John lay in the bed, making a cat's cradle with a strand of yarn he'd nicked from the shopping bag of yarn Scott and their grandma picked up just before dropping him off at the hospital. He was ignoring the IV that had been taped to the top of his hand and tried fervently to just do anything constructive. Virgil had been kind enough to loan John his laptop so they could chat with him and Alan separately or together. Speaking of which, John was curious about how Alan was doing.
When he'd last seen Alan he was getting his hair washed and he'd tied John's hospital gown closed for him to save him from embarrassment. That was a week ago. Now John was curious about how Alan was doing, as he was the one who'd be undergoing another surgery by the end of this week. It had to be getting old now; the constant checks from the nurses and medical personnel. Laying the yarn he was playing with on his lap, John pulled Virgil's laptop into his lap and fired it up. As soon as the home screen came up, John sent a ping to Alan's laptop, hoping he'd pick up soon.
As soon as the connection was made, John smiled pleasantly at his baby brother. He looked well, or as well as one in the hospital could look.
"Hey Al, how's it hanging?" John asked as he looked into his brothers equally blue eyes.
"Meh." Alan replied with a shrug.
"That good huh?" John asked curiously. "What's wrong?"
"You really want to know?" Alan said, his eyes becoming stormy.
"Of course I do Al…what's wrong?" John asked as the smile slid from his face at the ever increasing sadness and distress on Alan's face. It wasn't until tears began shining in Alan's eyes that John wondered if Alan had gotten bad news. "Hey, don't cry…what's the matter?"
"I hate being in the hospital…" Alan said, his lip trembling as he tried to fend off the tears threatening to fall.
"What happened? Did you get some bad news?" John asked quietly, not understanding what had upset Alan.
"Yeah I got bad news…but it's nothing anybody can fix." Alan said as he sniffed back his tears.
"What was the bad news Sprout?" John asked, serious and concerned for his little brother.
"That even when you're in the hospital, important dates don't matter." Alan said before blinking, allowing a tear to fall.
"What important date are you talking about Sprout, I don't have a calendar so I don't know what day it is." John replied, wondering what important day Alan was talking about.
"Hover your mouse icon over the clock on Virge's laptop…you'll find out what important day I'm talking about." Alan said before disconnecting the vid call in a fit of anger.
John was shocked needless to say at Alan's display of anger, but he did exactly as Alan said and groaned aloud when he realized what today's date was. Biting his knuckle, John hit the nurse call button because he had to find out if there was anything that could be done to make things right with Alan. He and their family screwed up royally.
When the nurse came in John immediately recognized her as the nurse Alan and Virgil talked about.
"Karen, please I need to know if there is something you can help me with." John said, getting right to the point.
"Sure John…what is it?" Karen came over, seeing that John didn't appear to need any help physically or had made a mess or anything.
"Yesterday was Alan's birthday…and my family and I forgot. Is there any way you can talk to Dr. Warner, see if there are any strings he can pull so we can get my family over here with a birthday cake to have Alan a little birthday party?" John asked, pleadingly. He didn't care about his pride. He cared more about his little brother than his pride.
Karen looked grim before she shook her head.
"I don't believe there are any stings that can be pulled John…you and Alan both are on immunosuppressant medications. If either of you get sick we have to call off the surgery we have scheduled for Alan because we wouldn't have a fit donor or recipient. Not only that, but if either of you get sick, it could be disastrous." Karen said, a frown flitting over her features.
"Then is there someone down in the kitchen who can whip up a birthday cake for Alan, just a small one? Even a cupcake would better than nothing for him. He and I can hang out and spend time together, since we're both on immunosuppressant medications. We can't get sick off of each other because we've both been sterilized against any harmful bacteria." John begged. "Please, we've never just plain forgotten his birthday before. If we couldn't host a birthday party for him in the past we'd schedule one at a later date with his blessing for the day."
