Gordon bounced into the kitchen the following morning. "Mornin' all!" he said with gusto.
"Good morning, Dear," his grandmother gave him an affectionate kiss on the cheek. "What would you like for breakfast?"
"Mmmn. Anything!" he told her. "I could eat a horse, or, failing that, a barrel full of seahorses."
"I can't oblige you with seahorses," she informed him. "Would you be willing to make do with banana, bacon, and cream cheese on hotcakes?"
"And maple syrup?"
"Of course."
"Grandma! I love you!" Gordon gave her a big bear hug.
"Would you like a coffee, Mister Gordon?" Kyrano asked.
"I'd love one."
"How are you feeling, Gordon?" his father asked.
"Fighting fit," Gordon told him and started shadow boxing around his grandmother.
She turned and waved a spoon at him. "Go and sit down, Gordon. If you spill this batter you won't be getting any hotcakes!"
Gordon hightailed it to the table.
"I take it you had a good night's sleep," John said. "You did, didn't you?"
"If I say no will I still get hotcakes?" Gordon pulled his chair out from the table.
"You'll get dry toast," John told him. "How'd you sleep?"
"Great. Honestly I haven't had such a good nights sleep in a long time," Gordon admitted. "I don't know what Scott did to Virgil but it worked. Either that or Brains drugged my drink last night."
Brains gave him a shy smile and shook his head.
"I woke up at one point and heard them both laughing," John said. "So I guess things were going well."
"At what time?" Gordon asked.
"I don't know. I didn't look at the clock."
"Mister Scott is up late this morning," Kyrano noted.
"He is," Jeff agreed. "We haven't seen hide nor hair of either of them. But we haven't heard them either, so we'll take that as a good sign."
"It's either a good sign or Virgil's murdered Scott in his sleep and then run away again," Gordon said brightly.
A cheerful whistling was heard in the hallway.
"I guess not," Gordon amended.
Scott strode into the room. He'd retrieved his dressing gown and was wearing it over what he'd worn to bed. "Good Morning!"
"You sound in high spirits," Jeff smiled. "I take it things went well."
"Yup." Scott started pouring his ritual cup of coffee.
Tin-Tin entered the room. She saw Scott, dressed in his concealing dressing gown, and looked slightly disappointed.
Scott grinned. "Hey, Tin-Tin. What say you and I give Alan something to be jealous about?" He winked at her.
Kyrano smiled benignly.
She stared at him, then giggled and gave him playful shove. "Oh, Scott!"
He gave a dramatic sigh. "I don't know. It's terrible this power I have over women. They can't keep their hands off me."
John snorted "Yeah. Only when they're pushing you away. Where's Virgil?"
"Getting washed."
"So…" Jeff said. "Don't keep us in suspense. What happened?"
Scott claimed his chair at the table. "I gave him the 'bad cop' treatment and turned the lights out at ten," he explained. "Then I waited. It was just like when he used to get those nightmares when Father was away. Remember, Grandma?"
"What!" Jeff exclaimed. He looked at his mother who smiled serenely back.
"I remember," she said.
"I don't!" Jeff said.
"Didn't you ever tell him?" Scott asked Mrs Tracy.
"No. I thought your father had enough worries finding work, without worrying unnecessarily about you boys as well," she admitted. "I figured what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him and that, between you and I, we could handle anything."
Jeff frowned at her and made the decision to discover what else he hadn't been told about later.
"So, what happened?" John asked.
"Then I gave him the 'good cop' treatment. And, I am pleased to report, that not only did I convince him to eat; not only did I convince him that we weren't intent on world domination, or what ever it was he thought we were capable of; not only did I find out what Virgil's nightmare is…"
"Yes…?" Gordon sat forward.
"I've convinced him that we are his family!" Scott finished triumphantly. He gave them some of the highlights of the night's events.
Tin-Tin clapped her hands together. "Oh! That's wonderful!"
"You da man," Gordon crowed and gave Scott a high five.
"Nice one," John added his congratulations. "I told you, you should have been more involved all along."
"Just for that I'll cook you some extra hotcakes, Scott," his Grandma offered.
"And does he still believe that? Now that it's morning?" Jeff asked with caution.
"Yep," Scott reassured him and his father allowed himself a smile in relief. "And we were getting along like a house on fire. I'm going to take him on a tour of some of the places that Gordon hasn't shown him after breakfast."
