Hello!!
Here is Chapter Two. Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has reviewed, I really appreciate it!!
Thank you,
Kim
Watching From Above
Chapter TwoSeveral months later...
The powerful thrusters of Thunderbird Two bellowed above, dominating the blue sky as she gracefully descended. Minutes later, Virgil jogged swiftly over to where Scott had set up 'Mobile Control', Gordon trailing behind him. "Scott, what's going on?" he asked urgently as Gordon reached them.
"Okay" Scott sighed, "We've got five soldiers trapped in here." He pointed to a small room on the blueprints laid out in front of them. "Apparently the power source has failed; with no electricity to complete the circuit the air ventilation system has also stopped working. Leaving five young Corporals with only an hour's air left. Because the electricity has been turned off or tampered with the security locking has automatically been put into place."
"So they can't get out." Virgil completed. Scott nodded in conformation.
"Geez!" Gordon exclaimed, "What is this place anyway?" He turned his nose up as he cautiously eyed the tall, steel building.
"It's a level ten confinement research centre for the Ministry of Defence." Gordon jumped, turning toward the voice behind him to see a balding man offering his hand to Scott. "Colonel Jeffries" he introduced himself "I'm the commanding officer at this facility." His stiff English accent boomed with authority, immediately reminding Gordon of their father. He studied the man as Scott went through the motions with him. He wore a crisp khaki coloured British Army uniform with enough medals and pips to rival his fathers. Colonel Jeffries appeared to be in his late 40's, possibly early 50's, tall, clean shaven and with extremely shiny shoes, Gordon noticed. He reminded him of his own first Commanding Officer when he was with WASP he shuddered at the memory. He purposely diverted his attention back to the conversation in front of him. "So, you understand our need for secrecy?"
"Of course, young man. I appreciate that and thankyou for your help." The Colonel smiled half-heartedly.
"Well, don't thank us yet." Scott quipped.
"I have no doubt in your abilities my dear boy. And you need not worry about security issues this base is level ten confinement. Not even your fabulous technology would normally pick up its presence" Virgil smirked at the older officers boasting, Scott saw it.
"Oh I'm sure a couple of our engineers would beg to differ" he smiled.
"Yes well it's all this bloody technology that's got us in this mess in the first place. Damned engineers should be shot. Eh?" The Colonel didn't wait for an answer shouting over to a waiting Land Rover. "Sergeant Major!" Scott having seen the look on Virgils face relaxed a little when the conversation swiftly moved on without further comment. "Sergeant Major will be taking over from now." He explained. Scott looked up; he couldn't help but think he'd seen her somewhere before, that brunette wispy hair seemed familiar to him.
"Sir" she acknowledged. Scott noted she stood to attention. "Ah Sergeant Major, I need you to take over this operation. Gentleman, you're in good hands. Must dash, got a bit of a disagreement with the MoD!" The older man adjusted his hat and strode away. Scott smiled to himself as he watched the man walk briskly out of sight.
"Sgt. Maj. Air" The brunette introduced herself redirecting Scott's attention back to her. Scott raised his eyebrows, he glanced across at Gordon and Virgil who where going over the blue prints. "If there's anything I can do for you...er?"
"Scott." Scott filled in eagerly.
"Scott." She carried on. "Don't hesitate to let me know. I'm just over there." She pointed vaguely to the waiting Land Rover. "Sorting some medical supplies out. Okay?" she definitely carried authority well; Scott just nodded his head as she turned to leave. But something caught her eye. "Virgil?" She asked a mix of uncertainty and surprise in her voice.
"Jamie?" Virgil looked up from the blueprints obviously shocked.
"Oh my goodness!!!" She exclaimed as she hugged him tightly. "How are you?" She asked smiling. Scott and Gordon exchanged looks.
"Good. You?" The young woman seemed to remain oblivious to Scott and Gordon being there at all, however Virgil was far from oblivious to there presence and remained nothing more then polite.
"Yeah. Okay I suppose considering." She sighed. Virgil nodded as if he understood that comment. "Wow!" she exclaimed. "International Rescue! Huh? Let me guess" she smiled wickedly. "You where knocked back from the army and no-one else in their right minds would take you!"
Virgil scoffed "It's nice to know you have so much faith in me." He joked.
"No seriously." Jamie continued, she smiled sweetly. "It's good to see you getting on with your life." Virgil looked to the floor not taking in the frown of confusion on Scotts face.
