Jeff hustled his sons down the ramp of their private jet. All four of the boys had slept on the flight over, but waking up at five in the morning to drive out to the Tracy family farm was not ideal for the boys. None of them were morning people. Jeff tousled the half asleep Scott's hair. The older boy was practically sleepwalking. Thankfully the drive to his old family farm wasn't a long one…perhaps a half hour drive.
"Come on boys…you can sleep in the car." Jeff unloaded the boy's luggage from the baggage hold and gave it to the respective boy. All four of them walked to the rental car half asleep, dragging their suitcases along behind them. Jeff was tired too, but he could last until he got back to his old home and then he would crash on his mom's couch.
She told him she would be up to show them to their rooms, and then she would work on mending Alan's costume. According to Jeff's mom, Alan was still pretty short for a first grader and the sleeves on his pilgrim costume were way too long, as were the pant legs. None of Jeff's older sons were aware that Sunday afternoon they would be attending a play that their little brother had a role in.
"Okay dad." Scott managed to open his eyes long enough to open the trunk and place his luggage inside before going to the front passenger seat. He got in and got seat belted in, and fell asleep immediately.
Jeff laughed at his sons who all acted like they were the walking dead. This week proved to be interesting so far. But Jeff couldn't wait to see his little boy again. He spoke to his mom intermittently and from what she said, Page had not yet caught the virus, but she stayed in constant contact with the ill boy. Alan on the other hand seemed to be just downright miserable. His fever remained at a constant and the only thing that really served to dull the itch was a soak in the bath…but Alan couldn't just stay in the water….he became bored too quickly.
Starting the car, Jeff double checked to make sure each of his boys had their seatbelts on, before putting the car in drive and going 'over the hills and through the woods' to get to grandma's house. The drive was quiet, the sun wasn't close to rising yet and yet Jeff couldn't help but to feel nostalgic. He had always enjoyed the early mornings when he was growing up, it was always when he got to help his dad tend to the farm and care for the crops.
Jeff reflected the entire drive and before he knew it he was turning down a very familiar stretch of road. He only had a couple hundred yards to go before he and his sons could see their family. Upon pulling into the front yard, Jeff felt himself sigh deeply. He had missed the farm. The island was nice, but it had taken some getting used to. He shut off the car and nudged Scott gently.
"Boys, we're here. Wake up!" Jeff chuckled when the porch light came on. He knew his mom was up. But the question was…was Alan awake? It was still too early for the six year old to be awake, but he always seemed to have a sixth sense. He was able to sense the presences of people entering a room and would come investigate…no matter how quiet you were.
Scott woke up, and rubbed his eyes. Peering over his shoulder he noticed his younger brothers were doing the same thing. They all desperately wanted to go back to bed, but they were slowly waking up. They had fallen asleep almost immediately after boarding the flight and slept up until the jet landed.
"Okay dad. Guys let's go." Scott assembled the troops and opened the car door. Slipping out, Scott made his way around to unload the luggage. He wanted to take a shower…the feeling of grime still sat heavily on his skin after the long day of cleaning the villa the day prior. Scott passed the luggage to each of his brothers and dad before shutting the trunk. They all quietly made their way to the porch and were greeted with the dim lighting in the hall.
"Good morning boys." Ruth opened the door and allowed her son and grandsons in out of the nippy morning air. "How was the flight?" Ruth could see the boys were all very tired, but none more so than Jeff. Jeff looked exhausted, and rightly so. He had always been an early riser and he had undoubtedly woke up early the morning prior and helped the boys to clean the villa before flying the private jet for the last nine hours.
"Good morning mom. The flight was good…quiet, but good." Jeff gave his mom a hug before stepping away to put his suitcase in the closet. He could grab it later, now he wanted to just go get some sleep. He was very tired, and wanted to be at least coherent when he got to see his little boy again. It had been almost a year since they last got to see him.
