Two days later found Alan counting his ceiling tiles probably the hundredth time in just that day alone. He was bored out of his mind. His dad had come and gone after feeding him his breakfast saying he couldn't stay long because the courts were picking up where they'd left off with the trial. Alan had closed his eyes and nodded in understanding when his father expressed his genuine regret over not being able to have another father son movie marathon like they'd been doing recently. Alan was brought out of his musings by a soft knock on the door.
Tilting his head to try and see around his partially closed curtain, Alan spied Dr. Andreessen pushing a med cart loaded down with all the wonderful ointments that Alan was required to use.
"Hi Doc." Alan greeted as he peered around the edge of the curtain. "What's up?"
"Oh, hi Alan. Nothing much. Just coming around to change your IV antibiotics bag and check your burns." Dr. Andreessen replied tiredly.
"What's up? Are you okay?" Alan seemed genuinely concerned for how tired his doctor seemed.
"Hm? Oh…I'm fine. Just tired is all." Dr. Andreessen stifled a yawn into his elbow.
"What, just been too busy?" Alan asked, probing for an answer – if nothing else just to give them something to talk about more in depth.
"No. Remember I told you a while back that my wife was pregnant?" Dr. Andreessen felt okay enough discussing his home life with his patient. The two of them had conversations about Dr. Andreessen's impending fatherhood and Alan's horror stories that his family had told him about from when he'd been a baby.
"Yeah?" Alan replied, intrigued over the conversation.
"Well, she's only got about a month and a half – two months left of her pregnancy and she's been having trouble sleeping. Her tossing and turning wakes me up half the time and I just stay up talking to her until she falls asleep again." Dr. Andreessen said with a soft smile. It's not that he was mad at his wife, it's not like she could help the baby's positioning; but he wished the baby would move off his wife's spine enough to not make her back hurt throughout the night. That'd be a blessing if he could get just a few more hours of sleep a night before the baby was born.
"Have you tried listening to music at all? My dad once mentioned to me that when my mom was pregnant with me in particular I was always keeping mom awake because I was more active at night than during the day." Alan mentioned, finding it odd that he was giving advice to a father to be when he was merely fourteen – nowhere close to being a dad. "My dad mentioned that my mom would get up and play the piano or would listen to violin music in order to get me to settle down so she could sleep. I don't know if it works with all babies, but you and your wife could always give it a try."
Dr. Andreessen nodded at Alan's suggestion. It wouldn't hurt to try, he'd do anything to get the baby to settle long enough for he and his wife to get some more shuteye.
"Thanks, I'll give it a try Alan." Dr. Andreessen said as he donned a pair of gloves. "Now what say we get you turned over so I can check the sores?"
"Well, you might as well. I'd help, but as you know I can't exactly grip anything very well right now." Alan said as he lowered his head in shame at being rolled onto his side, his backside facing the doctor so he could check the staph infection in the small of his back. He tried to ignore the doctor's fingers fitting beneath his right hip to flip him onto his left. He shivered when he felt a cool, damp cloth run over his skin.
"Sorry." Dr. Andreessen murmured when he felt more than saw Alan shiver.
"It's okay." Alan replied as he peeked around the edge of the curtain to see the mirror and sink near the front door.
The doctor remained silent for a little while as he continued running the cloth over Alan's skin before making a hum of approval. Alan craned his neck to try looking at the doctor.
"Well, you'll be happy to hear that it looks like the infection has gone away." Dr. Andreessen said as he stood to roll Alan towards him and walking around the bed to inspect Alan's other side. Flipping Alan with little to no problem just like the first time, made things go faster and Dr. Andreessen was delighted to report that it looked like the infection had cleared up in just three days of antibiotic treatment. "I'm positive the infection has cleared up Alan. Looks like you get to be moved again."
"Oh yay." Alan said false excitement. He just loved being moved from room to room. 'Yeah, right.' Alan thought to himself with a shake of the head. "So when do you want to relocate me again?"
