The rest of the day in the overcrowded and menacing ED of Holby City Hospital passed at an extremely slow rate. Not only was there a shortage of staff, due to the illness of Rita, Louise and Robyn, all coming down with supposedly flu, but the trip taking place to another hospital was lurking on everybody's mind - and Ethan was no exception.
Ever since he had accepted to assist during the outing tomorrow, what he was going to say, how he would act, even what he would wear, had been playing on his mind. And the reason he had decided to go was all due to one person -Eliza.
It wasn't a bad, don't get him wrong. He had been so nervous about how he would appear in front of Elsie if he had said no, and seemed like a coward. So, he had said yes, and possibly doomed himself to public humiliation.
Pushing these thoughts aside, he knew he had patients to attend, and work that needed to be done. The young doctor walked to reception, awaiting a new folder to be given by Noel, seeing as they were short staffed at this present time.
When he reached reception, he was glad to see he wasn't the only non-receptionist there. Leaning over the counter, was Lofty, his dark curls covering the entirety of his face, so no expression could be seen. Hastily, Ethan walked up, catching the eye of Noel as he did so.
"Morning Doctor Hardy!" He said, almost in a cheery tone. Ethan showed a small smile, before edging closer towards the counter. Now he had done, he could see that both Lofty and Noel were looking over the computer, obviously looking at some sort of infomation.
"Hey Ethan. Did you see this about Elsie?" He asked, motioning towards the screen. Puzzled, Doctor Hardy edged around to the back of the counter, eager to see what was of such importance.
His dark eyes soon fixed onto the screen, seeing the picture of Eliza on a website, labbled 'Exzma Campaign Talker - Eliza Walker.' Another piece of infomation clicked in the brilliant mind of his - the small scabs he had seen littering Elsie's hands - they had to be exzma.
"Oh, well, I guess that makes her an excellent talker." He murmured to himself. At that moment, a plan begin to drift together. If he asked Eliza for help with public talking, then he would have a subject to talk about her. And if they were to talk about it, outside of work, he could technically class it as 'Going Out' with her.
Yes, he would like to think that.
With the plan formed in his mind, he silently took a folder off the pile of ever growing infomation, and began to flick through the infomation, followed by a small groan. Of course, he'd picked the short straw.
"Right, he's gone into Cardiac." Eliza announced, watching as the heart rate of the patient begin to dramatically decreace. Her dark eyes flicked from the moniter, back to the father, who was about to slip away. Instantly, she skidded over to the shock machine, charging it to 100.
"Clear?" She asked. Lofty nodded, taking a step back from the bed, as the man was then shocked. No responce. The young girl started seeing her hand trembling. Of course, she had had deaths of patients in her presence before, but not here. Not this early in her time at a new hospital.
"Elsie." Lofty said, catching the attention of his housemate's younger sister. She looks up, her dark eyes meeting the sad ones of his. From nowhere, her eyes began to feel sharp, stingy. She could feel tears begining to cram below her eyelids, recogning that this was her first death at Holby.
Taking a deep breath, she switched off the machines. "Time of death, 14.18." Before Lofty could say anything, a word, a comfort, the young girl removed her latex gloves, and placed them in the bin, before taking cautious steps out of Resus, pushing the door open with one hand, her other hand rubbing her eyes.
She had to tell the waiting family outside; the Mother, holding her son's hand, both of them having a deep breathing rate. She felt it was her responsibility to tell them, that the Father had died in her care, therefore making it her fault.
"Mrs Belfrina?" She asked. The Mother and Son both snapped to attention, awaiting the news to be given by the doctor. They both sat in silence.
No, she couldn't tell them here. Not in public, and most definatly where their reaction to his death would be seen to be public. Silently, she motioned for the two awaiters to follow her into a quiet room, so she could break the news gently and easily.
Choices, Choices, Choices.
Cal and Ethan both stood side by side, pondering over the vast range of lunches avalible for consuming. The youngest of his brother reached out to grab a sandwich, but his hand soon bumped into his brothers, reacing just above him.
"Woah, careful!" Cal joked, retracting his arm, so Ethan could reach. He took the cheese sandwich he had been longing for, whilst his older brother reached for the ham salad sandwich. Ethan raised his eyebrows, rotating his vision towards his brother.
"Remember, they are discusting." Ethan murmurs, barely audible. Cal could just hear, and looked towards his brother, then back to the sandwich, before hastily placing it back on the shelf. A small laugh escaped his brothers mouth, as he took his over to the counter to be paid for.
He suddenly felt hands on his shoulder. He turned his head, expecting to see Caleb, but instead, saw the shaggy hair and blue eyes of Max Walker. He threw Ethan a straight smile, before taking a packet of crisps and throwing them onto the counter.
