8 days after the crash, Gordon woke from his coma.
The day had started out like any other, Kate and Luisa had returned back to Denver and Harvard, Josie, Alan, and John had been ordered to an adjoining relatives room to sleep, Jeff, Scott and Virgil were keeping their 24hour vigil.
The death of Steph had hit them all hard, it left them feeling less optimistic for Gordon's recovery. Every day he just lay there, pale, completely unresponsive as they attempted to talk and read to him, it was soul-destroying for each of them, however the most heart-wrenching event had been a lawyer arriving who informed the Tracys that Steph had made a request that if she were to die, she wanted Gordon to scatter her ashes.
The fact that he couldn't do that for her was truely awful, and difficult for them all to comprehend. Sam, Jack and the Commander's funerals were to be held jointly the following day, Jack's was the day after and Steph's had been arranged for four days time.
Scott and John, in hushed tones,in the corridor had discussed what to do about the funerals and had both come up with the idea to video them for when there brother woke up. As awful as it sounded, thye knew how much he'd have hated to miss them. So it was decided that John would go as a representative of their family and record the services, the next day.
But things never work out the way you expect them to.
It was Scott that first noticed something different. It was a Tuesday morning, the sun was casting it's early glow into the room, Jeff and Virgil were softly snoring in chairs by Gordon's left side, Scott was talking to him softly on his right.
'And so Dad reckons you're the nurses favourite patient around here......' he said quietly as he stroked his brother's aurbern hair, 'I mean when you walk out of here their's going to be a few unhappy faces.....'
Scott broke off, he stared down at the bed, blinked then looked again, he couldn't believe it, Gordon was moving his finger.
Scott sat up abruptly and looked at his brother's face, 'Gordy, can you hear me? ' He recieved no response, 'Hey Gordo?' he repeated, 'can you do that again?'
Gordon's finger slowly curled and uncurled.
Scott's chest surged with a hope he hadn't felt before, 'Ok that's great kiddo, now open your eyes for me, come on you can do it.'
Gordon's eyelids flickered but didn't open.
'Come on Gordy, that's it' Scott whispered in encouragement, his own heart beating a thousand times a minute with anticipation.
Gordon's eyelids flickered again, and then Scott saw the most beautiful sight in the world.
Confused, hazy amber eyes, meeting his blue ones.
Scott couldn't speak as Gordon blinked once, twice, he was so overwhelmed, he felt the tears pricking his eyes.
Finding his voice he said gently, 'hey there little brother, so you decided to grace us with your presence.'
Scott could see the confusion and the pain clearly in his brother's eyes as he struggled to say something, but found the tube in his throat prevented him from making a coherent sound.
'Ugghhh' was all he could utter.
His eyes widened and looked alarmed as he wondered why he couldn't talk.
Scott put a hand against his shoulder, 'hey, hey, it's alright' he reassured him, 'that was just there to help you breathe, you're ok.'
Then turning he shouted, 'DAD! VIRG!'
Jeff and Virgil both sat bolt upright awakened by Scott's yell, 'wha.....what?' stammered Virgil.
Scott grinned from ear to ear, 'he's awake!'
Quicker than lightening Jeff was at his son's side. Virgil was just behind him.
'Gordon? Gordon? Oh son, oh thank god!'
Gordon looked very groggy and disorientated, he frowned confused at his father.
Virgil was openly crying, 'oh, hi you' he whispered softly as the tears rolled down his cheeks.
Gordon made a gagging sound and Jeff immediately snapped into ordering mode, 'Scott quickly go fetch a nurse!'
Scott raced from the room, beaming from ear to ear.
Virgil and Jeff hovered, both sobbing with relief.
'Oh you gave us such a scare.' Jeff said smiling through the tears as he looked at his son, who's head was moving slightly from side to side.
Virgil had taken one of Gordon's hands and was just squeezing it, 'you're going to be alright' he kept sayibg, 'you're going to be fine.'
Scott returned with a nurse, she shone a torch in Gordon's eyes, as a doctor also arrived. The Nurse shouted stats, 'pupils active and responsive', 'BP 40/90'.
The doctor moved infront of Jeff as the Tracys stood back, 'Good to have you back with us Mr Tracy' he said warmly, 'a lot of people have been worrying over you!'
He looked at the Nurse and smiled, 'remove the breathing apparatus'.
________________________
Gordon's eyes slowly adjusted to the scene in front of him, he saw Scott, looking horribly pale and old, unshaven bending over him, he was mouthing something, but it took a while for Gordon's mind to register what he was saying.
'.....your presence' was all he managed to understand.
