DISCLAIMER: REALLY WISHED THEY WERE MINE.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

NOTES:

* Really sorry for the massive delay on this chapter, a combination of work life and writers block got in my way.

* Thank you for all the comments on the previous chapters, and to all of you who have recently favorited or started following this story. Really appreciate it!

Medical Notes:

* CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure = A treatment that uses mild air pressure to keep your breathing airways open.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Chapter 38: Reactions.

Both Alan and his grandma had made their way into Virgil's room. Alan now sat where Jeff had previously been and held Virgil's hand in his, while his grandma sat on the opposite side with her hand placed on Virgil's arm. Both had remained silent throughout their time in the room, both deep in their own personal thoughts. Eventually, Alan broke the silence and began to speak. "Hey Virgil. It's Al. I… I just wanted to tell you that, I know you like your sleep and everything, but… But you have to wake up… Okay?" Alan paused, half expecting the usual reply of. 'Go away Alan.' That he normally received when waking his brother up from his slumber. Obviously, getting no such reply Alan continued. "Please Virg, I miss you… You're the one I tell all my secrets too. Yeah, I can talk to the others, but the deepest secrets… Well, they've only ever been told to you, not even Gordon knows some of the ones you've heard!" Alan sniffed and wiped away a tear that was trickling down his face.

"Come here sweetheart."

Alan glanced up and noticed his grandma was now standing next to him, with her arms open ready for a hug. Alan smiled and moved slightly over on his chair, allowing his grandma to sit down on the edge and wrap him tightly in her arms.

… …

30 minutes later:

"Hey." Alan smiled greeting his three brothers and his father who were all conversing together on the sofa, when he and his grandma made their way back into the waiting room.

"Can we go in now?" Gordon asked.

"Of course, you can," Ruth confirmed.

Gordon and John grinned, as they both jumped to their feet, and headed out of the room.

"So, what's been going on here then?" Ruth questioned, slipping in between Jeff and Scott on the sofa.

Jeff signalled for Alan to join them, as soon as he had, he began to fill them in on what had been discussed.

… …

"Geez!" Gordon sighed deeply, as he entered the room and observed all the wires and machines that were surrounding his brother. "Did I look this bad when I had my Hydrofoil accident?"

"Yes, you did!" John replied sadly, as he dropped into one of the chairs and clutched Virgil's hand.

Gordon breathed in and moved around to the opposite side of the bed. "Come on Virgil please open your eyes for us. Me and John really don't want to have to share middle brother duties."

John released a light laugh. "Yes, come on Virg. I mean, can you imagine the fallout?"

Gordon and John both grew quiet at receiving no response from Virgil, both remained silent, as they continued to listen to the beeps of the machine and watch the rise and fall of Virgil's chest. Another half an hour had passed by with John and Gordon both talking intermittently to Virgil when Doctor Knight walked into the room and spoke quietly to Nurse Greggs. When he had finished he turned to both Gordon and John. "Are the rest of your family still in the waiting room?"

"Yes." John replied. "Is there something wrong?"

"I have the drug screen results."

"And?" John asked.

"If you'd like to come with me, then we can go through the results with the rest of your family." Doctor Knight responded.

John and Gordon looked at each other worriedly, before following the Doctor out of the room.

… …

Doctor Knight had gathered the family in the interview room which was situated next to the waiting room, so they could gain a bit more privacy, due to other families starting to arrive. Once everyone had settled Doctor Knight began. "We have the drug results back, and the only anomaly is Rynax."

Jeff sighed. "The same drug as before?

"That's correct."

"How much was he given?" Jeff asked.

"A considerable amount! Which was enough to stop his breathing. If you hadn't found him when you did, unfortunately he would have suffered permanent brain damage."

Upon hearing this news Ruth gripped her son's hand in hers. "Where do we go from here?"

"We will continue to support his breathing until he wakes up," Doctor Knight responded.

"And what are the chances of him having a reaction?" Scott asked.

"Due to the amount he was given, plus the potential interaction with the medication that he was on, it's reasonable to expect him to have some side effects. However, since he's been on renal precautions since coming in, it shouldn't be anything lasting."

"What side effects will he get?" Alan questioned.

"We are unable to say with any certainty. Virgil may display several symptoms at once, or he may have none. It really depends on how he processes the Rynax. The most common side effects with this drug are; nausea, vomiting, and migraines. So, we wouldn't be surprised if these do appear."

"How long are the symptoms likely to last?" John enquired.

"If he does show signs then anywhere from 24 hours to 3 days, which is usually how long the drug will stay in his system for."

"When will he wake up?" Gordon queried.

"Unfortunately, we can't give you an exact timeframe. However, Virgil is young, and normally he's fit and well. So, the chances that it's sooner rather than later are good."

"Thank you, doctor," Jeff replied, standing to shake the man's hand, "can I see my son now?"

"Yes of course," Doctor Knight responded.

Jeff breathed out, a look of worry etching across his face as he looked over at his mother and his three sons.

"It's okay, dad," Scott assured him, "go and see Virgil… We'll finish here, and one of us will be through in a moment."

