Hello Everyone!
Contrary to popular belief I do have a heart and I couldn't leave you wondering what was going to happen much longer, hence here's chapter eight. Apologies in advance for any medical errors, though I've tried to avoid any inaccuracies.
Thank you very much for all the people who took the time to review the last chapter, it's much appreciated, probably much more than you think! So thank you, and please continue to comment, it really makes it all worthwhile when you know people are reading and enjoying your work.
Well, I hope this chapter is to everyone's satisfaction, and I trust you'll let me know via the reviews!
Thank you.
Kim
Pepsemaxke – Call me stupid, but what does T.T. mean?
Watching From Above
Chapter EightSilence filled the room as the revelation took time to sink in.
'Virgil's dead'.
"Scott, what are you talking about? Well, I've never heard anything so silly! Where's your father?" Grandma was the first to speak. Receiving no response from Scott she headed out of the room in search of her son.
No one moved.
As the door clicked shut the distressing silence they sat in retuned.
Suddenly Gordon got to his feet. Everyone watched him begin to pace the small room. He shook his head, running a hand over his face. "No." He muttered quietly. Shaking his head again, firmer this time, his eyes didn't leave the floor. "No. You're lying." He looked up at Scott. "Why are you lying?" He frowned. "She said he was okay. You're lying," he repeated, convincing himself as he went on. Scott could see the anger, the terror, the distrust built up behind his amber eyes; eyes that sparkled dangerously like fire.
"Gordy…" Scott attempted to comfort his brother, but was unprepared as his younger brother dived for him pinning him firmly up against the wall.
"No!" Gordon shouted as he pushed Scott's body firmly against the hard wall, Scott didn't resist, knowing anger was the first thing to hit him too. "Stop it! Stop saying that!" There was almost an element of begging in the tone, pleading for Scott to tell him it wasn't true. Scott closed his eyes against the sight of Gordon's usually bright eyes being so dark and dull, he felt his body being pulled forward and slammed into the wall again. "Stop it!"
John winced with the force he used. "Gordon! Stop it!" He went to pull him off his eldest brother but Scott motioned not to.
"Don't make this any harder than it already is Gordon." Scott whispered, suddenly Gordon's grip relaxed.
"He can't…" Tears built in his eyes. "Please Scott…" Scott pulled him close, wrapping his arms around his younger brother, desperately trying to prevent the tears flowing from his own eyes. Gordon buried his head into Scott's chest sobbing uncontrollably. Scott closed his eyes against the torturing sobs, he held Gordon firmly hiding his face away as his younger brother cried, inconsolably distraught, into his chest, his own strong arms wrapped protectively around him, they both slid slowly to the floor united in grief.
"I'm sorry Scott." He breathed heavily, in between sobs.
"Shh. It's okay. Its okay." Scott soothed, he looked up to John, seeing the tears well in his blonde brother's eyes, the disbelief they held. John eventually tore away, the pain Scott's eyes held was too much for him, he turned to look at Alan, who stared into space no emotion registering at all. He barely noticed Brains attempts to comfort Tin-tin as she wept profusely into his shoulder.
Time stood still in that room. A small confinement, for such strong emotion. Eventually the door slowly opened as a haggard Jeff Tracy stood in its frame.
"Dad!" Alan virtually ran into his arms, seeking comfort from the only parent he'd known. "Tell me he's okay."
Jeff frowned hard pulling Alan closer to him. He didn't respond to his request. Taking in the other people in the room. He noticed Brains and Tin-tin huddled together, trying to comfort one another, the young girl sniffled into Brains' damp shoulder. He looked to John's tear stained face; one hand resting on Scott's shoulder as his oldest cradled Gordon, both slumped to the floor. He could see his second youngest son was clinging on to Scott like some kind of lifeline, his body causing Scott's to shake as he cried so hard he failed to breath. And then his eyes rested on Scott. His eyes no longer red and threatening to let the tears fall, instead they were empty. His cheeks were not tear stained like the others and he held Gordon tightly to him. Staring ahead at first, eventually meeting Jeff's gaze. Jeff almost winced at the contempt held in Scott's eyes, the disgust he evidently felt towards his father, no element of forgiveness was recognisable, Jeff had never seen him look so alone, despite the fact he was surrounded by people, family. He shook his head, not allowing himself to take in Scott's unwavering antipathy for him; he tried to rid himself of the nonsense that Scott was now alone, he was surrounded by people who cared for him.