"Speaking of Gordon," Gordon stood. "If you'll all excuse me, I think I'll go and apologise to Virgil personally. I need to do some serious grovelling." He paused at the kitchen counter on the way out. "Don't let Scott eat all the hotcakes, Grandma."
"I won't, Darling, I'm making enough for everyone. And tell Virgil to hurry up or his will be cold."
"What was this nightmare about?" Jeff asked.
"Would you believe that he is falling beside a skeleton, which is wearing a white dress and is pleading for his help?"
The family all looked at each other. "That's all?" John asked.
"That's all he remembered."
"It doesn't sound like something Virgil would normally be afraid of," Tin-Tin noted.
"Nothing's normal at the moment as far as Virgil's concerned," Jeff reminded her.
Brains was frowning. "I-Interesting. The skeleton is a negative symbol, f-frequently associated with death. But w-why is it wearing a white dress?"
"That's what I asked him," Scott replied. "He didn't know."
"D-Dreams are sometimes an expression of the s-subconscious," Brains said with a meditative air.
"So what's he subconsciously thinking about then?" John asked. "Maybe if we knew we could find a cure for the amnesia."
Brains didn't appear to hear him as he gazed thoughtfully into space.
Scott turned when he felt a light touch on his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
Gordon was standing there. In contrast to his earlier jovial mood, he now looked deadly serious. "Where'd you say Virgil was?"
"In his bathroom getting washed."
Gordon shook his head. "He's not there now. I checked his bedroom, bathroom, studio and the lounge. No sign of him."
"What!" Scott was on his feet. "But I told him I'd meet him here!"
"Now calm down, Scott," Jeff tried to be reassuring. "He might be embarrassed about what he said yesterday. We'll just have to tell him that it doesn't matter and that we understand."
"That's when we find him!" John exclaimed.
"I'll soon track him on the computer!" Jeff stood. "There's no need to panic."
They all made a panicked beeline for the door.
They stopped abruptly when a figure stepped into the kitchen.
Virgil looked startled by the sudden onslaught of people. "Uh… H-Hi. What's going on?"
Scott answered quickly. "We, ah, we thought we heard the alarm."
"Oh," Virgil said. "I've just come through the lounge and I didn't hear it."
"We must be hearing things," John said awkwardly. "I guess we've got a bit trigger happy."
"Yeah," Gordon agreed and enlarged on the lie. "There's a bird around here that's a bit of a mimic. It was probably one of those."
"Come on everyone!" Mrs Tracy tried to resurrect some order. "Breakfast's ready and I'm not going to let it spoil!"
Everyone traipsed back to the table.
Everyone except Gordon, who pulled Virgil to one side. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't mean what I said yesterday."
"I know," Virgil acknowledged. "Scott explained it to me."
"You're still my friend?"
Virgil nodded. "Friend and brother."
Gordon's face split into a delighted grin. "It's great to hear you say that!"
"Gordon," Mrs Tracy called. "We need more cream cheese. Will you get it please?"
Virgil was closer. "I'll get it." He opened the fridge door, reached inside, removed a container and shut the fridge door again. Then he stopped.
So did everyone else.
Virgil stared at the container in his hand. "How'd I do that?"
Gordon took the container from his brother and read the label. "Cream cheese," he said in wonder. "How'd you know?"
"I don't know," Virgil said dazedly. "I just grabbed it."
"Well did you remember that's where it lives, or did you read the label?" Gordon asked excitedly.
Virgil shook his head "Neither… I think. I don't know how I knew. My hand just kind of went to the right place."
Gordon looked at his family. "You saw! I didn't prompt him."
Virgil was wearing his 'I'm confused' frown.
"I've noticed thing like that happen a few times lately," Tin-Tin said. "Memories seem to appear out of nowhere."
"And disappear just as quickly," Virgil sighed.
"You thought you remembered everything last night, didn't you?" Scott reminded Virgil.
"How do you mean everything?" Jeff asked cautiously.
"He means everything," Virgil said. "It doesn't seem real now. I think I must have dreamt it."
"It seemed to be a pretty real dream," Scott told him.
Jeff decided not to push the issue. "Come on you two," he told his two younger sons. "The hotcakes are disappearing."
"Scott's got most of 'em," John complained.
"Grandma said I could have extra!"
"But not all at once!"
"Can I say something?" Virgil asked.
Everyone stopped what he or she was doing and gave him their full attention.
