Tanith Panic, I completely agree about Zoe! She's not going to be able to keep Max from finding out for the rest of their lives. Yes, they do need to get their hands off Ethan! Not that I blame them for wanting to get their hands on him. Thank you for your review!

CBloom2, thank you for your review. It is getting worse for Ethan - all we can do is hope he gets back before Cal wakes up. But whatever happens, they're both in for a very difficult time.

Tato Potato, you're right - the only place Ethan needs to be is with Cal. So naturally I've separated them! It certainly wouldn't be the best time for Ethan to wake up. Thank you for your review!

beckyboogle, thank you for your review - I'm really happy you're finding the story interesting! Ethan probably should have been arrested a bit earlier, but I forgot about it!

ETWentHome, whenever Max's memory returns, it's going to make things very awkward for Zoe! Assuming no-one else tells him first. Thank you for your review!

20BlueRoses, I love a bit of vulnerable Cal too, so you're almost certain to see it! I'm glad you think Zoe's lies are true to her character - and that's very true about Robyn. Thank you for your review.

Lofty felt embarrassed as he re-entered the staff room. Embarrassed that he'd left; embarrassed that he'd cried. Dylan had tried to reassure him, but he still felt terrible that he'd abandoned his colleagues at a time when they'd needed comfort.

"Lofty!" Louise was the first person to notice him and he tensed, far from sure Louise would welcome him with open arms. But that was exactly what she did: she enfolded Lofty in a hug, asking if he was okay.

"I'm fine," said Lofty quietly as he hugged her in return. "I'm sorry for leaving."

"Lofty, I know there's no way you would have left unless you needed to," said Louise. "It's been a tough day. A horrible day. We've all had moments when we've needed to take a break."

Lofty felt himself relax slightly. He didn't think Louise would have said that unless he meant it. "Where's Robyn?"

It had all seemed like such an adventure at first. Ethan was the big, brave hero, defying logic and the law in order to save his girlfriend and his brother.

But now someone was dead and the fun had ended for Honey. She sat in the passenger seat of Noel's car and cried as he drove to the police station. Noel was doing his best to cheer her up, pretending the police were actually villains dressed up as policeman who had kidnapped Super-Ethan, but all Honey could think of was that Rita was dead and Ethan might go to prison.

"And now we're tailing the car," said Noel. "I'm keeping it in my sights, Honeygirl. They're not going to get away with this. We'll get Super-Ethan out of there: don't you worry. We know Super-Ethan would never hurt anyone – and I'm sure even the real police would only need five minutes with them to know that."

"But he did hurt someone!" cried Honey.

"What?" said Noel, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"This guy was trying to hurt me, and Ethan hit him with a chair and knocked him out!"

Noel turned to her in alarm. "Someone tried to hurt you?"

"Keep your eyes on the road!" screamed Honey, who really couldn't cope with another accident of any kind. When Noel had done as she'd asked, she tried to speak calmly. "I'm fine, Dad. He didn't hurt me. Ethan rescued me."

"When did this happen?" said Noel.

Honey lowered her head. There was so much her dad didn't know and she had to tell him now. She couldn't let him find out for the first time when she told the police. "Earlier today. I… I'm sorry, Dad."

"What on earth are you sorry for?" said Noel.

Honey sniffed. "Everything. He said if I didn't go back to Manchester with him, he'd tell you I used to be a stripper."

Noel burst out laughing. "As if I'd believe that! My daughter a stripper. As if."

Honey said nothing.

"Oh God," said Noel. "You're being serious, aren't you?"

Honey started crying again.

"Right," said Noel, who was clearly trying to get his head around it. "Okay. You were a stripper. This guy found out and he was blackmailing you. And Ethan found out and hit him with a chair?"

"Yeah," said Honey.

"Good," said Noel. "That's exactly what I'd like to do to him."

Honey risked a glance at him. "You're not… disgusted with me?"

"I'm disgusted with myself," said Noel.

Charlie almost didn't recognise Connie. She sat with her head bent, seldom meeting his eye. Her voice was soft and often tremulous. He knew there was much she hadn't told him. She'd deflected most of his questions, telling him he needed to concentrate on getting better, but Charlie didn't usually give up when he wanted an answer to something.

He wasn't going to give up now.

He'd heard some of the news when Jacob had returned. Charlie had been surprised when Connie had asked Jacob to phone the ED and break the news. It wasn't like her. She was not someone who shied away from unpleasant tasks. On the contrary, she chose to perform them herself so she could ensure they were done properly.

Either she trusted Jacob very deeply or she had felt too upset to make the phone call.

Charlie considered Connie for a moment and decided it was a bit of both.

