InfinityAndOne, thank you for your review. I think Cal is more hurt than he realises - though even if he did realise, I'm not sure it would stop him from looking for Ethan. As you say, Cal is very stubborn! And he loves Ethan. As for Alicia, let's just say Ethan might have to reduce his own dislocation in this reality.

Bonnie Sveen Fan, thank you for your review. Cal and Ethan are different in some ways, but I think they'd both put other people's welfare above their own

Guest, I'm afraid I do quite like writing cliffhangers, but at least I shouldn't have to keep you waiting more than a day! Thank you for your review.

X-Sammii-X, it must be really emotional finding a baby - especially as they might easily not have found it until it was too late. Iain might have trouble accepting Rita's help, but I don't think she'll give up easily. Ethan will be devastated if anything happens to Alicia - or Cal, for that matter. Thank you for your review.

westlife4ever80, thank you for all your reviews. Cal is in 'fight or flight' mode - at least this time, he's fighting! I think it's great that your school taught first aid, but it does sound like a frightening way of teaching children. Iain does need to accept Rita's help, but he probably doesn't realise he needs it. I'm so glad you think the story is realistic! I think they'll all be changed by what has happened.

Tanith Panic, thank you for your review. There are some storylines I like more than others, but I do want to make them all equally important and I'm so glad it seems to be working. Iain is difficult as I've never written him before, but luckily, he doesn't have to be too much in character! I think Lily and Louise are alike in some ways.

Tato Potato, it's great to see you back on the site and I'm glad you're enjoying this story. I think it's likely that at least one of the things you're hoping for will happen - I think some of them should have as happy an ending as possible under the circumstances! Thank you for your review.

Thank you to RejectingReality12 for the follow.

Lily considered sending Louise away, but she thought she might need her. She could hear the baby now: a thin, bewildered wail that stirred Lily's emotions in a way she wouldn't have expected. "It must be buried under the people."

Together, she and Louise searched through the mound of people (even Lily balked at calling them bodies), supporting their heads as they rolled them aside but not taking the time to check whether they were alive. The baby was their priority.

"It must be under here!" said Louise, as they rolled over the last person, but there was no sign of the baby. "Where it is?"

"Perhaps it became separated from its parents," said Lily. "We will continue to search, but we'll use our ears this time, not our eyes."

Louise nodded. They traced the sound of crying to a small pile of collapsed pieces of scaffolding. Lily's throat ached as she tried not to think about what would have happened if Louise hadn't heard the sound of crying. She and Louise worked together, lifting two large pieces of wood and throwing them aside. They'd fallen in such a way, a tiny den was created for the baby.

Lily knew they were very lucky that was the case.

The baby looked up at Lily, its eyes wide and helpless.

"Is it okay?" Louise asked, anxiously.

Lily lifted her in her arms – she was dressed in pink and wearing a dress, so Lily could be reasonably sure she was a girl. "She's a bit distressed. It's understandable, but there could be an injury too."

A shadow crossed Louise's face. "I'll let you examine her."

Lily considered. It would make more sense, but if Louise helped, perhaps they could turn this into a positive baby experience.

"It's okay," said Lily softly. "We're going to look after you." She tried not to think about the fact that the baby girl might not have her parents anymore. "Louise, please take the baby while I examine the adults: I suspect there is nothing we can do for any of them, but we mustn't assume."

"I can do it." Louise went over to a man lying on the ground and checked his pulse. "Nothing." She tried the others with the same result. Her voice shook as she reported her findings to Louise. "Some I think we really can't help, but maybe one or two…shall I begin CPR?"

"Yes, please," said Lily, her eyes on the baby. She was so beautiful. The crying had calmed to small whimpers and she was looking up at Lily almost trustingly. "It's okay, baby. It's okay. My name is Lily and my friend is called Louise." She wondered what she was doing. The baby would hardly understand. But perhaps the sound of a human voice would help. "We will look after you. Whatever happens, you will be safe."

Cal managed to get out of the pub without Charlie seeing him, but when he reached the ED, the strength in his legs finally gave out and he collapsed on the ground. His head pulsed violently and the world went dark.

"Cal, there you are!" It was Robyn again. She really seemed to be everywhere. "Are you okay?"

Her face swam into focus. "I'm fine," said Cal.

"Let me examine you," said Robyn.

"Have you seen Ethan?"

Robyn shook her head sadly. "I haven't seen him. I'm sorry. I haven't seen Alicia either. I think they were together."

An image flashed into Cal's mind: Ethan and Alicia standing together. He knew it was a memory from today because Ethan was wearing his jeans. "Yes. They were together." He fought for some more of the memory: perhaps it would give them a clue to Ethan's whereabouts.

But the picture in his mind had gone. Cal felt his body slump forward

"Cal, can I have a look at your head, please?" said Robyn.

Cal shook his head, wincing as the giddiness increased. "There's no time, Robyn. I have to find Ethan."

"But you obviously need a rest, so maybe I could have a look while you're thinking about where he might be?" suggested Robyn.

"Okay." Cal needed to think. He had to try to get that memory back. Actually, any memory would be good. Any memory that might help him find Ethan.