"Alright?" He says, his accent clearly visable. He ran a hand through his hair, and shoved his hand in his back pocket, trying to get out his change for his food. As he did so, he turned back to Ethan.
"You seen my sister?" He asked. "Elsie, not Robyn."
"No. Not since this morning." He replied, copying the actions, reaching for his wallet in the front pocket. Max shrugged, placing the change on the counter, before continuing the small talk between him and the young doctor.
"Well, I need to- Dylan!" He cut himself off, cheeing. He quickly picked up the packet of crisps he had on the counter, before skipping off, trying to hug the Consultant, to Dylan's discust. A small smile spread onto Ethans face. He could see some of Eliza's quirky personality in him, clearly by how close they were when they were younger, much like him and Cal.
"Who's he looking for then?" Caleb asked, placing his now Barbeque Chicken sandwich next to Ethan's, hoping he might pay. But he was smart, and slightly shoved his food to the right.
"Elsie. Have you seen her?" Ethan asked, moving his hand up slightly to ajust his glasses - a new found habit of his. The elder doctor stood straight up to attention, taking a deep sigh.
"Erm...no." He said, looking towards the counter. The man standing behind it now had a stubborn expression on his face, clearly not impressed with the time it took for the the men to make their purchaces.
Ethan had seen the sandwich, right next to his, and the hopeful expression, written onto his face. Sighing, he handed over the five pound note, as Cal made a fist in sucsess, taking his sandwich and walking off before he could protest.
"I...I...I can't..." Mrs Belfrina gasped, feeling the lump in her throat begin to get bigger and bigger. Resting on her lap, her son was nestled into her neck, trying to hide the tears that were streaming from his eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs Belfrina. But you need to know-" She was cut short by the lady looking up, her bloodshot eyes red, and angry.
"You killed him. You turned off the machine!" She implied, her tone getting louder and angrier. Elsie paused, before getting ready to speak again, but was soon cut off by the woman again.
"You could of saved him!" She shouted, before picking up her son, standing up. The doctor, short as she was, stood up, too, trying to defend herself.
"We did everything." She said, but wasn't listened to. The woman stormed off, still holding the child in her hands.
It took a moment. Just a small, tence moment, before Eliza burst into tears, trying so hard to be silent. She carefully guided herself to the chair, sitting herself down, and leaning her head into her hands, sobbing silently.
She had to stop before someone saw. It would be the last thing she needed. Just keep it calm and quiet-
"Elsie?" The recognisable voice of Max, looming his head around the corner. The young girl looked up to her brother, her bloodshot eyes clearly showing she has been crying.
The elder Walker said nothing, but ran over his sister, pulling her into a tight embrace, his head resting on top of hers. One hand kept firmly around her, the other stroking her head, trying to calm her down as he did as a child. He pressed his lips to her forehead, before resting his chin back on her head.
"You should know what it's like, losing a patient." He murmured, gently begining to rock her back and fourth. She snuffled gently, before pulling out of the embrace.
"Yeah, but this early?" She replies, rubbing the underneath of her eyes. Max rolles his eyes, shrugging.
"You need me to come to lunch with you?" He asks. Elsie shakes her head, before walking towards the exit of the room.
"I'm fine. I just need to think." She says, her feet trailing on the floor as she did so.
By now, the news of the death had travelled the entirety of the ED. Elsie in question, was getting herself some food, and was most definatly looking to enjoy lunchtime. A quiet time.
The girl was sitting on the bench outside the Hospital, her legs crossed, a bottle of water in one hand, her roll in the other. She took a small bite, before putting down both the water and the sandwich on the side of the bench, and dived into the pocket of Cal's jacket she had inherited. Inside, she had placed a packet of cigarettes.
Although she had promised Ethan, she somehow couldn't help it. She needed to. All of a sudden, she saw the pack being snached out of her hands, and heard the thump of it being thrown into the bin. The young girl looked up, meeting the eyes of Ethan.
"What happened to stopping?" He asked, raising his eyebrows. Elsie sighed, standing up, and abandoning her lunch. A small pause passed between the two doctors, before she started back up the conversation.
"You heard?" She asked. Ethan looked down towards his dirtied trainers, before slightly nodding, he looked back up, his mouth slightly open.
"I-" He began, but was soon cut off, when Eliza ran to him, hiding her face in his neck. Ethan paused for a moment, but soon wrapped his arms around the young girl, keeping a tight grip on her.
"Hey, it's okay. Your fine." He murmured, not letting go just yet. He liked having someone in his arms. He had seen Cal do it so many times, but this just felt different, like she was meant to be there...
"Elsie..." He began. The girl pulled away, a sudden emptiness in Ethan's arms. She looked back up towards him, her full attention on him.
"I was wondering...do you fancy going for a drink tonight? It's just, I read about the talk you do on Exzma, and I was wondering if you had any tips for me?" He asked. Elsie paused for a moment, but nodded slightly.
