To say that Kaya's slap came as a surprise would have been an understatement. All four boys and Tin-Tin stared at her, shock clearly written across their faces. The only two who didn't seem to be too shocked were Jeff and Grandma.

There was a moment's stunned silence, then Kaya put her fist to her mouth, turned her back on Jeff and burst into tears. Ruth got up quickly, taking the shaking girl into her arms and leading her into the adjoining room with Tin-Tin helping her, while the men continued to sit there in shocked silence.

No-one wanted to ask, but everyone wanted to know the answer. None of them could even remember the last time Jeff had ever had someone disagree to his face, let alone be slapped by anyone. The shock that it was Scott's girlfriend that had done it raised so many questions.

Alan had wanted to grab hold of Kaya and ask what the hell she was thinking of, but the inactions of his other brothers stopped him. He knew he was hotheaded, prone to temper far more quickly than even Scott, and he supposed on reflection she had had a shock.

Gordon sat there with an open mouth. Kaya was such an easy-going person, she balanced Scott out like Virgil did, and he had always thought that she was a great combination of his two immediately older brothers. Not that she didn't have some iron in her, the way she had single-handedly tracked and rescued Scott some time ago showed that. Something more than just Scott being here like this was at the root of this, he would bet his swimming pool on it.

Both John and Virgil had been surprised when Kaya had initially refused to fly straight out when the news was given her about Scott's condition, but she never gave them a reason and it wasn't their place to ask. They made a pact between them to keep her informed, and they could see the pressure building up over the calls they had made. It was the haunted look in her eyes that made Virgil offer finally to go and collect her.

The kiss had been so tender that the slap had been all the more shocking, especially followed by tears. Tin-Tin had wanted to rush over to her immediately, only hesitating because – well, because she simply didn't know what to do in a situation like this…but she was moving almost as fast as Mrs Tracy was when Kaya burst into tears.

Ruth Tracy was a very perceptive woman. You didn't get to live the kind of life she had without being able to read people and situations. And it had been clear to her for the last two weeks that something had gone very wrong between her son and her eldest grandson.

She had tried to talk to Scott about it, but he had kissed her cheek and told her not to worry in a voice that sounded so down she had wanted to pull him into a hug and not let go. But he was a young man now and she respected him, so she said nothing but watched everything. Jeff had brushed her off with a curt 'Scott's just in a mood', and any other time she would have taken him to task over it. Now she wished she had done more to sort the problem out.

Hurrying Kaya out into the side room, Ruth sat her down while Tin-Tin fetched a glass of water, and they waited until she managed to get some semblance of control back. It didn't take too long for the sobs to calm down, and Kaya looked down to see both knees covered with hands that weren't hers.

She grasped them both, and the warmth of the women she had considered family gave her strength. She couldn't look them in the eye, though, staring at the floor in front of her as she made her apologies.

'I – I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I hadn't meant to…' Kaya trailed off as Ruth pulled her in for a hug and kissed her forehead just as tenderly as she had just kissed Scott's.

'Hush, child. You've had a big shock, and I dare say that my son had that coming.'

'Mrs Tracy!'

'I know, Tin-Tin, but sometimes my son can be an ass.'

It had the effect she wanted, as Kaya gave a small laugh. 'Oh, I've missed you all so much,' she said, impulsively throwing her arms around both women and receiving hugs back.

'Why did you leave it so long to come, Kaya?' Tin-Tin asked, still holding the woman's hand. She had high hopes of another woman to share her time on the island with, especially since Scott had not had a long-term girlfriend since Mr Tracy had initiated International Rescue. And she really hoped that she could ask Kaya to be a bridesmaid with Lady Penelope.

Ruth, ever the observer, rubbed her finger along the ring on Kaya's finger. Feeling the action, Kaya looked away, and a couple of tears fell. And for Ruth, some suspicions began to form.

'I wasn't sure I'd be welcome right now,' Kaya sniffed, dabbing at her eyes with the handkerchief Ruth had passed her. She didn't see the shocked looks the two women passed over her head.

'Not be welcome? Why, whatever gave you that idea!' Tin-tin pressed. Kaya gave a watery laugh.

'I wasn't sure that the woman who could bring down International Rescue would be welcome at the side of one of their injured.'

And neither women could help the gasp. Kaya looked up sharply, and then her eyes softened. 'He hasn't told anyone, has he?' She could already tell from the blank looks. 'Typical,' she sighed.

'Tell me,' Ruth all but commanded. Now, she felt, now they were getting to the matter between her son and his eldest. Tin-Tin looked between the two and made to get up and leave them, but a hand on her arm stopped her, Ruth offering her a small smile and a minute shake of the head, which was appreciated by Kaya.

'Scott came out to see me a couple of weeks ago, not long after his trip to the mainland. It was impromptu, I certainly wasn't expecting him to come over, and he was very upset. He stayed a few hours and we chatted.' She paused. It felt wrong, explaining this without Scott – or Jeff for that matter – being there, almost as if she was talking behind their backs.

Ruth, ever the observer, noticed her discomfort. 'Is this something you'd rather say when we're all together, dear?' Kaya looked at her gratefully, but the thought of saying it in front of his brothers, she wasn't sure she wanted to go that far. Telling Scott's Grandmother, as Ruth sat there, helping her, felt right.

Kaya didn't hear the door open as she held Ruth's hands in hers. 'Scott told me that Jeff was making him choose between being Field Commander and living on the island or marrying me and leaving International Rescue and the Island.'

She heard the sharp intake of breath both in front and behind her and cringed.