Thank you for taking me to over 200 reviews - it really is amazing to have so much support and encouragement.
I've planned two more chapters for this story, but if the scenes overrun my target word length, there might be more.
consulting and insulting, I used to like Honey, but I hate the way she treated Ethan. Unfortunately, she was at the ED at the time that this story is set (plus I'm writing another story about Honey and Ethan) so I'm kind of stuck writing about her! Thank you for your review - I'm so glad you're enjoying this.
Georgy-Girl, thank you for your review. I'm glad you like the way I write Robyn - I was worried she was a bit out of character. She's one of the characters I've enjoyed writing most in this story so your comment really means a lot.
Tanith Panic, here's the second slice you asked for! I like a bit of sensitive Lofty! I think Robyn probably will accept it eventually - she's usually very forgiving, given time. But there's not much time until the end of the story... Thank you for your review.
littleboots1996, thank you for your review - it's really good to know you're still enjoying it. I don't think Connie and Lofty have had much to do with each other in the series, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover they make quite a good team.
ETWentHome, I agree with you about Zoe - she's much better at her job than she is at marriage! There isn't very much Robyn doesn't find out. I think Ethan's presence can only help Cal. Thank you for your review!
Lily looked up as the door opened. She saw Connie framed in the doorway, poised and elegant, as Lily dreamed of being. Beyond Connie stood a rather pale Ethan with Honey at his side.
"Ethan?" said Cal. He sat up and held out his hand to his brother. "Ethan?"
Lily got out of the way so Ethan could envelope Cal in a hug. Cal was crying again. Ethan didn't seem far from it. It seemed a private moment which Lily had no wish to intrude upon, but she also knew it would be difficult for both brothers and they would need support – not that she was best-equipped to provide it.
"Lily, let's give Cal, Ethan and Honey some space," said Connie. "I need to speak to you."
Lily nodded and withdrew from the room, passing Honey in the doorway. Their eyes met but, for once, not with dislike. In the corridor, Lily faced Connie, realising that the clinical lead wasn't poised and elegant after all. Every hair was perfectly in place and her make-up was immaculate, but at the same time, Connie seemed in disarray.
"Lily, first of all, I hope you'll allow me to say that I'm very impressed with your work today," said Connie. "It sounds like you've done an excellent job in very trying circumstances and this only confirms what a very bright future you have. So I would like to say congratulations – and thank you."
"Thank you, Mrs Beauchamp!" Lily would have liked to receive the compliment calmly, but she couldn't. It meant too much to her. "I wasn't always calm inside."
Connie smiled slightly. "Shall I tell you a secret, Lily? I don't think anyone is calm inside all the time. Not in this job. It's not possible. A lot of the time, even outward calm deserts us. One reason why we work as a team in a hospital is because we all need support, however much we might like to think we're invincible. What I do know without doubt is that everyone connected with the ED needed you – and you delivered."
Lily looked almost shyly up at Connie. "Do you think, one day, I will be a consultant?"
"If that's what you want, Lily, I don't doubt it for one moment. You're intelligent, capable and mentally very strong." Connie paused. "And that's why I'd like to ask your advice."
"So, that's it?" burst out Louis. "You're giving up on me?"
"No, I'm not," said Charlie quietly. "I've just given up on thinking I can force you to do what you're not ready to do."
Louis looked even more upset. "No, Dad, I can do this. I can. I mean it this time."
Charlie felt his hopes begin to rise. He squashed them firmly down. Sometimes, hope wasn't a positive thing. "If you are ready, Louis, then that's good news."
Resentment came into Louis' face. "But you don't think I am."
"I honestly don't think I'm in any position to know," said Charlie. "You would know that better than I would. If you're ready, then I'm very happy."
Louis glared at him. "You're doubting me!"
"Of course I'm not doubting you," said Charlie. "I'm just not allowing myself to have hopes or expectations. They make it more difficult for you. For both of us."
Louis' eyes were wide with hurt. "If you don't believe in me, who will?"
"I'm not saying I don't believe in you, but you've got to believe in yourself, Louis," said Charlie. "You've got to believe you're ready to beat this."
Louis backed away from the bed. "You don't believe in me… you're my dad…"
Jacob's hand came down on Louis' shoulder. "That's not what he said, Louis. You've got to listen to the words. Listen to the way he says the words."
"I heard them," said Louis in a low voice. He twisted away from Jacob's grasp. "I can't believe you'd just give up on me!"