John obviously picked up on this ill – feeling between his brother and father as a frown crossed his face, albeit briefly.
"They're going to stop soon. I think we should be there." John had never heard his fathers voice like that before, it was heartbreaking for him to hear the weak, defeated tone in a man he had only ever seen as a tower of strength. He nodded understanding what his father meant, he tried to ignore how uposet he actually felt, trying not to think of the devastation that dominated his fathers features.
Neither Scott nor Gordon made any attempt to move.
John squeezed Scott's shoulder a little. "Come on."
Scott didn't look up. He loosened his grip on Gordon. "Come on Gordon. We've got to go." His voice sounded gravelly; he was struggling to keep it together.
"No" The muffled reply came. Scott blinked, sighing. To his surprise it was Alan that broke from his father and crouched beside the red headed young man.
"Come on Gordy." He placed a hand on his shoulder. "We have to go and say goodbye."
Scott looked away, subconsciously biting on his bottom lip, trying to repress the all too familiar feeling of grief from rising within him.
"I don't want to say goodbye." Again the reply came muffled by Scott's shoulder. Alan didn't give up that easily, his gaze rested on Scott begging him to help. "Well Scott does. Don't you Scott?"
"Yeah." The reply was soft, thankful of Alan's intervention.
"And I think we should at least go and see him. Huh? Do you remember how he taught you to swim?" Alan's voice waivered, he frowned pushing back the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Jeff watched on, his eyes stinging at his efforts to prevent himself crying infront of his sons, he was a proud man and he knew they didn't need to see it. Alan continued, "You remember how he used to hold you when you were little, when you were scared? You remember don't you, everything he did for us? After all that don't you think it's the least we can do for him. Gordy?" Slowly Gordon looked up. Letting go of Scott he allowed Alan to pull him to his feet and support him as they followed their father out of the room.
Scott couldn't smile, but he managed to convey his thanks to Alan as their eyes met. He could see the worry harboured inside. He had to admit to himself Gordon had reacted badly, reverting to a child like state of denial; he knew Alan's worry was well founded.
After a few seconds, Scott too got to his feet though he hesitated before walking out of the door. John placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Y'alright?" Concern evident in his voice, he'd never seen Scott's eyes appear so insipid.
"I don't think I can do this John." He admitted softly to his middle brother, in a rare bout of honesty.
John gently pulled him closer. "Yes you can. I'll be there. We all will." Scott pulled away, clearing his throat with newfound courage. He turned to Tin-tin and Brains who remained huddled together.
"Are you two coming?" He asked, trying his hardest to keep his voice from breaking.
"Scott, we're not family..." She explained letting the sentence float in the almost empty room.
He held a hand to her, eyeing Brains as he did. "Yes you are. Come on."
They made their way in the direction Jeff and the others had. Each one as distressed as the other as they feared the inevitable.
"Where am I? Hello?"
"I've a good mind not to speak to you. You broke your promise."
"Anna?"
"You promised me Virg."
"I don't understand. Is that you? Am I dying?"
"You promised you wouldn't ruin your life because of me. Before I came along you had the ladies flocking around you and now look, alone on a dessert island, virtually a recluse. Virgil, what we have is, what we had was fantastic but it wasn't meant to be. There is someone else out there for you. You just have to look for her."
"I don't want to. Am I dead?"
"No. Don't you see? The only person you're hurting by wallowing is you."
"I'm not wallowing, I'm passed that now. You are not a part of my life anymore." "Why are you doing this to me? I thought I was over it, why are you making me remember? Am I dreaming?"
"I watch you all the time, that Police Officer in New York, she liked you, she was nice. You never called her though."
"You don't know what you're asking me to do. You don't understand."
"Of course I understand. I never said it's easy, I said you have to do it. Sometimes we all have to do things we don't like. You're not happy."
"Yes. I am. I'm fine the way I am."
"No your not you're just being stubborn because you're scared you'll forget. You won't forget Virgil. You never will and neither will I, but you have to move on now. Its time."
"But if I'm dead. I can't change my life."
"You're not dead. You're going to live."