"I hate to break up the party." Gordon interjected sarcastically "but five soldiers in there suffocating. Y'know?" This comment was met by more then one glare; however he did have a valid point.
"Yeah. I was thinking lasers. Virg?" Scott asked, "What do you think?" Virgil thought for a moment contemplating this theory, before he nodded.
"Yeah. Should work, according to these blueprints and the thickness of the doors..." he calculated it in his head. "Should take about 10 minutes per door."
"Three doors," Scott filled in.
"About half an hour then," Virgil finished.
"Great!!" Gordon enthused. "What are we waiting for?"
"Wait." Jaime called. "I'll come with you." Scott and Gordon exchanged dubious glances before Virgil slowly turned to the officer.
"Jamie." He began to protest but Scott butted in.
"It's too dangerous. Leave it to us; we know what we're doing." The comment only served to enrage the young officer.
"Scott." She hissed. "I'm in the British Army. This is not dangerous. Getting dropped 100 miles from the nearest civilisation with no food, water or ammunition in unknown enemy territory, now that's dangerous." She said patronisingly. Gordon grinned at the look on Scott's face, which was less than amused. "Look I'm a Doctor they may need my help." She continued. If her sarcasm hadn't gotten up Scott's nose the small fact that she had a point; definitely did.
He nodded quickly "Alright. Gordon you've got control." He briskly walked off in the direction of Thunderbird Two to pick up the cutting gear, Virgil followed amused.
"So." Scott said as casually as possible. "This Jaime. How do you know her?"
Virgil looked up from what he was doing. "Well, after she got out of jail." Virgil smirked as Scott nearly dropped the canister he was carrying. "I'm joking. We met at Denver she's a friend of a friend."
"How well do you know her?" Scott asked, already tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes.
"Well enough to know we can trust her." Virgil said directly. "Now, you nearly done with that?"
"Mobile Control from Scott." Scott called across the airwaves.
"Go ahead Scott" Gordon sounded bored, Scott thought absently, Gordon and bored was not a good combination. "The five soldiers are on their way out now. They all seem fine. We'll be out in a few minutes; you can start breaking Mobile Control down if you like." Yes, keeping Gordon busy was the answer to all their problems.
"FAB." Came the strained response. He re-tuned his concentration into Jaime and Virgil's conversation.
"Well, I suppose I'm a bit disappointed. I was hoping for a little more action." Jaime was saying. "It all seems a bit mundane."
Virgil scoffed in response. "Did you hear that Scott? Mundane! She should see us when we've really in action. Right Scott?"
"Yeah." Scott laughed. "This one rescue...." He stopped as something caught his sight. "What the ...There's someone up there." He began to jog up the metal stairs to the concrete balcony above them.
"Be careful." Jaime warned. "We've got our five. It could be the person responsible for all this." Virgil nodded.
"Scott!! Wait for me." But Scott was already half way up the stairs and had no intention of stopping.
Scott approached the slumped over body cautiously, splashes echoed off the walls as his boots disturbed the thin puddles of water on the hard floor. Scott got closer steadily, slowly edging closer and closer until he was close enough to touch...
Virgil reached the top of the stairs and took in the still form on the concrete balcony floor.
Scott reached to turn the unconscious man over.
Virgil frowned as he studied the man; he was laid face down in a shallow puddle of water his right arm reached above his head clutching a lever. The power supply lever, only it wasn't pulled quite to the 'off' position. Virgil realised too late.
"SCOTT!!!!" But Scott already had his hand to the prone mans shoulder intent on rolling him over. "NOOO!" The cry echoed off the walls as Virgil watched in horror as Scott was flung through the air landing ungracefully in a heap. As the pain cursed through his body the darkness seemed like a welcoming option. He was unconscious before he hit the floor.
"Scott!!" Virgil ran to where Scott lay on the floor his hand automatically went to roll Scott over and assess the situation.
"Stop!" Jaime's shout stopped him "Use this" She handed him a large blanket, which Virgil used to roll Scott over on the dry concrete floor.
"Scott? Can you hear me?" His voice held a subtle air of panic that Jaime had expected. Though she had never met Scott, from what her sister told her and her own friendship with Virgil she knew the two brothers where close, closer then just brothers.
