They returned to the kitchen to plan how they were going to move forward.

When Scott and Kayo had first begun to get serious the question of 'what if this doesn't work' had come up. Both had been assuring that they wouldn't let their personal lives interfere with their professional, and while this exact scenario had not crossed anyone's mind, not even Sally's.

Now that scenario looked possibly becoming a reality Virgil and Sally took stock for a moment. Virgil drained his coffee first, pulling his grandma into a brief hug.

'I'll go to Scott.'

'Please. He's going to need you.'

'Yeah. What a mess.'

'It is, but we'll get through this. I have Kayo. Go find your brother.'

He hugged her again and set off, already sure in his mind where Scott would be.

Sally watched him go before washing their cups out and returning to Kayo's room. She moved the chair from the desk-come-dresser nearer the bed and settled to wait, sure in her own mind that Kayo' sleep would not be deep for long.

Sure enough, the sun was just kissing the horizon when the first quiet whimpers alerted Sally to the nightmare, and she slid onto the bed and carefully manoeuvred Kayo until she was holding her loosely. In return Kayo subconsciously tightened her arms and relaxed into a deeper sleep.

Wrapped in the warmth of the woman she regarded as her granddaughter; Sally spared a thought for her boys out on the volcano before kissing Kayo's head gently and falling asleep herself.

Virgil cursed himself. He knew that Scott's needed to move or fly when stressed, and with the situation at home being as it was, running would not have been enough while flying was out of the question. So he set about climbing the volcano trail. He was a fit man, but not a cardio-fitness-nut like Scott, or John for that matter. Virgil much preferred his weights and getting the cardio he needed in the confines of the gym. By the time he was approaching the ledge he knew Scott would be sitting on Virgil was puffed enough to consider stopping for a moment.

It wasn't his need to catch a breath that made him stop, though. It was the sound of his big brother crying that had him pausing for a moment before rushing over to the crumpled form on the ridge.

He scuffed his feet through the loose scree so Scott would know he was coming. Last thing Virgil needed was for his brother to take a tumble off the mountain, especially since he knew there was little space on the ledge Scott favoured. He was rewarded with the form sitting up as he approached and gingerly manoeuvred himself to sit safely beside Scott.

Neither said anything. They sat there, shoulder against shoulder and watched the ocean. Even in the darkness they could catch white tipped waves glistening in the moon and hear the ocean lapping the island's shore.

At some point in their silent vigil Scott rested his head on Virgil's shoulder and in response Virgil one-armed hugged him close.

They stayed like that until the dawn broke and the sun began to peek over the ocean.

By some silent but mutual signal Virgil stood first, stiff all over, and stretched himself carefully before reaching out a hand to help Scott up which was accepted. They ambled down the slope, still not a word spoken, until they reached the pool.

Scott turned and pulled Virgil into a tight hug before releasing him with a sad smile and retreating into his room.

Virgil stood there for a moment.

What a mess. He needed a coffee before he headed to bed himself.