Gordon's mind was incredibly fuzzy, he felt like he'd woken from a bad dream, but in bad dreams when people got scared and realised it was only a dream, they woke up in bed, didn't they?
Well Gordon could tell he was in bed, but no way was this his bed or his bed at WASP. He started to panic, where was he, what was going on, why was Scott there? He tried to speak but couldn't, there was something in his voice, stopping him from talking, Gordon grew more distressed. What the hell was going on?
Then he heard Scott's voice again, 'hey,hey it's alright, that was just there to help you breathe'.
Breathe? Breathe? Gordon frowned, his heart pounding,why did he need something to help him breathe, where was he?
Then his father and Virgil were there, he felt better knowing they were there, but he didn't know why. He became quite alarmed when they began crying, why were they crying?
Then a woman shone a torch in his eyes and a man stared down at him, 'good to have you back with us Mr Tracy..........'
That's when Gordon got it, he was in a hospital, the man was a doctor, the woman must be a nurse. The woman carefully took out the tube from his throat. It hurt, and made Gordon gag, when it was gone, he swallowed, his throat felt scratchy and horribly dry.
The nurse quickly gave him a sip of water, it glided down his throat, cool and heavenly. That was better!
His father, Virgil and Scott hovered over him again, looking concerned, Gordon felt like some kind of freak-show.
He swallowed again and then tried to speak, 'hi' was all he could muster.
____________________________
Virgil had never felt such relief in all his life,
'Hi' he whispered back.
The Nurse and Doctor strode over, 'right Mr Tracy, do you feel any pain?'
Gordon frowned again, 'I'm in a hospital aren't I?' he croaked.
'Yes, you are son' Jeff replied, 'but we're all here with you, Alan and John and Grandma are in the other room.'
Gordon winced. Virgil looked at the doctor, concerned, 'is he going to be ok?'
The Doctor looked at him, 'we need a few moments with your brother to ascertain his condition if that's alright?' he avoided Virgil's question.
Jeff knew the importance of this examniation. 'sure' he replied, 'come on boys.'
Scott and Virgil shared reluctant glances at their brother, Jeff leaned over Gordon, 'we'll be back in just a minute son ok?'
Gordon nodded slowly.
Jeff gently leant down and tenderly kissed his son on the forehead, then he followed Scott and Virgil from the room.
Virgil paced as his father shut the door behind him, 'why do we have to wait out here?' he asked, worried, 'is there something wrong with him that their not telling us?'
Scott looked wildly at Jeff in alarm.
Jeff looked at his eldest boys, 'no, of course not, they just need to check him over that's all, and they don't need us getting in the way', he gave a wan smile, 'besides let's take this one step at the time, he's awake, let's just enjoy that before we think any further down the road.'
Scott nodded, then let out a whoop, 'YEEEEEEEEEES!'
Virgil and Jeff laughed and they all hugged one another.
_________________________________________________________
'Do you feel any pain Mr Tracy?' the Nurse repeated.
Gordon felt very tired and sleepy, 'no' he whispered, 'I just feel out of it, dopey'.
'That'll be the morphine.' The doctor responded.
After taking his vitals, they wrote them down on a chart and then turned back to Gordon, 'we'll be back in a little while to check on you Mr Tracy,' the doctor said, 'you're a very lucky young man.'
Lucky?
Gordon wondered again what the hell had happened to him, his mind was so muddled he couldn't piece together what day it was, what time, let alone what had happened to him, but he felt his awareness slowly coming back.
The doctor and nurse left the room, and Jeff, Virgil and Scott came back in.
Gordon was determined to get some answers.
His father took a seat on his left while Virgil and Scott sat to his right.
'How are you feeling son?' Jeff asked softly.
'Just really tired' Gordon answered.
Scott smiled down at him and Gordon felt almost uncomfortable at the amount of love he saw in his oldest brother's eyes, 'you'd think he'd be sick of sleeping,'
Virgil smiled softly, he took one of Gordon's hands in his own, 'we've got a lot to be thankful for'.
Gordon frowned, 'Where am I?'
Jeff shared a glance with Scott, 'you're in a hospital son.'
'I know that Dad, but I mean which hospital?'
'Marineville General' Virgil supplied.
'Wait a minute....' Gordon said his forehead creasing, 'that's the WASP hospital!'
Virgil, Jeff and Scott shared uncomfortable glances, Gordon started to get worried.
'What's going on? Why am I here?'
'That's not important right now' Scott replied, 'just rest for a while and......'
'Scott!' Gordon said in exasperation, 'what is going on?'
Scott opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted before he could speak as the door to Gordon's room was hurled open.
Alan skidded to a halt in the doorway, his mouth opened, then shut, then opened again as he stared at his brother.
