As he lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling above him, Scott heard the sound of Virgil returning. He listened carefully as his brother made his way past Scott's bedroom door before opening his own. Scott got to his feet, taking his temporary walking stick and hobbling towards his door. Opening it he saw Virgil standing outside, a small smile on his face despite his tired, red-rimmed eyes. Scott smiled back, no words needed to be spoken.
XXXX
The fire on the oil rig had been a relatively straightforward operation. The workers had been evacuated and Scott had overseen any injuries as Virgil managed to dampen the flames enough to allow the fire service entry to the structure to put out the remaining fires. On returning the workers to their onshore offices, they had been greeted by cameras and crowds. In the passenger area, Scott groaned out loud, rubbing the base of his hands into his eyes. He opened the lift door and was about to accompany the workers outside, when one placed their hand on his shoulder.
"Just send us down there. We can take it from here." Scott opened his eyes and smiled at the man.
"Thank you…" he began, but he was cut off by their voices.
"It's the least we can do….you guys are amazing…thanks…" Scott gestured towards the lift and watched as the group of men piled in.
"Thanks," the last one said as Scott closed the door and listened as the lift began it's descent to solid ground. He heard the clang of the mechanism stopping before shouts and cheers from the waiting mass outside. Pressing the button to return the lift to him, he returned to the cockpit where Virgil was munching his way through an apple and laughing at the various signs that were being held up by the crowd.
"Look at that one, 'Scott, I love you'! Awww," Virgil laughed as Scott took his seat and rolled his eyes.
"Ooh, Scott let me see your rocket…" Virgil stopped as Scott hit him across the side of the head.
"Let's get going," he muttered, but Virgil saw him hide a smile. He held the apple between his teeth as he prepared to take off and head back to base. Scott reached over and plucked it from him, taking a huge bite and sighing.
XXXX
The lone light from their father's office didn't surprise Scott as he made his way to the kitchen. Virgil was slowly demolishing the contents of the fridge in an attempt to quiet a rumbling stomach.
"Want some scrambled eggs and bacon?" he asked as Scott entered, going immediately to the drinks cupboard. He lifted out a bottle of whisky and grabbed a glass from the shelf above.
"I'll be alright with this," he said waving it, before going back to the living room and putting on the television, where the rescue was being discussed. Virgil joined him shortly, carrying a plate piled full. He sat down beside Scott and began eating quickly.
"Those oil rig guys were very praising of us," he commented with a mouth full of bacon. Scott glanced at his brother before reaching over in an attempt to steal a slice of bacon. Virgil eased his plate to the side.
"I offered you some and you chose whisky," he said, stabbing the bacon pointedly with his fork and eating it. Scott sniffed and turned away.
"I hate you sometimes," he said sulkily.
"I know." They were interrupted by their father entering the living room, carrying a cup of coffee.
"I see the rescue went well. You didn't even get caught on camera." Scott nodded.
"Bit of a fan club though," he commented as the news footage shifted to the screaming teenage girls. Jeff hid a smile as Scott blushed at some of the more explicit signs.
"I'm sure they're harmless," he said after a moment. "But just be on guard…I wouldn't want us bringing a gaggle of loved up girls back to the island by accident now."
"They only want to see Scott's rocket," Virgil mumbled, smiling slyly in Scott's direction. Jeff snorted with laughter before composing himself.
"Did you get in touch with anyone who might want to give away your identity?" Scott nodded quickly.
"I went to Caitlin's parents. They didn't even know until the news footage," Virgil told his father.
"I imagine the people you worked with in New York had a few stories to tell…I just hope they don't start demolishing your time with Caitlin," Scott said sympathetically. Virgil smiled his thanks, but knew Scott was finding it tough to be optimistic. Already, there had been a mass of women who had apparently been won over by Scott and they were only too happy to tell of their experiences.
"Gordon and Alan still in hiding?" Virgil asked, watching his father pour two glasses.
"Yes, I thought it was for the best. You two are now 'the face' of International Rescue…until this all dies down, I don't want them subjected to the same scrutiny."
"Makes sense," Scott mumbled, reaching over and lifting his whisky glass, he winced and Virgil noticed him tense his leg.
"Sore?" he asked, as Scott rubbed the back of his thigh slowly.
"Cramps sometimes…it's ok though…"
"Yeah, should be," Virgil said, scooping a fork full of scrambled eggs into his mouth. Jeff admired his sons before him. Good-looking, extremely professional and seemingly taking all of the recent events in their stride, he was struck by honest pride.
"You have been so good throughout this, boys. I'm proud of you," Jeff said suddenly. Both Scott and Virgil looked at him, their eyes widened, the corner of their mouths turned up in a smile. Jeff wasn't one to be so open with his feelings, but in recent years, he had learned that some fatherly instinct didn't go amiss.
"I'm sorry…as well. I know it's late, but…"
"It's ok Dad," Scott put in. "Thanks." There was a short silence, no one quite sure of what to say next. It was Jeff that decided to end the slightly strained moment. He yawned dramatically, stretching his arms up above his head.
"I think I'll turn in for the night boys. Don't be up too late." Scott and Virgil called their own goodnights before flicking through the television channels.
"You didn't say much about Caitlin's parents," Scott said after a while.
"There wasn't really much to say," Virgil replied. "They didn't know about International Rescue until the footage and they won't be telling anyone about how they know me since they don't want Caitlin's name coming up."
"It went ok though?" Scott asked.
"It was fine Scott, ok?" Virgil said, placing his plate down and proceeding to find a new channel to watch. Scott settled back, taking the hint that the conversation was over.
"Um…Virg…I have something I think I better tell you…" Scott began, but stopped as a female television presenter began shouting shrilly towards an ecstatic audience.
"Yes, tonight we are meeting girls that are the envy of a nation of women! They have had the whole International Rescue experience if you know what I mean and are here today to tell us their stories!" Scott's face fell as he watched a line of women, most of whom he'd never met, totter on stage and sit down, smiling sweetly as they told of their apparent affairs with him.
"I knew him in college…he was always Mr. Mysterious…he just had so many girls after him and he chose me…!" a girl called Tiffany claimed. Scott groaned and placed his head in his hands.
"So what did you guys get up to?" the presenter probed, resulting in cheers and whistles from the audience.
"Well he was always eager to please…I never tired of being with him…he was so…" Virgil cut the programme short, glancing at Scott and clearing his throat awkwardly.
"I don't even know her…" Scott mumbled from behind his hands.
"You've got to have expected this though?" Virgil asked. "I mean, the world wants to know everything about us..."
"But that's lies Virgil!" Scott snapped, lifting his head angrily. Virgil held up his hands in a gesture of innocence.
"Hey, it's not me on the TV…ok?" he said, his voice clipped with annoyance. Scott sighed and wiped his face, smiling wearily.
"Sorry it's just…it's annoying…it's…"
"Typical?" Virgil suggested and Scott nodded slowly, pushing himself to his feet.
"I'm off to bed," he announced, lifting his glass and Virgil's plate and moving towards the kitchen.
"Ok…wait, what was it you wanted to tell me about?" Virgil asked, watching his elder brother retreat from the living room. Scott glanced over his shoulder, his eyes caught by the dim light from the hallway. Was it Virgil's imagination, or were they moist with tears?
"I…nothing…" Scott said after a moment. Virgil watched him close the door, before sitting in the silence, wondering when Scott had ever felt that something was so important, so shocking that he couldn't even share it with him. Virgil picked at a scab on his arm distractedly. They'd already dealt with one horrendous outcome from the rescue in Somerset and he wondered if the family would be able to deal with this outcome.
