10 Minutes later...........
Marineville General Hospital
The Tracys sat in silence, Alan's tear-stained face was pressed against Scott's chest, Kate's arm was securely around John's slumped shoulders. Scott's own face was pale and defeated, and Jeff was staring,unseeing from the waiting room window.
The furious sound of shoes rushing through the corridor, had all four Tracys and Kate looking up, a loud voice shouted.
'Let me through, I'm family!'
And then the door was wrenched open with an almighty push and Virgil's horrified face appeared.
He stood for mere seconds at the door, staring at the faces of his family. He focused the longest on Alan's sobbing form.
'Oh my God.' he whispered.
His mind whirred over and over, 'you're too late Virgil, you're too late.'
'NO' he said, assuming his brother was dead.
Then his world spun into welcoming darkness.
*******
'VIRGIL' Jeff, Scott and John shouted in unison,as Virgil collapsed to the floor.
John swiftly reached his brother before he banged his head against the floor. And propped his head gently in his lap.
'Virgil!' a woman's shriek erupted from the doorway, as a dark-haired, pretty woman dashed to his side.
John knew who she was immediately, 'Luisa?'
The woman tore her stricken gaze away from Virgil to look up in suprise at the stranger who knew who she was.
She gave a small nod.
Jeff knelt by his son's side and Scott and a concerned Alan hovered nearby.
Jeff took charge, 'Alan?' he shouted, 'Get a doctor!'
Alan dashed from the room.
'Alright give me some room' he told John and Luisa who reluctantly moved aside.
'Virgil' Jeff murmered to his son, 'wake up,'
Virgil's eyelids fluttered, but he did not open his eyes.
John felt Kate reaching for his own hand and squeezing it. He squeezed back, greatful for her support, could things get any worse?
His father continued to talk to the unconcious form of his brother as John moved over to Scott and linked an arm through his. His eldest brother looked decidedly unstable himself.
John was shocked at Virgil's reaction, his brother was always emotional but his expression before he'd collapsed, he'd just looked utterley distraught. John looked up as Alan and a doctor entered the room.
***********
'Virgil, son, can you hear me?'
The voice obliterated the blackness and Virgil felt himself slowly coming back to reality. He squeezed his eyes shut, he didn't want to come back, not to a world where his brother was dead, where he had been too late to say goodbye, where he'd been too late to matter.
He slowly opened his eyes and winced at the harsh glare of the electric hospital lighting.
'Virgil?' his father's face hovered over him, lined and weary and concerned.
'Dad?' His voice sounded raspy and not his own.
Jeff reached an arm underneath him and pulled his son into an upright position.
'Are you alright?'
Virgil blinked as he got his bearings back, 'No' he said brokenly, 'I was too late wasn't I?'
Jeff looked confused, so did everyone else, apart from the man in the doctor's coat who looked serious.
'Too late?' Jeff asked softly.
'Dad...' Virgil attempted, 'Gordo's dead isn't he?'
Jeff stared at Virgil in horror, then glanced hurriedly at the doctor. The doctor shook his head.
Jeff visibly relaxed, 'No, your brother's not dead, who told you that?'
Virgil felt relief like he'd never felt his whole life, it took him a while to speak, 'not dead?' he asked, 'he's not dead?'
'No' Jeff replied shaking his head.
Virgil let out a long breath, 'But I thought....you all looked........' he stammered, 'when I came in you were all.......' he gestured at his brother, '....Al was crying.'
Jeff put an arm under Virgil's and Scott moved forward to take the other as they helped him into a seat. John nodded his thanks to the doctor and he left the room.
Scott peered at Virgil, concerned, 'the doctor just told us that Jack's died.' he offered.
Virgil shook his head, 'Gordon's Jack?' he asked, knowing full well there was only one Jack who would have been on the hydrofoil.
Scott nodded, Alan sniffed loudly.
The whole family had been fond of Gordon's best friend.
Virgil looked at John and for the first time noticed the woman sitting by him, Virgil put bets on it being either Emily or Kate, he looked at his brother, 'what happened?'
