Ok, originally I wasn't going to take this story any further, but I got inspired. Thanks to the people who reviewed. I've taken your comments on board, they were very helpful.
Oh I forgot to mention this story takes place just before International Rescue was formed.
After hours of silent reflection over the letter, one of the brothers eventually spoke.
"I'm going for a swim," said Gordon getting up and leaving the room. Typical of Gordon, if ever anything was on his mind he'd head straight for the pool. Maybe it washed all the worries away.
Alan had left the room some time ago. He was probably off talking with Tin Tin about everything. She was always there for him when he needed to talk.
Virgil, Scott and John were the only ones left in the room now, but there was no noise, only the occasional sniffle.
Scott sat up and observed the fragile figures of his brothers. He knew it would hit those too the hardest. With Virgil being quite sensitive and John being by far the quietest, it was a losing battle when it came to emotions.
Scott put his head in his hands. He didn't know what to say for once...no one did. Should he console his brothers or let them deal with it in their own ways?
He got up and walked over to Virgil, who was still staring blankly at the letter. Scott put his arm around his younger brother and found himself being pulled into a tight embrace.
"Thanks Scott," said Virgil in a small voice.
"For what?" Scott asked puzzled.
"For always being here for me." Scott didn't need to answer this. He new all words would count for nothing, the special bond between the two brothers was all that mattered.
Virgil eventually let go and got up to head for the stairs. Scott presumed that some serious artistry was going to be happening in Virgils room very soon, it was Virgils way of easing away his emotions.
Scott sat for a while and then looked towards John. He was laying face up to the ceiling with his arms spread across the floor. This wouldn't be easy for any of them, but for John...well no one knows. He always kept his feelings to himself and was constantly thinking about things. The reputation of being a dreamer was 100 percent true today. Scott was sure that John was replaying memories over and over again in his mind.
He decided it was best to leave John to it. If he wanted to talk then he would in his own time.
Dinner that night was a very quiet affair. Jeff didn't ask anything of the letter and the boys didn't mention its existence once.
Gordon and Alan seemed to have got over the letter. It would make sense, as they remembered their mother very little. Gordon was back to his usual loud teasing self. Before dinner, himself and Alan had a brilliant Play station battle in which Gordon had come out the victor, and didn't Alan know it. He was doing his best to rub it in and with every jibe, Alan's pout got ever bigger.
"You ok Virgil?" Scott asked. Virgil nodded in reply, he was baring up ok.
"Where's John?" Jeff asked, the first time he'd spoken all through dinner, properbley to avoid conversation of the letter.
"I'm not sure," said Scott, "I haven't seen him since this afternoon." It was true No one had seen John since Scott had left him laying in the lounge. He'd gone to check on him just before dinner, but he had gone.
"I expect he's in his room," said Gordon.
"Well in future I want you all here. We don't spend enough time together as a family anymore and I don't want one person pulling away from everyone else," Jeff said sternly.
"Dad, don't you think thats a bit unfair? We've all had an emotional afternoon and you know how John is..." Virgil said before being cut off.
"I warned you about reading that letter. I knew it would just drag up all the memories again. John will deal with it on his own and he'll cope...he'll cope like the rest of us have had too." Jeff stopped for a sip of water. Virgil opened his mouth to speak but though better of it. He didn't want to make this any worse than it already was.
Jeff continued, "As far as I'm concerned, we've all moved on. We'll always love your mother and we'll never forget her, but that letter won't bring her back, it just brought everything back to the surface again. I don't want to hear anymore about it. "
The room was stunned into silence. No one knew what to say. They'd not seen him this angry, well frustrated, for a long while. It was a shock.
Virgil stood up from the table, muttered an apology and headed for the stairs. He wasn't about to let John deal with this on his own. John had always been there for him and now it was time for this to be returned.
Virgil walked along the corridor towards John's room and knocked on the door. "John? Are you in there?" he asked nervously. There was no answer so Virgil spoke again, "John, we can help each other through this you know. You don't have to cope alone," still no reply from John. "I'm coming in," Virgil announced.
Slowly, Virgil pushed open the door and then stopped. The sight in front of him sent a cold sweat over his body.
"Oh God, John, what have you done?"