>> RE POSTED as Fanfic wouldn't let me put mydividers in yesterday!!

Hello Everyone!!

Well you'll pleased to know this is the tenth and final chapter. So after you've read this and reviewed (obviously) you won't have to read any more of my rubbish!!

Okay well I just want to say an immensely gigantic thank you to everyone who has continually reviewed this story and encouraged me with it. Without your reviews I wouldn't have got past chapter one, and I'm sure anyone who writes will agree with me when I say that reviews are so important to a writer that it's impossible to express, so thank you. A special thank you to Amanda who has been beta reading for me (You're the best, chick!) and also to Laura for her regular emails. I hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed creating it, and I trust you'll let me know through that little review button anyway!! (Hint)

I really hope this last chapter does the rest of the story justice; I did have to re write it three times! Well, I guess that's it from me! Hope you all have a great Christmas and Happy New Year.

Thank you again for your support and continued encouragement.

Kim

- X -

Watching From Above

Chapter 10

(Third time lucky! Lol)

He woke somewhat easier this time; unsurprisingly Scott sat habitually by his bed.

"Hey." He said softly, keeping his voice deliberately low.

Virgil blinked a few times, focusing his vision a little better. "Hey!" He said drearily.

"You want some water?" Scott asked, obviously concerned.

Virgil shook his head slowly. "No, I'm okay."

"You sound a little better. How's your throat feel now?" He enquired sensitively.

"Still a little sore, but not as bad as yesterday." Virgil's voice still sounded rough to him.

"You didn't have to stay." Virgil gestured to the chair Scott had clearly spent the night in; Virgil voice wasn't the only thing that could be described as rough. "You look terrible Scott." He sympathised with his brother, he really did - when Gordon came round after the accident he too had been reluctant to leave his younger brother.

"I'm all right." Scott said quickly defending himself. They both knew it wasn't true but there would be time for that later. He turned the conversation around quickly. "Y'know Dad's pretty upset right now. I sort of overheard some of the things he said to you. He feels really bad for what happened after Mom died, he's truly sorry Virg."

Virgil nodded, feeling more lethargic as time went by. "I know Scott." He muttered cynically.

"No Virg, I'm serious, he really hates himself for the way he was with you back then." Scott tried to convince his brother.

"But he's too proud to ever admit it. I've heard it all before, only last time it was from Grandma." Virgil said again.

"Well then maybe seeing you on your deathbed has made him realise that pride isn't everything, because he was quite happy to tell you when you were unconscious. I know. I heard him." Scott argued with his brother.

"Scott, when I'm unconscious I'm not looking at him with her eyes and I'm not mocking him with her traits." Virgil was still sceptical about his father's honesty.

"All I'm saying is he was upset. He was really scared he'd lose you. I think you should try and talk to him." Scott looked at him; there was almost an element of pleading in the blue eyes.

"Scott, please, not now." Virgil's head was beginning to spin and the last thing he needed was a lecture from Scott about how to deal with their father. Virgil had long since learnt the art of deception when it came to Jeff Tracy. He learnt how to read him almost as well as he learned how to read Scott. Only with Scott it was a case of knowing when to be there for him, with his father even now, it was a case of knowing when not to be there.

"Look, I'm just saying, seeing how easy it was to lose you, it made him think a lot. Maybe now would be a good time to talk to him. He's bringing Grandma this morning."

Virgil closed his eyes tightly against the onset of another headache. He groaned. "Scott, you should have seen her last night. Fussing about everything, I thought she was never going to leave." He wasn't complaining. He would never complain about his Grandmother in his eyes she was the most spectacular woman he knew - a pillar of strength to rival any other.

Scott laughed at his comment. "She's certainly been keeping Dad in check, these last few days, he's spent most of his time here." Virgil wasn't surprised at this, he knew that despite the fact it sometimes hurt his father a great deal to be around him he did love him and would be devastated if anything happened to him, in the same way he would if anything happened to any of them. He knew it would be this love; this worry that he was so sick, that would have kept his father by his side. Regardless of how Jeff had acted towards him as a child Virgil was very much aware of how much his father cared for him. He may not ever have the close bond with his father that Scott shared, or the love of space and astronomy that John shared but he had accepted that a long time ago, and was happy to settle with the deep seated, irrefutable, undeniable knowledge that his father loved him.

"It really shook him up, the prospect of you dying like that. I haven't seen him like that for a long time." Scott continued. "I don't think anyone took it particularly well."

"Sounds as though Alan did okay." Virgil said smoothly.

"It seems weird how he's grown up recently, he's not a kid anymore." Scott sounded pensive.

"He's not been a kid for a long time now Scott." Virgil was equally thoughtful.

"I know, I just expected him to react differently. He really came through for us with Gordon. He didn't take it too well." Scott admitted nervously, unsure whether one of his brothers had mentioned it.