"You boys look exhausted. Why don't you all go get some sleep? We can talk later. Jeff, be careful going in there. Alan and Page are asleep on the floor." Ruth was quick to warn Jeff to watch his step. The living room was dark and it would be awful if he accidently stepped on either his son or his son's friend.
"Thanks for the warning mom. I think I will sleep on the couch for now. Night boys." Jeff tousled each of his son's hair before he slipped his shoes off and made his way through the living room sock footed. He stood a better chance of feeling the blankets that the kids slept on sock footed rather than wearing shoes. After locating the couch, Jeff settled down for sleep; he quickly lost himself to the realm of dreams.
Ruth ushered all of her other grandsons off to their old bedrooms, before setting about taking care of the chores. The hour passed by quickly and she still had so much to do. She decided to make a nice welcome home breakfast for her boys and knew that Alan and Page would be waking within the next hour…the little tykes both went to sleep early the night prior and if Ruth knew her youngest grandson…which she did, he would be waking at about sunrise. It didn't matter if he had school, was sick or if it was a holiday…Alan always managed to awaken a little after seven.
Ruth pulled out her ingredients for breakfast and began building a meal fit for a king. She got lost in her cooking and didn't notice a tall straggler had entered her midst. She almost dropped the bowl of whipped eggs when the tall straggler spoke.
"Is there anything I can do to help grandma?" Ruth turned around to see Scott. He was more awake than he had been an hour ago.
"No Scott dear. Why don't you go back to bed, the jet lag will be a little less harrowing if you get more rest." Ruth received a hug from her oldest grandson and she rubbed his back. When she pulled back she smiled. He was the spitting image of his father when he was Scott's age.
"I'm fine grandma. I couldn't possibly sleep anymore even if I tried. I fell asleep while on the flight over here." Scott sat at the kitchen table. He looked around and spotted the refrigerator. There were various drawings from his baby brother stuck to the metal with magnets. Upon closer inspection, Scott could see a long line of individuals holding hands in one drawing. He stood up and crossed the kitchen before crouching down in front of the refrigerator to look at the main drawing. It was a drawing of their entire family holding hands…their names were scrawled in crayon at the bottom under each caricature, but what really surprised Scott was the caricature of a woman with angel wings hovering above the entire family.
"You know Alan drew that when he was four? I had dropped him off at daycare and when I returned to pick him up the caretaker gave that to me. She said Alan drew it for show and tell and explained his mommy was an angel in heaven watching over him and his family." Ruth stood with her back to Scott. She knew that the older boy still felt guilty over turning away from his baby brother, but it had been out of everybody's control.
"Why didn't you ever show it to us?" Scott's voice was closed up in emotion. His baby brother was more observant than most six year olds, and he had been very perceptive to the reason for his being taken from his family even at the young tender age of four. Distance made the heart grow fonder after all.
"It was never a good time. Everybody was still trying to get over your mother's passing, and I didn't want to make you all feel bad. Alan originally put it in the recycle bin at daycare, but his caretaker took it back out and gave it to me. She said it was very well drawn, and deserved to be shown more than once. I sat your brother down when we got home and told him it was too nice to throw away and he was afraid you guys would get mad at him for drawing it." Ruth explained and was about to continue speaking when the soft pitter patters of feet resounded in the hallway.
"Grandma, I'm cold." Alan appeared in the kitchen wrapping a blanket around his body. Scott stayed by the refrigerator, and watched his little brother silently…waiting to see if he would notice him.
"Come here honey." Ruth opened her arms to the small boy, and he stumbled over to his grandmother. Scott and Ruth both noticed his staggering gait. Ruth hefted the small boy into her arms and cradled him to her chest. She set him up on the counter and grabbed the thermometer she had been carrying around for the last couple days from her pocket. She needed to check his fever. He was quite warm, but to say he was cold…that had to mean his fever was high.
"I'm itchy too. When is it gonna stop?" Ruth shushed the six year old long enough to take his temperature. It was a little over a hundred degrees.
