A BROTHER'S CRY

By: GrumpyMagrat & Magratconvert

Disclaimer: We don't own the Thunderbirds. Not now, not ever.

Chapter Eighteen – The Brothers Apologize

When Scott entered the sickroom, he went to Brains' office. "Hello Brains, how are things going?" Scott asked.

"F-F-Fine." Brains replied.

"How is Gordon? Would it be ok if I talk to him?" Scott continued.

"I g-guess you could try to t-talk to him." Brains said. "He hasn't b-been very r-receptive even when Alan t-t-tried to talk to him earlier."

"Well, I intend to apologize." Scott said. "So maybe things will be better once we are done talking."

Scott approached Gordon's bedside. He pulled up a chair and sat down. "Gordon, I need to talk to you. " Scott began but Gordon did not acknowledge Scott. He just stared at the ceiling. Scott took a deep breath and continued on. "I need to apologize to you. I've been acting like a real jerk. I was upset at the whole situation. No, that's not right. I was upset about my lack of control of the situation, and I took it out on you. I was wrong. I had no right to do that."

"Please Gordon, tell me that you forgive me. Please don't leave the island. You are my brother, and I love you. I would miss not seeing you and being able to talk to you everyday. It sure would be boring around here without your pranks."

"Gordon, about last night, I was way out of line. I reacted without gathering the facts first. I blamed you for something that didn't even happen. God, Gordon, you will never know how sorry I am." Scott's voice cracked with emotion. "Please, Gordon, please say something, anything. Call me names. Tell me what a rotten brother I am. Cuss me out. I deserve it. Please talk to me. I want to work this out between us. Just tell me what to do."

Gordon's stare finally left the ceiling. He locked eyes with Scott for just a moment. Then without a word, he rolled to his side with his back to Scott.

Scott sat stunned for a moment. Then he stood up as he started talking again. "Ok Gordon, I am going to leave now. Please think about what I said. I will be back to talk again. I promise." Placing his hand on Gordon's shoulder, he said. "I love you, Gordon, more than I can say."

Gordon's only response was to shrug Scott's hand off his shoulder.

Scott left the sickroom dejectedly.

Fifteen minutes later Jeff entered the sickroom with Gordon's lunch. "Hello son, I've brought your lunch. How are you feeling today?"

Gordon just shrugged his shoulders, as he raised the head of the bed so he could eat.

Jeff looked his son over. "I see that you still have your IV. Has Brains said when he is planning on removing it?"

Gordon shrugged his shoulders again. Jeff watched as his son silently began to eat his lunch. Gordon's refusal to speak was concerning Jeff. He knew that he needed to talk to Gordon about his letter, but he decided not to push the subject just yet. "I need to have a word with Brains. I'll let you finish up your lunch, but then I would like to talk to you."

Jeff found Brains in his office. "When was the last time that you got any rest? It seems like I'm always finding you here."

"I got some r-r-rest last n-night, Mr. Tracy." Brains answered him. "G-Gordon slept through the n-n-night because of the sedative. Plus Alan s-stayed here with him so I f-felt safe in leaving the s-sickroom."

"How is he doing, really?" Jeff asked. "Especially after last night."

"Actually, he is doing b-b-better than I expected." Brains said. "After the a-altercation last night, I t-t-thought that he would f-fight me on treatment, but he h-h-has followed my orders to the l-letter."

"I noticed that you put the IV back in. Do you have any idea how long he will still need it? Jeff asked.

"I was s-s-surprised that he let me p-put it back in, but I t-told him that if he ate all his m-m-meals today that I w-would remove the IV tomorrow. I also t-t-told him that if things went w-well tomorrow that I would r-release him from the sickroom the n-n-next day."

"Are you sure that he will be well enough to be released?" Jeff asked with concern in his voice.

"Well, I'm n-not releasing him for f-full duty, but I feel t-t-that he is well enough to l-l-leave the sickroom." Brains explained. "He has b-been eating and sleeping again. He has regained s-some of the weight that he had lost. I am c-concerned about his mental state but hopefully D-D-Dr. Shipman can help him with that. I w-will watch him and m-m-make sure that he continues to f-f-follow my instructions."

"Ok Brains," Jeff said. "I defer to your judgment."

Jeff returned to Gordon's bedside. He saw the Gordon had finished his lunch and was reading a magazine. "Well, it looks like Brains is going to let you out of here in a couple of days. I'm sure that you will be glad to get out of here."

Gordon just shrugged his shoulders and went back to reading.

"Uhm…Gordon," Jeff began, unsure on how to continue. "I would like to talk to you about the letter that you left for me."

Gordon looked at his Dad, eye to eye, but still did not speak.

Jeff asked. "Do you still want to leave?" When Gordon just nodded, he continued. "Is there anything that I can do or say to change your mind?'

Gordon sighed and spoke to his father for the first time since he had returned to the island. "Dad, can we talk about this later? I'm kinda tired and I really don't want to argue with you right now."

"Only if you make me one promise." Jeff said. "I want you to talk to me before you leave. I don't want you sneaking away like you tried to do last night. Do we have a deal?'

Gordon nodded his head.

"Ok, I'll be back later." Jeff told him, patting him on the shoulder. "Get some rest. I love you son."

After Jeff left the sickroom, Gordon reclined the bed some and stared at the ceiling again. Brains came out of the office and said to him. "W-Will you be ok here if I g-g-go to my lab for a s-short time." He saw Gordon nod his head. "R-R-Remember, if you want me to release you, you must f-follow my instructions to the letter." He told Gordon as he walked out the door.

Five minutes later, Virgil poked his head in the door. "Hey Gordon, is Brains in his office?' He asked.

Gordon shook his head no.

"Great," Virgil said as he entered the sickroom carrying a covered tray. "I brought you something but don't tell Brains. He wants you to only eat 'healthy foods' right now and this doesn't qualify." He set the tray down and with a flourish lifted the cover. "Tada, your favorite: 'Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk."

Gordon couldn't help the smile that came to his face. "Thanks," he said quietly as his brother handed him a spoon.

"Look Gordon," Virgil began. "I am really sorry for the way I treated you after we found Alan. There is no excuse for my actions. I talked to Dr. Shipman earlier. He has helped me put some of my feelings in prospective. I just wanted to let you know that I don't blame you for what happened. And more important, I don't want you to leave. I love you, Gordon." Virgil's voice choked with emotion while his eyes filled with unshed tears.

He cleared his throat and continued. "Uhm…I'm going to leave now. I will check back on you later. I hope that you will accept my apology." Virgil quickly left the sickroom before he lost what little control he had on his emotions.

TBC

Author's note - Will Gordon accept Scott's apology? Can Jeff talk Gordon out of leaving? Will Brains find out about the ice cream? These are a few questions that will be answered in the coming chapters. Stay tuned.

andrewjameswilliams - Thank you for your reviews. A resolution is coming, I promise.

merryw - Boy, poor Dr. Shipman is really going to have his hands full with this family.