Chapter 10
By Crystalquirt
Thunderbirds Are Go! Fanfiction
MANY MANY THANKS TO TIGRE MALABARISTA FOR THE MANY EDITS, CORRECTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. THIS STORY WOULDN'T BE WHAT IT IS WITHOUT TIGRE! WITH GRATITUDE TO TIGRE!
"Does Virgil have any injuries?" inquired Scott, just to be sure his middle brother was all right.
"No injuries - and his pulse, heart rate and respirations are within safe ranges while under anesthesia," said John, who then slumped over the control panel in exhaustion and relief. "I never thought I'd be grateful for the fact he confused me as dad..."
Even though he only saw John's image on a holoscreen, Gordon could tell the ruse took a lot out of his red-haired brother. "Yeah - it's hard to see anyone seeing you as our dad, but it worked... good job," he said, and after a moment smiled. "You too EOS, making that illusion. Don't make it a habit though."
EOS' lights glowed green, chuckling. "I will not - I do not want another three-hour lecture on why it is bad to use holograms inappropriately," she chirped.
"It was only two hours, EOS," John rolled his eyes, but gave his younger brother a weak smile in thanks.
Badly wanting to help, Scott braced himself and tried to stand up again. He took a couple of steps and started to fall. Brains caught him and helped him back to his bed. "Where did you think you were going?" Through the pain, Scott forced himself back into 'command mode' and answered, "I want to help. How long will Virgil be out?" he asked, turning to Brains.
The engineer cleared his throat, adjusting his glasses. "The l-last time Omicron was t-tested, the person recovered about 45 minutes after exposure," he said.
"That's faster than when you put Scott and John's lights out with it," said Gordon, concerned his immediate older brother would come to and try again.
"Yes, but weight and dosage was a factor in each case," said Brains. He wasn't going to mention that Jeff, not wanting to put any of his sons through it again, tested it himself. "It m-may be different for Virgil, but I would say he will remain unconscious for at l-least a half an hour."
John nodded. "The medical scan confirms that theory Brains, but just to be sure ... can I safely keep the cockpit full of the anesthetic gas while I fly him home?" he said.
"Yes I believe so. I will help you closely monitor him, and it won't take much longer than 30 minutes to get him home from his current location." Brains said.
"FAB. I'll need to come back down to be there when we're ready to take Virgil off of his ship. Brains, can you also monitor him in flight while I'm in the elevator?"
"FAB...if my two patients here will behave themselves and stay in bed," Brains said, looking at Scott pointedly.
"FAB, Brains. I'll stay put." Scott agreed, smiling sheepishly.
Standing on top of the Mole's hood, Kayo carefully lifted Alan out and got him in a fireman's carry across her shoulders. She barely noticed that his feet were still tied and he was sock-footed. Holding onto the young man with one hand she climbed down from the Mole and took him back out to her waiting cable.
She could see Shadow's nose from the pod's ramp and fired another cable up to her ship. She let the cable's hand-hold pull herself and Alan up on top of the pod container.
Kayo carried him up, and at the cockpit she held Alan in front of her body and lowered his still bound legs inside first as she stood on the pilot's seat. She slipped her slim form down behind Alan, letting him sit on her lap. His head fell back on her shoulder, his shoulder leaned against the side of the cockpit.
In the cramped cockpit, her right arm was under Alan's waist, helping to keep him from sliding down. Kayo worked the controls with one hand and launched.
Thunderbird Shadow's 'legs' folded back up in the plane's belly as it rose into the air and then Shadow shot toward home. Only a few minutes in flight, Alan groaned. Kayo felt him waking up and start to stir, right before he kicked and cried out, "Virgil!"
Alan kicked with his ankles still tied together, striking several foot petals at the same time and Shadow went into a dive toward the surface of the ocean.
"Whoa!" Kayo cried, trying to calm the confused teen, she said, "You're safe Alan - you're with me in Thunderbird Shadow - stop struggling!"
John sat at his station with his forehead resting on his uninjured hand. The pain he felt in his injured hand making him wish that he had not taken off the splint in the heat of the moment. Having a feeling, like some kind of instinct, for there were no alarms, he looked up at his screens in time to see Thunderbird Shadow take a nosedive.
"Shadow - Kayo!" John yelled spinning icons on his screens with his very sore hand. "Come in - I show you falling - NOSE UP!"
"We're okay - very okay - Alan just had a rough awakening - almost ..." said Kayo, and after a mild growl, continued. "There, we're back on course!"
"FAB - glad to hear that Alan is awake." John said.
Kayo continued, but not with the response John expected. "Alan, relax!"
"Relax?"
"This was easier when he was passed out! Alan! Stop fighting me!" Kayo yelled in the teen's ear.
Alan however, panicked more, so she took her hand off of the controls and hugged him. Her feet blocked his kicks keeping him away from the pedals.
"Alan! You are safe! I have you!"
Alan focused his eyes with Kayo yelling into his ear and as soon as he realized who was hugging him, he stopped fighting. "You okay now?" Kayo said relaxing her hold on him.
"I ..." he started but noticed the woman search for something.
