John sat up on the side of his bed and stretched. Today was the day. The nurse had come to inform John that in an hours' time, he'd be walking down to the surgical department to be prepped for surgery. Sure he was nervous, but he was also kind of excited. He was excited to finally be able to do something to help Alan other than offer words of comfort. Dr. Warner had already stopped in to see John, had drawn a road map of sorts of where he planned to remove skin from John's body to transplant on his brother's body.

Walking around the room, John could barely contain himself. He wanted this surgery to be done so that Alan could get on that other road to recovery that would hopefully get him that much closer to being discharged from the hospital so they could begin to put this whole nightmare behind them. It wasn't even about making sure the person who set fire to Wharton was punished, that was a couple buses back if they were talking about moving forward. No this was about getting Alan and Fermat healed and back home so they could focus on moving forward with their own lives.

Pacing around the room, John tried not to go grab his laptop and call Alan. The last time he'd called twenty minutes ago, he'd swear that if Alan couldn't strangle him physically, he'd find a way to do so through the computer monitor. It wasn't even eight in the morning yet and Alan had grown accustomed to sleeping in most the day, since the medicines being given by the hospital made him sleep like the dead…so granted he didn't appreciate being woken up at seven fifteen in the morning.

John walked into the bathroom and shut the door before he hiked up his hospital gown to look at the marks the doctor had drawn on his legs. Turning from side to side, John looked at the ink tracks. He was tempted to grab a paper towel from the dispenser and wet it before wiping off the ink, but he knew he couldn't do that. One it'd likely mess the doctor up if he succeeded in removing the ink and two he'd already tried removing the ink and found it to be permanent marker.

"Come on." John lamented as he exited the bathroom, travelling back to his bed in an effort to quit pacing. He settled on the bed, opening his laptop before closing it and setting it off to the side. He just couldn't do nothing, he had to be doing something, anything but just laying around and being useless to Alan.

When it finally seemed like the clock was content with moving faster, John felt like activity had become a whirlwind. The nurses came in to take down his respirations and heartbeat, he apologized for the raise in blood pressure, but the nurses were not concerned.

"Alright John, ready to get this done?" Karen asked as he held John's IV bag slightly above her own head.

"I was ready when I admitted myself into the hospital." John replied as he followed Karen down the hall, mask firmly in place so he wasn't exposed to any potentially harmful germs floating around through the air. The moment he walked through the double doors, John felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice cold water over him. He looked around the room, at all the surgical instruments that were laid out to be used on him.

"Go ahead and remove your scrub pants John and climb up onto the table." Karen said as she began handing John's IV bag on the provided hook. "You will be awake for the surgery, but the areas will be deadened so you won't feel it."

John gulped at the thought of being conscious and being cut on, but he quickly snapped the mental door shut on those thoughts, choosing instead to focus on how he was helping Alan with his recovery. Alan needed the skin donation in order to kick start his own skin regrowth. Nodding silently, John shimmied from his scrub pants before he lay on the table. He grimaced at the bright overhead light, but didn't say anything.

Soon other surgical staff began climbing from the woodworks and John found himself the object being stuck with various needles. The voices of the surgical staff began to overlap and John couldn't follow who said what and to whom. A blood pressure cuff was wrapped around his upper arm and a sheet was draped over his nether regions while his gown was hiked up to his waist.

"He's numb enough, can I have the dermatone please?"

John lay on the table, thinking of anything other than the device he could feel vibrating against his leg. He turned his head, looking up and spotting several people hovering in a room that appeared to be a viewing room. They were all wearing white lab coats and all of them were observing the surgery.

"How're you feeling John?"

John looked around until he spotted Dr. Warner's head. The man's head was bent over as the gaze was directed at John's leg.

"I'm okay doc. Thanks." John replied as he continued trying not to focus on his leg being cut on like it was a block of cheese. "How long does this typically take?"

Dr. Warner was quiet for several minutes before he answered.

