Thank you so much for all the alerts/reviews. It means a lot - and I hope you continue to enjoy!

Scott took a few steps across the tarmac, watching three men approach. The rising sun in his eyes made him squint as he surreptitiously checked his perimeter.

John had discovered who was involved in the strike team being formed and - to Scott's surprise and delight – the second-in-command was an old acquaintance. Shawn had transferred from the Air Force not long after Scott left, and moved out here shortly afterwards.

It'd been years since he'd seen him though, and he wasn't sure where they stood.

Two men stopped, snapping to attention. The third stepped forward.

Shawn hadn't changed. His friend gave him a visual once over and Scott wondered if he appeared any different, then tensed as he came closer, not able to read the soldier's expression. Both John and Gordon advanced to flank him but Scott held a hand at waist level, palm down, and they retreated.

Shawn pulled him into a hug before Scott could react. Relieved, he returned it but stepped back, gripping his friend's shoulder. They didn't have time for this.

"What've you got?" he asked as a greeting. Shawn's smirk showed Scott hadn't changed – it was obvious he'd expected the question.

Shawn gave a signal and the two soldiers started marching towards the low outbuildings. A cluster of vehicles were parked in front, with more buildings to the rear. Shawn's gaze slid past him and Scott did some quick introductions before fixing his friend with the look that made his brothers stand to attention.

"Come with me." Shawn led the way. Scott gestured and there was a scramble behind him as the others grabbed their bags before they followed Shawn across the tarmac.

"Our commander got a message early this morning," Shawn said. He gave Scott a sideways glance. "Warned us the Tracy brothers would be arriving."

"How did he-?" Alan began and broke off, protesting, when John nudged him. Scott sighed. His dad knew him too well – he'd figured out they'd learn about the strike team. But Scott wanted to keep their presence quiet; the last thing they needed was for word to spread and Virgil's captors realise who they were holding hostage.

"Confused most of the lads," Shawn continued. "No idea who you were."

"And you?"

Shawn shrugged. "Learnt not to ask questions."

"When are you moving out?" Scott pressed. Shawn's look revealed he didn't want to know how Scott already knew the plan.

"We've got a team staking out a perimeter as we speak," he said, "having focused our search on the river after hearing from your old man about where you were found."

He nodded towards Gordon, who looked away. But Shawn's eyes narrowed.

"Who did find you?" he asked, sounding suspicious. "Cops reported nothing. They said International Rescue was there."

"I was unconscious," Gordon said, his tone waspish compared to normal, "I don't remember."

"It was International Rescue," John cut in. Scott tried to hide his surprise; if anyone could spin a believable tale, it was John. "They were checking the river after an incident in a lake and found Gordon. He came round long enough to tell them who he was, and they brought him home."

"How'd they know where to go?"

"The Tracy name opens doors," John said, "or, at least, make some calls. They contacted Dad."

Shawn still looked uneasy and Scott ran a hand through his hair.

"We're just lucky they did. Does it even matter – we need to find Virgil."

"Guess not," Shawn muttered. "Our team is prepping now."

Scott opened his mouth.

"No," Shawn said.

"But-,"

"I can't, Scott. You're a civilian here."

Scott pulled a face. "What if I promise not to interfere?"

"This is you," Shawn said in a deadpan tone, "like hell you're not going to get in my way."

Alan's snort turned into a hasty cough and Scott suspected John's elbow had something to do with it - again.

"Shawn." His voice was serious. "I need to do this."

His friend returned his gaze for a long moment, before sighing and looking away.

"Fine!"

"What about your men?" John asked. "Best they don't find out who we are."

"Command is sitting behind a desk," Shawn said, "the men will follow my lead. I don't see any Tracys here: neither will they."

"Thanks, man," Scott said, "now I owe-,"

Shawn jerked his head. Scott took a few steps away from the others.

"I can cover for you," Shawn said. "I saw your signal earlier: you still remember your training, you won't stick out. It's my ass on the line taking civilians on a mission: I can't take all four of you. I won't."

Scott nodded. He was asking a lot of a friend he hadn't kept in contact with. He looked at his siblings, eyes narrowed as he thought fast. Gordon had the military experience, but Scott couldn't ask his brother to go back out there. But they were all used to following orders in difficult situations.

"Can you take two?"

Shawn sighed. "I guess."

"Can I borrow a car?"

Shawn pulled out a set of keys. "Already sorted. Hoped I'd get rid of you."

His tone was light and Scott smirked as he took them. "I'm not going anywhere."

He stepped towards the others.

"Al?" He tossed the keys as soon as his brother looked over. Alan caught them, then realised what he was holding.

"No way."

Scott beckoned him closer. He caught John's eye before tilting his head towards Gordon. John nodded, crossing to their brother. Scott put a hand on Alan's shoulder.

