Chapter Two

Grace walked into the house, checking the clock at the corner of the sitting. Ten minutes past seven. She was home an hour and a half late! Mum must be worried about her. She told her she'd be back by half past five. Her phone was left back in the car, she felt sick just touching it.

The car had obtained a dent at the front. Completely noticeable.

But Grace suddenly stopped caring about what her mother was going to say about the car. Her main concern was now Dr Hardy, who was climbing out of the car, holding onto his left arm. Another concern was if he was driving the car alone or were there other people in the vehicle with him. Oh, she was hoping it was just him, she would have been alarmed if anyone else was in there.

"Alexa, play Holby Radio!"

Her mother always told her that there was nothing more relaxing than listening to music on the radio. It was also a relief to know that she wouldn't be able to swipe a screen to play the next song.

Grace felt calmer now, but she needs to get that vision of the wrecked car before deciding what she needed to do to make amends for her actions.


"You did all that you could do," Connie reassured Dylan, trying to fight the tears, "No one would have anticipated what could have happened."

Elle and her team carried on focusing on Iain's recovery. Connie wasn't sure if any of them were aware of Lily's death, a part of her didn't want them to lose sight of Iain. If one eye was laid upon Lily being transported away, then Iain's chances of survival would have been lost.

Oh Iain! He's going to wind up waking up, only to be told that Lily hadn't made it. Connie watched as Elle continued to check up on him. He still hadn't woken up at all, his airways were supported, allowing him to breathe slightly. But his breathing was still shallow, Connie wasn't even sure if he was breathing at all.

"Do you need me to help Elle?" Dylan asked her, "It's the least I could do for Lily, helping Iain recover from this."

Connie shook her head. Elle was more than capable to help Iain, plus there were still other patients in the ED that needed seeing to. But for now, Dylan just had to do the most difficult thing possible. His mental health needs to be his number one priority. Now more than ever.

"No," Connie answered, "Take a few minutes. I need to get my bearings together, since we need to inform everyone about Lily."

Dylan nodded before heading into the staffroom. Noticing Charlie walking by, Connie knew she needed him more than ever.

"Connie," Charlie breathed out, "Ethan's just told me something important regarding the crash. It appeared that whilst they were driving, another car had drove into them at a fast speed. He also mentioned that it was a teenager driving the car, more than likely just passed their test."

Connie froze when she heard that. A teenager speeding. Just passed their test. Lily. A teenager.

It would also explain why the driver fled in a hurry. If the police found out, their life would be over before it begun.

"Connie," Charlie noticed her sudden silence, "What's happened?"

"Lily," Connie pulled him to one side, "We lost her. Just as she was monitored, she went straight into a cardiac arrest. Dylan, Louise, Jacob, David, they did all they could have done. But she's gone."

Charlie placed his hand over his mouth in disbelief. Lily's just lost her life, all because of some reckless child who should have stepped up to try and help. When Ethan was still conscious, Charlie thought it meant that Iain and Lily would pull through, that they would get better. Lily went through more than what life could have thrown at her, but all this time, he couldn't picture her gone.

"Has anyone spoken to Gem?" Charlie asked her, "She needs to know. And what about Iain?"

"Elle's still seeing to him," Connie mentioned, "There have been signs of movement, but it was only of his hand twitching. I don't think it was voluntary somehow, he'd sustained some nasty head injuries from the crash. Robyn was able to stop the bleeding at the site."

"Let's not talk like that," Charlie gently scolded her, "Iain's a survivor, and he's handled much more than that. Remember, he was able to stand back up after he was in a helicopter that crashed."

"He's still unconscious," Connie reminded him, "His heart rate was high for someone of his age. Not to mention, if he wakes up, then we'll have to tell him about Lily. I don't know if his heart could take that."

