Fifty Five - BF

Later, as the family sat down to dinner, Jeff had an air of suppressed excitement about him. "I've been on to Professor Bunsen, Scott."

Scott paused, a forkful of food halfway to his mouth. "And?" he said eagerly.

"And, I've sent through your file and he'd like to see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow! That's great! Thanks Father" The fork resumed it's journey.

"I'll get the plane ready tonight and we can leave at first light."

The fork halted its progress again. "Um." Scott said hesitantly. "Father, would you mind if Virgil came with me? He's kinda been my Guardian Angel throughout this and I'd like him with me."

Gordon snorted a laugh and received a light cuff around the ear from his grandmother.

Jeff glanced at Virgil who's face held an expression of surprise. "Would you mind Virgil?"

"Ah, no. I guess not." Virgil said hesitantly.

Gordon mimed taking something down from over Virgil's head and polishing it. "Watch it Virg. Your halo's got a little tarnished."

Virgil scowled at him. "And yours has got so rusty it's coloured your hair."

"Boys, behave!" Jeff scolded gently. "Virgil, I'll help you get the plane ready after dinner."

***

As usual the family jet was in perfect flight condition, but Jeff and Virgil worked their way through the standard checklist, checking and double-checking everything.

Jeff watched his son at work. Virgil was largely doing everything one handed as his left arm was encased in a hot poultice that his Grandmother had insisted would loosen up the muscles.

"Scott's really excited about tomorrow." Jeff began conversationally.

"You can't blame him." Virgil agreed. "If you'll excuse the analogy, it's almost as if he's seeing a light at the end of the tunnel."

Jeff chuckled and then moved onto the subject he wanted to discuss. "Ah, when he suggested that you go with him, I got the impression that you weren't too keen."

Virgil hesitated in his work and turned to face his father. "It's not that I don't want to. It's just..."

"Yes?"

"This is so important to Scott. What if I don't trust this Professor Bunsen, but Scott wants to go ahead anyway. I don't want to be the one to put paid to his hopes. Or what if I think it's okay and this guy turns out to be a con artist. Or even worse, he does more damage to Scott in some way. I couldn't live with that."

"Obviously Scott trusts your judgement." Jeff said comfortingly. "If you think it shouldn't go ahead, he'd be upset, but he'd understand. Don't worry about it until it happens."

"How much is he charging?"

For the first time Jeff's demeanour changed. "Quite a lot. He seemed interested in the fact that I had money."

"What did he look like?"

"I couldn't tell. He had the videophone on sound only."

"So not only is Scott trusting me with his health, you're going to trust me with your money."

"That goes without saying. You do what ever you think is right." Jeff looked at Virgil, who still looked troubled. "Sleep on it tonight. You might feel happier about it all tomorrow, or..." he paused meaningfully, "your arm might not be up to piloting the plane."

Virgil stared at his father. He was actually being told that if he didn't want to go it would be okay to lie to Scott. He straightened his shoulders. "No." He said firmly. "It's feeling better now. It should be fine tomorrow."

"That's good son. Get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow's a big day..."