"Just let me reach . . ." Kayo said, pulling her 'Bird's nose back up with one hand, Kayo straightened out Shadow's flight.
"Phew! That was close. How do you feel, Alan?"
"Like a train hit me, but lying here on you helps." Alan managed a weak smile when he realized he was lying on top of Kayo. "I mean sharing a seat, I mean sitting in your lap - I mean I didn't think Shadow could hold two."
"Two people will fit as long as they are friendly. There really isn't room to argue."
"No kidding," said Alan, who blinked his eyes at what she said.
"Sorry - but wait, I was on Thunderbird Two - how did I get here? Where's Virgil!?"
"Slow down Alan. John has control of Thunderbird 2 taking her back to Tracy Island."*
"Why is John flying TB2? Is Virgil all right?"
"Virgil is unconscious inside but safe."
"No! Is he hurt?" said Alan, worried about his older brother.
"I don't think he's hurt - Scott ordered John to use the Omicron Contingency protocol."
"What is that?"
"Oh right, I guess you were away at that genius camp,"
said Kayo, smirking slightly.
"It wasn't genius camp!" Alan cried indignantly.
"Well anyway, Brains told me about it. I needed to know as it was still a part of International Rescue's Security procedures, but in the early days of International Rescue, Jeff and Brains worked on Omicron gas as part of IR's new defense program in case any of the individual Thunderbirds were invaded," she explained.
"If anyone who was not an authorized user of the vehicles tried to use them, or try to force an IR member to use it under duress, a code would be sent to the computer.."
"A code? Never learned a code for this - Omicrane thing," he said."
"Omicron, and you wouldn't. Only three people know. This is the code that John just used in Thunderbird 2."
"Wow, I had no idea!" Alan said, "What does it do?"
"Sleeping gas was released into Two's livable areas," said Kayo. "That said, Brains said the defense system would need testing, and unfortunately for John and Scott, they drew the short straws."
"Yuck, but I'm sure Brains' gas worked perfectly, didn't it?" Alan asked.
"Well sort of. Brains assured them the gas was safe, harmless and what to expect when the code was initialized. Actually experiencing it firsthand however, was another story.
"John and Scott entered Thunderbird One at the time to be used for the test. They walked around the cockpit and cargo bay, bored and wondering when Brains would start the test."
"That doesn't sound like Brains," said Alan, wincing as a wave of pain hit his ribs.
"No, but neither knew the code didn't give any audible or visible warning in the vehicle so as to ensure the criminals were caught and taken into custody by the GDF."
Alan fought the urge to pass out again so he could hear the story. "Huh, point taken."
"Then, a few minutes later," Kayo continued, "Thinking it didn't work, they gave up and started to leave the plane. John suddenly had an unpleasant sinking feeling in his stomach and looking at Scott, realized he too had that same look of dread knowing what was coming next."
"Nap time?" said Alan, and Kayo nodded and Alan felt her head move, as her cheek was touching his hair.
"Yeah, they still tried to escape as ordered, but within 20 seconds both lost consciousness and fell to the deck," she confirmed.
"They woke up an hour and a half later in the main house's sick room, quite grouchy and sore from the fall."
"I bet."
"It didn't help Scott's and John's moods either when they found Gordon had - as a prank - tucked in teddy bears and blankets next to them as they slept off the gas."
"But they were okay? Right?" Alan asked.
"Physically yes, but as far as the gas being harmless? Well, they were stable, but suffering sore throats and a case of nausea so bad they had to have IVs to rehydrate."
"Oh, poor Virgil," Alan said.
The pilot chuckled. "But Brains apologized and said he'd rework the gas slightly to not have as many side effects."
"That's good, but too bad they had to use it at all on Virgil." Alan said.
"Unfortunately, he gave them no choice - they had to use it in order to save him from himself. John kept taking control of Thunderbird Two and Virgil kept taking it back. It was a tragic tug of war, leading to the decision."
"I'm glad . . . they had it - it probably saved . . . Virgil's life." Alan mumbled as he passed out again.
"Alan?" Kayo called softly, "Are you still with me?" She asked as she felt for his pulse at his neck, taking her hands off the controls for a moment. Thunderbird Shadow barely veered from her path.
Kayo looked up to see Tracy Island coming into view and called, "Tracy Island, Alan was awake for a time, but is unconscious again. Vital signs seem stable."
"FAB Shadow - We're all set up and waiting. And watch for Thunderbird Two coming in as well." John answered. "I'm in the Space Elevator and almost down too, so I can help." John watched the image of Two getting closer to the island from his controls on the Space Elevator.
"Good, John, if you have time before Thunderbird Two lands," said Kayo, "I could used some help getting Alan out of the cockpit - we're kind of wedged in here."
"FAB Thunderbird Shadow," John agreed. In moments he'd landed on the Island and at the same time brought Two to her landing strip. He safely got her down and slowly brought Two into the Launch Bay.
The astronaut tapped a button inside the elevator, opening communications across all of Tracy Island.
"This is John - no one approach Thunderbird Two until I get there, understood?"
"Yes John, but what's keeping you!" Scott called.
