I'm sorry this has taken so long to get up, I've written, deleted, re - written, this chapter so many times, I guess I didn't want it becoming too similar to any other underwater prompts, I have done as I fear it might do as I have done the hypothermia thing before.
For this chapter:
Ethan doesn't have the gene. The dialogue in Jessica's flashback comes from series 24 ep 18 and 19.
Robyn's baby has lost her life.
I'm no doctor so the treatment for hypothermia has come from the internet, and what I know about it from other shows. I'm sorry if it is wrong, I have researched.
Sweet - as - honey: Thank you for the review. I agree that Ethan is such a lovely big brother. Sam is a slimeball, I think, he was horrible, to Cal. I had to have Ethan comforting Cal.
Sweet - as - honey: Thank you for the review. I felt so sorry for Cal. His friends were mean to him.
bronny9: Thank you for the review. I'm glad you thought it was amazing and adorable, I had fun writing it.
The Secret Life Of Casualty.
Chapter 287.
Young Emma Knight had been clamouring for her parents to take her to the zoo, but as they were both busy doctors, they couldn't afford to take the time off, so they often left Emma with Ethan, or if he was working a neighbour, who was also a childminder, so on a rare weekend off, Cal packed the car, while Alicia helped Emma get dressed. Emma reflected her mother in looks with long brown hair and a few freckles across her face and on her nose. For Christmas, she had asked Santa Claus for a mini doctors kit, saying that she wanted to be like her mummy and daddy. Cal had reminded her that Uncle Nibbles had a mini doctors kit when he was a child and used to pretend his teddies were poorly.
It was getting late and Cal was carrying Emma back to the car, it was cold, and the animals had been put away for the night. Cal opened the door and settled Emma, before he and Alicia got in to the front. Alicia put the radio on low as Cal reversed out of the car park. They were on the road, unaware there was ice ahead, and a car swerved trying to avoid Cal, but it didn't work and soon Cal heard Alicia scream.
"Cal!" She screamed as he lost control of the car, her screams, awaking their daughter. The car tumbled on to the ice, she started to hyperventilate.
"Alicia, just breath, " He tried to encourage his wife, they needed to work together to help their little girl, Alicia wouldn't be any good to him if she passed out. Fiddling with the door handle Alicia managed to get out, leaving Cal and Emma inside, in that moment Cal hated his wife.
"Daddy, " Emma cried, trying to undo her seatbelt, but it was stuck.
"It's ok, baby" Cal soothed his little girl, as he turned in his seat.
Water started filling the car. Cal crawled through to the back to be with Emma, not wanting her to be alone, as it would be upsetting for her.
"Be a brave girl for me?" Cal asked, kissing her head.
Emma nodded, moving closer to her dad in a bid to keep warm, but the water just kept coming, washing over them like a cold vicious blanket. Cal kicked at the doors, but soon realised the water was pushing up against the doors, as they swung back.
The ice then cracked, sending Cal and Emma in to the cold water.
A few people walking along spotted the car sinking under the water and got out their phones to call for help. Iain and Jez attended the scene of the accident. As Iain got out of the ambulance, he noticed Alicia stumbling towards him and Jez, Jez managed to catch her before she fell. "Alicia, what happened?" Iain asked.
Alicia told her friends, as they stared back at her, horrified.
"Hello, Doctor Zoe Hanna, speaking, " Zoe answered as she picked up the red phone, the phone which was used for emergencies.
"Zoe, it's Iain, " The voice told her. "There's been an accident. Cal and Emma are trapped. Alicia managed to get out of the car. "
Zoe groaned, she had heard the same thing when Adam, Jess and the kids were trapped. She pinched her nose as she breathed out, looking around for someone to assist him and Jez.
"Jessica, there's been an accident, " Zoe told her. "Iain and Jez need a nurse, would you like to go?" Zoe asked, waiting her answer.
"OK" Jessica offered, it would be a different experience from making RESUS beds, taking bloods. She headed in to the staff room to change in to the outfit she needed to, to save her colleagues. She headed to the Ambulance Bay, and smiled nervously at Jez and Iain, it would be the first time she'd been out with the boys.
Zoe smiled. "Good"
Jessica got in to the ambulance with the lads as Iain started the sirens, letting other drivers know that this was an emergency. When the ambulance arrived at the scene of the accident, the two males jumped out, but the nurse was slower at getting out of the ambulance as she made her way over to the scene. Jessica froze as she made her way over to the scene. There was a car trapped on ice.
Jessica froze as she stared out at the car on the ice; memories started entering her mind.
Jessica's flashback
Jessica was in her house with her children and her friend Tess, who was there to help her in to the dress and keep an eye on the children. It was her wedding day and she was excited to be marrying the man she loved. The children were sat in the living room, the young baby on his sisters knee.
"Mum, are you crying?" Amelia asked
"A little bit, " Jessica replied, wiping the tears off her cheeks.
"Why?" Amelia asked.
"Because I'm happy, " Jess answered with a small smile, turning to face her daughter.
