This chapter has characterisation in from yesterdays episode, so if you haven't seen it, please don't read this chapter as there is a chance it may contain slight spoilers.
This chapter was prompted by brony9 with the prompt: An alternative chapter to Saturdays episode.
Ethan doesn't have the gene and Cal is younger than him.
bronny9: Thank you for both the review. I'm glad you thought it was a cute chapter. I'm sad Cal was killed.
CBloom2: Thank you for the review. I'm glad you thought it was a great story.
The Secret Life Of Casualty.
Chapter 293.
Caleb Knight knew he would protect Ethan or "Nibbles" as he liked to call him, with his life. They may fight sometimes, recently it had been over a colleague, Alicia Monroe, but they had settled their differences, little did he know that day was going to come sooner rather than later.
A family called the Ellison's had been terrorising the ED, despite Cal, Ethan, Jacob and Iain telling them they needed to leave.
Dylan, was on the phone, to his half - sister and step - mum, when he heard someone whispering, but the rain was too heavy for them to be heard.
"Dy..lan.." Someone rasped.
Scott Ellison, ran off, leaving Cal to fall to the floor, in pain.
Dylan turned, hurriedly, saying goodbye to his step sister.
"Cal is that you?" He asked.
Cal nodded, slowly, he was beginning to get tired. He wanted to close his eyes, but if he closed his eyes he would have let Scott win ...
"I.. I... d..don't w..want t..t..o d...die. " Cal gasped, it was clear to Dylan, he was struggling with his breathing.
"I won't let you die, " Replied Dylan, patting his hand, awkwardly.
"Ethan... i..s h..e s.. a.. f.. e... "
"As far as I know, yes, lets just worry about you, " Dylan replied, trying to stay detached.
"Ethan. " Cal muttered his final word as Dylan and another medic got him on the trolley and put an oxygen mask on him, as he started wheeling him inside the hospital.
Dylan mentioned it was Cal, he'd been stabbed and Charlie dispatched Max to the Ethan. But the useless porter coouldn't find the doc.
"Try harder. " Charlie snapped, furiously. It would be horrible if Cal died and Ethan wasn't there.
Cal was loosing so much blood, he had a ventilator in his mouth and Charlie glanced at the monitor, it didn't look good for the junior doctor. Charlie knew someone was going to have to call his time of death, but then something strange happened, his BP began to rise, Connie raised her eyebrows at Charlie, as they both knew Cal was fighting, fighting to stay alive, fighting to get back to Ethan. Connie put her stethoscope on his chest and heard that his breathing was getting stronger.
"Come on, Cal. " Charlie encouraged his friend.
As his pulse and BP got stronger, Connie put him in a coma, as he suddenly stopped breathing, but the two colleagues were hopeful for Cal. They then moved him in to a side room, so he could rest more comfortably, Charlie then went to inform Ethan.
For Ethan, that night, started off many nights, sat at his brothers side. The beeping of the monitors, the ventilator was giving him air, which was, as a result, pumping his chest up and down. He had an NG tube up his nose, a puulse ocximeter on his finger, an ECG. Ethan closed his own eyes, wanting to get some sleep, but Dylan come in and told him he'd sleep better if he was in a bed, also the on - call room was free. Ethan agreed after kissing Cal on his forehead.
Cal woke up, feeling scared, that he was alone, a passing nurse told Connie and she walked in to the side room.
"How are you feeling Cal?" She asked as she flashed her penlight in to his eyes, Cal screwed them shut as the light was bright.
"Where's Ethan?" Cal asked.
"Ethan's not here. " Dylan answered his question.
Panic rose inside Cal, who started to hyperventilate, breathing deeply.
"Is he?" He trailed off. Getting stabbed would have been for nothing if Ethan was dead.
Charlie, who had also joined them, calmed Cal, by gently pressing down on his shoulders. "Calm down, Cal, Ethan's fine, he's safe, he's just not here right now. "
Charlie sent Dylan to look for Ethan. Dylan knocked on the door and waited for him to answer.
"Cal's awake, " Dylan told him. Ethan ran down the stairs, through the double doors and on to the bed.