John's blue eyes were deadly serious, 'they came and got Mr and Mrs Munroe a while ago, told them he'd woken up, apparantly he was talking to them and he just suffered a massive blood clot, they couldn't bring him back.'
Virgil shook his head, 'I meant about the accident.'
John sighed, 'It wasn't anybodys fault, the hydraulics failed,apparantly they.......'
Alan interuppted angrily, 'nobody's fault......' he muttered, '...yeah right!'
John and Virgil frowned confused, Jeff heaved an impatient sigh, 'Alan, please.....'
Scott jumped into the fray, 'this guy Redding' he told his brothers, 'he was supposed to check the hydraulics but he didn't bother, that's why the hydro crashed.'
Both his brothers looked suprised, Virgil's eyes widened, John pondered this, 'How do you know that?'
'It was on the news, this WASP cadet saw him disobey the order'. Scott said in disgust.
John and Virgil looked angry, Virgil muttered, 'that little son of a.......'
'VIRGIL!' Jeff shouted, 'STOP THIS!'
Virgil stared in suprise,
'Like I told your brothers now is not the time for this!'
Virgil looked contrite, 'sorry Dad.'
Jeff looked at Luisa, 'right now' he said softly, 'there's nothing to do now but wait, so why don't you introduce me to this young lady.'
Virgil winced, uh oh!
************
It was only when Jeff asked Virgil to introduce the young lady that he realised she was no girl. The lady staring back at him was a woman.
She was very attractive, but Jeff was worried to note that she looked a good few years older than his son.
'Well?' he asked after Virgil remained silent.
Virgil looked over at the woman, seemingly at a loss for words. This silence did not bode well for Jeff.
The woman looked Jeff straight in the eyes with a look that was both brave and unnerving.
'I'm Luisa Millions' she announced and Jeff was suprised at the huskiness of her voice, 'I don't believe in starting out with deception,' Jeff became even more worried, as she continued, 'I used to be Virgil's...........'
Jeff was suprised to hear John's voice interrupt, 'STUDY PARTNER!'
Everyone stared at him, surprised by his outburst.
John shot a meaningful glance at Virgil , 'she used to be his study partner.'
Jeff nodded slightly, then offered her a hand, 'good to meet you Luisa' he said, though his suspiscions were still heightened.
Why did this woman look so much older, why had Virgil found it so difficult to introduce her and why did John never mention this new lady friend of Virgils.
Jeff didn't know, now wasn't the time, but he'd get to the bottom of this.
***********
Virgil thanked God for his brother, John had just saved his life!
He smiled his thanks at John and then looked up to see Scott watching his younger brothers thoughtfully.
Virgil quickly averted his eyes.
*********
The waiting room door was opened and Alan looked up in nervous trepidation as another doctor walked in, he was dressed in green operating scrubs and Alan knew without a doubt that this was Gordon's surgeon.
The room lapsed into a tense silence.
The surgeon's eyes scanned the room , 'Mr Tracy?'
Scott, Alan, Virgil, John and Jeff all answered, 'YES?'
They looked at one another and then realised the surgeon probably meant Jeff.
'I'm Gordon's father' Jeff answered.
The surgeon removed the green cap from his head, 'Mr Tracy, I'm your son's surgeon, this is the situation, when he was first brought in, I have to say I didn't think we'd have a chance in hell of keeping your boy alive. He was pretty messed up........'
Alan felt his palms become sweaty, and his heart pound.
'.....however the surgery went very well, we had to repair parts of his spine and his fractured skull, both were successful'.
Alan exhaled.
'So, his chances are certainly considerably higher than they were a few hours ago.'
'So what's his current condition' Jeff asked his voice wobbling slightly betraying his fear.
'Well, he's still critical, he's in a coma at the moment and we're never happy with patients that are unconcious for over an hour, it's still very unclear if he'll regain use of his legs, or if he'll ever walk again, but he's alive.'
Alan bit his lip, thankful that his brother was alive but horrified that he was comatose, that he may never wake up, let alone walk again. He looked around to see how his brothers were taking this news. Scott was frowning, worry written all across his face, John's face was pinched as he stared passed the doctor at the wall, Virgil was staring into his lap, like he couldn't bring himself to look at the doctor.
