Disclaimer: see chapter one. What can I say about the excellent reviews I've gotten… let's see. Threats, pleas, begging…all to let John live. Nice to know that you all love him so much. So do I, that's why I'm so mean to him! Hehehe. Okay, this is the second last chapter. The last chapter will deal with the aftermath of everything that's happened. Enjoy and once again, reviews very much appreciated. All medical terms and procedures are from my imagination and watching one to many episodes of ER. Mouse, August 2003.

Impossible Choices 5: A Brother's Vigil

By Mouse

The doors crashed open out in the hallway and they startled Jeff from where he had finally fallen asleep in the chair next to Gordon's bed. He glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that over three hours had passed since Virgil had left to get John from the rescue site. Now he was truly worried and got out of his chair, moving to the door. He opened it and what he saw froze him in place. A trolley was being pushed along at a run towards the operating theatre, nurses and doctors around it. He couldn't see who was on it, but he had an idea, as trotting along behind it was Virgil. The trolley flashed past him and he saw just a hint of blond hair and a blue uniform. He stepped out of the room and Virgil skidded to a halt next to him as the trolley entered the operating theatre.

"Virgil, what's going on? What's happened to John?" Virgil sighed and ran a hand through his messy hair. The helicopter ride in had been harrowing for him. It wasn't a sight he would soon forget.

"I got to the staging area of the rescue and Thunderbird one was still there. The people left at the staging area guarding her said John hadn't returned. So they guided me to the rescue site and there I found them."

"Them?" Virgil's eyes clouded over and he took a deep breath, this wasn't going to be easy, but he wasn't going to tell his father all of it. When John woke up, then, and only then would he talk about what happened with The Hood. But only with John. No one needed to know exactly what happened. The truth would hurt the family more than it would help it. So a modified version of the truth would do.

"John and The Hood. It looks to me like The Hood came after John when he saw John was alone. They somehow must have fought and fallen down a small embankment nearby. The Hood broke his neck and I found John like that." Virgil gestured helplessly towards the operating theatre. "He's got a broken leg, wrist and ribs. He's also got a bad head injury. I think they are operating to fix that, I'm not sure. The doctor will be along in a moment they said. Dad," Virgil hesitated and then continued, not sure how the next bit would be taken. "Dad, his heart stopped three times on the way in. They had to shock him to bring him back. It… it wasn't easy to bring him back the third time. He almost didn't make it back." Jeff just stood there, stunned. Suddenly Dr Merry came running up the passageway and saw him standing there. He slowed down and stopped next to him.

"Sir, your other son, we're going in now to stabilise his condition. I won't lie to you; it's not good. He has a sub-dural haematoma that we have to go in and relieve the pressure on his brain. This is fairly standard procedure and has a high success rate. I've got the best neurosurgeon on his way; he'll be here in ten minutes or less. The rest of his injuries are easy to treat as far as they go, but the internal bleeding we've detected is a bit of a worry. We've got to give him a blood transfusion, is he the same blood type as your other boys?" Jeff swallowed and finally found his voice.

"Yes, he is."

"Good. Anything else medically I need to know about for him?"

"No." Dr Merry nodded and glanced over at the doors leading to the theatre.

"Look, this isn't going to be an easy time for you, and it's not going to be a short operation either. To be honest, at the moment his chances are 50/50. It doesn't help they had to bring him back a few times on the way in." Virgil finally spoke then.

"Well, John's strong, stronger than we think. If anyone can pull through, it'll be him." Dr Merry smiled gently at them both.

"Good, half the fight sometimes is the patients themselves. Now, I'm not a religious man myself, but a few prayers wouldn't hurt, your family has certainly been through a lot today and all the help you can get might come in handy. The chapels at the end of the corridor, one floor down. I have to go now." Dr Merry ran off and Virgil turned to his father, slightly shocked at how old and weary his father suddenly looked.

"Dad, are you okay?" Jeff sighed and when he spoke his voice was soft and unsure.

"I have three of you in hospital thanks to The Hood Virgil, no, I'm not okay." Virgil reached out and put his hand on his father's shoulder. For once, he was comforting his father, a role usually performed by Scott.

