Chapter Text "What happened? Is he okay? Mom?" Jeff questions worried. He can see Virgil staring at him, his eyes filled with terror.
"I went to check on him, and his breathing felt weird. His heart was racing and I couldn't get him to wake up. Jeff they think it's sepsis, they're running tests. You have to get here. Now" she tells him.
"On my way" he confirms hanging up and passing the phone back to Virgil.
"Dad?" Virgil asks.
"Get your brothers, get Scott to follow me to the hospital. I will explain everything when we get there. Hurry Virgil" he tells him, seeing as Virgil has not moved.
Virgil doesn't need to be told twice. He goes to find Scott. Grabbing his arm and pulling him away from the friends he was catching up with.
"Virgil? What's wrong" Scott asks.
"Grandma called, Gordon's really sick we have to go to the hospital. Now. You're driving. Go and get John, I will get Alan" Virgil tells him, the authority in his voice betraying the fear in his heart.
"They're together over there, just go and wait by the car Virg." Scott tells him pointing out their brothers. Alan is still being held by John and being introduced to his future teachers.
Scott runs over to him, panting slightly. "John we have to go" He tells him.
"Why? Scott. What's wrong?" John asks. Getting a proper look at the horrified look on his face.
"It's Gordon. I don't know what's going on, but Virgil said he's in the hospital" Johns already pale face goes ghostly white. He doesn't hesitate to follow, holding Alan so tightly he starts to whimper in pain, which John ignores while he's running, behind Scott out to the carpark. Where Virgil is already waiting.
Their dads car is long gone. John unfurls Alan fingers from his and gets him into his car seat. Alan is still crying and has no idea what is happening. John is sat in the back with him, and he keeps talking to him while Scott drives out of the car park. Virgil is sat beside him, his knuckles white from gripping the seat hard while Scott Speeds round the corner.
"Slow down Scott" Virgil demands. "You get a ticket dad will kill you" Scott eases off the throttle slightly, he's tailgating the car in front of him, and starts to beep his horn to get him to move.
"Scott quit it, or you're going to end up getting arrested, or crash. You crash this car Scott and I will never forgive you" Virgil knows they need to get there in one piece and Scott is in full blown panic mode.
"Okay fine" Scott tells him slowing back down to the speed limit.
"Thank you" Virgil replies, trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
Scott finally gets them to the hospital in one piece, Virgil immediately jumping from the car before he has even had the chance to park properly. Virgil never thought he would be back here so soon after his own illness, as he tears through the emergency room almost knocking his dad off his feet.
"Dad!" What happened. Where is he?" Virgil asks desperately.
"They're waiting on some test results, your grandma is with him, but they think it's sepsis" his dad tells him sadly.
"And that is what exactly?" Virgil asks frustrated. He has seen the campaigns on tv about how deadly it is, but none of them adequately explain what it actually means.
"Its a serious bacterial infection, the bacteria from the initial infection has gotten into his bloodstream it can cause organ failure and even death if left untreated." His dad tells him seriously. He knows sugar coating it for Virgil won't help. He asked him for a straight answer, and his dad is going to give it to him.
"It isn't fair dad. He's just a kid. He's spent so much bloody time in this place they should name it after him!" Virgil replies. There is so much emotion in his words, it's all there. Sadness that this keeps happening to his little brother, frustration that he can't do a thing to stop, guilt that maybe just once it could have happened to someone else.
"I Know Virgil, I would swap places with him in a heartbeat if I could." His dad replies, placing his hand on Virgil's shoulder. Gently cupping the back of his neck before pulling him towards him, they're joined by Scott, John and Alan. And Jeff has to start all over again. Explaining to his brothers what is going on.
John knew. He just knew it was serious. He should have listen to his gut this morning when it was telling him that there was something wrong.
"Can we go and see him?" He asks.
"Not yet" is his dads reply.
Scott collapses into one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs in the waiting room. This is the last place he expected to spend the afternoon.
