Cal is 4 years younger than Ethan who doesn't have the gene.
This chapter was prompted by brony9, with the prompt: Ethan and Cal join the ED.
As always, spelling and grammar mistakes are mine, I don't own Cal and Ethan, I just enjoy writing about them and for them.
The Secret Life Of Casualty.
Chapter 229.
The past, Ethan, 21, Cal, 17.
Ethan was always a bright child, in year 8, the teachers noticed he was a bright child and had talks with the head and his teachers as well as his parents, Matilda and Calvin about moving up a few years, after sitting Ethan down and explaining that although he'd see his friends at lunch times, he wouldn't be in their class anymore. Ethan was excited to move up a few years, but also mentioned that if he found it tough, he'd move back down to his orginal year, but he liked a challange and soon he completed his school work with no problems.
In year 10, he completed his GCSE's early, getting mainly A* with the odd B, then he was talked about the possibilty of moving to uni where he would study.
It was then at 20 years old, that he'd graduated from the local university, while being informed that he'd receive information through an email of whether or not, he'd passed his exams.
Ethan Hardy was nervous, today was the day he'd found out if he'd passed his uni exams. His younger brother Cal was still asleep in his bedroom, Ethan had checked on him before.
A tall figure, who Ethan realised was his dad, walked in to the kitchen. "Where's Caleb?"
"Dad, you know he doesn't like being called that; it's Cal, " Ethan answered, tapping impatiently at his laptop in hope that the email in which he would get his results would show up, but so far it wasn't and Ethan was anxious as these results would determine what he would be able to do with his future, and he wanted to be a doctor.
Suddenly, an email pinged on the screen, informing Ethan that his results were in. With a shaking hand, Ethan double clicked on the email.
Ethan saw only one word.
Congralations, Ethan, you've passed.
It was official. He could now pursue his dreams of being a doctor.
Matilda and Calvin took Cal and Ethan to a small restaraunt to celebrate Ethan's success. But while their parents were toasting Ethan's sucess with a beer for Calvin and a white wine for Matilda, Cal couldn't cope with the loud noise.
"Are you OK, Cal?" Ethan asked, even when the night was for him, he was thinking of others.
Not wanting to spoil his big brothers night, Cal replied. "I'm good"
Ethan, satisifed, nodded as a cake was brought out. He wasn't expecting anything and in front of him was a sponge cake with the words in circular writing "Congrulations on passing yours exams, Ethan"
Ethan blushed and offered Cal the first slice.
The present, Ethan, 24, Cal, 20.
Ethan stood outside an unfamilar building and swallowed, his hands felt sweaty and in his other hand he was holding a briefcase that his parents had gotten him as a good luck present, saying that he needed to look smart and professinal on his first day. Ethan took a deep breath before walking in to the entrance.
"Hello, I'm Ethan Hardy, " He said, walking up to a desk that was signed "Reception".
The recepionist looked to be on the phone and held up a hand to Ethan.
A nurse in dark blue scrubs walked up to Ethan, holding out his hand.
"Ethan, I'm Charlie Fairhead, I'm the charge nurse" He said.
"Ethan Hardy, " The younger man replied, shaking Charlie's hand.
"Right, Ethan, I'll introduce you to your new colleagues and then fit you with a pair of scrubs." Charlie explained.
"OK, " Ethan replied, now eager to get started.
"Can I have everyone's attention please?" Charlie requested, a number of people that Ethan didn't recongise yet turned to face Charlie. When everyone was facing him, Charlie continued to speak. "This is Ethan Hardy, he's our new consultant. "
"Hi, Ethan. " A nurse with urban hair come up to him. "I'm Robyn, "
"Nice to meet you, Robyn. " Ethan replied, politely.
A brunette nurse, walked up to Ethan and smiled shlyly. "I'm Jessica, "
"Nice to meet you, Jessica" Ethan replied.
Another brunette walked by and introduced herself as Zoe.
Charlie then asked Ethan for his size and found him a pair of scrubs.
A week later, Charlie announced that another new doctor was joining.
"Everyone, this is Caleb Knight, " Charlie said.
By the surprised look on Ethan's face, it was clear to Robyn, who was standing by him, knew him.
"Do you know him?" She asked, desperate for gossip.
Ethan shook his head, not wanting to reveal that he was his older brother.
"Cal, what are you doing here?" He asked, once the two had finally managed to get a moment alone in the staff room.
"I didn't tell you I was applying.." Cal started.
"Why?" Ethan said, folding his arms.
"I wanted to surprise you, " Cal said. "I thought you'd be happy, Ethan. "
Ethan unfolded his arms. "I am, mate, but I just thought you'd prefer somewhere a bit quieter "
"Because you think I'm thick" Cal snapped.
Ethan shook his head. "You know I don't think that. "
Charlie then opened the door to the staff room where the brothers where. "Major RTC, all hands on deck"
Ethan nodded. "Coming Charlie" As the door closed, Ethan turned back to his brother. "Are you ready for this?"
