Bonnie Sveen Fan, thank you for your review. It is difficult for Zoe - she probably knows Max is going to give her bad news, but she doesn't know what - and she's not going to guess, though even if she did, she probably can't prepare herself for this. I'm glad Alicia came over sympathetically even though she was horrible to Ethan.

LittleBritishPerson, the situation was so emotional, Alicia was probably a bit all over the place. She wasn't at all impressed with Ethan in the pub, but he was kind and reassuring when she was upset. They did work well together, but we'll have to wait and see if she still thinks he's an idiot! Thank you for your review.

X-Sammii-X, I'm really hoping the writers will explore the effects of the crash on Iain - that would be very sad but so interesting. I have no idea what's going to happen with Alicia as I don't read spoilers, but she hasn't really made a good impression on me! I'm not sure if the love triangle will be in this story. Thank you for your review.

casslourocks, thank you for your review - I really am happy that you're enjoying it so far. I'm really glad you like the detail as I was a bit worried by the lack of conversation in the opening chapters - most of it was just thoughts and I didn't want it to be boring.

CBloom2, thank you for your review. Cal's thoughts about Ethan kind of reflect mine - I miss the old Ethan so much. I thought at first that it was his way of hiding from the truth of his diagnosis, but now I think he has really changed. I'm really glad you liked my exploration of the characters' thoughts and feelings.

Guest, thank you for your review. I am sad Lofty, Rita and Zoe didn't even send a message - though it would have been even better to see some of the former cast members appear in person. I really like Duffy and Josh, but I don't remember them as regulars. I'm so glad you're enjoying this so far and I hope you continue to read and enjoy it.

westlife4ever80, thank you for your reviews - I'm glad you're enjoying this Even though their thoughts would mostly have been with Connie and Grace, I didn't think the feelings and worries they have every day would disappear completely. I agree Ethan can do better than Alicia - though perhaps she'll learn to understand and appreciate him.

Tanith Panic, yes, you're exactly right about the word Iain didn't say about Jez! I'm glad you liked the way I wrote his thoughts. I agree Lily has a warm heart too and I really hope the writers will show more of it, though I am worried Alicia won't bring out her best side. Cal and Ethan love each other to bits, but I think everyone knows that except them! Thank you for your review.

Thank you YoGirlAL, casslourocks, Crazyturtlefrog for the follows and favourite.

Ethan was so relieved to hear the helicopter. Soon Grace would be safely in the ED and the medical team would do everything in their power to save her. Ethan had already decided to offer his assistance. He would have done it for any patient, of course, but he felt a particular desire to help Grace. Connie terrified him on a daily basis, but she'd taught him so much. He would do everything he could.

He looked at the helicopter again. With shock, he realised it wasn't the only object in the sky. Something was flying towards it at speed.

Ethan knew what was going to happen, but there was nothing he could do. He thought he might have called out, but it was just as likely he hadn't. He watched helplessly as the object hit the helicopter, which wobbled helplessly in the sky before plummeting.

Ethan's eyes met Alicia's and they dived for cover. He heard a crash and tried to protect Alicia as scaffolding rained around her, but he lost his footing and they became separated. He called her name but couldn't even hear his own voice. He heard her scream and shouted her name again, but then something hit his head, hard.

He struggled to fight the blackness swirling around him. He had to get to Alicia and make sure she was all right.

But the darkness was too strong.

Max hated being the one to tell her. It shouldn't have been him. It should have been someone who was trained in giving bad news. Max was quite experienced in supporting people afterwards, but he had no idea how shatter Zoe's world in the least painful way.

Zoe and Connie didn't always see eye to eye, but they had come to respect and admire each other as doctors and a friendship had sprung up between them. She would be devastated,

He told her as quickly and sympathetically as he could, holding her hand in his.

"Where are they?" said Zoe in a tiny voice that didn't sound like hers.

Max felt a rush of protectiveness. He moved his chair closer to Zoe's and put his arm around her. "Mrs Beauchamp is in Resus. I think Dylan and Elle are with her. Grace is coming by helicopter."

"I've got to see her," said Zoe, her voice weak. She stood up slowly and swayed slightly. Max grabbed hold of her, feeling the trembling that wracked her body.

"Not yet," he said, trying to sound firm yet reassuring. "You've had a shock. Let's wait five minutes and then-"

Zoe cut him off. "No! I've got to go now, Max."

A sound came to Max's ears and he quickly drew Zoe's attention to it. "There's the helicopter, Zoe. Grace is nearly here. Let's wait a few minutes: they might want to rush her straight to Connie."

"They won't," said Zoe. "The priority would be…" Her voice shook. "…saving their lives."

Max held her tightly in his arms.

And then it happened.

Lily hit the floor hard. It hurt, but she ignored it, letting her doctor's instincts take over. She was aware, somewhere in the back of her mind, that she was terrified, but she couldn't think about that now.

She wasn't terrified for herself but for the people out there. Max, Cal, Alicia… and Ethan: oh God, Ethan.

