Another chapter, finally written. The brothers were a little problematic near the end here, I hope I pulled this off okay.
I huge thank you to Bow Echo, CreativeGirl29, QuestRunner and LadyEquiN0X for their lovely reviews, they're so wonderfully appreciated. And also to those who followed and added this story to their favourites, it's really lovely to know that this story is enjoyable to so many. Thank you :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the Thunderbirds, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson created these wonderful characters and I hope no one minds me borrowing them for a while.
Unlucky Day
Chapter 3
As Thunderbird Two sored through the sky, Virgil wondered how many more things were going to make him smile today. He hadn't expected to go on any sort of trip with both legs still out of commission, but from the moment his brothers had told him he'd be getting out for a while, he had been excited. As his ship carried them all to their destination, he let his eyes slip shut and just listened to her sounds. Scott was throttling her too hard, he could tell his brother to ease the thrust back and make some half-hearted joke about how bad his flying was but he found he didn't want to. Scott was used to flying a faster and lighter craft, but Virgil knew that all of his brothers had been flying her whilst he was grounded and more than likely Scott was flying her the most. Someone had to. He wasn't sure how soon he'd be ready to fly into rescues again, his body would heal faster than his mind, that was for sure. He was scared and unsure how he would react when a call came in for him, he could jump straight in and not have a problem, but somewhere deep inside him had doubts, his confidence had definitely taken a hit.
Before he could let his thoughts bother him further, his ship decided to lull him into a light snooze.
.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.
The VTOLs firing woke him before the hand on the shoulder did, he took a deep breath and stretched his back, blinked open his eyes and smiled as Gordon beamed at him. Virgil looked around the cockpit and noticed that John and Alan were both absent as Thunderbird Two touched down and then raised up onto her struts. Scott was in the process of shutting down the engines as Gordon wheeled Virgil's chair toward him, he began to shift in his seat, ready to transfer over but his leg protested. Virgil tried to cover his discomfort but Gordon could see his grimace, he conceded and let the groan slide out.
"Everything okay?" Scott said as he approached, his expression doing well to hide his obvious concern. Virgil nodded and Gordon frowned at him.
"I'm fine," Virgil replied, but he decided to stay where he was for a moment longer. "Sometimes I forget how to move right."
Liam had chastised him frequently for moving too fast, although what he considered fast was a snail's pace to what Virgil was used to. But to compound matters further, the wheelchair was on the wrong side, he easily climbed into the jump seat because it was on his left but now he'd have to disembark on his right. He considered his options but there was no space to his left for the chair to fit, he dropped his head dejectedly.
"I need help getting into the chair," Virgil mumbled.
His brothers were there instantly, both weaving their arms around him from either side and lifting him with ease. Neither of them said anything and Virgil was relieved that they hadn't, the humiliation of being carried like a princess, whilst not funny now, would one day be a source of amusement at his expense. His brothers gently lowered him down and he thanked them, released the brakes and turned to wheel towards the lower access hatch.
"Do you need your pills?" Scott said, his voice controlled. Virgil appreciated his brother's composure, he was worried but he also understood that Virgil would be more irritated if he fussed too much.
Virgil shook his head as the hatch was lowered, the sun was still reasonably high and it was obvious that Thunderbird Two had travelled far to outrun the setting sun at the hospital. He caught sight of the only other people on the small beach, John and Alan were setting up a barbeque. There were metal runners on the sand, leading from Thunderbird Two to where the smoke rose into the sky from the grill. They had stayed close to Two, the tide was coming in and Virgil could sense Gordon buzzing with eager anticipation to swim. Virgil wasn't much for taking to the water, but right now he really wanted to join Gordon, nothing like broken legs to help you appreciate the simple things in life.
Alan waved them over and Scott took control of the wheelchair and steered Virgil along the manmade path, as he got closer he pointed at John's apron and the words written on it.
"License to grill?" Virgil laughed, "Where did you get that?"
John rolled his eyes, "I was put in charge of cooking, I wanted an apron and Gordon said he had one for me. By the time I'd found out, it was too late to change it."
"Nice." Virgil turned to Gordon and matched his grin.
