Gordon smiled up at the girl sitting above him as he placed an ice pack over her swollen ankle. She winced, but smiled through it.

"At least it's not broken," he said. "You wouldn't be any good at this job if you were on crutches." The girl laughed, brushing back her tangled hair from her face and wriggling her toes to prove her ankle wasn't that badly injured.

"Thanks," she said. "I'm supposed to be one of the people helping the injured and here I am with the worst injury…"

"It happens to the best of us." She reached down and rubbed some dirt from Gordon's cheek with her fingertips. He wasn't expecting such a gesture and had to work hard to keep his unaffected, cool, suave attitude while inside he was carrying out some kind of excitable victory dance. He met her eyes calmly.

"I'm Gordon…in case you were wondering," he continued with a cheeky smile.

"Hi Gordon," the girl said, flashing him a winning smile. "I'm Caitlin."

"Well now that we're introduced, how about I take you for a drink somewhere…like over to that water tank…?" Caitlin followed his gaze and nodded, taken in by Gordon's charm and ability to make her forget about the pain she was feeling. He slipped a strong arm around her and together they hobbled across the creaky floorboards to the chairs next to the tank.

"You must be a swimmer," she commented as he handed her a plastic cup. "Those arms are definitely swimmers arms."

"You're very observant," Gordon replied. "Those eyes…those eyes are definitely lovely eyes." He returned with a wink and Caitlin closed her eyes, laughing and shaking her head.

"You're a charmer! Wait until I tell my boyfriend that a member of International Rescue was hitting on me!" Gordon wriggled his eyebrows and she playfully hit his shoulder. Gordon was about to see how far he could push his luck, when Scott entered the hall being used to treat minor injuries and cast a stern eye over Gordon.

"How's the ankle?" Scott asked Caitlin.

"It'll mend in time," she replied. "I supposed I get some time off work at least."

"Are you ok for getting home?"

"I've phoned my boyfriend…he wasn't on call tonight so he's able to come and get me." Scott nodded and grabbed hold on Gordon's shoulder, pulling him to his feet.

"Well as long as you're ok, I'll get rid of this trouble-maker for you." Caitlin laughed as Gordon rolled his eyes and made a phone sign with his hand.

"Call me," he said with a laugh, blowing her a kiss. Scott shoved his brother towards Thunderbird 2 with a snort.

"You're laughing Scott…come on! Laugh with me!" Gordon encouraged.

"Well, your flirting abilities are pretty amusing," Scott conceded. Gordon looked up at Thunderbird 2, his smile slowly fading.

"Virgil would have tried it on with her too. She is so his type, don't you think? I mean…I don't think he'd have had any chance though…" Scott shot him a warning look, silently pleading with him not to bring their brother into this conversation. Gordon trailed off before clearing his throat.

"I'm going to head back then. See you back home?"

"FAB. I'll just finish the last minute things here."

He could not be seen by them. Sitting in the darkness of his car, Virgil stared at the sleek silver body of his brother's Thunderbird craft and felt his stomach twist into a knot. He wasn't ready for this…not yet. Sinking down in the driving seat, Virgil watched as he saw his brother leaving the hall and making his way towards his craft. Standing tall, his dark hair tousled from the exertions of the rescue, Scott was, as always, the face of professionalism. Virgil could tell he was tired, but Scott would never let it show.

"Scott…" Virgil murmured, as his brother looked over to where Caitlin stood and gave her a half-wave. Scott was always one to please the ladies, Virgil thought and he felt a glimmer of pride as he watched Scott maneuver Thunderbird 1 into the air, speedily, yet gracefully as ever. Virgil got out of his car, following the path of the craft as it headed back home. Without warning, Virgil felt his eyes burn as tears gathered at the corners. His chest tightened as Thunderbird 1 disappeared from view. He wanted to be flying home alongside his older brother, heading back to their family, heading back to a home-cooked dinner made by his Grandma, dealing with the latest in a series of jokes Gordon and Alan had plotted against Scott and himself, late night whiskies with Scott, discussing everything and anything that came to mind…Virgil wiped at his eyes furiously with his sleeve.

