Damned If You Do

by LockUpTheRain

A freak chance lands Gordon in a sights of one of his former WASP commanders who demands something that Gordon cannot give. But, when another brother pays the price for Gordon's silence will the family forgive him and will he be able to forgive himself?

Trigger warning for non-consensual drug use and the after effects thereof.

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Scott watched as tremors ran through Virgil. His brother was curled on his side is the hospital bed in an almost foetal position. Initially the nurses had tried to get him to lie back, worried that he would catch the IV line placed in his hand and pull it loose, but Virgil was delirious and it seemed the only way for him to fight the pain he was in was to try and make himself as small as possible.

Scott had stayed by his side ever since he and Gordon had been found. He'd carefully unwound the plastic tubes making sure to keep them kink free – not that they were doing any good. The line only contained a mild pain killer, (not that it seemed to be doing any good) saline and a nutrient mix designed to help replenish some of the stores his body was using as it tried to fight the poison within. The doctors didn't know what it was. They'd taken blood sample after blood sample but they never came back with anything useful. Virgil's body was now burning itself up as his fever tried to kill off whatever was attacking him.

All Scott knew was that his brother was in tremendous pain.

"Scott?" Virgil had opened his eyes and Scott willed him to sleep again. Whatever Virgil was going to say next was cut off by a broken sob.

"Easy Virgil" Scott's own voice wasn't as stable as he would have liked. He placed a hand on his brothers sweat soaked forearm. The muscle tightened as Virgil fisted the bed sheets and tried to pull in on himself even more. "Easy, just breathe, it'll pass." It wouldn't, the best Scott could hope for was for Virgil to pass out again.

"Oh God" came a voice from the doorway. Gordon stood there, looking white as a sheet.

"What are you doing here, Gordon?"

"It's not easing, is it?" Gordon said, his eyes glued to the trembling form of his brother.

"Go back to bed, Gordon" was all Scott could manage. His eyes returned to Virgil and he murmured comforting words to the stricken man. He didn't notice the hurt play over Gordon's features notice when the aquanaut left. He only had eyes for Virgil and a despair that a cure wouldn't be found in time.

12 HOURS EARLIER

"Stephen! Stephen!" the wild call came as the land rumbled threatening to slip again. He had to find his former commander, he had to tell him who he'd just seen. He wouldn't have believed it had he not seen it with his own eyes.

The village where they had been hiding from the world was in ruins where it wasn't outright gone. Heavy rains had poured down the Annamese Mountain range and a flash flood had taken everything. Carter's own Vietnamese had improved tremendously during their stay here but now, with the locals screaming and panicking, he was having trouble trying to keep up. In his desperate attempt to find his commander he barrelled a lady out of the way, not pausing to see that she had slipped and was taken by the water.

"Franklin, Mortimer" he called as he found the last of their unit. "Where is Stephen?"

"He went to the village hall" Franklin said and Carter nodded his understanding. They'd hidden the last of their munitions under the old structure. "We need to move; westerners are going to stick out like a sore thumb and International Rescue is already here."

"That's why we need to find Stephen, now! There's a former WASP with them."

"Which one?" Mortimer asked.

"Can't remember his name" Carter admitted. "But Stephen needs to get a look at him. If he was on that mission-"

"He might be our ticket back home" Franklin began wading towards the village hall. A scream sounded from within, clearly female. Unconcerned the three men pushed forwards up the steps to the hall in time to see their leader backhand a young woman with a force that took her of her feet.

"There's a WASP here" Franklin stated and Carter felt a surge of irritation, it was his discovery after all.

"He's with International Rescue" Carter added.

"Do you know who?" Stephen's eyes were alight.

"No" the each admitted.

"But you remember him from the barracks?"

"Yes" Carter replied. "He wasn't in the same enlistment as us. Maybe a few years behind?"

"Well then, it's lucky for the three of you that we have one working brain between us" he reached down and threw the woman aside. Then he tore up an ornamental rug and heaved at the floor boards. He withdrew three bags throwing his men one each. They all knew what was in there and paused only to check that their weaponry wasn't wet. Franklin's bag was bulkier and clanked ominously. "I need to get somethings from the house. Get a suitable vehicle and get set up. Where is the WASP?"

Franklin and Mortimer both turned to Carter and he felt a sense of satisfaction that their leader now new the information came from him.

"South west corner, in the worst of the flood. He's with another man, much larger, they're pulling people out of the water and sending them back out of the village."

"Any others?"

"There are two more in the same uniform but they're working further up-stream, near the school."

"But what if he wasn't on the mission?" Mortimer asked. "We'd be risking exposure, for nothing."

"Like I said" Stephen said almost to himself. "One working brain between the four of us. Who runs International Rescue? The Tracy Family" he answered his own question. "Which Tracy family member was a WASP? Gordon. Was Gordon Tracy on Operation Devonshire? Well, why don't we ask the commander?"

The other three men knew full well who the commander of that mission was. It was Stephen's last hurrah before he was exiled from society. They all knew that the documents WASP had been sent to retrieve had been stolen by one of their own and hidden from Stephen so that he would be discredited and eventually thrown in prison. Stephen knew exactly who had been on his last mission as a WASP commander.

"What are you waiting for?" Stephen shouted. "Move! Move!"

A Short time later they rendezvoused near where the WASP was working. It was easy to tell who he was as he waded or swam out into the fast-flowing water whilst the other man held onto guide ropes and generally worked as an anchor.

The four former aquanauts waited until International Rescue had saved the final person in the area. The larger man checked them over in a professional manner whilst the WASP began to gather equipment. The victim was clearly pronounced fine and sent off with the rest of their family. The three men waited on their commander's signal and at the flick of a hand began moving silently to surround the pair.

Stephen watched as the larger man touched his bandolier and nodded as though receiving instruction. He then signalled to the WASP and moved over to help him load equipment back onto their hover cart. Stephen quickly judged the positions of his men, the terrain, the noise of the driving rain and estimated the martial training of the unknown man. He was clearly well built but his position as field medic in their little team of two hinted that he might not be as well trained as their target was.

A crash from the other side of the torrent caused both men to spin round as a large section of ground fell away and was caught up in the flow. Seizing the moment Stephen motioned his men forwards. By the time their targets turned around they found themselves facing the barrels of four loaded machine guns.

Gordon cursed himself to hell and back for being taken so quickly. The four armed men, their faces each covered by a balaclava, had appeared from nowhere and they had come prepared. Quickly Gordon and Virgil had been divested of all their equipment which, unfortunately, included the communicators both on their wrists and in their bandoliers. They were then placed in heavy chains and, with at least one gun trained on him at all times, there was little Gordon could do about it. Virgil seemed to be taking a lead from his younger brother and so, when they were roughly pushed away from the rescue site, he went quietly. It was only when Gordon saw the van that he tried digging his heels in. As his arms were chained behind him, he tried to kick out. He caught the man to his right square in the shin, grinning as the man squawked in surprise and pain. But the grin was short lived. The man to his left swung the rifle round and into the side of his head. He tried to roll with it but it still hurt and he landed face down in the ankle-deep water.

"Gordon!" he heard his brother call in alarm but he was soon silenced. Rough hands then seized Gordon by the collar and threw him into the back of the van. Virgil landed shortly after him then scrambled backwards as three of the armed men joined them. Gordon shook his head to try and clear it but could do nothing as his arms were seized and unchained, he was then flipped over and his brain kicked into gear. He bought both legs up to wrap around the man straddling him and got an elbow inside the man's defences. Using the momentum of the now moving van he threw him off following with an elbow to the temple that would have kept him down for a while had it landed. Unfortunately, it did not as one of the other men dove on top of him pinning him bodily to the floor of the van.

"Hey! If you want this man to live, you'll settle down." Gordon risked a glance up and behind him to see that Virgil had been thrown onto his stomach. The third gunman was leaning over him with the barrel of the gun digging into the back of his brother's skull. Virgil was trying to look up at his brother but his face was pushed so hard into the unforgiving floor that it was impossible.

"Okay" Gordon tried to raise his arms in surrender. "Okay, don't hurt him." He braced himself as the man he'd initially got the batter of found his feet then kicked Gordon hard in the side. Winded he couldn't stop the men from placing manacles on his hands and feet with a length of chain between them. Only when he was secure did the third man remove his gun from Virgil who was then treated to the same bindings as Gordon. Gordon was then thrown against the back wall next to his brother and the captors settled in, at least one of them covering the Tracy's at all times.

