Chapter 7: Revelation
Virgil floated up out of the murky depths of drug-assisted sleep. He knew he had been drifting in and out for what was probably days. He could remember bits and snatches of conversation, concerned faces, and gentle hands holding his hand, touching his forehead. But he hadn't felt particularly clear-headed any of these other times. Now, he felt more lucid than he had since freeing Kyrano in the pool.
He also felt very safe. It took him a moment to realize this was because he was being cradled in someone's arms. He realized that this was the first time anyone had held him since his mother died, years and years ago. For a moment he thought it might be his father, but that was ridiculous. Jeff Tracy loved his sons; none of them doubted that. But he was as far from physically demonstrative as it was possible to be.
It was Scott. Virgil knew this without having to look. He could just feel it. Scott was holding him, carefully positioned so as not to hurt his injuries. He doubted it was very comfortable for Scott's leg, though. Virgil licked dry lips. "Hey," he said softly. "You sleeping?"
Scott jumped slightly. The sudden movement caused a dull twinge in Virgil's side that would have been really painful if he wasn't currently doped up on so much painkiller. Scott had probably been dozing, and Virgil felt kind of bad for waking him. But he felt a lot worse for worrying him. "Hey, Virg," Scott said in a relieved tone.
"Hey," Virgil said, and coughed slightly as the word caught in his dry throat.
He felt a little motion, and then Scott was holding a straw to his lips. He took a drink, and talking became immediately easier. "Thanks," he said.
"How're you feeling?" Scott asked, returning the drink to the bedside table.
This was interesting. Virgil had been certain that as soon as Scott knew he was awake, he would become embarrassed and would extricate himself from his current position. But he seemed to be making no move to do so. If anything he'd tightened his grip. Virgil was secretly glad. He was amazed at how much comfort the physical contact (not to mention the love associated with it) provided. "I'm really doped up on pain meds," he said.
This got the desired chuckle from his brother. "Probably best," he said. "You had us all very worried, Virgil."
Virgil frowned. "Are you ok, Scott?"
"I'm fine," Scott said quickly. "As long as I stay off my leg I'm—"
"I didn't mean your leg, Scott," Virgil cut him off.
Scott was quiet for a while. Finally he sighed and tightened his grip on Virgil slightly. "No, Virg, I'm not ok."
"Hey," Virgil said gently. "I'm ok, Scott."
"No, you're not," Scott argued. "And you almost died, Virg. Not once, but twice. And there wasn't a damned thing I could do about it!"
Virgil squirmed a little until he could look up at his brother's face. "I'm sorry I worried you," he said.
"Worried me?" Scott said, and laughed bitterly. "Here you are, two days after nearly dying, and you're worrying about my mental state?"
Virgil gingerly lifted his uninjured arm, careful not to disturb the IV line, and patted his brother's forearm. "Well, you're obviously too busy worrying about me to worry about yourself. When was the last time you ate or slept, for example?"
Scott pressed his cheek against the top of Virgil's head. "I love you, Virg. I don't know what I would do without you."
Virgil tightened his grip on Scott's arm. "I love you too, big brother." He was a little freaked out, here. He was used to Scott being so together, always knowing what to do and keeping everyone else calm. And here he was, falling apart a bit. "What happened, Scott? I don't really remember anything after getting the table off of Kyrano. He's ok, right?" he added, suddenly concerned.
"He's fine," Scott said. "He's feeling extremely guilty, but he's just fine."
"So what happened?" To you, particularly.
Scott sighed again. "He pulled you out. I guess you had passed out by then. Grandma contacted Father, and Alan came to get you."
"So they were done with the rescue?" Virgil asked. When Scott didn't answer, he demanded, "They were done with the rescue, weren't they?"
"Virg, this probably isn't the best time to—"
Virgil sucked in his breath, horrified. They hadn't really left people stranded in a submarine on the ocean's floor to come and get him, had they? That went against everything that International Rescue stood for. "Scott," he said, keeping his voice calm, "please tell me what happened."
