Gillian Kearney Fan, thank you for your review. You certainly can't say that Ethan isn't a devoted boyfriend.
EDSidekick, I'm glad you like the way I'm fitting in the old storylines. Some I'll ignore as it doesn't affect Cal and Ethan, but it feels right to ground it in 'reality'. I'm glad you liked the part about Ethan's 'emotions'! Thank you for your review.
Tanith Panic, I'm glad you think Connie was making a good point about the rota - she was tactless, but she does have a hospital to run. I'm sorry for upsetting you. I'm afraid I might do that again! Thank you for your review.
ETWentHome, thank you for your review. Taylor probably isn't as bad in this story as she was in the episodes, but she does have to get the money from somewhere so your concerns are valid!
When Ethan received the list of potential donors from Taylor, he stole away to make a couple of phone calls. It wasn't something he would normally have considered doing, but Taylor was devastated and he wanted to do everything he could to help.
Besides, thought Ethan, in an effort to convince himself he was doing the right thing, his job was to save lives and if he didn't make these phone calls, a six-year-old boy would die.
But he had to admit he doubted his chances of success. It scared him, phoning up complete strangers and asking them for money, and he didn't think he was nearly as persuasive as Cal, for example. "Some of the villagers need to trek about three days to get their sick children to the nearest temporary hospital," he said, trying to find a balance between sounding passionate and appropriately sad. He didn't think he'd managed it.
"I'm sorry. We're not interested in supporting any charities at present."
"Oh. Okay." Ethan knew he shouldn't give up so easily, but he didn't want to be pushy. It was possible they didn't have the money, in which case it would be really embarrassing for them if he kept asking. "Thank you for your time. Goodbye."
His second phone call had exactly the same result. With a sigh, Ethan returned to work.
He wouldn't give up till he'd phone every company on the list, but he wasn't feeling at all hopeful.
Cal wasn't having an easy day – and now he had Lily to worry about as well as his brother – but he couldn't help but smile when he saw he had a text from Honey.
He stopped smiling when he read it.
Cal plz call me wen u get this i need u :( xxx
Cal's smile disappeared and he quickly phoned her, terrified that something was wrong with her nan.
Honey was crying. "Cal, oh my God, I'm so glad you phoned! I can't do this anymore."
"Take a few deep breaths for me and then tell me what's happened," said Cal, very gently. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." Or not unless Connie catches me.
"I'm so tired, Cal!" wailed Honey. "I haven't had any proper sleep for ages. Even when my nan's asleep, I can't sleep either because I'm too worried. And I feel really ill now too."
Cal's heart ached as he listened to her sobs. He felt a bit guilty for moaning about the work rota now. At least he wasn't on call 24/7. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm glad you called. I'll do everything I can to help. In what way do you feel ill?"
"I've got a headache," wept Honey. "I've had it for days and it won't go away. I feel sick as well. I'm aching all over. I just don't know if I can do this anymore."
"Hey," said Cal softly as Honey sobbed harder. "I'm sure you're doing a wonderful job, but if you're looking after someone, you do need to take care of yourself too. That goes for everyone, including Mrs Beauchamp." And Lily would do well to follow that advice too.
Honey sniffled. "Please come and help me! I really need you."
"Sure," said Cal at once, trying to hide his relief that she was still interested in seeing him. "I'm working for the next couple of days, but I'll come up and see you after that."
He thought Honey would be grateful and relieved, but instead, she started to cry even harder. "I can't wait that long! Please come up today. I need to see you."
"Baby, I can't," said Cal, with real regret. "One of our doctors has just been in an accident so she's not fit to work. Ethan keeps running off to see his girlfriend, so I'm doing his work as well as my own. I also don't have a car at the moment… the engine was making a weird noise so I had to take it to the garage. I'm sorry, Honey, but I just can't get away."
Honey carried on crying. "Please, Cal! Please ask Mrs Beauchamp. I can't do this on my own."
Cal listened to her sobs and sniffles and felt his heart aching. He would ask Connie if that was what Honey wanted, but he really couldn't see her agreeing.
