AN: The actions of the characters will be explained in further chapters. Don't worry. It gets better! Sort of. Thanks for reading.
A soft beeping noise was the first thing Darcy noticed. Followed rapidly by a warm body next to her, and an antiseptic smell which burnt her nose. A medicinal taste coated her tongue and when she opened her eyes, she was met by the sight of a white ceiling and a brunette head lying against her chest. She moved her arms to wrap around her sleeping son, taking note of the plaster cast on her right arm and drip in her left hand. When she had Luke secure against her she quickly checked the rest of her body. Her left leg was also in a plaster cast up to her knee and her thigh was strapped. Some form or uncomfortable plaster was on her arse and she blushed at the thought. Her head also appeared to be bandaged and there were something that felt remarkable like stitches both on the back of her head and over her left eyebrow. The door swung open and a nurse shuffled in the room, looking highly surprised when she saw Darcy was awake.
"Well hello there Miss Martin. We were not expecting you to awaken so soon." Darcy stretched her legs as best she could and offered the nurse a quick smile.
"Sorry I'm not on schedule. How long was I out?"
"Less than a day ma'am. You were very lucky; your injuries were a lot less severe than originally thought." Darcy nodded and scratched the side of her nose.
"So I'll be okay?"
"Yes Miss Martin. You'll make a complete recovery." Luke stirred on her chest as the nurse left the room. Darcy watched as familiar brown eyes opened and met hers with relief and tears.
"Hey baby boy."
"Mum." The sense of relief in that one word made Darcy want to cry.
"Oh baby. We're fine look. I said I'd never leave you and I promise I never will." Luke started to cry and there was little Darcy could do except hold him and whisper soothing words into his ear. He cried himself down into soft whimpers when the door sprung open and an annoyed looking Virgil stood at the door followed by a very familiar male. "John!" Luke head sprung up from its near slumber state and happiness radiated across his face. John was running at the pair and had his arms around them before Virgil even had time to storm out and slam the door.
"I'm so glad you're safe! I was so worried."
"I wasn't breathing rainbows myself Johnny." Darcy said jokily clutching to John's strong, lean body and letting his soothing, calm presence wash over her. After an ordeal like that, John was the perfect medicine.
"Uncle John I missed you so much." John pulled away slightly, keeping on arm around Darcy and looked into Luke's eyes, so much like his little brothers and smiled tenderly, ruffling the young male's hair.
"I missed you too Luke. I always do when I'm away." As opposed to responding, Luke leant forwards and buried his head back into his Uncle's chest. Darcy pulled back and took John's hand, content in letting him comfort her son. John stayed by both their sides for the rest of the night until early next morning, when a nurse came in to take Luke for an X-ray on his leg.
"You are bed-ridden Miss Martin. I am perfectly capable of escorting your son to and from the X-ray room. It will only take half an hour."
"I can take him Darcy. And I'll grab you a coffee as well if you want."
"I'm not going anywhere without Mum!"
"You will not take my son anywhere. I nearly lost him so he's not leaving my sight anymore. Thanks for the offer John but It's only an arm and leg, I assume there are wheelchairs available in this hospital."
"Well yes but-" This nurse was older, stern, looked like she was sucking a lemon, but Darcy was having none of it.
"Well get me one and John can push me can't he." It was a statement and even the nurse knew not to challenge a pissed off mother.
"Fine." She swept from the room and returned within seconds with an old looking wheelchair. Using her good arm Darcy slapped away help and shuffled herself into it. John rolled his eyes but no comment passed his lips. He just grabbed the handles and proceeded to push a victorious Darcy out the room, Luke sat happily on her lap.
As they were wheeled into the waiting room the nurse grabbed the clipboard off the back of Darcy's wheelchair and stormed off through a thick wooden door. When Darcy pulled a face at her back John slapped her arm gently.
"Behave."
"But John." Darcy whined titling her head back. "She's being mean to me." John chuckled and Darcy smiled at the sight keeping one arm around Luke waist. A mumbled curse had all three of their heads twisting to the door. John nodded politely, Luke smiled and waved, Darcy turned away. Virgil nodded in response.
"John." The tone was clipped and bitter and Darcy raised her eyes questioningly. His responding look distinctly told her to drop it but she promised herself she would not to let it go that easy. A tall blonde woman followed Virgil in with a possessive hand reaching out to clutch his arm. Green eyes shone out and as Virgil turned smugly to kiss her mouth, Darcy felt her heart clench. John shifted his eyes to the floor but reached a hand out towards her knee. Anymore questioning Darcy went to do was cut off by a young nurse stepping out of the doorway.
