Thank you once again for the lovely reviews for the previous chapter. I'm glad you liked it. I'm making this the last chapter hope I do it justice. If there are any Alicia fans out there, I'm sorry if you don't like what I've done with her in this chapter.

Chapter 4

Cal shifted uncomfortably in the small, plastic chair that he had been left with. The dimmed lighting wasn't helping him in his battle to stay awake after the long night he'd had.

He had sent Alicia home. If he was honest, she had started to get on his last nerve with her sobbing apologies. He had been angry and disappointed in both her and his brother, which was an emotion that he never thought he'd feel with regards to Ethan.

He glanced up at the bed once more. Ethan's eyes remained stubbornly closed. Cal wished they were open so that he could see for himself what the doctors had told him, that his little brother was going to be fine. But then, what would he say to him when he was awake? He'd slept with HIS girlfriend! He'd lied to him - gone behind his back! Cal let his head fall back as he let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes willing himself to relax.

"Cal."

That one word was all it took for any residual anger and disappointment to be pushed out of his mind. He immediately got to his feet and moved towards the bed, "Hey," he smiled, "It's good to see those eyes open."

Ethan blinked, "I'm sorry Cal, " he whispered.

Cal stiffened, "What are you sorry for?" He wondered if Ethan was going to own up.

"For taking off, for being so stupid..."

Cal touched is arm gently, "Hey, don't worry, it's all good - you rest," he advised.

"No Cal...I need to tell you something..."

"No need. I know!" Cal responded as he got off the bed.

Although he had taken a certain amount of satisfaction from seeing Alicia's shocked face, he didn't take any from seeing his brothers.

He was brought out of his musings by a gasp. He spun round to see Ethan trying to sit up. He strode back to his side, "Don't Ethan, you'll hurt yourself," he told him gently.

"Let me explain..." Ethan insisted, even though he could barely keep his eyes open.

"You told me you didn't want a relationship with her, " Cal blurted out, "That's why I asked her out!"

"I know. I just didn't think that we could work. We were so different, and that had worked out for me so well in the past. But I never stopped having feelings for her. I tried to stop them - tried to push them down, but I couldn't. Please believe me Cal I never meant to hurt you - I couldn't and wouldn't willingly hurt you in any way," Ethan finished, almost gasping as he got more worked up.

Cal sat down on the bed next to him, "Ethan calm down. I know you didn't mean to hurt me. No matter what we've done to each other, I know you wouldn't purposely hurt me. But I won't lie to you - it hurt me more than I thought it would because I'd developed deep feelings for Alicia too, and that you could do this to me...but to be honest Ethan, I'm just so damn glad that you're alive after tonight! Do you love Alicia?"

Ethan looked at him through half closed eyes, "Yes I do."

Cal nodded slowly, thinking back to what Alicia had said about not being sure if she loved Ethan. He felt a hand on his arm, "Please don't hate me," Ethan pleaded.

Cal patted his hand, "I could never hate you. You're my little brother. One thing though Ethan, you need to tell Alicia the truth about everything - and I mean everything."

Ethan nodded, "You're right. I'll speak to her soon."

"Ok, now you get some rest. I'll stay with you."

Ethan shook his head, "You go home. You need your rest too. You look exhausted."

"I don't want to leave you..." Cal told him worridly.

"I'm not going anywhere, " Ethan answered, his eyes almost closed.

"I know, I just...Tell you what, scoot over - I'll get some rest, just like when we were kids," he said as he helped Ethan slide over a little. He then climbed onto the bed and settled himself next to his already slumbering brother.

He watched him for a few minutes, just thinking how lucky he was that Ethan was still with him and no matter what had gone on before he was going to make sure that nothing and no-one ever hurt his brother again.

He couldn't help himself as he leant down and planted a small kiss on the younger man's head, the relief he felt almost palpable.

Cal was pacing again. This time he was pacing up and down outside a particular hospital room. Alicia had gone in to see Ethan about half a hour ago. Ethan had been getting stronger over the last few days and although Alicia had visited every day, today was the day that Ethan had felt strong enough to tell her about the Huntingtons.

He glanced at his watch for about the hundreth time, deciding that he would get some coffee to pass on some time.

As he came back with his cup, he saw Ethan's door open and Alicia slide out quietly. She looked up at him as he walked down the corridor, her eyes bloodshot, "What? Is he alright?" Cal demanded.

"Define 'alright'?" Alicia countered quietly.

Cal looked confused, "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked him, "You knew that Ethan was my friend before anything else."

"It's not for me to tell. We've been through a lot in this past year, Ethan more so than me. It's up to him who finds out..."
"I wish he hadn't told me," Alicia gulped.

"He told you because you and he are starting a relationship. It wouldn't be right if you didn't know..."

"How can we start a relationship now?" Alicia asked.

"There's no reason why you can't. You just have to remember to use protection when you need it. Luckily it's Ethan, so he would be super organised anyway," Cal added with a smile.

"And what happens when..." she trailed off, unable to finish.

"We cross that bridge when we get to it. Look it wouldn't be just you on your own dealing with his illness, I'm going to be there every step of the way," Cal assured her.

"Oh yes, we all know how good you are at sticking around when things get tough," she countered.

