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General P.O.V
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Scott, Gordon and Virgil eventually met up with Jeff, John and Brain's at the Tracy hangar in Manhattan. As Tracy 1 prepared for landing, Scott stepped out of the office near the back of the hangar. He leaned into the locker room and hollered to Virgil who had yet to come from the showers that Tracy 1 was getting ready to land. Not hearing a response, Scott stepped into the locker room; he noticed that there was no water running which would indicate that Virgil was still showering. He heard some shuddering breaths, but couldn't figure out what was causing it.
Stepping around the corner, Scott's gaze fell onto a shirtless Virgil who was sitting on the benches. Virgil sat with his back to the door, and from Scott's vantage point it appeared that Virgil had been beheaded. Virgil's head couldn't be seen over the rise of his hunched shoulders. Stepping closer, Scott noticed Virgil's shoulders were shaking. Hitched breathing could be heard from the unmoving mass on the bench.
"Virge? Hey man, you okay?" Scott stepped closer, and noticed the shaking shoulders didn't stop.
"Ple-please…go away. I'm fine." Virgil's whisper sounded so broken, but Scott's older brother senses were on overdrive. He walked around the bench and knelt in front of Virgil. It broke Scott's heart to see his normally poker faced younger brother appear so broken. Gazing up into Virgil's face, Scott couldn't help but notice the trails cascading down his cheeks. Virgil was crying so hard, his normally even toned skin, was flushed a bright red. Virgil's eyes were closed, but Scott could see he had been crying for a while. His eyes were puffy, and his nose was running. Scott reached up and pulled Virgil's face down into his shoulder and just held him. Much as he had done for the younger male after their mother had died, or when Gordon had been hurt in that Hydrofoil accident. Scott swore he would be the pillar that would offer his strength to his family. He refused to break, until he knew he would be alone for a long while when he could be free to cry himself.
The moment Scott pulled Virgil into a fierce hug; Virgil broke and began to sob. He clutched at his older brother's shirt as if hanging on for dear life. He cried so hard, he was unable to speak. All Virgil heard, was the comforting baritone voice of Scott whispering in his ear. He cried for what felt like hours, but knew in reality it was probably only five minutes. As he felt the weight begin to lift from his shoulders, his sobs quieted into hiccoughs. As his breathing evened out, Scott leaned back and grabbed Virgil's chin and directed his gaze at himself.
"Now, are you going to tell me what has you so upset; or am I going to have to tickle it out of you? Because you know I will." Scott managed to bring a smile to Virgil's face. Offering him a small smile of his own, Scott asked again with his eyes.
"I was upset over Alan's injuries. I feel bad about causing him such pain." Virgil shook his chin free of Scott's grasp and re-directed his gaze to the floor.
"Hey, you don't mean the injuries like his burns do you. You can't blame yourself for that. But if you mean his arm, then the pain was worth it if you ask me. If you hadn't set it, the doctors may have felt it was necessary to amputate. I know I didn't like to hear his scream, but I would rather have Alan in pain for the time being than to not be able to be a Thunderbird because of a poorly healed arm or amputation. You can't blame yourself for that." Scott tried to talk to Virgil.
"Yeah, I meant his arm. I cried after hearing his scream. I just feel so bad about causing that kind of pain. I could have given him local anesthetic, but I kept him pain-med free. I feel like such a terrible brother right now." Virgil threaded his fingers into his hair before leaning down again.
"Hey, you know I would have done the same to you if you were in his place. It was necessary to have him pain med free so we could make sure that there was no nerve damage. You did the right thing okay? I don't know about you, but shouldn't Alan have been aware that we were there instead of doped up like we know he'll be while in the hospital? I feel you did the right thing! We need to be strong for Alan and Fermat while they recover. It is okay to cry now, but we all are gonna have to take a step up to bat for Alan. He is going to need us now more than ever." Scott stepped away from Virgil and offered him a hand up. Scott felt relief when Virgil accepted the pro-offered hand. Pushing his brother over to the sink, Scott smiled gently as he watched Virgil splash his face with some water before pulling himself together.
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Jeff's P.O.V
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As I landed Tracy 1, I noticed Scott and Virgil coming out of the locker rooms. My middle son looked as though he had been crying. I can't say that I blame him. Brain's, John and I all cried the trip over. In fact if I wasn't wearing sunglasses right now, you could probably see my red rimmed eyes. I was so scared for Alan. I for one have rescued people from burning buildings, but never have I actually been trapped in one. My son must have been more than terrified while he and Fermat ran through the flames, seeking freedom, escape and a breath of fresh air.
