I can't believe we're almost at the end!

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Jeff sat on the hospital bed, a hand covering Scott's.

The bullet had been easily recovered from his shoulder, but Jeff wasn't thinking about that right now. He was thinking about how close he'd come to losing his sons.

Scott, John, Virgil...

Gordon, Alan...

It dawned on Jeff then and there just how little he'd been around his sons after the funeral. He'd dumped everything on his mother and Scott. Scott was only fifteen-years-old and was still managing to look after his brothers better than Jeff ever could!

He hadn't been there for his sons when they needed it most, and these were the consequences of that. The wake up call he needed.

Jeff hung his head in deep thought. His grief had alienated him from his sons in a time that he really needed to be there for them. He wouldn't have even noticed this if it wasn't for Barrett threatening to take them away.

He wished he'd been more self-aware, but Lucille's death had completely broken him.

'That being said," Jeff thought with clarity and distinction, something that hadn't happened in a while, 'My sons need me now. You're still allowed to grieve, but don't push your sons away. It's your duty to be there for them.'

"Dad?"

Jeff turned towards the door to see Virgil standing at the foot of the room, a small bandage applied to his cheek. Jeff smiled and patted the bed.

With a sense of apprehension, Virgil walked over to his dad and sat beside him on the bed, eyes not leaving his older brother. "Is he okay?"

"Just fine, Virgil. The bullet wasn't lodged as deeply as first thought. Once he recovers from the surgery he'll be just fine."

"Good." Virgil replied slowly, obviously still dwelling something over.

Jeff sighed. "Virgil, look at me."

A tearful Virgil turned to his father. "This... is all my fault. All of it..."

Jeff shook his head. "No Virgil, it's not."

"I-I wish I'd never been caught. None of this would've happened. John wouldn't be so hurt, and Scott wouldn't be-"

"Virgil, stop." Jeff tilted his son's chin upright. "None of this is your fault. It's the fault of a bad man trying to get back at me. He wanted to use you against me."

"But you've lost your money!"

"Balls to the money, Virgil!" Jeff firmly took his shoulders, "You and your brothers are the only things that matter to me! I would give up everything any anything for you!" he calmed himself down and smiled, "You and your brothers make me the luckiest man alive."

Virgil lifted his head of his own accord and smiled.

Jeff beamed. "I love you Virgil, and I always will. You must never forget that."

Virgil flung himself at his dad and Jeff hugged him back. They remained like that for a few minutes, until a gruff voice entered the scene.

"Ge'roff..."

Virgil and Jeff turned to Scott, who was waking up. The grumpy teenager groaned and tiredly stared at the two people sitting on his bed.

"You heavy..."

"We're not even sitting on you." Virgil pouted. "How are you feeling?"

"Shit."

With wide eyes, Virgil turned to Jeff. His dad shook his head with a twinkle in his eye.

"I hope you don't use that sort of language around your brothers!"

"He used it around grandmother before and she grounded him for a month."

"Tattletail."

"Good on grandma." Jeff chuckled.

Scott shifted a little in bed and Jeff leant over to help him shuffle himself up the pillow. Even dosed up on medication, Scott noticed how stressed his father was looking and observed him closely. "You good?"

Jeff nodded, "Yes, Scott, I'm good."

"Good..." His dreary eyes met his father's. He then looked at the door handle which was slowly turning.

Noticing the noise himself, Jeff turned to the door just in time to see Gordon and Alan rushing in, John and their grandmother in close pursuit, trying to slow the pair down. Gordon dove onto his father's knees and Alan went to dive on Scott, but was caught by Virgil, who held him upright.

"I'm sorry Jefferson, they've been so excited to see Scott I just had to bring them here!"

Jeff kissed Gordon's hand. "It's alright mother. I've been neglecting them far too long." He sat Gordon up in his lap. "Are you okay, squirt?"

Gordon pouted. "I wanna lie in bed like Scott and do nothing too!"

"Scott's just had surgery!"

"So?"

Alan peered over Virgil's shoulder and stared at his older brother. "Is Scotty okay?"

"He's fine, aren't you- oh, he fell asleep again."

Jeff stood up. "Then we best leave him to rest."

"But we just got here!" Gordon complained.

"Yeah! I wanna sit with Scotty!" Alan moaned.

Jeff shook his head and scooped both of his boys up. "Scott needs some rest. When he's all rested up and ready to chat, we'll come back and see him, alright?"

"Okay..."

"In the meantime, how about we get some ice cream?"

This instantaneously cheered the pair of them up.

"You staying here, Virgil?"

"Yeah, I'll wait here. I won't disturb him though."

"Okay, son."

"Are you sure it's okay to leave him here, Jeff?" Christine asked her son, still a bit weary about leaving her grandsons alone, considering the day's events.

"We're in a private wing, which is securely guarded. They'll be fine. Just keep the door locked, will you, Virgil?"

"Dad..."

"Okay, okay. Just be mindful." he gave Virgil a kiss on the head and took one last look at Scott before leaving.

"Ice cream!" Alan cried out, running outside.

"Wait up!" Gordon called after him.

The two boys raced out of the room, skidding past a poor nurse who was almost spun off her feet by the excited duo.

"Boys, slow down!" their grandmother cried.

Jeff shook his head at their antics and waited for John to leave the room before closing the door.

He placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder. He hadn't spoken at all since they'd got to Scott's room, which concerned Jeff, but he knew John needed lots of space and some time to gather his thoughts. "How are you doing, son?"

"Fine. Tired." John admitted, too exhausted to lie to his father.

Jeff observed John's bandaged arms and felt a surge of anger rush through him. Again, this whole situation wouldn't have happened if Jeff hadn't been so thoughtless.

"It's okay, dad." John reached out, a small smile gracing his thin lips. "It's okay."

"It's not okay, John. What Barrett did to you-"

"He's been arrested, dad. So has Kenyon, and Ritter's body has been found after falling from the bridge when the helijet crashed, so it's cool. We're cool. It's done."

Jeff pulled John into a hug. His son was so brave, and so logical, seeing things in black and white.

At first the blonde tensed up, not really one who enjoyed physical affection, but after everything they'd been through he felt he needed it. Mindful of his injuries, he hugged his dad back.

"You were so brave, son. All three of you."

"I was so scared." John admitted. "I didn't know what to do."

"You emailed the police, John! That was such a clever thing to do!" he ran his fingers through John's sandy locks. "I am extremely proud of you."

John felt his lips turn up into a smile. "Thanks dad..."

Jeff stared at his son, a warm sensation filling his heart. He was back with his boys, and that's all that mattered to him. "Come on, let's see what your brothers are up to."

"And stop them from buying the whole shop." John laughed, walking beside his father down the sleek hospital corridor.

Their adversity was finally over.