NOTES:

Thank you to all who's commented, liked and followed this story so far.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Day 2:

"What do you mean… Not again?" Scott queried.

"You all woke me up yesterday at 7am... Wait," Virgil looked straight at Gordon, "is this one of your weird pranks that none of us get?"

"Is what one of my weird pranks?" Gordon questioned.

"Making me decorate again!"

"We do this every year," Gordon remarked.

"But we did this yesterday!"

Gordon raised an eyebrow at his brother. "Err… No, we didn't!"

"Scott, you remember right?"

Scott shook his head. "No, sorry Virg."

"I think he's been having weird dreams!" Kayo stated, walking over to join them.

"Virgil, are you alright?" Sally questioned, feeling his head.

"Yes, I'm fine… It's just I don't really understand what's happening here."

"Well," Sally began, "what's happening is that the rest of us are trying to work as a family to decorate this home, and you're not helping."

"But…"

"No butts!" His grandma scolded. "Now, as the saying goes… Many hands make light work!"

"You said that yesterday," Virgil mumbled, before gazing back at the box of Christmas decorations.

"Oh, come on Virg, you used to love it."

Virgil sighed. "Yes, when I was a kid!"

"You're all still kids to me!"

"That's because you're ancient," Virgil said.

"Wow, I was just about to say the same thing!" Alan commented.

"Yes, I know," Virgil sighed.

Scott placed a comforting hand on Virgil's shoulder. "Look, I don't know what's going on with you, but the sooner we get this done, the sooner you can have a mince pie!"

"Well, they were one of the highlights of the day!"

"Ha? Scott responded with a puzzled look.

"Never mind Scott, I'll help."

"Good," Scott said, picking up a few items out of the box and then walking away so he could hang them up.

"Oh, Virgil…"

Virgil stopped what he was doing and eyed Gordon knowingly.

"You're not wearing a Christmas hat, everyone else is."

"Does it happen to be black with 'Bah Humbug' written on the front?"

"Wow," Gordon gasped, "how did you know that?"

"It doesn't matter, Virgil replied, "but if you pass it over then I'll wear it."

"You will?"

"I might as well," Virgil took the hat from his brother and slipped it on, then smiled when John's hologram appeared in front of him, "hey John, so do you think it suits me then?"

"Yes, it does."

"You know, you could come down and join in the fun."

"Can't, I'm on duty."

"There's no emergency calls today!"

"Shush…" the whole family chorused.

"Virg, don't jinx it!" John added.

"For some reason, I don't think I will!"

"Hey Virg," Scott called walking over to him with a coffee in his hand when John's image disappeared.

"Coffee of course!" Virgil looked around the room for Brains but unfortunately couldn't see him anywhere.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I was just looking for Brains… I could really do with a coffee.!"

"Well," Scott began, "why don't you go and get one, you might feel a bit brighter then."

"No, unfortunately grandma won't let any of us anywhere near the kitchen until this is done… I'd ask for a sip of yours but I'm betting it was your first one!"

"Mm… it is, and I was lucky to grab it myself." Scott replied.

"Where were you hiding it anyway, I didn't see you with it earlier?"

"I know what you lot are like when it comes to coffee, so I hid it from prying eyes, and Kayo kept watch for me."

"How did you get her to watch it and not drink it?"

"Oh, I have my ways," Scott grinned, making his way over to help Kayo with the unpacking.

Virgil sighed as he glanced back at the box of decorations.

"Err, Virgil."

"Brains," Virgil practically sang, pulling the man into a hug, "where were you?"

"I was just in a d…different room." Brains informed him.

"So, you were going to ask me something? Virgil beamed knowingly, when he had released Brains from the hold.

"Err… I was going to offer you my coffee, I've already had one!"

"Brains, that would be absolutely amazing, thank you!"

"No problem V…Virgil, you look like you need it more than I do!" Brains fiddled with his glasses, then signalled to Max to come forward.

Virgil gladly took the drink out of the robot's hand. "Thanks Max."

Max beeped then made his way back to the Christmas tree.

Virgil took a big gulp of the coffee and then grinned once more at the man before him. "Brains, have I ever told you that you are an absolute star!"

"N…no you haven't," Brains answered, turning a slight red at the compliment.

"Well, you are," Virgil stated, "and thank you again for the coffee."

"Anytime Virgil!" Brains said, walking off to join Max by the tree.

As soon as he had gulped the coffee down, Virgil gazed down at the box in front of him. 'Right, let's get this done… Again!'