"Will I see you again?"
"Only in your dreams."
"Then I'm not going."
"You have to."
"I don't have to do anything."
"I won't let you do this."
"I want to be with you. You can't stop me."
"Have you listened to anything I've said? You're needed. What about you're family? What about Scott? You're father?"
"Anna, maybe it'd be for the best if I didn't go back. I really upset Scott by not telling him about you …"
"Dying, you can say it."
"Being killed, and as for Dad, I thought International Rescue would change things but nothings changed, it hurts me too, to know how much pain I cause him. Not just him, all of them."
"That's not true, your father loves you, your family loves you, you don't mean that. You can't sacrifice everything you have now. International Rescue's a wonderful affair; what about the thousands of people's lives you'll save? Your destiny is to return, you will go back."
"But I love you and you love me."
"No Virg. You loved me and I loved you. And now you need to find someone else to love and to love you back."
"I must be dead by now, I've been here ages."
"Time has no meaning here."
"Where are we?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm happy here, now you have to go and be happy there. For me. And this time, keep your promise; lots of little Tracy's running around."
"No."
"You're being selfish."
"Why? Because I still love you."
"You don't love me anymore. You can't love something that isn't there. You just think you do. You'll feel that way again. I promise you."
"I'm not leaving."
"I'll see you in your dreams."
"No. I'm not going. I want to die. I want to be with you."
"You must go."
"Make me."
"You must let me go, it's time for both of us to move on. Good bye Virgil."
Scott sat solemnly at Virgil's side, his gaze not leaving his brothers face. As Dr Martin pumped emphatically on his bare chest, Scott watched as the small air bag connected to the breathing tube inflated and deflated smoothly.
"Is everyone here?" Laura asked breathlessly to the group of people that surrounded the bed. Jeff nodded in reply. Unable to speak, saying the words would make it real. "Okay. One more round then."
Scott suddenly realised that this was it; this was his last chance to see his brother alive. He was dying; Virgil was leaving him. He gripped Virgil's hand tightly, lowering his head alongside his closest brother. He had told him he'd be ok; he was wrong. He felt Johns hand on his shoulder; he knew it would be John. He buried his head so they couldn't see. He didn't want his family to see him fall apart.
John felt him shake steadily as his broad shoulders dropped. "Please don't leave me, I need you." John strained to hear the whispers, he could tell none of the others heard Scott's heart stopping plea.
The room was cramped. Alan remained calm, still getting over the shock he showed no signs of emotion breaking through. He held Tin-tins hand tightly in his own, as Brains gripped the other, her tear stained face rested easily on Brains' shoulder, Alan's lip trembled. Gordon was pale, slowly hyperventilating, he stood alongside John clinging to his brother's side, his head buried in his shoulder; not yet ready to accept what was happening he refused to look. John looked over to their father, their grandmother stood behind him. She rested a comforting hand on her sons shoulder, mirroring John and Scott. He studied his fathers face, set like stone. He wondered vaguely if they would come through this, the first time had been hard enough. Could they do it again? He knew his father was trying to hide how he was feeling for the sake of everyone else. But for once Jeff Tracy was failing in his plight.
The Dr stood back. John closed his eyes tightly as he realised he too, was crying. This couldn't be real. He was fully expecting to wake up in a cold sweat on Thunderbird Five, to call home and for Virgil to tell him how silly it all was.
The long droning noise began. No one heard the nurse's small voice muter something medical.
John pulled Gordon closer as he began to sob again, hiding his own face as the tears fell. Tin-tin whimpered as Brains pulled up his glasses to wipe away a few stray tears with a handkerchief. Grandma made a similar gesture. Neither Jeff nor Scott moved, though John could feel the later shaking under his hand.
Jeff nodded. "Thank you, Dr." Everyone could see he struggled to keep his composure but who wouldn't. Admittedly they had a strained relationship at times, but this man was still his son.
Dr Martin reached for the switch that would end the droning.
Two quick beeps halted her before the drone returned. Scott's head shot up to reveal red eyes.
"He's in V-Tach." This time the nurse's words were clearly heard.
Dr Martin stepped forward. "Mr Tracy, I need your permission to carry on?"
"I don't understand." Jeff faltered.
"Dad!" Scott snapped. "Just say yes."