Charlie held out a hand to him. "No, Louis. That's not what I meant. I'm still here for you. Whenever you're ready, I'll be here."
"But in the meantime, I'm on my own, right?"
"Of course not," said Charlie.
"On my own. On my own. Always on my own." Louis seemed almost to be talking to himself. "No-one believes in me... No-one likes me..."
"I like you, mate," said Jacob. "And if you'd just listen to your dad…"
Louis swung round to glare at him. "He's the one who's not listening to me. But listen to this, Dad!" He faced Charlie again. "I'm going. And this time, you won't see me again."
Cal clung to Ethan desperately. He didn't know what was going on and he was scared, but it wasn't so bad now Ethan was here. He felt Ethan stroking his hair.
"Where were you?" said Cal fretfully.
Ethan kept his arm around Cal but sat back so he could see his face. "I was asked to go to the police station."
"I'm scared," whimpered Cal. "I don't understand."
Ethan's face seemed to quiver. "I know you're scared, Cal. But I'm here now and I'm going to look after you. Can you tell me what it is you don't understand?"
Cal tried to think, but it was so hard. He knew the answers to Ethan's questions were there. But something was obscuring them; preventing Cal from getting there. "I don't know, Ethan. I'm just scared."
"It's natural to be scared after what's happened to you," said Ethan. "But you're safe now."
Cal put his arms around his brother and buried his face in his chest. Ethan's arms closed around him.
"Safe," said Cal. "Safety net."
There was a pause, then a little gulping sound. "That's right, Cal. I'm your safety net."
"I'm glad you're here," said Cal.
Ethan stroked his hair. "I'm glad too."
"I fractured my wrist," said Cal. "Simple fracture. Closed fracture."
"That's right," said Ethan encouragingly. "Do you know which bone?"
"I don't know," said Cal. He was sure he ought to know, but the answer wouldn't come. "Why don't I know, Ethan? I'm a doctor. I know the wrist bones. Trapezium. Trapezoid." It was all right. He knew them. "Capitate." Then his mind went blank again. "I don't know the next one, Ethan! Why don't I know?"
Ethan made another gulping sound. "You've had a big shock, Cal. I think it's going to take you a little while to recover. But I'll be here every step of the way."
Cal felt soothed by the sound of his brother's voice. He sounded like he knew what was going on. Perhaps it was enough if one of them did. "I love you, Ethan."
"I love you too," whispered Ethan.
Zoe looked down at Max as he slept and wondered what she'd done. She'd saved their relationship, but she didn't feel happy.
It was only a minor but significant retelling of events. If their marriage was to be a success, she would have to keep lying to him for the rest of their lives.
Zoe felt a tear slide down her face. Could she really do this? Could she really keep up this lie forever?
It might not work, of course. Sooner or later, Robyn might either figure out for herself that Max didn't know everything or she might refer to the incident in a way that would make Max realise the truth. Zoe's lie didn't guarantee lifelong happiness.
From Zoe's point of view, it didn't guarantee happiness at all – and sooner or later, Max would realise she wasn't happy.
Wouldn't he?
If he really loved her, he would. And if he didn't really love her…
The tears were getting out of control now. Zoe got out of her seat and limped towards the door. She didn't know where she was going. She walked, blinded by tears, until she bumped into someone.
"Watch where you're going!" said Robyn sharply.
Zoe cried even harder. "Robyn, what am I going to do?"
Louise wasn't always good at understanding how people were feeling. The scientific side of nursing wasn't a problem for her, but the social side continued to be a struggle.
Yet, as Dylan and Lofty walked towards her, she could see exactly how they were feeling. Exhausted. They weren't quite holding each other up, but Lofty's body slumped towards Dylan's and Dylan's towards Lofty.
"How are you doing?" she asked gently. Louise was good at speaking gently when she wanted to, though it was usually a cultivated effort rather than a genuine expression of concern.
"We're perfectly all right," said Dylan.
Louise didn't believe it for a moment. "Come on. I'll make you a cup of tea."
Lofty shook his head, but there was a smile on his face. "Thanks, Louise, but there's no time. We have patients to help."
"And I'm the only doctor," added Dylan.
"You'll be a much better doctor with a tea inside you," said Louise.
One interpersonal skill with which she didn't struggle was forcefulness.
"Go on. Go and see to one patient," she said. "When you're done, come to the staff room and there'll be a cup of tea waiting for you."
She looked at them challengingly. The smile on Lofty's face showed that he'd seen the futility of arguing.
"You need to look after yourselves too," said Louise. "Or at least look after each other."