"You look like the Queen, " Her son, Lucas, told her.
Jessica and Tess laughed as they left the house, baby Harry in Jessica's arms. Tess noticed a car pull up outside. She went over and spoke too the driver quickly.
Adam, who was at the ED, phone started to ring. He wedged it between his ear as he answered it. "Hey, I can't speak to you, before the wedding, "
"You can't see me, you can speak to me, you eejit. "Jessica replied.
"Eejit. Nice talk soon to be Mrs Trueman" Adam replied as Noel danced around Adam. "Shut up, "
"Oh, nice talk Mr Trueman, how was last night?" Jess asked.
"Er, yeah, good, you know" Adam responded.
"I just wanted to say thank you, " Jessica responded, nuzzling her youngest face. "We love it, it's amazing,"
"Er, your welcome, "Adam replied, having no idea what his bride was talking about.
"Adam"
"Seriously, I have no idea what your talking about, "
"The car. "
"No, still clueless, " He replied.
Jessica laughed as Tess approached her. "Big roller. Bloke in a silly hat?"
"Booked by a Mr Jordan, " Tess replied, taking baby Harry out of her arms. "Apologises he can't make the ceremony"
"Jordan?" Jessica was surprised that he had booked her and Adam a fancy car.
"Jordan?" Adam repeated, getting his can from the vending machine. "Why, what about him. He's not coming?"
"Well, um, how about I call him?" Jessica suggested.
"You tell him he better be there or he's a dead man. " Adam said.
"Um, is that the most appropriate thing to say to a man with a brain tumour?" Jessica asked.
"No, probably not. " Adam replied.
"OK, well, um, 1 O'clock, sharp, I'll see you there, "
"Absouately 1' O clock, I'll be there, "
"And Adam don't be late, " Jessica said, giving him his last warning before they became husband and wife.
"I definitely, positively, absouately won't be late, " Said Adam.
Jessica smiled as she closed her phone. Her and Tess spoke together. "He's going to be late, "
Jessica got in to the car, after she had put little Harry in his car seat, as the driver started to take her to the venue. When they arrived, she waited in the car.
The venue was starting to fill with guests.
"Mr Jordan, " Said Ruth.
"Hello, " Nick winked at her as he looked her up and down.
"I didn't know you were coming, " Continued Ruth as she took her seat next to Jay.
"No, well, er, Jessica can be very persuasive." Nick said.
"Well, it's nice to see you, "Ruth replied.
"Registrar is getting angsty, " Tess told her friend.
"Arg, I'm going to kill him, " Jessica said, opening the door, a little too violently. She hurried up the steps and walked in to the venue.
"We do have another ceremony booked, " The woman told Jessica.
"I am so sorry, he really shouldn't be much longer" She replied, rocking baby Harry.
"Mum?"
Jessica turned around. "What is it?" She asked, slightly stressed.
"When can I take this off?" Lucas asked.
"When I'm married " Jessica replied.
"But it's tight, " Lucas complained.
"Shush" Jessica said, ruffling his hair.
Police sirens could be heard outside and Jessica looked at Tess in alarm, had Adam done something stupid?
"I'll go and see, " Said Tess.
"Thanks, " Jess commented.
"I don't know how you do it, " Charlie commented. "I get stopped for speeding, I get a ticket. When I'm with you, I get a police escort. "
"I guess some of us have got it and some of us don't, " Said Adam as he got out of the car. "Tess, is she angry?"
"I don't think this is quite what she had in mind, " Tess said as Adam ran up the steps.
There was clapping as Adam walked down the aisle towards Jessica, his hands in a forgiving gesture.
"It's traditional for the woman to walk up the aisle, " Jessica told him as he wrapped an arm around her waist.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Wow, you look amazing" He told her, as they shared a kiss.
"Shall I begin?" Said the registrar, not looking impressed that they were holding her up even further.
Lucas come over to his mum. "Lucas, not now, " Jessica said.
"Adam's flies are undone" Lucas informed them.
Adam turned around to his colleagues laughing as he zipped them up. "How's everyone doing?"
"Is not to be entered in to lightly or unadvisedly. " Said the registrar. "But revently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. If anyone here knows, of any legal impediment, "
Buzzers and pagers started going off.
"To the marriage, " Continued the vicar. "Now is the time to declare it, "
"I do solemnly declare that I know not of any legal reason why I, " Said Adam.
"They want him to come back, " Tess muttered to Charlie, checking her pager.
"Sorry, I, I, solemnly. Sorry what?" Adam asked.
"I do solemnly declare" The registrar, repeated as Adam turned to Tess.
"Tess, what is it?" He asked.
"A major RTC. Henry wants you to come back, there's no senior cover, Zoe's struggling"
"No" Adam looked torn at leaving his bride stood at the alter.
"Adam" She warned him.
Adam hurriedly kissed Jessica's cheek. "Sorry, Jess, I really am"
Jessica briefly wondered how Adam could walk out on her on the most important day of their lives, but she knew Adam lived for saving lives. "Don't, don't say a word" She warned the registrar when it looked like she was about to say something.
