Part 9
Virgil looked at John over his shoulder. His little brother was asleep in his seat, tears going slowly down his cheeks. John had broken down when the island was out of sight. Virgil had turned on the autopilot and went to him. He'd held John until he cried himself to sleep. Virgil himself felt like crying. He was pissed off and sad at the same time. He didn't know how to cope. He had no idea of what to do. John was good at these sort of situations usually… but when it was John himself that was upset and felt unwanted… no one knew how to help him. No one was as good as him at it so they never bothered to learn. They better start learning now was the thought that ran through Virgil's head.
They'd been flying for a little bit when John had told Virgil to take his watch and phone and dispose of them. Virgil understood why. John didn't want Jeff to track him. Virgil cursed. Alan knew the code now. The code to the tags John and Brains had put in them all. Brains had realized that the eatable transmitters had one flaw… you had to eat it. What if they didn't get a chance to eat them? How would anyone find them? So Brains and John developed a tag that could be tracked but wouldn't hurt anyone. Brains put them into the boys and Jeff in secret. Only grandma knew and John since he helped developing the tracker. Virgil only found out because he' walked in on Brains putting one into John. After some subject changes, courtesy of John, Virgil had finally gotten the two of them to confess. Both explained eagerly once they knew Virgil wouldn't tell. Virgil looked at the GPS and noticed that they were reaching the airport on the mainland.
"John", he called gently. "We're there."
John sat up slowly and looked out of the window. He didn't say anything. Virgil let him be. He radioed to the airport that they were coming into landing. He maneuvered the plane smoothly and brought it down to land. During the whole part John didn't say a thing. Virgil turned off the engine after bit and turned to John.
"Are you still sure about this Johnny?" he asked. John looked at him with sad blue eyes and nodded. Virgil nodded as well and got up. He walked over to John and helped him up. He walked John outside and stayed close to his side.
John walked beside him, hanging with his head and looking completely crushed. Virgil didn't know how to help him. The only thing he could think of doing was putting his arm around John's shoulders and pulling him close. John didn't seem to object, in fact he leaned into Virgil. It felt as if he was trying to draw strength from his older brother. Virgil would gladly give his strength to John right now. Virgil would do anything to help him. John was his little brother after all. They walked through the airport and Virgil realized he had no idea what they should do now. But he didn't need to worry. All of a sudden he heard a voice.
"Johnny!" it called. Virgil didn't recognize the voice but it had a special effect on John. He's sad face lit up with a bright smile and for a little bit Virgil saw the real John shining through the sadness. Not the depressed shell that was so out of energy to even look up. But now a smile lit up John's face and he ran from Virgil's side and jumped into the arms of a really tall man and kissed him on the lips. Virgil cocked an eyebrow because he remembered what John had told him about Anthony not liking public displays of affection. But the guy kissed John back so he must've been okay with it. Or he knew what John had gone through and knew that John needed the comfort. But then again, was this really Anthony and how did he know John and Virgil would be here? Deciding it was time to figure that out Virgil walked up to them. John looked at him.
"Anthony", he said. "This is my older brother Virgil. Virgil this is my boyfriend Anthony."
Anthony grinned and held his hand out to Virgil. Virgil shook it with a smile and he gave Anthony the once over. Anthony was tall, taller than John by a head. Which made Virgil feel small because John was a bit taller than him. Anthony was also muscular which made John look really small against his side. He was a Latin-American and his dark eyes shone with both kindness and a little mischief. He had a soft grin that made Virgil feel calm and relaxed. The whole aura around Anthony spoke of calmness and strength. But there was something about him. Virgil couldn't really shake the feeling that he'd seen the guy somewhere before.
"Hello Virgil, nice to finally meet you", Anthony said and Virgil wasn't prepared for his really deep voice. He hadn't expected it at all and it must've shown on his face because John grinned mischievously and Anthony laughed. Virgil blushed a little.
"Don't worry Virge it happens to everyone", John quipped with a grin. "See I wanted a real man in my life. Not some falsetto twerp like Al or Gordon… or a baritone and tenor like you and Scott. I'm all about the bass."
Virgil laughed, knowing what song John had quoted at the end. Virgil leaned over and shoved John gently.
