The roll out down Thunderbird Two's runway took forever.
"John?" Scott was almost hesitant in asking for an update.
"Still nothing." John sounded frustrated. His eyes were fixed on something to his left.
Scott could see him swiping and tapping at a display beyond the scope of the holo-emitter.
"I'll let you know." John's hologram blinked out.
Scott exchanged a determined look with Virgil. They were going to bring their brother home, although there was an element of uncertainty as to what that meant, though they tried their best to mask their anxiety from Alan, sitting directly behind them.
The minutes dripped by as they soared over the ocean.
"Alan, go start assembling the sub-pods, I'll be there in a minute."
Alan quickly jumped up and disappeared from the cockpit, no doubt eager for something to do, as they all were.
"Penny's here." Virgil nodded out the window, Scott's gaze followed his and landed on the minute form of FAB 1, aligning itself with them.
Scott flicked his comm. "Thanks for coming." He was surprised at the calmness of his own voice.
"Don't mention it." Penny's hologram blinked into life before him, a stern expression creasing her porcelain features. "Any news?"
Scott shook his head, he could not bring himself to say aloud that Gordon was unreachable and unresponsive.
She bit her lip and nodded curtly. "Well, whatever you need, we're here."
There was a lingering moment, their holograms floating silently before one another.
"We're assembling the sub-pods now, well, Alan is, I better go see how he's getting on."
"FAB" Her communicator flicked off.
Scott stared at the console where her hologram had been. He didn't think he had ever seen Penny so rattled, apart from maybe after their father's crash. He tried to gather himself. As he stood, he was nearly pulled back down by his own grip on the armrests. His fingers clicked as he subtly shook them out.
Scot felt Virgil glance in his direction, but left the cockpit without returning it or saying a word.
On his way down to the pod, a new fury started to throb through Scott. The Chaos Crew had fired missiles at his little brother, purposefully meant to harm, or worse. His fists sprung back into a clench as he rounded into the pod hanger.
Mechanical arms whirred as parts were bolted into place.
"They're not finished yet?" Scott's voice was raised and not just to compensate for the construction noise.
Alan appeared from behind a console on his left, "I had to fit the pressurising tanks first, which took a few minutes. It shouldn't be too much longer." He disappeared behind the console again.
"Ugh, this is taking too long." Scott's fist collided with the pod wall.
Alan appeared again, flicking a couple of switches on the assembly array. "Almost there."
If the adrenaline and red haze coursing through and over Scott had not narrowed his focus, he may have registered the crackling fear in the voice and expression of his youngest brother.
"We're here." Virgil's voice echoed over the comms.
Scott clipped on his helmet just as the last bolt was screwed into place. "Finally." He made use of his long limbs and skipped most of the steps up to the sub-pod, hauling himself up and in, slamming the sliding panel shut over his head.
Scott glanced across at the cockpit of the identical sub-pod, Alan was in, they could go. "Virgil, deploy!" The pod dropped, sending every sensation already rattling through Scott's body into a whirlwind as it hit the ocean and the bay door opened. He flicked his comm, "Penny, depending on how much debris there is, we might need a third hand to retr-" he caught the word, although somewhat redundantly. "To get him out."
"FAB, standing by. Parker, dive mode now!" She flicked away as they descended into the depths.
The scene underwater had been worse than anything his mind had threatened to conjure on the way there. Thunderbird 4's mangled remains protruding from under the chimney was an image he would never be rid of, along with Penny pulling Gordon's limp form from the wreckage.
Scott's boots thudded down on the floor of Thunderbird 2's pod, sending an echo rattling through the metal surrounds. He had to get to Gordon. "Alan, secure the pods!"
Scott flew through the ship, cursing as he clipped his shoulder rounding a corner.
Virgil, with help from Parker and Lady Penelope, already had Gordon strapped to one of their evac-stretchers, ready to take him to the med-bay. It hovered innocently beside FAB 1.
Scott's gaze flicked across Gordon, if it wasn't for the tendril of blood snaking its way down Gordon's forehead, he could well have been sleeping, but Scott's brotherly instincts picked away at his gut, pulling the threads of his already frayed nerves.
"Scott, I need you to set up the medical scanner so I can get us moving."
Scott's internal terror was momentarily suspended in its nosedive by Virgil's instructions. He shook himself back into the moment. "Right." His voice felt caught inside him somewhere, he wasn't even sure he had spoken aloud, but he ran ahead to the med-bay.
After the stretcher had been secured and Virgil had made for the cockpit, Scott unclamped the restraints and, his hands trembling, began the scan.
"Come on, come on, move!" Scott gripped the thrust controls of Thunderbird 2, as though force on the lever alone would increase the capacity of the engines.
He had heard the new medical alarm blaring, his ribcage was concrete as he tried to focus on getting them to the hospital. Virgil knew what he was doing, Gordon would be okay. It was a hollow sentiment centred in the ever growing chasm in his gut.
"Scott, how long till we get there?" It was Penny, a rush in her voice.
"Just a couple of minutes!" Scott could see the GDF facility in the distance.
After a fraught two minutes, they were on the ground. Thunderbird 2 had barely powered down when Scott swung out of the pilot seat and joined the tail end of the trail of doctors and nurses that were rushing Gordon into a low grey building.
He caught up with Virgil and caught sight of the tube sticking out of Gordon's chest. A burning sensation prickled at the back of Scott's throat. "What happened?" He caught Virgil's arm.
"His lung collapsed, probably from a broken rib. We just managed to bring the pressure back under control when we landed." Virgil was in full medic mode, but there was something missing from his voice.
The sun's warmth seemed cruel as they crossed the tarmac, Scott was almost grateful for the cold fluorescence of the lights inside.
The stretcher rounded a corner, Scott and Virgil tried to follow.
"I'm sorry," A woman in tortoise shell glasses and a white jumpsuit stopped them. "Medical personnel only beyond this point."
Their sudden descent was still rippling through Scott, he felt as though he was walking on sand. "No, you don't understand, he's our brother, you have to…"
"Scott."
A large hand came into contact with Scott's chest.
"They need to assess him, it's - it's best to let them." Virgil, always one for reason no matter the circumstances, gave Scott a stern look, though dappled with understanding for wanting to not leave their brother's side.
The woman nodded at them sympathetically. "We'll keep you updated as soon as we have a more detailed picture of what's going on." With a friendly nod, she disappeared behind the doors bearing the restricted access warnings.
Scott took in a sharp breath, unaware he had been barely taking any air in.
He caught pink and red crossing into the corridor. Alan and Penny joined them.
"What's happening?" Penny, her hadn't absently resting on her chest.
"They're assessing, they'll let us know as soon as they do." Virgil reiterated what they'd been told by the woman in the tortoise shell glasses.
A tightness gripped Scott, a realisation blooming into view. "Grandma, we need to go get her." Scott turned to leave when Penny grabbed his arm.
"Don't worry Scott, I've already sent Parker to the island. They should be here soon." She squeezed his arm.
The tightness relinquished a little and he was about to thank her, when he heard fast approaching footsteps.
Scott swivelled on his feet, possibly a little to quickly, to see John running down the hallway towards them.