The Hug Shirt: For Dad
Okay. So, first things first. Big, big thank you hugs to all of you for your wonderful support of The Hug Shirt. I'm still very humbled by the love you've shown for my first ever Thunderbirds fanfic.
And an extra massive thank you hug to @squiddokiddo for the 2nd anniversary reblog, which has brought the story to some new readers . . . and inspired to me write an addition. A return of the Hug Shirt, if you will.
I really want to thank each and every one of you who have liked, commented, reblogged and engaged with this story in any way - but if I did that I'd be here all day, and I'd run the risk of missing someone out. So please believe me when I say it is all very much appreciated.
Special thanks to @onereyofstarlight for the cheer-leading on this one.
...
Virgil dragged his weary bones out of the elevator and towards the sunken lounge area. It had been a long day, but a successful rescue, and he was glad to be home. He was a little surprised to find the room so quiet, and the windows shaded to keep the light level low. Until he spotted Dad snoozing in his recliner.
Resisting the urge to run a quick med-scan and check vitals, he was about to follow the sounds of voices outside when he registered what his Dad was wearing and did a double-take. He couldn’t help but smile as he wondered which of his brothers had tucked their father up in the Hug Shirt.
An hour or so earlier . . .
“You okay, Dad?”
Jeff lifted heavy eyelids and found himself gazing up into the concerned crystal blue eyes of his youngest son. He wasn’t actually sure when Alan had joined him at his desk, or how long the hand on his shoulder had been there.
“I’m fine,” he answered with a fond smile. He was still getting used to being home and having his oh-so-grown-up sons looking out for him. “Just a little tired.”
The frown creasing Alan’s brow melted away and the hand from Jeff’s shoulder reached up to nervously scratch at hairs at the back of the blonde’s head.
“Well, we’ve got this in hand if you wanna make use of that new recliner of yours and take a break?” Alan’s free hand waved vaguely at the holographic displays of information hovering above the desk, and Jeff realised he had zoned out for a little longer than he thought. “Scott’s already on his way back with Gordon, and Virgil should be wrapping up any moment now. They’ll all be back before you know it.”
Jeff couldn’t help but chuckle. He felt as though he was being parented by his baby boy.
“Yes, perhaps you’re right,” he conceded and raised himself up out of the desk chair, grabbing the cane and starting a slow yet steady walk across to the recliner.
Alan hovered as though unsure if he’d need to lend his father extra support but, thankfully, he stayed put and Jeff was spared the indignity of being leant assistance he didn’t need. The addition of John’s voice softly carrying through the room, coordinating the final stages of Virgil’s rescue operation met his ears as Jeff eased himself down into the comfortable seat and adjusted the lever to recline the back and lift the footrest.
As he felt himself sink into the soft contours of the cushions he could hardly believe he had ever argued against the need for this chair. But Virgil had stubbornly insisted that it would aide his recovery and, in a manner reminiscent of Lucy, plotted with his brothers to purchase and install the new furniture despite Jeff’s own stubborn resistance. Virgil had practically needed to force him to sit in it the first time, and Jeff may still have resisted if it wasn’t for the glare his mother had given him when he began to protest, but as soon as he’d settled into it he realised how wrong he’d been. This chair was everything Virgil had promised and more in terms of comfort and support for a body still on the long road to recovery after long years in space.
Jeff let the voices of his sons wash over him, barely paying attention to their banter over the comms. It was the only soundtrack he needed, more comforting than even the welcome sounds of ocean waves, a gentle breeze through the trees, and the cries of the local birds. He was beginning to doze again when Alan approached him.
“Do you need anything, Dad?”
“I think I have everything I need, Son.” A spark of mischief glinted in his eyes. “Although . . . I do miss the days of having a little boy to cuddle up against me and keep me warm while I nap.”
“Aw, Dad.” Alan’s nose crinkled in that I’m-not-a-kid-anymore way that all kids had, then his brow creased in thought.
The expressions that played on Alan’s face as he tried to gauge the appropriate response were comical, but they pulled at Jeff’s heartstrings a little more than he expected. He could still see the vestiges of the little boy he left behind in the young man who stood before him, trying so hard to do the right thing and not let his Dad down, but still puzzling out the right way to go about it.
“I’m way too big for you to use me as a heated cuddle toy. But,” Alan’s face lit up in a manner that reminded Jeff of a cartoon light-bulb moment, “I think I know exactly what will do the trick.”