He felt Robyn's gentle hands on his face. "This looks nasty, Cal. Do you remember what happened?"

"I was in the pub with Ethan."

"You don't remember anything after that?" asked Robyn.

"I've already told you I didn't!" shouted Cal. He saw the hurt on Robyn's face which she quickly tried to mask, and felt guilty. "Sorry."

Robyn squeezed his shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. We've been through a lot and you must be terrified about Ethan. Believe me, I've had worse than that shouted at me."

Cal looked at her gratefully, though he couldn't muster a smile.

"Do you think maybe Ethan and Alicia went off somewhere together?" suggested Robyn. "Before all this happened?" She waved her hand towards the helicopter but avoided looking at it.

"Doesn't seem like Ethan." Cal couldn't imagine Ethan running off with a girl when Connie and Grace's lives were in danger. But then again, Ethan had done so many things recently that Cal would never have imagined.

Robyn said nothing, but Cal knew she was thinking the same thing. Ethan had changed so much since his diagnosis. Cal wasn't sure it was for the better, but none of that mattered. Ethan was still his little brother and he loved him.

"Do you think they might be inside?" he asked. "Helping with Connie? Getting a bed ready for Grace?"

"They could be," said Robyn doubtfully.

Cal moved her hand gently aside and stood up. "I'll check inside."

"Cal, you can't," said Robyn. She stood up two and put her hands on his arms. "You're hurt. You need to come with me to the pub."

"Iain!" Rita's voice was strident. She shook him by the shoulders, her heart aching as he flinched away from her.

"Hold on for me," said Iain, his eyes fixed on Rita's knee. "Hold on for your mum." He reached out, his hand closing around Rita's knee.

Rita hated herself for shivering at his touch.

"I'm right here," said Iain, leaning over Rita. "Whatever happens, I'm going to be right there…"

"GRACE!" came a shout from behind Rita, and Jacob rushed forward, trying to get onto the helicopter.

"No, Jacob, don't go in there," said Rita, letting go of Iain.

"But Grace is in there!"

"I know she is, but we need to wait for the helicopter to be made safe," said Rita.

Jacob pushed her aside and pulled himself up into the helicopter. The machine shuddered and sparked, but Jacob somehow hung on.

"Jacob, come down!" said Rita, but he ignored her. He didn't even seem to have realised she shouldn't be here – but who could blame him? thought Rita, her eyes filling. He loves that little girl and he loves her mother even more.

The sound of running feet drew her attention and she swung round. Iain was moving away from her. His body was hunched over and he ran in a strange, zig-zag pattern. Rita was torn. Jacob was putting himself in danger and if he injured himself – or if he managed to get Grace out safely – he was going to need help.

But Iain needed help toof. He didn't know where he was. He could go anywhere and do anything.

And Rita loved him, as Jacob loved Connie.

His face was so close to hers – and they could be about to die. Zoe didn't want to waste the moment.

They'd wasted far, far too many moments already.

She looked into his eyes and knew he was having the same thoughts. If these were their last moments, they wanted to make them special.

But then an idea came to her and she knew she couldn't ignore it. Not when the idea could save Max.

Zoe pulled her phone out of her pocket, making a sound of frustration as she saw the smashed screen. She pressed buttons anyway, desperately trying to make it work, but it was no good. She flung it to the floor. "What about your phone, Max?"

Max hastily felt in his pocket. It looked in perfect condition. He and Zoe shared a smile of relief as Max pressed the keys to unlock it, but nothing happened. He tried again. "Maybe it got switched off."

Maybe it had – but Zoe had an awful feeling…

"Or maybe it did get damaged," said Max, but without conviction

Zoe raised her voice. "Or maybe you forgot to charge it again!"

"Hey, that's not fair!" said Max. "I'm getting quite good at charging it now."

"But not when it matters, Max." Zoe spat the words angrily at him, but her main emotion was fear. "Not when it matters."

Ethan listened hard, but he couldn't hear or see any signs that Alicia was breathing. He tried calling her name again, but he knew there would be no response.

He could do nothing from this distance – but he couldn't stand by and watch her die. He couldn't.

He sat up again and grabbed hold of the thing pinning him down. He shouted out in agony as he pushed with his injured arm, and then again as the object pressed into his knee, but something moved. He took a moment to catch his breath, blink some tears away and allow the pain to fade a bit, then he shoved hard again.

He didn't seem to be getting any closer to freeing his leg, but the object and his leg seemed to be moving together. He pushed again and covered a few more inches. "Alicia, I'm coming," he groaned. He felt faint and sick, but he knew he couldn't give up. In between movements, he reached out with his good arm.

At last; at long last, he felt soft, blonde hair under his fingertips. He was nearly sobbing with pain now, but he'd got so close. He couldn't give up now. With one almighty push, he moved again. The scream of agony that emanated from his throat seemed to echo around the room and for a moment, he began to hope that someone might have heard it, but he heard nothing but silence and his own breathing.

"I'm here, Alicia," he whispered, his voice choked with tears. "You're going to be okay."

But he knew it could very easily not be true.