I'm back with the next chapter, also thought it would be nice to post it with today being the anniversary of Virgil Grissom's death, the astronaut who Virgil was named after 🙂
Thanks again for all the reviews, follows, favourites and for reading
Enjoy
Chapter 12
A while later Avery emerged from the bathroom. She was wishing that she had a change of clothes with her as the jeans and red shirt she was wearing were not going to be the comfiest things to sleep in. As she walked into the bedroom, to her surprise she found a nightgown on the bed and the door to the balcony was open. As she made her way over to the open door she could make out Virgil standing, leaning on the railing looking out towards the ocean. Cautiously she stepped through the door on to the balcony, enjoying the cool breeze that blew through her now, loose hair. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, savouring the feeling.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" Virgil asked her. She opened her eyes to see that he had turned around from the railing and was looking at her, a small smile on his face
"It is" Avery agreed as she made her way over to join him "and a beautiful view too" she added as her gaze took in the view of the ocean before her then stopped on him, her posture tense
"Everything okay?" Virgil asked, concerned as he noticed she was looking around her as if she was expecting something to happen
"I'm sorry, just an old habit" she explained. The inquisitive look Virgil gave her compelled her to explain "You see on my Island, we can't enjoy the night air or scenery like this"
"Because of the war?"
Avery nodded "Unfortunately yes. We have to be really careful not to draw attention to the fact that we live on the island, so everything is camouflaged"
"Ah, I see" Virgil said although even he wasn't sure if he really did or not
"Basically" she went on "if anyone flew over the island it would look as uninhabited as the other smaller islands surrounding her. Unfortunately it means we don't get to enjoy the island in the same way you clearly do"
"I'm sorry. I bet that must be difficult for your Gordon then if he doesn't get to use the pool" Virgil commented
"He was lucky, the pool was included in the camouflage, so we can still use it whenever we want. Sadly that isn't as much as we would like" her expression became saddened as she added "Besides Gordon hasn't been in the pool for months, not since we lost…" she stopped and looked away. But just before she turned her head Virgil saw the tears that were threatening to fall
"I'm sorry" he said again, this time in a comforting tone "I didn't mean to upset you"
"It's okay" she told him, wiping her eyes before she turned back to face him "I'm still trying to come to terms with it…we all are"
"Would you like some tea" he said quickly changing the subject. Virgil indicated the tray which contained a pot and two cups that was on the small table which occupied the balcony, around it were two chairs "Tin brought it, as well as the nightgown, which she left on the bed…while you were in the shower"
"Yes, thank you" She said as they both made their way over to the table, each taking a seat. Virgil poured the tea into a cup "she made up one her father's camomile blends, hopefully it will help you to relax"
A small smile crossed Avery's face, but Virgil found that the smile, sadly did not reach Avery's eyes. He handed her the cup, which she took gratefully.
"I see that your Tin-Tin is just as sweet and considerate as my own" She told Virgil as she brought the tea cup up to her nose and inhaled the flowery scent of the tea, before carefully sipping on it. "It's delicious" she added as she placed the cup down on the table in front of her. "In fact it's very strange how so many things are different yet they also feel familiar"
"How so?" He asked as he too placed his cup down on the table after taking a sip himself
"Apart from what you already know" she said "I'm guessing that there are a lot of other things that are different because there is no war here"
"Yeah, but like what?" Virgil asked with a chuckle
"I won't know the answer to that unless you tell me a couple of things about your world so I can compare now will I" she replied also chuckling, before stopping and going silent. She looked down at her hands which were sitting restlessly in her lap.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm sorry, it's just strange sitting here talking to you after everything that's happened…I know that you're not my Virgil, but you look and sound just like him that for a second…" she went quiet once again and Virgil saw the tears returning to her eyes
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have stayed with you…clearly my presence is upsetting you…" he said sounding flustered as he got to his feet "I should go and let you.."
"Please don't" She pleaded grabbing his arm to stop him as she also got to her feet. Virgil looked at her and saw the pain in her eyes, but he was sure he saw something else there too, he just wasn't sure what it was. Somewhat reluctantly he nodded and sat back down. Avery did the same, letting go of him asa she did so.
"Thank you" She said after a few moments of silence had passed between them "I understand your reason for wanting to leave.."