"You should go back, Connie," he said at last. "The department needs you. I will be all right."

"I'm sure Dr Chao is doing an excellent job," said Connie, her voice tight.

"Lily is very young," said Charlie. "She's inexperienced. She's an excellent doctor, but she finds it difficult to show sympathy and compassion."

"You could say the same of me," said Connie with a wan smile.

"Some might say that," said Charlie. "But they're wrong. How do you think Lily is coping really, Connie? And how much support do you think she'd getting from Dylan and Ethan?"

Jacob ended his silent contemplation of Connie and met Charlie's eyes, his own slightly narrowed. Charlie smiled to himself, realising Jacob was trying to read his mind, most likely unaware that Charlie had already read his.

"I can stay with Charlie if you want someone to stay, Mrs Beauchamp," said Jacob. "I'm very happy to do that."

"I'm sure we'll get on famously," said Charlie. "He can tell me about the modern methods of nursing. I can tell him how things were in my day."

Connie's voice was barely audible. "It still is your day, Charlie."

Charlie smiled sadly. It was too early to say that. His mind felt as sharp as ever, but his body was old and tired. Sooner or later, it would fail him. "Perhaps. But you should go back, Connie. It's a difficult time. If ever they need their clinical lead, it's now."

"But what can I do?" said Connie. "I can't bring Rita back."

"It won't be easy, but you're the best person to help them through this." Charlie smiled. "I'm glad you came to see me though. Knowing that you're here has made a difference."

The fatigue hit him in a wave and he closed his eyes, trying to regain his strength, but he opened them almost immediately as bitter, angry words filled the air.

"And you wonder why I keep going off?" said Louis. "Why I can't stay with you? Why I turned to drugs? How would you like to be in second place all the time? Second place to a hospital?"

"Louis, come on, mate," said Jacob, putting a calming hand on Louis' shoulder, but Louis shook it off.

"You said you needed me," said Louis sadly. "I said I'd help you. But you don't want me, do you? All you want is them."

Charlie shook his head. He tried to sit up but was too weak. "No, Louis. No, that's not true."

"I'm the one who sat beside you, talking to you!" said Louis. "They've been off in the relatives' room; off with Rita, but I've been here the whole time."

"You were hardly here the whole time," said Connie reprovingly.

"Oh, shut up, you stupid old bag!" said Louis.

Charlie spoke sharply. "Louis!"

"Oh, yes, that's right: protect her," said Louis. "I'm only your son!"

"Louis, I do want to protect you," said Charlie. "I do."

But Louis had already gone.

Cal opened his eyes in a panic. "Ethan!"

He looked around the room but saw only a blur. He didn't understand it. Ethan was the one who needed glasses. Not Cal. Cal could see. Couldn't he?

"Ethan?" he called again.

A hand took hold of his and a voice spoke coolly. "Cal, it's Lily. Ethan isn't here at the moment."

"What? Why isn't he here?" said Cal. He began to shake. This was wrong. He didn't know how, but it was just wrong. To his relief, the room began to swim into focus, but then he panicked again because he didn't know the room. He clutched on to Lily's hand: the only piece of familiarity. "Where is he, Lily? Where is he?"

"Cal, please," said Lily. "You need to calm down. Ethan is very busy. He has other patients."

Cal desperately tried to gasp in air. Nothing was making sense and he just wanted Ethan. Ethan would explain everything. Ethan would make him feel safe.

Lily spoke again, her voice sharp. "Cal, I need you to calm down. Breathe with me. Come on. Breathe in…"

"Please get Ethan!" Cal was beginning to cry now. "Where is he? I don't understand. Lily, I'm scared. I need Ethan." He was shaking so hard, he could hear the bed shaking too. He realised he was attached to some kind of machine and his terror increased. "What's happening? Where am I? Why won't you get Ethan?" He sobbed loudly, gripping tightly to Lily's hand.

"I will get… someone," said Lily. She let go of his hand and stood up. "I won't be long."

Even though he wanted Ethan, the thought of being left alone was too much for Cal. "No, don't go! Please don't leave me. I'm scared, Lily. I want Ethan." He lifted a hand to wipe his tears away and realised it was encased in plaster. "Lily, what happened to me?"

He felt Lily take his hand again. "Cal, we were all evacuated from the building because of a bomb. You incorrectly thought Ethan was in the building and went to look for him. The bomb exploded. You sustained head and facial injuries and a fractured triquetrum."

"There was a bomb?" gasped Cal. "And Ethan… Ethan's gone?"

"Ethan is not 'gone'," said Lily. "He is simply not here."

Cal sobbed loudly. "I don't understand, Lily. Nothing makes sense. It's all different. It's wrong. Lily, why don't I understand?"