"He's out of our hair now Dad, forever. The police that we had left guarding Thunderbird one are going to take care of it for us." Jeff sighed.

"That's one thing at least. Come on, I'll break the news to Scott. We'll tell Alan later, once we know more. Gordon's still asleep and will be for a little while."

"Okay Dad. Dad, it'll be okay, we're a strong family, nothing's going to keep us down for long." Jeff didn't answer his son, he just hoped he was right.

Alan was worried. He hadn't heard anything from any of his family for hours. The tracking devices in their watches showed that they were all now in the one location, being the hospital. He was unable to wait any longer, he had to know what was happening and he activated the communications channel and called Virgil. After a few moments Virgil's face appeared on the screen.

"Go ahead Alan."

"Virgil, what's happening with everyone?" Virgil looked disturbed and then sighed.

"Scott's doing fine, so's Gordon. Gordon should be waking up soon." Alan smiled in relief and then realised what he was leaving out.

"What about John?" Virgil glanced away for a moment and then sighed. "Look, tell me. I had John's signal and The Hood's at the same location they're for a bit, then The Hood's went. What's happened Virgil? Please, tell me! I need to know! I couldn't get through to anyone to check!" Alan was getting more and more worried and was half convinced something bad had happened. Virgil sighed and knew keeping the truth from his youngest brother was no longer an option.

"John should be okay. From what we can tell, he and The Hood had a fight. They fell down an embankment and The Hood broke his neck. John's got a broken arm, leg, ribs and a head injury. They are operating on him right now."

"What are his chances?" Alan's voice was soft, small and worried.

"The doctors reckon 50/50 at the moment. We lost him a couple of times on the way in. But he's a fighter Alan; he'll be fine. Look, do you want me to get Brains to come and get you?" Alan swallowed against the lump in his throat. He thought hard a moment and remembered what had happened a few months ago back in the Australian outback. John had stayed at his post then, even though he had wanted to be with his brothers more than anything. He would do the same; he would have to be as strong as John is.

"No, someone has to mind the store. I'll be okay. Just let me know how they are okay?" Virgil gave him a small smile.

"I will. Now, take care Alan, I have to go. Scott's just being told now, I need to be with him."

"Okay. Give my love to everyone."

"Will do." Virgil's face disappeared and Alan slumped in his chair. He was relieved that The Hood was out of their lives forever now, but at what cost? Silently, he sat there and began to pray for his brother's lives. Something he hadn't done for a long time.

They were all a sorry looking sight several hours later. Dawn was rising over the horizon, casting shades of orange, pink and grey across the waters outside the window. The previous nights wind having long gone and leaving a stillness and freshness across the small city. Birds chirped and called the morning into being, and the city slowly began to stir. Fishing boats were coming back into the wharf to unload their cargo. Trucks were waiting to cart their wares to the airport or other areas of the state. All in all another normal Hobart morning. But for the people standing staring out of the window, they hardly saw this, their minds on other things. Virgil had gone and returned to the hospital once more. Thunderbird One had finally been moved to Hobart Airport and was under tight security there. If he had time he would have taken it home, but he knew he didn't want to move far from his brothers. Currently his was in the room with Gordon, his father and grandmother were in with Scott at the moment but he wanted to be the one to tell Gordon about John when he woke, which the doctors said would be any moment now. Every one in the family knew how close those two were and Virgil knew that the sight of Gordon being shot would have hurt John's soul more than anything. Sitting back down in his chair, Virgil sighed and sipped the coffee that the nurses had brought him in a few minutes ago along with some sandwiches. They had also thoughtfully brought in a change of clothes for him and his brothers, further hiding who they were. So he was now in a comfortable pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt. Gordon, Scott's and John's uniforms had all been carefully folded and put into a bag for him earlier, which now sat in Thunderbird one with his. It had been a very long night for the Tracy family. Alan called every hour on the hour, closely followed by Tin-Tin and Brains back on the island. So far Virgil had been fielding those calls, his father was too involved in his worry over his sons. Just then, Gordon started stirring and Virgil smiled. He set the coffee mug down and leaned over, taking Gordon's hand in his.

"Hey Gordon, come on sport, wake up." Gordon's eyes fluttered open and he blinked a few times at Virgil.