'We won't know about brain damage until or if he wakes up.' he continued.
Jeff nodded his shoulders slumped, 'right, can we see him?'
'Yes, I have to warn you he may look disturbing at the moment, the best advice I can give relatives is to just talk to the patient. Try and wake him up, it's a fact that coma patients have responded to familiar voices.'
Jeff nodded.
'Follow me'
John stood and looked at Kate, 'hey' she told him, 'I'm fine here, just go.'
Luisa nodded, 'go Virgil, Kate and I will entertain ourselves, give him our love.'
Virgil and John followed their brothers and father from the room.
Alan stood directly next to his father as they followed the doctor down the corridors. He winced as he saw the sign they followed for the ICU. He hated to think of his lively, energetic brother in a place where most people died.
Shuddering he forced himself to brace himself for what he was about to see.
The doctor moved aside at a room and opened the door for the Tracys.
Alan got his first glimpse of Gordon.
***********
Scott side-stepped his youngest brother as he let out a gasp.
He swallowed hard at the sight infront of him.
Where he lay hooked up to monitors and drips and IV lines Gordon Tracy looked awful.
His face was a horrible white and his beautiful auburn hair was concealed by a thick bandage which was wrapped around his head. He had an oxygen mask on, obviously to help him breath, and a heart monitor attached to his chest.
Scott walked slowly around his bedside, never taking his eyes from Gordon's face. He stared at the rising and falling of the pump which was helping his brother breathe.
This was not the Gordon he knew.
Their was silence where the noisy, boistrousness usually was, their was no cheeky grin lighting up his face. Just a pale, unreadable expression.
He looked how he did when he was asleep.
Angelic and sweet, sleep had always done that to Gordon, made him look innocent and cherubic, disguising that mischevious mind, that cunning smile when he came up with his next joke.
Scott sat in a chair, to his brothers left and took a hand in his. Even his hands had not escaped the machines, the IV running into his hand had Scott being even more tender.
He noticed his brother's hand felt warm. 'You're still here aren't you Gordo?' he willed his brother silently, 'you're just resting.'
Tears welled into his eyes begging for release, and there holding his little brother's hand with a tenderness he wasn't known for Scott Tracy broke down.
*********
John placed a hand against Scott's quivering shoulder.
No matter when it happened, it always unnerved him to see his controlled, strong, formidable big brother cry.
He had seen it precious few times in his life, when their mother died and strangely when the family dog passed away, but John hated it now just as much.
He looked at Gordon, or what was a broken and twisted version of his brother.
He didn't blame Scott for crying.
Alan was holding Gordon's other hand and surprisingly looked controlled and strong. John realised they didn't give Alan the cresit he deserved at times.
He knew Alan would feel this deeply, him and Gordon were a greatly annoying double-act to their elder brothers, John knew Alan would feel pretty lost right now.
He sat down next to Scott and watched as his father placed a hand against Gordon's face.
'Come on son, wake up' Jeff said gruffly, 'you were always an attention- seeker but I think you've taken it a little far this time.'
Gordon didn't move.
'Son, I need you to wake up for daddy, please' Jeff begged, 'we need you Gordon, I need you, you can't die, you just can't die.'
John watched the stoic Jeff Tracy crumble, seeing his son like this was killing him, sobbing Virgil moved to embrace him and Jeff allowed himself to go into his son's arms.
John spoke then, 'Gordo, come on you heard dad' he said in a no-nonsense tone, 'get up now, this is no time to be sleeping.'
No response other than the beeping of the heart monitor.
John looked up and his eyes met Virgil's over his father's shoulder.
He read the meaning in Virgil's eyes, 'this family is falling apart.'
************
SO.............
WILL GORDON WAKE UP?
WILL THE TRUTH EMERGE ABOUT LUISA?
WILL KATE LEARN ABOUT EMILY?
HOW IS STEPH?
WILL SCOTT AND JEFF PULL THEMSELVES TOGETHER?
