Chapter 5: Operation
Scott and Alan arrived shortly before the ambulance. Virgil explained what had happened and then concentrated on Gordon, leaving Scott to get in touch with the rest of the family. When the paramedics arrived, Virgil chivvied them into hurrying up and gave them a run-down on Gordon's current and previous injuries, making sure they knew to lift him carefully onto the stretcher so as not to jar his back. He made a thorough nuisance of himself and insisted on going in the ambulance to the hospital. Scott organised a police car for himself and Alan to follow the ambulance.
At the hospital, Gordon was taken into an ER room and the brothers were made to wait outside. Virgil paced, Scott spoke with a senior member of staff to sort out proper security arrangements to protect their anonymity whilst they were there, which left Alan to fill in several long, dull forms on Gordon's behalf.
After what seemed like a long time a doctor, who looked to be in his late-teens but presumably had at least made it through medical school, came out to address them.
"Your colleague is still unconscious but breathing on his own. We are a bit worried about his head wound. We are going to take him for a scan and then up to surgery."
"An operation? Why?" demanded Virgil, before Scott had a chance to speak.
"Well, we think the scan will show us a fracture to both his left arm and skull. We want to do some re-setting of the arm and a little work on the head wound."
"Is an operation really necessary?" asked Alan.
"We have a top class team of surgeons here and we wish to do the very best for your colleague. If International Rescue is going to keep on saving lives we need to make sure our patient is not only well but recovers complete use of all his faculties."
"So, he'll be back to full health after the operation?" asked Scott.
"Well…" started the doctor. Another doctor joined them. This one looked a little more senior with a few flecks of grey in the hair above his ears.
"We can't be sure," he stated cautiously. "The patient has suffered severe head trauma. The effects of concussion can be quite serious. I would say we will re-evaluate after the operation and see where we are."
"Which means?" asked Virgil.
"Which means….we will have to be patient. He is young and strong and there is the finest medical care here. He has the best chance possible." Platitudes. Meaningless words. Virgil turned away, not wishing to hear more. Scott frowned at his brother's departing back.
"Thank you, doctor," he said, courteously.
"The nurse will show you to a waiting area upstairs. Be assured, we have no intention of being the hospital that let a member of International Rescue die."
With that, the two doctors left. Scott and Alan looked at each other.
"He'll be okay, right?" asked Alan.
"He's a stubborn son-of-a-gun, you know that," replied Scott. "He's faced this sort of thing before. I think Gordon's got nine lives. Reckon he must be down to 7 by now but he's got a way to go yet before we've seen the last of him."
"Yeh, yeh," agreed Alan readily, happy to be soothed by Scott's optimism. Scott looked after Virgil who was wandering down the corridor. Virgil would not be so easily placated.
"Stay here, Al. I'll be right back." Scott jogged after Virgil. When he reached him, he put his hand on Virgil's shoulder to pull him back around.
"Virg, we have to go to some waiting area."
Virgil swung around to face him and Scott was shocked by the expression of terror he saw there.
"Virgil? Are you okay? They're doing everything they can for him. Gordon'll be okay."
"But what if he's not? You heard what that doctor said. Wait and see."
"He's strong, he's…"
Virgil interrupted. "I didn't mean it, all that stuff I said after the feathers thing. I said I was going to kill him, that I wanted him dead. I didn't mean it, none of it!"
Scott's mouth dropped open. He had all but forgotten Virgil's dire threats in the pod a few days earlier.
"Of course you didn't, don't be silly. You were just mad. We all say stuff like that when we're angry."
"But I said such nasty things and then, the last few days, I've just been ignoring him. I've been stupid, so stupid. What if he dies, Scott? What if he dies thinking I hate him?"
"He doesn't think that and he won't die," replied Scott fiercely. "He knew you guys were just having a quarrel and he knew you'd get over it. Anyway, he never heard those threats you made."
"But what if he does die? I'll never forgive myself."
"You're jumping ahead of yourself, way ahead. Gordo's alive. We have to concentrate on that."
"Scott…." The despair in Virgil's voice tore at Scott's heart. He sounded like a little kid again. Scott, well used to being cool and in control, suddenly had the urge to throw his arms around his brother and tell him it would all be okay. At the same time he was very aware of their International Rescue uniforms and the public place they were in. He knew that people couldn't help staring at them in the same way they stared at movie stars.
"Now listen up, Virgil. Gordon will be fine, okay? If he isn't, we'll deal with it when it happens." There was a catch in Scott's voice as he spoke but he continued, trying to sound like a Field Commander. "We need to get out of the ER and get to this waiting room so that the doctors know where to find us. We need to be aware of everything that's happening to Gordon so we can fully brief Dad when he and the others arrive. And, finally, we have to keep it together so that we uphold the honour of International Rescue and don't scare the crap out of the baby who, as you well know, idolises Gordon for reasons known only to himself. Okay? Okay, Virgil?"
Virgil finally looked Scott in the eye. After a moment he glanced past Scott to the worried-looking Alan and then looked back into the determined face of his elder brother.
"Okay," he agreed quietly, although, at that moment, Virgil very much doubted whether anything would ever be okay again.
