Six months later…

Scott sighed as he stretched out – carefully, since he was still healing – and turned to cast a fond eye on whichever brother had drawn the short straw and spent the night with him.

Ever since he'd woken up in the hospital his family had been…clingy. Well, more clingy than usual.

At first Scott had put it down to the seriousness of his accident. Having a build fall on him – well, it wasn't the first time but this one had definitely been the worst and closest. It had taken a couple more days before he could stay awake for more than 10 minutes at a time. It took only one more day for Scott to realise something more was going on.

He'd weathered it for exactly three more days before he demanded to know what the hell was wrong with everyone. And he meant everyone. Even Kayo, Brains, Penny and Parker were acting oddly. And even though he was happy to see Kyrano again, the man was positively hyperactive in comparison to his old ways, always pacing around and hypervigilant in a way the security expert had never been before.

But no one would talk to him. Scott tried Virgil first. His artistic brother could never lie to his face. Which, although true, didn't extend to keeping secrets. He was good at that. Virgil had looked everywhere but at him. Gordon had grinned – which Scott noticed did not reached his eyes – and promptly changed the subject. Alan had simply looked wide-eyed and about to cry so Scott had immediately changed the subject. He didn't have the heart to question either his Dad or Grandma.

So that left John. John he could count on to tell him the whole truth, no frills attached at all. Scott wasn't surprised in the least that John was nowhere to be seen for the next day. His brothers may accuse him of being impatient, but Scott knew how to wait when he needed to. He certainly know how to out-wait a younger brother…

Sure enough, that next day Scott had fixed John with The Eye. His brother had squirmed, had shifted about in his seat. Scott had even needed to fold his good arm across his chest and quirk and eyebrow, but eventually John had acquiesced. Scott suspected his brother had only given in when he realised how painful it had been for him to hold that stance. His broken ribs and still-healing bruises protested loudly and that must have surely shown in his face.

What had surprised Scott was that John refused to tell him alone and had insisted everyone needed to be present.

When the family had gathered around his bed and haltingly explained what had happened while he had been unconscious Scott had been incredulous. But as he observed how everyone reacted around him over the next few days it was the only explanation that made any sense. Sort of.

Scott had no idea how to process that his family and closest friends had lived three days in an alternative reality, one where he had not survived Bereznik. One where his Mother and Grandpa were still alive. One where Kayo had practically sacrificed herself to save Virgil.

(It hurt more that he could say to be the only one who had not had time with them, and Scott squirreled that pain away to be processed at a later date.)

It explained why Virgil was acting so – so – so weirdly around their sister. In all honesty she had been just as oddly behaved around him. (Scott filed *that* away for a later date too)

The first few months had been operation after operation to mend his broken bones and rehabilitation. It had been…trying for them all. Scott was a terrible patient at the best of times, and his family were at the end of their vast stores of patience when Grandma returned with the news that his last operation was just that – his last. Finally, they could take him home for more extensive rehab.

The last two months Gordon and Grandma had put together a training regime that would get him back on his feet and back into the air, and Scott was nothing if not determined.

Today was the day.

Everyone would be gathered in the gym. To see him, to see Scott take his first steps unaided.

Scott poked Gordon's ear and his brother snorted and rolled over – and off the bed. Gordon jumped up. Wide-eyed and ready for battle, he spun around at Scott's full laugh before relaxing with an embarrassing chuckle. Before they left Scott's room he pulled Gordon into a hug and had a whispered conference that left Scott smiling and Gordon's eyes alight with mirth and mischief.

They got ready together and set off for the gym. And sure enough everyone was there waiting. They watched as Gordon helped Scott out of the hoverchair and to stand at the entrance.

It seemed like everyone was holding their breath, and Scott took a deep one of his own.

And stepped forward.

And again.

And again.

He made it to the end of the gym to cheers and hugs from everyone. With Virgil on his left and Scott made to turn around, but he stumbled as he did, accidently pushing Virgil at the same time Gordon neatly sidestepped from where he had been talking to Kayo.

Virgil, completely caught off-balance, flailed for a moment, but Kayo's training kicked in faster than his could, and she caught him just before he hit the floor.

They blinked at each other for a moment before Kayo pulled him up. They hadn't noticed the knowing looks of the adults in the room, nor Scott and Gordon's triumphant smirks.

That afternoon Jeff got the grill out and they lounged around the pool and in the pool.

And Jeff gave thanks that everything in the world was as it should be.

…

In a dark cell hidden in the depths of a prison so secret only a handful of people in the world knew of its existance a man lay listless on a cot.

He groaned as he tried one more time to summon the power he once held, his hands clasped to his head in an attempt to contain the pain.

Wait - wait - was that...

YES!

His eyes glowed yellow in the darkness