Scott killed the projector and rubbed his face with his hand again. "That is just some of it." He looked up at Virgil. "I might dismiss it as nothing, except John has been stalling Colonel Casey since we got home."

Virgil realised his mouth was hanging open and shut it. "It was a simple dinner. We just wanted a break."

"Yeah, well, it broke something." Scott let out an exasperated sound and shot to his feet. "Why Virg? You're the last one I'd expect to end up in jail. You're the calm one, the cool head. Gordon, sure, but you?"

"It wasn't intentional. It was an evening meal, that's all. We missed lunch, we were tired, we just wanted to stop for a minute and take a breather. It's not a crime."

Scott's shoulders dropped and his eyes with them. "Well, apparently it is."

Virgil pressed his lips together. His instinct was to say sorry. He hated seeing his brother like this. But… "I'm not going to apologise." Blue flashed up at him. "We were doing what we needed to do. Gordon was in the right to defend that woman. It led to an altercation and it was unfortunate, but we did the right thing."

"That's not how the world sees it."

"To be honest, I don't care. I know what happened, they don't."

"You, unfortunately, are not the one who says what we can and cannot do." Scott had turned to stare out towards the ocean.

"You don't think…" Virgil didn't want to even breach the topic.

"I don't know what to think. All I know is that Colonel Casey is not happy. I've held off talking to her until Gordon could give me his side of the story. Now you give me yours."

Virgil stared at his brother, now more commander than sibling. Unconsciously, he straightened.

He spoke words, concise and true words about dinner, about the entrance of the five men, Gordon's altercation and the mess that followed, how they were arrested, the police station, right up to the point Scott had walked into that cell.

The commander's lips grew thinner as the story unfolded; blue eyes frowned.

At some point Virgil ran out of words and there was silence.

Scott stared at him for a long moment before swallowing.

"I owe Gordon an apology." His brother turned away and sat down at the desk again. "You did the right thing."

Virgil blinked. Scott apologies were rare and valuable. "Thank you."

A sigh. "But it won't fix this." He thumbed a switch on the desk. "John, can you please contact Colonel Casey."

Their space brother flickered in. "She's still on the line. Never signed off." Scott's eyes widened. "Okay. Put her through."

John flickered out and was replaced with the Colonel.

The dark-haired woman didn't say anything at first. Her eyes settled on Scott in an unnerving glare only to dart to Virgil and obviously the damage to his face. "Are you okay, Virgil?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"I presume Sally has seen to you."

"Yes, ma'am."

She held his gaze for a moment longer before snapping back to Scott. "Commander, recent events have created a problem. My superiors are not impressed."

"Are they aware of the facts in the matter, Colonel? My team's conduct was exemplary under the circumstances. I would hope your superiors would be interested in the facts not the hearsay."

"I would be very interested in those facts, Commander. If you could relay a report, I would be grateful to receive it."

Virgil frowned. Aunt Val's continued use of Scott's rank was unusual. Her expression was tight, almost as if… He turned to look at his brother. Scott eyed him for a split second, but his expression was stoic.

"Will do, Colonel. However, I believe it to be in International Rescue's best interests if you contact our lawyer, Jack Dunning, for detail. I will leave the report with his counsel."

Something flickered in their aunt's eyes. Virgil wasn't sure if it was approval, worry or both. "Very well." Her eyes flickered to Virgil again and softened for just a second before returning to their military hardness and latching onto Scott again. "Fly safe, Commander." And she flickered out.

What the-?

"Aw, hell." Scott stared at where their aunt had disappeared.

"You can say that again."

'Fly safe' was a warning. Instigated by their father and aunt long ago. A signal should the powers-that-be at the GDF suddenly decide that they didn't like not having access to IR's technology. A code that indicated that International Rescue may possibly be under threat from the GDF itself.

Virgil stared at Scott.

But words failed him.

-o-o-o-