"You're almost done John. You didn't need as much removed as the other donor did." Dr. Warner stated as John felt something press against his thigh. "Suction please."

John just stared up into the bright light as he ignored the dermatone being run over his skin. He just kept his thoughts focused on Alan and how much better Alan would soon be due to John's donation.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan lay in his bed, clutching at the sheet which covered him while he was transported down the hall towards the operating room. He was nervous and afraid, he'd admit it if he was asked about it and he hadn't refused the option to have a prayer said for him. He'd actually asked Dr. Warner if the clergyman from the hospital chapel would say a prayer for him and was surprised that the clergyman could be granted entrance to his room, because it was at a patient's request.

The clergyman, decked out in sterile smocks and gloves took Alan by the hand and Karen who'd been present had bowed her head. The clergyman recited a prayer for protection and when it was all done, Alan had murmured a quick and quiet 'Amen".

Now though, Alan looked around as the gurney he'd been transferred to was wheeled into a bright and shiny room. Closing his eyes partway, Alan tried to ignore the bright light. He fought a shiver as one of the surgical nurses began wiping him down with a betadine solution. After they'd finished sterilizing him, Alan was directed to cross his arms over his chest before he was to be moved to a small operating table. Alan experienced a sense of weightlessness as the sheet he was lying on was used to lift him from the gurney and move him over.

"Alright Alan, you may feel a little pinch. It's just a local anesthetic before we'll be putting you under for the surgery." Dr. Warner said as he gave Alan a shot in his flank. "Anesthesia please."

A mask was placed over Alan's nose and mouth. He looked over at the doctor and was about to ask a question, but he heard a hiss and he tasted a funny fruity taste.

"Count backwards from ten for me please Alan." Macie the surgical nurse said.

"Wha…?" Alan asked as he felt his eyes beginning to droop.

"Count backwards from ten for me while taking deep breaths." Macie repeated as she held the mask in place.

"T-Ten…n-niiine…eee…." Alan slurred before his eyes fell shut.

"Alan are you still awake?" Macie asked as she lightly tapped Alan's cheek. When he didn't respond she looked to Doctor Warner and nodded.

"Okay, start the clock."

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Jeff sat in the waiting room, his mother knitting quietly as Gordon played Tetris on his cell phone. Virgil was flipping through magazines while Scott paced and intermittently checked his watch. Jeff glanced at the clock that hung on the wall before he returned his gaze at the checkered pattern on the floor. When a knock sounded on the door, the entire family looked up to see a nurse.

"Are you the family of A and J Tracy?" The nurse asked as she leaned back out into the hall to check the family waiting room number.

"Yes, how are John and Alan?" Jeff asked as he joined Scott and stood up.

"They're fine. Both made it through surgery and are in recovery right now until they wake up from the anesthesia." The nurse explained as she checked the chart she held which had the notes written up after surgery on both brothers. "Alan experienced some minor bleeding, but we were able to get it stopped. He'll be fine."

"How bad was the bleeding?" Scott asked as he stopped in his tracks at the mention of his brother bleeding in surgery.

"I'm afraid we underestimated how deep one of the burns was on Alan's upper leg and his femoral artery was nicked. We were able to get the bleeding stopped, and Alan is fine. We've got him closely monitored to make sure the suture doesn't tear and he doesn't begin bleeding again." The nurse said as she read through the various documents.

"Where's the doctor? Shouldn't he be telling us this?" Scott asked as he looked for the doctor that did his two brother's surgeries.

"He's with another patient. We had an emergency come in that needed immediate surgery so he's in the operating room right now, but he'll meet with you all when the patient is out of surgery." The nurse said as she prepared to leave. "If you have any questions, please let us know and we'll answer them to the best of our ability."

"Thank you." Jeff said as he reclaimed his seat once more.

"No problem Mr. Tracy." The nurse said before she left.