"Luke Tracy." Luke stood from Darcy's lap but before he could step away on the other side of the room Virgil flew to his feet.
"I knew it!" John sighed and Darcy got the feeling these outbursts were not uncommon. Whatever happened to her lovely calm trustworthy Virgil?
"You knew what Virgil?" John's voice was bored and slightly patronising, in front of her, Luke winced. Darcy quickly pulled him back towards her as the stern nurse stormed out to join the young one in the doorway.
"You are walking a very fine line as it is Darcy Martin!" Darcy shot the woman a disbelieving look from her wheelchair and Virgil, from his position pinning a defeated looking John against the wall, froze. For a few seconds you could hear a pin drop and then Virgil slammed his hands against his older brother's throat. Darcy marvelled as John still didn't react.
"Darcy?" The sound of her name coming out of Virgil voice in such a hated growl sent shivers down her spine. "Darcy Martin. My Darcy Martin." Before Darcy had time to protest to such a possessive tone the blonde woman stepped forwards and laid a hand on his arm once more.
"Drop it gorgeous." Darcy stared at the hand on Virgil's strong muscular arm and felt jealousy bubbling up inside of her. The young nurse rushed over and took Luke out of her arms and Darcy couldn't make her body stop the movement but she did catch Luke's puzzled look as he was lead away. The stern looking nurse stepped up to the main group of people and patted the woman's arm.
"Come on dear. Let's take Virgil to my office to calm down."
"Thanks Mum." Darcy flat out glared at both women now. Virgil shook his head and pulled away. John dropped back against the wall to regain his breath. Darcy watched as Virgil pulled himself to his fall height and turned to her with nothing but hatred in his eyes. She felt her body go cold and tried to curl into her wheelchair. Within seconds John was behind her, a safe hand on her shoulder. Virgil strode across the room and spoke with an icy voice, a sharp contrast to his usually warm, melodic tone that Darcy remembered.
"It's a pleasure to see you again Martin. This is Sophie, we're engaged." Darcy winced but Virgil didn't notice, he was too busy shoving his tongue down Sophie's throat. Luke reappeared at that point and threw the X-Ray at Darcy, oblivious to the tension in the room. John's fingers were digging heavily into Darcy's shoulder but she forced a smile and turned to John.
"Take Luke and go find Alan." John looked like he was going to protest so Darcy sharpened her glare. John let out a rough nod and offered his hand to Luke who took it happily. As soon as the door shut behind them Darcy turned to the still snogging couple with fire burning in her eyes. "What the actual hell Virgil?" The two lovebirds finally broke apart and some part of Darcy pointed out that they were both slightly purple.
"What Martin?"
"It's Darcy. You know that. What the hell happened to you?"
"Me?" Virgil's tone was laced with anger. "Me? What about you? Getting off with my brother! I bet you were having g a great laugh behind poor trusting Virgil's back." Darcy sat there blinking trying to absorb the words.
"Getting off with your brother? What are you on about?"
"John!" Darcy could see where this was going but chose not to comment, pulling in her temper that Virgil would ever think that. When she spoke her voice was filled with quiet malice, daring him.
"What about John, Virgil?"
"It's too late Darcy don't deny it! Luke even looks like Tracy!" Darcy let a breath out through her nose before picking up the X-Ray and tossing it at him.
"Whatever Tracy." And with that she wheeled herself painfully out the room where John stood waiting.
The sound of someone opening to door woke Darcy from her slumber. John had took Luke home to sleep and wash, and Alan had flown back to his for a while to sort out some International Recue business. Assuming it was just one of the nurses she closed her eyes once more. When she sensed the presence sit in the chair besides her she opened her eyes once more and caught glittering hazel eyes staring at her in the moonlight.
"What are you doing here?" Even just woken up, her tone was snappy and sharp.
"He's my son." Darcy nodded at the statement and watched as a rush of emotions flew across Virgil's face. Shock, regret, disappointment, pain, anger, sadness. None of the emotions where good. He swallowed and looked down at her once more.
"His full name?"
"Luke Virgil Martin Tracy." Virgil nodded once before turning his head and staring out the window. Darcy kept her eyes locked on him sensing an unpredictable edge in his personality she wasn't used to.
