Gillian Kearney Fan, thank you for your review. I think Lily needed a bit of kindness - and I thought it was about time she accepted it! You'll hear more about Charlie, Zoe and Max in this chapter.

ETWentHome, I thought it might be a bit disappointing if all that was wrong was a few bumps and bruises! They do need a miracle, but this is Casualty so miracles can happen. Though that doesn't necessarily mean they will. Thank you for your review!

Tato Potato, thank you for your review. No, it doesn't seem too good! It so often doesn't on Casualty. It is horrible for Ethan - there's more about that in this chapter.

Tanith Panic, no, nothing abnormal about living with a dog! But Honey has some very strange ideas. One could almost say abnormal! I don't think I'm very good at being moving so I really appreciate your kind words. Thank you for your review!

Guest, that's very true - Max and Zoe need some happiness and it looks like the Casualty writers aren't going to oblige us anytime soon. So it's all up to the fanfiction writers! This chapter does include a bit about Zoe. Thank you for your review!

"I'm one of the top surgeons in the country," said Connie. "Did you know that?"

Jacob smiled. "You obviously know it. And why not? I've never been one for false modesty."

"I've noticed," said Connie with a small smile. "Now please let me finish. I'm a top surgeon and I've saved numerous lives. It's not an easy job and I'm not going to pretend it is. But this… this is so much harder."

"Being the relative instead of the doctor?" said Jacob.

Connie nodded. "I feel so powerless. I know that if I went in there now, I could save Rita and Charlie and do at least as good a job as any of the doctors here."

"I don't doubt it, boss."

"But I can't," said Connie. "I'm not allowed. All I can do is sit here and wait… and hope."

Jacob put his hand on her arm.

"Sorry: is this yours?" Connie removed the hand and returned it to Jacob's lap.

Jacob smiled to himself. He wasn't discouraged. "I'm sure we'll hear something soon."

"I hope we do, or I might have to march in there and demand answers," said Connie.

"And I don't doubt you'd get them," said Jacob.

It had been a tough journey in the ambulance. They'd nearly lost Rita and the paramedics had been glad of Connie's assistance and advice. Without surgical equipment, Connie had been unable to perform the craniotomy she believed Rita needed; without scanning equipment, she couldn't even be sure if she was correct, but she and the paramedic had performed CPR while Jacob had monitored Charlie.

Jacob knew that Connie and Rita weren't the best of friends, but he'd seen that Connie really didn't want to lose her. "Connie. Why do you hate Rita so much? What did she do to you?"

"We've never got along well," said Connie.

"But something really big must have happened," said Jacob.

He half-expected Connie to tell him to mind his own business, but instead she nodded. "Yes. It did."

"Want to tell me about it?"

"No."

"I'm a good listener," said Jacob. "And I'll keep it to myself."

Connie sighed. "You're not going to let it go, are you?"

"Me? Let something go?" said Jacob. "Never."

"Her husband is a convicted paedophile," said Connie. "Or possibly ex-husband now. I don't know. They were separated. But she let him into the hospital. My daughter Grace was in the hospital at the time and she went missing. She was last seen talking to him."

Jacob heard the tremor in her voice. He longed to put his arm around her and was sure she longed for a hug. He touched her hand. She allowed it for about five seconds.

"Grace came back to the hospital, safe and sound," said Connie. "But I've never been so terrified. Rita let her husband into the hospital. She allowed him to roam around, unsupervised. I truly thought he'd… that he'd…"

"As any mother would," said Jacob.

Connie blinked hard. "He didn't harm her. She returned safe and sound. Then I found out she was going to America to live with her dad. Rita tried to offer sympathy. My heart was being torn in two and I couldn't forgive her for the terror she'd caused me. I told her I wanted her out of the department in six months."

"I'm sure she felt genuine sympathy for you," said Jacob. "But I can see it was the wrong time to offer it."

"Wrong time; wrong person," said Connie. "Things haven't been right since then." Her voice was soft; barely audible. "I was arrested. A patient - an old friend - died. The death looked suspicious and he had asked me to… to help him die. Of course I didn't. Rita had evidence that would have got me out of prison. She chose to hide it."

Jacob stared at her in shock. He could hardly believe it. It seemed so unlike Rita, but he was sure Connie wouldn't lie. Not even about a woman she hated. "I'm sorry, Connie. It sounds really tough. But you know I'm on your side, right? You're a great doctor and a great clinical lead. And even though I can't know for sure, I bet you're a great mum too."

