Twenty Three
Jeff's train of thought was disrupted by the videophone. He'd only been back on the island half a day and was trying to catch up on some paperwork. He was surprised to see the countenance of a very irate doctor.
"Mr Tracy. You're going to have to do something about your sons!"
"What?" Jeff asked in surprise. "What have they done?"
"They are both supposed to be resting. Every time the nurses go in to check on them they've disappeared."
"Disappeared?" Jeff was confused.
"Usually it's because Virgil is visiting Scott." The doctor said slowly, as if he were explaining a difficult diagnosis to an ignorant patient.
"Well he knows that while Scott can't see..." Jeff started to say.
"And today they'd both disappeared." The doctor continued on as if Jeff hadn't interrupted him. "We found them outside. Their excuse was that Scott needed to know the layout of the hospital! He's supposed to be confined to his room!"
Jeff suppressed a grin. That was Scott! Needing to find some kind control in a situation out of his hands. And, it seemed to Jeff, to be the most natural thing in the world that Virgil was helping him. Being his brother's eyes as Kyrano had said three days ago.
But he held his tongue. "Okay Doctor Carlow. I'll have a word with them both. Thank you for telling me."
He paused for a moment before making another call. Trying to remove the smile from his face and replace it with a more serious frown. When he was satisfied that he had his features under control he dialled a number.
The phone was answered by a pale, scarred and bruised face topped with an untidy mess of brown hair. "Oh hi Father."
"Virgil. I've just had your doctor on the line."
Virgil was surprised and then concerned. "How come? Everything's all right isn't it? Is Scott..."
"Hold on. Scott's fine. The Doctor's just concerned about you wandering off. You're supposed to be confined to your bed."
Virgil sighed in exasperation. "Scott's alone in that room. I can't leave him like that. Do you know what it's like for him? Not being able to see?"
"I know it's hard for him..."
"Hard for him." Virgil sounded almost angry. "You don't know how hard it was. You didn't see him panic! I promised him that I wouldn't leave him."
"No I don't know..." Jeff started to say. Then he checked himself. "Panic?"
Virgil bit his lip. He'd promised himself that that was one bit of information that he wasn't going to share with anyone, not even his father.
"Virgil..." Jeff prompted.
"I wasn't going to mention it. It's not important."
As yet Jeff didn't have the full story as to what had happened deep underground. Things had either been too hectic with medical treatment or else too public. He'd been content to wait until both sons were home and they could have a full debriefing. But he had a feeling that this was one item that wouldn't be revealed then. "What happened son?" he asked gently.
"It was when we were... stuck." Virgil said slowly. Deliberately keeping things vague in case anyone was listening. "We were for all intents and purposes about to die."
Jeff caught his breath. Up till now no one had put it quite so bluntly.
Virgil continued on. "Scott realised that the blood circulation wasn't getting to my hand, so he did something about it. Straightened the bone out."
"Straightened the bone..."
"The pain knocked me out. When I came to Scott was panicking." The words were coming out faster now. "He couldn't see what was happening, thought I was badly hurt, and didn't have anyone to describe the situation to him. You can imagine what that must have been like for him."
Jeff nodded. Frustrating wouldn't have been the word.
"I'm not prepared to let him go through that again!" Virgil finished bluntly.
"I understand son." Jeff sympathised. "But I do know that you are still in the hospital for a reason too. You've got to rest!"
"It wouldn't be so bad if we were in the same ward." Virgil protested. "It's not like I need 24 hour care. This isn't the Intensive Care Unit. I've only broken my arm."
"You've done more than that as you well know. I know it's hard son. But you've got to look after yourself too. If the worst should happen and Scott..."
"Father!" Virgil warned.
"I'm only playing the devil's advocate Virgil. I AM making myself believe that he's going to retain his sight. But if he's not, he's going to need your support more than anyone's. And you are going to have to be strong enough to give that support."
Virgil nodded reluctantly. He was looking tired; the conversation was taking it out of him.
"I'll talk to the Doctor when he's had a chance to cool down, see if you can be shifted. But in the meantime please follow his orders. And that mean's staying in bed! I'll give Scott a call and explain it to him."
