Ethan looked down at the packet of pills. The empty plastic stared back at him. The last thought that filled his mind was his brother. His eyes slammed shut. A blurry figure rushing to his side.
'Ethan!' Cal screamed, launching himself at his brother who was now unconscious. 'Ethan, wake up for me, come on I need you to open your eyes, please' Cal begged. He suddenly noticed the empty pill packet beside his brother. 'You idiot, you didn't take all of these did you?' Cal asked.
Ethan twitched before convulsing violently on the floor. His seizing limbs attacking his brother. 'Oh my goodness Ethan, please you're scaring me' Cal sobbed, rolling his brother onto his side as he threw up. Cal rang an ambulance before grabbing his medical bag. He injected some lorazepam into his brother before lifting him into his arms. He saw traffic trailing along the road, past the front window and realised that the ambulance would take ages. Since they only lived 5 minutes away from the hospital, Cal carried Ethan with his med bag on his back in case anything happened.
Ethan was limp in his arms as he jogged towards the hospital. His brother was quite heavy and he was worried he might not get there in time. Ethan squirmed before started the throw up again in his arms. Cal lay his brother on the ground before turning him onto his side so he didn't choke. 'It's okay nibbles, I'm here, don't panic. We're only a minute or two away from the hospital so hang in there' Cal whispered as he took his brother in his arms once again.
He felt a sense of relief as he ran through the door of the ED. 'Can I get some help over here please!' he bellowed, resulting in a flurry of doctors and nurses appearing beside him as they ran to resus. 'Ethan seems to have overdosed on painkillers. He was suffering from a migraine and must have taken too many pills. He's been unresponsive, he's suffered a seizure and he's got a GCS of 3' Cal explained.
'Doctor Knight, outside now!' Connie ordered as she took over the young doctors care. 'Right Charlie can you get some fluids started and prep to pump his stomach' She ordered.
Cal shuffled to the waiting room, his head in hands. He couldn't bare to watch them treating his brother. A figure sat down beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. 'W-what's w-wrong s-son?' Emilie asked.
'It's Ethan, he's taken some tablets. He said he had a headache but he must have taken too many. He had a fit. Oh god, its all my fault. I should never have left him' Cal sobbed. Emilie wrapped her arms around her older son.
'W-will h-he be al-right?' she stammered.
'I don't know. Oh mum, I'm so sorry' Cal whimpered noticing the tears trickling down her cheeks.
'I-I wish I c-could do s-something, but I-I'm s-stuck in this ch-chair' Emilie muttered angrily.
The clicking of shoes sounded in the distance, hurrying towards the mother and son. 'Doctor Knight, what you did back there was ludicrous, risky and dangerous but you saved your brother's life. He's asking for you, both' Connie smiled. Cal leapt to his feet. He grabbed the wheelchair and hurried down the corridor with his mother.
'S-slow d-down for us o-oldies, s-son' Emilie chuckled as he raced into resus. Ethan was being propped up on some pillows, drowsy, pale and weak but alive and conscious thanks to his brother.
'Nibbles, you stupid moron, what the hell were you playing at?' Cal asked.
'I'm sorry, I had a headache, I fell asleep. I assumed I'd been asleep for ages so I took more tablets, I'm really sorry Caleb' Ethan whimpered.
'It'sss al-alright s-son' Emilie smiled. 'You're s-safe n-now' she whispered reaching out and stroking his hair. Ethan close his eyes, relaxing as his mother ran her fingers through his blonde hair.
'Mum, I'm sorry about everything, I should never have been so rude. Will you forgive me?' Ethan asked.
'Of-f course' Emilie replied.
'Nibbles, just relax and get some rest. We'll be right here when you wake up' Cal whispered lowering his brother onto the bed and dimming the lights. 'I love you little brother'
'I love you too Caleb' Ethan whispered as he drifted off to sleep.
'S-sleep well s-son' Emilie murmured.
'I love you mum' Ethan replied. Emilie looked at him with tears filling her eyes.
'I l-love y-you N-Nibbles' Emilie whispered.
Ethan's eyes shot open. 'Caleb!' He groaned.
'Oh come on, mum needed to know what we call you. Besides it suits you and we know you secretly love to be called nibbles' Cal chuckled.
'Whatever' Ethan muttered closing his eyes again, a huge grin spreading across his features.