Disclaimer: A new year and neither of us can claim to own the Tracys, Thunderbirds, or International Rescue.

A/N: While we were writing this chapter, Mystikstorm thought that we should use this update to honor Lissysue. She loved her brothers, boyfriend, friends, life, and the Thunderbirds – thanks to her brothers making her watch them while growing up – and writing stories about them made her happy. I wrote her as the guardian angel I, along with some others, know her to be. And because I kept the tissues handy, I'm issuing a tissue warning for this one. Sam1 and Mystikstorm

A/N: Many thanks to those of you that have taken the time to read and review. We truly appreciate it. Angel-sue, thank you for your wonderful support. It has really helped me. sam1

Chapter 14

Silently, she watched the fair haired man as he struggled to free himself. He clearly had no thoughts of the injuries he was inflicting upon himself. Her vision clouded as tears pooled in her gentle blue eyes. She longed to reach out to protect and soothe him. At once a strong tug pulled her to another location. Bringing her hand to her mouth, she gasped. A familiar chestnut haired man lay strapped down on a backboard. Blood trailed down the side of his face. A helmet lay discarded on the floor of the vehicle, its visor shattered. Whispered pleas reached her ears and her attention was drawn to another man, "C'mon, Virg, I need you to wake up. I can't handle another brother down right now. I need you…please, don't you give up. I'm ordering… (choked sob)…I'm ordering you to fight."

Tenderly, she reached out and her fingers skimmed along Virgil's face. A sudden sense of foreboding overcame her and she cast her gaze around those in the ambulance. In a corner, she noticed nothing more than a small shadow. A shadow that appeared to be stretching towards the unconscious man on the gurney.

She was almost instantly jerked back to the first room she'd been in. The sensitive yet fiercely protective man thrashed about on his bed…solely focused on saving his injured brother.

Sirens blaring and lights flashing, the ambulance rushed to the hospital. The paramedics keeping the waiting medical team updated. "Requesting that security be standing ready as well. We're coming in with a VIP. Possible exposure to radiation. Protective gear has been rendered less than effective. Visible head injury. Second and third degree flash burns estimated at five to six percent on the anterior thorax. Less than one percent on the neck and face."

Scott listened to the report being called in over the radio and felt his worry for Virgil increase. It was bad enough seeing him lying unconscious and obviously injured but to actually hear everything listed had Scott fearing for his younger brother's life. His gaze settled on his brother once again.

"Sir, we're here."

It took the paramedic to lightly touch his arm before Scott realized that they had stopped and the doors were thrown open. Several members of the waiting medical team – completely covered in protective gear - pulled the gurney out and whisked Virgil away from him. Startled by the suddenness of his brother being taken away from his sight, Scott jumped down from the ambulance and jogged after them. He caught a glimpse of Virgil's boot-clad feet before the doors to a closed off isolation trauma room slammed shut. Determined to stay by his closest brother's side, Scott made to follow only to find his way blocked by a nurse. "I'm sorry, Sir, but you can't go back there."

He stared down at the seasoned nurse and tensed up, "I have to be in there with him. I've always been at his side when he's been hurt." Stepping to the side, he tried again to follow.

Gentle yet firm hands met his chest and he stopped again. "Sir, you cannot go back there. You need to scrub down."

Scott looked down at the protective suit he wore and realized he was still fully suited up.

The nurse could see that he was torn between the need to be with his teammate and his training to follow safety standards. "Sir, I'll personally make sure that you're kept up-to-date on your teammate."

With a weary sigh, Scott's shoulders drooped and he nodded. "Thank you." He followed her to another isolation room so that he could be scrubbed down. Once he'd scrubbed down and shed the suit, he was led to a private waiting room. A small room in which he paced back and forth, waiting for an update. And wishing for a cup of coffee. Thinking of coffee had him thinking of…"Was it really just yesterday morning that John came home?" Sinking down onto a small couch, he rubbed his eyes.

To the untrained eye, the trauma room looked like a chaotic mess. Voices overlapped as various jobs were done. The anesthesiologist monitored the patient's vitals as well as standing by to administer any anesthetic agents. Doctors converged on their patient, doing their best to save one of the members of International Rescue. Nurses hung and administered IV fluids and antibiotics as ordered by the doctors. One kindly nurse gently wiped the dried blood from Virgil's face so that they could determine where he was bleeding from.

"Respirations are dropping," the anesthesiologist called out. The doctors glanced up at the monitors just as the patient before them coded. A cacophony of noise erupted as alarms blared from the monitors and the chaos in the room intensified. None of those present noticed the figure standing near the head of the cart. No one stopped her from reaching out a slim hand to softly touch the pale face before her. As she made contact with his cool skin, she was transported to a cold, dark world.

"You can't have him. I won't let you take him from us." Following the voice, she glided out to a small clearing. Shadows slithered about from the murky forest surrounding the clearing. The blonde haired man stood next to a figure lying on the ground. "He's my little brother. It's not him you want anyway. It's me you've been after. Take me then just leave him alone." As soon as he offered himself, the shadows converged on him. They took him to the ground, completely covering him as his screams echoed through the clearing.

A/N: The next update will be up within the next few days as it is mostly written.