Time. It was the answer to their problems. If time were to go quicker, Alan figured, it would mean they would arrive at their destination quicker. It meant getting to Virgil and Kathryn quicker. It would mean beating the crap out of those bastards quicker.

Through the headphones he was wearing, Alan could hear the captain's ETA. From what he'd heard, they were close to the field they were supposed to land. It was approximately 5 kilometers from the coordinates they had found, but considering these woods were dense with trees, they were lucky to even get that close.

As he looked over at his brothers, he wished they were in Two or One, dressed in their IR gear. It would make this all the simpler and quicker. But he also knew how it important that the Tracys were doing the rescue, not the Thunderbirds. It was time for a change that started with taking a step like this one.

"Preparing to land," Alan heard over the headphones. He looked out the window, seeing the trees' tops coming closer as the helicopter sunk between the thick forest of pines.

Alan turned back to look at his brothers and saw them all start to prepare for the landing. Scott has his field commander face on, Gordon's usual mischievous smile was replaced with his concentrating face and John, well he looked like his calm self as always. Alan turned to Ben, expecting to see him look nervous and maybe a little afraid. He was surprised to see the young man as serious as Scott. He looked determined as Gordon and as steady as John. Part of him couldn't help but think about what a great International Rescue member he could be. But he also knew that Ben was just doing this for one person, and that was Kathryn. It wouldn't be the first time he would wonder if there was something more between his sister and this guy than just friendship.

"Alan," Scott's voice brought him back from his thoughts and he noticed the helicopter touching down. With a nod, Alan stood; removing the headset and led the way out of the copter. Once they were all together and the noise was cut, they gathered.

"Alright guys," Scott said, handing each one an ear piece for communication. It would be linked to their main station and it would keep the divided groups in contact. "Let's bring them home."

Virgil looked at the closed door, the one his sister had gone through. More than anything he wanted her to find a way to escape and to run; leave him there and be safe. He knew that he was probably going to die, but at least she'd be safe. After not being able to give her much throughout her life, he could at least give her this chance to live and not expect to be freed.

Johnson had left him, no doubt to finish destroying whatever evidence could link him to all of this. So Virgil was alone, left to sit and wait to see what would happen next. When his execution would be carried out. The ropes were rubbing against his wrists, burning them as he tried to loosen them and wiggle out. Just because he suspected he was going to die, it did not mean he was going to go down quietly. He was going to fight until the last breath, even with the head cracking headache he had.

The muffled sounds of loud voices surprised him. He hadn't expected was for Kathryn to start a fight. And him, tied to a chair unable to help her. He wondered how good she was at fighting, something he'd have to bring up to Scott later so he can teach her something. Especially since she was at a college campus, those could be dangerous at night. Though he doubted Princeton at night was very dangerous.

Her yell brought him back from the tangent he was having in his head, and he hated the fact that this concussion was making it harder for him to concentrate. "Kathryn!" he yelled hoping she could hear him. "Get out of here!" He struggled with his bonds and tried to see if he could stand on his feet, maybe smash the chair against a wall and break it. But he miscalculated on the standing and went tumbling down. He had landed on the floor, his head bouncing up and down in consequence. His head seemed like it was about to explode any moment now. Yet all he could think of was how mad his Dad was going to be when he found out Virgil hadn't done what he said and taken it easy after he got the minor concussion to begin with. Somewhere, Virgil was very much aware that he'd referred to himself in the third person, but at that point in time he was past caring. He at the moment was more aware with the fact that his head hurt like hell, and that he had to figure out a way to get help.

The door swung open and the footsteps came in loudly, pounding. "I would have killed you. I should have killed," he heard Johnson say close by. "But he wouldn't let me. 'Not yet' he told me 'Soon' he said. It's a pity he didn't let me have a go at your pretty little sister." Virgil glared –as best as he could- as Johnson walked around him, taunting him. He was trying to get him all riled up, have a reason to shot him right now.

"I didn't think it was going to be this easy," Johnson continued, ignoring the look from the middle Tracy brother. "I was expecting an armada to be searching for you. After all, Mr. Tracy is a family man. His employees are his family, and his most prized possessions are his children, his sons." Virgil recognized his father's words from an interview with Forbes a couple months ago. "But that must be it then. His sons are his prized possessions. Not his daughter. He must have so many of you that you're just causality. Missed but not greatly."

"You're even more of an idiot than I thought," Virgil said through gritted teeth. "You don't understand what it means to love someone so much that you'd be willing to give up everything to keep them safe, happy, alive. Even if it means sacrificing them," Virgil thought about how his father had given the final word, to keep Kathryn out of harm's way. How they had given up a 'normal life' to work in International Rescue because of what it meant to their father. And ultimately what it meant to the world. "And you're getting something much worse than an armada. You're getting the wrath of the Tracy men, and trust me that's much worse."

"You talk tough kid. But look around you, no one's here. No one is coming." Johnson stopped next to Virgil, who could feel the coldness of the gun against his temple. He pushed the barrel against his head, making Virgil hiss in pain at the movement. "And I'm tired of waiting."