Then he hurled himself full force at Gordon and hugged him.
Gordon was surprised, 'hey, jeez Al, you're choking me!'
Alan pulled back and looked Gordon in the eyes, his lower lip wobbling dangerously, 'you're awake?' he asked with a whisper, 'you're really awake, I'm not just dreaming this?'
Gordon was touched, his little brother's expression was hopelessly endearing, 'yeah I'm awake you daft thing!'
Alan squeezed him again, his eyes welling up with tears, 'I thought the doctor might have got it wrong, that you'd still be in the coma.'
'Coma?' Gordon asked shocked, was that why everyone was acting so weird.
'Yeah' Alan rambled on, his tears leaving Gordon's shoulder damp, 'We thought we were going to lose you,' then a pause, 'I thought I was going to lose you.'
Gordon, didn't know what had happened to him, he was still very confused but all he knew was that his little brother was upset, he had to comfort him, 'hey, you didn't lose me ok?' he said softly, 'I'm right here.'
Alan snivelled, then pulled back with a start as John entered the room obviously having waited for his grandma, he gently dropped her arm. He shared a meaningful glance with his father and his brothers, then walked towards Gordon's bed, he took Gordon's face in his hands, looking for any trauma, then he wordlessly pulled him into an embrace. Gordon let John hug him.
Then his Grandma came forward, 'don't you dare scare us like that ever again young man' she scolded, but her voice quivered even as she spoke and she started crying as she took over from John and hugged her grandson to her tiny frame.
'Sorry Grandma' Gordon said quietly.
His Grandma adjusted the pillow behind his head as she perched on the side of his bed, 'now, young man, how do you feel?'
'I don't know' Gordon replied honestly, 'I feel really out of it, kind of like I'm floating or something, weird right?'
Scott was sitting on the other side of Gordon's bed, 'not weird,' he told him, then to Alan, John and Josie, 'the doctor said it's the morphine they've got him on.'
Gordon looked around the room, his father stood to his left, with Virgil, Scott was perched on his bed, his Grandma was perched on his right, while Alan sat on his bed next to his feet and John stood next to his grandma. This must have been serious for them to all be here. Gordon thought to himself.
He coughed, and immediately everyone stood to attention,
'are you alright?' John, Scott and Jeff said in unison.
'Gordy?' Alan asked worriedly
'you ok?' Virgil asked
His grandmother placed a hand against his forehead.
'I'm ok.' Gordon said, wondering if that was how they were all going to react now if he made the slightest noise.
'You're a little hot!' his grandmother said with a frown.
'Grandma' Gordon said firmly, 'I'm ok, please could you stop fussing.'
His grandmother looked hurt.
Gordon sighed, 'Grandma I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap' he told her, 'I just hate being kept in the dark,' he looked around the room at the faces of his family, who he loved so much, 'so......' he said determinedly, 'does somebody want to tell me what I'm doing here?'
Nervous glances were exchanged all around him, Gordon frowned, angry, 'look I think I have a right to know what's going on here.'
Jeff took a good look at him, then gently asked, 'son what do you remember about what happened?'
They all stared at him , Gordon felt like the tiger he and Alan had been so fond of at the zoo, when they were kids, trapped and the object of everyone's attention.
'what happened? Dad, I don't even know what you mean. What did happen?'
There was an awful silence, then Jeff looked at Scott,
Scott frowned thoughtfully, 'his mind must be muddled, he took a nasty knock to the head, his memories are probably just not responding to his brainwaves........'
Gordon's eyes widened, as he heard the words, not responding ,not responding ,not responding ,not responding ,not responding ,not responding...................
He closed his eyes as memories started to flood his mind, somewhere at the back of his conciousness he heard his family, Virgil's voice, frantic, 'Gordon? Gordon? Are you Ok?'
Then 'WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM?' Alan's voice.
Gordon was lost in the memories that were swarming his brain,
FLASH
'the controls, they're not responding!'
He saw his Commander, shouting.
FLASH
'holy crap' Noel screaming
FLASH
Curtis Redding, 'we're going to crash'
Gordon squeezed his eyes shut as hard as he could trying to blot the visions out but they kept coming.
FLASH
'we're going to crash' Redding's voice repeated it's horrible scream.
FLASH
The hydrofoil glimmering in the sunlight
FLASH
Jack grinning, 'you're such a teachers pet Gordo!'
FLASH
'we're going to crash'
FLASH
Noel laughing, 'anything for you Tracy, you know that.'
FLASH
'we're going to crash'
FLASH
'not if we all want to live to see tomorrow' Redding's voice sarcastic.
FLASH
'we're going to crash'
Gordon's body jerked violently as he remembered her.
