Disclaimer: As much as I wish I could lay claim to them, I can't. The Thunderbirds and those gorgeous Tracy brothers belong to others.

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"Yes," Gordon said anxiously, seeing Scott's face.

"You ok?" Scott asked. "Tin-Tin just came in and said that she thought she heard you screaming."

Scott couldn't see Gordon's cheeks redden because they were already red. "Everything's fine…now."

"What happened?"

"Just a little release," Gordon answered.

"Who's with Virgil?" Scott asked, knowing Gordon wouldn't leave him alone.

"Alan," Gordon answered. "I'm heading up now anyway."

"Let Alan stay for little longer. I'll meet you on the patio," Scott said.

"But…"

"On the patio. Only for a few minutes."

Gordon sighed. "I should be there in five."

Scott nodded. "I'm on my way out now."

After disconnecting, Gordon trudged up toward the patio. He wasn't looking forward to this talk with Scott, but he knew he wasn't going to get out of it. It was easy for Scott to see that something had happened and go into 'big brother' mode. Gordon reached the patio to find Scott sitting in one of the deck chairs, two bottles of water on the table next to him. Gordon took the chair on the other side of the table, and one of the bottles.

"Talk to me, Gordon," Scott said once Gordon was sitting. "What happened?"

"I was just thinking about what's been going on. I don't know… I guess that since I've been spending so much time with Virgil, that I haven't let myself do any unwinding. That's what all that was about…just getting stuff out of my system."

"If you need to talk…" Scott began.

"I'm good now," Gordon said. "Got it all out."

"I mean in the future too," Scott replied. "You can come find me, you know?"

Gordon nodded, then stood. "I better get back inside. I'm sure Alan's either bored or boring Virgil. Anyway, where's John?"

"At the computer," Scott sighed, standing as well. "He won't stop."

Gordon only nodded, and then both went inside. Scott headed back to the command area while Gordon went back down to the infirmary. He found Alan pacing the room while Virgil slept.

"Go on," Gordon said, stepping inside and pointing to the door.

"He hasn't moved," Alan reported just before he left.

Gordon watched Alan go, and then sat down in his usual chair, placing his hand on Virgil's.

"We'll find something," Gordon whispered to no one in particular. "We have to. I can't lose you."

Unbeknownst to him, Jeff was standing in the doorway and heard what he'd said. He'd come down to check on Gordon after Scott mentioned something about an incident with him. Deciding that coming in then would only embarrass his son, he turned around. It was close to dinnertime anyway, and Jeff knew he wouldn't be getting Gordon upstairs to eat. And he wanted to make sure Alan, Scott and John were taken care of as well.

Jeff managed to get John away from the computer long enough to have dinner with the others, Gordon and Virgil being the only ones missing. Once dinner was over, and Jeff was satisfied that his sons actually ate instead of picked, Jeff allowed John to return to the command area. And Scott and Alan were right behind him. Jeff then put a plate together and brought that down to Gordon.

In the infirmary, Jeff found Virgil asleep with Gordon sitting next to him. Gordon had looked up to see his father with a tray in his hands.

"Dinner already?" Gordon asked, checking his watch.

"Yes," Jeff answered, setting the tray on a nearby counter. "I want you to eat."

Gordon nodded. "I could use a little food."

Gordon stood in front of the counter and made his way through his dinner quietly. Jeff only stood across the room and periodically shifted his gaze between his two sons. Once Gordon was finished, he sat back down.

"I heard you had a little incident earlier," Jeff said, broaching the subject.

"Scott…"

"He only said that there was something, but didn't explain any further."

"I'd gone down to the beach…just to think and stuff. Just had some things to get out of my system, that's all," Gordon replied.

Jeff nodded. He never thought to make sure his sons weren't bottling everything up. "Anything you want to talk about now?"

Gordon shook his head. "I'm good now. I just want Virgil to get well again."

Jeff nodded again. "I do too. It's horrible, just sitting by and watching this happen. I just can't think of anything else to do."

"Me too," Gordon agreed. "I guess that's why I want to keep him company all the time. It seems like it makes him feel a little better…and I don't feel so useless."

"And that's why I'm keeping an eye on you…and your brothers. Scott and Alan seem to be taking care of themselves alright, but John…" Jeff said, sighing at the end.

"I hear he's working a lot."

"He just won't stop. I know it's important, but he's wearing himself out. It's already gotten to the point where I won't send him on any rescues. That's why I'm being so cautious with you."

Gordon nodded. He hadn't realized just how bad John was. "You mind staying with Virgil for a little while?"

Jeff shook his head. "Of course not."

Gordon stood, "I'm going up to see John."

Jeff nodded. "I'll call if anything happens."

Gordon, after giving Virgil a visual once-over, left the room. He made his way into the command area and found that Scott, Alan, and Tin-Tin were all in there as well.