Charlie wrapped his arms around Connie, stroking her hair. He knew how fond Connie was of Lily, almost as if Connie could see Lily running the ED one day. Deep down, he knew that she was taking Lily's death hard. Looking at Elle and Robyn through the window, he noticed that Iain still hasn't woken up. It was almost as if he knew about Lily beforehand.

"I, I need to call Lily's mum," Connie wiped her eyes, "I have to tell her about Lily."

"I could do that," Charlie offered.

"No," Connie sighed, "I think it'd be best coming from me. Plus, the police will be on their way soon. We need to prepare Ethan to give a statement about the accident. I don't know how or when we'll be able to tell him about Lily. They were so close."

"I'll talk to Gem," Charlie nodded.

"Then I'll talk to Ethan," Connie decided.


"Hey," Sam walked over to Ethan resting in bed, "How's the arm?"

"Broken," Ethan sighed, shuffling himself up, "Thanks for helping me. I know you'd have wanted to stay with Iain. How are they?"

"I think they've been taken to resus," Sam explained, "They still haven't woken up."

"Iain's wrist was twitching," Ethan whispered, "But I don't think he was doing that by choice."

Sam stood by Ethan's bed, placing her hand on top of his. She didn't understand why, but it felt odd. Almost as if she could imagine someone else doing this.

"I hope they pull through," Ethan sighed, "Iain asked me for my permission for him to do something."

"What?" Sam asked confused.

"Lily's father passed away a few months ago," Ethan explained, "Since I was apparently the only other important bloke in Lily's life, he's asked me for my permission to marry Lily."

"He did it?" Sam asked, choking up.

"Not yet," Ethan explained, "But he was going to do it tomorrow. They were supposed to be going to the seaside. That was where he was going to ask her. It's her favourite place."

Sam stroked his hand gently; it was clear he was feeling guilty about only coming out of the crash with a broken arm. For Lily and Iain, it could be a while before they could recover from this.


Charlie noticed Gem assisting Jan with some filing, trying to take her mind off Iain and Lily being seen to. Heart was starting to break, Gem was trying to distract herself, almost as if she wasn't going to anticipate what was happening. She doesn't even know that he was going to tell her the news that secretly, they've all been dreading.

"Hello," Charlie walked in, "Are Ruby or Sam here?"

"No," Jan shook her head, "Ruby's gone on another call and Sam is with Ethan."

"Okay," Charlie nodded, before turning to Gem, who looked up, "I think it's best that you're the first one to be told the news Gem. Would you like to take a seat?"

"Are they okay?" Gem froze, she's seen a lot of people being asked to take a seat when something isn't right, walking over to the couch as Charlie sat next to her.

"I'm sorry Gem," Charlie sighed out, trying to fight the tears, "I'm afraid, afraid to tell you this. But Lily, Lily's just died."

Jan closed her eyes, placing her hand over her mouth, trying to fight the tears. Poor Lily, she couldn't imagine the poor girl, lying on that trolley. Motionless. Still. Jan tried to remember the last thing she heard Lily say, do, move to. She sadly couldn't, because all she was able to see was Lily, sitting motionless in that car!

"That is sick Charlie!" Gem screamed at Charlie, try to slap him, "That is the sickest thing I've ever heard, and I will never, ever forgive you!"

"I'm sorry Gem," Charlie whispered.

"But I saw Ethan," Gem screamed, "He looked absolutely fine! How did Lily end up," Gem couldn't finish her sentence, she couldn't stop as her heart rate kept rising up, "How did this happen? How did she," Charlie and Jan ran over to her as she suddenly let her tears drop.


"Hey," Connie walked over to Dylan, "I've spoken to Lily's mother over the phone. I, erm, I told her what had happened. I couldn't exactly tell Iain because, well."

"Thanks," Dylan sighed, "I'm so sorry. We're supposed to be providing the best there is to support patients, but when it comes to one of our own," Dylan sighed, "I still can't picture the place without Dr Chao."

