Chapter 8: Home Again
As it turned out, Virgil and Doctor Lowry won, and he ended up spending another week in the hospital. Scott stayed with him, even though it was obviously a ploy. A broken leg didn't warrant that much hospital time. Not that Virgil minded. He noticed that they both were getting plenty of rest, and wondered how much the medication had to do with it. He knew it had an effect on him. He just wasn't sure if Scott was getting the same meds, since he didn't have the IV, and he hadn't figured out a way to ask without actually…asking. Their father or Gordon or John visited every day. Virgil had asked about John's presence, and found out that Alan had gone up to the space station, since he couldn't come here to visit without being recognized.
By the end of the week, though, Virgil was ready to go home. He felt a lot better, and now that his medication had been reduced to the point that he could think again, he was getting bored. He was amazed that Scott hadn't exploded from the inactivity yet. As it was, he had taken to pacing the hall on crutches. He probably thought that Virgil didn't know, since he slept so much of the time. But he knew.
On the morning of day seven, Virgil was awake when Scott came back in from one of his hallway forays. As he was getting into bed, Virgil said, "You're obviously going nuts in here. You really don't have to stay here for me, Scott."
Scott jumped. "I…uh, I thought you were sleeping," he said, tucking himself back into bed. That would have been a lot more effective if he hadn't been fully-clothed.
Virgil sighed. "Scott, are you even actually a patient here?"
Scott looked momentarily guilty, then covered it. "Of course! Doctor Lowry said I need to stay off my leg, and the only way to do that was to—"
"Crutch around the halls at all hours of the day and night. Yes, I'm sure she approves," Virgil said, interrupting him.
"She said I should get some exercise to help it heal—" Scott said desperately.
Virgil sat up. It was getting a lot easier now, and he could even stay sitting for an hour without getting tired now. "Look, Scott. You want to tell me why you're really here?"
Scott let out a huge sigh and his shoulders slumped. "Ok, Virg," he said. "You're right. I'm not even a patient here. But I thought that Father would be much more willing to let you stay if I stayed and kept an eye on things. And…you really did need to spend some time here."
Virgil loved having an older brother. "Thanks, Scott," he said. "And you're right, although I'm starting to go stir-crazy now, and I can tell you are too. Maybe it's time to go back home."
"I could not agree more," said his father, startling them both as he swept into the room, Doctor Lowry at his heels.
"It looks like I am losing your company," she said, but she was smiling. "I have just given the ok for you to be released, Virgil, provided you stay in bed when you get home. You must have at least another week of rest, and you may not go on any more—adventures—until your arm has healed."
He saluted with his good arm. "Yes, ma'am." He looked at his father. "I've been discharged?" He tried not to sound too eager, since he had been the one originally wanting to say, but home sounded very good.
"You already have been, son," his father said. "Scott, get your things together. Virg, let's get you dressed."
"I will get a wheelchair," Doctor Lowry said, tactfully leaving while Virgil got dressed.
"I can do this myself!" he protested as his father helped him get a shirt on. In truth, it would have been very difficult to button it with his arm in a sling, but he was old enough to dress himself, dammit! He caught Scott smirking at him. "What?" he demanded.
Scott's smirk became a grin. "Nothing, Virg. Just the expression on your face."
Virgil almost stuck his tongue out at his brother, but thought better of it, since his father was in the room. He contented himself with rolling his eyes theatrically as he bowed to the necessity of letting is father help him awkwardly get his good arm into the sleeve. He drew the line at pants, though, and his father apparently realized this, because he went over to chat with Scott for a while and let Virgil finish getting dressed in peace.
He had just finished dressing when Dr. Lowry—Jennifer—came back in pushing a wheelchair. "I really wish you would consider my offer," she said to Virgil's father as she walked past him.
Virgil looked between the two, confused. "Offer? What offer?" He hated feeling out of the loop.
"The young lady suggested that our operation needs a doctor," his father said reluctantly.
"Gee, Virg, if she follows you home do you think Dad'll let you keep her?" Scott asked, smirk fully back in place.
Both Virgil and Jennifer blushed uncomfortably. "I just believe it is foolish to have nothing but EMT training between the lot of you," Dr. Lowry said primly, "when you are going to insist on injuring yourselves all the time!"