… …

"Well, you've all done cracking jobs," Sally observed, looking around at the room, "now, as it's nearly midday I suggest we all get some lunch, and we can also tuck into those mince pies."

"And hot chocolates?" Alan enquired hopefully.

"Absolutely," she replied, placing her arm around him and leading him out of the room.

Virgil watched his family head towards the kitchen, just like they had previously done the day before. Originally, he had gone with them. However, as soon as he had excepted that the day was somehow repeating, and it wasn't one of Gordon's jokes or some weird dream he was having, then he had desperately wanted to go and check his room. The worst incident of the day, even worse than having to have an injection, was when his mother's music box had been taken. Pushing his door open, Virgil practically ran to the shelf where he kept the box.

… …

"God Damn It!"

"What the?" Scott remarked, when he and the rest of the family heard Virgil's roar from the other side of their home.

The door swung open and Virgil stormed inside muttering profanities under his breath.

"Virgil watch your language!" His grandma chastised.

"No," Virgil snapped, to everybody's shock, 'I want to know who's taken it?"

"Taken what?" Gordon asked.

Not hearing the question, Virgil continued his tirade. "It was taken yesterday, but thankfully it was returned… And then when I realised yesterday was repeating, I figured it might get taken again… I was really hoping I was wrong, and it wouldn't disappear… But it's gone…"

Scott stood and placed his hands firmly on Virgil's face. "Virg, calm down… You're not making any sense."

"It's gone," Virgil said, tears brewing as he gazed in his brother's eyes.

"What's gone?" Scott questioned calmly.

"Mum's music box, somebody's taken it!"

Scott frowned. "Are you sure you've not moved it?"

"I always keep it in the same place, and it's not there."

Scott placed a reassuring arm around his brother and led him to a chair. "It's okay bro, we'll find it."

"Okay, lunch is on hold until we find the music box," Sally stated, "the sooner we find it, the sooner we all get to eat!" as soon as everyone had left she focussed on Virgil who was still being comforted by Scott. "Would you like a warm drink sweetie?"

Virgil wiped away his tears. "Yes please, grandma."

"Chocolate or a coffee?"

"Chocolate."

"Scott, would you like one?"

"Yes please, grandma,"

Sally nodded and started to make the drinks. "Don't worry, I'm sure it will turn up."

"Hope so," Virgil muttered.

"And I'm sure that whoever's taken it will realise how much they have upset you and return it," his grandma added.

"They did yesterday!" Virgil answered, looking slightly brighter.

"Why do you keep referencing yesterday?" Scott queried, accepting the drink his grandma was now passing him.

"It doesn't matter," Virgil exhaled, "you wouldn't believe me anyway, and to be honest, I don't know if I believe it myself."

… …

Twenty minutes later, Gordon stepped in the room. "Found it!"

"Thank you," Virgil said, wiping away a few tears before taking the item.

"No problem bro," Gordon replied, squeezing his brother's arm comfortingly.

Where was it?" Sally asked.

"I found it outside Virgil's bedroom door," Gordon informed them.

"Same as yesterday," Virgil mumbled, while he examined the item.

"Ha?" Gordon remarked.

Virgil shook his head. "Never mind!"

"Gordon, will you please go and round up the others and let them know that we've found the music box."

"Yes, of course grandma."

Sally watched Gordon leave the room, then smiled at the beautiful ballerina which Virgil had now revealed. "it's a shame it doesn't work anymore… didn't the ballerina used to dance to the music as well?"

"Yes, it did," Scott replied, when Virgil didn't, "the song was one of mom's favourites… Virg, didn't you used to play it on the piano?"

"Sorry, what did you say Scott?" Virgil asked, snapping himself out of the daze he had been in.

"The song that used to play in the music box, you've played it on the piano, right?"

Virgil nodded his confirmation.

"Well, I'd love to hear it, could you play it Virgil?" His grandma asked.

"I can," Virgil confirmed, "but not today, if that's okay?"

"Of course, I'm happy to hear it anytime," she replied.

At that moment the rest of the family piled back in the room. "Hey, where are you going?" Kayo questioned when Virgil made to leave.

"I'm going to put this back in my room."

"Well don't be too long," Kayo replied with a smile, "apparently Max has prepared the meal and not Grandma."

"Yes, it tasted great yesterday." Virgil said, leaving the room.

Kayo gave Scott a puzzled look. "Yesterday?"

Scott shrugged. "I have no idea!"

