As another doctor passed by the room the Tracy's were waiting in, Gordon looked to John. Something had been niggling him since he had seen his older brother run onto the racetrack with the redhaired woman with the bright green coat, "How come you know the medic?"
Everyone looked up in surprise.
On one hand there was Virgil, Gordon, and Grandma, who had all heard John quite obviously call the redhaired medic Evie. None of them had ever met her before, leaving some unusual theories on how the astronaut knew a girl. (Unless you asked Gordon, who was convinced she was an alien that John was covering for)
On the other hand, Kayo, Scott, and John all knew exactly who the medic was and couldn't be more grateful that the woman was in on their secret making their lives a fraction easier.
John knew he was caught, now was the time for the news to come out. Just another bombshell for the family to deal with. Not that they weren't used to them. For all the bombshells that blew into the family, they were as common as any other daily conversation for the Tracy's.
John looked up to meet his younger brothers' gaze, "She's my girlfriend,"
"I'm sorry, what?" Gordon's mouth dropped as Virgil's head whipped from John, to Scott, to Kayo and back again. What worried John the most though was the knowing smile that spread across his Grandma's face. Now that was what meant trouble.
"Girlfriend?" Virgil choked out, "You live in space and you are the first to have a bl-"
"Virgil!" Grandma cut him off with a glare, "Watch your language. And what's wrong with him being happy?"
John laughed to himself, not realising he had been so obvious about his feelings towards Evie. He glanced to his older brother who was also laughing quietly, even Kayo's worry was momentarily forgotten as they all pieced the information together.
"Well," The laughs were interrupted by a specific redhead, "I don't normally come into a relatives room to that sound,"
John was the first to smile to the woman, giving a nod in the general direction of his two immediate younger brothers, "They know,"
Evie smiled and glanced to the family, "Ah," She looked around the room, "Well, I just swung by to say that Alan's in a room now, he's got a few bumps and bruises and a bit of a concussion, but he should be awake soon,"
She frowned as the redhaired boy laughed, not understanding how a concussion could be funny. As John stood she smiled to him, glad she was delivering what seemed to be good news to the family. John wrapped his arm around her waist, "Gordon believes that anything less than a broken bone is just an excuse to slack off,"
One of the darker haired boys snorted, attracting Evie's attention, "Just because you almost killed yourself,"
Evie sucked in a breath, but it didn't seem like a sore subject. A glance up to her partner confirmed that she didn't have to worry about Gordon's mental state.
John felt the look from his girlfriend and looked down to met her confused gaze, with a smile he shook his head, "I'll explain later,"
She nodded and turned to the door, "Do you want to go and see him?"
Kayo jumped up quickly to follow her, as did the rest of the family. Before John could follow the crowd though, his older brother caught his arm, "How serious are you about her?"
John's eyes pulled away from his brothers, watching as Evie lead the rest of their family to their youngest brother. Before they rounded a corner, she glanced back and met his gaze, something in John's stomach flipped as a blush rose up her light cheeks. He could only imagine the feelings could link to one thing, in a way it felt so familiar yet so different at the same time. Whenever he was stargazing he felt the same stirring in his stomach, but never quite so strong as what he was feeling as he watched Evie blush a furious red.
So it wasn't really any surprise to him when he found the words slipping from his mouth, "As serious as anything,"
Scott smiled and nodded, he'd expected the response. The older brother recognised the way John watched Evie, how his eyes seemed to only focus on her when she was around and he couldn't help but smile when he talked about her. The same look Scott remembered his parents sharing so many times when he had been a young boy, his mother always standing on the veranda as she waved them off on their fishing trips. Scott remembered how she would always smile softly and watch the car until it was out of sight, her eyes zoned in particularly to the drivers seat. His parents had adored each other, he knew that was what had made his Mothers death so hard on them all. That was probably why John's gaze scared Scott slightly, for fear of another heart being broken. But even Scott couldn't deny that his brother was hopelessly in love, and the risk of tragedy was too small to deny the chance for the pair to be happy.
"Serious enough to invite her home?" Scott smirked as his brothers face lit up, he didn't doubt the rest of their family would agree to it. Perhaps Evie could turn out as an asset to the team in the future if she went ahead with this Space Medicine thing.
"Thank you, Scott," John murmured with a smile, "For everything,"
Scott snorted and rolled his eyes, "Big brothers prerogative," He reminded John as he stood straighter, "Come on, let's go and see how the Sprout is,"
As the two rounded the corner they had seen their family disappear around, they were pushed apart by a man in a black hooded top.
