this, when you pull through and you will pull through I will be a better brother. I will be the brother I should have been all those years ago. I can't let anything happen to you. You've all I got. You mean everything to me and I don't want these test results to come between us. They don't change anything. No matter what we'll always have each other. I love you, Nibbles. Please, just get better."
Cal smiled as he continued to stoke Ethan's hand with his thumb. He soon fell asleep staying by Ethan's side as he slept.