Chapter Two

"Surely he wouldn't still be in Thunderbird One doing post flight checks. Not if he was willing to miss the debrief to go and lie down," Jeff thought to himself. He crossed to the hidden access panel and rotated into Thunderbird One's hangar only to find she wasn't there. Now, he was worried. If she wasn't in her hangar then there was only one other place she could be. Jeff had definitely heard her land, which meant she must still be on the launch pad. Something was terribly wrong. Exiting quickly from the hangar he returned to the lounge and headed for his desk. "VIRGIL," he shouted towards the kitchen.

Upon reaching his desk he hit the comlink. "Thunderbird One, come in. Scott, do you read me, come in," Jeff urged. No response. "Scott, do you copy, answer me Son?"

A dazed and groggy voice, barely audible, answered. "TThunderbird One to bbbase. I rread you."

"Son, why are you still on the launch pad?" Jeff wondered, his voice full of concern.

On hearing his father shout, Virgil was soon in the lounge. "What's wrong Dad?" he asked. Jeff held up his hand, motioning him to listen.

"Launch ppad? Wwhat are you talking about, Dad. I need to do ssome repairs and then I'm leaving the Danger Zone. ETA 40 minutes,… I think," Scott said, sounding confused. "F. A . …"

Jeff looked quickly to Virgil, who was clearly worried by his brother's confused state, and afraid that Scott might actually attempt to take off, thinking he was heading home, decided to play along with his delusion. "Scott, I'll send Virgil and Gordon over to you to help with the repairs, that way you'll get finished much quicker. Just sit tight, Son. Do you understand?" Jeff asked. Jeff was also worried that Scott might leave Thunderbird One and, being disorientated, could fall from the high access gantry to the launch bay floor.

"TTTell them to hhurry. I don't want to be hear all day, just want to get hhome," Scott answered wearily.

"All right, Son," Jeff replied. Turning to Virgil and in full commander mode he said, "Your brother's in trouble. Get down to the launch pad right away and take the medi-kit with you. I'll get Gordon and Alan to meet you there with the anti-grav stretcher. Where are they?"

"In the games room," Virgil told him.

As he was heading across the lounge his father called after him, "Son, do whatever it takes to get him out of there, understand. Get him up to the infirmary, Brains and I will meet you there."

Virgil headed off down the hallway. He knew exactly what his father meant by, "Do whatever it takes". Because of a head injury, Scott might become aggressive and he was to take him down, if necessary, with a strong sedative or knock him out if needs be. He hoped neither would be necessary. Muttering angrily to himself he went to get the medi-kit. "Damn it, Scott. Why didn't you let me check you out? I should have insisted you had it looked at." Feelings of guilt along with helpless frustration tore at his insides.

Armed with the medi-kit and a hypo he arrived at the extendable gantry in Thunderbird One's launch bay just as Gordon and Alan came in by another hidden access. Noticing the hypo Virgil was holding, Gordon said worriedly, "Do you really think you might have to use that?"

Seeing the concern on both his younger brother's faces he replied, "Father says, whatever it takes. We have to get him to the infirmary ASAP."

They approached the cockpit hatch via the extending gantry. Virgil lifted his comlink watch and continuing along with the delusion, spoke, "Hey Scott, it's Gordon and Virg. Open up, we're here to help you with the repairs." No response. Glancing at his brothers he immediately keyed in the emergency access code. The hatch slid open. "You'd better wait here Alan," Virgil told him gently, especially not knowing how Scott was going to be, "besides, there's not a lot of room in there and if we have to manouver him out we're going to need you out here." Alan nodded in agreement.

Virgil wasn't quite sure what to expect but it certainly wasn't this. He was shocked to find his brother slumped unconscious, his head resting on the control lever. Blood pooled on the floor beneath him from a nasty gash on the right side of his forehead. His breathing was laboured, he was flushed, his uniform and face soaked with sweat. He disposed of the hypo, knowing now he wouldn't need it, and quickly mounted the platform on which the pilot's gimballed seat was bolted. Kneeling down to be able to look up into Scott's face, he gently shook his shoulder. "Scott, Scott, can you hear me? It's Virg." Again, no response. Virgil quickly placed his fingers to his carotid artery to check for a pulse, praying all the time he would find it. A few heart stopping moments later he felt a slow but strong pulse.

Gordon had come in behind Virgil and was equally shocked at his brother's state. "Hand me that neck brace, Gordon," Virgil ordered with a calm authority, which belied his true feelings. Gordon handed him the neck brace and as he carefully placed it round his neck, Scott groaned. Virgil wasted no time in checking to see if he had any other injuries. When he was satisfied that he hadn't Virgil prepared to attend to his wound.

With his head still on the control lever Scott opened his eyes and, groaning, tried to focus on where he was. "Virg, …is that you?"

Virgil tried to keep his voice calm and reassuring. "Sure buddy. Say, why don't we take you outside for a while? You can have a rest and Gordy and I'll finish off those repairs."

Badly disorientated now and desperately just wanting to sleep, Scott agreed. "Yeah OK, just don't let me sleep too long ….wwant to get home." He slipped into unconsciousness again.

Realizing they had to get him out of there fast, Virgil gently lifted his head and placed a wound dressing on his forehead, tying it off with a bandage. Virgil supported him as Gordon undid his safety belt and Virgil held his full weight as he fell forward until Gordon was able to help him. Then together they carefully manoeuvred him out of the cockpit, where Alan was waiting to help lay him down on the stretcher.

He came awake again briefly. Groaning and feeling nauseous Scott threw himself forward, heaving violently. Virgil and Alan only just managed to stop him rolling off the stretcher onto the steel mesh of the gantry floor. Virgil gently cleaned him up, checked his pulse again and still being slow, they decided it was time to get him to the infirmary. They negotiated their way along the gantries, which were only wide enough for one at a time and eventually entered the villa. Gordon spoke to his father in the infirmary via his wristwatch, telling him what they found and apprising him of Scott's condition, finishing with, "We're on our way."