Ethan hugged his brother, so tightly, that Cal thought that he was going to crush him, but Ethan was just really relieved to have his brother back.
Alicia came in to visit Cal, she was hanging around by the door.
"Can you give us some space, please Alicia?" Ethan asked, politely.
She nodded and then left, her eyes shining with tears, at seeing her ex in such a state.
Connie flashed her penlight in to Cal's eyes. And removed the NG tube, as well as the pulse oximeter.
Cal had a plaster on his wound in his stomach. It was safe to say it hurt to walk and now he faced walking up some steps in order to reach their flat.
Ethan put an arm around him as they tackled the first step together. Cal winced in pain, and stopped a few times so he could get his breath back. Ethan let go of him while he unlocked the door. He deceded that they should both go to bed as it had been a long day.
Tears rolled down Cal's face. Ethan stood up and pulled back Cal's duvet, so that he could get inside beside him, once he had put the covers back over them both, he moved closer to his brother until he was resting in his arms.
Cal's flashback
They say when you are being stabbed, you don't feel the knife go in to you. But Cal did. It didn't hurt for the first few seconds, but then the pain set in, as he gasped for breath trying to control the pain. Thoughts ran around in his mind. Not being able to say "I love you" to Ethan. Say "I'm sorry" for all the bad things he had done such as steal money from Ethan for Taylor's non - existent fund for a sick kid.
He lay in the darkness, bleeding, hoping that someone was going to come to his rescue, but he hoped it wouldn't be Ethan as it would be horrible for him, finding his almost dead brother.
A figure come across Cal's bloodied body and dragged him away, throwing a punch to his face, that knock to his face, killed him. As Charlie called Ethan in to his office for a private word, he wondered what he wanted and followed the elder nurse in to his office.
Ethan sat down on the chair.
"Ethan, there's been an accident, " Charlie started, quietly. "Cal got in to a fight with Scott Ellison, he's.. "
"Charlie?" Ethan asked.
Charlie's eyes filled with tears and Ethan was shocked, he had never seen Charlie cry.
End of Cal's flashback.
Cal screamed, loudly, almost shattering Ethan's eardrum.
"Shh, Cal, it's ok, I'm here, " Ethan soothed, hating seeing his brother in such pain. He stroked his hair, which was slightly sweaty, but he ddn't mind.
A few weeks later, Cal was back at work, on light duties, such as making cubicle beds and emptying bed pans, it was boring but it had to be done.
"Welcome back Cal " Whispered Charlie.
"Thanks. " Cal said, managing a small smile.
By the middle of the shift, Cal's colleagues were clapping and the police had arrived to inform Cal that Scott Ellison had been charged with his attempted murder. Cal seemed to pale at these words. He really didn't want to face the man who could have easily killed him and taken him away from his brother.
"Mrs Beauchamp, I'm taking Cal home. " Ethan said.
Yes" Said Connie, she didn't want Cal to overdo it.
Ethan nodded his thanks as he left RESUS and went in to the staff room to collect his brothers things from his locker, before heading to the Nurses Station where Cal was, Charlie had brought him a chair to sit down on while he waited for his brother. When he seen him, Charlie helped Cal to stand.
Ethan brought Cal's blanket from his bedroom and tucked it around him as he kissed his forehead.
"I love you, Cal. "
"I love you too, Ethan. " Cal said, smiling up at his brother.
A few weeks later, it was time for Scott Ellison's sentencing. Cal, Ethan, Charlie and Connie all attended.
The brothers both watched Scott be led up to the witness box and Ethan felt Cal's grip on his hand tighten.
Ethan felt anger. It wasn't fair, Cal ran out of the court room as the elder one ran after him.
"It's not fair Ethan!" Cal yelled.
"I know, Cal, I know. " Ethan gently shushed him as he angrily punched the wall, Ethan tried to grab his hands to stop him hitting the wall, but he already had cuts and bruises on, they would sting for a while. It turns out the Ellisions had brided the judge to find Scott not guilty when he should have pleaded guilty, it just meant Cal was in more emotional pain.
