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).

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"What do you have?" Jeff asked.

"Kevin Reilly," John said, splitting the screen so that a picture could also be seen, "started working for the Post three years ago. He got into trouble about 16 months ago when he was arrested for stalking someone he was doing a story on. Since the charges were eventually dropped, he was able to continue working for the paper. Since then, he's been arrested again for stalking and harassment. He was fired from the paper last month."

"I wonder what he's been up to since then," Gordon mused. "Because it doesn't sound like he's been a Boy Scout."

"Any mention of more recent activities?" Jeff asked.

"Nothing here," John said shaking his head. "But I'll keep digging."

"Good, call me the second you have anything," Jeff ordered.

"I will."

"We'll let you get to it then," Jeff replied. "Tracy Island out."

The screen went black and Jeff's attention turned to Virgil. "You take it easy for a while, ok?"

"I'm fine Dad, really," he said.

Jeff's eyes narrowed. "That wasn't a request."

Virgil nodded his head, not saying anything. Jeff sat in his chair and turned toward the rest of the group.

"Thoughts?" he asked.

"Personally, that last part sounded like a threat," Alan said, getting a nod of agreement from Scott.

"And to me too," Jeff agreed. "As much as I'd like to have Virgil sit out the next few rescues, I won't. But I want everyone to be extra vigilant, no unnecessary risks."

"FAB," his sons replied.

"I'm curious to see how he got his information," Scott said. "There aren't too many people who know those details."

"I know three people who could've told him," Alan replied. "The Hood himself, Transom and Mullion."

"And they're all in jail," Gordon commented.

"Prisoners are allowed visitors," Scott said.

"So we see if we can check the visitor logs for the three of them?" Alan asked. "There's no way we'll be able to see those."

"Maybe that's another project for John," Scott suggested. "I don't like the idea of him hacking into anything, but we do need the information."

"I agree. I'll speak to John about that when he calls back," Jeff said. "Until then, you're all dismissed. Just, Virgil, I'd like a moment, if you please."

Virgil nodded, then glanced at Scott. "I'll be upstairs when you're done," Scott said before he left.

Once everyone was gone, Jeff went and sat next to Virgil on the sofa.

"Complete and honest truth," Jeff said. "How are you?"

"Not feeling so sick anymore," Virgil answered.

"And?"

"Altogether horrible."

"I know you're more comfortable with Scott," Jeff said. "Will you talk to him? Please."

Virgil nodded, knowing he'd end up doing just that anyway.

"And I really do want you to take it easy. I'll let you go on rescues unless I don't feel you're up to it. I know what this kind of thing does to you."

"I'll be okay, Dad," Virgil said.

"I know," Jeff replied. "Now get upstairs. Scott's probably pacing the room waiting for you."

Virgil smiled and headed to the door. He paused and turned to say thank you to his father before leaving. His father was right, he found Scott pacing the room when he came in. Virgil put the water bottle on Scott's desk and sat on his brother's bed.

"What did Dad say?" Scott asked, sitting in his desk chair.

"He just asked how I am," Virgil answered.

"And?" Scott asked. "How are you?"

"Like I told him, not so sick anymore. And altogether horrible."

"Horrible? Why?"

"Everything," Virgil sighed, laying back on the bed and staring at the ceiling. It was much easier to talk when he didn't have to see Scott watching him.

"One thing at a time," Scott said. "Give me something."

"He asked what I thought when I heard that Five had been hit," Virgil began. "I was so sick. I still don't know how I managed to help Gordon fly Three up there. I didn't know what we'd find. And then John's voice…when he said he was losing power…"

"We were all worried, Virgil," Scott said. "But we all knew that we had to keep our calm in order to get up there and help John."

"You know what can be the worst thing about being an artist is, Scott?"

"What's that?"

"Having an imagination, especially one that's been described as overactive. I tend to imagine things and see them so vividly I have to remind myself that they aren't real."

"Those were the nightmares in the days after the attack," Scott guessed, and Virgil confirmed.

"On our way up, before he reached us again, I saw him dead about four different ways. Please don't ask about them."

"I wasn't going to."

"And then when we were trapped on Five and everything started going wrong, I imagined how we were going to die. In my medical class, I learned what happens when someone suffocates to death. It isn't pretty. And that's what got into my head."

"How come you didn't tell us this before?" Scott asked.

