A/N: Set quite a while after the movie. John's back in the rebuilt/repaired Thunderbird Five.
I'm going by the ages provided by the site, with the exception of Alan. So the ages are: Scott- 24, John- 22, Virgil- 20, Gordon- 18 and Alan- 16 (the site had Alan at 14, but that didn't seem right to me at all, so I changed it).
Virgil was the last to the table, slipping into his chair between Scott and Gordon. The food was passed around, but his mind was on other things. After a while, he felt someone nudge his ankle, and it came from Scott's direction. He looked over, seeing his oldest brother looking back.
"What's up?" he said softly.
"Nothing," Virgil answered with a slight shake of the head.
Scott, not believing it, chose to drop it for the time being. The dinner table was hardly the place for that discussion. Jeff saw the exchange, but stayed out of it. He knew that if something was wrong, and Scott didn't get it out of him, then he would. While the rest of the table was engaged in a heated debate over the upcoming World Cup that was taking place in Canada, Jeff mused over his sons.
Scott, being the oldest, had the instinct to want to care for and look out for his younger brothers. Scott was closest with John, who was the next eldest. Virgil, stuck in the middle, wasn't really closer to one brother than another. Gordon and Alan, being the youngest, and more alike than they wanted to admit, were also quite close. And Jeff knew that sometimes Virgil felt left out on things, something that happened more in their adolescence.
Once dinner was finished and the table was cleared, Virgil headed back upstairs. He was anxious to hear the playback. But he knew it would have to wait since Scott had followed him.
"Out with it," Scott ordered in his 'big brother' tone.
"There's nothing wrong," Virgil said patiently. "I was just working on something when we got called to dinner. I just wanted to get back to it."
Scott relaxed, leaning against the doorway. "What is it?"
"Something I'm experimenting with," Virgil answered.
"Not going to tell me?"
"Not willingly."
"Later?"
"Maybe."
Scott knew that when Virgil really wanted to work on something, it was best to leave him alone. And he had gotten that feeling quite distinctly.
"Yell if you need any help," Scott said just before he shut the door.
Virgil rolled his eyes, although he was alone in the room. "Like that'd happen," he muttered, going over to his music player.
He took it to the center of the room, sat on the floor, pressed play and laid back down. He let the music flow over him, listening intently. After a few more playbacks, Virgil realized why it sounded weird to him.
It was a piano-based rock song, not a piano song. He was missing the other elements which included drums and an acoustic guitar. His father had never allowed a set of drums, seeing them as too noisy for five boys. But the guitar was allowed. Although Virgil could play it, he wasn't nearly as comfortable with the guitar as he was with the piano. Since he couldn't play the guitar part just from hearing it in the original, he knew he'd have to look up the guitar tabs. And he wasn't quite ready to leave his studio just yet.
So he simply sat at the piano, playing pieces that just came to mind until he grew tired. When he looked at his watch, he realized he'd been in there for two hours without even realizing it. Leaving everything as they were, he left the room and headed for his own bedroom. Once inside, he locked the door behind him to discourage his younger brothers from just barging in. He sat cross-legged on his bed and looked around him. His walls were bare, the paint a muted white. He wanted it like that so he could paint murals on them, but hadn't gotten around to doing it yet.
Although he was tired, it was still too early for him to go to bed. So he went off in search for his family. He found Alan easily enough, and it looked like Tin-Tin was helping him with some school work. Gordon was in the command area talking to John with their father. He figured Scott with in Thunderbird One's silo since that's where he usually went when the family wasn't together.
Scott found him as he headed into the kitchen for something to drink.
"Finished yet?" Scott asked.
Virgil shook his head, "Won't be for a while."
"Why not?"
"This is going to take some time. It's not just another piano piece."
Scott narrowed his eyes. "Then what is it?"
Virgil, who would've banged his head on the kitchen counter if he'd thought about it, only sighed.
"Nevermind. You'll find out when it's done."
"You going back to work on it now?"
"No, I'm done for the night. I was just seeing what everybody else was up to."
"You mind if we talk for a while?" Scott asked.
"Not at all."
Virgil followed Scott up into the older one's bedroom, the door shut behind them. Scott sat on his bed while Virgil took a place on the floor, leaning against the closet door.
