Bonnie Sveen Fan, thank you for your review. I like that you're trying to work out what could be wrong with the baby. It's so sad to think of a little baby (or anyone, for that matter) being abused, but it does happen, so you always have to consider it.

X-Sammii-X, thank you for your review. I couldn't kill the baby - it would have been too sad. It would be sad for Cal to lose his brother too. I don't want Cal to leave either. Zax have a real problem with keeping their hands off each other! I have to disagree with one thing you said though - you do know how to spell 'disorientated'!

LittleBritishPerson, I hope the actors wouldn't be offended. You can't have a story without things going wrong and as we're Casualty fans, there's a good chance we're quite interested in hospitals and injuries! Have Cal and Iain suffered too much... well, let's say their suffering isn't at an end yet! Thank you for your review.

Glitter girl12, thank you for your review - as usual, I'm making things very difficult for Cal! He'll wake up in Chapter 15, but I can't guarantee he'll be in a very good state!

Guest, I'm really glad you liked the cliffhanger! I decided I needed a bit more to happen than just sitting there waiting as Alicia's situation is a bit too serious to use the comedy angle that was used in the episode. You'll find out if I've killed them very soon. Thank you for your review.

Tanith Panic, I'm glad it doesn't seem unrealistic for Lily to forget Rita has left the ED - I thought the shock of what had happened might affect her like that, but even if it wouldn't, Lily wouldn't necessarily be surprised to see another of Charlie's old friends. I'm really happy you like Iain's mental breakdown - it's quite difficult to imagine what he'd be feeling and thinking, but I really wanted to write it. Cal has been doing completely the wrong thing, as usual! At least Lofty isn't going to go around aggravating his injuries. Not yet anyway. Zoe and Max have got their priorities straight... possibly! Thank you for your reviews.

Ethan cried out in pain as various objects hit him, but he stayed where he was, on his hands and knees with Alicia's head under his stomach. This meant he was putting weight on his injured knee, which meant yet more pain, but he knew he mustn't collapse. He had to protect Alicia.

He realised he was crying again, which was very embarrassing, but Cal had encouraged him to show his vulnerability. And as long as he didn't collapse…

At last, the bombardment stopped. Ethan cautiously looked over his shoulder. His lower legs and feet were buried, but they didn't seem to be hurt – or at the very least, any pain he was feeling didn't rival that in his knee. His back was very painful and he knew a number of objects had caught him on the spine, but he was still able to move.

"Ethan?" said Alicia's shaking voice.

Ethan carefully lifted his hands from the floor and looked down at her, gasping slightly as the pain in his knee intensified. Alicia was sobbing quietly, tears on her cheeks. "Don't cry, sweetheart! I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. It was stupid of me. I might have known what would happen."

"Are you okay?" sniffed Alicia.

"Yes, I'm fine," said Ethan. He moved his back from side to side. His spine was still painful, but he seemed to have full movement.

"Ethan…" Her voice was weak.

Ethan looked at her again. It looked like she was struggling to keep her eyes open and it occurred to him that the greyish look to her skin wasn't necessarily an effect of the poor lighting. "Are you okay?" Of all the stupid questions...

"Don't know…" whispered Alicia. "Feel… funny."

Ethan looked down at her. He felt for the pulse in her neck. It was weak and fast. "I'm so sorry: do you mind if I touch your face?"

He should have done it before. Her skin was so cold.

"Do you feel sick?" said Ethan. "Dizzy? Thirsty?"

"Yes…" murmured Alicia.

Ethan closed his eyes. He knew what was happening. He was a doctor. Alicia was going into shock, either because of external bleeding he hadn't discovered because he could only see her head and chest, or internal bleeding. "Alicia, don't go to sleep! You've got to stay with me, okay? Can you open your eyes for me, sweetheart?"

Alicia opened her eyes. "I'm… dying."

"No, you're not!" said Ethan with tears in his eyes. He took off his jacket and laid it across Alicia's chest. "You're not going to die, Alicia. There's too much you've got to do. You've got to complete your placement and pass your MCEM and be a registrar. And… and you've got to have all kinds of other fun too. Like… I could take you out to dinner. If you'll let me. Would you like that?"

"Cal…" whispered Alicia. "I like Cal…"

The pain inside Ethan's heart worsened, but he told himself it was good Alicia was thinking about what she wanted. "Then you can go out to dinner with Cal. I'm sure he'd love to go out with you. He'll go out with anyone."

Alicia's eyes opened. "What... is that... supposed to mean?" she asked, her voice slightly stronger now.

Ethan frowned, unsure what he'd said at first. "Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant he'll go out with anyone so obviously he'd be delighted go out with someone as amazing as you." He stroked her hair. "But keep being angry with me, Alicia. Anger makes you stronger and you've got to fight this. For Cal. He hasn't has a girlfriend for so long. He hasn't had a decent girlfriend since… well, I'm not sure he ever has. But you could make him happy. I know you could." Ethan's tears were falling now. "Hold on, Alicia. Hold on for Cal."

