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

A/N: Chapter is a little shakier than I'd like, but it's the best I can do. Hopefully you'll all like it!

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When the nurse entered the room, Scott jumped to his feet first, with Alan and Gordon right next to him.

"He's alive," she said. "But extremely critical. The doctor is moving him up to ICU. Then he'll be down to talk to you."

"Will we be able to see him?" Scott asked.

"I doubt they'll let anyone in to sit with him, but you should be able to get up there and see through the window. The doctor will be able to say for sure."

She excused herself, then left. And the three brothers didn't move for a full minute.

"He's alive," Scott finally sighed. "He really is alive."

"Dad! John!" Alan exclaimed. "We've got to call them!"

Scott used his communicator to contact the island, wanting to give their father the news and to receive any instructions that their father may have.

"Tracy Island," Jeff said.

"He's alive, Dad," Scott reported with a sigh. "A nurse just came in and said that he's alive!"

"Thank goodness," Jeff sighed. "Anything else?"

"Just that's he's extremely critical. They're moving him up to ICU, then the doctor will be down," Scott answered.

"Keep me informed. I know this will be difficult, but I'll need two of you to get the 'Birds back here soon," Jeff said.

"If Alan doesn't mind, I'd like to stay with Virgil," Scott said. "He can fly One home."

Scott looked over at Alan, who nodded slowly. And that left Gordon to fly Two.

"Let me know when you both are taking off. I'll have a jet standing by so you can get back there quickly," Jeff replied. "I'll contact John with the news. Brains is prepping Three to grab him."

"FAB," Scott replied, then the call was disconnected.

Scott looked over his two youngest brothers. Both were dirty, pale and visibly shaken, though there was an air of relief around. And Scott was sure he looked the same way.

"Thank you, Alan," Scott finally said. "So much."

"Just keep an eye on him for us," Alan replied, nodding.

"I promise," Scott told both of his brothers, and then turned his attention to Gordon to caution, "And Gordon, remember, you're flying his baby. Don't think that he won't check every inch of her when he's better."

Gordon smiled a bit. "I'll fly her with kiddie gloves."

The doctor entered the room soon after, sitting in one of the chairs. And the three brothers looked at him expectantly.

"How is he?" Scott asked.

"Extremely critical, I'm afraid. When the pile came down on him, he suffered severe chest trauma. Both of his lungs were punctured, he has several broken ribs and a multitude of other internal injuries. He's also suffered a broken left arm and his left hand was broken in multiple places. As you are well aware, his heart had stopped beating at the scene. After the introduction of adrenaline, the paramedics were able to revive him. But he crashed again in our emergency room. After the introduction of several medications, fluids and a blood transfusion, we were able to revive him again and keep him. But he's nowhere near out of danger yet. These next few days will be vital."

The brothers let this all soak in. Virgil was alive, but they could still lose him.

"Can we see him?" Gordon asked before Scott could.

"I'm afraid that you'll only be able to see him from the window," the doctor answered. "He's in a sterile room since his body can't handle any kind of virus or bacteria right now."

They nodded, having expected this from the nurse. They followed the doctor upstairs, and didn't need to see the press in order to know that they were there. They could hear them easily enough. Once in ICU, they all stood and looked at their brother. And the three were visibly shaken.

"He almost looks like he's just asleep," Alan whispered.

But he wasn't, he was in a coma. They could see part of the chest tube that was helping him breathe. He was surrounded by monitors and there were assorted wires and IVs attached to him. They could see his left hand and arm in a cast up to his elbow. And they could see bruises and scrapes to his face and other arm. The rest of his body was covered by a blanket, and for some reason, they were thankful that they didn't have to see what was underneath. They didn't need to, they knew it was bad. They took a few minutes before Gordon and Alan left. Each embraced Scott, telling him to call if anything happened.

"We'll be back as soon as we can," Alan added, and Scott nodded.