"We've got four still in RESUS, one in peads, and two more on the way, "Zoe informed Adam.
"Are we stocked up on bloods and fluids?" Adam asked.
"Yeah"
"Er, are we ok for theatre space and ITU beds?" Adam questioned.
"Yep, all done. Adam I'm sorry I did try and stop Henry, " Zoe explained as she heard the doors open, Jessica walked in, carrying baby Harry in her arms. "Oh, Jess, you look lovely, "
"Thanks, " Jessica replied. "If you didn't wanna do it, you should have just said, "
"What?" Adam replied.
"You should have said" Jessica said.
"This is my job"
"This is our wedding day" Jessica replied.
"So, are you married now?" Amelia asked.
"Not quite" Jess replied, stroking her daughters hair.
"Does this mean I can take this off?" Lucas asked, pointing to his tie.
"Yeah" Jess replied.
Adam was in RESUS, checking the burns on his patients arm. Jessica decided to put on her scrubs and help him out.
"Right, can we get some more fluids over here, please?" He asked, checking his patients burns.
The nurse walked over, hanging up a bag of saline on the IV stand as Adam glanced up at her.
"Hey, you didn't have to, " Adam said as he saw who it was.
"I know, " Jessica replied, softly.
"Are the kids alright?" Adam asked.
"Yeah, they are with Big Mac, " Jessica replied.
"Big Mac?" Adam almost laughed.
"Mum, said you'd find us something to do, " Said Amelia, sitting in the staff room with her younger brothers.
"Oh, right, " Big Mac nodded.
"Aren't you going to find us something to do?" Lucas asked.
"We, er, could do colouring" He suggested.
"We are not babies" He replied.
"No, "
"I think he needs changing " Amelia said after baby Harry had started to grizzle, she stood and handed him to Big Mac, who tried and failed to sort out his nappy.
Back in RESUS, Adam and Jess were talking when monitors started beeping, Jessica glanced at them. "She's bradycardic, ok, lets get her flat, "She said, lowering the bed.
Once the doctor and nurse had stabilised the patient, they went their separate ways briefly. Jessica to re - curl her hair, and Adam went to freshen up. She then went to find Adam, Tess told her she'd find him in the males.
"Adam Trueman, you are the most annoying, workaholic, vain, arrogant man I've ever met" Jessica said, shaking her heads in disappointment.
"Right, is this going somewhere?" Adam asked his fiancée.
"And I want to marry you today. And I'd like to marry you today. Or at least the best next thing. So, what do you reckon?" Smiled Jessica as a minister entered the toilets.
Adam laughed at her as they joined their friends in the chapter, Jess back in her dress.
The minister, whose name was Trevor, started the service. "Thank you all of you for coming today. I've never seen the place so full. It's um, an absolute privilege to be blessing these two wonderful people. For what greater thing is there than two souls to feel that they are joined together to strengthen one another, in all the labour, to minister to each other in all sorrow, to share with each other in all gladness. This relationship stands for love, loyalty, honesty, and trust, but most importantly, friendship. Er, before they knew love, they were, um, actually, I don't know what you were before. How did you two meet?"
Adam and Jess glanced at each other.
"Um, " Jess started, aware her kids were in the chapel.
"Yeah, go on, tell us, " Jeff told us.
"Shut up, " Said Dixie, elbowing him.
"Er, probably not something, we should talk about in church partner, " Said Adam, holding baby Harry, as Jessica laughed quietly.
"OK, moving swiftly on. I have 3 pieces for you. 1) "Say to each other, at least once a day "I love you. " 2) "And if you do something wrong, which I'm almost positively certain, you won't: Say "I'm sorry and mean it" And 3) "Learn to say "I forgive you and mean it "
Taking Jessica's hand Adam carefully slid her ring on, above her engagement ring. And she did the same for him, as Trevor spoke "Your two lives are joined in one unbroken circle, wherever they may go, may they always return to one another. "
"And, I, um trust when you have a moment you'll make it legal?" Asked Trevor as he joined in with the clapping.
Jessica nodded as her and Adam kissed.
"Look what me and Amelia made " Said Lucas as they all walked in to the staff room to show a cake.
"Wow, look at that, a mountain of doughnuts " Adam commented as he held Jessica's hand.
"Thank you, " Jessica smiled at her son, getting ready to throw her bouquet.
"3. 2. 1" Her colleagues chanted as she threw it.
Ruth Winters was closest to the door where it landed.
"I didn't catch it, " Said Ruth.
"It doesn't matter, your closest, your next, " Jessica replied.
"Poor old Jay, " Big Mac commented to Noel as they both laughed quietly to themselves.
After having photo's taken with their arms around each other and with their kids, the couple set off for the venue.
"Kid's got your seatbelts on?" Adam asked, as he put his own on.
"Yeah, " Both kids replied.
"So, I'm an annoying workaholic am I?" Adam asked, as he drove himself, Jess and the kids to the venue where they would sign the papers.