"Hey!" Scott exclaimed as the man sprinted away, but as he turned with a shake of his head, he was pushed back against the wall again. This time, by two recognisable brothers.
"Gordon, Virg!" Scott yelled after his brothers, not appreciating being pushed about, no matter what the urgency.
"Alan." John stated, realising what the problem must have been.
The eldest two boys shared a look before turning and sprinting the opposite way down the corridor, until the sound of their brothers voice reached their ears, "I'm fine, he didn't touch me!"
"Alan!" Scott sighed as he stepped into the room, "What happened?"
It was Grandma that replied, "We were just getting here and a man was leaving the room,"
The two oldest boys looked over their youngest brother in concern, he looked and seemed fine in himself at least.
"It's fine," Alan insisted, "Stop fussing,"
Kayo took his hand and squeezed it gently, "We just want to know what he wanted Alan," She pointed out, "If there was any malicious intent…" She trailed off and swallowed.
Knowing that Kayo was always best distracted by work Scott looked to her, "If Alan says he's fine, how about you go and sort a press release?" He suggested to her, "The race was a big event, I'm sure word will have gotten around by now,"
Kayo smiled and nodded, glancing to Alan, "Call me if there's anything,"
Alan smiled to her, knowing she meant well but still not wanting a fuss, "I will."
Grandma looked to the younger woman and then the three boys, "I'll come with you Kayo, John, Evie went to find Alan's doctor, apparently they're old friends. She said something about ER department and ask for the Neurosurgeon,"
John nodded, "I'll walk with you,"
As the three of them left, Scott sat down on Alan's bed, "You're sure you're feeling okay?"
Alan looked to the door, physically he felt fine with only a few cuts and bruises to show for his accident. Mentally though, he was extremely confused. He had lied to his family for the sake of not being fussed over as the youngest always was. It was nagging him though, he was sure of what he had heard just before he had opened his eyes, but he didn't want the rest of his family to think of him as mad.
He looked back to his older brother, a frown now on both of their faces, "I lied, Scott," He admitted quietly, "That guy, he was in here, right next to me,"
Scott must have head the confusion in Alan's voice as he took the younger brothers hands in his as he asked, "What did he do to you?"
Alan shook his head, "Nothing, he just brushed my hair back," He swallowed and looked up to meet his brothers eyes, "I thought I was dreaming Scott, it doesn't make any sense, I was sure…" He trailed off as he sniffed.
Seeing his brother cry made Scott even more worried, why would a complete stranger stroke his youngest brothers hair? And why would it make said younger brother cry? He moved up the bed and wrapped his arms around Alan, "It's okay Sprout, you're safe,"
In response, Alan sniffed and shook his head, "No Scott, I don't think I ever was in danger,"
Scott was beyond confused by his brothers comment, not sure why he was crying if he knew he hadn't been in any danger. He needed answers that only Alan could give him. He pulled back and held his brother's shoulders, "Talk to me Alan."
Alan sniffed and wiped his damp eyes, looking up to meet his brother's gaze as he whispered, "He was talking to me Scott, I'm sure I didn't imagine it. He was telling me that I was safe and that everything was going to be okay," The younger brother sniffed and wiped away his tears before they could fall, "Then he said, 'I love you, son.' Scott, I'm almost certain-"
Scott cut him off, not quite believing what he was hearing, "You think that it was Dad?"
Alan bit his lip, knowing he had to nod but not daring to. He couldn't help but fear the what if's of the situation, what if he had been dreaming it, what if it wasn't their Dad, or possibly worst of all, what if it wasn't?
Scott hugged his youngest brother again when he nodded slightly, "I believe you Sprout. If you think it's Dad, then I'll believe you,"
Both knew that they couldn't tell the others, not yet, not until they had firm proof of what they believed. That slither of hope was enough for them. It was something to slot into the mystery of their father's disappearance and that was something at least.
As the other brothers neared the door, Scott pulled away from Alan, "We'll talk when they've gone, okay?"
Alan smiled and nodded, "Yeah, thanks,"
Scott smiled and shook his head in dismissal as the door opened, "Are you trying to give me gray hairs?"
It wasn't a surprise to Scott that he felt someone pulling at his scalp, it was even less of a surprise to find that that someone was Gordon, "Hey, look, there's a whole gray patch here!"
Scott swatted the redhaired pest away as Alan laughed and Virgil shook his head, "Don't worry Scott, he's only joking,"
Scott narrowed his eyes at his middle brother, "Yeah, I didn't doubt it," He shook his head as he looked around his three youngest brothers, all pests in their own way, but he had to love them all the same. After all, it was a big brother prerogative.