Scott wakes up the following morning to find blonde hair tickling his nose, and he is unable to move his right arm. Momentarily confused he forces his eyes open to find Gordon asleep next to him. Curled into his body, his freshly broken wrist squeezed in between the two bodies.
Smiling at his little brother, he lets him lie there for a few minutes longer, until his alarm sounds.
"Come on Squid, time to get up" He tells him gently, trying to free his arm.
"Why?" He mumbles sleepily.
That's a really good question, Scott thinks wishing he could go back to sleep himself.
"School, you have a new injury to show off to your friends!" He tells him.
"He's right" grandma tells him walking into the room, "and because you're going to be late and I'm a terrible cook I ordered breakfast to be delivered for you. It is downstairs waiting."
"Okay okay I'm up!" Gordon insists rubbing his eyes finally freeing Scott's arm.
"How much sleep did you get Gordo?" She asks him, not wanting to put him through a days school on anything less than 5 hours.
"I don't know, I think I was asleep then something woke me up and I got scared and couldn't get back to sleep and Virgil wasn't in the room and I panicked and came In here" he tells her honestly. Not making much sense and clearly too tired for school.
They head downstairs for breakfast where John and Alan have already eaten most of it! John is already dressed and ready for the day, but his ride to school is still in his pyjamas. Grandma makes the decision to keep them all off.
"What happened to you?" John asks. Spotting Gordon, who has already ditched the sling and just has the casted arm lying on the table while he shovels the left over porridge from the breakfast order into his mouth with his good arm.
"Bwokemyyist" He tells him with his mouth full.
"Very elegant, swallow Gordon and try again!" John tells him laughing.
"Broke my wrist" Gordon repeats.
"How?" John asks him. Confused. All he did was go to the hospital with Virgil.
"Fell over yesterday" he replies shrugging.
"You okay?" John asks.
"Yeah it doesn't even hurt anymore. And I've had worse" he reminds him casually.
Too casually for Johns liking, breaking bones should not be something you do so often it doesn't hurt.
Grandma is in the living room on the phone to Jeff getting an update.
"He's fine, resting still, but probably up for some visitors this afternoon after school. How's Gordon?" Jeff asks.
"Fine, didn't get much sleep last night and neither by the looks of it did Scott. I'm going to keep them all off school Jeff and will bring them over to the hospital this afternoon, Gordon has something he needs you too Sign, I will bring that with me" She tells him.
"If its a detention slip he's grounded!" Jeff tells her only half joking.
"Not a detention slip, I think you'll like this!" She assures him. Before ringing off and heading back to the boys.
"I have spoken to your dad, and he said it's okay to visit Virgil this afternoon, and he's agreed with me that none of you have to go to school".
"No school?" Gordon asks excitedly "awesome!"
"No school?" John confirms disappointed "what about my perfect attendance record?" He hasn't missed a day of school all year and has no intention of starting now.
"If you really want to go I will take you in!" Scott tells him laughing.
"Really?" John asks.
"Sure. I'm not getting dressed though and I'm going back to bed when I'm home" he replies yawning.
"Go back to bed you two, I will take Alan out with me and drop John off." She tells them.
Scott doesn't stop to question her and takes Gordon back up stairs, within 15 minutes the pair are sound asleep in Scott's bed. Where they stay until lunch time.
*TB*
"D-d-dad?" Virgil croaks.
"Virgil, you're awake" His dad smiles at him.
"Ugh what happened to me? Am I in the hospital?" Eyeing up the drip sticking out of his arm.
"Yeah kid, you had appendicitis, Gordon saved you." His dad tells him.
"My head hurts, what time is it?" Virgil asks.
"A little after 1 in the afternoon your brothers will be here to see you soon. Just a quick warning about Gordo" his dad tells him.
"What?" Virgil asks him wearily.
"He broke his wrist falling on it yesterday. He's okay" he adds quickly, seeing Virgil's pale face go grey. "It's a clean break. Didn't even need an operation this time!"
