Authors Note: Thank you to those people who have reviewed the last chapter. I think you all know how much I value them by now. Every comment I receive is greatly appreciated.
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Chapter Nine – Evasion
Jeff pulled the car into a waiting queue at the hotels doors. True to Gordon's prediction, the rain was pounding against the windscreen and the blades swiped intermittently at the running water. Glancing across at the fair-haired young man sat beside him, who had spent the duration of the journey staring out of the window. Jeff sighed. "You alright Son?"
Alan nodded. "Yeah." Came the soft reply. Jeff frowned further as the cars moved ever so slowly closer to the door. The long stream of brake lights blurred by the rain and accentuated by the dark of the night.
"You've hardly said a word." Jeff commented, the barely audible purr from the car engines not hindering the one sided conversation in the least.
Alan shrugged. The medication he had taken was starting to wear off and he found the movement pulled against the injured muscles in his shoulders. "Just thinking." He said quietly.
"What about?" Jeff asked, obediently moving along as the traffic crawled. Another shrug was his only reply. "Son?" Jeff prompted. "What are you thinking about?"
Alan turned to face him, watching him as if he was weighing up what his answer would. His eyes moved slightly from side to side and suddenly he seemed to come to a decision. "I'm thinking maybe you should get a chauffer." He said eventually.
Jeff knew it was a cover but continued anyway. "Are you saying you don't appreciate my driving skills son?" He smiled, amused by the thought.
"I just think with all your money, you could afford one. It's not like you're doing anything else with it." Alan commented.
Jeff turned to him, a knowing smirk pulling at his lips. "Believe me Alan; I have plans for that money. You're not seriously trying to tell me that, if you were in my position, you could sit in the backseat of a car whilst someone else drove you?" The smirk grew. "I know it's been difficult enough for you to sit in the passenger seat today."
Alan frowned. "Well, no but that's different." He protested.
"Why? I enjoy driving myself, it keeps me sharp and I like the open road, the power." Jeff smiled again. However, he had a feeling that his constant cheeriness for Alan's sake was of no real benefit to either of them.
"If you had a driver, you could work during the journey. It's not just about being practical either, there's a certain prestige attached to it too." Alan furthered his argument. Pleased that not only was it a welcome distraction but his father seemed to be playing along.
Jeff frowned intrigued. "Since when has this family ever been impressed by prestige? Next, you'll be suggesting I get a pilot to fly me." He laughed at the preposterousness of the suggestion. "Why do I need to employ a dog, when I can not only bark myself but actually quite enjoy doing it?" Alan shrugged again, not really interested in the conversation anyway. "Besides, I've got a full entourage with you five. If need be, Scott can fly me, you can drive me, John can read my star signs, Virgil can play anything I request for relaxation purposes and Gordon can..." He trailed off as he laughed uncomfortably at the absurdity of the comment. He was under the impression that it would humour Alan but a glance his way told him he was far from amused. In fact, he'd gone back to staring desolately out the window at the rain again.
"What is it son?" Jeff asked softly.
Alan's only response was a brief wave of his hand. "I think that guys trying to get your attention."
Jeff turned to the object of his indistinct wave. A dark haired man, carrying an extremely large umbrella was walking towards the car. His dark navy suit appeared wet at the bottom, where the canopy neither of the hotel or the large umbrella could protect him from the rain.
Jeff allowed the electric window to roll down fractionally.
"Ah, Good Evening Mr Tracy." The rich English tones purred as the umbrella wielding man glanced across to Alan.
"Good Evening." Jeff replied. "I'll take the car into the parking lot myself, thank you."
The young man looked nervously at Jeff before glancing back to the dwindling number of reporters around the front door.
"Very well Mr Tracy. May I suggest the West Parking Bays?" He gestured to the car in front. The occupants abandoning it in favour for the sheltered cover of another large umbrella. "If you would follow my colleague there. At the point, he turns to the left, if you would turn to the right. Follow that road down to the bottom and you'll find yourself in the West Parking Bays. You should be able to make you're exit via a staircase to the left of the bays which will bring you up to reception." The young man smiled, stepping back and Jeff nodded his thanks as he pulled away.
