Virgil clutched his brother close.
"Virg?"
He blinked slowly. Gordon was staring up at him, worry in his eyes
"You with me, Virgil?" His little brother reached out and touched his shoulder.
Scott stirred in his arms.
"Gordon, we need to set up an IV."
"Uh, yeah, sure." The aquanaut stared at him a moment longer before reaching under the seat and pulling out FAB1's medical kit. "How are you feeling, Virgil?"
A little less direct from Gordon than Virgil was used to. Likely a sign of how bad he looked. Virgil let out a careful breath. His whole face was a mass of pain he could barely see beyond, but he could feel.
He could feel the skin and bone of his big brother. He could feel Scott trembling against him. Virgil could feel every blessed breath the man took.
Every blessed breath.
The medic took over before the brother could collapse in either relief or terror.
Gordon unfolded a hoverstretcher and slotted it into place behind the front seat. Rarely used, the rescue equipment seemed out of place in the limousine, but since FAB1 was a Thunderbird in everything but name, she had the capability.
Gordon helped Virgil manoeuvre their brother onto the soft support and plugged in the biometric equipment.
Alarms screeched enough to almost blind Virgil with sound.
"Virgil, sit back. I've got him." Gordon was holding his shoulder, pinning him gently to the back of the seat. His other hand held a dressing. "At least let me cover up that wound so you're not bleeding everywhere."
Or on Scott.
"Fine."
Gordon was quick. Virgil wouldn't let him be anything else. They finally had Scott and Scott needed his help.
Medical tape was fastened into the edge of Virgil's eyesight just as he pushed himself forward again.
A pair of blue eyes were staring at him, blinking blearily.
"Virgil?" His brother's voice was little more than a whisper above the hum of FAB1's engine, but it held so much hope, so much desperation…
A hand to a frail shoulder. "I'm here, Scott. You're safe."
Tears welled in his big brother's foggy eyes. "Virgil?" Those eyes flickered to Gordon. "Gordy?"
"Hey, big bro. You hang tight. We'll have you fixed up in no time." The smile radiated off Gordon like a sun despite the slight tremble in his voice.
Virgil reached out and squeezed Gordon's arm.
Blue eyes stayed fixated on his younger brother. "Did you get her?"
A single nod from a flash of WASP officer was all it took for all the energy to fall away from Scott. Their brother fell limp so fast Virgil panicked reaching for the scanner. But Scott's eyes were still open, now looking at the ceiling of the car. "Thank god."
The IV was prepped and Virgil dug out the stronger painkillers. Most of Scott's injuries were days old. There were infections, broken bones - one leg was a serious concern - and more recent bruising. The bitch had had their brother for two weeks and had obviously made the most of it.
Virgil grit his teeth, forcing back the anger. Now was not the time.
A hand strayed towards his face. "Virgil, you're hurt." Scott was frowning at him.
Not as much as you. "Just a scratch." Virgil caught his brother's wandering hand, clasping it tight. "I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."
But Scott's eyes were fixated on the dressing plastered to Virgil's face. "She hurt you, too?"
Gordon took Scott's arm gently from Virgil's hold and set up the IV. So Virgil shifted his hand to Scott's grimy hair. "It is just a scratch, Scott. You are safe. I'm safe. You can rest now." He brushed his fingertips over stiff locks.
His brother sucked in a breath and a tear rolled out of the corner of his eye. "I did everything thing I could to protect you. I promise. I didn't want her to hurt you. I didn't. I tried. I tried."
There was an edge of hysteria to Scott's voice that terrified Virgil. "Hey, hey, we're safe. We are all safe. You succeeded. She hasn't hurt us." Only you.
Virgil swallowed a lump in his throat.
"Virg…" It was said with such desperation, such vulnerability…
Virgil grabbed Scott's hand again, shifted in closer, catching his brother's eyes. "I'm here. We're here. You're safe." He had to swallow again. "I promise." He gently brushed more stiff hair from Scott's forehead.
Scott's other arm reached over, wrapped around Virgil's neck and pulled him close, drawing their foreheads together. "Wanted to keep you safe. Always safe."
"We are safe, Scott. I promise."
His brother squeezed his eyes ever so tight as if trying his best to believe Virgil's words. "Everyone?"
"Everyone. No one has been hurt."
Those eyes opened again. "Except you."
"It is only a scratch." It was obvious Scott didn't believe him, but the fingers on Virgil's neck were weakening and Scott's eyes were closing more slowly. Virgil shifted his hand to Scott's cheek. "You need rest."
An indrawn breath. "Will you still be here when I wake up? Will Gordy?"
"We will." Virgil put everything he had into those two words.
The frown creasing Scott's forehead didn't fade, but Virgil caught his hand as it fell to his side. "We will be here. You are safe. Rest. You can rest now."
His brother closed his eyes and moisture leaked out of the corners. He gripped Virgil's fingers tight as the limousine banked to the left and the moon shone through the windows.
Scott whispered, ever so quiet.
"FAB."
But he didn't let go of Virgil's hand.
-o-o-o-
