Au: Thanks for the support and thank you to my proofreader JaneM47.

"Thanks for the assistance International Rescue. Now, one good turn deserves another," a voice sounded from the cabin of a large snowplough in front of the pod vehicle. "You sure you don't want to ride up here, Fox?"

Natasha smirked as Virgil turned his head. "No, I think I'm happy back here."

"Alright, hold onto something."

Virgil shook his head as he gripped the wheel of his snowmobile pod, nicknamed the Iceberg. "This is so embarrassing."

"You pulled off the mission and saved us. Nothing wrong with a little breakdown. The Plough will get us to safety in no time."

"FAB. Well done today," Virgil said. "That family will be fine thanks to you guys."

Natasha smiled. "I run a tight ship, Virgil, only the best come with me. But we couldn't have rescued them without you," she turned to look out at the snow coming down. "It's horrible out here."

"I thought you liked the snow?"

"Not like this. This blizzard is deadly."

Virgil frowned at the Plough ahead. "This is an odd route we're taking."

"Don't worry, the Plough can take it," Natasha reached her hand out placing it on Virgil's shoulder as best she could.

"You two doing okay back there?" A voice sounded through the radio again.

"We're doing fine, Vlad, just keep going."

"We can see you on the scanners, so no snogging."

"Oi, shut it, Melody!" Natasha laughed, hearing her team giggling in the cabin.

Vlad smirked at the driver. "Let's give them some privacy, Melody. How far from base camp are we?"

Melody checked the map. "We'll be there in five minutes, it's just over that ridge. We'll take a shortcut."

"Across the lake?" Vlad asked.

"It's the middle of winter, it'll be frozen solid."

Their third crew member, Mark, looked back at the family they had gone out to rescue. "They're beginning to warm up. A shortcut sounds like a good idea."

Melody nodded. "Then trust me. Let's go."

Changing gears, she turned the vehicle off the lane and onto the lake before she checked the scanner to make sure International Rescue's vehicle was still attached to the Plough. Vlad turned the radio on again and heard Natasha sigh.

"Finally! We couldn't get through to you."

"We just thought you might want some privacy," Vlad apologised.

"Why have we left the road?" Natasha asked.

"Mel knows a shortcut. Don't worry, we'll get across safely."

The Plough crossed the middle of the lake and Melody smiled confidently as she checked the scanner on the pod vehicle behind. Suddenly, there came a loud cracking sound, and Vlad pulled up a hologram of the lake.

"The ice, it's cracking beneath us!" He exclaimed.

"Impossible, it's meant to be solid!" Melody cried back then turned to her colleague. "Mark, look after the family."

"On it."

"Scarlet Team, what the hell is going on?" Natasha yelled into her radio, "our scanners are detecting cracks, get us out of here!"

Melody slammed her foot down on the accelerator but the wheels skidded. "It's no good, I can't accelerate with the pod behind, it's resisting."

Virgil checked his instruments. "We're caught in the ice; the tracks are embedded."

Vlad grabbed the dashboard as the Plough lurched to the side. "We'll fall through!"

"Nat, International Rescue? Hold on. We'll get you out. Going to full power," Melody revved the engine. "Come on!"

The Plough shot forward, but in doing so, disconnected the pod from its hook. Melody and the team were thrown forward and she looked around.

"What happened?"

"We've lost the pod!" Vlad yelped rolling the window down and leaning out to look behind. "We've got to reconnect it somehow."

"Scarlet Team? We're no longer connected. Don't move. I'll get out and hook us up again," Virgil pushed his chair restraints up.

Natasha grabbed his arm. "Wait, what is that sound?"

The lake groaned and Natasha looked out of the pod window. Her eyes widened in horror and she punched her radio in panic.

"Get out of here, Mel! The lake is giving way."

"Not without you."

Virgil locked the roof of the pod. "Those people are more important than us. Go!"

Vlad felt the Plough move again. "Mel, go! Or we'll be stuck here too."

Melody shook her head and muttered quietly. "I'm sorry, Natasha."

From inside the pod, Virgil and Natasha watched as the Plough raced to the other side of the lake to safety.

