Hi everyone, Virgil here. Ro's been a bit out of sorts lately and apologises for the delay. Life has been a bit rough to her with illness and general college stress - makes me feel somewhat better after all she's been putting me through…anyone believe in karma?
As promised, a big hello to new reviewers simgirl97 and Elizabeth-Jasper. Sorry it's taken so long to welcome you, Ro kinda stopped writing for a bit. But now she's back in full form and rearing to inflict more torture upon my family and me *frowns* hmm...
simgirl – Ro is overjoyed that you've taken the time to read this and hopes you stay with it! Reviews are like roses – graciously accepted with the high possibility of a squeal or two. Although I'm not sure I agree with that...ow *rubs ears*
Elizabeth-Jasper – Ro sends humongous apologies for not fulfilling your request of updating immediately, and begs your forgiveness – would you like Grandma to bake you some cookies?
Thanks to both of you for your reviews and everyone else out there, hopefully this satisfies you for now!
Chapter Eleven
Scott could vividly remember the near-week in the Valais hospital spent sitting in one of the younger two's beds, big brothers comforting the younger in the absence of both parents. Dad had had to sort out paperwork and press interviews as well as arranging transport back home – mom included.
Losing her had hurt in a way that was so difficult to explain. It wasn't physical pain, like pulling a muscle after too much running, or the occasional bad combat training session in the air cadets where he'd get his ass kicked. It was just a constant empty presence in his head, in hischest and heart, reminding him that someone importantwas no longer there.
But he'd buried all of his own suffering and grief, bravely putting on a mask to comfort and soothe his brothers who desperately needed him. He needed to be their rock, the person they looked to for strength and reassurance. What good would it do them if they saw him break?
So he and John had taken turns sitting with Alan and Gordon in their private room on the Paediatric ward. Whether it was to sit on the chairs beside them during the day to tell stories, cuddle them when they cried or to help a reluctant Alan with a colouring book before he'd give up and then ask to watch cartoons, they were always there.
Virgil did have his own bed on the opposite side of the room, but with his only injury being a now reset left shoulder in a sling he was freer to move around. Alan wasn't allowed out of bed. Being only three and having suffered from mild hypothermia he had an IV line in his arm replacing fluids, and had to drink either warm milk or hot chocolate at intervals throughout the day, helping to keep his body temperature up and stable. Gordon was also stuck in bed, the eight year old unable to do much with his right leg in a cast.
Every night Scott and John ended up on the beds with them for the night, guarding their brothers from night terrors even if the nurses administered sedatives to help. It was for the peace of mind of the elder two as well as for the comfort of the youngest two. Scott didn't want to let them out of his sight for fear of losing them. Granted that was irrational as they were in a hospital of all places, but the terror of not knowing whether Virgil, Alan and Gordon were alive when they'd gotten to the place where their lodge should have been, refused to leave him.
After three days the doctors tried to get Gordon to break in the crutches to relieve weight off his badly fractured leg so he could become more mobile, and enable him to get around when they got home. The doctors had wanted Gordon up in the rehab ward but Scott refused, wanting them to be altogether. That night Gordy had cried himself to sleep cuddled up to Scott on the bed, exhausted and just wanting to go home. Sensing his immediate older brother's distress, Alan – now off the drip - had scrambled out of his own bed despite protests and into Gordon's, insisting he'd be just as warm sleeping with two of his brothers. Scott carefully moved Gordon's propped-up-on-a-pillow leg to the right so he could then itch up and let his youngest brother on. Alan leaned carefully over Scott and rested a hand on Gordon's head.
"Sleep, Gordy. We be okay," he whispered with an innocent smile, making Scott's heart soar. Gordon instantly calmed down, his breathing evening out as Scott stroked a hand through his hair. Alan on his left smiled up at him and wished him goodnight before closing his eyes. Scott too slept peacefully that night.
And now he sat echoing the same position on the cold, hard tarmac of the road outside the Blue Hills shopping Mall. The same feelings of terror and helplessness threatening to overwhelm him as he realised there'd still been no move to get John and Virgil out of the building. Looking down at his watch he saw it was quarter past eleven - had they seriously been out here for that long and nothing had been done? Virg and Johnny had been in there for at least three hours now.
His anger calmed a little however as he looked up and saw Sheriff Winters approaching. The look on his face told Scott there was finally a plan.
"What's going on?" the teen asked, slowly getting to his feet. Alan had fallen asleep not long ago after one of the waiting paramedics had given him some hot chocolate, and Scott carefully picked him up off the floor and into his arms. Gordon stood beside him.
"We're ready to make a move. Come with me and I'll explain in more detail."
Scott followed, making sure Alan's head was in a comfortable position on his shoulder. Ahead there was a team of police crowded around the Sheriff's car bonnet, they appeared to be studying a piece of paper and as Scott got closer he saw it was a map of the building.
"Alright, listen up!" Sheriff Winters explained, pointing at a point on the map. "We got thirty of our best men ready at the rear staff and maintenance entrance over here. Tracy's car is there so we know he's also inside. Two vans supposedly there for a getaway have been seized and searched and in the event of any of these terrorists escaping they have nowhere to run – roadblocks have been stationed on a 200m radius, and again 100m from that. We don't know the precise situation in there but to the best of our calculations Tracy and his two sons will be separated from the main crowd if money is what they're after. Now out here," he said, pointing at the other end of the map. "The rest of you will stay and guard the entrance. These guys have control within and these shutters could come up at any time. Our mission is to get everyone in that Mall out alive. Surprise is on our side, now let's go!"