Virgil's father sighed. "And I believe that you have a very promising career here, my dear." It was clearly an argument that they'd had several times, although this was the first Virgil had heard, and he tried hard not to feel resentful about that. Maybe when he was back home it would be easier for him to keep up on current events, like trained thoracic surgeons offering to join International Rescue.
"Doctor, that's kind of you to offer your services," Scott said, trying to diplomatically diffuse the situation, "but Father's right. People need you here."
"Oh, and I suppose International Rescue doesn't help people, then?" she asked.
"Please, can we not discuss that here?" Virgil's father asked, looking around as if there were spies. "It's supposed to be a secret, you know."
She winked at him theatrically. "Your secret is safe with me. You know that." She sighed, then turned to Virgil. "Well, I tried. Come on then, in you go. Time for you to go home and let your brothers annoy you back to health."
Virgil grinned as he climbed into the chair. "Boy, doc, you really have my family pegged."
"Hey!" Scott protested. "We do not annoy you!"
Virgil quirked an eyebrow. "Wouldn't I be in the best position to know that?" Lightly bantering back and forth, they made their way out to where a car was waiting for them. Virgil stood up to get into it, only cringing a little bit at the sudden twinge in his ribs.
Jennifer Lowry took his hand and shook it gravely. "Virgil, it was nice to be able to repay you for saving my life last year. But please take care of yourself."
He smiled at her warmly. "Thank you for saving my life, doc. And I'll do my best to make sure your work lasts." He made his way into the car as she gave a similar farewell to Scott, and finally shook their father's hand. Then she went back into the hospital, pushing the now-empty chair. Virgil's family climbed in, and they were soon underway to the airport, where a private jet was waiting to take them back to Tracy Island.
"You know, it might actually be worth considering," Virgil suggested tentatively.
His father looked at him. "You mean letting her join International Rescue?"
"It could be handy to have a doctor on board," Scott said.
"Look," their father said, "I do see the point, but I meant what I said about her career. It was bad enough that Kyrano gave up a promising career out of loyalty to the Tracy family. I don't want to see hers ruined as well."
"What makes you think that working for International Rescue is a career-killer?" Scott asked a little bit defensively. "I find it fulfilling, myself."
"I meant that, for people in certain fields—like medicine—having to be completely anonymous would be detrimental to their advancement. She would never be able to publish in a medical journal. She doesn't need to join International Rescue to save lives. She already does that on a daily basis. Now, my mind is made up. I have nothing more to say on the subject."
That was a sufficient conversation-stopper to keep them quiet all the way to the jet. Once there, however, quiet became impossible. The jet contained Gordon, Tin-Tin, and Alan, just back from Thunderbird 5. "Virgil!" he yelled happily, giving his brother an exuberant—but very careful—hug.
Virgil wrapped his good arm around his brother's shoulders. He hadn't seen his baby brother in a week, and he had actually missed him, although he would never admit that. "Hey," he said. "Keeping out of trouble?"
"He is trouble," Gordon said automatically, grinning at his brothers.
"If we could all sit down, the pilot would like to take off now," their father said pointedly. Everyone good-naturedly took their seats, and soon they were heading for home. The conversation stayed light and bantering, for which Virgil was glad. He had been a little afraid that there would be more 'how are you feeling,' and he was quite sick of it. As it was, though, keeping up the pretense of being completely healthy was exhausting, and by the time they reached Tracy Island, he was ready for bed.
The concern returned when the disembarked. To Virgil's annoyance, his father, Scott, Gordon, Alan, and Tin-Tin all tried to help support him as he climbed painfully out of the jet. On the ground, his grandmother, Kyrano and Brains joined in. "Ok, ok," he finally snapped. "I need air, people!"
As rebukes went, it was a mild one, but coming from the usually good-natured Virgil, his family backed off. He stiffly walked to his room, aware that they were still hovering with concern, just a few steps farther away. He pointedly closed the door on them and sank gratefully into his bed. He was exhausted, and was starting to hurt again.
It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the concern. He really did. It was just that he wasn't used to being an invalid. He didn't want to get used to being one. It was bad enough the time that Thunderbird 2 had been shot down. At least that time he had only been down for a few days. This time it felt like he had been in bed for years. He stretched out, in bed again but too tired to try to sit up, and contemplated whether to try to get undressed or just fall asleep the way he was. It was than that there came a tentative knock on the door. He sighed. It better just be one of them. "Come in," he called.