"Yep, " Jessica replied.
"And, er, vain?" Adam continued.
"The vainest man I've ever met" Jessica said, a smirk on her lips.
"You look in the mirror more than mummy does, " Amelia piped up from the back, as Jess laughed.
"Hey, " Adam said. "That is not true, "
"It is, " Said Lucas.
"It is not, " Said Adam, concentrating on driving.
"It is, " Smiled Jessica.
Zoe arrived at the venue. "Oh, no, thank you, " She said as a waiter offered her a glass of champagne.
"Hello, " Nick said as he noticed Zoe.
"Hi, " Said Zoe.
"We are the first ones here" Nick said.
"You don't say, " Zoe replied. "Tried to call you"
"Yes, I know you did, " Nick replied, taking a sip of his whisky.
"Guess you've just been busy, " Zoe said.
"No, I just didn't wanna call you back, " Nick replied.
"Right, well, thank you for clarifying that for me" Zoe said.
Back on the roads, Adam's phone rang.
"Oh, that's mine, " Said Adam.
Jessica opened the glovebox. "Zoe" She said, pressing accept. "Hey, "
"Jess, how far away are you guys?" Zoe asked.
"Um, not far, why are you the only one there?"
"Unfortunately, no, " Zoe told her. "Jess, your breaking up"
"Hello, Zoe?" Jessica questioned.
"Adam!" Jessica screamed her husbands name as she noticed a car speeding towards them, the car flipped out of Adam's control, landing on an icy lake.
Back at the venue. Zoe was still calling her friends name, "Jessica? Jessica?" Zoe called, realising her friend was no longer on the line. She shut her phone. "Charming, she's just hung up on me, can you believe that? You know I will have another one, thank you"
On the lake, Adam was fighting feels of claustrophobia, from an accident he'd been involved in when he was younger with his now deceased brother. "It's ok, were ok, "
"Adam" Jessica said, fear in her voice.
"Harry, it's ok, baby, mummy's here, it's ok " She said, undoing her seatbelt and crawling through the gap, and undoing the straps that held little Harry in his seat.
"Hey, hey, Jess, don't move, just keep still ok" Adam told her.
"See that," Adam said, gesturing to the horseshoe which hung from the rear-view mirror. That's the right way round, faith" He said as he started kicking the door.
"Adam" Jessica said as baby Harry started crying again.
Nick and Zoe were still at the venue, unaware of what had happened. "Oh, cheer up, face ache, I'm sure they'll be here in a sec. And don't worry, it won't be long before your shot of the lot of us will it?"
As they lay trapped in the car, Adam managed to get the door open. "Alright, Lucas, Lucas, give me your hand"
"Good boy, " Said Jessica. "Good boy. "
"Nice and easy. Nice and slow, " Said Adam. "Ease yourself down on to the ice. Ease yourself down. Get down on all fours. Crawl Lucas, crawl"
"That's good Lucas" Said Jessica, giving her son encouragement.
"At a boy. Go, go, go, " Adam said.
"That's really good, " Said Jessica."Your doing really well. "
"Ow, my arm" Amelia cried.
"Good boy, Lucas, good boy" Adam said.
"OK, Amelia, your next, " Said Jessica, still holding baby Harry in her arms.
"I can't. " Amelia cried.
"Come on, " Adam said.
"Come on, " Jess added. Yes, you can"
"Ow, my arm" Amelia cried.
"Come on, " Jess said, loosing hope.
"Right, so that sign, wouldn't by any chance say " Said Dixie, Jeff was driving him and her to the venue.
"Well, it might say lake, but it doesn't necessarily mean there is one, " Said Jeff,
"Thank you" said Dixie as they spotted a car which was crashed in to a tree. They got out to help. "There's two of them, Jeff"
"Help, help" Shouted a voice.
"You go, sweetheart, " Said Dixie.
"That's Lucas" Said Jeff, running towards him. "Lucas, Lucas, what's happened. "
"It's my mum. Help" Lucas replied, leading Jeff to where his mum, stepdad, sister and baby brother were trapped. Jeff got his phone out.
In the hospital, Big Mac and Noel walked in to the staff room. "Come on, I'm gagging for a pint, "
"Yeah, lets go and drown the new couple in bubbly" Nioel added
Tess answered the call. "What, and there still in the car? No, I'm staying I'll call Charlie"
"OK, Adam, help's on the way, " Jeff told him.
"Just, just get the kids out, Jeff" Adam said, getting Amelia out of the car.
"Right, young man, take my jacket, stay there and be brave" Jeff said.
"OK" Lucas replied.
"Are you ready?" Adam asked, putting his arm around Jessica as he tried to get her out, but the door shut. "Give him to me, give him to me"
Adam!" Jeff shouted, grabbing Amelia.
"Mum" Amelia cried.
All three watched as the car slowly submerged under the cold water.
