Eighty Two - BF
Most of the family was seated at the dining table when Virgil arrived the following morning. He flapped a hand in greeting at them and grabbed a mug for his morning cup of coffee.
He jumped when someone touched him on the shoulder.
He turned and faced Scott. "Don't do that to me!"
Sorry. Scott signed. He examined his younger brother critically. Virgil looked terrible, there were dark circles under his eyes and his face was pallid, contrasting with the chestnut brown hair that he hadn't taken the time to comb. How are you? Did you get much sleep?
Virgil shook his head forlornly. "No. None."
How's the hearing?
"No better." Virgil filled the mug, pushed past his brother and took his place at the table.
Scott filled his own mug and sat down on the other side of the table. He watched as Virgil took a sip at his coffee and grimaced. Scott tasted his own drink and found nothing wrong with it. He looked over at his father who was watching Virgil with a frown of concern on his face. Their eyes met briefly in a gesture of support.
Scott turned his attention to his breakfast. He buttered a slice of toast and then found himself drawn back to his brother.
Virgil hadn't moved. Both hands were grasping his mug tightly, oblivious to the heat the emanated from the vessel. He was staring into the coffee as if he were fighting some inner battle. His family watched him, darting looks of concern to one another.
Alan was the first to make a move. He gently touched his brother on the arm. "Virgil?"
"No!" Virgil shoved his mug onto the table, ignoring that scalding coffee that splashed onto his and Alan's hands. He stood up, knocking over his chair in the process, and rushed from the room his hands to his head.
Scott was the first to his feet and out the door. Everyone else made as if to follow.
"Stop!" Jeff commanded. "I'll go. The rest of you stay here."
"But..." He received several cries of protest and silenced them with a look. He followed in the footsteps of his two sons.
Scott found Virgil in his bedroom, pacing up and down like a caged animal. He tried to get his attention.
"This is not permanent! This is not permanent!" Virgil was saying to himself.
"Virgil!" Although he knew speaking was pointless, Scott felt the need to vocalise the name.
Virgil threw himself onto his bed and rubbed at his eyes with his fists. "This is not permanent!"
Scott strode to the bedside to get his attention. V...
But Virgil was back on his feet again. Unable to rest. Pacing up and down.
Scott intercepted him. What's wrong?
Virgil looked at him wildly. "The noise... I can't think... It won't stop..."
It's getting worse?
Virgil grabbed his hair in his hands. "Can't make it stop." He yelled. And then started pacing again.
Scott looked worriedly over at his father who was standing in the doorway. "He needs help."
"I agree, son. I'll go have a word with Brains." Jeff hesitated. "Look after him."
Scott intercepted Virgil again. Come and sit down. He started to guide Virgil towards the side of the bed.
Virgil sank onto it as if his legs had given out on him. He leant forward rubbing his face in his hands, once again grasping at his hair. Scott rubbed his back sympathetically, wishing there was more he could do.
Then Virgil sat up straight. Scott took the opportunity to talk to him. Try to lie down again.
Virgil complied. For ten seconds. Then he was back on his feet again, pacing up and down, up and down...
"This is not permanent! This is not permanent!"
Scott intercepted him again. V. Tell me. Are you in pain?
"Make it stop, Scott." Virgil begged. "Please make it go away."
I can't...
With a moan Virgil turned away and began his pacing again, holding his head in his arms.
Scott took the time to turn his attention to his watch. "Scott to Brains."
"Brains here."
"Get down here! The poor guy's in agony!"
"I-I rather doubt that he is in any physical pain. Rather mental and emotional..."
"I don't care what you think Brains." Scott yelled. "Just find something to help him!... Hey! Stop that!" Ignoring Brains' image he ran over to where Virgil had started banging his head against the wall. He pulled him back over to the bed and sat him down.
"Help me!" Virgil pleaded and started bashing his ears with his fists.
Scott grabbed his wrists, ignoring the bandages on his brother's hands, and, using all his strength, held them still.
"Scott!" Virgil pleaded.
Unable to communicate with him, Scott felt hopeless. "I'm sorry Virgil." He said, "Brains is coming. He'll help you." He hoped that the words would get through to his brother.