"How about after you get a sponge bath? Then you'll be nice and squeaky clean before being settled in a new bed with fresh linens." Dr. Andreessen said politely. He didn't want to anger his patient or anything by suggesting they do the relocation right this instant and it'd give Alan a chance to visit with his father again before being placed back in isolation.
"I suppose that'll work." Alan said with a shrug of his shoulders. He was really getting tired of being bounced around from room to room and all he really wanted was to get better so that he could go home and recover the remainder there in comfort…and the sun, couldn't forget that. Alan had fretted earlier over having lost his almost perpetual tan he'd acquired due to lack of sunlight permitted into his room. Dr. Warner said it wouldn't be healthy for him to receive a lot of sun especially when he was on a vast array of medications which could make him susceptible to burn easier than he'd like.
"Then you and your father can visit a little bit more before you are returned to isolation the remainder of your surgeries." Dr. Andreessen said lightly, being aware that the prospect of isolation still was a sore subject with Alan.
"Can't…dad's going to be at the courthouse all day and can't come visit. He stopped by for breakfast, but that's the extent of my visit." Alan replied with a sad smile. The smile dropped from his face and Alan was left with a morose and dejected feeling. He wished the courts hadn't chosen today of all days to return to session, especially with the new found discovery that Alan would be returning to isolation.
"Well, would you mind if I contacted your grandmother or one of your brothers to come visit before you return to isolation?" Dr. Andreessen asked, hoping to appease his patient's sad mood that had descended on him.
"You'd do that?" Alan perked up and gave the doctor the puppy dog eyes he usually reserved for his family or the nurses. It was rare that Dr. Andreessen experienced Alan's puppy dog eyes.
"Yes, you aren't under any threat of coming down with another infection as long as none of your brothers or grandmother has caught a cold. I'll go give a call to one of the provided numbers and see who'd like to come over to visit." Dr,. Andreessen said as he gathered all his supplies before leaving the room. Alan was left to wonder if any of his brothers or grandmother had gone to the courthouse as well and he hoped not. He desperately wanted to see some of his family, he felt like it'd been forever since he'd seen any of them and he just wanted a hug.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Scott, John and Gordon were sitting in the dining area of a small mom and pop diner when John's cell phone began to ring. John had just taken a bite of his mushroom and Swiss burger when he'd pulled his phone from his pocket to see the caller identified as Hospital. Wiping his fingers on the paper napkin he'd been given, John pressed the answer button and around a mouthful of food John answered.
"Go." John couldn't say much considering his cheeks were bulging with a mouthful of food. He chewed as quickly as he dared so he wouldn't bite his tongue or cheek or God forbid – choke.
John listened silently as he chewed before his eyebrows furrowed slightly. He glanced around quickly as he slowed his chewing. Swallowing heavily, John took a sip of his lemon iced tea before he spoke.
"Alan's okay with that?" John's tongue worked around beneath his upper lip to get an annoying piece of French fry that was irritating his gums to succumb to its fate and be eaten. Wiping his mouth on the napkin he held, John cleared his throat before speaking again. "Yeah, I don't mind. I'm just eating lunch with Scott and Gordon. I can be over in say the next half hour?"
Scott and Gordon who sat side by side both inclined their heads, setting down their own burgers when John disconnected the call and pocketed his cell phone. Sitting silently, John signaled to the waitress to bring the check before he requested a doggy bag for the remainder of his lunch to be packaged in for later.
"What's up?" Gordon asked as he dipped a French fry in the mustard and mayonnaise concoction on the side of his plate. While most people ate fries dipped in ketchup, Gordon most preferred mustard and mayonnaise mixed together. It was just like how Alan liked dipping his macaroni and cheese in ketchup. It was an odd combination but it just made them who they were.