"I'm on my way to help Kayo with Alan first - I've begun filtering the anesthetic gas out of Two, but no one is to enter without helmets and air tanks," ordered John. "Just wait and I'll go in to get him with Kayo's help. We're already geared up."
"FAB John. Virgil should keep - His vitals are good," Brains answered. He was looking out of the med bay at Thunderbird Two's nose. Scott and Gordon laid back on their pillows, exhausted from the stress. "I wish I could help! It's too much - John and Kayo handling everything," said Scott. Gordon for his part, smiled in agreement.
Grandma Tracy came to the Med Bay. She'd been monitoring the comms too and knew Brains would need help with Alan and probably Virgil too.
John ran to Thunderbird Shadow and climbed up to the cockpit. Kayo already had the canopy open waiting for him. He quickly climbed up and kneeling on Shadows hood compartment, John reached in and took Alan's pulse again himself. Reassured, when he found his little brother alive, he backed off, looking at him. Seeing the rips in Alan's shirt and the bruise on his cheekbone, John flinched.
"Oh, little brother," whispered John.
Kayo reminded him, "He was awake for a while on the way back, John."
"That's a good sign, I hope." John put his hands under Alan's arms and lifted. Kayo pushed up on his butt. She watched Alan's bound feet to be sure the the cord didn't get caught on a pedal.
"John, sorry, I didn't stop to untie his legs and from the looks of the abrasions on his wrists his hands were tied behind his back at some point," Kayo explained.
"I see Kayo," John said, starting to really wonder what happened on the Thunderbird. "Be gentle with him."
"Always."
Silently, they got Alan down and John carried him in his arms to the med bay. Brains was running out of beds, so since Gordon refused to stay in his bed anyway, that's where they put Alan down.
Brains immediately began running scans, but saw Gordon's pallor. "We will need something else for Gordon to lay on, hopefully before he falls down."
"I'm fine," Gordon said, standing by the bed as they got Alan situated and Brains began treatment.
"Why are Alan's legs tied?" Brains asked almost in passing, as he recorded Alan's vitals in his tablet.
"We're not sure, Virgil did it," Kayo replied, cutting his feet apart. She too wondered what would've caused Virgil to tie up his brother like a criminal.
With the youngest being cared for, their middle brother became their priority. Kayo and John put helmets on and went to Thunderbird 2 pushing Brains' emergency gurney. It was old, but had several straps on it just like the gurneys that the hospital used.
"The two, John and Kayo arrived at TB2's launch bay.
"Okay Kayo - I've been filtering the gas out of Thunderbird Two while we were taking care of Alan. Virgil should still sleep for about 30 minutes more."
"FAB, and John," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"He will be okay - You did what you had to do - Scott ordered you to do it, but it was the right thing to do."
"We never had to use that gas for anything before - except for testing it on Scott and me like we were Guinea pigs, but under Brains' supervision, in controlled circumstances. It was designed to protect us from bad guys, not to be used against one of us." John had never sounded so sad as they pushed the gurney up Thunderbird Two's ramp.
He then shuddered in memory. "Waking up from Brains prototype was hell."
"You didn't use it against him. Virgil gave you no choice. You only used it to protect him."
"I know. That won't keep him from waking up very grumpy. I remember - that and the teddy bear," John managed a weak smile as the great door to the hatch opened.
Both walked inside with gurney to the flight deck, finding the insensate man. Leaning forward against the shoulder restraints on the pilot's seat, Virgil's hands hung limply on each side and his chin was in his chest.
Even still, when John lifted his brother's chin to look at him and check his pulse at his neck, John saw that his face was a little pale, but around his nose and eyes which were red from the irritating gas or perhaps crying.
"Oh Virgil - I'm so sorry it came to this," John said, putting a gentle hand on Virgil's face. In his forced sleep, his brother still looked troubled.
Kayo had lifted the pilot's shoulder restraints, spun Virgil away from the console and leaned down to grab his feet. John stood behind the chair and lifted Virgil out of the seat with his arms under Virgil's arms. The two strong IR members smoothly transferred Virgil to the gurney.
John started to push the gurney out, but Kayo stopped him. Reminded without words, John knew they had to stop and put the restraints on Virgil in case he would wake up unexpectedly and fall off the gurney, or worse panic and try to get away or hurt someone again.
John put the padded wrist restraints on his brother's arms and snugged the straps down. Kayo took Virgil's boots off of his feet and put the ankle restraints around his ankles. They finished by clicking the belts in place at his chest, hips and just above his knees. John turned his head a little, looking down, he hoped his hair and helmet hid the tears that were welling up in his eyes.
Seeing that John was so upset, Kayo went around Virgil and hugged John, whether he liked it or not. John actually allowed it, hugging her back. "Sorry Kayo."
"You've been under a lot of stress too, John. Very soon we can all get some rest."
Grandma Tracy was waiting for them at the bottom of the ramp. She looked kindly and sadly at Virgil as they rolled him by and she fell in behind them to follow them to the Med Bay.
"I wish I could give Virgil this bed, but I don't think I can sit up again right now." Scott said when they rolled Virgil in.
