The first part of the story takes place when Cal is 9, and Ethan, 16. Second part is when Cal is 24, and Ethan, who doesn't have the gene, is 30 years of age. Their father is my own creation, because I can't remember if his name was ever revealed on - screen, but the boys don't belong to me, they belong to the BBC.
Chapter is rated T for sensitive issues, such as cancer, physiotherapy and prosthetic legs.
The medical side come from the net, if it isn't correct, please blame the net.
This chapter was prompted by Addison123 with the prompt: An RTC changes Cal's life forever.
The Secret Life Of Casualty.
Chapter 312.
Caleb Knight, had been 9 years old, when his life had changed forever. He had been waiting in the school playground for his father, Calvin to pick him up, the ground was wet and Cal had forgotten his coat that morning, even when Ethan had reminded him, but Cal had been in a rush to get to school to chat to his friends. The last thing Ethan said to his brother was that he had a rugby match, so he wouldn't be able to get the bus with him as he usually did and with their mum Matilda away, for a few days, it was up to Ethan to take care of his younger brother.
So, that's why, Cal was waiting for his father in the rain, regretting not to pick up his coat, so it was a relief when he saw his dads car pull up and he opened the door, climbing in to the passenger seat. "Hi dad. " He said, happily, shutting the door and putting on his seat belt.
His dad started the engine. "Shut up, Caleb"
Calvin was hiding a secret, he was drunk, but Cal was unaware he was and including the horrible whether conditions, this was a recipe for disaster. Cal switched the radio on. Looking up, he saw a car speed towards him. "Dad, look out" Cal yelled, but his dad, being drunk, ignored him and soon the car spiralled out of control, crashing with the other car. As Cal's world went black, Calvin escaped the car, leaving his young son alone and that's when Cal's world went black.
The next thing Cal come aware of was a male paramedic, gently shaking him. "Hey, mate, can you hear me?"
Cal nodded, being informed that it was important that he tried not to move his neck.
"My name's Jeff and I'm a paramedic." He told Cal, getting an oxygen mask out of his kit and securing it over the young boys face.
"Ethan. Want Ethan" The young boy cried, but it was muffled through the mask. As Jeff started a line to give Cal fluids, he frowned. Who was Ethan?
A girl from Ethan's class, was walking home from school, when she come across the scene of the accident. She got her phone out.
Ethan's phone rang while he was on the pitch.
Frustrated, the girl, who was called Angela, left Ethan a voicemail. "Ethan, it's Angela, from maths class, I think your brothers been involved in an accident"
While getting the ball off another player, Ethan felt someone touch him on the shoulder, he turned it was his rubgy coach and he didn't look happy. "Can I have a word, Ethan? Josh will take your place"
"Sure" Ethan replied, following his coach and wondering what had gone wrong? You weren't pulled off the pitch for no reason.
The coach, Mr Jones, took Ethan in to his small office. "Ethan, we've had word, through of an accident. " Mr Jones told him.
Ethan nodded.
"The victim's Cal. " Mr Jones told him.
Ethan felt the colour draining from his face. "I need to see him. " He said, he felt wobbly.
Mr Jones hands steadied him. "I'll take you, but Ethan, you need to be aware, it doesn't look good. "
Ethan nodded. "Thanks sir"
The drive to the scene of the accident was slow and Ethan wished Mr Jones would go faster, but was also aware that could cause another accident and he didn't want to do that.
Eventually, they arrived at the scene of the accident and Ethan rushed out, thanking Mr Jones. He looked around, seeing police officers and one of them was talking to his father.
"Are you, Ethan?" Jeff asked, startling the young man.
"Yes" He answered.
"Your brother is asking for you. " Jeff told him, Ethan hurried over to the wrecked car, to see Cal still in the seat, drips in his hand.
"One is giving him fluids, another is giving him blood. " Jeff informed him.
Cal whimpered in pain, Ethan crouched fiend next to his brother. "It's ok, Cal, I'm here" He whispered.
"We are taking your brother to hospital now. " Jeff told Ethan, who nodded and watched as the fire bridge managed to get him free and lay him on a spinal board and secured his head in a collar and his leg in a frac pac then Jeff lifted the board and put it in the ambulance on the stretcher. Calvin who was still with the officers, had managed to escape with just a few cuts and bruises and was being breathalysed by the officers. Ethan shook his head, his father was old enough to look after himself, his priority was Cal now. The ambulance started and Cal whimpered, Ethan wanted to tell him to go faster. Finally, the ambulance pulled in to the bay and Jeff cut the engine, going round to the back where Cal was. He lowered the step and brought the stretcher out, shutting the ambulance doors and wheeled the stretcher out, across the short distance and through the double doors, where he called out the relevant information.