Virgil closed his eyes and started to rock backwards and forwards, still constrained by Scott's grasp. "This is not permanent! This is not permanent!"
"I hope you're right." Scott said to himself quietly, and then with considerably more volume, "Brains!"
"I'm here, Scott."
Scott hadn't heard him come up behind him. "Do something!"
"I-I need to talk to him."
"I daren't let go." Scott ground out. "He'll hurt himself if I do."
"I-I don't know sign language." Brains said in frustration.
"I'll get one of the others." Jeff was gone for a moment. He was back shortly with Gordon and Alan in tow.
The younger Tracy's were both shocked at the sight of their brother, rocking backwards and forwards intoning, "This is not permanent!" over and over again.
"Gordon! Translate for Brains will you." Jeff ordered gently.
"Sure." Gordon touched Virgil on the shoulder. Look at me, V.
He managed to get Virgil's attention. "Please help me, Gordon!"
Brains is here. He'll do what he can, but he needs to ask you a few things. Look at me and I'll translate.
Virgil nodded, a sheen of sweat glistening on his face.
"Ask him is he in any physical pain."
Gordon translated.
"Head hurts!"
"Ask him if it hurt before he started hitting it on the wall." Scott said.
Gordon stared at him before translating.
"Yes."
"Th-thank you, Scott. Ask him if there's any change to the noises he's hearing."
Any change in the noise? Gordon asked.
"Louder." Virgil closed his eyes. "Much louder."
"Gordon." Brains said seriously. "It is important that you explain this to Virgil correctly. He must understand the implications. Bunny Bunsen has left some medication that will stop the tinnitus..."
"Then why didn't he give it to Virgil earlier!" Alan asked impatiently.
Brains ignored him. "It will anaesthetise h-his aural canal. He will n-not be able to hear anything. But, it will only last for about 24 hours. We w-will not be able to use it again for another 24 hours after that."
"Okay." Gordon nodded emphatically. "I can tell him that."
"Wait!" Brains ordered. "You must also tell him that it anaesthetises everything. The healing process will stop for the 24 hours that the medication is active."
"So it'll slow down his recovery by at least a day." Jeff said in concern.
Brains straightened and looked at his employer. "And may affect his total recovery. He may never r-regain his full hearing."
Gordon stared at Brains. "You want me to tell him that too?"
"P-Please. It is important that he understands fully before h-he decides if he wants to go ahead with the t-treatment."
"Okay." Gordon glanced at his father before he touched Virgil on the shoulder and managed to get his attention. He explained what he'd been told. "Have I covered everything Brains?"
"Y-Yes."
Do you understand, V? Gordon asked.
Virgil nodded and looked at each member of his family. Tears began to run down his cheeks. "I c-can't take this any longer." He whimpered. "I'd do anything."
Are you sure? Gordon felt he'd better double check.
"Please. Do it now."
Gordon stood back. "You heard him."
"F-Fine." Brains pulled on a pair of hospital gloves. "Excuse me, Scott."
Reluctantly Scott released his grip and got to his feet. He noticed the white marks he left on Virgil's wrists as he massaged the feeling back into his own fingers. He found himself unable to watch the procedure.
When Brains had finished he coaxed Virgil to lie back down on the bed.
"Thanks." Virgil whispered and closed his eyes.
Brains took his pulse. "He's fallen asleep." He eventually said.
Jeff took a blanket from where it lay on the floor and draped it over his son. As he looked down on the sleeping form he found it hard to believe that this was the same person who'd been so distressed only moments earlier. He reached out and brushed some sweat-matted hair away from the peaceful face. "What now, Brains?" he asked quietly.
"I-I'd like someone to stay with him for the first 12 hours." Brains said. "I'm not anticipating any p-problems, but I want to be sure."
"I'll do that!" Scott, Gordon and Alan all volunteered.
Jeff shook his head. "I'll take the first shift. Do you want us to move him to the sick bay?"
"N-no. He's settled now. I-if we shift him we'll wake him."
Jeff pulled the chair up beside the bed and settled down.
The rest of the family quietly left the room.
Once they were back in the hallway Scott caught Brains by the shoulder. "Brains! I'm sorry I snapped at you then. I was worried."
Brains patted the hand that held his shoulder tightly. "I kn-know, Scott. I'm worried too..."
