Thank you so much to everyone who read and reviewed and favourited this story - I'm so glad you enjoyed the first chapter, and I appreciate every one of you taking the time to read it. Onto chapter 2...
Chapter 2
Dr Caleb Knight coughed loudly as he took in the scene around him. Cries and screams pierced the eerie silence that had now descended upon the once chaotic area. For a moment, Caleb just stood and surveyed the damage caused by the explosion. How could such a joyous occasion have turned into such carnage. He glanced behind him where the bar once stood. He had been on his way there but had decided to go to the loo first and looking at it now, he was so glad that he had, there seemed to be nothing left of it. Firemen and rescue workers were now starting to make their way in, prioritising on their feet.
Cal began to stumble through the wreckage as one thought suddenly dominated his mind, "Ethan!" he yelled as loudly as his hoarse voice would let him. Unfortunately, there was no answer to his call. He took out his mobile phone, disappointed to see that it was smashed - God he hoped his brother was alright.
Suddenly, he heard his name being called and he turned towards the direction it was coming from, hoping that it was Ethan - it was Noel and although he was happy to see that he was uninjured, he couldn't help the stab of anxiety that pierced him that it wasn't his brother.
He soon slipped into doctor mode when he realised how painfully anxious Noel seemed to be, "What's wrong Noel?"
The normally cheery receptionist looked at Cal with dread, "It's Honey..."
Cal immediately followed Noel, stumbling over debris and coughing as dust continued to irritate his lungs.
They came across Big Mac who was sat beside someone, talking calmly and quietly. When he saw Cal, he looked relieved and sad all at the same time. Knowing that Big Mac had once been a paramedic, seeing that look on his face made Cal feel sick - she was obviously not in a good way.
Noel swapped with Mac as the older man took Cal slightly to one side, "It looks like one of the metal poles holding the flower arrangement is protruding from her abdomen - she's losing blood...Cal," he stopped the young doctor as he moved round him, "Have you seen Ethan?"
At the mention of his brother's name Cal sucked in a deep breath, then shook his head sadly, "I called out but he didn't answer..."
Mac could see that the young doctor was trying to work things out in his head, and was looking increasingly distressed. He patted his arm in comfort, "I'm sure he's fine," he told him. Cal nodded his appreciation but he also knew what Mac was trying to tell him - that Honey may not make it. That in itself was enough to make Cal move heaven and earth to make sure that she did!
He crouched by the other side of the young woman, who was barely conscious, "Honey, can you hear me?" he asked gently, relieved that she was able to turn her head towards him.
"Cal," she gasped, "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine - let's worry about you shall we," he wanted to cry.
"Is Ethan alright?" he noticed a tear slide down the side of her face.
He leaned over to wipe it away, "Ethan's fine - he's saving someone's life, that's why he's not here..." he hated lying to her, but if these really were her last hours, he didn't want her thinking that his brother didn't care as that couldn't be further from the truth.
Honey smiled as she turned her head towards her father, "My superhero," she told Noel, who managed a teary smile.
"More like a court jester," Cal told her.
"That's what he always tells me," she tried to laugh but it turned into a painful cough, causing both men to try to quieten her down.
"Now Honey, you need to stay as still as you can - can you do that for me?" Cal asked, as he checked her pulse, it was slowing down.
"Can't go very far with this in my way," she whispered, acknowledging the pipe sticking out of her.
"Very true. We need the professionals in to get you out of here and I don't want to take it out until we're at the hospital. Ok Honey?" He could see that she was finding it very difficult to keep her eyes open.
"Honey, I need to you stay awake for me. Tell me about your first date with Ethan..." Cal was desperately trying to think of things to keep her talking.
"It was perfect," she breathed, causing Cal to smile, "But when he kissed me goodnight, he nearly missed."
"What do you mean?" Noel asked.
"He was so nervous dad..." Noel and Cal chuckled.
"Sounds like my brother," Cal commented, once again finding himself concerned about where his brother was.