"I'm not going anywhere," Alan protested before Scott could speak. He hid a grin. If Alan used his own arguments, he'd know how to counter them.

"I need you to. Take Gordon-,"

"No."

"Alan."

"No! I want to help. Let me help Virgil."

"You shouldn't be here."

"Neither should you."

"Neither should Gordon," Scott retorted. "I left him in the infirmary for a reason. Now he's out here, when he should be resting. We can't ask him to go back into that forest. He needs sleep and he can't travel across an unknown city while exhausted."

"But you'll make me? Maybe I'm tired too?"

"Well," Scott said sweetly, "if a drive is too much, you really shouldn't come along."

Alan scowled. "That's not what I meant and you know it."

"We can't all go," Scott said. Saying it was too dangerous would only make Alan dig his heels in further.

"Gordon can stay behind then. Should be safe here."

"Shawn'll only take two."

"Then pick me – I've got faster reflexes than John."

"Sorry, kiddo, I've made my choice." Scott gripped his brother's shoulder, as much to stop him from storming off. "You're the one who knows Gordon's tricks. He won't sneak out past you."

The flattery did what flat refusal didn't and Alan wavered. His scowl showed he was far from happy though.

"We're staying here, right?"

Scott grimaced. "You think Gords will rest on a military base? He'll want to be involved."

"Then where?"

Scott shrugged. "You'll find somewhere," he said, clapping Alan on the shoulder. It would keep him occupied, looking for a safe place they could use as their own centre of operations. "Just not ostentatious."

"I don't even know what that means," Alan grumbled. His expression was thunderous, until he glanced at the others and a sly look cross his face.

"Tell you what," he said, "I'll agree if Gordon does."

"Fine."

Scott hid his smirk when Alan's eyes glinted in triumph. It wasn't chance that meant he'd taken Alan and given Gordon to John.

Their brothers stepped towards them. Gordon's head was down, his shoulders slumped: he seemed defeated in more ways than one.

"Safe trip," John said. Alan's jaw dropped.

"Gords?"

Gordon glanced up and shrugged. He looked miserable.

"What use are we?" he muttered. "We may as well get some rest so we can help later."

"But-,"

"Deal's a deal," Scott reminded him, giving him a push towards Gordon. "Get out of here. Both of you."

They helped load up the bags. They couldn't risk being linked back to International Rescue, nor could they take the chance of using the equipment in the middle of the military and not have questions asked. But the car slid away from them, then gathered speed and disappeared after making a sharp turn. Shawn looked impressed.

"Kid can drive," he whistled.

"What have you found?" Two of his brothers were out of harm's way: they couldn't waste any more time.

Shawn started walking and the Tracys fell into step behind him. He led them to the rear of the buildings and Scott heard the soldiers before they came into view.

An operation was underway: jeeps were everywhere; men standing in small clusters around each one with rifles slung over their shoulders. A couple of men sat at a portable table with a laptop open and a quick glance as they passed showed thermal imaging. Scott was surprised John kept walking.

Shawn led the way to another desk covered with maps.

"After we heard about Gordon," he said, "we focused the search on the river. We've traced it through the forest."

Scott leant across. The map displayed a wide, meandering river that no doubt matched the one they'd pulled Gordon from. The various tributaries that joined it drew his attention but Shawn spoke before he could.

"A team radioed in just before you arrived. They've found tracks."

"What type?"

"Quad bike, maybe," Shawn said. "No one's stupid enough to be operating on the river bank. They would've needed vehicles to move your brothers from the forest, and to dump Gordon. We noticed similar tracks in various places."

He straightened up. "They lead to a small building, and thermal imaging suggests at least three people. We'll find your brother."

"We're coming too," Scott said quickly. Shawn looked resigned but nodded to a nearby Jeep.

"Get in," he instructed, "you're riding with me."

They did as they were told and Shawn called orders to the rest of the men. There was a flurry of movement and a roar of noise as engines started. Scott pressed his palms into his eyes, trying to block it out as he pictured the map in his mind's eye again.

"You okay?" John said quietly. Scott dropped his hands. John had a tablet on his lap, keeping it close to shield what he was doing.

"You're not hacking them in front of their technicians, are you?"

"Just testing how good they are," John murmured, distracted as he typed before glancing at Scott again.

"What is it?" he pressed.

Scott shrugged. "This isn't right."

"You don't think they've found Virg?"

Scott gave a slight smile. For a man used to relying on technology, it was always gratifying when John trusted his brother's gut instead.

He didn't get the chance to respond. Shawn returned with another soldier and the car started.

The terrain was rough when they came off the road and plunged into the trees and Scott held on. He knew Shawn was watching him, trying to figure him out, but Scott avoided eye-contact. In some ways, he was the same man who'd left the Air Force all those years ago. But in others, he had changed entirely. He was used to being in command and having to follow orders again was challenging.

