This story has been inspired through some research into the impact of Radicalisation. This issue will take a lot of research for me to do and it shows how easy it can be for one person to be drawn into taking part in acts of violence. Because of the subject content, I decided to make this a M-Rated story as it does contact violent acts.

This story is an AU where Lily never left for Hong Kong and Sam never dies, however Alicia still leaves for her fellowship in Manchester and she decides to end things with Ethan whilst she was on her fellowship.

A big thank you to TheBeautifulNerd for her support, I hope I can do you proud.

Chapter One

The mornings are a nightmare for some, even worse when you must get out of your warm duvet and deal with the drama that is known as the day. It was especially worse when yesterday turned into a nightmare for reasons that were out of your control, with someone still blames you for starting the chain of events.

That was what happened yesterday when Ethan read the letter from Alicia, telling him she has found the person she wants to spend the rest of her life with.

Iain didn't want to face Ethan, especially after he launched himself at him. He already blamed himself for what has happened that faithful moment. Maybe he should have followed the Bro Code and told Ethan the moment Lily found out that Alicia met someone new.

The story got worst. Ethan even told Lily that she humiliated him and accused her of being spiteful.

Her reaction broke Iain's heart.

Iain forced his legs to swing over the side of the bed. Knowing he'll have to face Ethan, he rubbed his eyes, determined to keep himself awake. He looked up, to notice that Lily was still in the same chair she was in when he went to bed the night before.

Pushing his head up, Iain got himself up from the bed they've shared and walked over to her. To his relief, she didn't stay awake throughout the night but instead of going back to bed, she fell asleep on the chair. Her beautiful hair covered her eyes, and she was curled up into an armadillo or a hedgehog. The only difference there was from this morning to the night before was the colours she was wearing, as her navy dress was replaced with one of his red t-shirts.

Iain knelt beside her and threaded his fingers into her beautiful raven locks. This sudden movement was all it took before Lily had woken up from her soundful slumber.

"Morning," he whispered, placing his lips on her cheek.

"Sorry," she whispered back, pushing herself up from her side, "I didn't fall asleep on the chair, did I?"

"You did," Iain chuckled, moving to the space beside her, "I couldn't blame you. You sure you don't want to pull a sickie?"

Since Ethan's words struck her, Iain knew she didn't want to face him. Ethan's outburst shocked not only Lily, but the entire ED. Everyone rallied around Ethan last night, all of them warning him to stop before he said something he'll regret. When Ethan said those words, it played on Lily's mind.

"Maybe it'd be better if you disappeared from my life for good!"

If it weren't for the fact Ethan was Lily's best friend, Iain would have punched him.

"No," Lily answered, "I, I have to face him. It's been a year, and he's still shook up by it."

Iain hung his head down, he knew no matter the problem, Lily wouldn't want to miss a day of work. It broke his heart to see Lily so broken, but it gave him strength to see her so strong. Determined not to give into Ethan's anger, Iain decided to take a leaf out of Lily's book and picked himself up from the chair and held his hand out to her.

"Let's get today over and done with."

Lily smiled at him, placing her hand on top of his, letting herself be pulled up from the chair and into his arms. She loved mornings like this, even on the days that terrify her, she was still hopeful that it was be all bad, all because of Iain.

"Last one to the bathroom is a rotten egg!"

And Iain made everything into a competition. Lily giggled, running after him and ducking herself under his arms, managing to reach for the door and lock it behind her.

"Not fair!" Iain shouted out at the door.

"All's fair in love and war!" Lily called back, turning the tap on in the sink.

Iain sighed to himself, he knew Lily would beat him to the bathroom as she was a lot more flexible than he gave her credit for.

"You have got to stop spending time with Sam," he called out to her, "She's been training you, hasn't she?"

"Not telling," Lily giggled.

Iain decided that Lily wasn't going anywhere so called it quits and walked down the stairs. It was a deal that the last one to the bathroom that morning must make breakfast for them to take into work that day. Iain kept on winning that race at first, but Lily suddenly told Sam what has happened so now, it's been even since Sam kept training Lily into gaining speed.

Plus, it'd be funny to blame Lily in case breakfast becomes a disaster.

Ethan walked into the ED, determined to forget about what has happened between him, Lily and Iain. He was alarmed to see Gem in the reception, still shook up after what she witnessed yesterday. It killed him; she wasn't to blame. She had no idea about the letter, she would have been honest with him if she had known. They all would have.

"Hey Gem," he approached her, "How you're doing?"

"Are you okay?" Gem asked him terrified, "I'm sorry about what happened."

"It wasn't your fault," Ethan reassured her, "You had no knowledge of what's right or wrong. If anyone's to blame, it's Iain for not showing you that."

"Excuse me?" Ethan turned around to come face to face with Sam, who didn't look happy with him, "You should be thankful yesterday that he didn't deck you one! What happened with Alicia was not his fault, or Lily's for that matter!"

"He started it by abandoning his sister," Ethan growled at her, unable to comprehend why she was having a go at him on the worst possible moment, "He abandoned Gem when she was a kid. He failed to show up at times where she needed him most. Hell, he was about to throw her out on the streets just for making a mistake!"