"I know, he told me." Scott wasn't surprised with his brother's reaction; Virgil always knew everything when it came down to Gordon. In the same way that Alan had turned to Scott growing up, Gordon had turned mostly to Virgil. "We talked for a while last night, he feels bad, he never meant to hurt you."

Scott sighed contemplatively, knowing Virgil was talking about the instance where Gordon slammed him into a wall and then broke down on his shoulder. "He didn't hurt me, he was upset."

"I'll say." Virgil sighed too. "I'm worried about him. I mean sure, he seemed okay last night but that's not like him to lash out physically. I know sometimes he's a little too hot-headed for his own good, but its only ever been verbally before."

"Virg, you have to try and understand he was scared you were going to die. Besides we all saw him after the accident, we knew what to expect; he didn't. I think in some ways his accident prepared us for seeing you in a way he couldn't comprehend. Look don't worry about him, Alan's keeping an eye on him and John talked to him the other night." Scott tried to set his brothers mind at rest.

"What about you?" Virgil asked suddenly. The look in Scott's eyes suggested he'd caught him off guard. "You need to talk about it too."

The compassion in Virgil's voice made him wince. He withdrew. "Virgil…"

His one word protest was barley complete. "Scott." Virgil said firmly, holding his gaze. He could see the eyes overfull with hurt, pain that needed an outlet and quickly. But before he could push Scott any further, the door was opened.

Jeff entered the room silently, carefully, not wanting to wake either of his sons had they been asleep.

The relief filled smile filtered down to Virgil as Scott stood up to let his father closer.

Scott caught their grandmother's eye as she followed Jeff into the room; she eyed him with distaste, frowning and tutted at his exhausted form. He knew he was heading for another lecture as soon as she clapped eyes on him, but she just shook her head and headed to Virgil.

"Hello Sweetheart. How are you feeling?" She smiled compassionately.

Virgil smiled back, genuinely pleased to see the little old lady. "I'm alright Grandma. Really." His eyes closed of their own accord.

He felt her hands on his face, brushing against his cheek. "Well, I don't want any more scares like that Virgil." Her tone was chastising but her bright eyes and rosy cheeks revealed her relief. She smiled again, thinly. "I can't be doing it with it, not at my age" She joked.

Scott saw his opportunity to escape unscathed from his grandmother's imminent lecture. Whilst Virgil had her full attention he quietly attempted to leave. "I'm going to get a coffee." He announced softly before turning to the door.

"Hold it right there, young man." Scott halted immediately, he knew better than to disobey that voice, Virgil winced at her tone. Though not particularly loud, he had heard that tone many times before. They had all learnt the painful way that few things could be hidden and remain that way around this woman. "I want a word with you. I could do with a coffee myself."

Virgil couldn't see Scott's face from where he lay, and he wasn't likely to try and move, as he didn't seem to posses the energy. He knew though, that his oldest brother would be kicking himself for foolishly thinking he could escape Grandma. Had he retained he energy he would have smirked at Scott's discomfort but he merely closed his eyes.

She eyed Scott as she placed a gentle kiss on Virgil's cheek, "I'll see you again soon sweetheart, now you be good. Do as the Doctor says and you'll be home before you know it, and we'll have the biggest feast you've ever seen to celebrate."

Virgil's stomach lurched at the thought of real food, but he smiled anyway. "Thanks Grandma, see you later."

"Come along Scott," he heard her say. "You and I are going to have a talk." He heard the door click shut, his eyes remaining closed.

He only opened them again as he felt the soft touch of his father brushing against his hand. He had been so quiet earlier Virgil had almost forgotten about him.

"How are you feeling really?" He asked troubled.

"I'm okay Dad, really." He tried to convince him through the aching need to sleep.

"No pain? The boys said you were in pain last night" Again his voice held an air of concern that Virgil couldn't help but think was strange in his father. Not that he didn't care; he knew he cared. Just that he didn't always show it so freely. He was reminded of what Scott had said about his father being upset.

"No, they swapped the medication over. It comes and goes but … the headaches are the worse, and the tiredness; I feel constantly worn-out, yet I sleep loads, I feel as if all I do is sleep."

"Laura said your body's been through a lot, it needs time to regain some energy. Sleep as much as you like Son." Jeff smiled.

"Bet you never thought you'd hear me say I was tired of sleeping did you?" Virgil laughed; it was a well-known fact in the Tracy household that though he was no slouch, Virgil enjoyed the company of his bed.

"No." Jeff smiled softly. "I never thought I'd come so close to never seeing those brown eyes again either." He stopped watching Virgil's eye's snap open and his pupils dilating widely. "Lucy's eyes." He smiled sorrowfully. Virgil's eye widened further at his comment, he dropped his gaze, suddenly aware of how much he knew he reminded his father of his mother.