"You stay put!" John said with a menacing tone.
Scott looked shocked at John's response, but knowing the underlying reason nodded in understanding.
Gordon leaned on Alan's bed as a wave of dizziness threatened to put him down, but he offered his Grandma the only nearby chair.
Grandma Tracy, however, was too nervous to sit. She watched Brains care for Alan even while she stood at Virgil's side. At the same time, she glanced down at Virgil. She looked back and forth between her boys like she was watching a ping pong match.
Gordon looked like he might pass out again, so Grandma Tracy went to him. She held onto his arm and hand trying to steady him and help him sit in the nearby desk chair on wheels.
Kayo and John took their helmets off. Gordon only sat for a moment before wobbling over to Virgil's side.
Brains pulled Alan's torn shirts off over his head and Alan woke up again. Grandma Tracy helped Alan sit up while the engineer closed the cut on his back with sutures before he put a body wrap on him to help with his broken ribs.
"How is Alan?" Kayo asked as they parked Virgil next to Alan's bed.
"He has a concussion, a deep laceration across his back, one broken rib on the left and two on the right and a broken tooth," reported Brains. "I've given him something for the pain."
"I don't believe it! Virgil did all that to Alan?" John said sadly his statement mirroring what they all were thinking.
Except Gordon, who pointed out, "He didn't exactly take me on a joy-ride."
"When Virgil learns what happened to Alan, in addition to what happened to Gordon, it will kill him. I suggest we don't tell him until absolutely necessary - if ever," Scott said.
Thinking Brains was busy enough, John began unstrapping Virgil. Kayo saw and stopped him again. She just touched his arm and shook her head, 'no'.
"You are right," said John, looking at the drugged man. "I hope when he wakes up , it's gently."
At Alan's bedside, the teen yawned and tried to lay down. Brains said, "One moment Alan - Can you stay sitting up for just a little bit while I help John with Virgil?"
Alan mumbled something and leaned on his Grandma. "Hold on son - Virgil needs Brains for a moment," said Grandma Tracy. Alan mumbled something unintelligible again and Grandma Tracy hugged him tightly, without touching his wounds or broken ribs. She noticed that his cheek was swollen and very warm like fever where Virgil had punched him hard enough to break a tooth. "Hang on, Alan."
Brains went first to a nearby counter where he prepared two syringes with rather large looking needles. When he came back over to stand at John's side he explained, "One of these is to help prevent nausea when he awakens." He gave Virgil the first shot right in a vein without setting an IV first. "Now this one is a mild tranquilizer, much less powerful than the gas, but according to the famous Dr. Dick Stevenson's research, is the best drug to use in these situations."
"Alright Brains." John said, "Can I take the restraints off?"
"I wouldn't - if he does wake with a start, he could hurt himself if he isn't secured."
Kayo sighed and added, "The restraints aren't hurting him, John - and Gordon," she said looking at Gordon to be sure he heard her too. "In fact, just like the gas, the restraints are necessary tools to enable us to help him."
John and Gordon agreed by nodding. Hearing what was happening from his bed. Scott let his head back down on his pillow, closed his eyes and began breathing as deeply as his healing lungs would allow.
Brains was back at Alan's side, continuing to stitch the wound and trying to finish before the local anesthetic
wore off. Alan still leaned heavily on Grandma Tracy.
"Now Alan," Brains asked, glancing at the senior of the group, "Are you hanging in there for me?"
Grandma Tracy moved her shoulder a little to jostle her grandson. "Oh, um - Brains yeah, that hamburger was great..."
Brains and Grandma Tracy smiled slightly.
"Sounds like he's hanging in there, Brains," Grandma said. "How much longer?"
"Last suture, Grandma," Brains answered, "Thank you for assisting. Alan needed you."
"I'd do anything for my boys." said Grandma.
Interrupting, the klaxon sounded throughout the base. John reluctantly answered. "International Rescue, what is your situation?"
A small hologram of Col. Casey appeared in the medical bay. "I apologize John - I understand you've had more trouble, but there is someone trapped in an avalanche in the Arctic and there is no way the GDF can get there in time."
"No . . ." John closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Alright Colonel. Were on our way. Send the coordinates."
"John? Who's gonna go? And in which Thunderbird?" Gordon asked urgently.
"We have to respond - I'll go. The rest of you - care for our brothers."
"If Brains won't need me, I'll go too." Kayo volunteered.
Brains nodded, "We can get along without you, Kayo."
Gordon said, "I should go too, you will need someone to drive the Mole."
"We will need someone to operate it, who's capable of doing more than drive it around in dizzy circles." John spat out and ran from the med bay, putting on his helmet. He knew if he looked at his brothers right then, it would have been even harder to leave.
Gordon stood open-mouthed watching John and Kayo leave. He was standing at Virgil's side. With everything that was happening, no one, not even John noticed how weak and dizzy he was becoming.
The aquanaut wavered and saw darkness edge his vision. "I guess I've been standing t . . ll .." Gordon mumbled and fell across Virgil's chest.