"Scott?" Virgil asked again gently shaking the unconscious man. "Come on, talk to me." Virgil knelt there breathing hard himself; suddenly he leant forward and put an ear to Scott's mouth. "Oh God." He muttered as Jaime caught up with him having fetched the medical bag from downstairs. "He's stopped breathing." Virgil said. No emotion evident in his voice. The switch that all emergency workers had was now fully switched 'on', on the task at hand that is. Jaime immediately reached to check for a pulse. "Has he got a pulse?" Virgil asked urgently.
"Yes." she sighed. "Its weak and thr..." She stopped. "Damn!!" She swore. "I lost it. Start CPR."
Virgil took a deep breath before beginning to perform rescue breathing. "Come on Scott." Jaime echoed Virgils thoughts "4, 5." Virgil pressed his mouth to Scotts and watched as his brother's chest rose and then fell again. Hoping and praying for it to rise and fall unaided. The procedure was repeated again and again each time Virgil lost a little hope but prayed twice as hard.
"Come on Scott." He muttered hardly audible. "Come on. Please God, not today. Not today of all days. Don't you dare do this to me Scott." He almost threatened. Jaime couldn't really hear what he was saying, just bits but whatever he was saying it worked.
Scott took a shallow breath and immediately felt himself gag as his dry throat screamed at the effort to breath. "Scott!!" Virgil's elated cry could hardly be heard over the violent coughing as Scott tried desperately to catch his own breath. Jaime turned away talking into her radio, as Scott's coughing died away and his gasps for breath where rewarded with lungs full of air. The first thing Scott saw, as his eyes fluttered open was blobs, blobs of colour. "Scott?" he could hear a voice, a familiar voice. "Scott can you hear me?"
It was so tempting to just slip back, stop the struggle and slip back into the peacefulness of dark. But something was nagging at him, something important. He just couldn't think what. He felt numb, like he couldn't move at all, every muscle in his body ached and especially his head. His head hurt but his thoughts where something else, he couldn't think straight at all, his memory seemed to be inaccessible and it truly felt like his brain had turned to mush, jellified. Nothing was clear his vision was blurred, his hearing distorted, his thought patterns confused him and nothing made sense. Then in the midst of all this confusion, all this daze came some clarity. Scott felt a soft warmth on his face, it was welcoming and he tried harder to focus on the blobs of colour in front of him, slowly succeeding he recognised that smell, that voice, those eyes.
"Scott?" Virgil called "Can you hear me?" He didn't wait for a reply, but continued to reassure his brother. "You're going to be ok now." Jaime turned away, again talking on her radio, but Virgil continued "Come on Scott, open your eyes. That's it!" Virgil smiled "Look at me." He placed a hand down to Scotts face and guided his brother to face him. Scott's dazed expression seemed to frown a little before focusing on Virgil, he smiled softly.
"Virg..." was as far as he got before he began coughing again.
"Shh" Virgil soothed. "It's okay" he absently smoothed back the strands of hair that sat untidily matted to Scott's forehead. Scott closed his eyes lightly at the comforting feel; Virgil saw him and tried to get his attention back "Scott! Scott!" Scott blearily opened his eyes to see Virgil looking more than a little concerned. "You got an electric shock." Virgil tried to explain only to see Scotts eyes blink heavily. "Are you listening to me?" Virgil asked urgently. Virgil took Scotts head in both his hands so Scott could look nowhere else but at Virgil. "You got an electric shock." He said again hoping for Scott to understand but Scott frowned and his vision took a far off look again, as if he didn't understand at all.
Scott groaned as he tried to move his aching limbs, they felt as if they had lead weights attached to them. "No" Virgil moved a hand down to Scotts to keep it firmly in place "You've got to stay still. Ok?" Virgil desperately tried to make Scott understand but he just seemed to becoming more and more disorientated. Scott's eyes began to roll "Scott!" Scott seemed to focus a little. "You're going to be ok. Do you understand me?" Scott nodded wearily as Jaime grabbed Virgil's attention.
"They're not answering. I'm going to get some help. Stay with him." She told Virgil sternly. "Keep him warm, here." She handed him a blanket. "Keep him awake. I'll be as quick as I can." A soft groan from Scott diverted Virgil attention and when he'd turned round she'd gone. "Okay" Virgil sighed to himself, he propped himself up against a wall. He pulled Scott closer to him resting his older brothers head on his leg talking to him as he did so. He was so busy reassuring Scott and trying to control his own rapid breathing he hardly noticed Scotts breathing quicken a notch. He covered his elder brother with the blanket and again gently smoothed back his hair. It was a childhood gesture that had stuck into their adult life. Their mother used to do it to soothe them when they where younger and all the boys had taken some comfort from it at different times in their lives.