"Virgil…"

"Dad…"

They spoke at the same time, trying to fill the awkward silence in the room. "You go first." Virgil was interested to see what his father was going to say. He'd never witnessed him like this before, his emotions were usually held deep within he rarely let them run this close to the surface and hardly ever in front of anyone other than himself or - Virgil presumed - his grandmother. Virgil felt suddenly uncomfortable; his father had never spoken to him about his mother before. That topic of conversation had been strictly forbidden since he was a child, and he realised that Scott had been trying to warn him earlier, that somehow he knew that this was coming.

"I just wanted to say. Well, I swore that if whatever power is up there would give you back I'd tell you all the things I wished I had. How much I care about you..."

Virgil narrowed his eyes, wondering if this was some strange hallucination he would wake from. Scott was a lot like their father when it came to dealing with the emotional fallout of something, whether it was a rescue or their mother's death. They seemed to have this policy that if you pretended everything was okay then it would be. That it was weak to admit you needed help or talk about how you felt. He was stunned by his father's words; he'd never known him to be this honest about how he felt before. Maybe this was a side of his father that Scott usually dealt with.

He felt the need to try and stop him. "Dad…"

"No Virgil." He spoke over him. "I've been thinking about this all morning. Hear me out." Virgil could see he was struggling already to keep his composure. "I promised myself that I would tell you how much I care about you." He repeated it as if it was a pre-planned speech. "How sorry I am for the way things were when you were younger. I know it was hard for you, and I didn't make things any easier. I should've been there for you, both you and Scott but it was especially hard for you, I'm aware of that and I can never forgive myself for the things I did then. For the way I made you feel, for the way you two had to seek comfort from one another. You shouldn't have had to turn to each other; you should have been able to turn to me. I'm sorry that when your mother died you and Scott took on a lot of responsibility for the others. I'm sorry I wasn't a better father." Virgil was horrified to see tears close to the surface in his father's eyes.

He suddenly felt ten times more uncomfortable. It was wrong and out of character for his father to be this expressive. He's never heard his father apologise to anyone before, even if he was wrong he could usually turn a situation to his advantage. And he'd certainly never witnessed him cry, not since the day his mother died, at the hospital.

He allowed himself to interrupt as his father fell silent, presuming his 'speech' was complete. "You're not a bad Father Dad, you never have been. We understand how hard it was for you." The words stumbled from Virgil's mouth, lamely trying to reassure his father. He felt hesitant, not knowing what to say or do; he'd never been in a situation like this.

"Do you know what Gordon said to John the other night?" Virgil looked inquisitively at him and he continued. "He said one of the reasons he reacted so badly to you being ill was because he couldn't bear to lose another parent." Jeff paused. "He thinks of you as a parent and he's right. You're more than a brother to them." He paused sadly.

Virgil briefly wondered if his father had been drinking but brushed the thought away from his tired mind. "So Gordon and Alan relied on us a lot when they were kids, that doesn't make you a bad father. You were always there when it counted Dad; we couldn't ask for a better father, any of the others will tell you that." Virgil paused to hold back a yawn, he watched his father debating that point in his head. "Besides," He smiled, "We didn't turn out so bad, Did we?"

Jeff smiled proudly, "You turned out perfectly, Son." He said with sentiment, he studied his Son; his shaved head gave him a completely different persona, a vulnerable persona "You look so different." Virgil was pleased for the change of subject, though he felt uncomfortable at the hand that brushed over his head. He never knew his father felt like that, he resolved to talk to Scott about it again. He couldn't suppress his fatigue this time as the touch became more and more comforting; he closed his eyes.

"It's okay, Go to sleep." Jeff soothed, he could see how much just talking had taken out of him, and even Virgil himself was slightly surprised at how fast his energy departed. "We can talk again, another time, when you're feeling a bit stronger." He paused. "You're mother would be proud of you Virgil." He added.

"Mm hmm, I'd like that Dad. To talk." His eyes remained closed and his voice exposed the weakness he felt. Jeff smiled, tear filled eyes carefully watching his son as he drifted off to a well needed sleep. He silently faced the skies, thanking the heavens that he still had this precious gift.

---

He was thankful he was already awake as the door banged shut, he watched as Scott leant against it, exhaling deeply, trying to calm himself.

"Was it that bad?" He asked.

Scott cautiously opened his eyes. "Sorry, did I wake you?"

Virgil shook his head. "No. What did she say?"

Scott walked over to the chair he usually sat in. "Oh, I'm running myself into the ground. I need to eat and sleep properly. I need this, I need that…" He sighed again. "She's even told Dad he has to come by tonight and pick me up. Can you believe that? She's sending me to bed at the hotel like some little kid! Like I don't know how to look after myself."

Virgil could tell he was decidedly miffed, but smirked at the context of his complaint, if only he could see himself; he wasn't looking after himself. He looked exhausted, black bags under his eyes contrasted greatly with the unusually pale colour of his skin. . His eyes were dark, dull and he did little to hide the fact he hadn't shaved. The emotional roller coaster he had been a passenger on had left its marks. The lines of worry across his face for a start, Virgil pondered over whether the ride was over yet or if there was more to come. Whether Scott would accept he needed to talk things through or whether he would try and pretend he was okay, when he so obviously wasn't. Virgil studied him closely debating whether to continue, he concluded Scott looked too exhausted to put up a fight and though Virgil, himself, felt pretty tired he decided to try. Seeing Scott's defences were weakening with every hour he stayed awake, he pushed his opportunity.

