Chapter Three
Goodbye Party, Hello brothers.
Jeff walked to the door frame and cleared his throat to make himself known making Scott jump a little in surprise.
"Dad, I didn't know you were standing there," Scott said as he continued to play with Virgil's hair.
"Scott, I just finished talking with the doctor," Jeff said slowly.
"And?" Scott questioned worry written over his face.
Scott, Virgil has influenza, and his lungs are infected, I need to get to the hospital tonight," Jeff said sadly knowing to well how this was going to affect Scott.
"The hospital! Why the hospital, why can't we just take care of him here?" Scott nearly yelled, he stood up nearly knocking the chair over in the process.
"Scott, you don't understand, Virgil is very, very sick, the only thing that will help him get better is IV antibiotics and an operation," Jeff stopped when he saw all the color drain from Scott's face, Scott began to teeter back and forth and he would have fallen if Jeff hadn't caught him.
"Scott, are you alright?" Jeff asked worry evident in his voice.
Scott didn't answer right away; he looked to his father then to Virgil then back to his father. "I'm alright Dad, did you say operation?"
"Yes, the doctor needs to drain the infection, but he won't be able to do it until Virgil gets some of his strength back," Jeff said as he took the chair that Scott had vacated.
"How long will that take?" Scott asked sitting at the foot of the bed.
"The doctor said the sooner I can get him to the hospital, the sooner they can start the antibiotics. It could be as long as two weeks, maybe even longer," Jeff said as he ran his fingers through Virgil's wet hair.
"Do you want me to watch the guys so you can stay with Virgil? I don't have to go to that summer party on the mainland," Scott offered running a hand through his own dark brown hair.
"Oh Scott, I hate to ask you to do that, you've been looking forward to this party for weeks," Jeff said, though he really didn't know what other options he had, his mother was on vacation for another week.
"It's okay dad, I wouldn't have any fun knowing Virgil's in the hospital anyway, I can watch them, at least until Grandma gets home." Scott said he thought for a moment, he knew John wouldn't be any trouble, being fourteen he could probably watch himself. It was the terrible twosome that he was worried about.
Jeff sighed and put his hand on Scott's shoulder, "Thank you Scott, I will make it up to you I promise."
"Help Virgil get better, that's all the pay back I need," Scott said as he left the room to tell his other brothers the news, leaving Jeff alone with a sleeping Virgil and his thoughts.
T.B.C.
Sorry I know it's short but there's only so much you can write when you've got writers block.