A/N: So I've finally gotten moved into my new apartment and now that I have time instead of packing...I can actually get some writing done. I feel like a neglectful author with leaving ya'll hanging for so long on Rising From The Ashes and Never Look Back - Belonging. So hopefully I can get some more written now that I've got nothing but time.
Comments greatly appreciated and ya'll are awesome!
In the days that followed the testimony given by John, several things happened. The first was Alan being moved from his isolation room back to the shared room with Fermat in the burn unit which both boys were ecstatic over. The second was the family was finally able to go see Alan in person. They'd had to go in separately at the doctor's order – but they all got to see their youngest member.
Currently Alan was being fed his lunch by John and was taking advantage of being in close proximity to his second oldest brother. John was sitting shoulder to shoulder with Alan and was insisting on helping Alan despite the youngest having almost full use of his hands.
"So how did your testimony thing go?" Alan asked, taking no notice to the breading crumbs at the corners of his mouth. John thought it was endearing and he smiled softly as he reached out and brushed the crumbs away from Alan's mouth.
"It went well. I got it done and hopefully I won't have to do it again any time soon." John replied with a sigh. "If it wasn't for the judge and lawyers being present, I may or may not have beaten that little brat within an inch of his life."
"I can't imagine it was that bad." Alan murmured before accepting a bite of the sandwich with a look of acceptance, however sad it may have been. John knew Alan was getting tired of the bland diet. According to Alan's doctor, despite his distinct lack of appetite, he'd begun steadily putting on weight; about ten pounds. Didn't matter any to John though, he could still pick Alan up and carry him much in the similar fashion to that of a bride without much struggle. Alan never did weigh much and John in his weaker strength category as opposed to his other brothers could still carry Alan without breaking a sweat.
"You have no idea." John groaned before he reached up with his free hand and scratched at Alan's scalp.
"Oh yeah, I didn't have to face my personal hell at all." Alan murmured to which John cast a sympathetic look.
"Alan, no I'm sorry. I know you had it a lot more roughly than I could ever dream of. I'm just being a baby about it." John apologized to which he smiled sheepishly at Alan. "Do you forgive me?"
"Yeah, you didn't do anything to offend me. Apologies aren't necessary." Alan said before taking another bite of his sandwich. "You know, I'll be glad when we can go home. I'm getting tired of eating cardboard."
"You are, are you?" John asked with a playful smile. "I bet you'd get sick of eating those health food bars like I do. Especially when I'm…you know."
"You know I'd smuggle chocolate up with me so I wouldn't have to eat those god forsaken bars…" Alan whispered with a chuckle before he squirmed away when John attempted to put him in a headlock. "Oh I've missed this!"
"You little squirt, you know I'll find your chocolate stash if it's the last thing I do." John and Alan started wrestling lightly and Fermat who'd previously been asleep woke up to start laughing in earnest at the two brothers.
"Gentlemen, please keep your horseplay to a minimum."
Alan and John looked up sheepishly to see none other than Dr. Andreessen standing in the doorway. Alan practically lit up in excitement to see the doctor that had been his primary during this whole thing at the hospital.
"We don't want to unsettle any of the little babies I have behind me." Dr. Andreessen admitted before walking in with the handler of Sadie. The man was dressed out in scrubs also, but he had the additional crate with him that carried the baby bunnies that had been born in Alan's bed a few weeks back. John smiled at the sight and Alan became excited to see the bunnies he'd been witness to minutes after their birth. "We figured that since they were getting to be old enough to go to good homes that you'd like pick of the litter?"
"Heck yeah!" Alan whispered excitedly. He cooed softly when the handler placed the crate in a vacant chair before opening it and letting Alan look in on the babies. "They're so cute!"
"Well, I'll be." John murmured as he looked at the babies also. He could see Alan practically turning into a pile of goo at the sight of the baby bunnies that scampered around inside the crate. "You like them?"