"She's worried. She's not the only one. Laura told me you nearly passed out." Scott looked up, giving Virgil, an all too familiar warning glance.

"Virgil, I don't need this from you as well."

"I know." He said softly, dispelling any frustration on Scott's part.

Scott closed his eyes resting back in the chair. "Good. So how are you feeling?"

"Not too bad. Laura gave me some more pain medication, I'm fine." Scott looked up, irritated.

"You should seriously consider recording those words." He stretched, Virgil watched him, a smirk formed on his lips, he hid it from Scott.

"What words?"

"I'm fine"

"Are you?" Virgil asked.

Scott laughed. "That was sly." He smiled. "Yes, I'm fine."

"Can I ask you something?" Scott tried to read the expression on his face finding himself unable to. That was unusual; he usually knew the question and had figured out his answer before it had effectively left Virgil's lips.

"Sure." Scott was intrigued.

"Were you there when I woke up?" Scott nodded, not knowing were this was heading. "It's just I thought I heard someone say they were scared. I thought it was you, but it didn't sound like you." He feigned confusion. "Was it you?"

Scott shook his head. "Nah, you were completely out of it though. You didn't even know who I was when you came round. Maybe you were hallucinating?" Virgil knew him too well to believe Scott's lie, deep down Scott knew that, he just hoped he'd leave it for now. He didn't feel he could do this right now.

"Hmmm." Virgil agreed. "Am I hallucinating this?" He lifted up his hand, away from Scott's grasp, were he had automatically began moulding it into his own. Scott pulled the hand away sharply, as if it had been burned.

"I'm sorry. Force of habit." He apologised embarrassed.

"No, that's not what I meant."

"Virgil, please, not here." Scott knew were this was heading now, all right. It would turn into one of those big heart to heart conversations, where the scotch bottle came out and they sat on the balcony talking until the early hours of the morning. But there was no balcony here, no bottle of scotch to escape into. "Not here, not now." A stubborn silence filled the room.

Virgil destroyed it, hoping to coax some kind of reaction. "It's okay to be scared Scott. I was scared. It's natural, it's normal."

"No." Scott shook his head adamantly. "There was nothing natural or normal about that, about what they did to you." He paused, trying to control the rapid onset of emotions he felt; fear, repulsion, disgust, nausea. Virgil read them all; he didn't interrupt though, watching Scott's conflict within. "All those tubes and machine. They used a real drill. Did you know that? An actual drill?" He shook his head. "I didn't look. I could feel it though. Could feel the vibrations." He bowed his head. He seemed ashamed of the fact he couldn't watch the procedure. Virgil frowned at this theory. He grimaced further when his older brother's teary eyes came into his gaze.

The pain filled expression and the sombre eyes momentarily surprised Virgil. It was even worse than he imagined.

"How do you do that?" Scott asked in awe.

"What?"

"Make me tell you things I don't want to." Scott admitted.

"It's just a knack I have." Virgil smiled waiting for him to go on.

"Well you can have your 'knack' somewhere else. We'll talk about it later." It wasn't a request. It was a statement.

Virgil pondered over whether to leave it. Scott knew as well as he did that they needed to do this and now was as good as time as any. However he could also see how upset Scott was at just the mention of the subject.

"Scott." He tried again. "There's no-one here but us. You said you were scared."

"No, I said leave it." Scott's voice held a stern, unmovable tone, almost snapping at his brother.

"Do I have to remind you of a certain promise you made me?" Virgil waited patiently for his brother's eyes to meet his again, but it would seem Scott had other ideas, hiding his face, knowing Virgil could read his expression too easily.

"I'm not lying to you. I've got two hands, two feet, two arms…"

"I didn't mean physically." Virgil spoke over him. "And you know I didn't." He paused. "I know it can't have been easy for you. Watching the surgery, and then after the surgery…" He stopped himself, frowning as Scott still avoided his gaze. "Would you look at me?" He asked in frustration.

Scott brought fearful, watery eyes to rest on his brother. "You need to let it out Scott; you can't keep holding it inside."

"You need to rest." Scott stood, suddenly and began to fuss with the bed sheets, pulling them up to cover his brother.

"No, what I need is for you to stop this and be honest with me." He grabbed Scott's hand, holding it firmly. He felt Virgil's wide eyes, digging into him. "Sit down." Scott didn't have a choice as Virgil pulled him towards him; Scott plopped down heavily on the bed.

