Disclaimer: see chapter one. "Go the Distance- Hercules" doesn't belong to me either. If only dreams came true.

AN: Hey, there. Thanks for the reviews. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Twenty Five- Go the Distance

Scott, Tash and Mel were standing outside security in the airport, and everyone sans Virgil and John was there.

Alan and Gordon moved forward firs. "It was good to see you, Scott." Alan began, giving Scott a roughly affectionate hug.

"Yeah." Gordon agreed, while mimicking Alan's actions. "Don't forget to call us and let us know how you're going."

"I won't."

Gordon turned to Tash. "You'll be OK, won't you? Big Brother can get quite crabby when he's in a plane, but isn't flying it."

"We'll be fine." Tash reassured him. "Besides, he can't get worse than Mel."

"Fair point." Gordon chuckled.

"Thanks for letting us stay." Scott smiled warmly to Penelope and Parker.

"Scott, you and your brothers are welcome anytime." Penny dismissed.

Last, but certainly not least, Jeff approached the departing family. "Take care of yourself, son. Give us a call as soon as you reach the apartment, so we know you've reached there safely." Jeff pulled Scott into a fatherly embrace.

"I will." Scott promised.

Releasing Scott, Jeff grabbed his daughter-in-law into a bone crushing hug. "If you need anything, just give us a call. Take care and we'll see you in a month."

They were just about to join the line to pass through security, when they stopped.

"Scott!" A voice bellowed out through the crowds. "Scott! Wait!"

Scott turned around, to see John and Virgil careering towards them.

Scott ducked under the barrier, and ran towards them. "Virgil, what are you doing here?"

Virgil grinned. "You honestly didn't think you would leave without me seeing you off at the airport, did you?"

Speechless, Scott looked to John.

"Don't ask me how he did it, but when I went in this morning, he had a wheelchair by his bed, and he insisted on coming here. I couldn't persuade him not to."

"I asked Gus, and she let me go, provided that I stay in the wheelchair the whole time." Virgil explained. "She said it would be good for me to get out of the hospital for a while."

"I see." A shadow of a smile played on Scott's lips, and he pulled Virgil in for a one armed hug.

"Scott, can I tell you something?"

"Course you can."

"I'm going to walk on my own two feet again."

"And how do you know this?" Scott asked, stunned at Virgil's revelation.

Virgil swallowed. "You remember when we were kids, and we would watch heaps and heaps of cartoons?"

Scott nodded. "We still watch heaps and heaps of cartoons."

Virgil chuckled, and carried on. "Well, you know the movie Hercules?"

Scott nodded again.

"It was one of the songs in the movie that made me determined to walk again. I was listening to it this morning on my iPod."

"Which one?"

"Go the Distance."

Scott blinked rapidly. "Doesn't ring a bell."

Virgil sighed. "You do know the song. I know you'll know as soon as you hear it." Quietly, Virgil began to sing quietly.

"I have often dreamed
Of a far-off place
Where a great warm welcome
Will be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

I will find my way
I can go the distance
I'll be there someday
If I can be strong
I know every mile
Will be worth my while
I would go most anywhere
to feel like I belong."

Scott's face slowly lit up. "I remember this."

"I knew you would!" Virgil cried triumphantly. "Anyway, the three main words that stuck out were 'go the distance', so that's what I'm going to do. I'll go the distance, until I can stand on my own two feet."

"It's good to know you're positive about this." Scott paused, clearly meditating on something. "Virg, I can tell you anything, right?"

"Always."

"I'm going to carry on with the treatment. And then I am going to get better." Scott raised his head determinedly. "Just like you, I'm going to go the distance. I'm going to beat the cancer."

"It's good to know you're positive about this." Virgil echoed, making Scott laugh.

Virgil looked down at his watch. "You'd better go. I don't want you to miss your flight because of me."

"Yeah," Scott stood up. "If anything happens, you'll let us know, right?"

"No, we'll keep you out of the loop." Virgil replied sarcastically, pushing Scott gently away from him. "What did you think we'd do? Now go, before you miss the flight!"

Scott handed Mel over to Tash, while he stored their hand luggage in an overhead compartment. Settling himself in the narrow seat, Scott took Melissa out of Tash's arms. "Time to get you strapped in, Mel."

As soon as he clipped the seatbelt in place, Melissa began to grumble.

"No," Scot moaned. "No, no, no, no, no. Mel, we haven't even taken off yet."

Tash leaned on Scott's shoulder. "Honey, she's ten months old. She's not going to stop crying just because you ask her to."

"I know, I know." Scott sighed.

"And as for not taking off, you're wrong."

She was right; Scott could hear the engines roar, could feel the floor vibrate under his feet, could feel the plane scream down the runway, and ascend into the blue yonder.

John hoisted Virgil back onto the bed, folded the wheelchair up, and placed it in the corner of the room.

"Hey John," Virgil began, smiling warmly at his peroxide-blond brother. "Thanks for taking me."

"No problem. Any one of us would have done that. And it meant a lot to Scott, so how could I not take you?" John glanced at the clock. "I'm going to grab something to eat. You want anything?"

"What's on offer?"

"Chocolate, candy, flowers, a newspaper, magazines, books, music cards, and I think they even have some unofficial International Rescue merchandise."

Virgil tilted his head to the left. "A model Thunderbird Two would be nice. So when I'm not feeling motivated, I can look at the model, and remember the full sized machine is waiting for me."

"OK. I'll be back soon."

Scott walked slowly down the narrow aisle, rubbing his ten month old daughter on the back. After endless rounds of walking round the cabin, Melissa had finally stopped crying, and had fallen asleep. Relieved, Scott made his way back to his seat, placing Mel in the bassinette and tucking a blanket around her. Sitting down on his chair, Scott smiled to himself. This promised to be a less trying trip than the previous one.

Gus entered the room, and Virgil sighed thankfully since John hadn't returned. After John's outburst after his first physio session, Virgil mused, things would have been awkward if John was present for this one.

"No brothers or sisters today?" Gus enquired, looking at the empty room.

"No, they got tired of my company. John was here a while ago, but he went to get a few things." Virgil looked seriously at her. "Gus, thanks for letting me go to the airport today. It really meant a lot to me."

"It wasn't a problem. Like I said, the excursion would have been good for you." She raised her hazel brown eyes, and they connected with honey-burnt ones. Instinctively, she moved towards Virgil.

Instinctively, he moved towards Gus, gently brushing his lips against hers. Stunned, he closed his eyes, just to enjoy the moment.

Gus gave into the feelings she had tried to suppress. She abandoned all common sense, and encircled her arms round his neck.

Suddenly coming to her senses, she pulled back. "I'm sorry, Virgil. I can't do this." Not wanting to see the disappointed look on Virgil's face, a mirror image of her own, she turned, and quickly left the room.

John stepped out of the lift, biting into a cupcake, and savouring the sweet taste when he saw Gus fly past him. John blinked, and turned around, but by then, she was gone.

Slightly puzzled, John made his way to Virgil's room. He placed the bag on the table. "Virg, they were out of TB2 models, so I picked up a Thunderbird One instead. Is that OK?"

When Virgil didn't respond, John looked intently at Virgil. He was surprised; shocked and frozen. He then recalled Gus' hasty exit. Something was definitely wrong.

Drawing in a deep breath, John could feel his shoulders rise and sag, a sure sign of danger. "Virgil, what have you done?"

AN: The next chapter may not be up for a while, coz I have exams coming up, and heaps of revision to do, so sorry in advance for the long wait. Anyway please review.