Karen looked torn. She knew protocol and she knew that she could be reprimanded for breaking protocol, but she also knew Alan as he'd been in her care for the last month and he didn't ever ask for much. Often times if he wasn't hungry or anything due to the pain zapping his appetite, Karen would often sneak something from the kitchen downstairs to give him…even if it didn't go along with his specialized diet. But then she was pretty sure the night nurse Candy and Dr. Warner were guilty of the same thing. What could she say? Alan liked sweets and if a piece of cheesecake or chocolate pudding did the trick to get him to eat something then all the power to junk food.
"I'll see what I can do…okay? No promises though John." Karen said before gently pushing John back to recline in his bed. "I will talk to Dr. Warner; see if he can pull some strings so you and Alan can spend time together for Alan's birthday."
"Thank you." John replied, still feeling like the biggest heel in the entire universe.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Dr. Warner sat at his desk, contemplating what could be seen as suicide. He was trying to work up the courage to call Alan's father, talk to the man about something the handler of Sadie offered. He knew they wouldn't be ready for some time yet, but it did seem only fair that Alan get the opportunity, seeing as he was there for their birth.
Dialing the number to Jeff's personal cell phone, Dr. Warner waited patiently for the man to answer the phone.
"This is Jeff." Dr. Warner started at the sound of Jeff Tracy's voice as the call was answered.
"Hello Jeff." Dr. Warner replied, while trying to force himself to say the words without backing out in the reason for this call. "This is Dr. Warner calling."
"Hello Dr. Warner, what can I do for you today?" Jeff asked cordially. Dr. Warner swallowed as he tried to work up the courage to ask his young patient's father the question he'd intended on asking. "Is Alan okay?"
"Oh, yeah…Alan's fine." Dr. Warner said as he tried to go over what he'd thought up to say earlier.
"So what's going on?" Jeff asked, mildly guarded.
"A few days ago, the companion animal that we've prescribed to Alan…well she had a litter of kits in his room." Dr. Warner began. He was cut off by Jeff.
"I don't like where this is going Dr." Jeff said with a sigh.
"Anyway, Sadie…the companion animal as I'm sure you are aware is a lop eared rabbit. Her handler doesn't want any baby bunnies and had never intended on Sadie getting pregnant. He's offered Alan first pick of the litter since the kits were born in his room and he was present for their birth. I figured it best to discuss it to you before I bring it up to Alan." Dr. Warner continued, holding his breath as he waited to hear Jeff's decision.
There was a long drawn out sigh on the other side of the phone and Dr. Warner wondered if he'd angered the papa Tracy. He hoped not. Calling and talking to Mr. Tracy about the possibility of Alan having a baby bunny to keep him company as a companion animal hadn't been meant to anger the man.
"Don't mention it to Alan right now. I'd like to talk this over with his brothers to find out if they'd be willing to lend a hand if I allow Alan to keep one of the kits as a pet." Jeff said as he heaved another sigh. "Will that be all Dr. Warner?"
"Yes sir, that is all." Dr. Warner replied as he relaxed. Jeff hadn't reached through the phone to strangle him at all and he counted that as a job well done.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
John sat anxiously on the edge of his bed as he waited for the nurse to show up with the damn wheelchair he was being forced to use. He didn't need it but because of 'hospital policy' he was being made to ride over two rooms down to Alan's hospital room where the nurses and staff would be throwing Alan a belated birthday bash. Karen had talked to a couple of the staff that had gotten to know Alan, the group up in the burn unit where Alan would return when he was finished with his surgeries. They'd pooled together to get Alan a small birthday present and they'd talked to one of the cooks in the cafeteria to see if a specially made cupcake could be done and were surprised that one of the cooks knew how to create cake batter from scratch.
It'd been an hour and a half and John was finally told that Alan would be permitted a visit from John, a birthday cake had been created and though no lit candles were permitted, they'd set up fifteen candles to mark this as Alan's fifteenth birthday. Throwing on the provided scrub pants, John gingerly climbed into the wheelchair and waited as the IV stand was prepared for transport. When it was ready, John could barely sit still as the chair was being rolled forward. He thanked Karen when she placed a wrapped package in John's lap, a gift from the gift shop that had been sanitized to the isolation wards standards. When they reached Alan's hospital room door, John knocked and waited to hear Alan's reply.