Most of the family was seated at the dining table when Virgil arrived the following morning. He flapped a hand in greeting at them and grabbed a mug for his morning cup of coffee.
He jumped when someone touched him on the shoulder.
He turned and faced Scott. "Don't do that to me!"
Sorry. Scott signed. He examined his younger brother critically. Virgil looked terrible, there were dark circles under his eyes and his face was pallid, contrasting with the chestnut brown hair that he hadn't taken the time to comb. How are you? Did you get much sleep?
Virgil shook his head forlornly. "No. None."
How's the hearing?
"No better." Virgil filled the mug, pushed past his brother and took his place at the table.
Scott filled his own mug and sat down on the other side of the table. He watched as Virgil took a sip at his coffee and grimaced. Scott tasted his own drink and found nothing wrong with it. He looked over at his father who was watching Virgil with a frown of concern on his face. Their eyes met briefly in a gesture of support.
Scott turned his attention to his breakfast. He buttered a slice of toast and then found himself drawn back to his brother.
Virgil hadn't moved. Both hands were grasping his mug tightly, oblivious to the heat the emanated from the vessel. He was staring into the coffee as if he were fighting some inner battle. His family watched him, darting looks of concern to one another.
Alan was the first to make a move. He gently touched his brother on the arm. "Virgil?"
"No!" Virgil shoved his mug onto the table, ignoring that scalding coffee that splashed onto his and Alan's hands. He stood up, knocking over his chair in the process, and rushed from the room his hands to his head.
Scott was the first to his feet and out the door. Everyone else made as if to follow.
"Stop!" Jeff commanded. "I'll go. The rest of you stay here."
"But..." He received several cries of protest and silenced them with a look. He followed in the footsteps of his two sons.
Scott found Virgil in his bedroom, pacing up and down like a caged animal. He tried to get his attention.
"This is not permanent! This is not permanent!" Virgil was saying to himself.
"Virgil!" Although he knew speaking was pointless, Scott felt the need to vocalise the name.
Virgil threw himself onto his bed and rubbed at his eyes with his fists. "This is not permanent!"
Scott strode to the bedside to get his attention. V...
But Virgil was back on his feet again. Unable to rest. Pacing up and down.
Scott intercepted him. What's wrong?
Virgil looked at him wildly. "The noise... I can't think... It won't stop..."
It's getting worse?
Virgil grabbed his hair in his hands. "Can't make it stop." He yelled. And then started pacing again.
Scott looked worriedly over at his father who was standing in the doorway. "He needs help."
"I agree, son. I'll go have a word with Brains." Jeff hesitated. "Look after him."
Scott intercepted Virgil again. Come and sit down. He started to guide Virgil towards the side of the bed.
Virgil sank onto it as if his legs had given out on him. He leant forward rubbing his face in his hands, once again grasping at his hair. Scott rubbed his back sympathetically, wishing there was more he could do.
Then Virgil sat up straight. Scott took the opportunity to talk to him. Try to lie down again.
Virgil complied. For ten seconds. Then he was back on his feet again, pacing up and down, up and down...
"This is not permanent! This is not permanent!"
Scott intercepted him again. V. Tell me. Are you in pain?
"Make it stop, Scott." Virgil begged. "Please make it go away."
I can't...
With a moan Virgil turned away and began his pacing again, holding his head in his arms.
Scott took the time to turn his attention to his watch. "Scott to Brains."
"Brains here."
"Get down here! The poor guy's in agony!"
"I-I rather doubt that he is in any physical pain. Rather mental and emotional..."
"I don't care what you think Brains." Scott yelled. "Just find something to help him!... Hey! Stop that!" Ignoring Brains' image he ran over to where Virgil had started banging his head against the wall. He pulled him back over to the bed and sat him down.
"Help me!" Virgil pleaded and started bashing his ears with his fists.
Scott grabbed his wrists, ignoring the bandages on his brother's hands, and, using all his strength, held them still.
"Scott!" Virgil pleaded.
Unable to communicate with him, Scott felt hopeless. "I'm sorry Virgil." He said, "Brains is coming. He'll help you." He hoped that the words would get through to his brother.
Virgil closed his eyes and started to rock backwards and forwards, still constrained by Scott's grasp. "This is not permanent! This is not permanent!"