"Thank you," Gordon beamed.
Scott huffed a laugh at both of his younger brothers as he wheeled Virgil over toward the sun loungers that had obviously been brought from home. Virgil groaned, there was no way he could manage that alone. To spare his fumbling embarrassment at trying to climb into one, he decided to avoid it all together.
"Doc said I had to stay in the chair."
"I won't tell him if you won't," Scott supplied conspiratorially in his ear.
Virgil turned his head and frowned at Scott, it was a playful frown but he hoped Scott would read his expression the right way. He really didn't want to try and fall into that lounger. But Scott didn't relent as he rolled to a stop and applied the brakes.
"I can't get into that, it's too low." Virgil dropped his gaze to his lap, his legs clear as day ahead of him, showing his weakness.
"We'll help," Scott replied as he came to Virgil's right side, Gordon appeared at his left.
"But it's..." Virgil waved his arms in annoyance at his legs.
"Humiliating?" Scott suggested as he leaned down to tuck his arms, once again, under Virgil. Gordon matched his movements.
Virgil sighed heavily, "… Yeah."
"This is temporary, you need help and we're all here to help you until you're literally back on your feet." Scott said.
"Besides, it's not like you wouldn't do the same for us." Gordon added, and then Virgil was hoisted into his brothers' arms. Virgil closed his eyes and let them move him, trying to ignore the niggle in his gut that told him he looked pathetic and stupid.
"There is something more humiliating than this," Scott said as the three of them settled Virgil as comfortable as he could make himself considering the casts.
"Can't see anything more embarrassing than this, right now," Virgil grumbled.
"I used to change your diapers, does that count?" Scott smirked as he took up the lounger to Virgil's left side. "And I have the picture to prove it."
"Ha! Now that is more embarrassing," Alan said, thoroughly amused at the comment that he started to giggle.
John casually kicked sand over Alan's sandals, "we've all changed yours, so shush."
"We're not that much different in age, you know." Virgil said as he looked at Scott.
"I was helping Mom," Scott shrugged, "can't say I enjoyed it but she gave me ice cream every time I did so I had incentive."
"Hope you washed your hands," Virgil chuckled. He started to feel a little better now that he was settled and the conversation was moving along.
"Yuck," Alan scrunched his face up, "no amount of ice cream would make me do that, bro."
"If you want to talk about disgusting, you vomited all over, and ruined, my favourite book." John said as he turned the burgers.
"Oh yeah?" Alan squeaked, Virgil could tell he was looking for something to come back with. "Well, Virgil, you broke his telescope."
"Hey! I fixed it afterwards! And why are we back to me again?" Virgil waved his arms in playful frustration, Gordon dropped a cold can of soda into his hand. He plopped down into the lounger on Virgil's other side.
John waved the spatula at Virgil, "remember when you dropped Dad's phone into the toilet?"
Virgil groaned and Scott laughed heartily. Alan's jaw dropped, "really? How are you still alive?"
"He was five," Scott chuckled, "Dad wasn't paying attention to him so Virgil snatched the phone from the desk and ran, Dad couldn't get to him before it went in the water but managed to stop him from flushing it away."
"I barely remember that," Virgil said as he reached under the cast and tried to scratch an itch just out of reach. "I do remember his face though, he was furious."
"I bet he was," Alan said as John nudged him. Alan frowned in question, John gestured to the buns so Alan busied himself with getting the food ready with his brother.
Virgil couldn't reach the itchy spot, he didn't have a pencil to hand so he settled for the twig sitting in the sand next to him. He scooped it up, shook and blew the sand from it and slid it between leg and cast. Scott slapped at his hand and took the twig away, much to Virgil's annoyance and protest.
As Alan called Scott over, their oldest brother lifted from the lounger and went to help. With Scott's back turned, Gordon held out a pencil with a smile on his face, Virgil thanked him and returned to the irritating itch.
"So, how're you doing? Aside from the itchy, broken legs." Gordon said as he settled back with his drink in hand.
Virgil continued to scratch away. Gordon's question was well intentioned, subtle and discreet, but Virgil wasn't sure how to answer such a gentle approach to such a loaded question.