Gem just stared at the two of them shouting at each other, placing her hands on her ears to block out the noise. Why was her brother being blamed for Ethan's break up? Why was Ethan being so cruel towards Iain and Lily, trying to turn her against her own brother? They didn't know Alicia was going to write a 'Dear John' letter to him! They're not fortune tellers. What's worse is that he's been saying that behind their backs. They won't know what poison he's been saying about them and if someone does tell them, chances are, they may not believe that.

"So now you're throwing personal mistakes at them?" Gem didn't even notice Louise walking towards them, "I know you're hurt, but blaming Iain or Lily isn't going to make Alicia come back! Lily telling Alicia to be honest with you was the best thing she could have done!"

"Really?" Ethan glared at her, "Alicia was the best thing that ever happened to me since Cal's death! She was the only person who got me through this and what did Lily do? She scared her away!"

"Ethan that's enough!" Charlie ran up to him, "Alicia met someone else! When Lily told her to be honest with you, I don't she realised Alicia would do it through a 'Dear John' letter!"

"Lily pretty much gave her the pen and paper!" Ethan shouted, angered that more and more people were taking Iain and Lily's side, "And Iain should have told me! What the hell happened to the 'Bro Code'? Those two made me feel like a laughingstock, knowing what Alicia was going to do!"

Charlie and Louise watched as Gem ran off in tears, and they didn't blame the poor girl as well. They both knew Gem made a massive mistake that day she ran Lily over, a mistake that ruined her life. She's now picking up the pieces and trying to make improvements to her life with Iain and Lily's support. The porter is now doing GCSEs in both English and Maths and with Iain's support and Lily's tutoring, everyone is certain, she's going to get fantastic grades in both subjects and maybe it could help her decide what career path she wanted to take.

Ethan watched as Sam, Louise and Charlie all split up to go looking for Gem. But as soon as he watched Charlie disappear within the crowd of doctors, nurses, porters, patients and relatives, he noticed a strange figure walking closer. But he wasn't sure where he's going. His face of confusion was the only concern Ethan had with him. His blonde hair had a natural hint of brown and his jeans seemed to be slightly ripped from the knees. His tartan red and black shirt seemed to be covering a blue t-shirt. And the fact his hands were in his pockets, seemed to give a character that he doesn't care about getting lost.

"Hello," Ethan cooled himself down before asking, "Can I help you?"

"I was wanting to see if you're okay?" he asked him, "I saw what happened there. That wasn't fair on them to gang up on you."

Keeping his eyes on the road, Iain was keen to listen out for any sudden sounds that Lily makes. He knew that Lily wouldn't want to hold off facing Ethan, but it was clear from the silence atmosphere that she's terrified to face him. From knowing his girlfriend well, Iain knew that Lily's main car activities as a passenger involves looking at the window, changing the radio station (Which he regretted showing her when she's playing Smooth Radio) and looking at her phone.

"Sam's texted me," Lily whispered, "Is it too late to pull that sickie?"

"Ethan's still angry then," Iain sighed, "Did he say anything this time?"

"He's still upset," Lily put her phone down into her bag, "I have to face him anyway. We work together, I don't want to lose him as a friend."

"If it gets too bad," Iain suggested, "Hide in the ambulance station. Sam's still angry with him, he woke the beast."

Iain suddenly turned the moment Lily giggled at this statement. It calmed him to know in her tense moments, she was starting to relax a little bit. The feeling of dread is still hiding within him as he knows, deep down, the feeling isn't going to last. It was easier for him, he could be out on calls all day, but it won't be easier for Lily as she'll have to stay in the ED.

This gave him an idea. He just needs to talk to Connie and Jan about it.

"I think I have an idea."

Ethan sat down outside as he watched the stranger buy him a coffee. Normally he wouldn't accept the offer from a visitor, but the blonde with brown tints stranger seems insistent that he accepts the offer.

When he read the letter, his heart broke into two. He made plans to go to see Alicia in Manchester and he even told Lily and Iain about it. A week later, he received a note, envelope written with Alicia's handwriting. Telling him she never meant to hurt him, that she'll always remember the good times they shared together. But she can't go on with a long distanced relationship, and she finally met the man of her dreams, someone who will support her, throughout everything. Someone she wants to spend the rest of her life with.

And what's worst, he overheard a conversation between Lily and Iain. They knew that Alicia met someone new and instead of telling him, they told her to end things between them.

"Would you like to tell me what happened?" he asked him, passing him over the coffee.

"It's complicated," Ethan sighed, "I'd rather not talk about it. Especially not to a total stranger."

"Okay," he sighed, giving Ethan a slip of paper, "My name is Callum. If you want to talk, I'm a trained counsellor."

Connie was constantly staring at the photograph of Cal, unable to comprehend what happened the year before. What would Cal be doing if he was still alive? She knew he'd try his luck with Sam, or joke with Iain about his relationship with Lily. She often asked if he'd eventually come to terms with Ethan's relationship with Alicia.

Connie's thought was interrupted she heard a knock on the door.