"Go away." John frowned at the sound of complete hopelessness from Alan before he looked at Karen inquiringly. She shrugged before motioning at John to open the door. John held his breath before pushing open the door, ignoring Alan's sullen response. Waiting in the doorway, John could have sworn he'd heard a sniffle before Alan's pronounced voice sounded from behind the curtain. "Didn't you hear me? I said go away!"
John felt his heart breaking as he heard another sniffle, but he pushed Karen's hands away from the chair and wheeled himself forward before gently pulling back the curtain that was hiding Alan from view.
"I heard you Sprout, but you know nosy brothers…they don't always listen." John said softly as he wheeled over to Alan who had his head buried in his pillows to muffle his cries. Alan quickly wiped at his eyes and sat up to stare at John when he spoke. John held up the wrapped gift in his lap. "Happy late birthday Sprout."
Alan's tears looked to be renewing, but he simply hung his head and sniffled loudly before scrubbing a bandaged hand across his eyes to dry his tears.
"What are you doing here?" Alan asked as he gave another sniffle.
"I am here to make it up to you kiddo." John said before locking the brakes on the wheelchair and standing up. Leaning down, John grabbed Alan up in a hug and squeezed gently. "I know a belated birthday gift doesn't make things better, but I hope you'll forgive us for forgetting. Please don't cry."
"It's not me, it's the damn medicine making me cry. And it's not just you guys forgetting that made this the worst birthday ever. It was also just being in the hospital in general…being away from you guys." Alan said sadly as he burrowed his face into the front of John's hospital gown. "I want to go home."
"I know you do Sprout…I want to go home too, but we have to stay just a little longer until you're all better. Then we can go home…okay?" John whispered into Alan's ear. "It'll be okay little brother."
Alan nodded slowly before pulling back from the hug. He moved over painstakingly slow to make room on his bed for John and he relaxed in his brother's arms when John reclined back against Alan's bed…slinging an arm over Alan's shoulders.
"So…birthday boy. What say you open your birthday present and we get this party started?" John said as he inclined his head in the direction of the gift sitting in Alan's lap.
"Okay." Alan said as he began to open the gift. He only stopped when a voice stopped him.
"Is this a private party?" Dr. McNulty asked as he poked his head around the edge of the curtain to look at Alan and John with a smile.
"Nah! The more the merrier!" John said as he reached out and pulled Alan's curtain open to reveal a couple of the nurses from the burn unit, Karen, Candy and a few other nurses that Alan had gotten to know over the span of his hospital stay. Alan felt genuine shock that so many people had gathered for a quickly thrown together birthday party, but the shock faded to appreciation. He hugged the few nurses that he'd grown close to in the burn unit and accepted the gifts they'd given him. He greatly appreciated the gifts even if they were magazines gotten from the gift shop. But the shock returned when Dr. McNulty squeezed past everyone before he returned with a small cake that had been decorated with white icing and red letters.
Happy 15th Birthday Alan
Love you Sprout
Alan felt his throat close up with emotion as he hugged John tightly…or as tight as he could in thanks for the birthday cake, presents and general celebration.
"Thank you John." Alan whispered as he continued hugging his brother.
"No problem Sprout." John said as he reciprocated the hug given by his baby brother. "So, what're you waiting for? Open your present so we can dig into that cake over there."
Alan pulled out of the hug and did as John said and tore into the present. He smiled when he found it was a zip up hoodie wrapped up in a box and the hoodie was still wrapped in cellophane plastic ensuring that it was untouched by anyone that could possibly pass on an illness or bacteria to Alan. John removed the hoodie from its wrapping and unfolded it to see that it said Mass. Gen printed across the front. Alan smiled his thanks because believe it or not he did get cold easy what with the thin gown he had to wear and the equally thin hospital blankets that he often requested two or three of to stay warm.