"Virgil, what are you doing here? Where am I?" Gordon's voice was soft and slightly raspy. Virgil smiled at him, stroking his hair back from his face.

"I'm here because my little brother got himself hurt again. And as for where you are, you're in the Hobart Hospital, along with Scott and John. Seems I'm the only one who's not sporting some sort of injury right now." Virgil kept his tone deliberately light; remembering what Gordon was like last time he was in hospital. Gordon looked him, his eye's pain filled but slowly becoming more bright and aware.

"Last thing I recall was a sharp pain in my back and then nothing. What happened?"

"The Hood shot you, then Scott. John got the two of you out and on the way to the hospital, he went back to pack up the rescue site, the Hood had a go at him as well and they fought. Upshot is The Hood is dead and John's in surgery right now."

"Shot me and Scott? Is Scott okay? And what about John?" Virgil smiled at him. Gordon was starting to sound more like his old self. Just then a nurse came in and smiled at him.

"Ah, our sleeping beauty awakes. Good, I'll let the doctors know. Now, got some good news for you. Your brother is just coming out of surgery now; he'll be in recovery in about ten minutes, which is the next room over. I'll let the rest of your family know."

"Thank you Sandra." She smiled, checked Gordon's vitals quickly and left. Gordon looked at Virgil.

"Okay, I'm waiting. What happened to all of us." Virgil's smile faded slightly and he sighed.

"Okay, this is what John said when I was talking with him last. You got shot in the back and then Scott was shot in the shoulder when they were taking you out of there. John got you both out and then went back to fix everything up. From what we can tell, he and The Hood fought and then they both fell down an embankment, The Hood broke his neck, and John broke a few other things and had to have surgery to fix them. So, The Hood is no longer a problem for us." Gordon gave a small smile of relief.

"You don't know how glad I am to hear that. But John took him on? That doesn't sound like him at all." Virgil frowned and nodded.

"I know. Somehow I think seeing what happened to you and Scott finally brought it home to John in the worst way possible how dangerous The Hood was." Gordon frowned, closing his eyes. He was silent a few moments and then sighed softly. He wasn't in any pain but he was feeling worn out.

"Man I'm tired. Go sit with John for me please Virgil. When I'm feeling more myself I'll chew him out then for doing something so monumentally stupid." Gordon's eyes flew open and he looked at Virgil. "Also, you'd better let me say hi to Alan before he freaks out too much." Virgil grinned and lifted his watch, calling Alan. Moment's later Gordon was smiling at his youngest brother, his head off the pillow slightly. Alan's face was filled with relief.

"Gordon! You're awake! How are you feeling?"

"Like something Scott dragged in after a sparring session. Are you okay?" Alan nodded, blinking back tears of relief.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Scott just called me. He's awake as well." Gordon smiled.

"Good to hear. I just wanted to call you to let you know I'm okay. I'm pretty tired so I'll call you later and have a long chat."

"Okay. Look after yourself Gordon. I love you."

"Love you to squirt." Gordon lay his head back down on the pillow and closed his eyes. "Thanks Virgil."

"No problems Gordon. I'll go and let Dad know your okay and he can come in and sit with you for a while."

"Okay Virgil. I'm going to get some sleep now." Virgil smiled at his brother and watched him for a few moments, his chest rising slowly as he gradually went back to sleep. Virgil ran his hand through his hair, glad that this brother was okay. Two out of three so far were okay. He rose out of the chair and left the room. Now, for the third brother.

Jeff looked up as the door opened and Virgil walked in, a smile on his face.

"Good news, Gordon woke up for a few minutes and he's okay. He had a quick chat to Alan and he's sleeping now. But he'll be fine." Jeff sighed and Scott smiled.

"That is good news Virgil. I spoke to Alan as well, poor kid was worried." Virgil nodded.

"I know. How are you doing?"

"Good. No pain but then that's morphine for you. Dad and grandma both look like hell though." Jeff managed a tiny laugh, as did his mother.

"Thanks son. Make me feel loved why don't you. Now the nurse said John's coming out of the operation." Virgil nodded.

"Yeah, she told us that to. I'll go sit with him for a while Dad, you go sit with Gordon." Jeff nodded.

