"Virgil?" Gordon cries in horror at his stricken brother. He is dead, Gordon is sure he has killed his brother
Virgil is lying on his back, there is blood falling from his nose and he is clearly unconscious.
"Come on Virgy, wake up" He finds himself on the floor, kneeling next to his brother. "Virgil please" he begs.
Virgil moans but his eyes remain tightly closed.
Gordon finds himself being pulled away from his brother by unknown forces, which when he looks up he finds is one of the flight attendants.
"Let us have a look at him kid" He is told firmly by his captor.
"His name is Virgil" Gordon insists, he is struggling against the hold on him as he desperately wants to get back to his brothers' side.
The kids he was playing with have all fled and left him alone.
"Where are your parents' kid?" he is asked.
Rolling his eyes now, he finds anger rising up inside him. "My name is Gordon"
"I didn't ask that boy, I asked where your parents are"
"My dad is up in the first-class bit, if Virgy going to be okay?" Gordon asks.
The flight attendant who has been examining Virgil is now helping him to sit up, holding a tissue up to stem the flow of blood from his nose.
"Gordon?" Virgil asks confused.
"Go and get your father kid?" Gordon is told.
Gordon flees the scene back to their compartment. Where he finds they have set up a game of scrabble, John comfortably in the lead, having played denizens across 2 triple word scores for over 200 points.
"Daddy, Virgil's hurt" Gordon calls from the doorway. "But I swear on my celery crunch bars I didn't do it on purpose it was an accident"
"What happened?" His dad replies, getting up and following him over to where Virgil is sitting up.
"We were playing, and he got hit in the face with the ball" Gordon tells him, leading him to the area where they were playing.
"Virgil? Are you okay son?" Jeff asks, replacing the flight attendant looking after him.
"Urh" is all Virgil can say. His nose feels like it is on fire and he can't get it to stop bleeding.
"I have spoken to the captain and we can land in Honolulu so you can get Virgil to the hospital, it is the nearest major airport. Unfortunately, we are still 90 minutes away, but it is closer than going back. I can help you get back to your seat Virgil and then I will organise an announcement to the rest of the plane." The still nameless flight attendant tells Jeff.
Together they get Virgil up onto his feet and lead him slowly and carefully back to his seat. His skin has developed a greyish tinge, and he is swaying on his feet as he walks, his nose is throbbing in agony. There is bruising already forming under his eyes. Grandma starts to fuss over him, cleaning the drying blood from his face, apologising when he flinches in pain.
"Virg? What happened?" Scott asks in shock.
"Cricket ball" Virgil replies thickly.
"Ouch" his face is full of concern and sympathy.
The flight to Hawaii is silent while a guilt ridden Gordon sits quietly gazing out of the window, he has his arms wrapped around his squid, and can't help wondering what he can do to earn his brothers forgiveness, and how badly his dad is going to punish him when he finds out it was him who throw the fateful ball. He can't even look at Virgil. This is all his fault.
Their silent vigil is only interrupted by the announcement that they will be landing shortly, and to make sure everyone is sitting down with their seat belts fastened.
"This flight was really quick daddy, are we home already?" Alan asks him confused.
"No we have to stop off in Hawaii to take Virgil to the hospital to have his nose looked at" Jeff informs him.
"It looks better than it usually does" John quips, causing Virgil to glare at him. Still Gordon says nothing. Not even to tell John off for stealing his line.
"John!" Grandma fires him a warning look, which he ignores as he is too busy laughing.
Upon landing they are fast tracked through security, and into the waiting car, which the airline has organised for the short trip to the hospital. Gordon hanging back watching his family, waiting for the bomb, which is his angry father, to explode.
"He is just waiting to find out how much damage has been done before he kills me" Gordon thinks as they all get out of the car as it pulls up in front of the main entrance.
The emergency room is crowded and busy, but Jeffs influence, and Virgil's bloody nose get them into the triage area quickly and efficiently.
Virgil is taken away for a scan and x-rays to determine the extent of the damage.
"Can I get you a coffee dad?" Scott asks, pretending that this is a truly selfish act, but he would happily kill for one!
"Thanks Scott that would be great" Jeff replies, a small smile forming on his lips for the first time in hours.
They are still sipping their drinks when Virgil is returned in the wheelchair, and the doctor asks to see Jeff.
"Mr Tracy I am Doctor Smith, Virgil has a small fracture near the top of his nose, luckily the break is not displaced, and will heal naturally in 4-6 weeks without needing surgery. I am going to recommend he stays here overnight for observation though"
"Thanks Doctor, is there a hotel nearby?" Jeff asks, thinking he van get the boys checked in, if they are staying overnight.
"Yeah, there Is one over the road, and it's only a short stroll down to the beach if the boys want to go for a walk. I will just go and see if we can get Virgil moved into a room." Doctor Smith tells him.
"Thanks, I am happy to pay extra for a private room for him" Jeff replies, turning back to Virgil who has been dosed up on pain relief and looks near to collapse.
