Of Insects and Illness Ch. 11
Disclaimer: See chapter one
Author's Note: Diabetic warning ahead for sweetness!
Previously: Holding their collective breaths, everyone in the room waited to see if Alan would respond to Gordon's plea to wake up.
As he drifted in that state just before consciousness, Alan tried to ignore the incessant voice trying to draw him from his cocoon of sleep. He was tired and just wanted to be left alone. He was just about to give into the darkness beckoning him into a deeper slumber when he heard that voice again, only this time, he recognized the voice.
"Hey Allie, when you gonna wake up and play with me huh? You've been sleeping for a really long time and I want to have some fun. If you wake up, we can play a prank on Scotty or anybody you want. I promise to let you choose if you'll just wake up."
"It's Gordy," Alan thought to himself as he listened to his brother talking about having some fun together. He always had so much fun playing with Gordon, even if Daddy did get onto them sometimes about the tricks they played.
"You know I can't do this alone since everybody calls us the terrible two, and besides, it's no fun if I do it on my own."
"That's true," thought Alan as he remembered the last prank they had pulled on Scotty with putting that lizard into his bed. His big brother had been so mad with them that his face actually turned red, before he chased them around the house, Gordon barely escaping his clutches by diving into the pull at the last minute. But he, himself wasn't so lucky. He remembered Scott catching him just moments later. He remembered being just a little bit afraid of what Scott would do until his brother had launched the evil tickle monster on him causing him to laugh so hard that he nearly wet his pants, the memory bringing a smile to his face.
"Dad, did you see that? I think Alan just smiled." Virgil voiced with awe at seeing Alan show his first sign of awareness since they had walked into his room just a little while ago.
"Yes I did Virgil, and it's the best thing I've witnessed in a very long time." Jeff answered with a big smile. His baby boy was finally coming around and he couldn't be happier if he tried, well…that was until he saw that next sign of movement.
Watching as Alan's eyelids began to flutter, Jeff coaxed him to keep on trying. "Come on Alan…that's it…wake up son. Open your eyes now, you're brothers and I are waiting on you."
"Please Allie, you can do it, we've been waiting a really long time." John added in a desperate need to see the only other blonde Tracy awake.
Unconsciously holding his breath, Jefferson emitted a huge sigh of happiness when his baby boy's sky blue eyes finally opened after what seemed like ages and stared up at him. "Hey Sprout, we've missed you son."
Opening his eyes, Alan had trouble focusing though the haze of sleep that had kept him under for so long. Blinking his eyes a few times to clear him, he was finally able to focus on his dad's face and smiled. He thought about talking, but his throat was hurting too much. Looking past his father, Alan scanned the room to see all of brothers there along with Kyrano and Onaha. Returning his attention back to his father, he whispered, "Daddy, my throat hurts."
"I know it does Allie, you've been a pretty sick boy, but you're going to be alright now." Jeff replied as he lovingly carded his fingers through Alan's hair trying to offer some comfort. "I'll have Robert get you something to make your throat feel better okay?"
"'Kay Daddy." Alan mumbled as his eyes slipped closed for just a minute before opening again. Glancing towards his brothers once again, his eye brows drew up in confusion. "Why you wearing your pajamas Scotty?"
Everyone in the room laughed as they felt the tension in the room dissipating with Alan's innocent question and they all looked to Scott, waiting to see what his answer would be.
"Well answer him Scooter, Alan's waiting on you to reply." John encouraged when Scott remained silent, his mouth gaping open like a fish out of water.
"Cause I wanted to stay here with you and get some sleep Sprout." Scott answered, thinking quickly as he stood by Alan's bedside, a tear trickling down his cheek. He was so happy to see his brother doing well again.
"Don't cry Scooter, you can sleep with me, I'll keep the nightmares away." Alan voiced with a yawn as he moved over to make room for his big brother. He was so sleepy
"Go ahead Scott, I'm sure it will be okay." Jeff encouraged as he watched Alan pat the bed beside him. "Both of you need some sleep. I'll take the others to the cafeteria to get something to eat."
"Yes Sir." Scott replied as he climbed up in the bed beside Alan, grateful to his father for knowing he needed the cherished time alone with his baby brother. Wrapping an arm around Alan and pulling him close while being careful not disturb the IV, Scott closed his eyes and drifted off to the soft murmuring voices of his family leaving the room and walking away. He could rest easy now knowing that Alan was going to be okay.
Arriving back at Alan's room approximately ninety minutes later, Jeff entered the room to see Dr. Robert Singer standing near the head of Alan's bed and watching over his children. He couldn't help but smile knowing how much the doctor cared for his boys. Robert was like a special uncle to them and he couldn't have loved them more if they were his own children. Walking over to stand near his friend, he reached over to brush a hand through Alan's and then Scott's hair.
"They're both going to be fine, thanks to you my friend." Jeff whispered so as not to disturb his sleeping children as he clasped a hand onto the doctor's shoulder.
"I didn't do anything out of the ordinary Jeff. It's the love you share as a family that pulled Alan through when things were looking bad for him. He had that love to draw strength from and it carried him through the rough times."
"He is going to keep getting better now isn't he?" Jefferson inquired as a shiver ran through his body at the thought of Alan becoming so sick again.
"Yes he is, but you'll have to keep a close eye on him over the next few years. Once a patient contracts malaria, there is always the chance of them having a recurrent attack so Alan will have to remain on preventative medicines for a while." Robert answered his close friend. "You'll also have to make sure that Alan is well protected on the island over the next few years. I suggest you get some mosquito repellant with Deet in it as it will be more effective. I would also suggest you put up some mosquito netting in areas where Alan will be for long periods of time, such as his bedroom. I know it might seem like it's going overboard, but better safe than sorry."
"I'll do whatever it takes to make sure Alan, or any of my boys, never has to go through this again" Jeff stated vehemently.
"I never doubted that for a minute, Jeff." Robert said as he looked at the boys once more. He knew Jeff's boys were his whole world and that to lose any of them would destroy the father.
"Okay, so tell me, how long before I can get Alan out of here?" Jeff queried of his doctor friend, ready to get his boys back home.
"Well, Alan's fever is down to 100.8 and hopefully it will continue to drop over the next twenty four hours. I plan on taking him off of the oxygen tomorrow morning to see if he can maintain his oxygen saturation levels at a steady rate. If he can do that and handle some soft solids, then I'll probably be able to release him in about forty eight hours." Dr. Robert Singer answered.
"That's fantastic. I'll go make some calls right now to see about getting the mosquito netting put up before Alan's released." Jeff said as he pulled out his vid-phone. He wanted everything in place for when they got Alan back home.
TBC Another short chapter, but I figured it would be better than having to wait another week or two for the next one.