Welcome to this 13th and final chapter. I'm so glad people have been reading this story and even more happy people have taken the time to review!

I would like to also take this opportunity to thank everyone who read this, taking it to over 1000 hits! Thanks!!

Ms Hobgoblin: Well, here you are. The last chapter. I'd like to thank you for being a pretty consistent reviewer, too. Nigh on every chapter's had a review from you. Thank you!

The Eyes of the Beholder

By Phoenix Sparrow

Chapter Thirteen - Visitors

Back on base, the next morning, Gordon was woken by Tin-Tin at 11am.

"Ugh, morning Tin-Tin," he said, quietly. "What brings you here?"

"I came to tell you it's 4pm in England."

Gordon sat up and looked at her. "Really? You woke me up to tell me that?"

"No, I woke you up to tell you if you want to go with your father to get Scott, I'd recommend getting up now."

"Oh, I see! Thanks."

She smiled and left him to get dressed.

"Wait a minute!" he called out. She stopped at the door and turned round. "Civilian or uniform?"

She giggled. "Uniform."

Gordon sat in the Ladybird trying to get comfortable. He never did like flying much; he preferred the sea.

He leaned his head back and gazed out the window, gaining comfort at the sight of the ocean far below them.

He closed his eyes and tilted his face up towards the ceiling. 'Nope. Not gonna get any sleep in here!' He shifted again, trying with little success to get comfortable. Behind him was a suitcase of things for Virgil and a change of clothes for Scott seeing as his uniform was out of commission.

He pushed at the bags, trying to move them out of his way. "Are you alright back there, Gordon?" Jeff asked from the front of the cabin. He was piloting the plane so glanced very quickly over at him.

"Yeah, fine. Does Virgil really need a whole suitcase?"

Jeff chuckled. "Tin-Tin packed it, not me. Anyway, we don't know when he'll be back yet, do we?"

"I guess so."

Jeff sighed. "Cheer up, Gordon. Virgil's ok, they're just keeping him in to keep an eye on him. And we're just going to get Scott now."

"I know, I know."

"So, what's up?"

"Ah, I dunno. Guess I'm just worried."

"Worried?" Jeff asked, raising an eyebrow, though Gordon couldn't see that. "Or tired? Tin-Tin told me you were still snoring when she went in."

"Snoring??" he asked, alarmed. "I do not snore!"

"You obviously do, Tin-Tin doesn't make stuff up, you know," Jeff replied, chuckling.

"Hey! It's not funny!" Though he'd started laughing now himself.

They landed the plane and made their way to the hospital.

When they got there, they found Scott stood by his window, hands clasped together behind his back.

Jeff opened the door, knocking on it as he went. "Hi son, can we come in?"

"Sure," he replied, not turning round.

They walked in and sat down, Jeff on the chair and Gordon perched on the end of the bed.

"How do you feel today?"

"Well enough."

Jeff and Gordon exchanged glances. "What's wrong? You sound a bit uptight. Is it something we've done?"

He sighed and lowered his head. "No, nothing you've done. I just, uh… didn't realise I'd miss home this much."

Jeff stared at him. "What? You've been away from home before and for longer! On those occasions you've been fine! Come on, tell us the real reason."

He turned round slowly. They'd removed the bandage that had covered his head revealing the healing red cut and its companion purple bruise on his forehead. "Fine. I was…" He turned away again, unable to look at them. "I was worried. If I'd gotten to Virgil faster, maybe his injuries wouldn't have been so severe. I, I should have kept a better guard over the crafts in the first place. I… I…"

Jeff walked over and put a hand on his son's shoulder. He pulled it gently so Scott was facing him then put his other hand on the other shoulder. "Now you listen to me, Scott Tracy. You did all you could. That machine of yours doesn't go much faster!"

"I just feel like I failed. I failed you, I failed everyone, especially Virgil," he said, looking away.

"Scott? Scott, look at me." He waited until he complied. "You are not a failure." He paused then tilted his head to one side. "What's International Rescue's motto?"

"'Never to give up at any cost'," he replied quietly.

"Exactly. You can't be a failure because you didn't give up. You kept going. You put your life on the line to save your brother's. You came through for him when he needed you the most and it's not the first time you've done so either. If you'd failed Virgil, he wouldn't be here, would he? And we wouldn't have a big suitcase full of his stuff, either!"

