"Are you sure you have everything you need?" Tony asked, eyeing the two of them worriedly. The man was a total dad, and Alan and Virgil exchanged amused glances. "First aid kits up to par? Clothes all good? You know you can stay longer, heal up a little more." That one was given with a pointed glance at Virgil's casted arm and the leg brace.

The two brothers were ready, though. They were dressed in the blue-gray uniforms that Tony had fabricated for them, incredibly similar to their previous uniforms. Alan had his baldric on, the first time he'd worn it in this world. They were both wearing their blue boots with their bowie knives tucked snugly in their sheathes within the boots. And both were wearing the tooth necklaces that Alan had made, the design rather similar to that of the Black Panther's (not that he knew what that even meant, really).

"Thank you, Tony," Virgil said softly, shouldering the duffle bag. "But I think we're ready to go." They'd already said goodbye to Peter, who had to get home before curfew. Both he and Alan hadn't been particularly happy about having to separate, but they knew they had to go.

Tony huffed, crossing his arms and glancing over at the man he'd called Hawkeye. Apparently, the man was coming off over a year of being mind-controlled and was incredibly confused. He'd gone straight to Tony though, knowing that Stark could help make things right, only to be caught up in the goodbyes of the two guys from a different world. (He'd only ended up more confused, the poor guy.) "Alright, fine." Tony's face twisted a bit. "Can't say I'm all that happy about not knowing if you ever make it home," he mumbled. He shook his head. "Try to stay away from the dinosaurs, will ya?"

"FAB," Alan said, giving a sloppy salute. He tilted his head. "Thanks for everything Mr. Stark. You're awesome."

"Thanks," Virgil murmured, also giving a sloppy salute. And then Alan activated HEMERA and the two disappeared with a flash of mutli-colored light.

Back in their home world, Scott ran a hand down his face, watching as the bio-readouts wavered and flickered wildly. It had been nearly a week since the last time the readouts had indicated that his brothers had jumped, and he'd been desperately worried.

Scott had never considered himself a religious man. But five days ago, when Virgil's vitals had all plummeted and suddenly flatlined—twice!—Scott had found himself praying to anyone who would listen. His heart had been in his throat for the entire hour in which Virgil's vitals fluctuated wildly.

He'd been extremely lucky that John and Gordon had both been downstairs preparing diner when all that had been going down. The two had already been getting steadily more worried as Alan and Virgil's bio-readouts had gradually gotten worse throughout the single day that they'd been in that world, and frankly Scott didn't need two panicking little brothers on top of two dying brothers trapped thousands of worlds away from him.

But, before John and Gordon had returned with dinner, Virgil's vitals had stabilized, still orange and somewhat slipping into the red at times, but far more stable than they had been. Alan's fever leveled out and lowered—an indication of proper medication and rest. They'd gotten help. Help that had lasted for nearly a week, and Scott was happy about that, even if it meant that they were far behind where they were supposed to be with the world jumping.

Virgil had literally died. Twice. Scott was perfectly okay with his little brothers taking a little longer in a world that was clearly being good to them after that.

"They've jumped," John murmured. Scott glanced at him, running a hand over the beard that he'd grown over the last week. He hadn't bothered shaving, and neither had Gordon. John, though, couldn't stand the feel of facial hair and had rolled his eyes at his brother's lack of personal care. "They're in good shape this time," John said soothingly, giving a very slight smile.

Scott gave a sharp nod. He knew, of course, that he couldn't hide anything from John. What EOS didn't tell him, he'd figure out for himself. Scott hadn't tried hiding Virgil's decline, of course, but he hadn't openly told his brothers either. They hadn't asked, so he hadn't bothered.

He wondered if Gordon knew.

"Let's hope they stay that way," Scott mumbled.

"Ya know," Gordon piped up, flopping onto one of the air mattresses. "I really want to know what the worlds they're in are like." He turned amber eyes on the eldest, wide with both love and concern. "You said you saw versions of us in that first world. Think there's versions of us in all of them?"

"Don't know," Scott grunted, dropping onto that same mattress and making Gordon bounce. The fish gave a giggle at that and looked up at John imploringly.

John rolled his eyes. "No," he said, sitting himself down on a different mattress, far more delicately. "World five now, right?"

Scott nodded. "Five," he said. "It's been almost three weeks. People are beginning to question the bad illness excuse."

Gordon rolled his eyes. "So let them," he said. "There are plenty of illnesses that take longer than two or three weeks to recover from. Not to mention complications that could come from them." And Gordon would know, considering he'd contracted sepsis while in the hospital after his Accident. That had nearly killed him, and it had taken months to recover from the infection.

"People can bug off and leave us alone," John snapped, running a hand through his hair. His aqua eyes were studying the bio-readouts and Scott frowned taking the time to look over his little brothers.

John was paler than usual, with bags under his eyes. His hands were slightly shaky and he looked far more exhausted than Scott had seen him in a long time.

Gordon was also pale and shaky. He was still smiling, but it was more forced and harder to see behind the scruffy blond beard he was sporting. He was also moving in that careful way that meant his back had been acting up. He usually swam laps to help loosen up sore muscles, but Scott couldn't remember Gordon swimming in the recent past.

He frowned, glancing at the bio-readouts. He'd been so worried about his missing brothers that he'd been neglecting the two that were still here. Dagnabit he didn't know what to do. He was so far out of his element and practically running on fumes himself at this point.

What would Virgil do?

Scott froze, blue eyes trained on the floor, following the wood grain absently. He stretched, the air mattress squeaking beneath him. Virgil wouldn't let them just wallow the way they had been, that was for sure. He'd be appalled, actually.

With a sigh, Scott pushed himself up off the mattress. "Alright, up, both of you," he said. At their confused, mulish looks he got in return, Scott rolled his eyes. "Up. We're going down to the beach."

"But-" Gordon started.

"No buts," Scott said, grabbing John's collar and hauling him up. John may be tall, but he was lanky and Scott prided himself in being able to haul him around still. "We all need some sun and fresh air."

"But—" John this time, who scowled when Scott waved at him.

"What did I say about buts?" he asked.

"That you're more partial to breasts?" Gordon countered with a cheeky grin.

Scott cracked a grin of his own, shaking his head. "What can I say? They're both pretty amazing. I like a well-proportioned woman."

"This sounds like a conversation that could derail very quickly," John muttered, reaching out a hand to help Gordon up. "Shall I call Lady Penelope and Kayo to get their opinions?"

"Don't you dare, Space-Face," Gordon scowled. He shoved at his older brother, causing the ginger to stumble into Scott, who simply threw an arm around his shoulder.

"Beach," Scott ordered. "Sun. Air. Food."

Gordon pursed his lips, giving an over-exaggerated look of thoughtfulness. "Food sounds wonderful. I like food."

"That's good," Scott nodded, snagging his arm and dragging him from the room and down the stairs to the kitchen, John still trapped under his arm. They would grab food on the way out.

As for Virgil and Alan…well. There was literally nothing they could do for their two wayward brothers, and they both seemed fine for the moment. World number three had been terrible, clearly, but number four had gotten them in reasonably good shape and put them back on their feet.

Scott could only pray that world number five would be just as good to them.

For now, though, he had two other little brothers to look after. And he was going to do that on the rocky beaches of Tracy Island for now.

End Marvel Section

Notes: Guys, my computer has been acting funky. I'm also still on vacation. Sorry if I don't update for a bit due to computer issues. Hopefully I will have the next chapter up next week!