"You want honesty? You really want to know how I feel? How I felt?" Virgil nodded; he could tell from Scott's rapid breathing, his emotions were close to the surface. He always did that, as a way of controlling it, as if breathing hard would hold it back. His jaw trembled; he tried desperately to compose himself before he continued. "Sick." He screwed his nose up, his lips still wavering. "I felt sick." Tears glistened in his eyes. Virgil frowned in sympathy. "And yes, I was scared." His nostrils flared, as he fought a losing battle to stop the tears falling. "I thought you were going to die and I was afraid. There, are you happy now?" He asked shakily.

Virgil shook his head, closing his eyes. "Scott, I'm sorry. If I was half a decent brother I would have stopped you coming with me, but I was scared too." It was Virgil's turn to stop the tears now. "I was scared of dying, alone on that table with no-one around me accept for nurses who didn't know me and medical staff who didn't care about me."

Scott breathed heavily, still struggling to keep his feelings under control, seeing Virgil was also upset wasn't helping... "I know what you meant now." He admitted slowly, "About needing someone to hold you and tell you it wasn't real." Virgil knew he was referring to Anna. Scott scoffed, "We make a real pair!" He sniffed. Virgil smiled, he moved gently onto his side, trying not to cause himself any further discomfort. "Hey, be careful; take it easy, you'll hurt yourself." Scott admonished.

"Lie down."

Scott raised an eyebrow. "What?" he asked as a dubious smile spread slowly across his features. "Maybe you're still suffering from concussion." He thought out loud.

"Lie down Scott." Virgil repeated more firmly this time.

"Y'know there's a pretty good looking nurse down that corridor who I'm pretty sure has got the hots for me, I reckon she already thinks we're having some kind of incestuous relationship. What do you think she'll suppose if she catches us in the same bed?"

Virgil laughed. "Scott, I really don't care. And honestly, you look kind of rough right now; I'm pretty sure you're imagining it. Just lie down here." He gestured to the bedclothes beside him.

"I can't." Scott admitted, timidly.

"You won't hurt me." Vigil assured him, presuming that's what the fear in Scott's eyes stemmed from.

Scott laughed. "It's not you I'm worried about. That night you told me about… You said you couldn't hold it together if I held you and now I know how you felt."

"That was different I had a whole years grief locked inside. Don't make the same mistake I did, Scott I'm here now, talk to me."

The minutes of hesitant silence seemed to last hours, Virgil silently witnessed Scott's internal struggle, knowing he was hanging on to this emotional blockade by a single thread. "When you woke up I was torn. I didn't know whether to slap you for scaring the hell out of me or scoop you up in my arms and tell you everything was going to be alright." He looked down at his hands; attempting to hold back that gut wrenching, empty feeling he had felt before.

"Oh, Scott." Virgil placed a hand up to his shoulder pulling his older brother toward him. Virgil was surprised that Scott didn't resist, but Scott wanted to feel the reassurance of holding his brother again, he needed to, to convince himself this was real. He let himself be pulled into the warm embrace despite the fact he felt slightly awkward. He held his own weight, not wanting to put pressure on Virgil. Virgil however, could feel him holding back. "You won't hurt me." He whispered as he pulled Scott closer. Gently Scott let himself be pulled nearer until he was laid alongside his younger brother, gathered up in his strong arms. He closed his eyes tightly in a fraught bid to hold back the tears. He knew if he let them start, he could not control them enough to stop. And he didn't really want his brother to know the full extent of just how much it hurt him to see what he'd seen.

Virgil almost read his mind. Placing a firm hand on Scott's back, he forced him closer until he felt Scott melt into his arms like a chocolate fireguard to the flames, the only barrier between them being the blankets that covered Virgil. "I was scared too. It's okay to be scared. It's okay to cry." He reassured.

"Tracy men don't cry."

Virgil laughed. "Now, we both know that's not true."

Virgil held him tightly, Scott fought the will to surrender, eventually loosing. His body shook, once, then again, and again. His earlier discomfort forgotten in an instant, like a dam breaking; the powerful emotions created inside of him over the last few days overcame him and he was useless to stop it. Virgil's embrace was a bridge too far; the last of the emotional barriers he had constructed tumbled down in the face of this safety net his brother provided. Sure, he'd talked to his father, he'd even shed tears before now but none if it conquered the feeling of helplessness, of vulnerability that he'd encountered at seeing his closest brother, his sole confidant so helpless to certain death.

Virgil felt him shake; no sound came, just Scott shaking. He didn't need to look at his brother's face; he knew the tears would be there. Sure enough Scott buried his head deeper into Virgil's large frame as a choking sound escaped his lips. Virgil closed his eyes, holding Scott as close as he dare; he brought a hand up to run soothingly through his messy hair. "Shh, it's okay." He reassured him, just like he had always done.

"It's not okay," Scott mumbled in between strangled breaths, he bit his lip hard, the pain it caused further initiating his eyes to burn. "You nearly died, seconds Virg, seconds either way and we would have lost you." Shaky breathes. "I would have lost you." There was a pause as Scott tried to control himself. "I don't think we would have survived." Virgil knew he was talking about the family as a whole. He seemed to hesitate again for a while, Virgil's hold didn't weaken and he continued. His voice was more stable now, quiet but steadier. "I can't do it on my own, Virg."