FLASH
Steph smiling, Steph holding his hand.
FLASH
'Sure hon'
FLASH
'Don't be silly Curtis we are not!'
FLASH
'the controls, they're not responding!'
FLASH
'we're going to crash'
FLASH
The hydrofoil tilting, turning, imploding in on itself, screams, then silence, horrible deadly silence.
Gordon's body stopped jerking and became still, he felt like he was on some other plane, some other dimension, he knew he wasn't concsious.He felt rather than saw a deep blackness.
A woman, dressed in a bright white came from the darkness in front of him, 'my baby' she said softly, a white glow surrounding her.
Gordon couldn't remember his mother, but he certainly knew from pictures that the woman in front of him was Lucille Tracy.
'Mom?' Gordon heard himself ask, 'how is this possible?'
'Hello my beautiful little boy.' His mother replied, 'I'm afraid I can't answer your question, this is about you now, not me.'
When Gordon's expression turned distraught, Lucille placed a hand on his arm.
'I'm sorry my darling' she said softly, 'I'm sorry this happened to you.'
'I was in a crash mom, I think.'
'Yes, my sweetheart it seems you were.'
'What's happening to me?'
'You're drifting' his mother told him, 'between consciousnesses, now listen to me my darling boy, I need you to take my hand now.......'
She offered her hand.
Gordon hesitated.
'Darling, you have to trust me.' Lucille said softly, 'trust, that I'll take care of you. Do you trust me my little Gordon?'
Gordon looked at his mother for a moment, 'Of course I trust you mom.'
He placed his hand in hers.
________________________________
'NO, NOOOOOOOO!' Alan shouted as Scott and John tried to hold him back as the doctors and nurses ran into Gordon's room with a crash cart. 'LET ME GO!'
Scott couldn't believe this,he struggled to restrain his little brother, Gordon had been fine, talking and then all of a sudden he'd started fitting, his body jerking rapidly, his heart monitors had gone beserk. Then even more frightening than the fits, he'd just gone limp, flopping onto the pillows, not moving, not breathing.
And now the Tracy's were watching the medical team attempt to ressucitate him.
Scott held Alan's shoulders firmly, as John gripped his arm, 'ALAN!' he shouted, to his distraught brother, 'LET THEM DO THEIR JOB!'
Alan's tear-stained face seemed to accept Scott's words, he nodded slowly.
Then he walked over to the corridor wall and slumped to the ground sobbing uncontrollably.
John walked over and sat next to him, crying himself. He placed an arm around Alan and let him sob against his chest.
__________________________________
Virgil stood with his father, Jeff was staring through the window as the crash team worked on Gordon, his face was white and he was mumbling over and over. His eyes never leaving his son's still form.
Virgil was sobbing next to him, his whole body shaking as the sobs wracked his body. They could hear the doctor shouting orders.
'Alright get me 10 cc's of saline, stat!'
'Ok people he's in V-fib'
Then to Virgil's complete horror, 'alright paddels, ok, everyone, charging,clear.........'
Virgil watched his little brother's body jerk violently as the electrocharges tried to restart his heart.
The doctor and nurses glanced at the heart monitor, 'damn! no response, still in V-fib, ok, charging, clear...........'
Gordon's body again jerked, Virgil was sickened, all he could think of was how he had bathed that body when Gordon was little. How he had put bandages on that knee, when a 4 year old Gordon had fallen from his bike. How he had brushed that hair before school. How he had watched that physique win the olympic buterfly.
And now he was watching people trying to put life back into it.
Virgil couldn't handle it. He turned away from the window as the de- fibrilators recieved no response, and threw up in the ICU corridor.
________________________________-
Scott quickly rubbed Virgil's back as he threw up on the clean, hospital floor.
'It's ok, it's ok,it's ok' he muttered over and over, trance-like.
But it wasn't ok, not by a long shot! Their younger brother was in their, dying!
Scott feeling nauseous himself walked away from Virgil, worried he'd keel over if he remained standing up and fell into a chair.
They couldn't lose Gordon, not after just getting him back, God wouldn't be that cruel.
But the realisation hit Scott like a ton of bricks, those were the exact words he told himself when his mother had died,but infact God had indeed been that cruel.
The million dollar question was, would he be that cruel, again?
___________________________________________
SO, WILL GOD DO THE SAME THING AGAIN?
HAS LUCILLE COME TO HELP GORDON RETURN, OR TO TAKE HIM WITH HER?
FIND OUT IN THE NEXT PART OF- 2026:THE YEAR WE GREW UP
Big thanks to my main reviewers, Becca T, Mcj, and yveybevy, as always your support is invaluable!