"What do we do?" Natasha asked. "We're stuck."

"And the ice is breaking underneath us. We can't walk from here either," he tried the engine again. "Come on baby."

Natasha felt the pod shift on the ice. "Virg?"

"I know, I know. If we can just get moving, we can. Whoa!" He yelped as the ice underneath the pod suddenly gave way.

"Natasha!" Melody cried from inside the Plough and Vlad comforted her watching the pod disappear beneath the lake.

Natasha panted as she looked up out of the roof as the ice closed in around them. "Are we safe in here?"

Virgil shook his head. "I don't know. Brains built these to survive avalanches but not under this sort of pressure, it's no Thunderbird 4." Then he suddenly gasped. "The emergency beacon!"

John bit into a panini that Grandma had sent up along with his care package happily as he ran a system check and EOS watched him. He let go of the snack allowing it to drift beside him when a loud alarm sounded and the globe glowed red.

"That can't be good," he remarked turning to the globe. "Really not good. International Rescue, we have a situation!"

Scott looked up at John's portrait as Jeff activated it. "Go ahead, son."

"Hi John, what's wrong?"

"Virgil has activated his emergency beacon, it's coming from a frozen lake in Slovenia where he was helping the GDF."

Gordon frowned. "I can already see the problem."

John nodded. "He's got Thunderbird 2."

"Couldn't we autopilot her home?" Scott asked.

Jeff shook his head. "There isn't enough time."

Kayo smirked. "Looks like it's up to me then."

Jeff cocked his head to the side. "Come again Kayo?"

"I can deliver the module to the site; I've done it in the past."

Gordon grinned. "And how are the rest of us getting there?"

Scott walked round to his chute. "I'll take you in Thunderbird 1. Come on, we don't know what trouble Virgil is in."

Kayo nodded. "I'll find Brains and have him prepare Thunderbird Shadow with Module 4. See you there."

The pod had come to rest finally at the bottom of the lake, and the couple had lost all electrics following on from the hard landing. Natasha sat shivering and Virgil pulled the seat switch up which would lay the chair flat so he could move.

"Here, cuddle up," he sat back against the side of the door.

Natasha smiled as she tucked herself between his legs and leaned into his arms. "Do you think the signal got through?"

"I hope so," he pressed a kiss to her head. "If mine didn't, let's hope your team sent something too."

Natasha nodded. "I'm sure they would have." She looked up and gasped in horror, "shit! Virgil, we have a leak."

"I thought we'd have a bit more time than that!" He reached into his sash and brought out a small tube of Nanocrete as Natasha moved to let him work. "We'll be locked in, but at least we'll be secure. Look out for any more cracks."

"FAB," she shivered again. "The hole we came through is completely frozen. No one can get down here now."

Virgil sat back with her after sealing the crack. "Honey, you're freezing, don't talk okay?"

Natasha wrapped her arms around herself then smiled as Virgil cuddled her tightly. "Can I have your suit?"

Virgil chuckled hugging her tighter. "You'll be okay, and my brothers will come. I know it."

Thunderbird 1 hovered above the lake and Scott spotted the GDF's vehicle on the other side of the lake. He swung his ship around and landed beside it deciding the team would give him the answers he needed.

"Thank goodness!" Melody cried as Gordon and Scott left the ship. "You picked up our call."

Scott raised an eyebrow. "Sorry miss, but we didn't pick up any call from you, only Virgil's. Where is he?"

Vlad was just as confused as Melody. "But we radioed you guys? Oh well, you're here now."

Melody continued. "We were towing your brother and Natasha, our lead crewmember, when the ice cracked underneath us. She told us to get to safety and the pod sank."

Gordon gazed out over the lake. "The ice is always weakest in the centre."

"So, why are you still here?" Scott asked.

"We wanted to make sure someone was coming for Natasha before we took our rescued victims to safety."

Gordon nodded. "Thanks."

"Okay. We'll take it from here, thank you GDF," Scott smiled.

Vlad patted Melody's arm. "Come on Mel, we can save other lives today."

"Alright. Good luck International Rescue."