They went home and looked through some old photos of them as children.
Ethan walked in to the news agent to buy Cal some chocolate and his favourite drink when he caught a glimpse at the newspaper stand, one headline caught his attention.
Thug Free Of Doctors Attempted Murder
Scott Ellison, a member of the notorious Ellison family, has been found not guilty for the attempted murder of Doctor Caleb Knight. The two got in to a fight, while Doctor Knight was trying to protect his brother and fellow doctor, Ethan Hardy, from a stabbing, only to find himself on the receiving end as Scott plunged the knife in to him, before fleeing the scene.
Caleb was left bleeding in the dark night, before a colleague, named as Dylan Keogh, came to his rescue, Dylan reassured Caleb that his brother was safe, before getting him in to the hospital as colleagues stated to treat him. "
"Are you going to buy that?" The grumpy newsagent man asked, getting annoyed with him.
"Er, yes. "Ethan stuttered as he turned, placing the paper on the counter with the chocolate and drink and got some money out of his wallet and handed it over. He left the shop, holding the plastic bag, wondering how Cal would react. He walked through the double doors and up the stairs, walking to his door and unlocking it, he shut the door before walking in to the living room.
"What's that?" Cal asked.
"Nothing Cal. " Said Ethan, handing him the chocolate and drink, which he unscrewed the lid for him and Cal tilted it to his lips.
Cal frowned at his brother, he hated it when they kept secrets from each other.
"I was only trying to protect you, " Spoke Ethan quietly, as he put the paper down. Cal turned to page 2 where the article was.
"Cal, don't read it" Ethan said, desperate to spare his brother any more pain.
Thug Free Of Doctors Attempted Murder
"Scott Ellison, a member of the notorious Ellison family, has been found not guilty for the attempted murder of Doctor Caleb Knight. The two got in to a fight, while Doctor Knight was trying to protect his brother and fellow doctor, Ethan Hardy, from a stabbing, only to find himself on the receiving end as Scott plunged the knife in to him, before fleeing the scene. "
Caleb was left bleeding in the dark night, before a colleague, named as Dylan Keogh, came to his rescue, Dylan reassured Caleb that his brother was safe, before getting him in to the hospital as colleagues started to treat him.
When Cal was finally finished reading the article, he looked at Ethan for a few seconds.
"I'm so sorry. " Ethan said, sitting down on the couch next to him.
"You didn't stab me. " Cal said.
"Well, no," Ethan started, giving his brother a hug. Cal relaxed in to the hug before winching again.
Ethan gently pushed his brother down on to the couch and rolled up his top, his wound had opened and blood had spilled over the plaster. Ethan kissed his brothers forehead, before heading in to the kitchen and bringing back the first aid kit, Cal always used to tease him about having it, but now he bet he was glad. He placed the box on the table and started getting out the things he needed. He put on a pair of gloves and gently peeled back the plaster, running his other hand over Cal's cheek, he seemed to calm at this contact. He binned the bloodied plaster, before wiping away the extra blood and then putting on a new plaster, before gently pulling his top down.
"Good boy, " Ethan whispered, he knew he was babying him a little bit, but that's what big brothers did. Ethan reached for the TV remote and handed it to Cal.
"Thanks Nibbles. "
Nibbles.
Ethan felt tears sting his own eyes then as he realised he may never have heard them words again. Cal looked at him in alarm, resting his hand on his arm.
"What is it, Ethan?" He questioned, concerned.
"I thought you were going to die. " Ethan said, tearfully.
Cal allowed himself to laugh a little. "You can't get rid of me that easily, Nibbles!"
But Ethan was relieved. They may fight, but they were brothers until the end.
Seeing Cal yawn, Ethan took his hand and led him in to his bedroom, before going to get him some pain killers and a glass of water, which he placed down on the side table.
Ethan reached for Cal's childhood teddy and handed it to him, watching as he clutched it to him.
Ethan looked at Cal, lying in the bed, he looked so vunerable, and that frightened Ethan a little.
"Stay, " Cal whispered and Ethan nodded. He got in beside his brother.
Cal had yet another nightmare, but in this nightmare, he had died.