"Is something wrong, Virgil?" Scott asked once they were both settled.
"No, not really. Why?"
"You've just seemed…off…these past couple days. It's a little disconcerting."
"I guess I just feel disconnected somehow."
"Disconnected?"
Virgil nodded, although he now realized he had no idea how to explain it further.
"From us?" Scott asked after a few moments had passed.
"Maybe…I don't know. I'm not really sure what I mean."
"I'm just worried," Scott said. "You aren't quite acting like yourself."
"I'll be alright," Virgil replied.
Although he knew Scott wasn't completely convinced, Virgil was relieved when Scott suggested they barge in on Gordon and their father since they hadn't gotten to talk to John all day. And Virgil hoped that it would help settle him down.
They silently went into the command area, having already heard that Gordon and Jeff were still talking to John.
"Johnny!" Scott called from the doorway.
Virgil went around Scott, who'd stopped to admire his handiwork at startling both Gordon and Jeff.
"Jesus, Scott," Gordon muttered while Scott and John laughed.
"How's it going all the way up there?" Scott asked John once he was standing behind Gordon.
"The same," John answered. "And with you on La Isla Tracy?"
"The same," Scott answered.
The eldest two chatted for a minute while Virgil hung back, and that didn't escape Jeff's notice. He'd been concerned for his son for a little while, since Virgil was being a little more distant and quieter than normal. At first he'd hoped that Scott had gotten it out of his younger brother, but now he wasn't so sure.
The others had piped in every now and then, but it soon became apparent that it was turning into Scott and John's show, so the other three bowed out politely. Gordon went off in search of something, muttering something about getting back at Scott.
Virgil went back up into his bedroom, intent on getting something productive done. So, he took out his sketchpad, some pencils and erasers and went into the rec room. He found Gordon there, watching television.
"I thought you were getting back at Scott," Virgil said when he saw Gordon.
"Oh, he'll get his," Gordon said with a wicked grin.
"I don't want to know," Virgil replied. "I want complete deniability."
Gordon laughed, then asked, "What's that?"
"A sketchpad," Virgil answered, holding it up.
"What'cha sketching?"
"Nothing yet. I was hoping to get some ideas for the walls in my room. The sterile white look really has got to go."
"And how long have I been saying that?"
"What are you watching?"
"That new quiz show that's supposed to be impossible to win," Gordon answered.
Virgil knew of it, the premise of the show was so convoluted that he was surprised it was ever produced. But it soon became popular, and he couldn't say he was surprised that Gordon was watching it.
"Any good?"
"Can't tell. I don't think so."
Gordon turned the TV off and faced his brother. "This sucks."
"What?"
"I'm bored."
Virgil set his sketchpad aside and looked at Gordon. "Ping pong?"
Gordon jumped to his feet with a grin. "Want to make a wager?"
"Not with you. I have a horrible record when it comes to ping pong. I just figured it was something to do."
"Chicken," Gordon teasingly taunted.
"No, it's called being smart. Smart people don't make a wager on a game they don't feel 100 confident that they can win."
"Where'd you get that from?"
"Me."
"Well, pick up the paddle and prepare to lose."
"Me and my big mouth," Virgil muttered as he went to the other side of the table.
The game lasted longer than Virgil thought it would, and he had a suspicion that Gordon was letting him have a few points here and there. For whatever reason, Virgil thought that maybe Gordon didn't want to totally humiliate his older brother in the game. And that was something Virgil appreciated.
Jeff, who'd been hoping to talk to Virgil, heard him with Gordon in the rec room and went downstairs. He saw the end of the game, both boys laughing over something.
"Hey dad," Gordon said, seeing him first as Jeff was standing behind Virgil.
Virgil turned and smiled at his father, then turned his attention back to Gordon.
"So next time John's here, you might get him to play ping pong," Virgil said.
"How did I not know that he's really good at this?" Gordon asked.
"Practice. He and Scott play quite often."
"How'd the game go?" Jeff asked, deciding it was safe to pipe in.
"I lost, miserably," Virgil answered. "But not unexpectedly."
"He didn't do that bad," Gordon added. "I mean, I didn't absolutely and completely annihilate him."