Scott smiled. "I guess so."

"Good. Now, cheer up. Boy, if it's not one of you, it's another! We've brought you some clean clothes to change into. We're gonna go and see Virgil while you're changing but feel free to join us when you're done."

"F.A.B., father."

Jeff smiled and walked out, closely followed by Gordon.

They arrived at Virgil's room and knocked the door. They were surprised when the door was opened for them.

"'Allo, sir," Parker said, cheerfully.

"Parker! Penny! Well, this is a surprise!" Jeff said, smiling.

Virgil sat up in his bed, with some difficulty. "Hi dad," he said, grinning.

"Hey, Virgil. How are you today?"

"Now, there's a question I've got on repeat play!"

Lady Penelope laughed and rose from the bedside seat to stand beside Jeff. "Parker, I think we can have the door shut now."

Parker looked at her then the open door. "Oh. Yes, M'lady." No sooner had he closed it then was Scott knocking on it. He opened it again and Scott walked in.

"Scott!" Virgil called out when he saw his oldest brother enter.

"Hey, Virge. How you feeling?" he asked, walking over to stand next to his bed.

Virgil laughed. "You see what I mean?" he said to the others.

Scott looked at him, confused. "Huh?"

"Don't worry. I feel fine, thanks for asking. What about you?"

He glanced over at Jeff and smiled then looked back. "Much better now I'm out of that stupid gown." He was now dressed in his favourite blue waistcoat and blue sweater with his black trousers. "Remind me never to do that again! I don't like wearing a dress!" The others laughed at him. "I feel sorry for you, Virge. I got rid of the thing quickly. You got a while of wearing it!"

"Actually, he doesn't. Tin-Tin packed his pyjamas and dressing gown amongst other things," Jeff said.

"Can I just ask you something, Scott?" Lady Penelope asked. Scott looked over at her. "What's wrong with wearing dresses?"

Scott grinned. "Nothing, but it's not the sort of thing your average man does. Men who wear dresses are a bit…" He broke off realising the others were staring. "I'll shut up now."

"Good idea, Scott. You were beginning to dig yourself into a hole even the Mole couldn't get you out of!" Jeff said. He grinned sheepishly while the others laughed again. "So, Penny. How have you been?"

"Very well, thank you, Jeff." She looked at him and smiled. "You want to know how I knew."

"Actually, yes."

"I got a call from Alan."

"Oh, I see."

She smiled again. "He advised me of the current situation and I felt I had to visit them. I went into Scott's room first." She smiled at Scott, who blushed and grinned back. "Then I came here."

"You didn't have to," Scott and Virgil said.

She looked at them, stunned. They were more alike than she realised.

"What?" Scott asked, exchanging a glance with Virgil. Gordon stood leaning against the unit in the corner of the room, his arms folded across his chest and chuckling away to himself, while Parker watched them from where he was stood beside the door.

"'Ow did you do that?" he asked.

"Do what?" they asked. Then they realised and looked at each other grinning.

"That, sirs."

"Oh, I'd say probably knowing him for all my life," Virgil said.

"Hmm. Yeah. All twenty-five years of it," Scott added.

"No, not quite. My birthday isn't for a few weeks yet."

"Good point. Oh yeah and then there's the fact that for most of those twenty-four-nearly-twenty-five years we've been living under the same roof!"

Jeff rolled his eyes and glanced at his watch. "Anyway, boys, time to wrap up this staff meeting. Penny, Parker, it's been a pleasure as always, but I have to get him over there home," he said, waving a thumb in Scott's direction. "Doctor Lewis says you gotta take it easy, Scott."

Scott's shoulders dropping and his happy expression faded from his face. "Does this mean what I think it does?"

"I'm afraid so. No missions for you for a while. You're not even allowed to watch the news!"

They all laughed, save for Scott who sat down, grumbling.

Jeff took the suitcase from Gordon and put it down next to the bed. "Nice to see you're looking better, son."

"Thanks, father. You get Thunderbird 2 fixed…"

"Virgil!"

"Sorry! Thanks for the stuff. I don't suppose the piano's in there, is it?"

