westlife4ever80, I'm glad you like reading emotions as I'm sure I will put you and Dylan through lots of stress and emotions when I write your story! Thank you for your review.
Bonnie Sveen Fan, it is really difficult for Matilda and Alfie - it's not easy being the child of someone who works in the ED! Thank you for your review.
X-Sammii-X, thank you for your review. You found out who Charlie was sleeping with a couple of chapters ago, but you'll find out again in this chapter. I know it's difficult to keep track of all the characters. I get confused too! I do feel mean for torturing lovely Ethan!
pinkginger, thank you for your review. I'm really excited that you have theories about who called the police! It's really lovely that you'd think about it that much. I'm doing my best to keep Rita and Iain as a happy couple because the story is short of them! Lofty and Robyn aren't unhappy yet, but as you say, things aren't looking good. But perhaps the new baby will help Lily and Ethan.
Tanith Panic, I'm worried about Ethan too! He must feel like he's lost everything. I don't think Lofty minds that Robyn's gone out, but he probably has an inkling that something isn't quite right. Either that or he wants a trained nurse fussing over him when he's ill! They will talk soon. I'm pleased Zoe's working again and so's Ariana so that's five of us! Thank you for your review.
Applealice10, I'm really excited you have a theory too! It's so amazing that you and others care enough to wonder about it. Dylan will start talking to someone in this chapter. It's nice that you see Tilly as being strong - I think she would disagree with that, but I'm sure Cal would be proud of her. Thank you for your review.
ETWentHome, thank you for your review. Dylan probably didn't think of herself as being alone till she actually needed support - she's very unlucky that her friends are having big dramas of their own! Cal really has a job on his hands to reassure Ethan now.
Zoe had known it wouldn't be easy, coming back, but she wasn't expecting to have to choose between friendship and duty within minutes of arriving.
"It's against the rules, Dylan," she said gently. "And it sounds like it's against Hazel's wishes too."
"What about Luke?" said Dylan K. "Do his wishes not count?"
"Of course they count, but when someone's made a direct request-"
"What would you do in my position?" interrupted Dylan K. "If Ariana found out her real mother was in hospital – which she quite likely is, given her history – and wanted to see her, what would you do?"
Just the thought of it made Zoe shiver. In the ten years Ariana had lived with her and Max, she'd never once expressed a wish to see her biological mother, but Zoe had been continually bracing herself for that moment.
"It would be difficult," admitted Zoe. "On the one hand, she's my daughter and I'd do anything to make her happy-"
"Luke's my brother," interrupted Dylan K. "And I'd do anything to make him happy."
Louise needed a break.
She'd never have thought that being nice to people was so much work. Most people seemed to find it effortless, but Louise was exhausted.
Maybe Honey was right. Maybe she was horrible.
Louise took her coffee outside – for once desiring only her own company.
Her wish wasn't granted.
Lottie was sitting outside the hospital. Her hair was a mess, her coat was done up incorrectly and her face was blotchy from crying.
Louise hurried over to her. "Lottie, what's wrong?"
"Dr Bateman and Dr Hardy caught me with Charlie in his bedroom!" sobbed Lottie.
"Charlie Fairhead?" blurted Louise in horrified disbelief. "But he's…" She stopped. She had been going to say he was ancient, but then she remembered he'd died.
"No, Charlie Bateman," said Lottie. "Who's Charlie Fairhead?"
"Doesn't matter," said Louise quickly. "Here. You can have my coffee if you like."
"But you promised."
If Grace had sounded upset or angry, Connor might have found it easier. Calming people down was part of his job. But the calm, chilling voice (much like her mum's, from what Connor remembered) struck fear into his heart and made him tremble in his trainers.
"I know I promised. I'm sorry," said Connor. "But I doubt I'll get more than five minutes for lunch – if I get a lunchbreak at all."
"It's getting to be quite a habit, Connor, isn't it?" said Grace coolly.
"Sorry, babe," said Connor. "It's really difficult, three of the consultants going off sick at the same time."
Grace sighed. "If you can't meet me for lunch, then I suppose that's not your fault."
"I'll call you later," said Connor. "Maybe we can have dinner? There's a new place that's opened just down the road. Thai, I think. Want to give it a try?"
Grace thawed just slightly. "All right."
But Connor was looking at Ella, who was running towards him, looking distraught. "Sorry, Grace, I need to go. See you later, babe." He held out his hand. "What's up, Ella?"
"Connor, I need a doctor," sobbed Ella. "I mean, my dad needs a doctor. They won't let me treat him because I'm a relative. Please help me!"
Dixie arrived home to find Jess and Olivia talking in hushed voices. "What's all this? Where's my new daughter? You haven't frightened her away, I hope?" She kissed Jess and gave Olivia a hug.
"She wants to see Cal," said Jess sadly.
Olivia was visibly squirming. "She's only fifteen! How come I was too young for Cal when I was eighteen and she's not too young when she's fifteen? I mean, what's she got that I haven't?"
"Olivia, please calm down!" said Jess, her voice low but sharp. "I know this is awkward for you, but the… little incident with Cal was a long time ago. I'm sure he doesn't even remember it."
Dixie saw the hurt on Olivia's face. Although Cal was in no way her type, she could understand why her daughter (yes, technically stepdaughter, but 'daughter' to Dixie) had developed a crush on him. "It's all right, Olli. Cal doesn't think of Matilda in that way. He thinks of her as his daughter."
"But she's not his daughter, is she?" said Jess.