So, the simpler the answer, the easier he could avoid expanding on it. "I'm okay."
"Is that a genuine okay or the Tracy kind of okay?" Gordon replied, Virgil glanced at him but his brother's eyes were focused on the ocean.
"Is there a difference? Both would have the same result." Virgil sipped at his drink as Gordon shifted onto his side to face him.
"And what would that be?"
"Overprotective brothers who won't listen to either the I'm or the okay when I answer them." Virgil didn't mean to make it sound like a complaint, his brother didn't react but Virgil knew that he'd now confirmed to Gordon that he was not, in fact, okay.
Gordon sighed. "You know, we Tracys tend to do stupid things, a lot. We're very good at hiding things because, whatever the reason, we think it's the best thing to do to make sure we don't hurt each other. But on the flip side, we also know that something's wrong and we worm our way in until we get to the problem and try to help fix it. Kinda unstable, huh?"
Virgil didn't respond.
"Do you remember when the ground gave way beneath you?"
The ground rumbled, Virgil tried to steady himself but he couldn't keep upright. He glanced at the cave entrance, so close but now so far away because walking was never going to happen when he couldn't even keep on his feet. He tried to crawl as the rocks crumbled and groaned around him, he caught a glimpse of Gordon running towards him, his body bathed in sunlight as he approached the entrance. He was calling for Virgil, his own steps staggered as he tried to keep himself from following in Virgil's footsteps and tumbling to the ground.
Virgil tried once again to stand, he looked to the floor beneath him and cursed as the cracks began to form. At first and so briefly, they were small but so quickly they gaped open and crumbled. He glanced up, eyes wide with fear as Gordon saw it too, then as they gave way he watched as the entrance disappeared under rock so large he could only briefly consider his luck that he hadn't been crushed there and then. But he was falling fast, blind with no idea of when or if he would hit the bottom alive as large chunks fell around him. He only had a moment to consider that he may still be crushed when a large piece of the debris struck him hard enough to send him into a different kind of darkness.
"I do," Virgil said, the words spoken quietly. "You saw me fall."
"I did," Gordon replied as he shifted back to watch the sea again. "And I gotta tell you, I've had some pretty impressive nightmares about that. So, you know, if you want to compare notes, I'm just saying I'm here if you need me."
"I'm sorry," Virgil said. And there it was, yet another thing to help him feel even more pathetic. Giving Gordon nightmares because he wasn't good enough to get himself out of danger, hurting his younger brother just because he couldn't stand on his own two feet and scramble that short distance to safety. Gordon wasn't trying to make him feel even worse, Virgil knew that, but his good intentions had the opposite effect. The least he could do was try to help Gordon. "Are you still having nightmares?"
"Nothing to be sorry for, bro." Gordon replied, "and they're not as frequent now, not with those three pestering me about it all the time. But it helps, you know? Talking it out with someone."
"Yeah," Virgil acquiesced. He understood, he'd done it many a time for all of his brothers, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He couldn't admit how scared he had been, how hopeless it felt, how useless he was that he couldn't do anything but wait and hope. He couldn't face it himself, how was he supposed to speak it aloud to them?
Scott returned with a tray of freshly cooked burgers, Alan and John behind him. They gathered around Virgil's lounger as he tried to pull himself more upright, he hissed as his leg once again protested. Alan gave him a questioning look but Virgil just smiled in reassurance.
As they sat and enjoyed each other's company, Virgil groaned in pleasure at the first food in so many weeks that wasn't made by a military hospital. "This is divine."
"A slight exaggeration, but I'll take it." John said with a quirk of his lip. "Hospital food not to your liking?"
"The portion sizes are tiny, I have serious doubts about any of it being remotely nutritious and it all has the same consistency of mush." Virgil grumbled half-heartedly, his attention fully on the burger as he took a big bite.
Scott chuckled and gestured to the burger. "Well, enjoy it while it lasts."
"I intend to," he replied happily.
.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.