As they emerged through the reception doors, Jeff found his gaze wandering towards his son again and not for the first time since leaving the car either. As they stepped into one of the carriages waiting to take them up to their rooms, Jeff broke the silence. "I couldn't get hold of Scott this afternoon. I think I'll pop up and check everything's okay. Are you going to come too?"
Alan seemed unsure. "Yeah." He said eventually. "Sure."
"Good." Jeff smiled. "I'm sure your brothers will be pleased to see you."
Jeff couldn't help but think Alan seemed apprehensive. As he knocked on the hotel door his eldest sons shared with Sam, he watched Alan's behaviour with interest. Silently racking his brains anxiously to think of an explanation. Alan had already spoken to Virgil, so he couldn't be nervous of seeing him and Scott had practically put him to bed last night. He shook his head at a loss, when the door opened to reveal Scott.
"Hey." He smiled, opening the door wider for them. "Come in. Be quiet though, Virg is asleep."
"Still?" Jeff asked anxiously as he followed Scott back to his position, perching on the bed alongside his sleeping brother. Jeff plopped down softly alongside him with a sigh and glanced across to where Alan lingered at the foot of the bed they sat on.
"I know." Scott was saying. "He's been asleep more or less all day. He's exhausted."
Jeff nodded but frowned not wanting to move his gaze from where Virgil slept obliviously. "He was in a lot of pain last night, how is he now?"
Scott shrugged. "He managed to eat something a couple of hours ago so he took some pain killers. I think they did some good, but I'm worried about how much he's sleeping and the bruises have got worse…" Scott was cut off mid flow.
"I'm going to go down and see Gordon." Alan said as he turned and walked away, unable to watch his second eldest brother's pale form sleep, any longer.
"What was all that about?" Scott frowned at the sudden exit.
Jeff just shrugged. "I don't know Son. That interview today's certainly shaken him up; I know Sam wasn't happy either, but Alan wouldn't talk to me about it at all. I tried but we ended up having an interesting conversation about the pros and cons of getting a chauffer instead." He frowned, not really sure how they'd come to be having that conversation.
"You?" Scott smirked. "That'll be the day." He paused. "Maybe I should have a word with him." Scott went to stand up but stopped when his father's hand met his shoulder.
"Leave him awhile; just give him some time to himself." Jeff paused, turning his attention back to where Virgil still slept. "You were saying about Virgil?"
"I'm worried about him. He was sick this morning and then he wouldn't eat anything. All the time he couldn't eat, he couldn't take the medication. Eventually he managed to eat a bread roll and all of two mouthfuls of soup." Scott sighed not surprised to see his father frowning with unyielding concern. "Dr Williams said he might lose his appetite a bit." Scott assured his father. "I just didn't expect this." He paused, regretful to be the one to cause such concern on his father's part. "At least now we've got some of the pills down him it seems to be helping with the pain."
Jeff sighed. "Why is he so tired though?" He thought aloud.
Scott coughed uncomfortably. "I think he exhausted himself this morning, that's all Dad." He tried to sound casual. "He's pushing himself too hard. Trying to do everything for himself when there's no need."
"Did that doctor at the hospital say anything about him feeling sick?" Jeff's frown met Scott's and Scott realised that his father wasn't really taking in what he was saying. Instead, his mind worried about Virgil's condition.
The younger man shook his head. "Not to me, but I'm not sure what he said to Virgil when I wasn't there. The bruising has really come out on his chest, so I suggested putting some ice on it. Virgil said that after I'd mentioned it, he remembered Dr Williams saying something about it. He says everything goes a bit blurry after they gave that sedative, but it got me thinking. What else did that doctor tell him when I wasn't there?" Scott ran a hand over his face, rubbing his chin and sighing.
Jeff sighed too. "Perhaps it might be worthwhile getting a doctor to look over him again." His tone of voice indicated that there was no 'perhaps' about it.
"I suggested that." Scott replied. "He insists he doesn't need one."
"We'll see about that." Jeff said ominously. There was a short pause, just long enough to feel the looming menace of the comment. "What about you?"
Scott shook his head. "I haven't had any supper; I was waiting to see what the others were doing. I knew you and Al would be back soon."
"I wasn't enquiring about your stomach Scott." Jeff grinned. "Are you alright?"
