"He did what!" the gruff yell startled the whole family and Gordon opened his eyes with a start. His father was obviously furious at something and his mind played over the past few days and wondered if he was in the wrong. He got to his feet and peered out of his bedroom door, meeting Alan's confused face in the hallway.

"What's going on?" Alan asked, rubbing the last traces of sleep from his eyes. Gordon shrugged and made his way to the living room where his father was pacing the floor, furiously muttering to himself. John was on the video link talking quickly to Scott whose face was a mixture of confusion, shock, anger….and a whole load more that Gordon couldn't begin to identify. Gordon looked around for his immediate older brother who was notorious for his heavy sleeping, it was be just like him to miss this. He was about to make his way to his bedroom when he heard Scott mention his name.

"Where has Virgil left the jet?" Gordon turned around slowly, the reason for the anger on his father's face becoming clearer. John read off a grid reference and Scott jotted it down quickly.

"We'll get out there and pick it up…I take it he's probably long gone though?"

"I didn't actually speak to him Scott," John said regretfully. "I don't think he needed someone trying to talk him out of what he was doing…I just tracked the jet. Maybe he's still there, maybe he wanted time to cool off…"

"No John, the note says it all really," Jeff spoke finally and all brothers turned to look at their father.

"What note? What's this about a jet? Where's Virgil?" Alan gabbered, trying to understand what was going on.

"He's gone," Scott said, his voice flat and emotionless.

"Gone?" Gordon repeated. "Where? Why?" Jeff placed down the note on the table and Alan and Gordon huddled around it, their eyes taking in the message through Vigil elaborate script.

"He doesn't believe in what we are doing?" Alan asked. "What's he talking about…we save people's lives?"

"I know," Jeff muttered.

"But…the last few rescue's, we've lost some people…" Gordon said. "I was flying back with him and he was upset Dad…"

"I don't want to talk about it any more," Jeff said blunty, getting to his feet and snatching the note from the table. Alan shuffled back immediately.

"I don't want him mentioned in the house…he has disowned us, we're doing the same to him."

His New York apartment seemed an obvious place to hide, although only his brother Scott knew of its existence. Leaving the town where he'd enjoyed his student days had been hard, Virgil loved New York so, on the quiet, had kept the apartment he had lived in for the four years. He was happy to return to it, having had little time to stay in it. He closed over the front door and stepped into the vast open plan lounge and kitchen. The apartment was silent, outside he could see the streets bustling, lighting up as dusk came, but here it was still and calm. He lay down on the soft sofa, his hand brushing against the smooth fabric as he closed his eyes.

"I've done it…" he whispered to himself. A smile flickered across his face, but it slipped away as he opened his eyes. Doubt began to creep into his mind, had he done the right thing? Could he stay here without ever hearing from his father, his brothers again? Swallowing nervously he made his way to the kitchen, the cupboard which stored many a half-empty bottle. He found his prized Jack Daniels and kissed it. He poured himself a shot and took it quickly.

"Ok…let's take it easy…it was a tough call Virgil, but you're here now and it's time to get going, get started," he murmured to himself. Shot after shot followed and before long Virgil staggered to his bedroom, lying face down in the sheets, his shirt and trousers rumpled as he hitched himself further up the bed until his head lay against the pillow.

"Night…" he whispered to anyone that was listening as the apartment gave way to a deep dreamless sleep.

Scott stood at the balcony, his hand cupped around a crystal tumbler full of Jack Daniels, his savoir for the evening. He had tried to sleep, but his mind was buzzing with what had happened that day. He was stunned by Virgil decision to run. He'd faced almost certain death before, but had always remained convinced that he was in the right job. It was only until he'd watched other people die that he'd seemed to freak about the job. Scott wasn't sure how to react to Virgil's sudden decision to run. He thought they could share everything together, they were always the closest of the brothers and had an understanding that came from working closely under tense and dangerous conditions. Was his brother ashamed at the fear he felt? Swallowing the last of the liquid, feeling it make a warm path down his throat, his titled the tumbler to the sky.

"You're one sonofabitch Virgil," Scott muttered, "but…night bro."

He saw her walking across the street, her attention grabbed by her male companion who seemed to be furious. His hand gestures were irate, his face reddened while she studied him with calm eyes. As they stepped onto the busy street, she turned towards Virgil and for a moment their eyes met before her male companion grabbed her shoulder, pulling her back round.

"I was on a call out!" Virgil heard her cry, her accent unfamiliar.

