Walk on the Wild Side

By Sapphire

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Chapter 14: Last Minute Doubts

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The Hood had escaped. After everybody had been assured that Virgil would be fine, they had started to search for him, but by then the master criminal was gone, having seemingly disappeared into thin air.

They were all far too relieved by the outcome of the rescue and the kidnapping to be pulled down by this, and so they packed everything up, ready to head back home.

When Alan offered Scott to ride with Thunderbird 1 on his way back, it took only a very short exchange of looks with Virgil for him to agree.

Virgil had a pounding headache, the result from the impact of his head with the tree, and his left shoulder was badly bruised, but else there had been no negative after effects from his encounter with the Hood. Brains had announced that if Virgil had a concussion, it was only a light one, and except for the headache, there should be no further ill effects. Still, he was more than glad to ride back to the island with Thunderbird 2, and if Scott was not there - all to the better. His older brother tended to be a bit overbearing whenever one of the brothers had been injured. With five active brothers it was bound to happen once in a while, and every time Scott had been there, he had been extremely overprotective for a couple of days after the event. But the lure of the super fast rocket plane and the knowledge that Virgil would be all right was enough for him to leave his brother in the tender care of Brains and Gordon.

Who knew, Virgil thought, maybe he'd manage to talk Alan into having a go on the steering yoke. He'd love that.

Take off was a smooth affair and soon they all were heading back towards base. On the way home, John called and let them know that the doctors at the clinic had been able to stabilize Bob, and that he had a good chance to survive the accident. Somehow that made the whole adventure worthwhile.

Thunderbird 1 was already back in her place by the time the larger plane reached the island, but Virgil didn't see any sign of Scott as Thunderbird 2 began to roll into her hanger.

Virgil's headache had reached monumental proportions and even the pills Brains had offered had done little to dull the pain. His left shoulder was smarting pretty badly, too. He could barely stay awake, and only when he heard Brains' concerned voice calling his name repeatedly, did he realized that Thunderbird 2 had come to a stop and that they had to leave.

"I think, y-y-you should go to bed," Brains suggested and Virgil was only too glad to follow his recommendation.

He didn't quite remember how he had reached his room and certainly didn't recall how he had gotten out of his uniform, but some hours later he woke up in his bed, dressed only in his boxers, feeling a world better.

For a moment he enjoyed the absence of pain, but when he tried to turn around and get up, the bruise on his shoulder announced itself very loudly, and with a groan he sank back into the soft pillows.

"Virgil?"

Scott's face appeared in his field of view, looking concerned.

Virgil attempted a smile, but he suspected that it came out more as a grimace.

"I'm all right, Scott. Just moved badly," he reassured his big brother.

Scott studied him for a moment, then he accepted Virgil's testimony. He pulled back, moving to the room's large window.

"You slept for eight hours straight," he said, looking outside.

"And you have been here all the time," Virgil stated with a slightly accusatory tone. He knew it to be true.

Scott grinned weakly. He knew - or at least he should know by now - that his brothers didn't particularly appreciate his over protectiveness. But - and Virgil knew that this was also true - Scott probably couldn't help it, being the older brother and all. At home their mom usually took care that Scott didn't over-do it, by taking her share of the mother henning, but while it was easy to take something like this from a mother, it was harder to accept it from a brother.

"I've been thinking," Scott stated.

"Yeah, right," Virgil muttered, sitting up carefully in order not to put any pressure on his injured shoulder. The bruise had reached the size of a hand and showed a spectacular colouring of red, blue and purple. When he prodded it gently he had to wince at the touch.

When Scott didn't elaborate, Virgil got up and moved to his en-suite bathroom.

"What have you been thinking about, Scott?" he called through the half open door as he relieved himself.

"This and that. Us. Them. Nothing in particular, really," came the reply from his room.

"Don't tell me that you've changed your mind and you don't want us to start something like International Rescue back at home after all," he said, only half in jest.

Silence greeted that statement.

Virgil didn't exactly know when he had decided that Scott had been right and that back home they should try to pull something similar together. Maybe it was when he had heard that the two guys had been safe, that the injured one would survive. Or maybe it had been when he had been fighting the Hood, and had realized that sometimes risking one's own life to save another one was the way it had to be. He only knew that from now on he would support Scott when he would broach the issue to Dad and the others.

When after a minute there was still no reply, Virgil stuck his head back through the bathroom door, looking at his brother.

Scott was still standing at the window, looking outside, seemingly lost in thoughts.

"Scott," Virgil called. "You're not serious."

"Well," Scott said, turning so he could look at his brother. "It's maybe too dangerous. It was a risky thing pulling those men out of the turbine and then this Hood guy… I don't know, I just didn't figure on enemies."

Virgil rolled his eyes. "But you saved those two men, and they would have died for sure without you. And the Hood - the guys here have encountered him before and every single time they've been able to beat him. If there should be somebody like him back home, I'm sure we can beat him too."

"But you've been injured," Scott said, somewhat accusatory.

"It's only a bruise, nothing life threatening."

"But it could have been so much worse," Scott replied angrily.

Aha, that was it. He had been hurt, and for some strange reason Scott blamed himself for it. Virgil sighed then came out of the bathroom.

"What do you think the Scott from this world feels? Every time they go out on a rescue, he and his brothers risk their life. But still they go. Why? Because it's worth it. So many people are alive because of them, people who would have died without them. It's the right thing to do."

He placed a hand on Scott's arm and tried to look into his eyes.

"I don't know how he does it," Scott said quietly, his eyes cast down. "I don't know if I could do it."

Virgil smiled. "It's easy, Scott. He does it by being there with them, being there for them. And that's the same way you will do it. I trust you to be there for me, for the others."

Scott drew a slow, shuddering breath. He looked up at Virgil, a small smile forming on his face. "When did you get so wise, dear brother of mine?"

Virgil snorted. "Me, wise? It's only the truth and if you think about it, you'd know it too. Besides, don't you just think that this outfit here is way cool? Flying Thunderbird 1 must be quite a rush."

Now the smile on Scott's face widened. "Yeah, it is."

"Don't tell me, you really managed to talk Alan into letting you have a go on One?" he said halfway astounded, half elated.

Scott's grin was all the answer he needed.

"Way to go, big brother. Way to go."

TBC

The final chapter will arrive tomorrow. And, yes, I still do like reviews.