"Of course, leave it with me and I will see what I can do"
"Dad? Where is Gordon?" Virgil asks, realising that he hasn't seen his brother since they got to the hospital. John, Alan, Scott, and grandma are all in the room. Only Gordon is missing.
"I thought he was with you guys" Jeff says to the suddenly panic-stricken group. "Scott take Alan, Grandma go with John and spread out and find him, he can't have gotten far"
"Jeff, next time we go anywhere I want ankle tags on the kids so we can track them" Grandma tells him, giving him a face palm before gently shoving John from the room.
It is Scott who finds him, sitting in the main waiting room, his head buried in his hands, he is quietly crying. There is a young woman with him, and she has her arm around him.
"Gordon?" Scott calls, causing him to look up, an icy cold sitting in the pit of his stomach at the look of terror on his face. "What's happened Squid?" he asks as he sits in the seat on his other side. Confused when he edges away from him.
"Everyone is g-g-g-going to be m-m-mad" he wails.
"Gordon, you aren't making any sense, what are you talking about? No one is mad at you I promise." Scott tells him reassuringly. "Come on, we will go and see dad and he can tell you" standing up and helping Gordon to his feet.
"Thanks for looking after him for me" He tells the woman, who he realises works in the hospital and is dressed in a nurse's uniform.
"That's okay, I have children myself and I couldn't just leave him here upset, I was just about to put a call out for someone to come and get him when you showed up"
Scott grabs his phone to message the family group chat, to let them know he has Gordon, that he is safe, and they are on their way back.
Virgil is getting settled into his room when Scott arrives with Gordon and Alan. Jeff tries to look disappointed with Gordon for running away, but one look at his tear streaked face and any semblance of anger disappears as he grabs him and holds him in his arms while he cries. Grandma takes John, Alan and Scott to the hospital cafeteria for something to eat.
"What's with the tears Gordo? I am the one who's hurt!" Virgil reminds him.
"I know but it's all my fault, you died of me. I am a murderer" Gordon tells him, still crying.
"I am not dead Gordy" Virgil insists. "Come here" he holds his arms out for Gordon, who breaks free from Jeff to go to Virgil. Standing awkwardly next to the bed, his lower lip quivering as he struggles to deal with his guilt.
"I threw the ball and it hit you and you weren't moving, and I knew you were dead and I…" He trails off, still not making any sense. "It's my fault"
"Gordy look at me" Virgil tells him, taking his hands and holding them in his. Virgil can feel them shaking. Gordon still won't look him in the eye, resolutely staring at the ground. "Please Gordy" Virgil pleads.
Slowly Gordon raises his eyes and gets his first proper look at his brother's face. It is still pale, but there is now a plaster over the bridge of his nose, and there are dark purple bruises forming under both of his eyes. There is a familiar warmth in his eyes, and this is what finally convinces Gordon that Virgil is still alive. Climbing onto the bed with him, his tears slowing as he lies next to him.
"Did you hit me on purpose?" Virgil asks.
"Of course I didn't. I would never do anything like that" Gordon replies, he can't believe that Virgil would even ask.
"Exactly" Virgil replies smiling. "It was an accident Squid, these things happen. If you had done it on purpose then I would be angry, but you didn't and we both know that you wouldn't."
"Really?" Gordon asks, still not convinced that he isn't angry.
"Really. And just think, this is my first ever broken bone!" Virgil tells him grinning. "How many more do I have to break to catch you up?"
"NOT a competition boys!" Jeff tells them, having watched the scene unfold from the cold hard plastic chair provided. But he is laughing.
Gordon pokes his tongue out at his dad, a grin lighting up his tear stained face. "Well, both legs – but you have to break your right leg in 4 places or it doesn't count, right arm, left wrist, two ribs and a disc in my spine, and those are the ones I remember!"
"Don't forget having to have your breastbone cracked open for your heart operations" Jeff tells him. Wondering and not for the first time how Gordon has made it to 8!
"I wouldn't recommend that Virg" Gordon tells him.
"I wouldn't recommend any of it!" their dad tells them.
"how long do I have to stay here dad?" Virgil asks
"Just over night, the doctor wants to make sure you don't have a concussion"
"Can I stay too?" Gordon asks, not wanting to leave Virgils side now he knows that he doesn't hate him.
"Until dinner time, then we will have to leave him in peace" His dad tells him. "Once the doctor releases you, I will rebook our flight home a few days after. There is no way we are going to Hawaii and not going exploring"
"What about school?" Gordon asks, hardly daring to get his hopes up.
Jeff laughs. "Nice try, but we will be home before the first day"
"Shame" Gordon replies with a grin.
"Sorry Squid" Jeff tells him, handing him a leaflet labelled '101 things to do in Honolulu' "Pick something that looks like fun, that we can all do"
For a few minutes Gordon is silent as he looks through the various activities. "OOOH CAN WE CLIMB A VOLCANO?!"
"No!" his dad replies, "I said something we can do as a family"
"We can do that as a family, Grandma would love to climb an erupting mountain" He insists.