"You stood me up…again!" the man yelled back, Virgil assumed he was her boyfriend. The girl fixed him with a cold stare before Virgil saw the anger flash across the boyfriend's face. Quickly he got to his feet and moved towards them, terrified this beautiful girl would be hurt. Luckily he hadn't got far before the boyfriend threw down her arm and stormed away. Virgil watched the girl stand still for a moment before she slowly turned, the crowd moving around her. Again her eyes met Virgil's and she managed a small smile, having realized he'd witnessed the argument. She stumbled towards him and Virgil saw a faint tear in her eye.

"Would you like a drink?" he asked her gently. She looked at him, as if sizing him up, before nodding and sitting down at the table Virgil had just vacated.

"Can I have another coffee please?" Virgil asked a passing waiter, "and…"

"Make it two coffees," the girl said, now that she spoke softly, Virgil realized she had a Scottish accent. He looked at her long dark hair, falling over her eyes, which when she brushed the hair back, Virgil could see were a deep brown, not unlike his own. He rubbed his scruffy brown hair distractedly before extending his hand to her.

"I'm…I'm Virgil," he said by way of introduction. She smiled at him before putting her hand into his.

"Caitlin," she replied. "Oh well, there goes my gossip about me drinking with a handsome stranger!" Virgil smiled shyly and lowered his head, thankful that the coffees arrived at that moment. He stirred his while Caitlin watched him closely.

"Are you ok?" he asked after a moment.

"I will be. My boyfriend…well, ex-boyfriend now, was yelling at me because I didn't show up for our date last night. I was on a call out, I work in the rescue service you see…need to be available at a moments notice…" Virgil lifted his head slowly and watched as the dark haired beauty spilled her soul to him.

"He never understood…I love my job and…well, I suppose I wanted the praise, the joy of saving someone more than him."

"I…I know where you're coming from," he said. "I worked in that line of work…" And so began their long conversation over a number of coffees. Virgil was blown away by Caitlin, this girl that seemed to have walked into his life from out of nowhere. He hoped that she was warming to him.

"Finally, someone who understands!" she exclaimed, reaching over and grabbing his hands. He felt his face blush before she let them go, her face softening as she tilted her head.

"You're very easy to talk to," she said. "Look, maybe this is too many coffees speaking, but I had a table booked for tonight…I was going to cancel, but if you're free…would you come with me to dinner?" Virgil was almost shocked to silence before his brain kicked into action and he smiled widely at Caitlin.

"Yeah…I'd love to…"

The restaurant was almost empty as they drank the remaining wine from the bottom of the glasses. She smiled up at him as he spoke vaguely of his family, not wanting to get caught up with too many questions. Her dark eyes sparkled as she laughed when he mentioned the most recent joke Gordon had played on him. She sighed as he finished his story with a half-shrug.

"Virgil, your life sounds pretty fun to me…you live on a beautiful island with your family around you…you can drop everything to come here to New York…"

"I guess island life isn't all it's cracked up to be," he said with a sad smile. "It certainly reduces the chances of meeting someone like you…" Caitlin smiled, lowering her head discreetly and letting out a small laugh.

"Sorry…I said too much…the wine…" he stopped as she lifted her head and leaned across the table, placing her soft lips against his in a lingering kiss.

"So when do you return to the island of yours?" she asked in barely a whisper.

"Not in the near future…" Caitlin got to her feet, luring Virgil to his by taking his hand.

"I may be on the rebound…maybe it's just the wine…but Virgil, I have never met someone I've wanted this much in my life…" she uttered. He tucked his finger under her chin, maneuvering her head upwards before kissing her longingly.

"My place is five minutes away," he whispered.

She was still there in the morning, her eyes half open as she gently kissed his lips, pulling him from a peaceful sleep into the reality of his surroundings.

"I never normally do this sort of thing," she confessed as he opened one eye and smiled at her.

"Well I'm sure glad you did," he replied, draping his arm across her hips, stroking the small of her back. She responded to his touch, moving in towards him, their sleepy kissing becoming more and more desperate as they woke up. Suddenly her phone began beeping shrilly and she pulled back reluctantly.

"Always on call," Virgil smiled at her, releasing her from his hug. She picked up her phone, received the information as she pulled on her clothes. The dress from the night before was crumpled and hardly seemed fitting attire for rescuing, but it didn't seem to bother her. The news she was receiving was obviously causing her distress. Virgil got to his feet as she hung up, wiping her hand across her face.

"There's kids Virgil…loads of them. A building went up in flames, the whole structure is going to go….the fire's still blazing like mad and all the time these children are trapped in some basement place…" Virgil soothed her kissing her forehead softly.

"Let me come with you," he said softly. "I've worked with the best, I know how to handle this…" Caitlin looked up at him and stepped back.

"Virgil…are you sure? Who are the best…?"

"Come on, there's not much time Caitlin…" he backtracked as she turned away, pulling on her strappy high heeled shoes and stumbled towards the door.

"You've got me convinced," she said.