I am so, so sorry for my complete inactivity. It's the Summer Holidays (exams and stuff mean I finish earlier ugh) and until term starts up I am wandering around life without a purpose. It does nothing but hinder my mental health. I am trying to do more than lie around in bed all day and night not doing anything. So I am sorry for my lack of updates and the fact a sequel to 'By Your Bedside' hasn't been published yet. It will be soon; the first chapter is almost complete. And 'Shattered' will be updated as soon as this story is finished (which is very soon).
I will try and use all this free time to update regularly but I may be too busy lying in bed and not looking after my physical health while I succumb to the torture of my mental health.
If I'm inactive again just assume I'm not well. I'm not too great now and my writing quality has definitely dropped. This chapter feels a bit fast and choppy but it's the best I can do right now.
On a slightly better note, thank you ever so much for reviewing last chapter.
On with the next chapter!
Finding the Honey: Chapter 21
Cal was nervously tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, before bugging Ethan again with the same question he asked mere moments ago. "And you're sure you know the plan?" As an afterthought, he added, "properly, properly sure? Like really sure?"
"Caleb." He sighed in frustration. "Yes, I am sure. Now please do me a favour and stop asking?"
Cal looked at his brother, the slight hint of an apology playing on his features, though not over-riding his obvious panic. "Of course. I just need to know that this will be foolproof. And that includes you knowing it inside out."
"Foolproof? Better keep you away from it then," he joked, the corners of his mouth lifting. It was a slight change, but the situation currently haunting him didn't allow him a lot of relaxation.
Cal leaned back in fake surprise and anger, before smiling broadly.
Ethan looked at the clock in the car. "We're going to be late if we sit in here for much longer," he said, opening the door and climbing out. As soon as he did, he felt a sharp pain rip through his left side. A groan escaped his lips, unfortunately alerting Cal he was in pain.
"Ethan?" Cal called in alarm, rushing to get out of the car himself. "You okay, mate?"
Ethan stood up straight and tried not to wince. He didn't manage it, and it made his coming sentence even more fake. "Of course I am. You said it yourself last night. No serious damage done."
"I can write you a prescription for some painkillers? That panadol doesn't seem to be helping," he suggested.
"It's fine. It'll just take a while to kick in."
"But if it doesn't kick in -"
"- yes, I'll tell you. Now come on," Ethan urged.
They walked through the doors of the ED, minds set on what they had to do, but also on the fact they had to work as well.
"I trust you are well enough to work now, Dr Hardy."
Ethan successfully stopped himself from showing how startled he was, and by the look on his brother's face, he didn't see Mrs Beauchamp approach them either.
"Yes, Mrs Beauchamp," he answered, knowing that Cal had told her that Ethan was unwell the day before.
"In what way were you unwell, Dr Hardy? Your brother failed to mention the actual ailment in his excu- I mean reason." She smiled.
"Well, I was…." He coughed. "I had a headache."
"A headache, you say. Well I'm glad you're feeling better then, Dr Hardy. Though next time, better come to me yourself. I may believe you more. After all, I know you. And I know that you can't lie to save your skin," she smirked. "You better get changed. The pair of you."
Ethan and Cal looked towards each other as Mrs Beauchamp walked off, and went to get changed - ready to start work.
"How's it going?" Ethan asked as he walked to get another patient to treat.
"He never leaves her side. He's only left twice, and I timed it. It's only about a minute and a half both times." Cal turned his head back towards the shop while still pretending to look through some notes.
"He will eventually," Ethan reassured Cal, even though he didn't believe it himself. He'd glanced over many times recently, and Blake always seemed to be by Honey. Almost like a loyal dog.
"Dr Knight, my office please," Connie's voice said, before the clicking of heels signaled her departure.
"How does she do that?!" Cal exclaimed, holding a hand to his chest where his heart was.
Ethan chuckled.
Cal groaned, "what does she even want?"
"I don't know," Ethan replied, calling his patient's name right afterwards.
"It was a rhetorical question," he said, voice indicating he was getting a little annoyed. Though Ethan guessed it wasn't at him, but because of Blake. "See you later… if I make it out alive."
Cal sighed. "I have!"
"Dr Knight, do not use that tone with me. You clearly have not done anything."
"Daniel Ahmed?" Cal said.
"One patient. You have treated one patient. And he was a child with a graze on his knee."
"It could have been infected…" Cal tried.
"Get out of my office and get back to doing your job," she said harsly, looking down at some peices of paper on her desk.
Cal knew a reprimand when he heard one, and didn't want to get on the wrong side of Connie. He'd done it enough times to be scared out of doing it again. (Not that he'd admit it to anyone).
He sulkily left the office and was met with his little brother.
"So?" Ethan asked, a worried look on his face.
Cal let his shoulders slump in defeat. "The plan's off, Ethan. We can't do it. I have to get back to work."
"That's kind of why you're in the ED…?" Ethan smiled.
"Yes, well, I may have been distracted slightly."
"Caleb," he sighed, doing the 'Ethan' look. The 'I'm Disappointed in you' look.
"We'll think of something else tonight, Eth. Come on, let's do our job. It might help us take out mind of things at the very least."