Whumptober Day 25 Silence Is Golden. Prompts chosen: Duct Tape, Silence is Golden. With thanks to MariaShades for the idea.

Characters: Virgil, Gordon, Scott, Kayo

Warnings: Hostages, Restrained, Wound, Hair Removal

There were footsteps approaching.

Gordon and Virgil looked at each other, but the reality was that there was very little they could do.

Both men had been bound hand and foot with Duct tape, and not the ordinary tape which was hardy enough. No, this appeared to be some kind of industrial strength tape because neither of them could break free and both knew from past experience that Gordon had freed himself from the tape in the past.

(Let's not go there.)

The person stopped outside the door but didn't open it yet. Virgil frowned. What were they waiting for? He didn't know and the pause filled him with dread for a couple of seconds.

He couldn't explain it, but that feeling was suddenly gone. The sound of the bolt being drawn back and Virgil was grinning at his brother. Gordon frowned in return, wondering what had suddenly made his brother so happy.

And then Scott slipped into the room.

Their eldest brother didn't hesitate, darting forward and using one of Alan's tin can openers to cut the tape around their ankles and helping them to stand. A brief squeeze of a shoulder and he was pushing them ahead.

Outside the door Kayo was waiting, and she led the way with Scott bringing up the rear at a fast clip.

Virgil and Gordon blinked in the bright sun, but soon they had moved past the GDF who were about to storm the building they had been held in and were through the trees to the clearing where Thunderbird Two stood in all her glory.

Never had either man appreciated how beautiful the big green lady was until now.

They were hustled directly into the sickbay and onto a bed each. Scott took Virgil and Kayo had Gordon. Their wrist bindings were cut and a Medscanner run over each of them.

Yellows across the board until they came to Virgil's back. Scott had noticed the blood stain, of course, but little could be done before. Now he could treat him once their wrists were free.

Tape was carefully removed from ankles and wrists, both rescuers wincing at the hitched breath of their brothers when a hair was caught and tugged.

Gordon shied away from Kayo touching the tape over his mouth and she was quite happy to leave that one to him, knowing how much that was going to hurt.

Scott, meantime, helped Virgil off with his shirt. A piece of Duct tape had been applied to his shoulder and Scott winced again. That was also going to hurt.

'Virg? What's the best way to remove this tape?'

'Well, we have two options. We can use Brains' special adhesive dissolver or we – and by that I mean you – can yank it off. I know which I would prefer.'

'Is there any danger that your wound will reopen if we remove the tape?'

'Quite probably, but it can't be treated while the tape is there and I believe it will probably require stitches.'

'Okay then. Where is the solvent?'

'Third cupboard on the wall.'

Scott moved to retrieve the needed item while Kayo asked the obvious question.

'I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I'm going to ask it anyway.'

'Yes Gordon wouldn't shut up. Once they had tied us up one of the men panicked a little about the shoulder wound and how to stop the bleeding. I suggested using the Duct tape. Little brother kept up a commentary all the way through and in the end they just Duck taped his mouth. Something about silence being golden.'

Gordon's eyes crinkled in mirth and they all knew he believe it was worth it.

Until Scott came back empty handed.

Or rather, came back with a piece of paper with the letters 'I.O.U.' on it. All three looked at the aquanaut who had the good grace to actually blush.

'Mmm mmm mm mmmmm! Mm mmmmm mm.'

'Yes, I'm sure it was important, Gordon, but how many times have you been told not to take stock out of a Thunderbird without replacing it!'

'Mm mmmmm.'

'What happens now?'

'We tear the tape off.'

Gordon whimpered, and Virgil wasn't too far behind. Kayo smirked.

'Don't worry, boys. There's nothing to it!.'

And before Gordon could move she'd ripped the tape off his mouth.

He screamed. Gordon would deny it until kingdom come, but he screamed. He was lucky, though. Gordon had known that the thugs were going to gag him and had pulled his lips in. It meant that although it hurt it didn't rip the fragile skin of his lips. Didn't stop him getting a lovely red mark across his lips, chin and cheeks.

His sister lightly slapped his arm.

'Baby. I know for a fact you used to wax all over when you were competing.'

Gordon just grinned at her before moving his jaw around to try and soothe away the stinging sensation.

Scott and Virgil, watching all this, shared a look. Virgil's tape on his back wasn't going to be any less painful to remove. If anything it would be more. The man had a small amount of back hair and he was not looking forward to this. Scott was clenching his teeth and wincing in sympathy before anything even happened.

'You want me to just rip it off like that?'

'Yes.'

'Are you sure?'

'It's best, Scott.'

'Okay, then.'

If Gordon had screamed than Virgil bellowed. His grip on the bedframe was white knuckled and he was breathing heavily through his nose. Scott stayed behind him, and only Gordon and Kayo could see the look on the older man's face.

There was a beat of silence.

'Okay then. That's off. I'll just fetch a gauze pad and patch you up until Grandma can stitch you.'

Scott moved away. Gordon hopped off his bed and he and Kayo made their way around Virgil, who ignored them.

'Oh. Looks like you're gonna have to get your back waxed, big brother. Unless you like the 'one smooth rectangle' look.'

Virgil snarled and went to swat the annoying fish, but Gordon danced out of the way, a huge grin on his face.

Kayo came and stood in front of him, waiting until Virgil met her eyes.

'I'll do it for you,' she said, smiling impishly.