Alan dashed out of the room in a flurry of squeaked footsteps and was gone for a few minutes. When he returned he was carrying what appeared to be one of Virgil’s shirts. As he drew nearer, holding the shirt out in front of him, Jeff could see that the flannel was worn and tatty in a few places. Alan insisted that he put his arms into the sleeves, but held the shirt towards him back-to-front.
“Trust me, Dad.”
How could he say no to that?
So, Jeff put his arms into the sleeves and let Alan pull the back of the shirt collar up under his chin and fuss over tucking the rest of the shirt around him. The flannel was soft and promised warmth. It smelled faintly of paint and engine oil, but also traces of Scott’s aftershave, a hint of chlorine and something he couldn’t quite identify, but which reminded him of John.
“There,” Alan said as he stopped fussing and stood back. “Just like one of Virgil’s hugs, only this way the hug can last as long as you want.”
A memory stirred somewhere in Jeff’s mind.
“Thanks, Sprout.” Jeff returned his little boy’s beaming smile, then Alan took his cue and left the room, dimming the lights on the way past.
Jeff closed his eyes, dragging up vague memories of his two youngest boys donning a flannel shirt that was many sizes too big for them at times when they most missed their big brother – or brothers. He began to wonder exactly what stories this shirt could tell, what moments of comfort had his little ones needed it for, and had the older boys taken refuge in its soft folds too? But the thoughts quickly faded. He was comfortable, he was home, his boys were safe and he was enveloped in warm folds that embodied the love of his family.
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From @gordonthegreatesttracy (3 of 3)
By and from @gordonthegreatesttracy for @squiddokiddo
- - -
Cosy
“Virgy? When are mommy and daddy coming home?” Gordon asks. He was promised that they would be home before lunchtime, but he has eaten both his breakfast and lunch and he is starting to get hungry for his dinner but his parents have still not come home.
Officially Scott is in charge, but he is upstairs shut up in his room, doing some top-secret project and he just yelled at him to go away when he tried to see what he was up to, so he has gone to find Virgil.
“I don’t know” Virgil replies, honestly. He is nervously biting his lip, as he paces up and down the room holding his baby brother in his arms while he cries. His brother is teething, and has been crying for what feels like days.
It is Christmas Eve, and it has been snowing for hours. This morning it was fun. Gordon was even allowed to get up super early, his dad helped him build a snowman in the dawn light, while mom made breakfast. That was when he thought they were coming home, now everything has changed. The lightly falling snow from this morning is turning into a blizzard, and even Gordon doesn’t want to go and play in it, and it isn’t fun anymore.
Virgil has tried to phone, but neither his Mom or Dad have answered and the last time he tried their phones both went straight to voicemail.
John is unconcerned, his nose is buried deep inside a book from his required reading list for school. He is curled up on the old squashy arm-chair next to the fire, wrapped up in a fluffy grey blanket with sleeves, and isn’t even aware that it is almost dinner time. The fireplace is adorned with seven hand stitched stockings. “Daddy, Mommy, Scott, Virgil, John, Gordon and Alan”
“What ya reading?” Gordon asks, knowing that Virgil doesn’t have the answers he needs, but John knows everything, as he walks over to the redhead and peers over the top of his book.
John rolls his eyes. “It is called a book, Squid” John replies sarcastically.
Gordon is saved from his own sarcastic comment by Scott bursting into the room, causing even John to startle and finally raise his eyes from the page.
“Scott?” Virgil asks, subconsciously tightening his grip on Alan, whose cries have quieted down into small whimpers.
“Mom and dad aren’t going to make it home. They’re stuck in the City. We are going to be alone all night” Scott tells his brothers.
There is a collective stunned silence, before Gordon bursts into tears.
Virgil thrusts the baby into Scott’s arms and wraps Gordon into his embrace. “It’s okay Fish, they’re going to be fine. They will check into a hotel and be back as soon as they can. They won’t leave us. They promised that they would never leave us”
“B-b-b-but what a-a-a-about Santa?” he wails.
“Santa?” Virgil asks confused.
“Yes! If Mommy and Daddy can’t get home, then Santa can’t get here either” Gordon replies. “And I have been so good for the last week that Daddy promised me that Santa was going to bring me the toy submarine I saw in the toy store!”
“Those are your priorities?” John snorts with ill-disguised laughter.
“YES!” Gordon shouts at him, pulling himself free from Virgil and running over to the window, climbing up onto the windowsill, his nose pressed against the glass and gazing out at the snow-covered lawn. The sky is darkening already, but the flakes are relentless, and the howling wind is blowing them up against the house. “What if it never stops snowing, and we are trapped in here forever?”