"Enter."

Connie looked up to see Jan walk into the room with Iain and Lily following her inside the office. Connie must have noticed Iain and Lily looked terrified about what has happened. She heard about what happened yesterday. She wished she was there to stop Ethan before he said something he'd regret later, but she was more surprised (as was everyone) that Iain didn't punch him. Did this prove that Iain cares more about checking Lily's wellbeing than he was defending her honour. Connie watched the two of them with intent. In a way, there was a bright side to the horrible day.

"I heard what happened yesterday," Connie mentioned, "I'm surprised the two of you came in today."

"I wished I didn't," Lily admitted, to Connie's shock, this was the first time she ever heard Lily Chao wished she pulled a sickie, "Sam texted me. Apparently, Ethan hasn't forgiven us."

"It'll take time," Connie reassured her, "Maybe you shouldn't be here today."

"That is why we're here," Jan explained to her, "I'm going to put Iain on managing a non-transporting vehicle today. I think it'd be beneficial if Lily goes with him. It's a good learning opportunity and it keeps her out of Ethan's sight. Sam told me what he said, it's a good thing they weren't there to hear it."

"What did he say?" Iain asked her, "We need to know."

"I'd rather not say," Jan insisted, "It didn't seem nice to hear it from a bystander's point of view. It'd be a stab in the back for the two of you to hear."

Iain and Lily looked each other, both clearly alarmed to hear this news. What was Ethan trying to do to them? And why is no one telling him or Lily this? Iain questioned his actions over that day. Should he have told Ethan about Alicia meeting someone new? Did Ethan really think there was still a chance, especially given Alicia never said, 'it's over'? Should he have told Lily to stay out of it and let Ethan find out? Maybe then, he would get his heart broken later, rather than sooner.

Maybe that's what Ethan meant.

Louise and Sam found Gem in the staffroom, resting her head in her hands. It was clear that Gem was upset with what went off. Both paramedic and nurse were equally disgusted with Ethan. Especially when it was clear, he was trying to play mind games on Gem, trying to poison her against Lily and Iain. Ethan may have been heartbroken over his break-up, but it was no excuse to treat anyone like that.

"You okay?" Louise sat down beside her, "This isn't your fault. Ethan was upset. He'll blame anyone over what happened."

"But it isn't me," Gem looked at her, "It was towards Iain and Lily. Saying they made him a laughingstock. Did he not think that they were only trying to spare him the humiliation? They were trying to make sure he had support around him when she ended things, and this is how he repays them? By trying to poison everyone against them?"

"He had no right to do that," Sam angry blurted out loud, startling both Gem and Louise, "There's no one to blame for this."

"Ethan will realise soon enough that getting angry isn't going to help anyone," Louise reassured Gem, "Before you know it, he'll be apologising to Iain and Lily for what he said."

Ethan kept his eye on Callum's number, the only person who has been nice to him during the dark times. Everyone has truly turned against him, even Charlie. Ethan never felt as lonely than he did before. Cal's dead, Alicia's gone, Lily and Iain betrayed him, and everyone else has turned their backs on him. It only took the kind words of a stranger to help give him comfort.

Ethan pulled out his phone and went into his contacts page, making the decision to keep Callum's number onto his list of contacts.

He could really do with someone on his side.

Callum Rivers felt pleased with himself. He didn't think he'd have an easier time convincing the doctor that he was on his side. When he saw him looking alone and hurt, he knew he needed to have a sense of value in his life. Something to cheer him up, make him feel as if life is worth living again. That doctor will be an asset to the group, but now Ethan Hardy must make the first move. Only then, his father will accept him into their group with open arms.

His thoughts turn to discuss, when he sees a young brunette woman, wearing a dark green jacket, with a yellow sign on the back saying 'Doctor' in dark green writing. He was disgusted when he saw her, in that gear. Did China not need her? Is that why she came stealing a job that one of them could do instead. His thoughts turn to disgust, it's people like her that they need to be wary of. In his eyes, that girl does not belong in this country.

Callum watched as an English man in paramedic gear walked towards her, with a tray of chips in hand. They sat together on a nearby bench near their car, as they ate their chips together. Callum knew that he's one of those people who need to be nice to people like her. But he took another glimpse at them and noticed the paramedic trying to catch a chip in his mouth, but failed miserably, resulting in ketchup over his cheek.

That girl had the nerve to laugh at him. But then Callum noticed something in the facial expressions, especially when the paramedic pulled her towards him and brush his cheek with hers. Resulting in her brushing whatever sauce she had off her face.

Callum watched as the girl said something, but how the paramedic responded had slowly made him feel sick.

He watched as the paramedic, brushed the tray of chips to one side and pulled the girl closer to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. He couldn't be one of those, could he?

When he saw their lips crash together, he was angry.

That paramedic, he was one of them!

His mind suddenly raced back to the doctor he befriended before. They must work in the same hospital as him.

And that doctor will be the perfect choice to deal with two parasites like them.

Please let me know what you think. I'm aiming to raise awareness of the subject as it isn't an easy thing to write about, but it shows that anyone who is vulnerable can be targeted.