"Not for a few more days' darling, how about a nice soak in the bath before breakfast?" Ruth placed her cool hand against the youngster's cheek. He had yet to notice his older brother's presence. Ruth had informed Jeff and the boys the night before that she had been unable to tell Alan of the surprise visit from his family.
"'Kay." The tyke readily agreed to the bath, it had been the only real form of relief he got from the constant itch. Scott was quick to offer his help to his grandmother.
"If you want, I can take him up for a bath." Scott wanted to be useful, and if helping to bathe his chickenpox riddled baby brother was kosher…he would do it no questions asked.
"Scotty?" Alan's blue eyes widened when he finally noticed his big brother in the kitchen.
"Hey little guy." Scott stepped up next to his grandmother and hefted Alan up into his arms.
"I'm not little! I've grown five inches since I last saw you." Alan glared indignantly at his older brother for insulting his recent growth spurt.
"Well, I guess the nickname of Sprout still works then huh, because soon you are going to be taller than Gordon." Scott missed his baby brother, and he had not noticed how much taller the tyke had gotten.
"I guess." Alan crossed his arms and pouted over being called little. "Grandma, when can I have my bath?" Alan squirmed in Scott's arms. The itch on his back and legs was bothersome.
"Right now dear." Ruth gently patted Alan's cheek before turning to address her eldest grandson. "Scott, when you go give him his bath put one cup of baking soda and about four drops of the lavender oil in his water. The two packages are beside the tub."
"Okay grandma." Hoisting Alan up higher in his arms, Scott spoke directly to his little brother. "You ready?" Scott resisted the urge to pat Alan on the back…it might only serve to flare the itch that they were trying hard to quell.
"Okay Scotty." Alan wrapped his little arms around his big brother's neck. Scott nuzzled his baby brother's head, and felt the connection he had lost become reestablished.
"Let's go sprout." Turning on his heel, Scott took the steps two at a time to the upstairs bathroom. After setting Alan down, Scott made him stay put while he went to fetch some clean pajamas for the child. It wouldn't do to put Alan back into his old pajamas after a relaxing bath. Scott quickly returned with some little spaceship pajamas and set them on the lid of the toilet before perching on the edge of the tub to run some lukewarm water.
"What are you doing here Scotty?" Alan placed his little hands on his older brother's knees and gazed up at him.
"Dad told us you and grandma couldn't come to visit because you were sick…so we decided to come to you. Pretty cool, huh?" Scott twisted at the waist to add the baking soda and lavender oil to the bath water before returning his focus to his little brother.
"But, I thought you guys didn't wanna come see me." Alan pouted at Scott when he reached up to scratch his shoulder and his elder brother brushed his hand away from the itch.
"What gave you that idea?" Scott checked the temperature of the bath water before helping to strip his little brother of his pajamas. Scott winced when he saw the number of pock marks on the boy. Scott picked Alan up under his arms and lowered him into the lukewarm water before he could feel the chill of being exposed in the cool room.
"I heard grandma and daddy talking once. Daddy said he didn't ever want to come back to Kansas 'cause that is where he met mommy." Alan sighed when the itch started to abate. The water always seemed to help get rid of the itch for a while.
"I don't think he meant that he didn't want to see you. It's just being back here in Kansas makes dad sad. It is where he met mom, but it's also where dad and mom started our family. You were born here, so was I and our brothers." Scott cupped his hands under the water and brought some water up to gently pour over Alan's head and shoulders, he couldn't use a cloth to wash his brother…it might make the itch worse. "Do you understand sprout?"
Alan looked at his big brother with innocent eyes. He understood what Scott said, but just barely. All he really knew was that he lived with Grandma and the two of them would make yearly flights to his dad's home to visit for a few days. Daddy never came to Kansas to see him. It made him sad.
"I guess." Alan spoke softly. He squirmed under the water…the water droplets cascading down his back were making him itchy again.
