Disclaimer: see chapter one

AN: Sorry about the late update. My mother and grandad were involved in a car crash, so my time was devoted to making sure they were OK, which they were. The same can't be said about the car, though. Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter.

Chapter Thirty Seven- Wishing and Waiting

Tash paced relentlessly round the flat, waiting for someone else to return. She had been alone for God knows how long, and it was starting to unnerve her. A key turned in the lock, and she jumped around, to face the door.

"Scott!" She ran up to him and kissed him. "I was so worried!"

"Did you lose whoever it was?" Scott barked, as he closed the door, locked it and pulled the chian across the door.

"Yeah. They didn't follow me to the train station."

"What about John?"

There was an ominous silence in the room.

"John's come back, hasn't he?" Scott's crystal blue eyes flashed dangerously, and his protective instinct kicked in.

"No, he hasn't."

"So, I'm guessing the caving accident wasn't really an accident." Gus said.

"It was… of a kind." Virgil replied cryptically, which just annoyed Gus.

"Virgil, don't beat around the bush. Was it or was it not a caving accident."

Virgil shook his head, as the memories came flooding back.

"Tell me."

Virgil drew in a deep breath. "It was meant to be a normal, textbook rescue. Tectonic plates had moved slightly. It wasn't enough to be considered as a full scale earthquake, but there were enough vibrations to cause some buildings to collapse. There were civilians trapped in the Tube. Gordon and I went to get them out in the Mole."

"The Mole's the corkscrew type thingimijiggy, right?"

Virgil laughed. "I've heard many descriptions of the Mole, but I've ne'er heard that one. I must remember to tell our engineer that. But yeah, that's the one." He tilted his head, puzzled. "How did you know that?"

"I had a patient, nearly a year ago, who was rescued by the Thunderbirds. She described the machinery that rescued her. Anyway, carry on."

"There was an aftershock. Gordon had made it back to the surface. I was still stuck down there. After that, the only thing I remember is waking up in hospital."

"Oh Virgil, that is so admirable." Gus smiled.

"Wait, you're not angry at me for not telling you?" Virgil asked amazed.

"Should I be angry?"

"No. Being calm is a very good thing. It's just that Scott and Tash, well, they broke up when she found out." Virgil explained, feeling he had to justify his jumping to conclusions.

"Well, I'm not going to do that."

"I'm very glad to hear it."

"I don't suppose you could tell me who's in International Rescue, could you? I mean, apart from you and Scott." Gus asked.

"It's not called the family business for nothing." Virgil replied dryly, and started to laugh at the stunned expression on her face.

She hit him. Hard. "Stop laughing."

"Gus, you have to keep all of this to yourself. If you tell anyone, it could seriously jeopardise IR or any of our operatives."

She placed a hand on Virgil's shoulder. "Your secret is safe with me."

Scott placed his finally asleep daughter back into her cot. He glanced worriedly at his watch. John should have been back by now.

He walked out of the room, and grabbed his jacket from the hook.

"Where are you going?" Tash asked.

"Looking for John. He should have been back by now."

Tash made a move to get off the sofa. "I'll come with you."

"No!"

"Why not?!" Tash shot back, as she moved to get her coat. "You're not the only one who's worried about John."

"It's too risky. Just stay here in case he comes back."

They stared at each other, both with steely determination, locked in a Mexican standoff.

The phone rang, distracting them. Tash lunged for the phone, but Scott's longer reach meant that he picked it up. "Hello?"

There was a pause, and Tash could see Scott's face darken. Not a good sign.

"I see. No, I'll be right there. Thanks for letting me know." Scott placed the phone back in the stand. "John's been taken to hospital."

Carol sailed through the doors into Virgil's room. "Good news. I can officially discharge you tomorrow."

Virgil's honey-burnt eyes sparkled in excitement.

"You will still have to practise your exercises and walking, but I think you'll be able to do that on your own. All you have to do is sign the forms." She left a pile of papers on Virgil's table, and breezed out the door.

Virgil turned to Gus, who had a sad smile on her face. "That's good news."

"You're upset, aren't you?" Virgil asked, stating the obvious.

"No, really," Gus forced herself to smile. "It's good news."

"Gus, please tell me what's wrong." Virgil pleaded.

"It's stupid." She dismissed.

"No, it isn't." Virgil argued back. "If you're getting this upset over this, it can't be stupid."

"It's just, I really liked being able to see you on a regular basis. Now, I won't be able to do that, and I just wish I could." Gus sighed. "I know. It's stupid and selfish, but its how I feel."

"That's not stupid or selfish." An idea struck Virgil. "Come with me."

"What?"

"Come with me." Virgil repeated.

"But what about my work?"

"For the weekend." Virgil clarified. "I can show you the best craft in our fleet."

"Alright," Gus agreed. "But just for the weekend."

"Can you tell me what your name is?"

"John Tracy."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty five years old."

"What's the day today?"

John scratched at his head. "Tuesday, no, it's Thursday. No, wait, it's Friday. Definitely Friday"

The doctor in the emergency ward was surprised, but she didn't comment. "I'm just going to shine a light in your eyes." He pulled out a pen torch and shone the light straight into John's pupil.

Irritated at the brightness of the light, John slapped the pen out of the doctor's hand.

Again, the doctor didn't comment. She bent John's head down to look at the laceration on the back of his head. "This will need to be cleaned up and stitched together."

"Whatever." John closed his eyes, wanting to fall asleep.

The doctor pulled on her gloves, and poured some iodine onto a cotton swab. "This will sting a bit." She swept the iodine around the wound, feeling John flinch at the stinging.

John bit his lip, not wanting to yell in pain. The worst part was about to come.

"Keep as still as possible." The doctor instructed, as she threaded the needle through his scalp.

Twenty seven stitches later, she was finished. "All done. Your brother's here to pick you up."

"Can I see him?" John asked warily.

"Sure. I'll send him in."

A few moments later, Scott walked through the door. "Hey John, how you doing?"

"'M OK, I guess. What about Tash and Mel?"

"Yeah, they made it back OK. So, what happened?" Scott drew the curtains around John.

"You know the stalker? We've met him before."

Scott looked dumbfounded. "We have?"

"We have. After Tash's ultrasound. The guy that shoved her against the wall."

Scott could feel his hands curl into fists. How dare that moron threaten his family!

"Well, he was following me. I couldn't lose him, so I went to cross the road. The car came out of nowhere and knocked me flat. Then I ended up in here. Hey Scott, what colour thread did she use?"

Scott looked at the stitching, and swallowed a laugh. "Pink."

"Pink? You serious? Oh man, I'm gonna be teased so much. Gordon'll probably dye my wardrobe pink to mark the occasion."

"And Alan will replace your shampoo with hair dye. Come on Pinky," Scott hauled John to his feet. "Let's get you back home."

Agent X pulled out his mobile. "General, I think I have successfully... disposed of our one liability to our plan."

The General let out a throaty chuckle. "Oh, I do love playing with people's lives. There's something so satisfying and sadistic in it."

"You and me both." Agent X smarmed.

"Now, make sure there are no more deviations from our plan. I've waited too long for this plan to be ruined. One way or another, the Tracy family will be destroyed."

AN: Not sure how soon I'll update this, but I will update. Please review.