Virgil settled back, a resigned look on his face. "Alright. I promise I won't go visiting again... today."
"Virgil!" There was a warning tone in Jeff's voice that Virgil had often heard. Except usually it was directed at Alan or Gordon, not him.
"Okay, okay. I won't go until I'm given the green light."
"I'm sorry son."
"Yeah. So'm I. This place is pretty borin' for me. 'magine what's like for Scott!"
"Get some sleep Virgil. I'll call you later."
"'kay." Virgil could hardly keep his eyes open. "Night."
It was 2.15 in the afternoon.
After disconnecting his call to Virgil, Jeff hesitated a moment. He was debating whether it would be better to talk to the Doctor first about getting Scott and Virgil into the same room, or whether to go ahead and ring his eldest son. He decided to give the Doctor some more time to cool down and dialled Scott's number.
Upon his first sight of Scott he was reminded irresistibly of the stereotypical mummy from an Egyptian tomb. His face was swathed in protective bandages. "Scott. It's your father."
"Yeah I know." Scott said wryly. "I've got a pretty good idea what you sound like."
Jeff felt slightly foolish. "I'm sorry son. I should have realised."
"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have snapped at you. I'm just getting so...fed up? Frustrated? This place isn't exactly a holiday camp, and I can't do anything."
"Do you want me to send out some more music...?"
"I'm fed up with listening to music all day. I'm not like Virgil. I need to be doing something..."
"Like wandering around the hospital?"
Scott started. "You heard?"
"Virgil's doctor wasn't very pleased with either of you. Virgil's supposed to stay in his own room and rest."
"Heck. It's only Virgil's visits that are keeping me sane and I think he knows it. That thick-headed Doctor should realise it too."
"I'm sure he does Scott. I'm sorry, but I've just been talking to your brother and he's agreed to stay in his own room until he's given the all clear."
"He agreed or you've told him!" Scott said angrily.
Jeff waited a moment for Scott to calm down. "He's agreed. He needs hospital care too. If you could see him you would know..."
"Is he that bad?" Anger was replaced with concern.
"He'll be fine." Jeff tried to reassure him. "Once the infection's gone he'll be up and about again. In the meantime I could always come back. I'd be there inside an hour..."
"We've been through that." Scott protested. "The business needs you there. You're short staffed as it is." Like Virgil he was deliberately keeping the conversation vague.
"I'm sure your Grandmother would be more than happy to come and keep you company."
It was not an idea that Scott relished. As much as he loved his Grandmother, whenever one of them were injured she did have a tendency to fuss around them. A tendency which all of them found cloying. He tried to rebut the idea with humour. "And how can I try to chat up any of the nurses if my Grandmother's hanging about? No thanks Father, I'll be fine."
"Well we're only a phone call away if you want to talk. And once I've finished here I'll have a word with Dr Carlow and see if you can't both be shifted into the same ward."
"We've already tried asking that." Scott countered. "No dice."
"Maybe I can change his mind." Jeff said. "In the meantime I'm giving you the same order I gave Virgil. Rest!"
"Yes Sir."
***
Initially both Scott's and Virgil's doctors had protested that their respective patients had very different needs and would be better in their allotted wards. After some gentle persuasion by Jeff they came to realise that recovery would probably be quicker if the brothers were sharing the same room.
Scott was trying to listen to the news through his headphones when he became aware that someone else was in the room.
"Hey there Scott."
"Virgil!" Scott could hear how tired Virgil was sounding. He removed the headphones. "What are you doing here? Father's going to hit the roof! Not to mention what crabby Nurse Stone will say if she finds you..."
"Crabby Nurse Stone knows exactly where he is." He heard the nurse's voice only too clearly.
"Oh." Scott felt foolish. "I'm sorry..."
"Your brother's been shifted into your room Scott." Nurse Stone said. "This doesn't mean that you are to keep him awake, talking. He needs to rest."
Scott was delighted. "I'm glad you're here Virg. Virgil?"