"Lay back Sprout, I won't let anything happen to you." Scott gently eased Alan onto his back so the water could wash up over his shoulders and calm the newly inflamed urge to scratch the itch.
"It itches Scotty." Alan pouted, tears of frustration welling up in his baby blue eyes.
"I know it does sprout, just relax." Scott gently swirled his hand in the water, bringing some water over Alan's head…dampening his hair. "Almost done, buddy."
The bathroom door opened slightly, and Scott could see Virgil peeking in. He motioned with his head to come in, before returning his attention back to the frustrated little boy in the bath tub. Virgil quietly closed the bathroom door and knelt on the floor by the tub, peeking in to see his little brother laying in the water, arms crossed over his chest, cheeks puffed up as he struggled not to cry and his blue eyes shining with unshed tears.
"What's the matter little guy?" Virgil just tripped the wire to set off the Alan bomb.
"I am not little! Why do you guys keep calling me that?! I am not little!" Alan sat up in the water and the tears began to flow at the unintended insult. Scott tried to shush the fussy boy, but all it did was make him angrier. "I am not little! I'm not!"
Alan brought his knees to his chest as he sat in the bath water, itch forgotten. He was nursing his wounded pride over being called little after having a growth spurt. Scott whispered something to Virgil and his eyes grew wide before looking back at his little brother.
"I'm sorry sprout. I didn't know you grew five inches. Can you forgive my mistake?" Virgil rose up and leaned over the lip of the tub, to gently caress Alan's fevered cheek. Scott gently ran his fingers through the damp hair, to calm the angered child.
"Just don't do it again, please?" Alan caved. He felt tired after his little blow up and he wanted to go back to sleep. He didn't feel hungry and hoped his grandma would let him take a nap instead of eat breakfast.
"Sure thing sprout. I'll even tell the guys not to call you little, what do you say? You've become a big boy since the last time we saw you." Virgil smiled at his baby brother. The little blonde looked at his brothers before scrubbing a fist into his eye. He was feeling really tired all of a sudden.
"Ok-ay." Alan interrupted his reply with a large yawn. Scott and Virgil smiled softly; the sick little boy had used up all his energy to take a bath and fuss.
"Hey Virge, can you grab a towel? I think Allie is ready for a nap." Virgil jumped to Scott's request, quickly recognizing Alan's waning energy.
"Here you go Scott." Virgil handed a large towel to Scott before retrieving the pajama bottoms for the little boy. Scott draped the towel over Alan's head and wrapped it around his tiny frame…lifting the boy from the bath water.
Scott sat Alan on his lap, and gently pat the towel to absorb the water on Alan's body. Alan leaned his head against Scott's chest, failing to keep awake any longer. Scott hurried to slip the pajama bottoms on the boy and Virgil held on to the boy as Scott put the long sleeved t-shirt over Alan's head.
"Hey, don't fall asleep yet kiddo." Scott threaded Alan's arms into the sleeves and pulled the shirt all the way down. Alan's head tilted forward. He was on the fast track to sleepy land. "Virge hold onto him for me. I need to drain his bath water."
"Okay Scott." Virgil stood behind Alan and wrapped his arms around the small boy's shoulders. Alan's head leaned back and rested against Virgil's waist. "Hurry Scott. I think he is about to fall asleep, and he won't be able to remain standing." Virgil gently patted Alan's cheek to awaken the boy a little.
"Done. Hand him here." Scott crouched down and wrapped Alan's arms around his neck before picking up the boy. "Let's go sprout."
Virgil and Scott exited the bathroom and slowly made their way downstairs. Stepping into the kitchen, the two older boys were greeted with their grandma feeding a little girl some French toast. The little girl noticed the two older boys and jumped down from her spot at the table before coming over.
"Hi! I'm Page! Who are you?" Scott smiled warmly at the little girl before replying.
