Decisions

Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1.

Thanks for the reviews everyone. Thanks to my wonderful beta for once again sorting out my useless spelling and grammar.

Chapter 8: Stubborn

Scott was getting worried about Kate now, she had been gone for over an hour and the sun was beginning to set. He decided to find her and make sure she was okay. As he wandered out of the villa, guessing she was outside somewhere, he spied Virgil sat at a table by the pool. Scott decided to talk to the artist before finding Kate. As he approached he could see his brother was drawing. "Nice," he said, appreciatively as he reached the table.

"It's getting there," muttered Virgil, not looking up at his brother. He was no longer angry but still wasn't going to make it that easy for Scott.

"Can we talk?" asked Scott, knowing how much Virgil hated being disturbed when he was drawing or painting but at the same time knowing they needed to talk.

Virgil paused, his pencil poised over the paper as he pondered the question. Finally, after what seemed like ages to Scott, Virgil put the pencil down and turned his head slightly to his brother.

"I'm sorry, Virge. I know you would never do anything to put your brothers' lives in danger. I shouldn't have had a go at you like I did," he began.

"Yes, you should have," interrupted Virgil. His voice taut and his eyes still focussed away from Scott.

"It was never you I was angry at anyway, it was me but I took it out on you," replied Scott, honestly and finally his brother looked at him.

"Huh?"

"I was angry at myself for not realizing that you were hurt. It was me I was blaming, not you, Virge," he said taking a seat beside his brother.

"You know that's really dumb, right?" said Virgil, not really surprised by that as Scott was a big brother and always felt he should know everything.

Scott nodded, a slight grin crossing his face, "Yeah, John made me realize that."

"Good," replied Virgil. Seemed like his older brother had been busy helping them all but then John had always been the peacemaker. It didn't matter the situation, John always knew just what to say to make you feel better.

"Do you remember anything about how you got it?" asked Scott.

Virgil shook his head and the frustration blazed for a moment in those darkened honey orbs. "Gordon thinks it was saving that little girl at the end," he replied, finally.

"Yeah, that was one hell of a rescue. One minute you were there and the next you had disappeared into the mud. For a moment there, I didn't think you were going to come up and I was going in after you," said Scott, his mind wandering back to that moment. It seemed as if the whole world stopped whilst Virgil was out of sight and he would swear that his heart stopped until his brother's head finally resurfaced. Caught up in his thoughts, he didn't realize Virgil was trying to get his attention until something freezing cold landed on his head and dripped down his neck. Turning to his younger brother he saw the now empty glass in his hand.

"Sorry, was just trying to get your attention," replied Virgil his grin giving away that he wasn't sorry at all.

"A tap on the shoulder would have done it," muttered Scott as he attempted to wipe the water off his face.

"Yeah, but wouldn't have been as funny. Think of it as revenge," grinned Virgil.

Scott rolled his eyes at his younger brother, "So what was that earlier with Kate then?"

Virgil smirked, "Nothing, she wanted to know all about you so Gordon and I told her."

"What did you tell her exactly?" questioned the older man, leaning forward slightly.

Virgil grinned and sat forward as well, showing he was not intimidated in the slightest by his older brother, "We told her everything. Every little bad or embarrassing thing you have ever done." Scott glared darkly at him and Virgil couldn't stop himself from laughing. "Come on Scotty, you really think we were that bad?" Scott said nothing, raising one eyebrow. Virgil just grinned again. "We did you a favour anyway," he said, sitting back in his chair.

"How do you figure that?" questioned Scott, confused as to how his brother came to that conclusion.

"Well, look at you, bro. Son of a multi billionaire former world famous astronaut, ex decorated air force pilot and field commander for International Rescue, that's a lot to take in. Now, Kate knows you're human too and that you make mistakes and mess up just like the rest of us," explained Virgil.

"Just what did you tell her exactly?"

Virgil grinned again and stood up, "That's for you to find out."

"Oh really?" questioned Scott, standing up.

Virgil saw something in his brother's eyes that made him instantly back up a little. Scott took a step forward and Virgil stepped back again. Instinct told him that he was close to the pool's edge so he turned sideways and then stepped away. However he wasn't prepared for the body that barrelled into him from the other side and he went flying into the pool.

Virgil resurfaced to see John standing beside Scott. "What was that for?" he asked, glaring at his older brother.

"Nothing really," replied John with a grin. He then turned to Scott, "You'd be following him if you didn't have a beautiful girl to find."

Scott nodded and headed off towards the beach, guessing she was there somewhere.

Virgil climbed out of the pool and pulled his wet shirt off. He lobbed it at John who deftly caught it as Virgil thought he would. You couldn't get much past John as he always seemed to have a sixth sense when someone was up to something. John threw a towel to Virgil and then sat down where his brothers had been previously. Virgil soon joined him.

"Think our big brother could be falling in love?" asked John.

"Possibly, I mean they have been talking like almost every day since he got home," replied Virgil. His oldest brother did always seem much happier once he had spoken to Kate but was it just a close friendship they had built up. He couldn't help but wonder if maybe this was Scott's way of getting over Emma.

