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Chapter 14 – REACTION AND REFLECTION

When Brains entered the infirmary, he caught the tail end of an argument. He could see that the stress of the situation was wearing on the whole family. He just wished that he could stop it. "What's h-h-h-going on?" He asked.

Virgil and Scott looked over at him. They didn't even realize that he had entered the room. Virgil gave Scott an encouraging pat on the back, and then he turned to Brains. "Alan cut his hand." He said. "There are a couple of places that may need stitches. Plus John needs his IV restarted."

"John?" Brains was confused, as he made his way over to John's bedside. "How did his IV get p-p-p-disconnected?"

Scott looked at the floor. "He pulled it out himself when I let him up."

"You let him up?" His father's voice asked incredulously. Scott instantly looked up and saw his father standing just inside the door with Gordon at his side. Jeff crossed the room and stood between the two beds. "Can someone explain to me what is going on?" Addressing Scott and motioning to a still sobbing John, he continued. "Why would you let John up in the state that he's in?"

"I'm sorry Dad." Scott replied. "When Virgil brought Alan in, John said that he wanted to see him, to talk to him. He seemed so lucid. He was calm and rational when he talked to me. He promised that he would go back to bed after five minutes with Alan, Unfortunately when I let him up, he turned on me and tried to remove Alan from the infirmary. He thinks we're the enemy out to hurt him and Alan. He is feeling guilty about not 'rescuing' Alan."

Jeff nodded his head. "John would be upset if he thought he had failed one of his brothers. You all share that trait."

By this time Brains had re-started the IV on John and was now examining Alan's hand.

"How is he, Brains?" Jeff asked.

"It looks w-w-w-more harmful than it is." Brains began to explain. "I have not d-d-d-found any nerve or tendon damage. Virgil was r-r-correct. There are two areas that r-r-r-need stitches. I am c-c-c-worried about this state of shock that he ap-ap-has fallen into."

"Could it be from blood loss?" Jeff asked.

Brains shook his head. "He really didn't l-l-l-it wasn't that bad. In my op-op-op-thinking, it is being caused by the emotional tr-tr-stresses that he is exp-exp-dealing with."

"OK, how do we deal with it?" Jeff questioned.

"At this m-m-m-time, I think that r-r-r-sleep would be the best for him." Brains replied. "I would like to give him a sleeping p-p-p-agent. Nothing very str-str-heavy, just enough to let his body fall into the sleep that his br-br-br-mind is resisting."

"OK Brains, you have my permission to give him the sleeping pill." Jeff said.

"Before I do," Brains interrupted. "I must cau-cau-warn you. There is a sm-sm-sm-slim possibility that the s-s-s-medicine could cause Alan's mind to re-re-hide farther behind this emotional w-w-w-barricade that it has er-er-put up."

Jeff was even more concerned. "What are you saying?"

"There is the pos-pos-chance that he will st-st-st-remain in this unresponsive state even once the sedative has w-w-w-no longer affecting him." Brains answered him.

"How big of a chance?" Jeff wanted to know.

"Not a l-l-l-big percent." Brains replied. "But I did feel that you should be w-w-w-made aware of the possibility."

Jeff nodded his head. "OK Brains, I will defer to your judgment. If you think this is best than do it."

"Thank you Mr. Tr-Tr-Tracy." Brains said as he moved to the supply cabinet to get the things he needed and also spoke quietly in an effort to comfort Alan if he could.

Jeff noticed that by this time John had fallen into a restless sleep, so he turned to his other sons. "Virgil, you were interrupted when you called me about Alan. Could you now explain to me how he got hurt?"

Virgil nodded and began his explanation. "Scott called me and said that John was very upset. He was insisting that Alan was hurt. He asked me to find Alan and bring him to the infirmary so that John could see that he was all right and hopefully he would calm down. I searched for a while and finally found him in John's room." Pausing for a second, he ran a hand through his hair. "Dad, Alan trashed John's room. I mean it's a real mess. I started to lecture him, but then I noticed the blood. I grabbed a towel and wrapped his hand and brought him to the infirmary. He walked under his own power, but I had to guide him. He never responded to my questions and when he looked at me, his eyes held this vacant, hollow stare. It really concerned me. Even when John punched Scott and tried to get Alan to leave, Alan just sat there staring blankly at what was happening, but he never gave a response, not once."

Turning to Scott, Jeff asked. "John punched you? Where?"

"In the jaw. No big deal." Scott replied.

Jeff turned to Brains. Alan had already fallen asleep and Brains was working on putting the stitches in his hand. "When you're done Brains, I would like you to check out Scott's jaw, just as a precaution."

"It's nothing, Dad, really. I've had worse when we have rough-housed." Scott argued. "I'll have a couple of loose teeth for a few days and maybe a bruise. I don't need to be examined."

"I'm not taking any chances. You will be examined, Scott. That's the end of it." Jeff said in his "commander" tone.

"Yes sir." Scott said glumly. He returned to the chair at John's bedside. He knew by his father's tone that he was not going to win this particular argument, and resigned himself to the inevitable examination. He really couldn't be mad at his dad. He knew that this sense of "over-protectiveness" was a direct result of the "helplessness" that he was feeling in regards to John's situation.

Turning back to Virgil, Jeff asked. "You said that when you found Alan, his hand was already bleeding. Do you know what he cut it on?"

"I am pretty sure that this is it." Virgil said as he picked up the photo off the tray where Brains had set it earlier. "I found this next to Alan. The glass is broken and there is some blood on the picture."

Jeff shook himself mentally. He hadn't even noticed the picture lying on the tray. Jeff took the picture from Virgil and recognized it right away. "It's from one of their fishing trips." Jeff murmured.