Gordon watched them go. "This isn't going to be easy. I'm going to have to do what I did on Europa."

"Who ordered a snow-cone?" Kayo's voice sounded from Scott's communicator and he looked up.

"Good timing as always Kayo," Scott praised as Thunderbird Shadow lowered, gripping onto the module held in its claws.

"Where do you need the module?" Kayo asked hovering above the lake.

"Not on the lake for a start. We're currently standing on the road. Land as gently as you can beside us."

"FAB. Watch yourselves," she instructed, and lowered the module down onto the ground before landing Thunderbird Shadow beside it.

Gordon opened the module remotely and walked up the ramp followed by Scott. "Get in the back, Scott, just in case one of them is injured."

"FAB. Let's fit the heat cone."

Kayo ran up the ramp. "What are we doing about the ice covering them? It'll just freeze over as soon as you puncture it."

Scott nodded. "Good point. Remote pilot my ship over us when we're down there along with Thunderbird S, that should keep the ice from resealing."

"I could bring in Thunderbird 2 too?"

Gordon looked back at her. "Are you sure you can remote pilot two ships at once?"

"I'll try anything once," she replied then sighed. "We don't have time for a discussion, I'm doing this. Now get going."

"Good luck sweetheart," Scott smiled and she nodded. "Come on Gordon, and we've got to be careful."

"FAB."

Virgil smiled as a curious seal came up to the pod windows and he nudged Natasha. "Hey, sweetheart? Look."

Natasha cooed as she looked up at it. "Isn't it adorable? You know, other than it being freezing and minus goodness knows what in here, this isn't a bad date."

Virgil chuckled. "I'm going to try our communicators again. They took a bit of a bashing in that landing."

"Okay."

"Thunderbird 2 to International Rescue. Come in please?"

Scott's heart leapt into his mouth as he heard his brother's voice. "Virgil! You're alive."

Virgil closed his eyes in relief. "Scotty."

"How are you two doing?"

"Stuck in a pod under a lake of ice? I'd have to say, chilling."

"Very funny. Just hang on, we're coming down to you. Any injuries?"

"No, but Natasha is struggling with the cold, we don't have any thermals or electricity down here."

Scott nodded as Thunderbird 4 made her way down onto the ice. "Understood. We're going to break through the ice now. Just hold on." He ended the call and opened a channel with the base. "Hello, Dad? Virgil and Natasha are alive and well, we're going down into the lake now."

"FAB son, that's great news. Be careful down there."

"We will. Over and out."

"Brace yourself, Scott, here we go," Gordon fired up the heat cone and the ice softened, they pushed through and Gordon turned it off once they were underwater. "Over to you, Kayo, do not let our exit re-freeze."

"You've got it. Moving Thunderbirds, 1, 2 and S into position."

Kayo hovered over the hole Thunderbird 4 had made and slaved the two Thunderbird crafts to her ship and wrist controller keeping them both in her eye line. Thunderbird 2's four VTOL engines fired down onto the ice and she manoeuvred Thunderbird 1 into landing position directing all of its heat onto the water below.

Thunderbird 4 glided down through the water and Gordon spotted the Iceberg, he smiled when Virgil waved from inside and he opened a coms link with Scott.

"I see them, they look to be in good shape. Hold her steady and I'll go and get them with the Aqauscooter."

"Do you need extra masks?"

"I shouldn't do, I'll be in and straight out, so keep close."

"FAB," Scott waited for Gordon to leave Thunderbird 4 then took himself into the cockpit, there was a clunk underneath him as his brother unlocked the scooter and he watched him swim over to the pod.

Gordon placed a small comms device to the side of the pod. "Hey brother, can you hear me?"

"Yes. It's good to see you Gordo."

"You too. Now, how mobile are you two?"

"Gordon, this isn't going to work," Virgil sighed.

"Oh, don't be so negative, just because you don't like water."

"No, it's not that. I had to seal the canopy with Nanocrete. We can't open the roof."

Gordon swore under his breath. "Scott, we have a new situation."

"I heard. But I think I have an idea, although, it may be considered risky."

Virgil frowned as he shifted position to cuddle Natasha against him. "Shoot, Scott."

