AN - Please read the bottom AN. Very Important!
At the moment in Elsie's career, everyday seemed to dramatically drop, to be worse than the last - and today was no exception. The funeral of Jeff Collier.
Although the young doctor had not known him all too well, he had been the first person to greet her from the entirety of Holby City, as well as the first one to learn her name. And now, after not even two weeks of companionship, she was about to tend his funeral.
Eliza had attened only one other funeral in her life - the death of Mr Walker. That funeral had only been small, consisting of herself, Max, their mother, and the grandparents. His death had been a tragic one, which she would rather not go into detail about, as well as the fact it was completely confidential.
Today, however, would be completely different to the times she had experimented with before. Jeff was well known at Holby, and was deeply loved by many. So, she knew there would a large amount of tears, mourning, relatives - something she was not used to.
The young doctor looked down at her reflection in the full size mirror, pinned up neatly in her fathers room. The man himself was completely battered, his face sqaushed in the pillow of the large bed, which she would cling onto the side for dear life each night.
Her outfit consisted of a high neck black dress, stopping just above her kneecaps. Her legs were covered in black tights, and completed with black heels. Although she was still one of the shortest people she knew when wearing them, she could not recall the last time she wore them.
Silently, Elsie ran a hand through her loose hair, feeling the bow at the back which pinned the loose ends, keeping all hair out of her eyes. She took another deep breath, before bending down, shaking, picking up her purse which had fallen to the floor.
The girl then proceded to sneak out of the bedroom, closing the door as quietly as possible. Once she was a few footsteps away, and knew the formation of the man in the bedroom could not be awoken, she pulled out her phone, scrolling down to try and find 'Tess,' in her contacts. Once she had done, her thumb pressed down on her mobile number, placing the cold metal to her ear.
"Eliza? Sweetheart, where are you?" The nurse asked, wanting to know where she was.
"I'm near brigsgate park. Could you pick me up?" She replied, wrapping her finger around a lock of her hair. It did not take long, before she got her response.
"I'll be there in a few minutes. You just, wait there." Tess spoke, firmly. After Elsie murmured a quick 'Thank You,' she found herself carefully treading down the stairs in her heels, making her way towards the park, as quick as possible.
On the other side of Holby, Ethan Hardy was also trying to escape from the peril of his worrying brother, Cal, and the Junior Nurse, Lily; both of which, found it difficult to leave him alone for more then ten minutes.
This time, he would escape. He had to get to the funeral, able to pay his respects to Jeff for saving his life. After slipping on his black blazer, he slowly crept out of his room, somewhat portraying a spy.
"This is going to be tricky." He murmured to himself, seeing many of the Doctor's and Nurses, awaiting the taxi's to be taken to the funeral. If he got caught now, then he would most definatly not be able to attend.
Therefore, the Senior Registrar would have to be sneaky about his escape. He waited, until the area was slightly less crowded, and made his way towards the glass doors. However, before he could get there, he was called back by a sharp voice.
"Ethan." It sharply spoke. The young doctor turned around, to see Connie Beauchamp, her funeral attire looking completely professional, and a firm scowl on her face.
"Mrs Beauchamp." Ethan paused for a moment, before continuing with his request. "I was wondering if...I could get a lift to the funeral..." He trailed off, before Connie raised her eyebrows.
"Right. Come to my car. And quickly!" She spoke, as she quickly walked toward the exit, the young doctor on her heels. He suddenly felt a sharp pain, where he had the ECG yesterday, and although he was meant to be on two weeks of bed rest, he couldn't help but leave.
Connie, on the other hand, was glad that the registrar was coming to pay his respects. The consultant lead the young man out to her car, as if a mother and child, before he slipped into the front seat, and ajusted his seatbelt - tightly.
Giving a small nod to Connie, the two began to drive off, the thought of sorrow and guilt revolving around her car...
The funeral service was already extremly crowded by the time Eliza and Tess had arrived. Although the older nurse insisted that Elise came and sat at the front with the other members of staff she was with, the young doctor had asked to sit at the back, knowing that she would be a slight burden if she was to start crying.