"Uh huh…" Alan gulped nervously as he looked at the baby bunnies and tried to figure out what his decision would be. He didn't want any bunny, but he wanted one that was like Sadie. He looked through them all and felt his heart stop and stutter over one that was almost the spitting image of Sadie. He knew it was the runt based on the size of the bunny in comparison to the other bunnies. "Can I see that one?"
The handler pinched the scruff of the baby bunny as he picked it up before placing it in Alan's shaking hands. "There's a good girl."
"It's a girl?" Alan asked as he pet the baby bunny. He was amazed the baby bunny was being so docile, he figured with it being a baby it'd get scared easily but surprisingly it wasn't.
"Yep, Sadie had only two boys and the rest were girls. This little gal was the last one that was born in your bed." The handler said as he made sure the other bunnies didn't try to escape from their crate. "You like her?"
"She's just like Sadie." Alan whispered as he pet the bunny. "She's so sweet."
"If you like her, then she's yours." The handler said as he saw Alan's features melt as he pet the baby bunny and the bunny nuzzled Alan with growing affection. "I think she's chosen you son."
"I'd like to keep her if that's okay." Alan said as he pet the bunny he held again.
"That's more than okay kiddo, I brought another crate in case you chose any of the bunnies to keep. It's in my truck."
"Looks like you're now a pet parent Alan…just like you always wanted." John said as he reached out and pet the soft ball of fluff that had laid down in Alan's lap. "Any idea what you want to name her?"
"Can I take my time in naming her?" Alan asked with wide eyes. He wanted to give her a good name, not something dumb like Fifi or something like that. He didn't want to be embarrassed when he went to get her.
"There's no deadline…you can pick her name whenever you feel like it." The handler said before replacing the lid on the crate he'd brought in. "Let me go out to my truck and get these little ones settled and I'll bring the spare crate and bag of food for the bunny you've chosen."
"Thanks." Alan said in a near breathless whisper. When the handler and Dr. Andreesen left, Alan shifted so he was lying on his good side with the bunny cradled gently in his arms. With steady petting, Alan watched as she began to fall asleep and he watched as her little brown eyes closed peacefully. "I can't believe she's actually mine."
"She suits you kiddo." John whispered, not wanting to disturb the bunny from her slumber.
John watched Alan make goo-goo eyes at his new bunny. If he didn't knew better, he'd have thought Alan had fallen in love with his new pet. But he knew that for most if not all of his life, Alan had asked for nothing but a pet of some kind besides a fish for every gift bearing holiday. Every birthday, Christmas, Easter even – Alan asked for a pet. When he lived with their grandmother, she had a variety of animals, but none were really pet material all except for the old cat that Scott had when Alan was a small baby. But that cat could be crotchety now that it was almost seventeen years old and it didn't always like to be pet. It had bitten or scratched Alan on several occasions.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to name her." Alan whispered as he ran two fingers gently over the top of her head between her ears and down her spine before continuing said actions.
"You'll figure it out. Just don't force it." John murmured reassuringly. "Before you know it, you'll have a name picked out and you'll be relaxed."
Changing the subject, Alan looked to his brother with wide and questioning eyes.
"Has my doctor talked to dad any about when my PT will begin?" Alan asked softly. He wanted to know if there was a prospective date that he may be able to go home or at least begin therapy.
"It's not definite yet…but the doctor mentioned you possibly starting therapy in a few more weeks. He wants your bandages to come off before they begin therapy." John said, watching Alan's face fall.
"I'm so tired of being here. I was hoping if nothing else that I might be home in time for Tin-Tin's birthday." Alan admitted sadly.
John puffed up his cheeks in displeasure. He knew Alan was tired of being in the same hospital bed for the last few months. He knew the family trait of restlessness was stirring in Alan's bones, knew they were doing well to keep Alan in bed this long. But he also knew that if things didn't start to change, Alan would grow depressed again. That was also a family trait, if made to stay sedentary the restlessness became anxiousness and irritable which for Alan with him being a teenage male with hormones that swung from happy to severely upset in a matter of 2.5 seconds – meant he occasionally suffered from depression.
