It LIVES!

I'm slowly trying to revive this story so please bear with me if updates are slow!

Have some good ol' Tracy angst.

Beep… beep… beep…

"Wakey, wakey, son."

Scott muttered in his sleep as he found himself being shaken awake by the shoulders. He opened his eyes to see his father standing over him, holding a flimsy paper plate full of croissants. Scott blinked.

"Thought you might be hungry." Jeff started.

"What time is it?" Scott mumbled, voice heavy with sleep.

"Five thirty in the morning."

"I didn't think the cafeteria opened yet."

"It didn't."

Scott gave his father a small smile and shuffled into a sitting position in the armchair. His eyes fell on the unconscious figure in the bed next to him, causing his smile to fall as quickly as it came to life. Judging by his rigid arrangement, Gordon clearly hadn't moved all night, but to Scott's relief, his chest was still slowly moving up and down. He was breathing, and that was good enough for Scott at the moment. He took the plate from his father.

"Have you had anything to eat?" he asked, taking a croissant and biting a piece off it.

Jeff held up a plastic cup full of coffee. "This is my breakfast. I made you a cup too and the pot's still warm if you need a refill."

"I didn't know this room came with a pot."

"It didn't." Jeff smirked, causing his son to chuckle.

"Good man." Scott replied, finishing his first croissant. "How's Gordon?"

Jeff's face became dull. "The nurse came in about two hours ago to check his progress but there's been no change."

Scott let out a breathy sigh, already expecting that to have been the case. "Have you spoken to John and the others? Where are they?"

Jeff walked over to the window and used his index and middle fingers to stretch open two of the closed blind slats. "Come see."

Discarding his plate on the bedside table, Scott wobbled to his feet and stretched his arms out. He made his way over to the window and peered through the gap his father had created. Down below in the sparse parking lot were two cars practically sandwiched together. Scott recognized them as John's and his grandmother's. The dim light in John's car was on and through a squint and the creeping darkness feeding into his vision, Scott could see movement inside the car.

"Still camping out then?"

"They all feel better being closer to him."

Scott nodded. "Have you asked the staff about letting them in here with us?"

"Several times, but they keep saying it'll be too crowded and Gordon needs space."

Scott frowned, "I get that but it's so unfair. They should be allowed in here with us."

"I did ask about keeping them all in one of the spare bedrooms nearby, but they wanted the rooms empty in case any emergencies were brought in."

"I guess that's fair enough." Scott mourned.

"We'll just have to keep taking it in turns." Jeff replied, placing a weary hand on his eldest's shoulder. "I was going to let Alan take my place after breakfast. He was begging me to sit with Gordon yesterday."

"Do you want me to stay with him?"

Jeff pondered this for a few moments. "Yes, I would like you to stay with him. If you're okay with that."

Scott nodded.

Jeff smiled and gave Scott another pat on the shoulder. "I was thinking of taking your grandmother and the boys shopping. Keep their minds off… you know."

"They won't be happy with that."

"I know, but they need an outlet, or else they'll make themselves sick with worry."

"They'll probably just spend the time buying supplies to make camping in the car more bearable." Scott smiled wryly.

Jeff nodded in amusement. "Probably, but if it keeps their minds off their brother for a while then all the more for it."

Scott looked his father in the eyes and could see the older man was struggling and needed a rest. The dark bags under his eyes told him that Jeff hadn't slept a wink all night.

"Dad?"

"Yes?" Jeff turned his head towards Scott.

"Get John or Virgil to drive."

Jeff chuckled and ruffled Scott's brunette locks, knowing exactly what he was thinking. "Alright, I will."

When Alan walked into the room, Scott could immediately tell his little brother hadn't slept the night through, as he had heavy bags under his eyes and looked as pale as a ghost.

"Morning Scott. Dad's letting me stay in here a bit." Alan felt the need to inform him, sorrow evident in his voice. "Has there been any change in Gordon?"

"I'm afraid not, Alan."

"Oh." came the deflated response. The teenager shuffled over to the bed where his unconscious brother was laying still and just stared at him blankly, taking in the numerous tubes sticking in and out of Gordon's body. He leant over the bed and tilted his head over Gordon's chest, listening to the slow thudding of his heartbeat. Letting out a small sigh of relief, Alan moved back up and slid into the chair opposite Scott, eyes not leaving his brother's form.

"He will get better… won't he?" Alan asked his brother, desperation seeping into his voice.

"I don't know, Alan. Only time will tell."

"I hope so…" Alan mourned. "This sucks."

Scott walked over to the chair as Alan slipped further down into a slouch, arms hanging limply over the arms of the chair. "Have you had anything to eat?"

"Not hungry."

"Alan…"

"Scott, don't start. I've had enough from Grandma."

"You need to eat." Scott's tone became firm, sensing that Alan's attitude had probably caused a rift between him and the others.

"I feel too sick too."

Now his concern fell on Alan. "Why don't you try and eat something small and dry? Like a cookie or cracker or something?"

Alan knew he couldn't win against Scott. "Do they have any shortbread cookies here?"

"They probably sell them in the shop. Want me to go get you some?"

Alan nodded. "Yeah, sure. Please."

Scott made his way to the door and turned his head back towards Alan. "You sure you'll be alright here on your own?"

Alan nodded again. "I think so."

"I'll be five minutes." Scott said, opening the door and feeding his way into the corridor.

Once he had gone, Alan felt his facade crack as the weight of his unconscious brother's presence fell deep on his mind. He shifted around in his seat to look at Gordon and felt his throat tighten. He got up and leant over the bed railings, wanting to give him some space but also wanting to be a close to him as possible.

"Gordon, can you hear me? It's Alan."

Beep… beep… beep…

"Gords? Please answer me…"

Beep… beep… beep…

"Please…"

Beep… beep… beep…