"Just stay awake Scott. You're going to be fine but you have to stay awake. Okay?" Virgil sighed.
"Sleepy." Scott slurred softly.
"I know, but you've got to try and stay awake. Yeah?" Virgil replied gently.
"S'Hard." Scott muttered.
"Yeah but if you stay awake until Jaime gets back then you can go to sleep and for as long as you like." He frowned as Scotts breathing again became faster
"You promise?" Scott asked trying to smile but not really succeeding.
"I promise." Virgil grinned worriedly. "How do you feel?" he asked quickly.
"Tired" Scott groaned. "Stupid" a smirk played on his lips despite himself "Can't believe I..."
"No" Virgil interrupted the breathless rant. "I meant do you hurt anywhere?"
"Everywhere." Scott admitted through gritted teeth. Virgil frowned in both worry and sympathy; the last thing he wanted was to think of Scott in pain.
"Anything else?" he asked unsure if he wanted the true answer.
"Shh" Scott muttered. "My head hurts."
Alarm bells where ringing in Virgil's head at the sound of the slurred speech. "You're getting paler by the second." He said to himself more than Scott. "You're sweating." Again he spoke to himself. "Are you too hot?" This time the question was clearly directed at Scott. He reached a hand to Scott's brow. "Jesus!" He exclaimed. "You're cold." Scotts eyes fluttered again as the battle to stay conscious became ever harder to fight. "Hey!!" Virgil called him back from the brink, yet again. "Come on. You're not seriously going to give in this easily are you? Gordon could do some serious damage in Thunderbird One." It sounded good before he said it but when it came out it just sounded lame.
He was surprised he got an answer. "Wouldn't dare." Came the ragged reply.
"Try me." Virgil smirked but Scott's eyes remained closed. "Huh?" He nudged the older man in his arms. "Scott?"
"Mmmm." Scott murmured. "Virg?" Virgil frowned, he felt helpless as to what to do anymore. He had done everything he could think of to keep Scott awake and yet the way Scott called his name, it was like Virgil's attempts to keep the older man conscious had never happened. He sighed again in defeat meanwhile Scott tried unsuccessfully to control his rapidly increasing breathing.
Virgil felt relieved as he heard footsteps coming up the steps. "Scott, she's here. She's nearly here, just a few minutes more." Gently he slipped Scott from his arms and back onto the floor.
"Mhhmmm." Scott mouth didn't seem to be responding to his brain - frantically he fought for his arms to obey him. Virgil saw the feeble attempt at movement and grasped the stray hand. Scott frowned at the touch squeezing Virgil's hand with all his remaining energy.
"I'm here." Virgil whispered, a deep frown covered his face as he returned the firm pressure. "I'm here." He repeated.
"How is he?" Jaime asked as she raced up the stairs.
Virgil shook his head in response. "I don't know. He said he was tired, that he hurt all over especially his head. And he's sweating loads but look, his skins cold." Virgil's frown deepened.
"Rapid pulse but it's weak and thready." Virgil suddenly became aware of the man and woman that Jaime had brought back as her 'help'.
"He's breathing pretty fast too." Virgil added. The concern rising further in his voice. Jaime nodded but said nothing, she was concentrating.
"BP?" She demanded.
Virgil looked down at Scott and was surprised to see his eyes half open. He smiled down reassuringly at the older man though confused; he still fought to stay conscious.
"Danny. BP?" Jaime asked again more urgently. The young man shook his head grimly.
"Can't get an exact reading but it's definitely below 90 systolic."
"He's going into shock." Jaime said out loud. The doctor in her rose to the surface and she began to tell her two assistants what to do. Virgil watched as they all scurried around doing their designated tasks. "Jacqui, Where's the oxygen?"
"Thanks." She smiled as the young woman handed it to her. Jaime sat on the opposite side of Scott to Virgil. She spoke softly to Scott. "Scott, Can you hear me? If you can hear me I want you to squeeze my hand." She placed her hand in his and immediately smiled at the obvious response. "Okay. You've been electrocuted but you're going to be fine. I know you're feeling very sleepy right now and you're doing really well. In a few minutes you'll start to feel very tired. You don't have to try and stay awake this time you can go to sleep. You're in very safe hands, just relax. Now I'm going to put this mask on your face. It'll help you breathe. Okay. There we go." She smiled down at him but Scott searched the room for one familiar face – Virgil. He squeezed the hand in his tightly and sure enough Virgil appeared in his vision.