Virgil tightened his hold on his brother despite the fact his ribs were begging to protest at the pressure. "You don't have to Scott. I'm here." Virgil adjusted how he was laid, trying to ease his ribs, Scott's head rested on his shoulder.

"It was so close. I know we've had close calls in the past, but never that close. There's always been a chance no matter how small. I never truly thought you'd die, but there was no chance this time." He paused, sniffing again. "I never really thought about it before, what it would be like to loose you or anyone really. Not properly." He was obviously thinking about that as a short silence ensued. "I really thought that was it. I sat there watching them…" He couldn't bring himself to say the words. "And I think for a moment, just a second. I hated you." Virgil knitted his brow at this, Scott continued before he had a chance to speak though. "I hated you for leaving me on my own." He laughed bitterly. "That shows what kind of loving older brother you have."

"Scott…" Virgil tried to tell him how that wasn't the case, but he was talked over.

"I'm sorry." Scott snivelled.

"For what?"

"Everything." Scott said gradually.

"Scott, don't do this to yourself. You have nothing to be sorry for." Virgil hugged him, as if to reiterate that statement.

"God!" Scott exclaimed, pulling away. "Look at me! What's happening to me?"

Virgil smiled; guiding him back to the position he was in before, as he spoke. "I know what you mean. I go away for a couple of days and everyone changes. John's bossy, Gordon's violent, Alan's well, Alan's become normal. And then there's you…"

Scott laughed. "I'm an emotional wreck." He added.

"Look at me." Virgil encouraged his brother to face him. When Scott looked up from where he'd hidden his face, Virgil's compassion filled eyes held his gaze there. "Scott, you've been through a hell of a lot over these last few days, you can't say it hasn't affected you. Even you; 'Man of Steel'" Virgil paused to laugh at the nickname, "Steel isn't indestructible. You can break too y'know. You're tired, that's all, tired and emotional. You just need a good nights rest and then you'll be back to your usual unfeeling, loveless, hard-hearted self." Scott barked a short laugh at Virgil's description. They both knew that maybe how he portrayed himself sometime but Scott was a lot more insecure than he made out and things affected him a lot more than he let on to the others. "When was the last time you slept?" Virgil inquired.

"I slept last night." Scott couldn't help be defensive; these kinds of questions around Virgil were always dangerous, the danger being he couldn't fob Virgil off with the half-truths he told everyone else. Virgil demanded the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

"How many hours?" Virgil questioned anxiously. He could tell by Scott defensive manner he'd hit a raw nerve here. "Three? Four? Six?"

He felt Scott shrug. "I don't know. Maybe three hours." He knew he'd be wasting his breath lying to Virgil, though he was at an advantage. Virgil couldn't see his face, still tucked in the dip in his shoulder.

"That's no way near enough." Virgil read his brother easily, like words on a page. "The nightmares get easier." Virgil said sincerely.

Scott pulled his head back staring at his brother a look of shock registering. "How did you...?"

"Scott, I've been there myself remember. The nightmares from Edleshaw lasted weeks. But they get easier, I promise you." His words held a note of sincerity that Scott found himself believing in.

"You never told me you had nightmares." Scott waited for an answer.

"I could handle it." Virgil told him.

"You should have told me." Scott's voice was quiet.

Virgil silently conceded. They lay like that for a while, both taking a small comfort from the other's presence.

"Do you remember when we were kids? In the summer when we used to go to Grandmas?" Scott's voice was soft, but it still startled Virgil in the wake of the silence.

He smiled. "Yeah, I remember."

"That day you feel out the hayloft. Do you remember that?" He enquired.

"Yeah, I do. It was you're fault, you know that don't you? It was always your fault. I never wanted to go up there in the first place. You talked me into it." Virgil laughed at the memory. "You talked me into everything. You're face when I fell down." He laughed again.

"It wasn't funny. The last time I'd seen that Doctor he was coming to tell Dad that Mom was… I convinced myself he was coming to take you away too." Scott admitted.

"Is that why you held on so tight that night?" Virgil asked softly.

"You noticed that?" Scott seemed surprised.

"Scott, I could hardly move you held me so closely." Virgil sniggered.

"Sorry. I was so scared that Doctor was going to try and take you away, I was determined I wouldn't let him. I felt so safe that night. You made me feel safe." Scott hesitated from telling Virgil he still did make him feel safe. That he felt safe now. That Virgil was his rock and that if felt so good to be held; he could never admit to that. He snuggled closer to his brother, permitting himself to benefit from his brothers immediacy, struggling to burn into his brain this moment of safety, of reassurance, of protection and peace.

There was another long pause before Virgil spoke.