"Your not going to die for a long time yet. " Ethan kissed his brother's forehead as he calmed him down.
Ethan realised that he might have to get Cal some professional help, but he knew that Cal was a man of few words, he wouldn't want to talk to a stranger, but Connie had sent both boys to counselling after Matilda's death and Cal had vented his anger, saying that she could have lived with more drugs, while Ethan had said she didn't want to live hooked up to machines and having drugs pumped in to her.
Matilda's death had been a sore point for the brothers for a while, but they had soon realised the best option would be to support each other as thats what Matilda would have wanted.
The brothers headed to the cemetery, each holding flowers.
Cal felt a tear trickle down his cheek, he quickly wiped it away, Ethan put his arm around him as they both bowed their heads in respect to their mum.
They headed back to their flat and saw Jez, Iain and Jacob kicking a ball about in the park. Ethan could tell that Cal wanted to join in, but he was worried about his stiches bursting. He sat on the bench while Cal walked slowly over to their friends, who started clapping him on the back, glad to have their friend back.
"Cal, are you, ok, mate?" Jez asked as he noticed that Cal was weaker at kicking the ball, his movents were not in co-ordianation with the ball.
"T- tired. " Cal whispered, his body aching.
"Ethan. " Jez yelled and at once, his brother was on his feet, heading over to his brother.
"Come on, Cal, lets go home. " Ethan said, quitely, as their colleagues sent them both pittying looks.
Cal nodded and Ethan took most of his weight, as he supported him to the car, unlocking it and easing Cal in to the passnger seat, helping him on with his seatbelt. He started the engine as he drove out of the park. Parking in the drive, he got out and quickly hurried over to
Ethan was anxious, he shouldn't have let him play, what if his injuries get worse?
Ethan put Cal's lunch on the table. He had a sandwich and a packet of crisps, with his favourite drink which was Tango.
"We are brothers till the end. " He said, quitely.
Ethan grinned at him and gently put his arm around him.
They watched some more home movies of them as children, in the one that they were watching, they were at the beach, with Matilda, the young children were in the sea, both had armbands on as Ethan gently splashed Cal. Cal laughed as his tiny hands splashed his big brother. They laughed together as Matilda walked over to them, telling them it was time to go. Both boys pouted but got out of the water, allowing Matilda too take their armbands off and dry them off.
Cal rested his head against his brothers shoulder and Ethan smiled, gently raking his fingers through his hair. He loved his brother and he knew that he loved him even if they didn't say it a lot.
Cal entwined his hand with Ethan's, as his brother smiled at him. They sat in comfortable silence as a news report popped up on the TV.
"Scott Ellison, who is wanted for the attempted murder of Doctor Caleb Knight, has escaped from prison, after a judge revealed he was being blackmailed by the Ellison's to find him not guilty. If you do see him on the streets, please do not approach him and call 999. "
Cal froze, if Scott was released, he could be after him. Maybe finish what he started. He pulled the blanket over his face.
"Cal, Scott Ellison can't hurt you. " Ethan said, quietly, wiping the tears from his cheeks. Cal looked at Ethan and knew that he was being honest with him and he was grateful for that. The boys shared another hug as the doorbell rang, Ethan went to see who it was and come back with Charlie, who was holding a card, which he handed to Cal. Cal opened it and saw that on the front, there was a teddy in a bed, looking injured, Cal smiled.
"We've all signed it. " Charlie told him.
"Thanks guys, " Cal said as he noticed Alicia's, Dylan's, Connie's, Tess, Noel's, Big Mac's, Iain's, Jacob's growing signatures on the card.
"Take your time getting back to work " Added Charlie.
"We appreciate that, " Smiled Ethan as Charlie left the flat. Ethan put the card up and sat on the couch, stroking his shoulder. That night, Cal slept in his own bed, since the stabbing and Ethan was really proud of him.
Thank you for reading and thank you to bronny9, for the prompt, I really enjoyed writing it.
Next chapter: "What do the Holby team think when Jessica starts acting strangely, will they figure out what's going on?" Prompted by sweet - as - honey.