Connie smiled slightly. "Now you're overstepping the mark, Jacob. As you always do. But I appreciate what you said. Now let's not speak of it again."

"Understood," said Jacob.

When the door opened and a nurse entered, Connie shot to her feet as though he'd just put a rocket up her delectable backside. "Is there any news?"

"I'm afraid not, Mrs Beauchamp, but there's a young man here. Mr Fairhead's son. He says he's not sure you'd want to see him. Shall I let him in? He does seem distraught."

Zoe opened her eyes. She could hear noises around her. People were talking and something was being moved. She looked around but could see only darkness. It must be night time, she decided. She could feel something pressing on her skin and deduced from that that she was naked. But she knew she wasn't in bed.

A moment later, she realised she was in pain. Bad pain. She tried to think. Max. Something to do with Max. And Dylan: he was involved in this somewhere too.

"Zoe?" A voice was calling her. A voice she didn't know.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hi, Zoe. My name's Aaron. I'm a fireman, but don't panic: there's no fire. I'm just on rescue duty. How are you feeling?"

Zoe paused to consider the question. "Cold and in pain," she said.

"Don't worry. We'll be with you soon. I've got some blankets to keep you warm and we've got doctors standing by."

"Max?" said Zoe. She was sure Max had been here.

"Max is being treated," said Aaron. "By a Dr Chao, I think she said her name was. I'll let you know any details as soon as I have them. I just need to focus on getting you out of here." There was a smile in his voice. "Max asked us to take special care of his wife and that's what we're going to do."

Zoe gave a tiny gasp. His wife. Max had called her his wife. He'd done that after the wedding and at the reception, but not since then. She hadn't expected him to say the word ever again. The only word she'd expected to hear from him was annulment.

"Zoe?" said Aaron, his voice urgent. "Zoe, can you hear me?"

"Just hurry up and get me out!" said Zoe. "I need to see my husband."

Depressed fracture of the skull… pressing on the brain… surgery… ICU…

Ethan had said the words before. He'd treated the injuries before. He knew what was wrong and what it meant. He knew what treatment was required. But it was so different when it was his brother.

Cal hadn't regained consciousness. Ethan didn't know if he was grateful for that or not. He knew Cal would be in pain if he woke up, but he longed to see Cal's blue eyes again.

I can't lose him, thought Ethan as he checked Cal's breathing and heart-rate again. He came in here to save me. I have to save him.

Cal's heart-rate was still slow; his breathing abnormal. His blood pressure was high. Ethan tried to speak but his throat was clogged with tears. He knew he shouldn't be treating Cal. But the idea of leaving him in the hands of someone else filled him with terror.

Cal needed him. And if these were to be Cal's last moments, he needed Ethan even more.

"Dr Hardy?" said the nurse. "Are you okay?"

Ethan couldn't remember her name and unlike Cal, he didn't like checking name badges which were located on women's chests. "I'm fine," he lied.

"You don't have to be okay," she said. "He's obviously a friend of yours."

Ethan couldn't see her anymore. His eyes were flooding with tears. "I'm sorry. Just give me a minute."

He hurried out into the corridor before anyone could tell him he didn't have a minute. He leaned against the wall and sobbed. He knew what he had to do. He had to be there for Cal and help with the surgery.

He just didn't know if he could.

"I don't want to die," said Dylan.

Lofty didn't think he'd ever been so relieved to hear anything. "You're not going to die, Dylan. You're going to come back down with me and then we're going back to the hospital."

"No-one else lives with a dog," said Dylan. Slowly, he walked towards Lofty.

"No, but that doesn't mean you're not normal," said Lofty. He put his hand on Dylan's back. "What is this 'normal' anyway?"

"Living with a partner, I suppose," said Dylan.

"Then the whole hospital's abnormal," said Lofty. "Ethan and Honey are dating but not living together. Zoe and Max are separated. Me, Robyn, Rita, Charlie, Cal, Lily, Mrs Beauchamp, Noel, Big Mac... we're all single. I think Dixie and Iain are single too. I'm not sure any of us even got a dog."

"I like living with Dervla," said Dylan. "Can it really be wrong when it feels right?"

"Of course it's not wrong." Lofty pushed him gently towards the stairs. "I'm sure she says exactly the same about you. You threw her out for not being able to curb her appetites, but she came crawling back."

"You're an idiot," said Dylan. "I'm glad you're here."

Lofty smiled. "I'm glad I'm here too."