Disclaimer: Same as usual, I own none of the characters, they belong to Gerry Anderson and Carlton Television.

AN: Last update for the next two weeks, as I shall be away enjoying the British sunshine…. If we actually get any sun! Thanks to all who have reviewed. Enjoy chapter 7!

Chapter 7

Up on Thunderbird 5, Virgil was almost insane with worry. The last time that he had heard anything was from Scott, when John's heart rate was dropping. That was almost an hour ago now. He had called Tracy Island, but it was only Brains and Kyrano there, and they were as clueless as Virgil was on John's condition. He couldn't risk calling anyone else, in case they were at the hospital and someone noticed their watches.

Virgil growled with frustration, and slammed a fist down onto one of the control panels. All this served to do was hurt his hand and increase his anxiety. He was deeply worried about John; he was annoyed with himself for not noticing sooner. He felt that he had been neglecting his brother, he only saw his brother once every other month, if he was lucky.

Being up here, even though it hadn't been long, made him fully appreciate what John went through everytime the rest of them were out on a rescue. He was completely cut off from everyone and everything. The only things he had to keep him company were the occasional beep from one of the control panels and the gentle hum of Thunderbird 5s life support system.

He sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. Turning to look out the viewport, he could see the Earth in all its glory. His throat constricted as he looked down on it. It looked so calm and peaceful from where he was, but down there, his brother was seriously injured, and fighting for his life.

Unless…Virgil felt a wave of cold sweep over him and refused to let himself finish the thought. The idea that one of his beloved brothers might be dead was too dreadful to even contemplate. He shivered, and shook his head to try and rid himself of his morbid thoughts. Virgil had always had a vivid imagination, and while this was good for something's, he did not want images like the ones he had.

He sank to the floor and put his head in his hands. He shook his head, and settled in to wait some more.

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Jeff and Scott walked silently into the room. As Gordon followed and saw the state John was in, he let out a horrified gasp. He couldn't help it, John looked terrible. Jeff and Scott shared Gordon's shock, but managed to hide it better. They had been through something similar to this when Gordon had been in his hydrofoil accident, and knew how it felt to walk in on a loved one looking like this.

John was still extremely pale, his head was bandaged and you could just see his shorn head poking through the top. He seemed to be covered in tubes, one coming out of his mouth helping him breathe, and numerous other IV tubes. He had electrodes attached to his bare chest and a heart monitor was tracing his heartbeat on a screen with a slow but steady 'beep'. He looked so small and vulnerable that all three visitors felt their throats constrict.

Jeff was the first to approach the bed. He gently picked up John's hand, carefully avoiding the IV tube, and sat down at the bedside.

"John…" was all Jeff managed before his voice cracked. Scott immediately walked forwards and put his hand on Jeff's shoulder. Jeff reached up and grasped it tightly. Scott turned and beckoned Gordon over, when Gordon reached him; he immediately put his arm around his shoulders. Gordon leaned into his brother's embrace, feeling the protection and comfort that his big brother was radiating.

"Its ok, John's a fighter, he'll get through this just fine" Scott said reassuringly, wishing that he felt as confident as he sounded.

Both Gordon and Jeff felt comforted by Scott's words, John was a fighter, he was extremely stubborn and refused to let anything beat him. Scott only prayed that he was right, and that John would fight.

Scott would give anything, including his own life, for any of his brothers. He hoped with every fibre of his being that John would be ok. He wanted nothing more at this moment in time for his brother to open his sapphire blue eyes and quietly tell them to stop fussing.

Scott knew that even though John was the quietest, he had so much to say and offer on things. He had very strong opinions and wouldn't hesitate to voice them if he thought it was needed. Scott missed John; him and his two oldest brothers were very close, even though they were not as close as John and Gordon or Scott and Virgil…. VIRGIL!!

"Oh God" muttered Scott no one had called in to fill Virgil in on the current situation. Scott was willing to bet that Virgil was quietly going mad with worry as for all Virgil knew, John could be dead. Scott quickly freed himself from his Father and brothers embrace and went to the en suite bathroom to call him.

"Virgil, come in Virgil" he murmured into his watch.

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Virgil jumped as the Comm channel loudly beeped, signalling an incoming call. He scrambled quickly to his feet and practically sprinted the short distance to the console. He took a moment to compose himself before opening the channel.

"International Rescue" he said calmly, praying that it would be someone calling in to update him on John.

"Virgil, its me" Scott's voice crackled out of the speaker as his picture appeared on the screen.

Virgil clutched the sides of the control panel, taking in how tired and worried Scott looked, as he responded "How's he doing?"

"Well…he's stable at the moment, but they're still running tests." Scott paused and looked away before continuing sombrely "He looks real bad Virge, he's so thin and covered in tubes…The doctors say that he's not out of the woods yet. I guess we were lucky that they were able to start his heart again."

The relief that Virgil had been feeling vanished abruptly to be replaced with a cold hand of fear around his heart. "His heart stopped?!" whispered Virgil incredulously "Oh God…" his voice trailed off and he stared unseeing at what was in front of him.

Scott looked worried, and then enlightenment dawned on him. "You didn't know that his heart stopped," he said flatly.

Virgil shook his head, unable to speak.

Scott opened his mouth to say something else before being cut off by a high pitched beeping coming from the other room.

"I've gotta go" he said urgently "I'll call later"

Once again Virgil was left alone with his thoughts. He slumped to the floor with nothing to do but wait impatiently for more news.

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The high pitched beeping grew louder as Scott ran out of the bathroom and back into John's room. He automatically registered the presence of the rest of his family, Alan had arrived along with Tin-Tin and Grandma, but the main focus of his attention was on John.

John was convulsing, his muscles violently tensing and relaxing and causing him to jerk violently. A nurse was desperately trying to hold his head to prevent him smashing it on anything while other white-coated people tried to hold his thrashing limbs down. The door burst open as more doctors and nurses came rushing in.

Scott found himself pushed to one side, along with the rest of his family, as the medical staff tried desperately to stop the convulsions. Then, John went still.