"It's complicated," said Dixie, unsure how much she ought to reveal. "Fifteen years ago, one of Cal's exes had a baby girl. She said he he was the father, but he wasn't, so he let the baby go."
Olivia's eyes widened. "So, Matilda's like a replacement for his daughter?"
"That sort of thing," said Dixie carefully. "But please don't say anything to Matilda about it."
"Of course I won't," said Olivia. "Poor Tilly. I still hope he doesn't come here though."
"He won't come here," said Dixie quietly. She looked up as someone knocked on the kitchen door. "Is that you, Matilda? Come on in."
Matilda opened the door and peered around it. "Hi, Dixie."
"Hi, sweetheart. It's good to see you." Dixie gave her a hug. "Are you okay? It must be a bit overwhelming."
"Dixie, I'm sorry. it's lovely here and Jess and Olivia are so nice, but I really need Cal!"
Dylan had spent so long staring at her phone, she'd almost given up hope that she might ever get another text.
But there it was.
Dylan wiped her eyes and looked to see who it was from. Lottie, Ariana, Matilda, Dylan K... Dylan just wanted to know that one of them cared.
When she saw it was from Luke, she almost decided not to read it. When a boy wasn't good for you, the only logical thing to do was to make a clean break and have nothing more to do with him.
But it seemed Dylan had lost her sense of logic at the same time she'd lost her heart.
Dylan I know where mum is. Can we talk? x
Cal couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this terrified.
He was fairly sure Ethan's injuries weren't serious, but he knew how Ethan would see it. Clumsiness… falling over… maybe Ethan was right. Maybe the symptoms were starting.
Cal was blinking back tears as he went to get the first aid kit. He didn't want to lose Ethan. He'd already lost Matilda today. To know he was going to lose Ethan too…
Ethan was sitting where Cal had left him, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Hey, it's okay," said Cal. "Don't cry. I'll sort this out."
"You can't," whispered Ethan.
Cal put his hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Yes, I can. Can you show me your hands?" They were badly-grazed and Cal didn't doubt they were painful, but they weren't bleeding. "I'll put some cream on for you in a minute, but let's deal with the bleeding first." He gave Ethan a couple of tissues. "Here you are: you know what to do."
Ethan held the tissues over his nose and mouth. "Are my glasses broken?"
"They're cracked. I'll find your spares in a minute." Cal leaned close so Ethan could see him. "You're going to be okay. Whatever happens, Ethan, I'm going to look after you. I want to do it and you really deserve it after all those years you've spent looking after me."
"I'm sorry," whispered Ethan.
Cal felt close to tears again. "Don't you apologise, Ethan, okay? You've done nothing wrong. Nothing. You're a wonderful husband; a wonderful father; and you've always been a wonderful brother. Nothing is ever going to change that."
"I always wanted to be a wonderful doctor too," said Ethan with teary eyes.
"And you are," said Cal firmly. "You really are and if you don't believe me, ask anyone else in the hospital. But you know no-one can be a wonderful doctor forever. Connie and Elle retired early because they wanted to leave on a high. Maybe you'll be stopping a little bit sooner than most, but that's not going to change any of the wonderful things you've done. You've done so much, Ethan. And I'm sure you'll do a lot more."
Jamie always enjoyed babysitting. Jack was fond of telling him he still was a kid in some ways and Jamie hoped he'd never lose that quality. He was more than happy to sit on the floor and play Hospitals. It was the closest he ever got to nursing now. He and Jack had planned to take it in turns to be the breadwinner, but it hadn't worked out like that. Jamie didn't mind. He loved going shopping and having coffee mornings with Jeffrey's friends' parents, but it would have driven Jack mad.
He only wished Robyn was still a part of his life. She'd been his best friend until he'd left for Australia… how long ago was it? Sixteen, seventeen years? But then she'd met Lofty and he'd become her best friend instead. Now, of course, they were husband and wife as well as best friends. Robyn and Jamie usually stopped for coffee when they saw each other, but that was only once every four or five years and only briefly.
"Ooh, Jeffrey, I'm dying!" said Alice, batting her eyelashes up at her idol. "I need the kiss of life!"
"You little slapper," said Daisy, with a superior air.
Alice stared at her, confused and hurt. "I didn't slap him! I didn't even touch him."
"That's not what slapper means, squirt," said Daisy.
Jeffrey laughed. "Are you going to tell her what it means?"
"Shut up and get on with the game," said Daisy bossily.
Jeffrey bent over Alice. "Alice, can you hear me?" he asked in a concerned voice.
"No!" said Alice firmly.
Jeffrey tapped her shoulders lightly and she giggled. "She looks unconscious to me."
"If only!" sighed Daisy. She wasn't doing a great job at being the concerned relative.
Jamie let them get on with it and turned to Caleb. As he was the nurse and Caleb was the doctor, they wouldn't be required until Jeffrey, Daisy and Alice arrived at the hospital. "Okay, Dr Hardy?"
"Why don't Mummy and Daddy want us?" whispered Caleb.
"Caleb, of course they do!" Jamie gave him a hug. "They've just got a few things they need to sort out, but I know they miss you very much."
"What things?" whispered Caleb.
"Just grown-up things," said Jamie. "You'll see them again soon."
Jack had told him the rumours about Lily leaving Ethan. Jamie had refused to believe it, but he wasn't sure now. The kids wouldn't be staying with Alicia – apparently without either parent – unless there was something pretty badly wrong.