"He's asleep." Nurse Stone told him. "Now leave him be. I'll be back in an hour to check on you both."
"Yes ma'am."
Scott listened as her footstep receded. When he was sure she'd gone he tried whispering. "Virgil. Virgil!"
The only reply was the rhythmical sound of his brothers breathing.
"Some company you're going to be Virg." Scott grumbled good-naturedly.
***
When Virgil awoke it took him a moment to get used to his new surroundings. "Where am... What?" He looked at the adjoining bed. "Hi Scott." He said thickly.
"Hi there Sleepyhead."
"Sorry. It's these pain killers."
"That's okay. I'd rather listen to you snoring than be in here alone."
Virgil levered himself tiredly into a sitting position. "What do you mean snoring?"
"You were. Hey do you know even your snoring sounds like you're playing a tune. Each breath is a different note. I should have recorded it." Scott was sounding quite cheerful.
"Well make the most of it. It the best music you're going to get out of me for a while... Still could be worse..."
"You're telling me." Scott said under his breath.
But Virgil heard him. "I'm sorry Scott."
"What are you apologising for. If we watched every little thing we said to each other we wouldn't have anything to say to Alan."
"True." Virgil chuckled. "Hey, I was too zonked out to ask before, but how come I've been shifted."
"I dunno. Father said he was going to try to change their minds."
"Shall we give him a call?" Virgil suggested. "See how he managed it."
Moments later they were chatting with their father.
"How did you manage to swing it?" Scott asked. "We were told that there was no chance of us sharing a room."
"Money talks." Jeff said gruffly. "I promised your doctor's that I'd supply their respective departments with a new bit of equipment if they could make an exception in this case. I'm going to be out of pocket for quite a few thousand."
"Like you'll even notice." Virgil scoffed with a laugh.
"If it keeps you two happy and helps you get better quicker, it'll be money well spent."
It was shortly after they'd finished their conversation with their father that Nurse Stone came back to check on her patients. "Are you comfortable Virgil?"
"Fine thank you." He flashed her a tired smile.
She sent him a brief one in return before turning her attention to Scott. "And how about you, Scott?"
"Me? Oh I'm fine." He said sarcastically. "This is a real holiday. Nothing I like better than to lie flat on my back, contemplating the future."
Virgil frowned in his brother's direction but said nothing. He knew Nurse Stone knew how to handle difficult patients. He hadn't exactly been a model patient himself over the last few days.
"Now that's not the attitude to take." She scolded. "The doctor's feeling very positive about your prognosis."
"I'm glad someone is." Scott snapped.
"In fact," Nurse Stone continued on, "he's agreed that you can go for a short walk. So I'm here to take you."
"Gee thanks." The sarcastic note had returned to Scott's voice. It had always been Nurse Stone who'd caught them whenever Virgil had snuck out. She'd always given them both a thorough telling off as if they were little boys rather than grown men. He'd grown tired of the woman.
Virgil couldn't hold back. "Scott..." he started to say.
"Of course if you want to stay moulding in bed." The nurse said. "I can leave you. I've got other work I could be doing. Now are you getting out of that bed or am I leaving."
Grumbling to himself, Scott got out of bed.
She handed him something.
"What is it?" he asked.
"It's a cane, so you don't bump into things." She explained.
Scott dropped the cane as if it were made of hot lead. "No way I'm using that thing!"
"I'll hold your arm and guide you. That's only so you can feel the height of steps and avoid objects."
"For pete's sake, Scott" Virgil said in exasperation. "She's only trying to help you."
"Don't you start!" Then Scott realised who he'd just snapped at. "Sorry Virg." he said gently.
Virgil looked at Scott and then at Nurse Stone. "Sorry" he mouthed.
She picked up the cane. "Come on Mr Tracy. Do you want to go for a walk or not?" She held the cane against Scott's hand so he could feel it. Grudgingly he took it.
"See you later Scott." Virgil called as he settled back against his pillows.
"Yeah, later." Scott mumbled and then heard Virgil snoring softly. He frowned. Virgil seemed to be sleeping a heck of a lot at the moment...