"Me?" Scott was surprised by the question. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Hungry but fine."
Jeff raised an eyebrow. "It's just yesterday and then this morning you seemed a bit…" No adequate word would come to Jeff, to describe his son's behaviour. "Tense." He sighed, shaking his head. "No more like… upset. I'd like to think if there was something troubling you son, you'd tell me."
Scott just shrugged. "I was just worried that's all. About both of them."
Jeff nodded but sighed again. "Scott, is there something you're not telling me?" He asked suddenly.
He knew and could see perfectly well that Scott wasn't telling him everything. Moreover, had long since concluded that there was more to Virgil 'exhausting' himself than Scott was prepared to admit. However, he knew Scott would be trying to protect him from the added worry.
Scott couldn't stop the almost immediate dilation of his pupils. He aimed to cover it up as soon as was physically possible and within blinking speed, his face was back to being unreadable and impassive.
"No, nothing. I was just worried that's all." He swallowed; he wasn't about to tell his father that Virgil gallivanting off around the city had stressed him out. Nor that his brother wasn't prepared to open up to him, so he opted for the 'truth but not the whole truth' approach.
Jeff watched him. Assuming there was more to come, he decided to delve a little deeper. "Son?"
Scott shrugged. "It's just…" He repeated the action. "I don't know. I'm used to seeing the others hurt or sick but Virgil's different. He wasn't complaining that he had flu when we were kids. He was running around with tissues and blankets, looking after the others, just like me." Scott frowned. "I can't remember ever seeing him like this before. Well, not in a long time anyway …" Scott bowed his head, unable and unwilling to explain any further.
"And that makes you feel vulnerable?" Scott looked up to his father, truly surprised by his perceptiveness. "Scott that's perfectly understandable." Jeff placed an arm around his shoulder. "You've been through a lot together but what's important is that you're there for him now, when he needs you." Unseen by his father Scott frowned further, wondering if Virgil would ever let him do that in his current state of mind. "Listen, why don't you take a break? You've been here all day with Virgil. Go down and see the others. I'm sure Gordon and John wouldn't mind the company. I'll stay with Virgil for a while." Jeff encouraged, attempting to erase the look of uncertainty on Scott's dark features.
"It's okay Dad." Scott shook his head. "I don't mind, I'd rather stay here anyway."
"Actually Scott." Jeff sighed. "I wouldn't mind a bit of time alone with him myself; I think we need to have a little chat. And between me and you, I think someone needs to keep a close eye on Alan." He admitted, looking at his eldest son and hoping for him to understand.
Reluctantly Scott nodded. "Right." He stood up slowly, glancing at Virgil every other second that passed. "I'll …" He gestured towards the door but made his reluctance obvious. "There's a towel holding a couple of ice packs on his chest. I was hoping it'd take some of the swelling down and it seemed to help."
Jeff nodded. "Don't worry, we'll be fine." He encouraged.
Scott nodded as, unwillingly, his feet began taking him out of the room. "I won't be long." He called as he found himself on the other side of the hotel door.
He sighed, at a loss of what else to do, he headed down to his brother's room on the floor below. He was somewhat surprised when the carriage, operated by a small dumpy man, deposited him on the correct floor. Only for him to spot Alan sat in the reception area.
He glanced around; the reception area on this floor was not dissimilar to the one on his own floor, or no doubt, every floor. Scattered armchairs and coffee tables filled the floor space. Whilst waitresses providing beverages weaved between them. Scott headed over to the chair his brother occupied, wondering why places like these insisted on leaving random magazines around that nobody read. Advancing towards where Alan sat in the corner he frowned. There was no cup on the table to indicate Alan had wanted a drink. Instead, his younger brother stared miserably into the glass tank in the wall, mesmerised by the tropical fish.
"Hey Kid." Scott sat down. "What are you doing out here?" Alan just shrugged.
It was when the uniform reply of 'don't call me kid' failed to emerge that Scott knew there was something really wrong. "Al?" Scott prompted.
"I err… I didn't want to go in there just yet." He gestured to the hallway across from where they sat. Down which was the room he was supposedly occupying. "That's all."