Find out in Chapter 4
Coming soon................
x
Marineville General Hospital
The Tracys sat in silence, Alan's tear-stained face was pressed against Scott's chest, Kate's arm was securely around John's slumped shoulders. Scott's own face was pale and defeated, and Jeff was staring,unseeing from the waiting room window.
The furious sound of shoes rushing through the corridor, had all four Tracys and Kate looking up, a loud voice shouted.
'Let me through, I'm family!'
And then the door was wrenched open with an almighty push and Virgil's horrified face appeared.
He stood for mere seconds at the door, staring at the faces of his family. He focused the longest on Alan's sobbing form.
'Oh my God.' he whispered.
His mind whirred over and over, 'you're too late Virgil, you're too late.'
'NO' he said, assuming his brother was dead.
Then his world spun into welcoming darkness.
*******
'VIRGIL' Jeff, Scott and John shouted in unison,as Virgil collapsed to the floor.
John swiftly reached his brother before he banged his head against the floor. And propped his head gently in his lap.
'Virgil!' a woman's shriek erupted from the doorway, as a dark-haired, pretty woman dashed to his side.
John knew who she was immediately, 'Luisa?'
The woman tore her stricken gaze away from Virgil to look up in suprise at the stranger who knew who she was.
She gave a small nod.
Jeff knelt by his son's side and Scott and a concerned Alan hovered nearby.
Jeff took charge, 'Alan?' he shouted, 'Get a doctor!'
Alan dashed from the room.
'Alright give me some room' he told John and Luisa who reluctantly moved aside.
'Virgil' Jeff murmered to his son, 'wake up,'
Virgil's eyelids fluttered, but he did not open his eyes.
John felt Kate reaching for his own hand and squeezing it. He squeezed back, greatful for her support, could things get any worse?
His father continued to talk to the unconcious form of his brother as John moved over to Scott and linked an arm through his. His eldest brother looked decidedly unstable himself.
John was shocked at Virgil's reaction, his brother was always emotional but his expression before he'd collapsed, he'd just looked utterley distraught. John looked up as Alan and a doctor entered the room.
***********
'Virgil, son, can you hear me?'
The voice obliterated the blackness and Virgil felt himself slowly coming back to reality. He squeezed his eyes shut, he didn't want to come back, not to a world where his brother was dead, where he had been too late to say goodbye, where he'd been too late to matter.
He slowly opened his eyes and winced at the harsh glare of the electric hospital lighting.
'Virgil?' his father's face hovered over him, lined and weary and concerned.
'Dad?' His voice sounded raspy and not his own.
Jeff reached an arm underneath him and pulled his son into an upright position.
'Are you alright?'
Virgil blinked as he got his bearings back, 'No' he said brokenly, 'I was too late wasn't I?'
Jeff looked confused, so did everyone else, apart from the man in the doctor's coat who looked serious.
'Too late?' Jeff asked softly.
'Dad...' Virgil attempted, 'Gordo's dead isn't he?'
Jeff stared at Virgil in horror, then glanced hurriedly at the doctor. The doctor shook his head.
Jeff visibly relaxed, 'No, your brother's not dead, who told you that?'
Virgil felt relief like he'd never felt his whole life, it took him a while to speak, 'not dead?' he asked, 'he's not dead?'
'No' Jeff replied shaking his head.
Virgil let out a long breath, 'But I thought....you all looked........' he stammered, 'when I came in you were all.......' he gestured at his brother, '....Al was crying.'
Jeff put an arm under Virgil's and Scott moved forward to take the other as they helped him into a seat. John nodded his thanks to the doctor and he left the room.
Scott peered at Virgil, concerned, 'the doctor just told us that Jack's died.' he offered.
Virgil shook his head, 'Gordon's Jack?' he asked, knowing full well there was only one Jack who would have been on the hydrofoil.
Scott nodded, Alan sniffed loudly.
The whole family had been fond of Gordon's best friend.
Virgil looked at John and for the first time noticed the woman sitting by him, Virgil put bets on it being either Emily or Kate, he looked at his brother, 'what happened?'