The family sat around for several hours waiting for the doctor to finish with his other surgery. Another nurse had stopped in to let them know that John had been moved to his regular room and was doing fine while there wasn't much in the way of news for Alan. It was apparent that he was still asleep and would be for a while longer. Alan seemed to stay asleep when put under anesthesia and though that worried Jeff there wasn't anything he could do. The worried patriarch could only remain seated and hope the next time anybody professional would have some good news for Alan.

"Jeff settle down, please." Ruth said as she tutted after Jeff for fidgeting.

"I can't help it mom." Jeff replied as he waited for another doctor or nurse to stop by and tell them that Alan was awake and doing better. Finding out that Alan bled during surgery thanks to a nicked artery just caused Jeff's worry to skyrocket.

"He'll be fine Jeff." Ruth replied, before she patted Jeff's shoulder. "Go get yourself a cup of coffee and see if you can walk off some of that energy."

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Several hours later, Alan finally managed to drag his heavy eyelids open. He blinked several times to try to clear his sleep laden eyes of the sleep and he looked around. He was back in his sterile room, the teddy bear the nurse's got for him was situated beneath his arm; the hoodie he'd gotten from the nurses was draped over his shoulders and Alan was aware of his legs throbbing.

Swallowing in attempt to wet his whistle, Alan fumbled for his call light before he managed to press the button. He looked around the room, in search of something to drink and he could see a cup with a straw. Reaching his arm out, Alan frowned when it occurred to him that it was just out of his reach and Alan didn't feel like irritating his throbbing legs to grab that cup of water.

A knock on the door sounded and Alan was quick to answer.

"Enter!"

Karen slipped in past the door and approached Alan's hospital bed. "How are you doing Alan?"

"I'm thirsty." Alan said as he gazed longingly at his cup.

"We'll just have to fix that." Karen said as she recognized the problem and pulled Alan's bed table closer. Alan latched onto his cup and drank for several minutes until the cup was empty and he frowned when he got the empty 'sluuuurp' sound signaling his cup was empty. "You want some more?"

"Yes please." Alan replied as smacked his lips, still feeling thirsty.

"Let me refill your water then. I'll be right back." Karen took the lid off Alan's cup before she left the room to enter the hall. She'd returned several minutes later with a pitcher of water and she'd replaced the lid on Alan's cup before handing him his cup. Alan immediately began sucking in the ice cold – refreshing water. When he'd had his fill, he set the cup back down and smiled his thanks at Karen. "Is that better honey?"

"Yes, much. Thank you very much Karen." Alan replied as he leaned back into his pillow. "What time is it?"

Karen took a quick glance at her watch before looking back at Alan. "It's about 8pm.

"Really? I've been asleep for a little over twelve hours?" Alan asked incredulously.

"Hmm, you slept about as long after your first surgery too. People tend to react differently to anesthesia." Karen replied as she smoothed Alan's hair back from his face. "It's better that you are one of those heavy sleepers than ones that get agitated on anesthesia."

"People actually do that?" Alan asked as he felt his eyes beginning to droop. "You're right I'd rather…sl-eeep." Alan broke off as a yawn escaped.

"Yes, they do." Karen said as she smiled at her young patient. "Getting sleepy?"

"Yeah…" Alan stretched his arms above his head before he looked back at Karen with sleep laden eyes. "Can you tell my dad and my brothers that I'm okay?"

"Of course I can Alan." Karen replied with another smile before she began to lower Alan's bed. "Now go to sleep dear."

"Yes, ma'am." Alan said as he snuggled into his pillow, clutching the stuffed bear tightly. Just as his eyes started to creep shut he looked up at Karen. "Can I have some pain meds, my legs hurt."

"Absolutely dear." Karen said as she went to go get a pill for Alan. They'd been trying pills to try to wean Alan off of the heavier medications. It'd so far been working and with the surgeries, Alan's pain was becoming a little more tolerable due to the repair and regrowth of damaged nerves. When she'd returned, she woke Alan from his light doze to give him the pill. Alan swallowed it as well as a bunch of water before he smiled back at Karen. "It'll kick in in a few moments dear."