"Are you alright?" Virgil asked quietly.

"No talking!" a man shouted and both brothers flinched as he threw something which struck the van between their heads. It appeared to be a bit of brick. Gordon didn't need to implore his brother to stay silent but he was pleased to see that Virgil was doing exactly that. With one eye on the armed men Gordon and Virgil began to test the links on their chains.

The ride was long and hot. Their captors made a show of getting out canteens of water to pass between them but, at that moment, Virgil wouldn't have taken it if it was offered. He'd kept a side eye on Gordon but he didn't seem too badly hurt. Miraculously the whack to the head earlier hadn't caused any bleeding and he wasn't flinching when the van his bumps so Virgil didn't think his brother had broken any ribs in the short fight.

What Gordon was doing was sitting very quietly and very still in a most un-Gordon like fashion. He openly studied the men at the other end of the van and Virgil realised with a start that he was looking at WASP Gordon, not his regular prankster brother. If Virgil wasn't already aware of how much trouble they were in, that would have bought it home.

The van came to a stop and one of the men opened the rear doors whilst the other two each grabbed at the length of chain between Gordon and Virgil's ankles and dragged them bodily down the length of the van. When they reached the doors, they were hauled upright and given the curt instruction 'walk.'

In front of them was a bunker. It was carrying all the markings of a life in the Vietnamese jungle; run down, covered in plant growth, pitted walls and rotten stale air. Once inside they were marched through a door and down a stair case. Virgil found himself in the odd position of not wanting to get where they were going whilst wishing they could hurry up and get there already. Begin taller than Gordon meant that the chain connecting his arms and legs seemed shorter. He had to permanently hunch over and each stumble pulled on his wrists which pulled on his arms and back. At the bottom of the stairs was a single room. Sitting ominously in the centre of the room was a single metal chair, bolted into the concrete floor. Metal cuffs seemed to have been welded to the sides and the legs of the chair. He baulked when he saw it, stopping so suddenly that the man behind him ran into him then pushed him harshly into the room. He tripped on the short ankle chain and went sprawling to the ground turning over to come face to face with the business end of one of the guns. The two other men had picked Gordon up spun him round and thrown him into the chair.

"What the hell?!" he protested trying to stand again only to have a gun swung into his gut. Gordon bend over coughing harshly. Virgil thought to use the moment to kick out at the man above him but it must have shown in his face. He'd barely tensed a leg muscle when he heard the sound of a safety catch release.

"Don't try it" the man warned in a low voice.

When Virgil looked back at his brother, he saw that he'd been fastened to the chair, the original manacles removed. Only then did two of the men relax slightly, the third calling that everything was secure out into the hallway.

"Back up" the man in front of him said gesturing to the far corner. From here Virgil had a good view of the room but Gordon wouldn't be able to see him. Gordon must have noticed too as he tried to twist in the chair.

"What are you doing?" He demanded but the answer came from outside the door.

"Gordon Tracy. Golden boy of the WASPs. I have waited a long time to talk to you." The man who walked into the room had already removed his balaclava and was methodically removing his leather gloves.

"Are you intentionally going for supervillain vibes or is this just you being you?" Gordon shot back.

The man laughed. Life in Vietnam hadn't been kind to him. It had put lines on his face and tanned his skin so that it looked unnaturally bronzed. His dark hair was still military short, however, and his brown eyes sharp.

"I'd missed that sense of humour" he looked to one of the gunmen. "Didn't I always say, Carter, that he was the heart of the unit? Always a quick word and smile for everyone" he approached Gordon. "Or maybe a joke? Eh? We all appreciated your sense of humour."

Virgil saw the moment Gordon recognised him. The slight stiffening in the unforgiving chair, the way his hands unconsciously curled into fists.

"Commander Bailey."

Bailey moved so fast that Virgil jumped.

"DON'T use that name!" Bailey leaned into Gordon, one hand on this chest the other pointing a finger in his face. "No one uses that name. WASP took it from me, that and everything else." He stepped back suddenly, a picture of calm. "But you're going to help me get it back."

"Let my teammate go and we'll discuss it" Gordon said calmly. Everything in Virgil wanted to protest. He couldn't leave Gordon down here, defenceless against a man who looked a little unhinged. But, once again, as soon as he drew breath the man in front of him motioned with his gun and, despite himself, Virgil backed down.

"Your brother, you mean?" Bailey looked between restrained men. "You might have the necessary training for situations like this but he doesn't. He's terrified." Once again Bailey came in close to Gordon, "you can see it all over his face" he said softly, as though imparting a secret. "Probably, never looked down the barrel of a gun before."

Virgil tried to settle himself. Bailey might be right but that didn't mean Virgil had to show it. Gordon didn't need to be thinking about him at the moment.

"So!" Bailey straightened suddenly and clapped his hands. Once again Virgil jumped and then cursed himself for it. "Here is what is going to happen. You're going to tell me about Operation Devonshire, the true version, not what went in the reports. It had better tally up to what I know happened, and remember lieutenant we were both there, so I will know if you lie. You will then tell me where the files went. My men will retrieve them and once they have you will be free to go."

Gordon looked baffled.

"But I wasn't on Operation Devonshire."

Bailey closed his hands into fists shaking as he did so. He looked furious. He then took a deep breath and nodded to the man he'd called Carter to stepped forward and backhanded Gordon across the face.

"I was the CO of that operation. I know who was on it. I remember you from the briefings. Calm, alert to every detail, asking sensible questions when prompted, then with the briefing over challenging Mortimer here" he gestured to the man in front of Virgil "to a swimming race for his lunch. I can see you there, as though it was yesterday because for me and my men it was!"

Virgil daren't move. Bailey had worked himself up so much the veins were standing out on his forehead.

"I led you on that mission" Bailey started, having got himself back under some semblance of control. "I sent you to the eastern entrance with Ramirez and the two of you went off comms. Funny how we lost comms with the two men who were closest to the target. Do you know where Ramirez is now?" Bailey was so close to Gordon now that Virgil could see his brother was trying to lean away, but there was nowhere to go. Bailey slipped a hand over Gordon's shoulder and braced it on the back of his chair. "I put him in the ground. He wouldn't admit to what we all know. That the four of us aren't traitors. We didn't desert our company; those men did not die because of us. We did everything we could to complete the mission. Now Gordon, you were there. Tell your brother here what really happened."

Virgil saw Gordon swallow, he tried to look in Virgil's direction but was blocked by Bailey's arm.

"I heard about the mission" he started but Bailey reared back his other fist to strike. Gordon braced himself but no hit came. Instead, Bailey relaxed his arm and patted Gordon on the chest.

"I know" he said reasonably, "I know. You will have signed some kind of nondisclosure about Devonshire. Your brother can keep a secret though, can't you?" This last was Directed at Virgil who didn't know if he was even meant to respond so nodded mutely. Bailey didn't even look at him. "Let's begin again."

Virgil could see the conflict in his younger brother. If he admitted to being on the mission then Bailey would then try and drag details out of him – details Gordon clearly did want to or couldn't give. But if he didn't, then who knew what the man would do?

"Let my teammate go, and we'll talk about it."

Bailey sighed and stood up, running a hand down his face.

"You won't even acknowledge your own brother. How am I supposed to trust a word you say now?" He seemed to start talking to himself. "Well, I suppose there's nothing for it. Reasonable force in times of war. Pressure need to be exerted before the target will acquiesce." He gestured to the only unnamed man in the room. "Fetch it." The man nodded and left. "Bring him." Mortimer surged forwards catching Virgil by the collar and throwing him forwards. Virgil barely had time to get his feet under him before he was forced to his knees next to Gordon.

"Palms flat on the ground" Mortimer instructed.

Chains clanked as Virgil moved forwards immediately feeling more vulnerable than before. His eyes flicked up wards as Bailey's legs moved into his line of sight. Bailey himself wasn't armed as far as Virgil could see, if he could get hold of him, maybe use him as a shield he might be able to force the others to put down their arms and unbind Gordon. The butt of the rifle pressed into the back of his head again.

"Heart of a lion this one" Mortimer joked. "Training of a house cat though."

"You might not want to admit this man is your brother, lieutenant" Bailey said. "But he clearly cares for you." Bailey spun round. "Maybe he's not a brother" he said as though an idea had just occurred to him. "Perhaps a lover instead?"