The sun was burning hot, but the trees offered some shelter. They didn't travel too far before Shawn called a halt. Men disembarked, falling in and preparing weapons. Scott could just see the building Shawn had mentioned through the foliage.

He jumped out, looking around. He signalled John, who followed suit, both alert for danger. They weren't used to looking for hostiles though.

Realising Shawn was watching, Scott shrugged.

"Old habits," he said. Shawn raised an eyebrow.

"That you taught your brother?"

He'd seen Scott's signal – there was no point denying it.

"We live on an island: I got bored," Scott lied, wincing when he felt John's burning stare. He couldn't spin a story the way his brother could.

Shawn said nothing, turning to organise his men. Scott did the same.

"Stay with the car," he told John in a quiet voice, "monitor the perimeter and check there's no surprises waiting for us."

"I don't have the systems," John hissed, "I can't watch your back."

"Oh?" Scott raised an eyebrow and nodded to John's tablet. "Playing a game, then?"

His brother flushed and Scott smirked. John no doubt had access to everything the military knew about this area. Shawn called his name and Scott turned, catching the rifle tossed his way with ease.

"Dress it," Shawn ordered.

He reacted instinctively. Leaving the Force didn't mean he had stopped following orders and his hands were moving before conscious thought caught up with him. He stripped the gun, then reassembled it, slotting the – empty – barrel into place and holding it out for inspection.

"Sir."

It escaped him before he could stop it, thankfully without a hint of irony. Shawn looked over the rifle, then sighed and handed over the ammunition.

"Old habits indeed," he muttered. "You'll only get in my way if I try to leave you out here. But follow my lead, understood?"

Scott nodded curtly. He couldn't ask for more – and at least it meant he didn't have to fight through Shawn's men to reach his brother.

As the units started deploying, Scott caught John's eye. John nodded, tablet back in his hand, and Scott gave a terse smile.

Just another field mission…

But falling in, Scott wished he could convince himself. Shawn gave the signal and they started moving towards the building.

"Hang in there, kid," he murmured, "we're coming to get you."

TBTBTB

It was one thing overseeing his brothers' missions when he had access to Thunderbird Five and the technology she offered. It was something else altogether being left on the side-lines with his tablet running out of power and a patchy signal that stopped him from getting clear readings.

A few soldiers had remained behind to guard the vehicles, ensuring no one snuck up while everyone else stormed the building. John climbed into the Jeep, keeping the screen close with a few guilty looks over his shoulder. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small USB stick, connecting it to the tablet and enhancing the signal. Scott would kill him if he realised, but John figured his brother was preoccupied and, besides, he'd been the one to insist they brought some of Brains' technology.

John typed furiously, looking up only to check no one was watching. Given the number of men advancing through the trees, they were remarkably silent, but he knew as soon as they reached the building, all hell would break loose.

He slipped through a backdoor into the mainframe of Thunderbird Five, hoping Brains was either distracted or on his way home, not watching for unauthorised access. Once the familiar systems started loading, he breathed a little easier. He was back in control.

But as he tapped into the surveillance programmes, an almighty crash made him jump as shouts filled the air. Cursing, he realised he was too late: the soldiers had reached the building and even now, were storming it, with Scott right in the middle. John had never been one to trust to instinct rather than technology, but he trusted his brother, and if Scott thought something was wrong, John listened.

He found out what within a few taps.

"Scott!"

Jumping from the Jeep, he sprinted towards the building, slipping the USB back in his pocket as the soldiers left on guard gave shouts of surprise, running after him.

They'd already kicked the door in; the heavy tramp of feet revealing the men had spread out. Smoke filled the air but John didn't stop to consider what they had let off, stumbling in, peering around for his brother.

He tried calling again but coughed instead, smothering it in the crook of his arm. He felt dazed, squinting through the smoke, hearing the shouts as each room was searched. It wouldn't take long: the house was only small and there was no secret basement, no escape route or hidden room. Just an ordinary house, with ordinary occupants, in an extraordinary location.

A hand grabbed his arm, pulling him through the door. John struggled against the grip before recognising the figure through the smoke and let Scott manhandle him back outside. He coughed again as he breathed the clean air before looking at his brother.

"He's not here."

"I know." Scott's gun was already gone, which John was grateful for given the look in his brother's eye. "Just some farmer and his wife and kid, living in the middle of nowhere, minding their own business."

He kicked the ground in frustration, then cursed, shaking his foot. "Its all been a complete waste of time!"

"I'm sorry," John murmured. "If I'd got access to their systems earlier-,"

He trailed off at the anger on his brother's face. But Scott shook his head.

"It's not your fault, Johnny."