"We'll need to cut the roof off completely to break the Nanocrete, but that would flood the pod. You two would need to be ready to hold your breath for Gordon to come and grab you."

Natasha nodded. "I'm up for that if it gets us out of here."

"I don't know about this, Scott."

"It's that or nothing Virgil, we can't lift the pod out of the hole, and we'd still face the issue of you being trapped."

Gordon frowned as he thought about the lifting idea but his elder brother interrupted his thoughts.

"Who's going to cut?" Virgil asked grimacing slightly.

"We'll both do it. Gordon can do one side, and I can do the other from Thunderbird 4. Get in position, Gordon."

"FAB Scott, try not to cut through them."

"I'll do my best."

Virgil sat up moving Natasha from between his legs. "Be ready to breathe in, sweet pea."

Natasha took shallow breaths. "Okay, I'm ready."

Gordon nodded to Scott and after 3, they fired their cutting beams at the hinge of the roof. Virgil looked up at it and clutched Natasha's hand in his as water began to trickle in as the Nanocrete was burned off. The cutting was slow but warm which Natasha smiled at and the final stretch of filler split.

"Breath out now," Virgil instructed as he spotted Gordon swim backwards to his Aquascooter. "Now, in!"

The roof came away and water immediately filled the pod submerging Natasha and Virgil inside, they kicked to swim out and Gordon zoomed towards them. They grabbed hold of the scooter with him and raced back to Thunderbird 4 where Scott was waiting. He opened the airlock for them to swim up into and they collapsed on the floor of the sub catching their breath. The main door opened and Scott walked into the cargo hold allowing Gordon to make his way to the cockpit.

"Are you two okay?" Scott asked looking down at his brother and girlfriend.

"Thanks, Scott," Virgil answered sitting up.

"That was intense," Natasha smiled gratefully as Scott wrapped a blanket around her.

"Let's get back to the surface. Step on it, Gordon."

"FAB!" Gordon called back through his radio and the sub began to ascend.

Kayo watched on impatiently until finally the submarine reemerged from the hole and lowered its skis to move it across the lake back to safety. She heard the all-clear and released the 'Birds back to the road to land hoping she hadn't burned the engines out. Kayo landed Shadow and leapt out as Thunderbird 4 returned to the module on the edge of the lake and she ran up the ramp coming to a stop by the yellow submarine.

"Is everyone okay? I must admit, I thought you would have been up sooner," she asked looking for Virgil and Natasha.

"They're fine, just a little cold," Scott assured her. "Well done for keeping the ice from freezing over."

"No sweat. Let's go home, that's unless Natasha needs to be dropped off somewhere?"

"I'll take care of that. See you at home."

Kayo leaned in for a kiss then stood back. "FAB. Race you!"

"Have a head start."

"I'll need it, I'm taking the spare module home."

Gordon wrapped another fleece around Natasha. "Shall we drop you off at base?"

Natasha sniffed. "I think I'd rather spend the night at yours. It's warmer."

Virgil smiled wrapping his own fleece tightly around his shoulders. "Better get in contact with your team then, Tash."

"Yeah, it's on my to-do list. But after I have a shower on-route."

Virgil smiled as she sneezed. "Pick up the module, Gordon. It's freezing in here."

"FAB."

The two remaining 'Birds took off following Kayo, and Natasha locked herself in the bathroom stepping under the warm shower jets. Virgil, who was also soaked, had decided to just change into a dry uniform to pilot his ship home.

"You seem troubled, Gordon?" Virgil asked after confirming with the GDF that Natasha would be going home with them.

"I think that rescue could have gone another way without you two almost catching colds."

"We just got a little wet, nothing major."

"I just wonder if we should have tried some other ideas first."

Natasha walked into the cockpit wearing a spare uniform that Kayo kept on the ship and smiled shyly. "I hope she doesn't mind."

Virgil gawked at her. "Wow, you look amazing."

Gordon smirked at his brother. "Shall I leave you two, alone?"

"Gordon!" Virgil glared at him making him jump.

