Bonnie Sveen Fan, I think Noel will be quite angry! It was an accident, but it's horrible seeing your child in pain and it can help to blame someone (as Connie knows). That's true about Lily - she does want to be loved. I'm not sure Iain is the one for her, but at least he appreciates her. Thank you for your review.
westlife4ever80, I agree it wasn't Ethan's fault at all. He was trying his best, but if he moves Honey one way and she tries to go another, there is a risk of one of them getting hurt. Dancing is a physical activity, after all! I bet he feels awful about it. Thank you for your review.
Tanith Panic, I agree Connie was harsh on Jacob. She's like that sometimes, unfortunately. Jacob didn't do anything seriously wrong. Stories would be quite boring if everyone fell for the right person. They're all suffering quite a lot with injuries, guilt, illness, heartbreak and embarrassment! Thank you for your review.
Lofty and Robyn didn't last long in the dance contest. Robyn insisted she didn't mind, but Lofty felt terrible. He'd always hated himself for his clumsiness, but it seemed so much worse when Robyn suffered as a result.
No matter how much she was smiling, she was still suffering.
"It's not like we were first out," said Robyn. "I can't see Ethan and Honey, Louise and Iain or Lily and Ash."
Lofty didn't find that much consolation. He knew Ethan and Honey had only dropped out due to injury and Ash and Lily had dropped out because Lily had tried to kiss Ash (one good thing about being eliminated was that he'd be able to find out how Honey and Lily were) and he didn't think Louise and Iain had even entered the competition. He and Robyn had been the first to be tapped on the shoulder.
And what else could have happened when she was dancing with Lofty?
Maybe he wasn't cut out to be Robyn's boyfriend after all. How could he be when he couldn't give her all the things she wanted most?
"I'm going to go and talk to Louise," said Robyn. It was difficult to tell with all the flashing lights, but her eyes looked very bright and shiny.
"Yeah… I'm going to see if I can find Honey and Lily," said Lofty.
It was clear Robyn didn't want him comforting her. And why would she when it was all his fault?
"Thanks for the dance," said Robyn, her voice higher than normal.
"Thank you for the dance too," said Lofty.
Robyn nodded and walked away.
Iain didn't want to do this, but he didn't see what choice he had. He was in a mess and he was only going to get out of it if he confessed everything to Rita. "It's about Freddy, Rita."
Fear came into Rita's eyes. She grabbed Iain's hand. "Has something happened to him?"
"I haven't heard anything," said Iain. He paused. "I haven't had any contact with Freddy since before he left."
"Well, he was fine when he sent me my bracelet," said Rita.
Iain felt himself flinch. His eyes dropped to Rita's wrist, even though he'd already noticed she wasn't wearing it. He'd wondered why, but of course he couldn't ask.
"What did you want to tell me about him?" asked Rita, and her eyes were still full of fear.
"Rita, I'm so sorry," said Iain. "Freddy hasn't been writing to you. It was me."
Sebastian had been hurt by Dylan's refusal to dance with him, but he thought maybe Jamie had a point. Dylan wasn't really the type to enjoy dancing. He was adorably shy in some ways.
And that was one reason why Sebastian needed to be direct.
As soon as he and Jamie were eliminated from the dance contest, he hurried away from Jamie and put his hands on Dylan's shoulders. "Dylan, don't be shy. Just say how you feel."
"I must admit I am extremely tempted," said Dylan.
Sebastian smiled at Dylan in delight. Dylan was tempted! Sebastian had always wanted to be a temptress. Or whatever a boy temptress was called.
Jamie had caught up to them. He was looking at Sebastian in concern. Sebastian had no idea why. Dylan had just confessed he loved him!
"So, you do like me!" said Sebastian. He threw his arms around Dylan and tried to kiss him.
The look Dylan gave him would have stopped anyone in their tracks.
Sebastian stared at Dylan in shock. There was no doubting that face. Dylan didn't want him.
But why had he said...
"Sebastian," said Dylan, quite gently.
Sebastian turned and fled.
Cal looked around in the room in satisfaction. It seemed Taylor was as good a dancer as she was a doctor. She really was perfect for him. Only three couples remained on the floor – Cal and Taylor, Zoe and Max, and Jez and Jack.
As he watched, Jack tried to lift Jez and the two of them collapsed in an undignified heap on the floor. Connie strode over and bent down to tap them on the shoulders. Jack had a little hissy fit and stomped off. Jez ran after him. It was a sad way to go out, but they were the weakest pair on the dance floor and Cal knew they'd have gone next whatever had happened.
Only Zoe and Max remained – but Cal knew he could beat them. Zoe was good, but Max didn't match her and neither of them matched Cal and Taylor.
Cal switched up the intensity a further gear. He flipped Taylor over his head and spun in time to catch her. They went seamlessly into a tango hold. It was as though they'd always been dancing together.
Connie walked over to Max and Zoe and tapped their shoulders.