"Yes. Of course." He mumbled shocked.
"Okay. Step back. Let us work." Dr Martin immediately sprung into action.
The family gathered together. Gordon now leaning on Alan for support. They all watched in horror. Or maybe it was hope.
"Maybe you should wait outside." The nurse meant well but she was ignored. "Mr Tracy?" Jeff turned to look at her; she couldn't have been older than Gordon.
"Sorry?"
"If you could just wait outside, I think it'd be best." A whirring sound grabbed his attention before he replied. He watched solemnly as the machine charged and released a jolt of electric into Virgil's body, he was terrified to see his son's body jerk uncontrollably.
He surveyed the others in the room.
Alan and Gordon stood side-by-side, Tin-tin close by with Brains. All stared wide-eyed at the dramatic display in front of them. Jeff noticed his mother stood in front of him, wincing with every charge that left the defibrillator. John looked down starry eyed at the floor; unable to look, he was truly aghast, not believing what his eyes were showing him.
To Scott the scene was an all too familiar reminder. Only last time it had been Gordon on the receiving end of the soul destroying jerks. His eye's where glued to the Doctors and nurses. He wanted to look away, not wanting to witness this, knowing it would haunt his worst nightmares but finding himself unable to. He dare not blink, holding breath he didn't realise, Virgil's last words bounced around his head like a tennis ball.
"Just can't fight 'nemore…."
He could not comprehend what was happening, despite his best abilities he couldn't help but think these things happened on TV or to other people. He didn't cry, he didn't breath, he didn't move. Fear of loosing his one constant triggering the paralysis he felt; he couldn't move. Able only to uselessly stand and watch the medics violent attempts to save his brothers life. Able only to hear the wailing of machinery fill the small room with dread. Medical orders flew above his head, he did not hear them. One single prayer on his lips; Please don't take him away from me.
Jeff eyed his eldest son most carefully; he'd seen the anger in his eyes. Scott was fiercely protective over any of his brothers and Jeff didn't want to think of the outcome if Virgil didn't pull through this. He was worried about all of them, Gordon especially, but it didn't take a genius to see that Scott wasn't coping either. The only emotion that seemed to register was shock. Where as the others had tears flowing freely down their cheeks. Scott didn't, his eyes where red, but no tears fell, this just concerned Jeff more. He knew full well, that what ever happened now the damage had been done, his two eldest sons had always been a mystery to him. Seemingly able to read each other's thoughts they knew each other inside out. To the point were he wondered if Scott would cope at all without Virgil. They were a part of each other. Would Scott still be Scott without Virgil? He couldn't help but wonder, he wasn't stupid he had noticed how they'd both changed when they grew up, leaving home and one another behind to fulfil their own dreams. He was thankful that time was over, that International Rescue had been formed and now his two eldest were back together. The bond between them refreshed and stronger than ever as they'd learned to know each other over again.
To him, Scott just seemed to be unable to accept what was happening. An opinion that disturbed him, but was backed up by Scott's desperation to keep resuscitating his brother, despite the Doctors better recommendation.
"Jeff dear. I think the lady's right." He turned to face his mother, her puffy face signalling she was all cried out. "The boys don't need to see this." She gestured towards the younger ones.
"Yes, you're right." He exhaled deeply.
"Come on boys. We're just getting in the way here. The Doctor will let us know as soon as there's any news." They slowly filed out, a nurse showing them to a close by waiting room. There were more than a few protests but they were soon quashed.
Only Scott and Jeff remained.
Jeff saw him look up to the heavens as if praying for a miracle. A miracle was what they needed.
Jeff saw him look away, tearing his eyes from the drama, unable to bear it any longer.
Instinctively he placed an arm round Scott. Their past troubles forgotten, Scott accepted the comforting touch. Resting his head on his fathers shoulder. They stood together watching and praying.
It was the most disturbing sight for Jeff. The hair that reminded him of his late wife, shorn away. The mannerisms he had inherited from his mother, non-existent through the stillness of his body. Was this the first time he'd looked at this boy, this man, and seen his son?
It seemed to go on forever but in reality it was over in minutes. The slow beeps didn't register at first, the droning still echoing in their ears.