*"Gordon!" said Grandma Tracy as she left Alan and Brains. She got there just in time to keep him from sliding off the gurney and hitting the floor.
Grandma Tracy let him down gently, saying, "I'll go to Thunderbird Two and bring back a cot for Gordon to lay on."
"FAB, Grandma Tracy - but hurry back," said Brains as he kneeled next to Gordon, checking his pulse. Seeing the worried look on the eldest Tracy brother's face, Brains gave a slight smile. "He'll be all right Scott. He just fainted."
"FAB. Brains, can you tell me more about what you gave Virgil?" Scott interrupted from his bed.
"Of course Scott. I recreated Dr. Dick Stevenson's treatment for conditions like Virgil's to help him stay on track while he gets further therapy and recovers. This drug is proven to help keep a patient's alternate, paranoid, fearful personalty under control during treatment.
"Dr. Stevenson began working on it during the Global Wars and had great results with soldiers. Still today it is still the best, proven safe, most reliable treatment. And I of course, reworked the formula a little myself for Virgil."
"I'm sure you did, Brains." Scott mumbled.
The engineer gave the pilot a rare dirty look as he went back to Alan. "Yes, and just like the Omicron gas, it's better than the original," Brains spoke casually while he bound his ribs, placing many layers of wide gauze all the way around the teens body. Sitting up, leaning on the bed rail, Alan said, "Cheeseburgers."
"I guess the pain medicine I gave you is working well," Brains stated easing the teen back down, he said, "Lay down Alan."
Grandma Tracy came back and put the rolled up cot behind Gordon. She went down to one knee to position him so he'd lay more comfortably but she couldn't pick him up to put him on the cot alone. She was pulling her grandson's hospital gowns down to cover him better after his collapse when she heard Virgil groan softly.
"Virgil?" Grandma Tracy stood up and watched Virgil's eyes open. Not recognizing where he was or who Grandma Tracy was at first, Virgil tried to bring his hands up to protect his face and found he couldn't move.
"Aaa! What are you doing to me?" He jerked at the restraints, "Why am I tied down?"
"Virgil..." she began.
Her middle grandson ignored her and tried kicking, with no luck either. "You must be the Hood!" He accused Grandma Tracy, thinking he had been chloroformed after all.
"No Virgil, I'm your Grandma! Please calm down and look at me!" She put her hands on Virgil's chest on the sides, trying to comfort him.
"Stop it! Stop touching me!" cried Virgil. He kicked and tried hard to get up. Brains heard the commotion and ran over to help.
Knowing he wouldn't be of much help - even if he made it to Virgil's side, Scott squeezed his eyes shut, just praying for Virgil to get through this.
"Virgil's awake," Brains informed John on Thunderbird Two.
John answered right away, "Yes, I heard over the open communications. Brains isn't there anything you can do?"
"Yes, I'm doing it," said the engineer, preparing a shot if needed.
Virgil fought so hard, and with a hard jerk, broke the strap that went across his chest.
"Come on Virgil! Can't you see me? It's us, me and Grandma!" said Brains, holding Virgil down as best as he could - hoping no more of the old straps would break.
"Aaaah! I should have died - I should be..." Virgil began screaming."Hood! Did you do something to my Thunderbird?"
Scott gritted his teeth and swung his legs off of the bed. His legs had been lying on soft, nonstick bandage material when in bed, but left unwrapped for air and healing. So his bare wounds actually touched the sides of the bed, which Scott found almost unbearable. But leaning on the cart with John's temporary work station set up on it, he stood up and rolled it, using it like a walker.
He made it the short distance to Virgil's side using sheer determination. Grandma Tracy got out of his way - and he took her place by Virgil.
In the most commanding voice he could muster, Scott yelled, "VIRGIL! Stand down - Look at me! I am Scott!"
Virgil stopped struggling and looked at him. "Stop lying - Scott's dead! You're really The Hood in disguise - I thought I knocked you out and tied you up on my ship!" Virgil said, tears streaming down his face.
Brains moved in and skillfully gave Virgil another shot, directly into his vein without Virgil noticing while Scott had his attention.
"No, Virgil - I'm not dead - and I'm not The Hood - The Hood has never been here, or on your Thunderbird. Gordon and Alan are here. They are very much alive. Relax, we're trying to help you!"
"Like Dad did? Even he lied to me and I'm still here," Virgil said using a normal speaking volume.
"Good," Brains spoke to Grandma Tracy, "It sounds like he's calming down."
"But he's still delusional." Grandma Tracy whispered.
"He's remembering the events from earlier, but still, that may last a long time. We have to be prepared." Brains said.
Virgil put his head back, tears running down his temples and into his hair. "Why?" he asked Scott.
"Why what Virgil?"
"Why am I still here?"
*The eldest brother felt punched in the gut, but kept his face schooled. "Your brothers and your family, every one of us care so much about you." Scott answered. "We wouldn't ever let you go if we could help it."
"I was with dad. It was so nice chatting with him." Virgil said softly.
"I know. I wish dad could be with us now." Scott agreed, vowing to never tell him the truth.