Scott watched his brothers leave the area, then turned his attention back to Virgil. He wanted so badly to be in there, sitting next to his brother, talking to him. But he couldn't, and that frustrated him. There was nothing he could do but watch and wait.

Gordon and Alan got a ride back to the Coliseum, and it was an uneventful, but stressful, flight for both, especially for Gordon. He just didn't feel right flying Virgil's green baby craft. Both crafts landed on the island and were parked in their silos. Jeff and a newly- planetside John both greeted Alan and Gordon upon their respective returns. John, in a fit of restlessness, had already packed a few things for Virgil and a few things for Scott. Once Jeff had a few moments with his two youngest, John, Gordon and Alan climbed into the awaiting jet and took off for Connecticut with John in the pilot's seat. His two youngest brothers were in the cockpit with him, no one anxious to be apart. No one said much of anything during the flight, and it was mercifully short. They were able to land at New Haven's Tweed Airport, so they didn't have far to go to get back to the hospital.

Scott had barely moved while he was alone. He thought that if he took his eyes off of Virgil, that his younger brother would die. John, Gordon, and Alan found him easily. And one look at Scott had nearly shattered John's façade of calm. But as far as any onlookers were concerned, they were all members of International Rescue, they weren't family. They sat down in a row of nearby chairs to talk.

"A nurse suggested we get a hotel. He'll be here for a while," Scott said.

"Wouldn't be a bad idea," John agreed. "We'll never get any rest here."

"Did Dad say anything when you there?" Scott asked of all three.

"Only that he wants us to take care of ourselves too," Gordon answered. "And he repeated several times that this isn't anyone's fault. Although he's plenty mad at the Coliseum because they should've known to clear some of the snow off of the roof."

"I saw a hotel that's nearby," Alan mentioned. "I saw it on the way in."

"I'll book a couple rooms," John offered, seeing as how Scott wasn't moving.

"I don't want to go," Scott whispered. "If all of us go…there won't be anyone here for him."

"We won't all go at once then," John replied. "We'll take shifts. But Scott, you're definitely among the first to go. You've been here the longest, and you need to get out of that uniform."

Scott only nodded. John went to find a phone, returning a few minutes later.

"We have two adjoining suites with four beds. They'll be waiting for you."

"John?" Gordon asked.

"I'm staying put, I've had it the easiest. The three of you had the physical part, and then there's flying to the island and back. You three go, I'll stay put. And I don't want to see any of you for at least six hours unless I call. Understood?"

"Six hours? John…" Scott protested.

"You all need to get cleaned up, get a proper meal in you, and sleep. I'm not negotiating here. Six hours."

The three nodded wearily. John had a point, but they weren't comfortable leaving Virgil for that long.

"If anything happens…" Scott began.

"If anything happens, I will call. I promise," John finished.

Scott, Gordon and Alan went to the hotel and checked in. The first thing Scott did was strip his uniform off and get into the shower. Gordon and Alan used the time to order room service. No one was really hungry, but they still had to eat something. So while they waited for Scott and the food, Gordon and Alan freshened themselves up and talked about Virgil.

"I just feel so bad that I've hardly spent any time with him since I came home," Alan admitted.

"I think he understands. After all, it's no secret that you and Tin-Tin like each other. We're just getting tired of waiting for you both to admit it."

Alan glanced at Gordon, who wore a tired, but knowing, smile. And Alan didn't bother arguing the point. Scott appeared about five minutes before the food did. And they ate dinner in a palpable silence. When it was time for some rest, they found that being apart didn't work. So Gordon and Alan shared a queen-size bed, while Scott got the other to himself. And it was exactly six hours when they showed up at the hospital again.

They found John standing in front of the window, just staring. Scott was the first to him, and placed a hand on his younger brother's shoulder. John turned, and Scott was taken aback. John's face was red, his eyes were red and puffy. And Scott cursed himself for letting John stay alone.