"I don't understand."

Eos' voice was ever so quiet and respectful and John appreciated it.

John reached out and touched Virgil's cheek, the pads of his fingers brushing gently across beard stubble. Black hair ever so stark against pale skin. His own red hair was making its presence known and removing it was on the list at the back of his mind before Grandma had words about it.

Personal tragedy should be met with good grooming, apparently.

If Virgil stayed this way much longer, John would bring in a shaving kit and tidy up his brother himself.

But then there was zero chance of Gordon teasing his brother about being a 'real' lumberjack in this situation.

Zero chance of Virgil reaching out and clapping him about the ears either.

Or perhaps that was an option - piss off their brother into returning to them.

He withdrew his hand and sat in the plastic chair beside the bed.

"What don't you understand, Eos?" The words were tired, but patient, nonetheless.

"Virgil is here. Where else could he be?"

John sighed. Eos had obviously been listening when Penny wrapped her arms around Gordon and drew the distressed man from the room. Her eyes had pinned John to Virgil. She would take care of Gordon.

It went against every instinct John had. Tracys looked after their own.

But Penny was their own and Gordon was more likely to listen to her than to any of them right now.

"It's a matter of belief, Eos. Or emotion. It feels like Virgil isn't here."

"But he is."

"His body, yes, but not his spirit." John drew in a breath. "What makes Virgil Virgil is not here."

There was silence for a moment and John thought perhaps Eos had connected the dots.

"I have scanned him multiple times, I have hacked the hospital systems and reached out and touched him. Virgil is here. His body, his genetic code, his brain, though injured, is functioning. By all definitions of presence Virgil Tracy is lying on that bed."

John should be surprised about Eos hacking into the hospital systems, but he wasn't. The thought of her reaching out to Virgil through the medical equipment monitoring him...

"Can you feel him, Eos?"

"I can sense his life sustaining processes. I can feel his skin's resistance to electronic current through the monitoring equipment attached to his body. Virgil is very much as he usually is, minus some hair and consciousness. He is also much quieter than usual."

"He's not snoring."

"No. Mostly due to the respiratory assist fitted to his trachea. Is this not a good thing?"

"Perhaps." But honestly, John would give almost anything to have his big brother snort, snuffle and roll over. Bonus points if he drooled on his pillow.

John closed his eyes and rubbed his face with his hand.

"I still do not understand, John." The demand for knowledge was clear.

"Access the concept of soul."

It took her far less time than he needed.

"You believe his soul is elsewhere? Where? And how do you know?"

So many questions. John was always willing to offer whatever Eos needed, but right now...

A hand landed on his shoulder. "Eos, honey, it is a difficult concept that has defied definition for millennia. It is unlikely to be completely explained in this moment." Grandma wrapped John in a hug from behind.

He leant his head back on her and closed his eyes.

"Yes, Mrs Tracy."

"Virgil just needs time. The doctors have done everything they can. It is up to Virgil now."

"But Virgil is unconscious." Ever the questions.

Grandma stroked John's hair. "Eos, how about you and I have a discussion about this a little later? I will answer as many of your questions as I can then."

A pause and John could almost feel her electronic eyes scanning him with concern. "Yes, Mrs Tracy." Another pause and he thought perhaps she was satisfied. "John?" Your vitals indicate stress and I'm concerned. She didn't say it, but she had come a long way and this was likely something she did understand.

"I'm okay, Eos." A breath. "Just need some time."

"Like Virgil?"

His voice reduced to a whisper. "Like Virgil."

She stopped talking, but he knew she hadn't left. She rarely did when worried. No doubt part of her was investigating the concept of 'soul' and puzzling it out, another part was monitoring Virgil for any change, monitoring John, and constructing that list of questions she would pummel Grandma with at a later time.

He idly wondered if Grandma knew exactly what she had set herself up for.

But he knew why and he took the moment to take what she was offering and just relax back into her embrace.

"Virgil is strong, honey." It was whispered in his ear. "He's a Tracy. He'll come back to us. He will."

John's eyes were closed, but he could still see the wane figure on the bed etched into his eyelids.

"I hope so, Grandma. I hope so."

He had to.

-o-o-o-