If he was ever going to tell Scott about his 'dream' of Anna, now was the time. He thought long and hard; decided against it. How could he explain it to Scott, when he wasn't entirely sure himself what he'd witnessed. Scott would think he'd gone mad, for sure. Maybe he should put it down to his subconscious trying to tell him something. He deliberated over it for a few more moments.

"Do you remember what Grandma told us about Mom?" He asked eventually.

"That when someone dies, their soul floats up to heaven and that if they were really special their soul would be trapped in a star, watching over the people it loved. Until it was time for it to take its place in heaven." Scott repeated the words their Grandmother had told them, almost word for word.

Virgil nodded. "Did you ever believe it?"

Scott smiled. "Yeah, yeah I did."

"Me too."

"Maybe there is someone watching over us. It's a miracle you're alive, maybe we do have a guardian angel." They both considered that point now in solitary silence.

"I prayed." Scott's words shattered their comforting silence.

Virgil yawned; these brief silences were making him more tired. He'd just begin to feel himself nodding off when Scott would say something. "Scott, you don't believe in God."

"I know, when you see the kind of stuff we do its hard to believe there's an all-loving, all-powerful higher being, but I was getting kind of desperate." Scott admitted. "I told him I'd do anything, and I would have. Just for five minutes, to tell you all the things I wished I had." He halted briefly. "To tell you how much I care about you, how much I appreciate everything you do for me, how much I depend on you."

Scott halted again, building up the courage he needed to continue. "I know I don't probably say this as much as I should. But it's hard for me; you of all people know that. I just wanted to… well, you know I … well you know that... I just wanted to make sure you knew that …, I just wanted to say that…"

He swallowed. 'Just say it Scott!' He thought.

"I do love you, you know that don't you?" He looked up, from were his head rested on his brothers chest to see Virgil's eyes closed.

He smiled to himself. A half laugh escaped his lips. He sighed as he slowly tried to move his arms away from Virgil's embrace without waking or hurting him. His every intention was to retreat to his chair until his father arrived; however Virgil protested at the movement. He adjusted how he was laid, murmuring he pulled Scott nearer, holding him firmly and securely, his hand resting on the back of Scott's head, holding him, forcing him into his arms. "I love you too Scott." He whispered into Scott's ear distractedly as he once again fell into a dreamless sleep.

Scott closed his eyes. Resigning himself to the fact that Virgil would not easily let go. He never would.

---

The door creaked open; a shadow formed and moved its way toward the bed.

He studied the young men. Smiling. A tear formed in the corner of his eye. The last time he'd found them like this was when they were a lot younger. Scott couldn't have been more than fourteen. He'd walked away last time, unable to face the real reason for them drawing comfort from each other - his own inadequacy as a father. He sighed; he wasn't going to walk away this time, things were going to change. He stood for a moment. Studying them, he'd never really understood these two. They'd grown up so fast, over night almost. That night. He'd watched the others develop child to adolescent to adult. But these two never finished the child stage before they were both adults in their own right. Maybe that's what formed the bond; no bond was the wrong word, connection maybe? No, it was stronger than that. Something he could never understand, not even begin to comprehend.

His gaze rested on Virgil's face, he watched him grimace as a wave of pain hit him, screwing up his face in his sleep. Jeff's eyes followed down to Scott. To where his heavy head laid on Virgil's bruised ribs. A memory he'd like to forget though he knew he never would. The rough method that had caused those bruises. The only method of bringing him back to them. To where he belonged.

"Scott." He shook him gently trying not to rouse Virgil. "Scott wake up."

Scott didn't stir. His sleep was too deep; in his safe haven he had let the exhaustion overcome him.

"Dad." Sleepy, groggy eyes stared down at him. "Leave him." Virgil's burnt honey eyes still held an appearance of exhaustion.

A smile crept over Jeff's face at the sound of his gravely voice. It was still a more relieving experience than he'd anticipated.

"Is he hurting you?"

"No." Virgil lied. He'd rather endure the pain than push Scott away.

Jeff looked sceptical. He brushed a hand over Virgil's head. "How are you feeling son?"

"Okay." He lied.

Jeff gestured towards Scott, still sleeping. "The last time I found you like this was a very long time ago." He smiled softly.

Virgil gave a short laugh. "We used to do it all the time when we were kids," He felt the need to explain and carried on. "It always used to feel so secure, less vulnerable I guess. It kind of felt better to know we had each other." He laughed again. "That doesn't make sense does it? It just feels safe."

There were a few minutes of amiable silence between them; Virgil was unsure how to perceive this silence, Jeff reflected again on their earlier conversation regarding his parenting skills.

"Is he okay?" Jeff gestured towards Scott.

Virgil nodded, "He's fine, we had a long talk."

"He was devastated Virgil, we all were but I've never seen him so lost, he didn't know what to do with himself. That look on his face when I signed those forms, I think it'll haunt my worst nightmares; pure hatred. He was so distressed, completely shattered and I had to pick up the pieces. Only I couldn't. I couldn't do what you do, Son. I couldn't hold him together. By the time you came round, he was falling apart, and I couldn't do anything to help." Jeff sounded truly disconsolate.