Jeff nodded and quickly left the room.

… …

A short time later:

Scott stepped into his brother's ICU room and observed his father clutching Virgil's hand, as he lent in, and whispered soothing words to his son. "Dad."

Jeff glanced back at Scott and smiled. "Hey."

Scott placed his hand on his dad's shoulder. "I'm going to take grandma back to the hotel, so she can get some rest."

"What about your brothers?" Jeff questioned.

"John and Alan are coming with me, so we can get started on everything we discussed earlier."

"And what about Gordon?"

"He'll be staying here with you," Scott replied.

Jeff shook his head and went to stand, but was instantly pushed back down into his chair by Scott. "But…"

Scott cut his father off. "No buts… You're staying here dad! Someone needs to stay with Virgil, and I know your head will not be in the game if you are back at the hotel… So, I'm taking command! I will contact home and let everyone know what's happened. As soon as we have any information then I will let you know… And as I said, Gordon will be staying here with you!"

"I don't need a babysitter." Jeff smiled.

"Well, someone needs to keep an eye on you!"

Jeff laughed at Scott's response, pulling his son into a heartfelt hug. "Remind me when you became the father?"

"I'll see you later dad," Scott grinned, releasing his father and leaving the room.

"So, you're my babysitter?" Jeff chuckled when Gordon immediately entered after Scott had left.

"Mm… I'm just not getting paid as much as I used to though!" Gordon joked back, dropping into the seat on the opposite side of Virgil's bed.

… …

Back at the hotel:

The past couple of hours had been predominantly busy for Scott. On returning to the hotel, he had begun by making sure that their grandma had gone to get some much-needed rest, he had then insisted that Alan and John get at least a few hours of sleep in before they began their next mission. When Scott was satisfied that all of them were sleeping, he contacted their island home.

Penelope had been the one to answer his call and had instantly snapped into action when she had heard what had happened to Virgil. She began by relaying all the information that she had obtained, regarding the Hood's possible hideout before being arrested, and all the intelligence that had been made on the two male accomplices who had been helping him. Then to Scott's delight she informed him about the invention that Brains had been working on, which would potentially act as a shield against his mind powers. She then continued by letting him know that because of this invention needing to be tested, that herself and Parker would be joining them in New Zealand, with Parker immediately flying them both out in Tracy 2, so she could visit the Hood and try out the new equipment.

Scott had initially tried to resist, however, when she had made several statements as to why she needed to be there, he eventually gave in knowing that when Penny had decided something there was no way anyone was changing her mind. Secretly, he was glad that the young woman would be joining them, knowing it would free up a little bit of time for each of them to visit Virgil, and knowing that if, and when Virgil did wake, another familiar and friendly face would do him the world of good.

A couple of hours later, Alan, John, and their grandma had woken to find Scott still awake and already working through some plans he had made. After seeing how tired Scott looked, his grandma had literally dragged her grandson to his bed, ordering him to get a few hours' sleep, while John and Alan began working on the background checks. Scott had tried protesting, but once his head had hit the pillow, he instantly fell asleep.

… …

Meanwhile:

Throughout the past couple of hours, Jeff and Gordon had remained at Virgil's bedside. Both talking intermittently to him, as they willed him to breathe on his own, both frustrated that still no change had taken place.

It was now 7.30am, and a new nurse called Ellie Ford, had recently come on duty for the morning shift. The nurse smiled at both men as she continued to observe the monitor and ventilator readouts. "Virgil's just started triggering breaths." She informed them.

"What… He has?" Jeff enquired, the light in his eyes slightly returning.

"Yes," she responded.

Gordon grinned at his father and lent in towards his brother. "Come on Virg, keep breathing for us, you can do it!" He willed, as he started stroking Virgil's hair.

Another 10 minutes passed by, Ellie had just finished checking his obs, and changing his IV bags, when Virgil's hand flinched out of his fathers. The nurse ushered Gordon over to his father's side of the bed, so she could gain full access, placed her one hand on Virgil's shoulder and leaned in towards him. "Virgil can you hear me?" Virgil's hand shot to his chest and then instantly settled. "Okay, keep talking to him. He may be hearing you." She said, remaining at Virgil's side. "Hopefully he'll start to wake up very soon."

Jeff nodded and looked hopefully towards Gordon. "So, any ideas on how to wake him up?"

Gordon thought for a moment and then released a light laugh. "I do actually… So Virg, when you were missing I was telling the guys about your last birthday when I managed to catch you out with one of my pranks. You remember… I covered you in pink feathers, and decked out..." Gordon paused and leaned in closer to Virgil, so the nurse could not hear him. "And I decked out your bird with pink balloons, party streamers and banners saying, 'Got You!' Do you remember how I managed to pull that one off?" Receiving no reply from Virgil, Gordon continued. "You were distracted because I had made you believe that I was going to paint your girl yellow… Well, if you don't wake up for us then I promise that this time I will paint her a glorious yellow, and I will sign the outside. 'Love from Squid,' in a luminescent pink!"

