oh another update! i must like you guys or something! as always, thank you so much for the reviews and i'm glad your enjoying it. hopefully you'll enjoy this one too. oh a word of warning. certain brothers are getting annoyed, therefore there is some swearing in this chapter. i advise the kids to avert their eyes!

A timid knock on the door roused Virgil from dozing and he wiped his eyes, glancing at the clock on his desk. Medical books surrounded him, open at pages on spinal injuries and his back ached from being slumped over books. The door opened and his father entered, clutching a mug of coffee. Silently he placed it down on Virgil's desk, his eyes flickering over his middle son.

"You look tired Virgil," he said after a moment.

"Thanks for the coffee," Virgil said coolly, averting his eyes and focusing on a diagram in one of the books which showed the common fractures. Jeff ignored the blatant brush off, and sat down at the edge of Virgil's bed.

"I want to explain my decision."

"I don't think I want to hear it…try Scott though," Virgil muttered, picking up his pen and chewing on the end as he turned a page to where gory surgery examples were shown in full colour. Jeff winced, glancing at the floorboards. Virgil pressed his lips together before closing the book over.

"I thought maybe Scott would have been more important than International Rescue," he resigned, still not looking directly at his father.

"You know I'd do everything to help Scott…to help any of you, but this isn't just about International Rescue…I'm worried about the safety of you and Scott. With everyone knowing what you look like, who you work for, what kind of technology you know about…you'd be targets for all sorts of unwanted groups." Virgil's shoulders slumped, it was clear he was giving up the fight.

"I get it Dad…but as I said, you need to talk to Scott." Jeff nodded, placing his hand on Virgil's shoulder gently.

"I will. Don't burn yourself out Virgil, remember Scott needs you for emotional support right now as well."

Alan fixed a cold gaze on Virgil as he stumbled into the kitchen to top up his supply of coffee. His grandma tried to offer him something to eat, but Virgil shook his heard wordlessly. Alan saw his grandma's face fall and waited until she'd left the kitchen to step up next to his brother.

"You are such a jerk," Alan muttered to him, as he lifted a mug from the shelf.

"What for?" Virgil mumbled.

"This whole act…not sleeping, getting everyone's sympathy because you're working to hard to help Scott and making yourself sick while you're at it," Alan snapped angrily. He snatched the coffee pot from Virgil.

"I don't see anyone else here with a medical qualification," Virgil said quietly, looking pointedly at his brother.

"Stop it!" Alan yelled, slamming his mug down. "This isn't your problem! It's Scott's and you're making it all about you!" This comment got the desired reaction and Virgil turned on his younger brother, pushing him back against the worktop.

"I am doing this for Scott," he hissed, leaning into him threateningly. "If everyone else wants to give me sympathy then that's up to them. I never asked for it, and I don't care. All I care about is finding a way to help Scott." Virgil saw Alan clench his fists as he stepped back, turning his back on Alan.

"Fuck you Virgil," Alan muttered. Virgil laughed dryly and glanced over his shoulder at him.

"You wanna to say that to my face?" he demanded.

"No I wanna punch your face," Alan growled. "Wipe that freaking smug look off it for a second!" Virgil placed his mug down and stepped up to his brother.

"Come on then," he bated him. Alan caught a glimpse of Tin Tin, over Virgil's shoulder, and pushed past him.

"You're not worth the bruised knuckles," he threw over his shoulder. Virgil lifted his mug and watched Alan follow Tin Tin down the hallway, pleading with her. His attention was grabbed by his grandma returning to the kitchen, the look on her face telling him she'd heard the altercation between him and Alan. Guiltily he took his place at the table.

"Um…is there any breakfastleft?" he asked meekly. His grandma silently filled a plate and placed it down in front of him.

"Don't ever let me hear you speak to any of your brother's like that again," she warned. "What's gotten into you?" All of a sudden, the rumbling in Virgil's stomach turned to clenching and he looked down at his hands resting in his lap.

"I just want to help Scott," he mumbled.

"And you can. You will just by being there for him," his grandma said.

"What happens if he can't walk again…he'll blame me for not helping him like I promised I would…" His grandma took his head and pulled it against her chest, softly running her frail fingers through his hair. Virgil felt her kiss the top of his head softly and chewed down hard on his lip, trying to hold back tears.

"He won't darling," she assured him. "He loves you too much for that." At this, Virgil's defenses were demolished and he pressed his face into her fragile shoulder, hiding his tears. Having expected this, his grandma, continued to hold him, keeping calm and collected until later when she could shed her own tears, away from her grandsons.

From the balcony Alan watched Tin Tin encouraging Lucy to splash her way to her across the swimming pool. She made it and Tin Tin lifted his little blonde haired daughter into the air, congratulating her and covering her chubby cheeks with caring kisses. He cracked a small smile, the first for what felt like days. He felt someone next to him, following his gaze. He could smell the distinctive chlorine scent that lingered around the brother immediately older than him.

"Your swimming lessons have really helped her," Alan said, trying to initiate a conversation. Everyone seemed on edge since the rescue the week before, and luckily, there hadn't been much need for International Rescue since then. Not genuine needs anyway. He heard Gordon suck in his breath and knew that he was not here for a pleasant chat.

"I heard what you said to Virgil," Gordon said, ignoring the friendly comment. Alan glanced at Gordon, his mouth fixed in a frown and his eyes casting a disenchanted look, a look of disgust that was rarely seen from Gordon. Alan immediately went on the defensive.