"I'm not homesick…" he thought out loud. "I'm twenty six years old…I don't get homesick…" He slammed his hand down on the hood of his car angrily and took a deep breath, pushing the air out of his lungs. He saw Caitlin at the doorway and immediately moved towards her, his mind returning to her injured ankle and the moment of panic he'd felt when he'd been told she was hurt.

"See…I don't need them," he whispered.

"They are really amazing at what they do," Caitlin enthused as Virgil propped her ankle up on some pillows.

"You want a drink or anything to eat?" he asked her, a meager attempt to distract her.

"No thanks…I mean, the guy in charge…he was brilliant. So calm and in control…he could give our chief a few lessons…"

"He sounds great," Virgil sighed, forcing a smile as he sat down on the couch and Caitlin placed her head in his lap.

"One of them asked me out," she continued with a laugh. Virgil rolled his eyes, mentally guessing who it would have been.

"Scott. Definitely Scott."

"Yeah…Gordon his name was…"

"Gordon!" Virgil cried out and immediately wanted to take it back. He sat in stunned silence for a moment, waiting for Caitlin to accuse him of knowing Gordon, of being in International Rescue and of running out on them. It didn't come and Virgil glanced at Caitlin, trying to maintain some kind of neutral appearance. Caitlin looked at him with steady eyes for a long time.

"You sound surprised?" she said finally.

"I…I didn't think you would have found out their names…them being top secret and everything…" Virgil trailed off into a mumble and shrugged. Caitlin pondered this for a moment before making the decision to quickly move on with the conversation.

"They always seem to be able to pull off any rescue as well…"

"No one's perfect," Virgil interrupted her. She stopped and Virgil cursed inwardly. Her eyes searched his for some kind of explanation for the snappy comment.

"I mean…I bet they've had some shit rescues," he said quietly. Caitlin shrugged and half-smiled.

"Sorry sweetie, am I going on a bit?" She brushed her hand down his stubbly cheek before moving to the back of his neck, keeping his lips on hers.

"Yeah…I mean what's all this, talking about them hitting on you…" He pretended to be hurt as she placed tender kisses on his lips.

"But this makes it all better…" he said softly, pulling her towards him. His phone began to ring and she broke off, sinking back down into the couch.

"Not now!" Virgil yelled at it, looking down at Caitlin who had never looked so sweet and lovely and…

"I'll be waiting right here," she breathed. Virgil closed his eyes and nodded as he leapt to his feet, snatching the phone and taking in the details. Caitlin watched him pull on his boots and grab his equipment before kneeling at her side.

"I'll be right back to make sure you're resting," he whispered, kissing her once…twice…before he realised he really had to go.

The normally bustling, loud, claustrophobic street which housed some of the poorest tenement blocks was deserted. Run-down, crumbling Victorian structures towered above him. Windows, blackened by smog looked down on him like empty eyes. Guiltily, Virgil recalled his own luxurious apartment and felt his heart sink.

"What's going on here?" he asked, finding his chief among the policemen mingling at some distance from the buildings.

"Gas leak," the chief said simply and Virgil frowned.

"A gas leak?" Virgil asked, pulling on a head torch and checking it worked.

"Yeah…the guys in charge of the evacuation told them they had to get out before the place blew…Idiots, they caused a bit of a mass panic and that's when the guys there got injured. They need to be moved as safely and as quickly as possible," his chief said. Virgil nodded and took a handful of medical supplies before making his way past the police line and over to the small group huddling together, close to the evacuated building.

"Hi, I'm Virgil," he said, taking in the injuries of the group before him. One small girl looked as though she may have been caught in a crush of people…her breathing was erratic and Virgil immediately moved to her side. Her mother clung to the girl, her frantic gaze flickering between her daughter and Virgil.