Louise looked at Lily with tears in her eyes. "Do you think she was abused? Then I'm glad her parents were killed. They don't deserve a beautiful baby like her."

"We mustn't jump to conclusions, Louise," said Lily. "It is a possibility, of course. But it is also possible she is suffering from an illness that has caused her to lose weight – it seems more than likely that she is unwell in some way considering she was presumably being taken to the ED. And it is possible only one parent came with her. There might be another waiting at home or at work."

"But how can we find out who she is?" said Louise.

Lily reached for the bag they'd brought with them. "Perhaps there's something here. Something with her name on. Personalised items for babies are very popular."

Louise turned back to the baby as Lily continued to search, continuing to monitor her vital signs. "She's still breathing and her pulse is weak but still going. Are you sure we shouldn't take her straight to Resus?" She paused, waiting for an answer, but none came. "Lily?"

Lily was staring at something she'd pulled out of the bag. She turned to the baby and stared at her too.

"Lily?" Louise's anxiety was showing in her voice now. "What is it?"

Lily silently handed Louise the object she was holding.

I've got to get out… I've got to get out of the helicopter.

The angel, Rita, was still speaking and Iain wanted to go to her, but he had to get out first. He had to find the door and get out. He couldn't see anything, but he knew the door was there. He reached out for the wall and felt along it.

It's here. It's somewhere here. I know it is.

"Iain, it's okay," said Rita. "It's going to be okay. You just need to listen to me."

And then something hit the helicopter. It hit again and again and Iain felt himself being thrown in the air. He crashed to the floor, but then the helicopter moved again, twisting and turning in the air.

And there were explosions. Sparks and flames.

And he still couldn't find the door.

I'm going to die, realised Iain as the walls closed in. That's why I can hear an angel. Because I'm dying.

Zoe's dress fell to the floor. Max held onto her while she stepped out of her panties, her shoes still on her feet. Max was already naked.

She let her gaze travel upwards to his face and they grabbed one another tightly, kissing each other so hard, it almost hurt.

She felt his hands on her shoulders and they both fell to their knees, their lips still pressed together in feverish kisses.

"I love you, Zoe," Max whispered as his lips travelled from her lips to her neck and lower.

"I love you too," said Zoe.

This was what she wanted. What she needed. And all the problems it would cause wouldn't matter if they were about to die.

She hadn't looked up at the ceiling again. Neither of them had. The ceiling didn't matter. All that mattered was Zoe and Max and the heat of their bodies and the yearning for each other that had never gone away.

Max was sitting on the floor now. Zoe climbed onto his lap and wrapped her legs around his waist. Their frenzied kissing continued, but Zoe wanted more. She climbed off his lap and straddled him, pushing him backwards onto the floor and smiling as she heard him moan her name.

She lowered herself onto him, taking her time to torture him. She was torturing herself too, but she enjoyed every moment of it.

It felt so natural; so right. Then Zoe didn't think in words anymore; at least, no words other than Max's name. At first, she moved slowly, savouring each moment, but subtly increasing the rhythm.

"Oh, Zoe!" moaned Max as his hands gripped her thighs. "Zoe…"

"Max…" she replied, her nails digging into his shoulders as she moved faster.

The force of her orgasm seemed to shatter her. She felt as though she was suspended in space. No. Not suspended. Flying. And Max was there with her.

But when they hit the ground, it didn't hurt. They clung together, panting each other's names and words of love.

And Zoe hoped she'd never have to let him go.

It was horrible, battling to save the daughter of someone you really respected (and even really liked, if Dylan was honest), but perhaps watching and waiting and not being able to do anything was even worse.

He realised, as he waited, that he didn't even know if any of his other colleagues had been hurt. He knew the ED had closed, though he'd had the vague impression of people moving about, so any injured colleagues would have been taken to St James', but Dylan realised that other than the people caring for Connie and Grace, he hadn't seen anyone but Cal and Robyn – and Cal hadn't looked good.

Dylan reached into his pocket and took out his phone. He had two messages.

One from his network provider. He deleted this without reading. It would only be some ridiculous offer about having free texts after his first 200 in a month. Dylan wasn't sure he sent 200 texts in a whole year.

The other text was from Lofty. He almost deleted this one without reading too. He usually did. Texts from Lofty were too painful. They'd actually been friends - he'd accepted Dylan as he was and had even seemed to like him - but then he'd left just when Dylan had grown to trust him.

This time, Dylan opened Lofty's message. Perhaps he felt nothing else could hurt him now. Perhaps he was at a stage where any kind of friendly message would have been a comfort. Perhaps it was just something to do.

Hi Dylan, I'm in a taxi, just left Holby Station. Hope to see you at the party.

Dylan's hand started to shake. He nearly dropped the phone.

He called Lofty back, but there was no answer.

"Ben, it's Dylan. Where are you? Whenever you get this message, please phone me back. I need to…" Dylan paused aware the other occupants of the room were listening, but then he decided he didn't care. "I need to know you're all right."