"We have our winners!" said Jacob, who seemed to have cheered up following his disastrous attempt at public speaking.
Cal and Taylor spontaneously went into a celebratory charleston as everyone clapped along.
Not quite everyone. Cal was disappointed there was no sign of Ethan, but he might be in a cupboard somewhere with Honey.
As the music came to a close, he celebrated his moment.
"Well done," said Connie. "Come up onto the stage with me, please, and-"
Another song began.
"Where is Noel?" said Connie irritably. "Jacob, can you switch the music off, please?"
Jacob went to do it at once, glad he wouldn't be required on the stage.
Cal leapt onto the stage and then held out his arms as Taylor jumped into them. He spun her round to cheers before placing her back down on the floor.
"We have our winners," said Connie. "My thanks and congratulations to everyone who took part. I think Dr Knight and…"
"Dr Ashbie," said Taylor.
"…and Dr Ashbie were excellent and very deserving winners." Connie smiled. "You may applaud if you don't take all night about it."
The room erupted in cheers, and stopped very suddenly as Connie raised a hand.
"Most of the money raised will go to the children's ward, of course, but Dr Knight and Dr Ashbie will receive a night in a hotel and a tickets a West End show of their choice."
Cal smiled and gave a thumbs-up behind Connie's back. He liked the sound of a night in a hotel with Taylor.
"I saw that, Dr Knight," said Connie. "Now, our resident singer, Staff Nurse Louise Tyler, will present the trophy."
Louise was smiling and looking even prettier than usual as she handed Cal the trophy. She curtseyed to the audience, who applauded with one eye on Connie so they knew where to stop.
"And now, I imagine you must be hungry," said Connie. "So let's eat, drink and please not get too merry."
Noel glared at Ethan. "Why couldn't you have been more careful?"
"I'm so sorry." Ethan looked almost tearful. "I feel terrible. I have my prescription pad with me and I'm very willing to prescribe Honey some painkillers, but I know that doesn't change what happened and I really am deeply sorry for my incompetence as a dancer."
Honey stared at him. "You bring your prescription pad to parties?"
"It's a comfort thing," said Ethan. "I've got my stethoscope too."
Noel decided it was probably a good thing Ethan had messed up with Honey. He wasn't sure he wanted his daughter falling in love with a man who brought a prescription pad and stethoscope to parties and couldn't even dance without injuring someone. "Okay, Ethan. Write Honey a prescription and I'll take her home."
Ethan nodded and wrote the prescription quickly. He gave them details of a pharmacy that was open until ten. "I really am truly sorry, Honey. I would rather die than hurt you."
Noel glared at him. "Hurt her again and you might get your wish." He put his arm around Honey and they left together.
Max gave Zoe a hug. "I'm sorry aout the dance contest. It's my fault. If I'd let you dance with Cal, you'd have won."
"But I'd also have had to dance with Cal," said Zoe, "and it's not worth it just for a trophy and a West End ticket and hotel I can easily pay for myself."
"Or I could," said Max, who didn't like Zoe to pay for everything just because she earned a lot more money than he did.
"Or you could," agreed Zoe, though probably more to avoid an argument than because she'd be happy for Max to do that.
Max was irritated, but it didn't last. The truth was he loved Zoe and he was so happy to be back with her again. Taylor was a beautiful girl, but she was too young and too blonde. She didn't have Zoe's wit and warmth. She didn't have Zoe's eyes and curves. She just wasn't Zoe, and only Zoe could ever be right for Max.
Max never wanted to lose her again. Not even for one moment.
"What are you thinking?" asked Zoe curiously.
"I was thinking about asking you to marry me," confessed Max.
Louise didn't want to bother herself with other people's problems. It wasn't like Sebastian was her friend. She barely knew him and he seemed like a complete numpty.
But he had looked very upset.
When she heard the sound of a crash, followed by a scream, she started to run.
Sebastian was standing on the stage with a bewildered expression on his face. His hair was covered with blood.
Louise took off the shrug she was wearing over her dress. "Sebastian, it's going to be okay. Here: hold this against the wound. I'm going to fetch a doctor."
She ran out of the room and almost immediately saw Dylan.
"Dylan, Sebastian has a head injury. I think he needs to go to hospital, but perhaps you could assess him first, please?"
"Show me," commanded Dylan.
Louise liked it when Dylan got all commanding, but there was no time to enjoy it now. They arrived back to find Sebastian had collapsed and fallen backwards off the stage. Louise reached him first and dropped to her knees. "Dylan, can roll him over while I support his back, please? He was standing on the stage just now."
Dylan helped her. "I need to check his breathing."
"I'll do it." Louise opened Sebastian's airway. "Okay, it sounds fine for now, but obviously there is a risk of shock because of the bleeding. I gave him my shrug to press against the wound, but he obviously lost consciousness and was unable to use it." She found her shrug and offered it to Dylan. "I'll call for an ambulance: you're much more qualified to deal with this than I am." She got out her phone and dialled 999. "Ambulance, please."