Disclaimer: I do not own Thunderbirds or it's characters. Sadly.

Author's Note: Thank you all for your reviews, I am eternally grateful...I said it wouldn't be long! More shocks are in store for the Tracys...Hope this chapter doesn't shock my readers (too badly!)...All symptoms are researched for an accurate account of Virgil's condition. Don't forget to review....

Right. Enough drabble. Onward!

Fate By Suzi Roberts

Chapter 5 – The Final Diagnosis

Scott walked into the lounge with a large whisky in his right hand.

It hadn't been as bad as he'd expected. John and Kyrano were both extremely worried for Virgil, yet they had held up well and remained positive that Virgil would OK.

Scott had needed to psyche himself up to tell his grandmother.

She'd been in the kitchen, supposedly making supper for the family members remaining on the island.

Scott had noted the evidence of her concern for Virgil; she was stirring an empty saucepan without the gas on, gazing into space.

"Grandma?" Scott had said quietly, nearly making the older woman jump out of her skin.

"Yes dear?" Josie had said, trying to make her strained voice sound normal.

Scott had taken the still-clean wooden spoon out of her hand and laid it on the table, taking her hand in his own as he did so.

"Grandma. Virgil has been told he has a disease that could disable him. The Emergency Services took him to the mainland for tests."

"I know that, Scott," his grandmother had replied. "I may be old but I'm not quite deaf yet."

Scott had smiled a little. Josie always tried to keep strong and have a sense of humour, no matter what the situation.

"What disease?" She had suddenly asked.

"Eh?"

"What disease has Virgil got?"

"Diabetes."

Josie had relaxed a little.

"So this is all precautionary, then? All the tests your brother is having."

"We hope so, Grandma."

"Hope so? There are thousands of people out there with this disease, Scott. I've known a few myself. If they could control it when I was a girl, they can sure control it now,"

"But..."

"No buts, young man. I know about the risks. I said I wasn't deaf. I'm not naïve either!" she had smiled.

Scott had left the kitchen, feeling perhaps a little more positive than before.

Scott smiled at the recent memory. His grandma had a way with him like that. As he drank the whisky, he thought about what she'd said.

Surely she was right. Yes, Virgil would fine in no time.

******

Jeff walked into Dr Jackson's office, feeling more nervous than he had done in a long time.

"Would you like a drink, Mr Tracy?" The doctor asked, gesturing towards the various alcoholic beverages locked in a nearby cupboard. "We don't usually give alcohol to our patients' guardians, but in your case we'll make an exception."

Jeff declined, put on edge all the more by this offer. A drink? In his case they'd make an exception? To Jeff, none of these were good signs.

The doctor sat on his chair and glanced over Virgil's file before speaking.

"Mr Tracy. We have run all the necessary tests on Virgil. He is indeed diabetic," Dr Jackson paused, "and will, I'm afraid, need daily doses of insulin for the rest of his life."

Jeff had already expected that part of the answer.

"But he won't need to come here for them everyday?"

"Oh no, Mr Tracy. He can administer them himself once he has been taught how to do so."

For the first time in twenty-four hours, a smile spread across Jeff's mature but handsome features.

"So where is Virgil now?" Jeff asked, relieved.

There was a slight pause.

"On a dialysis machine, Mr Tracy."

Jeff's heart clamped.

"Your son's diabetes has obviously been under the surface for some time now. It can happen. Something, for example stress, can trigger the disease and bring out the symptoms. But whilst it's not visible, it can be doing unsuspected damage to the patients' body."

The doctor looked over the notes again.

"In your son's case, Mr Tracy, I'm afraid the kidneys have failed."

Jeff had never felt such a mixture of emotions. Worry, shock, anger and mild panic all blended into one did not make a good mood.

Trying not to look at Jeff's face, Dr Jackson continued.