The mental image came across as I saw my son in my mind's eye running from the flames. He was just running, tears streaming down his face, as he begged to be rescued. I shuddered. Was it not enough that Alan had survived an avalanche when he was no older than three and a half years old? Lost his mother in the same accident? Been unable to speak for a year? Was prone to going into anaphylactic shock from penicillin or ingesting walnuts? Been raised by an older brother, because I was inept at doing so in my grief? Breaking his forearm when he was 12 after him and Gordon got lost in the jungle? Why couldn't Alan just catch a break? Now he was caught in a massive fire that destroyed the place he had called his home away from home. Receiving severe burns and suffering a badly broken arm.
I opened the hatch to allow Gordon, Virgil and Scott entrance to Tracy 1. After they came on board and got their harnesses put on, I set off to fly to the hospital. We already had received clearance from the airport to store our jet at the hangar on their property. After I gave the okay to unbuckle their harnesses, Scott came up to sit in the co-pilot's seat next to me. I could see that he was trying his damndest to not cry. I know he came up here in hopes that he could pilot, if anything to relieve the stress of the situation. Flying had always calmed Scott when his nerves were on edge. But I had the piloting under control.
Thankfully, the way I had designed Tracy 1, I just had to hit a button and a curtain would close. It was a safety measure; I had it installed around the time that Gordon's hydrofoil accident had occurred. It was the only way that I was able to keep my middle and youngest sons from starting WWIII.
At the time of the accident, everybody was on edge as they feared for not only Gordon's life, but his mental health at being told he may never walk again. Virgil and Alan had been arguing nonstop. Alan at the time was being optimistic that Gordon would get better, and Virgil was slightly pessimistic. Virgil being an aspiring medic understood the concerns. Alan on the other hand had been openly optimistic and did not ask the commonly asked 'what if' questions.
He simply asked the 'when' questions. Virgil had become angry at Alan, and blatantly said Alan had no heart. This in turn caused Alan to turn a complete 360. The only way that we were able to stop the argument at the time was when John hauled Alan up to the co-pilot seat while Scott dragged Virgil back to the rear of the jet. In order to keep Alan from leaving the cockpit, I had activated the curtain. Nice thing is, it locks and can only be opened with the push of a button or an override code. Not only that but it was sound proofed so that private conversations were kept private.
It had come in handy, because Alan hates to cry openly in front of his brothers for fear of retribution. But at the time, the boy just let out his fears to be heard by only his father's ears. Alan cried, dad listened and comforted. When all was said and done, Alan had fallen asleep using my lap as a pillow while I continued to fly. Virgil had refused to apologize at the time, and then he apologized quite ferociously to Alan after Gordon got better and began to walk again. Alan at the time though had assumed it was normal to be yelled at day in and day out by his older brothers, so Alan just quietly accepted the apology, but said nothing more in return. Often times, I would have no choice, but to use the override code to deactivate the locking curtain. The cockpit of Tracy 1 had become something of a safe haven for Alan to go and cry. So whenever I was unable to find him after a blowup between brothers, the cockpit of Tracy 1 was usually the first place I always checked. I figured now was as good a time as any to press the button to activate the curtain. If anything this would allow Scott a moment to calm down and get his feelings under control.
As I pressed the button, I noticed Scott's shock when the curtain snapped shut. All background noise, and conversations in the passenger area becoming completely muted. I sat in silence as I waited for Scott to voice his question. One I knew he was itching to ask. So I just kept my gaze set towards the horizon.
"Dad? What's going on? Why did you activate the curtain?" Scott asked in an almost hushed voice.
"I closed the curtain to allow you a few minutes to collect yourself. I can tell by the look on your face that you are trying to remain strong for all of us, Alan included and I can see the toll it is taking on you. I closed the curtain and I know you are going to be quick to defend yourself, so that if you felt the need to cry in private, you could do so without any of your brothers interrupting. You know I won't judge you if you allow the bravado fall for a little while and just allow yourself to cry. But I know that you keep up the bravado for your brothers to let them see you be brave and strong. But it is okay to cry my boy. I was crying on the flight in. So were Brain's and John. If you feel you need to cry, then by all means, release the pain, fear and frustration. It will make you feel better. I promise.
As I neared the end of my little speech, I couldn't help but to notice the miserable sniffles. I chanced a glance at my oldest son, and I actually felt relief to see him showing another emotion I hadn't seen on his face since his mother's funeral. Scott sat in the co-pilot's cockpit chair and tears were streaming down his face in torrents. Scott's shoulders shook from the intensity of his sobs. I placed Tracy 1 on auto-pilot and stood to kneel in front of my son. I pulled him into a warm embrace, and just held him. Right now, I was not the commander of the Thunderbirds. Right now, at this very moment, I was a dad…a father comforting his eldest son. Right now I was trying to reassure my first born little boy, that all would be okay. I held him murmuring words of comfort and patted him on the back. There was not much more that I could do. Slowly, I felt tears coursing down my face. I had joined my son in a party of tears. In truth when all was said and done, I truly think it made Scott feel better to cry. Not just because I was there to comfort him, but because it allowed him to release pent up emotions that he didn't often show.