"Danny, get a stretcher." Virgil heard Jaime order, as he got closer to Scott.
He smiled as best he could. Scott returned it feeling better in the knowledge that Virgil was there, he let his guard down and suddenly he felt the effects of the drugs pumping round his system. His vision became blurry, like rain hitting is eyeballs. He frowned, confused as Virgils image seemed to get further and further away..........
Once Scott had slipped silently into unconsciousness Virgil sat back, a tad relieved but more anxious, he listened half-heartedly to the exchange in front of him.
"It could be hypovelemic shock." Danny theorised as he approached them with a stretcher.
"More likely cardiogenic." Jaime reasoned. "We won't know until we've run some tests."
"Echocardiogram?" Jacqui asked.
Jaime nodded "Or Swanz Ganz?" Danny asked.
"Hmm, possibly" Jaime mused.
"Boss?" Jacqui brought Jaime's attention back to earth, she gestured toward Virgil. He sat back watching their exchange yet not taking any notice, more looking out into space. He flinched away as Jaime placed a hand on his quivering shoulder. "You ok?" she asked softly. Virgil nodded. "Can I have a word? Over here?" Virgil reluctantly got up and followed her to the top of the stairs.
"He's going to be ok. Right?" Virgil asked anxiously.
"Hopefully yes. He should be fine." She paused. "What about you?"
"Me? I'm fine" Virgil lied. She looked at him inquisitively. He continued, "I just...."
He was interrupted.
"Scott!!!!" Gordon charged up the stairs. Virgil reached out to stop him but Gordon brushed him off, pushing him away. "What the hell happened?" he asked franticly. "Tell me he's alive?" the questions flowed like machine gun fire.
"Calm down Gordy." Virgil placed a hand on the younger mans shoulder. "He's ok." Gordon angrily shrugged the hand off.
"What happened?" he demanded.
"He got electrocuted." Virgil filled him in.
"Well how the hell did that happen? I thought the whole reason we where here was because someone had turned the electricity off!" Gordon was flummoxed.
"I..." Virgil tried to answer but Gordon just ignored him.
He turned to Jaime "But he's ok. Right?"
"Well, as I was just explaining to Virgil. We think he may be experiencing something called cardiogenic shock. He seems ok at the moment but I'd like to run some more tests. Just to make sure there's no further damage." Jaime explained gently.
"Further damage?" Virgil questioned, alarmed.
"In some cases there has been a possibility of brain damage or liver, kidney or heart failure and internal bleeding. Now I think it would be unlikely for Scott to develop these complications but I'd like to run some tests. Better to be safe than sorry, I'd really like to keep him under observation for at least the next 12 hours, possibly 24."
Virgil nodded, seemingly understanding. "Where will you take him?" He asked.
"Edleshaw. It's a military base about five minutes from here." Jaime informed them.
"We need to sort the 'birds out." Virgil said absently. "I'll get on to base. Let them know what's going on." Gordon eyed Virgil darkly as he walked away to get in touch with base, this did not go unnoticed by Jaime.
"Gordon. Right?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yeah"
"You look upset?" She kicked herself for saying something so blindingly stupid but couldn't think of anything else.
"I am." Gordon said flatly. "But luckily for Virgil I'm professional enough to not let it interfere with the priority. Which at the moment is Scott?" Jaime was a little surprised by both his openness and bluntness she was about to speak further when Virgil re-approached them.
"Okay. Base said that I'm to take One to Edleshaw and stay with Scott. You are to take Two home." Instead of the sarcastic comment, about Virgil letting him fly his pride and joy, which Gordon would normally make, he just nodded curtly.
"How did he take it?" he asked deliberately keeping the identity of 'he' cryptic so as Jaime would not realise.
"Not good." Virgil answered honestly. "Tin-tin said he's been locked in the study more or less all day." Gordon nodded, sighing walked past Virgil and following Jaime and Scott's stretcher down the stairs, 'of all the days' he thought glumly.
Virgil watched him go, he sighed heavily. Judging by the short conversation, black looks and uncharacteristic silence, Gordon was either angry or upset or worse; both.