"Honey?" he asked her softly. "I'm Virgil, I'm a medic and I'm going to get you out of here ok?" The girl wearily opened her eyes and nodded stiffly.

"Ok, don't move too much…I'm going to call for some help," he told her and the mother, radioing the chief. The chief agreed for backup, before informing Virgil of a much more serious matter.

"There seems to be a person still in the building…you're closest…"

"You don't need to ask twice," Virgil sighed. "How long have I got?"

"Five minutes…make it three though, just to be on the safe side. They've got some people in trying to stop the leak, but they think too much has escaped already."

"FAB…" Virgil sighed wearily before realising his mistake.

"What?"

"Nothing…sorry, I'll be in touch when I find the missing person."

The crumpled body in the building's dim and dusty hallway stopped Virgil in his tracks. The boy was only about ten, pale skinned with dark, almost black tousled hair. Virgil moved towards him, closing his eyes as he felt for a pulse. It was there…faint, but the boy was still alive. Inwardly, Virgil let out a sigh and brushed back the boy's hair, checking for any other injuries. The boy stirred and Virgil smiled as his eyes opened, his face twisting as he felt the pain.

"Hey, I'm Virgil and I'm a medic. You're going to be ok…can you tell me where it hurts?" The boy looked at him, fixing him with a gaze identical to that of his eldest brother. The piercing blue eyes caused Virgil to shudder with shock and his felt his mouth go dry.

"Everywhere…" the boy whispered. "Please mister…the gas leak…we have to get out…"

"We've got plenty of time, don't worry," Virgil assured him, tucking his arm under his knees and lifting him.

"I'm just going to have to carry you…you ok with that?" The boy nodded and placed his small head against Virgil's shoulder wearily. He began to walk down the corridor before he heard a static voice on his radio.

"Virgil…are you in there still?"

"On my way out," Virgil replied.

"The gas…"

"Yeah, don't worry. We'll be clear…" Virgil assured him.

"No…no you won't…Virgil…" the voice cut off as from somewhere below him, Virgil heard a low grumbling noise. The floor beneath his feet began to move and Virgil held the boy closer as he began to run, stumbling on the unsteady ground. In front of him, Virgil saw the side of the building crashing towards the ground and he let out a pained yell. The boy opened his eyes wide as Virgil lost his footing. They stared at each other as the rumbling stopped, slipping slowly into nothing. The tense silence deafened Virgil and he could do nothing to stop his body from shaking with fear.

"Scott…oh God Scott, help me…" Virgil yelled as he felt himself fading. The boy beside him had his eyes squeezed shut and Virgil looked skywards, waiting for the inevitable. Dampness on his cheeks startled him and he broke down, curling up next to the boy as the second blast slammed through the building.

Scott woke with a jump, his yells slowly fading to a whisper. He was shaking, there were hot tears on his face as he slowly opened his eyes.

"Virgil…" he was whispering, over and over. Snatches of the nightmare came back to him…he was with Virgil…where were they? Scott closed his eyes, but couldn't think. Virgil had fallen, he was yelling for him to help him and Scott couldn't. He was too far away from his brother and could only watch as he'd fallen…Scott kicked himself free of the sheets and moved towards his window, rain streaming down the panes of glass.

"Oh Virgil…" Scott murmured. "Why do I feel like I might have lost you for good this time?"

thanks for the reviews!i agree it is kinda similar to other stuff here, it took me a while to decide whether or not to put it on because of that. this is my first fan fic ever and the first time i've put out my writing for people to see...i wasn't going to say, but i willsince you asked. and apologies for the grammar and spelling (im scottish by the way so im using english spelling of words!) but no excuse for it all i know. btw, anyone know how i can get my paragraphs to work out properly? i just realised it's kind of bunched together and was worried that it would make it quite difficult to read...so sorry if it does!