Scott took a large bite out of his hamburger, his eyes closed in pleasure. Sitting across from him, Virgil drank his soda, letting the cold drink clear dust from his throat. "I thought for a couple of minutes there we wouldn't be round to do this," Virgil said.

"It was close," agreed his older brother. "Can't deny I wasn't terrified when the ceiling of that service tunnel started to collapse behind us." Scott looked up from his food. "But we did it, Virg. We managed to fit them both into the Mole and got the hell out of there and we're safe. And as an added bonus, Gordon and Alan repaired that pipeline and Kayo and John are working to track down who put that pipeline in. We've done some amazing work, Virgil! I think we've got it all coming together, finally."

"Don't discount what you're doing, Scott," Virgil replied around a mouthful of his own burger. "Damn this is good. You've really been able to step up and be more than just a field commander. You've kept us all on track and just kept us going. Even if you are an idiot at times."

"How are you boys going? Can I get you anything else?" The owner of the diner came over and smiled down on them.

Scott looked up at the woman and gave her one of his devastating smiles. "What we've got is fantastic," he said. "One of the things we love about doing Australian rescues is if we get a chance to get a burger here. When you guys say 'the lot' it really means it!"

"I suppose we should get something for Gordon and Alan," Virgil said good naturedly.

"Gordon seemed to prefer to play with dolphins."

"Yeah, but they're both bottomless pits, and you don't have to fly back with them complaining." He looked at the woman who reminded them somewhat of their grandmother – but with much better cooking skills. "Can we get another two burgers with the lot to go. And a couple of sodas as well."

"Of course. You boys do such good work, we can't thank you enough." She bustled away and Scott and Virgil ate in silence for a few minutes, before they were interrupted.

"You have to stop him!"

"Alan? What's wrong?" Scott was half out of his seat before Alan's voice had even finished and was moving towards the door.

"Gordon! He's…. oh geez, Gords. I didn't need to see that!"

Scott relaxed and went back to the table and his half-eaten hamburger. "Do I want to know?" He reached out and gurgled the last of a milkshake through a straw.

"Hang on – is that…. Are you eating?"

"Strictly no, though milk is a food" Scott couldn't help tease his youngest brother.

"You bastards. You've got hamburgers haven't you."

"Again, strictly no…."

Alan's voice sounded depressed. "You get hamburgers and milk shakes, and I get Gordon skinny dipping with dolphins. My life is cursed."

"Don't worry Alan," Scott said jovially, "It won't last long. We've nearly finished here and will come and collect you."

"Yeah," Virgil put in. "Let me finish my soda."

"I hate you."

888888888888888888888

Scott sat at his father's desk putting the finishing touches to the mission report. One day, he supposed, he would think of it as his desk, but until they found their father's body, remains or absolute proof that Jeff Tracy was dead, it would remain his desk.

He saved the report and sat back, picking up the glass from the desk and toasting his father's photograph with it. "You would have been proud of us today, Father. All of us. We were amazing. I know you would have done things differently, but you aren't here. We had to make changes, Father, and do things our own way. Because I'm not you, and none of the others are either."

He sipped the amber liquid in the glass and felt the burn at the back of his throat. It wasn't his habit, and hadn't been since International Rescue had become active, to drink alcohol, but tonight he felt that it was right to have this one drink.

"We all miss you Father. And every day it's harder and harder, but we have to keep going and we have to keep believing that you'll come home."

"Talking to yourself, big brother? Isn't that a sign of insanity?" John's ghostly form bobbed in front of him.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping? As for talking to myself being a form of insanity – I think I accelerated past insanity years ago. And I wasn't talking to myself. I was telling Father how fucking awesome we are."

"Modesty thy name is Scott Tracy," John said dryly. He floated silently for a few seconds. "But you're right. I think that our plan has worked incredibly well. We're all playing to our strengths on missions now. And we're able to use the 'Birds in ways that amaze even Brains. We're doing it Scott. We're really doing this. Impossible though it seemed at first."

Scott raised his glass, this time in a toast to John. "We're Tracy's Johnny. Impossible is what we do."

"Every day…" put in John.

"And twice on Fridays," they finished in unison, and Scott tossed down the rest of his drink, and John sighed enviously.

"What I wouldn't give for a glass of Father's good stuff to join that toast," he said softly.

"When are you going to come home, John? We can take that toast, let the others take on IR and you and I get plastered. It's been a while you know."

"Since I came home or since we got plastered together?"

"Both." Scott looked at John through narrowed eyes. "We've missed you, Johnny. I've missed you. So – what do you say. You come down. Spend a couple of days at least. We can go up on the roof and get plastered and count shooting stars."

"It's tempting… but we can't leave things unmanned. You know that."

"And you now we can transfer it all down here if we have to. We did it when Father disappeared. We can do it again. Come on, John. You can't hide on Five forever. Either you come down voluntarily, or I'll come up and get you." Scott paused. "And bring Alan with me to help persuade you."

John smiled. "Is that meant to be a threat?"

"It's late. I'm tired. And I know what effect Alan's kicked puppy look has on you." Scott suddenly leant forward. "I could order it, John, but I won't. I'm asking. Come home, Johnny. At least for a bit. We need you here for a while."

John took a deep breath. "If I come down now, will you wait up for me?"

"If I can get you to come down now, I'll not only wait up, I'll have a drink waiting and will tuck you into bed if you want."

"The drink will be good enough. And I can surprise the others at breakfast."

"See you soon then. Base out."

Scott sighed, poured himself another drink and smiled. Yeah. They were doing great. And when he went to bed, he'd sleep soundly knowing that his younger brothers were all safe in their beds (once he and John manhandled Alan into his) here. On Earth. At home.

It wasn't perfect, but until their father returned, it was as close to perfect as they could get.

And then tomorrow, they would do it all over again. Because they were Tracys. And the impossible was what they did.