"That was Alan's physician. He wanted to see if I'd like to come and visit Alan for a little bit in place of dad. Since this will be anybody's last chance to see Alan again for a while." John said as he licked a dollop of mayonnaise off the side of his knuckle after transferring his burger and remaining fries into the doggy bag.
"Whoa – stop – rewind…what was that about last chance?" Scot held his hands up in a T as he called a time out.
"I was saying that Alan is going to be moved again. Dr. Andreessen mentioned Alan's infection healed. They're moving him back to the isolation ward tonight after the close of visiting hours." John said as he finished the last of his ice tea before standing to shrug into his jacket. He grabbed the bill before digging out his wallet and striding forward to pay for his and his brother's meal. He felt a bit playful with the waitress and he winked at her causing her to giggle before he left. Her number was written on the back of a used order paper which John had slipped into his wallet. Maybe if John was feeling it he'd go and see about having a night just to himself…maybe; lord knows he could go for a little something that didn't involve worrying over his brother's well-being or hospitalization.
"So, what?" Scott asked with a shrug, wanting to know his little brother's plans for the rest of the day.
"So, I'm going to go and visit Alan and maybe see about going out for a night on the town later." John said simply as he walked out the door, a quick word of thanks tossed over his shoulder.
"Well, could you at least drop Gordo and I off at the hotel before you take the car?" Scott begged, before he caught the keys that were chucked at his face.
"You're dropping me off at the hospital genius. If I do happen to go out tonight, I may have a drink or two and I'd rather not be caught with my pants down behind the wheel of a car." John said, not realizing that what he said made his brother's giggle like little girls until they were full on laughing like a couple of donkeys. "What's so funny?"
"You and I both know you were caught in that position more than we'd like to remember by the local sheriff in Kansas. And I seem to remember a certain girl with glasses and full lips that loved showering you with affection behind the wheel of grandpa's old Ford." Scott teased his younger brother, taking pleasure in the fact that John was blushing finally as he caught on to what his brother's found so funny. "And I seem to remember how embarrassed you two were when the sheriff brought the two of you by the scruff of your necks to the front door of grandma and grandpa's after catching you and her together."
"Okay! Enough!" John covered his face and stormed across the parking lot before stopping beside the passenger side of the car to wait for his brother to unlock the door. Scott and Gordon began laughing again as they crossed the lazy parking lot to approach the car. Both Scott and Gordon took pleasure in flustering their brother who was usually as calm as a cucumber.
Scott and Gordon got into their respective places before Scott began driving forward, easing off his brother a little. It was fun for a while, but Scott knew when to stop and John storming across the parking lot was John's way of reminding his brothers not to cross the line. What happened between him and an old flame was old news – especially when he'd been hurt by said flame simply because of his father's money. As Scott drove, he couldn't help but analyze the nickname given to an ex-lover. Flame…it had an oddly smoldering quality to it. Funny, how love was like a fire. You usually felt the heat of love licking at the dredges of your heart, pocking and prodding you along so you'd take the flame and play with it. Didn't matter if you got burn or not. It was usually fun for a while, but then one or both parties were burned and healing those wounds weren't fun. Not fun at all.
"Scott, what are you thinking about?" John's soft voice broke through the walls of Scott's thoughts and Scott realized he'd been on autopilot for a while.
"Uh, nothing…not really." Scott deflected, not wanting to bring the attention to himself.
"Don't give me that. What you were thinking about? Was it her?" John asked, edging on the territory that both Scott and John bristled at. They'd both been burned and both by the same flame.
"I don't want to talk about her. She's not of our concern." Scott said tersely. He didn't want to think of her…not again. He'd admit it, he'd been burned as had John and it wasn't a pleasant memory for either of them.
