If it wasn't for the fact that their eldest brother was so very, very, *very* tired his hysterical siblings would have never let him live this down.

But as usual Scott was exhausted from too many rescues, too many reports, too many things to do for TI and not enough sleep that he slipped into what had been dubbed his 'Mom-Mode' as a teen.

(He'd never stopped Mom-Mode truth be told, just learned to channel it into Smotherhen Mode instead.)

Alan was impatiently waiting. He was a rescue professional and having to wait like a little kid while his big brother fetched the line from the Sherpa pod while he was stood beside Brandon Berringer of all people…

And then they all heard it across the comms. Muttered ever so quietly - but not quietly enough - as he appeared to look both ways before heading back to Alan.

'Right, left, right and then look about.

'Cross the road safely like a good Rescue Scout.'

Gordon might have snorted a little…Alan went beetroot even though he knew that no one else – Brandon Berringer – could hear. Virgil and John exchanged concerned glances.

It was all Alan could do not to bat Scott away as he fussed over him.

Of course Alan was only too grateful really, especially after the avalanche.

In the relief that nothing had gone wrong in their most hated of rescues Scott's antics were all but forgotten.

Until that evening.

Upon their return Scott had gone straight back to the reports. They weren't even sure if he'd noticed the spicy noodles he'd absentmindedly eaten.

Gordon was all packed and ready to be dropped off at Penny's for the weekend. Case in hand, the Squid fairy bounced into the lounge, prancing around Virgil while he waited for his chauffeur to be ready, ignoring the growl from his bear of a brother.

And then Scott spoke. Without looking up.

'Make sure you got clean underwear packed, Gords. You know what you get like when you're excited.'

It was Gordon's turn flush beetroot as his brothers fell about laughing. Muttering dark threats of retaliation, he spoke bitterly out loud.

'I was six years old for heavens' sake! And that was once, Scott! Once!'

But it appeared Scott hadn't even realised he'd said anything. The man looked mystified at Gordon's outburst before frowning and getting back to his reports.

All the bounce now gone, Gordon hurled himself into the seat next to Virgil, still muttering to himself. In return Virgil took his sweet time finishing his coffee while John left the room and returned with his own bag. Sitting in the chair on the other side of Virgil, he opened the current book he was reading.

John was taking the opportunity to be a guest lecturer at Oxford Physics Public Lectures in Oxford University. He was going to talk about his discovery of the Tracy Quasar.

Eventually Virgil finished his coffee and got up. Immediately Gordon was back to bouncing around him, and Virgil grabbed him around the neck and they walked off towards the hangars. John, book still in hand, made to follow when Scott's voice rang out once more.

'Careful, John. Don't wander off while you're reading.'

'Yes, Mom.'

Scott's head shot up in surprise.

'John?'

'For goodness sake, Scott, get some rest. You've been stuck in Mom-Mode since the avalanche, and while we all understand, you gotta snap out of it.'

Scott blinked. He looked at everyone's face, but it wasn't until he saw Virgil's nod that he realised what he'd been doing.

It was Scott's turn to flush beetroot.