"Ok," Scott said. "But please try to look at this from our point of view, Virg. We know you would give your life for the cause, but some of us just weren't able to do that. Give your life, that is. Alan left the rescue site to get you. If he hadn't you would have died, Virgil."
"And the people in the submarine?" Virgil asked. He was finding it hard to be mad at Alan, but he was disappointed in him for leaving a rescue.
"They got out fine. Gordon was down there cutting through the hull, and Father was repairing Thunderbird 1 and coordinating the rescue."
Virgil relaxed. "So no harm done, then. Is Alan ok?"
"I would have done exactly the same thing, Virgil," Scott admitted quietly. "If I hadn't been stuck on Thunderbird 5. If I'd been closer—"
"Scott, Scott," Virgil said. "Hey. So you had to listen. You couldn't do anything to help me. But you were up there keeping an eye on the whole operation, ready to assist anyone who needed it. If a call had come in for International Rescue—"
"If a call had come in, they would have been totally screwed," Scott commented.
"We need more vehicles and pilots," Virgil said. It was something he'd thought about before, and he imagined that Scott and their father undoubtedly had as well. "And you were keeping track of Thunderbird 3," he said.
"Whom I did not inform about what had happened to you until after they had completed their rescue," Scott said.
Virgil snorted. "I'll bet that went over well."
"They were furious," Scott said. "I don't blame them. But they were three hours out when—when you…they would have wanted to come back to help. It would have put them in a horrible position."
"Kind of like Alan," Virgil said. "Poor Alan. I hope that Father hasn't been too hard on him."
"I don't think Father's mad at him at all," Scott said.
"That's good. And he did save my life," Virgil said.
Scott hugged him tighter. "A fact for which I for one am very grateful."
"Scott, are you going to be ok?" Virgil asked seriously.
"I'm fine—" Scott started, but Virgil cut him off impatiently.
"No, Scott, you're obviously not fine! I'm not fine! We were buried alive! We almost died! And I know you, brother. It must be killing you that you weren't able to get us out, and then again when you were stuck on the satellite! I feel the same way about being buried. We're supposed to be the rescuers, not the rescued!" He took a few breaths. "Look, Scott," he said more quietly. "What we do is really dangerous. We all knew that when we agreed to do this. There is a chance that one of us might die every time we go out. So far we've been lucky. There's no use in thinking about what might have happened. The fact is we're both still here, and we're both going to be just fine. Ok?"
Scott buried his face in Virgil's hair. "Thanks, Virg. You're right, of course. I'm sorry to be so—so—"
"Concerned for my well-being?" Virgil asked. "I think I can forgive you for that, Scott."
Scott laughed shakily. It wasn't much, but it was something. "Thanks, Virg," he said, lifting an arm to wipe his face. Virgil was shaken to realize that Scott had been crying. Now Scott did extricate himself, carefully lowering Virgil and swinging his legs off the bed, wincing at the movement.
"You should have them give you whatever they've given me," Virgil commented, watching him. He was in almost no pain. Of course, he also was having trouble putting two thoughts together, but hey. No pain.
Scott looked over at his brother. "I guess that's not a bad idea. I'm currently back for observation anyway, although I think that Father's trying to get us both discharged."
Virgil didn't feel nearly ready to be discharged, but he could see the wisdom. It was risky enough that he had been brought back to the same hospital. By International Rescue, no less. "Hey," he said, "how'd they explain Alan dropping me off here in Thunderbird 2, anyway?"
"He told them that Father had called in International Rescue because they'd be the only ones fast enough," Scott replied, transferring himself to his own bed, wincing with every movement.
"That work?"
Scott shrugged. "Seems to have."
"Have you been here long?" Virgil asked. Scott was dressed, but he had a bed, which implied that he had been recently checked in. From the unrumpled appearance of his bedding, it also appeared he had been sitting with Virgil since he arrived. Frankly, Virgil was surprised that Scott had been readmitted. He suspected that there was more to this story than he knew.