"I hope you're right." Scott said to himself quietly, and then with considerably more volume, "Brains!"
"I'm here, Scott."
Scott hadn't heard him come up behind him. "Do something!"
"I-I need to talk to him."
"I daren't let go." Scott ground out. "He'll hurt himself if I do."
"I-I don't know sign language." Brains said in frustration.
"I'll get one of the others." Jeff was gone for a moment. He was back shortly with Gordon and Alan in tow.
The younger Tracy's were both shocked at the sight of their brother, rocking backwards and forwards intoning, "This is not permanent!" over and over again.
"Gordon! Translate for Brains will you." Jeff ordered gently.
"Sure." Gordon touched Virgil on the shoulder. Look at me, V.
He managed to get Virgil's attention. "Please help me, Gordon!"
Brains is here. He'll do what he can, but he needs to ask you a few things. Look at me and I'll translate.
Virgil nodded, a sheen of sweat glistening on his face.
"Ask him is he in any physical pain."
Gordon translated.
"Head hurts!"
"Ask him if it hurt before he started hitting it on the wall." Scott said.
Gordon stared at him before translating.
"Yes."
"Th-thank you, Scott. Ask him if there's any change to the noises he's hearing."
Any change in the noise? Gordon asked.
"Louder." Virgil closed his eyes. "Much louder."
"Gordon." Brains said seriously. "It is important that you explain this to Virgil correctly. He must understand the implications. Bunny Bunsen has left some medication that will stop the tinnitus..."
"Then why didn't he give it to Virgil earlier!" Alan asked impatiently.
Brains ignored him. "It will anaesthetise h-his aural canal. He will n-not be able to hear anything. But, it will only last for about 24 hours. We w-will not be able to use it again for another 24 hours after that."
"Okay." Gordon nodded emphatically. "I can tell him that."
"Wait!" Brains ordered. "You must also tell him that it anaesthetises everything. The healing process will stop for the 24 hours that the medication is active."
"So it'll slow down his recovery by at least a day." Jeff said in concern.
Brains straightened and looked at his employer. "And may affect his total recovery. He may never r-regain his full hearing."
Gordon stared at Brains. "You want me to tell him that too?"
"P-Please. It is important that he understands fully before h-he decides if he wants to go ahead with the t-treatment."
"Okay." Gordon glanced at his father before he touched Virgil on the shoulder and managed to get his attention. He explained what he'd been told. "Have I covered everything Brains?"
"Y-Yes."
Do you understand, V? Gordon asked.
Virgil nodded and looked at each member of his family. Tears began to run down his cheeks. "I c-can't take this any longer." He whimpered. "I'd do anything."
Are you sure? Gordon felt he'd better double check.
"Please. Do it now."
Gordon stood back. "You heard him."
"F-Fine." Brains pulled on a pair of hospital gloves. "Excuse me, Scott."
Reluctantly Scott released his grip and got to his feet. He noticed the white marks he left on Virgil's wrists as he massaged the feeling back into his own fingers. He found himself unable to watch the procedure.
When Brains had finished he coaxed Virgil to lie back down on the bed.
"Thanks." Virgil whispered and closed his eyes.
Brains took his pulse. "He's fallen asleep." He eventually said.
Jeff took a blanket from where it lay on the floor and draped it over his son. As he looked down on the sleeping form he found it hard to believe that this was the same person who'd been so distressed only moments earlier. He reached out and brushed some sweat-matted hair away from the peaceful face. "What now, Brains?" he asked quietly.
"I-I'd like someone to stay with him for the first 12 hours." Brains said. "I'm not anticipating any p-problems, but I want to be sure."
"I'll do that!" Scott, Gordon and Alan all volunteered.
Jeff shook his head. "I'll take the first shift. Do you want us to move him to the sick bay?"
"N-no. He's settled now. I-if we shift him we'll wake him."
Jeff pulled the chair up beside the bed and settled down.
The rest of the family quietly left the room.
Once they were back in the hallway Scott caught Brains by the shoulder. "Brains! I'm sorry I snapped at you then. I was worried."
Brains patted the hand that held his shoulder tightly. "I kn-know, Scott. I'm worried too..."