"Yeah well, the way he's acting is getting on everyone's nerves. He really upset Grandma earlier, he went off the handle at Dad…" Gordon raised his voice to interrupt his brother's argument.

"You know why he went mad at Dad? Because he told him that Scott couldn't be sent to the mainland for treatment because they've been seen on television." Alan registered the new information and swallowed nervously.

"So that's why he's trying to find a treatment himself?" he asked. Gordon nodded and Alan closed his eyes.

"Aw man…" he muttered. "Where is he?" Gordon shook his head, having seen the scene between his grandma and Virgil in the kitchen and knew that Virgil wouldn't want anyone else to see him like that.

"He's with Grandma…he was quite upset, not with you, about Scott…" Gordon put in quickly when he saw Alan's stricken expression.

"She can always make a Tracy cry," Alan smiled. "Even Scott."

"Even Dad," Gordon added. They returned to watching Tin Tin and Lucy.

"You can make amends with Virg later. He knows everyone's just stressed after that rescue. I think you have someone else who needs an apology or explanation," Gordon said, nodding to Tim Tin.

"Uh…yeah…" Alan said, smiling at her when she lifted her eyes to meet his. She offered a small wave and Gordon placed his hand on his younger brother's shoulder.

"Just tell her like it is bro," Gordon advised, retreating into the living room as Alan took hesitant steps down towards the pool.

"Scott, I've got some news about your x-rays," Virgil said, early the following morning. Scott sat up in his bed, his eggs and bacon momentarily forgotten. Placing the flimsy sheets on the light box, Virgil pointed to a white mass running down the length.

"That's your spine," Virgil said. Scott rolled his eyes and glanced at Virgil, waiting for more. Virgil said nothing and Scott scoffed.

"Well, great Virg, I've still got my spine," he snapped. Virgil nodded and pointed to the white mass again.

"There's no breaks in it Scott," Virgil said steadily. He fixed his eyes on Scott's, raising his eyebrows in an attempt to convey the significance of this information.

"I've not broken it?"

"No…but the bad news is that you still don't have feeling so…"

"So there's something else wrong that you can't work out," Scott finished the sentence and Virgil nodded slightly, moving to Scott's bedside.

"I'm working on it Scott," he assured him. Scott glanced at his brother and nodded, smiling a little.

"You're doing everything for me Virg, I know…it's just…" Scott's smile faded, the tense, strained expression returning.

"I know Scott. I'll be back later…Brains has been researching some stuff on the Internet…I'm going to dig through the medical stuff I got when I was training in New York. We'll find something…and if it comes to it, I'm willing to get you to the mainland…even if Dad does disown us." Scott nodded again.

"Hey, don't overdo it," he said after a moment.

"I'm not…" Virgil began to protest, but Scott shook his head.

"I may be incapacitated here, but I know you've not slept in days and I'm pulling rank on you. Get some rest please…I can't kick your ass, but I know two people right here on this island you would gladly do it for me." Virgil shook his head, smiling.

"Yes Sir," he rolled his eyes.

Attempting to sleep was useless and Virgil remained sitting on the floor, forming vague ideas of how he could get Scott to the mainland, get him the help he needed, but each presented new problems. He wouldn't give in, he wouldn't let Scott down…he couldn't. After all, would Scott have wanted to have been rescued from the tunnel if he'd known what faced him afterwards…Virgil flinched in shock. Was he really thinking Scott wouldn't have wanted to live? Visibly shuddering, Virgil glanced towards his bedside table, the drawer was slightly ajar. He crawled over to it, opening it and digging through the money, paperclips, pens until his hand closed around the cardboard casing. He pulled his hand out, clutching a box of cigarettes. Opening it, he found his lighter tucked in, as always and smiled. Seven years of not smoking, but he'd never got around to throwing away this pack. The emergency pack. Taking out a cigarette and placing it between his lips, he moved to his balcony and cupped his hand around the lighter, sparking a flame and drawing in his breath as the cigarette tip began to glow and smoke. He took a long draw, holding it for a moment, savouring that familiar taste and smell before exhaling in a long sigh. Well, if this wasn't an emergency, he didn't know what was.

Over his toes, Scott watched Virgil lift a short metal rod and run it across his palm. He looked up at Scott and smiled, trying to ease the horrible fear of the unknown that hung across them. Scott was going to find out if he could feel anything, if the paralysis was more severe than first expected. With no visible breaks in the spine, Virgil and Brains had imagined that perhaps some feeling would begin to return at about this time. Virgil had taken it upon himself to be the one to do the testing, knowing the apprehension Scott would be facing.

"Ok…you ready?" Virgil asked. Scott nodded and Virgil saw him clench the sheets beneath him that little bit tighter.

"Now, if there's nothing, it's not the end of the world. As I said, Brains and I still aren't sure of the severity of the shock, so…but hopefully you should have some feeling today…" He trailed off and Scott nodded.

Virgil slowly pressed the rod against the base of Scott's heel, slowly moving it upwards. Scott remained expressionless and Virgil felt his heart sink. He began on the other foot, but again, Scott said nothing. Virgil stepped back, averting his eyes from Scott's, but Scott held his hand up.

"Do it again Virg…"

"Scott…I…" Virgil protested, not wanting to see that disappointed look in Scott's eyes, the accusations that would be thrown at him for not helping him.

"Virgil…" Scott pleaded. "Maybe I wasn't concentrating enough…maybe you should try another place on my foot…" Virgil threw the rod to the tiled floor, listening to it clatter as he stepped back, sliding down the pasty wall and placing his head in his hands, squeezing his eyes shut as he heard Scott begin to sob violently.