I am fully aware this is now months and months out of date, and I'm sorry I hadn't published it, considering I had already written it but voila! Sorry again anyone who was possibly still waiting

Lily carefully read the patient's notes, the results of the swabs and the section of the reference book. Shaking her head, she attempted to dismiss the ideas she now had about the severity of the patient's condition. It was unlikely that the young boy had this specific form and complications of the disease. However it fitted the records perfectly, the exact skin condition fully explained as symptoms of this disease. But although the likelihood of him having contracted the infection was high, these complications were incredibly rare. Lily felt like ignoring it, but if she did and the patient did have impetigo, specifically the post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis complications, his health was at serious risk. This dangerous complication could lead to kidney damage and even the simpler form was highly contagious and irritating to the skin. Removing her glasses, she cleaned them carefully, her mind still whirring. In all honesty, Lily had no idea as to whether the boy was at risk of complications. The boy did however almost certainly have impetigo, and the more painful and likely to scar complication, ecythma.

Although she was pleased to have diagnosed the painful blisters on the boy's skin and found the correct prescription for antibiotics that the boy's father could collect later, she still felt wary of the risk posed by post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

A nearby movement distracted her momentarily. Ethan having finished treating his latest patient was now taking a quick break. Lily decided there was no one better to ask so she might as well request a second opinion from him.

"Ethan! Do you have a second?"

Ethan's face lit up with a smile, as Lily called his name. "Of course, Lily. What is it?"

Lily then had to explain that the boy had come into the ED after accidentally breaking his arm while at school and how after a routine examination, Dr Simmons had found several small areas of itchy, pus-filled "crusty" blisters on the boy's face and arms. Although of course her first priority had been the fracture, the areas of irritation had seemed as though they also needed treatment. As such, when Lily had been left without a patient, she had taken responsibility for researching the strange infections. Ethan listened carefully, before reading over both Dr Simmons' observational report and Lily's possible encyclopaedia explanation. After a few minutes, Ethan turned to Lily, seemingly surprised.

"I agree this seems like simple development of 'impetigo', leading to 'ecthyma'. What seems to be the problem?"

"Well I was reading up about impetigo, specifically ecthyma and there would appear to be a possibility of the bacteria attacking the kidneys." Lily continued, seemingly seriously worried.

"How much of a possibility?" Ethan asked, now concerned of such a risk to the young patient's health.

"Less than one per cent of cases experience post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis." Lily replied quietly, managing not to trip over the difficult name of the condition.

"Oh." Ethan relaxed, the young patient was not at any real risk of severe complications. "He'll be okay then? Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory cream to treat it. And possibly anti-itching salve if the blisters are really bothering him. Are you going to tell the parents now?"

"Yes, the boy's father is with him before they go up to wards." Lily answered before turning away to walk to cubicles. Ethan walked after her, falling in to step easily with the F2.

"I can come with you, to talk to the boy and his dad. Unless you don't want me to?" He asked, slightly nervously.

Lily showed a rare smile, "That would be great Ethan. I mean, you agree, about the disease, the diagnosis even, so..." Lily trailed off awkwardly. Cleaning her glasses, she repeated her earlier statement. "Yes, it's okay if you want to come with me."

They both smiled quickly, looking away from the other, before they reached the cubicle they were looking for.

Lily pulled back the curtain, revealing Jemma carefully fitting a brace to the young boy's arm while his father watched nervously.

"Hi Jemma, are we interrupting?" Lily asked cautiously.

"No, " Her friend replied quickly, "I'm just finishing now." Turning to the dark-haired man, whom Lily assumed was the boy's father; Jemma explained the purpose of Lily's arrival. "So you see, my colleague, Dr Chao, thinks she has discovered the curse of those horrible itchy blisters, but I'll leave it up to her to explain. Back in a minute," she smiled, "I'm just going to go and set up an orthopaedic outpatient appointment for Jack."

Lily smiled back, before focusing all her attention on the two people in front of her. "So as Dr Simmons said, I think I know what it is causing these blisters. Can I just ask do you often skin your elbows Jack?"