Jeff's train of thought was disrupted by the videophone. He'd only been back on the island half a day and was trying to catch up on some paperwork. He was surprised to see the countenance of a very irate doctor.
"Mr Tracy. You're going to have to do something about your sons!"
"What?" Jeff asked in surprise. "What have they done?"
"They are both supposed to be resting. Every time the nurses go in to check on them they've disappeared."
"Disappeared?" Jeff was confused.
"Usually it's because Virgil is visiting Scott." The doctor said slowly, as if he were explaining a difficult diagnosis to an ignorant patient.
"Well he knows that while Scott can't see..." Jeff started to say.
"And today they'd both disappeared." The doctor continued on as if Jeff hadn't interrupted him. "We found them outside. Their excuse was that Scott needed to know the layout of the hospital! He's supposed to be confined to his room!"
Jeff suppressed a grin. That was Scott! Needing to find some kind control in a situation out of his hands. And, it seemed to Jeff, to be the most natural thing in the world that Virgil was helping him. Being his brother's eyes as Kyrano had said three days ago.
But he held his tongue. "Okay Doctor Carlow. I'll have a word with them both. Thank you for telling me."
He paused for a moment before making another call. Trying to remove the smile from his face and replace it with a more serious frown. When he was satisfied that he had his features under control he dialled a number.
The phone was answered by a pale, scarred and bruised face topped with an untidy mess of brown hair. "Oh hi Father."
"Virgil. I've just had your doctor on the line."
Virgil was surprised and then concerned. "How come? Everything's all right isn't it? Is Scott..."
"Hold on. Scott's fine. The Doctor's just concerned about you wandering off. You're supposed to be confined to your bed."
Virgil sighed in exasperation. "Scott's alone in that room. I can't leave him like that. Do you know what it's like for him? Not being able to see?"
"I know it's hard for him..."
"Hard for him." Virgil sounded almost angry. "You don't know how hard it was. You didn't see him panic! I promised him that I wouldn't leave him."
"No I don't know..." Jeff started to say. Then he checked himself. "Panic?"
Virgil bit his lip. He'd promised himself that that was one bit of information that he wasn't going to share with anyone, not even his father.
"Virgil..." Jeff prompted.
"I wasn't going to mention it. It's not important."
As yet Jeff didn't have the full story as to what had happened deep underground. Things had either been too hectic with medical treatment or else too public. He'd been content to wait until both sons were home and they could have a full debriefing. But he had a feeling that this was one item that wouldn't be revealed then. "What happened son?" he asked gently.
"It was when we were... stuck." Virgil said slowly. Deliberately keeping things vague in case anyone was listening. "We were for all intents and purposes about to die."
Jeff caught his breath. Up till now no one had put it quite so bluntly.
Virgil continued on. "Scott realised that the blood circulation wasn't getting to my hand, so he did something about it. Straightened the bone out."
"Straightened the bone..."
"The pain knocked me out. When I came to Scott was panicking." The words were coming out faster now. "He couldn't see what was happening, thought I was badly hurt, and didn't have anyone to describe the situation to him. You can imagine what that must have been like for him."
Jeff nodded. Frustrating wouldn't have been the word.
"I'm not prepared to let him go through that again!" Virgil finished bluntly.
"I understand son." Jeff sympathised. "But I do know that you are still in the hospital for a reason too. You've got to rest!"
"It wouldn't be so bad if we were in the same ward." Virgil protested. "It's not like I need 24 hour care. This isn't the Intensive Care Unit. I've only broken my arm."
"You've done more than that as you well know. I know it's hard son. But you've got to look after yourself too. If the worst should happen and Scott..."
"Father!" Virgil warned.
"I'm only playing the devil's advocate Virgil. I AM making myself believe that he's going to retain his sight. But if he's not, he's going to need your support more than anyone's. And you are going to have to be strong enough to give that support."
Virgil nodded reluctantly. He was looking tired; the conversation was taking it out of him.
"I'll talk to the Doctor when he's had a chance to cool down, see if you can be shifted. But in the meantime please follow his orders. And that mean's staying in bed! I'll give Scott a call and explain it to him."
