Sally stared at the monitors. They flickered and fritzed and she wanted to scream.
But many, many years of experience let none of it show.
"Virgil, honey, are you there?" Her aim was to try and keep him conscious, but her motivation was more than just medical. She ached to reach him. But there was nothing she could do that wasn't already being done…other than talk to him.
"Gordon?"
She startled. It had been several minutes since she had received a response and her eyes had involuntarily become attached to his heart rhythm as the dot sketched it out in the air.
"Virgil? It's Grandma, sweetie. Can you hear me?"
"Grandma, it's Gordon!"
Virgil's voice sounded so weak she wanted to cry.
Her eyes clung to the stats beating away in front of her.
"Gordon is with your brothers. They are coming to get you."
"No…no…he's so small, Grandma. So tiny and fragile."
Sally frowned. She checked on her fishy grandson's whereabouts and found him with Scott. She blinked at the profanity coming off that conversation.
Her two military boys were not happy.
But Gordon was safe. What was Virgil referring to?
"Virgil honey, talk to me."
"We've got to get him to safety." There was a sudden sound of movement and Virgil groaned.
"Virgil! Honey, stay still. Let your brothers help you. They are coming, I promise." Even if she had to stab that political dickhead herself.
"Grandma…" Her moniker was more a wail than anything else. "Not Gordy. Not little Gordy. Please, Grandma…"
"Virgil, love. Trust me, Gordon is safe. He is with your brothers."
But Virgil wasn't listening anymore. He was mumbling about his baby brother and keeping him safe. Spikes in his vitals scared her silly.
"Virgil, please stay still."
"He's only a baby!"
-o-o-o-
"You can touch him, honey." His mom smiled encouragingly.
Virgil sat on the sofa next to his mother and stared at the tiny, sleeping baby. He was so small. So different from the pudgy little toddler he remembered of Johnny when he was little.
Well, he was still little, but now he could walk and talk and play and attend school like a real little brother.
This new baby was so small. A fuzz of blond hair and wrinkled skin, he had a weird and scary tube taped to his nose.
He looked up at his mom. She looked sick. She had been in the hospital for a long time.
Seemed like forever. Dad and Grandma and Grandpa had all been worried. Virgil had asked Scotty, but his brother hadn't had any more answers. It had taken Grandma to sit the both of them down and explain that little Gordon had come early and needed some time in the hospital.
"Will he be all right?" It all sounded scary and it was his mommy.
Grandma had wrapped both of them in one of her wonderfully reassuring hugs. "They are both going to be fine, honey. They just need a little time to recover."
That time staying with Grandma and Grandpa had been a mix of fun and worry. He loved his grandparents and their farm was full of places to explore and things to pull apart and animals and space, so much space.
It was worth Grandma's cookies.
He just wished Mom would get better and come home.
That day eventually came and his Mom introduced him to his new baby brother, Gordon.
Tiny, tiny Gordon.
Virgil peered over the blankets in his mother's lap.
As if sensing his gaze, the baby opened his eyes drowsily and stared up at him.
A little frown.
Baby Gordon reached out a hand, and without thinking, Virgil brought his own hand up. Tiny fingers wrapped around his, so, so small, and clung tight.
Gordon stared at him a moment longer before his eyes closed again.
He didn't let go of Virgil.
"He likes you." Mom was smiling. She slipped an arm around his back and drew him in close for a snuggle.
Virgil couldn't take his eyes off Gordon.
"Is he going to be okay?" He looked so fragile.
"He needs a little time, but he will be just as strong as you and playing as much mischief as your other brothers before you know it." She squeezed him tighter. "He's a Tracy, honey. We're made of tough stuff." She kissed his hair.
Virgil still hadn't let go of his new brother's hand.
He wasn't supposed to let go. He was supposed to save and protect.
"Gordon?"
His little brother didn't answer.
"Virgil, honey?" It wasn't his Mom's voice. It was Grandma.
Where was Mom? "I'll keep him safe, Mom." Gordon and all his brothers.
But especially little, fragile Gordon who had entered the world too early.
"Gordon is safe, Virgil."
Virgil held his little brother in his arms as sparks rained over them. Something was very wrong, but his priorities were clear.
"I'll keep him safe, Mom."
-o-o-o-