Chapter two
A Visit from Dr. Martin
Jeff stood on the patio and watched as a small plane landed on the landing area on the island, as soon as the engine quieted Jeff ran to meet the middle aged man that stepped out of it.
"Thanks for coming out so quickly Jim," Jeff said as the doctor approached him.
I'll take anything for a chance to see one of my favorite patients," Jim smiled. He had known the boys since they were small and loved to see them, but was happier when it was under better circumstances.
Jeff lead the way into the living room where, John, Gordon and Alan were trying to put a puzzle together.
"Dr. Martin!" all three of them yelled at the same time.
"Hi boys," the doctor said smiling at the three.
"You're going to make Virgil feel better, right?" Alan asked his high voice squeaking a little.
"I'm sure going to try Alan," the doctor said as he turned from the boys to follow Jeff up the stairs.
As they entered Virgil's bedroom, they saw Scott; he was sitting at Virgil's bedside, running his fingers through his baby brother's chestnut colored hair. His head shot up when he hear the door squeak open.
"Hi, Doctor Martin, "Scott said wincing a little as his fingers got caught in one of Virgil's curls.
"Hey Scott, how's it going?" Doctor Martin asked as he walked up to stand by Scott's chair.
"Alright I guess, though I'm worried about Virgil," Scott said quietly.
"How is he doing?" the doctor asked as he opened the bag he had brought with him.
"Well, I gave him some Motrin a little earlier, like you told me to dad. I think it brought his fever down a little bit but not much. He's coughing a lot now and he said his throat hurts really badly," Scott said looking from his father to the doctor.
"You said, his throat hurts?" the doctor asked.
"That's what he said yes," Scott confirmed and jumped a little when Virgil's hand tightened in his.
"Scottie?" Virgil's voice was a whisper.
"Hey there Ace, Doctor Martin is here to take a look at you, you woke up just in time," Scott said with a smile.
"You're so funny Scott," Virgil said and tried to laugh but went into a coughing fit instead.
"Hey, easy Ace, easy," Scott soothed as he lifted his brother's head off the pillow and sat behind him so he could hold his head up better.
As the coughing subsided Virgil relaxed into his brother grateful for the comfort.
"Hey Virgil, your brother can stay there while I take a look at you if it makes you feel better," the doctor said remembering how close Virgil and Scott were.
Virgil nodded and leaned in even more to his brother.
"Well, I heard that cough, and I do not like the sound of that, so would it be alright if I listened to your lungs first?" Doctor Martin said as he took his supplies from his bag.
Virgil nodded again, and Scott helped him sit up so the doctor could listen to his back. Doctor Martin's face was grim as he listened.
"Alright Virgil you can relax again, can you tell how you feel? Exactly," the doctor asked.
"My head hurts mainly, but since I started coughing my throat hurts really badly now, it's almost as if I have coughed it raw," Virgil crocked from the way he talked you could tell he had a sore throat.
"Can I take a look at your throat?" the doctor asked.
…………………………….
As doctor Martin finished up his exam, Virgil started to fall asleep his Scott's arms.
"Scott you better put him back down before you're stuck that way," the doctor said with a small chuckle.
Scott looked down at Virgil and smiled; he slowly pulled himself out from under Virgil and gently placed his brother's head back on the pillows. He then took the chair that the doctor had been using and started playing with Virgil's hair again.
"Jeff, can I speak with you outside for a minute?" the doctor asked as he walked towards Virgil's bedroom door.
"Of course; Um, Scott?" Jeff asked turning to his oldest once again.
"I'll stay dad, don't worry," Scott said with a smile.
"Thanks," Jeff said and followed the doctor out into the hallway.
"Jeff," the doctor began.
"It's bad, isn't it?" Jeff asked his face full of fear.
Doctor Martin looked at Jeff, he did not want to tell his friend this, he knew how much Jeff's sons meant to him, but he had no choice.
"Jeff-I'm afraid Virgil has influenza, and to top it all off, his lungs have become infected," doctor Martin said gravely.
"What does that mean Jim?" Jeff asked fear beginning to grip him.
"Jeff you need to bring Virgil to the hospital; his influenza if far to advance to treat with anything other then IV antibiotics, and also, I'm afraid I'm going to have to operate to drain the infection in his lungs, but I'm not going to be able to do it right away," Jim said sadly.
"Why not, will he get any better without the operation?" Jeff asked.
"The antibiotics will help and hopefully give him enough strength back," Jim said as he put a hand on his friends shoulder.
"His strength, how long will that take?" Jeff asked fear gripping him completely.
"That's my point Jeff; Virgil is a very weak boy right now and I don't know how long it will take before he is strong enough; a week, two weeks, maybe even longer. You need to get to the hospital as soon as possible. I'll meet you there, just let me know when you'll be there," Jim said trying to encourage his friend.
"I understand, give me two hours to settle the other boys, I'll have Virgil to the hospital by tonight," Jeff said as a single tear rolled down his face.
"I'll be there for you Jeff, remember, Virgil is a Tracy; he's a fighter," Jim said as he squeezed his friends shoulder, "I'll see myself out."
As Jim left, Jeff stood still for a minute, how could this happen, and why to Virgil; his little Virgil; his little chestnut haired boy, the one who look just like his mother. The one who played the piano like a professional; not the twelve year old boy he really was; the one who never got sick. Why did it have to be him?
Jeff sighed as he wiped at the tears that had started to fall down his face and he looked at the pictures that lined the hall. The first one was of him and his wife Lucy on their wedding day, Jeff had his arm around Lucy and Lucy was leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.
The second one was of all five of his boys together; the picture had been taken about two years ago; about six months before Lucy was killed. On the other side of the wall were the pictures of the boys alone, their school pictures.
Jeff's eyes fell on Virgil's, he was sitting up very straight, which made Jeff let out a small chuckle, Virgil was very small for his age and he would always sit up as straight as possible to make himself look taller.
Jeff looked back to the other wall and his eyes fell on the picture of just Scott and Virgil together; they had their arms around each others shoulders, it looked like Virgil was standing on something because they were almost the same height. All the brothers were very close, but there was a special bond between Scott and Virgil that Jeff just didn't understand.
Jeff brought himself to look through Virgil's bedroom door. There was Scott, sitting at Virgil's bedside, slowly running his fingers through his brother's curly hair.
Jeff sighed, how was he going to tell Scott how sick his baby brother really was.
T.B.C.
