Disclaimer: The Thunderbirds belong to other people. And the line from the 3 Doors Down song "Landing in London" that is quoted belongs to the band and is off their CD "Seventeen Days"

I'll use your light to guide the way.

-3 Doors Down "Landing in London"

Chapter Four: Fallout

"JOHN!" they all screamed over the sound of the fired gun.

The Hood laughed, then turned to his guards. "Let's get moving. We've got things to do."

The Hood and the armed men disappeared into the forest amid the screams of the Tracy family. And they left Virgil behind, holding the gun. Nobody noticed the gun fall out of Virgil's hands, nor did they notice him collapse.

Alan was the first one to get out of the rope. After seeing that his brother was still alive, he took the small pocketknife from his pocket to cut John free. After lowering him to the ground, Alan's next move was to cut Jeff free. While Jeff tended to John, Alan cut his other two brothers free.

"How bad?" Scott asked, kneeling on John's other side from Jeff.

"He's alive, but he needs a hospital," Jeff said. "Help me carry him to Thunderbird Two."

"Virgil?" Alan asked, seeing Virgil unconscious on the ground.

Jeff sighed. "We'll have to restrain him in Thunderbird Two until we can figure out what to do with him. Gordon, Alan, take Virgil."

Scott and Gordon piloted Thunderbird Two while Brains and Jeff tended to John. They went to the nearest hospital where Jeff made up a story to explain John's injury. John was rushed into surgery, where the bullet was removed and the damage fixed. It was a long, tense wait for the family. And they were haunted by the image of Virgil shooting John.

"The Hood was controlling him," Alan whispered. "He didn't mean to do it."

"But he did," Gordon replied.

On board Thunderbird Two, Virgil woke startled. It took several minutes to recognize where he was and remember what happened. And the memory immediately made him sick. He was able to get out of his restraints quickly since they were loose. After throwing up into a nearby basin, Virgil went to his locker and found a change of clothes since the clothes he'd been put into were a size too large and rather dirty. Once he was in a clean set of clothes, he left the craft and went into the hospital.

It took a little while, but he found his family in the surgical waiting room. But one look at them made him turn around and march right back into Thunderbird Two. He went back to his locker, grabbed his wallet and a few other items and shoved them into a backpack. He then found a pad of paper, scribbled a note and left it on the controls to Thunderbird Two. And then he left.

John had been in the hospital for almost two hours when his doctor appeared. They were relieved to hear that John made it through surgery well and that the damage was easily repaired.

"He's in recovery right now," the doctor said. "Then he'll be transferred to a private room. Once he's settled there, I'll have a nurse bring you up."

It was then that someone decided to check on Virgil. Scott went, needing to walk around anyway. And he was horrified to find Virgil not where they left him.

"Dad, he's gone!" Scott said once Jeff responded.

"Check the entire ship!" Jeff ordered. "I'm on my way!"

It was Jeff who found the note on the controls. He just took it and brought it into the hospital, dragging Scott along behind him. Once Jeff and his three sons were sitting, Jeff unfolded the paper and read the note aloud.

There are no words to express how sorry I am for what I've done. Although I was not in control, I do remember. I shot John. There's nothing else to say. I know he's strong and he'll make it back to you. I've taken myself out of your lives, for good. I know there is no forgiveness for the ultimate betrayal that I've committed. Please look after each other. And despite the fact that I know you all hate me, I love you all. –Virgil

"He's gone?" Alan asked in a whisper.

"He shot John!" Gordon replied, trying to keep his voice down.

"It wasn't him!" Alan shot back. "He wasn't in control!"

Scott and Jeff separated the two before things got even more heated. Scott dragged Gordon down the hall while Jeff dragged Alan in the other direction. Both were told that any discussions of that sort would have to wait until they were back home.

That night was a restless one for the Tracys. Jeff, Scott, Gordon, and Alan checked into a nearby hotel. And while they slept fitfully, Virgil hung around the hospital. He purposely waited until his family was gone to make his own appearance. He watched as John was brought into his own room, and he followed from a safe distance. And once John was settled and alone, Virgil snuck into the room.

"I'm so sorry, big brother," Virgil whispered after he sat down and took his brother's hand. "I'm so very sorry for what I've done."

Virgil then left the room, not knowing that John had opened his eyes. Virgil walked out of the hospital, and didn't look back. He just kept going.

The following morning found Jeff and his three sons returning to the hospital. John was in his own room, and they all went in. John didn't immediately tell them about Virgil, he wanted to tell his father first. So once Scott, Gordon and Alan had left for a few minutes, he used the opportunity wisely.

"He was here," John told his father once they were alone.

"Who?" Jeff asked.

"Virgil. He came in last night just after I got in here."

"What happened?"

"He just said that he was sorry. Then he left."

"John…he's gone. He left us a note, but he's gone. He's left us…for good, he said."

"I want to see this note."

"John…"

"Dad, I want to see it. I want to read it for myself."

Jeff produced the piece of paper that he now had memorized. He handed it to John with apprehension. John took it and read it a few times to himself. He then closed his eyes for a few seconds, then reopened them.

"We have to find him," John finally said.

"I don't even know where to start looking," Jeff replied.

"Have Alan check his credit cards for use," John said. "Dad, we have to get him home. He needs to know that I don't blame him for what happened to me."

"John?"

"I saw his eyes, Dad. Just before he shot me, I saw his eyes. There was nothing there, nothing behind them. There was no life, no emotion, nothing. They weren't even cold. They were just empty. Dad, The Hood is strong, and who knows what happened in between when he was missing."

Jeff nodded, then thought for a moment. "I'll have Brains bring your brothers back to the island, and I'll ask Alan to start checking around."

John nodded. "Thank you."

The other three appeared, and Jeff filled them in on what they missed. At first Gordon was horrified to hear that Virgil had gotten into the room, but once John finished the tale, he calmed down.

"You blame him, don't you?" John asked Gordon.

"Yes!" Gordon exclaimed. "He shot you!"

"Well, stop blaming him. Right now," John ordered. "I don't."

"How can you not?" Gordon asked in disbelief.

John told him the same thing he told his father. And then he added, "Don't forget, he was missing for almost 34 hours by the time he called us and we got his location. For someone like The Hood, that's more than enough time to play with someone's mind. Plus, this is Virgil we're talking about. I know that he'd rather die himself than hurt any one of us."

Gordon sighed. "You're right."

"I usually am," John smiled.

And everyone just rolled their eyes.

"I'm going to have Brains get the ship back to base. I want you three to return to base as well and get to work. John and I will be along as soon as we can," Jeff told Scott, Gordon, and Alan.

After the farewells were said, John and Jeff were once again alone. They used the time to speculate about Virgil in general. And then Jeff was told he had to leave for the night.

John was released a few days later, and he and his father returned to the island. So far there was no luck on the credit cards that the family knew about, and there hadn't been any activity in Virgil's bank accounts either. They had come up with a dead end.