The day had started out like any other, Kate and Luisa had returned back to Denver and Harvard, Josie, Alan, and John had been ordered to an adjoining relatives room to sleep, Jeff, Scott and Virgil were keeping their 24hour vigil.
The death of Steph had hit them all hard, it left them feeling less optimistic for Gordon's recovery. Every day he just lay there, pale, completely unresponsive as they attempted to talk and read to him, it was soul-destroying for each of them, however the most heart-wrenching event had been a lawyer arriving who informed the Tracys that Steph had made a request that if she were to die, she wanted Gordon to scatter her ashes.
The fact that he couldn't do that for her was truely awful, and difficult for them all to comprehend. Sam, Jack and the Commander's funerals were to be held jointly the following day, Jack's was the day after and Steph's had been arranged for four days time.
Scott and John, in hushed tones,in the corridor had discussed what to do about the funerals and had both come up with the idea to video them for when there brother woke up. As awful as it sounded, thye knew how much he'd have hated to miss them. So it was decided that John would go as a representative of their family and record the services, the next day.
But things never work out the way you expect them to.
It was Scott that first noticed something different. It was a Tuesday morning, the sun was casting it's early glow into the room, Jeff and Virgil were softly snoring in chairs by Gordon's left side, Scott was talking to him softly on his right.
'And so Dad reckons you're the nurses favourite patient around here......' he said quietly as he stroked his brother's aurbern hair, 'I mean when you walk out of here their's going to be a few unhappy faces.....'
Scott broke off, he stared down at the bed, blinked then looked again, he couldn't believe it, Gordon was moving his finger.
Scott sat up abruptly and looked at his brother's face, 'Gordy, can you hear me? ' He recieved no response, 'Hey Gordo?' he repeated, 'can you do that again?'
Gordon's finger slowly curled and uncurled.
Scott's chest surged with a hope he hadn't felt before, 'Ok that's great kiddo, now open your eyes for me, come on you can do it.'
Gordon's eyelids flickered but didn't open.
'Come on Gordy, that's it' Scott whispered in encouragement, his own heart beating a thousand times a minute with anticipation.
Gordon's eyelids flickered again, and then Scott saw the most beautiful sight in the world.
Confused, hazy amber eyes, meeting his blue ones.
Scott couldn't speak as Gordon blinked once, twice, he was so overwhelmed, he felt the tears pricking his eyes.
Finding his voice he said gently, 'hey there little brother, so you decided to grace us with your presence.'
Scott could see the confusion and the pain clearly in his brother's eyes as he struggled to say something, but found the tube in his throat prevented him from making a coherent sound.
'Ugghhh' was all he could utter.
His eyes widened and looked alarmed as he wondered why he couldn't talk.
Scott put a hand against his shoulder, 'hey, hey, it's alright' he reassured him, 'that was just there to help you breathe, you're ok.'
Then turning he shouted, 'DAD! VIRG!'
Jeff and Virgil both sat bolt upright awakened by Scott's yell, 'wha.....what?' stammered Virgil.
Scott grinned from ear to ear, 'he's awake!'
Quicker than lightening Jeff was at his son's side. Virgil was just behind him.
'Gordon? Gordon? Oh son, oh thank god!'
Gordon looked very groggy and disorientated, he frowned confused at his father.
Virgil was openly crying, 'oh, hi you' he whispered softly as the tears rolled down his cheeks.
Gordon made a gagging sound and Jeff immediately snapped into ordering mode, 'Scott quickly go fetch a nurse!'
Scott raced from the room, beaming from ear to ear.
Virgil and Jeff hovered, both sobbing with relief.
'Oh you gave us such a scare.' Jeff said smiling through the tears as he looked at his son, who's head was moving slightly from side to side.
Virgil had taken one of Gordon's hands and was just squeezing it, 'you're going to be alright' he kept sayibg, 'you're going to be fine.'
Scott returned with a nurse, she shone a torch in Gordon's eyes, as a doctor also arrived. The Nurse shouted stats, 'pupils active and responsive', 'BP 40/90'.
The doctor moved infront of Jeff as the Tracys stood back, 'Good to have you back with us Mr Tracy' he said warmly, 'a lot of people have been worrying over you!'
He looked at the Nurse and smiled, 'remove the breathing apparatus'.
________________________
Gordon's eyes slowly adjusted to the scene in front of him, he saw Scott, looking horribly pale and old, unshaven bending over him, he was mouthing something, but it took a while for Gordon's mind to register what he was saying.
'.....your presence' was all he managed to understand.
Gordon's mind was incredibly fuzzy, he felt like he'd woken from a bad dream, but in bad dreams when people got scared and realised it was only a dream, they woke up in bed, didn't they?