"Look, can I have my bags, please? I'm going to have to go," said Nick. Nick was thanking the staff after they'd helped him on with his jacket and walking down the stairs. "Airport please "
"Yes, I'm coming, I'm coming " Zoe was unzipping her bag and getting her phone out. "Nick, stop, nick please" said Zoe racing after him. "stop, please stop"
Adam moved little Harry's car seat out of the way "We will get out of this,"
"I'm scared," Jessica said handing baby Harry to Adam.
"I know" Adam replied, watching Jessica crawl through to the back. "Now listen to me, the water is pushing against the doors, when the car fills up, we'll have one last chance to get out"
"Mum" Amelia shouted from the outside.
"Oh, it's freezing" Jessica said, accepting baby Harry who tangled his hands in her hair.
"Apparently it's good for the skin," Adam replied "It's ok Harry, it's ok, babba" Adam said as both Jess and himself kissed their son.
Adam and Jess then kissed, aware it could be for the last time. "I love you " Adam told her.
"I know " She replied, as they both began a fight for surival.
End of Jessica's flashback.
"Jess, we need help," Jez yelled over to her.
"Sure" She replied, blinking back her tears as she headed over and put her arm around a shaking Alicia, who kept looking back at the water, hoping against hope that Cal would appear with Emma in his arms. "Alicia, it's going to be ok, "
Alicia eyed her: how did she know? "How do you know?" She asked.
Jessica shrugged her shoulders as she gave Alicia a gentle push so she would sit in the ambulance. She found a blanket and wrapped it around her.
Cal was still in the water, he hadn't re- emerged yet and that worried the two paramedics as they both knew that the longer he was down there, the less chance he had of resurfacing and that meant he was either having a heart attack or a cardiac arrest and as doctors, they knew that, that wouldn't be good for either of them.
"Where's Emma?" Alicia panicked. "Where's Cal?"
"It'll be fine, " Jess tried to reassure her.
A small figure was pulled out of the water, her hair limp over her face, but unmoving as she lay on the ice, Iain got an oxygen mask out of his kit and put it over her, as she was placed in to the ambulance, secured to a spinal board as the doors were shut. Alicia went to sit by her little girl as Iain and Jez went over to see if they could help pull Cal out. Between them, they got ready to pull him out and put him on a stretcher. A diver managed to drag him to the surface, as he would be too weak to do it himself and Jez and Iain pulled him out, as they secured him to a board, put an oxygen mask over him. The ambulances then set off, one containing Cal, the other containing his daughter.
Soon, both ambulances reached the hospital and Emma's ambulance was unloaded first, Alicia was holding her daughters cold hand.
"This is Emma Knight, 10, involved in an RTC, the car crashed in to an icy lake, tachycardic at 150, BP is 166/ 160, SAT's are 86%, GSC is 6, mild hypothermia. "
Jessica could only stand and stare as it reminded her of her situation. She took a deep breath and decided to help out in RESUS, as Cal was brought in, Iain shouting the relevant information they needed to treat him.
"This is Caleb Knight, 35, involved in an RTC, the car crashed in to an icy lake, tachycardic at 150, BP is 166/ 160, SAT's are 86%, GSC is 6, mild hypothermia. " Said Jez as he was responsible for wheeling the stretcher to RESUS.
Colleagues yelled orders to each other as they realised they had to pull together. IV lines were set up. Blood was warmed up, in case it was needed.
"He needs warming up, " Stated Connie as she waked over to the bed that he was lying in.
"Nasal gastric lavage" Ethan suggested.
Connie nodded. Ethan opened the draw and got the tube out. Cal was intubated as the tube was inserted in to his stomach, going up his nose.
"Emma needs a capillary blood gas, " Said Ethan, as he got ready to do the procedure.
After being warmed up, Cal soon woke up and saw doctors surround Emma's bed. He tried to speak, but he couldn't, so he did the one thing he knew he shouldn't have done and pulled the tube out of his nose as blood come out. He walked out of RESUS, feeling dizzy and feeling a cut on his forehead, that would stitches. He felt a wave of dizziness go over him which didn't go unnoticed by nurses.
A blurry figure or so it seemed to Cal, was walking along the corridor. It looked like Connie. "Cal!" She scolded him. "You shouldn't be out of bed. "
Call was about to speak when he collapsed in to Connie's arms. Jessica witnessed this and went to get a stretcher and wheeled him in to RESUS and started to transfer him over on to the bed. When she had done that, she went to find the young doctor, who was in cubicles, she pulled back the curtain and stepped inside.
"Doctor Hardy?" Jessica asked.
"What is it, Nurse Harrison?" Ethan replied.
"Cal's collapsed. " As soon as Ethan heard them words, he said his apologies to his patient and him and Jessica made their way to RESUS where Cal was resting, an oxygen mask on his face. Jessica knew he'd need an ECG. She got the machine out of the draw and tried to attach the stickers to his chest, but her hands were shaking as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Nurse Harrison. " Ethan said, concerned.
"I'm fine" Jessica told him.
