Tato Potato, thank you for your review. It is a good thing Cal was there - and although I'm sure he'd never admit it, maybe Cal is glad not to be alone with the patient too!

ETWentHome, I'm sorry the ending was scary, but I really wanted to scare Ethan! I'm glad you think he's dealing with the situation well. If only Ethan agreed with you! Thank you for your review.

Paradoxilla, that is the reality, unfortunately. The really sad thing is that some patients are even worse, though I thought this one was more than enough for Ethan! Thank you for your review.

Tanith Panic, thank you for your review. I'm glad you like the Cal and Ethan scenes. I really love writing them so I'm happy that you're enjoying them too.

Ethan was pale and trembling. He turned and took a step towards the curtain, but then he turned back. "Please let go of him, Dr Knight. He's not struggling now." Ethan's voice was trembling too, but his gaze was determined.

Cal wasn't at all sure that letting go of Jordan was a good idea. "I think we should call security and have him removed."

"Too much for you, am I?" said Jordan.

"Please, Cal," said Ethan. "Let go of him."

Cal hesitated, but then he reluctantly did as Ethan had asked, though he stayed close behind him, his hands held out ready.

"Jordan, I do strongly recommend that you have the tests, but we can't force you," said Ethan. "If you want to leave now, I can recommend some over-the-counter medications that might help you to feel better, but I will have to write to your GP about your hospital visit, our recommendations and your decision not to follow them. Not to report you: just to keep your GP in the picture in case there are further problems."

He looked anxiously at Cal. Cal smiled and gave him a thumbs-up behind Jordan's back.

"There won't be any more problems!" said Jordan. "I'm fine now. And I'm going."

"Before you go, can you quickly tell us why you don't want a blood test?" said Ethan. "You don't have to tell us. But if you do, we might be able to find a way of making it easier."

Jordan looked him up and down assessingly. Ethan showed no signs of fear this time, but Cal knew it was still there.

"Can you do it without the needle?" said Jordan aggressively.

Ethan gave a reluctant smile. "I'm afraid not, but there are things we can do to make it easier. We can use a slightly smaller needle called a butterfly needle, which is less painful and actually safer. We'll give you some water to drink before you do the test as good hydration can help with the process. Then we'll give you a basin of warm water for you to put your arm in for five minutes before the test as being warm can also help. We won't rush you and we certainly won't judge you because we all have phobias. Don't we, Dr Knight?"

"Um… yes," said Cal. He hoped Ethan wasn't planning on giving Jordan any more details about that.

"I haven't got a phobia!" said Jordan.

"No. Of course not. What I meant to say is we all have perfectly reasonable dislikes of nasty objects," said Ethan. "So, what do you think? If we send you to the waiting room, bring you a glass of water and call you back in about twenty minutes, we can have another chat – but if you do stay, that doesn't mean you have to have the test. You can change your mind at any time."

An hour later, Jordan left the cubicle again, secure in the knowledge that he almost certainly had gastritis. He hadn't been able to produce the stool sample, but Ethan had given him some equipment to take home with him, asking him to perform the test himself when he had the opportunity.

As soon as he'd gone, Ethan began to tremble. The same thing had happened each time Jordan had left the cubicle, firstly to wait for his blood test and secondly to wait for the results, but Cal had calmed him down with a few soothing words and a hug. But Ethan knew that wouldn't be enough this time.

Ethan's breathing quickened and his eyes filled with tears. "Can't stay here."

"You don't have to stay here," said Cal. "We'll go to the staff room. Come on. It's going to be okay."

Ethan nodded and they walked there together. Ethan was still shaking and it was all he could do to keep the tears back.

"Nearly there," said Cal as they walked.

Ethan brushed his hand across his face when a tear escaped, despite his best efforts.

"It's okay," said Cal. "There's not much further to go now, Ethan. Maybe ten more steps."

Ethan could see for himself that they were nearly there (though the tears weren't helping his vision), but he was grateful for Cal's words all the same. He concentrated on Cal's voice and Ethan managed to get into the staff room without further loss of control.

They sat on the sofa and Cal put his arms around his brother. "It's okay, Ethan. It's okay. It's over now and you did really well. You handled everything."

Ethan took his glasses off and buried his face in Cal's shoulder. He didn't know why Cal was saying that when it wasn't true.

"It's okay," said Cal gently. "It's over now and you did really well."

"No, I didn't," sobbed Ethan.

Cal stroked his back. "Why would you think that?"

"Look at me," said Ethan. He sat up and wiped his hands across his face. "In what way am I handling it?"

"it's over now," said Cal. "It doesn't matter what you do once it's over. Well, if you took all your clothes off and ran naked around the car park, I think there's a good chance you'd end up in Connie's office – and probably not because she enjoyed the view. But it's okay to be upset after dealing with a difficult patient. What you do after it's over doesn't change what you achieved when it was happening."

Ethan sniffed. "But after a difficult patient, you're supposed to carry on and see another patient. Not run to the staff room and cry all over your brother."

"It's not always possible to carry on," said Cal. "You know that. I've had times when I've had to take a break; when I've locked myself in the loo and wished my brother was there for me to cry over. Everyone has. It's a difficult job, Ethan. A stressful job. And you just dealt with a very difficult and stressful situation. You calmed down a potentially violent patient and you talked him into doing something that terrified him. I couldn't have done that. I was all ready to call security. But you stopped me because you knew there was a better way to deal with the problem and you knew you could do it."

"Really?" said Ethan cautiously. "You're not just saying that?"

"When do I ever just say things?" said Cal. He hugged Ethan again. "You cry all you want to. You've still got a way to go before you catch up with me."

Cal smiled proudly as he and Ethan left the hospital. "I know you probably won't agree with me, Nibbles, but I think that was another successful day for Dr Hardy."

Ethan gave a small smile. "I suppose it was better than yesterday."

"It was much better than yesterday!" said Cal. "Look at what you had to deal with. But you were brilliant and I'm proud of you."

"I'm not proud of myself," admitted Ethan.

They stopped beside Ethan's car. Cal went straight to the driver's side, but Ethan made no objection.

"What would you have to do before you can feel proud of yourself, Ethan?" Cal asked softly as they drove home.

Ethan didn't answer. He stared out of the windscreen. Cal gave him a sideways glance and realised how tired he looked.

"Early night for you, I think, Nibbles," he said.

Ethan just nodded.