Thunderbird 1 landed shortly after Shadow did, and Scott made his way to the lounge looking forward to putting his feet up, but the expression on his father's face stopped him short of the first sofa.

"Dad?"

"John told me everything. What were you thinking, Scott?"

"I don't understand."

"You risked Virgil and Natasha's lives, they could have drowned!"

"We got them to safety, Dad."

"You didn't try to lift them to the surface! Scott, you should always go for the logical answer before the last resort."

Scott frowned. "That was the logical solution. If we had lifted the pod, we might not have been able to open the pod on land."

"But it was easier underwater? Brains has done a scan on your and Virgil's ship, and both have suffered a huge amount of strain after all the time Kayo had to keep them airborne over one area. They are not built for that."

Jeff looked around his son to see Thunderbird 2 coming into land.

"You call the shots as the leader, son, but that also requires you to listen to suggestions. Did anyone suggest lifting the pod?"

Scott scuffed the floor with his shoe. "I thought about it but concluded it wouldn't have worked."

"You go with the first choice and face the problem when you reach it."

Jeff and Scott were still in discussion when Virgil, Gordon and Natasha made their way to the lounge. They were puzzled to find Kayo leaning against the wall outside of the lounge, and more so when she held her hand up to stop them from entering.

"I cannot trust you to lead if you go by your own ideas, Scott. We're a team."

"You try going out in the field then!"

"I used to Scott, and we looked at every option, not the one which was the quickest!"

Scott turned on his heel so fast there was a loud squeak as his trainer caught the wood. "I'm done talking about this."

The group waiting outside backed up but not in time for Scott to run into them.

"Get out of the way!"

Jeff looked up at the sound of shouting. "All of you, get in here. Now!" He ordered sternly.

The group trudged in unhappily after Scott's outburst and Virgil decided to be the spokesman.

"Dad, Natasha and I are fine, Scott did nothing wrong."

"I'm sure you are, but the fact of the matter is making you swim was the last resort and you took it as a first."

Gordon cleared his throat. "I had my doubts, but Scott was adamant that it would work."

"Then why didn't you say something out loud Gordon?" Scott folded his arms across his chest and Gordon turned around surprised. "I decided to eavesdrop."

"Because you were stubborn. I couldn't get a word in edgewise," Gordon replied with a shrug.

"I would have listened if you had voiced your concern!"

Jeff shook his head. "Okay okay. This is all getting very shouty. Why did you have to resort to that evacuation?"

"I sealed the roof with Nanocrete to stop the water from getting in," Virgil said. "It was the only way. The roof was locked, but once it was sealed that was it. Scott only suggested cutting it underwater because it seemed the quickest, Natasha was freezing."

Natasha nodded. "It's my fault. My suit was the least warm, and so the boys decided to get me out of there fast instead of on the surface."

"Okay. But one of you should have told Kayo, she was up there burning out the engines of your ships."

Kayo looked down at her feet. "I don't blame them, Jeff."

"No, I know you don't, Kayo."

Scott scowled. "We don't know if lifting the pod out would have worked either; an airbag could have deflated or the hole might have sealed up as we were rescuing them."

"But you didn't try, son. That's the problem. It's like when you and Virgil rescued that cargo ship; you were in two minds about whether you should have towed it or let it blow up. You went with rescuing the crew instead."

"Exactly! Our job was to rescue Natasha and Virgil today, not the pod!"

Virgil looked between Scott and his dad. "If I could intervene? We were never going to put the pod first, Dad. It's just we weren't sure if we would be able to lift it. The grabs may not have reached us, and then we would've resorted to the plan we went with in the end regardless of options."

Gordon nodded. "And we had the heat cone which had drilled our way down. We knew we could get back out with it, there wasn't a current down there."

Jeff sighed. "Alright. I'm sorry, Scott. I shouldn't be putting you on the spot like this."

Scott smiled. "When I'm in command Dad, I think of every alternative and this one was the only one I could see working," he looked around at his siblings. "I'm sorry for yelling."

Jeff nodded once to him. "Dismissed," he stood up. "How about some lunch?"

Natasha grinned. "Sounds good to me. You have no idea what kind of appetite you get after being stranded in ice."