Cal nodded. "Yep, "
"I just thought you'd prefer somewhere quieter, Cal, not a big hospital. " Ethan said.
"I can handle it, Ethan" Cal said, trying to be confident in himself.
Someone knocked on the door. "Boys, your needed. " That sounded like Robyn's voice.
The boys headed to RESUS, where it was only Ethan's second time at being in there and Cal's first. Charlie was leaning over a bed, doing CPR, Robyn was sqeezing fluids in to another patient.
Connie quickly filled the boys in. "RTC. Family. Dad is in surgery. Mum's in cardiac arrest. "
Cal walked over to Charlie. "Can you take over CPR?"
Putting his hands on the woman's chest, Cal pounded up and down on her chest. The monitor gave off a low beep, but as Cal gave one last pump to her chest, she started breathing.
"Good, work, Dr. Knight. " Said a voice, which was Connie. "Well, done"
Getting praise off your boss, espically someone like Connie was good as she rarely gave praise.
But the screams of the boy as Robyn tried to relocate his dislocated arm, for some reason, hunted Cal.
Ethan asked Charlie for a quiet word.
"Is Cal OK?" Charlie asked.
Ethan nodded. "He's fine, but I think it was too loud for him, "
Charlie smiled. "Can I take him home?" Ethan asked.
Charlie nodded. "Sure"
"Come on, Cal" Ethan said, guiding his brother out of RESUS.
Ethan drove them home, and made them both some tea. It was overwhelming for someone like Cal who panicked easily and didn't like doing stuff on his own, he preferred being with his parents or Ethan and much preffered when they were growing up, Ethan would play football in the local park while Cal preferred staying in on his x box or being alone in his room.
The next day at the ED was a fresh start for Cal and he was determined to put his panic behind him. He walked to the staff room to make himself a he soon realised that Ethan was on the late shift, while he was on the early shift. Once the shift was over, Cal waited in the staff room, he was on his phone, playing a game, when someone Cal vaguely recongised as a paramedic, leaned against the door, Cal looked up.
"Do you want to come the pub with me and my mates?" Asked Iain.
"Yes, but I'd have to ask Ethan first" Cal said.
"Just come, " Said Iain.
Cal nodded and followed Iain, and his friends: Jez, Jacob and David.
After his shift had ended, Ethan walked in to the staff room to change out of his scrubs and to put away his stethoscope. He was surprised to see Cal wasn't there as there's where he had told him to wait for him.
"Who are you looking for, Dr. Hardy?" Asked, Connie.
"Cal, Mrs Beachaump, " Ethan replied.
Charlie, overhearing this, spoke. "He's gone the Hope and Anchor, Ethan."
"What?" Ethan questioned, looking between Charlie and Connie. He quickly signed himself out and left the building, quickly crossing the road and opening the door to the pub. Immeditantly his eyes were scanning the busy pub in the hope of finding his brother. There were people on the dance floor, but no sign of Cal. Looking around some more, he found him at the far end of the bar.
"Go, on, Cal, let me get you a pint, " Jacob said.
Cal shook his head.
"Then you shouldn't have come if you were not going to drink. " Iain sneered.
Hearing the raised voices, of his colleagues, Ethan soon realised where his colleagues and brother were.
"He doesn't have to drink if he doesn't want too, " Said Ethan.
"Stop being protective, Ethan. " Iain said, taking a sip of his own drink.
Jacob nodded, agreeing with Iain. "Yeah, Ethan, Cal's a grown up. "
"He doesn't need his big brother holding his hand."
"There's a reason, I'm protective, " Ethan replied, looking cross and dissapointed at his colleagues. "Cal was premature and our dad abused him, "
Iain briefly knew what that was like as when he and Gem were kids, their mother used to drink a lot and when Iain tried to stop her, she would slap him or send Gem to bed without any dinner, then Iain would try to smuggle her something to eat.
Jacob and Iain looked at each other, the boys had kept quiet about their past since starting at the ED, and now they were jumping to conclusions about the two of them.
After that, the two of them, left the pub and headed towards their flat, their arms around each-other. When they got to the flat, Ethan unlocked the door and ushered his brother inside, locking the door, behind him. He sat Cal down on the sofa, brushing his hair out of his face. He then walked in to the kitchen to get his brother a glass of water and paractemol.
The next morning, Ethan walked in to the living room where Cal still was after falling asleep last night.
"I don't want to go to work, today, Ethan" Cal said as he looked at his older brother, already dressed in his scrubs.
"I know, but Cal you've got to try," Ethan explained, sitting down on the sofa beside him.
Cal knew that Ethan was right and headed upstairs to have a quick shower.
"I think you owe my brothers an apolgy, " Said Ethan, seeing David, Jez and Iain.
The three men looked at each, all knowing they needed too, but being too proud too.
"I'm waiting, " Said Ethan,
That night, after work, Ethan brought Cal's favourite takeaway and the new DVD that he had been after.
Thank you for reading.