Virgil settled back, a resigned look on his face. "Alright. I promise I won't go visiting again... today."
"Virgil!" There was a warning tone in Jeff's voice that Virgil had often heard. Except usually it was directed at Alan or Gordon, not him.
"Okay, okay. I won't go until I'm given the green light."
"I'm sorry son."
"Yeah. So'm I. This place is pretty borin' for me. 'magine what's like for Scott!"
"Get some sleep Virgil. I'll call you later."
"'kay." Virgil could hardly keep his eyes open. "Night."
It was 2.15 in the afternoon.
After disconnecting his call to Virgil, Jeff hesitated a moment. He was debating whether it would be better to talk to the Doctor first about getting Scott and Virgil into the same room, or whether to go ahead and ring his eldest son. He decided to give the Doctor some more time to cool down and dialled Scott's number.
Upon his first sight of Scott he was reminded irresistibly of the stereotypical mummy from an Egyptian tomb. His face was swathed in protective bandages. "Scott. It's your father."
"Yeah I know." Scott said wryly. "I've got a pretty good idea what you sound like."
Jeff felt slightly foolish. "I'm sorry son. I should have realised."
"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have snapped at you. I'm just getting so...fed up? Frustrated? This place isn't exactly a holiday camp, and I can't do anything."
"Do you want me to send out some more music...?"
"I'm fed up with listening to music all day. I'm not like Virgil. I need to be doing something..."
"Like wandering around the hospital?"
Scott started. "You heard?"
"Virgil's doctor wasn't very pleased with either of you. Virgil's supposed to stay in his own room and rest."
"Heck. It's only Virgil's visits that are keeping me sane and I think he knows it. That thick-headed Doctor should realise it too."
"I'm sure he does Scott. I'm sorry, but I've just been talking to your brother and he's agreed to stay in his own room until he's given the all clear."
"He agreed or you've told him!" Scott said angrily.
Jeff waited a moment for Scott to calm down. "He's agreed. He needs hospital care too. If you could see him you would know..."
"Is he that bad?" Anger was replaced with concern.
"He'll be fine." Jeff tried to reassure him. "Once the infection's gone he'll be up and about again. In the meantime I could always come back. I'd be there inside an hour..."
"We've been through that." Scott protested. "The business needs you there. You're short staffed as it is." Like Virgil he was deliberately keeping the conversation vague.
"I'm sure your Grandmother would be more than happy to come and keep you company."
It was not an idea that Scott relished. As much as he loved his Grandmother, whenever one of them were injured she did have a tendency to fuss around them. A tendency which all of them found cloying. He tried to rebut the idea with humour. "And how can I try to chat up any of the nurses if my Grandmother's hanging about? No thanks Father, I'll be fine."
"Well we're only a phone call away if you want to talk. And once I've finished here I'll have a word with Dr Carlow and see if you can't both be shifted into the same ward."
"We've already tried asking that." Scott countered. "No dice."
"Maybe I can change his mind." Jeff said. "In the meantime I'm giving you the same order I gave Virgil. Rest!"
"Yes Sir."
***
Initially both Scott's and Virgil's doctors had protested that their respective patients had very different needs and would be better in their allotted wards. After some gentle persuasion by Jeff they came to realise that recovery would probably be quicker if the brothers were sharing the same room.
Scott was trying to listen to the news through his headphones when he became aware that someone else was in the room.
"Hey there Scott."
"Virgil!" Scott could hear how tired Virgil was sounding. He removed the headphones. "What are you doing here? Father's going to hit the roof! Not to mention what crabby Nurse Stone will say if she finds you..."
"Crabby Nurse Stone knows exactly where he is." He heard the nurse's voice only too clearly.
"Oh." Scott felt foolish. "I'm sorry..."
"Your brother's been shifted into your room Scott." Nurse Stone said. "This doesn't mean that you are to keep him awake, talking. He needs to rest."
Scott was delighted. "I'm glad you're here Virg. Virgil?"
