Over the next couple of days Ethan seemed to be improving with the occasional seizure. The CT results had come back all clear and yet they were no where near to figuring what was causing his seizures. Ethan had been discharged and was getting ready to be taken home by Cal when he suddenly felt a sudden movement in his legs. He thought it would stop but, it didn't. He turned to walk over to collect his belonging when he stumbled just as Charlie entered the room.
"Woah." Charlie said as he caught Ethan just as he fell.
"I'm okay." Ethan told him.
Charlie wasn't to convinced so he helped manoeuvre Ethan back onto the bed. Ethan tried to get back out but, Charlie blocked him.
"Charlie, I said I was fine."
"Ethan, you almost fell again."
"I just tripped."
"There was nothing to trip over. We need to see what's causing you to stumble like this. I'll go get Zoe."
With his response Charlie left the room. Ethan groaned and rested his head against the pillow. As soon as Charlie closed the door Ethan moved out of the bed. He placed his feet on the ground and was about to stand up when his legs gave way and he crumpled to the floor. Attempting to get up he realised he couldn't feel his legs. Why couldn't he feel his legs? Starting to panic Ethan tried to pull himself up off the floor, but it was no use his legs wouldn't cooperate.
"Ethan!" Zoe called as she and Charlie entered the room. "What happened?"
"I don't know. I tried to stand up and then I felt my legs give way. I can't feel my legs." Ethan replied his voice shaking with panic.
"It's okay, Ethan, we'll figure out what's going on." Zoe replied as she and Charlie helped him back onto the the trolley.
Once Ethan was placed back on the trolley the metal rails suddenly made a rattling sound as Ethan's legs began to jerk up and down.
"What's... happening?" Ethan asked.
Zoe and Charlie turned to face each other. They had noticed that Ethan's voice was beginning to slur.
"Ethan, can you talk again?" Zoe said.
"Why...what's... wrong?"
Again his voice was becoming slurred. Ethan's eyes grew wide as he realised his voice was becoming weird. He began to get agitated, thrashing about on the trolley as he heard his voice. Charlie came over to him and tried to restrain him. Charlie's attempt at trying to calm him was not helping, so Zoe took over and instructed him to find Cal. Leaving Zoe to reassure Ethan, Charlie made his way down to reception. He was about to ask Noel if he had seen Cal when Charlie spotted him filling out some paperwork.
"Cal?"
Cal finished what he was doing. Turning around he could see the worry in Charlie's face. His stomach tightened.
"Charlie, what is it?"
"We need you."
"Why?"
Charlie took a deep breath.
"It's Ethan."
For a minute Cal's heart stopped.
"What?"
"He's developing more symptoms. His leg movements are jerky, voice is becoming slurred and he can't feel his legs." Charlie explained.
The fear of Ethan having Huntington's grew in Cal's mind.
"But, that's..." Cal said hoarsely.
"We can't confirm it's that." Charlie replied quickly. "But, from what I've seen it could possibly be Huntington's."
"And if it is?"
Charlie looked at him.
"Then we're going to have to tell Zoe and Ethan."
Cal placed his head in his hands. This was not how he wanted Ethan to find out. But, he knew Charlie was right. Together the two of them headed back up to where Ethan was being kept. Inside the room Ethan had his eyes closed and he seemed to be calmer.
"Sorry, Cal." Zoe started. "But, we had to sedate him. He was becoming restless."
Cal nodded.
"Uh, do we know what's causing his symptoms?" Cal inquired not wanting to tell Zoe that his brother could have inherited a degenerative illness.
"I'm afraid we don't. We've order some more tests." Zoe informed him.
"Right."
Charlie knew what Cal was doing. He gave a little cough and urged Cal to tell Zoe. Zoe noticed the unspoken conversation between the two men and realised they knew something that she didn't.
"What?" Zoe asked looking between the two of them.
"Uh...The reason why Ethan is showing these symptoms is because he might have inherited Huntington's." Cal told her.
"Huntington's?"
"Yeah, our mother, well birth mother had the illness and when she gave us away she didn't tell our adoptive parents. I've only found out a couple of weeks ago."