Connie placed her hand on Dylan's shoulder, knowing just how much Lily meant to him. Looking over his shoulder, she noticed Ethan and Sam were talking. She wasn't sure, when would be the best time to tell him about Lily.

There wouldn't be a best time.

Not at all.

"I need you with me for this," Connie motioned to Dylan, "Ethan needs to know."

Dylan nodded, as the two walked over to Ethan's bedside. His arm was wrapped up in a cast, but apart from that and a few scratches to his face, he was alright. From the heart monitor and his observations, he was fit enough to go home in a few days. This was the miracle, even though Connie was now hoping for another one to come out.

"Ethan," Connie whispered, "Have the police been to see you yet?"

"No," Ethan shook his head, "Not yet. I have to give a description of the teenage girl driving the car."

"Teenagers shouldn't really be driving alone until they turn at least eighteen," Sam frowned, angered by the turn of events, "Or until they have their licence for over six months."

Connie closed her eyes at Sam's statement. Not all teenagers were irresponsible with driving. Grace herself passed her test a month ago, and she was careful when she was in the car with her and with friends. Connie knew she could be trusted with being in a car on her own.

Remembering what Lily's mother said earlier, reminded her of Grace. When she broke the news, she heard Mrs Chao sobbing about everything. How Lily made the family proud, how she would be able to raise her children with her soulmate, how she would be walking down the aisle.

Connie apologised, but Li-Na then asked her if she had children. When Connie told her about Grace, the words she said to her will always stick with her. Words Connie would realise she would need to hold for the rest of her and Grace's lives.

"Sam," Dylan gently scold her, "Now's not the time."

"What's going on?" she turned to him.

"Ethan, Sam," Connie sighed, "I don't know if now's the right time, but you need to know before we make the announcement to everyone, but I'm afraid to tell you, but, Lily, she, she didn't make it."

Ethan and Sam froze when Connie stuttered those words. Dylan watched as his ex-wife turned from Connie to Ethan, shocked at the latest news. She couldn't believe what she was hearing!

"She can't be," Sam froze, "Surely she couldn't be."

"She went into a cardiac arrest moments after she was brought in," Dylan explained, "We've tried to resuscitate her, but it wasn't enough to save her."

Connie wasn't sure what Dylan was trying to explain, or how Sam was trying to take the news in. Her eyes were focused on Ethan, wanting to see if she may have said the words a little bit too soon. Maybe his body hadn't fully recovered, or maybe his heart wasn't as strong as she thought it would have been.

"Ethan?" Connie asked him.

"She didn't want to go to that convention," Ethan whispered, "She only went because Iain and I convinced her to," Ethan closed his eyes, "I'm trying to remember if I had seen that driver's face, all I could see was the back of her head."

"Ethan," Connie gently soothed him, as he started to scream.

"She didn't even want to go!" Ethan sobbed, "If she hadn't, that would had been me sitting in that passenger seat! Not Lily," Ethan carried out sobbing, "Iain, Iain, he was planning on proposing to her. He had a plan and everything!"

Dylan and Connie were shocked at this statement. They can't believe this had happened and just when Lily's life was starting to fall into place. How could they picture Ethan now? Or Iain?

Connie's mind drifted to Iain. The last time she checked, he was still unconscious, only twitching his hand. But that was an unconscious move. They don't know what the lasting effects will be if, no, no, when he wakes up from his comatose state.

Dylan looked up from Ethan, noticing Gem and Charlie walking up. Dylan watched as Sam jumped out of her seat, pulling the young girl into her arms. They all knew how close Gem and Lily were, so seeing her so broken up was heart wrecking.

"Mrs Beauchamp," Gem choked, "I know you don't want me to, but please, I need to see my brother. He needs me when he wakes up."

Connie was cautious about this, she wanted to speak up but…

Beep! Beep! Beep!

That alarm! It was coming from resus once again!

