Just Another Day
Disclaimer: Insert usual disclaimer here. You know the drill, not mine, blah, blah, blah.
Authors Note: Right, member I said it would be three parts max? Notice how this is the fourth? Well, it's gonna be a multi-chapter story now. What can one do when one's muse goes mad? It won't be too long, I think probably another three or so parts. But ya never know.
Thanks for reviews. Hurrah I updated!
Part Four
Jeff's POV
If seeing Scott was bad, then seeing John is hell.
There are so many tubes. IV lines and blood lines, heart monitors and brain monitors. And then there is that ventilator. Meaning John isn't breathing on his own, he's being kept alive!
"Mr Tracy, we haven't been able to fully establish just how much damage has been done to your son's brain. We won't be able to fully assess his condition until he wakes up." There's a ray of hope in that sentence, the fact that everyone tells me it's a matter of when John wakes, not if John wakes. It's the only thing that keeps me going.
"Why are his eyes wrapped?" Penny asks from beside me, that's when I notice it. His whole head and just past his eyes have been wrapped in the standard hospital bandage. It stops at the bridge of his nose, a tube going up his nostrils, and doesn't cover his ears, probably allowing for him to hear us when he wakes up.
"We don't know just how sensitive his eyes might be when he wakes up," the nurse answers, smiling kindly, although I wish she wouldn't. "It's just a precaution." I move past them, going to sit beside my son.
He seems so small. It's strange to see him so still. John never was one to sleep for long, always needing to so something. And when he did sleep, he was always active, always moving or mumbling, like his mind was replaying most of the day's events, reviewing everything. Lucy was like that, he was so much like her.
A rogue tear escapes once more and Penny's right there, hand on my shoulder, as comforting as always. How does she do it? I look over my shoulder, glancing at her perfect porcelain face and caring blue eyes. She's always been there. Since I met her just after IR was set up. Just after John finished high school. It was a meeting we had attended, some sort of Astrological fund raiser. I had taken John and Gordon with me, although Gordon was still pretty young he had expressed an interest in space, spurring my notion to take the boys. Penny had stolen the show, belle of the ball as always.
"The doctor needs to go over a few things, Jeff." She nodded her head towards the door and I knew I had to leave his side again. I took his hand and placed a soft kiss on the cold skin.
"I'll be right back, son." I tell him, hoping that somewhere he knows I hear, that somehow he's listening. I let go of his hand, not wanting to but having to, and head out to talk to the doctor, my stomach heavy and Penny at my side.
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John's POV
The place is so cold, where ever I was, it was cold. I couldn't see a thing; the black haze that surrounded me prevented that. I could still feel though. I could feel and God how I wish I couldn't.
The pain in my head was intense and constant, not wavering at all. If anything it got worse, stronger. The rest of my body was numb; a slight tinge in my chest and hand but that was all.
There were murmurs and soft beeps, hissing noises and clicks. I had the distinct feeling that I wasn't out with Scott anymore. That sparked a worry in me, where was Scott?
I tried to move, tried to open my eyes and find my brother. I moved my mouth, trying to speak but something stopped the sound and I started to gag. Attempting to push whatever was in my mouth out was only making it harder to breath.
"Sir, please, you have to calm down," a soft voice penetrated the sound of the blood rushing through my head; my own heart beat pounding in my chest. "Hold still and I'll remove the breathing tube." Breathing tube? What did I need that for?
I got my answer when it was taken out. My lungs felt heavy and empty and I started gasping for breath. There was a mask placed over my mouth and breathing became a little easier.
"I need to fetch a doctor; I'll be right back sir." I heard her leave, I still couldn't see though. The words seemed familiar, leaving a nag that I should remember them. Slowly my surrounding began to make sense. I was in a hospital, that much I figured out. But why? And where was Scott? What had happened? I didn't understand!
"John." Dad! He'll know where Scott is, and what's going on. He took my hand in his and I squeezed it tightly in my own, needing to know he was really there. He was! My Dad was here and everything would be fine, he'd make it fine. If only I could bloody well see! "Its okay son, you're in hospital. There was an accident; you've hurt your head." My head? That would explain the pain. But what accident? When and where and how? And where was Scott?
"Mr Tracy, I'm Doctor Rogerson, as you are aware you have suffered a severe head injury. It is important that we assess all the possible damage." Dad said something that I couldn't hear, "Mr Tracy I'm going to remove the face mask, I ask that you state your full name when I do." I can do that, I know my name. No problem. As long as I can breath when they take that thing off.
Dad squeezed my hand in support, the doc slowly took the mask off and I took one breath – "Joh" – and erupted into a fit of coughing. Each breath I took only made my lungs heavy and burn, making my head spin. I couldn't take a single breath on my own! I needed that infernal machine!
God how I hate being dependant!
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Alan's POV
Parker wouldn't tell us anything.
He said he'd tell us if Dad was there, but not without. I had volunteered to go and find him; I didn't like seeing Scott like that. I didn't like seeing any brother like that.
What if John's like that? What if John's worse? What if he's still unconscious?
I stopped outside the room the nurse directed me to, dreading what I might see. A burst of coughing made me jump and nearly run into the room. There was a nurse and two doctors, Dad and Lady P all crowded around a bed, John's bed. There were so many machines hooked up to his bed that my stomach churned.
"Alan," Penelope walked over to me, her hand coming to rest on my shoulder.
"Parker said that the other driver had been identified, he wanted to talk to Dad. I came to get him." I knew my voice was monotone, I was completely preoccupied right then, "What's happened to John?" I heard the waver, I know Penelope did. My voice wavered and there was the clear indication of a tremor as well.
