13
Thank you so much for the latest reviews I am glad that you are enjoying this one too! I'm afraid this chapter was tricky to write and therefore I am now a bit behind but I will aim to update soon. We are back with the lads for a time now.
By the time they got home from the station and then the hospital at around two am, it was safe to say that Scott Tracy was still fuming. So, fuming he wasn't quite ready to let the youngest siblings off the hook despite it being well past all their bed times.
"Sit" he indicated to the kitchen chairs.
"Can't we do this in the morning? It's pretty late." Suggested Gordon brazenly.
"I said sit down." Scott's voice was barely a controlled growl. His whole body was tense and it was clear they would not be done until he said so.
Gordon rolled his eyes and slunk into the nearest seat. Alan took to his looking like a rabbit trapped in headlights. John had crept down the stairs and was sat in the hall, he wanted to know what this was about. His still had one earpiece in as he crouched onto the step. Virgil had called him to check in him some hours ago and warned they would be late but he couldn't get to sleep anyway knowing they still weren't home. All Virgil had said was that Gordon and Alan had gone to town and got into a spot of bother but he wouldn't elaborate even when John pushed for answers. John wondered what the hell they had gone and done now, both his youngest brothers could make Loki and Lucifer look like saints on occasion.
Virgil sat at the head of the table ready to act as intermediary. He was thinking he could do with a stiff drink to get through this but he wasn't sure that was going to set the right tone so he'd just have to manage.
Scott remained stood, his full height even more intimidating when they were sat down. He leaned forward on the table with his good hand and made eye contact with both of them. "Now I know that it's been a shit time lately, trust me! I really do but that still does not condone this type of behaviour!" Oh boy they were in for a proper dressing down thought Alan. "Now truthfully whose idea was it to go drinking?" Scott was met with silence as he stared at them intently (Gordon just glared at Scott which was a risky tactic Virgil reflected whereas Alan looked at his hands on the table like they were the most interesting thing he had seen all night.)
"Don't make me ask again, I can assure you I am not in the mood to piss about." He scowled.
"It was both of – It was Gordon!" they shouted at the same time. Scott knew it wouldn't take long for one of them to grass, these two were as tight as thieves until something went wrong then they would turn on each other. They always did. Scott had known the answer before he asked, he just wanted to hear them say it, you could always guarantee Gordon would be the one to lead Alan astray but occasionally Alan did surprise them with his own foolish ideas. Gordon glowered at Alan who tried to avoid his eye contact.
Scott folded his arms critically. "Where did you get the drink? who brought it for you?"
"No one! we took it from dad's cabinet in the lounge." Alan replied. Scott made a mental note to ditch the few remaining bottles in that cabinet. Liquor had caused enough damage in this family of late, there would be no more temptation.
"So, you started drinking here then milled your way into town before drinking some more and winding up as drug dealer bait. What if something had happened to you? You didn't even tell me or Virgil you were gone, you could have been hurt and we wouldn't have even known!" Scott looked pained as his voice lost its edge.
Scott realised this was the crux of his anger, the fear that something bad could have happened to them on his watch. He was angry at himself for dropping the ball and not checking in with them. He had got too caught up in finding dad and the business. He almost hadn't made it in time when his brothers needed him. Something terrible had almost happened again! Hadn't this family suffered enough? It caused him to pause while he re-evaluated the conversation he wanted to have. He wanted to tell them they were idiots, that they should have known better but he knew that would only drive a wedge between them and mean that they wouldn't confide in him when they needed to in the future. They needed to understand the enormity of their actions in a way that didn't alienate them from him. He needed to play it smart.
"Alan, go with Virgil to bed. We'll talk about this more in the morning when we're more rested." Alan looked relieved. Gordon stood to leave.
"Not so fast, I'm not done with you yet." Scott took a seat himself as the other two left. The wooden chair scraping across the tiled flagstone floor as he did so. John had already run back upstairs when he heard his brothers' approach.
Scott gazed at Gordon intently. Gordon remained closed off, arms folded and defensive. "Tell me why you did it Gordon?" Scott asked softly. "I want to understand. Did you think the drink and the night out with the lads would numb the pain?"
Gordon shifted uncomfortably, why couldn't he just shout at him and send him to bed? God! He didn't want this conversation. Scott waited patiently. It was taking all his control. Gordon couldn't avoid Scott looking at him any longer.
