Chapter Twenty Eight

Thank you once again for all of your reviews, I am now beginning the home straight of this story, but oh no you don't get rid of me that easily as I have another two TB stories on their way! Mwhahahaahaha

Chapter Twenty Eight

The rest of the day passed peacefully on Tracy Island. The group of friends and family were more relaxed than they had been for a long time. Scott himself managed to laugh and joke along with his brothers, his heart lightly than it had been for the last month. Virgil, Gordon and Alan fooled about in the pool, whilst Jeff and John sat on the poolside keeping Scott company. Scott for his part was content to watch his younger brothers enjoying themselves. As he sat there just observing he realised how truly lucky he was to be part of such a close family. He grinned to himself, not many people could have such a supportive family as he had, and soon he would be back to full fitness and on his own two feet, then he could put his plan into action and put an end to this chapter of his life.

Jeff sat back and watched his sons relaxing. The three in the pool were fooling around like teenagers. He turned his attention to John, and had to laugh at what he saw. His middle son was reading a book, he was sat in the blazing sunshine next to a cool fresh water swimming pool, yet he sat there in a long sleeve shirt and jacket reading, whilst Scott sat completely the opposite, sweating like mad with his leg in a heavy plaster cast looking longingly at the cool water. Jeff shook his head at his train of thought, although all of his sons were very similar in many ways, they were also completely different. Scott looked up at his father's smiling face; he seemed confused by the sudden change in his father's mood. But refrained form mentioning it, deciding it was best to hold onto the good atmosphere on the Island. Scott yawned, exhausted from all the excitement on top of a sleepless night.

"Right I think I am going to go for a lie down" Scott announced, getting unsteadily to his feet, the heavy cast affecting his balance.

"I'll give you a hand" John told him, getting to his feet, placing his book on the table and appearing at Scott's side in one swift movement. Scott shot him a grateful smile, and the two slowly made their way inside the house.

John had to practically carry Scott back to his room; the older man was leaning on him so much. Scott had soon discovered that using one of his brothers as a crutch served him much better than the troublesome hospital issue crutches and put less pressure on his healing ribs, and so it was that John had a pair of crutches in one arm, and his brother in the other. When they eventually made it back to his room, both boys sagged down onto Scott's bed in exhaustion.

"Man I'm tired" Scott told his brother.

"Well it's hardly surprising is it, I'll bet you hardly slept a wink last night" John responded, making his brother aware that he knew of his conversation with Virgil.

"Well that'd be a safe bet" Scott muttered in response. "I just can't get my brain to shut down enough to allow me to sleep. It just keeps whirling around and around" he continued surprising his brother with his openness.

"You just have to give yourself time to get back into the swing of things. It was an awful thing that you went through; I can only imagine what it felt like. I guess it'll just take time to adjust to being home safe and sound again. Everything that you are feeling is perfectly normal. The guilt is understandable, unfounded, but understandable"

"I know Johnny, I know. Honestly I am working on the guilt" Scott told his brother from his position on the bed with his eyes closed. "it's not just guilt, I'm so angry and so scared too" Scott whispered so quietly that John had to strain to hear him.

"What are you afraid of?" John asked, confused by his brother's words.

"Lots of things Johnny. I'm afraid I won't be the same as before, you know with my leg and everything, but most afraid of is that I will forever be afraid. What if I freeze on a rescue? What if UI can never go back on a rescue?" Scott replied honestly meeting his brother's eyes for the first time.

"Scott, you don't need to be afraid of that. Now what are you angry at?" John asked desperate for his brother to continue, but almost dreading the answer.

"I'm angry at myself for letting her die, I'm angry at her heartless father for leaving her in pain alone, but most of all I am angry at her for not holding on" Scott whispered into his brother's embrace, unable to keep the tears at bay any longer. John held him as he cried, his words had shocked his younger brother to the core, and John didn't know what to say to comfort him, so he just held him as he cried, until eventually the heaving sobs subsided as Scott had cried himself to sleep once more. John gently pushed his brother back against the pillows and pulled the covers around him, and then he made himself comfortable on the chair besides the bed, not willing to leave his brother alone, he simply sat and watched him sleep as he had done many times before lately.

Jeff stretched, he had fallen asleep besides the pool and obviously none of his sons had had the heart to wake him. He shook himself trying to clear the sleep induced cob webs from his brain, and then he looked at his watch shocked to see that it was nine o'clock at night. He made his way inside and found two of his sons playing pool whilst the third, Virgil was playing the piano.

"Hello son, where are John and Scott?" he asked, their absence worrying.

"I haven't seen them all afternoon, I think they went to sleep earlier to be honest I'm pretty tired too so I might head to bed" Virgil replied, he knew that his two brothers were both sound asleep in Scott's room, he also knew from the tear tracks down hi older brother's face that they had most likely had an intense discussion before drifting off, and wanted them to get some rest without interruption. "I'll check on them on my way to bed" he assured his father, and quickly hurried out of the room before Jeff could respond.

"Well that's just nice, I feel so wanted" Jeff muttered to himself before sitting down in front of the TV.

Virgil silently peeked around the door of his brother's room and was pleased to see that both boys were still sound asleep, he smiled to himself, it was good Scott needed his rest, and John hadn't had much more sleep than the patient over the last few weeks either. He grinned then made his way to his own room, he knew that he would sleep better that night, his mood had improved immensely, and he almost felt happy. Stretching until his neck cracked he whistled as he got showered then brushed his teeth and climbed into his nice snug bed.

The next morning Virgil awoke late, but feeling refreshed and reenergised, his night's sleep had done him the world of good. He quickly got dressed and made his way down to the kitchen for brunch. He was surprised to see John there but no sign of Scott.

"Hey where's sleeping beauty?" Virgil asked clearly surprised.

"Still asleep" John replied with a grin.

"Good, it's just what he needs. Did you have a good chat last night?" Virgil asked clearly prompting his brother for a thorough explanation. John sighed deeply then launched into the full story of his discussion with their older brother.

"Well at least he is talking about it now" Virgil commented.

"Yeah, and he did seem to sleep better for it" John replied. "Are you going back to the hospital with him?" he asked Virgil after he had gulped down his mug of steaming coffee.

"I was hoping to, how about you?" Virgil replied.

"I'd like to, but Dad will probably want to go won't he? He won't want all three of us to go with Scott" John commented

"Probably not, let me talk to him" Virgil replied, ad before John could respond, his older brother had gone in search of their father. He returned less than thirty minutes later. "You best pack your bag little brother we're going with Scott this afternoon" Virgil told John with a grin.

"What how on Earth have you swung that one?" John asked in amazement.

"Ask no question and be told no lies" was all that Virgil would reply cryptically, then went off to pack his bag for his stay with his brother.

And that its for Chapter 28, and nearly it for the story, best get a good comfy seat ready, cos the next chapter is very long, and very tense!!!!!!

But you only get to see it if ya review!!!!!!!!!!!!