John joins him pulling his knees up to his chin and resting his head on them. Staring out into the room, completely lost In his own thoughts.
Alan is just standing completely still and silent, 2 abilities none of his brothers thought he possessed! He has no idea why he was bought here. No one has told him anything. He's confused and he's scared. This place has awful memories for him.
"Allie?" Scott asks. Picking up on the lost look in his eyes.
"Come here sprout" Alan runs to him, Scott picking him up and holding him on his lap. And the 4 of them sit in silence, unable to think of a single word to say.
*TB*
"How long have we been here Scotty?" Alan asks. He's starting to get restless. His dad disappeared as soon as they arrived and they've just been left here for what feels like days to him.
Scott sighs, looking at his watch "25 minutes Alan" he tells him patiently.
"I'm thirsty" he tells him pouting.
"Fine. Anyone else want anything while I'm up?" Scott asks, sliding Alan down onto the floor, before standing up.
"Coke please" John replies.
"Coffee" Virgil tells him.
"Coffee" Alan also tells him. Causing all 3 of his big brothers to laugh, despite everything.
"Absolutely not!" Scott tells him "you can have fruit juice".
"Okay fine, but I want chocolate too" Alan tells him.
"Anything else your lordship?" Scott asks him unable to keep the smile from his face.
"Yeah I want to drive your car, I asked daddy and uncle Lee Earlier and they both said no" Alan tells him starting to pout again, as he never gets his own way.
Scott just stands and stares at him, in amazement. When did his baby brother get so vocal? He thinks.
"Nope not going to happen Sprout, you can have a fruit juice and an apple" Scott admonishes him.
Alan is now on the verge of a temper tantrum he wants a chocolate bar and he will get one even if he has to scream the place down.
"NO!" He shouts, in frustration.
"Okay fine you can have water and no snack" Scott is not in the mood for this.
"NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!" Alan screams. Throwing himself onto the floor, banging his fists against Scott's legs.
"I'm going to take him outside. If dad gets back tell him where we have gone. And tell him why" Scott tells Virgil.
"But dad will be furious with him!" Virgil replies. Usually they try to hide Alan's tantrums from both their father and grandma as neither would approve.
"I know. He deserves it" Scott says. Picking Alan up he throws him over his shoulder and walks out the door into the sunlight. There is a wooden bench across the road, near the Helijet landing station. Scott carries him over to it and sets him down on the ground.
"Your brother is seriously ill in there. We don't have time for you to throw a tantrum. You are not having sugar and that's final. Now you are going to sit here with me quietly and the next word that comes out of your mouth will be an apology or I will see to it that you don't even get to sniff a chocolate bar until you're 18. Have I made myself clear?" Scott asks sharply.
Alan sniffs. Folding his arms in front of his chest and huffs loudly. He sits there for nearly 10 minutes. Scott watching the hustle of the hospital as people come and go. Alan is sitting staring at the floor. He hates being In trouble with his brothers.
"Scotty?" He asks quietly. Scott looks down and the small, contrite little figure on the bench next to him and raises one eyebrow.
"Yes Alan?" He questions.
"I'm sorry Scotty. I was just hungry. I didn't mean to make you mad" he tells him. Biting his lip, tears threatening his eyes again.
"That's okay Allie, but you have to learn that you can not have your own way all of the time. I would do anything I had to in order to protect you and if it means telling you off I will do it."
"Okay. Scotty? Can we go back in now? I won't ask you for anything" Alan promises him.
"Sure. If you are hungry that apple is still available!" Scott tells him, a small smile escaping his lips.
"What about the coffee?" Alan asks.
"When you're in middle school!" Scott replies grinning now. "Come on let's go back inside" *
TB*
"Still no news?" Scott asks when he has Alan settled on the chair next to him with the apple and juice.
"Nothing, it's been over an hour Scott" John tells him.
"I know. This is the worst part. Knowing he is in there and I can't do a thing to help"
"Boys?" Their grandma calls from the entry to the main corridor.
"Grandma" they collectively gasp and run over to her.