"I'll come and have a look first, then go sit with Gordon. I don't know what John was thinking but once he's better, he and I are going to have a long chat." Virgil wisely said nothing; he wanted to speak to John first when he woke. He was sure that John didn't want the others to know what had happened. Baz had said he'd take care of the police side of things and would come by later to let him know how things were going. But he didn't think there would be any problems. Jeff and Virgil walked along two rooms and opened the door to the room where John had just been moved to and walked in, staying slightly to one side as the two doctors and nurse were still around his bed. The nurse finished up and left, giving them both a smile and Dr Merry looked up to see them there. He smiled at them and Jeff noted how tired but also that he looked satisfied, like you did after you know you've done a good job.

"Ah, here they are. We were just about to come and get you."

"How is he Dr Merry?"

"He's going to be fine sir. You've raised some hardy boys that are for sure. This is Doctor Tim Brown, the neurosurgeon I was telling you about. He's the best in Australia, we were lucky as he's teaching down here for a few months and was able to come in and lend a hand." Jeff held out his hand to shake it, a smile on his face.

"Thank for you for helping my boy Dr Brown." The youngish looking man just grinned.

"It was my pleasure sir, I can assure you. Now, you'll be worried about him I reckon, so let me put your mind at ease and say there was no damage to his brain what so ever. We were extremely lucky getting to him when we did. Ten more minutes and there would have been damage. He'll have a headache the size of Tassie when he wakes but other than maybe slight short term memory loss they'll be no side affects." Jeff frowned.

"Short term memory loss?"

"Just probably the last day or so, but nothing permanent. It may come back in time, it may not." Jeff nodded his fears relieved. Dr Merry closed John's chart and hung it back on the bottom of the bed.

"He'll be asleep for probably another six to eight hours. Which is where I'd recommend you go, but knowing that you most likely won't want to leave him, I'll get some cots brought in to each room for you. Although the elderly lady I will arrange for her to have a bed in the nurse's lounge." Jeff smiled in gratitude.

"Thank you again. It doesn't seem adequate some how." The two doctors just smiled.

"After everything your organisation has done for us sir, it's the least we could do. Now, get some rest and I'll be back in a few hours to check on him." The two doctors left and it was then that they finally got their first good look at John.

John's leg was in plaster and up in traction, his wrist was covered in plaster as well. His chest was bare with heart monitor patches all over it. A bandage covered his ribs and a few cuts and bruises were visible. The back of his head was covered in a bandage, his blond hair just poking out slightly at the front and the top of the bandage. He was pale and there was vulnerability about him that they had never seen before. Jeff walked over and took John's good hand in his, making sure he didn't disturb the drip in his hand. He looked so pale and lifeless except for the rise and fall of his chest.

"He looks so young. You all do when you're like this." Virgil didn't say anything; he was still picturing the nightmarish helicopter ride into the hospital. He moved over to John's other side and pulled a chair over, sitting down with a small sigh of relief. After a few minutes Jeff stirred and looked at him.

"You'll let me know when he's awake?"

"Yes father."

"Will you be okay here for a while?" Virgil nodded.

"Yes, I'll be fine. I'll go and get some coffee and sandwiches later for us all." Jeff nodded and then came around the bed to look down at his only un-injured son in this hospital. He put his hand on Virgil's shoulder and squeezed it gently.

"Just look after yourself to Virgil." With that, he left and Virgil stared after him, his expression unreadable. Sighing he leaned back and watched his brother breathe for a few minutes. Satisfied that John wasn't going anywhere, and with the constant sound of the heart monitor beeping constantly, he closed his eyes and drifted off in the chair.

After making sure his mother was settled in the nurse's sleeping quarters, Jeff checked on Scott again to find he was asleep. Confident that his eldest was fine, he went into Gordon's room and sat down in the chair by his bed. He picked up the coffee someone had thoughtfully left there for him and sipped it, settling in for a long wait.

Jeff awoke to soft sounds of laughter. He opened his eyes to find Gordon talking softly into his watch. Obviously he was sharing something with Alan up on Thunderbird Five. A blanket was over him and he glanced over at the clock on the wall. Obviously he'd been asleep for a while, as it was now 6 in the evening. Gordon signed off from Alan and glanced over, smiling at his father.

