When Virgil heard his name being called his memories didn't suddenly rush back to him, it was more like things slowly started to fit into place. He realised immediately that his name was Virgil and not Vernon and he felt some relief. He also realised that it was Scott who was shouting it. Scott, good grief, how could he have forgotten about Scott and had not been reassured that he had a big brother who wouldn't rest until he had found him?
He also knew he had to react immediately. He looked up at the Everest of crates and moved. He started to clamber up them as quickly as possible, grabbing a tin from one of the crates as he did so. He reached the level of the small windows and started to hit them with the can until they shattered. He shouted Scott's name several times. He managed to break three windows before dizziness and nausea overwhelmed him and he thought he would fall. He threw the tin out of one of the windows in desperation and then tried to make his way back down the crates. All he could hear was a mad buzzing in his ears.
He finally found himself on solid ground and retched. He could do no more. He hoped to God he had alerted Scott. He took some deep breaths and felt steadier again. Scott, his brothers… it had all been there in his head and he finally started to get access to it. International Rescue. So he wasn't a cop but he could still have been trying to rescue someone. What about his other brothers? Had they been captured too? It still didn't make sense.
Gradually he became aware of noise and some shouting. It was Scott again and he seemed nearer.
"Virgil! Where are you?"
Scott must have got access to the building. Virgil staggered over to door and started to bang on it.
"Scott, Scott, I'm here, I can't get out."
Scott's voice got nearer until, to Virgil's great relief, he knew his brother was on the other side of the door.
"Scott, the door's locked."
"Okay, no problem, I'll break it open. Step away from the door, while I try….Virgil, step away from the door, okay? Virg?"
Virgil took a deep breath. He had to step away. It made sense. Scott was waiting for an answer. He took several steps back.
"Okay, I'm away from the door."
Virgil found himself putting his hands over his ears as there followed a lot of noise and cursing as the door began to give way. Suddenly the door swung open on and Scott was standing there. Virgil staggered forwards and threw his arms around a very startled Scott and would not let him go.
He heard Scott talking into his shoulder.
"Virgil, what happened? How did you get in here? Are you okay? Let me take a look at you."
Virgil felt Scott prising him loose.
"The others?" Virgil asked. "Are they okay?"
Scott looked confused. "They're fine. It's just you that went missing. What happened?"
Virgil knew Scott was trying to assess him and he had to give him the salient facts. He fixed his eyes on Scott's.
"Amnesia. Concussion. Hospital."
There was brief look of distress on Scott's face before he became business-like.
"No problem. Right away."
Virgil was overcome with relief. Scott was here, taking charge and would make things right. He could pass over the responsibility to the one person he knew was always reliable, steadfast and decisive. Virgil let his legs give way at the knees and he felt Scott safety lower him to the ground.
TBTBTBT
Two days later Virgil was sitting up in a hospital bed feeling grand. He was by no means back to full fettle but life was making more sense. Beside him a stubbly-faced, exhausted-looking Scott was slouched in a chair. Virgil knew he had to insist that Scott went to the hotel and got some proper sleep but he just wanted a few more hours of Scott's calm reassurance.
Virgil's belly was full since Grandma had arrived and taken over feeding him. He wasn't even irritated by Gordon who tended to resort to dark humour when stressed and every time he entered Virgil's room would come up to him and very slowly and loudly shout at him:
"It's me! Gordon! Your brother! Do you understand?"
Virgil felt he'd had every head scan known to man and had enjoyed several trips around the hospital on a trolley as he was taken to various rooms for them. He had also had a number of doctors ask him endless questions and test his reactions and memory. But he had endured it all happily as he knew who he was, knew he was safe and was even able to make the short trip to his hospital room bathroom without wobbling much. And the fact he had a whole bathroom and not a bucket was something he felt he would appreciate for some time to come.
The pillows felt like little clouds of comfort under his head and whenever he dozed off and awoke again the picture was still the same. His still felt a bit woolly headed but mostly his brain seemed to be working right and the doctors were in agreement that a long period of rest should see him recover fully.
Alan had visited and gone again as John had insisted on coming back from Thunderbird 5 to the hospital to, as he put it, "See the fruits of my labours". John arrived and found Gordon hovering by the door. Gordon grinned and the two shook hands, having not seen each other for 3 weeks.
"How's the patient?" asked John.
"Not bad, considering. Watch out, though, he's still a bit inclined to randomly hug people at the moment."
The two exchanged a puzzled look and then John approached the bed.
"How's it going, Virg?"
"Not bad at all."
"You seem to have a homeless person asleep by your bed."
Scott started from his doze, took in John and closed his eyes again. Virgil smiled.
"He started off more guard dog but he's deteriorating. He tells me you were helping him find me."
"Yes and you led us a merry chase I can tell you. Next time you leave the Island we need a detailed itinerary pinned to the board."
"So everyone keeps saying."
"Brains is in despair about the failure of your wrist comm and will not come out of the lab until he's done a complete redesign of them. The cops are still waiting for Rob and Dana to come back from Sydney but are thrilled with the evidence you led them to."
"Not so thrilled with the bucket of poop, I suspect," smiled Virgil, wryly.
John laughed. "Perhaps not. And how are you feeling?"
"Like I got hit over the head. The drugs are good, here, though. And if I'm very well behaved, can walk in a straight line and remember the name of Gordon's first goldfish I can come home in a few days."
"Good stuff. And back to rescues?"
There was a stirring from the chair. "He can go back to rescues when hell freezes over or I say so ."
"Yes, Mom," said Virgil.
John laughed. "Hey, Virg, how tall are you by the way?"
"6 foot 3."
"You are not!" exclaimed John.
"He's a bit shorter than me so-" began Gordon.
"I am not!" retorted Virgil.
"Get out of bed, titch, and we'll see," said John.
At this point Scott stood up and spoke over their arguing.
"Shut up! I am taller than all of you and that's what matters. John, sit in my seat and look after Virgil while I go and get some shut eye at the hotel. Gordon, go find Grandma and organise lunch. Virgil, do not get out of bed. Are we all clear?"
"Yes, Scott," came some murmured replies, no one keen to irritate an overtired big brother with a face like an angry bear. Scott and Gordon left the room, John sat down on the chair and Virgil smiled happily. All was just as it should be. Maybe he would have another nap but a bedtime story would be good.
"John, tell me how you and Scott found me and don't leave anything out."
And as John talked, Virgil slipped into a warm and fuzzy sleep.
THE END
Epilogue
After a couple of weeks' recuperation Virgil was almost fully fit and allowed back on rescues after a month.
Rob and Dana were captured and found guilty of drugs smuggling with sentences of 10 and 8 years respectively.
The elderly gentleman with Alzheimer's was, at the suggestion of social services, moved to a nursing home where he was treated appropriately for his condition and became less agitated.
Scott allowed himself more down time and the bad dreams stopped.
Inspired by big Scott, little Scott grew up to work as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.
Josh is still waiting for his reward but completed his degree with honours and he and Ollie's guild did finally beat the forest boss.