So a guest reviewer for my last story suggested this storyline - thank you very much - I love it when someone suggests something and I can't get it out of my head!

This is completely made up but has a kind of a spoiler because Cal has a baby daughter. I hold my hand up now to say sthat I anything medical is completely made up by me so apologies for anything I get wrong.

As usual, I don't own anyone that you recognise except Tilly, seeing as I don't know the name of Cal's daughter yet.

What's Next?

Dr Ethan Hardy released the clasps and gently lifted the baby out of the car seat, "Well hello there Miss Tilly - nice to see you awake - have you got a smile for your Uncle Ethan?" He pulled a silly face, causing the little baby to smile widely, "That's it, good girl. Now remember to be grumpy for daddy..." he chuckled to himself as he lifted the youngster onto his shoulder, grabbed the bag and made his way into the ED.

To say the last few months had been a rollercoaster was putting it mildly. To arrive home one night after shift to find a baby on the doorstep was alarming, but to find out that his brother Cal was the father, was quite frankly frightening. After a few rocky weeks where Cal had all but disowned her, the brothers had settled into a manageable routine. Connie had been gracious enough to organise the rota so that they were on opposite shifts so that they could cover the child care problem. He smiled as he heard a small hiccup coming from his neice. He had fallen completely head over heels in love with the little bundle, as had his brother now - they couldn't imagine their lives without her now.

He made his way into the staff room, stopping every few seconds while his friends cooed and tickled Tilly until she giggled. Finally he stepped through the door to the staff room and let out a long breath. As much as he loved the fact that everyone seemed to love Tilly, he hated running the gauntlet of everyone as he was trying to get to work. He placed Tilly in a rocking chair that they kept in the room so that she had somewhere to sit as they got changed - at nearly six months old, Tilly was already starting to explore the world around her and the different textures of things in her hands.

Ethan made sure that she was secure then made his way to his locker and began to get changed.

No more than two minutes later, the door opened and in strode his brother, "Hey Nibbles," he casually tossed out in Ethan's direction. The younger man took a deep breath bristling already at the dreaded nickname. If Cal noticed this, he ignored it, instead striding purposefully towards his daughter, "Hey there gorgeous - you survived another day with Uncle Ethan then," he chuckled as he tickled her tummy causing her to giggle, "You are such a cutie aren't you? I'll just get changed and I'm all yours," he told the smiling baby.

"I bet you say that to all your ladies," Ethan joked.

"Ha ha funny little brother," Cal smirked as he changed his shirt.

Before he could offer another witty comeback, the door flew open to reveal Max and Lofty discussing how long to stay at the pub that night.

"Do you think you might be able to manage one tonight Cal?" Lofty asked hopefully.

Tilly decided that she was going to make her father's decision for him and began to grumble. Cal smiled ruefully, "I guess she's made my decision for me."

Lofty smiled towards the baby, who stopped grumbling as soon as her father had spoken, "Under the thumb," was all he said.

Ethan chuckled at their banter as he closed his locker door and glanced at the clock, "Well Uncle Ethan still has a few minutes before he goes on shift, so have you got time for a cuddle?"

"I'm not sure that's appropriate behaviour for a hospital, Uncle Ethan," Max said in a baby like voice.

Everyone burst into fits of laughter as Ethan picked her out of the chair and brought her close. As he whispered in her ear, her eyes began to droop as she totally relaxed in his presence.

Suddenly and without warning, a huge blast penetrated the blissful scene, causing the ceiling to cave in from above. As debris rained down onto the staff room, Ethan managed to curl himself around his neice to shield her, wincing slightly as a piece of debris struck his back. It all happened so quickly that they hadn't had time to escape. Before long the dust settled and the mayhem began...

So there's chapter 1. Not sure how long it will be, but we'll see. Thanks for reading.