"Ah, sleeping beauty awakes. Are you okay Dad?" Jeff smiled and removed the blanket, standing up and stretching. He was aching in a few places from the uncomfortable position he'd been in.

"I should be asking you that. How are you feeling?"

"Tired still, a little sore but in no pain. The doctor popped in a few minutes ago and said I'm going to be okay. At least a week more in bed and then they'll look at beginning some slow physical therapy again to get me moving. Scott's fine, awake and flirting with all the nurses according to Virgil. He's still with John and Grandma is with Scott." Jeff was about to say something when the door opened and nurse walked in.

"Ah, your both awake. Good, I'll be right back." She left and moments later she opened the door again, this time balancing a meal tray. She sat it down on the table and moved it over, positioning it over Gordon's legs. She then got the controls for the bed and raised him up to a sitting position. "Dr Merry say's you'll be fine to feed yourself." She turned to Jeff and grinned, pointing at the chair. "Now, you sit. You need looking after as much as your boys." She turned and left again; Gordon grinned at his father and then turned his attention back to the food in front of him. Moments later she was back with a second tray and stared at Jeff until he sat back down. Grinning she sat the tray on his lap and winked. Jeff just laughed and smiled at her.

"Thank you, very much."

"Your very welcome sir. Now, eat up, the pair of you. When I come back in thirty minutes I want those plates cleaned off." With a grin she left them to it and the two Tracy men exchanged glances. Gordon suddenly began to laugh, gingerly reaching out with his arm to grab a fork.

"Oh boy, is she going to have fun with Scott and Virgil."

Scott and his grandmother had been chatting about plans to redecorate his room, something he'd wanted to do for some time, when the door to his room opened and in walked one of the nurse's looking after them.

"Good, you're awake and bright eyed." With that, she ducked back out and moments later came back in a meal tray. She sat it on the table, moving it closer for him. She turned to his grandmother and smiled. "Ma'am, if you'll kindly make yourself comfortable." And Scott had to stifle a giggle at that as the nurse went back out and came back in with a tray for her. "Now, I expect both of you to clean these plates off. I'll be back in thirty minutes Scott, Ma'am. Now, eat." Grinning and giving him a wink, she left him to it and Scott looked at his grandmother.

"Now that's what I call being efficient." Laughing, he moved his uninjured arm and began to eat.

The door to John's room opened slowly and the nurse came in quietly. She quickly checked John's vitals and looked over at Virgil.

"He's going along fine, he's a strong one." Virgil smiled at her but his eyes didn't leave his brother's face.

"John's always been the quiet one you know? Always they're for all of us. The middle child of five, he's the brother you could always count on. He has a quiet strength that I've never noticed before now. Now that I came close to loosing him." The nurse smiled adjusting John's drip and then noting it down on his chart.

"Your all brothers? John and the other two we have in the next two rooms?" Virgil nodded absently.

"Yes. Scott's the oldest. He's got the shoulder wound. Then myself, then John. Gordon, the red haired little terror next door is number four and our other brother Alan is on our remote base." The nurse smiled, closing the blinds against the night sky.

"Nice to come from a big family. You must all be close." Virgil sighed and finally looked up at her.

"We are. It's hard seeing him here like this." She smiled gently at him.

"I can imagine it would be. Well, your family is built like a brick…well, I won't continue that but you know what I mean. Now, make yourself comfortable, I'll get you some tea." She left and Virgil straightened himself up in his chair. Moments later she was back with a tray for him. She sat it on his lap and grinned at him.

"Thank you." Laughing softly she checked on John one last time.

"Now, I'll be back in thirty minutes for that tray, I expect it to be cleaned off." Virgil grinned at her; the first real smile he'd been able to do since this whole nightmare started the day before.

"Okay, I will." She laughed and left him to his meal. Virgil glanced at his brother and chuckled, picking up the knife and fork. "Tell you one thing brother mine, are you going to enjoy being looked after by her." Laughing softly as he could just imagine the clashes between this extremely friendly yet bossy nurse and his mild mannered brother. If it was one thing Virgil was certain of, John hated to be mothered.

To be concluded….

Happy everyone – I didn't kill him!