"No, your not. " Ethan swallowed, he'd never stood up to a nurse before, but he knew there was a first time for everything. "Go and take a break, "
"I'm fine" Jessica repeated her earlier question, but she soon felt Ethan's firm grip around her arm as he steered her out of RESUS. He guides her to the Nurses Station and logging on to the computer and brought up the internet as he typed in "Ice accident" the page filled with a number of articles as Ethan clicked on one.
Mother And Baby Drown In Ice Tragedy.
"Jessica Harrison, a nurse at Holby City Hospital, and her baby Harry, drowned today. It is believed to have been her wedding day when the accident happened. Her partner, a doctor at the hospital was driving through country lanes with the nurses older children in the back when the car collided with another vehicle, the car flipped and landed on ice, trapping the family for a few minutes, before emergency services could get to them. Emergency services managed to rescue the older children from the car, but were too late to rescue, Jessica, baby Harry and Adam, as the ice broke, sending the car in to the water below"
"The child's father surfaced first, telling his colleagues, that had arrived on the scene, that he couldn't see his son or bride. One of his colleagues, Jeff Coilor, offered to go down and look for them but Adam said no, before diving back down. "
"Jessica was the first to be pulled out of the water. She was estimated to have been under for 5 to 10 minutes. She was cold, weak and unresponsive. After handing her over to colleagues, Adam dived back under for their son, but was unsuccessful in finding him. After diving down a second time, he come up with the chid in his arms, he handed him over to colleagues."
"At the hospital, the young child is said to be making signs of recovery, while the mothers condition continues to deteriate ."
Watching Ethan print out the article, Jessica almost snatched the article out of Ethan's hands, as she read it, she would never forget that day, it was forever imprinted in her mind, bringing it back when she least expected it. A tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another, then another, as she stared at the picture the article had used of baby Harry.
"Go out in to the peace garden, " Ethan told her.
"I'm fine, " Jessica nodded.
"Go, " Ethan said.
Jessica nodded and headed in to the staff room. Using her locker keys, she opened the door and pulled on her jacket, zipping it up before heading outside and sitting down on the bench and wishing that she had Adam with her, he always knew how to comfort her when she was feeling down, but they'd separated as baby Harry's death had torn them apart, she'd left the ED for America, but after a break down in America over a child, who had been baby Harry's age, she'd quit her job and moved back to Holby. She took a deep breathe as she thought about the day she brought her baby home.
Jessica's flashback
Going back on a tiny flat at 6 months pregnant, was hardly ideal, she was exhausted and ready for this baby to come out. Only Tess and Zoe knew the truth about Sean taking the kids to Saudi with him and when Adam found out he'd offered to let her move in with him, Jess accepted as she knew Adam was only trying to help her.
After going in to labour, using her neighbour, who had later become a friend, who was an ex criminal, she delivered, a few weeks early, a baby boy, who she'd named Harry after her friend.
As Adam put some food on the table for his colleague, who looked like she hadn't ate in a few days and that concerned him, she'd fallen asleep. Grabbing a blanket from upstairs, before laying it over her. The baby looked up at the man who could be his father. Adam lifted him up and held him to his chest.
End of flashback
Ethan took Cal to cubicles to clean up his nose. He put tissues up his nose to help stem the bleed.
After that was done, the two brothers left the cubicle as Cal noticed Alicia, who had mascara running down her cheeks, Cal pulled her in to his arms and kissed her as they headed in to the lifts.
Alicia, Cal, Emma and Ethan, all had a family hug, all thankful that they had escaped the crash with a few cuts and bruises. Ethan offered to let them stay at his house.
"Thanks bro, " Cal said as he clapped Ethan on the back. Ethan handed Cal his house keys and Cal went to get some fresh air.
Ethan smiled. "It's OK, Cal. "
Cal grinned back at his brother, he knew he was a pain sometimes. Well, a lot of the time, but they only had each other since Matilda was dead.
The next day, Cal and Alicia visited the peadetric ward, taking Emma some of her favourite things such as: her teddy, her toothbrush, her nightie and a picture of her parents, that way, when they left, they weren't too far from her thoughts.
Cal's flashback.
"Cal?"
"What is it, Ethan?" Cal asked.
"Alicia's collapsed, " Ethan said to him.
Cal ran to his wifes side and stroked her hair while Zoe spoke. "Alicia, we have your test results back"
Alicia looked at Zoe and then at Cal as they both realised what she was about to say. "Alicia's pregnant. "
Alicia gave a small smile, truth was, she wasn't ready to be a mum, she wanted to focus on her career, she was only 25, she was still young, still had things she wanted to learn in. But as she felt Cal's lips on hers, she realised that he wanted this, to be the dad that Calvin never was to him. Alicia didn't have the heart to tell him she was thinking of having an abortion as she knew that Cal would be angry with her for going behind his back. She decided to continue with the pregnancy, watching as her bump grew and her boobs grew tender, her back sore as the baby put a strain on her body.
Alicia gripped on to Cal's hand as her contractions tore her body apart.
"Cal. " Alicia moaned as another contraction came and she drew her knees up to her chest as she pushed, but had to stop as she was finding it painful and she'd never felt a pain like it. She took a deep breath, gearing herself up as she felt another contraction.