John's blue eyes were deadly serious, 'they came and got Mr and Mrs Munroe a while ago, told them he'd woken up, apparantly he was talking to them and he just suffered a massive blood clot, they couldn't bring him back.'
Virgil shook his head, 'I meant about the accident.'
John sighed, 'It wasn't anybodys fault, the hydraulics failed,apparantly they.......'
Alan interuppted angrily, 'nobody's fault......' he muttered, '...yeah right!'
John and Virgil frowned confused, Jeff heaved an impatient sigh, 'Alan, please.....'
Scott jumped into the fray, 'this guy Redding' he told his brothers, 'he was supposed to check the hydraulics but he didn't bother, that's why the hydro crashed.'
Both his brothers looked suprised, Virgil's eyes widened, John pondered this, 'How do you know that?'
'It was on the news, this WASP cadet saw him disobey the order'. Scott said in disgust.
John and Virgil looked angry, Virgil muttered, 'that little son of a.......'
'VIRGIL!' Jeff shouted, 'STOP THIS!'
Virgil stared in suprise,
'Like I told your brothers now is not the time for this!'
Virgil looked contrite, 'sorry Dad.'
Jeff looked at Luisa, 'right now' he said softly, 'there's nothing to do now but wait, so why don't you introduce me to this young lady.'
Virgil winced, uh oh!
************
It was only when Jeff asked Virgil to introduce the young lady that he realised she was no girl. The lady staring back at him was a woman.
She was very attractive, but Jeff was worried to note that she looked a good few years older than his son.
'Well?' he asked after Virgil remained silent.
Virgil looked over at the woman, seemingly at a loss for words. This silence did not bode well for Jeff.
The woman looked Jeff straight in the eyes with a look that was both brave and unnerving.
'I'm Luisa Millions' she announced and Jeff was suprised at the huskiness of her voice, 'I don't believe in starting out with deception,' Jeff became even more worried, as she continued, 'I used to be Virgil's...........'
Jeff was suprised to hear John's voice interrupt, 'STUDY PARTNER!'
Everyone stared at him, surprised by his outburst.
John shot a meaningful glance at Virgil , 'she used to be his study partner.'
Jeff nodded slightly, then offered her a hand, 'good to meet you Luisa' he said, though his suspiscions were still heightened.
Why did this woman look so much older, why had Virgil found it so difficult to introduce her and why did John never mention this new lady friend of Virgils.
Jeff didn't know, now wasn't the time, but he'd get to the bottom of this.
***********
Virgil thanked God for his brother, John had just saved his life!
He smiled his thanks at John and then looked up to see Scott watching his younger brothers thoughtfully.
Virgil quickly averted his eyes.
*********
The waiting room door was opened and Alan looked up in nervous trepidation as another doctor walked in, he was dressed in green operating scrubs and Alan knew without a doubt that this was Gordon's surgeon.
The room lapsed into a tense silence.
The surgeon's eyes scanned the room , 'Mr Tracy?'
Scott, Alan, Virgil, John and Jeff all answered, 'YES?'
They looked at one another and then realised the surgeon probably meant Jeff.
'I'm Gordon's father' Jeff answered.
The surgeon removed the green cap from his head, 'Mr Tracy, I'm your son's surgeon, this is the situation, when he was first brought in, I have to say I didn't think we'd have a chance in hell of keeping your boy alive. He was pretty messed up........'
Alan felt his palms become sweaty, and his heart pound.
'.....however the surgery went very well, we had to repair parts of his spine and his fractured skull, both were successful'.
Alan exhaled.
'So, his chances are certainly considerably higher than they were a few hours ago.'
'So what's his current condition' Jeff asked his voice wobbling slightly betraying his fear.
'Well, he's still critical, he's in a coma at the moment and we're never happy with patients that are unconcious for over an hour, it's still very unclear if he'll regain use of his legs, or if he'll ever walk again, but he's alive.'
Alan bit his lip, thankful that his brother was alive but horrified that he was comatose, that he may never wake up, let alone walk again. He looked around to see how his brothers were taking this news. Scott was frowning, worry written all across his face, John's face was pinched as he stared passed the doctor at the wall, Virgil was staring into his lap, like he couldn't bring himself to look at the doctor.