"A few hours," Scott said. "It took time for Thunderbird 3 to get back and pick me up."
"So Father's trying to get us discharged, but you just got checked in…" Virgil was getting confused. Maybe it was the meds. Maybe Scott had checked himself in to keep an eye in him.
Scott snorted. "Doctor Lowry took one look at me and filled out the paperwork herself. I tell ya, Virg, that is one over-protective doctor!" Ok, maybe Scott hadn't checked himself in.
"In her defense, you really do look terrible," Virgil couldn't help but comment. It was true. Scott was disheveled, pale, and exhausted. He clearly hadn't slept while he had been up in Thunderbird 5.
"Thanks," Scott said dryly. "You don't look so hot yourself."
"I don't feel so hot either," Virgil admitted. He was getting sleepy again. He wondered how long it would be before he could go more than five minutes without falling asleep.
The next thing he knew, door to their room burst open, tearing him out of sleep. Doctor Lowry hurried in and slammed the door shut behind her. Then, to their bemusement, she dragged a heavy piece of equipment in front of the door, then rested her body against it for good measure. "Can we help you with anything, Doctor?" Scott enquired.
"Open this door!" they heard their father's muffled voice.
Doctor Lowry turned to look at Scott and Virgil. "He may have filled out the papers," she said, "but he will be removing you from this room over my dead body."
"Our doctor is kidnapping us," Virgil said to Scott. "Doctor, why are you kidnapping us?" He wasn't alarmed. He was more amused than anything, although she seemed very serious about this. The idea of a doctor holding patients hostage in a hospital room was so ludicrous that he couldn't be worried. Or maybe it was still the pain meds.
"Because as long as you are here you are safe!" she exploded. "I told him not to take you home the first time. It would be different if you would stay in bed and rest. But you two fools keep insisting on going gallivanting around trying to save half the universe! If you do not stay in bed you will never heal! Don't you get that?"
Scott narrowed his eyes as Virgil felt the beginnings of alarm. She seemed to have a really good idea of what they had been up to. "What do you mean, save half the universe?" Scott asked.
She sucked in her breath. "I didn't—oh to Hell with it!" she exploded. She left the equipment to hold the door and advanced on them, full head of steam restored. "I mean that right now you are both invalids, and I will not have your obsessive need for secrecy allow you to be removed from this hospital and get you both killed!"
"What do you-?" Scott started. But it was becoming clear that she knew who they were, or at least suspected it.
"What do you think I mean, Mister-mobile-control?" she demanded.
Fears confirmed. She knew who they were. Virgil shot a look at Scott, who looked as stricken as he did. "How…?" Scott asked.
Doctor Lowry softened slightly. "How did I know? I'm very good with voices, Scott. Do you remember six months ago, when you rescued a group of people who were trapped in that big accident in the Chunnel?"
Scott couldn't very well agree without confirming who they were. He simply said, "Go on."
"I was one of those people," she said. "I know that you never met most of us face-to-face. But I have a very powerful radio in my car, and I was picking up a lot of your transmissions. I know you are…" She screwed her face up, remembering, "you are Mobile Control. And Virgil, you were the one in the 'Firefly,' putting out the flames before we all died. The two of you saved my life." Her face hardened. "And I will be damned if I let anything happen to either of you! Not on my watch!"
Virgil whistled. She had them. He exchanged a look with Scott, who nodded slightly. There was no use pretending. "Ok, you got us, Doctor Lowry," he said. "So now what?"
"Jennifer," she corrected. "And please don't worry about your secret. I have not told anyone, and I will not."
Virgil believed her. Scott was still looking skeptical, though. "How long have you known?" Virgil asked.
"Since the first time I heard either of you speak," she said. "That, and it was an interesting coincidence that you two were brought to me just after two International Rescue people were injured underground."