Gordon who sat in the back shifted nervously, not liking where the conversation was heading. He knew his brothers had a past, but it was one he liked to avoid among other things. It was years ago and they both should be over it by now. Scott noticed his younger brother's nervous shifting and got the picture. The topic of conversation was making Gordon uncomfortable because the last time Scott and John had even brought her up, Virgil wound up dealing with three injured brothers nursing bloody noses and black eyes. Alan had unfortunately tried to break his brothers apart and hadn't received any awards for his actions. The only awards he received was a trip to the dentist's office to have a tooth implanted after he'd gotten an elbow to the face. That had been rough especially for Gordon since he'd been the one holding a cup of milk in his lap which contained Alan's tooth while Jeff held a bloody towel to Alan's mouth after he'd ordered Brains pilot one of the family jets to the mainland. That hadn't been fun, especially finding out there wasn't anything the dentist could do to place Alan's tooth back in. Alan would wind up with a tooth implant…that had been six months of torture for the poor kid as well as on his family. But that was another story for another time.
"Fine." John said, thankfully dropping the subject before things could get heated. Scott went back to thinking about how it was that an old romantic interest acquired the name of flame but shook his head and scolded himself internally before he settle down. There was no point in thinking of her again. She broke both his and John's hearts in a day and damaged their relationship for a while…but it was old news and Scott would be damned if he let thoughts of his and John's old flame ruin his day out.
When they pulled up in front of the hospital, Scott put the car in park before he turned to look at John.
"Hey, I'm sorry about the teasing earlier." Scott apologized before watching his brother slide from his seat to let Gordon claim the spot.
"It's cool Scott." John said after shutting the door and leaning in the window to talk to his brothers. "I probably won't stay long…just long enough to give the Sprout his lunch and dinner then I'll probably call to be picked up." John said with one of his gentlest smiles he could muster.
"What about that chick that gave you her number?" Scott asked, wanting his brother to at least do something with someone of the opposite gender even if it was just going to get a milkshake.
"I don't know Scott. Maybe." John replied before he stepped away from the car. "Later guys."
"Later." Scott and Gordon said as they began to drive off, Gordon glancing over his shoulder as he watched his brother enter the hospital.
Gordon sat in silence for a few minutes before he spoke. "So, what's on the agenda today?"
"Feel up to going to intimidate the little prick that kicked our baby brother's ass?" Scott asked, his voice betraying the built up anger.
"You know it." Gordon replied as he got comfy for the drive.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
John stood in the hospital gift shop, thumbing through the cellophane wrapped magazines. He wanted to get Alan something that would hedge the boredom Alan was likely to feel after he got put back in isolation. His brother wasn't one that liked being laid up in bed. He was naturally restless. Always had been, likely always would be. He already had a couple decent selections ranging from racing magazines to things that attracted Alan's attention like video games and mechanic related magazines. As he turned to go buy his selections, his eyes stopped on something that was like a blast from the past.
Walking up to the shelf, John felt himself melting over the memory this little trinket brought up and settled on buying it for his little brother. It'd at least bring Alan some form of comfort, especially since his last one had been taken forcefully and destroyed in front of the boy. Nestling the little trinket in the crook of his elbow, John paid for his purchase before striding out of the gift shop to go meet with his little brother.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Alan lay in his bed, an arm over his eyes as he tried to think of something else to keep his mind occupied. He'd already counted the ceiling tiles, there was only so many times he could count those without wishing the sky would fall and the ceiling might crush him and put him out of his misery.
"Knock, knock Sprout…may I come in?" Alan perked up at the voice, a smile stretching the corners of his mouth as he practically latched onto John the moment he was within arm's reach. "Hey kiddo, how're you doing?"
"I'm better now that I can see someone else from the outside world." Alan said as he buried his face in John's chest. Taking a deep breath, Alan refreshed the memory of his brother's scent – it reminded Alan of hot chocolate, probably because John lived and breathed chocolate. "Thanks for coming to visit."
"It's no problem Al. I'd have given up anything to get this chance to visit with my favorite little brother." John said as he welcomed the hug Alan had yet to release him from. "God, is it good to see you Sprout?"
