'Sorry to interrupt this little 'thing' but I need to talk to Ian.'

'Connie- this is my little sister Sargent Jess Wheeler. Well- half sister.'

'Right. Shall I talk to you both then?'

'We're family. Just tell her when you tell me.'

'Are you aware what's happened?'

'Nope. Whenever I ask I get the same dismissal. No one will tell me anything. I remember falling in the exercise. I know I hit the ground. Now I'm here and two weeks have passed.'

'Yes. You fell. You fell down the mouth of the cave after the rope broke. It was beginning to rain and it was slippy. You landed on the floor and fell unconscious. We sent in a MERIT team who had just completed their training on these sort of rescues. It took them a while but they got down to you and began to treat you. They attached you to a spinal board and were about to extract you when-' Connie choked, her display of emotion taking Ian by surprise. 'When the cave collapsed. Trapping you and both of our MERIT team.'

'Who?'

He reviewed no response.

'Who was the MERIT team Connie?'

Connie turned to where Ethan lay, Cal sat by his side. Ian turned his head to follow her gaze. It hurt like hell but he needed to see who it was. Ethan.

'The MERIT team consisted of Dr Ethan Hardy and staff nurse Ben Chiltern, Lofty.'

Ian frantically looked around the rest of the room.

'Where's Lofty?!'

'In a side-room downstairs. He's better than the two of you. Definitely better than Ethan.' Ian could only stare at where he lay.

Cal couldn't take anymore of this. He stood and left, pushing past Connie. Only she saw his tears.

'I don't think I can do this Jess.'

'Do what?'

'This.' Ian gestured vaguely around himself with his plastered arm. 'Sit here everyday. Be poked and prodded by nurses and doctors continuously. Barely able to move. Ethan's there. Still there. Still not moving. Still not awake. It's not fair. He shouldn't be here! It should be me. It was my fault I fell- I deserved to be injured. All they did was try and help!'

'Don't do this Ian.'

'No- I shouldn't be in my position. I should be in his. He should be downstairs working. Laughing with his friends and arguing with his brother. It's just not right.'

'Ian. This is what's happened. Sorry but you're just going to have to accept it.'

'What if I don't want to? What if I just want out of all of this? What if I just want to go?' Ian had been so caught up in his emotions that he hadn't noticed Dixie walk in.

'If that's how you feel then fine. But leave the rest of us out of it.' She snapped at Ian before sharply turning on her heel and leaving the room.

'Well that was uncalled for!' Ian made no attempt to control himself.

'No- she's right. You're lucky. We get it's tough but you can't drag everyone else down. Sorry.' Jess picked up her bag from the floor and left the room, leaving Ian alone with an unconscious Ethan.

'Lucky? I'm not lucky! I've broken most my bones! I can't move. I can't dress myself, wash myself or even feed myself. All I can do is lie here and be told that I should be grateful. For what?!'

'That you had friends who risked their lives to save you.' Despite Ian's question being rhetorical Cal answered from the door way having returned with a coffee for himself. With a quick look towards his brother he too left.