Cal held Ethan's hands gently as he tried to slam them down on the bed for the third time. Tears fell down his cheeks and every negative emotion possible looked like it was displayed on Ethan's face. He was trying to get his wrists from Cal's grasp but was too weak to do it. He was wailing, anguish flowing out of him. Cal would like to say that this was an uncommon occurrence, but it wasn't.

Cal hated this part. When Ethan turned from feeling positive to absolutely awful. He hated how easily it happened, how easily it showed. It could happen because of the slightest thing: Ethan dropping something, Ethan not being able to do something. Cal had learnt better how to prevent it but he knew that this time, it was going to be harder to calm him down. This wasn't just spilt water anymore.

But he had to get Ethan to calm down, and quickly. Extreme stress was found to be one of Ethan's seizure triggers. And Ethan was stressed.

He wanted to take Ethan in his arms, but he worried he was going to lash out again. It wouldn't be for the first time if Ethan's fists went from the bed to pushing against Cal when he tried to calm him down.

Cal's attempts were fruitless. He watched as Ethan changed. His crying diminished, his muscles tensed in Cal's arms and then, he started to shake.

Olivia called for help. Cal lowered the bed so Ethan was lying flat. Doctors and nurses rushed into the room. Ethan was being sick. Cal was pushed back.

He could only stand and watch as Ethan was turned on his side. He could only stand and watch while his brother was in distress. He could only stand and watch his brother seizing.

He could only stand and watch.

He hated how he couldn't help Ethan medically. He wanted to, he needed to be more useful, but he'd been told more than once that he was a relative. He couldn't intervene. He hated it!

Ethan was sleeping. He had been for a couple of hours. The day's events had taken a toll on his energy and Cal didn't blame him for sleeping a lot. Cal was tired too, but he didn't dare sleep. He was being a better brother, and now that meant watching over Ethan. Making sure he was okay, making sure he slept peacefully (because, sadly, he sometimes didn't).

They'd talked little about the attack all those months ago, Ethan always tended to avoid the subject. When Cal brought it up, he'd swerve it away. He knew that Ethan was struggling with the memories and was sure that his nightmares were connected to it. Ethan wouldn't talk about it, so Cal couldn't find out.

He noticed movement from the bed and saw Ethan start to wake up.

"Hey, Ethan," he said, smiling. The simple phrase made Ethan smile too.

"H-he-y." Ethan shuffled around a bit, using a fist to rub his tired eyes. "C-Cal," he whispered, sounding slightly nervous. He didn't continue.

Cal moved his chair closer. "What is it, Ethan?"

"I… I t-thi-ink I-I re-mm-mmem-ber."

He knew what he was referring to, and said carefully, "all of it?"

"M-mo-st."

Thursday, 15 November 2015

It took a while for Ethan to remember the majority of it. He remembered more than he did five days ago, when he told Cal he may be ready to speak about it. Cal knew Ethan was scared. Even Cal didn't know what happened – who happened - that day. He couldn't deny he was bursting to know, but the logical part of his brain knew he should give Ethan time and space and patience.

And that's how they ended up sitting in Ethan's hospital room, with a police officer in a chair next to Cal's.

"Can you tell me what happened that day?"

Ethan looked to Cal. Cal nodded, encouraging him. He took Ethan's hand and held it tightly, anything to show that he was there and it was going to be okay.

"I-I trea-ted a gi-rl a-and her mmm-oth-er."

"Do you remember their names, Dr Hardy?"

He shook his head and glanced at Cal again. "It's fine, Ethan. We can find out who they are."

Ethan shrugged, and Cal hated that he knew Ethan was upset he couldn't remember. He hated that Ethan was already feeling down.

"What else happened that day?"

"Th-ey both d-die-d. I-I to-ld the fath-er."

"Oh my god," Cal breathed out, interrupting Ethan.

"Dr Knight?"

Cal hit himself on the head then ran his hand down his face. "I can't believe I didn't remember sooner! I remember the father. You'd just come up to me and told me you'd lost both the mother and daughter. You told me who the father was. Oh my god, I bet it was him!"

"What makes you say that, Dr Knight?"

"I can't remember exactly what he said but I heard the man talking to his wife in resus. He said something about Ethan getting what's coming to him."

"Did he specifically name Dr Hardy?"

Cal bit his fingernail. "Um… I don't think so. No, no he didn't. I don't think he knew Ethan's name or remembered it or something. He said 'the one with glasses'."

"Could it have been another doctor?"

Cal rolled his eyes, he knew what he heard. "No, because the only other doctor with glasses is Lily – Dr Chao – and she's not a 'he'."

Cal only just noticed Ethan staring at him with wide eyes. "H-hi-m?"

"Dr Hardy –" Ethan turned back to the officer. "Did he say anything to you?"

"I-I… uh… I…"

"Take your time, it's okay, Eth."

"Do-n't know."

"What happened afterwards, Dr Hardy? When you went out?"

"It w-was m-my br-eak. I he-ard s-som-me-one c-cry-ing. I-I w-ent t-to h-el-p. T-the-y, th-ey…"

"They stabbed you," Cal finished heavily.

Ethan nodded, tears filling his eyes. Cal couldn't take just holding Ethan's hand and brought Ethan into a hug. He told himself it was to comfort Ethan, but he needed this contact to. His brother almost died. He was lucky to be hugging him right now.

Once Cal had let Ethan go, the police officer asked, "did you see who it was?"

He shook his head. "S-so-rry."

"There's no need to apologise, Dr Hardy. I think we've got enough information to question this man."

The officer left shortly afterwards. "You did well, Eth. I'm proud of you."

Ethan just shook his head. "T-th-ere w-as so m-mu-ch I cou-ld-n't re-mme-mber."

Cal took his hand again. "To be honest Ethan, I can't remember what I had for dinner a week ago. You did well for remembering all of that."

"T-than-ks." Ethan smiled. Cal hoped it would continue.

Cal came back into the room to a curious Ethan after taking a phone call. "That was the police. They've arrested that guy, the father. Ethan… he admitted it."

Guest: It's no problem at all! As a writer it is very lovely to hear you're enjoying it, so thank you so much!

Bonnie Sveen Fan: Poor Ethan, indeed! Thanks for your review.

casslourocks: We definitely do, oh my! Few, glad it's within character for Ethan – I definitely worry about keeping it close to their characters a lot. Thank you for your review, I hope you enjoyed this one!