Both Tracy's balked at the idea and Bailey smiled. "That's what I thought."

Virgil risked a glance up at his brother but the rifle tapped him on the back of the head.

"Eyes down!"

Bailey didn't seem to have noticed.

"You remember Rancid, don't you Gordon?" he asked making it sound as though Rancid was an old friend from school. Virgil suspected he wasn't.

"What?" There was enough of a note of alarm in Gordon's voice to make Virgil's pulse jump.

"I'm sure you do. I think I'll introduce your brother. Unless you have something you want to tell me?"

"No! Give it to me, he hasn't got anything to do with this!"

From the corner of his eye Virgil could see Gordon was now breathing deeply trying to portray a sense of calm he clearly didn't feel. Virgil tensed to move, thinking, with the rifle so close he would be able to catch Mortimer by surprise. This time the tap he received wasn't gentle.

"Leave him alone! I can't tell you about Devonshire, I wasn't there!" Gordon insisted. "Think Ba- Commander. Think about that mission, I wasn't on it because I'd volunteered for another. You were upset with me for it!"

The fourth gunman came back into the room. Looking up through his lashes Virgil could see the machine gun had been slung across his back, in his hands was a leather pouch which he unfurled and held out to Bailey.

"That's not true, lieutenant" Baily said, his voice in that fragile state of calm that Virgil was finding more unnerving than the bouts of anger.

"It is! I'd left for my new assignment before Devonshire deployed. I didn't find out about what had happened until months later."

Bailey took a syringe from the pouch and a small vial.

"What do you weigh?" He asked, addressing Virgil for the first time. "I'd say 230 to 250lb?" He measured a dose into the syringe. "Wouldn't do to overdose you, would it?"

"He weighs less than that!" Gordon shouted suddenly, causing Bailey to stop what he was doing and turn his attention back to the restrained man. Virgil heard movement behind him and began to slide his palms back in line with his knees enabling him to sit up a bit straighter. Now he could clearly see Bailey return the vial to the pouch and step in his direction.

"More lies, Gordon. I can see now that this is quite necessary."

He wasn't prepared for Virgil to move, slapping the syringe away before spinning on his knees to bury a fist in the stomach on the man behind him. He then got his feet under him, turning back towards Baily with the intention of looping his chained arms up over Baily's neck. But he had forgotten just how short that chain was. As he brought his arms up it caught and he quickly redirected the motion into an awkward double punch that Bailey easily avoided. This left a clear passage to the door.

"Get out of here, Virgil!" Gordon shouted.

Virgil hesitated for a split second, but he knew there was no way he would be able to free his brother. With one gunman down, another fumbling the leather pouch and Bailey off balance this was the best chance he would get. He would have to get to the surface and find a way to contact his brothers, the GDF, anyone who could properly rescue Gordon. He hated it, but it was their best chance. He made for the door as fast as his bound legs would take him catching sight of the fourth gunman as he did so. Virgil registered that this man hadn't moved when he was tackled about the knees. He landed hard, immediately trying to twist around to his assailant but the man crawled on top of him, crossing his arms over his chest and applying pressure. He felt something hit his leg then a soft murmur of "that's strong material" before his head was yanked to one side and something injected into his neck. He bucked hard trying to throw off the man on top of him but he was caught under the arms by the other two and dragged back to the wall to Gordon's right. He fought all the way, landing an occasional strike but the men were relentless and he was soon secured to a ring buried deep in the wall.

"Heart of a lion indeed." Bailey sounded pleased. "You know the timeframe, lieutenant. I'll be back" and with that they left, the turning of the lock the only sound as the room was plunged into gloom and darkness.

Gordon couldn't believe what was happening. He'd never felt so impotent in all his life. He didn't stop them both getting taken, didn't get them out of the van, couldn't stop them from taking them down to this cell.

He couldn't stop what they just did to his brother.

He realised he was shaking and deliberately unclenched his fists and took a few deep breaths. Unlike their journey here this room was cold and smelt of decomposing plant, despite its concrete structure.

"Virgil?" He asked when he was sure he had a hold of his voice. He needed his brother to stay calm now, for his own sake, and Gordon knew they could draw some strength from each other. "Are you alright?" It was a stupid question. If that really was Rancid in that vial then Virgil was a long, long way from alright.

"I feel okay" Virgil responded. "Am I okay?"

"Yes, you'll be fine." Gordon put as much confidence into that short sentence as he could muster. "I don't suppose you can get free?"

Virgil looked at the chain looped through the ring.

"I doubt it" he said standing. He pulled the chain taught then heaved his full weight against it. They were both surprised when the ring pulled easily free from the wall and Virgil ended up on his backside. "I guess they don't build 'em like they used to."

"Well, that's one for the good guys. Try the main door."

Virgil got up again and pulled on the handle.

"This one's locked."

"Not a surprise. And, it opens inwards so you have less chance of breaking it down. What are you doing?"

Virgil had moved from the door and was crouching by Gordon's right hand.

"I didn't see them bolt you in here. I can't see a mechanism. Did they use a key?"

"Uh, yes" Gordon thought hard. "It was odd shaped though. More like a needle than an old-fashioned key." He winced at his own words. "Sorry."

"It's okay" Virgil crawled round behind Gordon to inspect the wrist bindings from the back. "Yeah, there's a small circular hole here. Probably releases a pressure mechanism, which is good because if I can get something strong enough in there, I can get you out."

"I've never wished I was Lady P so much in my life" Gordon chuckled. Virgil pulled himself back round to face his brother with a look of incredulity.

"What?"

"Then we'd have a hair grip" Gordon offered a little lamely. Virgil patted him on the arm in a condescending manner then continued with his hunt to find something thin and pointy.

"So" Virgil attempted for casual as he began a search of their cell, "what have I got to look forward to?"

Gordon took a deep breath. He didn't want to tell his brother. If he told him then it would become real and, at the moment, he could pretend that Bailey was bluffing, that he'd only injected Virgil with water. After all, Virgil was currently fine, right?

"Gordon." Virgil momentarily abandoned his search to sit in front of his younger brother. "You have to tell me. I need to know."

Brown eyes locked with amber. Gordon steeled himself.

"You've never heard of Rancid before?" Virgil shook his head. "It was originally called Rapid and meant to be a party drug. Probably out of Cuba but it kept turning up on pleasure yachts round Tampa. I swear for about six months all WASP did was board boats that were out of control due to the state of their passengers." Gordon looked at his brother's face and realised Virgil didn't want a full history of the drug. Gordon was stalling. "I'm so sorry Virgil. It's going to be a really bad trip. Someone, somewhere, realised you could cut Rapid with a few other things and produce a great interrogation drug. I need you to tell me right away if you start getting dizzy or start seeing anything in the room that isn't me. I know you're clear headed now but you're not going to remain that way. I want you to try and remember that I am real. I'm going to try and ground you through this, okay."

"Yeah" Virgil ran a shaky hand down his face. "Yeah, alright." He pushed himself up and began searching their cell once again. "If I'm going to start seeing leprechauns then I need to get you free before that happens. He moved towards the door again pausing as something tinkled by his boot. "Yes!" He turned to Gordon holding up the syringe he had slapped from Bailey's hand.

Moving quickly, he dropped behind Gordon's right hand and inserted the needle into the keyhole. He felt some resistance and the lock popped open. Gordon tore his hand free, shaking it vigorously to try and get the blood flowing again.

"Okay now the other one" he said unnecessarily as Virgil had already started. Virgil had one ankle free before the needle snapped.

"No!" He tried inserting the remaining needle but it just couldn't get any purchase on the stub that was now stuck inside the lock. "It's okay, we'll just have to find something else" he cast around him but came up empty. Unable to just sit when he was so close to freedom Gordon yanked against the lock with both hands.

"Here, give me the syringe, I'll keep trying whilst you look for something else." Virgil did so and Gordon began the arduous task of trying to line up two ends of a needle and exert enough force to trigger the lock. "How're you feeling?" he asked.

"Still fine" came the distracted reply. "Could do with a longer chain though, it's murder on the back."

"Really? I didn't notice. Guess the six-foot club has some drawbacks after all." A pooping sound from his ankle had Gordon looking down in surprise. "I did it!" He jumped off the seat like he'd sat on a hot plate. "Okay, let's look at you." He rounded on his brother and pulled aside his collar to reveal the puncture mark. The area was tiny, marginally red and not swollen at all. He prodded it cautiously and got batted aside by Virgil.