After they had had their fill of food, Virgil and Scott sat alone on the loungers. Alan and Gordon were busy burying a protesting John in the sand and the sun was starting to set below the watery horizon. Virgil, with a full stomach and the most energetic day in a long while, was starting to drift to sleep. The painkillers that Scott insist he take after his leg began to ache more than usual may have something to do with it as well. He heard Scott calling to John and teasing him to take one for the team, but it started to sound far away.
He coughed, then he hurt. His legs were trapped and the air must be getting thin, it was too dark and the sounds of crumbling fragments terrified him that the rocks could come down any second. But his brothers would come, they wouldn't leave him here.
"John," Virgil coughed again, more pain shooting along his spine. "Thunderbird Five, are you there?"
He wasn't.
"John?"
Virgil tried to move, he pushed with lame effort, everything he had, but only the smallest rocks would clear away. His head fell back against the ground, he sucked in a dusty breath, another and another. "John? Scott, Gordon?"
He scratched at the larger rubble, his hands shaking along with his body, the wetness on his face he insisted was only sweat. He tried again, his full fingered gloves tearing away at the tips with the effort and he knew that it would start to peel at his skin if he continued. He did, beginning to grow frantic even with the pain that screamed at him to stop.
He started to scream, tried to use that to feed his waning adrenaline and give him the boost he needed to fight on. But the scream turned into a moan, morphing again into a whimper, then a sob.
Where were they? Did they know how far he had fallen? Do they think he's dead? He can't reach them, they can't reach him. He was alone in the dark, the cold walls echoing every sound he made, every cry, every breath. He sobbed again and berated himself for being so pathetically small, he tensed his body, willing himself to be strong but that didn't work. He still sobbed.
"Virgil."
"Virgil, it's okay. You're okay."
"Wake up."
Virgil startled awake, yelling out as he pushed forward and ran from the dream. The tears blurred his vision and he reached out and grasped the first thing that met his hands as he panted back to awareness.
The sun that he had fallen asleep to was gone, his only view was the blue shirt of Scott's, a button missing as Virgil's grip ripped it from it's stitching. Scott had him in a tight embrace, his hand around his head and back, the latter rubbing away the nightmare and reminding him of the here and now.
He panted frantically as he found his bearings and dropped his forehead onto Scott's shoulder, his brother didn't speak and left Virgil to find his own rhythm again. When he finally felt steady he lifted his head and pushed his brother away with his still trembling hands. "I'm okay."
Scott ran his hand through Virgil's hair and gave him a sad smile. "No, you're not."
Virgil dropped his gaze, closed his eyes and sighed. "I'll be okay, it was just a bad dream, it's fine."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No." Virgil said, his reply was too sharp, too harsh and he instantly regretted it. He looked up and into Scott's worried eyes and tried to reassure him with a smile, Virgil knew it wasn't good enough. "Not yet, I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, stop apologising." Scott replied as he shuffled back to his lounger and brushed at his sand covered knees. "We're here when you're ready, you know you can talk to us."
Virgil nodded automatically, he knew that that was true. He scanned ahead for the rest of his family and their concerned faces stared back at him, he gave them all a smile and nod, a silent notification that all was well even if he was lying to them. Even if he was lying to himself.
The setting sun put an end to their excursion, the brothers began packing away and tidying the evidence that they were even there. John wheeled Virgil back toward Thunderbird Two as the rest followed behind with their arms full. John and Virgil took the platform back up to the cockpit, chatting for a while whilst their brothers cleared and tidied before joining them. John stood by as Virgil eased himself into his jump seat and clipped his belt into place, John pushed the wheelchair away.
By the time the remaining three brothers returned and had settled into their seats, the sun had set.
Virgil chuckled and earned odd looks from his brothers, he shrugged. "Looks like I missed Doc's curfew."
Scott huffed as he clipped his belt into place. "And you forgot to get him a souvenir."
"We could always give him John's apron," Alan supplied.
"I don't think he'd appreciate that, Alan." John said.
"Aww, have you grown attached to your apron, John?" Gordon replied as he turned his chair to face him.
"Hardly," John said as he crossed his arms and frowned at Gordon.
Virgil enjoyed the playful banter as Scott powered up Thunderbird Two, she lifted from the ground with ease as she carried he and his brothers back towards the base.
TBC