Not depression so bad that they had to lock up all sharp objects, but he did write dark poetry on occasions. He sometimes asked about if any of their family would miss him if he was gone and once John ran a scan on the family internet for viruses and discovered the search engine had history search of best ways to self-mutilate without anyone knowing and John immediately went to Alan because he knew Alan was mood swinging earlier that month and had a feeling. It wasn't something made aware to anyone in their household. John had wiped the memory and told Alan he'd keep it a secret between them, but that he didn't want to see any more mentions of dark subject matter.
"I know you are bucko, but you just have to stay here a little longer. Then when you're out of here we'll all go home and try to put this behind us." John said moving his chair closer to be nearer to his little brother.
"Easy for you to say…you don't have to live with being deformed for the rest of your life." Alan said softly, his voice devoid of seemingly all emotion.
"Alan…no…you aren't deformed. Scarred…maybe. But not deformed." John argued, voice not carrying any of the heat he wished he could use to reprimand his brother.
"Really…John…what kind of girl will go for me?" Alan asked, his face showing the cynicism he spoke with dripping from his tone. "I'm hideous. No girl could ever possibly love this."
Alan held his hand up to show John the scarring. John knew he needed to separate Alan and he stood to pull the privacy curtain. Once they'd been hidden behind the thick material, Alan continued his line of questioning and he lowered his gown to show off the scarring that went up to parts of his shoulders and some on his hips. John pointedly looked away when Alan fully removed his gown, showing his male bits. Though John had seen them at times when Alan was a small boy and refused to wear clothes, it didn't mean he wanted to see them now. Grasping the blanket, John pulled the top sheet down over Alan before he continued talking to Alan. He couldn't talk to Alan and take him seriously when he was sitting around buck naked.
"Alan, I'm not the best judge when it comes to how attractive you are scarring or no scarring, that would be weird considering I'm your brother, but I can tell you this. If you give them a chance, there will be a girl out there that will love all of you regardless of scarring marring your body. The scars are now a part of you and as much as you hate them you'll have to live with them. And if you decide you can't I know for a fact that they have a corrective laser surgery that minimizes scarring. If you decide you can't live with the scars, just let dad know and I know he'll gladly book you an appointment with a plastic surgeon that specializes in laser corrective surgery so we can get your scarring assessed. And if he doesn't, which I highly doubt I will front the cash to do it." John said softly.
"Can I tell you something?" Alan asked softly.
"Sure…what is it?" John asked, lowering his voice before turning his gaze closer to Alan.
"I've got a bit of a problem." Alan whispered softly. He was trying to understand what the thoughts in his head truly meant.
"What's the problem then Al?" John asked as he moved from his chair to sit on the bed by Alan. He noticed when Alan gently slid his sleeping baby bunny over to make additional room for John on the bed. "Come on, you can tell me."
"Okay…but…it's about girls." Alan prefaced giving John a chance to back out of their conversation.
"Shoot kiddo." John said, feeling more than happy to be of help to his brother.
Leaning in closer to John, Alan began whispering his secret to John knowing his elder brother knew how to keep a secret.
"I kinda have a crush on Brook…and as I'm sure you and the guys have already figured out…Tin-Tin too." Alan said softly in John's ear.
"Well, what do you feel?" John asked equally as soft, barely above a whisper. He didn't know if Fermat knew and he didn't want their spectacled friend blurting out the imparted secret to either girl should he see or talk to either of them.
"I don't know. The last time I saw Brook, I kissed her on the cheek…but when I last talked to Tin-Tin my face got so hot and I was afraid she'd ask me about my blush." Alan admitted. His face was heating up and John knew Alan was more than a little embarrassed by his admittance of his crush on both girls. He didn't care that Brook was missing a couple fingers, didn't care that Tin-Tin had a clairvoyance about her that also branched out into telepathy – she was a special girl with amazing abilities. John felt that if no guy liked her they were fools. He himself had never actually met Brook, but he'd heard a lot about her from Alan and he genuinely hoped to meet her one of these days.