"Grandma Scott told me off!" Alan tells her. Holding his arms out for her to pick him up. Burying his face into her neck when she obliges.
"He deserved it!" Scott reassures her. "How is he?"
"Why don't you come and see for yourselves" she tells them smiling, leading them to the intensive care ward. Which they could all find in the dark now, they have spent so much time there. Gordon is lying on his back, with an IV hooked into his arm. He's awake but clearly exhausted, and he looks younger than Alan.
"One at a time and a few minutes only, then I want you all to go home" their dad tells them.
"Can I go first?" John asks. To the surprise of his brothers. But they agree. Pushing open the door, John perches on the edge of the bed.
"You really scared us this time Gordy" John tells him. Gently massaging his hand.
"I'm sorry" he replies. "Did I ruin your graduation?"
"You don't have to apologise Gordon. And no, you haven't ruined anything. Looks like you've have a lucky escape"
"Yeah. The doctor said grandma saved me by getting me here" Gordon tells him. He's yawning heavily.
"Look I will let you get some sleep, you need it. And don't forget tomorrow is the first say of summer vacation and you really don't want to waste it stuck in here, so get better as quickly as possible okay?" John tells him smiling.
"Did uncle Lee make it? Gordon asks.
"Yeah when we left he was hooking up with your science teacher". John replies laughing.
"Johnny that's gross" Gordon protests.
"Yet wanting to keep Virgil's appendix in a jar wasn't?" John grins.
"Nope that was science!" Gordon tells him, a serious expression on his face.
"Get some sleep." John gives in. Gently kissing him on the forehead and getting up.
"Night Johnny" he replies. Even though it isn't even 5pm.
Alan is only allowed in with his father and not on his own.
But Scott and Virgil both spend a few minutes with him while grandma catches them up on what happened. And more importantly what happens next.
"He's going to have to stay for a few days, but he was lucky he was bought in so quickly. Another few hours and irreversible damage could have been done to his organs. Fortunately John is a match if he needed a kidney transplant!"
Breaking up at the shocked look on their faces. "How do you know that?" John asks. "When he was born we had you all tested just in case he needed anything donated. He also shares a blood type with you John!" She tells him.
"Ha! And there was you thinking you and Gordon had nothing in common!" Scott laughs.
"It works both ways Scott, now I know where to go if I ever need a kidney" John replies. Also laughing.
"Boys!" Grandma interrupts and gets back to her story. "After we get him home he will need to be monitored for any signs of illness and he will need to keep taking the medication for at least 2 weeks.
"Are we still going to dads island?" Virgil asks.
"Yeah, once he's given the all clear a few weeks in paradise will be the perfect way to recover" grandma reassures him.
They end up staying for a few more hours until eventually Alan starts to fall asleep, John too is exhausted from such a long day.
"I'm going to take this lot home Jeff, we will be back tomorrow okay" grandma tells him.
Looking in at Gordon who is sleeping comfortably mumbling incoherently in his sleep.
"Yeah it's fine. This has been the strangest day" he tells her. His eyes too are on Gordon.
"I'm going to book into the hotel once they throw me out of here and I will call you if anything changes."
"Or if you need something. No matter what time it is Jeff, you know my phone is always on for you son" she tells him. "I do. And mom?" He has.
"Yes?" She replies.
"Thanks. For everything" he tells her. Lying his head back against the wall and closing his eyes.
"You're welcome son" she tells him quietly.
"Okay you lot let's go!" She turns and rounds the 4 of them up. Alan insists on being carried out to Scott's car.
"Where's your car grandma?" He asks looking round for it.
"At home I came in the ambulance with Gordon." She replies.
"Does that mean you have to walk home?" Alan asks.
"No! I'm coming with you guys" she tells him.
"Is Scotty going to charge you like a taxi?" He asks.
"No I'm not!" Scott replies snorting.
"I would" Alan tells them honestly.
"I don't doubt that! Come on let's go home" Grandma replies, knowing that Alan has all the potential to be even more trouble than Gordon!