"I would roll my eyes if they didn't hurt!" Virgil tells him.
"Go back to sleep Virg" His dad tells him smiling. Surprised when Virgil obeys him for once, and closes his eyes.
By the time grandma arrives with his brothers he is a lot more alert. Taking note of be bright green cast on Gordon's wrist, and then piece of paper in his hand, confused, as he happily hands it to their dad to sign. Gordon usually only ever hands over notifications of impending punishment!
"Swim team?!" Jeff asks a grin spreading over his face. "Well, if you're sure of course you can rejoin! The minute your wrist is healed!" He tells him adorning the permission slip with his signature.
"How did you sleep last night Squid?" Virgil asks him.
"Terribly! I had a nightmare again."
"Car accident or paddle?" Virgil asks him sympathetically
"Neither. John was a vampire and he tried to convert me into a vampire then he bit Scott and I woke up crying and went to make sure Scott wasn't a vampire and ended up sleeping in his bed!" He tells him.
"That must have been terrifying" Virgil tells him, secretly he can't deny being relieved that his brother is having 'normal' nightmares again.
"I would offer you a cuddle but it would hurt too much. John! Cuddle Gordon for me!" Virgil addresses his directly younger brother, with an authority even their dad is impressed with!
John grabs Gordon into his arms and pretends to bite his neck causing him to giggle.
"Calm down you lot" grandma asks them failing to hide a smile herself.
"When can Virgy come home?" Gordon asks, still wrapped up in Johns arms.
"Probably a few days. The doctors just need to make sure he's healing well" she tells him.
Gordon pouts slightly before brightening again. "I get to look after him right?" He asks. "He looked after me when I was sick".
"We will all be looking after him, but if you want to be chief nurse we won't stop you!" Scott tells him laughing.
"Oh goody!" Gordon replies happily.
"Whose turn is it to end up in here next? Scott has done it, Gordon has done it and now me. So it's either John or Alan right?" Virgil asks.
"No one. No more trips to the hospital!" Their dad answers.
Gordon pulls himself free of Johns embrace and turns back to Virgil.
"Hey Virg? Can you ask the doctor if you can keep your appendix in a jar? I asked and they said no!"
"Gordon! That's disgusting!" John tells him.
"Already one step ahead of you Gordy and they said no to me too!" Virgil replies, he tries to laugh, which becomes a pained grimace. Which unfortunately for Virgil is missed by no one.
"Okay I think that's enough excitement for one day Virgil needs to rest. Let's get out of here, we will pop back in tomorrow Virgy okay?" Grandma tells him.
Yawning Virgil nods. "Can I speak to Gordon alone?" He asks.
"Sure, we will wait out here for you okay?"
Gordon sits down on the chair Jeff has occupied for most of the day.
"So swim team?" Virgil eyes him up.
"I know, I was going to tell you at dinner last night then when I found you I completely forgot about it until grandma reminded me earlier. I'm ready Virg" Gordon tells him, more serious than he has ever seen the little blonde be before.
"I don't doubt it, dad also said you met your new principal how did it go?"
"He seems nice they redecorated the office, you wouldn't even recognise it now. But sometimes I can still see it when I close my eyes" Gordon shivers slightly.
"That nightmare last night. Was it really vampires?"
"No. It was Bellend" Gordon confirms.
Virgil reaches out for Gordon's hand and holds it in his.
"That monster can't get you anymore, you know dad had him blacklisted by every school in America, he can't get another teaching job anywhere!" Virgil tells him.
"Really? How?" Gordon asks.
"Dad is a rich and powerful man Gordon, he can do just about anything!" Virgil informs him.
"Now go to school tomorrow, give that form in, and as soon as your wrist is better jump in that pool!" Virgil tells him.