"Pick something else Squid" he can't help laughing, he would pay good money to watch his mom climb a mountain!
"Okay fine, how about the aquarium. It's got sharks. Who doesn't love sharks?" Gordon asks.
"Sounds good, where is it?" he asks, this is the kind of family activity he had in mind.
"In Hawaii" Gordon replies. "Duh"
This earns him a facepalm from both his dad and Virgil.
"I meant where abouts in Hawaii, and you knew that!"
Gordon shrugs. "No idea, there is a map on here somewhere"
"Okay, I will check it out. What else is there?"
"Museums and other boring stuff for you and grandma and John, beaches for Alan, snorkelling lessons for me, a big shopping mall for Scott so he can buy me a present and Virgil can look after Alan while I am diving as he is too hurt to join in" Gordon tells him.
Taking the leaflet back, Jeff starts to scan it for the best museums as he knows the military history one will be fascinating for himself and probably John and Scott too.
He is still reading through the list when Grandma arrives back in the room with Scott, John, and Alan. "I am going to take the boys over to that hotel and get us rooms, then I thought that we could go for a walk in the park opposite after dinner." She announces to the room.
"What about Virgil?" Gordon asks.
"He can join us tomorrow" His dad tells him, a walk before trying to get the boys to sleep sounds like a really good idea, getting up to join his mom in the doorway. "Come on Gordon, let Virgil get some sleep, we will check back in in the morning Virg" his dad tells him.
Virgil doesn't put up a fight, the initial shock and numbness in his face are starting to wear off, and the pain is kicking in with a vengeance, and he wants nothing more than the lights off so he can try to get some sleep. "G'night dad" he says to him, giving Gordon one last hug before they all leave for the evening.
"Night Virg"
*TB*
The hotel they were pointed to is a small family run inn with only 20 rooms available. It is small and comfortable looking, and they are welcomed by the owner. A man in his late 30s, who keeps his black hair long and tied behind his head with a rubber band. He is wearing a loud yellow shirt covered with different tropical birds.
"Wow, where did you get that from?" Gordon asks awed.
"We sell them in the hotel gift shop" he tells him.
"Cool" Gordon replies, making a vow to get his dad to buy him one before they leave!
Jeff gets a suite with 2 rooms for himself and the boys while Grandma takes a single room across the hallway.
The view from the window transfixes Gordon for several minutes, as he stares out at the clear blue ocean, before he is dragged away by Scott. "You must be starving, come and get some food"
"But the ocean Scotty!" Gordon tells him pouting.
"Will still be there in the morning! Now come on, we are going to the burger place down the street" Scott laughs at the distraught look on his face.
Entering the bustling restaurant they are shown to a table, where the menus are already out waiting for them. Gordon realises and he looks through the menu that Scott was right, he is starving. Happily, he orders a burger and fries and the largest coke on the menu. Alan and John copy his order. Jeff, Scott, and Grandma order the lobster.
Biting down into the burger feels like heaven on earth as he realises he hasn't eaten anything in nearly 12 hours. That watery lasagne on the plane seems like a lifetime ago. Dipping his fries in the ketchup, he doesn't even have the energy to throw food at Alan!
The promised walk through the park in the last of the evening sun turns what was the worst day of Gordons life into one of the strangest, and he can't wait until tomorrow when Virgil is there to share this with him.
"Daddy I wanna sleep" Alan tells him exhaustedly as they get back to the hotel.
"Me too Allie, let's get you into your pyjamas and we will all have an early night" Jeff tells him smiling.
Their suite has two bedrooms, a small living room and a bathroom. The bedrooms both have 2 single beds either side of a dresser. The living room has a sofa bed, which Jeff has agreed to sleep on while John shares with Alan, and Gordon with Scott. Jeff has no idea where Virgil is supposed to sleep when he gets out the hospital, but he will deal with that tomorrow, for now he is just going to catch up on some well-earned sleep.
Making sure all 4 boys are in their pyjamas and settled, Jeff realises that Alan is already asleep when he checks on him, and that Gordon is not far behind him. John has a book propped open in front of him, but he isn't really reading it. "Get some sleep John, tomorrow is going to be a really long day"
"Longer than today?" he asks.
"That's the plan" not wanting to give too much away.
"Can you turn the light off please?" John asks, yawning heavily.
"Good night John"
"Mmm night dad" he replies, lying back against the pillow.
Happy that at least 4 of the boys are asleep and happy, Jeff calls the hospital to check on Virgil, and is put through to his room.
"I thought you would be asleep already" he tells him.
"I can't sleep, its too quiet here without the chaos of my brothers, and my head is killing me" Virgil replies.
"Have you had any more pain relief?" His dad asks, his own medical training from his astronaut days kicking in.
Virgil shakes his head before remembering that his dad can't see him. "No, I didn't want to ask" he tells him.
"Ask Virgil!" his dad replies.
"Okay, I will and I will see you in the morning".
"Get some rest Virg. Love you"
"I love you too dad. Good night"