From the prompt: 'S***. Why didn't you say anything?' Thank you aliceinwhumperland.
Featuring the two most self-sacrificing idiots in the world and a continuation of a conversation with gumnut-logic
They were the two most self-sacrificing idiots in the world. They really were. And John wasn't sure which one he was going to kill first.
Virgil, Kayo and Gordon were in the Atlantic, wrestling with the dregs of a hurricane trying to capsize a good-size trawler whose engine had seized up. Gordon was on deck while Kayo operated the rescue platform to lift the thirty-something crew to safety and Virgil was having trouble keeping Two level.
His 'bird was usually a delight to pilot, but Hurricane Laura was tossing Two around a bit more than usual, and Virgil was so pleased that Kayo had come with them. It would usually have been Alan, but he and Scott were over in Canada, putting One through her paces after an extensive overhaul and upgrading.
John was murmuring in one ear wind speeds and ocean currents. They had originally planned to drop Four and have her stabilise the boat, but the waves and currents had caused them to readjust the plan, and Gordon had descended by cable.
Halfway through. Halfway through and Virgil's shoulders and his jawline were aching from the tension of holding them so tensely. Most of the crew had been more than amenable, but some were becoming contentious. They could only load 10 people at a time, and the third and last batch were beginning to look a bit green. And some angry faces were beginning to appear.
Hearing the fractiousness of some of the crew and how they were talking to Gordon, Virgil decided that Kayo should go join him on deck for the last trip. So John took over Two – reluctantly – and Virgil took on Kayo's role as she descended with the platform for the last time.
Gordon was used to this. 'This' being a) wet and b) being yelled at by irate people, although those irate people were usually his brothers. But these last ten men were big and burly and towered over him. But Gordon was not easily cowed. He stood talk and argued back, and the majority of the men respected him for it. But he was still very relieved to see Kayo on the platform.
Eight of the remaining men simply got on the platform and buckled in. The remaining two did not. Gordon and Kayo stood shoulder to shoulder as Gordon explained that they needed to get onto the platform. They didn't move. Gordon was joined at the other shoulder by the Captain, who looked very confused to see two of his seamen being so belligerent.
John and Virgil were listening and watching. The captain managed to talk one of the men into buckling in, and Virgil decided to bring up the platform. They would have needed a fourth trip anyway to get Gordon and Kayo. Once up, the man who had held them back appeared terrified, and Virgil gathered he was terrified of being here, terrified of flying, by the way he was clinging to the captain's arm. No-one called him out on this, as everyone had fears, and Virgil offered him a mild sedative to calm his nerves. The gratefulness in the man's eyes said everything.
Meanwhile, things on deck were not going any better. By now Virgil had communicated that the first man had been terrified of flying – maybe the second had the same issue? So Gordon took the opportunity and changed direction. If anything, asking that question made the man more furious than ever.
John watched in disbelief as the man took a swing at Gordon. Gordon, of course, ducked out of the way, his military instincts kicking in, and popped up again as the man overbalanced. A well-placed palm and he was on the deck, Kayo astride his back and holding the bellowing man in place. Gordon smirked. No-one could better their sister in hand-to-hand combat, and there was no way the man was getting out of that one.
While all this was happening, Virgil had lowered the platform and John had manoeuvred Two slightly over so they did not decapitate anyone. The man seemed to have calmed down now he had no choice, and as Gordon guided the platform down safely Kayo let him up, careful to keep a hand on him just in case.
'Just in case' proved to be needed as the man, sitting down in the chair, suddenly proceeded to headbutt her. In the brief moment she lost control of him, he twisted out of the chair, throwing a punch into Gordon's side and disappeared back onto the ship.
There was a lot of shouting. And someone was swearing. And suddenly Virgil was beside them both, Jaws of Life on. Gordon caught his breath and waved Virgil over to get that infernal guy. Virgil nodded and left, following the bloke, trusting his wingman to care for Kayo. She was the source of the cursing. It wasn't often someone got the drop on her, and the blood running down her face told Gordon the man had not held back. He took a med pack from his baldrick and set about cleaning her up.
Gordon then went back to help Virgil. The man was fighting dirty, and Virgil, acutely aware that his exo-suit could do some real damage, was doing his best in the limited space. As Gordon joined the fray, Virgil stepped aside and stepped out of the suit. Just in time to see the guy lunge at Gordon with a knife.
He lunged. Virgil jumped in. Gordon twisted and turned. Within seconds the man was on the ground unconscious. Nodding his thanks to Virgil, Gordon turned to tie the man up, and Virgil climbed back into the suit. They made their way to the platform, Virgil carrying the bloke, and they all strapped in. John raised the platform.
The captain, bless him, had not stopped apologising for the two wayward men. Virgil appreciated the statement, and as he ran the med scanner over the unconscious man, he nodded his thanks.
No issues with the man. No issues with the other scared man. No issues a rest and some ice couldn't cure for Gordon. No issues ice couldn't help with for Kayo after he stitched her eyebrow.
So Virgil headed towards the cockpit.
He never made it.
As he walked out of the infirmary, he heard the sharp intake of breath from both Gordon and Kayo, but he had other things on his mind and filed that away for investigation later. Right now his priority was getting the men to the hospital and them home.
He was halfway to the cockpit when Gordon caught up with him and stopped him with a hand on his right shoulder, gently spinning the big man around. Virgil looked surprised, then a little concerned at the frown on Gordon's face.
'S***. Why didn't you say anything, Virg?' he asked. Virgil just frowned deeper. Say anything about what? Looking down, there was a gash in his left side, and he was bleeding. Before he could process what was happening, his body suddenly decided to inform him there was, indeed, a problem.
Suddenly Gordon found his arms full of Virgil. He lay him on the floor and checked him over. His brother had been stabbed, and he needed to get Virgil back to the infirmary. John appeared over his shoulder. EOS had alerted him to Virgil's sudden change in condition. Gordon shared a glance, and John understood immediately, disappearing and informing Kayo. Kayo, in turn, made sure the man was secure (and enjoyed doing so).
Gordon knew he'd have to pick Virgil up and carry him, there was not much room for a stretcher and they wouldn't leave the rescuees alone, and he flexed his knees. Carrying Virgil was no mean feat. His brother was taller and broader than he was. And twice as heavy. Sighing, he dug deep into his reserves and picked Virgil up in a fireman's lift.
Stumbling into the infirmary with him, Gordon couldn't deny the relief of putting Virgil down. Kayo set about running the scanner over him. It was quite a deep wound and jagged, starting from just under his rib cage down to his hip, and Grandma would have to stitch it properly when they got back.
John was keeping an eye on everything, hovering attentively. Suddenly, he froze as out of sight something caught his attention.
'Guys, something's going on with Scott and Alan. Gotta go.'