"I was told last night," Virgil began slowly, "that I apologise too much for things that none of us have any control over. But I would like to apologise for what I said and did yesterday. I know now that I behaved irrationally." He slowly looked around the group, looking each individual in the eye. "I know it's not easy, for any of us, but I'd like to ask you all to try and treat me the way you used to; the way you would have a month ago before my accident. If I don't understand what you are saying or doing, I'll ask, and maybe in that way, I'll get to know you, and myself, better… And I'll get to know you all as my brothers," he indicated Gordon, John and Scott before shifting his gaze to Jeff, "my father…"
Jeff smiled at him.
"…My Grandmother…"
Mrs Tracy inclined her head towards her grandson.
Virgil looked at Kyrano, Brains and finally Tin-Tin, "…And my friends."
Tin-Tin looked down shyly.
"But, the hardest person I've got to get to know is Virgil Tracy. You've all done wonders in showing him to me so far, but I know I've still got a long way to go. I'm hopeful that with a lot of patience, mainly on my part, I'll begin to understand, and know, who I am."
The family were silent as they listened to his statement
"We're all here for you, Virgil," his father told him. "Always remember that, no matter what. If you need help, please ask."
Virgil gave him a grateful smile.
"Now," Jeff continued on. "We've got a fantastic breakfast going cold. Dig in everyone!"
"Pass the maple syrup please, Virgil," John asked.
Virgil looked at the containers in front of him. "Which is the maple syrup?"
"This one," Scott handed it to him, and Virgil passed it over to John.
"What were you doing in the lounge, Virgil?" Gordon scooped a banana onto his hotcakes.
"Checking out something that Scott told me."
"What was that?" Jeff asked.
"He said I 'suffered' from Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst. So I thought I'd test him out."
Brains looked knowledgeable as the rest of the group looked at Scott quizzically.
"And?" Scott asked.
Virgil grinned. "Three times."
"Ha! Told you," Scott said in glee. "I wish I'd thought of it earlier. I would have been after you with the pepper."
Now everyone was looking at him with a mystified expression.
The family finished breakfast and sat back. Scott looked at his watch. "If we're going to go on that walk we'd better think about getting moving," he said to Virgil.
"Apart from cleaning my teeth, I'm ready," Virgil told him. "I take it you're not going to wear that."
Scott looked down at his dressing gown and slippers. He wrinkled his nose. "I did think about it, but perhaps something more practical would be a good idea. Give me fifteen minutes?"
"Okay."
Scott hurried out of the room.
"Would anyone mind if I got in a little practise on the piano while I'm waiting for Scott?" Virgil asked.
"It's pretty much your piano," his father told him. "Hardly anyone else uses it so you can play it whenever you want."
"Thanks. I'd better get started then. Excuse me," Virgil left the room. A short time later they could hear a popular radio tune being played on the baby grand.
"I'm glad he can still play," Jeff said quietly. "Things haven't seemed right without Virgil's music in the background... Not that they are right," he added hastily.
They heard a wrong note and, as a group, flinched.
"Still got a way to go though, hasn't he?" John noted.
"All those years of learning, all those years of practice, gone in an instant." Tin-Tin said, her eyes sober. "What must that feel like?"
Scott led the way up the path. Virgil followed behind, enjoying listening to his brother tell him about the various parts of the island.
Scott stopped. "That's the way you went," he pointed to where the path diverted off to the right.
"Not initially," Virgil told him. "I went left and then pushed through the bush to the track where you found me."
"I thought you might have done that," Scott said. "When we were kids playing hide 'n seek in the fields at our farm, I'd always find you. Until you realised that you could cut across from one path to another. You had me fooled a couple of times until I learnt your trick."
"Lucky you remembered it."
Scott didn't want to jeopardise the trust that had built up between them, so he didn't tell Virgil that it was technology and their father that had convinced him to go right. "Well you know what's that way, so we'll go left this time." He started off.
In places it was starting to get a bit muddy underfoot. A couple of times their feet slipped out from under them. It was nothing to cause them any concern, so they continued on, moving further inland.
"I haven't been up here in ages," Scott noted. "The last few storms have caused some damage to the track."
Indeed fast flowing water had gouged out a channel that followed the path for a few metres and then slid off into the undergrowth.
"We're not too far from the lookout," Scott said. "I hope we can reach it. It's quite a view, you can look down on the runway."
They rounded a bend in the path. The way ahead was blocked.
"Looks like we've had a bit of a mudslide," Scott said cheerfully.