"Why?" Scott frowned as Alan shrugged, not hiding the wince this time.
"I don't know! I just don't feel like it." Alan snapped sulkily.
Scott nodded, seeing Alan obviously didn't want to talk about it. "Well, I'll keep you company until you do feel like it." He suggested as he relaxed into the soft chair. "You want a coffee?" He asked conversationally.
Alan shook his head. "No." He said eventually heaving a heavy sigh. "Actually Scott, I'd rather just be on my own for a bit. I just need some time. Y'know? Think about stuff, get my head straight." He went to stand up turning to his oldest brother just in time to see Scott shake his head emphatically. The older man took a firm grip of his arm, preventing him from leaving.
"Uh uh." Scott looked up to him. "That's exactly what Virgil said this morning. Then he disappeared for three hours, I'm not about to let you do the same."
Alan frowned, petulantly sitting back in the armchair and sighing. "Disappeared?" He asked, noticing Scott's tone. "What do you mean disappeared?"
Scott sighed. He hadn't intended to tell Alan about Virgil's morning jaunt but it had just slipped out. Now, the worry in the youngest mans eyes told Scott he had no choice but to tell the truth. "He went for a walk, but I think he struggled a bit. When he got back to the hotel, nearly three hours later, he could barely stand up. Not to mention the fact that he'd worried everybody sick." He paused. "Listen, don't mention it to Dad, he's got enough on his plate. We agreed to keep it to ourselves. All Dad knows is that Virgil's been pushing himself too hard and that he's exhausted." He caught Alan's eye. "You don't know anything else, okay?"
Alan nodded dutifully. "Okay, but he's alright isn't he? I mean …he looked terrible and Dad said his ribs were sore."
"Is that why you made such a speedy exit?" Scott smiled softly, hoping his youngest brother wouldn't shut him out as he had their father.
"Was it that obvious?" Alan winced but Scott just smiled, shaking his head a little.
"Virgil's fine. It's nothing a good night's sleep won't cure." Scott wished he could believe that as he adamantly as he'd informed his brother. Alan seemed to digest that information and nod accordingly. "If he hadn't gone for that walk then I seriously doubt he'd be feeling as bad as he does now. He's brought it all on himself."
Alan looked up, surprised at Scott's insinuation of blame. "Scott!" He exclaimed, an appalled frown creasing his eyebrows together.
"It's true." Scott said calmly. "He'll probably agree." He studied Alan as he returned his vision to the fish tank. Indicating that the conversation was finished.
"How did the interview go?" Scott tried a more direct track but Alan didn't reply. In fact, he made no movement to even acknowledge the question. Scott was more than aware that it wasn't because he hadn't heard correctly. "Do you want to talk about it?" He pushed.
"No." The reply came so quickly that Scott almost missed it.
"Well, did the investigators tell you anything? Did they say if there was anything wrong with the car?" Scott asked. "Do they know…"
"Are you deaf? I said I didn't want to talk about it!" Alan snapped.
"Okay, okay." Scott sat back as a waiter approached them, inquiring if they would like anything to drink. They both declined and soon they were back on their own again. A heavy silence sat over them. Scott knew the uncomfortable quiet and the lack of conversation were designed to force him to leave. However, he was determined to stay, regardless of the discomfort.
"Is it still raining?" Alan asked eventually.
Scott looked up at the question, not surprised at the sudden change in conversation but more the blatancy of it. "Err, I don't know." He shrugged. "I didn't even know it was raining." He paused. "How's the shoulder? John said the painkillers weren't working as well as they could be. I think Virgil's having the same problem."
Alan sighed; he'd been faced with this concern from all his brothers. "It's a bit sore." He rotated the injured limb cautiously, wincing and in the end giving up. "The painkillers are pretty effective but you can only take so many of them. That's when it starts hurting."
Scott nodded. "John's right. If you need something stronger, you just have to say."
Alan seemed to ignore the comment completely. "Jim Matterson said there's a good pizza place round the corner. Maybe we should order some supper, I'm starving." Alan sat forward, deep in thought. Scott frowned at his brother's change in mood. One second ago, he was snappy and tense yet now he seemed completely relaxed. "I could just eat a nice pizza, I think I missed lunch." He frowned as if trying to remember.