"Cake now…please." Alan said as he made grabby hands at the cake. John couldn't help but to laugh as Mary one of the nurses from the burn unit came forward with the cake. Producing a spatula from the pocket of her jacket, Mary began cutting the cake…enough pieces so everyone could get a piece. When Alan dug in his eyes lit up at the taste of rich dark chocolate. "I think I've died and gone to heaven…this cake is so good."
"This is pretty good chocolate cake, I'll agree. But it doesn't beat Grandma's homemade devil's food cake." John said as he too took a bite of the cake, glad that the nurses were aware of Alan's love of chocolate. Everyone ate their fill before they cleaned up and prepared to depart. When the impromptu party was done, Alan sat there with a sad smile. He hated to see John go, but it was a better birthday even if it was late in coming.
"Well, Sprout…I guess this is goodbye for now." John said as he hugged Alan warmly, glad he could put a smile on his brother's face if only for a little while.
"Yeah, I guess so." Alan hugged John back. "Thank you."
"It's no problem kiddo. I'd have done this anyway even if we weren't in the hospital." John said before he moved into his wheelchair, ready to return to his hospital room. "Give me a ring, I've got Virge's laptop with me."
"Okay." Alan said as he smiled his thanks at his brother. "Thanks again."
"It's no problem Sprout. I swear. I had fun, I'm just happy I could do this for you." John said before he allowed the nurse to wheel him from the room.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Jeff strode down the hall and he knocked on the bedroom door that his sons were staying in. When the door opened, he grinned when he saw it was Virgil.
"Hey there son." Jeff said as he accepted the hug from his middle child.
"Hey dad. What's up?" Virgil asked as he hugged his father.
"I just wanted to run something by you boys before I made a decision. Find out your thoughts and opinions. Would it be alright if I came in?" Jeff asked as he pulled out of the hug from Virgil to hug Gordon and Scott.
"Sure dad, come on in." Scott allowed their dad to enter before closing the door. "What'd you want to run by us?"
Jeff pulled out the chair by the desk and he sat down, before gesturing at his sons to do the same. When they sat down, Jeff began to speak.
"As you all know, the hospital prescribed Alan a…companion animal to keep him company and to provide therapy while he's in isolation and going through these surgeries." Jeff said, looking at each of his sons that nodded with understanding. "Well, I just got off the phone with Dr. Warner a few minutes ago and he brought to my attention that Alan's companion animal Sadie, had a litter of kits while in Alan's room a few days ago."
"Oh snap." Gordon said with a wry grin. "He's the father isn't he?"
"Shut up." Scott said as he swiftly kicked Gordon in the shins. The red head yelped but didn't do much else.
Jeff cleared his throat before continuing.
"Sadie's handler apparently wasn't planning on breeding Sadie and doesn't know what to do with her babies. He has offered since they were born in Alan's room to let Alan have first pick of the litter. I wanted to know what you boys all thought of Alan having a pet rabbit back on the island." Jeff looked at his sons and saw their eyes light up.
"I think it'd be a great idea dad." Virgil said with a smile on his face.
"Yeah, then when Alan gets tired of it we can ask Onaha to fix up some hasenpfeffer." Gordon said while rubbing his belly with a grin.
"Stop it, we won't be eating Alan's pet." Scott said with mild disgust.
"So I take it that's a unanimous vote for Alan having a baby bunny for a pet?" Jeff said with a grin. "Okay, well I'll give Alan's doctor a call a little later to let him know our decision."
It was right about that time the vid phone rang on Scott's laptop. Scott quirked an eyebrow but retrieved his laptop and logged in before accepting a call from John's account. Settling on the edge of the bed, Scott looked at his brother's disgruntled look. Before he could even open his mouth, John was speaking.
"Please tell me you guys got Alan something for his birthday." John's eyes were wide like he was worried or concerned.
Scott looked up from his laptop as if spurned by something before his eyes widened. They'd forgotten Alan's birthday!
"Damn it. Have you talked to him at all today?" Scott asked, not batting an eyelash when his dad made a noise of disapproval over his choice of words.