"He's having trouble breathing," she told me, her voice soft and comforting. Her hand moved to rub circles in my back, I found myself wondering if she did this for Dad, if she comforted him like this.
"But he's awake." I asked hopefully. If he's awake its better than not being. He'd seem to…dead.
"Yes, he is." Penelope said firmly. "Come on; let's go tell your father Parker's news." She led me over to the bed where I noticed Dad holding John's hand tightly. "Jeff, Parker has news on the other driver. They know who it was." Dad looked at Lady Penelope, then to me, then to John's prone body on the bed.
"I can't leave him." Dad said, both hands clasping John's, as if he were scared he'd just disappear.
"Jeff, you know he'd want you to do this, he'd tell you to if he could." Penelope's voice had a strangely soothing quality.
"I'll stay with John." The words left my mouth before I even thought about it. That was when I looked at John properly. His legs and part of his chest was covered by the white hospital sheet but his torso, arms and head were clear. There were bandages on his left hand and some small white gauzes covering what I assume were cuts on his chest and neck. His head was completely bandaged, hiding his eyes.
"Are you sure Alan?" Dad asked me, he was probably well aware of my fears, probably knew I hated seeing John like this.
He hated it more.
"Yeah Dad, I'm sure." If Dad didn't go talk to Parker we wouldn't find out why this happened. And I think we all needed that. I know I did.
"John, I have to go. I have to talk to someone about the accident. Don't worry, Alan's going to be here with you son." Dad gave John's had a final squeeze before letting go. I noticed that John didn't cling to Dad's hand, not like I would've, but there was something that changed. Something that seemed like tenseness in his whole body. It made me, as Dad and Penelope were leaving, take up Dad's position beside John and clasp his hand in mine.
Slowly the nurse and doctors drew back and just watched John.
"Hey big bro, guess who." I said, trying not to act differently, but I was struggling to find normal with John. What was normal for someone you didn't see half the time? "You had everyone scared for a while." I was feeling uncomfortable. Not because it was John, but because we were being watched, like some spectator sport or something.
"We'll leave you two alone," I think the nurse got the hint. "We will be back shortly to check up on you." Wit that they left, leaving me both comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. John and I were never close; he was always away, either at school when we were younger or in space now.
"I think maybe Gordon should've come. You're closer to him right?" I looked at the door, considering leaving to get Gordon. That was when John's grip on my hand tightened, keeping me where I was. I guess he didn't care who was with him, just as long as he wasn't alone.
"Okay, I'll stay." I said, patting his hand. "Scott's been trying to climb out his bed; his leg is broken though so he can't." I don't know where this is coming from but talking is better than nothing. "He blames himself, y'know. You probably guessed he would, stupid big brother thing, I think. Do you get like that with us? Like when something happens, do you blame yourself, thinking that you could've done something? Virgil's like that just now, he's been thinking that he could've changed things if he were there. That things might be different if he had gone with you." I pause, long enough to hear another hiss from the breathing aid John had.
"I don't know you that well, do I? It's not your fault, and it's not mine. It just, you're always in space, or I'm at school. This whole thing just sorta brought it to my attention. I don't want to not know you, okay? So when you get better we have to talk. 'Cause you're my big brother and I love you." The squeeze on my hand and small smile on his face tell me he loved me too.
At least we have time. Time to get to know one another.
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Scott's POV
When Dad came into the room he didn't waste any time.
"What do you know?" Parker stood straight, ever the polite butler. Gordon was about ready to strangle the elder male, or try at least, I doubt he'd get very far with Parker.
"Mister Tracy, sir. Police have identified the driver as a Mr X Worthnell." The name didn't ring any bells, why was this such big news? "Next of kin is listed as one Ms T Worthnell. Theresa 'Transom' Worthnell to be exact, Mr Tracy." Okay, the Transom bit rung a bell.
"Transom, the female who worked for the Hood. You think it's linked?" Penelope asked Dad; probably knowing full well it was.
"His sister ends up behind bars, and two of my sons, two of International Rescue, are put in hospital after a suspicious crash. It's too coincidental not to be linked." And I totally agree with him. But I still don't get how it happened. How did he know where we would be? How did he know John and I would get into that car with Mark?
"Dad?" He turned to Gordon, my younger brother pulling me out of my thoughts. "Do you think…" He trailed off, looking at me nervously, "do you think that maybe someone was on the inside?"
I gape at Gordon. Is he suggesting that one of my friends, one of John and I's friends, could possibly have a hand in this? I've known them since high school. We went through half our lives together! How could they do that? They wouldn't. How could Gordon suggest it?
"I don't know, but we'll just have to keep our minds open just now. Until we know for sure, we don't rule anything out." Dad says, he's slipped back into Jeff Tracy – Leader of IR – perfectly, like a well worn leather glove. It's like second nature by now, and I know that one day it'll be that way for me too. "Penny, do you know of anyone in the police department who could work this case and relay information back to you?"
"I'm pretty sure I can get that to work." Penny said with an air of determination. She really is quite remarkable, probably why Dad's so taken with her.
"Okay, set it up." Dad looked back at me, probably knowing what I was thinking, probably knowing full well that I didn't believe the possibility of any of this. Probably knowing that I dreaded it was true. "We'll get to the bottom of this one way or another."
And so fired the investigation. No doubt Brains would be in on this soon too, why not just launch all of IR and her contacts in? I'm sure the President would be happy to help. Fat chance. It's a waste of time. That's what I think. But I suppose that doesn't matter much right now. Dad's trying to find a reason, trying to understand. He's got a good point. But still, it's far fetched. Isn't it?
"I…" Everyone kinda looks at me, making me swallow what I was about to say. "I wanna see John." Go with plan B then.
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AN: Please, please, please, review?