"Well, I'm not being much help…but just take it easy. Feel things out with Brook for now but keep your options open. If things don't work out with you and Brook, you may also have a chance with Tin-Tin. I wouldn't necessarily tell Tin-Tin you're seeing someone, but if things get rocky, break it off easily. In the same note, don't throw yourself so deeply into a relationship that you'll have your heartbroken if things don't work out between either of you." John advised lightly seeing Alan's face fall.
"That wasn't much help John." Alan admitted morosely. "How do I pick?"
"Since she's here, honestly I'd say your best bet would be to try to go with Brook for now. It's hard to maintain a long distance relationship and with everything going on with you right now – I don't think you need the added stress of trying to maintain a relationship long distance with Tin-Tin, besides you two are best friends. It'd be unfair should you guys try a relationship and it not work." John said and saw Alan nod in agreement.
"Okay, so then how do I ask Brook out? It's not like we get much privacy." Alan admitted.
"Next time you're in the sun lounge, ask if you can talk to her privately and let her know your feelings. If she reciprocates an interest in you also, then give it a try. It shouldn't do much harm." John advised softly before giving Alan a gentle hug. "You can do it kiddo, I believe in you."
"Thanks John." Alan said before shifting in his bed again. "Want to watch a movie with me and Fermat?"
"Sure, I don't have much going on back at the hotel." John said thankfully. "Honestly when I left, Virgil was absorbed in his drawings and didn't seem to notice that I left."
"Stay with me then, I'll appreciate your company." Alan said positively.
John opened the curtain and smiled at Fermat before going to grab the remote to their TV. He turned on the TV in the corner together with Alan and Fermat they selected a movie to watch. When he went to reclaim his uncomfortable plastic chair, Alan moved over and picked up the sleeping baby bunny to set in his lap before patting the bed beside him. John accepted the offer and moved to sit with Alan on the bed.
Alan once John was settled shifted around until he could comfortably move to recline back against John with ease. John smiled at the gesture before reaching around and pulling Alan closer into his side.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Robert sat in his cell and stared at his ceiling. He kept constantly going over the last trial…where Alan's brother John gave his testimony. Robert couldn't seem to quit thinking about it. It pissed him off to no extent how sure John was and how he was preaching Alan's innocence. This was all Alan's fault after all. Robert didn't feel like he was legitimately to blame for the fire at Wharton or Alan and Fermat's injuries. He especially didn't feel bad about nearly killing Alan.
Heaving a great sigh, Robert rolled his eyes and rolled over on his lower bunk of the bunk bed. He really wished he could have a cell to himself again. His cell partner only knew one thing and that was how to make himself feel good with the use of one hand and he was never quiet…never ever quiet. Robert wanted to deafen himself a little over half the time just so he wouldn't have to listen to the amorous sounds. Just because he'd never done it yet didn't mean he wanted to listen to his cell partner all the flipping day. He didn't dare try to make him stop though. Last time he tried that his cell mate Jake just intentionally got louder.
Turning his thoughts more towards the trial once more, Robert simply sighed. He had no doubt he'd be out soon. Though he hadn't had a desire to be defended by any lawyer or public defender, his dad had insisted on him having someone. His uncle had paid the money necessary for a lawyer.
Once Jake got quiet, Robert was able to get some shuteye. He hadn't been sleeping well since this whole thing happened and he didn't know why. He knew he was innocent in the whole thing.
He was however nervous about the next couple trials. He hadn't been made to attend the other trials where Alan's little mutant friends testified but he knew everyone else was believing the lies being fed to them instead of what he was trying to say.