"Hi Page, I'm Alan's big brother Scott." Page smiled at Scott before turning to Virgil and repeating her previous statement. Both older boys chuckled before Virgil replied.
"Hello Page, I'm Virgil. I am Alan's other big brother. It's nice to meet you." Virgil offered out his hand to the little girl. She grabbed the offered hand and began swinging their conjoined hands back and forth.
"Page, come back over and finish your breakfast dear." Page turned to Ruth when she spoke. "Scott, you can go put Alan on the couch with your dad. Perhaps the close contact will allow him to get comfortable." Ruth approached Scott and whispered gently to him, so as to not awaken the small boy.
"Okay Grandma, I'll be right back." Scott turned and retreated from the kitchen, before stepping into the living room. He grinned when he heard his dad snore lightly. The man was sound asleep.
Scott slowly pulled back the blanket that Grandma had draped over Jeff and with great care…laid Alan down on his dad's chest. The tiny blonde seemed to sense the change in contact and he nuzzled his dad's chest, slipping even deeper into the pull of sleep. Scott gently draped the blanket over both his dad and baby brother before going back to the kitchen.
"Okay, Alan and dad are both down for the count." Scott held his index finger up to signal quiet as he noticed his other brother's approach. All four of the Tracy sons gathered at the breakfast table to dig into a late breakfast. Gordon sat beside Page and devoured the food placed on his plate. The small girl giggled at seeing Gordon inhale his food and the young redhead stared at the unfamiliar child.
"Who is this?" Gordon looked around the table before setting his sights on his grandmother.
"This is Alan's friend Page. She is staying here until tomorrow afternoon." Ruth pat Page on the back garnering her attention. "Finish your breakfast sweetheart. Then I'll help you get dressed and if Alan feels like it you two can begin building the forts that you wanted to build yesterday."
"Really? Yay, Alan said he can't wait to show me how to build a fort." Page finished her breakfast quickly, before hopping down to the floor. She was a very happy child right now.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Breakfast came and went. Alan and Jeff remained asleep until almost noon. Scott, John, Virgil and Gordon took Page to go play outside in the leaves when she became progressively bored. When the group decided to return inside to the warmth, they were surprised to find Jeff and Alan were nowhere to be found. Scott went upstairs and found Jeff leaving the bathroom with a very pale Alan wearing a different pair of pajamas.
"Is Allie okay dad?" Scott approached his dad and baby brother with a worried look, but halted when Alan groaned pitifully.
"Ah, your brother's tummy was upset and he got sick a few minutes ago." Jeff cradled Alan in his arms and frowned when Alan groaned again, putting a hand over his tummy. "You okay now Allie?"
"Hm-mm. My tummy feels yucky." Alan swallowed deeply, and Jeff looked at Scott, before turning to go back to the bathroom.
"Okay, let's go in case you get sick again." Jeff made the right decision, because Alan gagged almost immediately. Jeff covered his six year old son's mouth with his free hand to prevent him from throwing up on the floor. "Scott, please go see if grandma has anything to soothe his tummy."
"I'm on it dad. Be back in a flash." Scott didn't know if his dad heard him after he closed the bathroom door, but nonetheless Scott jogged down the stairs to the kitchen. "Grandma, would you by any chance have some ginger ale for Allie, he's with dad in the bathroom."
"Yeah, I picked some up Monday. Is your brother all right?" Ruth pulled down a kiddie glass from the cupboard before pouring a small amount of room temperature ginger ale in it for Alan.
"He's throwing up right now, but dads with him." Scott accepted the glass from his grandmother before turning on his heel and going back upstairs. He passed by his three immediate younger brothers and Page as he was heading upstairs. Before reaching the landing Scott called. "Thanks grandma!"
Scott slowed his jog to a fast walk and when he approached the bathroom door he knocked before opening the door, poking his head inside. He saw his dad wiping Alan's face with a damp cloth, murmuring to the little boy. Scott felt terrible for his brother when he leaned over the bowl again and began to cry.
