Bonnie Sveen Fan, thank you for your review. If Honey wants a doctor that badly, I think Cal could definitely get her back! If he still wants her.
Tanith Panic, I'm glad you like Cal's misadventures. I think it's much easier to smile at Cal's love life going wrong than Ethan's because (except with Taylor), Cal doesn't care enough to get seriously hurt. Thank you for your review.
EDSidekick, thank you for your pm. Taylor is so fun to write about because I can make her tell the truth or lie and no-one can tell the difference! Though that's really down to the Casualty writers. I'm so pleased with the positive response to Noel's baseball bat!
Tato Potato, thank you for your review - I'm so happy you enjoyed the chapter, even though it was mostly about Cal - I know you like Ethan best, but Cal is my comic relief!
ETWentHome, I know what I'd like to do with Cal! At least if I was single. But I won't go into it here. No, Noel won't be very happy with Dr Knight. Thank you for your review!
Ethan handed the miniature ice-pack to Cal, who held it against his eye.
"I can't believe Noel did that to me!" said Cal.
"You did cheat on his daughter," Ethan reminded him.
"His daughter who never really liked me!" said Cal, a hurt expression on his face. "His daughter who's just spent the whole morning making eyes at Dylan!"
Ethan would have liked to defend Honey, but he'd seen that rather alarming sight for himself. "So you were still in a relationship with Honey?"
"Yeah: I think she's great," said Cal. "Really sweet. Well, she seemed that way."
"But not so great you actually thought about being faithful to her?"
Cal looked affronted. "Of course I thought about it! I thought about it a lot. But the thing with Imogen was just sex, Ethan. That and the fact she fitted in alphabetically."
"Ah, so it wasn't a coincidence!" said Ethan.
"Yeah, it was," said Cal. "And just so you know, I was joking about Isabel. But I did kind of like the idea of the alphabet thing, then Imogen came along and I couldn't resist. But it's not like I was seeing her behind Honey's back. It was just a one-night thing."
"It sounds like that was quite enough from Honey's and Noel's points of view," said Ethan. "And I have to admit I agree with them."
"So you think it's okay that Honey was only going out with me to impress her dad?" said Cal.
"No, and I am sorry about that, but I hardly think you're a shining example of how to treat a significant other," said Ethan. He wrote something in Cal's notes. "Okay, Dr Knight: there's nothing more I can do for you here, so I'm going to discharge you. There's no reason why you shouldn't work, but you know the danger signs and what to do if you experience them. If you're in pain, I recommend paracetamol and more ice – and please be more careful in future."
Cal turned to leave, but stopped. "You know, I thought you'd be at least a little bit grateful."
"For what?" said Ethan. "For regularly testing the springs in my sofa?"
"No, for stopping Taylor from leaving when she thought you were cheating on her with Honey," said Cal.
Ethan had to admit Cal did have a point. He was fairly sure he and Taylor would have worked it out, but it wouldn't have happened nearly as quickly without Cal. "Thank you, Cal. I am very grateful to you for stopping Taylor from leaving and helping me to explain what had happened."
Cal patted him on the shoulder, an infuriating smile on his face. "You're welcome, Nibbles. Always happy to help out my little brother."
"Then maybe you could help me out with cleaning the cooker later?" Ethan called after Cal as he left the cubicle.
Cal made no response.
Ethan smiled as Taylor opened the door to her flat. She was wearing purple today – there really didn't seem to be a colour in the world that didn't suit Taylor. Ethan went into the flat and put his arms around her. "You look so beautiful."
"And you look so handsome," said Taylor as she played with the lapels on his jacket.
Ethan kissed her gently, remembering her lip was still a bit sore. "How are you, sweetheart?"
Taylor realised he was referring to her injuries. "Much better, thanks, but I've been taking things a bit easy like you said."
"Good," said Ethan, and kissed her cheek this time. "Would you like to go out tonight or would you rather stay in?" He kept his fingers mentally crossed as he asked as he'd already made the booking.