Therefore, Elsie found herself sitting by the entrance to the church, her thumbs twiddling in her lap. Silently cursing, she reached into her bag, fumbling around for a moment, trying to grab hold of her phone. Once she had done, the young girl went to switch it off, when she noticed Several missed calls. From Cal.
Eliza had already a fair idea of what was going on - Ethan had probally left the hospital, and was therefore causing the elder brother a panic where he had gone to check, but was not there. Sighing, the young doctor rolled her eyes, before switching off her phone, and keeping her focous on the front.
It came around all too soon; the entirety of the hall craned their necks around, as the noise of the hearse could be heard, creeping into view. Bright flowers were arranged at the window, but could not cheer anybody's mood.
Silently, the coffin was bought through. Eliza knew for a fact, that there was no body inside - Jeff himself, was blown to smitherines, nowhere to be seen after the incident.
However, what Elsie could not understand, as her dark eyes fixed on the coffin, was why Dixie was not present, at her own husbands funeral. By now, Louise, the girl at the reception, had told her how their relationship worked; Dixie and Jeff had married, to please her mother on the deathbed, but had never got divorced.
Shaking the thoughts from her mind, which were quite obviously, nothing to do with her, the young girl watched as her half-sister's best friend, Jamie, who she had seen on Skype a few too many times, appeared in front of them.
His eulogy was very touching, very soft. People were drawn in, like a baby towards it loving mother. The attention, though, was soon snapped, when the unmissable sound of a pot plant falling was heard, followed by an all too famillar voice, shouting 'No, no no!'
The girl was quick to turn around, her calculations proving correct. Ethan had arrived at the funeral, looking somewhat beaten, tired, as if he was waiting for the world to give up on him. That ECG couldn't of worn of yet.
They other members of the church begin to resume their attention to the front, but Elsie waited, until Ethan sits down. Next to her, which is where she wanted him to be, knowing he was safe. He sighed, before turning towards her. The young girl shows a sad smile, before turning back to the front.
"What are you doing?" She asked, trying to make the registrar see some sence. He looked back towards her, begining to very quietly whisper.
"I needed to pay my respect." With that, he turned to the front, a look of pain and sandess casting onto his face.
This wasn't the last time it was interupted. At one point, Dixie came running in, thanks to everyone's relief. It would never be the same without here there, and Jeff would never forgive her. Even from beyond the grave.
Silently, the woman walked up to the podium, begining her speech. Both Eliza and Ethan were intriged by the thought and emotion she had put into it, only if she had appeared at the last minute. She coughed for a moment, before continuing.
"He died, saving. Which Is what he did best." Dixies voice fills the hall. Ethans face turns to pure guilt, feeling terrible. He dosen't notice, but his head begins to fall back, soon landing on Eliza's shoulder. He goes to pull up, but he stays there, feeling her warmth and comfort, as she holds onto his hand.
The service soon ended, and Ethan held back for a moment, letting a large part of the crowd leave first. His head was now begining to look up from Elsie's shoulder, as she gave him another comforting smile. As he tried to get up, he winced in pain, casuing the girl to worry.
"Wait, let me help." She offered, pulling herself up, before taking one of Ethan's arms, helping him up, and to walk. One of her hands was rested firmly on his back, the other on his arm. This is how they continued, until Tess saw them both; she was planning on giving Elsie a lift back to the hospital, being reunited with Max, but had not questioned on Ethan. He eyes began to grow slightly as she saw the form of him.
"Dear, you look horrible." She murmured, seeing the glasses clad doctor looking far from well. His weight was still being supported by Eliza, who found no trouble in helping him to continue walking. Tess spoke up again, as she held the door open.
"I'm taking you both to the ED. Ethan needs to rest, and you need to see your brother." She ordered, following the two, as they made their way out of the Church. Like a mother, Tess walked in front, going to go and pull the car towards Ethan, giving him less area to walk. He paused in his pace for a moment, turning towards the girl who had been helping him.
"Elsie, thanks." He murmured. She nodded, before continuing.
"It's fine. But you really should of stayed. Or, at least let Cal knew where you were going." She questioned, before Ethan sighed.
