ROLE CHANGE TWENTY ONE
Ethan wheeled himself into the kitchen with a smile on his face.
"I know you love your grub, but that smile's because of a bit more than it being breakfast time" Cal said. He knew that look.
"Read this" Ethan grinned.
"Oi, keep it out of my porridge, then!" Cal salvaged the letter that Ethan had launched at him before it could be spoiled, which was probably as well.
The letter had Grover and Kellerman's logo at the top.
"More payout?" Cal gasped.
"Better. Read it!"
"Some of us have to get ready for work…" Cal began to grumble. Then he saw the full letter. Offering Ethan an interview for a part-time post at Grover and Kellerman for the following week. Ethan would never feel secure again working as a doctor after the attack on him, but a clerical post meant he could pull his weight and probably be able to spend breaks with his girlfriend as a bonus.
"Brilliant! I'll see if Mrs B will let me go in a bit later so I can help you get ready for the interview next week."
"I can wash myself, cheeky bugger. But I'd like a bit of moral support on the day, Cal."
"And you'll have it. Now let me get to work. Your breakfast's good and hot so get it down your neck."
Ethan took a look, all but crowed:
"Bacon!" and began to devour his meal.
He could hardly swallow a bite the following week.
"Look, Nibbles, nobody's going to condemn you if you don't get the job, are they, Sophie?"
Sophia, who seemed to get even prettier with each month of her pregnancy, smiled:
"No. It'd be brilliant if you did get it, Ethan, but not the end of the world if you don't. You could just keep looking for clerical posts."
"Now" Cal told him, "You look great. The definitive Admin worker. Your taxi's due in five-"
"-I need a pee" Ethan gasped and ran upstairs.
"Dylan."
Ben handed over the letter to the doctor, who read it with his usual deadpan expression.
"It'll do you good to see him, Ben."
"Do you think he'll know me? I mean, I know he'll not quite be one when David brings him over, but…"
"He'll remember you as somebody who was kind to him."
Ben shuddered.
"I often wonder how Karl spoke to him. Babies are more intelligent than we give them credit for…"
Dylan almost cracked a smile.
"You're talking to a doctor, Ben. I would know that."
Cal came into the lounge to find Ethan with his head in his hands, sitting in darkness. He quietly switched on the main light.
"So you didn't get it. Don't let it get you down. I bet you gave it your all at the interview."
"They won't be writing to let me know."
"That bad? Well, it's the first rejection so-"
"It's not a rejection. They told me there and then that I could start next week. Cal, I'm scared. What if I can't hack it?"
"You great fool, of course you can hack it. I hope you're hungry."
"Sorry I didn't feel like cooking."
"Just as well; I'm going to take you and Sophie out to celebrate this!"
"We're not going to that place where they thought we were gay, are we?"
"Why does everybody ask that?" asked Cal, rolling his eyes.
Ben's breath caught in his throat as David handed the small boy to him. He could see Sara's eyes looking up at him and felt an overwhelming sense of love and responsibility.
"So like her. David, thank you for this. Thank you. Is it okay to take him out to meet a couple of friends? They'll be discreet."
"Of course."
David wanted to tell Ben, but couldn't bring himself to, that in a couple of months discretion in Corvaine might not matter any more. The civil unrest there was increasing and David feared that, despite the rigid protocol he was forced to observe, he might have to get the baby out of his country for good.
He looked at Ben's shining eyes as he sang a nonsense-song to his son, and knew he couldn't shatter Ben's happiness again. Not this time.
"Look!" Dylan said as if he were talking to a much older child, "This is my big dog. Now she won't hurt you if you don't make her jump. This is Dervla. Can you remember that?"
Ben suddenly thought of how Sara would laugh at this surreal dialogue from the doctor, and pain sliced his heart again. But it was good – more than good! – to have his son near him once more.
Dervla wagged her tail. She wasn't sure quite what this little human creature was but it was quiet and wasn't pulling at her. She decided she liked it and suddenly licked the small face. Alex, snuggling deeper into Ben, began to cry at the strange sensation… then gave a low chuckle.
"He likes my dog!" Dylan actually beamed.
All too soon the visit came to an end, and Ben gave his son one last cuddle then reluctantly passed him over to David.
"See you soon, darling" Ben whispered to the little boy. David fervently hoped so.
The months moved on. Ethan was now past his probation period and a permanent member of staff at Grover and Kellerman. Cal was becoming excited and more than a little anxious as October drew nearer. He knew the baby was due at the beginning of that month.
"Ooh, I'll be glad when this baby's born" Sophie sighed, "I feel as big as a carthorse."
"The most gorgeous carthorse I've ever seen" Cal told her as he kissed her goodbye.
He cast a mock-baleful look at Ethan, who, not due in the office till ten that day, was enjoying his bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms.
"Well, Mr Administrator, some of us have to work the early shift. See you later."
He kissed Sophia gently.
"See you tonight, darling."
With that, he was off for another day at Holby.
"Are you sure I can't wash the dishes? I'm perfectly capable."
Ethan looked in reproof at Sophie.
"You'll sit there and read that daft magazine you've got, and take care of my nephew or niece."
Sophie was enjoying reading about Johnny Depp's new film, another dark magical one directed by Tim Burton, when the first twinge happened. She bit her lip and then returned to her interview as the pain subsided.
Five minutes later it was back, sharper than before. Again, she swallowed down the discomfort, again it calmed down.
The next minute she was screaming:
"Ethan, please call an ambulance!"
"RTA? Yes, I know what a RTA is but my brother's girlfriend is having a baby! She needs an ambulance- oh God! Are you absolutely sure?"
He waited for the answer, which made his heart sink.
"Liza, I'm sorry, this has to be a quick call. I might be late today."
"It's okay, Ethan, the accident and road block have both been on the news. We'll believe you."
"It's worse than that" Ethan replied, "Sophie's about to give birth-"
"Oh bless her, how much 'about'?"
A yell from Sophie soon told her how much 'about' meant.
"Ethan, just come in when you can. Tell Sophie we wish her all the best."
"Thanks, love. Coming, Sophie!"
Ethan felt relief that he knew all about hygiene. But could he hack this one, assisting an actual birth, with the woman his brother loved?
He hurried to boil the water and get the towels.