"I'm here baby" Cal smoothed her hair back with his hand which was up in a high pony, as hair could get sweaty during labour. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she gave one last push as a voice announced, she could see the head and one last push should do it. Alicia nodded, took a deep breath and prepared to push.
The baby cried as it was placed on the new mum's chest. Cal put his arm around her. And goes to alert Ethan to the fact he was an uncle.
"Nibbles" Said Cal as he jumped from the last step.
"Don't call me, Nibbles, " Ethan muttered, embarrassed.
"Alicia and I have a baby girl. "
Ethan pulled his brother in to a hug, smiling widely. "Congratulations, Cal. "
"Thanks Nibbles. "
The two brothers went to see Alicia as Ethan wanted to see his new niece, they headed to the lifts and waited for it to arrive. When it did they stepped in and waited for it to head up to the room where Alicia was. They walked along the corridor, Cal stopping outside the room that his wife and new daughter was. He opened the door and the two quietly headed in so not to disturb the tired mum, who was asleep in the bed, her hair spread out, behind her, as she slept peacefully, exhausted.
"Does she have a name?" Ethan asked, looking down at the baby.
"Yeah, " Said Cal not once taking his eyes off his new-born daughter.
"What?" Ethan asked.
"Emma, " Alicia said, quietly, hearing the voice of her brother in law.
Ethan smiled as he stroked the baby's soft cheek. "Welcome, to the world, Emma. "
End of Cal's flashback.
Cal and Alicia shared a smile as they looked down on their daughter, both remembering the day Alicia brought Emma in to the world. Emma was fast asleep, her teddy underneath her arm, the covers pulled up over her, keeping her nice and warm. Cal, holding out his hand, felt Alicia's fingers, interlinking with his, as they left the ward, promising to be back the next morning.
They drove back to Ethan's house, but being careful as they didn't want to cause another accident. Eventually, Cal pulled in to the car space and the two of them got out, locking up. Cal unlocked the front door, surprised to see Ethan sat on the sofa in the living room, reading a book, a cup of tea, on the table.
Cal bid goodnight to his brother and wife as he headed up the stairs to the room where he was staying, it was Ethan's spare room. He took off his clothes and lay down on the bed, his head hitting the pillow and soon he was fast asleep, exhausted, but his sleep didn't last long.
Upon, hearing screams, Ethan woke, blinked, looked at the time on the clock and put on his dressing gown as he walked to his brothers room.
"Hey, Cal, what's the matter?" He asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I h-had an nightmare about the crash, " Cal whimpered in distress; all, he seen was when he closed his eyes was Alicia screaming and Emma crying.
"Cal, it wasn't your fault, " Said Ethan, seriously.
"B-But I-I w-was d-driving, "
"Yes, but it wasn't your fault, it was an accident. " Ethan said, hating the fact he was blaming himself when it wasn't his fault.
"We could have died" Cal whimpered, his eyes filling with tears.
Ethan kissed his brothers forehead. "But you didn't, " He said, softly, kissing his head again as he stood up from the bed. "Try and get some sleep, ok?"
"Yep, "
Ethan smiled as he headed for the door and switched out the light, looking back at Cal, who was wrapped up in the duvet, looking scared and it reminded Ethan of when they were children and he was scared of their dad.
Ethan went to his own room and took off his glasses and got under the cover, hoping they could all sleep peacefully tonight.
The next morning Ethan made Cal and Alicia breakfast as he knew nutrients would be good for them after their ordeal.
"Morning. " Ethan smiled at his sister in law.
"Morning Ethan" Alicia replied as she ran a hand through her hair and dropped down on the chair as Ethan poured her a glass of orange juice.
"Where's Cal?" Alicia asked after she'd taken a sip.
"In the shower" Ethan answered.
Cal come down the stairs, with just a towel around his waist as he walked in to the kitchen, pressing a kiss to his wife's head, as he disappeared upstairs to finish getting ready so they could go the hospital to see their daughter.
They walked in to the hospital, heading to the lifts. Once they reached the paediatric unit, they saw Emma asleep.
Cal picked up his daughters notes and looked through them just as a nurse appeared.
"Emma's well enough to come home, Doctor Knight, "
Cal nodded, sending the nurse a small smile. "Cheers. "
Emma woke up and her dad smiled at her.
"Hey, " Cal smiled.
Alicia helped her get dressed and then she swung her legs over the side of the bed with her fathers help. Cal picked up the bag and held Alicia's hand as they left the hospital as a family.
After they got home, Alicia said that Emma could have a few days off to help her recover while Connie had given both doctors a few weeks off to recover and spend time with Emma. It wasn't often that Connie was compassionate, but she realised after Grace's trauma's, it was so easy to almost lose a child, and she didn't want her two talented doctors to experience what she had, but then she realised they had almost lost her.
Alicia let Emma have a takeaway of her choice and she decided to have a McDonalds with chips, nuggets and a coke.
