Scott entered the kitchen with a breathless Virgil at his heels, pausing only to confirm the mileage recorded on his watch. The number made him smile and filled his core with a deep sense of pride. His dark haired sibling leaned against the counter and wiped a sheen of sweat from his brow.
"When I said, 'let's run on a different trail today!' I didn't mean the toughest one on the island!" Virgil groaned. Scott retrieved two drinks from the fridge and tossed him a small carton of chocolate milk.
"You asked for it, Virg. Besides, who said this morning would be an easy run?"
"There were HILLS, Scott. Ten hills. Three creeks. Four fallen logs. Did I mention the hills?" Scott ignored the complaint as he took a long drink, giving his sibling a slight nudge to do the same. Virgil opened up the carton with fumbling hands and emptied it in one gulp. "Ugh. My legs feel like they're gonna fall off. Is this normal? I don't think I can make it up the stairs."
"You'll live," Scott replied with a laugh. He pressed a bag of grapes into Virgil's arms. "C'mon. Let's sit down and stretch. Have some grapes. It'll help."
"Chocolate milk and grapes do NOT go together," Virgil said but, at the eldest Tracy's insistence, he carefully lowered his aching body to the kitchen floor and reluctantly popped a grape into his mouth. "It's...okay, I guess." Scott saw their resident painter take another handful of grapes. Then another.
"So, how far do you think we ran today?" Scott asked. He relished the feel of his tense muscles as he took a seat next to Virgil. His sibling grit his teeth as he stretched a particularly tight calf.
"I don't know. Nine miles? Ten? I lost count after I tripped over that rock." Scott stole another glance at his watch and grinned.
"Thirteen miles."
"WHAT?!" Virgil's glare of annoyance quickly melted into disbelief. "Are you telling me that I ran a half marathon this morning? You're serious, right? I really ran that far?" Scott held his wrist aloft so that Virgil could see the proof for himself. "B-But how?"
"You've ran ten miles before, Virg. I knew you could go farther. You just needed a little motivation." The Thunderbird Two pilot laughed even as his legs seized up in pain.
"I can't believe I ran a half marathon. That's amazing. Can we do it again sometime?" Virgil suddenly remembered his earlier animosity toward those blasted hills and quickly added, "I-I mean, you know, on another trail." Scott regarded him with a wry grin.
"Only if you promise me something." Scott reached for his younger brother's left wrist and gave it a firm squeeze. Virgil pulled his arm away with a small gasp. "You hurt your wrist at the last rescue and didn't tell anyone. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but I need to know if you get hurt. Even a small injury can compromise a mission." It was more than that, even if Scott was too stubborn to put it into words. The understanding went unspoken between them and Virgil rubbed his aching wrist sheepishly.
"I know. I just thought I could work through it. But next time I'll tell you. Promise."
"Let's hope there won't be a next time," Scott replied softly.
"Of course there will be. That's why we have our own little mother hen running around to keep us in line," Virgil said. He received a playful shove for his efforts. "Well, that's enough stretching for one day. I think I'll drag myself upstairs and pass out on the bed."
"Not so fast, Virg," Scott said. "You're forgetting the most important part of your recovery."
"And what would that be?" Virgil ventured. He followed his older brother's gaze to the infirmary. "Oh, no! I'm not doing that. No. Never. Nu-uh. That's where I draw the line."
"Fine. Enjoy being stiff and miserable for the rest of the day. For the next FEW days, actually. But don't say I didn't warn you." Virgil glowered at the self-assured sibling.
"This is your way at getting back at me, isn't it? Just because I didn't tell you about my wrist!" His answer came in the form of a small shrug. He eventually lost the battle and forced his protesting legs to stand.
"Your first half marathon AND your first ice bath. This is starting out to be a pretty good day for you, bro."
"Ughhh. How cold is this ice bath again?"
"Don't worry about it. I've got it covered. You'll just have to tough it out for a little while. Ten minutes, tops." Virgil's jaw dropped and he hesitated in the infirmary doorway.
"T-TEN MINUTES?" Scott pushed him forward, despite the protests.
"It's no big deal. Like your wrist. I'm sure you can handle it." That was the last time Virgil hid injuries from his ever-watchful big brother.