"He wouldn't of let me. You know." He said, before begining to compose himself more. Eliza shook her head, before pressing her lips to his cheek, the same way he had done a few days ago. Instead, he paused, looking over to her.
"Come on." She said, begining to help him walk again, as Tess' car came into view - let's get you back to the ED. With that, she helped the registrar into the car, before pulling herself in, too.
"Ethan!" Caleb shouted, the second that the young man walked through the door. Eliza was still supporting him, and the elder brother seemed somewhat greatful. Sub conciously, he began to list a few items they would be needing.
"We need a scan, to make sure he's okay. Can you sort that out?" He asked, turning towards Lily. Instead, she seemed too intent, on asking of Ethan's dietry requirements.
"What did you have for breakfast?" She asked, her tone raising slightly. Ethan coughed gently, before responding.
"I had a tub of mouldy blackberrries." He murmured, before Cal began to talk once again.
"Lily, scans?" He asked, his tone getting more strict by the minute. Lily seemed to ignore both of them, before continuing to talk to Ethan again.
"Well, i'll get you a cheese sandwich, and a cup of tea." She stated. By this time, Cal was begining to blow. And for Eliza? She felt a tinge of jelousy that Ethan was completely ignoring her...and Cal, too.
"I'll sort it out." She murmured, before walking in the other direction. Voices could be heard calling after her, those of Caleb, which she decided to block out. Sighing, the girl continued walking, before an arm was slung around her shoulder, a red porter uniform becoming visable.
"So, how was it?" Max asked, as he was guided by wherever Elsie was going. The young girl sighed, before trying to squirm free of the large arm dominating her shoulder.
"Not as bad as dads...but still, pretty bad." She continued, making her way towards the scanning room. Max was still hot on her heels, asking as many questions as he could think of, in that mind of his.
"So, was it nice? Who was there? Did Dixie-" He started, but was soon cut off when Zoe seemed to almost walk past, brushing herself on Max on purpose. The porter, now distracted, walked off after, her, a small smile lingering on Elsie's face. Silently, she made her way in, trying to arrange an appointment.
A quiet knock was heard on the door, to Ethan's room. The young man was now redressed in his pyjamas, tucked up into his bed, a black laptop resting on his legs. He muffled a 'Come in,' before swallowing the food in his mouth.
Slowly, the door opened, revealing Eliza, a small smile on her face, and a plastic bag in her right hand. She carefully walked over, resting herself on one of the chairs, pulled up to Ethan's bed.
"Your going for a scan in a while," She announced, her dark eyes flicking to the bag she had rested in her hand. The doctor then proceded to pull out a collection of DVD's all titled 'Game of Thrones,' and then placed a bag of caramel popcorn on her lap.
"Cal's right." She began, unwrapping the cellophane. "You need to watch a boxset." A small laugh left the mouth of Ethan, as he took the first DVD out of the collection, carefully placing it into his computer. Silently, he opened the bag of popcorn, as the television series, well known by his brother, began to play.
"You know," He began, his eyes still fixed to the screen. "I didn't think it would be this good." He continues, his hand reaching out for a piece of popcorn. Elsie nodded slightly, before contining to talk.
"Yeah, don't judge a book by it's cover." She murmured. "Or by who watches it." She continued, causing a scoff from Ethan's lips.
He could quite happily sit for a while longer, enjoying the comfort of Eliza, and the addiction of a Boxset.
AN - Chapter Nine. For those of you who do not know, I am planning on starting a series of One Shots for Elsie and Ethan, and would like to thank Crimesolver and HethanHardy for the ideas! If you have any idea's, please comment!
Gillian Kearney Fan - I'm happy the OTP Happened. Here's to Lithan!
ETWentHome - Hehe, concious Ethan. That is one of the best moments. I know, Jeff. I don't think I can ever watch that episode again. Also, yes, I think Ethan will actually be punching someone else soon, who isn't Cal...
CBloom2 - I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, and Casualty on Saturday, too!
Crimesolver - Thank you for the Idea! I will be using that somehow. It's so deep that quote!
-Jodie Rose Xx