“We won’t be trapped forever Fish” John tells him, still trying not to laugh.
“Don’t laugh at me” Gordon says, raising his voice and turning to glare at John.
“Indoor voice, Squid” Scott reminds him gently.
“NO!” Gordon cries.
“Oh shut up, Fish” John tells him, trying to get back to his book. “Santa doesn’t even exist.”
“YOU SHUT UP! HE IS REAL, HE IS” Gordon insists, losing his temper, jumping down from the windowsill and pushing past Scott to escape the stares of his brothers and up into the safety of his bedroom.
“I will go and get him, and when I do John, you are going to apologise” Virgil says, fixing his own glare on his younger brother.
“I didn’t do anything wrong” John replies.
“Are you kidding me? You just told him Santa isn’t real, do you know that could destroy his entire childhood?” Virgil says.
“It is about time he found out. If I had my way, we would never have even told him there was a Santa” John insists, unrepentant.
“If you had your way you would skywrite it over Disney World”
“Will you two stop it?” Scott interrupts. “Virgil, go and get Gordon. John get in the kitchen and wash up the lunch dishes.” He demands, stamping his authority on the situation before it descends into war.
John stomps loudly into the kitchen and starts to load the dishes into the dishwasher, grumbling under his breath about how terrible and unfair his life is.
Virgil makes his way up stairs and gently knocks on Gordon’s door.
“GO AWAY JOHN” Gordon shouts back.
“Gordon, it’s Virgil”
“Oh Sorry. GO AWAY VIRGIL!”
Virgil rolls his eyes before opening up the door and letting himself in.
Gordon is sitting on the floor, leaning up against his bed cuddling his stuffed squid. “I said go away” he reminds him.
“You think I am going to leave you up here alone, while you’re upset?” Virgil asks, sitting down beside him. “You do know that even if Santa does get snowed in, that he will postpone his trip with your gifts until it is safe for him to travel.”
“You promise?” Gordon asks.
“I promise.” Virgil reassures him, wiping a stray tear with his sleeve. “You coming back downstairs? Scott is doing dinner”
Gordon gags at the thought. “Do I have to?”
“Come of Squid, you have to admit that he is getting better! He rarely burns toast anymore!” Virgil tells him with a grin.
“Mummy always says that he can’t even boil water though” Gordon reminds him with a giggle.
“I know, but maybe this time it will be different and he will actually make something you like” Virgil tells him with a grin.
Gordon rubs the few remaining tears from his eyes, before letting Virgil pull him too his feet and together they go back downstairs, where John has already returned to his book.
“What do you want for dinner then, Fish?” Scott asks, handing the baby back to Virgil, and starting to raid the cupboards for ideas, pulling out pasta and rice.
“Mommy to come home and cook dinner” Gordon replies, cheekily.
“I know. I would love for that too, but you’re stuck with me instead” Scott tells him.
Gordon may only be four years old, but he is a lot smarter than his older brothers give him credit for and he knows that Scott who appears to have inherited Grandma’s cooking skills does not have the ability to cook anything more complicated than a cheese sandwich, but he is also an incurable prankster and this is the perfect opportunity to stress out his eldest brother!
“Can I have macaroni cheese, with the sauce Mommy makes?”
“Erm, no!” Scott replies laughing. “I have no idea how to make that”
“I know” Gordon says.
“Then why did you ask?” Scott replies.
“Because you love a challenge Scotty” Gordon says, there is an evil smirk on his face, and he knows that scott is considering taking up the challenge, but before he can agree there is a loud rumble of thunder overhead, followed rapidly by the sky blazing with a streak of lightning before the power goes out, and they find themselves standing in the dark.
There is instant chaos. Gordon bursts into fresh tears, John swears loudly using a word he wouldn’t dare to use in front of his parents and grandparents, Virgil comes close to dropping Alan, and the knife in Scott’s hand slips, slicing his palm open.
“Ow” he mutters quietly, but not quietly enough as Virgil’s by his side in seconds, even in the dark he knows exactly where his brother is.
“What happened?” He asks, juggling the baby and trying to get Scott’s hand.
“Nothing, I’m fine” Scott replies, tensely.
“How stupid do you think I am, Scooter?” Virgil asks. “Hand” his demand is said in a firm but caring voice.
