For jbarkerstargazer.
No discussion about hugs would be complete without mentioning the hugs received in the course of International Rescue's work.
People relieved at being saved have the habit of throwing arms around necks, and with Scott's blue eyes and deep dimples he seems to get more than his fair share of grateful rescuees. His brothers find it very amusing. Scott is resigned to the fact that it will happen if he is on the ground.
Scott deploys his arm-around-the-shoulder during rescues as ruthlessly as he does at home. It's a symbol of collaboration when used with the emergency services who assist them with rescues. It is also used when assisting victims from the danger zone, helping them over rubble and over to Two's infirmary of the medic tents.
Touch for those more seriously injured is just as important. A gentle hand on an uninjured limb tells them that a rescuer is there, that they have not been forgotten and will get treatment imminently.
But the rescues that elicit the most physical reactions are ones involving children.
Virgil often privately laments that Scott rarely is on the ground for such rescues. It is well known that Gordon is fantastic with kids, and he really is, but Scott also has an inbuilt affinity with children. He just rarely gets to show it. Where Gordon is a clown that puts children at ease with laughter, Scott is the authority figure that inspires trust in a child.
Scott is a big brother, and it shows.
Virgil's favourite memory of Scott getting hugged on a rescue involved a child. For once Scott was assisting on the floor, Gordon being on a different rescue. They were at a joint Kindergarten and Preschool that had been damaged in a small quake. No one was injured, but the debris had blocked the entrance of the preschool, trapping the class of 4-year-olds with their teacher and a couple of parents.
One exosuit and heavy lifting later, Scott was the one to enter the room first as Virgil safely removed the last of the debris and shed the suit. On entering behind his brother, he watched as a squeal came from the back of the class and a whirlwind rushed up to Scott and latched itself to Scott's legs, almost tipping him backwards.
The whirlwind turned out to be a little girl. She was clinging tightly to Scott's knees, face buried in his thigh, and without blinking Scott bent awkwardly and hugged her whilst asking if everyone was alright. There were a chorus of 'yes sir' and Virgil grinned as an adult approached his brother and began to apologise for the child cuddling his knees. Scott soon put her at ease, and Virgil got on with the job of leading the children out.
It wasn't until they were in the open air that Virgil realised the children were all in fancy dress, a large selection of superheroes lined up before him, and he couldn't help but grin as Scott emerged with the little girl now in his arms.
His grin widened when he realised the girl was dressed as Scott, blue uniform and grey baldrick, and she was chatting away as if she and Scott were old friends. Virgil double-checked that none of the children were injured, and he watched as the crowd that had collected separated and parents took their children home until there was just him, Scott, the girl and the adult that Virgil assumed was her mother.
'Virgil, let me introduce you to CJ.' The girl clung to Scott's neck but flashed him a smile. 'And this her mom, Jay.'
'Pleased to meet you both.'
'Guess who I am!' CJ piped up, and Virgil grinned at her.
'I think you are the pilot of Thunderbird One, judging by your uniform.' CJ fairly beamed at him.
'I'm gonna ride in Thunderbird One with Scotty!'
Jay flushed and both Scott and Virgil chuckled at the sheer enthusiasm CJ was showing. To both their delight, Scott then carried CJ over to One and sat her in the pilot chair. She clung to his arm and fairly bounced, and as she held her arms up for Scott to pick her back up, and he reached for her, Virgil took a picture. CJ was handed to her mother, and the three stood quietly chatting for a couple of minutes while Virgil reflected on his brother.
It summed up Scott so perfectly, and it was as if Scott had come full circle.
Once Scott had been a four-year-old asking to be picked up and hugged.
Now he was the one picking a four-year-old up and hugging them.