Alan only hugged John just a little bit tighter. He'd missed his brothers terribly when he'd been in isolation. Seeing John before lock up again would make being placed in isolation a little bit easier now that he got to see some of his family.
"As much as I'd like to stay like this, I think the reason for my coming over was to visit…of course we can keep hugging all you want." John said as he gently rubbed his cheek against Alan's hair. He opened his eyes slowly and found himself coming face to bald patch. His face softened sadly at the thought that Alan had done that to himself. John wished he could retract his statement after realizing that Alan was withdrawing from the hug. "So tell me all about what's been going on…eh Sprout?"
Alan gave a sigh before sinking back into his bedding. He opened his mouth to speak before his eyes caught onto something John had set at the foot of Alan's bed.
"What is that?" Alan asked before pointing at the bag.
John glanced at the aforementioned bag and gave a smile, not that it could be seen from behind the mask.
"Well, why don't you take it and find out?" John said as he gave Alan the bag that sat by the foot of his bed. Alan glanced at John before tearing into the bag and to see the smile light up Alan's face made John's day.
"John! This is so cool! Thank you!" Alan cried before hugging John again. His brother had to have those eerie mind reading powers the brothers teased John for having most of the time. How else would he have known how bored Alan was becoming? As Alan continued digging through his little bag of treasure, his hands stilled on the soft sky-blue item that brought back memories of Alan's childhood. John gave Alan a delighted look with a soft knowing smile when Alan brought the object to his chest and hugged it so tight that it looked like the stuffing would pop out of every seam.
"It's no trouble for me Alan" John sat in silence for a few moments before he felt it safe to speak. "I hope you like it."
"Like it? I love it!" John accepted yet another hug especially the enthusiastic hug Alan was handing out like candy at parades. "It looks just like Ellie."
"I was hoping you'd like it. I didn't want to embarrass you by getting a stuffed animal but when I saw this I thought that you'd like a new one to replace the one that…you know." John said not wanting to bring up Alan's string of bullies that made his life miserable for a good part of his pre-high school adventures.
"No it's cool Johnny. This really means a lot to me. And don't tell the guys I said this because I'll deny it if they ask but having this new Ellie will make being lonely a little bit easier. At least then I'll have something to hug in place of you guys when I'm in isolation." Alan said, a blush dusting over his cheeks as he admitted in a roundabout way that yes he was still a kid and not as grown up as he'd like to be.
"There's nothing wrong with turning to a stuffed animal for comfort Alan. I know the guys and occasionally dad does too…of course dad's excuse is that they were mom's." John said revealing how even the older brothers felt like being kids every once in a while and hugging a soft and cuddly something that made them feel safe and loved. I know for a fact that Gordo has Shamu somewhere in his bedroom and like to cuddle with it."
"I've always wondered what happened to Shamu." Alan said as he was reminded of Gordon's stuffed Orca he had growing up as a child. Gordon had it up until he was eleven then suddenly Shamu was gone, away from prying eyes or just gone all together.
"He hid it. A couple of his friends came over to spend the night and one of them noticed Shamu sitting on Gordo's bed and began teasing him for sleeping with a stuffed animal. Gordo hid it because he was ashamed of still sleeping with the toy." John replied knowingly, revealing one of the secrets that John knew Alan would keep for the rest of time.
"But why was he ashamed? I slept with Ellie the elephant until I was seven." Alan asked, knowing the reason why he stopped sleeping with Ellie the elephant clutched tight in his arms every night.
"Exactly, you slept with Ellie the elephant until you were seven but he was still eleven and slept with a stuffed animal. He took that as him not being a grown up so he hid Shamu. Though I know he occasionally still likes to sleep with Shamu." John replied softly before smiling at Alan. "I expect you to get some good cuddling out of that stuffed animal to make up for the past seven years. I won't let anyone rip it up again."
Alan smiled at John before hugging the life practically out of the stuffed elephant. He greatly appreciated the gift. John was right, there wasn't anything wrong with sleeping with a stuffed animal. If it brought comfort then by all means.