He didn't even know if his lawyer believed him, but he hoped she did. Because he felt like he was innocent, though only time would tell what the jury would find at the end of the trial.
TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
The next day when Alan was able to go to the sun room, he met Brook there for breakfast. It was only them and for that Alan was grateful. He didn't want an audience for when he was going to spilling his guts to Brook and asking if she'd be interested in pursuing a relationship with him, at least for the time being.
Thanking the nurse when she brought a roll away table for him with breakfast all set up, Alan got ready to eat. Brook smiled a pretty smile at Alan and they both began to eat. They talked for a few minutes, catching up on all that was going on while Alan was away and the laughed a lot. Alan told Brook that he had his own companion animal now and since he'd planned on going back later, promised to let Brook play with his baby bunny that he hadn't yet figured out a name for.
"I still don't know what to name her though." Alan admitted, trying to break the ice before he and Brook talked about what Alan hoped she'd be open to.
"What's she like? Tell me about her." Brook said with a smile.
"Well, she is just like Sadie…they look almost exactly the same. Same patches of colored fur in almost the same spot, cute and fluffy with floppy ears. I just don't want to name her Sadie after her mom…I want a unique name." Alan said as he described the bunny with a dreamy smile.
"I kinda like the name Gemma." Alan said after giving it some thought. "What do you think?"
"I love it Alan. I think Gemma is the perfect name." Brook said exuberantly. She couldn't wait to meet her in person. From the way Alan described her, Brook could imagine this super adorable and cuddly bunny.
They talked about Gemma for a few minutes longer before talking more about their families. Alan answered questions that Brook had for him about his life, though he still remained secretive about International Rescue. He described what it was like to live at home and he saw Brook's eyes grow in wonder.
"That sounds like paradise…I wouldn't mind seeing that someday." Brook admitted softly.
After giving it some thought, Alan knew what he could do and he smiled secretly after a few minutes.
"Maybe you can see it today? If you're interested anyway." Alan said as he leaned in close to Brook.
"What do you mean? We're both here, and can't quite leave yet." Brook asked in bemusement.
"I have pictures if you're interested in meeting me here for lunch. I can bring my laptop with me and show you what pictures I have of my home." Alan offered, hopeful that Brook would want to do that. He really liked her and every time she smiled it made his heart flutter a little more than he'd anticipated.
"I'd love that Alan." Brook replied softly as she pushed her table away before curling back up in her chair. She kind of looked at Alan with an appraising eye before she spoke. "Are you okay Alan? Your face is a little red."
Alan looked away, his blush increasing. He didn't know quite what to say and after looking Brook's way Alan sucked in a deep breath before speaking.
"Brook, please…hear me out." Alan started, he watched her face and saw her nod slowly at him. "Listen, I…I sorta like you. I like you a lot actually. And I just…I didn't know quite how to tell you."
Brook gave pause for a few moments before she offered Alan a smile and another nod. "I like you too Alan."
"Are we talking about the same mutual like then?" Alan asked softly.
"I think so." Brook replied before she stood from her seat and moved over to Alan. She placed her hands on the arms of his wheelchair and leaned down to press her forehead into Alan's. The both of them met eyes for a few moments before Alan pushed up in his wheelchair to press a chaste kiss against Brook's lips.
They pulled away abruptly when they heard the door open to the sun room and both teens looked away abashedly when they saw the nurse that had initially brought Alan in coming in to check on both teens. It was still pretty early in the morning so she wanted to make sure neither teen wanted to return to their rooms.
"Is everything going okay in here?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. Thanks." Alan replied with a nervous smile.
"Okay, as long as neither of you want to go back to your bedrooms. Let me know if you want to go back and get some rest."
Once the nurse left, Alan and Brook looked back at each other and smiled with a blush dusting both of their cheeks. Alan sucked in his bottom lip and looked down before looking back up at Brook. She beamed at Alan before she leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to his lips in return for the kiss he gave her.
