5:23PM

"Ughh." Lori groaned at the sound of her alarm. It must've been afternoon because when she rolled over she could faintly hear the sound of the radio in the kitchen playing Drew's favourite station. The continuous sounds of country were far too happy to be a Monday morning. "Shut it up." She groaned, throwing the pillow over her head.

Realising that the music wasn't about to stop the Alister, with a grumble, dragged herself out of bed. Reaching for her disregarded hoodie, she pulled it on and made her way downstairs.

"And she makes an appearance." Drew sang, loudly, earning himself an unamused glare from his sister.

"Do you have to be so loud." She complained, turning down the radio player before she went to make herself a coffee. Drew motioned that he had already began making her one and ushered her to sit at the table.

"Thanks." She said, appreciatively as her brother handed her the steaming beverage. Reaching for the cupboard he pulled down a pack of pain meds that would hopefully reduce the effect of the hangover, chucking them towards his sister and handing her a glass of water, she smiled gratefully.

"Aren't you working today?" Drew asked, taking a sip from his own mug. She had been about to answer when Drew's phone chimed, signalling a message. The older Alister's smile instantly brightened as he read the message. However, unbeknownst to him his baby sister was watching his reactions.

"Someone special?" She chuckled. When Drew didn't respond and dropped his cell to his pocket, Lori continued, a mischievous glint in her eye." There's someone, isn't there?" The younger Alister smiled as she watched her brother struggle. His face said it all. Clicking her tongue, she smirked. "What's his name?"

Drew shook his head. "I don't know what you're on about." He shrugged, taking a sip from the coffee mug as he continued to lean against the countertop.

When his sister shot him her toothy grin he realised that he wasn't getting anywhere. Letting out a groan he eventually caved. "Rick." He said, quietly, hoping that his sister would let it go but it was Lori, there was no letting go.

"Rick? As in Rick, Rick?" Lori asked. Her hungover forgotten as her mouth lay agape. "Wow." She breathed.

"What's wrong with Rick?" Drew crossed his arms across his chest. He knew telling his sister had been a mistake.

"Nothing." She squeaked, still surprised from the reveal. "I just didn't think he- uhm, swung that way." She smiled, sheepishly.

"Seriously?" He huffed in annoyance.

"I- well." She scratched the back of her head, pursing her lips out. "thought he was- ya know...straight." She smiled, failing to admit that her drunken state had managed to try it on with him in one of the gatherings Drew's family had held. Out of respect and fear that things could become awkward Rick had promised not to say anything.

Drew rolled his eyes. Rick, like himself had kept his sexuality quiet. He hadn't wanted to be treated differently because he like the same gender and despite today's day and age it was still frowned upon to be a gay soldier, it had been the only reason why no one in the hospital knew.

"Hey." She held her hands out in mock surrender. "He's a good looking guy. You've done well there bro." She chuckled. Standing up Lori made her way over to Drew, wrapping him in a hug. "Love ya D."

"Love ya, too." He chuckled, pulling back upon hearing a thud from one of the spare rooms. Noticing the look of confusion on his sister's face, he chuckled. "You can't remember inviting everyone back then?"

Lori's eyes widened, her face scrunching. "I did?"

Drew nodded.

"Morning." Jordan yawned, rubbing her eyes as she appeared in the kitchen area, TC stumbling into the walls close behind. It was quite possible that he had still been slightly drunk.

TC was shirtless, which wasn't unusual but Jordan seemed to be wearing TC's clothes and although they had been an item years ago, Lori thought they weren't that way inclined anymore. Shrugging, she turned to Drew who had just shook his head.

"I shouldn't have had that last shot of tequila."

"You mean the last 4?" TC chuckled, clearly humouring himself. Making his way to the table, he signalled for Drew to brew him a fresh up as he sat beside Lauren.

"Funny." Jordan murmured, sarcastically, she too moving to sit beside the Alister. "Yes please, Drew." Jordan thanked Drew before he had even managed to offer.

Rolling his eyes, he gathered some fresh cups and began to make the drinks.

"Wooo. Did someone get lucky?" The sound of Krista's voice could be heard as she also stumbled into the kitchen. She hadn't recognised the house and if she hadn't been the one to 'get lucky' as she had put it then she was clearly eager to find out who had been.

"Sorry." Lori mouthed over to her big brother.

"The sooner you get a new place, the better." He grumbled. Dropping his mug to the sink he moved towards his room where he would be jumping in the shower.

7:08PM

"Good night?" Topher asked the doctor. He had been watching her lay her head down on the nurses station for the past 5 minutes, only letting out a groan now and then when someone spoke to loud or the phone rang.

Lori lifted her head up, her hair falling in front of her face. "I forgot how much TC can drink." She complained, pushing the pieces of hair back that had fell.

"I think TC's the one who forgot how much YOU can drink." Topher chuckled, using his pen to indicate the ex-army medic who was leaning against the cool vending machine, clearly looking worse for wear. Topher couldn't help but recall the few nights he had joined the best friends on their night's out. They had either all ended with them being held in a prison cell or with all recollection of the night gone. TC and Lori sure knew how to party.

"Yeah. Yeah." Lori huffed.

"Where's Drew and Krista? Shouldn't they be here?"

Lori shook her head. The lucky get had already booked the shift off so they wouldn't have to work hungover, well Kirsta had, Drew had plans. "Drew's got MMA today." She shrugged. She wasn't just in a foul mood because she was hungover but because she was missing an MMA match, growing up with Drew, someone who had a keen interest in the excursion activities the Army had to offer, she became a fan of the different sports.