But Lily was a doctor and she knew what to do. She couldn't worry about Ethan. She had to do her job.

Lily looked quickly around the group of colleagues who were standing, sitting or lying with looks of shock on their faces. She thought she might have said something: something like: "Come on!", but it hardly mattered. She hurried to the door, tearing it open, aware of feet behind her, following her out into... what?

The sight that met Lily's eyes almost allowed her doctor's instincts to fail, but she gritted her teeth and hurried out. People lay scattered around the floor. So many people. Some moving or moaning or groaning aloud in agony. Others just lying still. Lily saw blood on faces and in pools on the tarmac. She saw limbs bent into positions that shouldn't be possible. She watched as someone almost threw himself from the helicopter and collapsed onto the ground.

She didn't approach anyone straight away. As quickly and calmly as she could, she assessed the situation. The helicopter was embedded in the ED: there was a chance of an explosion, but the vehicle itself seemed steady. She looked around for fires; for other hazards that would endanger their safety. Lily had a feeling she would have ignored the danger even if it was there: she would willingly risk her own safety for the people who had come to the ED to be made better, only to find themselves in the midst of horror and destruction.

Lily looked over at her shoulder at her colleagues. Their faces looked white and haggard, but Lily saw the look in their eyes and she knew they could do this.

As one, they moved forward, spreading out to help the fallen. Lily ran to the nearest figure. "Hello, my name is Lily. I'm a doctor. Can you tell me your name?" She went through the first aid procedures she'd once learned as a child, speaking to the victims, hearing their symptoms and watching for signs.

As she worked, moving from one person to another, helping some to move to a more comfortable position whilst advising others to lie still, she also searched for Ethan.

She couldn't see him.

Lofty heard the crash. A second later, he was flying through the air, his face slamming into the hard wall. Stars danced in front of his eyes and he felt himself fall backwards, landing hard on the floor.

The breath whooshed out on his lungs. Lofty's brain was screaming at him to get out of there, but he couldn't move. He watched helplessly as the room seemed to grow darker and only realised at the last minute that this was happening because something was blocking out the light. Something falling.

Something falling on top of him.

Lofty tried to move, but there was no time. It hit him. The breath left his lungs again.

And then… nothing.

Louise and Robyn were working side by side. Louise had never expected to become such good friends with someone as overwhelmingly positive as Robyn - a true romantic who still believed in miracles and happy-ever-afters - but she'd soon discovered Robyn was not only good-hearted but a good nurse and Louise was glad to have her nearby now.

Robyn was kneeling beside a woman. Robyn spoke to her and tapped her shoulders, but there was no response.

"I don't think she's breathing," said Robyn, a quiver in her voice.

At one time, Louise had thought Robyn's emotional nature was a weakness.

It wasn't. Louise knew that even if Robyn broke down, she would keep doing her job and do it well until they both knew it was hopeless.

"Louise, can you help me roll her over, please?" said Robyn.

Louise glanced around to see if anyone passing might be able to help support the woman's spine, but there was no-one. "I'll hold her head," she said.

Together, they rolled the woman onto her back. At once, Louise saw the swell of her stomach. She began to shake. Her arm lifted and she pointed, but she couldn't get the words out.

"She's pregnant…" said Robyn, devastated. She leaned over to open the woman's airway. She leaned close. "She's not breathing."

She lifted the patient's right hip from the ground, sliding her knees underneath it to support it: this would prevent the uterus from pressing against the blood vessels in the abdomen and making it even more difficult for the heart to pump blood around her body. Assuming they could get her heart started.

Robyn looked at Louise. "Can you begin CPR, please? I don't suppose there's a defibrillator out here – the helicopter probably has one, but it's probably not safe – but we'll do what we can."

Louise didn't move. She was staring at the swollen abdomen. She knew it was stupid. There was a patient in danger and she had to help. And she was over this. Wasn't she?

"Louise!" said Robyn urgently. "Begin CPR or we'll lose her!"

Cal realised he was sitting on the ground. There was a pain in the side of his head and he tried to lift his hand, but he couldn't move. All he could do look straight ahead of him at… something.

It looked like a helicopter, but Cal's brain didn't seem to be functioning properly. He knew the helicopter shouldn't be there and this was bad, but that was all. He didn't know what had happened. He didn't know what to do.

He didn't even know what he was doing here.

Panicking now, Cal tried to think back. He remembered… what did he remember? Jeans. Ethan's jeans. He'd honestly have been better off wearing one of his stupid suits, but instead, he'd bought some jeans. And worn them.

But that was in the pub and Cal wasn't in the pub now. He was somewhere else. Somewhere he was sure he should be able to recognise, but he couldn't because that thing was here.

A sound came to his ears. A sound that increased as though someone was turning a volume switch. Screaming. Crying. Groaning. People were hurt and Cal had a feeling he ought to help them and even that he knew how to help him, but further than that, his mind remained almost blank, with only whispers of awareness that made no sense at all.

People are hurt. Badly hurt. I must help.

But Cal didn't move.