Hello. We come to the final chapter. Thank you for your reviews on the last chapter. I hope you enjoy this one!

By Your Bedside: Chapter 13

"You know, Ethan, when I first got that call from you... the one where you told me... well I know you didn't really tell me anything as such. You just sort of breathed down the phone." Cal chuckled weakly. It made his throat hurt. He didn't feel in a laughing mood. "Sorry. But I was scared out of my wits, Ethan. I was so, so scared. I didn't know what had happened to you. Of course I had my suspicions, but never anything like this. I mean, you were stabbed!"

Cal carefully held Ethan's hand, clinging onto it to bring him out of his own mind. "They still don't know who did it. You were assaulted but they don't know. You can help them if you wake up. And you better wake up, Ethan. If you don't I will kill you myself. I guess I've already really done that. I hope you forgive me for that, Eth," Cal sniffed.

"But, I guess you might not even be well enough to remember any of this. Oh God, Nibbles. Have I even told you how sorry I am?" He swiped away his tears with his other hand. He was talking to his brother and nothing would get in the way. "I'm sorry that I'm not very good at saying sorry. So... sorry. Sorry for everything I've ever done. And I know I've said this before but since you've been in here things have been different. And I know you've heard this before too. I should probably shut up but I don't think I'll ever be able to shut up again. I can't wait to talk properly with you. I bet we'll argue loads like we did before... before this happened."

"When I saw you, I mean the first time I saw you when you were up here, I was astounded. There were… there are so many machines. They are all keeping you alive because you can't do it yourself. I know I'm a doctor, and I know I've seen this a lot of times… but then I saw you. I looked down at your face and saw my little brother. You're so ill, Ethan. I never thought you'd ever be this unwell. I never imagined it. You're so independent and you stand on your own two feet, so to see you hooked up to countless amounts of machines, and having checks every day, and you can't even breathe for yourself… it felt like I was the one who was stabbed. Right in my heart because… because I am your older brother and I am meant to protect you."

Cal was sitting on the sofa in the staffroom, fiddling with the blood-soaked teddy bear. He wanted to give it to Honey; it was Honey's after all. Yet, he didn't think he'd ever want to let go of it. Zoe was sitting next to him, but they were both silent. It had been a long time, maybe more than a few hours. Too long since Cal last saw his brother. No news was good news, right?

"Cal." As soon as he heard his name, his head shot up towards the staffroom door. A very upset looking Clinical Lead was stood there. Cal's breathing hitched and he saw Zoe's hand being placed on his knee out of the corner of his eye. "I have some news for you," she said softly, walking in front of Cal and kneeling down. "Now - "

" - is he okay? Please tell me he is," he begged, clutching the bear tightly in his hand. "Please," he said, voice cracking. Silence followed. "He's alive though, right? Please just tell me my little brother is alive." He looked down to Connie, noticing her watery eyes. She never cried. It was bad news. Ethan was de -

"He's not dead, Caleb." Cal breathed out a sigh of relief. Ethan was alive. "But you have to know, Cal... well..." she trailed off.

"I'm a doctor, don't sugar coat it. Just come right out with it. Please, Connie. I need to know."

"He was severely injured. We did all we could to save him. He had to go up to theatre – "

" - Connie!" he shouted, not meaning to be so loud. "Please just tell me!" It sounded like she was avoiding saying something. He knew this must have been bad.

"I can't say it..." she muttered, but Cal still heard. "I can't say the word."

"Then don't say the word. Say something else." He said. He should be able to work it out.

Connie looked like she was going to speak, but she hesitated for more than a few seconds. Cal waited and watched, and then, "his GCS is 3, Caleb."

Cal stopped breathing. "You mean... he's..."

Connie nodded slowly, a tear slipping down her cheek. It was nothing compared to Cal.

He buried his face into his hands, crying into them. He could feel his eyes hurting and his nose running. His throat felt tight and he felt so dizzy he wasn't sure he wouldn't faint. "No," he wailed. "No! He can't be!" He felt someone bringing him in for a hug and could only assume it was Zoe. "He can't be."

"I am truly sorry, Cal. He is, and his chances aren't good. I wish it was better news, I really do," Connie told him.

Cal heard Connie, but he didn't take it in. He couldn't. His little brother was in a coma and the last thing Cal said to him was promising everything would be okay. It wasn't okay. It would never be okay ever again.

He gulped and held Ethan's hand more tightly. "We can get through this, Ethan. We can get through anything. Whatever happens to you, whatever state you're in when you wake up, I will be right there to help you. I know I promised everything was going to be okay, and I didn't keep it. It will all be okay. Now it will because you might wake up soon. Guess what, Ethan? I promise. I promise I will be there, and everything will be alright. In the end. We will get through this, together. I give you my word."

Cal wiped his eyes again, but still kept one hand holding Ethan's. "It was Dr McKay who told me you would wake up soon. You know who he is, I'm sure you would have seen him before. He's a nice bloke, and he's been looking after you. You have to prove him right. Please, Ethan. I can't be alone like this. You are my little brother, Nibbles. And I promise, whatever happens, I will be there for you."

Cal's breath caught. He thought he was imagining it at first, but he wasn't. He stood up in excitement, tears flowing - but with relief. He felt Ethan lightly put pressure on his hand. "Can I have some help in here?!" He shouted, hoping someone would hear him and confirm that Ethan was actually waking up.

"It's okay, Ethan. It will be alright. It's Caleb. You're in hospital but everything is going to be fine. You are going to be fine," he said reassuringly, being rewarded with pressure on his hand. Cal didn't dare let go. This was confirmation.

Ethan was waking up.

When one story ends, another begins. I'm basically saying there will be a follow-up story to this and should be posted soon. (But as you know I am terribly unreliable, so don't trust that!) Thank you to sweeet-as-honey, timelords22, CBloom2, Cameron Bailey, Tanith Panic, teeloganroryflan, papertowns101, Becs2202, Tato Potato, Gillian Kearney Fan, Professor Elk, LittleBrittishPerson, TheAtomicCheesepuff, 14o1, beckyboogle, tracys dream, kirstieworm1999, sotitmuss, and the guest for reviewing, and to everyone who favourited and followed. Your support means a lot, and I hope you enjoy the follow-up story!