Thank you everyone who read, reviewed and favourited this story. I know I've said it before, but it really does mean a lot. In one review I had a suggestion about Ethan having a setback, but I had already got this chapter mapped out in my head - maybe that can be used in another story.

I'm still not to sure if they are a little out of character and I do use a smidgen of dramatic licence here, but that's why we write fan fic isn't it? Hope this is a fitting ending to the story.

Chapter 3

Caleb sat quietly on the sofa, his arm around Taylor, who was snuggled into his body. The tv was on - some film was playing, but he wasn't concentrating on it. He was in deep thought - replaying everything that had happened that day, including his recent talk with Taylor, whom admitted to being extremely disappointed by his actions, but like his brother, she vowed to help him get himself back together. His thoughts then turned to his brother. He was so grateful to have him in his life, even if he didn't always show it, and today was just another example of how much more maturer his little brother was than him. After a while, he felt his eyes begin to get heavy, as sleep tugged on them. He must have dropped off because he was woken by Taylor shaking him. He looked at her, disorientated due to sleep, as she passed him his phone - she looked stricken.

Apprehensively, he took the phone from her, "Hello?"
"Caleb, thank god," he heard Lofty breathe down the phone.

"Lofty what is it? What's wrong? Is Ethan..."

"Cal...Ethan..."

Cal's stomach began to tighten and he started to feel a little light headed, "Lofty! What!"

"Ethan's been badly beaten...he left the hospital...and was brought in about ten minutes ago...just come down." With that, the young nurse disconnected the call, leaving Cal staring at his phone. Taylor gently took the phone from his hand and took his face in her own hands, "Come on Cal, let's get to the hospital." She had already been informed about what had happened before she woke Cal up.

"I don't understand. He left...what...?" He left the question hanging as he grabbed his coat.

Cal, with Taylor walking rapidly to keep up with him, stormed into the ED. Noel, who was still working on reception, saw him and called Lofty immediately. Lofty met up with the doctor and his girlfriend before he could ask any questions. Cal moved to go around the nurse but he didn't move an inch, "Let's go in here," he suggested to the increasingly concerned doctor, as he guided him to the staff room. As Cal stepped into the room, he became aware that he wasn't the only person in the room. Zoe was there talking with a policeman, who got to his feet when Cal and Taylor walked in, "Are you Caleb Knight?" he asked.

Cal nodded mutely, "I'm thinking that you have a few questions," the policeman stated.

"Just the one...what happened?"

"It seems that Ethan didn't just get in touch with Taylor earlier on," Lofty began. Cal stared at him in confusion.

"Perhaps it would be best if you sat down," the policeman suggested.

Cal shook his head, "I'm fine right here."

Taylor, having a feeling that he might not like what he was about to hear, put a hand on his arm, "Come on..." she led him to a seat. Lofty followed in their wake, ready to be on hand for his friend.

"Dr Hardy - Ethan, phoned us and explained about what had been happening to you, and although he was well aware that there wasn't much we could do to help you, he asked if we had any interest in arresting this man."

Cal ran a hand over his face, "Oh my God, he didn't..." he sighed.

The policeman smiled sadly, "He did. He got himself wired and went to see him with the rest of the money that he demanded from you. Long and short of it is that we got the man - your brother managed to get some great information out of him - but unfortunately Ethan didn't come out of this unscathed."

"Wait a minute, you said that he was wearing a microphone, so why didn't you get him out before he was beaten?" Cal ground out, fury building inside him.

"To be honest, we didn't know he was in trouble until it was to late - he kept very quiet. I brought him in here and all he kept saying was to tell you that the guy will never bother you again. He was very brave," the policeman finished.

"He was incredibly stupid!" Cal spat, his anger fuelled by anxiety for his brother, starting to boil over, "Is this guy definitely gone?"

"With the information your brother managed to get from him, he will be going away for a very long time, of that you can be sure of."

Cal dropped his face into his hands and rubbed it rapidly. Taylor took hold of his hands as Zoe suggested that he go and see Ethan.

"Come on, I'll take you," Lofty told them, because he wanted to prepare them for what they would see.

Ethan was in a side room only a couple of minutes walk from the staff room. That couple of minutes felt like a lifetime to Cal, who although was still very angry at his brother, he was also desperate to see him.

Lofty stopped outside the door but stopped them from immediately entering the room, "Look Cal, I'm not going to lie to you, he looks a mess. His rib was broken this time. Thankfully it didn't puncture the lung but he will be very uncomfortable for a while. But he will be ok, I promise you," he told him as he began to open the door, "And one more thing Cal...this wasn't your fault."

Cal glanced at the younger nurse and smiled his thanks. He took a few steps into the room but stopped dead when he saw the figure on the bed.

His little brother laid there as still as death, his handsome face covered in cuts and bruises. His left eye was swollen shut and the bandaging to his ribs almost shouted at him. He gasped as he stepped up the side of the bed, "Oh Ethan..." he whispered.

Suddenly, he felt a chair behind his legs and he fell gratefully into it. He didn't think his legs would carry him at the moment. He stared intently at his still brother. A gentle hand on his shoulder caused him to look up behind him. Taylor stood there, tears glistening in her eyes, "I'm going to get a coffee and give you some time alone with him - you both need it."

He smiled at her and patted the hand that was on his shoulder, "Just talk to him Cal," she suggested.

The door closed behind her with virtually no noise at all. As he turned back round to his brother, he noticed a piece of paper on the bedside table addressed to him. Intruiged by what it might be he opened it quiety.

Wasn't it good of your brother to clean up your mess Caleb. It was such a shame that I had to hurt him, but as you well know, this can happen when makes a speedy recovery. Your friend...

Cal screwed up the paper with a growl and threw it into the bin. Thank goodness that the police had got the man otherwise he would have gone and found him himself.

He took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself down a little, then looked back at his brother, who was still sleeping.

"I can't believe you did that Ethan. Who's the stupid one now? That has to be to stupidest thing you have ever done in your entire life. You could have been killed! You're lucky the police got him because you would've been on his hit list and there wouldn't have been a thing I could've done about it." Cal felt hot tears burning down his cheeks. He seemed to have done nothing but cry lately.

"I owe you everything little brother. I've spoken to Taylor and she's willing to give us another try and to help me try to be a better person, and I promise you that I will work hard to be a better person if you can just give me another chance."

This time Cal took hold of Ethan's hand, unable to actually look his brother in the eye, even though the younger man was still asleep. He was surprised to feel gentle pressure on his hand. He looked up hopefully, smiling tearfully when he saw his brother's eyes open and seemingly staring at him.

"I will always give you another chance Caleb, that's what family does. I won't apologise for what I did tonight because you talked about safety nets before and believe it or not, but you're my safety net because I always knew, even if it was buried deep down, that you would be there to catch me and protect me no matter what. I will never give up on you!" Ethan was breathing deeply as his little speech had sapped what little energy he had in him.

Cal suddenly felt an massive wave of love and affection for the younger man. He climbed onto the bed, like he used to do when Ethan was ill or scared as a youngster. He put an arm around the younger man and pulled him to him as far as he could without hurting him, and laid his head on top of his little brothers, sleep claiming him also within a few seconds.

About ten minutes later, Lofty and Taylor walked in on the heart warming scene, "Should we take a picture, to prove that they can get on the next time they fall out?" Lofty suggested.

Taylor smiled lovingly as she got out her phone and took a quick picture, "Not a word to anyone," she said to Lofty, "It's my new screensaver."

That's it finished just in time for Christmas. I have to have the boys being together at the end of my stories, I hate them being at loggerheads all the time.

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope 2015 is a good year for you.