Virgil closed his eyes, hearing the coldness in the man's words. He only wished it wouldn't end this way. That things had been different. That he'd gotten to know the girl he called his sister.

And the sound of the gun shot resonated loudly in the otherwise silent woods.

Sometime, amongst her rising from the wall and Austin walking towards her, her mind seemed to slow everything down. Calm down Kat, calm down, she tried to think to herself. Somehow, the voice in her head sounded like Gordon's and when she closed her eyes, it was like he was there, in front of her. Just like when she had these panic attacks as a kid. I've got you. You're safe here. I'm your big brother, I'll keep you safe. You're safe. You're okay.

But things were not okay at all. Nor was she really safe. "I would have killed you," she heard Austin say.

Kathryn really didn't have much of a plan. She just had one thing in mind: get to Virgil. They was going to hurt Virgil, and she couldn't let that happen. It was more than familial love that kept her going; it was a slightly selfish reason. They'd gone after her, they'd wanted her. Virgil had nothing to do this; he was simply there at the wrong time. So now she had to get him out of there, alive.

Come on Katie, you can do it. Ben's voice appeared in her mind and she almost started to cry right then. Things had just started to change between them, but she knew she'd never to able to know where it could have gone. Just like Virgil, she'd gotten him in trouble. He'd gotten hurt because of her.

You've got to keep going Kitty Kat, Scott was saying to her. You can't give up now. Tracy's never give up.

But she really wasn't a Tracy, was she? How many years had she spent in exile from the Island and basically everything the Tracy name stood for? How many times had she looked out into the crowd, trying to find the familiar faces of her family, only to see none? How many hours did she spend by the computer, or her cell phone, waiting to hear news about her brothers?

Kathryn Tracy. It was John's voice, calm yet stern. That's who you were born, and that's who you'll always be. Changing your name doesn't erase your past. A Tracy is a Tracy through and through. It means we work hard, and learn from our mistakes. Because no matter what others may think, we're not super humans. We're just humans.

"You know what your brother said to me while you slept? 'You don't understand what it means to love someone so much that you'd be willing to give up everything to keep them safe, happy, alive. Even if that means sacrificing them.' Too bad he's an idiot," Austin seemed to chuckle.

"Virgil," Kathryn whispered endearingly and for a moment, thought about what he meant. How maybe they had wanted to be there in the crowd but couldn't. She had always known the Tracy men thought themselves chivalrous. Maybe they thought she was doing fine without them. Maybe they thought she didn't want to be a Tracy. "This is your last chance. Stop moving."

Austin just smiled and took a step forward.

The force of the gun going off in her hands startled her more than she thought it would. And it was just as startling the second time.

Virgil heard the gun shots and didn't know what to think about them. After realizing they weren't lodged in his head, he relaxed if only momentarily. For then he had an intense revolting sensation in his stomach, but he didn't know if it was from the concussion or the idea of where or whom those bullets were lodged in.

"I guess he finally got tired of that little brat," Johnson sneered. "Guess it's time to meet your sister on the other side." The door opened slowly and Johnson didn't turn around. "Let me have this hit Austin. You got the other one."

Virgil closed his eyes, not wanting to see the smirk of triumph on Austin Jacks' face. "I think I got this hit," said a voice that made Virgil react quickly. There was a loud thud sound, and then the pressure against his head was gone. Virgil opened his eyes to see Kathryn standing over a fallen Johnson, a cracked wooden bat in her hands. She was breathing heavily and looked at him with this almost detached look in her eyes.

"Kathryn," Virgil said to get her attention. "Kathryn." Her head snapped towards him, like his voice had reminded her he was there. Kathryn dropped the bat and ran to his side, and started working at the knots of his rope. "Kathryn, stop. Stop and look at me," he said, needing to make sure she wasn't hurt.

"I'm fine Virgil," Kathryn told him, not stopping as she pulled at the rope. "Crap, this is going to need a knife," she stood up and looked at him. "Don't go anywhere," she tried to joke, but Virgil could see the emptiness of her smile. Something was off with her, and the doctor, older brother within him needed to know what it was so he could fix it.

And then he'd need to find the car keys. And with the car keys he could get the car started and drive out of there. It shouldn't be too far before they reached a house, or a gas station. He could call for help once they reached a phone. And then he would really make sure she was alright. And they could go back to the island, where they'd be safe for sure.

"Virgil snap out of it!"

Virgil looked up to see Alan in front of him. Those baby blue eyes of his were filled with worry. "Am I dead? Did you die too?"

"I'm not dead Virg, and neither are you," Alan told him as he released his middle brother from his bounds. "Though you look almost dead." Virgil looked around his brother towards the ground and saw nothing.

"Alan, where's Johnson?"

"What are you talking about Virg? You were the only one in here when we came in."

A/N: WHERE IS KATHRYN? Reunion! Happiness?

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed or added this story to their watch or favorite list! You guys are awesome!

Also who watches the new TV series? I haven't gotten around to it yet, is it good?

Read and review, gracias.