Seeing Scott wince, and not just from the memory,
Brains took a package out of the cabinet near by and unwrapped it, dumping a sterile, surgical cloth out. He took it and spread it using sterile technique, in the empty desk chair and pushed it over for Scott to sit down. Which he did, painfully, but gratefully.
Brains leaned close to his ear. "You are lucky that you didn't just tear out the skin grafts that Dr. Early so expertly implanted over your burned muscles," he scolded quietly.
"I know Brains, but I had to do something." Scott said at the same time he pulled himself over to Virgil's side again. He held up Virgil's restrained hand, looking at Brains inquisitively.
The engineer understood, "Yes, you can release his hand now I believe, but don't leave it off." Scott unbuckled the cuff and held Virgil's hand up so he could see, and then rested it over his chest. "You feel my heartbeat right?" asked Scott and Virgil nodded.
"Do you know where you are?"
"Yes - I think... I'm in the Med Bay... near Brains lab." Virgil answered slowly.
"Where is Brains lab?"
"On Tracy Island."
"Good Virgil - you are safe here. Your family is all around you and we won't let anything more happen to you."
"FAB, Scott." Virgil said, and drifted off to sleep caused by the drug that Brains gave him. Brains and Grandma Tracy audibly sighed, relaxing after the tense moments. Scott buckled the soft cuff around Virgil's wrist and rubbed his shoulder. He said, "Brains, can you help me? I have to lay back down."
Brains helped Scott as they heard a soft groan from another injured Tracy.
Grandma Tracy found Gordon awake when she bent down with Brains to lift him onto the cot. Grandma Tracy stared at him and the cot for a moment and said, "Brains, I think we should fit this cot with restraints. If Gordon gets up again - and falls, I will have Kayo use him for a door mat."
She broke the tension in the room and Brains and Gordon smiled at least a little.
Virgil slept soundly for the rest of the day and into the evening. While he slept under the influence of the medications, Brains and Grandma Tracy got him out of his street clothes, replacing them with a soft hospital gown.
Scott noticed that his brother seemed to be sleeping well for the first time in a long time. Everyone just slept in the Med Bay that night, rather than go to their own bedrooms.
When Kayo and John returned in the middle of the night, they got more emergency cots out of the Thunderbirds and they set up camp with the others.
Even Grandma Tracy refused to go sleep in her bed. she whispered, "I will not leave my boys! Someone may need me in the night."
Sure enough she was needed.. Grandma Tracy woke up at three o'clock in the morning and got up off of her cot. Wearing her robe and slippers, she walked around, looking at each of her boy's sleeping faces.
She knew it was the only the drugs that Brains had given Virgil, but she was satisfied that he was sleeping well too. She felt a little sad that he still wore the restraints, but was confident that Brains would release him in the morning. Silently she walked over to look at Virgil before she went back to her cot and found him looking back at her.
"Hi Sweetheart," Grandma whispered.
"Hi Grandma. I've missed you."
"Aw, thank you Virgil, but I haven't been away."
"I think I have," Virgil said.
Grandma inwardly flinched, but smiled softly. "Can I bring you anything? A drink of water?"
"No, I'm not thirsty. But I think I remembered something."
"What is that, Dear?"
"Grandpa's compass. I think I broke it," he said, ashamed.
Grandma pulled the compass out of her pocket, "Here Virgil. I gathered up the pieces and Brains helped me put it back together - good as new," she whispered and showed it to him. Then she tucked it in his hand, wrapping his fingers around it, she held his hand with the compass inside until he went back to sleep. Even in his sleep, he gripped that compass like he'd never let go.
Grandma Tracy went back and lie down on her cot, thinking about Virgil and Grandpa and all of her boys. She never went back to sleep.
At 4:45 a.m., Brains woke everyone talking to Scott. Well, everyone except Alan who slept soundly, with the pain medicine that he was given.
Brains was getting ready to change Scott's bandages and treat his burns again. While he spoke softly with Scott, he checked all of his patients' vital signs with his scanners and only looked away from Scott to check the data on the nearby screen.
Satisfied after reading the data that everyone was doing as well as could be expected, Brains looked back to Scott. He smiled and gently picked up Scott's leg, making him hiss through his teeth. It was an improvement over the screaming.
Kayo was the first up and at Brains' side. Brains instructed her to give Virgil his injections. At the end of his explanation, he also ordered, "And make John sit down and put the splint back on his hand."
Brains continued, "He can have something for pain too if he wants - the same dosage as Scott - entered on my tablet on the counter."
"Thank you Brains, I'll get it done." Kayo agreed.
John was checking on Gordon who was awake but pulled the blanket over his head rather than get up. Satisfied that Gordon was alright, John went back to check on Virgil.
Overhearing Brains' and Kayo's comments, John blushed a little. "I don't need anything for pain. And stop talking about us like we aren't here."
"Woke up a little grumpy?" Grandma Tracy asked John.
"No, I'm just tired I guess."
John stared into Virgil's eyes and he smiled, squeezing his compass. He turned his hand over in the wrist restraint so John could see it. "Good Virgil - I'm glad you got it back."