"I will, are you going to be coming to my swim meets? There is one scheduled for the last week of the summer semester I should be okay for" Gordon asks.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world squid. Go and get some sleep, and I will see you tomorrow after school, okay?" Virgil commands him. Squeezing his fingers tightly in his.
"Yes sir!" Gordon replies laughing.
"Wow it's taken 8 years but you're finally showing me the respect I deserve!" Virgil replies grinning.
"Night Virg" he replies standing up and leaving the room.
Gordon sleeps through the night in his own bed, alone.
*TB*
The drip comes out of his arm the following day and he is allowed home the day after, which is a Thursday morning. He's still in a lot of pain as his dad gets him settled in bed with the tv remote.
"Enjoy the peace and quiet while you can Virg because Gordon is planning to nurse you back to health! I am going to the office for a few hours, but Grandma is downstairs if you need anything, and I am sure Allie here will help out" His dad tells him
"Can I stay with Virgy?" Alan asks.
"What do you think Virg? Want some little company for a bit?" His dad asks.
"Yeah sure. Just don't climb on me Alan. You can sit at the end of the bed or on the floor, but please don't climb on me" He begs.
Alan realising that Virgil is being serious promises him he won't.
"Can you read to me like you do Gordy?" Alan asks, as he climbs on to the desk and sits down in front of the computer.
"Sure, what do you want me to read?" Virgil asks, surprised by the request.
"This one!" Alan tells him leaping down and running into his room, retuning with his worn out copy of the Gruffalo, which used to belong to Scott and has been passed down to all of his brothers.
"Do the voices! Daddy does the voices!" Alan tells him jumping up and down.
Alan exhausts Virgil pretty quickly and by the end of the book he can feel his eyelids growing heavier.
Alan tiptoes out of the room leaving Virgil to sleep.
*TB*
He's woken less than an hour later to chaos coming from down the hall and Alan getting shouted at by grandma. Wishing he had the strength to get out of bed and investigate. But he gets most of the story from her yelling.
Alan, left to his own devices had 'borrowed' Virgil's paint and was happily painting the walls of his bedroom, when he was caught by grandma.
She marches him into Gordon and Virgil's room, the look on her face is usually reserved for Gordon!
"You are really lucky your dad banned spanking in this house young man, now you say sorry to Virgil and then you are in bed for the rest of the day in disgrace!" She tells the almost 4 year old.
"Sowwy Virgy" Alan replies, his thumb in his mouth. "I just wanted to wepaint my woom!" He tells him hiccuping and dropping his Rs, which he only does when he knows he's in trouble!
Virgil watches as he is led back out the room and put to bed.
Grandma returns to Virgil shortly after.
"I am nipping that behaviour in the bud now before he becomes another Gordon!" Grandma tells him. "Sorry about your art supplies Virg you need some new brushes!"
"How much damage did he do before you caught him?" Virgil asks. Desperately trying not to laugh.
"It isn't funny Virgil and look at the photos!"
She pulls them up on her phone and starts to laugh too.
One wall has been artistically painted up to about 3 feet high in as many colours as he could make, out of Virgil's best paints.
"I don't want to alarm you grandma, but in my professional opinion it doesn't look that bad!" Virgil tells her.
"I know, but it was still naughty! Gordon will be so proud of him when he gets home" Grandma says laughing
"Or disappointed he never thought of this one!" Virgil replies.
"Mmm" Grandma says, trying to be angry and failing miserably.
"How long is he going to have to stay in bed for?" Virgil asks.
"Until tomorrow morning, like I said earlier I'm going to be tougher on you all from now on, and when I punish you you'll remain punished, your dad and I have discussed this at length and we both think this whole Gordon thing could have been avoided with some proper discipline. We won't hurt you, but grounded means grounded now." She tells him.
Alan tries to get up several times during the day and is put back to bed every time. His dad joining in when he gets home from work.
Gordon's reaction surprises nobody, he's deeply impressed with his little brothers first proper prank! And forbidden from telling him so!