... Mudslide! ...
"It looks stable enough to climb though." Oblivious, Scott scrambled to the top, turned and crouched down. "Let me help you," he stretched out his hand.
... She's asking for my help! She's reaching for me, but I can't reach her. ...
"Virgil?"
... She's so close, but I can't reach. If only I could get a couple of feet closer, maybe she could jump into my arms... I'd better call for help. ...
"Are you feeling alright, Virgil?" Concerned at how the colour was leeching from his brother's face, Scott leapt down off the top of the mudslide.
... She's fallen! I saw her fall! I couldn't help her! ..."NO!""Virgil! What's wrong?" Alarmed at his brother's sudden yell, Scott reached out for him. His touch seemed to awaken Virgil.
"S-Scott?"
"Are you alright? You're not in pain are you?"
"I saw her, Scott… I saw her fall!"
"Who? Virgil! You're shaking! What's wrong?"
"She was so young… Maybe seven or eight..."
"Who was?"
"She was crying, but I couldn't get to her…" A sheen of sweat appeared on Virgil's face.
"Who, Virgil?" Concerned, Scott put his arm about his brother's shoulders.
"She was standing on the tiniest ledge… The river… It was between us… Roaring…"
"Who? Where? Who are you talking about!"
"I couldn't reach… She saw me and knew I'd help her… And I couldn't…" Virgil's shaking increased alarmingly.
"Virgil?" Scott drew him into a comforting embrace. "It's okay." His brother trembled violently against him.
"She saw me and knew she'd be safe... I was International Rescue… I'd help her… She actually smiled at me, Scott."
Scott didn't know what he could say to comfort his brother.
"I-I was going to call you… I needed help…"
"What are you talking about?" Scott asked his voice filled with concern.
"I'd made contact with you…"
"Huh?"
"I was too late…"
The germ of realisation formed in Scott's brain. "At your last rescue?" Unable to do anything else, he rubbed Virgil's back comfortingly.
"The ground gave way… She fell… There was nothing I could do… I saw her face as she fell… It was saying 'You didn't save me!'… I saw her hit the rocks, the cliff, the ground…! She was like a rag doll…! She was only a child and I saw her die!" Virgil went into a spasm of emotion.
"I'm sorry, Virgil," Scott whispered. He hugged his brother close, half frightened, half trying to remain reassuring and in control. Surreptitiously he pushed a button on his watch. "It wasn't your fault."
"I had to get to her… in case I could still help… I started to run down the slip… My legs went out from under me and I starting slipping down… I was sliding…! I had no control…! I don't remember anything after…" He emitted a strangled sound. "I don't even know her name."
"Maria," Scott said softly. "Her name was Maria. The doctor said she died quickly. She wouldn't have suffered."
"I should have saved her!"
"You couldn't, Virgil. You did all you could."
"She was only a child."
"I know. Don't blame yourself."
"Why couldn't I save her? We saved other people?"
"You couldn't reach her. The ground was too unstable. It wasn't your fault."
"I want to go home."
Scott was worried about Virgil's state of health. His violent shaking had abated somewhat, but he was still pale, and was leaning heavily against his brother. "Why don't you sit down here for a bit? I'll call someone to come and give you a ride home."
"No," Virgil pushed himself away and stood unsteadily. "I'll walk."
"I don't think…" Scott started to say.
Virgil took a couple of faltering steps down the path and fell, landing on all fours.
Instantly Scott was by his side. "Are you okay? Relax. Someone will be here soon. We'll get you home."
Virgil sat back on his haunches. "No. I don't want help. I want to walk home. I want the fresh air."
"Just wait a bit, okay?" Scott asked. Then, with a degree of hesitancy, added, "Virgil?"
"What?" Virgil mumbled.
"Do you remember anything else?"
"Mmn?" Virgil appeared to have trouble focusing on Scott's words. "'Member?"
"Yeah. You seemed to remember your accident. Do you know what caused your amnesia?"
Virgil frowned. "No."
"Do you remember anything of your life before then?"
Virgil didn't appear to be listening.
"Please, Virgil," Scott begged, "This is important! Do you remember anything from before your accident?"
Virgil managed to shake his head.
"Do you remember your accident? Do you remember falling down the mudslide?"
Virgil whimpered, grimacing as if in pain.
"Virgil? Are you okay?" Scott forgot his other questions in the face of this more important one.
