A/N: Thanks for reviewing :) this chapter includes a range of characters, inspired from the Casualty winter trailer. There is a little bit of Cal/Ethan in this one - not sure it was exactly what was requested, though. Again, there will be a one shot focusing on them later on! Enjoy!

Has anyone got any Christmas themed prompts they'd like to share with me? (I write quite a few days in advance to this and could do with some more ideas!) even if it's just some more Christmasy words! Thanks in advance. :)

~Mini Peacelet~

Wintry Advent

6. Reindeers

"This is going to be so humiliating." The chasten and shame was as equally noticeable in his words as his posture. Caleb was petulant about the prospect of wearing a reindeer costume for one entire day. Twenty-four hours. It was too long. It was mortifying even strolling down the road - four reindeers together - with members of the public gawping and sniggering in amusement.

"But let's remember who's idea it was originally that the losers of the quiz have to dress up as reindeers." The ginger haired nurse stated matter-of-factly with a teasing hint. She was the only one in the group not wearing a reindeer attire, "Ethan just wanted the winners to be bought a crate of beer or wine, but it was you who wanted to spice things up more." She gestured to the male doctor.

Cal rolled his eyes sulkily, loathing that Robyn was right and he couldn't deny it, "Well it's boring just playing for booze all the time. And I didn't think we would actually lose. I was really looking forward to seeing my brother in this costume."

"I am just so glad that it's you and not me." Robyn giggled spiritedly as she momentarily pirouetted around sharply on her feet to locate her brother who was suspiciously quiet, "Max? What are you doing?!" She frowned perplexedly as she observed the porter hopping from object to object repeatedly and ducking behind the obstacle, then poking his head around the corner to check if anyone was watching before he made a prompt dash to the next vehicle or wheelie bin.

"What does it look like?" Max peered cautiously around the edge of the car, "I'm hiding! This costume hardly does my street credit any good does it?"

"Well I think that these costumes are cute." Honey beamed happily as she trotted along in her stilettos, twirling a lock of chocolate brown mixed with blonde swirls around her finger.

"Well you would wouldn't you." The porter rolled his orbs exasperated as he sprinted in front of the others and dived down behind another car.

"But Max, people are going to see you all day at the hospital. You're a porter, your job involves interaction with other humans, and most of the people in there are locals anyway." Lofty stated bluntly with a trace of confusion as he leisurely cycled at a slow pace, weaving up the concrete pavement behind his colleagues. He was also dressed as a reindeer and correspondingly unimpressed.

"I look ridiculous though." Max huffed as he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his reindeer costume and dipped his head as he sauntered into the hospital grounds. His expression was like thunder with embarrassment. This shift was sure to drag.

"Don't we..aaaaah! All." Lofty had been vaguely conscious of the car the was approaching by his side but failed to give it his proper attention, automatically presuming that the driver would have noticed him in their wing mirror. He was wrong. So very wrong. Zoe had opened her car door right in the nurse's track and sent him flying over the handle bars of his bike and tumbling to the ground, muttering irritably.

"Lofty, I'm so sorry! I didn't see you." Zoe had dashed out of her vehicle and descended to the ground by the nurse, "Are you okay?"

He nodded, rubbing his neck briefly, "I'm sure I'll live. And there was me thinking that Rudolph would bring me more luck." He grunted as he pulled the hood of his costume back over his head, the fake antlers bouncing. Lofty was the only that had a red nose, all the others had acquired black ones.

"Why are you all dressed as reindeers anyway?" Zoe stifled a light chuckle as she tucked her sleek hair behind her ears and observed Max, Lofty, Honey and Cal.

Max stood awkwardly, shoulders hunched and avoiding all direct eye contact, "It's a long story."

"And all his fault." Lofty added and glared at the male doctor who was the reason they were now in this situation. Caleb just shrugged futilely; innocently.

Zoe regained her equilibrium and ambled across to her boyfriend, "You make an attractive reindeer you know." She tormented with a smirk and pecked his lips, "I guess I could get used to dating a human reindeer."

"Zo, it is not funny. This is so humiliating." The porter ranted frustratedly, scowling ominously.

