This is a bit of a reference to the previous ficlet.

Safety Rails. He never thought he needed them. It was certain younger brothers that were the uncoordinated ones, and they weren't supposed to use his bird unless it was an extreme emergency and he was unable to go. Which had never happened.

Virgil was constantly on to him to get them installed. The repeated conversation going something like: "If somebody falls before safety rails are installed that would be bad."

"I don't need safety rails Virgil."

Which would result in an eye roll.

"I didn't specify who that someone would be"

"Well no one but you is allowed to fly her"

It was a good thing that Virgil always had more important maintenance to do or else he would install them himself

He could virtually do everything with his eyes closed. He knew the timing of his elevator down to the second, and was never off balance when the extending arms of his gangway moved to take him to his waiting pilot seat. So he couldn't see a need for all the added time, work and maintenance that installing safety rails would require.

-TBTBTBTBTB-

Landing his bird after a series of long missions with very little down time, Scott was set on three things; coffee, a shower and his bed.

In his haste to disembark Scott didn't stop to do any of his regular post flight checks before he was off. This however meant that his gangway hadn't yet fully locked into place... A sudden jolt, a single foot missed the platform and he was falling.

He hit the ramp hard, feeling his breath get knocked out of him and a sting of pain as metal gashed his arm. It all happened so fast as his momentum carried him over the edge, His hands scrabbling at the metal desperate to find purchase.

Scott cried out as his fingertips caught hold of the edge of the platform, jarring him to a stop, completely suspended over nothing. Gasping for air, his muscles screaming at the sudden abuse Scott clung desperately to the edge.

His mind, swirling with vertigo at the sickening fall beneath him, was trying to catch up with what was happening. He had very few options, without a free hand to contact anyone for help, he was going to have to gather the strength to pull himself up. He adjusted his grip, took a steading breath and pulled. His body protested as he hauled himself up and rolled back onto the gangway, breathing heavily with the shock at what had almost happened.

He lay there until he had stopped trembling with adrenaline and he felt steady enough to attempt to reach solid ground. Deciding there was no shame in crawling off the ramp, as long as no one saw him, he pulled himself to his hands and knees. He had never felt more relieved to reach his lift, as he quickly righted himself, stepped in and jabbed the button for the main house.

-TBTBTBTBTB-

Scott tried not to look conspicuous as he walked into the lounge. Virgil was reclining on the couch and glanced up as Scott entered.

"Hey Virg" Scott said as he headed for the opposite door and the privacy of his room.

Virgil's eyes narrowed and scanned the eldest "You're hiding something"

Scott sighed, there was no use denying anything if Virgil was suspicious. He turned to face Virgil "I -"

"Scott! Why didn't you tell me you were injured on a mission!"

He blinked "What?"

Virgil stood up, gesturing to his arm.

Blood was seeping through his sleeve leaving a crimson stain. He had forgotten about the gash from his fall, but now that he had remembered it, it had begun to sting.

"I...uh"

Virgil rolled his eyes "Let's get you to the infirmary"

-TBTBTBTBTB-

The next morning Scott was suspiciously absent, but it didn't take long for Virgil to track him down.

"What are you doing?"

Scott was sitting on his gangway surrounded by tools and parts, he had even dragged out the welding equipment.

"I thought, given that we've got some spare time I might catch up on some things I've been meaning to do. So I'm installing some safety rails"

"Uh Huh?" Virgil cocked an eyebrow.

"Well, you know, if someone falls it would be bad"

Virgil sat down to help Scott "I knew you were hiding something else!"

"How!?"

Virgil shrugged "You complied too easy when I dragged you to the infirmary."