Connie returned a moment later with a few more members of the ED. Jacob came swaggering over and smiled at the young doctor. 'How's it going Ethan?' he asked with a smile.
'Been better but I'm fine' Ethan replied, his voice weak and croaking.
We're going to get your head stitched and then we'll sort out your arm, elbow and shoulder' Jacob told him. The rest of the staff waited outside the doors of resus, anxiously waiting for their turn to see him. 'Mrs Bow-Champ, can you get the Entonox whilst I sort out this head wound' Jacob asked.
Cal took Ethan's hands whilst Jacob pulled on some gloves and began examining the wound. He grabbed a light and shone it over the injury so he could see. Ethan winced as Jacob began brushing his hair from the wound.
'Okay, I'm just going to inject the anaesthetic now, just stay nice and still for me' Jacob murmured as he injected the medicine into Ethan's head. Cal tightened his grip on his brother as he screwed his eyes shut tightly, grimacing as the needle was pushed into his head. A few minutes later the wound had been stitched and Ethan was relaxing on the bed trying to fight the feeling of tiredness which washed over him.
'Okay Ethan, because you are getting so tired and you are already in enough discomfort you have an option, we can proceed to treat your arm, elbow and shoulder with just morphine or Entonox or we can mildly sedate you, it's your choice' Connie explained.
Ethan looked over at Cal, unsure of what to choose. 'Eth, I promise I am staying with you whatever happens but I think you should take the sedation because this is going to be uncomfortable, although I am sure if you choose to stay awake, you will still be brave enough to face this' Cal told his brother.
'I'm scared, I don't want to sleep' Ethan whimpered.
'I know mate, but I won't leave you and I won't let anyone hurt you' Cal assured him.
Ethan shook his head. 'I can't, I just can't. I'm too scared please don't make me sleep' he begged.
Cal pulled him into a hug. He had never seen his brother so scared, or vulnerable, it made him feel scared. 'I won't make you do anything, you choose, whatever you choose I will be here with you' Cal assured his little brother.
'Please don't use the sedation, I can manage' Ethan spoke, his voice a whisper.
'Alright then, I've got some morphine for you and some Entonox' Connie told him. Ethan nodded. Jacob injected the morphine into the young doctor's arm whilst Cal took his position behind his brother, wrapping his arms around his brother, holding him still in the bed. Jacob lifted Ethan's arm out of the fracture pack. Connie held his forearm whilst they pulled his lower arm.
Due to the number of issues with his arm they would have to do it in three stages. 'Take a nice deep breath of the Entonox for me' Cal whispered. As Ethan took a breath, Jacob pulled on his arm sharply. Ethan yelled in pain. Cal pinned him onto the bed, trying to calm him down.
'Calm down mate, you are doing really well' He soothed. A clicking sound echoed around the room. Ethan flopped onto the pillows breathing heavily.
'Ethan you just take a break for two minutes before we sort out your elbow. You are being incredibly brave' Connie admitted.
'I'm in awe of you Ethan, I would never manage with the amount of pain you are in' Cal whispered as he loosened his grip on his brother.
'Right let's go' Ethan said, adjusting his position on the bed. Cal pulled him back onto the bed, holding him still as Jacob lifted his arm again. This time all Jacob did was rotate Ethan's arm to the side and the elbow clicked smoothly into place with Ethan hardly crying out as much as he had for his arm.
'That wasn't too bad' Cal commented as he relaxed his hold. Ethan's eyes were fluttering as he began to feel tired.
'Can we keep going, I don't need to rest, just get this done now, I need to sleep' Ethan told Connie as he sat up.
'If you're sure' Jacob said as he lifted the arm. Cal held is brother still, holding his other hand in his. Ethan tensed, preparing himself for yet more pain. He gripped Cal's hand tightly whilst Jacob began moving Ethan's shoulder. He rotated it slowly at first before tugging on it sharply putting it back into place. Ethan let out a breath of relief, the morphine he had been given previously had started to take effect and combined with the tiredness he couldn't feel as much pain as he would usually feel in this situation. Cal relaxed his grip whilst Jacob plastered Ethan's arm and put it into a sling.
'You get some sleep now mate, I'm just going to tell everyone how you are doing, and tell them to come back tomorrow to see you' Cal told him.
'No, let them come in now, sleep can wait' Ethan told him belligerently. He didn't want to sleep anyway so any excuse he was willing to take. Cal knew better than to argue with his brother, so he invited everyone in to see him.
'He's very tired and in quite a bit of pain so we will keep this brief. He has several serious injuries, and will be taking it easy for a while but for now, he is going to rest. The police will be coming back tomorrow to interview him' Connie told them. Everyone gathered around Ethan who was sitting up on the bed smiling modestly.
'You are incredible' everyone told him. No one could believe how brave he had been and how much he had coped. They asked all sorts of questions which Ethan did his best to answer but in the end he started nodding off. Cal indicated that it was best if they left whilst Cal tried to help Ethan who was still really scared to sleep.