"Stop that."

"Did it hurt?"

"No, it's just irritating."

Next Gordon picked up his brother's chains inspecting the manacles.

"Looks like these actually need a key, not a pointy thing."

"Yeah, I thought so too. But I can move in them so; the door?"

"The door" Gordon confirmed. As they'd said earlier, the door opened inwards, a serious flaw that Gordon meant to take full advantage of now that he was free. An inward swinging door was something he could use to ambush from behind. The hinges for the door were also on the inside. Virgil was way ahead of him, testing to see if he could prise the pin from the hinge.

"They said that you knew the timeframe, so, how long before he comes back?" Virgil grunted pulling against the pin.

"That depends on what concentration he gave you I suppose. Probably about an hour. So, maybe the same again as we've already been in here?"

"So, he think's I'll be out if it in the next half hour or so?"

"Yes" Gordon sighed. "You still feeling okay?"

"Fine." But then Virgil jumped back and looked at the door suspiciously. "The door just moved."

"No, it didn't."

"I was afraid you were going to say that."

Gordon regarded his brother. Virgil was a little paler but it could be a trick of the light. He was breathing normally and not showing any signs of dizziness. Gordon put a hand against his forehead and found it cool. They both froze as they heard boots outside the door.

"That one wasn't just you" Gordon whispered. "Okay, get behind me." He pulled Virgil behind him and stood in the shadow of the opening door. He held his breath as the lock opened and prayed to whoever was listening that only one person had come to check on them rather than all four. The door opened and Gordon knew he only had seconds before their captor recognised the empty chair and sounded the alarm. Instead of giving him that chance Gordon reached around the door and pulled the man bodily into the room. He caught the man by the arm and pulled him around, then Gordon wrapped one hand over the man's nose and mouth and snaked an arm around his throat. But he wasn't alone. Bailey had been behind him and now he pulled what looked like a taser from his leg holster. Virgil didn't give him a chance to use it. He barrelled into Bailey throwing him off balance and causing him to fall, catching his head on the doorframe. Bailey went down for the count.

"I didn't mean to do that" Virgil said in shock.

"I know." The man in Gordon's arms finally succumbed and Gordon dropped him like a filthy rag. "But I'm glad it was him and not you." He began searching the two men taking first a radio then going through pockets. "Virgil, search him" he prompted. But Virgil didn't move, his eyes fixed on the man he'd just knocked out. Gordon finished his search and stood in front of his brother. Virgil's eyes were wide open, unblinking but not focused. Gordon swore to himself then got hold of Virgil's shoulders and gave him a shake. Virgil jumped about a mile before his eyes snapped back to Gordon.

"Gordon?" He sounded uncertain.

"Yeah, I'm real remember?" He used his Rescue Voice. It was a test, usually of the brothers tried their rescue voices on each other it was met with an affectionate slap and an insistence they were okay. But right now, Virgil just nodded.

"Right, you're real."

Gordon searched Bailey. It was too much to hope that he had a vial on him labelled antidote in big friendly letters but worth a go anyway. He pulled out a phone and a lighter before finding a small bunch of keys.

"Virgil are you with me?"

"Yeah, Gords. Back in the room."

Gordon wasn't completely convinced but Virgil's eyes were focused once again and he was responding.

"Can you see if you can raise anyone on this?" He handed Virgil the phone then knelt down to try the keys on the ankle manacles.

Virgil fiddled with it for a moment.

"It's no good, we're probably just too far under-ground. Once we get topside we should get a location and kill the GPS on it."

Gordon let out a small noise of triumph as the manacle popped open. He made short work of the rest then chained Bailey and the other one to the chair. Gordon hesitated before reaching down and claiming the taser. He hefted the weight of it and nodded to himself.

"Okay, stay behind me, stay low and stay quiet. If I tell you to do something, do it, don't hesitate, don't argue."

Virgil was a little wide eyed but he nodded.

"Alright, I'll follow your lead."

Gordon crept forward on silent footsteps and ascended the stairs. Virgil had to marvel, he didn't see this side of his younger brother very often and, though he tried to remember it was there, it was very easy to forget. Virgil tugged at the neck of his uniform as he reached the heat of the main bunker. It felt as though the air had shot up by twenty degrees. Gordon held up a hand motioning for him to stay put and quietly disappeared round the door. Virgil strained to listen but could only make out light thumps.

The world turned ninety degrees and he had to catch himself on the opposite wall. Beyond the door Gordon cried out in panic and, in a desperate attempt to help his brother Virgil began to inch himself sideways along the wall/floor. He nearly made it before the world righted itself again and he fell against the stair well. This isn't real he thought trying to get his breathing under control. I need to find Gordon, something's happened to him. Carefully he pulled his legs underneath himself and tried to rise to his feet but as he did his stomach and legs were caught in crippling pain. He looked down. His legs were on fire! Desperately he used his hands to beat out the flames but something caught him round the wrist. His first instinct was to fight the invisible force but a voice cut through the fog.

"Virgil" the voice said clearly. "It isn't real. I need you to come with me now." There was a gentle tugging on his wrist.

Virgil took a moment. He knew he could trust the voice because it sounded like Gordon. But there wasn't anyone there.

"Now Virgil" Gordon's voice said, still keeping that calm even tone, rescuer tone Virgil noted. "I need you to move now."

"It hurts Gordon" he managed. "Fire."

There was a sharp intake of breath.

"Can you move?" Gordon's voice asked.

Virgil tried but the pain crashed up his torso. He curled in on himself trying to stifle a cry.

"I'm sorry" he whimpered. "We can't be heard. I'm sorry."

After that, things became so indistinct he couldn't make sense of them. He was walking, then falling. Someone helped him to walk. There was a beautiful meadow of wildflowers which was destroyed by a huge shark. Twice John joined them on their ramble only to vanish into thin air. The only constant things were the pain and Gordon's voice guiding him onwards. Eventually it became too much, his body seized under the pressure and he fell into the blessed relief of darkness.

Scott was beside himself with worry, made all the worse because the Commander of International Rescue was still on the clock and he couldn't make a move to find out what had happened to his brothers.

As Scott helped to shore up the makeshift flood wall, he replayed in his mind the last few hours.

"Scott!" Alan's panicked shout cut through the air. Scott spun to the source of the sound, totally unprepared for what he saw. Alan had one of the locals by the hand and was dragging him in Scott's direction. The other held both Virgil and Gordon's baldricks.

"This man" Alan shoved the frightened man forwards. "He has all their gear but I can't understand him."

Scott hit his communicator.

"John, I need a location for Virgil and Gordon."

"They're with you" came back the puzzled response. "Vital signs look normal for a rescue. What's going on Scott?"

"I don't know. Alan has found a local carrying their personal equipment but no sign of them. Can you translate, please?"

He turned on his wrist comm and a holo of John appeared. Scott saw his brother take in the equipment Alan was holding and the frightened look of the man and shot off something in Vietnamese. What followed was a brief but rapid exchange that Scott was itching to interrupt and demand and explanation for, but he knew better. He needed to let John do what he was good at; information gathering. The exchange stopped and the sodden man went to leave only to be stopped by Alan.

"Let him go" John commanded and Alan did so.

"Bianh says he found their equipment discarded. From his description I'd say it was near my last location for them. He doesn't know what happened to them and I believe him. He says there were some westerners living near here that everyone was afraid of and if he had to guess he'd say our people were taken by them."

"Taken!" Alan exclaimed. "But we're helping people!"

"What do you think, John? Is it a rumour or are there really western guerrillas here?"

"I don't know but I'm dispatching Kayo to your location. She'll arrive in forty minutes. I'll do what I can from here."

That had been three hours ago. Kayo had arrived and began alternating between interrogating and helping the locals. The last time Scott checked in with her she'd been able to confirm the presence of the guerrillas but nothing more. Now two men down he and Alan had been flat out trying to rescue as many as they could from the rising flood water. Then, an hour ago, the makeshift dam had burst and it was all hands to the pump as they tried to save the remains of the village and the emergency triage rooms that had been set up.

"Scott" he heard Kayo call as she came up from his left. "This is Mai, she speaks some English." She turned to the young woman. "Please, tell him what you told me."

Scott took in Mai's appearance. Like everyone here she looked half shattered half running on pure adrenalin. But it was the bruising on her face that stood out the most. Scott also took in how her clothes seem to have been torn and knotted back together and a weight settled in his stomach.