"He's just so lovely..." she drifted off as her eyes shut. Noel dropped his head as tears fell down his face. Big Mac put a hand on his shoulder in comfort as Cal kept his fingers on her pulse, "She's just unconscious, but we need to get her out now!" He jumped to his feet, going in search of someone to help them.
Thankfully, within twenty minutes they were striding forcefully through the entrance to the ED. As soon as they were through the doors Cal instructed them to take her to Resus.
"Resus 1 is busy - it'll have to be 2," Rita, who had only arrived herself five minutes ago, told him, her face grim.
He nodded and followed the stretcher. As he passed Resus 1 he glanced in and was shocked to see Charlie on the bed, hooked up to monitors and an oxygen mask over his face. Then he noticed the doctor tending to him. The releif that flowed through the young doctor at seeing his brother nearly sent him to his knees.
Without warning, the doors to Resus 1 flew open and Lofty almost knocked him down. He had tears still running down his face, but he smiled happily at seeing Cal. Cal noticed that the curly haired nurse was about to go back to call Ethan, but he stopped him. Although he wanted nothing more than to see his brother up close, to make sure he really was alright - he had to try to save Honey first. Cal motioned towards the stretcher, recognition flashing across Lofty's face - recognition of who was on the stretcher and of why Cal didn't want his brother just yet.
As soon as they arrived in Resus 2 everyone set to work. Big Mac moved Noel to one side so that they had as much room as they needed. Cal barked out orders forcefully - he would apologise for his abruptness at a later time - he had his brother's girlfriend to save.
After ten minutes, he became aware of a slowing of Honey's heartbeat once more - they needed her stable so that she could go to theatre to have the pole removed. The monitors around him told him that that wasn't happening at the moment.
He felt a soft, ghost like touch to his hand. He was surprised to see Honey's eyes open a little, "Noel," he called her father, who stepped forward towards the head of the bed. He stroked her hair gently as they exchanged quiet words that Cal couldn't hear.
"Cal, she wants to talk to you," Noel told him a few minutes later as he swapped places with the doctor.
Cal mimicked what Noel did - gently stroking her hair, "Now then missy, you need to keep your strength up...no talking..."
"I'm not stupid Cal..." she breathed, "I know it's not good - I can feel it..."
Once again, tears leaked from her eyes, trickling down the side of her face, "Will you tell Ethan I've really loved our time together..."
Cal swallowed a huge lump that had formed in his throat, "Now then, you can tell him yourself..."
She weakly patted his hand, "Cal, please..."
Cal dropped his head, "I will," he whispered.
"Look after him - he'll blame himself."
He'll not be the only one, thought Cal as he saw the brave young womans eyes close once more.
"Cal, her blood pressure is bottoming out..." Rita, who had cleaned up and was assisting, alerted him.
No more that a few seconds passed when a single long beep was heard on the monitors.
"No...Honey..." Noel called, collapsing into Big Mac's arms, as silent tears fell from the older man.
Cal immediately began CPR, stopping every few minutes for a pulse check. He kept looking at Rita who was trying to push oxygen through the barista's system - her eyes were shining with unshed tears as she shook her head.
"No that's not acceptable - let's shock her," Cal demanded as he took hold of the defibrilator.
And so it continued for a good half a hour. Shocking her, CPR, pulse checks - Cal couldn't give up even though he was exhausted and in his heart, he knew that she'd gone.
He was half way through another cycle of CPR when he felt a hand touching his, stopping him, "No Rita..." he mumbled, "Come on Honey...for your dad - for Ethan..."
"Cal," he heard. He turned his own tear stained face to see Noel looking at him, "You've done everything that you could. You've done above and beyond - she was lucky to have you as her doctor..." Noel turned away as Cal looked towards Rita who now had her own tears falling down her face.
Cal took a deep breath, wiped his face and turned off the machines, "Time of death..."
I told you that you wouldn't like me by the end of it! I'm evil I know. Ethan and Honey have only just got together and I've killed off any chances of a happy ever after.
I'm not medically inclined so I've tried to skirt over any medical stuff. Hope it's ok.
Now all Cal's got to do is tell his brother that he couldn't save his girlfriend - not an easy conversation - hope I can do it justice.
Thanks for reading.