Decisions.

Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1.

Thanks for the reviews everyone and a big thanks to my beta for reading this and helping me with the chapter. would still be on the first page without you. Love ya Sam1.

Chapter 6: Putting Guilt to Bed.

Gordon wandered defeated back into the villa. He made his way to the lounge wondering if he could find Scott. He knew his two older brothers weren't exactly talking but Scott was probably the only one who could get through to Virgil when he was like this. Though Scott was part of the problem so maybe he couldn't get through to Virgil. "Stupid brothers," he muttered and then his eyes landed on John's portrait. He gave a faint smile and then contacted his space bound brother.

"Can't a guy even pee without someone calling him up?" muttered John, as he appeared on the screen.

"Well, I personally find that to be the best time to call you," replied Gordon with a grin.

John just rolled his eyes at his younger brother and sat down at his console. "What's up, Gords?"

Gordon's grin instantly faded and was replaced with a frown. "Virge knows what really happened on board Two."

John nodded, "Thought as much."

"You did?"

"You really thought he'd never figure it out?" questioned John.

Gordon paused knowing that Virgil would have figured it out eventually. Plus, he should have known Virgil would have checked the flight data at some point. "Well maybe hoped is a better term," he said, finally.

"It's better that he knows."

"Really?" questioned Gordon. He spoke again before John could say anything. "Is it better that Virgil is so guilt stricken, he actually thinks he shouldn't be a Thunderbird anymore?" he questioned, his voice calm but the anger was clear in his eyes.

John sighed heavily, he should have known that Virgil would react like this but he also knew that he was right. "It would have come out eventually, Gords, and you know that. This way we can deal with it straight off before it gets a chance to fester and truly destroy our brother."

Gordon nodded knowing that John was right. "But how? The obvious answer is Scott but considering what happened the last time they talked, perhaps he isn't the best person."

"Well, Scott knows he was wrong to take out his anger on Virge but you are probably right. I think it's you he needs to talk to," replied John, smiling down at his younger brother.

"I'd rather wade through a latrine at Scott's old Air Base. Hold on a second, gotta check something."

Perplexed, John watched as Gordon pulled at the waistband of his swim trunks and looked down. "Gordon, what in the hell are you doing?"

"Just had to make sure that I could honestly say that I'm not a friggin girl."

John rolled his eyes at his brother but couldn't stop from letting out a slight grin. "You only have to talk to him Gords, I'm not expecting you to braid his hair or paint his nails."

"Didn't know you had it in you, Johnny," replied Gordon, grinning at his older brother.

"There's a lot you don't know."

"Anything you want to share, John?" asked Gordon, his grin widening at the thought of what he might not know.

"You wish, fish face." As much as John was enjoying the joking around with his water-loving brother, they still needed to help Virgil.

Gordon knew the moment that John's mind went back to Virgil and his smile faded. "Do I have to?" he asked, wondering how the hell he was going to convince Virgil he deserved to be a Thunderbird.

"It's your life he put at risk so he needs you to tell him that you don't blame him. You can do this, Gords," said John, smiling reassuringly at his younger brother.

"Yeah, just gotta find him first," muttered Gordon, knowing he had already looked in the usual places.

"I can tell you where he is but I want a promise first," he said, seriously.

"Depends what it is."

"I'll tell you where he is but you are not to tell anyone else about it or ever use it for any sort of practical joke."

"And if I do?" questioned Gordon, wondering what material his older brother had.

Grinning John replied, "Two words, Madison Hotel."

Gordon suddenly looked sheepish, remembering the massive hotel bill. He then grinned and saluted at his brother. "I swear to never give up the information even if under torture."

John just shook his head at Gordon. "I'll send the co ordinates to your watch but remember what I said."

Gordon nodded. "Aye aye, Space Case."

"Bye, Gordon," said John, rolling his eyes.

Gordon made to sign off and then turned back to his brother. "Hey, John, remember that old saying Mom used to sing to us when we were being potty trained...If you sprinkle when you tinkle, please be neat and wipe the seat? Make sure you clean up, okay?"

John glared at Gordon and signed off.

Grinning, Gordon made his way out of the villa and headed along the beach. Using the co-ordinates his brother had sent to his watch, he soon arrived at the location. It seemed very peaceful and the perfect place for his music loving older brother. Virgil was sat down staring ahead, seemingly oblivious to Gordon's arrival but he knew his brother better than that. Virgil would have known the second Gordon was within ten feet of him.

"John tell you where I was?" questioned Virgil, not turning to look at his younger brother.

Gordon nodded even though he knew Virgil couldn't see him do it. "Yeah, but don't worry this location goes with me to my grave."

"It had better or you might get there sooner than you think," replied Virgil.

Gordon sat down beside his brother, wondering what he was supposed to say. What had John been thinking? How the hell was he supposed to do this?

"What are you doing here, Gords?" asked Virgil, finally turning to look at his younger brother.

"Trying to knock some sense into you. John may be the smart one in this family but come on Virge this is stupid," he replied.

"No, stupid was not telling anyone I was hurt. Stupid was trying to fly Thunderbird Two home. Stupid was letting you two fall asleep, knowing I was injured," he retorted, anger filling his voice.

"You remembered what happened then?" questioned Gordon. Already pretty sure what the answer would be and he was right when Virgil shook his head. "So how do you know then?" he asked.

"How do I know what?"

"How do you know, you flew Thunderbird Two home injured?"