"I tried to save our history" she said pointing to the village hall. "The man came. Stephen. I could not stop him" she lifted a hand to her face as her voice shook. Kayo lightly squeezed her shoulder.

"It's alright" she said. "Please go on."

"After he" Mai's voice caught again. "His friends arrived. I was scared so I pretended to sleep. They said they'd found a wasp and they left to catch it."

Mai took a step back and Scott realised his anger must be showing on his face. Chiding himself he settled his features back and said to her softly.

"I'm so sorry for what they did to you." Mai nodded mutely. "How many people went to catch the wasp?"

"Four. Stephen, Carter and their friends, their names I don't know." She surged forward slightly and took hold of Scott hand. "They are evil men." Her gaze bored into his eyes and Scott became acutely aware he'd be seeing her haunted face in his dreams. "They take but give nothing."

Very carefully Scott wrapped his other hand around hers.

"Do you know where they have gone?" He asked her.

"They took xe hoi" she explained. "They go to" but then she faltered looking between Kayo and Scott as she tried to get her point across. Scott called for his space bound brother once more. As soon as John began to speak in her language Mai looked relieved and began a long insistent speech that involved a lot of pointing towards a road leading from the village. When she was done John thanked her profusely then, much to Scott's surprise she raised his hands and kissed them before saying something to him and darting off.

"She thanked you for trying to save her family and hopes you find your people" John translated but he sounded distracted. "Mai said that the four westerners arrived in the village about five years ago but, instead of trying to fit in they were arrogant and assumed the locals were all slow and uneducated. Which she's angry about as she is home from university at the moment. They have been terrorising people ever since. They live in the hills but they sometimes use old bunkers left from the war. I've been scanning and I have a collection of six life signs near to one of the abandoned bunkers five clicks north of your location.

Alan chose then to interrupt as he arrived panting.

"The river is secure again and reinforcements have arrived from the town" he said bracing his hands on his knees. "Do we know where they are yet?"

"Maybe" Scott replied. He didn't want to go haring off into the Vietnamese jungle after life signs that could be anyone. They needed more information and, as sorry as he was to leave his brothers for longer, he needed to be sure their job was done here as well. Kayo didn't have the same compunction. She stopped a pickup truck next to Scott, who hadn't even realised she gone anywhere.

"I'll go check it out" she said leaning out the window. "As soon as you're done get airborne. I have a feeling we're going to need a fast evac." With that she tore out of the village. Scott clapped Alan on the shoulder.

"We need to make sure we're no longer needed here then get packed up asap. You're flying Two."

"FAB" his youngest brother replied, and they got to work.

John nearly cried with relief when Gordon's signal came through.

"Thunderbird Four to Thunderbird Five, come in please."

"Thunderbird Five. I'm reading you Gordon but the signal is weak."

"Thunderbird Four to Thunderbird Five, come in please."

John cursed and tried to boost his own signal, locking on to the weak radio wave that Gordon's voice had come from. Gordon repeated his message and John repeated his reply half a dozen more times before Gordon was able to hear him.

"John! Am I glad to hear from you. Virgil's in a bad way, we need evac now."

"Gordon the signal is too weak to get a location. Were you held in an old wartime bunker" John asked as he frantically worked the controls.

"Yes" Gordon sounded surprised. "I took a sat phone from the bad guys but the problem is that if I turn it on-"

"They'll know where you are too" John cut in. "Kayo is en route to a bunker approximately five clicks north of the village you were taken from. Is it possible that's the correct one?"

"Yes" Gordon sounded relived. "Virgil? Virgil! Hang on John." He cut the line and John sent an update to those on the ground. Kayo spat out an FAB and John swore he could hear the engine of her borrowed truck scream louder.

"FAB John" Came Scott's reply. "One and Two taking off now." John tracked the icons for their two premier craft and sent the coordinates for his best guess at Gordon and Virgil's location. Two life signs had moved clear of the bunker but were now stationary. Steeling himself he checked his brother's vitals and quickly reopened the comms to Kayo and Scott.

"You need to hurry, Virgil's vitals are all over the place." Movement caught his eye and he cursed as the four life signs from the bunker emerged and fanned out in a clear search pattern. "And they'll have company soon" he warned Kayo.

"Sorry John" Gordon sounded breathless as he came back on. "I'll turn on the sat phone now." There was the sound of grunting as Gordon cut the radio and a new signal popped up exactly where John thought they were.

"Location confirmed" he said sending it out to his team and patching them all in to the same comm line. "Gordon cut the sat phone. We have your location. Kayo will be with you in approximately fifteen minutes. One and Two can get there faster, can you see a sight for a safe evac?"

"That's going to be a problem" came Gordon's strained reply. "Virgil's not coherent at the" he broke off, "at the moment. I have him restrained but, I don't know how long I can keep him that way for. He won't be safe to air lift."

"What happened to him, Gordon?" John said softly.

"Bailey gave him Rancid" Gordon said curtly and the airwaves briefly turned blue in a stream of expletives from Scott.

"How long ago?" John asked getting the location of the nearest best hospital to help.

"Perhaps two hours?" Gordon was going to say something else but a yell from Virgil cut him off. "Virgil" Gordon addressed his brother keep his voice calm and regulated. "I am real. What you're seeing is not. Do you understand me?" What followed was a series of bumps and scraping noises and the occasional unintelligible noise from one of his two immediately younger brothers. "John, it's gone too far" Gordon sounded like he was heaving against something heavy. Not heavy John realised, strong. Gordon was trying to keep hold of his irrational brother and it sounded like only his sheer force of will was keeping him on top. "You're going to need to send down some heavy-duty restraints for the evac. Virgil no!" There was more heavy breathing and the distinctive sound of someone being struck. "You know we can't give him anything with this crap still in him."

"Thunderbird One at evac site" came Scott's professional voice. "I'm descending now."

"Thunderbird Shadow engaging hostiles" came Kayo's whispered update.

When Scott announced touch down John muted Gordon's radio signal in favour of the clearer one coming from Scott. He almost wished he hadn't.

"A little help here" Gordon cried frantically.

"No! Get away from me!" came Virgil's terrified voice. "Stop, stop please!"

"It's alright, Virgil." Scott said keeping his voice neutral. "It's Scott, I'm going to help you."

"Scott?" Virgil's voice was so small it broke John's heart.

"Yes Virgil, we're getting you out of here."

For a brief second John through that Virgil had seen through his hallucinations but as quickly as Virgil's clarity had come it left, and John forced himself to listen as Scott and Gordon restrained Virgil as he begged for them to stop hurting him.

"Thunderbird Two in position" Alan sent.

"Alan, send down the platform" Scott commanded. "Punch a hole through the canopy if you have to, we have to get him to a hospital now. John, you'll need to take control of One, Gordon isn't going to be able to keep control of Virgil on his own."

"FAB."

John could hear the crash as the platform tore through the greenery. "Kayo, update."

"Three down, one to go" she said. "I've incapacitated those closest to the target. They shouldn't have any problems now."

"Understood. I'll request the GDF come pick them up."

"Thank you kindly."

All that was left for John to do now was wait and listen as his brothers wrestled Virgil into his own 'bird and confirm the pick-up site with the GDF. He stayed with Thunderbird Two all the way to the hospital not knowing that his brothers in the great green machine felt just as helpless as he did.

Scott needed a moment. Just one. One moment to gather his thoughts and process the last hour. He couldn't though. Every time he tried to work through, he just saw Virgil scared out of his mind when he wasn't crying in pain.

How could someone do this to another person intentionally?

His hands ached and he made a conscious effort to release the fists he's balled them up into. They'd managed to secure Virgil to one of the beds – an experience that was hell in itself - and he'd tried to ask Gordon what had happened. But once Gordon wasn't forced to restrain his brother his legs gave out and he started to go into shock. All he said as Scott treated him was that it was all his fault. Scott didn't see how it could be, but then, he wasn't there.

Both Gordon and Virgil had been rushed straight into the hospital and from Scott's sight so fast he wanted to scream. Fortunately, Alan had been on hand with calming words and had liaised with the medical team in a way that Scott was embarrassed to say he simply hadn't been able to at the time.

"No God, please! Please!"

Scott closed his eyes in an effort to stop Virgil's voice echoing in his head. He wasn't surprised at all when John joined him. A part of him registered that his presence must mean he'd been in the waiting room a long time.