"Al," Scott began softly. "Look, I know you're worried. But you don't have to worry about Virgil okay? He'll be fine, just concentrate on getting better yourself." Scott wasn't about to let the subject drop without reassuring the obvious concern Alan felt.
"You're worried about him." Alan said accusingly, reproachfully.
Scott was surprised his younger brother had been paying attention at all; he'd seemed so distant. The critical tone he used clearly angered the older man. Scott met his gaze. Searching his eyes, he could see the seeds of the familiar fire of Alan's temper beginning to grow.
"I'm worried about both of you." Scott told him calmly.
"Huh!" Alan scoffed. "Yeah, isn't everyone!" He swallowed. "I can see it in your eyes just like I can Dad's. And John's and Gordon's, even Sam's." Scott frowned as to just what it was Alan was seeing. "That sympathetic concern." He said it with such an abundance of disgust; Scott was amazed to see him screw his nose up as he uttered the words.
"Because we care Al." Scott pressed with a frown. "It's only because we care about you. We want to help you."
"I don't need any help!" Scott couldn't help but smirk internally at the words. It was exactly what he expected Alan to say.
"Then we're here for when you do." Scott told him firmly. "Look, I know you're dealing with this in your own way and you're doing really well. We're all proud of you for handling this so maturely. But not talking to Dad or me, snapping at people and sulking." Scott shook his head. "There's nothing mature about that."
"Yeah, well from what I've heard you're not in a very good position to lecture me about snapping at people, Scott." Alan bit back, his temper rising.
Scott had been remarkably impressed with his own patience throughout this conversation so far but that last remark was a bridge too far. He'd kept his cool when Alan had snapped at him, spoken to him in a manner he knew Scott wouldn't appreciate. However, that retort was just what Scott needed to crack under the stress himself.
"You listen to me Kid and you listen good." He snapped back in return. His eyes glaring and his voice low so as not to cause a scene. "I know it's been tough for you these last few days, but it's been tough for all of us. If there's something on your mind, you've had plenty of offers from people willing to listen. But don't you ever, ever, speak to me like that again." Scott's eyes glowed with the amassed irritation. "You do as I say, not as I do. Got it?"
Alan nodded, lowering his head. Scott suddenly felt an abundance of sympathy for him, instantly softening. "Al, rejecting the people who are trying to help you isn't going to get you anywhere." He said softly. "You can always talk to me, you know that."
Alan nodded an almost indiscernible nod. Meeting Scott's gaze as a silent apology and acceptance were passed between them. To Scott, Alan's sudden but silent submission, and the way he avoided looking directly at him now, were sure signs he was making a break through. He fully expected his younger brother to open up to him, at any minute.
Suddenly though Alan stood up, his eyes becoming glassy. "I'm really ready for that pizza now." He licked his lips dreamily. "Chicken and peppers, sweet corn and mushrooms. And you can't have a pizza without pineapple, and extra tomato and cheese." He paused, smiling shakily as he fought to keep back how he was feeling behind this mask of indifference. He took in Scott's surprised expression. "I guess it's time to face the music, as Virgil'd say."
Standing alongside him, Scott grabbed his arm as he went to walk away. "Have you listened to anything I've just said?" He frowned hard; this wasn't the reaction he'd expected, not even close. The more seconds that passed, the more Scott realised that Alan had no intention of opening up to him at all, he never had.
Alan swallowed, placing a hand on Scott's shoulder and squeezing it hard. "A lot more than you think." He told his older brother's heavy frown with a shaky smile. He walked off down the corridor, knowing Scott would follow.
XxxxX
Jeff had long since vacated his spot on Scott's bed and opted for perching closer to his sleeping son. After Virgil had become restless, he had taken to softly running a hand through his son's hair in the same way he had done countless times before. His thumb softly caressed the sleeping mans forehead. Jeff smiled contently as Virgil murmured again in his sleep. Repeatedly shifting and fidgeting, before screwing his face up against the discomfort any movement produced.
Slowly but eventually, his eyelashes fluttered. Jeff watched closely as two eye lids slipped open sleepily to reveal the intense russet eyes of his late wife. Jeff smiled gently at the slow reactions and his sluggish movements as Virgil blinked several times in an effort to focus.
