As Virgil looked to the stars, a thousand miles away another Tracy looked down at the earth, John was in TB5, having a very quiet night until now. He had an urgent call from his dad, turning on the display with dred, he came face to face with his father's.
"Son,
we've found out why Scott has been so ill recently" Jeff looked
Grave
"It's not what I think it is, is it?" John asked
dreading the answer
"Yes, I'm afraid so, Lukemia." Jeff
replied sadly
John sighed, shutting his eyes before opening them
again
"What's
going to happen?" He asked afraid, he knew it was treatable if
caught early enough
"Its to advanced to do a lot, your
brother hid it so well, his having chemo tomorrow but he needs
transplant, a bone marrow transplant but we need a doner so I'm
asking if would come down tomorrow and give a sample to the doctor to
check out. See if your a match." Jeff knew he didn't need to
ask, John would do it in a heartbeat to help his brother.
"Of
course, Alan wil replace me?" He asked not wanting to leave his
post unattended
"Yes he will, so I'll see you tomorrow. Don't
worry dad, it'll be OK" He tried to reassure him.
"I
hope your right son, well good night" Jeff replied
"Goodnight
Dad" John replied to the screen. He sighed and thought of
Virgil. Virgil should know, he and Scot had been so close, the
closest of the brothers until they fell out and Scott sided with dad.
Maybe he already knew. That was the end. John had been a black sheep,
always different from his brothers, head in the clouds and to close
to Virgil in age when they were younger to get on well with him. But
now he was the only one who spoke to him, it should have been Scott,
John knew that, but he had turned his back on Virgil and sided with
his father, after all they had seen together and how they helped each
other through everything from mothers death to basic rescues. John
remembered he never got on with Virgil until John became ill. He had
scarlet fever and the children were kept out of the room in. Virgil
had, had it when he was 8, so he had some immunity. He had looked
after John as Scott was on Aviation training and dad was at work all
the time. John remembered Virgil playing music to him, drawing or
letting John help him with his homework or even just talking to him
about the stars and describe them while John guessed their names.
Those few days had changed their relatioship, Virgil had looked after
John and kept him company and John had learnt Virgil cared for far
more than looking good and the arts. He hoped that even after
everything he had been through Virgil would be sympathetic to Scott
or at least merciful. Deep down though he knew the answer.