"Scott?" John's voice was hesitant. "You can see Gordon now. Would you like to come with me?"

He shook his head. He had to be here when there was news of Virgil. What if the doctors needed him but couldn't find him? What if…

"Okay" John said. "Alan, would you go? I think I'd better stay here."

They waited in silence, which Scott was grateful for. Of all his brothers John was the one best suited to it. Scott didn't need to make the effort, so he didn't try. John would understand.

"Kayo checked in" John was saying, swiping at something on his ever-present tablet. "Gordon mentioned someone called Bailey, it turns out he was one of Gordon's old commanders in WASP. The other three were all WASP as well. The DGF are questioning them now but Kayo said what they're getting out isn't making a lot of sense. Bailey was dishonourably discharged then imprisoned for a failed mission – I don't have the details though. He got sent to Riversfield though, where they specialise in the criminally insane."

Scott grunted an acknowledgement.

A doctor entered the waiting room. She was short and had dark hair and a pensive expression.

"Commander?" she asked. Scott made himself stand and acknowledge her politely. "Please take a seat" she said indicating to the hard, plastic chairs Scott and John had just vacated.

"I'll stand, thank you."

"Very well. My name is Doctor Tran, I'll be Virgil's doctor for the duration. I won't beat around the bush. Your brother is still in a serious condition. We have managed to alleviate some of his symptoms. The hallucinations have stopped and we have managed to get his blood pressure under control. At the moment, however" she hesitated. "I'm sorry but we can't identify exactly what was given to him. Your brother, Gordon, stated he was given Rancid but the chemical makeup we've found in Virgil's bloodwork, whilst similar to Rancid, is different. It includes several substances we can't yet identify. Because of this, we can't risk giving him too much in the way of sedatives or painkillers. We're doing everything we can but at the moment he's going to have to ride it out." At the horrified expressions of the two men before her she rushed to explain. "We don't know how any medication we give him will react with the foreign substance. We've taken two blood draws and can clearly see it is metabolising out. We've also sent out to other labs in the hope that they can further identify what was given to him. As soon as it is safe to do so we will begin treatment."

Scott tried to work some moisture back into his mouth but nothing happened. He felt a hand land on his shoulder.

"Thank you for everything you're doing Doctor Tran" John's calm voice said. "Can you please forward his bloodwork to this address? We have a good team of our own." He passed her the tablet and she took a note from it.

"Of course," she replied. "You can see him now but you need to prepare yourselves. The cocktail he was given is attacking his nervous system. He's in a lot of pain and it will make him incoherent."

Scott nodded mutely.

"You said that the drug was being metabolised" John asked as they followed the doctor from the waiting room to the intensive care unit. "Do you know how long it will be before it's left his system completely?"

"Based on the rate we have seen so far we believe it will take 24-36 hours before it will be completely clear" she said. "But that is a guestimate using the approximate time of injection and the stresses on his body since then."

"You can't be any clearer than that?" Scott had found his voice and didn't care how it came across. This was the best hospital they could find for Virgil and their best effort was to let him suffer through it? That wasn't good enough. Not by a long way. Scott was about to tell her so when the doctor pushed open the door to the private room where they were keeping Virgil.

Scott had told himself he was ready. He'd seen his brothers in hospital more times than he could comfortably remember. The most notable being Gordon's hydrofoil crash when a much younger Scott had been ushered in to say a final goodbye to his water loving brother. This is was so very different. Gordon had been still, the only movement the small rise and fall of his chest as the ventilator kept him breathing. Scott remembered trying to pretend that Gordon was just asleep, he remembered saying as much to Alan to try and calm his youngest brother. But where Gordon held a deathly stillness Virgil was writhing, pulling against restraints on his arms and legs with a strength that belied his weakened condition.

"Virgil" Scott whispered and was surprised when brown eyes swivelled and locked on to his.

"Scott." The word wasn't much louder than Scott's own whisper. "What's happening to me?"

Scott rushed to Virgil's bedside taking a hand in one of his then trying to hide a grimace as another wave of pain coursed through Virgil and his hand tightened like a vice. Scott was peripherally aware of John moving to talk to the duty nurse but that wasn't important right now.

"What do you remember, Virgil?"

It took Virgil a moment to respond as he fought through the next wave. His jaw clenched and the muscles in his neck bulged, his right shoulder coming off the mattress as he tried to curl in on himself only to be stopped by the restraints.

"Gordon" he finally breathed. "Where's Gordon?"

"He's in another room, resting." Scott knew he needed to check on his other brother but it could wait. Alan would be with him now, so Scott knew Gordon wasn't alone.

"You were taken" Scott said casting an eye over Virgil's stats readout. He didn't want to cause any more stress but he knew Virgil wouldn't calm until he understood what was happening to him. "The people who took you gave you something, but I don't know why."

Scott wasn't sure if Virgil had understood him. He was once again trying to curl onto his left side, panting as whatever was running through him caused his muscles to seize.

"I need to" he sucked in a breath, "move. Can't" he squeezed his eyes shut. "Can't lie on my back. Hurts to breathe."

"Can't we let him out?" Scott turned to the nurse.

"It's too dangerous for him" she said sympathetically. "If the hallucinations start again, we might not be able to restrain him before he hurts himself."

"He's hurting now!"

"There's no indication that the hallucinations recur once they've ended" John had his tablet out. "Every account from those either on the drug or witnessing it only talk about them initially." He turned to the nurse. "We'll take responsibility and one of us will be here all the time should anything happen."

"I'm sorry" she started "but I can't – hey!"

At John's words Scott had begun freeing Virgil, starting with his right arm. As soon as it was free Virgil rolled heaving a sigh of relief. Scott soon had the other restraints off whilst John and the nurse worked to keep his lines untangled and kink free.

"Better?" Scott asked and Virgil nodded, some of the tension leaving his face. "Sleep Virgil" Scott said, claiming the chair at his brother's head.

"They wanted something from Gordon" Virgil managed. "But he couldn't give it to them." Those few words seemed to take the last of his reserves and Scott heard John breathe an equal sigh of relief as Virgil finally passed out.

Gordon was in hell. No one would tell him how Virgil was, the medical staff just kept saying how lucky Gordon was not to have been hurt worse.

I've hardly been hurt at all he thought bitterly.

He felt such a fraud, sat in his own room whilst who-knew-what was happening to Virgil. Alan was with him and had tried talking to him, but what could he say? Virgil was in this mess because of a stupid decision he'd made years ago. Gordon thought he'd paid for that choice - the consequences had sure seemed heavy enough at the time – but clearly fate had other things in mind. Not that Gordon really believed in all that predetermined crap.

"How is he?"

When did John arrive?

"Still a bit out of it" Alan replied. "He hasn't said much."

Gordon heard as much as saw John come into the room and take a seat on the edge of his bed.

"Gords? How're you doing?" he asked.

Gordon had resolved to keep everything hidden away. Especially when his only company had been Alan. But John had that voice and he was an older brother. One who Gordon had always admired so very differently from the way he looked up to Virgil or Scott. John worked out how to fix things. He was the man who took advanced chemistry three grades early because he was bored, walked an interview at NASA and graduated top of his class at Cambridge. John had the kind of intelligence Gordon never aspired to, because what was the point? But he wasn't smug with it. So many people took John's quiet nature to mean he didn't care or couldn't empathise. But nothing could be further from the truth. John cared. He heard every call for help and had time for anyone who needed it. He knew how to get through to people. So, it was just that one question that had Gordon's walls crumbling.

"Alan, could you get us something to drink please?" It wasn't a request but again, John pitched it just right and Alan agreed with only a quick furtive look at Gordon.

The moment the door closed behind him Gordon felt the first tear slide down his cheek. He wanted to scrub it away and make a joke, but it was all too much. He felt and arm snake round his shoulders and before he knew it, he was sobbing on John's chest.

John waited, letting Gordon cry it out. When he felt him begin to settle, he asked quietly;

"What's going on in there, Fish?"

"It's my fault" Gordon sobbed. "I couldn't stop any of it. I tried John, I did, but they just-" he broke off not knowing how to explain to John what had happened.

"It's not your fault, Gordon" John said into his hair. "You can't control other people. You didn't make them do this. I know you did everything you could to make it stop. You got Virgil out, got him to the extraction point so we could get you both to safety. You did that Gordon."

"I couldn't tell them what they wanted to know John and look what they did to Virgil. It should have been me."

