sorry about the wait, my laptops playing up with regards to the internet! it picks its moments!
Five very different sons were before him and Jeff looked at each one in turn before speaking.
Scott, sitting on the couch, the feeling very slowly returning to his legs, after having had one of the biggest scares in his life, looked tired and bewildered by the past few days. The absolute panic on the caves collapse, the terror at his injuries and the mind-blowing relief that had reduced him to a sobbing mess in Virgil's arms having drained him and now to face his image on every channel…Still he remained strong, offering his brothers optimistic words of encouragement despite the desperation of the situation.
John, quiet blue eyes and white-blonde hair, stood tall behind his elder brother, his hand resting against the couch. He'd been reluctant to leave Thunderbird 5, he believed his place during this time was monitoring calls as before. But with an alarming number of pleas for rescues, most from young females, it had been decided that all calls would be diverted to the island. Although Jeff knew John was not entirely pleased about this, he'd remained silent and joined the rest of the family in trying to decide how to proceed with the sudden and unexpected intrusion on their family.
Beside Scott, slumped in the couch, was Virgil. Still feeling the effects of being 'Scott' for the hellish rescue, and dealing with the tremendous range of events that had occurred during and after, Jeff was surprised to see his middle son still awake. His brown eyes had begun to soften as sensation had returned to Scott's legs and he was secretly very pleased that Scott had broken down in front of him. Jeff smiled as Scott reached over and tousled his younger brother's scruffy hair with a smile as his eyes began to close slowly. Virgil muttered something about 'resting his eyes' before resting his head against Scott's shoulder sleepily.
Next in line was Gordon, cheeky smile fixed in place, reddish hair sticking up in all directions and golden eyes glinting with mischief. He was eyeing Virgil, a plot forming in his mind about how to gain revenge for the last time he'd fallen asleep with Virgil in the room and woke to find his face covered in Virgil's artistic scribbles. They'd taken days to wash off. He'd made a rapid recovery from his injuries, and despite the fright he'd obviously received, he seemed to be the most unaffected by the rescue.
Alan was perched on the end of the couch, his clear blue eyes meeting his fathers. Jeff knew that the rescue had been tough on Alan, who'd had to get Gordon out and then be told by Virgil and John that he had to leave the older brothers and get Gordon home safely and quickly. Jeff knew, from what John had later told him, that Alan had refused, causing all sorts of interesting language from Virgil, before finally he'd relented after a long explanation as to Gordon's possibly worsening condition. On one hand, Jeff was proud of his youngest son's determination and stubbornness…it was something all of his sons had and they would do anything for each other. However, there were times when it wasn't needed…that rescue had been one. Jeff knew that had Alan realised the state Scott was in and how Virgil was attempting to hold it together with John urging him on, he would have fallen apart himself. But it was pleasing to see the family trait, which had saved them all so often in the past, was beginning to shine through.
"Boys, we have a problem," Jeff said finally. "Our identity has been compromised by the footage of Scott and Virgil being shown on television. Now, as of yet, it seems they are only interested in those two. So, I have decided to take advantage of this and shut down International Rescue for the time being until this frenzy dies down a little."
"Dad…" Immediately, the protests started, as Jeff knew they would.
"Listen," he ordered. "Should a major rescue that requires our expertise arise, Thunderbird 2 will be deployed. However, I will only send out Scott and Virgil. I cannot risk other identities being revealed." Scott and Virgil nodded slowly and the other brothers seemed to understand.
"Also, Scott, Virgil, I think you should try and contact people you still have some sort of connection with and ask them for their discretion at this time…ultimately, we respect that the choice is theirs, but you wouldn't mind if they remained silent about their connection to you." Again Scott and Virgil nodded before Jeff noticed Virgil's eyes slowly closing again.
"Ok, I better call this meeting to a close," he said pointedly and Virgil smiled apologetically. "Now, we have to sit back and wait."
"F.A.B Father…" four voices came in unison before a sleepy 'ok' was mumbled from Virgil. Jeff smiled, leaving the sons alone in the living room. Alan left to find his daughter, Gordon left to swim a few laps before bedtime leaving Scott, John and a dozing Virgil.
"I'll get him to bed," John said, nodding towards Virgil whose head had slipped into Scott's lap.
"Nah, he's comfy and will only be out for an hour or so…anyway, I like being able to feel his head on my legs, it's such a relief," Scott said. John smiled and sat down on the armchair across from Scott.
"What a couple of weeks, huh?" Scott continued. John nodded in agreement.
"Yeah…wouldn't want to repeat it ever again. When I heard that collapse…I swear Scott I panicked. I completely panicked for about ten minutes. I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe, my whole world was spinning…I thought I'd lost all four of you…" Scott looked at John and would have reached out to hug him if he could.
"Johnny…Virgil told me you were there when he was in the cave with me. He said you were the only thing that kept him wanting to get out when he found me out cold and knew he had to plough through all that rock…trying to move me as little as possible, with no equipment. I really have to thank you John."
"It was all Virgil…"
"No. He'd back me up on this," Scott interrupted. "He found me and believed for about a minute that I was dead. He shut down John…he didn't want to leave. He was basically back in that tunnel when Caitlin died…" John paled and looked down at his younger brother who seemed so peaceful, a complete contrast to the emotions that had torn through him at the rescue site.
"When you got in touch…he managed to get it together, thanks to you. You guided him out, you helped him work out what to do…you managed to get Dad off our backs when he was passed out and I couldn't move to answer the radio. You helped him help me, so thanks…" John's face flushed modestly and he smiled, accepting the thanks.
"It's the least I could do Scott…like the very least."
"It meant the most." John smiled and reached over, placing his hand on Scott's shoulder and looking down at their younger brother.
"Quite an artistic phrase there Scott, I didn't think you had it in you," John joked in a low voice.
"It's this one's influence…" Scott said, stroking Virgil's hair gently. He shifted in his sleep and Scott moved his hand only to have a muffled protest from Virgil.
"Seems he liked that," John said with a laugh.
"I hope he's not dreaming I'm someone else doing this," Scott groaned.
"No…it feels nice that's all," Virgil muttered, "And you owe me big time Scotty so keep doing it." Scott laughed and rolled his eyes in John's direction.
"Wait 'til he's back on his feet, because, it would seem, he owes me big time," John whispered with a wink.
