The buildings threatened to collapse at any second and Scott was putting a brave face on the situation as he and Gordon surveyed the damaged remains.
"The fire is almost out…but there's still people down in the basement…rescue crews have people down there, but they need our specialist equipment." His crisp blue eyes flickered as bricks fell from one of the upper stories of the building. Scott turned as a group of the rescue crew made their way towards him.
"We're going to send some medics down into the basement area," the one Scott assumed to be the head of the group informed him.
"Okay…our equipment can get to the lower part of the building…the more inaccessible parts…maybe we should take one of your guys down with us?"
"Sure…hang on…Caitlin?" the man called over to one of the tents.
"She's down there," came the reply, the soft voice sounding strangely familiar to Scott.
"Virgil…I need you here now…" the man called back. Gordon and Scott instantly looked at each other, both faces registering their shock. It couldn't be…
"Chief…" Virgil said, his voice trailing off as he saw two of his brothers standing in front of him. Their crisp blue uniforms adorned with a sash were a sharp contrast to Virgil's dusty and tattered white t-shirt with his name and position shown into the sleeve and worn green combats. Scott looked at his brother in shock. He was still the same Virgil, gentle brown eyes, scruffy brown hair which he'd let get a little longer and scruffier. He looked worn out, but Scott assumed he'd been working at this site since the early hours when the fire was reported to have started. Gordon was the first to speak.
"Virgil…you're a medic…?"
"We need you with Gordon in the mole," Scott said crisply, not wanting an emotional reunion between the brothers. Virgil reached out to touch his brother's arm, but Scott's crystal blue eyes froze him with a solid look of almost hatred. Gordon grabbed his brother's arm, dragging Virgil to the Mole. As he stopped, opening the hatch, he heard Virgil draw in a sharp breath, his eye seeking out Thunderbird 2, his 'baby' for so long. But, still the professional, Virgil quickly jumped in behind Gordon, slamming the hatch down and sitting back in the passenger seat, looking to Gordon for instruction.
"Bro…you've been gone three years…I didn't think I'd see you again…not like this anyway…" Virgil felt his heart breaking as he watched his copper haired younger brother turn to look at him, his eyes filled with sadness. The familiar surroundings of the Mole did nothing to soothe him and he cleared his throat, trying to think of what to say.
"I'm sorry Gordon," he croaked, knowing it sounded pathetic. Gordon ignored the weak apology.
"You're working in the rescue business here Virgil…I don't get it…why stay away?" Virgil glanced to the side, his mind churning over how to explain the feelings he had.
"I met someone," he blurted out finally. "She was the one who put the idea into my head to do some medical training…"
"And she was the one that kept you from coming back!" Gordon grunted as the Mole shuddered to a halt.
"Gordon…it wasn't you or Scott or Dad or anyone that made me want to up and leave…I felt like I wasn't doing the job I'd promised to do…"
"Virgil, you were…are…the best pilot of Thunderbird 2…the best at handling the difficult stuff. I know Scott is in control of everything we do, but it's always been you who got in there and did the work…"
"Gordo…"Virgil pleaded with him, using the family nickname for Gordon accidentally.
"Virgil Tracy, International rescue is still in there," Gordon told him. "Dad wants you back Virg…he needs you back." Virgil fiddled with his hands nervously, desperate for a cigarette and he swallowed the lump gathering in his throat.
"You don't need to say it Gordon," Virgil said softly, but Gordon ignored him.
"You are the closest thing he's going to get to having Mom back." Gordon said loudly, causing Virgil to feel like he'd shattered into pieces. Closing his eyes, willing for the tears he'd never shed to stay behind his eyes. As he opened them, he saw Gordon staring at him, guilt flooding his face as his older brother got to his feet, grabbing hold of his medipack and pushing the hatch open.
"I'll get to work," he said in a low voice.
"Gordon, can you get these children to the surface as fast as possible and then come back down?" Virgil asked. Gordon nodded, stunned at Virgil's quick response to the situation, shocked by his medical expertise. He was even more surprised to come face to face with Caitlin and the realisation that she was the girl Virgil had stayed in New York for.