'We won't know about brain damage until or if he wakes up.' he continued.
Jeff nodded his shoulders slumped, 'right, can we see him?'
'Yes, I have to warn you he may look disturbing at the moment, the best advice I can give relatives is to just talk to the patient. Try and wake him up, it's a fact that coma patients have responded to familiar voices.'
Jeff nodded.
'Follow me'
John stood and looked at Kate, 'hey' she told him, 'I'm fine here, just go.'
Luisa nodded, 'go Virgil, Kate and I will entertain ourselves, give him our love.'
Virgil and John followed their brothers and father from the room.
Alan stood directly next to his father as they followed the doctor down the corridors. He winced as he saw the sign they followed for the ICU. He hated to think of his lively, energetic brother in a place where most people died.
Shuddering he forced himself to brace himself for what he was about to see.
The doctor moved aside at a room and opened the door for the Tracys.
Alan got his first glimpse of Gordon.
***********
Scott side-stepped his youngest brother as he let out a gasp.
He swallowed hard at the sight infront of him.
Where he lay hooked up to monitors and drips and IV lines Gordon Tracy looked awful.
His face was a horrible white and his beautiful auburn hair was concealed by a thick bandage which was wrapped around his head. He had an oxygen mask on, obviously to help him breath, and a heart monitor attached to his chest.
Scott walked slowly around his bedside, never taking his eyes from Gordon's face. He stared at the rising and falling of the pump which was helping his brother breathe.
This was not the Gordon he knew.
Their was silence where the noisy, boistrousness usually was, their was no cheeky grin lighting up his face. Just a pale, unreadable expression.
He looked how he did when he was asleep.
Angelic and sweet, sleep had always done that to Gordon, made him look innocent and cherubic, disguising that mischevious mind, that cunning smile when he came up with his next joke.
Scott sat in a chair, to his brothers left and took a hand in his. Even his hands had not escaped the machines, the IV running into his hand had Scott being even more tender.
He noticed his brother's hand felt warm. 'You're still here aren't you Gordo?' he willed his brother silently, 'you're just resting.'
Tears welled into his eyes begging for release, and there holding his little brother's hand with a tenderness he wasn't known for Scott Tracy broke down.
*********
John placed a hand against Scott's quivering shoulder.
No matter when it happened, it always unnerved him to see his controlled, strong, formidable big brother cry.
He had seen it precious few times in his life, when their mother died and strangely when the family dog passed away, but John hated it now just as much.
He looked at Gordon, or what was a broken and twisted version of his brother.
He didn't blame Scott for crying.
Alan was holding Gordon's other hand and surprisingly looked controlled and strong. John realised they didn't give Alan the cresit he deserved at times.
He knew Alan would feel this deeply, him and Gordon were a greatly annoying double-act to their elder brothers, John knew Alan would feel pretty lost right now.
He sat down next to Scott and watched as his father placed a hand against Gordon's face.
'Come on son, wake up' Jeff said gruffly, 'you were always an attention- seeker but I think you've taken it a little far this time.'
Gordon didn't move.
'Son, I need you to wake up for daddy, please' Jeff begged, 'we need you Gordon, I need you, you can't die, you just can't die.'
John watched the stoic Jeff Tracy crumble, seeing his son like this was killing him, sobbing Virgil moved to embrace him and Jeff allowed himself to go into his son's arms.
John spoke then, 'Gordo, come on you heard dad' he said in a no-nonsense tone, 'get up now, this is no time to be sleeping.'
No response other than the beeping of the heart monitor.
John looked up and his eyes met Virgil's over his father's shoulder.
He read the meaning in Virgil's eyes, 'this family is falling apart.'
************
SO.............
WILL GORDON WAKE UP?
WILL THE TRUTH EMERGE ABOUT LUISA?
WILL KATE LEARN ABOUT EMILY?
HOW IS STEPH?
WILL SCOTT AND JEFF PULL THEMSELVES TOGETHER?
Find out in Chapter 4
Coming soon................
x