Summary: In the aftermath of Cal's death, Ethan struggles to cope. (A continuation of 31x33 Reap the Whirlwind Part Two).

WC: 1,095

Rating: PG-13 (Mentioned, obvious, character death).

*JAZZ HANDS MY WAY ACROSS THE ED*

"Did your brother have any enemies?"

The word 'did' only threw him off for a moment before the full implications of PC Wilkinson's question hit him.

"Enemies?" He asked before he could stop it. His voice sounded squeaky and incredulous, far too loud in the small, informal relatives room.

PC Wilkinson sat opposite him; back straight, eyes serious. Alicia squeezed his hand as she sat silently beside him.

"Anybody you can think of who would have a vendetta against him? Enough to do something like this?"

Ethan instantly remembered plenty of his brother's ex-girlfriends, those who had ended the relationship whilst screaming obscenities and threatening physical violence, throwing shoes and hurling slaps. Often, their equally enraged boyfriends/husbands has joined in, promising retribution but... he didn't think that any of them would have remained angry long enough to stick a knife in Cal's side.

Cal's last serious relationship had been with Taylor, nothing afterwards sprung to mind excluding his time with Alicia. Nothing serious enough.

At the officer's steady, questioning look he shook his head. "No, no enemies."

"What was his behaviour like? Was he anxious, worried…?"

"No." Although it was always hard to tell with Cal, had he been worried? Too scared to talk to his brother about something that was threatening his life? After everything they'd been through, Ethan hoped not. "Not that I can think of."

"He was really passionate about the strike, he really got stuck in," Alicia added, squeezing Ethan's hand again. He squeezed back. "And a bit annoyed I guess, he lost his surgical rotation."

In the grand scheme of things Ethan had completely forgotten about the surgical rotation.

"Was there anybody in particular who was angry about the strike?"

"Sam, I mean Sam Strachan, was angry…" Alicia looked apprehensive. Her forehead creased in thought. "But I don't think he did this."

Ethan agreed. Cal and Sam's grievances were out in the open after their very public display of dominance in the ED, and he figured Sam preferred to deal with things by the book than by physical violence.

PC Wilkinson noted it down anyway.

"Is there anything else you can think of that could be relevant at all to our investigation?" Ethan shook his head. "If you think of anything - anything at all - just call us and ask to speak to me." Ethan nodded. PC Wilkinson's expression softened. "I'm sorry for your loss."

She was the first person who had said that to him. He hated it already.

"Thank you," Alicia replied, getting to her feet. Following her lead, Ethan nodded in the officer's direction and followed his colleague/girlfriend/something from the room.

The police station was quietly buzzing with energy. Nobody paid them any attention as they weaved their way to the front doors, stepping out into the slightly overcast afternoon.

It must have rained whilst they were inside, despite the brightness of the morning. The grey of the pavements looked damp and there were droplets on every surface with a lingering wet smell to the air that tickled his nose.

Alicia shivered, folding her free arm around herself, and gave him a small, encouraging smile. "What would you like to do now?"

It was a loaded question, one he didn't particularly know the answer to.

"I think I'd like to go to work."

It made sense. His flat was too quiet and its four walls too lonely. At least at work he could keep busy and actually be useful instead of thinking about his brother's potential enemies.

He didn't realise that he'd said any of it out loud until he really registered the look of utter astonishment on Alicia's face. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was open, her words tumbling out in a mix of confusion and disbelief.

"Do you… do you really think that's a good idea?"

"I've got to do something."

His car was parked close to the station, so before Alicia could protest he dropped her hand and stalked towards it. Behind him he could hear Alicia hurrying to catch up.

"I'm not saying you can't go back to work," she gushed, falling into step with him. "Really, if you want to go then I'll support you but no one's going to think less of you if you stay away for a bit."

He couldn't think of an answer to that, and instead dug his hand into his jacket pocket in search of his car keys. He unlocked the car and slid into the driver's seat as Alicia opened the passenger door.

"I know my limits," Ethan said quietly as Alicia sat down. "If I get in there and can't do it then… I can't do it. I'll go home like a good little boy."

"We don't mean it like tha-" Something buzzed at Alicia's feet" Oh?"

She leant forward and dug her hand under the seat. After a moment of searching she pulled out a slim smartphone, its screen lit. Ethan felt his mouth go dry.

"That's mine."

His memories of that evening were a blur, but amongst the cacophony of emotion and sounds and faces he seemed to remember his brother's name light up on his phone. And then his subsequent dismissal of it.

Surprisingly, despite everything, his hand was steady as he reached out take the device from Alicia's grasp.

The phone's screen dimmed as he held it but a gentle press of the HOME button brought it back to life. The screen was full. Unread text messages, ignored Facebook alerts and, to his surprise, a number of missed calls.

He unlocked the phone with a shaky breath and scrolled past Elle, Lily and even Connie's names to the one that really mattered.

cal (1)

"He tried to phone me," he whispered, Cal's name blurring. His eyes stung. "And I ignored him."

Alicia didn't respond. Ethan closed his eyes.

"Would he still be alive if I'd answered?"

"Ethan," Alicia's voice was firm. He opened his eyes rested his head against the headrest. "Don't think like that."

"It's a bit difficult not to. I ignore his call and an hour later he's dead," he stuffed the phone into his jacket pocket and put the key into the ignition with more force than he intended.

"Ethan…"

"I'm going to work," he said simply. "Whether you like it or not."

Alicia sighed softly, resting her hand atop his one that was clutching the gear stick with white knuckles.

"I told you I'd support you, if this is what you want to do then I'm not going to stop you."

"Okay."