"Who else noticed that?" Scott asked, tensing.
She grinned at him. "Oh, don't worry. I filed a report detailing how your injuries were very consistent with your story of being trapped in a cave-in. I think perhaps one or two doctors wondered a little, but I do not think anyone else here pays such close attention to the news of International Rescue as I do."
Great. They had a groupie. "Thanks for covering for us," Virgil said. "I think you can let Father in now, Jennifer."
She looked dubious. "Does that mean you will stay here until you're strong enough to go home? Until you have your doctor's ok to be discharged?"
Virgil exchanged a look with Scott, who still looked a little skeptical. Virgil, for his part, kind of wanted to stay in the nice, soft hospital bed where the pain meds flowed freely for a few more days. "Let us discuss it with Father," he said, unwilling to commit.
Jennifer gave him a hard look, but finally nodded and pushed the equipment away from the door. In burst a very angry Father, followed closely by Gordon, John, and Tin-Tin. "Just what was the meaning of that?" he demanded of the doctor as soon as he was in the room.
She just smiled benignly and left, closing the door behind her. "She doesn't want us to get hurt," Scott told his father as soon as the door shut.
"She knows who we are," Virgil added.
"Virgil, you're awake!" Gordon exclaimed, ignoring the bigger issue completely. "It's good to see you."
Virgil grinned at him. "Thanks." He turned back to his father. "She recognized me and Scott," he elaborated. He was starting to feel exhausted by all the excitement, but this was an issue that needed to be dealt with now. There would be time to sleep later.
"Apparently she recognized our voices. She's known who we are the whole time," Scott added, taking over for Virgil, for which he was grateful. "She says she hasn't told anyone, and won't. She also said she's been covering for us."
Their father looked worried. "All the more reason to get you boys out of here," he said finally.
"What good would that do?" Virgil asked. "We were checked in under our own names. All she has to do is describe out connection to International Rescue."
"It's just her word against ours, though, if she does leak this," Scott pointed out.
Virgil was starting to have trouble focusing. His side and stomach were starting to hurt, and he was fading. He really wasn't up to a long debate right now. He closed his eyes wearily. "Look," he said, "whatever happens will happen whether or not we stay here, right? And I…" He took a deep breath. He was uncomfortable disagreeing with his father anyway, but in this case it also meant admitting weakness. "I don't think I should leave yet," he managed, keeping his eyes closed to avoid seeing his father's face. Or Scott's either for that matter.
His declaration was met with silence. He lay still, refusing to open his eyes. When Scott finally spoke, Virgil was jerked awake, having begun to drift off already, much to his annoyance. Scott broke off what he was starting to say—which sounded a little like concern about Lowry, and said instead, "I think Virgil's right, Father. I could use a little more recovery time as well, I think." In other words, Virgil is staying and I'm staying with him. Virgil felt a warm gratitude for his brother's support. He let himself drift again, confident in Scott's ability to keep him from being discharged right away.
"Father, he really needs to stay here," he heard Scott say. He was obviously trying to keep his voice low enough that Virgil couldn't hear him, but with their beds only a few feet apart, that was nearly impossible. They must think he was asleep already.
"But Scott—"
"No. Look. I'll stay with him, Father. Doctor Lowry seems sincere. I think we can trust her. And I will not—" his voice started to rise, and he broke off, only to resume quietly enough that Virgil had to strain to hear, "I will not lose him simply because we took him away from necessary hospital care."
"Scott, I hope you're not implying that I—"
"Of course not, Father. And I do understand your position, of course I do. Normally I would agree with you, but after all that's happened…"
They kept talking, but Virgil wasn't able to stay awake any longer. His body required more sleep to heal. He drifted off to the soft voices of his brother and father arguing over his fate.
oOo
A/N: This was my FAVORITE chapter to write. I know it's a little bit OOC, but bear in mind that Scott's just spent two days out of his mind with worry.