Thirty Five - AR

The day felt good. It felt good because at long last they were going home. Home to familiar surroundings, foods and family. If felt good to be alive. To be able to see.

Each man had two bags. Their Grandmother had known that they'd never be able to repack their bags as well as she had and had thoughtfully left them a spare bag each.

Virgil was pacing up and down their room. "If someone doesn't come soon, I'm outta here. I've had this place. I'll meet you at the airport!"

"Calm down." Scott was enjoying the view from the window. "At this rate if anyone decides to check your blood pressure again it's going to be heading through the roof. They'll keep you in."

"Oh, no!" Virgil said firmly. "I'll discharge myself. I'm sure it's this hospital that's upset me. Even if I have to hire a plane myself..."

The door opened.

"Ready boys..." Jeff Tracy started saying, but Virgil was already out the door, one bag held in his good hand. "I guess so."

Scott laughed. "He's been itching to get out of here since you guys left yesterday."

"How are you son?"

"Bright eyed and bushy tailed. And nearly as keen to leave as Virg. I can't wait to see home again."

"Come on then." Jeff grinned as he grabbed Virgil's other bag.

They entered the hallway.

"Hang on." Scott had spotted someone he wanted to talk to. "Nurse Stone!"

She turned with a smile. "Yes Scott."

"I... ah... I'm..."

"Yes?" There was a puzzled frown on her face now.

"I... I wanted to apologise for the way I've treated you over the last week. I have a feeling that I pushed someone over the other day. Was that you?"

"Yes." She said quietly.

"I'm sorry. I don't normally behave like that..."

"I know," she said gently. "Virgil told me. Numerous times!"

"He did?" she nodded. "That'd be Virgil, he's always looked out for me."

"Just like you look out for him?"

"Well I've kinda looked out for all my brothers, since Ma died, being the oldest." Scott said embarrassedly.

"But he's special to you."

Scott looked surprised. "Well I don't know... yes I guess he is. Virg. and I have always been close, even though we've got totally different interests. I probably would have been asking for separate rooms if I'd been sharing with Alan. I don't know, maybe if it had been one of the others I would have been able to go mad at them, instead of you." He cleared his throat. "Look I'm really sorry. I've got no excuses. It must have been the worry, not knowing." He indicated his eyes. "I had to find an outlet and unfortunately I chose you. I'm sorry. Here..." he reached into a bag and pulled out a small posy of flowers that he'd secreted away earlier. "These are to say thanks. Sorry they're a bit squashed."

She took the flowers. "I'm glad things have worked out for you Scott."

He smiled. "Thank you. Thanks for everything."

Further down the hallway, Virgil and Jeff had been accosted by the boy's doctors. "Ah, Virgil!" Dr Carlow said. "We've one thing we want to ask before you go."

Virgil didn't like the look of that blood pressure cuff that the Doctor held in his hand.

"Mr Frank and I have been comparing notes." Dr Carlow continued on. "We've come to the conclusion that Scott's burns were treated at least a couple of hours before you broke your arm. We were under the impression that it was International Rescue's treatment that saved him. Can you explain this?"

"Oh, ah, um." Virgil stuttered, thinking frantically. "As you know Tracy Enterprises cover a number of industries. One is into medical research and they'd come up with this spray, for burns. It's still at the experimental stage, but Father decided to put it in our first aid kits. I used the one stored by the generator."

"He's lucky you did." Said Mr Frank. "I hope, Mr Tracy, that this treatment will soon be past the experimental stage and will be available to the general public. It's marvellous."

"We're working on it." Jeff said tentatively.

Virgil started fidgeting. He wanted to get away from these medical professionals before they asked any more awkward questions, and he wanted to get home! He looked about for his older brother.

Nurse Stone looked past Scott. "You'd better get going. I've got work to do and it looks as though Virgil's going to start walking home if you don't leave now."

Scott laughed. "That's a bit difficult since we live on an island. He's pining for his piano."

"He plays? He's going to find it difficult with that arm."

"I know. It's going to drive him nuts, and he'll probably take the rest of us with him."

The object of their discussion came up to Scott shoulder. "I just realised who you were talking to. Thanks Nurse Stone. Sorry he's been such a pain."

"You don't need to apologise for him Virgil. He's just done it himself, and very sweetly if I might say so."

"Scott?" Virgil appeared surprised. "Sweet? Somehow the two don't fit together." Scott gave him a light push. "Ow! Mind the arm!"

Scott picked up his bag. "I thought you wanted to get out of here."

"I do. Let's go." They said their final farewells and met up with Jeff who was holding a large handful of glossy brochures.

"Some light reading?" Scott asked.

"It's the equipment they want me to purchase. I've told them I'll get my 'medical advisor' to look them over and that I'll get back to them with my decision within the week."

They stepped out into the bright sunshine.

Scott put on a pair of sunglasses to protect his eyes and surveyed the grey car park. "What a great view. Hey Virg. What say we go check out the flower garden?"

"No way! I'm off home. The view there will be better." Virgil said.

"True. Let get out of here!"