Disclaimer: Still don't own them.
Hello, Thunderfam! I apologize for disappearing the last few months. My mental health waylaid me, practically giving me whiplash. It was unexpected (well kinda) and I have never been this incapacitated by my mental health before. I'm working on it and hope to continue on at a better pace for you. It's still early in my journey with getting better, but I'm hoping writing can be a welcomed distraction again from the negative thoughts and other issues.
Thanks for sticking with me!
Chapter Five
John quietly pushed open the door to his youngest brother's bedroom. Alan laid fast asleep under the strewn covers. The poor kid had clearly been restless. John laid the fresh glass of water on the nightstand and gently checked his baby brother's forehead. Heat radiated from the eighteen year old's skin, making the older blonde frown in concern. Pulling his hand away, he pushed a few stray strands of hair that stuck to Alan's sweaty forehead.
The younger blonde began to stir, letting out a quiet moan as a cough erupted from him. John turned on the light from Alan's ensuite and wet a washcloth. Returning to his baby brother's side, John laid the cool cloth along his brother's forehead.
Alan coughed once more and opened his eyes to the blurry figure leaning over him.
"Hey, Allie," John smiled as Alan's eyes slowly focused on him.
"Aww, man, Dad's overreacting," Alan groaned. "He pulled you from the station?".
"Nice to see you too, Squirt," John chuckled. "No, he didn't pull me. Brains insisted I come down to give an extra hand while you're laid up."
Alan pushed himself up against his headboard, pulling the wet washcloth from his forehead. He reached for a kleenex to blow his nose. "It'll be nice to have you around. Even if I am sick."
"How are you feeling?" John asked as he handed his brother a glass of water.
Alan coughed as the water tickled his already irritated throat. "Like I've been hit by a bus."
"You sound like it, kiddo. Anything I can do for you?" John asked as he took the water from Alan and laid it back on the nightstand. He didn't like how congested Alan sounded. "Are you up to eating anything?"
Alan groaned at the thought of food as he let his head lean against his headboard. "Food doesn't even sound appealing."
"You've got to eat something, Allie. It'll keep your strength up to fight this bug. How about some soup?"
"Okay, fine," Alan agreed as he tried to move out of bed.
"Whoa, where do you think you're going? I'll bring it to you. You stay here and rest," John ordered as he pushed Alan back down.
"Okay," Alan sighed, only causing another coughing fit to erupt. He moaned as he rubbed his chest.
"You okay?" John asked worriedly.
"Peachy," Alan croaked. "Chest hurts a little. Can you ask Virgil where the humidifiers are? Maybe that'll help me breathe."
"Sure," John smiled in sympathy. "Maybe he can give you something that'll help with that cough too, along with the congestion."
"Yea, maybe," Alan said as he laid his aching head back against his pillow and pulled a blanket back over him as a sudden chill filled his achy body.
"I'll be right back," John said, heading for the door.
"Mmm," Alan muttered and closed his eyes as John left the room.
John quickly made his way to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, his eyes set on exactly what he was looking for. Kyrano's homemade soup generally cured any sickness that filled the Island.
Grabbing a tray, John waited for the soup to warm in the microwave. His mind wandered to the day's events. To the rogue Captain and how close two of his brothers came to being hurt.
A beeping sound erupted from the microwave interrupting his thoughts. Turning, the astronaut heard the sound of whistling. John immediately recognized the tune and smiled as Virgil entered the kitchen.
"Hey, John," the middle Tracy greeted. "How's the adjustment to Earth? Feeling okay?"
"I'm all good," John replied, taking the soup out of the microwave and placing it on the tray. "I'm not the one we need to worry about."
"Alan?" Virgil asked, concerned.
"I just checked on the kid," John sighed. "He agreed to try some soup, but he complained of his chest hurting and having trouble breathing. He wanted me to check with you for a humidifier. I think he thought it would help."
Virgil frowned. "Try and see if you can get him to eat, and I'll meet you in Alan's room. I'm going to stop in the infirmary and grab a few things."
"Okay," John nodded and headed back toward his baby brother's bedroom.