"This is Caleb Knight, 9 years old, involved in an RTC. BP is low, and his GSC is 3, " Jeff told his colleagues.
A woman with brown hair spoke. "RESUS"
Cal was moved over to the RESUS bed and the brunette from earlier introduced herself as Zoe Hanna, she sent him for an CT and an x - ray, his CT was clear, but his x - ray showed that he'd broken his leg and it would require surgery to fix it.
Zoe walked in to RESUS. "Cal, your leg is fractured, you'll need surgery in order to relocate it, "
"Can I go with him?" Ethan asked.
Zoe nodded "Sure"
Cal was prepped for theatre and soon he was being wheeled down with Ethan holding his hand.
In theatre, a needle was placed in to his hand, and a mask was placed over his face.
"Cal, it's ok, " Ethan whispered, as he watched his eyes drift shut.
All was doing well with the operation, until Cal's leg felt cold and clammy and when a surgeon ordered a Doppler probe, he found Cal's foot didn't have a pulse. They'd have no choose but to remove it. The doctor removed it, but dreaded that he had to tell Ethan.
"Ethan. " A voice said.
Ethan looked at who was calling his name, it was the doctor who was performing the operation.
"Yes" Ethan asked as the surgeon got closer to him.
"Caleb's operation was a success, but we ran in to complications and therefore had to remove his leg, I'm so sorry"
Ethan felt himself go pale, and as the lift doors opened, Cal's bed was wheeled out and taking a peak at where his leg was supposed to be there was a stump, but it was surrounded by bandages.
"Would you like me to tell him?" Asked the doctor, as Cal was wheeled back in to a private room.
"No. " Ethan shook his head slowly. If anybody was going to tell his brother bad news, it was going to be him, but it was something he was dreading. How did you tell someone, they'd lost their leg?
He knew he had to wait until Cal had come around from the anesthetic, he knew that he would be groggy, but he'd be right there, waiting for him.
Cal started moving his head, trying to adjust to his surroundings.
"Ethan?" Cal whispered, moving the oxygen mask.
"No, mate, you need to keep that on. "
"Why?" Cal whined.
"It's to help you breathe better"
Cal nodded, popping it back on.
"Where's dad?" He asked.
Truth was, Ethan didn't know where their father was and he didn't care, he'd left his little brother to die. He hoped they'd never have to see him again
"I don't know mate" Ethan said, taking his hand. "Look, Cal, I have to tell you something and it's important you listen, OK, "
Cal nodded. "What is it, Ethan?"
"The surgeons had to remove your leg" Ethan whispered, his heart breaking for his brother.
"Why?" The younger boy repeated.
"Your leg was badly broken in the crash"
Ethan saw the tears build up in his eyes as they rolled down his cheeks. Ethan got out his phone and called his mum, knowing that he couldn't handle this on his own, it was too big. After a few hours, his mum arrived, first hugging her oldest and then looking at her youngest on the bed, he looked fragile, with drips in both of his hands, his leg covered in bandages.
After a week where Cal was discharged and given pain killers to take home, he was given crutches.
A week later, Cal was at home resting when their mum had an announcement to make. Ethan and Cal looked at each other, wondering what it was she had to tell them. They hoped she wasn't about to announce she was pregnant again.
"We are going to your aunt and uncles wedding. " Matilda announced.
Both Cal and Ethan groaned, as much as they loved their aunt and uncle, they had two kids, boys, similar to Cal in age and they were annoying.
"Do, we have to go, mum?" Cal asked.
Matilda nodded and went to get ready, she had to go a few days before her sons and husband as it was her sisters wedding day and she'd agreed to go down a few days before to help her prepare, the boys were coming down a few days later, by getting the train down. Ethan had the address of the hotel their mum was staying in, and they got a taxi to the hotel, Ethan paying the driver and helping Cal as after a few months, he'd had his prosthetic leg fitted and even with months of physiotherapy he was finding it hard to stand on it. Ethan grabbed the bags and went inside the hotel, asking the woman on reception what room Matilda Hardy was in. He was informed it was room 230 and given a key. Whispering "thanks" They went in to the lift and Cal pressed the button as it took them to the floor Matilda was on. Ethan knocked on the door and Matilda answered it.
"Hey boys" She greeted.
As the guests stood to welcome in the bride. Matilda felt a tightness in her chest
Matilda collapsed as her sister was saying her vows, much to the shock of her son's.
"Mum" Said Cal. Ethan was ringing an ambulance while Cal was holding her hand, an ambulance arrived and took Matilda to hospital.
Thr Doctor unfortunately gave Matilda bad news, the lump they'd found in her breast, which they did a biopsy on, had turned out to be cancerous, she had surgery straight away and then radiation. But the doctor delivered bad news at an appointment, it wasn't working and she had a few weeks left to live, which had devastated the boys. She stayed in hospital for a while, before deciding to go home.