"The dialysis machine can be used for a lifetime. An hour every day but one should be enough to maintain Virgil's health. An external connection is made surgically between an artery and a vein in Virgil's arm. This is simple enough to perform, but it causes discomfort and isn't practical for the patient. A kidney transplant, on the other hand, would be Virgil's best shot."

Jeff breathed in deeply.

"So until the transplant Virgil would need to come here every day for dialysis?"

"Until a suitable match is found. The list for a donor is long. He could be waiting for years."

Jeff looked at his lap.

Dr Jackson checked the file again.

"Unless," he said slowly, "One of his four siblings could help."

Jeff's gaze quickly averted to meet the doctor's.

"Each of his brothers could be tested to see of their kidneys are a match," the doctor continued. "If they are, and his brother consented to the operation, then we could have this problem fixed within the next two months."

Jeff, trying to calmly absorb this new information, finally found his voice.

"What if none of his brothers ARE a match?"

"Either yourself or a friend can also volunteer to be tested. If all fails, then we would have to place Virgil on a waiting list."

"Does Virgil know?"

"Hmm?"

"About the kidney problem."

"Yes, Mr Tracy, he does."

Dr Jackson closed his file.

"I understand that you will need to discuss this matter with your family, Mr Tracy," he said, glancing at his watch. "Virgil should be off the machine by now. If you'd like to come with me, you can see him."

******

The eyes of John's portrait, hanging to the far left of the Tracy lounge, bleeped and flashed simultaneously.

Scott walked quickly over to his father's desk and flicked a button, so that John's portrait turned into a live video picture.

"Go ahead John. What's up?"

"We're needed again, Scott. Sydney, Australia. The weather there has been so dry lately, bush fires have broken out everywhere. The Emergency Services are dealing with the majority of the fires, but there's a family of five trapped in their own home. The fire that's taken hold around the outskirts of their house means only our fire-fighting equipment could save them."

"Right. Thanks John." Scott closed the link and turned to the others, who had gradually come to join him in the lounge during his conversation with John.

"OK. Alan, get Thunderbird One to the danger zone."

"Yes, Sir!"

"Gordon, I want you to take Thunderbird Two. Take Brains with you. You'll need Pod Three." *

"Yes Sir!"

Scott walked to balcony, and watched Thunderbird Two launch, wishing that Virgil could be doing it instead of lying in some hospital bed.

*****

Jeff walked into the room where his son lay, half asleep. Even from where he stood, Jeff could see Virgil's forearm had turned the purple-blue colour of pre-bruising.

Virgil's eyes opened a little more as his father came into focus.

"Hi, Dad," he smiled weakly. "Where've you been all this time?"

Jeff tried to smile back. His son's bravery nearly put tears in his eyes.

It must be so hard for him, he thought. An active, lively young man with his whole life ahead. He doesn't need this. The diabetes could have be handled. But the transplant...

"Dad?" Virgil asked, reaching out a hand. For the first time since Virgil's childhood, his father took that hand and held it in his own.

"Yes, son?"

"How will International Rescue function properly if I'm out of action for weeks?"

Jeff bit his lip. Even now, Virgil was still thinking of others, his job.

"We'll manage, Virgil. Lets concentrate on getting you better, eh? Before you know you'll be back piloting Thunderbird Two."

Virgil's gaze had drifted towards the window, where he was staring at the built-u view of the city. He closed his eyes with a sigh. Jeff wasn't quite sure what to do when he saw a single tear slide down Virgil's cheek.

Jeff said nothing. He simply squeezed Virgil's hand a little harder. Virgil didn't respond.

His head was filled with questions, but one in particular stood out.

"What if I die?"

_________________________________________________________

*Not sure if this is the correct Pod for the fire equipment, I had a bit of a Thunderbirds brain lapse! If anyone knows the correct pod please let me know!

End Note: Thank you, once again for your lovely reviews, kind people. You really make my day. Chapter 6 coming very soon as I'm on a bit of a writing binge. I won't let you down, promise.