Virgil turned to the hand that softly caressed the top of his hand; it stopped doing so as his eyes met his fathers. Virgil's immediate reaction was to glance down the bed to look for Scott, he frowned when he realised there was no sign of his brother. "He's gone down to see Alan." Jeff paused, a warm smile parting his lips. "Hi Son."
"Dad!" Virgil smiled in reply. He attempted to push himself up but Jeff placed a gentle hand on one of his injured shoulders.
"It's alright son." He smiled widely. "Don't you get up on my account. Just relax." He instructed.
Virgil settled back into the mattress and the soft pillows with a gentle groan. His eyes slipped closed but he blinked them back open again. "How's Alan?"
Jeff sighed. "He'll be alright. These interviews are tough going though." He warned. "Sam wasn't entirely pleased with the outcome of his either."
Virgil nodded, his eyes slipping closed once more. "I'll go tomorrow. I'm sorry about today."
"Scott said you over did it this morning?" Virgil made a new effort to keep his eyes open, wondering just what Scott had told their father. "He told me what happened." Virgil gulped, anticipating a sermon. "Virgil, you've got to take it easy. I'll spare you the lecture, you don't look like you'll be able to keep your eyes open long enough." Virgil smiled, relieved but Jeff looked down at him sternly. "No more trying to do everything yourself, okay? If you're struggling, Scott would only be too pleased to help. Those ribs are going to heal properly if you don't rest."
Virgil nodded. "I won't be doing it again. I'm sorry Dad, and I'm sorry about the interview."
Jeff shook his head quickly and firmly. "That's good Son, but you have no reason to be sorry. You don't have to speak to those investigators until you're feeling up to it. I just want you to rest, take it easy." Jeff paused, feeling he'd made his point. "How are you feeling now?"
Virgil blinked. "Okay, I think. I feel really drowsy but that's probably those pills."
Jeff nodded. "How about the pain? Scott said more bruises have come out and that your chest was sore." He frowned in concern, looking sympathetically at his second eldest son.
"It's okay." Virgil told him. "Dr Williams said yesterday that more bruising would come out, it's not that bad."
Jeff nodded, still concerned. "Can I see?" He was fast coming to the conclusion that Dr Williams wasn't as efficient as he'd been led to believe.
Virgil frowned now too. He knew there was no way he could say no seriously. Not without causing a big scene and convincing his father it was a lot worse then it actually was. He closed his eyes and cringed uncomfortably as he felt the bed sheets being pulled away. Then the refreshing cool of the ice being removed.
"I'll get you some fresh ice." He heard the concerned frown through his father's voice and held back the wince. Only opening his eyes again when he heard soft footsteps get nearer, Jeff smiled softly up to him. "Okay." He perched on the bed and used the towel to gently wipe away any condensation on Virgil's chest. He watched intently as Virgil grimaced continually throughout the process. "Here you go." He placed the ice on either side of his son's chest with careful consideration. "Is that better?"
Virgil nodded, shivering against the cold. He forced himself to breathe slowly and not take in the deep breaths that had caused him so much pain before.
"Son, I really think we should get another Doctor to look at you." Jeff suggested, sitting back and waiting for the rebuke he knew was coming. "Those bruises look awful."
"Dad, it's okay. Really." Virgil tried to persuade him. "It feels much better now I've taken those pills."
"I know son, but Scott said you were sick this morning. If you can't keep any food down, then you can't take the pills. Maybe a doctor can change your medication so as you don't have to eat when you take it." Jeff suggested. "Do you remember Charlie Gore? He's a doctor, and he lives not more than twenty miles away. I'm sure he wouldn't mind coming out here to take a look if I gave him a call."
"Dad, I'll be fine now." Virgil shook his head. "Look, if I'm still no better in the morning, we'll call him. Okay?" Virgil bartered, knowing his father wouldn't be satisfied with a straightforward no.
Jeff nodded with a sigh. "I don't like to see any of you in pain when you don't have to be." He said softly, Virgil watched him as he silently considered where to go on from those words.