"Ahh." Topher nodded, clearly recalling the older Alister's plans.

Looking up at the pile she had disregarded almost 15 minutes ago, she let out a sigh. "I suppose I better get some work done."

"That's what you're here for." Topher retorted, quickly making Lori roll her eyes.

8:44PM

Lori and TC found themselves sat up on the tailgate, chatting. They were both still slightly hungover and had decided to hide away until they were needed, and what better place to go than the place their resident grump thinks is a 'death trap'.

"I need a drink." Lori declared, making TC chuckle.

"Don't talk about drink." Lori groaned. She had been around men for the most part of her career, of course she knew how to drink but she could still never work out how to deal with her hangover. Lori's phone began to ring, this time making TC groan. "Alister." She answered.

When she got off the phone TC looked up to her, one eye shut, shaded from the sun. "You don't answer with Captain? Since when?" He let out a confused chuckle. For as long as he could remember, Lori would always answer with her rank. It was just a habit but not one that was easy to break.

"I don't use it when I'm home." She brushed it off. Standing up, she let out a yelp. Noticing TC move just as quick to help her, she held out a hand. "Fine T. Probably still drunk." She chuckled weakly.

TC looked at her, not believing her for a second. "Who was the call?"

"Molly. Possible surgery incoming." She said. "See ya later." Lori waved as she made her way down to the ER, leaving to think. Things were suddenly not adding up.

Lori practically bounced her way down towards the bay doors, greeting colleagues and signing different forms that had been thrown in her face. She finally met Kenny by the door, just in time for the gurney to fly through.

"Possible depressed orbital fracture with inferior rectus entrapment." Drew announced, pushing the gurney into the ER followed closely by Krista who had clearly joined him at the MMA match.

"Set up a trauma panel and facial CT." Lori ordered the nearest nurse. "Did you do this to him?" Lori asked, her eyebrows raised in her brother's direction as she flicked through the notes the paramedic had handed her.

Drew shrugged sheepishly. Not answering his sister, he continued. "Take him to curtain one, give him five of morphine. And let Dr Alister here know when the CT comes in."

Setting up the patient with relevant pain medication, Lori left the man in the capable hands of Kenny whilst she went to talk to her neanderthal of a brother. She eventually found him talking with TC beside the nurses station. Marching over, the younger Alister spun her brother around before crossing her arms across her chest.

"You're making patients now?"

After chuckling to himself, TC made his excuses and left allowing the two siblings to talk or rather allowing Lori to lay one into Drew. TC couldn't help but recall the feisty nature of the young medic, she was always the loudest.

"It's a pretty dumb risk, D!" lori complained.

Drew had been quick to protest. "Hold up, I don't see you complaining when we watch it together."

Rubbing her temple, Lauren let out a sigh. "But they're not my brother. What if you get hurt and you can't work?"

"It's not going to be a problem, Lo. Promise." He said, reaching up and rubbing Lori's shoulder reassuringly.

"Okay. Just go clean up. Dude. You stink." Lori scrunched up her nose in disgust. She had been half joking.

Drew raised his arm slightly, getting in his sister's face. Despite her clear annoyance. "No good?" He feigned seriousness.

"Go." Lori said, her eyes narrowing at her brother. Watching her brother walk away Lori couldn't help but sigh.

9:33PM

"Have you tried Ragosa?" Topher asked.

Lori narrowed her eyes, of course she had tried Ragosa. She had been complaining to TC for the past thirty minutes about the lack of surgical staff she had on the ward. She had been so snowed under she had hardly found time for a break and had only been managing to sneak off now and again. She needed another surgeon.

She had open her mouth to speak but Topher cut her off.

"Hi. Do you work here?" Topher joked as he spotted a young girl stood in the hallway, clearly looking for someone or something. Having been a parent himself he knew the likelihood of a concerned mum or dad running around was very high.

"No. I'm 9 years old." She bit back, easily.

"You're right. Silly question." Topher said. Making Lori snicker from behind the files she was holding up.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Lori asked, kneeling in front of the young girl. Reaching the back of her hand out, she checked for any serious fever. Nothing.

"I don't feel good. My head hurts. I feel like I'm gonna throw up." The young girl complained, a small tear sliding from her eye.

"Well you're lucky you're here. Now. Dr Toph here will look after you, I'm sure." Lori smiled. Waving bye. She needed to find Ragosa.

10:20PM

After cleaning up, Drew had been wandering aimlessly around the hospital, hoping to hide from his sister and Dr Alexander. He had only turned the corner when he found the person he was looking for. Krista.

"Hey, Krista. Can you?" He gestured for her to follow him.

Doing as she was told, she told the nurse to wait in the cubicle for her and moved over to Drew who had placed himself closer towards the wall. "Hey. Yeah, what's up?" She asked the doctor, who was either hiding or avoiding someone.

"I messed up my hand." Drew admitted, holding up his hand to the young intern. Like his sister, he had come to trust Krista, despite seeming as if she would be the first to gossip that had been far from the truth. Sensing the next words, he cut across. "It's a hairline metacarpal fracture. I need a splint, but Lori can't know because she'll kill me." He said. That wouldn't be far from the truth.

"What do you need?"

"I need your help. Can you stick with me and help me on my cases?"

Krista agreed.

The pair walked the halls, treating Drew's patients together. Krista had tried to refrain from saying anything but she couldn't help herself. "Why did your sister- I mean Dr Alister leave the military?" She was curious, she had only heard small snippets from the woman's time out in Iraq.

Drew shrugged. "If I knew, I'd tell you."

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