"Thank you Karen." Alan said as he watched Karen do a quick check to the catheter he was still being made to use. "When can I get that taken out Karen?"

Karen stopped her check to look up at the boy and saw the frustration and embarrassment written plainly on his face.

"We'd like to try to keep it in until you are ambulatory enough to make it to the bathroom or at least to a bedside commode, but if you'd prefer to have it out we can supply you with a hand held urinal so that when you have to go you can just go." Karen said as she gestured to a spot on the bed, when Alan nodded his consent Karen sat down. "Do you want the catheter removed?"

At that Alan nodded slightly. "I miss having any independence and now that my hands are better, I should be able to…shouldn't I?"

"Only if you want to. If you'd prefer to wait a while longer, we can…however if you'd prefer to have it removed, we can do that too. It's all entirely up to you." Karen said reassuringly. She knew from helping multiple male patients in Alan's position that some if not all of them felt extremely embarrassed to have something attached to them that helped them out. And if the patient, like Alan had been totally independent prior to the injury, it could be depressing and demeaning to need to rely on someone else to help them with something they'd been totally able to do before they'd been injured.

"Can I think a little more about it and let you or Dr. Warner know?" Alan asked, blush present on his face.

"Absolutely Alan. This is your care we're talking about. It's up to you if you want to try different things." Karen said as she lightly patted Alan's hands, noticing how his hands although indeed looking better were still wrapped lightly in bandages to keep the skin somewhat covered. "Now why don't you close your eyes and go on to sleep?"

"Can you turn on the TV please?" Alan asked as it occurred to him how quiet his room was.

"What channel would you like it on?" Karen asked as she turned on Alan's TV.

"Could you put it on one of the music channels? I don't want to watch anything, I just want to listen." Alan replied.

"Sure Alan." Karen said before she stopped on a channel. "Oh I love Declan Galbraith, he's a fabulous singer."

"You can keep that on." Alan murmured as he listened to the song that played. "What's the name of this song Karen?"

"It's called Love of My Life." Karen replied as she closed her eyes. She loved listening to the boy singer.

"He's good." Alan murmured as he could no longer fight the call of sleep. "Night."

"Good night dear." Karen said as she left the room, after pulling the blankets up to Alan's chin when he'd closed his eyes.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Jeff sat straight up suddenly from a sound sleep, gasping; Jeff looked around the room before he grabbed his cell phone and powered it on. Once it'd powered up, Jeff kicked off his blankets and entered the bathroom. Turning on the light, Jeff blocked his eyes from the bright overhead light before he'd dialed the number that had become a familiar one.

"Massachusetts General Hospital – how may I direct your call?"

"Could you patch me in to the nurse's station in the burn and isolation ward please?" Jeff requested.

"One moment please."

Jeff sat on the lip of the bathtub as he listened to the jazzy elevator music. He hoped they'd get him transferred over immediately, he just needed to reassure himself that Alan was fine. He'd had a bad dream and he just needed to make damn sure that nothing had happened.

"This is Nurse Candy in Mass Gen's burn and isolation ward, whom may I ask is calling."

"Hello Nurse Candy, this is Jeff Tracy, I've spoken with you on several occasions. I was calling to inquire about my son Alan." Jeff asked softly, not wanting to disturb Brains in the next room over.

"Oh yes, Mr. Tracy! It's a little late to be calling, is everything okay?" Candy asked as it sounded like she was shuffling papers.

"I just wanted to check on my youngest son, he had the surgery today to have the donated skin from his older brother placed and I wanted to find out how he was doing." Jeff whispered. "I was told that the femoral artery was nicked during surgery so I just want to find out how he's doing and if he's okay."

"Oh yeah, he's just fine Mr. Tracy. Woke up about eight and took a pain pill then he woke up again a little after eleven asking for something to eat. He's doing fabulous." Candy replied, a smile in her voice.

