They paused

"Well not a lot, I am...was still Field Commander, Gordon took over on your bird but his no pilot. He can fly well..well he can now, when he first landed he wiped out the palm trees and picked up the wrong pod. His better now, but even he will confess he doesn't like it. He likes it when Alan can drive it. They take it in turns you see. Alan however pushes her all the time and dad had to tell him on several occasions it's not TB1, its not designed for first response. I think his message is slowly getting through. I mean it's only been 7 years. No one is as good as you flying it of course. John spends less time in the space station and comes down to look after the jets while Tin Tin helps in TB5 more often, much to Alan's annoyance. Yes they are married. Happily."

"That's great for them, marriage is wonderful. You should try it sometime" Virgil suggested to him

"First I got to find the perfect the girl. Anyway that's pretty much it, until I got sick" He cut short what he had done, shocking himself about the lack of detail and focus in his life.
"You've been sick for a while Scott, you've been ill for at least the last year" Virgil said raising an eyebrow
"How do you do that? Scott asked thinking back to when a few minor symptoms had started

"Did you feel pain about a year ago in your ribs?" He asked
"I can't remember I get aches and pains all the time though I had dad worried last year because my chest but they could find nothing wrong."
"Well I don't know, I just had this feeling you've been ill for the last year, it was nothing significant, just that something was wrong but when I asked John he said I was mad, and that you were OK so I just out it down to being paranoid"

"You were never paranoid, anyway what are you really feeling Scott. His must still be a shock for you?"
"I'm scarred Virgil, I may be putting your like at risk" He replied and Virgil had to smile, his old Scott thinking of everyone else except himself.
"It's minimal, unlike yours, I know it's the last thing to do but I still wish there was another way. Kira and I have done some research and it sounds..well dangerous but the best chance"

"It's my only hope, if I don't have it I will die. I've got nothing to lose" He said quietly those words affecting him more than he'd admit.

"I know, I just worry that's all" Virgil admitted, blushing slightly but his eyes never wavered
"I thought that was my job to worry?" Scott said with a grin
"Not any more, so except the rescuing, what else have you been doing with yourself?" Virgil never really remembered Scott doing anything than flying.

"Nothing really, well learning from Father, His getting tired and wants to take more break with Miss P, enough said and his letting me take over on more rescue missions as a base commander, Alan does a little more piloting when I'm not there. It's getting kind of tough, dad really should take it more easy, I should be at base control but we need another in the field, I worry we are stretching people too thin, however Tin Tin has taken to 5 very well. Alan misses her when she goes up there and dad was apprehensive but she reassured them, Brains has been on more missions, but you know what his like, not really the action hero type"

"WOW sounds like you've had your hands full"
"I feel I am wasting my life Virgil, this illness has made me realise I want a partner to support me, it's lonely at the top. But how can I find someone that won't compromise our operation?" He said in desperation "I also need to find another hobby, I mean you have art and music, Gordon swimming, Alan racing, John star gazing and me...I don't actually have a hobby or talent"

"Your a great pilot, you like flying for fun" Virgil suggested but understood what Scott really wanted
"But it's not something I can do completely unrelated to work, I mean flying is part of my job"

"I see now, well you were always good at everything you tried, you got A's across the board if I remember rightly" Virgil was trying to think of something that could entertain Scott's quick thinking brain.

"I need something non academic, I could never paint or write, play music, race or swim that great"

"Your right, you really do need a life. Tell you what how long you got here before you go back?"

"Dad has given me 3 days leave owing to stress and I should be relaxing at Lady P's currently, however she's in on the plan too, you know she agreed with your choice, she told dad so too, he didn't talk to her for a while but they are OK now"

"Stay with me, let me look after you for a few days. I'm off till Sunday, you can get to know Kira and Lucy would love to meet you" Virgil suggested, wanting to spend more time with his brother

"How can you do that?" Scott asked in amazement
"Do what?" Virgil answered confused by the meaning of Scott's question

"I've ignored you for years, didn't support you or anything and yet you open our home and family to me like that" Scott said half surprised but very happy, though he tried to contain it.
"You've suffered Scott, I can see it in the way you walk, you are suffering from so much guilt over all that has passed, its making you feel worse. I want to help you because I too have been ignoring you, trying to pretend you don't exist, I could have tried harder to get in contact with you through John or our wrist comms but didn't. I'm just as responsible as you and I want to make it up to you. You always helped me when we were younger and asked for so little in return, I love you Scott plain and simple" Virgil replied with his usual honesty

Scott had never felt this love, this need, this desire to be with Virgil. He remembered Virgil had always kept him grounded and when he was about to lose it, let him by standing close by to prevent any damage and hide him from prying eyes.

"OK man, you have a deal, providing its OK with Kira, I'll explain to Penny" Scott said, still not believing his good fortune.

They finished there meal and paid the bill. Scott noticed it was considerably less than it should have been, the guy had taken off 35 of the total and not included the drinks. Virgil tutted as he read the bill, and left a 30 tip with the amount, before bidding the grateful gentleman goodbye and headed out onto the streets. It was then Scott saw a woman with dirty blonde coming towards them. He then noticed the little girl Lucy had blonde hair but as she grew closer, he noticed she had Virigl's burnt honey eyes. She ran up to Virgil and threw herself around his legs. He picked her up and kissed her.

"May I introduce my charming wife Kira and my beautiful daughter Lucy, Kira and Lucy this is my older brother Scott" Scot looked surprised at the introduction. Kira wasted not time in giving him a gentle hug and kiss on the cheek. Lucy looked at Virgil then at Scott

"You mean I gotta another uncle...wow I got 2 now like Sandy at school, now all I need are 2 aunties, see I can beat her then, she only has one" Scott had to smile at this queer speech. Virgil set Lucy on the ground and she looked at Scott

"You don't look like daddy but then uncle John didn't really look like daddy either. You look sick, your all white!" Children love pointing out the obvious Scott knew.