As the team disbanded, Sheriff Winters turned to Scott and put a hand on his shoulder that wasn't occupied by his youngest brother.
"You stay out here, Scott, where I know you're safe, got me?"
Scott nodded. "Yes sir."
"Good man," he said, before turning and running off shouting into his radio. "All teams forward. Go go go!"
As the seventeen-year-old watched them go Alan stirred, blue eyes blinking sleepily at him.
"Hey Sprout, you okay?"
The six-year-old shook his head before resting it on Scott's shoulder again. "Cold. Want Daddy, Virgey and Johnny."
Scott opened the rear door of the Sheriff's car and sat Alan inside, giving his youngest brother a reassuring smile. "You stay in here and keep warm, kiddo. They'll have John and Virg out in no time, you'll see."
Standing back up, a cold prickling sensation sped down his spine. His head snapped towards the Mall as if hoping his intense gaze would somehow allow him to see through the walls and what was going on.
Something was wrong.
Scott knew he needed to move. Closing the door and turning away from the car he bent down slightly to Gordon's height, his hands on both of his younger brother's upper arms.
"Gordon, I need you to look after Alan. Can you do that for me?"
The red-head nodded seriously. "Where are you going?"
"To get our brothers back. You stay in the car with Alan and don't move until we come back to get you, okay?"
"Okay Scott."
"Okay," Scott nodded, as he opened the car door again to let Gordon in. Shutting it after him he took off at a run towards the rear entrance of the building.
"Bring me the younger kid; Virgil."
"NO!" John and Jeff cried simultaneously.
John sprang into action, quickly locking the computer and jumping up from his seat. Virgil didn't move however, just stood gazing at where his father's image had been a split second before. He snapped out of his daze though when he recognised John stood in front of him, hands on Virgil's upper arms.
"I won't let them take you," John said firmly. "Dan, you're going to have to get back in that cupboard, and quick!"
As the pair of them moved frantically around him, Virgil could only let his mouth open and close with no words coming out. Slowly turning around, he saw John hurriedly locking the cupboard before running back over to the desk and depositing the keys on the floor next to the chair. He then started to tug at Virgil's arm, trying to make him move. Virgil's legs finally responded as his mind cleared. He sat down heavily on one of the chairs in front of the desk and looked at his brother. John was giving him a worried look.
But Virgil knew he had nothing to be afraid of, it was okay.
"It's alright John, I'll be with Dad."
John nodded sharply, a determined look on his face. "I know, Virg. Remember Scotty's coming too."
That moment the door was unlocked and the two terrorists who'd held their father barged into the room, making straight for them. There was no need for Virgil to feign surprise as he was promptly picked up and thrown over the shoulder of one of them in a fireman's lift act while the other one held a struggling John back.
"Leave my brother alone!" John yelled, but the Assassin holding him had his arms effortlessly around the blonde's middle, preventing him from doing anything. As Virgil was carried out the door the pair of them made eye contact and the silent words I'll be fine, see you soon were exchanged.
Keeping up the appearance that they'd been taken by surprise, Virgil shouted. "JOHN!"
"VIRGIL!" came the reply.
From his slightly awkward position on the back of the man carrying him, the artist just about saw John getting shoved into the wall next to the cupboard where Dan was hiding before the other man came out and the door was shut and locked. He sneered gleefully at Virgil as there were a few bangs from within – John still acting out his part of being left alone. Virgil scowled back before being placed back on the ground and shoved forward. John and Dan would be fine, they had the keys in there with them after all and Virgil hoped one of them would unlock that door and enable them both to get to safety. He'd noticed the door was now unguarded, meaning that if John too had managed to see that then he'd already be formulating an escape plan.
After a short walk they stopped briefly outside a door before the Assassin who'd carried Virgil opened it and he was shoved inside. He recognised the room from the CCTV, with the large safe at the end to his right and to his left still sat at the monitor was his father.
"You all right Virgil?" he asked immediately, not moving from his position. The teen guessed he'd been told to stay exactly were he sat before his arrival. A sense of relief filled him as he took in the calm and reassurance radiating from his father, one that made any fears evaporate on the spot. After all, his dad knew too that outside forces were currently in motion.
"Yeah," Virgil said a little brethlessly, nodding.
"Touching," the sarcastic voice of Bane said from the other end of the room. He was apparently examining the security seals on the safe. "Virgil Tracy living up to the Tracy name, brave and unflappable in the face of danger. You may say you're all right but are you really?"
With that he turned and rushed at Virgil until he was standing directly in front of him, towering over him but the teen refused to be intimidated. Then without warning Bane seized him, arm around his neck as he was turned to face his Dad, feeling the unmistakable cold metallic barrel of a gun pressed hard into the side of his head.
His father was on his feet instantly, anger blazing in his eyes.
"One more move, Tracy, and your son's brains will be decorating the walls." Bane warned and Jeff sat back down. "Keep on with your task and hurry it up!"
Virgil's heart was in his mouth, beating frantically.
"I can feel that, Virgil, your elevated pulse. Not so okay now are you?" he taunted.
But Virgil wasn't about to give in that easily. He had to show his father that he wasn't afraid, even if Bane was taunting him.
"Why are you doing this?" he questioned bravely.
"Why?" Bane repeated in a smug tone, lowering his head so he was level with Virgil's head and talking in his ear. "Why not?"
A/N: Ahh it feels so good to be back! Sorry it's been so long, how are you all? Worried I'd dropped off the face of the Earth? I wish that were possible with my current predicaments but finally getting this back on track is a massive relief! Big thanks for all the reviews and extra follows and favorites while I've been gone – it means the world! :D