"Here you go," Caitlin said, leading the dazed children up towards the Mole. Gordon couldn't take his eyes off her deep dark eyes that suddenly appeared every time she pushed her black hair out of her eyes. The children were enthralled by her, she had a knack of keeping them calm, but yet making this dangerous situation a bit of an adventure for them.
"This is a special machine, it's going to get you back on the street before you know it…this is Gordon, your pilot for the day," Caitlin said, her weary smile making it difficult for him to look away.
"That's right, all aboard!" Gordon cried with mock cheeriness, trying to keep the children feeling happy and positive.
"Thanks," Caitlin said, watching the last child climb into the mole and cry out enthusiastically with the rest.
"Just doing my job ma'am," Gordon smiled sweetly as he watched Virgil's stocky figure walk up beside them.
"Thanks Gordo," Virgil said, placing his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"I meant what I said Virgil, but I didn't say it to hurt you…be careful down here. I'll be right back." With a mock salute, Gordon raced into the Mole and Virgil watch as he began to reverse it back through the hole it had dug out, his eyes beginning to water as it disappeared from view.
"Virgil…are you okay?" Caitlin asked him, rubbing his arm affectionately.
"Yeah honey," Virgil said, turning to her and putting a smile on his face.
"I know this is grueling, but they need us…"
"You don't need to tell me," Virgil said to her, beginning to pull away at the debris, his mind filled with thoughts of his brothers, his dad and most of all, his mother.
"Sweetheart…" Caitlin began, but instead took his hand and placed a kiss on his lips.
"I know it's not the time…I love you…I really, really love you," she blurted out. Virgil stopped dead and turned to look at her, his mouth turning up in a half-smile, his honey coloured eyes glinting.
"I love you," he repeated to her and they exchanged a smile before Virgil followed Caitlin into a small tunnel, big enough for them to crawl through, but not much more. They could hear the muffled cries of children near by and Caitlin let her head drop. Virgil took a deep breath, shuffling towards her. They clawed at a long piece of wood, before letting out a defeated sigh.
"Gordon can get the kids down there Caitlin…you're exhausted, this tunnel is not safe…"
"Yeah…maybe we should head back…" Suddenly there was a huge crash and the tunnel began to crumple before them.
"Virgil…watch…" Caitlin cried, grabbing hold of him as rubble crashed down right in front of them, spewing up dust. Virgil felt himself choking and turned towards Caitlin who placed her hand over her mouth, sinking down towards the ground. Virgil followed suit, huddling beside her until everything became still and the dust settled. He could see her pale skin, coated with a thin layer of black dust. Her eyes were closed and he frowned, reaching over to touch her.
"Caitlin, are you ok?" he asked her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She didn't respond and carefully Virgil eased himself closer to her.
"Caitlin…honey?" Her eyes flickered behind her eyelids and Virgil let out a sigh of relief. He kissed her softly as she opened her eyes.
"Virgil…" she croaked.
"Hey, you're ok, don't worry," he soothed her, wrapping his arm around her waist and fitting her body against his.
"We'll be ok," he promised her. "They know we're down here."
"I…We're buried…buried really deep…" Caitlin wheezed, coughing violently.
"They won't take long…" Virgil murmured, letting his finger stroke her cheek. Caitlin looked away and Virgil touched her hand, pressing his lips against it. He looked at the glimmer of fear in her eyes and felt his heart breaking.
"We'll be ok…trust me," he promised her. She shook her head and placed her head against his chest, closing over her eyes.
"No…come on Caitlin…stay with me…"
"Can't Virgil…" she whispered wearily. He placed his hand at the back of her head, easing it up, but was shocked to feel sticky scarlet blood against his hand. The blood had matted the hair at the side of her head and Virgil swallowed nervously.
"No you can…you're going to have to," he said to her firmly, but he got no response.