Virgil rolled his eyes at Gordon. "You don't generally hit your head hard enough to get concussion and not know it."

"Really, you've never found a bump or cut you can't remember getting?" questioned Gordon, knowing he had found many over the years. Virgil said nothing but he could tell his older brother had. "You probably got it saving that little girl, you were so intent on pulling her out, you wouldn't have noticed if Two had landed on you."

Virgil rolled his eyes again but this time there was just the barest hint of a smile there. Maybe Gordon was finally getting somewhere. "Let's face it; you ain't the first one of us to not mention an injury."

"Yeah, but I'm the only one to almost kill you two because of it," muttered Virgil, his head turning away again.

"But you didn't," replied Gordon, annoyance building inside him at his brother's stubbornness. Scott was supposed to be the stubborn one.

"Only because John was there."

"As he is after virtually every rescue. It's nothing new, Virgil," replied Gordon, fighting to keep his anger in check.

"But what if he hadn't?" questioned Virgil, turning back to Gordon.

"But he was," retorted Gordon, angrily. "You have to forget what could have been. You think I don't wonder what might have happened if I had opted out of testing that hydrofoil that day? But you can't, you have to let it go," he calmed and his eyes met Virgil's. "Al and I don't blame you for what could have happened so neither should you."

Virgil nodded but said nothing. He needed to hear Gordon say that more then he realized. It didn't free him of his guilt but it lessened it a little.

"As for not deserving to be a Thunderbird, well that's the biggest piece of crap, I have ever heard."

"Is it? No matter how you twist this, Gordon, I still put yours and Alan's lives in danger."

Gordon rolled his eyes, shaking his head this was pointless and John was a dead man the next time he was earth side. He stood up deciding to find Scott. His two stubborn brothers would have to work it out themselves because he had no idea what else to say.

He took a couple of steps then stopped. "For what it's worth, you out of all of us deserve to be a Thunderbird the most. You have no idea just how good you truly are." He then made to walk off, hesitating when his brother spoke.

"Really?"

Gordon turned to see Virgil looking at him and could tell that his brother didn't believe a word of it.

Rolling his eyes, Gordon sighed, "Yes, really. Out of all of us, you're the one who made sure to get more medical training. You went above what Dad required without a second thought because you were determined to make a difference. Well, more of a difference between someone living or dying. You're the one who can really get through to the victims...Yeah, I know I can get through to the kids because I'm most like them." Sitting down across from his brother, he held his eyes so that he could see the truth. "Virg, you calm people just with being you and they can see you really care about them. They know that they're just not another person to save but that they matter. The rest of us, whilst we're good at what we do, we aren't as...hell, passionate about it as you. We're in it for the good but mostly for the adrenaline rush. You're in it to really make a difference."

He paused for a moment allowing his words to sink in. "But most importantly, you calm me down. So many times I have been on the verge of losing it but you just calmed me right back down. Look at what happened when Scott was kidnapped. You instantly took over and kept me and John calm. I couldn't have done that and I'm not sure John could have either but you did without a second thought. That's why you deserve to be a Thunderbird." A grin crossed his face, "That and you're the only person who can fly that giant green whale with any sort of grace and precision."

Virgil's eyes flashed with anger just as Gordon hoped they would. It was a sign that he was getting through to Virgil. "Without her, your little toy sub wouldn't go anywhere," he muttered.

"Hey!" he muttered, indignantly but grinned anyway. "So, am I getting anywhere or do I have to kick John's ass for suggesting I could do this?"

Virgil couldn't help but grin at his younger brother. "Yeah, you made your point. I just got so caught up in the fact I could have hurt you or Al," he replied, his head dropping slightly.

Gordon had to roll his eyes again, big brothers really could be idiots at times. "You're a big brother, Virge, and you're also the second most smothering one in the world. There is no way in hell you would have flown home, knowing you were injured."

Virgil nodded, finally realizing that Gordon had a good point. They might all lie about injuries, Scott especially but knowing everything he did about medicine, would he have flown with a head injury? No, he wouldn't, not with Al and Gordon on board. His heart finally felt lighter but there was still one more hurdle ahead. "Scott's still gonna be pissed though," he muttered more to himself as he stood up.

"Nah, John showed him what an unreasonable ass he was being," replied Gordon.

Virgil grinned at his brother's words. "Thanks, Gords," he replied.

"What are amazing younger brothers for?" he replied with a grin, which quickly faded as another thought dawned on him. "We don't gotta hug now, do we?"

Virgil grinned and was sorely tempted to do just that but instead settled for ruffling his brother's hair.

"Well, I now have to go and do something, anything that isn't so girly," replied Gordon and he began walking away to the sound of his brother's laughter.

Gordon made his way back towards the villa. "Hmm," he wondered and pulled at the waistband of his shorts. "Hi, little Gordy, just checking you hadn't fallen off after all that."

Jeff had chosen that moment to go for a walk along the beach and had walked past just as Gordon was checking. "I don't even want to know," he said, turning his head away. "Why didn't we have girls they can't be as bad?" he muttered as he walked past.

Gordon gave a cheeky grin, "You do have a girl, Dad. She's up on Thunderbird Five."

"Don't let him hear you say that," replied Jeff, grinning at his second youngest.

"Well, unless she has supersonic hearing, I think I'm safe," replied Gordon and he jogged off into the villa.

Jeff just shook his head and continued on his walk.