"I don't feel good daddy." Alan moaned pitifully, not getting sick but being ready.
"I know you don't buddy, but it's okay." Jeff glanced over his shoulder when he heard Scott close the bathroom door, the younger brunette leaning against the sink, beside the toilet where Alan stood. When Alan retched, Jeff knelt down behind Alan murmuring words of comfort and rubbing his back. "It's okay. Throw up if you need to."
"You're okay Allie, dad and I are here." Scott kept his distance so as to not crowd his sick baby brother, but began murmuring much like his dad was. Scott winced when Alan finally threw up, but proceeded in murmuring to his little brother soothingly.
Jeff wiped the damp cloth around Alan's mouth when he finished, and kissed the flustered little boy on the temple. Jeff flushed the toilet and picked Alan up again, cradling him against his shoulder. The miserable little boy just laid his head on Jeff's shoulder and sniffled. Scott approached his dad and Alan and held the glass to give Alan a small sip. Alan grimaced at the taste of the ginger ale, but swallowed the tiny mouthful regardless.
"Feel better Allie?" Scott whispered to Alan when he laid his head back onto Jeff's shoulder again. He grinned when Alan nodded his head.
"Why did I get sick daddy?" Alan asked softly, weakly hugging his dad's neck.
"Your tummy was just throwing a tantrum; it's on time out right now." Jeff didn't want to say the chickenpox caused the upset tummy, so he said it in a way that a child might understand.
"Do you feel up to watching a movie or do you want to take a nap?" Scott asked softly.
"Movie please." Alan used his manners, and smiled weakly at his dad and older brother.
"Dad, I can take Allie. Why don't you go get a cup of coffee? Grandma was making a pot when I went to get Alan the ginger ale." Scott held his arms out ready to receive Alan from his dad.
"If you're sure Scotty. But if Allie feels sick, please come get me." Jeff passed Alan off to Scott and before leaving the bathroom, retrieved the cup of ginger ale and turned out the light.
"I will dad." Scott cradled Alan close to his chest, and gently squeezed the huggable six year old. "Which movie do you want to watch Allie?"
"Cars." Alan muttered softly, before burying his head in Scott's shoulder.
"I have never heard of that movie." Jeff wracked his brain for a movie titled "Cars".
"It's a Disney Pixar movie, about a racecar. It's a cute little movie." Scott gently patted his baby brother on the back, mindful of not reigniting the itch. "Why do you like the movie Allie?" Scott knew why, but he loved to hear his baby brother say why he liked the movie.
"The car is red." Scott cast an amused look at his father before smiling widely. Jeff himself although sad for his youngest not feeling well found himself smiling at his baby's honest and innocent answer.
"Well, go enjoy the movie. Remember Scott, come get me if your brother begins to feel sick again." With that Jeff and Scott parted ways, Jeff sans a child in his arms, Scott with a full load in his arms.
The tiny blonde in Scott's arms seemed to drift in and out of sleep and wakefulness, but Scott put on the movie regardless. It was something that kept Page occupied and out of Alan's face the times that he was asleep. When Alan was awake he would squirm…trying not to scratch at the itch and he'd giggle at the humorous scenes of Cars. John, Virgil and Gordon joined Scott, Alan and Page in the living room upon seeing that Scott was babysitting the two tykes.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Scott held a finger up to his mouth before pointing at Alan who was asleep in his arms when his dad and grandmother came into the living room an hour later. Ruth was carrying a tray that had a grilled cheese sandwich for Scott and chicken noodle soup for Alan. Gently shaking Alan, Scott began murmuring to the little boy who was so out of it, a bomb could go off and he wouldn't hear it.
"Hey sprout, do you think you can eat some soup?" Scott played with the blonde curls, as he prompted his baby brother to open his eyes.
"Mmm." Alan refused to open his eyes, choosing instead to bury his face into Scott's side.
