Disclaimer: I don't own them, I'm not lucky enough.

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).

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"Did you get anywhere before?" Jeff asked once the room was clear.

"He just said that he felt disconnected, but he'd be fine."

"Disconnected how?"

"He said he couldn't explain it. Leave him for the night, and I'll try again tomorrow."

"Alright, son," Jeff said.

The next morning found Scott looking for Virgil before breakfast. He figured that Virgil was up since he didn't sleep in often, and had gone up early the night before. It didn't take him long to find his younger brother since he heard music coming from his bedroom when he passed the door. Scott gently knocked on the door, the music not loud enough to mask it.

"It's open," Virgil said, and Scott noted the light but serious tone to those two words.

"Hey," Scott said, slowing coming into the room.

Virgil was standing in the middle of the room, facing one of the walls with a piece of paper held out in front of him. Every few seconds he'd glance from the paper to the wall and back.

"Oh, hey Scott!" Virgil replied, glancing at his older brother before going back to the paper.

"What are you doing?" Scott asked after he sat on Virgil's already made bed.

"Got an idea for a mural last night," Virgil answered. "Just seeing if it's possible."

"Is that what you were drawing last night?" Scott asked.

Virgil knew what his brother was referring to and shook his head. "No, that's something different. Just a little something since the game had gone into chaos."

"Mind if I see what this mural idea is?" Scott asked, genuinely curious.

"I know it doesn't look like much now," Virgil said, handing over the paper. "But it's only a rough idea. I still need to fine-tune it, add in more details, get the colors in…"

"I think it'll be great," Scott said when he finished going over the drawing.

"But it's…"

"Virgil, you're an artistic wonder. I have no doubt that this will be great. Now, will this be all over the room or just one wall?"

"Just one wall," Virgil answered. "I think it'd fit that one nicely."

Virgil pointed to the one he'd been studying when Scott first came in. Scott nodded in agreement.

"What about the other walls?" Scott asked.

Virgil shrugged. "One wall at a time, big brother. Unless I get hit by sudden inspiration. Anyway, I've got that thing I'm working on upstairs and don't think I've forgotten that Gordon's birthday is coming up. I've got enough to keep me busy without any rescues as it is."

"Going back to work on that?"

"I've decided to leave it alone for today. I've been obsessing over it too much and I think that's why I can't finish it. Maybe tomorrow I can look at it with a clearer head. Plus, I have an idea for Gordon's birthday, and I need to get started on that if I'm going to finish in time."

"You think you'll need any help at all?" Scott asked.

Virgil looked at his brother and wondered why he wanted to help all of a sudden. The previous day he'd asked about the music project, and now with his other art projects as well.

"I'll probably need an opinion or two along the way," Virgil answered.

Scott nodded, then checked his watch. "We better get downstairs for breakfast or there'll be nothing left after Gordon and Alan get through."

Virgil laughed, following his older brother out of the door.

"Do you think Gordon's really upset about last night?" Virgil asked.

"Gordon? About what?"

"I wouldn't let him see the sketchpad."

"I doubt it. Knowing him, he's probably forgotten about it by now."

Virgil knew Scott was right, so he let the matter drop. They came into the dining area to find their father, Gordon, Alan, Brains and Tin-Tin already sitting down. They took their seats, wished everyone a good morning and joined in the conversation that had already started. Virgil noticed that Gordon didn't seem to be harboring any ill feelings over the previous night and felt relieved.

During breakfast, Tin-Tin mentioned that she and her mother could use a day on the mainland to gather some things. Virgil used the opportunity to mention that he could use some supplies as well, offering to fly if his father approved. Jeff immediately gave his approval, not hesitating since Alan was home and could fill in on a rescue if anything came in while Virgil was away.

"I'll also take requests from family members who need anything from the mainland," Virgil offered, and his father, Scott and Gordon immediately said they did.

"I just got home from school," Alan said. "I've got everything."

"Give me your lists and I'll do the best I can," Virgil said.

Jeff decided that the trip would take place the following day. Immediately after breakfast, Jeff, Scott and Gordon went to compile their lists while Virgil went to make his own. He went over his art supplies, noting what he would need for his various projects. He then went down to Thunderbird Two's silo to see if he needed anything there.

It was an hour before he was finished, satisfied that he hadn't forgotten anything. Even though, he knew he'd be checking the list every so often. Scott found him a little while later, while he was in his room with the mural sketch.

"Here's my list," Scott announced when he came in, handing it over.

"Have you checked it twice?" Virgil asked with a grin.

Scott only narrowed his eyes. "Ha, ha. Actually, I went over it a few times. I wanted to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything."

"I did the same," Virgil admitted.

"Mural?" Scott asked, eyeing the paper in Virgil's hands.

"Yeah," he answered. "Just trying to fine-tune it a little. But nothing's coming right now."

"I think some fresh air would do you some good. I know it'd help me," Scott offered.

Virgil thought for a moment, then agreed. They exited the house, choosing a path that would eventually lead to the beach. As they walked, they talked about their 'Birds, what else Virgil would do on the mainland, their family, and quite a few other things. They made their way back to the house just in time for lunch, which they found set up on the patio.

"And where have you two been?" Gordon asked, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"Around," Scott answered.

"Could you be any more vague?"

"We were on the island," Scott laughed, earning a glare from Gordon.

"We went for a walk," Virgil said.

The family, who were also joined by Brains and Tin-Tin, talked over lunch about many things. Afterwards, Jeff went back to his office to get some work done while Tin-Tin went inside to help her mother. Since he'd been out all morning, Scott said that he was going to Thunderbird One to get some of his own work done. Alan wanted to run some things by John since he was going up to Thunderbird Five for a rotation soon enough, went to call his brother. That left Gordon and Virgil on their own.

"Listen, Gordon," Virgil began. "I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to get snappy at you."

"Hey, it's no problem. I do know when to back off, sometimes I just don't. Last night was one of those times. I'm sorry too."

Since he'd finished his list while Virgil was out with Scott, Gordon ran up to his room to get it before he forgot. Virgil put the list in his room, alongside his own and Scott's.

"So, any ideas to get rid of the sterilized look?" Gordon asked. "Or are you finding that institutional white suits you?"

Virgil tried to glare, but couldn't maintain a straight face. "Here. Take a look at this."

Gordon took the paper and looked at it for a minute. He then looked up and pointed to a wall, the same one that Virgil had decided on earlier.

"That wall," Gordon said, and Virgil nodded.

"I agree," he said.

"I can't wait for it to be done," Gordon commented. "It'll be so cool!"

"It isn't going to look exactly like that," Virgil replied. "I still need to finalize that and get the coloring done…"

"Meaning the mural won't get done this century," Gordon grinned.

"It'll get done," Virgil sighed. "It just may take a while."