… …

After lunch had been consumed, Virgil waited for the rest of the family to disperse to the various parts of the island, just like they had previously done before making his way to his piano. Sitting down, he closed his eyes, and slowly exhaled as he let his fingers dance across the keys.

"Well, you seem a little bit happier than you were earlier."

"A little," Virgil replied opening his eyes and smiling at his grandma, "playing always helps to clear my mind and think things through."

"And what did you need to think through?"

"Why the day is repeating."

Sally frowned. "Are you sure you're not ill?"

"I did consider that," Virgil stated moving away from the hand that had been placed on his head, "but I'm definitely not!"

"Mm… Well if you're feeling okay then you can sample one of the chocolate muffins that I've just finished making."

"Oh no," Virgil exhaled, "not the muffins!"

"Hey!" She responded, but with a knowing smile, "I'm not that bad… And anyway, I had help baking them from Max."

"Yes, I know, and I'm sure they taste amazing… The only problem is that I believe Max may have used coconut in them"

"Coconut… but he knows that you and Alan are allergic"

"No, unfortunately not."

"Well I'll go and double check, just to be on the safe side," Sally said, leaving the room.

"Good idea… I definitely don't want an injection again!"

… …

'Well that's the coconut incident sorted!' Virgil silently said to himself when a few minutes later his grandma returned confirming that coconut had been used, and because she didn't want Alan or him to miss out, both herself and Max were working on a separate batch just for them. 'Although, I still have no idea why this day is repeating… And what if it keeps happening?' Virgil shuddered at the thought. He had always presumed he would enjoy the opportunity more than he had done so far. He'd always loved watching Groundhog Day and various other films based around similar subjects. On many of those occasions he had sat watching the movies with Brains, who also secretly loved them, and they had both theorised what they would do with their unlimited day. Granted the hypothesis they would come up with would usually result in them both breaking out into hysterics from the absurdity of it all. However, he had currently done absolutely nothing with the situation, and it certainly was not fun. Maybe he would have enjoyed it if he'd been stuck in a different day, but no it had to be this day, the one day he would gladly skip if given half the chance.

Continuing to ponder his dilemma, Virgil moved from the piano and made his way to the doors which led out to the pool. 'Well, Gords is certainly having a good day,' he chuckled to himself when he observed his brother in the middle of swimming laps. 'Mm… maybe that's the key to getting out of this… Making sure everyone else is having a good day, even though mine is not the best.' Deciding that this was most likely the best course of action to take, Virgil slipped past the family room, affectionately known as the 'snug' and peeked his head inside. "Hey Al,"

"Hey bro," Alan replied, not looking away from his game.

"Having fun?"

"Yep!"

"How are you getting on?"

Alan didn't reply, but instead bit on his lip as he concentrated on his game, then after a minute or two he released a giant whoop before focussing on his brother. "I am on level 29 of Attack of the Zombie Killer's and I'm now ranked at level A.

"I take it that's a good thing?"

"A good thing," Alan snorted, "yeah, it's the best thing ever!"

"So, you're having a good day then?"

Alan offered his thumbs up as a response, his focus now entirely on the game which had restarted.

"Well, Al is certainly okay," Virgil thought to himself as he headed away from the 'snug' and towards the kitchen, "yep, grandma and Max too!" He chuckled, when glancing inside he saw them both dancing to Christmas songs while they baked. 'Just Brains, Scott, Kayo, and John,' he thought with a huge grin as he clicked his communicator on.

"Hey Virg, what's up?" John's cheery voice questioned.

"Just checking in," Virgil replied, "having a good day?"

"All good so far, we are currently all clear for rescues, and I've just had a fantastic game of chess with EOS."

"Which I won," EOS chirped in.

"Yes… Yes, I know."

Virgil released a light laugh. Even though John's hologram wasn't showing Virgil could picture his brother's eyes rolling. "And anything else planned?"

"Yes, Captain Ridley O'Bannon is scheduled to arrive," EOS added.

"EOS!" John scolded.

"O sorry John, was that meant to be a secret?" EOS asked.

"Ridley… Really?" Virgil teased.

John sighed. "It's not like that!"

"Whatever you say bro!"

"It's really not!"

"I think you are protesting too much their Johnny boy!"

"It's John... And I hate you!"

"No, you don't," Virgil laughed, "you love us all!"

"If you say so!"

"So, are you coming down tonight?"

"If there's no call outs, then yes."

"Great, then hopefully I'll see you soon."

"FAB!"

"Oh, and bro?"

"Yeah Virg?"

"Say hi to Ridley for me."