"Oh, Cal, you've got to help me!" cried Honey.
"I will help you," said Cal. "I'll sort something out. I can always get the train up tonight and travel back tomorrow. If you need me to stay longer, I'll phone and say I'm sick. Whatever happens, I'll be with you by tonight."
"Thank you, Cal!" sobbed Honey.
"It's okay," said Cal. "I'm your boyfriend. That's what I'm here for. Don't worry, baby. I'll sort this."
Ethan could feel his knees shaking. It was like being called to the headmistress' office at school. Ethan had only ever been called to the office to be congratulated on his excellent work, but it had terrified him every time.
Speaking to Connie held exactly the same terror. He knew that, after what Cal had told him, there was a very high probability that she would be willing to help, but even if her support was guaranteed, he would still have been scared.
He told himself to calm down. It could be worse, after all. At least the conversation wasn't taking place on the ED roof.
"Mrs Beauchamp?" he said hesitantly.
"Can it wait, Dr Hardy?" she said, without looking at him.
Ethan felt ashamed of how tempted he was to slink away and forget about it. "It's about my girlfriend Taylor's charity," he said.
Connie continued with her work, giving no sign that she'd heard.
"Unfortunately, they've just lost one of their key sponsors for a project they're running in India and they're going to have to abandon the project unless they can find another sponsor," said Ethan. "They're working with a six-year-old boy who needs a heart operation, but at the moment, they can't afford to fund it."
"No," said Connie.
"I realise you've already agreed to sponsor Cal in the fun run, but I was hoping the hospital might consider-"
"Hold on, Dr Hardy," said Connie. "What makes you think I'm sponsoring Dr Knight in the fun run?"
Ethan looked at her blankly. "Well, your name's on his sponsor form."
"That may be so, but I didn't put it there," said Connie. "Dr Hardy, I did not, at any stage, agree to sponsor your brother – and the hospital will not be making a donation to your girlfriend's charity. Furthermore, I would appreciate it if you refrained from fundraising when you're supposed to be working."
Ethan tried one more time. "Perhaps I could come and see you after my shift has-"
"No!" said Connie. "Now, get back to work."
Cal knew Ethan didn't like it when he borrowed his laptop without asking, but Ethan also didn't like it when Cal bothered him when he was working. So as borrowing Ethan's laptop was absolutely necessary, Cal decided it would be far better to borrow his laptop without bothering him.
After all, there was a very good chance Ethan would never know.
He loaded up the National Rail website and searched for a next-day return to Manchester Piccadilly Station from Holby.
"What?" he exclaimed when he saw the price. "£132.10?"
There was no way he could afford that, particularly if Honey was going to need him to go up regularly. He was already in his overdraft; he owed money to various companies; and he had no idea how much the repairs to his car were going to cost.
All he could do now was hope someone was in a generous mood and would be willing to lend him the money.
Ethan was about to check on a patient when the text arrived from Taylor. Once he'd read it, his patients were the last thing on his mind. Ethan I'm outside. I'm so sorry but I need you, I don't know what to do x
Taylor was standing outside the doors, her face tearstained.
"Sweetheart, what's happened?" said Ethan, holding out his arms.
"I just had a text from one of my colleagues in India." Taylor's voice was shaking. She didn't meet Ethan's eye. "We might have to close the project. I can't believe it. This is everything I've worked for."
She burst into tears. Ethan hugged her tightly, swallowing a lump in his own throat. "I'm so sorry, darling. But it will be all right. My offer still stands. I'll give you whatever you need to keep the project open, then if you absolutely insist on paying me back, we'll work something out. But you honestly don't have to. I love you and I know how much this means to you – and anything that's important to you is important to me."
"Oh, Ethan!" Taylor sobbed even harder. "You shouldn't. I can't let you. Really, I can't let you. But I don't know what else to do."
"Taylor, it really is fine," said Ethan, as he stroked her hair. "I want to do this. I'll go and do it as soon as I go back inside. It's going to be okay, darling. You won't need to close the project. We'll save that little boy. I promise."
