They arrived at the hospital with a few moments to spare. Lexi and Ethan carried the bags whilst Caleb hobbled along with Daniel. They were greeted by Ryan and a wheelchair. Cal lowered himself into the chair before reaching forward and lifting his nephew onto his lap. Daniel snuggled in next to his uncle and Ryan pushed them up to the ward. On their way through, they passed through the ED. Lots of their colleagues had gathered to give him their best. He thanked them as he was pushed into a lift. "So Cal, did you bring any box sets to watch whilst you recover?" Ryan said making conversation. Cal remained silent, he simply stared at his nephew who was sleeping in his lap. "You bet he did! He practically took every DVD we own!" Ethan enthused. "Awesome. I know where I'll be spending my breaks." Lexi said cheekily. "You wish, young lady!" Cal chuckled. Lexi pouted at him. "God I wish me, Max and Robyn got on like you guys!" Ryan said. "They get on with each other so well, but I'm worried about stepping on their toes. I don't want to go charging in. They aren't used to me being around, I don't want to ruin their solid relationship" Ryan looked at his feet. "Sorry, I shouldn't be telling you this. You have your own troubles" he explained. "Ryan, it's fine, honest. You should just invite them out for a drink and discuss memories of your childhood and funny anecdotes. You'll soon fit right in with them!" Lexi said giving him a smile. "Okie dokie, this is us." Ethan said breaking the silence, as the lift doors opened. Ryan pushed the wheelchair out, careful not to wake up the sleeping toddler who was curled up in Cal's lap. "Hi, this is Caleb Knight, he's here to have his pins removed." Ethan explained to the receptionist.
A few moments later the gang found themselves in a small room, Cal was sat on the bed, wearing a hospital gown with Daniel cuddled up beside him. "You comfy there, Danny?" He smiled. "I wove you Unca Cal!" The toddler grinned. "I love you too, Buddy!" Cal replied putting his arm around him. Lexi smiled at snapped a photo on her phone. Knock. Knock. A nurse bustled into the room brandishing a clipboard. "Ok Dr Knight, you know the drill, general anaesthesia, a couple of hours and everything is fine. You need to sign these consent forms confirming that you consent to the pin removal and that you have had nil by mouth since midnight." Cal scribbled his signature onto the forms, as well as he could with his hands shaking so much. "Ok, a nurse will be in shortly to put you under and take you up to theatre." The nurse disappeared as quickly as she had appeared. "Caleb, your hands are shaking!" Ethan said suddenly. "Nibbles, I'm fine" Cal said through gritted teeth. Lexi perched on the bed next to him. She put her hand on his arm. "Talk to me" she said simply. "I can just remember what happened last time. I cheated death. That's not supposed to happen. I looked the grim reaper in the eye and laughed!" Cal said seriously. "Calm down Cal, everything will be fine, it's a routine op. Nothing will happen." Ethan soothed. Cal's eyes glistened with tears. "No cry, Unca Cal!" Daniel sat up and wiped the tears from his uncles eyes. "Well that's me told!" Cal chuckled as he hugged his nephew. Daniel screeched as the hug turned in to a tickle. Cal tickled his ribs and watched as the toddler squealed. He then passed him to Ethan who put him on his back and took him with Ryan to find a vending machine. "Really how are you?" Lexi said looking into the older mans eyes. "I'm scared, I can't say it in front of Nibbles, he's scared too, I can see it. He's hiding it but it's still there." Cal sighed. "Last time, the risk was higher, Nibbles doesn't know this but as I drifted off, I saw him, I saw the fear in his eyes, the guilt, the sorrow. Most of all I saw the love. He's my safety net, I can't let him break down, I can't let this destroy him." Cal choked as his emotions broke through his facade. "Hey, it ok to be scared. But I'm here and so is Ethan and Daniel and we aren't going to let anything happen to you. You've seen Daniel, he's got everybody wrapped around his finger, you will come through this and when this is all over, you will walk to the corner shop and buy him and his mum a bar of chocolate! Preferably Cadburys!" Lexi giggled. "Watch it missy." Cal grinned. "See, there's that lovely smile, I've missed that." Lexi smiled. "Mummy, Mummy" Daniel ran into the room. Lexi picked him up. "Someone's managed to exploit some chocolate from his uncle Ethan!" Cal chuckled as Lexi wiped his face. "Speak of the devil." Ethan walked back into the room with Ryan. Both were chuckling along to something funny. "Care to share?" Lexi said cautiously. "Babe, did Ethan really rush to hospital in Doctor Who slippers when Danny was born?" Ryan asked. "Yes he did! That's not so bad, I was wearing half of Cal's wardrobe." Lexi confirmed. Ryan laughed at the image that was forming in his head. "Caleb, when this so all over, I'm going to take you out for a drink, I want to know what this little lady was like when she was a kid!" Ryan winked at Cal with such a funny look on his face, that Cal dissolved into a fit of laughter.