"Yeah. Love to." She replied. She suddenly felt a vibration in her back pocket. Ahh. She was needed.
Elsie gently closed her locker, locking it as she did so. Silently, she placed the keys into her bag, before pulling it gently onto her shoulders. As she turned around, she slightly jumped, seeing Cal standing behind her, holding the black jacket he had insisted she had.
"Come on. Put it on." He said, opening the jacket. The young girl sighed, putting both of her arms into the jacket, savouring the warmth. Cal gave a cheeky grin, before zipping up his jacket, begining to walk in pace with Eliza.
"So..." He trailed off. This is how he ended up talking to most girls he liked. Then again, knowing Max Walker, she had heard about his reputation.
"Yes?" She said, ajusting the sleves of the coat, so her hands could be seen. Cal saw this, and moved his hands to help her roll back the sleves. She carefully pulled back her hands, so she was able to walk indipendantly.
"Fancy a drink?" He asked, putting his hands back in his pockets. Eliza opened her mouth, but then thought of something else, a smile coming onto her face.
"Can't. I'm helping Ethan with something." She murmured, begining to pick up her pace slightly. Cal sped up too, joining her pace.
"What for?" He asked, clearly intrested with the relationship between his younger brother, and her.
"Public Speaking. He said-"
"Doctor Walker!"
The sharp voice of Lily Chao came staling up to her, followed by a harsh poke in the shoulder. She instantly spun around, meeting the eyes of the other female doctor. She opened her mouth to respond, but she waited for her reply.
"You were needed after the death of the patient in Resus today. Where were you?" She snapped. Elsie paused for a moment, before she replied.
"Sorry, Doctor Chao." She replied, storming pass both her and Cal. Caleb himself gave Lily a stare, before he walked off, leaving Doctor Chao to deal with what she had just said.
The door of the pub swung open, letting in a cold breeze to all those drinking. The first to enter was Elsie, the coat pulled tightly around her. She paused for a moment, letting in the second; Ethan. He paused for a moment, before guiding Elsie to one of the bar stools.
"Drink?" He asked. Elsie hummed in response. The bartender came over, and whilst Elsie ordered the drink requested and looked back to Ethan.
"So, public speaking." She said, turning back to face him. Ethan paused for a moment, but the silence was soon filled. "What's the problem with it?"
Ethan begins to stutter slightly, but continues. "Well, it's the content, i'm fine with, but, it's just, talking. You know, in front of people." He confesses, waiting for a vertict of either wimpiness or laughing.
No such thing. Eliza runs a hand through her hair, before replying to the content she had just been given. "Well, when I talk in front of people, for the exzma, I just imagine talking to Max or something. It helps me." The girl takes a sip of her drink, keeping eye contact on Ethan.
"So, when i'm talking-" Ethan begins, resting his hands on the bar counter.
"Just imagine it's me." She responds. "Or Max, Robyn, Cal, Rita, anyone you're happy talking to." Elsie says. Ethan smiles, looking back at Elsie, who is now focousing on the counter. She silently looks back up at Ethan. "You'll be fine." She responds, resting her hand on top of his.
The warm and comforting silence is soon interupted by the buzzing of Eliza's phone. She picked it up, reading whatever was on the screen quickly, before her head snapped towards the door, dark eyes flicking over the figure lurking. She turns back to Ethan, meeting a puzzling look on her face.
"Everything alright?" He asks. Elsie shaked her head slightly, her loose hair going everywhere. She giggles slightly, before pushing her hair back.
"Yeah, fine." She replied. "I'm gonna have to go." She replies. Ethan pulls himself up with her, walking over to her side, edging closer.
"Thanks." He murmured. The young doctor paused for a moment, before pressing his lips to her cold cheek for a moment. Once he had done, a neutral look passed over her face, before she made her way towards the door.
Ethan was actually impressed with himself. He made a move, he had actually done it. A small smile was pressed on his face. Caleb Knight wasn't the only one who could talk to a girl. But one question was still pressed on his mind.
Who was the man at the door?
AN - Welcome to the wonders of British Summertime. Yesterday, was the hottest day in UK recorded in six years, and I really was not impressed. Therefore, I posted a short chapter, and then decided to try to sleep. This didn't work, so I was up at 1am, writing this chapter.
And chances are, I won't sleep tonight. Here's to coffee!
I also added a 'Surprise Cal Attack,' so life is sweeter...
ETWentHome - Everything is fine...for now...but thanks for recogning of my future! And sorry you're on the edge of your seat, but don't worry, I will be updating quite a bit...
Paradoxilla - Oh, What would we do without Charlie? Well, they went out for a drink (Which I guess technically counts in Ethan's books)
Crimesolver - Thank you. I hope you enjoyed!