Gordon was crying again but there was no energy to it. He was utterly exhausted. Carefully John helped him lie back down.

"Rest Gordon, you need it. I'll be here when you wake up."

Gordon rolled on to his side not knowing he was mimicking the foetal position Virgil had curled himself into. But, despite everything, sleep would not come. John stayed with him though. A solid presence to ground himself with. He didn't register when Alan returned and took up a seat on the opposite side of the room nor John's relieved sigh when he finally fell asleep.

The next day bought no change for Virgil though the ordeal was starting to take a heavy toll on his body. His periods of lucidity started to decrease as the sheer pressure of what was happening to him wore him down. By mid-afternoon he only recognised Scott half the time and rarely was able to get more than a sentence out before the pain overtook him again.

Gordon also started to disappear into himself. He couldn't bear not knowing how Virgil was but felt he didn't deserve to go see him. Virgil would know this was all Gordon's fault. Scott already knew. It took everything he had to sneak away from John and go and find Virgil. He might not deserve to see his brother but he knew he owed it to him to try.

Gordon found the room easily enough but was surprised by how hard his hand was trembling as he reached for the door. He closed it into a fist and forced himself to settle before reaching for the door again.

"Oh God" the words slipped out at the sight before him. His older brother was hunched on his side muscles trembling with fatigue. Scott, sitting at his bedside barely glanced up at Gordon.

"What are you doing here Gordon?"

Virgil had his back to the door but Gordon knew he wasn't any better. He realised he'd been hoping for Virgil to be sleeping, hell Gordon would have taken unconscious over this. He watched as Virgil contracted, caught by the fire that now seeped into his bones,

"It's not easing, is it?"

"Go back to bed, Gordon."

Scott didn't even look at him. Gordon knew he deserved it. Alan and John had tried to tell him it wasn't his fault but he knew it was, and so did Scott. Of the four of them Scott understood the most how much pressure the military could put on you. Scott knew Gordon was to blame here and a part of Gordon appreciated that. But a bigger part needed his big brother to just acknowledge him and Scott didn't. Instead, he reached out a hand to try and sooth Virgil. Gordon suddenly realised how selfish he was being. Virgil needed Scott far more than he did. He left, and Scott didn't notice him go.

It wasn't until late in the evening that a laboratory in Oslo was able to identify the last few components in the cocktail Virgil had been given. Virgil's doctor confirmed the results and was quickly able to put together a strong painkiller and antidote which put Virgil out like a light.

Scott felt as though he was finally able to breathe after being caught underwater. He'd been bustled from the room as the doctors and nurses got Virgil settled and when Scott was allowed back in his brother was in clean scrubs and on clean linen, laid out once again on his back. The pain had left his features leaving behind sallow skin and a little brother who could have just been asleep after and easy day playing the piano or painting.

Scott sank down into the guest chair and took Virgil's hand. His relief bought lethargy with it and within minutes Scott was also sound asleep.

The following morning found Scott in the same place. John and Alan had alternated badgering him into eating and getting into some clean clothes but Scott felt Virgil was too fragile to leave. The doctor (Scott forgot her name) kept saying things like 'experimental antidote' and 'slow to respond' as well as 'permanent damage' that combined to keep Scott glued to Virgil as though his presence alone could force the younger man to get better.

John was seething as he stalked up the stairs from Gordon's room to Virgil's. Gordon had been worrying him for the past day. Usually, when one of them was ill or injured Gordon would make a joke out of it – more so if he was the one in a bad way. The degree of the front he put up was like a barometer for how he was actually doing. The bigger the smile and self-deprecating remark the worse off he was, particularly after a hospital stay. But this time Gordon hadn't bothered with the front at all and where John was worried Alan was near to having a nervous breakdown. He refused to leave Gordon at all, leaving John as go between. Alan spent his time trying to engage Gordon anyway he could but that morning things had come to a head.

"Gordon, just talk to me" Alan had begged. "Please, you're my brother and my best friend. I don't believe you did this to Virgil, no one does."

"Scott does!" Gordon had screamed back. "He knows! He understands! Why do you think he hasn't been to see me?" Gordon had then stormed into the small en suite locking the door behind him. As John tried to console Alan, once again resorting to hugging, he heard the water in the shower turn on full followed by a muffled repetitive thumping.

"Gordon?" John moved to the door. "Gordon, open this door or I'll break it down." Alan looked at him with wide eyes and John had known why. That sort of threat was often issued by Scott or carried out by Virgil, but never him. Maybe that was why it worked. Gordon opened the door, no one surprised by the fact he was still dry.

"Gordon, look at me" but he wouldn't meet John's eyes. He raised a hand to his head and starting pulling at his hair seemingly without realising what he was doing. John gently captured the hand. He found what he'd suspected; split knuckles and swelling. "Alright Fish" he said marvelling at how calm he sounded. Rescuer mode must have slipped on. "I'm going to fix this but I need you to promise to sit quietly with Alan until I come back. Can you do that for me?" John managed to place Gordon into the care of his younger brother before stalking off to find the eldest.

Nearly two days they'd been here. Two days! And Scott hadn't been to see Gordon once? John hadn't been here all the time. He and Alan had to stick to regular visiting hours and John also took the time to keep their grandma updated. But Scott had pressed his luck and demanded to stay with Virgil and Doctor Tran had let him. John didn't know if it was IR's reputation, Tracy money or Scott's sheer presence that had managed it but either way, Scott had spent the better part of two days just one floor above Gordon and hadn't managed to check on him. John was beyond furious. It just wasn't like Scott. After all he knew how Gordon could get in a hospital. (Under the anger John realised there must be something else going on as well but he was too furious to give it serious thought.)

He stormed into Virgil's room causing Scott to look up sharply.

"John what-" but John didn't give him time to finish grabbing him by the collar and physically hauling him from the room before throwing him against the wall in the corridor outside.

"What the hell?" Scott finally rallied.

"I could ask the same of you!" John stormed. "What's going on with you Scott?"

"What's going on with me? Our brothers are in hospital because some lunatic decided to hurt them. That's what's going on with me!"

"Brothers Scott. Plural. You do realise that more than one brother was hurt, don't you?"

Scott only just restrained himself from punching John there and then.

"Do I realise?" he shouted back. "I've spent the last day with Virgil making sure he knew he wasn't alone whilst that stuff nearly killed him. Gordon got banged up but he's had worse. He's also been in situations like this before, he knows the drill."

"Does he?" The red mist had well and truly descended for John now. He got right up in Scott's personal space, planted a hand on his chest and shouted in his face. "Then explain to me why he wouldn't speak to anyone for the past two days – two days Scott not one! – for him to then scream at Alan that you understand it's all his fault and that's why you haven't been to see him."

"It's only been a day, John. Gordon got out of his bed and I sent him back only a few hours ago. He needs the rest." Scott slapped the hand away and went to duck round his brother. He was surprised when an arm shot out impeding his path.

"It's been two days, Scott" John said lowering his voice, his eyes boring into those of his eldest brother. "And if Gordon is only a little 'banged up' and 'knows the drill' then tell me why I just dragged one of our youngest brothers out of the shower where he was intent on trying to make a hole in the wall with his fist."

"What?" Any anger left in Scott drained away.

"Scott, Gordon believes really believes that this is all his fault. Alan and I can't convince him otherwise and a big part of that is because he thinks you agree. Whatever you said to him earlier seems to have confirmed it to him. You need to sort this."

Scott nodded and took a deep breath. John, seeing the battle was won stepped back and gave Scott some space.

"Stay with Virgil" he said. "He could wake up at any time. I thought he was going to a few times now. I'll send Alan to you and see if I can get through to Gordon."

"Thank you, Scott."

Scott didn't acknowledge his brother but instead went in search of the elder blond to see if he could fix the mess his singlemindedness had made.

In the minute it took to walk between Virgil's room and Gordon's Scott had called himself every name under the sun. John was right, he'd somehow lost an entire day in his sheer panic that Virgil was going to die in front of him. He'd never, never, let panic overtake him before and now another brother was paying for it. John had been angry with him and rightfully so but it took an awful lot to make John loose control like that. Scott realised belatedly that there were two brothers in hospital but two more who were also hurting.