When Gordon uttered those last words Virgil's monitors and ventilator began to screech, his eyes shot open, his body stiffened, his head began violently thrashing from side to side, and he began coughing and gagging against the tube. "Wow, Virg. I was only joking!" Gordon burst out, shocked and distressed at his brother's reaction.

"Virgil, can you look at me?" Ellie questioned, holding Virgil's chin in the palm of her hand.

With an unknown strength, Virgil's hands shot up and gripped at the intubation tube. The nurse struggled with Virgil, eventually demanding a stunned Jeff and Gordon help hold his hands down. Both men instantly snapped out of the trance they had been in, and pulled Virgil's hands out of the nurse's way, so she could make sure the tube remained in place, and hit the emergency button.

"Virgil calm down, no one's going to hurt you!" Gordon said desperately trying to reassure his brother.

Virgil's head and body jolted from side to side, his face beginning to turn red, as the monitors and ventilators continued to screech.

"Please son," Jeff begged, "you're going to hurt yourself even more!"

At that moment, several members of staff hurried into the room. Followed by two muscular looking men, who pushed Jeff and Gordon out of the way, and forcibly held Virgil's wrists flat on the bed. Gordon and Jeff plastered themselves to the wall, neither wanting to observe what was happening, but still not being able to look away.

Virgil suddenly became more violent as he attempted to kick his fractured legs around, alongside trying to sit himself up, and throw himself over the bed. The two men who had been holding Virgil's wrists, moved their other hand onto his shoulders to prevent his attempts at sitting up, while Nurse Ford, keeping her one hand on the tube hit some buttons on the ventilator and monitor, finally silencing the screeching alarms.

"Try him on CPAP." The doctor ordered.

One of the other nurses began pushing some buttons on the ventilator.

Jeff grew more impatient as his son continued to thrash around, while the red lights blinked furiously, and numbers flashed on the machines before him. "Please do something," he begged.

"He's apnoea ventilating," the doctor said a few seconds later, although for Jeff it had felt like hours. "Sedate him and put him on his previous settings."

"Propofol?" Ellie asked as the other nurse pushed some more buttons on the ventilator.

The doctor nodded. "Bolus 50 and start an infusion."

The other nurse hurried out of the room and within seconds was back with some medication, she began setting up the infusion, while the doctor drew up some of the drug, which looked like milk into a syringe and then injected it into Virgil's drip. Within seconds Virgil eyes closed, he stopped thrashing around, and he became perfectly still. The two men immediately let him go and left the room, while the doctor listened to Virgil's chest, and Ellie began checking that the tube was still in the right position.

"What the hell happened?" Jeff demanded, stepping away from the wall and towards his son, looking white as a sheet from the shock of seeing his boy's reaction.

The doctor offered both Jeff and Gordon a seat, which they gladly took, and introduced herself as Doctor Maxwell. "Unfortunately, Virgil woke while his brain was still jumbled from the Rynax that was in his system. I tried to let him breathe for himself, hoping that we would be able to take the tube out, but unfortunately his breathing is still not strong enough. So, we'll keep him asleep until tomorrow morning, and try waking him again then."

"Did he harm himself, or re-injure anything? Gordon asked.

"It's unlikely but we will check him over and do an X-ray on his fractured legs and his dislocated shoulder just to make sure," Ellie replied, "I'll also check his stitches, but as they've been in for six days and were due to be taken out they should be okay."

Jeff gripped Virgil's hand in his, leaned in and whispered some words to his son. When Jeff had settled back to a sitting position Doctor Maxwell continued. "Regrettably while myself and Nurse Ford do run these checks, we will have to ask you to wait in the waiting room." She informed them.

Jeff let out a despondent sigh at not being able to stay with his son.

"Don't worry, we'll be as quick as possible," Ellie responded.

Jeff nodded and followed Gordon into the now packed out waiting room.

"Dad?"

"Yes Gordon?" Jeff replied.

"Will you be okay while I call the others and update them on what's happened?"

"Yes, I'll be fine!" Jeff smiled reassuringly. "Can you also find out how they are getting on?"

"No problem dad," Gordon responded pulling his father into his arms before leaving the room.

… …

It was now 10am, Scott had managed around three hours of sleep before waking up to find his two brothers gathered around the table in their large hotel suite, with Penelope and Parker who had just arrived. "Hello," he greeted Penny and Parker sleepily.

"Hello Scott," Penelope smiled, giving him a hug.

"Good morning Master Scott," Parker responded, shaking his hand, "would you like a coffee?"

"Yes, please," Scott returned.

"I'll order us all some food as well," Parker added leaving the room.

"Where's grandma?" Scott questioned.

"She's returned to the hospital about an hour ago," John answered.

"So, where's Gordon?" Scott asked.

"I'm here bro," Gordon yawned, exiting the bathroom after having a shower.

"Any news on Virgil?" Scott enquired hopefully. When Gordon had relayed what had happened at the hospital, Scott slumped into his chair. "So, how have you been getting along with the background checks on the nurse and Doctor?"

"Well," John started. It's actually brought up some interesting information on both, but one is very damning!"

"Which one?" Scott enquired.