Disclaimer: I don't own them, I'm not lucky enough.
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"We'll be right there," John said with a sense of urgency.
Before Scott could reply, John signed off. Alan had been right next to him, so John didn't have to relay anything. They left the hotel quickly. They found Scott and Lady Penelope sitting in the chairs while Gordon and their father stood at the window. Jeff turned when he saw John and Alan coming down the hall.
"Boys," Jeff sighed, briefing embracing Alan first, then John.
"I didn't think you were coming," Alan said.
"There was no other place for me," Jeff replied. "I just needed to take care of a few things first."
"Well, I'm glad you're here," Alan said. "Well…you know what I mean."
"Yes, I do," Jeff replied.
"What did we miss?" John asked, more to Scott than to anyone else.
"They're taking him in sooner than I thought," Scott replied.
"What happened?" John asked.
Scott shrugged. "Not exactly sure. They'd gone in, did some stuff, took him out for some X-Rays and other things, and brought him back. Then they came a few minutes later and told me what I told you."
The doctor soon came over and explained to them that some of Virgil's internal injuries needed to be tended to because they weren't healing as well as expected. Then the doctor excused himself, saying that he needed to get up to surgery to start preparing. And that someone would be down for Virgil shortly.
"They wanted to do this earlier," Scott said. "But he wasn't stable enough. I guess he is now."
"Can we go with him?" John asked.
"Doctor said earlier that we could wait in the surgical waiting room if we wanted to. But he said it'd be a while, and it would probably benefit us to all get some rest in the meantime. He said he'd call me when they were done."
"And that's something I think you all should do," Penelope said. "Your father and I will stay here. The four of you should all return to the hotel and care for yourselves."
They watched Virgil being taken from his hospital room and up to surgery. It took a while, but Jeff and Lady Penelope managed to convince the four of them that some time all together at the hotel would do them a lot of good. So they reluctantly left, although they had to promise several times to each of them to call if they heard anything at all.
At the hotel, Gordon and Scott used the time to shower while John and Alan slept. Since Scott and Gordon had done hotel time together already, as did John and Alan, Scott took Alan while John took Gordon this time around. Gordon's first move was to the shower. When he stepped out of the bathroom, he found John asleep on top of the blankets with his normal clothes still on. Since he figured that John needed the sleep, he didn't wake him. The shower had woken him enough that he didn't want to sleep, so he instead went into the other suite to find that Alan was out cold under the covers and Scott was perusing the room service menu.
"John?" Scott asked when Gordon sat next to him.
"Out cold. On top of the blankets in his street clothes no less."
"I don't think they got a chance to sleep when they were back here a little while ago," Scott replied. "You want to eat?"
"Yeah, I'll take a look," Gordon answered, taking the menu that Scott was offering.
Soon, the two brothers were eating. And Alan woke to that scene, so he stole bits and pieces off of both plates. And neither one complained. It was a little while after their meal that Gordon decided he wanted to sleep, so he went into the other room. John hadn't moved and Gordon just let him be. He got into his bed and quickly fell asleep.
John woke a little later to the sound of sniffling. He turned over and looked to see Gordon lying on his side, his shoulders shaking. John quietly got up, grabbed the box of tissues from the desk and sat next to Gordon, placing a hand on his younger brother's shoulder. He didn't say anything, he didn't need to. Gordon soon calmed down, then went into the bathroom to get some cold water on his face.
"Thanks," Gordon mumbled when he returned to the room.
"You want to talk?" John asked.
Gordon shook his head. "It's just…Virgil. Like, what life would be like if he didn't make it."
"Not good, huh?"
"Not at all."
"We just have to believe that he will."
"Dad mentioned something about my birthday present. You wouldn't happen to know anything about it, do you?"
John just shook his head. "Haven't heard anything. Scott might know."
"I'll ask him later."
Gordon and John turned the TV on to find that there was nothing that they remotely wanted to watch. John peered into the other suite to find Scott and Alan still asleep, and he reported so to Gordon. They talked amongst themselves for a little while only being interrupted when Scott came into the room.
"Doc called. Virgil's out of surgery and in recovery," Scott reported with a yawn.
"What'd else he say?" Gordon asked.
"Said everything went well enough. No complications."
"Good," John sighed, leaning against Scott.
"We heading back soon?" Gordon asked.
"Yeah, the call woke Alan up. Once we're ready, we'll go," Scott answered.
The brothers were soon ready and back at the hospital. Jeff and Lady Penelope were in the surgical waiting room, and they stood when she saw the four brothers return. Alan and Scott took chairs next to their father while John and Gordon sat near Penelope.
"You four look much better," she said.
"Is he still in recovery?" Scott asked.
"Yes," Penelope answered. "He'll be there for a while. A nurse said that the doctor would come down and talk to you four and your father in a little while."
"About what?" John asked.
"I'm not sure," she answered. "She didn't say."
The doctor came out soon after and addressed Jeff and the four brothers.
"First off, I do know you all are family and who you are. Your secret is safe with me and my staff. All I care about is the treatment of your family member. He is still critical. His internal injuries look better now, and we did not discover anything new either. When he's out of recovery, we'll bring him back to the sterile room. I want him there for the next 24 hours at least. If there are no complications, I'll move him to a regular room in the ICU so you'll be able to sit with him."
"Is there anything we can do for him now?" Jeff asked.
The doctor only shook his head. "I'm afraid not."
"Thank you, doctor," Jeff replied.
The doctor walked away and everyone sat back down. John told Penelope what they'd just been told.
"He's getting better," Scott sighed.
"Yes, he is," Penelope said.
"Odd time for this thought, but I wonder about that reporter that bothered Virgil a little while ago," Gordon brought up.
"Hadn't thought about that," Scott admitted.
"Parker is making some inquiries into that matter, that is why he is not here as well," Penelope told them. "He has yet to report any new developments."