“I am assuming that is a rhetorical question” John asks, having joined them in the kitchen and started rooting through the draws where he knows their parents keep emergency candles and flashlights.
Virgil places Alan on the floor near Scott’s feet so he can focus on fixing the cut on his palm.
John hands Virgil a flashlight before turning his own on and pointing it towards Gordon, who is still crying but his sobs are much quieter now. “Want to help me light the candles?” He asks.
“Don’t you dare let him play with matches” Scott warns, wincing in pain as Virgil dabs his hand with a damp cloth.
“Keep still” Virgil demands.
“How stupid do you think I am, Scooter? John replies, echoing Virgil’s last sentence, rolling his eyes. “Besides, I was going to let him use the flame thrower, come on Fish”
“Flame thrower?” Gordon asks, awed.
Scott gives up! “Set the house on fire, and we will have to sleep outside. Ouch Virgil, not so hard” he complains.
“This isn’t too bad, I will just pop a bandage on it for you.” Virgil tells him.
While Virgil wraps Scott’s hand, John and Gordon light up the living room with all the candles that they could find, leaving the room bathed in a warm and cosy glow, and all five brothers gather in the room, sitting down on the floor where Gordon climbs into Virgil’s lap.
“What are we going to do now?” John asks. The power cut has turned the heating off, and the room is starting to get cold in just the five minutes since that initial streak of lightning.
Scott is thinking, trying to drown out any fear he is feeling and telling himself that this is not going to be a permanent situation which will descend into anarchy, where Gordon overthrows him as brother in charge, and ties him up before throwing a party. This is his chance to really prove to his Mom and Dad that he can take charge in a crisis.
“First of all, we will light a fire. Virgil go down to the basement and bring up that bag of logs Dad and I chopped the other day. John, you and Gordon go and raid the freezer and get the ice cream as we might as well eat that before it all melts and you can make sandwiches for everyone. There is plenty of bread and cheese.”
To Scott’s surprise nobody questions their orders, and in minutes there is a roaring fire in the grate, and a plate full of sandwiches, which Scott is wrapping in tin foil, before toasting them lightly over the flames.
There is a comfortable silence in the room while they eat their way through the sandwiches and ice cream which is only disturbed by the occasional rumble of thunder as the storm moves on.
Night has fully fallen, and Gordon lets out a large yawn, which Scott doesn’t miss. “You tired Fish?” He asks.
Gordon shakes his head. “No” he fibs quietly but snuggles further into Virgil’s warm embrace.
“Mm-hmm” Scott replies smiling. “How about hot chocolate, a story and then bed?”
“How are you going to make hot chocolate?” Gordon asks. Mommy always uses the microwave but that isn’t working in the power cut.
“Magic” Scott replies, getting up, and filing a large pot they use when they go camping, with milk and cocoa, before lying it at the bottom of the fireplace so it can heat up.
“That is not magic Scotty” Gordon tells him laughing.
“You want the hot chocolate?” Scott grins back in response, reaching over to ruffle his hair.
“Gerroff me!” He grumbles, but he is laughing.
“Run upstairs and get The night Before Christmas, and I will read you that story I promised okay?” Scott asks.
Gordon skips from the room and upstairs to his room, where the book lives currently, until it is ready to be moved on to Alan when he is old enough to appreciate it. This book used to belong to Grandma, who passed it down to his father who gave it to Scott, who gave it to Virgil, who gave it to John, who had it memorised in less than twenty-four hours! Then it found its way to Gordon.
Gordon’s room is unnaturally tidy, as his Mom made sure it was ready for Santa. She even made him clean out the nest of dirty socks he keeps under the desk! His heart lets out a pang of regret that he is snowed in for just a split second as he grabs the book and runs back downstairs to his waiting siblings.
Virgil has raided the cupboard for marshmallows and has speared twelve onto his toasting fork and is happily poking into the fire, as Scott pours four steaming mugs of hot chocolate, not bothering to remind Virgil that he shouldn’t be having that much sugar this close to bedtime. Partly because it is Christmas, and partly because he knows that Virgil wouldn’t pay any attention.
Alan is fast asleep on the rug in between John and Virgil, the blanket John was using earlier tucked up around him, his thumb in his mouth.
Gordon thrusts the book into Scott’s hands before helping himself to more marshmallows and his mug, dropping the gooey half-melted treat into the liquid with frenzied delight. He decides to copy Virgil’s example and try and fit a dozen marshmallows in his mouth at once.
“Thish ish so good” he informs Scott with his mouth full.