"I…. I felt trapped ok? isolated. It's like we're all trapped in this bubble of grief! This house was a home, now it feels like an empty shell with the faint echoes of memories that can be heard if you press your ear to it hard enough. Its oppressive. When does it end Scott? When can we pick up those relationships again without the hurt or the gut-wrenching pain associated with it? No one laughs anymore, there's no lightness - no fun to fight against the overwhelming sorrow that fills this house. I want to remember the good times and the humour without feeling guilty for making you all hurt at the memories." Gordon looked at his hands open on the table before glancing up. "I just wanted to be free for a bit you know? Meet up with some guys and just joke about shit and have a good time. If I was posted that's just what I'd be doing. I just I can't cope with it here Scott. I want to be back in my unit, serving and making a difference, keeping myself busy. I am really sorry about tonight and I feel awful you got hurt." He looked at his brother's bandaged hand.
Scott leaned back and looked at his brother. He understood that desire to be back with his other family, the military one. Scott turned over his hand appraising it thoughtfully. "Well you can quit feeling awful about my hand, you've got me out of paper pushing at least two weeks. I've got a decent excuse now." he grinned his most playful smile, his right eyebrow quirked upwards. Gordon chuckled softly in spite of himself.
Scott continued. "I know what you mean about being on leave stuck trying to cope with this the civilian way. Its hard. I would much rather be getting my kicks out in the air with the lads but I'd just be running from my responsibilities. The daily drills, tasks, manoeuvres – barely any time to eat or drink, so knackered you long for that shut eye so much everything else just gets drowned out. I'd not be giving myself time to deal with the grief and it would only fester to resurface later. Then there's our family here that need us Gordon. We should try and be present for them in this time. We need to stick together to see it through."
Gordon sighed. "I guess." He sat spinning a bottle top across the table.
"Right. You promise me no more underage drinking and no dragging our little brother along for the ride, he doesn't need corrupting when he's already so good at It himself. I said earlier that I wanted you to pay the fine but actually I want you to do the community service."
"What!" Gordon groaned.
"You heard me I don't think 500 dollars is enough of a hit to your conscience. You need to understand there are consequences to your actions. Community service will do you a bit of good and give you less time for trouble which I like the sound of."
"Of course, you do!" Gordon rolled his eyes. "What gives you a right to decide?" questioned Gordon.
"After the shit you got me into tonight it only seems fair."
"So, your guilt tripping me now?"
"No but you can humour your big brother and do as your told." Scott stood up. "Your dismissed."
Gordon mock saluted him before heading upstairs.
"Oh, and Gordon?" He froze with his back to Scott.
"If Alan has a hangover and vomits after his little adventures, you'll be playing nursemaid and janitor."
"For fuck's sake" Gordon grumbled as he dragged himself up the stairs. He thought he'd got off lightly now he wasn't so sure….
Virgil gave him a wink as he passed him at the bottom of the hall. Virgil was proud; from what he had heard Scott had handled the situation beautifully. He headed into the kitchen to find Scott grabbing some water and some painkillers. "You ok?"
"Yeah. How the hell did mum and dad manage five of us?" Scott leaned on the counter. "I gonna be grey before I'm thirty." Scott moaned.
Virgil laughed. "I have no idea but for what its worth you handled that really well. It was a tough conversation to have."
"Thanks. I just hope they don't do it again. I'm going to have fun explaining this to my captain." Scott gestured to his hand but Virgil knew he was concerned about the police case against him. Scott had an excellent record and had worked his way through the ranks quickly at a young age, he didn't want this to mar him professionally.
"I'm sure he will understand, you were protecting your brothers; that has to count for something in regards to your character." Virgil tried to reason.
"Oh, I don't regret the fight, I'd do it again in a heartbeat! No asshole's going to try and intimidate my brothers into drugs and get away with it." The hot flash of anger surfaced in his blue eyes momentarily but it faded as quickly as it came.
"Right are you coming up to bed?" Virgil asked.
"Well shit! would you look at that! Its three am! No wonder I'm beat!"
Scott locked the backdoor as Virgil got the lights and they headed up the stairs weary from the day's events. Scott fell on the bed not even bothering to get undressed. He was asleep before he hit the pillow.