Gordon walked up to the cockpit after checking Thunderbird 4's systems and sighed as he collapsed into his chair.

"Maybe a 'heads up' next time, Virgil?"

"I saved your life and your 'bird. Quit complaining."

"Yeah, but gave me whiplash!"

"It was the only way to save Thunderbird 4 Gordon. Trust me. I hate doing stunts like that with my 'bird, they're not good for her. And a fall like that wasn't good for you. I do wonder sometimes if Brains is pushing our crafts too much."

Gordon frowned, "what makes you say that?"

"The stuff we've done recently, and the stuff I've done. It's been crazy."

Gordon laughed, "it hasn't been that bad."

"Well I haven't been put through a lot, but she has," Virgil brushed his fingers across Thunderbird 2's console and Gordon rolled his eyes. "You may laugh, but your 'bird means a lot to you too."

"Of course she does, but you do need to relax a bit."

"Has Scott taken off yet?"

"See you for yourself," Gordon nodded his head towards the windows.

Virgil turned his head and spotted Thunderbird 1 fly past, "Scott, is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine. I'm just taking Tycho's guests back home to Tokyo."

"FAB. See you back at the ranch."

"See you there."

Virgil watched as Thunderbird 1 disappeared into the distance and brought Thunderbird 2 around. "Tycho then, what was he like?"

"A bit like Brains, but more eccentric."

Virgil laughed, "more eccentric? I didn't think that was possible. What about the car itself?"

"You'd have to ask Scott about that. I thought their design was great, but I guess the ride itself was scarier than what was promised."

Virgil nodded, "I just hope Scott is okay."

"Why wouldn't he be?"

Virgil shrugged, "I don't know. I just feel like today stressed him out. I'll ask him about it later."

Brains sat in the lounge with Max talking to Tycho about a possible plan together later that evening, "I'm sure I can help you build the car again. We just need to get the right equation."

Virgil walked into the room, "hey Brains, Tycho. Building the new car already?"

"Indeed we are Mr Tracy."

"Oh call me Virgil, please. I'm off duty now," Virgil smirked as he lay back on the sofa propping his boots up across a fallen cushion.

"The sooner we start the better Virgil, and I couldn't be happier than to be working with Tycho on this."

Tycho smiled, "it's my pleasure, Hiram."

Scott walked in with a yawn, "so glad that's ov...Oh hi Tycho."

"Did the guests get home safely Scott?" Tycho asked.

"Yes, they're absolutely fine Tycho."

Virgil sat up, "Scott, could I have a word?"

Scott nodded. "Sure."

Virgil got up and the two went down to the pool, he opened the gate at the bottom of the path and they went down to the beach huts, "are you alright? You couldn't have said anything more awkward."

Scott covered his face with his hand, "urgh tell me about it, that was embarrassing. Just, it's been a stressful day."

Virgil sat back on the steps, "I knew it."

Scott joined him, "you can always tell when I'm stressed."

"Well, that's because it's obvious. Why was the rescue stressful?"

"I didn't like the car design, you can never rely on magnets with speed."

"Says the guy who pilots the fastest ship of the fleet."

"That's different," Scott rolled his eyes. "This car wasn't safe. I was scared for my life for the first time."

"First time? You're always scared for your life."

"No, I'm not. I fear for others, not myself."

Virgil sighed, "fine. Why did you fear for yourself today then?"

Scott shrugged, "I don't know. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to save the other car. I couldn't catch up to them and they all suffered bad whiplash probably down to me not getting to them in time."

Virgil moved closer to him and wrapped his arm around Scott's shoulders, "Scott, you did get there in time and they were fine. It's what we do, we always do our best."

"That's not good enough Virgil," Scott shrugged Virgil's arm off his shoulder. "I was scared that today would be my first failure."

"Scott, what if you hadn't actually made it, and died?"

"What about it?"

"I hate it when you act like this," Virgil stood up and rounded on his brother. "We would be nothing without you! If you had died, do you know what it would've done to me?"

"Virgil, don't."

"It would destroy me."

"You think I don't think about that? I love you, Virgil, I love all of you. But today, my mind was on that little girl and her grandfather, making it out alive. That car was a big mistake, and frankly, I'm not sure I want Brains working with Tycho to make another one."

"Well, you better run back to the lounge and stop them."

"I almost did."

Virgil sat back down next to Scott and sighed, "you do frustrate me sometimes."

Scott pulled him close and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Sorry. Look, I won't dwell on this okay?"

"Please don't."

"I shan't be travelling on the Hypercar again though Virgil, I don't think it's safe."

"Try telling Brains that, because I don't think he'll agree. He loves it."

"He wasn't on board."

A strange buzzing came from behind them and Mini-Max landed on Scott's shoulder, the eldest scooped him into his hands and put him down on the steps smiling when the little robot sat on his foot.

"Who's this?" Virgil asked.

"This is Mini-Max. Brains made it for me, he was a great help today."

Virgil laughed, "he's very cute."

"Yeah. Don't tell Kayo, but he melts my heart."

"Really? Well, you melt Kayo's heart so I doubt she'd take the piss."

Scott laughed, "you don't hold back do you?"

"That's my job."

Scott smirked as he stared ahead at the sunset bouncing Mini-Max on his foot, "I guess I can't go accusing Tycho of stupidity, his car was amazing. It was an accident."

"Precisely."

"Hopefully Brains will find the solution and stop this from happening again."

"Scott, he's built our crafts and they're fine. I don't think we need to worry about saving Tycho again."

"I suppose you're right Virgil. Let's get back to the house," Scott stood up and Max flew beside him.

Virgil got to his feet, "I'll be at the piano. Tap me on the shoulder if you need me. I feel the need to release Rachmaninoff."

"Please don't. I have a report to type up."

"It's my piano."

"Can you play quietly then?"

"It's Rach. I doubt I can do that," Virgil chuckled. "I can put the soft pedal down and mute the strings. Will that help?"

"Possibly," Scott smirked. "Let's just hope Brains has hung up the call with Tycho by now."