Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter everyone, here's the next one...hope you enjoy

Chapter 53

Stepping outside, Virgil felt the closing door hit him on the back, and he sagged back against it. He knew that being in this reality was going to be difficult for him to face, but he hadn't expected it to be so emotionally draining…

…and he certainly hadn't expected that.

Wearily, he made his way back to the guest room, grateful that he hadn't encountered anyone else on his way, as the last thing he wanted was to face another inhabitant of this island. Upon entering the room, he collapsed forward onto the bed, burying is face in the pillows and resisted the urge to scream. In that moment he just wished that one of his own brothers were there to offer him some comfort. All he wanted more than anything was to be back home with his own family and to pretend that this version of them did not exist. As these thoughts filled his head, he felt the tears welling up in his eyes and spill out on to the pillow beneath him. He had not felt this homesick since his first night away at college. The tears continued to fall and as exhaustion consumed him, Virgil fell into a restless sleep…with Gordon's confession still ringing in his ears.

It was the sunlight streaming in through the open curtains the following morning that woke him. Squinting over towards the window, Virgil realised that he had forgotten to close them when he returned to the room the night before. Exhausted he dragged himself up and out of bed and looked towards the door to the en-suite shower room. His main motivation moving him was the knowledge that he would be returning home later that day. But again, with that realisation a wave of sadness washed over him as he knew that this would be his last day with Avery. Pushing that thought aside, he stripped out of his clothes, placed them on the bed and walked into the en-suite. He climbed under the shower head, allowing the initial blast of cold water to wash over him in the hope that it would help him to wake up. After several more seconds he turned the heat up as high as he could stand and let the heat envelope him; needing the hot water to relieve the tension that was so obvious in the muscles of his back and shoulders. He closed his eyes and allowed the hot water to run over his body and started to feel some of the tension run away with it, but he also knew that deep down it wouldn't truly be gone until he was back in his own room in his own reality…with his own family.

Suddenly his thoughts were directed elsewhere as his stomach began to rumble. With a small sigh, he switched off the shower and got out, grabbing a towel, and quickly drying himself off with it before wrapping it securely around his waist. He made his way back into the bedroom and began to dress when there was a knock on the door.

"Just a minute," he called out as he quickly finished dressing. When he was done, he called out for whoever was outside his door to enter. The door opened to reveal a tired looking Avery. Despite being back in her own reality, she clearly hadn't slept either.

"Being back must have brought up some painful memories," he thought to himself, as he pasted on a smile, which she thankfully but tiredly returned. Virgil also saw sadness in her eyes.

"Are you hungry?" she asked him. But before he was able to open his mouth to respond, his stomach growled answering her question for him. They both laughed as Avery led the way out to the dining room for breakfast.

As they both took their seats and began to tuck into the delicious eggs and bacon and some much needed coffee that Kyrano had provided for them, Virgil looked around. He was surprised that they were the only ones at the table. He knew that had they been in his reality, all his brothers and his father would have been up and eating by now, lured by Kyrano's cooking and their own empty stomachs.

But if he was to be totally honest, he was grateful that no one else was there with them, he realised that he wanted to enjoy some more time alone with Avery before he made the return trip home. He also realised that despite how hungry he felt, his stomach protested as he forced food into his mouth.

The thought of leaving Avery for good making him feel sick.

He looked over at where she was seated opposite him at the table, taking a moment to memorise everything. What she was wearing, the way she was wearing her hair, the movement of her arm as she brought her fork up to her mouth, even the movement of her neck as she swallowed down her food. He didn't want to miss anything. Noticing him staring, she gave a small, sad smile.

"Everything alright?" she asked indicating to his plate of half-eaten food.

Virgil gave a small nod in response as his gaze moved down to his plate and a blush coloured his cheeks. He felt embarrassed that she had caught him staring. He looked back over towards her and was about to answer when Jeff walked into the room.

The older man seemed delighted at the prospect of who he was going to be the sharing the breakfast table with. However, he was also oblivious to the moment that he had just walked in on and interrupted.

"So how was your walk last night son?" Jeff asked Virgil as he made his way to his chair at the head of the table. Virgil looked up at him as the older man took his seat but didn't answer. He couldn't find it in him to speak to the man who looked so much like his own father. As far as Virgil was concerned this man was a poor imitation of the great man that was the Jeff Tracy he knew and loved.

"Virgil?" Jeff prompted when he still didn't get a response.

"It was okay?" Virgil finally replied. "I actually spent a bit of time with Gordon," he added. At the mention of the red heads name, Virgil saw that same look flicker across the older man's face that he had briefly seen the day before. Only this time, Virgil was able to recognise the look for what it was…disgust.

"And what did he have to say for himself?" Jeff asked as he turned his attention away from Virgil to the food that was on the table before him. He then proceeded to pick up a knife and began spreading some jam onto his toast.

"He told me about what happened when Virgil died."

At the mention of his dead son, Jeff's knife stopped moving, but only for a moment, before he continued with what he was doing. Once he was finished, he put down the knife and looked over at Virgil.

"And did he tell you how he failed to save his brother? How he let his family down yet again…like he has been doing his whole life." Jeff responded, not seeming to notice the distress that his comments were causing Avery.

Seeing the pain in Avery's eyes, Virgil felt his breathing quicken as the anger bubbled up inside him. He was angry with the way that this Jeff seemed to be acting like he was the only one suffering because of the loss of Virgil; and for the way that he was talking about Gordon. He didn't want to cause a scene and bring any more pain to Avery, but Virgil couldn't help himself, the anger causing the words to force their way out of his mouth.

"It's wrong of you to blame him…he did everything he could to bring Virgil back home to all of you alive. But if there's one thing I've learnt…it's that you can't save them all."

"Virgil was his brother he should have tried harder," Jeff snapped angrily.

"So, you do blame him?" Virgil asked incredulously.

"Virgil is dead because Gordon couldn't get to him in time…"

"No," Virgil snapped back, "He's dead because someone tried to kill the family that they were there to save, and Virgil chose to do the only thing he could to protect his family. The only person responsible for his death is the person who pressed the button that launched that missile."

"He should have saved him…Virgil was everything to me, don't you understand that…"

"Yeah, I understand that he remined you of your wife, but guess what, Virgil wasn't the only son she gave you. But you seem to have forgotten that." Virgil proclaimed angrily as he pushed back on his chair and got to his feet. "I'm sorry Avery," Virgil said solemnly as he stepped away from the table. Avery didn't say anything but the look she gave him told him that she understood the reason for his sudden outburst.

"Virgil please," Jeff pleaded as Virgil turned to leave the room, "Just give me a chance to explain son."

"I'm not the one you should be talking to," Virgil replied, the anger still evident in his tone. "And I'm not your son."

And with that he left the room.