Alan entered. Virgil was momentarily surprised, since he had been expecting either his father or Scott coming to check on him. But he immediately realized that this was a different kind of visit. Alan looked serious, and slightly uncomfortable. "Hey, Virgil," he said.
"Have a seat," Virgil said, indicating a chair. He struggled up to a sitting position again, although he did concede to prop himself against the headrest.
"I know you're probably tired…" Alan's voice trailed away.
Virgil reached out and put a hand on Alan's arm. He suddenly realized that this was the first that Alan had seen him since he had brought him, nearly dead, to the hospital a week ago. He couldn't imagine how hard it had been for him to not come to visit. "It's ok," he assured him. "I'm glad to see you, kiddo."
Alan smiled a little at this. "You're doing a lot better."
"Since the last time you saw me?" Virgil asked lightly. "Yeah, I would say so."
"Virgil, you—that is, I'm sure that you've heard—" Alan clearly had something he wanted to say, but was having trouble getting it out.
Virgil had a pretty good idea of what the problem was. "You saved my life, Alan. I'm grateful, not angry. Quit worrying about it."
Alan sagged with relief at the words. "I—I was afraid that you—" he started. He closed his eyes, but not before Virgil could see tears through the lashes.
He pulled his brother into a hug. "Hey. Hey, it's ok, Alan." Alan gripped him back, and they stayed that way for a few minutes, while Alan slowly got hold of himself. Eventually Virgil gently pushed him away. "I could never be mad at your for caring enough to come get me, little brother."
Alan tried a smile, but it didn't work very well. "It's just…I left a rescue. We're never supposed to do that. What if something had gone wrong? Gordon or Father could have been hurt, or worse—"
"But nothing did happen like that, ok?" Virgil said firmly. "Stop beating yourself up about it."
Alan hugged him again. "I'm glad you're back."
Virgil laughed. "Me too."
Alan let go and sat back. He looked a lot better. "I hear your doctor wants to join International Rescue," he said, a twinkle in his eye.
Virgil sighed, annoyed. "I guess everyone but me knew, didn't they?"
"Hey," Alan said, sobering. "It's not like that. It's just that Father is so adamant about not even considering it, they didn't think to mention it. Didn't want to get your hopes up." The twinkle was back.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Virgil demanded.
"Well, you seem to have an admirer," Alan said, grinning.
"Alan, she's my doctor!" Virgil exclaimed. "Why does everyone assume just because she's female, it's like that?"
"Perhaps it's because she seems to desperate to join us," Alan said.
Virgil frowned. "I don't think it's like that," he said slowly. "The way she relates to me, and to Scott too. It's more…maternal. Protective. You know that we rescued her a while back, right?"
"I'd heard about that, yes," Alan confirmed.
"I don't know if it's some sort of need to pay us back or just general protectiveness," Virgil said, "but I think she just wants to take care of us. It's kind of nice, actually. I hope Father reconsiders letting her join."
"It would be handy to have a doctor around," Alan agreed. "Especially since you seem so determined to hurt yourself all the time!"
Virgil ruffled his little brother's hair, getting a satisfying protest. "Like I'm the only one who comes back from a rescue with a few scrapes."
"A few…scrapes?" Alan asked, incredulous. "Scrapes?"
The look on his face was too good. Virgil burst out laughing, even though it hurt his ribs. After a moment, Alan joined in. It felt good to just laugh for a while.
Eventually they calmed down. Alan rubbed his eyes. "Thanks, Virg. It really is good to have you back."
Virgil grinned, but ruined the effect by yawning. "Good to be home."
"And you're exhausted," Alan said contritely, "and I'm keeping you from sleeping. Sorry."
"It's ok," Virgil said, patting his arm. "But I think I'm going to turn in now."
Alan got up to go, but turned back at the door. He opened his mouth, but closed it again without saying anything. Instead he just smiled, gave a little wave, and turned the light out on his way. Virgil looked after him for a while, then scooted back down on the bed. He was too tired to get undressed. In moments he was sleeping, more relaxed than he had been in days.
oOo
A/N: I know it's generally considered that Brains is their doctor, but I really don't think it's plausible. I don't know WHO fixes them up when they get hurt in the series. And as always, thanks for reading!