A/N: I couldn't leave Scott out, now could I?

A new development

"...I'll let you know when I'm enroute."

"F.A.B." John acknowledged as Scott signed off. Seated in his hanging chair, elbow on the armrest and chin in his hand, John pondered the latest development with the sort of intensity and consideration he usually gave to stellar anomalies.

This was unexpected.

He needed backup.

John reached out and touched one of the holographic icons on the projected globe in front of him. "Thunderbird Five to Thunderbird Two. Virgil, come in." John requested.

Virgil's image flickered into existence a moment later. "Everything okay on Scott's mission?" He asked, hands stilling on the piano he was seated before.

"Yes, the mission's over and he's returned the last of the trapped reactor workers to the GDF base for monitoring." John reported. "But that's not why I'm calling. Scott's going to be delayed." The second eldest paused for effect. "He's staying for coffee."

"Coffee?" Virgil frowned, crossing his arms. "But Scott hates the GDF mess hall coffee."

"I know." John nodded. While not a coffee snob like himself and Virgil and not an 'if it's caffeinated I'll swig it' like Gordon, Scott certainly had his preferences, and the GDF's coffee wasn't one of them.

"So why is he staying to drink GDF coffee?" Virgil asked, paused, then with his usual insight changed his question. "Or is this a who we're talking about, not a why?"

"What's this about Scott willingly drinking GDF coffee?" Kayo asked curiously as she wandered into the projector's pick up range and leaned her hip against the piano, arms crossed. "He hates the stuff."

"He was invited to stay for a coffee by Marion Van Arkle." John revealed, glad Kayo had picked a serendipitous moment to eavesdrop and join the conversation, he wanted to talk to her about this new development too.

"The angry South African who cut his line?" She asked, one eyebrow arched in surprise. "Who tried to lock him in a storage container and went after Fuse in a mech suit at Shackleton? That Marion Van Arkle?"

"The very one." John confirmed, sitting back in his chair with arms crossed, mirroring their postures. "I think he likes her."

That statement got a significant look shared between the other siblings. Scott's dating history was more like a list of cautionary tales and no one wanted to see a new chapter added to his collection.

"Well, he'd have to like her to tolerate GDF coffee for her." Was Virgil's conclusion. He drummed his fingers on the edge of the piano as he pondered the situation. "If he does, I'm not surprised." He concluded, ticking off points on his fingers. "She's tough, smart and strong willed, like Mom. He needs someone who can call him out sometimes, to be the immovable object to his unstoppable force and visa versa. Heck, we grew up with formidable women- Mom, Grandma, you," he indicated to Kayo "Lady P- it doesn't surprise me that she's sparking his interest."

"It makes sense now that you put it that way." John nodded thoughtfully, then looked to their sister. "Kayo, feel up to doing a little digging?" He asked, knowing she'd be eager to help.

"Always." She stood straight and smiled in a way that would have made him nervous if it had been directed at him, reminding him of a cat who's heard a mouse and is eager to begin the chase. "Anything in particular?"

"Just in general for now, but follow up anything that looks suspicious. None of us want him getting his heart broken again." John instructed. "Don't get caught."

"I never do." She winked at him and was gone.

"Virgil?" John looked to the middle brother.

"Keep an eye on him, ask a couple of questions, don't let him get suspicious, not a word to the terrible twosome, got it." Virgil nodded, stretched his hands and prepared to restart his interrupted practice. "Let me know when he's enroute?"

"Will do." John flicked a hand to dismiss the hologram and sat back in his chair again to further ponder this new development.