"Look, Mummy!" Grace exclaimed excitedly as she pointed to the small cluster of people clothed in reindeer outfits and tugged herself free from where she had previously been clutching her mother's hand and scampered across to the doctors and nurses, "Rudolph! Can I have a ride? Pretty please?" She fluttered her long, thick eyelashes and jumped onto Lofty before he had the opportunity to respond and object.

Connie shook her head uninspired and passionless for the stupid clothes they were wearing. There was never a dull moment. And then hurried after her daughter - a mission in her trademark heels that definitely were not designed for running, "Grace! Get off him." She instructed with authority as she scanned the four dressed inappropriately, as she considered, "That attire really isn't suitable for work."

"They had a bet, Mrs Beauchamp. They have to wear the reindeer costumes for a day." Robyn explained concisely, "They'll still be on top form and work without distraction." She smiled sweetly.

"It's still not very appropriate, but I suppose I'll let you off just this once. But it better not interfere with your work or create problems, or there will be trouble." The clinical lead warned sincerely and tutted mutedly.

"Rudolph! Come on, give me a ride!" Grace whinged as Lofty made no effort to please the hyper eight year old.

"Grace, darling. Rudolph has work to do." The brunette restrained her daughter from the agitated nurse, "You'll have to make do with - uhm - Vixen, he's not so busy." She spoke firmly as she introduced her daughter to Max. Grace instantly leapt onto the porter's back, contented with the arrangement, "Come on, Vixen!" She grinned.

"Who said I was Vixen?" Max objected, groaning as the girl lunged herself onto his back. This day was just going to get worse.

"Me. Now the rest of you go do something constructive, like work, please." She ordered with assertion and walked into the ED with poise, heels clicking sharply against the linoleum surface with every step.

"Have fun." Zoe smirked as she crossed her arms and watched as Max reluctantly trotted off with his boss's offspring.

"The costume suits you so well." Ethan joked and laughed at the appearance of his brother, thankful that it wasn't himself in that position. He was sure to be teased throughout the day.

Dr Knight scoffed crankily, "It should have been you wearing it, not me."

"No, it certainly suits you better." Dr Hardy corrected with a nod.

"I agree," Lily smiled as she appeared beside Ethan, "But where are your antlers? You are supposed to be a male reindeer...or does it resemble you? You've lost them fighting with other males in attempt to try and catch the eyes of the girls and successfully pull? You have always failed at that." She shrugged and strolled off to treat her next patient.

Ethan couldn't restrain his mild laughter, "I hope you've learnt your lesson, cheating never gets you anywhere."

''What colour are the berries on the mistletoe plant?'

"So Bro, can I get you another drink?" Caleb had deserted his own table where his team members were perched and swanned across to his brothers table - and his opponents.

Ethan glanced up, pushing his glasses further up his nose ad he did so, "Er no, thank you. I'm sure you asked me that just a few questions ago." He recalled elusively with a faint frown, "Don't you think you should head back to the others? They probably need all the help they can get." Dr Knight's team were lacking in a few points.

"This is so unfair!" Lily complained angrily, "He keeps coming over here with stupid excuses to sneak a look at our answers because they don't know the answers. It's cheating." She was wise to her plan and was now one step ahead of him having mentally deciphered a plan for the final question that would decide the winner.

'Team A correct. And team B also have the right answer! Now for the final question. Name all of Santa's reindeers.'

As predicted, Cal shuffled over again with another pointless justification, peering slyly at what they had wrote before returning to his own team with his newly attained knowledge, "So there are 8 reindeers...Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Blitzen and Donner." He whispered as Honey scribbled their answer down.

"There's more than eight reindeers." Robyn disagreed, "There's nine!"

"I know," Dr Chao quickly adjusted their answer and added the final reindeer name, "But they're copying our answers." She whispered, "And it's not exactly false information saying there are just eight reindeers because up until the twentieth century there was, Rudolph is a relatively new creation." She smiled smugly.

The answers were revealed and Ethan, Lily and Robyn had won. Despite there being three of them against the four others.

"How could you forget Prancer?!" Max was on the edge of erupting with rage as Caleb shot a fury riddled glare at his brother, "Now we have to dress as reindeers for tomorrow." He muttered and grabbed his pint, downing the beverage promptly.'

Cal grunted, "Yes, I obviously have. And I am never - ever - going to forget Prancer in the rest of my lifetime."

That reindeer had a serious lot to answer for.