"I guess it's time we went home?"

Scott nodded, "you'll be back before you know it, Elle. I doubt Virgil would keep you away."

Virgil stood up, "got that right. Who am I having to take in Thunderbird 2 then?"

"Where's your jet, Virgil?" Scott asked.

"Town airport, I dropped her off there when I rented the truck...Oh shit."

Kayo laughed, "so do you owe someone money brother?"

"Uh huh. I'll have to pick up the jet with the grabs and deliver the cheque somehow."

"Better sooner than later," Scott shrugged with a smirk and Alan laughed.

"He's right bro."

Virgil rolled his eyes, "I'm dead, I'll have to get their address and send a cheque that way."

Scott checked the time, "we should get going, bro."

Virgil nodded, "alright. Those who are coming with me move it now or I'll leave you behind, Scott, take whoever you want."

Scott laughed, "that's that then. Kayo?"

"More than happy to go with you my love."

Gordon made a face, "I'm definitely going with you, Virgil."

Elle hung back and took a hold of Scott's arm gently, "wait a second?"

Scott nodded, "something wrong?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing."

Scott watched the others leave then sat down on the piano stool, "there is something. That rescue brought back too many unwanted memories, I could see it on their faces."

Elle sat down opposite him, "the avalanche."

"Yes, I'm very proud of Virgil for his emotional strength today, and I wouldn't have been able to keep my emotions under control."

Elle took his hands in hers sorrowfully, "you would've done I'm sure, don't doubt yourself."

Scott sighed deeply and turned his face away slightly, "twelve years and we're still not over it."

"Scott?"

"We'll never be over it," Scott began to cry and brought his hands back from Elle's knees to cover his face, she moved across to sit on the stool next to him and cradled him in her arms.

"You don't have to get over it, that's not expected of you brother," Elle kissed his hair smiling at the soft texture of it under her lips, "it's alright."

"But it's not, I have to be strong for them, and I just wouldn't have been if I was in this situation," Scott looked up at her tearfully, "I'm proud of you Elle, thanks."

Elle smiled back, "what for? I was terrified, I owe Virgil my life."

Scott chuckled and tears fell from his cheeks, "well, I still thank you."

Elle laughed as she was wrapped in the eldest's arms on the piano stool and she buried her chin into his shoulder, "it's my pleasure Scotty."

Scott sat up and placed his fingers on the keys, he began to play a sweet composition and Elle blinked back tears, Kayo poked her head around the door ready to shout, then stopped seeing her boyfriend at the piano, she rested her head against the doorframe and sent a message to Virgil to wait a little longer. Scott ran through the piece effortlessly, and Elle smirked behind her hand as she felt the grapple bounce against her leg as he pedalled below, fighting all urges to move closer to him she continued to watch him play at the grand piano, her eyes suddenly sensed movement and she looked at Kayo.

"Kayo?"

The piano music halted abruptly as Scott stopped playing, he looked up and brought his hands back from the keys, "sweetheart?"

Kayo sniffed, "that was truly beautiful Scott, just, really lovely."

Scott smiled, "I made it up in my head."

"How does it end?"

"We should get back to the ships," Scott looked behind him at the door.

"Please?"

Elle chuckled as Scott sighed, "you can't say no to that."

Scott pressed the pedal down again with a laugh and looked up as Kayo leant on the piano facing him, Elle angled her body on the stool slightly leaning her arm on the piano ledge, the melody picked up from where it had been left hanging in the air and Elle sent Virgil a voice memo of Scott's playing to tell him they were still in the house, she felt her arm get touched by Scott's hand and moved it quickly with a smile as he blinked gratefully at her before continuing to play, Elle rested her hands behind her back and stretched her legs out behind Scott's listening to the melody coming from the piano. In Thunderbird 2, Virgil's impatience was getting the better of him, the padding under the front of his chair dented slightly on the floor from a boot being tapped on it for the last half hour.

"Virg, you got a voice memo, just leave them."

"Is he performing a concert?"

"I doubt it," Gordon laughed, "just relax."

Virgil sighed, "alright we'll give them another five minutes."

Scott ran his finger down the keys in a forced glissando then released the pedal pushing Elle's foot backwards with his then sat back on the stool, "there."

Kayo clapped, "and like Elle, debt paid."

Elle laughed, "I better get back to Virgil," she gave the front door key to Scott, "in case you don't want to rush."

Scott smiled, "thanks, Elle, but we will be out after you."

Elle stood up and picked up her bag from the sofa, "see you in the skies."

Virgil heard the platform unlock, and looked behind him to see it go down, "finally."

Elle came up into the cockpit and Gordon gave up his seat for her, "thanks bro. I'm sorry Virgil, but I wanted to have a word with Scott and then he played the piano...are you ok?" She frowned at him then sighed, "fine, I get that you're annoyed with how long that took, but I wanted to make sure Scott was ok."

"Why wouldn't he be?" Virgil took off rougher than usual.

"Don't act like you don't know, I'll talk to you when we get home," she sat cross-legged and looked out of the window.

Gordon whistled as he exchanged a look with Alan, "Al, come and check the module with me. I want to make sure we strapped everything back."

Alan leapt up, "hmm yeah, I don't know if I did it right."

Elle waited until they had gone then looked back at Virgil who's hands were turning white as they gripped the wheel, "can you ease up at least? I watched your brother play the piano, what's wrong with that?"

"I don't like to be kept waiting, Elle."

"Oh for fuck's sake."

Virgil snarled as he looked at her, "don't you dare start with that."

"Do you want to know why I stayed back with Scott? 'Cos your brother was in tears about that avalanche, and he's proud of you for keeping it together during it, that's why I stayed back. So wipe that stupid grimace off your face or I swear to god I won't even share the same bed with you later."

Virgil raised his eyebrows in shock, "Scott, cried?"

"He sat down on the piano stool to chat and that led to him playing, probably to forget about the breakdown he had just had."

"Why is he proud of me?"

Elle softened her voice, "because you saved me and didn't think about anyone else, you weren't selfish. But he knows how hard it was because of what happened to your mother, and he explained it all to me too."

Virgil loosened his grip on the wheel and gazed at his wedding ring, "Elle, I'm really sorry."

"For just now?"

"Uh huh."

"Damn should be," Elle crossed her arms.

Virgil held his hand out to her and smiled as she took it before moving across to him and sitting on his knee, "I'm really sorry, that was uncalled for."

Elle snuggled into his lap and bumped her forehead against his, "yes it was, but I'm not afraid of you Virgil Tracy, you're a kitten in my eyes. What you say, or threaten can't hurt me."

Virgil sighed, "I would never threaten you, I feel awful for doing it just then. I'll never forgive myself," he sighed, "is Scott ok now?"

"I'm sure Kayo will talk to him, then he'll be fine."