"Dad, he's okay. And I'm sure he knows why you signed those forms. It was a tough decision; no-one holds it against you." Virgil sympathised, he knew how Scott got when he was miserable, and sometimes even he had trouble extracting him from the downward spiral.

A silence enveloped them once more. Virgil was beginning to feel he would nod off again, as the temptation to fall asleep became harder to ignore.

"I should let you get some rest. I'm going to talk to Laura, see if we can get you home a bit sooner. I was hoping with Brains and Tin-tin at home, they'd let you out earlier."

This theory appealed to Virgil a great deal, he hated hospitals. "Yeah, that'd be great. I hate being stuck in a bed, but my bed would be better." He smiled.

"Things are going to change Virgil." He said solemnly. "We're going to have that talk when you get home, when you're feeling better." Virgil was already considering his options; he knew the pressure would be on via Scott to tell his father about his own experience of loss. He also knew that if his father were honest with him, if he opened his heart to him, he wouldn't be able to not tell him. He thought about the reaction it might bring about for a few minutes.

Jeff smiled silently. "And as soon as you're feeling up to it I want you and Scott to take a long vacation. You've both had it hard this year, and you deserve it. It's the ideal opportunity for you to recuperate and Scott to take a break."

"Dad, won't that leave the business a little short handed?" Virgil frowned. "I'm going to be out of action for quite a while, Laura said at least four months, possibly six, perhaps it wouldn't be such a great idea for Scott to come with me."

"Son, we'd manage, don't worry about it. Besides, 'the business' is what got you into this mess." Virgil couldn't help but think his tone sounded bitter. "Take as much time as you need. I want you to get better but don't push yourself, there's no rush, just take your time." He reiterated.

"Okay, I'll think about it." Virgil said softly.

"Are you sure you don't want me to take him?" He gestured towards Scott.

Virgil shook his head. "No, he needs to sleep."

"He can sleep at the hotel; he doesn't have to use your ribs as a pillow." Jeff worried for Virgil's health.

"It's not my ribs, it's more my shoulder. Leave him Dad. I need it as much as he does." Jeff nodded, understanding their need to be near each other, to comfort each other as they always had done, with regret.

He stood up to leave. "Dad," Virgil's voice halted him. "Could you pass me that blanket up here?" He nodded towards were Laura had thoughtfully left a folded blanket on top of the second bed in the room.

Jeff obliged, passing it to him. "Here." He watched Virgil smoothly open it out to cover Scott, he smiled to himself.

"I'd better go and explain to your grandmother why I haven't brought sleeping beauty here back with me. She's not going to be pleased." He faltered. "Virgil, I…"

Virgil stopped him, seeing his discomfort, he smiled warmly. "It's okay Dad, I know. I love you too." He closed his eyes, reminiscent of his early conversation with Scott; they were so similar. He was taken aback when he felt his father lips on his forehead. "G'Night Son." Virgil opened his eyes just in time to follow his father's figure across the room and out the door, not once looking back.

He sighed heavily. Today had been a weird day; he knew his family had been through a lot, but he hadn't quite anticipated the change he'd seen. He thought about how to interpret their atypical behaviour, concluding he must have been gravely ill to merit such a reaction. It was hard to imagine himself nearly dying, seeing as he felt pretty much alive, baring the throbbing head and aching ribs or perhaps it was because of them. He prayed that tomorrow, things would be back to normal and that his family's behaviour would be less unsettling. As he thought about their abnormal conduct, his vision fell on the small window in the room. No curtains or blinds made for an excellent view of the clear night sky. His found himself particularly drawn to a bright star, he was pretty sure John would tell him it was part of a famous constellation but he'd never followed his brothers fascination with astronomy. Instead he remembered what their Grandmother had told them as a child:

"That when someone dies, their soul floats up to heaven and that if they were really special their soul would be trapped in a star, watching over the people it loved. Until it was time for it to take its place in heaven."

As Scott had so eloquently put it.

"Goodbye Anna." He whispered, smiling sadly. He blinked several times when the bright star seemed to disappear before his very eyes. He shook his head: maybe this fatigue he felt was causing him to become delirious.

He didn't have time to debate it, Scott stirred by his side.

"No. Virgil, please." He whined. Muttering in his sleep.

"Shh. Scott it's okay." Virgil's soothing voice and the soft kiss he placed protectively on his brother's head was enough to send the older man back to a more peaceful slumber. He remembered what Scott had said earlier:

"Maybe there is someone watching over us. It's a miracle you're alive, maybe we do have a guardian angel."

He allowed Scott to snuggle closer, squeezing him gently until his older brother was leaning into his warm embrace. As he tightened his hold on his brother, he allowed himself the luxury of sleep, realising as he did; the only guardian angel he needed was lying right by his side.

As for the star, it took its seat in heaven, not physically seeing; Watching From Above...