"Can I ever apologize enough for what happened?" said Virgil looking at John's bandaged hand and wrist.
"I think everyone would agree that you don't need to apologize at all. We all love you and support you," While they spoke, Kayo gave Virgil his injections, one in the vein and the other in the muscles at his hip. Virgil winced a little and said, "You're not as good at that as Brains."
"I know. You're lucky that I got the injections in you at all," Kayo said.
Virgil said groggily, "International Rescue is out of service, completely! And it's all my fault, dad would be so disappointed in me - he'd probably disown me if he were still around."
In spite of Grandma Tracy's warning, Gordon slowly stood up and leaned on John when he got to Virgil's bedside. "Virgil, dad would not be disappointed or angry with you. None of us are."
Deciding with a silent look to each other, Gordon managed to get to Virgil's side opposite of John and together, they began removing Virgil's restraints.
When Virgil felt his hands free he moved his elbows and shoulders, stretching and did the same for his knees and hips.
"You probably need to use the restroom. Do you think you can stand?" asked John.
"I do, and I can." Virgil said groggily.
"Better wheel the gurney as close as possible to the bathroom before he tries to stand - and he will need help in there." Brains advised.
"Understood," John acknowledged as he pushed Virgil's gurney over to the bathroom.
Gordon watched for a moment and said, "Me too!"
Kayo said, "I'll walk with you."
"No, uh...it's okay." Gordon said, sorry he opened his mouth.
"I'll either walk with you, or carry you." Kayo said sweetly.
Deciding that being carried over Kayo's shoulder would be more embarrassing, and knowing she would do it, he sighed in surrender. "Fine, but I don't need any help once we get there okay?"
"We'll see squidface." Kayo teased.
Gordon blushed, and accepted her help and her shoulder to lean on on the way to the restroom in the launch bay.
Brains finished dressing Scott's legs. He covered him up with a sheet and told him, "The burns are looking good, considering. I didn't have to remove any dead skin this time."
"Yeah, I know - I would have felt it if you did. How long before I'll be able to return to duty? Or even go to the bathroom myself?" Scott said angrily.
Brains didn't take offense to the eldest pilot's response. "I don't know precisely. I do know it won't be any time soon."
Scott frowned, looking over at Alan, still sleeping through all the noise. "How about Virgil, Alan and Gordon?"
"Alan and Gordon, a couple of weeks to a couple of months - Virgil, longer."
"That's too vague! We should be able to give Colonel Casey an exact time frame!"
"Take it easy Scott!" John said, "EOS, Kayo and Grandma Tracy are keeping an eye on things. So far there have been no calls that the GDF couldn't handle except that one last night in the Arctic - and we handled it just fine."
"So far, we've been lucky." Scott conceded. Gordon
was just getting back from the bathroom with Kayo's help when he heard the other's talking.
"I knew it! You all blame me!" Virgil stood up from his bed, yelling, "And rightly you should blame me! I'm the one that lost it and hurt all of you!"
"No! Virgil, none of this is your fault!" Gordon argued.
"You lie! I couldn't save those kids or Scott - and worse I hurt John. I severely hurt Gordon during a rescue, and Severely beat even my little brother for no reason! He might have died - I remember now!"
"Virgil, please… !" John cried, tearing up.
"I don't know how I could have done those things! BUT I am the one that single-handedly crashed Dad's dream - I wish you had never stopped me from crashing Thunderbird 2!"
"Whoa Virgil - you didn't know what you were doing! - What happened is not your fault!" Gordon said.
"Shut up Gordon! It is! How do you know I won't go crazy again and hurt Grandma?" Virgil yelled and wobbled, walking angrily to the door to leave. He grabbed the door frame on his way out and demanded to know, "Why am I feeling this way? It's like I'm drunk!"
"Not drunk Virgil, it's the treatment I copied from Dr.
Stevenson. "The first few days it will make you feel a little wobbly - perhaps a little dizzy, but you'll get used to it."
"I don't want to get used to it! No more treatment!" Virgil yelled and left. Scott looked at John, who was already taking care of what he was thinking. He locked down control of all the Thunderbirds so Virgil wouldn't be leaving.
Fortunately, Virgil didn't try to leave the Island. He only left the house. He was so upset he went outside only wearing his hospital gown, but he didn't care even after he realized it. John and Kayo tailed him. They followed him up a steep hill under Thunderbird 3's launch runway.
Virgil tripped and fell all the way back down. He slid back down the path, only making himself angrier. John ran ahead to help him, but his unceremonious trip down the steep incline ended before John could get there. Kayo watched, but hung back letting the brothers have some time.
"What are you doing here?" Virgil spat.
"Trying to make sure you don't hurt yourself."
"Who made you my keeper?"
"I'm not your keeper, I'm your brother - and I care about you." John walked a little closer and sat on a rock, near where Virgil lay in the rocks. "Did you hurt yourself?"
"No. A broken neck would have been nice, but it seems I can't even take myself out when I fall down a mountain wearing only this stupid thing!" Virgil held out the side of the hospital gown to show it to John.
"Oh Virgil." John said, "How can I get through to you?"