More than a few minutes passed before he seemed to steel himself and continue. Virgil had taken the time to indulge in the quiet and had closed his eyes again. Teetering on the edge of sleep. "Maybe, if I'd gone with you instead of Scott…" Jeff trailed off with a sigh. "I should have gone with you." He admitted under his breath. He had wrongly assumed that Virgil's closed eyes meant he was asleep again.
Virgil frowned hard, puzzled as to what his father meant. "I… I don't understand."
The words startled Jeff slightly. "Well you see… Well, after the accident, I thought it best if Scott went with you to the hospital and I stayed with Alan. I wanted to go with both of you but I couldn't be at the hospital with you and with Alan. You seemed okay in yourself and Alan was distraught, I wanted to be the one to tell him about Mark. I didn't know how he was going to react." Jeff sighed, running a hand through his own hair and sighing again. "Maybe it would have been better if I'd left Scott to take care of Alan."
"Dad, don't do this." Virgil shook his head. "You couldn't have been with both of us and you're right, Alan needed you more than I did. At least, it sounds that way from what Scott said. Besides, it's not like I was on my own; I had Scott with me."
Jeff's head suddenly dropped as his gaze took to the floor. "Yeah, I know." He scoffed quietly. "You and Scott, huh?" He smiled bitterly. Virgil wondered if this was what Scott meant when he said his father often felt guilty about the fact that they were so close. It was one side to his father of many that Virgil was yet to see for himself.
"The thing is Virgil; he's not your father. I am." Jeff continued.
"And you're Alan's father too." Virgil pointed out, with renewed resolve. His fatigue forgotten. "And deep down, you know you did the right thing." Virgil paused, smiling. "If you'd gone with me yesterday. Don't you think you'd just be having this conversation with Al instead?"
Jeff seemed to think about that for several minutes before agreeing with a gentle nod. "Probably." Virgil wasn't sure if his words had sunk in and Jeff really agreed, or if he just wanted to change the subject. It wasn't like his father to speak so candidly about how he felt, never mind his mistakes. After a few moments of silence, he spoke again. "You're right. I just feel as if I should've found a way to be with both of you."
"You did your best Dad, you did what you thought was right at the time. We all did." Virgil sighed. "We're all here now and we're all okay-ish." He added with a smile. "We can deal with the rest." He said confidently.
"I certainly hope so." Jeff sighed. "When did you become so wise?" He asked with a small smile.
"I learnt from the best." Virgil replied with his own smile. "Like father, like son. Right?"
His smile faltered and Jeff knew it was one of the subtle comments Virgil often made around him, that expressed his son's deep desire to be everything his father was. Jeff smiled in return but as usual couldn't bring himself to say the words that he wanted to hear. Virgil often compared himself to Jeff, in the hope that his father would realise that as much as he was like his mother, he was a Tracy at heart. In addition, that he possessed elements of his father's character too. It was a desire that often had a great effect on important decisions in his life; including the choice they would all be given – their chosen careers or fulfilling their fathers dream.
Jeff cleared his throat, feeling the intensity becoming too much. "And how's Scott dealing with all this?"
He was taken aback when Virgil frowned. "Scott? What do you mean?"
Jeff shrugged, passively. He had hoped that Virgil would be able to tell him something about what was going on. He hadn't even entertained the concept that he wouldn't know.
"He seemed distant last night." Jeff frowned. "And he was very upset this morning."
Virgil shook his head, sticking out his bottom lip and appearing puzzled. "Upset? How do you mean upset?" He fished for more information.
Jeff shrugged again. "As if he had something else on his mind, something important to him. To begin with, last night, I thought he was just worried about you. That a good night's sleep was all he needed but then this morning …" Jeff shook his head, frustrated at the lack explanation. "He seemed even more anxious then he had last night." Jeff paused. "You didn't notice anything?" He took in the look of astonishment on Virgil's face. "Don't look so surprised Son, I'm a lot more adept at reading you two then you think. Scott's been very worried about you."
Virgil sighed softly. He was pretty sure the anxiousness in Scott was something he had caused by disappearing earlier in the morning. "I haven't really noticed anything." Virgil swallowed guiltily. He had never developed the same skills as Scott had when it came to being able to wrap his father around his little finger.
"Virgil?" Jeff asked suspiciously. "What is it?"