Well Gordon could tell he was in bed, but no way was this his bed or his bed at WASP. He started to panic, where was he, what was going on, why was Scott there? He tried to speak but couldn't, there was something in his voice, stopping him from talking, Gordon grew more distressed. What the hell was going on?
Then he heard Scott's voice again, 'hey,hey it's alright, that was just there to help you breathe'.
Breathe? Breathe? Gordon frowned, his heart pounding,why did he need something to help him breathe, where was he?
Then his father and Virgil were there, he felt better knowing they were there, but he didn't know why. He became quite alarmed when they began crying, why were they crying?
Then a woman shone a torch in his eyes and a man stared down at him, 'good to have you back with us Mr Tracy..........'
That's when Gordon got it, he was in a hospital, the man was a doctor, the woman must be a nurse. The woman carefully took out the tube from his throat. It hurt, and made Gordon gag, when it was gone, he swallowed, his throat felt scratchy and horribly dry.
The nurse quickly gave him a sip of water, it glided down his throat, cool and heavenly. That was better!
His father, Virgil and Scott hovered over him again, looking concerned, Gordon felt like some kind of freak-show.
He swallowed again and then tried to speak, 'hi' was all he could muster.
____________________________
Virgil had never felt such relief in all his life,
'Hi' he whispered back.
The Nurse and Doctor strode over, 'right Mr Tracy, do you feel any pain?'
Gordon frowned again, 'I'm in a hospital aren't I?' he croaked.
'Yes, you are son' Jeff replied, 'but we're all here with you, Alan and John and Grandma are in the other room.'
Gordon winced. Virgil looked at the doctor, concerned, 'is he going to be ok?'
The Doctor looked at him, 'we need a few moments with your brother to ascertain his condition if that's alright?' he avoided Virgil's question.
Jeff knew the importance of this examniation. 'sure' he replied, 'come on boys.'
Scott and Virgil shared reluctant glances at their brother, Jeff leaned over Gordon, 'we'll be back in just a minute son ok?'
Gordon nodded slowly.
Jeff gently leant down and tenderly kissed his son on the forehead, then he followed Scott and Virgil from the room.
Virgil paced as his father shut the door behind him, 'why do we have to wait out here?' he asked, worried, 'is there something wrong with him that their not telling us?'
Scott looked wildly at Jeff in alarm.
Jeff looked at his eldest boys, 'no, of course not, they just need to check him over that's all, and they don't need us getting in the way', he gave a wan smile, 'besides let's take this one step at the time, he's awake, let's just enjoy that before we think any further down the road.'
Scott nodded, then let out a whoop, 'YEEEEEEEEEES!'
Virgil and Jeff laughed and they all hugged one another.
_________________________________________________________
'Do you feel any pain Mr Tracy?' the Nurse repeated.
Gordon felt very tired and sleepy, 'no' he whispered, 'I just feel out of it, dopey'.
'That'll be the morphine.' The doctor responded.
After taking his vitals, they wrote them down on a chart and then turned back to Gordon, 'we'll be back in a little while to check on you Mr Tracy,' the doctor said, 'you're a very lucky young man.'
Lucky?
Gordon wondered again what the hell had happened to him, his mind was so muddled he couldn't piece together what day it was, what time, let alone what had happened to him, but he felt his awareness slowly coming back.
The doctor and nurse left the room, and Jeff, Virgil and Scott came back in.
Gordon was determined to get some answers.
His father took a seat on his left while Virgil and Scott sat to his right.
'How are you feeling son?' Jeff asked softly.
'Just really tired' Gordon answered.
Scott smiled down at him and Gordon felt almost uncomfortable at the amount of love he saw in his oldest brother's eyes, 'you'd think he'd be sick of sleeping,'
Virgil smiled softly, he took one of Gordon's hands in his own, 'we've got a lot to be thankful for'.
Gordon frowned, 'Where am I?'
Jeff shared a glance with Scott, 'you're in a hospital son.'
'I know that Dad, but I mean which hospital?'
'Marineville General' Virgil supplied.
'Wait a minute....' Gordon said his forehead creasing, 'that's the WASP hospital!'
Virgil, Jeff and Scott shared uncomfortable glances, Gordon started to get worried.
'What's going on? Why am I here?'
'That's not important right now' Scott replied, 'just rest for a while and......'
'Scott!' Gordon said in exasperation, 'what is going on?'
Scott opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted before he could speak as the door to Gordon's room was hurled open.
Alan skidded to a halt in the doorway, his mouth opened, then shut, then opened again as he stared at his brother.