"She seems really nice and she already knows who we are so that's one hurdle jumped already," replied John.

"Yeah, but she also lives on the other side of the world. If they do pursue a relationship, it's not going to be easy."

"You think he might be using Kate to forget Emma?" questioned John, realizing that Virgil clearly wasn't sure it would work between them. Scott had told him a couple of weeks ago about the incident with Emma's sister.

"It's crossed my mind and I'm hoping not. If I'm really honest, I never liked Emma," admitted Virgil.

"Me neither, she seemed a little too false."

"Well I guess the next few days will tell us," replied Virgil, beginning to feel really uncomfortable in his wet clothes. He stood up and picked up the drawing he had been working on. "I'm off for another shower, thanks for that, bro."

"Anytime," called John, grinning as his brother walked off.

Scott found Kate sat on the beach, watching the waves lap gently against the shore. "Hey," he said, sitting down beside her.

"Hey," she replied back softly, her eyes still looking out across the cool water.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Ask me that when this psycho is behind bars," she replied, anger flaring into her voice for a moment.

"We are doing everything we can to find him. International Rescue has agents all over the world searching, he won't get away," replied Scott, the determination to do that clear in his words. Kate just nodded at him. "And Penny has contacts all over the world so she has found the best people to look after you. Brains, has also said he will help to make your house safe," he continued.

"Thank you," she replied, softly.

"I'm sorry you got caught up in this, Kate," he said, guilt filling his words.

"It's not your fault, Scott," said Kate, finally turning to look at him.

"Yes, it is," he replied, standing up.

Kate rolled her eyes and stood up beside him. "No, it's not. All I did was help someone who needed it. I would do it again even knowing everything I do now. I'm not the type who can just walk past something like that."

"Even though it could get you killed?"

"Yes, because I couldn't live with the guilt. Could you honestly tell me, you could just walk past?" she questioned and Scott shook his head at her. "Exactly. You have to quit blaming yourself for this, it won't help find him or change anything."

"I know it just doesn't seem fair."

Kate smiled, "Life often never is," she replied and decided to change the subject as there was one more thing she wanted to know. "Was this why you invited me here?" she asked, nervously.

"Yes, well, not totally," he replied, his turn to feel a little nervous now.

"Not totally?" she questioned, feeling a little confused.

"I wanted to tell you all of that in person because it didn't seem right over the phone but I also wanted to see you again."

"Really?" she asked as they began to walk back towards the villa.

Scott nodded, "Yes, both of the times I have actually seen you, weren't really the best time."

"Not really, no," she replied as they arrived by the pool. Scott made no reply and Kate paused to look at him. She could see the guilt running across his face again. "Scott what happened at the hospital wasn't your fault. It was my curiosity that made me check up on you."

"Yeah but let's face it, if my family hadn't turned up when they did, you could be dead right now," he replied, anger filling his cobalt blue orbs.

"But they were, Scott, and you kept him distracted long enough for them to reach us. I'm alive because of you," she said, staring straight at him so he could see she meant every word.

"No, they did. All I did was run on to a guy who didn't give a damn because he hadn't lost his wife," replied Scott.

"Maybe not but either way, Scott, you distracted him long enough for help to arrive," she replied, beginning to realize just how stubborn he truly was. His brothers had touched on it in their stories but now she was seeing it first-hand.

"He was probably just going along with it, waiting for the perfect moment."

"He still didn't succeed, though, did he?" she questioned.

"No, but he could have done. Kate, I didn't do anything. All that stuff I said meant nothing to him."

Kate groaned at the sheer stubbornness radiating from Scott. Then her eyes caught sight of where they were and a slight grin crossed her face. She stepped up to Scott and before he could react, she shoved his chest, sending him flying into the pool. He resurfaced spluttering and glared at her. Kate just laughed, knowing he fully deserved it. She had never met anyone so stubborn in her life.

"Gonna co-operate yet?" she asked as he moved towards the edge.

"Yes, can you pass me a towel please?" he asked holding his hand out. The soaking had been enough to pull him out of his guilt and he knew she was right.

Kate grabbed a towel and threw it at him, knowing exactly what he would have done if she had given it to him and she wasn't going in the pool.

Scott grinned at her and climbed out of the pool. He then began walking towards her.

Kate instantly began to back away, shaking her head. "Don't even think about it."

"You really think you can outrun me?" he asked, stepping closer.

Kate hesitated for a second and then grinned. "Probably not but I can try."

Having four brothers, two of whom that were known for running off, Scott had a knack for catching people. He knew instinctively which way she was going to head and cut her off before she could make her escape. Realizing she was gonna spin round, Scott grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him.

"Hey!" she called out as she found herself in a soaking wet embrace.

"Got ya," he replied and grinned at her.

Kate instantly found herself melting as his piercing blue eyes locked with hers. Scott's head lowered and she took a deep breath. Just as his lips were about to touch hers they were distracted by a noise.

"Just carry on, I'm not looking," said a voice and they both looked up to see Gordon walking past. He had his hands over his eyes, making out that he couldn't see them.

The moment totally ruined, Kate pulled out of Scott's arms.