Cal was taken aback by the tone in her voice - he didn't like it, not one bit.

"I have told him that I will be there for him, and I will! He's taken care of me, picked me up when I've fallen by the wayside and so now it's my turn."

Alicia started to leave, "Tell him I'll call him soon," she told Cal, who caught her arm pulling her to a stop.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

The younger doctor burst into tears again, "I can't do it Cal. I've treated Huntingtons patients, I've seen what it does to people. I can't watch everything that Ethan is being slowly eaten away by the disease - it's to much."

"What are you saying Alicia? Are you dumping him?" he demanded angrily.

"It wouldn't be right for me to string him along when I know that I can't do what would be expected of me...so yeah, I guess I am dumping him - although we haven't really been in a relationship yet..."

"Alicia you can't! He loves you, he told me. It would break his heart."

"Surely it's better for it to end now before we get any deeper into it, then to encourage him to believe that there's a chance when really there isn't?"

Alicia looked at him through tear soaked eyes, "I know that makes me a coward..."

"I was thinking more like a 'cow'," Cal bit back.

"I am sorry you feel that way Cal, but it's for the best," she told him as she carried on down the corridor, "Please tell him I'm sorry. He's a lovely guy, one of the best."

With that, she was gone. Ethan never woke up for the rest of that day.

The following morning dawned with the news that Alicia had handed in her resignation, effective immediately. Cal was shocked, then he was worried - how would his brother handle the news.

Actually Ethan handled it quite well as it turned out. Cal thought that his brother had expected to hear something like that, but it didn't make it any easier.

A few weeks later, Ethan was back at work, all be it on modified duty. He was so glad to be back even though he knew it would be hard not seeing Alicia around the department. Ethan knew that his brother was keeping an eye on him, for which he was grateful, even if he didn't show it.

"Hey Ethan, you up for coming on my stag night tonight?" Charlie asked him hopefully. Cal had confided in the older man, so he knew what the brothers had been dealing with over the last few weeks, "It's only a few drinks - nothing to taxing...I hope," he smiled.

Ethan wasn't really feeling in the mood for partying, but he knew how much Charlie had helped his brother and how fond of him he was, so he agreed.

Later that day, the men of the ED all met outside the hospital ready to board the minibus, "You sure you're up for this?" Cal asked his brother, who was still being very quiet.

Ethan smiled up at him, "I'll be fine Cal," he assured the older man.

They sat in their seats - Ethan by the window as always, and they set off.

The bus was noisy, but not as noisy as it would be on the way home Ethan thought. He laid his head on the window as he watched the world go by. He was exhausted, but he tried not to let it show. He closed his eyes for a moment, only to be nudged awake by Cal, "What?"

"You've been asleep for twenty minutes - are you sure you're alright?" His brother looked worried.

Ethan sighed, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come. I'm so tired and still a bit sore if I'm honest."

"Oh Ethan..."

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me," he tried to smile again, but this time it didn't reach his eyes.

"But I do worry about you," his brother told him.

They fell into a comfortable silence for a few minutes, "Why did she leave Cal?" Ethan burst out.

Cal sucked in a breath, now he was getting to the bottom of it.

"Do you want the truth?" Cal ventured.

Ethan nodded as Cal sighed deeply, of course his brother wanted the truth, he wouldn't have expected anything less.

"She told me that she..." Cal stopped. He didn't want to tell Ethan the real reason, but his brother was staring at him, willing him to carry on.

"She told me that she didn't think she could cope later on, you know, when..."

"When I wouldn't remember her or when I couldn't look after myself," Ethan finished.

"She thought it would be better to finish things now than wait until later," Cal told him sadly, as he watched his brother's world cave in once again.

"This is it for me Cal," Ethan began.

Cal turned to him, not surprised to see tears glistening in his eyes, "No-one will want me knowing what's to come..."

"Look Ethan..." Cal pulled up. What could he say? Ethan was probably right. Having a degenerative disease such as Huntingtons is not something anyone would take on willingly.

"Ethan, you are one of the best men I know. You're kind, sensitive, caring, - if I'd have been you, I'd have called Alicia all sorts of names, but you just took it on board no matter how much it hurt you. There is absolutely nothing that I can say that will make any of this any easier, but all I will say is that you will NEVER be on your own with this. I promise you that I will not run away from this and I will be with you every step of the way...just don't push me away."

Ethan felt hot tears sliding down his cheeks as he looked at his brother's honest expression. For the first time in as long as he could remember, Ethan actually felt like his big brother was there for him, "Thanks Cal."

Cal let out a shaky chuckle, as he slung his arm around Ethan and pulled him towards him, planting a kiss on his forehead, "I love you Ethan," he wispered.

Ethan closed his eyes, revelling in the security of his brother's slightly awkward embrace, "I love you to Cal."

Ok, so the ending got a bit cheesy - so sue me! Ha ha.

I really don't want them to fall out for to long on the show.

I'm sorry to Alicia fans if you think I made her a bit of a 'cow' but I'm sure she wouldn't be the only person to think twice when faced with that kind of future (and I mean no disrespect to anyone who has that looming over them).

I wonder if I'll be struck by any more inspiration any time soon.

Thank you for now. See you soon x