After a few minutes, Dr Martin looked up for the first time with a small smile. Sighing she stepped away from Virgil and walked steadily toward Jeff and Scott. Taking her gloves of as she did so with a snap and throwing them into a nearby bin.
"Lets step outside, while they make him a little more comfortable." They followed the blonde Doctor out of the door and into the cool corridor.
"Dr Martin?" A short dumpy nurse handed her a slip of paper. "You were right."
Laura merely nodded. "Okay. Swap it for phenytoin, that should prevent any seizures. You can start him off on the pain meds again now, better give him a higher dose." She thought for a moment. "Up it by three percent. His ribs are going to be sore. Keep him on the mannitol for the moment." The nurse furiously wrote the information down.
"Anything else?" She asked dutifully.
"Yeah. Up his observation periods to half hourly for us and every fifteen minutes for a nurse." Dr Martin smiled reassuringly at Jeff and Scott, who stood alongside her.
"Do you want me to screen some blood?"
"Yeah. Please. And keep an eye out for any muscle spasms. Keep an eye on his ribs too, that much CPR could've done some damage." They both nodded at each other as the nurse went back into the room. Scott caught a glimpse of Virgil as still, medical staff hovered around him. Laura eventually turned back to them.
"Sorry about that. That was Virgil's test results. Seizures are a common symptom of subdural haematoma's and they can often cause further, much greater damage. To stop that happening in Virgil's case we gave him a series of medication. Unfortunately he's had a serious allergic reaction to one of the agents, mexymiotine." She explained cautiously.
"And that caused his heart to stop?" Jeff asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. More than likely, the reaction was quite severe and because his immune system was already weakened from the surgery it all happened very quickly. Giving us little warning." Scott nodded. "He's stable for now. We've started him on some different medication and we'll keep a close eye on him."
"Will it affect his recovery?" Jeff worried. "I mean. He will wake up. Won't he?"
"There are never any guarantees with this kind of surgery. But he's not in a coma; he's just very deeply unconscious. His pupils are equal and reactive to light. Reflexes seem ok at the moment. That's all good. There is a small danger that another haematoma will form but hopefully we'll be able to rule that out when we get an MRI scan. His bodies very weak, he needs time to heal." She eyed Scott's sightless stare.
"So what can we do?" Again the questions came from Jeff.
"Well, patients can respond to familiar sensations, voices, maybe sounds or touch. Try and talk to him as much as you can and don't be afraid to touch him, hold his hand. He's weak but he won't break, you won't hurt him. Maybe play some music he particularly likes or familiar sounds. Maybe something that comforted him as a child, a particular book, say? That you could read him. Its important he feels safe and that he's aware he has a large support network around when he does wake. Just be careful not to smother him, I can't let you all in there. Two of you can stay tonight, three maximum in the room. I'll get another bed made up for you. If he does start to come round, encourage him, let him know you're there. Don't let him panic and make sure there are not too many people around. The last thing he'll want is feeling like he's an attraction at the local zoo." Jeff smiled warmly.
"Thank you so much, Laura."
"You don't have to thank me. Its what I get paid for. Admittedly not enough, but I do get paid occasionally!" Her smile made him feel a little more hopeful.
"He's alive?" Scott finally spoke. Laura placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Yes, Scott. He's alive." She took in his pale colour and thin lips. His non-focusing eyes stared right through her.
"Thank you." He blinked. Laura momentarily gripped his shoulder, wondering if he was going to pass out.
"Scott, when was the last time you had anything to eat?"
Jeff frowned at her words, as she took a firmer grip of Scott's shoulders' using both hands she guided him to one of the chairs that lined the corridor.
"What?" Scott was confused.
"What about a drink?" She asked. "Sit down." She guided him, gently lowering him into the plastic chair.
"Drink what?" Scott asked dazed. Jeff glanced at the Doctor, clearly distressed. Anguish covered his worn features.
"What's wrong with him?" He vocalised his obvious response.
"He's going into shock. It's ok. He just needs something warm and sweet. Steve!" She called to a near by man. He wore a suit, a member of the administration staff. "Can you grab me a cup of tea with plenty of sugar." The man nodded.
"He could've died." Scott's small voice reminded Jeff of a child, his wide eyes looked hopefully up at Laura, who rubbed his arm stopping occasionally to gently reassure him. The touch was surprisingly comforting.
