#squidy

Scott jumped up from the floor and threw himself across the bed. Bearing down all his weight on the flailing arms of his fevered sibling.   

Gritting his teeth with pain as an errant elbow nailed him hard in the gut he held on for dear life. “Virgil, calm down!”  He grunted out.  “Jesus Christ,  Gordon.  Hurry up with that... shot.  Much more of this...and his going to pull out his sutures”

“I know.”  His brother barked back, working quickly to load the syringe and grabbing at the IV line that was flapping about all over the place.  “God, he’s gonna pull his line if he keeps this up.”

“Get the damn drugs in him!”  

Scrambling, Gordon did just that.  The drug dispersed down the line and into the pallid arm of his sickly brother.  Almost instantly the drugs effect took hold of the mass of ailing, hysterical muscle and Virgil went limp below Scott’s straining limbs. His frantic eyes rolled and his lids drooped as he flopped bonelessly back against the bedding. 

Chest heaving, Scott dared not move for fear the crazed panic would resurface.  

Sparing a glance in Gordon’s direction, he looked him over.  The aquanaut’s eye had the tell tale signs of one hell of a shinner developing and by the way his brother was hunched over, Scott wouldn’t be surprised that a kidney was bruised.  “You okay?”  He asked though he could hazard a guess at the answer by the haunting glint in the squid’s eyes. 

“Fuck no”

He didn’t bother admonishing him for his language.  He was harboring the same thoughts but he couldn’t bring himself to voice them.  A flair of envy at the younger man ease of use briefly flashed through him but he quickly pushed it aside.  It wasn’t a priority at the moment and wouldn’t be of any help.

Looking down at the heap below him Scott loosened his hold minutely and laid his fingers on the inside of a thick wrist. Feeling the steady but sluggish beat he let a sign slip past his lips and his shoulders sagged in relief. 

“Scott?”  

“He’s out” Confirming his findings with the read out displayed beside the bed. “Temp is still up though and his stats are low.” 

“Scott?” The tone of the questions brought Scott’s head around.

“He’ll be okay, Gordo.  Just a close call.” Peeling back a corner of gauze Scott winced at the angry, oozing red wound. 

A tense silence enveloped the room and Scott could feel Gordon’s eyes weighing heavily on him.  To avoid making eye contact he turned his attention to the display,  eyes flickering over the data, down to Virgil and back up again.  

Considering what he knew with what he wanted, he absently chewed on the inside of his cheek. The sinking feeling hurt more than his own physical bruises. 

Shoulders tensing, he took Virgil’s unresponsive hand in his own.  

“Prep Two for launch and have John get in contact with Auckland. We have a medical emergency and we will be coming in hot.”

oOo

Next part HERE