Virgil sat up and stared out at the ocean like he didn't even hear John's question.
"Come on Virgil, come back with me." said John.
"No."
"Can I sit with you then?"
"If you have to, I don't care."
"FAB."
After Virgil, John and Kayo left the Med Bay, Brains turned to Scott and said, "I guess I have some time to start improvements on the face guards in your helmets."
"What?" Scott said, confused.
"You probably don't remember, but you've broken your helmet twice recently. Gordon's was broken just with Virgil's punch. I expect the guard to protect you guys better than that." Brains explained. He pulled up formulas and technical drawings of Scott's helmet design on the holoscreens in the Med Bay.
It took two hours to talk Virgil to come back inside and when he did, he went to his room instead of the Med Bay. It took two more hours to talk him into letting Brains give him the medical treatment and he made Brains come up to his room to see him.
Soon after the engineer left, Virgil went to sleep again. John sat in Virgil's room until Gordon limped to his door. John got up and stepped into the hallway to talk with Gordon, closing Virgil's door behind him.
"You escaped Brains and Kayo this time - pretty good little Bro." John smiled.
"Yeah, and no nap on the floor again," said Gordon, looking at his middle brother. "Can I sit with Virgil for a while?"
"Sure you can, if you're feeling up to it. If you get sleepy let me know - I don't think we should leave Virgil alone."
"I'm not sleepy. I'm too worried. Besides I had an unplanned nap on the floor today." Gordon held onto walls and furniture on his way to the arm chair in Virgil's room. No matter what Gordon said, John planned to check on them frequently in case Gordon
went to sleep in that comfortable chair.
John returned to see if he could help Brains with anything and Alan was begging to be able to go to his own room. "The bed and even the floor are more comfortable than this thing I'm laying on now. Please?"
"Alright, if you promise to follow doctors orders," Brains said.
Alan quirked an eyebrow, skeptical. "You're not really that kind of doctor, are you?"
"Close enough Alan. I've degrees in many of the same fields that M.D.'s do and I have many resources, like Dr. Early and Dr. Brackett at London Hospital if I need a consultation."
"I should have known, Brains." Alan said.
"Do you think you can make it, walking?"
"To sleep in my own bed and play a little Zombie invasion, I'll endure the pain."
Scott grumbled. "Too bad I walk like a zombie or I'd go sleep in my bed too."
Brains just shook his head at the man's stubbornness. "Don't w-worry, soon you can be the doctor and order me to sit down and shush," said the engineer, who laughed at Scott's glare.
Virgil, Gordon, Alan and John stayed in their own bedrooms that night. John and Alan took turns sitting with Virgil but he slept soundly until the next morning.
Two days passed with everyone, except Virgil spending most of their time in the Med Bay with Brains, getting re-examined and poked. Mostly they hung around with Scott when they weren't keeping an eye on Virgil. Brains was starting Scott's physical therapy, starting out with moving his legs in bed and standing for two minutes as often as he could stand it.
Brains also took the cast off of Scott's arm and replaced it with a light splint that went just over his elbow. Scott was able to stretch his arm and rest more comfortably.
A week later, Alan took his hand held Zombie game with him to Virgil's room. He knocked on the door and waited. Instead of calling out, Virgil came to the door and opened it.
"Alan?" Virgil said like he was suspicious of something.
"Hi Virgil, can I come in? I brought Zombie Invasion - we can play!"
"You can come in, but I'm not in the mode to play Zombie Invasion." Virgil said moving back. Alan came in and Virgil went past him he layed on his bed with his arm over his eyes.
"Virgil, how are you doing?" asked Alan, concerned.
"Just wonderful. Aren't you afraid to be alone with me?"
"Of course not, you're my brother and what happened wasn't your fault."
Virgil gestured to Alan's wounds. "But what I did to you - can you ever forgive me?"
"There is nothing I need to forgive you for, brother," Alan said with wisdom beyond his years.
Discomfort from his broken ribs showing on his face, Alan leaned down to give his brother a hug, Virgil moved his arm down from is face and watched his little brother coming in for a hug. There was a mild look of surprise on Virgil's face as he put his arm around Alan's shoulder and patted his back.
"I'm so sorry Alan. I would have taken my own life and crashed my ship rather than harm a hair on your head." Virgil whispered. "I am not happy about the way it turned out."
Bringing his legs up on the bed Alan turned his face into his brother's neck and said, "I'm happy about the way it turned out. We still have you around."
*The simple comment made Virgil realize why his older brothers used the Omicron contingency on him. The pain Alan suffered at his hand would have paled in comparison to the pain of losing him."
Smiling gently, Virgil hugged Alan closer. It didn't take long, but comforted and warm and maybe a little bit of the pain killers Brains was still giving him, Alan fell asleep next to Virgil. Realizing that his little brother really wasn't afraid of him, Virgil relaxed, enjoying the closeness. He was careful not to move and wake him.
Gordon went by the door and saw Alan and Virgil. He smiled at Virgil when he looked up and went on to his own room to watch a little, "Into the Unknown with Buddy and Ellie."
To Be Continued . . .