"Before or after his crying jag?" John asked with a wince. "Guys, we really screwed up. I could have cost Dr. Warner and the nurses their jobs by begging them to let me into Alan's room with a cake one of the cooks down in the kitchen made for him or gifts from the gift shop. He was miserable when I showed up with Karen."
"Well that settles it, Alan's getting one of those bunnies." Virgil said flippantly, he was kicking himself internally for forgetting what day it was the day prior. It wouldn't have killed him to call Alan and wish him a happy birthday. "Do you know if Fermat or any of his other friends called to wish him a happy birthday by chance?"
"Alan said he got a video card from the guys that are all together. Apparently they got together and sang a very off-key version of happy birthday to him and Fermat and he chatted a bit before bed yesterday night. I know Alan mentioned he was giving Fermat a pass on forgetting his birthday because he was dealing with doctor consults and physical therapy all day yesterday. Apparently he was wiped when he got around to calling Alan." John replied. "Honestly I think when he gets out of the hospital we should throw him a big birthday party and invite his friends to come hang out with Alan and Fermat. Maybe they could come spend a week on the island and we could go into operation cover up. Though I doubt we'll be going back into action for some time yet after Alan and Fermat are discharged."
"That's not a bad idea John." Jeff said with a smile. He wouldn't mind Alan and Fermat's friends coming out as long as International Rescue could be guaranteed to not interfere or become a pressing issue that Alan's friends could stumble upon.
"Now what is this about Alan getting a bunny?" John asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"Alan's companion animal Sadie gave birth to a litter in Alan's room the other day. The doc called to ask dad's permission if Alan could have first pick of the litter since he was there for their birth." Scott replied in answer to John's question. "We all agreed that we wouldn't mind helping Alan care for the bunny."
"Alan's getting a pet? To keep?" John asked in astonishment. He and Scott had a dog when they were growing up, but it was an old shelter rescue that died when Virge was three month old. They hadn't had any pets since Comet the stray cat that took a shining to Alan when he was a baby. Best cat a bunch of kids could have had. Sure Gordon got to keep fish, but those don't really count as pets. Virgil, John and Alan were constantly asking their dad for a pet growing up, but Jeff said no. Not after their mother died. Jeff didn't want the cat around after Lucy died because it reminded him of Lucy so he asked his mom to take the cat. Old thing was still alive last he heard, twelve years old last he checked.
"Yes, as long as Alan wants one. I'm not forcing him to get one if he doesn't want one. But the option is there if he decides that he wants a rabbit to care for back on the island." Jeff replied.
"So, what if Alan decides he doesn't want a bunny but something else instead…would you allow him to get another cat or a dog?" John asked timidly. He knew why his dad didn't want cats around, his mom had been afraid of cats as a child and she tolerated Comet because Scott begged to keep her. Cats reminded Jeff of Lucy's fear which reminded him of Lucy.
Jeff fixed his mouth in a tight line before he sighed. "I don't know that I'd want another cat hanging around the villa, but a dog I wouldn't mind. Maybe we could train it to go on rescues with us, help us search for people."
"You'd really be okay with a dog dad?" Gordon asked.
"Yeah, as long as it's not a yapper. I wouldn't mind something strong and sturdy like a lab or retriever. Just nothing that would suffer in the heat on the island or something that sheds a lot." Jeff replied watching his sons grin.
"Do you think you'd let us have both? Alan gets a bunny and we get a dog to train to work with IR?" Virgil asked hopefully. He and John shared a hopeful look through the computer screen. Jeff heaved a sigh.
"I suppose so. But not until after we are all back on the island. I don't want to deal with a dog getting used to the hotel as it's territory just to be reacquainted with the villa." Jeff said sternly. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir!" John and Virgil replied with the biggest smiles on their faces. They were excited now that it was confirmed they could get a pet.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Alan lay in his bed, running his fingers over the warm material of the hoodie. Granted he didn't want any reminders of the time he was in the hospital, but this one he'd make an exception for. The nurses got Alan what was available and he appreciated the gift. He still felt hurt that John was the only one in his family so far to acknowledge his birthday but he was trying to keep an open mind. His family had a lot on their mind and their plates right now and couldn't stop to wish him a birthday wish. It's not like his birthday was a national holiday.