“No problem Fishie, now are you ready for your story, then it’s bedtime” Scott replies, opening up the book and getting started. “Twas the night before Christmas…”
He makes it all the way through the book without a single interruption.
“Scott?” Virgil whispers once he has finished.
“Mmm?” He answers, looking across at him, to see Gordon fast asleep in Virgil’s arms.” I think we should get him up to bed”
Scott gets to his feet and takes the sleeping Squid from Virgil so he too can get up from the floor. “Come along Johnny” he says, holding his hand out to help him up.
John gives him his customary eye roll, before getting up without help, collecting alan from the floor and the five boys go upstairs together.
They make their first stop in Alan’s room placing him in the crib with his favourite toy rocket and the blanket knitted for him by Grandma before leaving the door slightly open so they can hear him if he wakes up.
“This room doesn’t look right clean” John says as they make their next stop in Gordon’s room wrapping him up under the thick winter blanket and making sure that he too is warm and cosy before they leave him to sleep away the snowy night.
“Okay Johnny, you are next.” Scott says “off too bed”
“Night Scott, are you going to get the presents from the attic?” John asks. “And don’t call me Johnny!”
“I don’t know Johnny, Mom said that we should but I would rather wait until they are home safe. Tomorrow is going to feel really strange without them” Scott replies, ignoring his request.
“What are we going to do now?” Virgil asks.
“Only thing we can do, get some sleep and hope the world rights itself overnight.” Scott replies, walking into his own room, and collapsing on top of the bed staring up at the ceiling for several minutes before he climbs under the blankets, facing the window and looking at the swirling snowflakes, making one last wish for his parents safe return before he finally drifts off to sleep.
*TB*
Virgil is asleep, buried in a nest of blankets curled up into a ball snoring gently when his bedroom door starts to open slowly, as Gordon tiptoes across the carpet towards the bed, cuddly Squid clutched in his hand, and climbs up onto the bed. “Virgy” he whispers loudly, poking him in the side of the head.
“Wha’?” Virgil replies, his eyelids fluttering but not fully opening.
“Can’t sleep. I want Mommy” Gordon tells him.
Virgil lifts up the blanket so Gordon can climb under the covers and into his brothers waiting arms. “Virgy the only thing I want from Santa is Mommy and Daddy” he says sadly.
“Me too Fishie, me too” Virgil replies as the pair drift back of to sleep.
*TB*
“VIRGY VIRGY VIRGY!”
Gordon’s cries are excited now and not the scared little Fish from the evening before as he comes tearing back into the room.
Virgil groans loudly and dramatically but makes no effort to move.
“COME ON! YOU HAVE TO GET UP. SANTA HAS BEEN AND HE HAS BOUGHT US THE BEST PRESENTS” Gordon cries, throwing open the curtains and allowing the wintery sunshine to stream in through the window.
“Indoor voice Squid” Virgil reminds him, grabbing the blanket with another groan and trying to pull it up over his head.
Gordon grabs the blanket and pulls it off his brother, dumping it on the floor “COME ON!” He tries again.
Virgil groans, but gives in, rolling over to look at the overly excited face of his brother. He is bouncing up and down with excitement. Virgil’s movements are a lot slower as he drags himself up into a sitting position and yawns dramatically.
“Okay, I am up. Lead the way” Virgil says.
Gordon grabs his hand and leads him into the living room, where he lets out a shocked cry.
Sitting on the floor under the tree surrounded by dozens of gifts are his Mom and Dad.
“How?” He asks as he throws himself into their embrace, followed by his brothers as they are finally reunited with their parents.
“It is a long story, involving a snow dispersal unit, three tractors, one all terrain vehicle and two new pairs of cross-country skis! Jeff replies.
“Hey, the power is on again” Virgil suddenly realises, looking up at the light.
“It is, now how about some coffee and presents?” Jeff asks.
The day is a blur of tasty food, wonderful gifts and the joy of a family reunited. Gordon is delighted with his toy submarine and he can’t wait until bath time, so he can try it out. The snow has finally relented, and there is a fresh snow family on the lawn all wearing hats and scarves.
“Johnny was wrong Daddy” Gordon says as they sit down for their Christmas dinner, exhausted from their day of sledding, and building snowmen and even managed some cross-country skiing down the driveway and up to the hill.
“Excuse me?” John splutters in disgust, he is never wrong. Ever!
“You said there was no Santa, but I said to Virgy last night that all I wanted for Christmas was you and Mommy, and he bought you home.”
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