John wasn't so sure. He'd found out about the raid, figured a building in the forest was as good as any place to host an underground operation. He'd been so desperate to believe

"John." Scott's hand rested on his shoulder. "It's not your fault."

He nodded, wondering if Scott was saying it because he meant it, or because he still felt bad about the accusations he'd thrown before. But it was too late now; they'd spent an entire morning chasing down the wrong lead – he couldn't waste more time by blaming himself. Glancing at the tablet, he winced at seeing how low the power was.

They stepped to one side as the soldiers pulled back. John glanced at Scott, confused by the thoughtful expression on his brother's face.

"Scott?"

"Hmm?"

"What?"

"Gordon," he mused.

John frowned. "He'll be okay, you know."

"No, not that." Scott ran a hand through his hair. "Why do Gordon's pranks always work, even after we've fallen for them hundreds of times?"

John stared at him, clueless. Scott gave a humourless smile.

"He's always so obvious we think he's bluffing," he explained. John had no idea where this was going. At his blank look, Scott jerked his head towards the cars and they moved away from the building.

"It's something Shawn said," Scott continued in a quiet voice, "about no one being stupid enough to be right on the river bank."

"You think they are?"

"Why not?" Scott shrugged, "it gives them quick access and an escape route, a run-off for fluids and chemicals, a place to dispose of the…" he swallowed hard, "evidence, fresh water supply… Tactically speaking, it's ideal."

"But they followed the river," John argued, jerking his thumb over his shoulder towards the house. "This is all they found."

"Think about it," Scott said. "The river was wide and slow where Gordon was. You saw his injuries – he's an Olympic medallist, a world-class aquanaut. Water that gentle wouldn't cause that much damage."

"He was out cold," John said, not certain, "who knows-,"

He broke off as his brother shook his head. "Who's to say he was in the main river all along?"

"You mean-," John narrowed his eyes. "The tributaries."

Scott nodded. "They're small but fast. There's loads of them – Shawn's men couldn't search them all, so they focused their attention on the biggest."

"You think they're on one of those banks, don't you?" He didn't need to ask – he knew by the look on Scott's face. He reconnected the USB, pulling up a thermal image of the area. But as he made to enhance it, the picture flickered. John whacked the side, but it only came into focus for a few seconds before distorting again.

"Damnit," he muttered. Accessing Five had drained his power, and it was only now he realised all of his portable battery packs were with Alan and Gordon. He hadn't thought about it; convinced Shawn had found Virgil and he wouldn't need them. He was used to having everything at his fingertips, not being out in the field with limited resources.

"What'd you need?" Scott asked, his voice low.

"Power," John said, feeling foolish. He disconnected again, slipping the stick into his pocket. It was useless now anyway; the last thing he wanted was to draw unwelcome attention.

Both brothers were quiet as they headed back to base. Once there, Scott negotiated another car while John checked in with the others.

"They're at a hotel," he reported, looking at the co-ordinates Alan had sent him, "and looks inconspicuous."

"Good." Scott was distracted as he unlocked the car, motioning for John to hurry up. "I'll drop you off."

"Where are you going?"

"To check in with the cops and our agents," he said. "They were the first on the scene: maybe they can tell us something else?"

"I spent the entire flight trying to get more out of them."

"Thought you were sleeping?" Scott said, eyebrow raised. John shrugged, flushing under his brother's impenetrable stare.

"I woke up."

Scott rolled his eyes. "They're more likely to remember if I'm there in person."

"Dad trusts these guys," John cautioned, "don't go pissing them off."

"Just get in."

John obeyed. He tried using his phone, but it didn't have the bandwith to connect properly to Five. The mid-morning sun made it difficult to see his screen.

Neither of them spoke until Scott stopped outside the hotel.

"Power up," he ordered. "I want to know what's on those river banks: thermal images, heat signatures, anything'll do. If the army can screw up checking their sources properly, then I'm not waiting for permission."

John nodded, one foot already out of the car. "I'll set up a sweep," he said. "Anything out there, I'll find it."

"Good. Set an alarm if anything comes up."

"I will."

"Good. Then you can rest while it's doing it."

"Scott-,"

"No. I need you alert. Multi-task, John. Sleep while your girl works her magic."

Not prepared to admit that Scott had a point – or that he intended to follow his big brother's advice - John got out. Before he shut the door, however, he lent in.

"Promise you won't do anything stupid?" He couldn't hide his worry, especially when Scott looked back with a neutral expression.

Knowing he wouldn't get anything, John stepped away. Scott turned the car around, then rolled down the window.

"Johnny?"

He'd only taken a couple of steps, and looked back.

"Yes?"

"Define stupid."

Scott drove off before John had the chance to respond but it at least saved him from expressing what was running through his head.