"Dad was too busy dealing with himself and Alan. You and Gordon had the similar things to deal with. And I was trying to concentrate on John, trying to reassure myself that he really is okay. And I guess I just tried to bury it all. It seemed easier at the time."

"Virgil," Scott said, moving so that he was sitting next to his brother. "You need to talk about these things. You of all people can't let it build since it literally does make you sick."

"I know I should, but it's hard," Virgil admitted.

"What's so hard about it?"

"Come on, Scott. I'm twenty years old, I should be able to deal with these things on my own."

"Hey, I'm twenty-four and still talk," Scott replied.

"You do?"

"Yeah, mostly to John. But since he'd been hurt, I talked to Dad. And I know Gordon and Alan had a few of their infamous all-night sessions, and that John and Dad had a talk of their own."

"I guess I've just gotten used to trying to internalize everything," Virgil replied.

"And I should've known that. Somehow I guess I thought you'd been talking to Dad. Or at least I hoped so."

"Like I said, he had enough to deal with," Virgil said.

"Still. It's called being a family. We support each other. Yeah, we all had our own issues, but we still talked."

"Guess I missed that lesson," Virgil muttered.

"I did too," Scott replied. "That's why you aren't leaving this room until I'm satisfied you aren't trying to bury or bottle up anything."

"Scott…" Virgil began.

"Don't even try it, little brother," Scott said, leaning over him. "Don't even try it."

Virgil sighed, looking over at Scott. He reached up, brushing his fingertips on Scott's face for a second. Scott didn't move, although he wondered what was going through Virgil's mind. And that's when Scott knew something was wrong.

"Talk to me, Virgil," Scott said. "Whatever's going through your head. Talk to me."

It was a minute before Virgil began, and once he did, he didn't stop. Scott listened intently, either asking questions, offering bits of advice or providing comfort. An hour later, Scott could tell that Virgil had mentally exhausted himself and he knew that his brother was physically tired as well as it had been a full day. Virgil had fallen asleep on Scott's bed, his brother's pillow in his arms. Scott quietly went to the hall closet and took out a spare blanket, then went back to spread it over Virgil. Scott decided that it was better to leave him alone, so he went back to the command area where he found his father.

"You were up there for quite a while," Jeff observed.

"It was a really, really long talk," Scott replied, sitting rather heavily on the sofa.

"Are you alright?" Jeff asked.

"Just tired. My little brother's mind is an interesting place. I don't know how he does it."

"Does what?"

"Keep himself sane. I guess that's why when he needs his space, he makes sure he gets it. And when he needs company, he finds someone. I just have to remember to make him talk. He didn't talk to anyone about what happened on Thunderbird Five until just now."

"He hadn't?" Jeff asked. "I thought you two had spoken."

"And I thought he'd talked to you."

"How is he now?"

"Sound asleep on my bed. I doubt we'll be seeing him anytime soon. If he doesn't get up on his own by later tonight, I'll take his room. There's no reason to wake him."

John called a while later to report on some findings. He asked after Virgil, and Scott gave him a brief report. John didn't ask what was said, he knew that it wasn't meant to be shared.

"Looks like Reilly came into a bit of money," John said. "To the tune of two million dollars."

"From where?" Jeff asked.

"A Malaysian bank account in a corporation's name. I ran with that, and found that the corporation is a front for the Hood."

"Great," Scott muttered. "Now what?"

"Reilly himself is still nowhere to be found. No recorded flights out, so I presume he's still on the mainland."

"Can you access the visitor's records for the Hood, Transom and Mullion?" Jeff asked.

John nodded, "But it will take a while. Those aren't exactly set up for public viewing."

"Do what you can and be careful!"

"FAB."

They signed off and Jeff turned to Scott. "The Hood is up to something."

"Would it just be wishful thinking to think that maybe he's just messing with our heads?"

"Yes," Jeff replied. "But I feel the same way. But I still want John to thoroughly check. And I want you boys to exercise the upmost caution on all rescues in the near future. Especially where Virgil is concerned. I still feel that he was threatened."

"Me too. We always look out for each other, Dad. That won't change."

It was late and Virgil had yet to wake, so Scott went into his brother's room. He fell asleep quickly, as it had been a long day for him as well.

Virgil woke later, at first startled by the surroundings. Then he realized he was in Scott's room. He looked over to the clock and saw that it was 12:30am. He sighed, then got up to get into his own bed. But when he entered his room, he saw the Scott was sound asleep in it. So he went back into Scott's room and went back to sleep.