Ethan was waiting for his brother, they had both been at university studying medicine together and Cal was supposed to be helping Ethan with his coursework. As usual Cal was late. His phone pinged with a text, from one of Cal's regular drinking buddies. It simply said - Something is wrong with Cal, come quick.
Ethan grabbed his rucksack and ran as quickly as he could to Cal's favourite drinking spot. When he arrived there were scores of people outside, crowded around something. He pushed his way into the middle of the circle to find his brother collapsed on the floor. 'How much has he had to drink?' Ethan asked crouching beside his brother and placing two fingers under the crook of his neck, feeling a gentle thrumming against his fingertips.
'He hasn't had anything to drink, he just came and he was looking pale, he was sweating, he could hardly form a sentence and then he collapsed' Joe told him.
'Caleb, it's me can you hear me?' Ethan asked, gently shaking him.
'Hurts' Cal groaned.
'Can you tell me where it hurts?' Ethan asked.
'Stomach, lower right, really hurts' Cal moaned. Ethan reached into his bag pulling out a pair of gloves.
'Right, let me have a look' he stated as he pulled on his gloves, rolling up Cal's top and placing his hand's on his brother's toned abdomen. Cal flinched as his brother gently examined him. He yelped as Ethan's hands grew nearer and nearer to his right hand side until he could no longer bare it. He cried out in pain, grabbing Ethan's hands.
'Please stop' he begged.
'It's alright, now i'm going to get a line in. You can critique my performance and tell me if I am doing it right' Ethan told him. He began grabbing the equipment from his bag and piling it up. He tied a rubber tourniquet around his brother's arm, tapping at the crook of his elbow to find a vein. Once a suitable vein had been found, Ethan wiped his arm with an anaesthetic wipe. Cal whimpered as the needle made contact with his skin. Ethan hooked up some fluids, just in time for the ambulance to arrive.
Cal let out a loud groan as they put him in the ambulance. Ethan stayed by his side, holding his hand and trying to make sure he was alright. 'Don't worry Cal, I'm here, just try not to get upset' Ethan soothed. The journey was long and bumpy, causing Cal to be in much more pain than he had originally been in.
'E-Ethan' Cal gasped reaching out for his brother.
'It's okay Caleb, just stay calm, we're almost there now' Ethan whispered taking Cal's hand in his. Cal groaned again as the ambulance skidded to a halt. The door were thrown open and they carried him out. They wheeled him hurriedly into the emergency department. Cal started panicking as his brother disappeared out of sight.
'ETHAN!' He screamed trying to get up off of the bed. Ethan sprinted over, running alongside his brother.
'It's okay, I'm here Caleb, don't worry I'm not going anywhere' he whispered.
They were led into a cubicle where a doctor joined them. 'Good afternoon, I'm Doctor Hardy, how may I help' the doctor chimed in greeting as he picked up the notes, he hadn't looked up at them. He saw the name and dropped the notes. 'Not again Caleb, what happened this time?' John muttered.
'He's got suspected appendicitis, His friend phone me to say he had collapsed and was really ill, he's got sharp pains in his lower right quadrant, he's feverish and he collapsed earlier' Ethan informed his father.
'Oh, um, how do you know all of this?' John asked his son.
'I examined him and I made a diagnosis, but you can check if you would like' Ethan whispered.
'Good job son! I'll take a quick look and then we'll get some bloods and an ultrasound to see what's wrong' John told his son, blocking Cal from being able to join the conversation.
'Let me explain to Cal, then you can get the equipment' Ethan suggested.
Ethan sat beside his brother who was writhing in pain. 'It's going to be alright Caleb, dad will look after you' Ethan whispered.
'I-I don't want him, I want someone else, you do it, he can watch but you do it, you'll be gentle' Cal gasped, the pain in his stomach getting worse. Ethan had never seen his brother looking so vulnerable. The normally bold, brave Caleb Knight looked scared.
'Okay Cal, if that is what you want' Ethan soothed. Their father returned moments later with a nurse and some equipment. 'Could I carryout the examination, only it would be good practice' Ethan asked his father.
The delight on John Hardy's face was clear. 'Of course you can son, obviously I will support you and I can sign it off as experience for you if you want' he grinned.
Ethan took the pair of gloves from his father and pulled them on. He carefully rolled up his brother's shirt, 'okay Caleb, try and keep still for me' Ethan whispered. He gently examined his abdomen, pressing really gently around the region where the pain was so he didn't hurt his brother.
John Hardy removed his own stethoscope and draped it over Ethan's shoulders. Ethan removed it placing it in his ears and putting the end on his brother's chest. 'He's slightly tachycardic, but I'd put that down to the amount of pain he is in' Ethan told his father. The ultrasound machine was wheeled in and John fetched a chair for his son. 'This might be a bit cold Cal, but it won't hurt, and I promise I won't hurt you' Ethan assured his brother. Cal nodded his head weakly, flinching as Ethan squeezed some cold gel onto his stomach.
Ethan moved the probe swiftly towards the site of Cal's abdomen. 'Okay, your appendix looks swollen, we'll get some bloods and then we'll go from there' Ethan asserted as he switched the machine off.
John Hardy handed him the tray of equipment. 'Alright Cal, close your eyes' Ethan ordered as he tied the tourniquet on his arm and wiped the site clean. 'Take a deep breath' Ethan ordered as he steadily inserted the cannula. He took the blood before administering a small dose of morphine. Cal visibly relaxed as the medicine coursed through him, instantly relieving his pain.
The bloods were sent off, and Ethan helped his brother make himself comfortable before instructing that he sleep for a bit. The blood results came back confirming Ethan's diagnosis, so the two Doctor Hardys' called up to book a spot on the surgical ward for Cal. Ethan helped take him upstairs, even staying to hold his hand when he began to panic about the operation.
'Eth, I've managed to get you an opportunity to sit in on the operation so you can gain some experience' John announced.
Ethan smiled back weakly, he didn't really want to watch them cutting into his brother but he was grateful all the same. Cal was more grateful because at least he had someone he trusted to look after him.
'Okay, we're going to administer some anaesthetic now, I need you to count back from ten slowly' The anaesthetist instructed. Cal was getting really upset.
'Listen Cal, I'm staying right here with you, I won't let anything happen, just calm down' Ethan soothed holding Cal's hand tightly.
Cal slowly succumbed to the drug and was out for the count. Ethan scrubbed up and accompanied his brother into he theatre. Their father waited outside, surprisingly anxious even though he didn't really get on with Cal, he wanted to make sure he was alright. The surgery was a success and Cal's recovery went well, within a few weeks he was back in the pub drinking and chatting up girls in his usual Cal Knight manner.