"But he didn't." She smiled.
"But a few minutes, seconds even." The true reality was beginning to sink in now. "He'd be gone. Dead."
"But he's not. He's alive." She squeezed at his shoulder, as the man in the suit returned. "Thanks." She took the plastic cup from him.
"We could've lost him so easily." Scott was oblivious to the exchange. He looked up, revealing to his father those contempt-ridden eyes once more. "You could've killed him."
She handed the cup to Jeff noticing the pained expression on his face and pulled Scott to face her, an ever-firm grip on his muscular shoulders. "Right, now you listen to me. No-one died in there Scott. We all made the decisions we thought were right at the time. Whether they were or not is regardless. Virgil's come through it, what matters is that he's in there. And he needs you to support him, not look for someone to blame. If you want to blame anyone blame me. I said I didn't think he'd come through. I underestimated him." She paused. "He's being incredibly brave and you have to be brave too." She wasn't patronising in getting her point across and her line of reasoning seemed successful.
"Yeah."
Jeff passed her back the plastic cup. "Don't worry about him." She reassured Jeff's troubled expression. "He'll be fine. Go and talk to the others. I'll make sure he's okay."
Jeff smiled appreciatively. He'd always thought Penny's enthusiasm for the young Doctor had stemmed from her strong belief that they should have a properly qualified Doctor on the team, and she would be the ideal choice. It was only now, seeing the way she dealt with Scott and the compassion she showed with Virgil that he really realised just how good she was. They were lucky she had been assigned Virgil's case. He'd been sceptical at first, even considered requesting a different Doctor. It wouldn't take much for her to realise who they really were. She was close enough to put two and two together and rightly make four. He headed to the room were the rest of his family waited in eager anticipation, vaguely wondering if Penny had something to do with the hospitals choice of Doctor.
"Here, drink this." She placed a hand at the back of Scott's head, and pushed the cup softly to his lips. He placed shaking hands around hers; she wasn't prepared to let him hold it by himself.
He took a small sip. Coughing and spluttering as he swallowed. "That's disgusting!" He screwed his nose up to exaggerate the point.
"We're done." A few nurses surfaced from the room they sat outside.
"You hear that. Virgil's waiting for you."
His eyes met hers suspiciously. "I can see him?"
"As soon as you've finished this." She smiled softly as he made a fresh effort to finish the vile liquid.
"Mom!" She hovered outside the door.
"Oh Jeff, please don't tell me…." She broke off.
"He's alive. They got him back. Laura thinks it was some kind of allergic reaction. He's stable, but their not sure when he'll wake up." He smiled relieved.
"But he will wake up. Won't he?" her face remained taught.
"They can't be one hundred percent sure but she's hopeful. They're running more tests. I'll talk to them." He gestured to the room. "Can you take them to a hotel or something? Scott will want to stay tonight and I'm not leaving either of them on their own just yet. I'll call if there's any news. They need a break anyway, all this waiting around and worrying. It's no good for them, kick out a bottle of scotch when you get there." She gave him a disapproving look. "I don't think any of them will sleep particularly easily tonight Mom. Let them relax a little, it'll help."
"And do you think they'll be able to relax whilst their brother is still critical?"
"No-one mentioned the word critical Mom, he's stable." She softened a little. Being a father to five boys, men, was not an easy task, but she'd never seen him look so worn.
"Oh, Jeff." She sighed, "Of course I'll sort it out. But we'll be back in the morning. First thing."
"Thanks Mom."
"I want to see him before we go, and so will they. Is Scott with him?" Jeff looked to the floor.
"I'm really worried about him. I've never seen him like this before, he's completely lost. Dr Martin said he's in shock. She's with him now. He blames me. He virtually accused me of killing Virgil."
She frowned. "I'm sure he didn't mean it Dear. Like the Doctor said, he's probably just in shock, he doesn't know what he's saying."
Jeff shook his head. "No. You should have seen the look in his eyes, Mom. This isn't going to go away. That's why I need to be here tonight. For both of them."
"Jeff, Scott will understand why you did it." She tried to offer him comfort in her words.
"Oh God Mom, I looked at him. So still, so lifeless and he looked nothing like her. He just looked like him, I can't explain it." He told her slowly, uncomfortably.