Virgil chuckled as he heard John mutter a few profanities at him before signing off. 'Well John is definitely A-OK!'

"Virgil?"

Virgil turned and smiled at his grandma. "Hey."

"The new batch of muffins won't be too long… I'm going to round up Alan and Gordon, and Max is fetching Brains from his room… Neither of us seem to know where Scott and Kayo have got to though, and we were hoping you did."

Virgil nodded. "They should be in the hangers checking on their birds… Well, that's where they were previously."

"Great, could you go and get them?"

"Yes, sure grandma."

… …

Virgil jogged down to the hanger while humming to himself, everyone who he had checked on so far seemed to be having a fun day, and he had to admit their happiness was now rubbing off on him. 'Mm… The music box incident was bad, but I did manage to avert the incident with the muffins… Maybe the days turning around… And I really can't think of anything else that could go wrong.' Virgil continued to hum and ponder the situation as he walked through the large hanger. 'Where the hell are they?' He frowned, when he reached the entrance to Thunderbird One. Seeing that the steps leading up to the bird were set up Virgil figured they must be working inside and headed up the stairs and stepped into the cockpit.

… …

"Oh God my eyes!" Virgil exclaimed, when he walked in on Kayo and Scott tangled together, naked, and in the final climaxes of passion.

"Oh fuck!" Scott and Kayo called out upon unexpectedly seeing Virgil.

Virgil covered his eyes while he stumbled backwards.

"Virg, please wait," Kayo requested, making a grab for her clothes.

Virgil moved his hands but seeing they were still both naked instantly covered them again. "It's okay, I'm going."

"Wait Virgil, the steps!" Scott cried out.

… …

"Shit… He's fallen…"

"Here's a neck brace," Kayo said, joining Scott's side, "the others are on their way."

Virgil released a moan when he felt the brace fasten around his neck.

Virgil, can you hear me… Hey, come on little bro look at me."

Virgil's eyes unfocussed rested on his brother. "Scotty?"

"It's okay Virg," Scott answered," "help is coming… We'll get you fixed up in no time."

Virgil gave Scott and Kayo a puzzled look. "Who's hurt?"

Kayo smiled at him. "You are Virgil!"

"No, I'm not!" Virgil stated.

"Yes, you are," she said, "you just had a bad fall, remember?"

"Wait, did I just fall out of Thunderbird One?"

"Yes, you did." Scott replied, trying his hardest not to laugh and cry at the same time.

"And you're not naked anymore!"

Scott shook his head. "No, no we're not!"

"Naked?" Gordon questioned running over with the others.

"He's… Err… Delirious from the pain." Scott quickly responded.

"No pain," Virgil informed them.

"Oh really?" Sally questioned, kneeling next to Scott, "it looks like you've had a pretty nasty fall, so I'm betting it hurts a little bit."

"Can't feel anything," Virgil mumbled.

Scott and Sally gave Brains, who was now kneeling on the opposite side of Virgil, a very worried luck.

Brains gripped Virgil's hand in his. "V…Virgil, I'm going to give you an injection."

"No, need!" Virgil responded, trying to squeeze Brains hand.

"I really d…disagree!" Brains stated, injecting the meds into Virgil. "Scott get Thunderbird Two p… prepped, we need to get him to the GDF's hospital base as soon as possible."

"I'm okay," Virgil slurred closing his eyes, "just need s…sleep, then wake up this m… morning again… You'll see."

"I r…really wish that were true Virgil," Brains said, standing up and following Gordon and Scott who were now carrying their brother on the stretcher towards Thunderbird Two.

… …

Virgil's eyes opened, he could hear the chatter of his family and the sound of Thunderbird Two's engines. "Scotty?"

"Here's flying us to the hospital," Alan consoled, coming into Virgil's view. "but the rest of us are here."

"Why haven't I woken up yet?"

Alan looked at Virgil with concern. "You're awake!"

"But y…yesterday's not today!"

"Err, no… No, it's not," Alan acknowledged.

"But… It was b…before." Virgil whimpered in desperation.

Alan stroked his hand through his brother's hair. "Just try and get some rest, everything will be okay, you'll see."

"Yeah, rest," Virgil muttered, "sleep… s…should do it!"

… …

Virgil yawned, and rolled over when he heard the alarm system was going off. Suddenly realising where he was Virgil shot up in bed and glanced around his room. His art cupboard was slightly open, and so was his bedside drawer. "Oh, thank God!" he cried out with joy, dropping back down on his bed.

TBC