Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Thunderbirds Are Go - they belong to the late Gerry and Silvia Anderson.

Author's Note: This one ended up being a LOT longer than I thought it would be (especially, considering I've had a bit of a writer's slump in the last couple of weeks).
Big shout out to those who helped get me out of my funk - you know who you all are :3
So, after this chapter, I'll be doing something a little different with this fic - I'll be turning the subsequent chapters into little one shots based on writing prompts that I receive from a list I found on Tumblr.
If you're interested in leaving a prompt from the list, let me know and I'll try my best to see what I can do :3


Once again, the raven-haired pilot was extremely thankful that Gordon had been removed from the infirmary. Often, their aquanaut brother had no concept of 'time and place' when it came to making some of his spur of the moment puns. And the last thing Virgil wanted right now was to break up a fight.

"Virgil, what the fuck is going on?"

Even if Scott's reaction was still a tad entertaining.

International Rescue's demolitions expert tried his best to remain composed as he regarded his sibling. Biting his lower lip in an attempt at stifling an amused grin, Virgil could only offer a shrug. "I mean, it could have been so much worse, right?"

"Not cool, Virg!" Scott's blue eyes narrowed. "Is this some kind of sick joke? Where the hell is Gordon?"

"No joke," Virgil shook his head. "And definitely nothing to do with Gordon."

"And I'm guessing Brains hasn't suddenly developed a twisted sense of humour?"

"Nope."

"So...?"

"So what?"

"So how did this happen?!"

Virgil cringed as his sibling's voice rose in both volume and pitch; Scott's increasing anger and frustration becoming more and more evident.

He shook his head with a sigh. "You don't remember?"

"Remember what?"

The dark-haired pilot pinched the bridge of his nose with a deep sigh. He needed a coffee. Or a nap. Maybe both.

But before that...

"You don't remember running blindly into that chemical research and development facility in Siberia?" Virgil paused, his dark eyes narrowing and jaw tightening for a moment. "Without backup."

There was no response from International Rescue's Field Commander.

"Well?"

"I remember... bits. It's still a little patchy," Scott frowned. "I remember the researcher there refusing to leave without backing up her data. That's why I went in... John said the whole place was going to explode into pieces."

Virgil's frown deepened, his brow furrowing and accentuating the dark circles under his tired eyes. "And you couldn't wait another fifteen minutes?"

"There wasn't any time, Virgil."

"I was on my way, damnit!"

"I said there wasn't enough time!"

"Goddammit, Scott, you could have died!"

Virgil's words were empathised by a solid thud as he rose to his full height, the chair he had been sat upon clattering loudly along the infirmary floor.

Scott's had snapped up to look at him, blue eyes wide.

"There was a series of explosions and you were caught up in it," Virgil's hands were balled into fists, his strong, muscular frame shaking. "John said that some of the chemical vats had exploded. Suit diagnostics picked up an electrical arc shortly before your comms went dead."

Part of him was expecting some sort of retort - an indignant justification of reckless actions and behaviour. Again.

Instead, he was met with an uncomfortable silence.

Shoulders sagging, Virgil perched himself at the foot of the bed. "I don't know how you made it out of there in one piece, but you have to stop pulling stunts like that. One of these days, your luck is really going to run out."

"I get it, Virg. I'm sorry." Scott was quiet, no longer able to hold Virgil's unyielding gaze. "I just... Things have been a bit stressful recently. What with increased calls and then the whole business with The Mechanic and then Dad's ship..."

"We've been through this before, Scott. Arctic Circle. Aurora generator. Ring any bells?" Virgil gave a lop-sided expression as he folded his arms across his chest. "You promised me you'd talk to me if things started getting... overwhelming."

"I know."

"So, why didn't you?"

"Honestly? I don't know..." Scott replied. "I don't have an answer for you."

"You can't keep doing this, Scott."

"Well, what do you expect me to do, Virgil?"

"Right now?" Virgil arched an eyebrow. "Probably get yourself some fitting clothes. Kayo said you can see if any of hers fit. She's offered to take you to the mainland to get your wardrobe sorted until we can find a way to reverse what's happened."

