It was Gordon who was with Virgil the next time he woke.

Having missed his brother's return the first time, nothing could remove the fish from Virgil's room from that point on.

Not even Grandma.

She did, however, manage to bundle Scott, John and Alan off to bed in the hotel.

Penny stayed with Gordon, no matter how many times he told her he was fine and she should rest. Blue eyes pierced him with a determination clear that she was here for the unforeseeable future and he should give up attempting to sway her lest she bite.

Gordon knew when to do what he was told despite what his brothers might say.

After all one needed to know the rules before wilfully breaking them.

So the two of them sat quietly together beside the organ pipes that were his injured heavy lifting brother. How he managed to snore despite the respiratory assistance still attached to him, Gordon had no idea. The thing was supposed to help him regulate and keep his airways open. Gordon should know, he'd had to wear one for weeks.

A swallow. That was what made this all so much harder - the memories.

But Virgil was prominent in those memories. Always there.

Gordon's heart lurched. He would return the favour in any way he could. He knew the value of that companionship, knew that it had cost his brother to be there, and yet also knew that Virgil wouldn't do anything different.

Because he was Virgil.

Well, he was Gordon and his own kind of stubborn and he wanted to be here for his big brother. With that abdominal injury, it was going to be a hard road back. Gordon may not be able to pick his brother up like Virgil had done to him on multiple occasions - Virgil had to get some kind of power trip out of that, he swore...but then Virgil was Virgil and the big marshmallow probably hadn't even thought that beyond brotherly ribbing - but he had his own uses and he knew that just having someone there to help...helped.

Gordon sighed.

Penelope rested a hand on Gordon's arm. "He's on the road to recovery, Gordon. He will be well."

"He better be, or I'll kick his ass." But he dropped his hand on top of hers loving her gesture for what it was.

"The doctors are in agreement. Even Doctor Tracy."

The use of his grandmother's formal title seemed out of place, but it was the truth. Grandma knew what she was talking about.

Virgil snorted and attempted to roll over, found he couldn't and groaned.

"Virg?"

"Ow." His brother's brow crinkled up in pain.

Gordon stood up and, leaning over, placed a hand on Virgil's shoulder. "Hey, big man. Relax. Let the good stuff do its job."

"Gords?" It was an exhale. But then his brother's eyes shot open. "Gordon!" Heavy lifting hands, despite being at half capacity, reached up and grabbed Gordon. Brown eyes pierced him and examined every inch before drooping in exhaustion. "Gords, you okay?"

Gordon frowned. "I'm good. It's you who took on a twenty storey building and lost, not me."

A noncommittal sound and Virgil's eyes closed again with a sigh. "Promised to look after you." Ever so quiet, but Gordon caught it.

And Virgil was asleep again.

Whispered. "It's mutual, bro."

Penelope's arms slipped around him as Virgil began to snuffle and snore. She turned Gordon around and he found his cheek on her shoulder.

"He will be okay, darling."

His smile left tear stains on pink cotton.

-o-o-o-