"There's more to Virgil than Lucille, Jeff. You of all people should know that." His mother said softly.
"I know, its just I realised what a bad father I am." He admitted, struggling to keep the guilty tears from falling.
"Oh Jeff, don't be silly. None of the boys think that, least of all Virgil, he adored you growing up."
"That just makes it worse. He looked up to me, loved me and look what I gave him in return. Lucille would turn in her grave if she could see this." He said sadly.
"Jeff now stop this!" She exclaimed. "Pull yourself together, you've got a family in that room that needs you. You have to be strong for them; don't put yourself through this. Virgil loves you, just like you love him." Her words were said with more strength than he could muster at that precise moment. He took a moment to gather himself, taking a deep breath before he faced his family.
They all approached the room. Scott still sat outside. The empty plastic cup sat loosely in his hand, Laura still alongside him. Talking, smiling, reassuring him.
Brains, Tin-tin and their grandmother went in first.
John crouched down in front of Scott as his younger brothers hovered close to their father.
"Hey." Scott looked up, smiling momentarily at John's face, inches from his own. "You alright?" The question was verbally directed at Scott but Johns eyes looked to Laura for an answer.
"He's fine." She placed a hand on Scott's knee, offering firm support. "I'd better go and sort this bed out." She smiled and got to her feet. John took her place next to his brother.
"Dad's shipping us out already. Huh?" John looked sympathetically at his brother. He wasn't resentful. He knew it was better for Virgil if Scott was there, and his father was expected to stay. "You look after our boy. Okay?"
Scott nodded. "I will." He was quietly reassured at how easily John had slipped into the role of protector.
"We'll be back in the morning. As soon as we can." Scott nodded, fully understanding Johns want just to be near his second eldest brother.
"Alan did good today." Scott said conversationally.
"Yeah. He's growing up, he's not a kid anymore." John smiled in the direction of his baby brother, who spoke softly to Gordon.
Scott followed his line of sight. "Keep an eye on Gordon tonight."
"I will. Scott, don't worry about us. We'll be fine. You concentrate on Virg. I'll sort the brats out." He smiled and for the first time noticed Scott's grin reach his eyes.
Their grandmother was followed by Tin-tin and Brains as she exited the room, looking a little worse for wear.
John stood up. Patting Scott on the back before following Gordon and Alan into the room.
Gordon stopped. Alan just stopped himself from walking into his marginally older brother. He smoothly walked round him. John walked up to the bed, sliding into the chair by the bedside table. "Hey." He tried not to let the panic and dismay show in the tone of his voice. "You know if you wanted a visit you only had to ask, but now I'm here are you going to wake up for me? I brought the brats to see you. I thought they might scare you back into the land of the living." He smiled. Looking up at Gordon's distraught form. He quickly swung his gaze to Alan. Who smiled down at his older brother, seeing what John was doing he continued.
"Ah, ignore him Virg, he's just jealous he's not got our good looks." He frowned for a moment, allowing the repulsion he felt to show. "Sorry Bro. But you got stuck with Dad and Scott tonight. We've got to go but we'll be back. We'll be here again tomorrow."
"You take it easy on them. No more tricks like earlier. Okay?" John joined in, of course there was no response only the steady bleeps and the sound of compressed air accompanied the stillness.
"He doesn't look real." Gordon finally said. "He looks like a dummy." He moved alongside John. "Just wake up. Virg?" There was an unmistakable begging to his tone. "Please?" He paused waiting for a response, when none came he turned to John. "Tell him John. Tell him he has to wake up."
"I just did." John smiled. "But hey, since when has he ever listened to me!"
"Since now! He has to wake up now!" Gordon struggled to stop the tears begin as Alan turned away, swallowing back his own need to cry.
"He's sick Gordy. He needs to rest. Then he'll wake up." John suddenly noticed Alan at Gordon's side placing a reassuring arm around his brother.
"Come on. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea." Gordon allowed himself to be led away. "We'll see you tomorrow Virg." Alan ducked out of the room leaving John in solitary silence.