"That's good to hear. Thank you, you've taken a good bit of stress off my mind." Jeff responded in kind, releasing a breath he hadn't been aware he'd been holding. "Thanks again Candy, have a good night."

"And you too Mr. Tracy. Good night." Candy said as Jeff hung up the phone. Jeff stayed seated on the lip of the tub as he carded his fingers through his hair briefly. Thinking back to the nightmare he'd had Jeff shook his head as he banished the thought of what he'd dreamt become a reality. It wouldn't happen. It hadn't happened and Alan was fine. He would be fine…one day, hopefully very, very soon.

Standing up from his perch, Jeff set his cell phone on the shelf above the sink before he turned on the cold faucet. Cupping his hands beneath the chilled water, Jeff was quick to splash his face a few times before he stepped back and looked at his reflection. A pale faced man, who looked fifteen pounds lighter, dark shadows beneath a pair of worried eyes gazed back. Jeff grasped the towel that hung beside the sink and dried his face before he retrieved his phone and left to return to bed.

As he sat on the edge of his bed, Jeff held his breath as he heard a slight intake of breath. Easing back to lay back down, Jeff was startled when a voice called out softly.

"J-Jeff, are you alright?"

It took Jeff a minute to remember that he was sharing a room with his longtime friend, employee and occasional confidant. He was grateful for Brains' presence, but sometimes the man had a habit for being sneaky, not that it surprised Jeff much. The quiet ones usually were the best at creeping up on people and scaring them.

"I'm fine Brains." Jeff replied, hoping Brains wouldn't ask what Jeff was doing up before the roosters would crow, but he failed to dodge that bullet.

"I-Is Alan okay?" Brains asked, voice laden with sleep, yet still inquisitive.

"How'd you know I was worried about Alan?" Jeff inquired, curious to how Brains picked up on the signs that Jeff was worried.

"You're a r-restless sleeper when y-you worry." Brains replied. "So i-is he okay or d-do you need t-to go to the hospital?"

"I'm sorry if I kept you awake Brains. No Alan's fine. I called to get an update on Alan and he's already woken up and asked for food." Jeff responded, smiling at how despite how little Alan had a tendency to eat, his stomach still controlled his thoughts for the most part.

"That's good." Brains muttered as it became apparent that he was slowly going back to sleep.

"Good night Brains." Jeff murmured with a small chuckle.

"G-Good night Jeff." Brains replied with a small yawn.

Jeff laid awake as he listened to Brains' breathing slowly even back out until Jeff was left alone to his thoughts. Alan would be okay…wouldn't he?

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan laid in bed, fingers twitching as he felt the urge to scratch at the new skin. He was so itchy! The nurses had just come in to put some ointment on his legs in attempt to stop the confounded urge to scratch, but Alan still felt it and he fought tooth and nail to not scratch, not even a little bit. He'd learned that the hard way when he had the chicken pox many years ago, he had a scar on his cheek, beside his nose where he'd opened a pock mark and it scarred after he'd gotten over the chicken pox.

Closing his eyes Alan tried to focus on the music station he'd been listening to all night. Gripping the sheets tightly in his fists, Alan growled when he felt another tickle behind his knee flare up and he scrunched up his face as he fought the need to relieve said tickle. A familiar song came on and Alan listened to the words before he began humming along. Virgil had introduced him to this particular vocal group and Alan had to admit they were pretty brilliant despite doing covers of most of today's songs.

Glancing around, Alan double checked to make sure he was totally alone. "Hello? Is there anyone in here with me?"