"All the time!" His father joked, "Jack's very clumsy; always covered in mud and scratches. Never done anything as bad as this before though, have you son?"

Jack shook his head determinedly.

Lily started to speak once more, "I think Jack may have picked up a certain form of bacterial infection, possibly one of the times he fell over. This is what has caused the blisters."

Jack's father looked concerned. "Is it treatable?" He asked, worry lacing his voice.

Lily replied calmly, "Entirely so. We can give you a prescription for the appropriate antibiotics, for the underlying problem, and anti-inflammatory cream, to help deal with the worst-infected areas."

"Thank you doctor." The man seemed more relaxed, worry for his son decreasing. "You'll be alright again soon Jack, back to causing mischief before we know it."

Lily however continued talking, "I must warn you however," Ethan, standing by the curtain, groaned quietly; Lily was clearly going to ruin what had been a perfect diagnosis, "There is a small risk of further complications, leading to a possibility of kidney damage."

"Kidney damage?" The boy's father asked in horror. "How much of a risk?"

Ethan interrupted hurriedly, before Lily could further distress the patient and his father. "The chances of these specific complications developing in Jack's case are less than 1 in a thousand. And if you excuse us, I need to talk to my colleague." After opening the curtain for Lily, Ethan followed her outside. He walked a little away from the cubicle before turning to her, disappointment and anger clearly visible on his face.

"Why did you say that?" He asked, trying not to shout.

"I had to warn them of all possibilities." Lily replied flatly.

"Not one of less than one per cent probability!" Ethan said, louder than intended.

"But what if it does develop?" Lily asked, a hint of bitterness in her voice.

"In the highly unlikely event it does, the ward will deal with it and fully explain to the parents what is happening." Ethan continued, growing slightly calmer as he spoke. "But there is a ninety-nine per cent chance post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis will not develop in this specific case."

Lily replied immediately, "But it might! And we have to warn parents what might happen."

Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose, forcing himself to remain quiet. "But what now?" He asked bitterly. "Jack doesn't understand what's going on, his father can't focus on being there for him if he's worrying about kidney damage and I pity the poor ward nurse, who has deal with them in this state." He rounded on her, scarily calm, "And it's all your responsibility. So why don't you go back in there and explain to those poor scared people what the hell is going on."

"I had to warn them!" Lily finally losing control almost shouted. "What if it does develop? And they don't know what's going on?"

"If there is a real chance of severe complication, tell the patient, obviously. But there's a line between warning a patient, and scaring them. And you crossed it." Ethan replied seriously, worry creasing his brow. "Now go and explain what post-streptococcal... go and explain what the complication means for Jack. Calm them down, explain how there's only a tiny chance of it occurring."

Lily set her jaw grimly, opened the curtain and started to explain. Ethan sank into a chair, sighing heavily.

Tess rounded the corner, clearly looking for someone. Seeing Ethan sitting, half-collapsed in a chair, she smiled knowingly.

"Lily?"

"You have no idea."

"You know," Tess said carefully, aware of the dangerous territory she was stepping in to, "Most people would have given up by now."

Ethan replied without looking up, "Lily's a great doctor, she just needs to work on her people skills."

"That's exactly why most people would have given up. People skills -not book learning- does the doctor make." Tess continued knowingly. "Are you sure that's the only reason?"

Ethan sighed. "I'm positive Tess. And if you excuse me," he stood up wearily, "I do have work to be doing." Tess looked him in the eye, fully convinced he was lying but leaving it be, until they were both ready.

Walking away, Ethan was mentally berating himself, not only had he almost lost his temper with Lily, he was still struggling to keep his emotions under lock. Maybe he should learn a lesson from Lily.

Eventually Lily also stepped out of the cubicle, wracked with guilt from the terror she had seen on Jack's father face. He had been terrified by her diagnosis. She had been scaremongering and Jack had paid the price. She had learned her lesson the hard way, but she had learnt from Ethan and that scared yet still protective father, never to talk of unlikely risks that lead only to confusion and unnecessary worry.