Chapter ten

Little Brother bedside Vigil

Scott jolted awake as his head slipped off his bandaged hand. All though he hated to admit it that had been the third time he had fallen asleep, but he was lucky enough his father hadn't seen any of his near misses.

Scott had been released from the hospital three days ago with strict doctor's orders to rest when he got home. Of course Scott hadn't left the hospital yet. He was in Virgil's room, trying to will his brother to wake up.

Scott had to hold back his tears as he watched the ventilator, the small hissing sounds, in and out, keeping Virgil breathing. He had stopped breathing in surgery and the doctors had to place the ventilator tube down his throat to inflate his lungs to help him breath.

Virgil's mouth was covered by the tape and ventilator, his lips were barely visible. His leg was in a cast and hung over the bed in a leg sling. The IV drip was in his left hand while his right was in a cast and strapped to his chest with a sling.

"Hey there Ace; you really know how to worry an older brother you know that?" Scott said as he ran his fingers through his comatose brother's hair.

"Scott?" a voice sounded from the door behind him.

The suddenness of the voice made Scott jump, but he didn't have to turn completely to know who it was.

"Hey dad," Scott said not as he quickly glance up at his father and then back to Virgil.

"Scott, you really should go home, you need to get some sleep, you were just released yourself, you need time to recover," Jeff said as he came over and placed his hand on his oldest son's shoulder.

"I can't leave him dad," Scott said as he continued to run his fingers through his brother's hair.

"Scott please, John and I will stay with Virgil and I'll call the house if there's any change. Please let Gordon and Alan take you home," Jeff said almost in a pleading voice.

"Dad-," Scott began.

"Scott, five hours, that's all I ask, please just go home for five hours, get some rest and some real food, please." Jeff pleaded.

Scott sighed and looked at his brother, he gently squeezed Virgil's left fingers but all he got back was the hiss of the ventilator. Scott looked up to his father.

"Alright-five hours, but as soon as its up I'm coming back here and you can't stop me," Scott said determination in his voice.

"Alright Scott, thank you," Jeff said as he gently squeezed his son's shoulder.

"Gordon and Alan are already waiting for me aren't they?" Scott asked as he gave his father a knowing look.

"They're at the door; a taxi is waiting to take the three of you to the airport," Jeff said with a small smile.

"Alright," Scott said as he got up, he gently brushed his fingers over his brother's cheek and then leaned over and kissed Virgil on the forehead and whispered into his ear, "I'll be back little brother, I promise."

Scott walked towards the door, just as he reached it John walked in.

"I'm glad to see dad was able to talk you into going home for a while," John said as he gave Scott a quick hug.

"Only for five hours, then I'm coming back here to camp out with you two until Virgil decides to show us his eyes again," Scott said trying to laugh but it sounded more like a sob.

"Scott, this is Virgil we're talking about, you know him, if he has a choice he won't give up without a fight, he's going to make it through this, don't worry," John said as he squeezed his brother's shoulder.

"I know your right John, thanks," Scott said with a grateful smile and turn once more to his father, "Dad you promise-you'll call if there's any change at all?"

"I promise Scott, now go on, the sooner you go, the sooner you get back, but I don't want you back here anytime before your five hours are up, FAB?" Jeff asked looking at his son with meaning.

"FAB dad, I'll see you guys later," Scott said as he turned and walked out of the hospital to meet Gordon and Alan.

Jeff sighed, gave John a small smile and then turned back to Virgil, he slowly started running his fingers though Virgil's hair like Scott had done, then he started talking to him, "Virgil, we're all waiting for you son, waiting for you to open your eyes and breath on your own again. If you're being given a choice Virgil I know it's hard, but please son, don't leave us, your little brothers need you-, your older brothers need you-, the world needs you,-I-need you. So I'm asking you to come back, I know you miss your mother Virgil but it's not your time to be with her yet, it can't be."

Jeff started to shake with sobs and John moved closer to him, he put one arm around his father and with the other he gently lifted Virgil's limp left hand and held it, and continued what his father started.

"Dad's right Virgil, you can't go and be with mom yet, you promised to finish teaching Gordon how to play the piano, and Virgil you are the only person I know of who can teach Gordon anything, except for dad of course but you're the only one of us who plays the piano, and trust me, no other piano teacher could stand Gordon. I guess what I'm trying to say is what dad was trying to say, we're asking-no-begging you to come back to us, please Virgil-come back," John managed to said before he started sobbing himself.

They sat there and cried hoping that they would see even a small change, but the only answers that they received were the beeping of the heart monitor and the steady hissing of ventilator.

T.B.C.