Virgil closed his eyes, sighing softly again. "It's my fault; I've been an idiot Dad." He confided, dropping his gaze. Ashamed to admit to his behaviour.
Jeff waited for him to expand on that. When no further comment came, he felt Virgil needed prompting. "Son?"
"Things aren't good… With Scott" Virgil admitted softly, sadly. "It hasn't been easy." He took in a shaky breath. "I haven't made things easy for him since yesterday."
"How do you mean?" Jeff frowned, stunned by the revelation. He wasn't expecting this at all.
Virgil sighed once more, if it wasn't for the pain it would have been a heavier one but he shook his head remorsefully. "I'll talk to him Dad." Virgil guaranteed. "I promise, I'll make it right."
Jeff sighed. "Yes Son, I know you will." He smiled sadly. "What did you do? Did you say something to upset him?" He enquired, unable not to ask. He had long ago accepted that his two eldest sons refrained from telling him everything and often confided in each other. It didn't mean he had to sit back and let it happen without interference.
Virgil looked away, studying the ceiling in great detail as he replied. "Actually it's more what I didn't say."
Jeff frowned, looking down at his son. "Meaning?" He asked.
"Meaning I'll talk to him Dad." Virgil yawned, eager to discontinue this conversation. "I'll make sure things are okay."
"Alright." Jeff nodded, accepting that it would probably be better left to Virgil anyway, with a not so gentle sigh. "You look tired." He paused to regretfully eye his son's pale complexion.
"I feel it." Virgil closed his eyes and let himself sink into the pillows. "Dr Williams said I'd feel the effects of the sedative."
"I know Son, but you shouldn't still be feeling it now. That was twenty four hours ago." Jeff sighed. "I really think we should get a doctor to look at you Virgil, it's not normal for you to be so tired."
Virgil allowed his eyes to remain closed as he responded. "It's my own fault Dad. Scott was right, I … I exhausted myself this morning. I wasn't really thinking straight and I pushed myself too far." He shook his head at his own stupidity. "I'll be fine in the morning."
"Just don't forget that promise. If you don't feel any better by morning, then I want Charlie Gore down here before lunch time." Jeff ordered.
Virgil nodded. "He will be and I promise you I'll make sure everything's okay with Scott too." He blinked sleepily, sighing and shifting slightly underneath the covers. He cleared his throat softly, holding back another yawn. He could feel himself starting to drift off, feel the pain killers still dulling the pain so as he could rest.
"Scott said he wouldn't be long." Jeff kept his voice low as he reached out to Virgil's arm. Strumming his thumb over the tanned skin softly to get his sons attention. "Do you want me to leave you to get some sleep?"
"No." Virgil muttered, sighing as deeply as he could.
"Virgil?" His caress moved back to Virgil's head a finger strumming over his forehead once more. He smiled down as Virgil's eyes opened again.
Virgil cleared his throat, smiling as he opened his eyes to look up to his father. "Stay?"
"Of course I'll stay." Jeff told him with a smile. "Now, you get back to sleep."
"Father?" He asked through closed eyes.
"Hmm?" Jeff enquired softly.
"Thanks." Virgil looked up to him.
Jeff smiled surprised. "What on earth for? You've nothing to thank me for son."
"For understanding about Scott, and everything... Just…Thanks." Virgil said sleepily as he closed his eyes again.
"Shh." Jeff soothed him, as he used to do when he was a small child. "Just go back to sleep."
Jeff watched his second eldest son sink back into the pillows. Sighing lightly but contently as his breathing slowly dropped into an even pattern, and Jeff became convinced he was asleep. He studied his son for quite some time, savouring the moments he could before Scott would return.
He couldn't remember the last time he sat down and felt the need to watch any of them sleep. He was reminded of when they were babies; when he regularly watched them sleep after putting them to bed, unable to draw his eyes away. However, he had long since thought of any of them as children. Sighing again, he continued to run a thumb softly over Virgil's forehead. Smiling tenderly to himself at just how peaceful he seemed. Jeff pulled a chair between the two beds and lowered himself into it, laying his head alongside his sons. He allowed Virgil's rhythmic breathing to resonate around him, content for now to just sit and watch. Thankful of the young mans presence at all.