"I wasn't going to leave because I did want to be here"
"I know" she told him, nodding slightly "like I said, I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that he's gone. I just miss him so much" this time a tear did escape but she made no attempt to hide it
"I can't imagine what you're going through" he said trying to find some way to comfort her "the only person I really remember losing was my mother, but I was lucky because I had the rest of my family there to help me through it. It's part of the reason why we're so close I guess"
"Yeah mine were the same, even after we lost Grandma Tracy a couple of uyears back" her expression became somber again "however things were different when we lost Virgil. It almost tore the family apart…" Virgil watched her, not sure if he should say something or not, but then he didn't know what he could say. Clearly Avery and her version of his family had been through a traumatic few years. To be honest he really couldn't begin to imagine what it was they had been through, What with a war, losing Grandma and now having to deal with the loss of their Virgil too. It was certainly difficult to think about
"I just hate the fact that although I sort of got to say goodbye to Virgil" she continued "there was so much I wish I had told him, you know?"
Truth was Virgil didn't really know. Although he had been in several relationships over the years in the three years that International Rescue had been in operation, that part of his life had been put on hold. Plus he really had not idea what I was like to have found the one person he wanted to spend his life with and share all of this with. In a way a part of him envied the other Virgil for having that.
"I'd be lying if I said I completely understood. Unfortunately I've never met anyone who means that much to me" he confessed
"I guess in a way you're lucky then"
"Lucky?" He asked her, surprised by her words
"Don't get me wrong, even if someone had told me when I first met Virgil that we'd only have a short time together it wouldn't have changed anything, I can't imagine not being with him. But the pain of losing him, especially now with the baby and everything…"
"Baby!" Virgil gasped in shock "You're pregnant?"
"They never told you?"
Virgil shook is head, not sure he could trust his voice at that moment. "So everyone else knows apart from me about this?" He asked. He wasn't sure why he cared considering it wasn't his baby…but also in a weird way it kind of was... and knowing that he was the last to know about it hurt
"Brains, your father and Scott know" Avery told him "as far as I know, nobody else knows"
"I should leave you to get some sleep, it's getting late" Virgil said after a few awkward, silent moments. He got to his feet and heading back inside. Avery followed behind him
"Thanks for staying with me" she mumbled so quietly that Virgil barely heard her. As he reached the door leading back into the corridor he turned back to her "I'm sorry, I thought that they had told you everything"
"It's not your fault, okay?" He reassured her "I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight" and with that Virgil left the room and the door closed behind him.
After leaving Avery, Virgil went in search of his older brother, intend on having it out with him over the decision to keep him in the dark yet again. He was determined that he would speak to his father about it too, but knew that that would have to wait until morning. Upon entering the lounge he found Scott still seated at his fathers desk. He was talking to John up on Five
"So they were able to get everything under control with what resources they had" Virgil heard John saying to Scott as he approached
"That's great" Scott replied.
"Oh hey Virgil" John greeted cheerfully as he caught sight of Virgil over the communication system. However John's cheerful expression disappeared just as quickly when he saw the anger in his brothers face "is everything okay Virgil?" He asked as he saw Scott turn his attention to the rooms newcomer.
"Actually no John it isn't. I'm afraid Scott will have to get back to you" Virgil told John abruptly just giving John enough time to give his usual FAB acknowledgment before Virgil cut off the transmission
"What the hell was that all about Virg" Scott snapped
"Oh I don't know, why don't you tell me" Virgil spat getting as close to Scott as he could with the desk between them.
Scott stared back at him confused so Virgil continued
"Anything you need to tell me?" He asked Scott
"What do you mean?" Scott asked in return although he was unable to look his brother in the eye. Unfortunately for Scott, Virgil knew what that meant – that his brother was lying
"Don't lie to me Scott, you know what I'm talking about" Virgil replied, his voice starting to louder as his anger came through "why didn't you tell me Avery was pregnant?"
Scott looked down at his hands that were resting on the desk in front of him, a blush colouring his cheeks "Oh that" he commented quietly
"Yes that" Virgil remarked "I want to know why you kept it from me?"
"Dad and I discussed it…"
"Oh believe me I intend to have words with dad about this later" Virgil interrupted
Scott continued "At the time it seemed like the best thing to do…we still didn't know who she was and we knew that you were having a hard time with her revelation about being your 'wife'" he stated hurriedly
"So you thought the best thing to do was to lie to me about it?"
"It wasn't a lie Virg, it was an omission. We were just trying to protect you…"
"I'm not a kid anymore Scott" Virgil yelled "I don't need you treating me like one"
"I'm not" Scott said defensively "we were going to tell you once things had calmed down…we never expected you to find out like this"
"You mean you never expected me to find out at all..right. That's why you didn't like the idea of me spending any time with her incase I found out, isn't it?" Virgil spat back as he began to pace back in forth in front of his fathers desk in frustration
"You know what, I can honestly say I never expected this from you Scott. I always thought you had my back" and with that Virgil stormed out of the lounge leaving a distressed Scott sat at the desk watching as he left