"I really like you too Alan." Brook said before she stood back up. "I still expect to go to paradise with you later this afternoon."
Alan smiled dreamily to Brook as he watched her move to gather her things. She made sure the tie on her robe stayed closed before she waved at Alan. Going to the door, she signaled the nurse she was ready to return to her room. After she left, Alan reached up slowly and gently touched his finger tips to his lips. He couldn't believe she returned his affections and kissed him back. He only kissed her because he felt the urging to do so when they were close and he feared losing his nerve. He liked it. He hoped Brook liked it to, he'd never kissed anyone before. That time that he and Fermat and Tin-Tin had gone to Lady Penelope's for their winter break and played spin the bottle didn't count. It was more like Tin-Tin brushing her lips to Alan's before pulling away with a squeak.
Alan smiled when his nurse entered the lounge to take him back to his room. He didn't have a care in the world and he appeared relaxed as he was wheeled back to his room. After being transferred back to his bed, Alan kept a love struck grin on his face. He didn't notice as Fermat continually tried talking to him and he didn't acknowledge Virgil when he entered the room dressed out in the hospital garb.
Virgil called John on Alan's computer, somehow figuring out and hacking Alan's profile to contact John. When the elder brother answered, Virgil got right to the point.
"John, are you aware of what could have broken our baby brother?" Virgil asked, he wasn't playing around.
"No, why do you ask?" John asked as he dabbed at a droplet of water with his towel that careened down his temple after his shower.
"Because, he's just sitting there staring off into space and ignoring everything going on around him – I bet an tornado could touch down and he wouldn't notice…that and he's just got this goofy grin on his face." Virgil described.
"Goofy grin? Show me?" John lightly commanded before preparing himself to see Alan's face.
Virgil turned the laptop toward his brother and they watched as Alan once more took absolutely no notice of what was going on around him.
"See? He's broken." Virgil said before he leaned forward and gave John an example of how broken Alan was. He waved his hand in front of Alan's face before snapping his fingers within an inch of his eyes and not a single flinch.
After some close scrutiny, John shook his head with a chuckle.
"He's not broken Virgil, he's just thinking of sowing his wild oats." John replied with a laugh carrying more gusto.
"Excuse me?" Virgil asked with a look of disbelief.
"He's in love Virge…I think our baby brother has gotten himself a little action if the look on his face is any indication." John said before slapping his knee. "I don't think we're going to get a word out of him until he breaks from his fantasy."
Virgil groaned with a shake of his head.
"So what am I supposed to do then? How do I wake him up from his fantasy?" Virgil asked. "I came to visit with him not sit here and watch him stare off into space."
"Nothing you can do Virge. Let Alan think of something positive for a change." John advised.
"And what exactly is this?" Virgil asked as he lifted the baby bunny by the scruff of its neck.
"That's Alan's bunny. It was given to him yesterday by Sadie's handler." John said as he smiled when presented with the baby bunny. "I don't know if he's given her a name yet, but be nice to her."
"I wouldn't hurt an innocent little bunny, I'm not that cruel. But I didn't know Alan already had her." Virgil replied with his eyes narrowed at the thought of ever hurting a sweet little creature such as a bunny. Let alone his brother's bunny.
"He got her yesterday. Sadie's handler felt they were old enough now to be given to good homes." John said with a motion of his head at the bunny. "She's Alan's service animal now."
"She's cute, if Alan's not careful when we get home she might become my little companion." Virgil said as he cuddled the bunny close and watched her little nose wiggle as she sniffed.
"Kidnap her and you die."
Virgil sent a worried smile John's way before he looked over his shoulder to acknowledge his baby brother.
"I was just joking kiddo. I wouldn't take your pet from you. I know who she belongs to." Virgil said as he tried to satisfy the murderous glare shining in Alan's eyes.
"Her name is Gemma." Alan said before he took his bunny back from Virgil and cuddled her close murmuring to her how he saved her from the mean boy.