Then he hurled himself full force at Gordon and hugged him.
Gordon was surprised, 'hey, jeez Al, you're choking me!'
Alan pulled back and looked Gordon in the eyes, his lower lip wobbling dangerously, 'you're awake?' he asked with a whisper, 'you're really awake, I'm not just dreaming this?'
Gordon was touched, his little brother's expression was hopelessly endearing, 'yeah I'm awake you daft thing!'
Alan squeezed him again, his eyes welling up with tears, 'I thought the doctor might have got it wrong, that you'd still be in the coma.'
'Coma?' Gordon asked shocked, was that why everyone was acting so weird.
'Yeah' Alan rambled on, his tears leaving Gordon's shoulder damp, 'We thought we were going to lose you,' then a pause, 'I thought I was going to lose you.'
Gordon, didn't know what had happened to him, he was still very confused but all he knew was that his little brother was upset, he had to comfort him, 'hey, you didn't lose me ok?' he said softly, 'I'm right here.'
Alan snivelled, then pulled back with a start as John entered the room obviously having waited for his grandma, he gently dropped her arm. He shared a meaningful glance with his father and his brothers, then walked towards Gordon's bed, he took Gordon's face in his hands, looking for any trauma, then he wordlessly pulled him into an embrace. Gordon let John hug him.
Then his Grandma came forward, 'don't you dare scare us like that ever again young man' she scolded, but her voice quivered even as she spoke and she started crying as she took over from John and hugged her grandson to her tiny frame.
'Sorry Grandma' Gordon said quietly.
His Grandma adjusted the pillow behind his head as she perched on the side of his bed, 'now, young man, how do you feel?'
'I don't know' Gordon replied honestly, 'I feel really out of it, kind of like I'm floating or something, weird right?'
Scott was sitting on the other side of Gordon's bed, 'not weird,' he told him, then to Alan, John and Josie, 'the doctor said it's the morphine they've got him on.'
Gordon looked around the room, his father stood to his left, with Virgil, Scott was perched on his bed, his Grandma was perched on his right, while Alan sat on his bed next to his feet and John stood next to his grandma. This must have been serious for them to all be here. Gordon thought to himself.
He coughed, and immediately everyone stood to attention,
'are you alright?' John, Scott and Jeff said in unison.
'Gordy?' Alan asked worriedly
'you ok?' Virgil asked
His grandmother placed a hand against his forehead.
'I'm ok.' Gordon said, wondering if that was how they were all going to react now if he made the slightest noise.
'You're a little hot!' his grandmother said with a frown.
'Grandma' Gordon said firmly, 'I'm ok, please could you stop fussing.'
His grandmother looked hurt.
Gordon sighed, 'Grandma I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap' he told her, 'I just hate being kept in the dark,' he looked around the room at the faces of his family, who he loved so much, 'so......' he said determinedly, 'does somebody want to tell me what I'm doing here?'
Nervous glances were exchanged all around him, Gordon frowned, angry, 'look I think I have a right to know what's going on here.'
Jeff took a good look at him, then gently asked, 'son what do you remember about what happened?'
They all stared at him , Gordon felt like the tiger he and Alan had been so fond of at the zoo, when they were kids, trapped and the object of everyone's attention.
'what happened? Dad, I don't even know what you mean. What did happen?'
There was an awful silence, then Jeff looked at Scott,
Scott frowned thoughtfully, 'his mind must be muddled, he took a nasty knock to the head, his memories are probably just not responding to his brainwaves........'
Gordon's eyes widened, as he heard the words, not responding ,not responding ,not responding ,not responding ,not responding ,not responding...................
He closed his eyes as memories started to flood his mind, somewhere at the back of his conciousness he heard his family, Virgil's voice, frantic, 'Gordon? Gordon? Are you Ok?'
Then 'WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM?' Alan's voice.
Gordon was lost in the memories that were swarming his brain,
FLASH
'the controls, they're not responding!'
He saw his Commander, shouting.
FLASH
'holy crap' Noel screaming
FLASH
Curtis Redding, 'we're going to crash'
Gordon squeezed his eyes shut as hard as he could trying to blot the visions out but they kept coming.
FLASH
'we're going to crash' Redding's voice repeated it's horrible scream.
FLASH
The hydrofoil glimmering in the sunlight
FLASH
Jack grinning, 'you're such a teachers pet Gordo!'
FLASH
'we're going to crash'
FLASH
Noel laughing, 'anything for you Tracy, you know that.'
FLASH
'we're going to crash'
FLASH
'not if we all want to live to see tomorrow' Redding's voice sarcastic.
FLASH
'we're going to crash'
Gordon's body jerked violently as he remembered her.
