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The news report made Scott’s blood run cold… Being the only one up at the moment it being 5:30 in the morning this could not have been worse. “Oh God please let this be a fake report… someones sick and twisted idea of a joke.”Scott whispered to the air as he fought with himself to not drop his water glass in the shock.
Scott ran the sanario through his head, which would be the best one to break the news? He knew the impact this would have was going to be beyond devastating regardless who was unfortunately tasked with breaking the news.
As the victim was identified, Scott’s heart dropped. Kip. Virgil wasn’t even awake yet and the very first thing he was going to hear about was Kip Harris falling to his death from a balcony…
“John. I’m going to need you down on the island. It’s Virgil…. Kip’s … Kip died.” Scott went straight to the point watching as the hologram’s eyes widened.
“Are we sure Scott?” John’s voice was dangerously soft as if he was scared Virgil was going to overhear despite the early hours of the morning.
With a shaky nod Scott debated whether or not to wake Gordon and let him know… All hands on deck would definitely be needed. Forgoing the knock Scott was surprised to see Gordon sitting up in bed chewing his lip. With his holoprojector open to the news report.
“Should I tell him now? Do I wait? What do I do Scott?” Virgil was going to find out one way or another, the reports were everywhere.
“I-I don’t know Squid… I really don’t know.”
The morning went agonisingly slowly… As Alan emerged from his room with still no sign of Virgil even nearing noon Gordon made the hesitant trip up to Virgil’s room.”Virge? Are you awake, big guy?” The bed sheets moved, something was keeping him in bed… Had he found out?
Tired eyes stared back, it was better now than later. “Please tell me it’s not true… Please Gord please tell me it’s a sick prank.. “ The way his voice broke small and fragile, Gordon really wished it was.
“Kip Harris died Virge…” He kept his voice soft, watching as Virgil shook his head furiously back at him, his eyes welling up with tears.” I’m sorry Virge, I wouldn’t joke about this.”
Feeling of being doused in cold water came over Virgil as he screamed at Gordon. “No you're wrong Kip.. Kip isn’t dead, there must be a mistake!” The sob that ripped from Virgil’s throat. “You’re wrong!”
He felt sick, he was shaking, he felt cold… Not Kip. Not Kip Harris. Kip is invincible, he is so happy. He had only adopted a seven- year- old boy a few months back, he is absolutely besotted with little Anderson “Andy.” He wouldn’t leave Andy… never.
“Oh, Vee. Oh sweetheart.” Anguish screams filled the room, hulking frame shaking. Gordon stepped aside as Grandma came into the room looking just as shaken as Virgil. “I know, I know.” As he coughed trying to catch his breath, feeling his throat closing.
“Momma? Kip..” The words felt thick in his mouth and he couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence. Keeping his eyes fixed on anywhere but their eyes, cold shivers took over his body as he hiccupped . Tears showing no signs of letting him breath properly, if anything he seemed to be shutting down.
He felt hollow and everything wasn’t making sense. He felt a hand on his back and he immediately recoiled feeling lighting bolts going through from the contact. He rolled away pressing himself against the wall.
Gordon watched as Virgil gripped his pillow curling as tight as he possibly could, heart shattering at the pain he knew Virgil was experiencing indescribably unimaginable. The sniffles, the hiccups, the whimpers.
As he walked back he sighed to Scott and Alan, still trying to get the scene out of his mind.”I doubt he’s leaving his room anytime soon… He’s pressed himself into the wall flinching away from any contact… We will need to watch him.” The worry in Gordon’s eyes shook them to the core.
The next few days were even worse if that was possible… Virgil seemed more of a shell of himself then anything. Scott and John had froze when they came into his room to see pages of sketchbooks littering the bedroom floor, desk completely trashed, Makers thrown through the room. With Virgil in the center of it all. They had only just convinced Virgil to shower…
He hadn’t touched his supplies in days… and if he was out of his room he was staring at the wall, not taking any notice of his surroundings… plates of food being completely untouched unless prompted… regardless of the rumbles of his stomach.
Encouraging him to play the piano would get them nowhere except for more tears and an ”I can’t.”
Thunderbird Two’s maintenance was all but completely abandoned. Picking up the tools, stepping into her cockpit just left him crumbled on the floor. Alan found him there… It took three of them to coax him away and into the main room.
“You take her… I can't, I just can’t.”That was whispered when he got into Two’s cockpit as he Gordon and Alan were preparing to leave.
Kip had said he’d be more than happy to reunite again, this time with Andy who adored Virgil.
He just never thought the reunion would be his hero’s funeral. As he watched out the window of the co-pilot seat Gordon squeezed his shoulder… Virgil had lost some muscle mass in the months following the news of Kip’s passing.
“You’re okay.. It’s going to be okay… We've got this big guy. You can leave whenever you need.” And for the first time since having to break the news Gordon felt himself getting wrapped into one of Virgil’s bear hugs.
“Thank you..” As they approached the church Alan and Gordon muttered reassures as Scott and John wrapped him in a hug as Virgil caught sight of little Anderson in his suit.. Looking scarily similar to little Gordon when they had their mother’s funeral.
“I’ll watch over him, Kip, I promise. I”ll let him know how much of an amazing man his papa was.” As fresh tears were sobbed into Scott’s shoulder.
And if he picked up a paint brush again after the service?
Virgil wasn’t sure he would get over the passing of Kip but with that promise being made as he sat cross-legged on the main room floor… Each brother carefully brought the scene to their attention… he wasn’t fully okay, but it was a start to getting their Virgil back.