Virgil ran his hand over his eyes. "Headache," he gasped.
This was something that Scott could deal with. "How bad?"
"Bad. Pounding. Flashing lights. I want to lie down. Somewhere dark." Virgil laid his arm across his raised knee and rested his head on it.
Scott rubbed his brother's back reassuringly.
A short time later they heard the gentle hum of a motor. Astride a hoverbike and towing a hover-stretcher carriage, Brains rode into view.
Virgil managed to give Scott a baleful look. "You called him."
"I was worried."
Brains dismounted and rushed over. "What's w-wrong?"
"I'm not riding in that thing," Virgil muttered, his eyes tightly closed. "It's only a headache."
"A bad one," Scott amended. "You can't walk home."
"You'll help me."
"Even if I would, you wouldn't be able to make it. The path's too slippery and you can't even open your eyes. Come on, Virgil. You said you wanted to lie down. Here's your chance."
Brains was taking Virgil's pulse. "I-I'd be happier if you let us t-take you home, V-Virgil."
Virgil appeared to waver. "Only if you let me go to my room. I'm not going to the sickbay."
Scott glanced at Brains. It was a concession. They could continue the discussion back at the Villa.
Brains appeared to agree. "If you insist." He retired to turn the stretcher and hoverbike round.
Virgil squinted at Scott. "At least help me walk to the 'bike."
"Virgil…" Scott started to protest, but his brother was already attempting to stand. Sighing, he stood himself and grasped Virgil firmly about the waist. "Come on," he said gently.
Brains raised his eyebrows at Scott, who shrugged a 'what else could I do' reply.
Virgil didn't complain when they assisted him onto the stretcher carriage and closed the protective cover over him. Scott didn't know whether that was a good sign or a more ominous one.
With Scott riding shotgun on the back of the hoverbike, keeping a watchful eye on their patient, they made a smooth return to the Villa. They entered through a service entrance and took a lift upwards.
Up till now no one else was aware of the drama that had been unfolding. The doors from the lift opened to reveal a very surprised Jeff. Surprise quickly changed to concern when he saw the stretcher and it's occupant. "What happened?"
Virgil heard the voice. He opened his eyes a crack. "Are we there?" He fumbled with the cover of the carriage. "Let me out."
"We're not there yet," Scott told him. "So relax."
"H-He's got a headache," Brains explained to Jeff.
"A headache? Then why the stretcher?"
"It's that bad that he can't walk," Scott explained.
As if he were trying to prove his brother wrong, Virgil managed to swing the cover open and climb off the stretcher. He stood shakily and tried to look his father in the eye. "I'm alright. No one needs to worry about me…" his legs gave way and he would have collapsed onto the floor if Scott hadn't grabbed him.
Jeff stepped forward and grasped his ailing son from the other side. "Brains, go and get the sickbay ready. Scott and I'll bring him straight there."
"Y-Yes, Mr Tracy." Brains hurried away.
"Don't want to go to the sickbay," Virgil complained. "Take me to my room."
"No," Jeff said gruffly. "Not until we're sure it's nothing serious."
"Scott, you promised," Virgil pleaded.
"If there's one thing that I would have thought you would have learnt by now," Scott led the way sideways through door, "is that what our father says, goes."
Virgil closed his eyes again and resigned himself to being led to the infirmary...
Hi to everyone who has taken the time to read this story so far… and thanks to all those who have sent reviews, some of which are as entertaining as the story itself.
Now, the reason why I'm interrupting the flow of my story is to offer up an apology to everyone. I have a rule. I will not upload a story until I have completed it. I may tweak it as I go along, but the story is complete. The reason for this is twofold. From, my point of view, I have the opportunity to rearrange chapters, and make sure that I am totally happy with the story before the 'public' gets to read it. From the 'public's' point of view I don't think it is fair to encourage them to start reading and become involved with a story, and then force them to wait until the author has found the time to complete the next chapter. It's very irritating and frequently you lose the flow of the story, or simply forget what has happened before.
So, why am I waffling on about all this? Because, unfortunately, my computer has to go back into the shop to (hopefully) be repaired tomorrow morning, and I won't get it back until Tuesday at the earliest. This means that I won't be able to update chapter 22 at least until that evening.
I am very sorry, and I only hope that you have fingernails left and haven't fallen off your chairs by the time the next chapter is uploaded. And I hope I can get by without my daily fix of reviews.
So once again thanks, and sorry.
Purupuss