When nobody answered, Alan reached out with a hiss to grasp his curtain and peak outside to be sure he was totally alone. Not seeing anyone in the room or signs that someone was hiding, Alan shut his curtain before taking a deep breath. Softly Alan began rapping along with the group, before picking up in volume. Using his bedside table since it was a solid surface, Alan began tapping out a beat. He actually couldn't stand Nicki Minaj, but this group does a pretty good cover of her song Starships. The song in particular was the song that Virgil had showed Alan, primarily to get Alan's goat since he made it known in his family that he couldn't stand Nicki Minaj, but Virgil was astounded when Alan commented that it was pretty good…or the cover was anyway. Together the two of them sat and looked through playlists on YouTube one of those rare times that Alan was on the island and his brothers felt like hanging out with him. That was when Virgil discovered Alan and he both had a love for acapella music, though nobody knew Alan could sing or rap or even keep a beat for that matter.

After that song ended, Alan sat and listened to the station. No longer was he feeling tired, if anything he was restless. Much more so than what he'd been after the previous surgery. Rapping his knuckles against the bed, Alan was reminded of the urge to scratch. It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't drive him crazy to ignore the urge. Dr. Warner and the nurses told him that under no uncertain terms could he begin to scratch and if he did begin to he had to stop no matter how good it felt. The new skin was still too new and scratching had the potential to cause it to slough off. It had to stay until Alan's body began to recognize it as his and regrow new healthy skin in place of the damaged flesh.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Elijah Pellegrini sat at his desk, pinching the bridge of his nose with a groan of frustration. This wasn't how he'd imagined the trial going. Robert Flynn had fired his lawyer and had refused each and every state appointed lawyer since. He was insistent on representing himself and despite the judge talking to him in her chambers; the brat felt that he was innocent in this whole thing. He was determined to represent himself and plead his innocence. What he hadn't imagined happening was the boy's father despite having had a heart attack a little over a month ago demanding his son be represented by a good lawyer and hiring a guy to represent his hellion.

"What am I going to do with this family?" Elijah asked Lulu Bell. The dog cocked her head to the side and snuffed before she went over to her water bowl in Elijah's office. The police officer watched on in amusement as the dog submerged her snout into the water bowl and blew bubbles with her nose. Chuckling to himself, he grabbed his cell phone and videotaped the dog and her antics. He swore the next time he saw Alan, since the boy had admitted to loving dogs he'd show him this video of his dog being her playful self when she wasn't required to be Elijah's guide. "Well, blowing bubbles at the family won't work, got any other ideas Lulu Bell?"

The dog lifted her snout from her water bowl and chuffed at him before re-submerging her snout in the water. Obviously the dog was more interested in playing than helping him figure out just how he could get this issue with the accused straightened out.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Robert sat at the table in the jail cell meant for meetings. He glared hard at the female who'd come to announce that she'd been hired by his father to represent him. Growling under his breath, Robert closed his eyes as he decided to ignore the woman. He didn't need to listen to her.

"I don't want a lawyer. I'm innocent." Robert said hotly as he clenched his teeth when the matronly woman made a tsk noise.

"Robert, I was hired by your father to represent you. He doesn't want to see you go to jail, but you will if you insist on representing yourself." The woman said as she looked at the boy who sat rigidly in his seat. "What am I supposed to tell your father if I return to inform him that you refuse my services."

"I don't know and honestly I don't give a damn! I am going to represent myself and I don't want anybody telling me any more if I am right or wrong. I know I'm innocent and I'll take my chances! Leave!" Robert loudly said as he banged a fist on the table.

"Robert…" The woman began as she tried to take Robert's hand, but she'd recoiled when he slapped her hand away.

"I said leave damn it! Can't you see that I don't want your damn help and I don't need that bastard that I used to call dad? Tell him when you go back that I don't want his help! He abandoned me, mom and my sister and he can stay the hell out of my life since he so willingly left back then!" Robert yelled as he shoved the table away violently. The hired lawyer jumped up, alarmed at the violent outburst of the young man in front of her.

"Alright, I'll leave. But I can almost guarantee your father will be down to see you when he's better." The lawyer replied as she exited the room, leaving the raging boy behind as he ripped up the pages of the contract the woman had suggested he sign, adhering him to her in a legally binding contract which would place him in her legal custody so to speak.