Disclaimer: Not mine!

Thank you all for the reviews last chapter! They always make my day!

Finally found time to post this sucker during this crazy week of graduation prep! Graduation practice tomorrow and actual ceremony Friday night for my associate's degree!

Hope you enjoy this brotherly moment. The fun begins next chapter!

Chapter Six

Virgil tried to suppress a yawn as he grabbed the needed medication from the infirmary. Alan's fever had climbed nearly another degree. The medic of the family instinctively made the call to start antibiotics quickly. Virgil was confident they were now dealing with more than the common cold and that a bacterial infection was beginning to set in.

Entering Alan's room, the middle Tracy was concerned to see the bed empty. Only the sight of the strewn sheets and a pile of used tissues remained. "Allie?"

"I'm in here," Alan's hoarse voice called from the bathroom.

Virgil sat the meds down and met the crumbled form of his baby brother. Alan sat on the bathroom floor, the wall seeming to be the only thing holding him up. "Sick again?"

"Yup," Alan grumbled as he reached to flush the toilet. Virgil handed him a towel to clean himself up. "Thanks."

Virgil helped him up but quickly took hold of his younger brother's waist as the teen's legs nearly crumbled. "Alan, you okay?"

"Yea," the teen panted as another cough erupted from him. "Brain and body just don't want to cooperate at the moment."

"C'mon, let's get you back in bed," Virgil urged as they made the short walk to Alan's bed. "If you don't start keeping things down, I'm going to have to start an IV, kiddo. I'm worried about dehydration."

"You're preaching to the choir. This isn't exactly a party," Alan wheezed, letting his head sink back into his pillow.

Virgil observed him as Alan coughed and tried to take in a deep breath. "How long has that been going on?"

"I dunno," Alan shrugged. "Awhile, I guess. It's not like I'm writing all of this down."

The middle Tracy handed Alan two pills, motioning for the teen to take the antibiotics. "When you're not exerting yourself, is it hard to breathe?"

Alan gave his older brother a weird look but decided against the first thought that entered his mind. He wouldn't exactly call laying in bed exerting himself, but who was he to judge? "If you call breathing with my mouth mostly, then sure."

Virgil now wished he had kept the kid in the infirmary so he could ease his mind and have all of his equipment at his disposal. Knowing it wasn't something the baby of the family would do, he opted for what he had in front of him. "Alright, if it gets worse, let me know immediately. Here's something that will help with nausea, and something to hopefully help with that cough," he said, handing Alan the tiny pill and cup of cough suppressant.

"Why do these always have to taste so gross?" Alan complained as he quickly swallowed several gulps of water.

"That's how you know it'll work," Virgil smirked, winking at his annoyed sibling.

-TB-

The sunrise was Scott's favorite part of his morning run. The smell of the morning dew across the island jungle and the colorful orange and yellow hues that rippled across the water.

He slowed his pace to a jog as he came across the broadest part of the beach on the Island. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, the oldest Tracy paused as he noticed a figure ahead. Confusion met him as he recognized the build of the person. Scott quickly jogged forward, calling out to his younger brother. "Virgil?"

"Hey, Scott," the chestnut-haired Tracy greeted, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a towel.

Scott struggled for a moment. He knew he was treading on thin ice for his brother to be up this early. Virgil was always active, but athletically the medic was more of a gym guy. He found more solace in lifting weights and punching bags. Sprinting and running were always something the other brothers had enjoyed, barring John. It was rare to catch Virgil on a run outside of the gym, especially on one before the sun had been up for at least one hour in the sky.

"Pretty view, huh?" Virgil interrupted his thoughts, almost sensing his brother's unease.

"Always is," Scott smiled in appreciation. "No sunrise seems to be the same."

"I'll take your word for it," Virgil replied, taking a seat along the sand.

Scott's concern only increased, but he followed his brother along the cool sand. His blue eyes searched the ocean while taking small glances at Virgil.

"You can ask," Virgil exhaled, surprising the elder. "I know you're wondering why I'm out here so early."

Scott tried to suppress the grin that he knew was also on Virgil's face. "Didn't want to push."

Virgil nodded in understanding, letting his hands rest on his raised knees. "Bad dreams and worried about Alan," he stated plainly.

"I checked in on the kid before I started my run. Al was sound asleep, but he still felt warm and sounded congested. I think that humidifier might be helping," Scott said, watching Virgil as he stared out into the water. "I didn't want to disturb him. He needs his rest."

"Allie's exhausted," Virgil admitted. "Between the coughing, vomiting, and congestion, his sleep has been interrupted. I gave him a round of antibiotics and something to help with the other symptoms. Alan's definitely caught something bacterial for sure. Those cold waters from the rescue didn't do him any favors."

"I'm sure those will help," Scott reassured. "He just needs time for the meds and his immune system to work." The elder Tracy studied his brother once again. "Do you want to talk about the dreams?"

Virgil sighed as he threw a rock he had been playing with toward the water. "It was about the last mission."

"I figured," Scott added. "I would've been surprised if you didn't. I know what it felt like being on the receiving end. I can only imagine what it was like in the moment physically."

"Definitely won't be in my top 20," Virgil chuckled solemnly.

"Who said it was getting past the top 50?" Scott laughed, nudging Virgil.

"Point taken," the middle Tracy smiled.

"All jokes aside," Scott started. "Are you okay?"

"Okay is a relative term, Scott. We compartmentalize and move on-"

"-Virg, you know that's not what I meant."

"I do," Virgil acknowledged meeting Scott's intense gaze. "Look, you know what happened. I don't have to tell you again. I just…. I can't get the image of the gun shoved against Alan's neck out of my head and that look on his face. That look… Damnit, Scott. He's too much like you!"

Scott tried not to laugh but empathized.

"I could tell Alan was scared, but the kid refused to show it. He was so trusting. Trusting of me to get us out of that situation."

"You did, Virgil. Allie is safe because of you, and so are you. I was just as worried about you as I was our baby brother," Scott countered. "You did what you had to, and no one was harmed."

"That's not the point, Scott. You have no idea how close it came."

"What do you mean?" Scott asked, confused.

"There's a bullet hole in the floor of the rescue platform. A hole that was inches away from hitting Alan when he hit the deck."

Realization dawned on the oldest Tracy. "Is that what your dream was about? That the bullet actually hit Alan?"

Virgil remained silent as he collected his thoughts. He felt Scott turn to face him, the older pilot's knees resting against one of his own. "Mostly, but what stuck with me most was that look. Like I said, having a hard time getting it out of my head."

Scott placed a comforting hand along Virgil's knee, squeezing it. "I know you don't need me to tell you about how great you are when quick decisions need to be made. That goes without saying, but Allie trusted you with his life because so would I. Any of us would. The next time a lunatic threatens one of my brothers with a gun, he'll wish neither one of us were around."

Virgil smiled. "Thanks, Scott."

"Anytime. You good?"

"I'll be fine," Virgil replied. "We probably should head in. Breakfast will be started soon, and I need to check on Alan and make sure Dad isn't camping at his side."

"Dad was still asleep when I checked on Al," Scott said as they began to walk up the path that led to the main villa. "Besides, he has an early call with one of the new brokers, if I remember correctly."

"Good, that should keep him occupied," Virgil grinned.

TBC…