"I'd rather go out," said Taylor. "But there's… there's something I need to tell you first."
Ethan led her to the sofa. "You know you can tell me anything."
"It's about the charity," said Taylor awkwardly. Her eyes were on her hands, which were clasped tensely in her lap.
Ethan put his hand on top of them. "Have you decided to continue working for them?"
Taylor nodded, still not meeting his eye. "I had grave reservations, of course, Ethan. I didn't ever intend to go back. Perhaps I shouldn't have agreed. But they promised that if I went back, things would be different."
"And are they different?" said Ethan.
Taylor hesitated. "It's a bit early to be sure about that, but I think they probably are."
Ethan nodded and put his arm around her. The charity meant so much to her and Ethan wasn't surprised she'd returned to her old job, but he could tell she had very mixed feelings about her decision. "If things haven't changed, you could always leave again. You don't have any obligation to work for them, Taylor. But whatever you want to do, you know I'll support you."
"I know," whispered Taylor. "Oh, Ethan, I… I wish…"
"Yes?" said Ethan softly when she didn't continue.
"It doesn't matter," said Taylor. She lifted her head and smiled dazzlingly. "Shall we go?"
Taylor looked at Ethan in amazement. "Ethan, are you sure?"
"Completely sure," said Ethan. "I might need your help getting to the table and back, and perhaps you wouldn't mind carrying my glasses for me, but I'm sure I'll be fine." He looked at her a bit nervously. "I hope it's a good surprise."
"It's a wonderful surprise!" Taylor looked like she had tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Ethan."
Tonight, the rink was only open to people who had booked. Half the rink was covered with small tables for two and the other half was clear apart from three or couples skating to the live music provided by two singers and a pianist. It was a lot more expensive than a normal trip to the rink, but Ethan felt it was worth it.
Especially now he'd seen the look on Taylor's face.
Taylor removed Ethan's glasses, letting her fingers skim across his face, and smiled sensually at Ethan as she put them down her cleavage. "Safest place for them!" she said with a wink.
Ethan began to feel quite glad they'd be on the ice in a minute – perhaps it would cool him down.
A young woman, wearing a cross between a skating outfit and a waitress' uniform, glided across the ice towards them. "Hello and welcome to 'Romance on Ice'. Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes, um, under Hardy," said Ethan.
The waitress checked her notebook. "Hardy… yes, here we are. If you'd both like to follow me, Mr Hardy?"
"I'm afraid Dr Hardy isn't a very experienced skater and he's also taken his glasses off," said Taylor. "So we'll have to go slowly."
"Of course," said the waitress. "Don't worry. It's often the case that one diner is a more experienced skater than the other. I should tell you the tables are fixed in place and there's something or other on the chairs – don't ask me what! – so they can be moved, but they don't go skidding across the ice. So you'll be quite secure once you're sitting down, Dr Hardy."
She and Taylor stood on either side of Ethan and gently coaxed him across the ice. He felt very nervous and wobbly, but they managed to hold him upright. Once they reached the table, the waitress pulled a chair out for him, but instead of sitting down, Ethan held it for Taylor. Taylor skated over to him, kissed him on the lips and sat down. Ethan carefully pushed the chair in. He nearly fell over, but a combination of Taylor and the chair kept him on his feet.
The waitress was smiling as she helped Ethan to the other chair. "What a gentleman!" She said to Taylor. "You are lucky."
"Yes, I am," agreed Taylor. She pulled Ethan's glasses out of her cleavage and handed them to Ethan.
They smiled at one another, barely noticing as the waitress left the table to get the menus. Ethan caught Taylor's hands in his own. "II actually wanted to bring you here for Valentine's Day, but it was fully-booked."
"It's perfect," said Taylor. She looked a bit teary, but she was smiling. "You're perfect."
"Not as perfect as you," said Ethan.