After she'd finished her meal, Cal carried her up the stairs and in to her room, as her eyes battled sleep.
"Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"Can you read me a story?" Emma asked.
Cal nodded as he knelt down in front of her bookcase and pulled out a story as he sat back on her bed. He opened the book and started reading to her. He stopped when her eyes shut and he put the book back on the shelf before kissing his daughters head and leaving her room, shutting her door quietly, leaning against the banister, looking at the pictures on the wall: him and Alicia on their wedding day, Alicia holding a baby Emma in her arms, Cal's arm around them both. Ethan holding his niece, he had been terrified he was going to drop her and Cal had taken the picture, teasing him with it ever since.
Cal heard Alicia's footsteps, as she joined him at the top of the stairs. They decided to head to bed, putting the days events behind them.
Alicia pulled on a pair of shorts and a shirt of Cal's as that was her favourite thing to sleep in, as it made her feel safe. The mattress sunk as Cal joined her on the double bed and they held each tightly for a few moments before going to sleep.
"Daddy" Emma cried, as she appeared in their bedroom, clutching her teddy bear.
"What's wrong?" Cal asked, sitting up and peering at his daughter through the darkness.
"I was scared. " Emma whimpered, it turned out, she had, had a nightmare where she was in the water with Cal and he had rescued her, but when Cal lost concentration, Emma fell out of his arms.
"Shh, it's ok, " Cal whispered. He pulled back the covers, feeling Alicia stir at the sight of her small daughter. She got in between her mum and dad, and rested her head on her dads chest, it reassured her to know that her parents weren't going anywhere. Cal draped his arm around her as he slept, their family survived to live another day, Ethan wasn't happy when they first got together, but now he was.
The night was interrupted by cries and yells of "Daddy" throughout the night.
Cal cuddled his daughter close and kissed her forehead, gently shushing her as Alicia had fallen back asleep.
Emma, once again, cuddled, her teddy bear to her.
The next morning, Cal and Alicia took Emma to the park, they had all decided to stay steer of the zoo for a while, but knew they would go back eventually. Emma ran to get her coat while Alicia put on her jacket, moving her hair out of the way while Cal took Emma's hand in his own as they left the house, walking the short distance it took them to get there.
Alicia got her and Cal a coffee as Cal pushed Emma on the swing, Alicia listened as her daughters laughter filled the air, she thought she'd never hear the sound again, as her dad pushed her higher and higher.
After half an hour, the family decided to head home as it was getting cold. Cal unlocked the door and Alicia and Emma went in and made them all a drink, as they sat on the couch, Emma watching her favourite programme and Cal on the laptop to his brother about how they all were before they went to bed.
The next day, the couple were back at work, and Emma at school, Cal who was in RESUS, could feel a panic attack, coming on. The loud voices, the beeping machines were all too much for him as he rushed out. Concerned, Ethan ran after him.
"Cal, it's ok, " Ethan soothed, putting his arms around him. Cal clung to his brother.
"That's it, " Ethan encouraged him, as he watched his brother take small breathes.
Still, Cal clung on to his brother.
"Come on, Cal " Ethan encouraged him, giving him a gentle push. Cal scrubbed his eyes and the two of them headed back in to the hospital, heading to the staff room. Cal sat on the sofa while Ethan made himself a cup of tea and a coffee for Cal. After their drinks, they headed home.
That night Ethan put on a DVD for both of them as he thought that they could spend time together. He headed in to the kitchen and poured some popcorn in to a bowl, carrying it through to the living room and putting it on the table as Cal joined him.
"What's going on, Nibbles?" Cal asked.
"We are going to spend some time together" Said Ethan, picking a DVD up from the pile they kept by the TV. He picked up the remote and pressed "play"
"Where's Alicia?" Cal asked as he paused the movie as he needed the bathroom.
"She's spending time with Robyn, " Ethan answered him.
Cal sighed sadly, baby Charlotte had recently passed as she had grew weaker and weaker as a result of her recent surgery and the consultant who bhad been in charge of Charlotte's care had told Robyn it would be kinder to just let her go and Robyn had been distraught as she watched her tiny daughter take her last breath with Max by her side.
Cal headed to the bathroom.
Ethan put his arm around his brother as he returned and they continued watching the movie, occasionally eating popcorn or taking sips of their drinks.
Halfway through the movie, Alicia returned home and dumped her bag on the sofa as he dried her eyes with some tissues. Robyn's story had touched Alicia and she had cried tears with her, and when she had returned home, she had given her daughter a hug, telling her that she loved her. It reassured her that her daughter was alive and in the flesh, she had her family and that was enough for her. Cal got up as the movie finished, and kissed his wife on the lips, while Ethan tried his best not to squirm, but he realised as he caught his brothers happy smile, all he wanted was for him to be happy and he was with him, Emma and Alicia, that's all Cal needed. His family by his side.
A family he wasn't going to let go of as he was proud of what they had.
Thank you for reading. I'm sorry for the long length, it's probably not the longest thing I've written, but it does feel like it. I really enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope it is what Leah wanted.