"Caitlin…don't do this to me…" he pleaded to her silent form. Lifting his radio, he called to the chief on the surface, but got no response.
"No...Caitlin…" he stroked her hair, gazing at her noting the shallow breathing and took a deep breath before picking up the radio again.
"Calling International Rescue… Scott, can you hear me?"
Scott's anguished yell was drowned out as he watched the building begin to shudder.
"It's going to go!" someone behind him screamed and he felt arms grabbing him, pulling him away.
"Gordon!" Scott yelled as he saw his brother rushing a group of dazed children towards the medical tents. Scott grabbed his brother, but no words were spoken as behind them, the building crumbled, toppling to the ground, throwing up masses of dust and rubble. Gordon felt himself being pushed to the ground, the rushing sound filling his ears, dust filling his mouth and nose. And suddenly the noise was gone and he could hear crying, people screaming out in horror and one voice that made him realize why above him, Scott was trembling uncontrollably.
"Where are Caitlin and Virgil…they're not accounted for…" Gordon opened his mouth to speak, but Scott was already up. The normally cool and composed eldest son ran towards the rubble, yelling his younger brother's name over and over until his voice was hoarse. Gordon grabbed at some bricks, throwing them behind him as he searched in vain for him.
"Virgil…are you there…?"
"I'm getting the Mole…I'm going down to get him," he heard Scott say somewhere in the distance and he nodded. Trying to take control, Gordon contacted base, not knowing how to break this news to their father.
The look on his son's face told Jeff that something had gone wrong on the rescue. Slowly Jeff took a seat and glanced at Alan who sat watching Gordon's video link intently.
"Dad…we found Virgil…" Gordon said, his voice small and weary. A thousand images of Virgil flew through Jeff's mind and he opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Although he never spoke of Virgil, there was not a minute that Jeff did not think about him, wondering what he was doing, wondering when he'd return.
"He's working as a rescue medic," Gordon continued, wiping at a bead of sweat that trickled down his forehead.
"He's…" Alan began, but Jeff hushed him, nodding slowly and half-smiling.
"But Dad…there's some bad news…we just found him and he went down into the building with me to get some kids out…I came back up, but Virgil had decided to try and get the last few out…but…but the building just came down…Dad, Virgil was there and I don't know how he is…" Jeff watched in horror as his usually smiling, cheery second youngest son broke down, the emotions of the day racing through him.
"Gordon, Gordon, listen to me…Virgil knows how to survive…he's one of us, he always will be…I have faith in him…" Alan looked at his father and smiled. Despite his cursing of Virgil, he knew his father would not let go of the hope Virgil would reconsider his place back on the island.
"Dad…Scott's gone down to search for them…"
"Okay Gordon, keep me informed. I want to know when Scott gets Virgil to the surface." Gordon nodded, wiping his eyes with his sleeve quickly.
"Let's pray Virgil is okay," Jeff said. Suddenly he heard Scott's voice interrupting Gordon. Scott's voice was unrecognizable; wild, his train of thought irrational and as he spoke to Gordon, Jeff felt his gut drop and he let out a soft moan.
"The girl is dead," Scott said, his voice trembling. "Virgil's clinging to her, I think I can make out a pulse but I don't know…"
"Get them both up on to the surface now!" Jeff ordered, his voice becoming harsh as he took in what his son was telling him.
"He can't die Scott…don't let him die…" Gordon was pleading, falling to pieces over the video link. Scott was silent and Jeff slumped back in his seat as Alan ran to his side. Jeff wanted to hold Scott and Gordon, stand with them as Virgil was brought out, but he couldn't. He'd sent his sons into the area and all he could do was watch through a fuzzy video link as Gordon fell apart and Scott slipped into shock. He could only watch as the motionless form of the son he hadn't seen or heard from in three years emerged from the Mole.
"Dad…Dad are you okay?" Alan asked him, his fingers gripping Jeff's shoulder, shaking him gently. Jeff looked at his youngest son and grabbed his hand.
"Virgil…" he whispered.