"I know you're not feeling too good right now Virg, and wherever you are feels a hell of a lot safer then all the pain and hurting here. But we need you. And we're all here to help you. So it won't be so bad. Just try okay? I'll talk to you tomorrow." He kissed the top of his head before leaving. John was a lot like Virgil in the respect of willingness to show outward feeling; Scott however liked to keep it to himself. Only ever confiding in Virgil and even then most of the time when Virgil instigated it. John knew if he didn't get Scott to open up to someone. The effects may be too great for Virgil to repair.
They headed along the corridor, Gordon and Alan dragged behind.
"Is that how you felt? When I was sick? Did I look like that?" Gordon questioned his younger brother speedily, quietly.
"Kind of." Alan draped an all too familiar arm round his brother as they followed the others. "Come on."
Scott and Jeff walked eagerly back into the room. Laura stood with a clipboard and pen in her hand. A smaller bed had been made up alongside then main one in the room.
"We've got some of the results back. His blood work looks good and there are no signs that a second haematoma is forming. Looks like his ribs are just bruised. He's not quite strong enough to breathe on his own just yet so we'll keep the tube in" Jeff glanced up to the plastic piping that ran unnaturally down Virgil's throat. It was possibly the most disturbing of all the machinery and wires that spread across his body. "He's doing very well." She smiled.
Scott sat cautiously in the chair by the bedside. He reached down for Virgil's hand dismayed to find it covered in bandages and dressing where yet more tubing ran. Laura saw his movement.
"You can touch him." She stood behind Scott. Watching his hand hover over Virgil's. "Just be gentle. He's very weak. Try not to disturb the electrodes on his head." Scott looked up noticing the blocks for the first time, they seemed to be stuck to Virgil's head. Just above a thick white bandage that covered the surgery site. "They're very important. They're measuring his brain waves, how active his brain is." Scott nodded numbly. He didn't understand why he felt so shell-shocked. Virgil had been attached to these machines all the time, but only now he really noticed them.
He gently laid his hand over his brothers. Jeff watched as Laura busied herself taking readings before making her exit.
"Hey." His voice was low, hushed. Jeff sensed he felt uncomfortable talking to an unconscious man. "It's me." His gaze previously on his brother's face, slowly fell down Virgil's wired body as Scott gathered up the courage to cautiously hold his hand. Afraid of hurting him, he looked up to the younger mans face for any recognition. "Its Scott." He sighed, again dropping his gaze before bringing it up to see Virgil's still firmly closed eyes. "I just wanted to let you know." He swallowed. "Anytime you want to show the rest the world those..." He struggled. "Those big brown eyes, is fine by me." He swallowed preventing the tears. He knew they'd come eventually but not now. Not in front of his father. "Virgil?" he was hopeful of a response, but unsurprisingly none came. "Its okay." He smoothed over the stubble on his near bald head. Careful not to disturb the electrodes Laura had pointed out. "Whenever you're ready. I'll be here."
Jeff winced at the softness with which he spoke. Scott was often accused of being hard hearted by his younger brothers. Being unable to comprehend how he kept so much inside they often wrongly assumed things didn't bother him. He was compassionate they knew that, but they sometimes struggled with how quickly he managed to come to terms with things. They didn't know it was only a façade. That nine times out of ten it was not Scott coming to terms with events but instead filling them away for a drunken nights confession with Virgil. They assumed he just bounced back from anything, but that wasn't always the case.
If only they could see this, the uncompromising compassion in his eyes and the soft, tender touch he used. The way that years of practice enabled him to bring lasting comfort from a single touch. Was he jealous of his son? No. He decided, he could never be jealous of Scott or his close relationship with Virgil. It suddenly struck him, he'd never fully understood before how the two young men were so closely connected. But the display of intimacy, of love before him conveyed how years of coping together had made them so close that Scott's guard dropped just in his brothers presence. He'd never seen his eldest son so…. He found it difficult to find the right word. Was emotional correct? Yes, Virgil enabled Scott to let down the emotional walls he presented to everyone else. The amount of respect and admiration these two held for one another was unequivalent to any other. Everyone knew and frequently talked of Scott and Virgil's almost psychic bond but few saw it as raw as he'd seen it today. And even fewer knew just how water tight it was, how far they would go for each other. There was not a doubt in his mind that if he could, Scott would trade places with his brother. A pained expression formed on his face as he realised: Did he really know so little about his sons that only now, he noticed just how powerful this alliance was? When it was almost too late.