"That tickles sprout. Now come on, grandma and dad brought you some soup." Scott moved Alan from his side, sitting the tiny blonde up straight. His blonde curls were stuck to his forehead and neck in places from perspiration.
"I'm cold Scotty." Alan shivered slightly after he made his statement, which prompted Scott to press the back of his hand to Alan's forehead.
"It seems like you've still got a bit of a fever Allie." Scott lowered his hand, in favor of accepting the tray of food from his grandmother. "Can you try to eat some soup?"
"My tummy still feels yucky though." Alan gently rubbed his tummy as he said this. "Do I have to?"
"Just a couple bites Sprout. If it makes your tummy still feel yucky, you don't have to eat any more. Right Grandma?" Scott placed his hand over Alan's on his tummy.
"That's right sweetheart, but the soup might make your tummy feel less yucky. Can you give it a try?" Ruth perched on the edge of the couch, aware of the audience lying on the floor. Jeff walked around behind the couch, gently placing a hand on top of Alan's golden locks.
"Grandma and Scotty are right Allie, soup might make you feel better." Alan craned his neck to look up at his dad, before looking at Scott and his grandma Ruth. He was feeling kinda hungry, but his tummy was still feeling yucky.
"Okay." Alan resigned himself to eating his soup, if only a little bit.
Grandma placed a trashcan beside Scott's feet in the event that Alan got sick before handing Scott a spoon to feed Alan the soup. Carefully Scott filled the spoon and held it up to Alan's mouth. The little boy took a tentative sip of the warm liquid. Scott kept in mind that Alan wouldn't be able to stomach much of the soup, but he continued to feed the boy as long as he accepted the soup.
"Is that good Allie?" Scott gave Alan a small spoonful of noodles with small bits of diced up chicken. Alan nodded slowly. When Scott raised another spoonful of soup to Alan's mouth he found himself frowning when Alan pulled his head away.
"No more…my tummy feels yucky." Alan turned his head away when Scott tried following his mouth with the soup filled spoon.
"That's good Scotty." Grandma reached over Scott's shoulder. A pitiful groan redirected everybody's gaze to the tiny blonde. "Are you okay sweetheart?"
Alan wrapped his arms around his tummy, frowning. "I don't feel so good."
"Do you think you're gonna be sick Sprout?" Scott gently pat Alan's back, trying to be of some comfort to Alan in his time of need.
Scott reached down with his free hand and pulled the trashcan by his feet up onto the couch. Alan whimpered again, rubbing his tummy slowly. He really didn't feel good.
"S-Scotty…I…don't…" Scott quickly maneuvered Alan's head over the trashcan, continuing to rub his baby brother's back and pat it gently.
"You're alright Sprout." Scott barely noticed his dad crouching beside them as Grandma joined Scott's efforts to help Alan through his upset tummy. "Better out than in."
John had the foresight to usher Page and his two younger brothers from the room when Alan began to cry. Page however refused to leave, when John attempted to pick the girl up, she evaded him and ran to Alan instead.
"Allie, what's the matter?" Page quickly jumped up onto the couch and hugged Alan even as Scott used the material of Alan's sleep shirt to wipe around the edge of his mouth. Despite Alan having just thrown up everything he'd just eaten, he'd still managed to hug his young friend…going so far as to cry in her arms.
"I don't feel good Page…" Alan whimpered as Page squeezed him tight.
"Hugs make it all better, that's what my mommy says when I don't feel good." Page hugged Alan again, smiling regardless of her friend's discomfort with his upset tummy and chickenpox. "You feel better yet?"
Alan nodded his head against Page's shoulder before falling asleep against Scott's chest. The eldest brother cradled Alan close as he noticed Page too had crawled into his lap and was snuggling close to Alan. Looking up to meet his father and Grandmother's eyes, Scott couldn't help but to smile himself at the heartlessness of his baby brother's little girl friend.