"Great!" Scott shot Virgil a sour look. "And I take it that Brains is working on a solution?"

The Thunderbird Two pilot nodded his head in response. "Yeah, but he said it's going to take some time. We don't know exactly what happened apart from the fact you got drenched in a mixture of those chemicals. Possibly inhaled and ingested some of it too."

There was a frustrated sound from the brunette. "Why don't you ask the researcher?"

This time, it was Virgil's turn to be silent.

Scott watched him quietly, a sense of fear and dread starting to creep up.

"She didn't make it."

"What? How? I sent her on ahead whilst I finished off the data transfer."

"Remember that electrical arc I mentioned earlier?"

Scott nodded.

"It triggered some kind of high-strength electromagnetic pulse through the central corridor of the building," Virgil explained. "Rendered my exo-suit completely inoperable and knocked out my comms."

"And the researcher?"

Virgil took a deep breath, his folded arms tightening around his chest as he bowed his head. "The EMP was strong enough and in such close proximity that her pacemaker ceased functioning," he paused, letting out a deep sigh of regret. "She was already too far gone when I found her."

"Shit..." Scott's fingers tightened around the sheets of the bed. "I'm so sorry, Virgil. I shouldn't have sent her ahead."

Finally un-crossing his arms, the raven-haired pilot waved a hand half-heartedly. "We can't always save everyone, right? Isn't that what Dad taught us when International Rescue first started up?"

"I know, but-"

"You made a decision, Scott. There's nothing to say that the EMP wouldn't have affected her device where you were located. Besides, you didn't exactly look your best when you finally decided to make an appearance."

"You mean I looked like this?" the brunette huffed, gesturing at himself... herself? "I don't actually remember anything after an explosion. I just know that it happened before that stupid data transfer finished, so I suppose any information on that is lost."

"Not exactly... You did look very much like a drowned rat though and your helmet had taken significant damage. Another one for ever-mounting scrap and recycle pile, but I'd rather your helmet over your skull... No matter how thick it is!" Virgil's snort of amusement was short lived, his voice becoming me serious. "You said you felt a bit dizzy and nauseated whilst I was checking you over in Thunderbird Two and then you passed out. Subsequently, John set Thunderbird One on autopilot home and I let you rest up whilst I got us home. The medical scanners weren't picking up anything out of the ordinary, so I figured it was just some bruises and scrapes. When we landed back here, I went to check up on you and... yeah."

Scott frowned, shifting uncomfortably on the bed. "Is there anything we can go back and retrieve from whatever is left of that facility? Any sort of information about whatever was going on there?"

Virgil grimaced, completely aware that Scott was not going to like his answer. "Sorry. That building was pretty much a mess. John and EOS were picking up severe structural damage, rendering it completely unsafe to re-enter. The GDF had to get a specialised team to deal with and area-wide chemical cleanup and demolitions task. They didn't even know what was going on at that facility."

"Well that's just fucking great," Scott growled. "So, judging by the sounds of it, that 'research facility' wasn't even a place that went through all the right channels to start operating!"

"Afraid so. Which is why Brains is struggling to come up with something to reverse things," Virgil cringed as he rubbed at the back of his neck. "Not to be the bringer of bad news but we don't even know if it can be reversed..."

"Are you fucking kidding me?!"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

"Shit..." Icy blue eyes met with warm browns again. "And I suppose this is the part where you give me some kind of 'I told you so' lecture about my behaviour? Again?"

"Do I look like the type of brother who would kick you when you were down?" Virgil's arms crossed themselves against his chest in an almost defensive manner. "I'm pretty sure this whole... situation... is a lesson in itself. Just know that you really scared the crap out of me. Again. And that's not healthy. For either of us."

"I get it. I said I was sorry. I'll to and be more... careful. I promise," the brunette sighed, sitting up a little more on the bed. "Now, can we please go and find me some decent clothes?"

"Sure thing," Virgil nodded as he stood, extending his hand with a slight chuckle. "You know, Dad did always wish he had a daughter."