Curious Rebel, no, it's not weird to be happy I updated early! It's just really, really flattering. A bit scary because I'd be gutted if I ever disappointed you, but completely amazing. Thank you for saying you liked how I wrote Rita. I love her comforting, calming presence, but it's not easy to write as so much of it is in her face and voice. Thank you for all your lovely words!
Tanith Panic, haha I'm glad Cal got away with it this time! I love it when they come through for each other too and I'm glad you think it's natural for Cal to panic. Thank you for your review!
Tato Potato, thank you very much! I really love their relationship too - as you might have guessed from the number of stories I've written about them. Thank you for the review.
CBloom2, I'm sorry you felt it was too excessive. The story is leaning slightly in a comedic direction and there is a lot of exaggeration, but it's very easy (for me) in those circumstances to go over the top. I'm very pleased and grateful that it hasn't put you off reading my other stories.
ETWentHome, I don't know how well it worked in this chapter, but I always love it when Cal's instinct is to protect Ethan, even when they're not getting on. Like in The King's Crossing (I think) when the wall exploded and Cal shielded Ethan and made sure he was okay before running off after Taylor. Thank you for the review!
Julia, thank you so much for reviewing another of my fics - assuming you are the same Julia! If not, thank you for the review and it's really great to have another reader. I'm really happy you liked Cal's reaction to Ethan's accident and that you liked the way I wrote Rita.
Becs2202, I agree, Cal is very sweet when he's worried! It's one of many things I love about him. I'm glad you think they're a funny pair - I often think that when I watch them. Thank you for the review.
And I really should have said this before, but thank you very much to TheAtomicCheesepuff, who gave me the following suggestion: Ethan has an accident at work and Cal wants to help but can't because he's ill . If you're still reading, I really hope you like what I've done with the idea.
Ethan could hear voices. He thought he recognised them and occasionally there was a word or two that made sense, but he had a splitting headache and he wasn't sure he wanted to do anything except go back to sleep.
But it was a bit odd that both the voices seemed to be female. He didn't think there should be any girls in his bedroom. Certainly not more than one of them.
Ethan dragged his eyes open. The light hurt his eyes and he quickly shut them again.
"Ethan, can you hear me?" That was Connie.
Hold on, that was definitely wrong. Even if there was a girl in his bedroom, it wouldn't be Connie. Ethan might have laughed if he hadn't been in so much pain.
Someone took hold of Ethan's hand. "Ethan, if you can hear me, can you squeeze my hand?"
Ethan wasn't sure if he recognised that voice or not, but he did quite like having his hand held. He squeezed obediently and the girl squeezed back.
"Any response?" said the other girl, who still sounded like Connie.
"Yes: he squeezed my hand."
"And he's smiling too. Ethan, we know you're awake so perhaps you could deign to open your eyes now. And keep them open."
Ethan had a feeling he was being told off. He opened his eyes and discovered he wasn't wearing his glasses. He couldn't see very much at all, but he was definitely in bed and there was definitely a girl on each side of him. Their faces were a complete blur, but the one on the left was wearing pale blue and had lots of red hair. The one on the right was wearing white and had long, dark hair.
"What are you doing in my bedroom?" he asked sleepily. Concerned he might have sounded rude, he added: "Not that you aren't very welcome."
But then something clicked in his mind. Girls in his room. Bad headache. It had never happened to Ethan before, but he'd seen it happen to Cal enough times.
"Did we all get drunk together?" he asked.
The red-haired girl began to giggle. "He's been hit on the head and now he thinks he's Cal!"
"If there was any scientific basis to that, I would have pushed Dr Knight down the stairs months ago," said the brunette.
Ethan's head was throbbing. He put a hand to his forehead and felt a bandage. Underneath the bandage was a lump.
It probably wasn't a hangover then. He was quite relieved about that. "Um, excuse me. I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your plans to injure my brother, but could I possibly have some pain relief?"
"Here you are." Rita handed Cal a mug of tea. He cupped his hands around it, slightly comforted by the warmth. "How are you doing?"
Cal gave her a wan smile. "Well, the good news is that driving over here in a panic has caught up with me a bit and I don't really feel well enough to go running all over the hospital in search of Ethan."
Rita smiled. "I'm not sure I'd call it good news that you don't feel well, but I am glad you're not going to do anything silly." She looked at him sympathetically and stroked his arm. "But it sounds like there's bad news too… would you like to tell me about it?"
Cal did want to, but he shook his head. "I'm fine."
"Okay," said Rita. "I'm here if you change your mind."
Cal nodded and resolved not to say anything, but then the words burst out of him. "I just hate feeling this helpless! Treating Ethan after that car crash is one of the hardest things I've ever done. It was a difficult procedure anyway, but knowing it was my brother and having to fight against my emotions made it even tougher. But at least there was something I could do. At least I could help him and be with him. But now..."
"Now you've got nothing to focus on," said Rita understandingly. "It's tough being a frightened relative, especially when you're not well. But you're strong, Cal."
"No, I'm not. Ethan's the strong one."
"You're both strong," said Rita. "And you're going to get through this, and then you'll see Ethan and I'm sure there will be something you can do to make him feel better, even if it's just talking to him without starting an argument."
Cal laughed shakily.
"That's better," said Rita. "Now finish your tea and then I'll go and find out where Ethan is."
Ethan had always told himself he was a much better patient than Cal, but now he was starting to wonder. Now he'd had some pain relief, he was starting to feel a bit better and he didn't doubt the pain would be completely gone within half an hour, but Connie had told him he should rest for a couple of hours and Ethan didn't like that idea at all.
"I'm sure that's not necessary," he said. "I need to go home anyway. I need to make Cal some lunch."
"I'm sure even Caleb Knight is capable of making his own lunch," said Connie.
"I'm not sure he is at the moment," said Ethan anxiously. "And if he tried, he'd probably burn himself or drop the toaster on his foot."
Connie shrugged. "Caleb is perfectly capable of treating a burn and a bruised foot."
"Could I go back to work?" said Ethan, thinking he could slip off home when nobody was looking, but Connie gave him a glare so ferocious, he considered hiding under the bedclothes.
"The fact that you're even asking that question proves you're not fit for work."
Ethan was sure there was a gap in Connie's logic somewhere, but his head was aching just enough to make searching for the flaw inadvisable. "If I'm that badly injured, maybe I should go home," he said.
"Certainly not," said Connie. "I don't want you spending any more time with Caleb than you can help. Besides, I'm hoping you'll be fit to work in two to three hours. Now I need to go and do some proper work. Robyn, I'll be back in half an hour. If Ethan shows any signs of concussion, please let me know."
"I'm sure I'm not concussed," said Ethan earnestly. "I remember what happened. I was talking on the phone to Cal and I tripped over my feet."
Connie sighed. "How is it your brother contrives to cause even more havoc when he isn't here than when he is?"
"Perhaps because this hospital can't function without me," said a slightly nasal but still very much recognisable voice from the doorway.