"He's asleep." Nurse Stone told him. "Now leave him be. I'll be back in an hour to check on you both."
"Yes ma'am."
Scott listened as her footstep receded. When he was sure she'd gone he tried whispering. "Virgil. Virgil!"
The only reply was the rhythmical sound of his brothers breathing.
"Some company you're going to be Virg." Scott grumbled good-naturedly.
***
When Virgil awoke it took him a moment to get used to his new surroundings. "Where am... What?" He looked at the adjoining bed. "Hi Scott." He said thickly.
"Hi there Sleepyhead."
"Sorry. It's these pain killers."
"That's okay. I'd rather listen to you snoring than be in here alone."
Virgil levered himself tiredly into a sitting position. "What do you mean snoring?"
"You were. Hey do you know even your snoring sounds like you're playing a tune. Each breath is a different note. I should have recorded it." Scott was sounding quite cheerful.
"Well make the most of it. It the best music you're going to get out of me for a while... Still could be worse..."
"You're telling me." Scott said under his breath.
But Virgil heard him. "I'm sorry Scott."
"What are you apologising for. If we watched every little thing we said to each other we wouldn't have anything to say to Alan."
"True." Virgil chuckled. "Hey, I was too zonked out to ask before, but how come I've been shifted."
"I dunno. Father said he was going to try to change their minds."
"Shall we give him a call?" Virgil suggested. "See how he managed it."
Moments later they were chatting with their father.
"How did you manage to swing it?" Scott asked. "We were told that there was no chance of us sharing a room."
"Money talks." Jeff said gruffly. "I promised your doctor's that I'd supply their respective departments with a new bit of equipment if they could make an exception in this case. I'm going to be out of pocket for quite a few thousand."
"Like you'll even notice." Virgil scoffed with a laugh.
"If it keeps you two happy and helps you get better quicker, it'll be money well spent."
It was shortly after they'd finished their conversation with their father that Nurse Stone came back to check on her patients. "Are you comfortable Virgil?"
"Fine thank you." He flashed her a tired smile.
She sent him a brief one in return before turning her attention to Scott. "And how about you, Scott?"
"Me? Oh I'm fine." He said sarcastically. "This is a real holiday. Nothing I like better than to lie flat on my back, contemplating the future."
Virgil frowned in his brother's direction but said nothing. He knew Nurse Stone knew how to handle difficult patients. He hadn't exactly been a model patient himself over the last few days.
"Now that's not the attitude to take." She scolded. "The doctor's feeling very positive about your prognosis."
"I'm glad someone is." Scott snapped.
"In fact," Nurse Stone continued on, "he's agreed that you can go for a short walk. So I'm here to take you."
"Gee thanks." The sarcastic note had returned to Scott's voice. It had always been Nurse Stone who'd caught them whenever Virgil had snuck out. She'd always given them both a thorough telling off as if they were little boys rather than grown men. He'd grown tired of the woman.
Virgil couldn't hold back. "Scott..." he started to say.
"Of course if you want to stay moulding in bed." The nurse said. "I can leave you. I've got other work I could be doing. Now are you getting out of that bed or am I leaving."
Grumbling to himself, Scott got out of bed.
She handed him something.
"What is it?" he asked.
"It's a cane, so you don't bump into things." She explained.
Scott dropped the cane as if it were made of hot lead. "No way I'm using that thing!"
"I'll hold your arm and guide you. That's only so you can feel the height of steps and avoid objects."
"For pete's sake, Scott" Virgil said in exasperation. "She's only trying to help you."
"Don't you start!" Then Scott realised who he'd just snapped at. "Sorry Virg." he said gently.
Virgil looked at Scott and then at Nurse Stone. "Sorry" he mouthed.
She picked up the cane. "Come on Mr Tracy. Do you want to go for a walk or not?" She held the cane against Scott's hand so he could feel it. Grudgingly he took it.
"See you later Scott." Virgil called as he settled back against his pillows.
"Yeah, later." Scott mumbled and then heard Virgil snoring softly. He frowned. Virgil seemed to be sleeping a heck of a lot at the moment...