Virgil nodded his head. "They sure did spend a lot of time fishing a while back, didn't they?"

Jeff gave a small laugh, still looking at the picture. "John hated the fishing part. Did you know that?" Virgil gave Jeff a small shake of his head. Jeff continued. "John knew though how much it meant to Alan. For two boys who seemed so much apart, John always seemed to have a special connection to Alan. He was always there to be Alan's guide, confidant and protector."

This time it was Virgil's turn to laugh lightly. "I know what you mean. Even when Alan was being a pain in the butt, John was always the first to defend him especially to us. He would point out the stupid things we did at Alan's age and insist that we 'give him a chance'."

Jeff nodded. "I wish that it worked both ways. Alan doesn't seem to have that kind of a sense of protectiveness toward John. He'd be amazed if he only knew how many times John has gone to bat for him to keep him out of trouble, or to get me to agree to let him do certain things that he wanted to do. Shoot, Alan wouldn't be training for International Rescue yet if John hadn't talked to me. I made the rest of you wait until you were sixteen, but John made some very convincing arguments that I couldn't refute. I guess he will find out though when that buffer is gone."

Virgil nodded but before he could speak, they heard Brains call Scott over to another chair so he could examine him.

"I'm going to sit with John for a while. Why don't you go get some rest?" Jeff told Virgil.

"But it's my turn to sit with him." Virgil argued. "I was supposed to relieve Scott a half hour ago."

"I know." Jeff countered. "But after what has happened with Alan, I think you need a break. So I'll sit with them."

Virgil turned toward the door, but stopped. Turning back he asked. "Can I bring you anything? Coffee? Tea? Water?"

"Have Onaha bring me some of that 'calming' tea that she blends herself." Jeff said. "Then you go rest."

"OK Dad, I'll see you later." Virgil said as he left the infirmary.

Moving toward his sons' beds, Jeff stopped to see how Scott was. "How is he, Brains?"

"There are no br-br-fractures." Brains began to explain. "There are two l-l-l-teeth that are not held tight. They should t-t-repair themselves over the next f-f-f-couple of days. He has a br-br-discoloration that is already ap-ap-ap-forming but that will also f-f-f-go away over the next few days."

"See I told you, Dad." Scott said.

Jeff just nodded. "I know you did, but I also know that you tend to downplay it when you're hurt. I just wanted to make sure that you are all right. Now I'm going to take this shift with the boys. I want you to go get some rest."

For once Scott didn't argue. "OK Dad, I'll see you in a while."

Jeff turned toward Gordon who had been standing next to Alan's bedside. "Why don't you take off too?"

Gordon hesitated a moment. "Are you sure Dad? I can sit with the guys if you want."

"Yes Gordon, I'm sure." Jeff said. "Why don't you grab something to eat? You can relieve me in a couple of hours."

"OK Dad, I'll see you later." Gordon said as he left the room.

"If there's n-n-n-everything is taken care of right now, I need to r-r-r-go back to the lab." Brains said.

"OK Brains. Thank you for what you did." Jeff said.

"You're welcome M-M-Mr. Tracy." Brains said. "C-C-Let me know if there is any change in their con-con-con-status." Brains left the infirmary leaving Jeff alone with his two sons who were both sleeping.

Jeff stood by Alan's bedside. He gently brushed a lock of hair out of his face. Jeff studied this son, his youngest, the baby. Alan had already suffered so much. His mother had died when he was so young. The other boys at least had their memories of her, but not Alan. He had to rely on pictures and the stories that his brothers told to learn about his mother. He also strived to prove himself to his older brothers. Being the youngest, he tended to get pushed to the side, especially when it came to the rescue business. Jeff could already tell that Alan had great instincts when it came to rescues, but he was still young. Those instincts needed to be honed and his impulsive tendency needed to be toned down. Now this happened. Alan admired and respected all his brothers and the prospect of losing one had obviously been too much for him. Jeff hoped and prayed that once he woke up that Alan would be in a better mental state.

Jeff moved to John's bedside. So similar to Alan in looks but so different in personality. John was Jeff's calming voice, his rock, his confidant. Jeff knew that his other sons turned to John with their problems just like he did. How could he have let this happen? Especially to John? He prayed for the miracle that they so desperately needed. He ran the cooling cloth over John's sweat-covered brow.

John let out a small whimper. He slowly opened his eyes. It took about a minute for John to focus on his father's face. "Daddy?" The small child in John was back.

Stroking John's hair, Jeff's eyes locked with John's. "Yes son, I'm here."

Tears began to escape John's eyes. "It hurts Daddy. Please make it stop. Please Daddy."

Jeff continued to stroke John's hair with one hand. With the other he gently held John's hand. He had to battle his own tears. "I know it hurts Johnny. I'm trying to make it better, but it will take some time."

"Where's Mommy?" John asked. "I want to see Mommy. She can make me feel better."

Despite his resolve, a few tears escaped Jeff's eyes and slowly rolled down his cheeks. "I'm sorry John, but Mommy can't be here right now. She would be if she could. She's worried about you. I know it. I promised her that I would make sure that everyone took really good care of you. Now how about you closing your eyes and trying to sleep. I'll stay right here and hold your hand. OK?"

"OK Daddy," John said as his eyes drifted closed. As he gave in to sleep, he said in a quiet whisper. "I love you Daddy."

Jeff cleared his throat three times before he could finally choke out. "I love you too, Johnny." Jeff finally gave in and let the tears fall.

Author's note: Oh my God, how much more can these poor Tracy's take. Will Alan be better once he wakes up? More tears for Jeff and John, what an emotional scene. Again we want to thank all the readers and especially the reviewers. Please keep up with the reviews. They are very important to us.