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Disclaimer: The Thunderbirds belong to other people. And the line from the 3 Doors Down song "Landing in London" that is quoted belongs to the band and is off their CD "Seventeen Days"
I'll use your light to guide the way.
-3 Doors Down "Landing in London"
Chapter Seven: Borderline
Virgil was on the borderline between life and death. All that was left was for his body to decide whether or not it was going to quit fighting. While his body was lying on a bed inside of an emergency room, his soul was elsewhere. He was dreaming.
He remembered his family and their adventures. He remembered Scott's announcement that he was joining the Air Force and the joyous commotion that followed. He remembered John's first space flight, and the pride the family had. He remembered seeing Gordon win Olympic Gold and the excitement afterwards. He remembered when Alan achieved his dream and joined the Thunderbirds and the feeling that it was now complete. But then he remembered the failed rescues, the ones where he felt he could've done better. And then he was flooded with the memories of being so easily broken by The Hood, and then shooting John. And it was at that memory that his body quit fighting.
But the fight was renewed. The family he wanted so desperately to protect still wanted him as he remembered Alan's words. He may have given up on himself, but his family hadn't. And he knew his family loved him.
The doctor appeared a couple of hours later. Brains was sitting in a chair next to Jeff, while the four brothers took two opposite sofas. And everyone stood when they saw the doctor coming towards them.
"We nearly lost him once in there," the doctor said. "But you've got quite a fighter on your hands. Now, he isn't out of danger yet. There was damage and a significant amount of blood loss. We've moved him into the ICU where he's in a coma. He's stable, but critical, which is why we want to keep a close eye on him for the next few days."
"Can we see him?" Jeff asked.
The doctor nodded. "I'll bring you up now."
Everyone except Brains followed the doctor up to the ICU. Brains went to update Kyrano and get an update for Jeff. On the way to the ICU, no one said a word. Their first glimpse at Virgil was through a window, and then they entered. The family saw Virgil lying on a bed with a mask supplementing his oxygen. He had an IV in his arm and he was dressed in a hospital gown covered by a blanket to his waist. Alan was the first into one of the chairs next to the bed, putting Virgil's hand in between his own two.
"You saved my life, big brother," Alan whispered, his voice wavering. "You've got to come back to us so I can properly thank you for that…and then kick your butt for making us worry so much and for scaring us."
Jeff stood behind Alan, his hands on his youngest son's shoulders. He said nothing though. John took the chair on the other side of the bed and also held Virgil's hand.
"I never got to tell you that I don't blame you for what happened," he said. "I was just worried about what happened to you."
Gordon was behind John, a hand on his older brother's shoulder. "I'm sorry I blamed you for what happened. I should've known better," Gordon said.
Scott, who was standing at the foot of the bed, didn't say anything at first. And then he added his own piece. "I shouldn't have let you go back in there alone."
The room remained silent for a while. Once the silence loomed too long, small conversations started and kept going. They mostly talked about Virgil, reminiscing and sharing stories.
In his coma, Virgil was lost. He knew if he didn't find his way back to his family, then he would find his way to his death. And he didn't want to die. So he tried to find a way for his family to be his guide.