AUTHOR'S NOTE: I had more for this chapter, but it would have made the chapter considerably longer than normal, and this seemed like a good place to stop, so I have decided to split it, and carry the rest into the next chapter.
I am aware that, even though circumstances vary, a person awakening from a coma, especially when it has been of some considerable length, the patient will not open their eyes and leap straight out of bed. It would take a while for them to build up strength enough to move. It is also unlikely in reality that someone of grandma's age would be able to get on her feet so quickly, but to be honest, I have absolutely no qualms about changing reality to suit myself. After all, Brains does it all the time, right?
Jeff Tracy felt equally proud and surprised at the sheer determination his mother was showing. Being unconscious for such a long time had inevitably led to muscle wastage and loss of strength, and it was driving Ruth Tracy crazy. She had always been strong, healthy and independent, and she was damned if she was going to allow the Hood to send her into an early wheelchair!
She had gone so far as to demand that the doctors give her exercises that she could do to quickly build up her strength, and with his help and the help of her grandsons, she was working at them every second she could until the doctors threatened to sedate her if she did not take adequate rest.
John, grandma and Gordon had all been discharged from the hospital, leaving only Alan, still yet to awaken. The family stayed in Jeff's suite at the hotel and went into the hospital daily to visit Alan, and Grandma also for daily sessions with the GDF physiotherapist. Grandma was improving by the day and already, just two days after having awakened from her coma, she was up on her own two feet, shuffling around using a walking frame; complaining loudly all the while about it being so darned slow. Whatever the Hood might have temporarily done to impede her strength, her spirit and tenacity were completely unchanged.
As for Alan, physically he had improved immeasurably. He was no longer on any machines, his lungs had healed, and were now being monitored daily. His breathing and heart-rates were both back to normal. He should by now have awakened. Doctor Ames was at a loss to explain why his young patient was still unconscious, unless he really had suffered brain damage due to oxygen deprivation that the scans had not detected? But somehow, he did not think so.
The two young nurses whom had been attacked by the Hood at the same time as Gordon and Grandma had recovered and been taken home by their relieved families. The little girl Lizzie Carter had given Virgil a big hug and a wave as she sat on her mama's knee whilst they were being wheeled out of the hospital. Alan had been moved out of the ICU room and into a private room down the hall, where his family sat with him in relative privacy.
Gordon stood in the large reception of the hospital, Lady Penelope in his arms.
"Do you have to go?"
She smiled at him.
"If you want me to continue being an asset to your organization, then I need to keep up my contacts. That means fulfilling civil duties and social engagements…whether I feel inclined to it or not."
Gordon smirked.
"You mean going to all those opening nights, and glitzy parties are a chore to you?"
"No. I am saying that along with the glitter and glamour is an equal amount of the mundane which must also be done. Dull maybe, but no less important to keep everyone believing in the image I have created."
She kissed him and pulling away, saw that his eyes had clouded.
"Alan?"
He nodded.
"I miss him Penny. I miss the way he laughs, his mischievous grin, I miss the way he whines when he doesn't want to do his schoolwork, I miss his skill at flying that great red beast of his…I want my little brother back. I'm scared that…He may not be dying any longer, but if he doesn't wake up we've still lost him…"
His eyes dropped.
"He's my best friend, Pen."
Lady Penelope had never seen Gordon this downcast before. He had always been so cheerful and optimistic.
"Remember what the doctor said to you way back? About talking to him?"
Gordon nodded.
"He said to talk to him as though he was already awake. It's hard to do that here. Everything smells of disinfectant and bleach, and everyone is worried and bored. We need…"
He broke off and stared at her, then kissed her enthusiastically on the lips.
"Penny you're a genius!"
She grinned at his sudden excitement.
"I'm glad you think so! Tell me."
He shrugged.
"Alan no longer needs intensive care treatment. Brains and Virgil can take care of him, and if needs be we can bring doctor Whistler in to watch over him. If we care for Alan back home, it'll be easier on the family as well. We can start trying to get back to some sort of normal."
Penelope hugged him.
"Being at home with the familiar sounds around him might bring Alan out of it more quickly. Talk it over with your family and let me know what you decide to do. I really must go. Parker's waiting with the car. Call me tonight if you can."
"Of course I can. I'll speak to you later."
Gordon watched as FAB1 was checked through the gate, and then zoomed away down the road. He sighed and turned back towards the elevator.
Sitting in the hospital canteen over mugs of coffee, Virgil blinked as Gordon explained. When Gordon finished, there was a long silence.
"Well?" Gordon asked, finally. Virgil raised his eyes to meet those of his brother. "Do you think it's doable?"
Virgil continued to stare at his little brother until Gordon started to squirm.
"Well say something Virge, if only `get lost'!"
Virgil's tired, worried looking face cracked into a smile. He nodded.
"I think it's doable, Gordon. I really think it is doable. We can contact doctor Whistler to be on standby in case we need him, and Brains and I can care for Alan's everyday needs. We have all the equipment at home this hospital has... being at home will help the family as well. Especially Scott and John..."
"And you, Virge."
"Me? I'm fine. Nothing wrong. Never better."
Virgil spoke brightly, but Gordon was not fooled. Virgil had always been the calm center of the regular Tracy hurricane, and this particular storm had to have been wearing on him. Gordon glanced round, and reassured that there was no one within hearing range, he looked his brother in the eyes.
"Virge, at one point back there, you had four of us in the Intensive Care Unit upstairs, Alan, John, grandma and myself, and Scott going to pieces. Until Brains and Penny arrived with Parker, it would have been just you and dad keeping it together. I don't know how you managed that."
Virgil's eyes dropped, and for a second, Gordon thought he glimpsed some slight wetness behind those surprisingly long eyelashes.
"Oh you know Gords...treat this like any other professional situation..."
His voice tailed off as he caught Gordon's expression. Clearly the younger Tracy did not believe him. He sighed.
"It helped when John woke up and started to recover, but...once he was awake enough, he started fretting about Alan...you know how close those two have always been...for more than a week it felt to dad and I as though the Hood had defeated us despite...despite everything that had happened."
"Virgil. You are our hero. You know that, right? You're the one we all come to for help, for reassurance, for common sense...the five of us are like a wheel, the guys and I are the rim and you are our hub. We all turn around you. Without you, we would not be nearly so strong. I wanted to talk to you about Alan before mentioning it to anyone else, because you are the one who will have to shoulder most of the responsibility if it happens. You have to be completely okay with it yourself."
Virgil smiled at him.
"Thanks Gordon. I like that analogy of the wheel, but I wouldn't repeat it to dad. He would want to be the hub himself."
Gordon nodded.
"As our father he should be, but dad hasn't been here. We had no choice but to find our own strength in each other. Scott as the leader, you as the heart."
Chocolate brown eyes met honey brown ones.
"So Virge? The decision is yours."
Virgil smiled. A real, genuine smile rather than a painted one.
"Let's go for it, Gordo. Let's take our Allie home."
