"I'm so sorry, but, yes. I'm afraid Ethan has got Huntington's." Zoe told him even though she didn't need to.

Cal let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. His worst fear had come true and Ethan was paying the consequences. He should have told him sooner, should have listened to Charlie the moment they went to see his birth mother. But, being stubborn as usual he didn't. He thought he could keep it to himself for the moment. Thought he could find out more before telling Ethan. Now it was too late. Now he had to face the fact that Ethan was going to suffer. Cal was lost in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice Ethan waking up. He heard a small cough and turned around. Seeing his brother lying on the bed with no idea what he had hurt Cal more than ever. How was he going to tell Ethan that he had inherited a degenerative illness? How was he going to tell him that their mum wasn't their real mum? Ethan saw the expressions on their faces and knew instantly that they had the results to the tests. He pulled the oxygen mask over his face.

"What is it?" His voice a bit hoarse.

"We've got results back from your CT scan and..." Zoe started but was cut off.

"Listen to me, Nibbles." Cal said using his nickname in hope of easing the situation. "I know what we're about to tell you will come as a bit of a shock, but I just want you to know that no matter what happens from now I will be there for you and I'm sorry."

"What do you mean 'sorry'?" Ethan wondered.

Cal looked at Zoe and then back to his brother.

"I'm afraid you've got Huntington's." Cal told him.

Ethan's breath hitched as the news hit him. He placed the oxygen mask back over his face taking a few deep breaths. Cal's heart broke as he saw Ethan become confused and agitated. Reassuringly he placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him.

"How is that possible? How can I have Huntington's? Mum didn't have it."

It was then Cal couldn't look him in the eye. He got up a walked away from the bed. He knew he was going to have to tell him. He just needed to figure out how.

"No, she didn't. You are right. But, she wasn't our mum."

"What do you mean she wasn't our mum? Of course she was our mum?" Ethan told him. "Why would you say a thing like that?"

"No, she wasn't. We're adopted."

Ethan's heart stopped the moment he heard those words come out of Cal's mouth.

"Adopted?"

Cal nodded.

"How long have you known?" Ethan asked feeling ager rise within him.

"What?"

"How long have you known?" Ethan repeated.

"About a week."

"A WEEK? YOU'VE KNOWN FOR ABOUT A WEEK!" Ethan shouted his breathing becoming laboured.

"Yes."

"And what? You didn't think it would be a good idea to tell me?"

"Yes...no. I don't know. I wanted to tell you I did but, there was never a right time."

Ethan was becoming more stressed and the machines were making erratic noises.

"'Ethan, you need to calm down. Take deep breaths." Cal told him as he kept the oxygen mask over his face.

Ethan struggled trying to push away Cal's hand. He couldn't believe it.

"Eth, I'm trying to help."

"Help? Like when you thought you were helping when you decided to keep this piece of news from me?"

"I'm sorry okay? I wanted to tell you but, how could I? When I found out that I was adopted the worst part was realising you might not be my brother. And then when I discovered we were both adopted I was thrilled. But, when our birth mum told me she had the illness the feeling I felt when I thought you were not my brother came back. I couldn't bare the thought that either one of us could possible have inherited it. I didn't want to think about you having it. That's why I didn't tell you. I was scared, like I'm scared now. I'm scared because now it's real. The one person I care about the most, the one person who's always been there for me since we were kid, my safety net has got it and there's nothing I can do. There is no cure. I can't help you get better. I'm scared because I know what's coming up for you, scared because I know that some time in the future I'm going to have to watch my little brother, a brother I love deteriorate in front of me. I can't deal with that. I can't deal with the fact I have to prepare myself for the worst. I can't deal with the fact I'm going to watch my brother die. How was I suppose to tell you? How was I suppose to when I couldn't face the truth? I'm sorry, Eth for not telling you. I just don't want to lose you."

Cal took in a couple breaths after delivering that speech. He wiped the tears away from his eyes. He'd never been so scared in life and now here he was having to face the truth. Having to tell his brother he had a life threatening illness. Ethan saw Cal took this to heart and had to admit he felt a bit guilty for shouting at him, but he just couldn't understand why he didn't tell him when he found out. Ethan motioned to Cal to come to him. He took hold of his brother's hand in his.

"I'm sorry too. I should't have shouted." Ethan told him.

"No, I'm sorry. I know I should have told you, I was just scared. I am scared." Cal replied gripping Ethan's hand.

"I'm scared too. But, you know what? We'll get through this. " Ethan said.

Cal smiled weakly at him. He couldn't believe Ethan was trying to stay strong for both of them. He couldn't believe he was reassuring him everything would be alright. It should be the other way round. Cal should be the one reassuring his brother. Instead Ethan was. Zoe and Charlie sneaked out of the room leaving the two brothers time to be alone. For the rest of the day Cal remained by Ethan's side as the two of them discussed what was going to happen next. The road ahead was uncertain but, what they did know was that together they would pull through. Cal promised Ethan he was going to be there for him, was going to support him. He was going to be the big brother he was and the one Ethan deserved.