When I watched last week's episode (Shame), I was surprised that no-one seemed to mention Honey. You'd think she'd be informed if her dad was in hospital and her arrival would also have the potential to make things even worse for Ethan. So here's what could have happened.

Just to warn you, Chapter 2 has taken a very dark direction I wasn't expecting it to, but I might delete that part so I don't want to post detailed warnings yet.

Cal was sitting outside when he saw her.

He was sitting outside and hoping this day wouldn't get any worse because he didn't think he could cope with any more. He'd tricked – no, guilt-tripped - Ethan into having a blood test, which had seemed like a great idea at the time, but now seemed worse and worse with every passing second.

What if Ethan had it?

How could Cal tell him anything without confessing what he'd done?

As if finding out something like that wouldn't be hard enough for Ethan, but knowing his brother was capable of going behind his back like that; collecting a blood sample under false pretences; playing on Ethan's guilt…

And to do it in this way: to let Ethan think he was helping a little boy, when most of all, he was helping Cal… potentially helping Cal to sign his death warrant…

Then there was the fact that Ethan was barely coping already following the death of the suicidal patient he'd so wanted to help. He'd shouted at another patient today and Lily had told him Ethan had lost it in a meeting, which put Cal into another difficult position. Ethan and Lily were finally getting around to being friends again and it wouldn't help either of them if Cal admitted to Ethan that Lily had told him had happened in the meeting and the reason for it.

It was so horrible, knowing what was upsetting Ethan but not feeling able to help him.

The news about Noel had made matters even worse: a guy they'd known ever since they'd been at the ED; a guy they saw every day. At first, Cal had been too shocked by the news to realise what it could mean for Ethan, but then, quite suddenly, it had hit him.

If Noel was in hospital, fighting for his life, then naturally, his daughter would want to visit. The fact she'd broken Cal's little brother's heart wasn't going to stop her – and so it shouldn't. But Cal had been praying she wouldn't come until Ethan's shift had finished for the day, for much as Noel needed Honey, Ethan didn't need to see his ex.

But here she was, and Ethan was still in there, no doubt beating himself up over something that wasn't his fault.

She hadn't changed much. Long, wavy extensions. Far too much make-up (what had Ethan ever seen in her anyway? In what way was she even his type?); a bright pink top that seemed out of place in a hospital visitor; skinny jeans and high heels.

"Cal," she said, stopping in front of him.

"Honey," he responded, and turned away.

"How is he?" asked Honey.

Cal rounded on her. "Who? The guy who's lying critically ill in a hospital bed or the guy whose heart you ripped to shreds?"

"My dad," said Honey. "Obviously!"

Cal knew this was the right answer, but it infuriated him that she wasn't asking after Ethan; that she didn't care what she'd done to him; that Ethan meant nothing to her. "Go in and ask the guy on reception."

Honey flinched and her eyes filled with tears. "Oh God."

Cal felt a flash of impatience. "What's wrong?"

"The guy on reception," said Honey. "He's not going to be my dad, is he?"

"Well, obviously not!" said Cal. He knew he shouldn't be unkind to a girl whose dad had come close to death, but he hadn't forgotten what she'd done to Ethan. Of course, Ethan had done his best to hide it, but Cal had known the truth, long before Ethan had most uncharacteristically dissolved into tears over breakfast just because Cal was eating honey.

Ethan was so heartbroken, he'd actually let Cal hug him.

Cal's fists were itching to clench. He would eat this Honey for breakfast too if she even thought about hurting Ethan again.

"Are you going then?" he said, realising the girl was still standing in front of him, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Where's Ethan?"

Cal leapt from the bench into a standing position. "How dare you even mention his name?"

"I… I… I'm scared," whimpered Honey.

"Yeah? We all get scared, Honey. We don't all go running to Ethan."

"Since when have you done anything else?" she retorted.

"I'm his brother," said Cal. "I'm allowed. You're nothing to him."

"But I want Ethan!" she wailed. "My dad might be dying in there and I need Ethan."

"No!" Cal pointed a finger in her face and she took a hurried step backwards, stumbling slightly. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to walk back into his life just because your dad's seriously ill and demand to see Ethan. Have you even got any idea of how much you hurt him?"

Honey sniffled. "I didn't mean to. I thought we were suited, but... we weren't."

"That's fine," said Cal. "If you're not suited, then you're not suited. But to shout it out in the waiting room in front of everyone…"

"That was an accident!" said Honey. "And I didn't shout it. My dad was going on about Ethan being his son-in-law. To Ethan. I had to tell him. Ethan weren't going to say nothing."

Cal gave her a look of scorn. "There are better ways of telling him than that."

Honey was sobbing. "Okay, I'm sorry."

"Tell that to Ethan!" said Cal, and instantly regretted it.

"I will," sniffed Honey. "When I see him, I'll tell him."

Cal took another step towards her. "You really think I'd let you within ten miles of him?"

Honey put her hands over her face and started to howl. Cal turned from her in disgust to realise they weren't alone.

"Cal, what are you doing!" Robyn was staring at him in anger and shock. "You can't speak to a relative like that!"

Cal was getting emotional too now. "She broke my brother's heart!"

"It doesn't matter," said Robyn.

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?"

Robyn put her arm around Honey. "Of course it matters, but Honey's come to see her dad, who's seriously ill in hospital. That's the only thing we can think about right now. You're a doctor; she's a patient's relative. Come on, Honey. Come with me. I'll take you to your dad."

Cal had thought finding Ethan crying in the staff room would be the worst thing that could happen, but right now, he could see its advantages. At least if Ethan was hiding in here, he was less likely to walk into Honey.

Ethan didn't notice him at first, but as soon as he heard a footstep, he turned away and quickly wiped his eyes.

"Ethan." Cal sat down and put his arm around him – and it was a measure of Ethan's emotion that he leaned in to Cal, rather than pushing him away.

"What are you doing?" said Ethan, his voice soft and shaky.

"Trying to be there for my brother," said Cal.

Ethan's eyes filled again. "I'm fine."

"Ethan, you never cry when you're fine," said Cal. "Most of the time, you don't cry even when you aren't. Especially not in the staff room where anyone could catch you."

Ethan sniffed. "I'm not crying, Caleb. I've got to get back to work."

He put his glasses on and started to stand up. but Cal caught his shoulders. "I don't think you should go back to work, Ethan. Go home. It's okay. We can manage. I'll say you're not well."

"I don't think you should be making decisions for me or lying for me," said Ethan, but he sounded far from defiant.

"I'm not making decisions for you," said Cal as patiently as he could. "And I'm also not really lying. You're not yourself and I'm advising you to go home."

"And I'm rejecting your advice." Ethan stood up and walked out of the staff room.