Scott cannot believe that there are people in this world who don't like football. The star of their high school football team, and on course for a full scholarship to any college in America. The world is his oyster! His younger brother is also on the team, but not big enough to make first string, but he is getting there. Bigger and stronger every day, and they both love their shared interests.
This is Scott's senior year, but he has been through so much in his seventeen years of life, that there are times when he feels twice his age.
There have been some good times. Family vacations, trips to the lake in the summer, skiing in the winter. Four younger brothers for company, a father and grandmother who love him unconditionally.
He is good looking and popular; he knows that but he never takes advantage of it. He joined the rescue scouts on his sixth birthday, the youngest age which they allowed him to join, and now he is a troop leader. Twice a week he holds meetings for the younger troops. Currently in his troop are two of his younger brothers. Gordon and John. He is sure that the only reason he was offered with particular group is that no one else would have Gordon!
From the outside it always looks like Scott has the perfect life, but things are never that simple.
His younger brother Gordon nearly died shortly after he was born and seems to have been inflicted with a desire to try again ever since! His water loving brother has broken so many bones, sometimes it feels like he lives at the local hospital.
His mom died in an avalanche when he was twelve. His brothers were only ten, eight, six and two at the time, and Gordon and Alan have no real memories of her, only photographs and what they have been told.
His father spends more time away from home working to get his aspiring rescue business off the ground. Scott vowing to join up the minute he is able too. saving lives is all Scott cares about, not wanting anyone lose what he has lost. Because he lost so much more than his mom that day.
But enough dwelling on the sadness, Scott has to stay positive for his brothers, they need him.
Walking out onto the pitch for the state final, Scott can't help but feel pride. He knows that he has worked so hard for this. Gordon has even skipped training to join the rest of his family for this game, and he can see them in the crowded stand. All five of them Grandma on one end with a large S, then John with a C, Gordon with an O, Alan with a T and on the other end his father with a second T. Virgil is alongside him on the pitch walking out.
"Good luck Scott, I will be watching from the bench, and remember when you graduate this is my spot!" Virgil tells him with a grin.
"Just keeping it warm for you little bro!" Scott replies affectionately.
*TB*
Their team wins a touch down in the dying seconds, the ball thrown by Scott down into the end zone.
The crowd is going wild, and Scott runs towards his teammates, who all pile on top of him screaming his name. They don't even realise that he is no longer moving, or even struggling under their embrace. He doesn't move once they have all stood back up, and are all engaged in a group hug with the cheer leading squad and their long suffering coach.
It is Virgil who runs over to Scott, who is barely breathing. His eyes are closed, and there is a small trickle of blood at his temple.
There is screaming, and his father running towards the pair followed by Grandma and John who is trying to keep Gordon and Alan from reaching their brother.
Virgil has no idea who is screaming. But noise is causing the blood to pound in his ears, and it won't stop. Now his father has taken over rousing Scott, Virgil has his hands over his ears but he can't drown out the screams.
"Virgil, breathe" Grandma says to him, but he doesn't respond. There are tears streaming down his face and the beating of his heart slams into his breastbone with every painful beat. His brothers' pain has always been his pain too, but this. This is too much.
Finally the screaming stops, his mouth is still open but his voice is raw, and the realisation that it is him that is screaming. Burying his head in Grandmas coat Virgil clings to the woman who helped raise him until he feels strong enough to get up and carry on. Gordon has squeezed in between the pair and is refusing to let Virgil go until he is sure that he is okay.
Grandma is always there to make him strong enough to carry on.
Scott is taken away in an ambulance, leaving his team mates to collect the trophy without their leader. The festive atmosphere has died among the players as they realise that they are the cause of Scott's injury, when they all jumped on top of him with a raucous energy.
*TB*
Waking up from surgery, Scott finds himself surrounded by four worried looking boys, and his father. "What happened?" He asks confused.
"Your idiot teammates, jumped on you after the game, and gave you concussion and a bleed on your brain" John tells him.
"Which was fixed, we hope!" Jeff tells him. "You are going to remain here under observation for a few days though Scott."
"I don't understand why. The bleeding was internal. That's where the blood is supposed to be!" Gordon tells him.
"Never become a doctor Squid!" Virgil replies. Now that he is sure Scott is going to be okay, he knows that he will be too. the connection between him and his eldest brother has been restored and is no longer causing him pain.