A knock on the door made Alan start, before he called for whoever was knocking to enter. He waved at Dr. Warner when he entered the room.
"Hey Doc, what's up?" Alan asked as he pushed himself up in bed with a grimace.
"Just stopping by to have a little chat." Dr. Warner said as he perched on the edge of Alan's bed, before settling his hands in his lap. "Do you remember the other day, when Sadie had babies?"
"Yeah, it freaked me out." Alan replied with wide eyes. How could he forget. Despite there being a lack of blood, there was still some and he was kind of turned off by it. But he knew there'd always be some blood.
"Well, I was talking with Sadie's handler and he informed me that he would like to find them suitable homes. He doesn't have room for six new baby bunnies and he wanted to know since you were there for their birth if you'd like first pick of the litter." Dr. Warner said with an easygoing smile.
Alan snorted at the suggestion before giving a chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Dr. Warner asked with a knowing look.
"My dad would never let me have a pet. Even if it's a turtle I wouldn't be permitted to keep it." Alan replied. "I know my dad and he is as anti-pet as they come."
"I don't know about. You see I already talked to your father and he and your brothers discussed it and they've agreed that there is nothing wrong with you having one of these baby bunnies as a pet." Dr. Warner replied, watching as the blood drained from Alan's face. "I take it you are pleased?"
"This can't be happening. My dad doesn't like animals, he didn't even like when my brother Gordon caught some clownfish from the reef by our island and kept them to study. Gordon had to practically present a full textbook study just so he could keep them." Alan replied as he lay his head back into his pillow. "You're pulling my leg aren't you doc?"
"I'm not. I've already discussed it with your father and everyone is in agreement that you deserve a pet to care for and your father feels you can handle the responsibility." Dr. Warner replied as he looked on at his patient. "When the kits are ready and you are to a point in your recovery that visitors outside of family are permitted in, I'll let Sadie's handler know and he can bring the kits in for you to decide which one you want to keep."
"Those kits will be old and gray by the time I've reached that point." Alan pouted.
"No, I wouldn't go so far to say they'll be old and gray. They will be old enough to take home though. And Sadie's handler can begin training the bunny you pick to take over Sadie's job to be your companion." Dr. Warner said as he shifted on the bed.
"Training? How do you train a bunny?" Alan asked curiously.
"Well, you've got to train them to not eat everything like your furniture or your plants and not to make messes." Dr. Warner replied with a soft smile. As Dr. Warner got up to prepare to leave he tossed one last recommendation over his shoulder. "Might I suggest that you contact your father and thank him? I know he'll appreciate it."
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Jeff was smiling as he watched Scott try to dunk Gordon in the water at the pool while Virgil lounged on a lounge chair beside him. At Virgil's request, they all went down to the pool to just relax and not worry about the case involving the fire and Alan. They especially didn't want to think about Robert and what that boy was accused of doing to harm their own flesh and blood. So it came as a surprise when Jeff's cell phone rang.
Jeff fished his cell phone from his board shorts pocket and checked the caller ID and found it to be from the hospital. Feeling his heart clench in concern, Jeff answered the phone.
"This is Jeff."
"Thank you so much dad!"
"Alan? What are you doing calling me?" Jeff asked as he sat up a bit straighter, noticing from the corner of his eye that Virgil had placed the book he'd been reading down on his lap.
"Well, I tried calling on the laptop and nobody answered. So I called John to find out where you guys were and he mentioned you guys were headed down to the pool. I asked Karen if I could use a phone to call you and she let me use one of the landline phones that can hook up to the outlet in a patient's room." Alan replied. "I wanted to call to thank you for letting me have one of Sadie's babies as a pet."
"Don't worry about it Alan. It's no trouble. Just consider it your birthday present from your brothers and I." Jeff replied.
There was a considerable amount of silence on the other line and it made Jeff wonder if Alan had hung up on him. When he heard the hitched breath though he knew that wasn't the case.