WhumpLove

Scott and Kayo were with Penny in a meeting with the GDF and were strictly incommunicado. Gordon had been on his own rescue, they had dropped Four off on the way there and John was coordinating from Five as usual.

"There" had been the Patagonian Desert. They had tackled a well fire in a gas field, and Virgil had remained tight-lipped about the fracking operation. It had led to a small earthquake that had collapsed several houses in the local villages as well as the fire.

Putting out the fire had been Virgil’s priority while Alan began helping the nearest village, and, using the grenades, he’d made short work of it before heading over to help Alan. The Village was mainly comprised of wooden or stone houses, some of which had collapsed completely and others that were precariously balancing.

Alan had made good headway and had cleared two almost collapsed houses and was starting on his third by the time Virgil had joined him, and for the next few hours they worked steadily with an ever-increasing crowd of helpers to make sure each and every villager was accounted for.

By this time it was growing dark and John had already flown Two across the ocean to pick up Four and take Gordon home, the Squid exhausted from his easy but long rescue. Two needed to be fuelled before returning to pick the two brothers up, so the village elders proclaimed a feast in honour of their visitors and the rescue.

A meal consisting of platters of vegetables, legumes, potatoes and fish were passed around the tables and served with some kind of fruit juice after a fermented wheat drink had been offered to their spirits in thanks.

After the meal instruments were brought out, some of which Virgil could identify roughly – there was a horn, some kind of flute and a drum – and he found himself humming along to music he’d only heard the likes of on National Geographic.

It was during this time that Virgil’s watch vibrated an alert, and before Virgil had stood up the floor shook and beams from the ceiling fell. Alan found himself flattened under his brother, and at least one beam it them.

The aftershock was over almost as quickly as it had begun. The villagers helped remove the beams and after checking everyone out and ensuring there were no more injuries – there were not, they had been lucky – they called it a night as Two landed to pick them up.

Virgil had insisted he was fine, and had grumbled almost as badly as Scott would have done had he been in Virgil’s place, resulting in Alan rolling his eyes. His older brothers would have his hide if he didn’t submit to a scan after an accident, but Virgil was the medic and Alan trusted that he knew what he was talking about.

The next afternoon Alan stumbled from his room, yawning. Virgil was at the countertop, yawning into his giant mug of coffee. The villa was quiet, and since the command centre wasn’t showing it looked like Gordon had taken himself off for the day.

‘Hey Virg!’

But the bear merely growled and Alan smirked as he poured himself a bowl of cereal and a glass of milk. Obviously Virgil hadn’t finished his first coffee of the day. Still sleepy, Alan managed to knock over the glass, and Virgil jumped up to prevent the liquid soaking his pants.

As he did, and as Alan watched, Virgil’s eyes rolled up and he hit the floor.

The distance between them, between the breakfast bar and the floor was suddenly a mile long, and Alan felt like he was moving through treacle. By the time he was kneeling beside Virgil’s head his brother’s eyes were fluttering open.

‘Wha tha?’ ‘What was what?’ ‘Wha it me?’

Alan was thankful he was fluent in slurred brother.

‘The floor.’ ‘Why tha floor up ‘ere?’ ‘Because you passed the fu-. Hold on. What did you just say to me?’ ‘How’d the floor get up there…with my head?’ ‘Wow. You really did hit hard.’

Virgil blinked at Alan’s words, somehow they just didn’t make any sense to him.

‘You saw me get hit?’ ‘No I heard you get hit. I mean do the hitting.’ ‘What?’ ‘You passed out, bro. Are you listening to me?’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because I know what I’m talking about sometimes.’ ‘No, I mean why did I pass out?’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Am I okay?’ ‘I don’t know.’

Gingerly, while still laying on the floor, Virgil felt behind his head, pulling out a hand that had blood on his fingers. He stared at it and then at Alan, who had turned pale.

‘Is that my blood?’ ‘I. Don’t. Know. I don’t know how to do this! You always take care of me!…Actually I do know that one. Yeah, that’s your blood.’ ‘Your…hands are shaking.’

Alan looked down at his hands. They were indeed shaking. A seasoned rescuer he may be, but treating his own brothers…especially this one. He yelled for John, causing Virgil to wince in pain.

‘Yeah well. Adrenaline.’ ‘I don’t feel good. I really don’t feel good.’ ‘Me neither.’ ‘I’m gonna throw up.’ ‘No. No. Do not. You wait for Grandma. John’s calling her now.’ ‘Why am I on the ground?’ ‘I don’t know. Looked like a seizure or something.’ ‘I’ve never had a seizure. ‘I know. Which is why I’m freaked out. Do you ever stop talking? I’m about to knock you out again.’

Virgil’s eyebrow raised in surprise, but the words did the trick, shocking him out of talking.

‘Please, Virgil. Stay still until Grandma gets here.’ ‘Ok, Alan.’ ‘And keep your eyes open!’

Brown eyes suddenly flew open and focussed hard on Alan, and the blond swallowed. Grandma was on the other side of the island, up on the bluff where they had memorials for their parents and Grandpa, and John murmured that she was on her way back and could Alan run the Medscanner over his brother. Gordon was also heading back – there was no way Alan could get Virgil onto a stretcher on his own.

Grabbing the Medscanner from the kitchen first aid kit, Alan wasted no time running it over his prone brother, cursing that Virgil was obviously not fine. The results went automatically to Five and he knew that John would be relaying them to both Grandma and Gordon as he sat here.

He gently tapped Virgil’s cheek.

‘Hey, hey. Stay awake now, until Grandma gets here.’ ‘M-wake.’ ‘Then open them eyes. You know the drill.’ ‘Hurts.’ ‘What, the light? Hang on. John? Can you dim the windows? There – that’s better!’

Alan was sure the grumbled reply was unsuitable for his young ears, but then Virgil wasn’t firing on all cylinders.

‘Looks like a delayed concussion coupled with some severe dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance – the probable cause of the mini seizure. Are you alright, Alan love?’

Grandma’s voice was very welcome, as was her arms around his shoulders and the quick tight squeeze they gave before she got down to business.

Everything moved fast then as Gordon fairly sprinted into the room. He’d obviously stopped by the infirmary and grabbed a hover stretcher, and between the two blonds they managed to manoeuvre the big man onto it and down into the infirmary.

Their Grandma shooed them out but not before kissing Alan’s forehead and telling him she was proud of him.

Virgil woke up several hours later to the unusually muted sound of Alan killing zombies. He blinked in the low light and went to move, only for the tell-tale pinch of an IV to stop him. He groaned quietly, but not enough to escape his brother’s notice.

‘You’re awake!’ ‘Uh…yeah, I guess.’ ‘How are you feeling?’ ‘I – like I got hit by a truck.’ ‘Grandma said you have delayed concussion and that you were severely dehydrated.’ ‘Um…’ ‘Do you remember what happened?’ ‘Not really. Can’t seem to think straight.’ ‘You hit the floor and had a seizure. Grandma says that you just need rest and fluids and you’ll be alright.’ ‘Ok. That sounds right.’

He closed his eyes for several long heartbeats, but Alan didn’t pick the game back up and Virgil could him watching. He turned his head and opened one eye. Alan offered a waterly smile.

‘You good, Alan?’ ‘You – you really scared me. And it was just you and me in the house.’ ‘I’m sorry. You did really well. It sounds like you kept your head and rescued me.’

Alan perked up slightly at the words, but Virgil knew there was one more thing he could do to make everything alright. He scooted over on the bed and held his free arm up. With a broad grin Alan abandoned his game and climbed into the bed and was enveloped in a bear hug.

‘Thank you.’ ‘Your welcome.’