"No treble", Virgil said with a grin and John laughed, the first real laugh since forever. Well it felt like forever for Virgil. Anthony held John close and John looked as if he was drawing strength from Anthony's presence.
"Let's go sit down somewhere so we can talk", Anthony said and turned around with John, leading the two Tracys towards a small café.
Virgil watched John and Anthony opposite him. Anthony held an arm protectively around John while John told him everything that had happened that day. He also told the two of them about that woman in New York. Anthony and Virgil had reacted in pretty much the same way. Both looked furious at the thought of that woman neglecting John and then waltzing into his life years later, acting as if she was the good guy. Virgil knew that if he hadn't witnessed Jeff's actions earlier that day he wouldn't have thought his father capable of the things that woman said, but now he wasn't so sure anymore.
"Don't you worry Johnny you can stay with me for as long as you need", Anthony said. "After all, you are mine."
John smiled gently and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks Anthony", he said and Virgil had to smile. John and Anthony looked very much in love and they looked really cute together. They fit each other. He'd only seen them together for a little bit but he could still see that they were meant to be together. They complimented each other and understood each other.
"Thanks for getting him here safe Virgil", Anthony said, waking Virgil from his musings. "I know it's not easy for you guys either."
"What?" Virgil asked confused.
"John called me when he was running from the house", Anthony said and answered the question Virgil had been thinking about. How did Anthony know they were coming? "He said your dad knew and that he was getting of that fucking island now. Well not those words exactly. But I know you guys didn't find out about me during the best of circumstances."
"Well I did", Virgil said and told Anthony about how he found out. Anthony held John closer when he got told that John was actually injured worse than it looked. John smiled gently. Anthony was just as protective over him as Virgil or Scott. Gordon and Alan weren't bad either.
He remembered once when Alan came to visit him before International Rescue was even an option for the boys. The two blondes had been out when one of John's friends had spotted them. John and this friend had a special jargon and Alan wasn't aware of that. John's friend Simon had run up to them and shoved John backwards and started to throw insults in his face. But before John had been able to answer him back in the same way… Alan had decked the guy with one swift punch. John chuckled at the memory whenever he thought of it.
Gordon was just as protective. Once when they were out on a rescue a panicked victim had tried to hurt John and Virgil with a steel pipe. Gordon had taken one of his own and dove into the fray. Gordon was a skilled fencer so he managed to get the iron pipe out of the man's hand and sedated him with a needle to the arm the next second. John smiled, he really loved all of his brothers.
Anthony gave his shoulders a gentle squeeze, but not to comfort John but to comfort himself. Virgil was telling him about the flight from Tracy Island. John looked at Virgil. His big brother was like a big bear. He could be very sweet and cuddly and shy… but when angered he was dangerous. John could see the storm building in Virgil's eyes as he talked. Virgil was about to lose his temper and John knew he needed to do something about it.
"Virgil do you think grandma will kill me now?" he asked out of the blue and Virgil stopped his angry tirade. His face softened when he saw the worry on John's face, worry that John put there himself. Virgil knew that of course but he let John believe he didn't. Not knowing that John knew Virgil knew.
"Trust me Johnny, grandma will be angry at dad, not you", he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if she came out here to find you."
"Well then she'll be looking in the wrong place", Anthony said and smiled. "I work for the FBI behavior analysis unit and live in Quantico. Johnny will move in with me."
"I thought you were in the Air Force", Virgil said and John blushed.
"I was, but not anymore", Anthony said. "I started working for FBI 6 months ago." Anthony looked up at the clock. "Speaking of time, we better go baby."
John nodded and got up, as did Virgil. Anthony and Virgil shook hands then Virgil pulled John into a bear hug.
"Don't worry kiddo", he said. "We'll work this out, Scott, grandma, the terrible two and I. You'll be back home before you know it."
John only nodded before letting go of Virgil.
"Give my love to everyone okay?" he asked and Virgil nodded. Anthony handed Virgil a note with his address and phone number. Virgil then stood watching his younger brother walk away from him with a man Virgil barely knew. He didn't like it but he knew it was for the best. He sighed before turning around as well. He had a new battle to take care of back home.
TBC
