Rated T for sensitive subjects.

Sweet - as - honey: Thank you for the review. I'm glad you don't hate Liam, it really is. I've always written scenes were Cal saved Ethan, so I wanted to do a scene where Ethan was there for his brother.

Sweet - as - honey: Thank you for the review. I love doing Cal and Ricky one - shots. I couldn't kill Ricky, she was my favourite character in the show, I've kind of lost interest in the show without her. I'm really glad you enjoyed this.

CBloom2: Thank you for the review. Killing Cal off wasn't planned, but that's the way my mind worked when I wrote the chap.

CBloom2: Thank you for the review. I love the brothers as well, so I'm hoping we don't lose either one in the next series.


The Secret Life Of Casualty.

Chapter 229.

Ricky was in the shower, when she felt something in her breast. Her mind instantly went in to overdrive, what if it was cancer, she was only 27, she was too young to die and she had a young son.

"Stop thinking the worst, " Her mind instructed her. But she couldn't help it. Chewing on her lip, she stepped out, reaching for the towel and wrapping it around her, walking in to the bedroom to put some clothes on.

Tipping her head upside down she rough dried her hair and brushed it, before throwing it in to a messy bun.

Walking down the stairs, she tried not to thing about the possibilities' that were running through her mind.

"Rick, are you ok?" Cal asked, putting down his newspaper and looking at his girlfriend.

"I don't know" She whispered.

"What's wrong?" Cal asked.

"I found something. " She whispered, taking a seat next to him.

"What?" Cal asked.

"A lump. " She whispered, her voice shaking.

Cal pulled her in to his arms, just as Casey started to whine.

Glancing at her son, she wondered what would happen to him, if the worst did happen, he'd already lost Brax, he couldn't lose her as well.

Cal picked him up and shushed him, giving him a toy.

The next morning, Cal had booked his partner an appointment with Zoe, figuring that Ricky would feel more reassured with a female doctor, than a male.

"How are you feeling?" Cal asked.

"Nervous. " She sighed, getting up out of bed and going over to Casey's cot and lifting him up.

Cal rubbed her arms as she headed down stoats and placed Casey in to his highchair, making some toast and cutting it in to little pieces and placing it down. "There you go, mate" She said, running a hand over his head. She cleaned him up and lifted him out, taking him in to the living room and placing him in his car.

She was waiting for Denny to come to watch Casey.

"Thanks Den. " She said, handing her, her son.

Denny gave a hug as the couple left the house.

Getting in to the car, Ricky stared out of the window while Cal drove them.

"Are you ready?" Cal asked, giving her hand a squeeze.

Zoe met them.

"How does it feel?" She asked, when she had shown them in to one of the empty cubicles.

"Kind of hard to touch," she whispered, sitting down on the chair.

"Come and lay back on the bed" Zoe said.

Ricky stood and walked over to the bed.

"Is it ok if I have a feel?" Zoe asked, rubbing her hands together, in a bid to warm them.

Ricky looked at Cal, seeking reassurance, Cal smiled at her.

"OK" Ricky said slowly as Zoe's hands moved around, checking both breasts.

"There is something there," The consultant muttered to herself. Ricky felt her stomach drop.

Cal's grip on his partners hand instantly tightened.

"It's most likely a cyst, " She told them both, washing her hands. "They are harmless. "

Ricky put her bra back on and pulled on her tee- shirt as Cal thanked his boss and the two left the cubicle.

Getting in to the car, Cal drove them back to their house.

Unlocking the front door, Cal allowed Ricky to go in before him.

Cal sat on the sofa, stroking his partners hair

"I was scared, Cal, " She cried, burying her head in his shirt.

"Shh, " Cal whispered, kissing her head. "It's going to be OK. " He wiped away her tears as he stood, heading in to the kitchen, pouring her a glass of water, and placing it on the coffee table.

"Thanks, " She took a sip as he sat down beside her.

Denny left, after giving her friend another hug.

Leaning her head on his chest, she knew that she was in safe hands, he wasn't going to hurt her, he loved her and she was lucky to have him.

The couple headed up the stairs.

Ricky unclipped her bra, putting one arm over her breasts.

Cal climbed off the bed and over to her. He swept her hair over her shoulder.

"Cal don't. " She whispered, moving out of his way.

Cal grabbed her hands and squeezed them tight as he led her to the bed and sat down.

"Whatever, life throws at us, we'll get through it" He told her.

"Yeah, I know" she whispered, reaching for her tee shirt and pulling it on.

Her hair got caught in her "R" necklace, taking a moment, she reflected on what the R stood for.

R: Reliable.

I: Independable.

C: Controlled.

K: Kind - hearted.

Y: Young at heart.

Whenever she was feeling down, she would look at the necklace, remind herself that she was all of those things and she would draw strength from it.

Cal had an idea. He got out of bed and went downstairs, in to the kitchen, looking for a notepad and pen. Taking them in to the living room, he sat down on the couch and began writing. When he was finished, he carefully tore out the paper folded it and standing up, he headed back in to the hallway, up the stairs and on to the landing. Opening the door, he realised that Ricky was in the bathroom, she opened the door and walked out, noticing the paper.

Ricky unfolded the paper and read the words:

"You are the one and only Ricky sharpe "

Turning to face him, she smiled and kissed him gently.

"Thank you. " she whispered, not breaking the kiss.

"What for?" Cal asked.

"For being you. " She replied.

"Anytime " Cal laughed, kissing her again as he pulled the duvet around them, she rested her head on his chest, feeling his heart beating and it made her feel safe as Casey whimpered again, Ricky guessed he was feeling neglected. Getting out of bed, she walked over.

"Sweet dreams, little man " Ricky smiled, kissing her sons forehead as she pulled the blanket over him.

Cal smiled as she walked back over to the bed and moved over so she could get in.

Kissing her forehead, he placed his arm around her as her hand joined his, safe and warm.


Thank you for reading. I enjoyed writing this chapter.