"Well, that's good," Jeff commented with a smile.
What they didn't know was that the smile was more for the fact that Virgil seemed to be back to normal than anything else. But he'd keep an eye out all the same anyway.
"Virge," Gordon said. "I think there's some cookies hidden in the kitchen. What do you say we investigate?"
"And risk Onaha's wrath? Count me out."
"Go ahead," Jeff sighed. "I'll take the rap."
"You sure, dad?" Virgil said.
Jeff nodded, "I don't know if there is anything. But you boys have my permission to look. But you have to share if you find anything."
"Yes!" Gordon exclaimed. "Let's go, Virgil. We've got cookies to find."
Both boys raced up to the kitchen, trying not to tear it apart looking for the cookies. It didn't take them long to find out that the rumor was true since Gordon found them hidden behind boxes of dried spaghetti.
"We have Chewy Chips Ahoy!" Gordon pronounced, placing the bag of cookies on the counter.
"Chocolate milk or white milk?" Virgil asked with a grin.
"Chocolate," Gordon answered.
Once both boys were sitting at the nook, glasses of chocolate milk and the bag in front of them.
"This is going to be good," Gordon said, reaching for his first cookie.
Virgil, who saw Jeff entering, nudged Gordon's elbow.
"Dad, would you please let the others know that there is a bag of cookies down here?" Virgil asked. "And if they don't hurry, that me and Gordon will eat them all."
"Sure," Jeff laughed, heading off to let his other two planetside sons know. After all, he knew Virgil wasn't kidding about him and Gordon finishing them off without saving any for the others.
Scott was the first to join them, opting for no milk, much to Gordon's disbelief.
"One requires milk with cookies," Gordon said. "You have much to learn, Grasshopper."
Alan came a minute later to find the other three in a fit of laughter. He pulled up a stool next to Scott since Gordon and Virgil were next to each other. And since he was across from Gordon, Alan tried to commandeer his milk for his own cookies.
"I don't think so, Sprout," Gordon said when he saw what Alan was up to. "Get your own."
The four brothers made quick work of the bag of cookies, and even Jeff got a couple in before the bag was finished. Gordon, who had told Alan and Scott about his ping pong game with Virgil, had been challenged to a game by Scott. So the brothers and their father all went into the rec room to watch the match take place. Virgil sat on the sofa with his sketchpad in his lap, a pencil in his hand. Alan sat next to his brother while Jeff leaned against the wall.
"Oh yeah," Gordon growled when Scott tried nailing him with the ping pong ball. "Take that!"
The game soon dissolved into who could hit the other person the most with the ping pong ball. Jeff shook his head while Alan watched with amusement. Virgil's attention was on his sketchpad, slowly putting pencil to paper. Jeff's gaze had gone from the game to his middle son and wondered what he was working on. So he went over, barely avoiding colliding with Scott, who was ducking one of Gordon's shots, and sat on Virgil's other side. He leaned over a little, trying to get a look without disturbing his son's concentration.
He soon saw what Virgil was sketching. He was sketching a moment from the game. Jeff realized that Virgil was drawing from memory, not what was happening in front of him.
Scott and Gordon soon grew tired of their play, and went over to see what Virgil was doing and what Jeff was looking at. But Virgil noticed the incoming attention and quickly flipped the sketchpad closed.
"Aw, come on!" Gordon whined. "We want to see too."
Virgil had known that his father was watching him and didn't mind it. But he got a little self-conscious when his brothers came over.
"It's nothing," he said. "Just a little doodling."
"Then you won't mind us taking a look," Gordon said, suddenly reaching out.
But Virgil saw it coming and tightened his grip. Gordon's attempt at snatching the sketchpad had failed.
"Actually, I would," Virgil said, getting a little defensive.
Gordon was about to say something else, but was quieted by an elbow to the ribs from Scott. He relented and backed off, muttering a sarcastic apology.
"Come on, Alan," Gordon said. "Let's see what else is going on around here."
Alan glanced over at his father and other brothers, nodded and stood. The pair left the room.
Virgil, who by then had collected his things, announced that he was going up to his bedroom for an early night and wished his brother and father a good night. As he walked away, his father and Scott noticed how his shoulders were slumped down, almost as if in defeat.