FLASH
Steph smiling, Steph holding his hand.
FLASH
'Sure hon'
FLASH
'Don't be silly Curtis we are not!'
FLASH
'the controls, they're not responding!'
FLASH
'we're going to crash'
FLASH
The hydrofoil tilting, turning, imploding in on itself, screams, then silence, horrible deadly silence.
Gordon's body stopped jerking and became still, he felt like he was on some other plane, some other dimension, he knew he wasn't concsious.He felt rather than saw a deep blackness.
A woman, dressed in a bright white came from the darkness in front of him, 'my baby' she said softly, a white glow surrounding her.
Gordon couldn't remember his mother, but he certainly knew from pictures that the woman in front of him was Lucille Tracy.
'Mom?' Gordon heard himself ask, 'how is this possible?'
'Hello my beautiful little boy.' His mother replied, 'I'm afraid I can't answer your question, this is about you now, not me.'
When Gordon's expression turned distraught, Lucille placed a hand on his arm.
'I'm sorry my darling' she said softly, 'I'm sorry this happened to you.'
'I was in a crash mom, I think.'
'Yes, my sweetheart it seems you were.'
'What's happening to me?'
'You're drifting' his mother told him, 'between consciousnesses, now listen to me my darling boy, I need you to take my hand now.......'
She offered her hand.
Gordon hesitated.
'Darling, you have to trust me.' Lucille said softly, 'trust, that I'll take care of you. Do you trust me my little Gordon?'
Gordon looked at his mother for a moment, 'Of course I trust you mom.'
He placed his hand in hers.
________________________________
'NO, NOOOOOOOO!' Alan shouted as Scott and John tried to hold him back as the doctors and nurses ran into Gordon's room with a crash cart. 'LET ME GO!'
Scott couldn't believe this,he struggled to restrain his little brother, Gordon had been fine, talking and then all of a sudden he'd started fitting, his body jerking rapidly, his heart monitors had gone beserk. Then even more frightening than the fits, he'd just gone limp, flopping onto the pillows, not moving, not breathing.
And now the Tracy's were watching the medical team attempt to ressucitate him.
Scott held Alan's shoulders firmly, as John gripped his arm, 'ALAN!' he shouted, to his distraught brother, 'LET THEM DO THEIR JOB!'
Alan's tear-stained face seemed to accept Scott's words, he nodded slowly.
Then he walked over to the corridor wall and slumped to the ground sobbing uncontrollably.
John walked over and sat next to him, crying himself. He placed an arm around Alan and let him sob against his chest.
__________________________________
Virgil stood with his father, Jeff was staring through the window as the crash team worked on Gordon, his face was white and he was mumbling over and over. His eyes never leaving his son's still form.
Virgil was sobbing next to him, his whole body shaking as the sobs wracked his body. They could hear the doctor shouting orders.
'Alright get me 10 cc's of saline, stat!'
'Ok people he's in V-fib'
Then to Virgil's complete horror, 'alright paddels, ok, everyone, charging,clear.........'
Virgil watched his little brother's body jerk violently as the electrocharges tried to restart his heart.
The doctor and nurses glanced at the heart monitor, 'damn! no response, still in V-fib, ok, charging, clear...........'
Gordon's body again jerked, Virgil was sickened, all he could think of was how he had bathed that body when Gordon was little. How he had put bandages on that knee, when a 4 year old Gordon had fallen from his bike. How he had brushed that hair before school. How he had watched that physique win the olympic buterfly.
And now he was watching people trying to put life back into it.
Virgil couldn't handle it. He turned away from the window as the de- fibrilators recieved no response, and threw up in the ICU corridor.
________________________________-
Scott quickly rubbed Virgil's back as he threw up on the clean, hospital floor.
'It's ok, it's ok,it's ok' he muttered over and over, trance-like.
But it wasn't ok, not by a long shot! Their younger brother was in their, dying!
Scott feeling nauseous himself walked away from Virgil, worried he'd keel over if he remained standing up and fell into a chair.
They couldn't lose Gordon, not after just getting him back, God wouldn't be that cruel.
But the realisation hit Scott like a ton of bricks, those were the exact words he told himself when his mother had died,but infact God had indeed been that cruel.
The million dollar question was, would he be that cruel, again?
___________________________________________
SO, WILL GOD DO THE SAME THING AGAIN?
HAS LUCILLE COME TO HELP GORDON RETURN, OR TO TAKE HIM WITH HER?
FIND OUT IN THE NEXT PART OF- 2026:THE YEAR WE GREW UP
Big thanks to my main reviewers, Becca T, Mcj, and yveybevy, as always your support is invaluable!