A few years later...
Ethan was now a doctor at the local ED, it seemed that his hard work had paid off and he knew his mum, who had r found out she had cancer and it wasn't good, was proud of him. Cal was a junior doctor at the hospital and he was shadowing Ethan, doing minor jobs such as: taking bloods from his patients (with Ethan's supervison) emptying bedpans
Charlie walked up to Cal.
"There's been an RTC, a doctor is needed at the scene, " Charlie told him.
"I'll do it, " Said Cal, eagerly.
"Are you sure?" Charlie said, quietly, he was the only one, apart from Ethan, who knew about Cal's leg.
"Charlie, I'll go, " Cal repeated patiently, knowing that Charlie was just looking out for him.
"I'll let Ethan know, " Said Charlie. Cal nodded as he went to get ready and met Iain and Jez in the ambulance bay.
The car looked wrecked and Cal could see two lads in there, both looking scared. Cal started walking towards the car.
"Cal, wait" Iain yelled.
But Cal was already climbing in to the car.
"What are your names?" Cal asked.
"Steven and Michael. " The older one, who was called Micheal, and who had a mop of blonde hair said, he reminded Cal of Ethan.
Cal nodded, he needed to get these lads out safely and he smelt gas, which he knew would result in the car, going up in flames. He kicked the door with his good leg and felt relief when the door opened and he was able to hook an arm around Michael and his brother and drag them from the car before it exploded in to flames. He could do this. He freed them and they were took to hospital.
Cal tried to wipe away his tears, but Ethan saw him. "What's the matter, Cal?"
"Them boys, " Cal started to say, but could feel the build up of tears in his eyes, which he tried to blink away, but Ethan saw him.
"They are fine, they both had minor injuries" Ethan hugged his brother tightly, it had been a few years since his accident, but when confronted with a car, he felt himself get panicky and his chest felt tight. He walked out of the staff room, but near the nurses station, he tripped up, landing on the floor.
Alicia laughed nastily at him. "Your so clumsy Cal"
Ethan knew he couldn't stand by and watch Alicia put his brother down, it was time to take action. "He's not clumsy, Alicia. "
"Sorry, " Alicia mumbled, going red, embarrassed.
"He lost his leg in an accident when he was younger, "
Ethan put his arm around his brother as they walked off, leaving Alicia standing there, embarrassed by her actions.
When Alicia saw that Cal was struggling, she bent down and helped him, apologising for earlier. "Sorry Cal, I didn't know"
Cal nodded, going to find Ethan, he was in the staff room.
"Are you ready, Ethan?" He asked.
Ethan got his things out of his locker and nodded, as the two signed out and walked home.
When they arrived in the flat, Ethan got Cal's blanket and they settled down, as Cal burst in to tears. He showed Ethan a message. Ethan dropped the phone in shock. It was from the hospital.
Matilda had lost her battle and the boys were devastated at her loss, she was the backbone of the family, the one who'd kept Cal's spirits up after his accident, encouraging him to keep walking around.
Ethan kissed his brothers forehead and grabbed his phone, deciding to take a selfie of the two of them together. He accessed his camera and held it up to their faces and
The two decided to put on a dvd and Ethan went to pour them both drinks, Cal a coffee and himself a tea before looking in the sweet cupboard and grabbing some treats and walking back in to the living room where he found Cal looking through their DVDS as he decided on which one to watch.
"Resdy?" Ethan asked as he put the stuff on the coffee table and opened them as Cal pressed 'play' on the remote and the two of them settled down to watch a movie.
Ethan helped his brother to his room and pulled back his covers as Cal eased himself on to the bed and Ethan tucked the covers over him and stroked the hair off his face before going in to his room and taking off his glasses and getting in to his own bed. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but was disturbed by Cal screaming, he looked at his alarm clock, it was 2: 00, what had unsettled his brother, he was going to find out. Putting his glasses on, he walked in to his brothers room to find him, huddling under the blanket, he sat on the edge as he noticed the tears seep down his cheeks.
"Alicia was mean to me" Cal cried.
"I know, Cal, but she doesn't understand " Ethan comforted him, he wiped away his tears and hugged him closely.
"Don't leave me" Cal whispered.
Ethan shook his head. "I'm not going to leave you, mate"
"Promise?" Cal whispered.
"I promise" Ethan said, rubbing his back, until he drifted off to sleep, Ethan heard his brother whisper. "Love you, Ethan"
"Love you too, Cal "
Thanks for reading, this got longer than what I was expecting it to.
Next chapter: The prompter doesn't mind what I write as long as Ethan doesn't have the gene, or it's set before Cal dies. Prompted by