"Alan?" he said pushing the door open. "Can you go sit with Virgil for a bit please?" Alan nodded almost too eagerly, pulling himself from the chair beside Gordon's bed and rushing from the room. Gordon looked a mess. There were clear ligature marks round his wrists and a deep black bruise across his face. But, at the sound of Scott's voice, he rolled over and sat up with his legs hanging off the side of the bed. As he made to stand Scott waved him down. Scott didn't think he could feel any more guilty for what he had unintentionally put Gordon through but Gordon's entire body language screamed that he was expecting a dressing down and he was resigned to it. This wasn't a conversation between brothers, this was a lieutenant addressing a captain and the first thing Scott needed to do was snap him out of it.

"Gordon" he said gently, "please, sit down."

"Yes sir" came the dull reply. Great start, Scott mentally kicked himself.

Scott sat down next to him and put an arm around Gordon's shoulders trying not to react at Gordon stiffening.

"Listen to me" Scott said turning towards his little brother and trying to get him to meet his gaze. Gordon stayed stubbornly turned in the other direction though and Scott found himself jolted back to finding an eight-year-old Gordon desperately trying not to cry because he'd fallen off his bike and was too old to cry about such things now. Scott squeezed harder, drawing Gordon in. "I'm so sorry" he whispered. How had he forgotten that Gordon, despite everything he'd been through was really still quite young? How had he so easily compartmentalised Gordon's suffering away? He suddenly remembered something John had told him earlier and one of the pieces fell into place.

"You mentioned a Bailey to me, back in Two, do you remember?"

There was barely a flick of the eyes in his direction but Scott took it for ascent.

"Who was Bailey to you Gordon?"

"Commander" came the reply. "I didn't work with him much. He didn't like me. He didn't like much of anyone except for Carter, Mortimer and Franklin."

"Why didn't he like you?"

Gordon shook his head visibly trying to martial his thoughts.

"I didn't worship him. That's what we used to call it anyway. Bailey wanted unquestioning obedience at all times and I didn't see why I needed to sit where he told me for chow why I had to read certain books for him in my free time. I would have" he looked at Scott suddenly eyes imploring him to understand "but the books he handed out were… wrong. I didn't like what was in them. I couldn't see how they helped you be a better aquanaut."

"Is that what this was about?" Scott asked. "He couldn't control you before so he tried now?"

"No." Gordon curled his hands into fists and took a shuddering breath. "It's about a decision I made years ago. One I never told anyone about." Tears began to flow but Scott didn't dare move to wipe them away. "Bailey's last mission, before he was drummed out was called Devonshire. It was a retrieval mission, some classified documents or other. I should have been on that mission. I attended the initial briefings like Bailey said but-" he broke off trying to get himself back together. Scott gave him a moment.

"But what Gords?"

"I'm so sorry" Gordon wept, now having to really fight to keep going. "You told me and dad told me; the first rule of the military is never volunteer for anything. But I did. I volunteered to test the hydrofoil."

"What?" Scott was in shock. He, like everyone had assumed it was an order. But Gordon didn't seem to hear him.

"I thought it would be useful for IR if I knew how it worked and I wanted to be the first to pilot it and look what happened to me" the words tumbled out of him. "I put you all through so much just because I wanted to be the first at something and now, because of that one stupid decision look what happened to Virgil." He broke down then turning to his brother and sobbing openly against him. Scott wrapped both arms around him and held on tight. His mind was whirring though. It didn't matter that Gordon had volunteered to test the hydrofoil, of course it didn't. He couldn't have known what would happen. But it showed just how much guilt Gordon was still carrying over the perceived strain he'd put the family through. Yet another thing Scott had no idea Gordon was bearing in silence.

Eventually Gordon calmed enough to begin talking again. "If I had just stayed with my orders I might have stopped whatever happened there. A man named Ramirez took my place and Bailey said he killed him. At the very least I could have told them something and stopped what happened to Virgil."

Gently Scott pushed Gordon back and held him at arm's length so he could see him. Ignoring the streaming eyes and nose he tried to make sure Gordon could see the honesty in his own face.

"Gordon, you couldn't have stopped Bailey. He's criminally insane. Whatever happened on that mission it wasn't down to you to stop it and whether or not you volunteered to pilot that hydrofoil doesn't matter either. You couldn't have known what would happen and no one, no one, blames you for it."

"But-"

"But nothing. You did everything you could do to save Virgil. I know because it's one of the few things he's told me. Gordon kept me safe, Gordon kept me grounded…" Scott trailed off. "Gordon kept me grounded" he repeated softly as an idea formed.

"I tried to" Gordon started and faltered. "I thought, before it kicked in, if I could get him to believe that I am real, no matter what he saw, it would help give him an anchor. It didn't work" he said bitterly.

"I think it did" Scott said. "Let's get you cleaned up. There's one more thing you need to do."

Virgil hurt. It was a deep aching hurt that rested in his muscles as though he'd seriously overtaxed them in the gym. The slightest twitch sent a burst of pain that would have left his gasping if he had the energy for it.

He just wanted this to be over now. The intermittent swirling darkness was so much more preferable to when he was awake – or at least when he thought he was awake. He stopped trying to make sense of what he thought he could remember. There were hazy images of Gordon leading him through a forest and Gordon taking him up to Thunderbird Two. But those seemed a while ago now.

Scott intruded from time to time, saying all the right things. But sometimes he morphed into someone else. Virgil thought Scott had stopped doing that but he couldn't be sure. It was safer where he was, mostly asleep.

With Gordon looking more like himself Scott had quickly got them both back to Virgil. Alan and John were sitting with him, Alan talking quietly about nothing. Virgil looked the same, gaunt and pale, unmoving on the bed sheets.

Gordon hesitated.

"Just try, Gordon" Scott whispered to him and Gordon nodded, steeling himself and moving forwards. At Scott's hurried gesture John and Alan vacated their seats to give Gordon some more room.

"Virgil?" Gordon started softly. "It's me, Gordon. You can wake up now."

Everyone in the room held their breath but nothing happened. Gordon cast a look over his shoulder to Scott who nodded encouragingly. Gordon reached out and took Virgil's hand.

"You're safe now, Virgil. Time to wake up."

In his haze Virgil heard the voice he'd been waiting for but it was such a long way off and he wasn't ready. Not yet.

Gordon gasped suddenly and looked at his hand where is gently held Virgil's.

"Come on Virgil" he begged. "Come back."

He waited again but this time there was no twitch from the prone man. But Gordon was sure he hadn't imagined it. He'd promised Virgil he would ground him. He would be the one real thing as his brother's world fell apart. He thought to all the times he'd dragged Virgil out of his hallucinations before they had finally become too strong. The others in the room could see the moment Gordon hit a revelation.

"Virgil" he said, his voice strong and clear. "I am real. What you are seeing is not."

Virgil stirred. Alan instinctively clung to Scott who held on back just as tight though neither noticed as they held their breath and watched their other two brothers.

"I am the one real thing in the world, Virgil and you need to wake up."

Over the next fifteen minutes this continued as Gordon kept up a steady stream of reminders. Each time Virgil responded a little more as Gordon's voice pulled out of his drugged stupor. Eventually dark brown eyes opened and cast around before settling on Gordon.

"Gordon?" he managed. "Safe?"

"Yes Virgil, we're safe now. It's over, I promise. Everything you see from now on is real."

"Thank you" Virgil was drifting again his voice little more than whisper. "You got me out."

"Always" Gordon managed before Virgil succumbed to sleep once more. Gordon let out a shaky breath and turned to his other brothers. Scott was hastily wiping his eyes and John looked as though he needed to sit down before he fell down. Only Alan had enough about him to manage words.

"You saved him, Gordon" Alan said walking over and hugging his brother tightly. "Only you could."

"Well done, Gordon" John came over and clapped him on the back before stealing the other seat.

"Do you see now?" Scott said "You weren't to blame, Virgil was there, he would know, yet he needed you to feel safe again."

"It's not my fault" Gordon said, not quite believing his own words but so very desperately wanting to.

"Course not" came an exhausted comment from Virgil. "It was never your fault."

Gordon found himself tearing up again and hastily scrubbed his free hand across his eyes. Virgil forgave him and didn't blame him. After all that his semiconscious brother had fought to tell him it wasn't his fault. Gordon looked round at the rest of his family pausing on each of them asking and answering the same question silently, three more times over. They didn't blame him, they still loved him and Gordon was more grateful than he thought he could stand. It would be a long while before he managed to completely forgive himself but he felt a weight lift from him as Virgil shifted and attempted to grip his hand more tightly. Neither of them were alright after the ordeal. But they would be. They would be.