Chapter 3

The sound of hushed voices greeted them as they walked through the sick room door. Scotty entered first, with the intention of finding out if Avery was awake, while Virgil and Dana hung back but Virgil recognised that one of the voices he could hear was hers. The other sounded like that of a small child…a boy.

"Uncie Scot," the boy cried out excitedly.

"Hey bud," Scotty replied; the smile on his face could be heard in his tone, "I see that you guys are awake. How are you feeling?" he asked, his question directed towards Avery.

"I'm okay," she replied softly, "Do you know if Virgil has…" but her words were cut short when she spotted the figures standing over by the door; her eyes wide and fixed on them.

"Hey Avery," Virgil said as he stepped forward, moving closer to Avery's bed.

However, as he walked towards her Virgil realised that her gaze hadn't been on him…but like with Scotty earlier it had been on Dana.

"…but how?"

"Hey," she answered softly, the look of surprise mirrored on her own features.

"Avery, this is Dana - Virgil's fiancée," Scotty said trying to break the tension that was clearly building in the room. Although Dana had the advantage of knowing what she was walking into, it was obvious that the two of them being face to face was still a huge shock; even for her.

"How?" Avery asked again, her question aimed in Virgil's direction.

"As I told Scotty earlier, it's a long story. But that's not what's important at the moment. Right now I'm more concerned with what's happening with you," Virgil told her.

"I'd like to examine you and find out what's going on and see if…"

"So I'm guessing you're a doctor too," Avery said cutting off Dana mid-request. Dana nodded.

"Brain's had already taken blood samples when we arrived and is running a few tests of his own…" Avery explained, "…and I had been able to conduct a few of myself before…"

"If you don't mind I'd like to take a look…" As if on cue before Dana could even finish her sentence, the sick room door opened and Brains' entered.

"M…Mr Tracy said you wanted to see…O…oh m…my!" he gasped as he realised what he had walked in on.

"Dana would like to take a look at your test results please Brains?" Virgil asked, snapping the engineer out of the near trance he had seemed to have entered since he walked into the room.

"Of course Virgil," he replied.

"Dana," Virgil gently placed a hand on his fiancée's arm, "Brains is here so you can take a look at the tests he's already ran," he explained to her when he noticed the confused look in her eyes as she turned her attention to him. It was obvious that she hadn't fully registered Brains' arrival.

"Yes of course," she said in reply as she then acknowledged the engineer.

"I…I have my findings set up in the o…other room, if you would like to c…come with me?" he asked before indicating for her to make her way towards the door.

"I'll stay here with Avery and Scotty," Virgil told her and Dana took another quick look at the other woman and made her way out of the room, with Brains following close behind her.

"Come on little guy how about we get you something to eat," Scotty said as he scooped up his nephew in his arms, "You have quite a lot to catch up on," he added.

Avery just nodded, still seeming to be a little dazed by what had just happened.

"Of course, thanks Scotty," he acknowledged, before Scotty, with the boy in his arms left the sick room.

Virgil was sure he knew what was coming as soon as the door closed and the two of them were left alone, but nothing happened. Avery didn't say a word; she just stared at him…confused.

"Avery…" he began, but before he could think of anything else to say, it was as if she had awoken from her trance and finally asked the question that had been on her lips from the moment she had first laid eyes on Dana.

"So Dana?"