"You only ever have two things on your mind, Virge! Thunderbird and that piano," Scott said. Virgil grinned.

"Hmm. I know. I'll get the piano tuned properly for when you get back," Jeff said.

"Really? Thanks! It's been needing that for a while, I've noticed."

"Yeah, well, uh, it's time we were going. Come on, Scott, Gordon."

"Bye, Jeff," Penelope said.

"Bye, Penny. It was good to see you again."

They arrived back at their base and Scott went straight to his room and collapsed on his bed.

Jeff went in there to check on him and saw that he was sleeping like a log. 'He can't be right. He never takes naps.' He smiled to himself, then left the room.

The island was just starting to get back to normal now that everyone knew things were going to be okay.

The following week found Virgil lying in his room at the hospital listening to a storm outside. At home, on the island, he rarely heard storms, but when they did come, they were a force to be reckoned with. Tropical storms often left them needing to repair the communications mast.

He looked round as the door opened and a short-ish girl with dark brown hair walked in. "Kari? Oh my goodness, Kari? Is that you?"

"None other," Kari said, walking in further and sitting by his bed. "I heard what had happened and felt I had to come and see you."

"Just like you said, huh?"

"Yes, I am just sorry I was unable to warn you once more."

"You warned us enough," he assured her. "But no more dwelling on that. We're all fine, or at least I will be once I get out of here. How have you been in the past year?"

"I have passed my GCSEs," she said. "A few months after I went to live with Mica, we moved back to England so I could resume my studies with an educational system I was familiar with. He had already finished his degree anyway."

"GCSEs," Virgil repeated. "Those are the tests 16 year olds in England take, aren't they?"

"Yes. I gained As in French and German, Bs in Double Science, Mathematics, English and English Literature and Cs in Drama, Electronics and Geography. I have my name down to study French, German, Geography and Psychology for A Levels in the new academic year."

"Impressive," Virgil said, his expression reflecting his comment. "You could probably be of help to our scientist eventually." The girl grinned at him. "Why 'double' science though?"

"The course I took is Physics, Biology and Chemistry mixed into one, and at the end of it, the grade I get is doubled to give me two separate grades. So while I only took four exams in which I gained a B grade, I got five B grades in total."

"Oh right, I see. I think." Virgil grinned. "The English system always confused me."

"The American system confused me, that is why I left."

"Fair enough."

They spent a little longer talking about other things that had happened to them over the past year, and Virgil was thrilled to hear that she had never seen the Hood since they had helped her.

The storm was still raging outside, though, in Virgil's opinion, it still didn't come anywhere near close enough to be compared to a storm from home. He lay on his bed, gazing out of the window and watching the rain running down it. Kari had long ago left now, saying she had to get home to meet with her friends.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the door open and his nurse walk in. "How are you feeling today, Virgil?" she asked him.

He started slightly and turned to face her. "I'm fine. Can't wait to get home."

"Well, it won't be long. It looks like Doctor Lewis has agreed to release you tomorrow."

Virgil's face lit up. "Great! Why not today?"

"We just want to run a last few tests just to make sure everything is back in working order. Nothing serious."

Virgil grinned. "Are my father and brother still visiting today?" he asked, remembering they'd called earlier on in the week.

"They're on their way now and should be here very soon."

"Try now," Scott's voice said from the doorway, stepping aside as the nurse left with her results. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better now. Ready to go home tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Scott asked.

"That's great to hear," Jeff said, walking in.

"Yeah, just hope Brains can put Thunderbird back together, he stripped her right down..."

"Scott, don't tease him!" Jeff said in a warning tone upon seeing the despairing look on Virgil's face.

They continued to talk for a long while, mostly about how Thunderbird's repairs were going, and Kari's visit, in which Virgil took great delight in telling them how well she had done, but they also took the time to admire a storm that didn't destroy anything, but merely relieved the static tension in the air.

"Well," Jeff said, many hours later, glancing at his watch. "It would appear our time is up. Come on, Scott, we've got to go."

"Alright," Scott said, getting up. As soon as his back was turned he felt a pillow hit him in the back of the head. "Hey, what was that for??"

"Teasing me about Thunderbird," Virgil said, grinning. "See you tomorrow!"

A/N: That's it, story over! Hope you guys all enjoyed it!