Connie, Dylan, Gem and Sam all left the cubicles to go into resus. Gem was about to go in, but Sam pulled her back, taking her hand over to the window, knowing it may not be Iain alone in there. They watched as Connie and Dylan join Elle and her team, who appear to be attaching some large stickers onto Iain's bare chest.

"Please," Gem placed both her hands together, shaking her head, "Please. No."

Sam wrapped her arm around Gem, secretly pleading for another miracle.

They had one before with Ethan. Surely Iain was allowed one as well.


"Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty!" Robyn pressed hard.

"Okay!" Elle called, "Clear!"

Everyone took a step back as the shock was delivered.

Connie looked up at Gem! She didn't want her to watch this. If they don't succeed in reviving Iain, then Gem's last memory of her brother would be to watch him die.

Elle looked at the monitor.

Nothing.

"Okay!" Elle continued, "Start compressions again!"


From the window, Gem watched as Robyn began to press hard on Iain's chest yet again. She squeezed her hands closer together.

"Iain," Gem pleaded, "Please. Please don't leave me!"

Sam pulled Gem closer to her. Closing her eyes, she couldn't imagine how Iain was feeling at this moment in time.


"Thirty!" Robyn shouted.

"Okay! Clear!"

Another shock delivered.

Nothing.

"Continue!"

The chest compressions started yet again.


Gem kept her eyes on the window, as the chest compressions continued before the team stepped back, deliver the shock before repeating the same cycle.

How many times have they've seen the team do that to Iain?


"Twenty-nine, thirty!" Robyn shouted.

"Okay! Clear!" Elle shouted as everyone stepped back.

Another shock was delivered.

Nothing.

Elle tried to fight her tears, turning to her team, they were all clearly tired. All didn't want to give up on Iain, just like the team didn't want to give up on Lily.

But it was no use.

"Do we all agree?" Elle asked as everyone, including Connie nodded, holding out her fob watch, "Patient's deceased. Time of death, 21:32."


"No, no!" Gem called out, pressing her hands against the wall, "Don't stop! Please! No! Don't stop!"

Sam froze when she witnessed what has happened. She quickly grabbed Gem's hand as she was about to run into the resus bay.

"Save him! Please Sam, tell them to save him!" Gem sobbed into Sam's shoulder as they lowered themselves to the floor.

"I'm sorry Gem," Sam whispered, trying to fight back the tears, "But Iain's gone!"

"Please! He can't be! He can't leave me!"

"I'm sorry Gem," Sam looked at her, tears starting to drop, "I'm so sorry."


"It ten o clock, time for a news update."

Grace kept her eyes on the clock. Where was her mother? She couldn't have been at work all day! She said that she'd be back home before eight, but it's ten now.

Where was she?

Grace was about to go to the car to grab her phone, before she saw the dent at the front. Visions of the car rolling down the hill started to play on her mind once again, she quickly shut the front door. Turning around, she sunk to her knees, resting her hands on her forehead. That vision was never going to go away.

Because of that phone.

Because of that one text.

Because of her.

Grace just couldn't imagine how things could get any worse.

"In local news, Holby police are currently investigating a car accident which occurred on Harrington Road this evening!"

Grace looked up at the radio, help had arrived. Holding her hands together, she silently listened on, hoping that the damage she caused had only been minor.

"Two people have died; a third person has been taken to hospital with severe injuries but is in a stable condition. It's been reported that the crash was a result of a collision with another car which had drove off. Police are suspecting a hit and run."

"Two people have died."

Grace's heart began to sink deep onto the floor.

"Two people have died."

Her chest felt tight, her body stiffened up, taking in that dreaded news.

"Two people have died."

Grace closed her eyes. She could just hear her heart smash into a million pieces onto the floor. Her limbs all stiffened up; she couldn't move. She couldn't even lift her own head up, never mind move her arms or hands.

There, there must be a mistake! There had to be.

Only Grace to remember, there was a mistake. A massive one.

She made a massive mistake texting behind the wheel…

And she killed two people because of it.