"He looks like me." Her mind flew back to collapse. To pain, and darkness, and Luke lying in Virgil's arms looking the spitting image of his father.
"Oh yeah. Tracy through and through. Great at technology too."
"Alan mentioned." Dray nodded and didn't know how to move the conversation forwards. It was the first time in her life she found herself unable talk to the boy she had known most her life. "What's he like?" Virgil's question broke into her thoughts and she pondered her answer.
"Amazing." She relaxed into the bed. "He's amazing. Mature and funny, clever and quick-witted, caring and trusting, loyal and fun. He everything you and me could never be." Virgil tried to say something before coughing, Darcy was aware of the fact his eyes had hardened.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Darcy felt her teeth snap together.
"Tell you? I never got a chance!" Virgil glared at her before snarling out one word.
"When?"
"When did I have him, or when did I know?"
"When did you know?" Darcy's body wanted to recoil but she held her ground. She looked away thinking back to the horrible time. She genuinely thought her life was over when Virgil had left her all alone, only the thought of a little vulnerable human being who needed her protection kept her going.
"I suspected when you came home from meeting your father."
"You had a least a month then!" Virgil raged.
"You were in such a weird mood I didn't want to tip you over the edge!" Darcy snapped back before taking a deep breath. She lowered her voice and when she finally spoke it sounded more vulnerable than she wanted to let on. "Besides I didn't know for sure back then."
"So you just decided not to tell me!"
"Oh don't get me started on thing we didn't tell each other! You hypocrite!" Virgil stood abruptly from his seat and leant over her slightly.
"It would have changed everything!"
"No it wouldn't!" Darcy pushed herself determinedly up towards Virgil. "You would have done anything to be accepted back by your father!"
"You could have told me anyway!"
"Oh not back to that!" Darcy fell back to the bed at the risk of repeating the conversation.
"Alan and John know! How the bloody hell do they know?" Virgil demanded managing to fall backwards into the chair in an angry manner. Darcy sighed and turned her head to the ceiling.
"Virgil you've missed so much." Her voice was soft and melodic and sang through the room. Virgil, when he spoke, had lowered his tone to match hers.
"It's hardly my fault."
"Well it's not mine, you left." She saw him open his mouth and rushed to interrupt. "No hush, and I'll tell you a little. I was an engineer for a while but as Luke grew up I wanted to spend more time with him so I became a teacher. Alan's music teacher to be precise." Virgil's face showed something had just fallen into place.
"I wonder why he suddenly showed an interest."
"He's good." Darcy said fondly. She turned her head a fraction towards him. "And then at the restaurant, I was singing and Luke recognised Alan..."
"And John followed you out." She nodded.
"He always was good at puzzles."
"Why didn't you tell me then?" Virgil's voice was no longer demanding, it was broken instead and it killed her heart to hear it.
"You've changed Virge. Every time I saw you, and I caught glimpses of you more frequently than you know, you were with a different woman, usually trying to get into her pants. And the stories I was told by your brothers. The Virgil I knew would never do that, not to any girl."
"He's my son Darcy, you had no right." His eyes were determined and shoulders straight.
"He's my son too; I brought him up because you left."
"I want to see him." There was a begging undertone that made Darcy falter.
"I'll think about it."
"I'm not afraid to go to court." She could see straight through his imitation confidence and smirked a bit.
"Bite me. You left remember. You'll never win at court."
"John and Alan can see him."
"John and especially Alan have been a big part of his life. Alan's know him since he was 3. He's the main male figure in his life." Darcy watched amused as his lips changed, just a fraction. "Stop pouting."
"I am not pouting!"
"You are. I know you Virgil." She took a good look at the male besides her. He looked worn, old, overwhelmed. "You look pale."
"It's ..." He stopped to swallow. "It's a lot to take in."
"Why don't you go sleep on it? Sophie's been glaring through the window for at least 5 minutes and I feel like I'm going to burst into flames any second." Darcy sent a look towards the blonde at the window who was pressed against the glass, Virgil followed her gaze.
"Sorry about that." He sounded genuinely apologetic and there was no hint of amusement in his tone. Virgil stood, and made a move to sweep his hand across her forehead before freezing and pulling back stiffly. "I'll come see you in a few days." He walked out the door and into Sophie's arms without turning back.