"I haven't been feeling well I'm afraid" He answered as brightly as he could. She smiled at him

"Know what makes me feel better, you need mummy's famous hot chocolate or as your sick, her famous honey drink, and daddy to tuck you in and tell you a story about a group of people who help others or a fairy princess story. Then tuck you in and kisses your forehead, when you wake up in the morning, you feel better better" Lucy said sounding quite knowledgeable for an 8 year old.

Scott smiled, he remembered Virgil's gentle bed side manner.

"Or if you ache, daddy rubs Mummy's shoulders and back with some funny smelling flower oil and Mummy feels better straight away. I think Daddy's hands must be magic as Mummy can never do the same to Daddy" She said quickly

Scott listened to her talk and looked at Virgil. Virgil knew that look, he had fallen, hook, line and sinker for her.

"I hope it's OK Kira, I've asked Scott to stay a couple of days" Virgil explained
She smiled at Virgil and Scott saw pride in her eyes aimed at her husband

"It would be a pleasure to have you stay, we'll drop by and pick up your bags. My husband needs someone to keep him away from work, even on his days off he still finds work of some kind to do" She led the way to the car and Virgil tossed her the keys and Kira's smile grew bigger, she loved driving his car, made by his own hands, his pride and joy, 'He must really be happy' she thought pleased. Lucy had by this time grabbed Scott's hand and was almost dragging him over to the car.

They drove to Penny's place, She was more than happy to play along and if Jeff called tell him that Scott was forbidden to have anything to do with work for a while until he felt a bit better. Jeff had learnt years ago to never argue with her.

They arrived at the house, Kira carried the bags and Virgil showed Scott to the guest room. He noticed it had pictures drawn by Virgil and colourful pages of writing by Kira of poems and phrases. Virgil then left him to unpack, he gently shut the door, no sooner than Scot opened his suitcase a small knock came at the door.

"Come in!" He called already having a guess as to who it could be

Lucy came quietly in, a small smile on her face

"Mummy and Daddy are cooking tonight, they didn't tell me what they were cooking but I bin told to keep out the kitchen so can I help you?" She asked

"Of course, I was going to lie down for a bit, I'm a little tired. How about a story?"
"A made up one?" Lucy's eyes glowed with joy
"Yeah, about hero's or pilots" Scott said giving her the option

"I like the ones dad tells me about International Rescue. Do you know any stories?" She enquired innocently.

"I'm sure I can think of one or two" he said with a smile.

So they lay on his bed, and Lucy listened intently to a story, one she had never heard before.

In the Kitchen Virgil and Kira were talking.

"So his staying?" Kira asked her husband with a smile on her face cutting up some vegetables
"Yeah, I hope this is OK" Virgil looked at Kira and the same smile as earlier graced her lips as he continued to layer the pasta.

"I'm happy you know, I didn't think I missed him this much. But seeing him today...I feel like a holes been filled. Don't get me wrong I miss the others but Scott and I always had something hidden, something that went deeper than the fact he was my oldest brother and at times my protector. I don't know" He never could finish his thoughts when it came to Scott

"I wish I had a sibling, I saw you two for a moment, and he hugged you the moment you appeared. He really missed you and I know you missed him, I just, well can't believe how quickly you've forgiven him, or maybe I can, you've always been forgiving." She remembered a few things that put a smile on her face. He replied

"It's easier to hate, I've learnt. I hated him afterwards but then as time has moved on I have realised that I could have done more to try and get in contact through John even by letter but I didn't. I've really missed him, and I think we've forgiven each other. His apologised to me. I want things even better than they were. He needs to be fit and healthy for this operation, and that means no stress."
"Why are you so wonderful?" She looked at him with wonder
"Because I'm so in love, I have you to thank for that and so does Scott, If it hadn't been for your love and support, I'm not sure I could have done all this" She gently kissed him as he finished another layer on the lasagne he was making, Scott's favourite..

"I want him to relax and have fun while his here, enjoy himself as his got some hard times coming up" Virgil told her calmly

"Yeah well as long as he has you...and John, who could ask for anything more" She smiled popping a bit on onion in her mouth with a smile. Virgil smiled before applying the last layer of pasta. He then added the sauce and cheese before setting it in the oven. They then toasted a glass of wine before preparing the garlic bread. Talking and laughing.

Scott came down briefly to see when dinner was ready and looked in the kitchen to find to find the couple laughing and talking, He didn't want to disturb them and figured they would get him when dinner was ready. He disappeared back to Lucy who was waiting expectantly for him to continue the story.

45 Minutes Later

Virgil went upstairsto get Lucy and Scott. The sight that greeted him was funny. Scott was laying on the pillow and snuggled into him was Lucy. He smiled at the sleeping pair before gently waking Lucy

"Dinner Lucy" He gently tapped her shoulder

She awoke with a smile and was about to wake Scott when she saw Virgil shake his head. She disappeared downstairs. Virgil sat beside his brother and gently ran a hand through his hair, an affectionate gesture that would awake Scott, he smiled when he saw Scott stir and open his eyes.

"Hi, Dinners ready" Virgil said, meet Scott's gaze with a smile
"Thanks, takes me back" Scott replied
"Yeah"

Scott straightened up, brushed down his clothes and followed Virgil downstairs. He smiled, he knew that smell anywhere.

"You never forgot did you" Scott smiled at Virg

"Never" Virgil replied, throwing an arm around Scott and leading him to the dining room.