"Dad's with him," Gordon told Scott before Scott could even ask. "Listen, you all mind giving us a few minutes?"

Scott nodded first, then glanced over at Alan and Tin-Tin, who nodded as well. Once the three were out of the room and the door was shut behind them, Gordon sat down in a chair next to John.

"I'm still looking," John told Gordon.

"I know. Dad says you won't stop," Gordon replied.

"I can't. I have to keep looking."

"John, no one's telling you not to look. But you won't be of any help to Virgil if you go getting sick too."

John nodded. "I just don't feel right, not working when he's still sick."

"I know. I don't feel right leaving him either. But I know I have to every so often, just to keep my sanity. Trust me, John, he's not quitting."

"He's getting worse."

Gordon sighed. "I know, believe me, I know."

"I'm sorry, Gordon. I didn't mean…"

"John, don't worry about it. I know what you were getting at. Like I said, I'm not asking you not to look. All I'm asking is for you to take care of yourself. I've slowly gotten to let Dad help me out. Let Scott help you out."

It was John's turn to sigh. "Alright. I get your point."

Gordon smiled. "Good. I know it'd make Virgil feel better to know that his brothers weren't going to get sick too."

Then Gordon's watch started beeping and he groaned. "Yes?" he asked, anxiously.

"Virgil's awake and looking for you. Said something about a color compromise," Jeff said.

Gordon laughed. "I'm on my way down. And tell him orange!"

Gordon disconnected and then stood.

"What was that all about?" John asked curiously.

"I'll tell you later," Gordon smiled. "I'll let Scott know that he can come back in."

John nodded, then turned back to the computer. Gordon got Scott, then went down to the infirmary.

Scott wasn't surprised to see John still in front of the computer. But he couldn't help but sigh.

"Breaktime," Scott said, his hands on his brother's tense shoulders.

"Just had a break with Gordon," John replied.

"Not enough of one, apparently," Scott said.

John sighed, and decided not to fight this time. "Alright."

Scott took a step back so that John could stand. John left the command area with Scott right behind him. John went out of the house and into one of Kyrano's gardens. He sat on a bench with Scott next to him. But neither said a word. They just let the cool, night air relax them some. It was a relaxing silence.

It was a few minutes when John finally spoke up. "I'm sorry I've been such a pain in the ass lately."

Scott laughed. "Don't worry about it."

"Finding a match is all I can do to help Virgil…like I told Gordon, I just don't feel right not working while he's still sick."

"I understand that, John," Scott replied.

"I'll try to make things a little easier on you."

Scott smiled. "Sounds like Gordon got through to you."

John nodded. "He's a smart one. Plus he's got the advantage of having a unique point of view."

They soon headed back inside and John went back to the computer. Scott wasn't going to stop watching out for John, but he did feel a little better.

Downstairs in the infirmary, Gordon had returned to find Virgil awake with Jeff, Alan and Tin-Tin keeping him company.

"Having a party without me?" Gordon asked as he came in.

Jeff was sitting in his usual chair while Alan was in Gordon's. Alan moved to stand, but Gordon waved for him to stay.

"How's John?" Virgil asked.

Gordon looked at Virgil curiously until Jeff spoke up. "He asked about you when he woke up. Then I told him you were upstairs talking to John."

Gordon nodded in understanding, then answered Virgil. "He's fine. We just had a few things to go over. Scott's keeping him company now."

"Don't want him getting sick," Virgil said, and it was similar to things he'd previously said to both Gordon and his father.

"I know, that's why we had a chat. Don't worry, Virgil. John's fine. We're all fine," Gordon said. "Anyway, Dad mentioned something about a color compromise. I'll agree to anything as long as it's orange!"

Virgil groaned. "Blue."

Gordon laughed. "Blue? That's Scott's color," Gordon said, shaking his head. "No, that won't do. Anyway, orange is the only color I'll agree to."

Alan and Tin-Tin looked on curiously. Alan could tell that his father knew what was going on, but decided to wait about asking. Virgil started coughing again, and it was sounding rather bad. Tin-Tin rushed out to find Brains while Alan moved so Gordon could get next to Virgil.

"This isn't helping your case any," Gordon said as Virgil coughed.

While Alan watched helplessly, Jeff got some water. Once the fit was over and Virgil was drinking, Jeff sat back down. Brains and Tin-Tin appeared a minute later. Jeff pulled Alan and Tin-Tin from the room and they waited outside. Jeff knew better than to even ask Gordon to step outside with them. They saw Brains scan Virgil's lungs again, then say something. And Gordon shook his head sadly.

"His lungs again," Jeff sighed.

Brains came out a minute later and confirmed Jeff's educated guess. And he also explained that both were looking rather bad. Virgil would need both drained again, and this time Brains would keep a chest tube in to keep them drained. Virgil's lungs were just filling too quickly.