ETWentHome, thank you for your review. I love Connie's relationship with Jacob so I enjoyed writing that scene between them. Writing about Louis in this chapter was a lot more difficult so I hope it's okay.

Tato Potato, Yes, Ethan does need to find the honey! Or he could just admit Cal is his brother and get out of treating him, but I don't think he wants to do that. Thank you for your review

Tanith Panic, I won't be writing any romantic scenes for Dylan and Lofty in this story, but there's nothing to stop you from imagining them! I certainly have! Thank you for your review - and for your kind words about the Connie and Jacob scene.

Georgy-Girl, you live alone with TWO dogs? I hope no-one tells Honey... no, I don't agree with Honey at all and I'm definitely on Lofty's side where Dylan's living arrangements are concerned. Thank you for your review!

Lily knew Max had been crushed for about twenty minutes. Fifteen minutes was usually the cut-off point. After that, there was a far greater chance of tissue damage, particularly to the skeletal muscles. In addition, myoglobin would have built up around the muscles. If released suddenly into the circulation, they could cause kidney failure and possibly death.

It had seemed so inhuman not to remove the piece of ceiling that was crushing him; perhaps killing him, but it had to be done slowly. Lily had initiated a saline infusion to help keep Max hydrated and preserve renal function and inserted a catheter. As she worked, she had to fight to push her emotions aside. She usually found it easy. It was different when it was Max.

When Max was finally released and moved to a nearby room, Lily checked that Max was still receiving fluids and then turned to Louise. "Take some bloods, please. Urea and electrolytes, including potassium. Creatinine. Calcium in case of hypocalcaemia. Phosphate, creatine kinase, uric acid. FBC, LFTs and blood gasses. We also need an ECG…"

Lily stopped.

"Lily?" said Louise. "Are you okay?"

This wasn't just another patient. This was Max. The most annoying porter who ever lived.

A porter Lily wanted to keep annoying her for a very long time.

Lily felt her hands clenching into fists.

I can't do this. I can't.

Honey walked carefully along the corridor, balancing two teas precariously on her little tray. It was strange to be back. Not just because of the bomb. Because she'd never expected to come back here at all.

But here she was and that was because Ethan had saved her – and right now, he was upstairs somewhere saving Cal.

Her superhero.

Honey held her tray in one hand and opened the staff room door. Robyn was sitting on the sofa, looking pale and trembly. She looked up as Honey entered.

There was a slight movement about her mouth as though she was trying to smile, but she couldn't quite manage it. Honey wasn't upset. She didn't think she'd be able to smile if Ethan or her dad had been injured.

"Thanks," said Robyn, as she took one of the teas from Honey.

"It's got valerian in," said Honey, as she sat beside Robyn. "It's supposed to calm you down."

Robyn took a cautious sip. "It's nice."

"Now, we've got to think positive thoughts," said Honey. "We've got to channel all our energies on Max. And then he'll be okay. I can feel it."

"The only thing I can feel is fear," said Robyn.

Zoe pushed Dylan's hand away. "Dylan, for God's sake: do we need to do this now?"

"Yes," said Dylan. He shone his torch into her eyes. "Your pupils are equal and reactive. You seem alert, but I'm not entirely convinced you know your own mind."

On the other side of the bed, Lofty looked like he was trying not to smile. Dylan was surprised. He'd never thought of himself as being funny before. He'd never wanted to be thought of as funny. But he appreciated Lofty's amusement all the same.

Zoe glared at Dylan. "Dylan, my husband is in Resus. He could be dying." Her anger faded and she looked pleadingly up at her friend. "Dylan, please. You know how much I love him. Please let me be with him."

To Dylan's annoyance, her heartfelt words did touch him, but he ignored the feeling. "Zoe, you have a head injury. If I let you go and see Max now, you could deteriorate. He's not going to be very happy if he to discovers you lying dead on the floor of Resus, so please let me do my job."

"I'm not going to die," said Zoe. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "I want to be with Max. So get out of my way. You can't force me to receive treatment."

Very reluctantly, Dylan stepped aside. He was hoping that an attempt at standing would convince Zoe not to try walking around, but he knew it was a risk. He knew she could aggravate any undetected injuries.

Zoe put both feet on the floor.

Connie looked at the pathetic little boy in front of her. The nurse had been correct to say he looked distraught. His eyes were swollen and swimming with tears.

"Punctual as ever," remarked Connie. "Why didn't you come sooner? Too busy shooting up?"

Louis flinched. His voice trembled as he spoke. "I only just found out about it. It was on the news."

"It's a shame you didn't think of checking your mobile for messages," said Connie.

"I didn't get any messages. I checked straight away."

Connie looked at him doubtfully. The hospital had been chaos until Lily had taken control and she knew it was possible that no-one had informed Louis. "If you weren't informed, Louis, then I can only apologise. I was trapped in the ED, along with most of our doctors. It was, quite simply, chaos, but nevertheless, I do apologise for any oversight."

"It really was chaos," said Jacob, who was standing just a smidgen too close to Connie's side. To her irritation, she actually quite appreciated his protectiveness, but she was determined he would never know.

"How is he?" said Louis. His voice was small and wavery.

"Your father: the man you've barely visited for the entirety of his stay in hospital?" said Connie. "Or perhaps you mean the young doctor whose life you could have ended tragically early?"

"My dad," said Louis. "But I didn't mean to hurt Ethan. I really didn't. I liked that doctor. He was kind to me."

"Yes," said Connie. "He was probably kinder to you than anyone in the hospital – except your father."

Louis looked at the floor. "I want to make things right. I do. But I don't think I'm good enough for him. He deserves better than me and it's just so hard. Being with him is hard."

"He does deserve better than you," said Connie cuttingly. "But you're his son and he still believes in you despite everything. So here's your challenge, Louis."

"Challenge?" said Louis.

"Prove to your father that he's right and you're worth it," said Connie. "And prove me wrong."

Ethan held Cal's hand tightly as he thrashed about on the bed. He knew that in only a few minutes, the anaesthetic would take effect, but it seemed like hours to Ethan. "It's okay, Cal. It's going to be okay."

Cal had regained consciousness during intubation and had tried to fight the procedure, but the sound of Ethan's voice had seemed to calm him a bit. Ethan was now holding Cal's bad hand – the wrist supported but not yet treated - while the nurse held the other.

Ethan's breath caught as Cal's eyes filled with tears. He looked desperately at Ethan, unable to communicate whatever he wanted to say. Ethan spoke as calmly as he could. "It's going to be all right, Cal. We're going to make you better. You can probably feel the anaesthetic starting to work now – don't try to fight it. You know I'm here and I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

He hated saying that. He didn't know if it was true. But he couldn't let Cal know his fears. He wanted Cal to feel safe, even if these were his last moments. Especially if these were his last moments.

He felt Cal's hand starting to relax. Two tears fell from Cal's eyes. Ethan wanted to wipe them away but didn't due to Cal's facial injuries. He gently stroked Cal's hand, careful not to go too close to the wrist. Ethan suspected a fracture to the triquetrum, but the head injury had to be treated first.

He could tell the sedative was beginning to overpower Cal now. Ethan kept stroking his hand until Cal was still. He hadn't disclosed his relationship to Cal because he wanted to be able to treat him. It was Ethan's fault this had happened and he believed he should be the one to put it right.

If that was possible.