Entering Alan's room, the older blonde smirked as he noticed Alan had fallen asleep once more. Turning on the light on Alan's nightstand, John frowned at how pale his baby brother looked. Rubbing Alan's arm, John noticed a bruise had formed along the younger astronaut's arm. Exactly where Captain Stern's had grabbed him. Anger filled the second oldest but quickly dissipated as Alan's groggy eyes peered open. "Hey, kiddo. How about we try that soup?"
"Okay," Alan croaked as he pushed himself up. A wave of dizziness hit him, and he nearly smacked his head against his headboard before John steadied him.
"You okay?" John asked with worry as he helped Alan lean against his headboard.
"I'm fine," Alan reassured hoarsely, coughing once more. The eighteen year old rubbed his chest in discomfort. Looking down at the soup on the tray John laid in front of him, he smiled. "Is this what I think it is?"
"Sure is, Sprout. Let's hope it does the trick!"
Alan took a couple of spoonfuls of Kryano's soup while John rewet the washcloth. A chill shivered its way throughout his whole achy body. Grabbing a blanket from the floor, Alan wrapped it around his body. "This sucks," he muttered to himself.
"I would have to agree with you," Virgil grinned as he entered the room. "Lucky for you, I come with presents."
Alan rolled his eyes as John laid the cold washcloth against the back of his neck. "How the heck can I be freezing, but my body on fire?" he grumbled.
"Let's check that fever, shall we?" Virgil smirked as he ran the thermometer across his baby brother's forehead. As the machine beeped, the medic's smirk dropped.
John peered over Virgil's shoulder as 101.2 shined across the device, causing both brothers to meet each other with an uneasy gaze. A deep cough erupted from the youngest Tracy, causing him to hold his chest as several coughs followed.
"Alan, does your chest hurt every time you cough?" Virgil asked as he grabbed his stethoscope.
"Just about," the teen wheezed.
"Okay," Virgil nodded. "Take a few deep breathes for me if you can."
Alan did as his brother asked but was quickly overtaken by another coughing fit. "Easy, Allie," Virgil coaxed, trying not to let his concern show. "I don't like the sound of that cough. Let's try another round of meds, and I'll get the humidifier hooked up to help with your congestion."
"Whatever you say," Alan moaned as he closed his eyes and leaned his aching head against his headboard once more.
John looked at him with sympathy. "Do you want to try to eat any more soup?"
"No, I just want to sleep," Alan said, as John took the tray away and he collapsed back against his bed.
"Get some more rest, Sprout. I'll come back and check on you in a couple of hours to see how you're doing," Virgil said, handing Alan his meds.
The teen gladly took the meds as he watched his older brother start the humidifier, the vapor mist filling the room. "Thanks, Virg."
"Don't mention it," Virgil smiled as he ruffled Alan's hair. "If you need anything, just reach out, okay?"
"Mmm," Alan mumbled as he closed his eyes once more.
Virgil turned off the lights and followed John into the hallway, closing Alan's door behind him. "Should we be worried?" John asked as he turned to meet his closest older brother.
Virgil rubbed the back of his neck as he noted the time on his watch. "Viruses are quick-change artists, Johnny. You know this. I'm concerned about that cough and the discomfort in his chest. I'll check on him in a couple of hours and decide whether we should start him on a round of antibiotics. I'm hoping his body will start to fight it before we get to that."
John nodded in understanding, his knowledge of medicine filtering in. "Should I loop Dad in?"
Virgil smirked, recognizing John's need to play communicator even on Earth. "No, not yet. He worries enough as it is. Let's not give him another reason. I'm hoping to keep him out of Allie's room as much as possible before he sets up camp. I don't want to impose the caffeine restrictions unless absolutely necessary."
John chuckled. Jeff's consumption of caffeine was well known across the Island in stressful situations. Something Virgil and Jeff's cardiologist were particularly strict about. "Agreed, let's not poke the bear."
"Well, it's nearly midnight. We better get some sleep before the next mission interrupts us. I'll be up in two hours to check on the kid," Virgil said as he headed toward his room.
"Keep me updated, will you? Don't worry about waking me."
"F.A.B," Virgil replied and entered his room. The medic couldn't help but feel a sense of worry creep its way into his mind. All they could do was wait. After all, it was just a simple virus, right?
TBC…