Scott had no idea what time it was when he woke himself up, but a weight across his legs told him Virgil hadn't moved and the two youngest Tracys still weren't home, or if they were, they had gone straight to bed. Scott looked to his side to where Virgil was lying sprawled against the sofa arm and smiled lovingly before gently lifting his brother's feet off his legs and stood up before placing the booted feet back across a cushion, he walked up to his father's desk and began to write up his report for the missions they had been on, he had been a mess all day, both missions had been successful but that second one had been the end of him, yes Virgil had got an answer out of him in the tent and forced released the truth that he missed their father, but it still didn't answer for why he had been acting so out of character and had almost been happy almost losing Max, that wasn't like him at all, it was almost like he didn't care what happened to the non-material things in life which he knew wasn't true. As he typed up his report of the mission in Iceland, he found himself beginning to shake, his emotions tore through him and his eyes filled with tears causing a lump to form in his throat, before he knew it tears were streaming down his face and he buried his head in his hands as he began to sob on the desk which woke Virgil up. The second eldest scrambled to his feet and ran over in concern as he approached the desk, he wrapped an arm around his brother and rested his cheek on top of his head.

"Sorry I woke you," Scott sobbed.

"That's not what woke me."

Scott looked up tearfully, "I can't stop thinking about my actions today. I was reckless and I'm sorry, I put our lives at risk."

"Yes, but I asked you what was going on and you told me."

"I told you I missed Dad, that's a shit excuse for the way I behaved," Scott rubbed his sleeve across his eyes.

Virgil sighed, "if it's remorse then it's very acceptable for the way you behaved."

Scott frowned slightly, "I don't know what you're trying to do Virgil, but I've had my breakdown already."

Virgil sighed as he sat down on the piano stool, "I'm not trying to do anything, you're clearly worried about dad and after a week of rescues, today was too much for you."

Scott looked around at him, "then why did you let me go with you if you think I needed a break?"

"I wasn't about to send our youngest brothers out on a mission that could've killed them."

"We weren't exactly in any better state to go out."

"No, but we're stronger physically," Virgil looked back at the piano, "we were brought down by fatigue."

Scott shrugged, "we usually manage though."

"Not always. I'm always close to crying these days, I just try to bottle it up."

Scott nodded, "me too."

"You're better than it than I am."

Scott stood up and came to lean on the piano, "I'm actually worse. Virg, don't tell anyone, but I cry myself to sleep sometimes."

Virgil sighed, "oh Scott."

Scott looked down at the piano, "I just get caught up in my thoughts and I have nightmares involving dad."

"Like what?"

"Him dying on the day he went missing," Scott sighed and looked down at his hands, "Virgil, do you think that's true?"

"Absolutely not, he's not dead. Don't think like that, the mind is complicated Scott."

Scott shrugged, "we don't have any footage of what actually happened."

Virgil motioned for Scott to join him on the stool, "we don't need footage, we know he isn't dead."

Scott rubbed his hands together, "Max almost died more or less today, that could've been us, I acted irresponsibly and could've hurt us," he looked down with a shake of his head.

"But Max didn't die, he took the power for you and Brains rebuilt him. That's not irresponsible," Virgil rubbed Scott's shoulder gently.

"Yes it is, I was wrong from the word 'go'. I'm sorry Virgil."

"For what? I don't see why you're blaming yourself, over nothing."

Scott turned away from the piano keys and sniffed slightly, "Dad wouldn't be proud to know what I did today, and he'll never know."

Virgil raised his eyebrows in surprise at his brother's remark, then at the sound of quiet sobbing he wrapped an arm gently around Scott's waist, "yes he would, he would have every reason to be proud of you. Scott, look at me."

Scott looked back at his younger brother tearfully, "what?"

Virgil's heart broke slightly as he watched tears roll down his eldest brother's cheeks, "you've got us this far in the business, and you've kept us all safe," he reached out and stroked the tears drops away gently, "we're still all here."

Scott looked down with a smile, "somehow."

"Because you're a good leader and we follow your instructions. There wouldn't be a full rescue team without you."

Scott wiped his eyes, "thanks, do you mean that?"

Virgil nodded, "would I lie to you?"

"Never have."

"Never will," Virgil smiled and Scott found himself in a comforting hug, hiding the tears in Virgil's red shirt.

"You can promise me that right?"

Virgil nodded, "yes."

Scott pushed himself back slightly, "I just wish we knew what really happened four years ago."

Virgil hugged his eldest brother again, "we will. We just have to."

Scott re-faced the piano, "we should probably get some sleep," he ran his finger along the keys.

"I'm just surprised you don't have pins and needles in your legs, we were sat like that for ages on the sofa," Virgil laughed as he stood up, "come on."

Kayo watched them from the entrance to the lounge as they took the back passage to the living quarters, her heart ached after seeing Scott sobbing and she wondered how she could help him, she took the shortcut round to the bedrooms and round to the balconies that would lead her to Scott's room. As she got to the back door her heart began to thump, maybe this wasn't the best idea, he was family, wasn't he? Or had it changed over the last few months, maybe a year? Kayo knocked and heard Scott call out from inside, she opened the door and spotted him sitting on the bed and great he was shirtless this was not going to help, "hey Scott."

"Kayo, I thought it was one of my brothers. Are you ok?"

"Actually, I'm here to ask you that same thing."

"Me? Well, I've been better let's put it that way," Scott sighed.

Kayo nodded, "I heard."

"Heard?"

"Well I saw you two asleep and Alan told me you guys had been out all evening, you look exhausted," she sat down on the bed, "have you been crying?"

Scott looked down bashfully, "I just couldn't cope today, what with the mission this morning and wanting to do so much in Iceland. I put Virgil's life in danger."

Kayo reached out hesitantly before resting her hand in Scott's, "I'm sure you didn't put him in danger, he's strong you know that? You guys are brothers and you wouldn't let anything happen to one another, that's what I've noticed about you guys."

"Do you not see yourself as our sister?"

"Not always, but that's not a bad thing."

"I guess not," Scott smiled and for the first time didn't see a sister sitting in front of him but a young woman.

"Don't let today's mission put you off being our leader Scott, Jeff would be so proud of you."

"Do you mean that?"

"Of course I do," Kayo hugged him before she knew what she was doing, his skin was warm under her touch and for a moment she didn't want to let go, "was the mission successful?"

"Yeah," Scott let her go reluctantly, "but it was close."

"A successful mission is that, no argument about it," Kayo smiled, "I'm going to turn in and I suggest you do the same, it'll make you feel better," she squeezed his hand again then left the same way she came in to go to her room leaving Scott pink, "I think I like him," she whispered.

"I need her," Scott sighed as he fell back onto the pillow.