"So do you still sleep with your stuffed space shuttle?" Alan asked with a hint of teasing.
"Now why would I tell you that? I've got a reputation to keep and I don't want you blackmailing me." John replied with a smile.
"Because the only way I'll believe that Gordo still sleeps with Shamu is if you or Scott tells me either of you still sleep with your stuffed animals." Alan said.
"Well you know space shuttles don't count as stuffed animals so yeah I guess I'm safe from saying I sleep with stuffed animals." John said with a grin, his ears rising slightly. He attempted to twist away when Alan's fist came flying, but was too slow and was hit in the bicep as a result. Both he and Alan groaned an 'ow'. "So, Sprout. What do you say to kicking back and watching a couple of movies?"
"Dad and I have been doing that these last couple of days. What could there be for you and I to watch that I haven't seen before?" Alan asked in exasperation.
"I've got my connections…and I happen to be an adult who won't mind putting on a movie rated R as long as you don't tell dad." John said with signs of a telltale smirk.
"What film are you thinking of?" Alan asked with interest.
"Elysium. I think you'd like it." John replied before offering an alternate film choice. "Or we can watch Pacific Rim, it's your choice."
"Oh man! Pacific Rim? I've wanted to see that since it came out!" Alan groaned as he leaned into John's shoulder. "Please, please, please! Can we watch that one Johnny?"
John chuckled but he couldn't deny his baby brother the ability to watch the film. John himself tried watching it, but he only ever got about five minutes in each time before the klaxon would sound and drag him into a rescue.
"Sure thing kiddo." John said as he logged into his movie library to locate the saved movie via Alan's laptop. Once he'd selected the film, John got up and turned out the lights in Alan's room so the glare from the lights wouldn't disturb the movie. Settling back against the raised head portion of Alan's bed, John slung an arm over Alan's shoulders, pulling his little brother closer to rest against him. Alan squirmed and shifted before he had gotten comfortable and before long both brothers were watching the futuristic film with interest.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Jeff sat in meeting room, discussing some legalities of the trial with Alan and Fermat's lawyer. Brains sat beside Jeff, listening intently to what the lawyer was saying.
"So far the information I've provided based on Alan and Fermat's bullying has gotten Robert a couple years in juvie easy…what we need now is to obtain either a written statement from Alan and Fermat stating their involvement in the fire or to interview both boys in front of the courts and jury to give a statement." Jackson Barrett stated over his steepled hands.
"But the boys aren't even close to being well enough to leave the hospital. Alan's in the process of having the skin grafts and reconstructive surgery to repair his feet and Fermat can barely stand let alone walk up to the podium. Neither of them is able to testify in front of the courts." Jeff said with concern. If he'd been a dog, his ears would have flattened back against his head to show his displeasure over the idea of Alan and Fermat leaving the hospital.
"I understand that Jeff. Truly I do. I'm just mentioning what the courts may require of your sons to provide the smoking gun against Robert Flynn." Barrett said with an understanding nod. "There is one more option."
"W-What?" Brains added his two cents.
"If you two would be okay with it, I could advise the courts that your sons are not physically capable of showing up in person and would need to have a video statement given." Barrett said with mirth. "The only problem with that is that someone would have to act as a secondary lawyer and would have to be in the room with the boys to oversee the statement being given."
Jeff and Brains looked at each other as if to get an idea from either one and both deflated visibly.
Barrett said with a shake of the head. "I can't be there in the room with either of the boys, so there won't be anybody there that they know who will be able to provide proper council."
"What about one of my sons? Scott and John could easily field the questions for Alan and Fermat." Jeff suggested. He began to balk though when Barrett shook his head.
"It'd be a conflict of interest. Scott and John are too close to both boys, in particular Alan because they are his brothers." Barrett said with a shrug. "I'm still working on it, but I'd like for the boys not to be alone when giving their statement."