There was some cheering at the news from the cockpit, and Wayne offered to stay on until they arrived, sure that the Colonel would come and visit as soon as she found out the news. It saved some time so they were quite happy to avoid that diversion, and when Colonel Casey was given the news she readily agreed with Wayne's suggestion and said she'd meet them there with Lady Penelope.

The hospital weren't too happy that their carefully crafted front garden was burnt and crushed by Thunderbird Two, but John soon smoothed ruffled feathers by sending a hefty donation as usual from the fund they had set up exclusively for this reason.

Colonel Casey and Penny arrived almost an hour after the family had, but Scott was still unconscious, and while she worried about him there were many more matters that required her attention. She pulled John and Kayo into a spare room with Captain Rigby and Lady Penelope, and the events of the week were repeated and data shared and poured over until a cohesive plan of action going forward was in place.

She sat with them for a while but when it became clear that Scott wasn't going to wake up just yet she sighed. With a clasp of Virgil's shoulder and a nod to the others, Val Casey was gone, promising to be back as soon as she could be. She took Wayne with her and Penny followed not too long after.

Several hours later Scott woke up.

By that time he'd had surgery on the bullet wound in his shoulder and the neurologist had been in to discuss the chemical imbalance in his brain and how they were going to put it right. A strict diet coupled with prescribed supplements should put him to rights reasonably quickly but they were going to be careful, building him up slowly to make sure that they minimised the risk of any further seizures.

It was reassuring to wake up human once more, and even more so to be surrounded by his brothers. His arm hurt and his throat had that unique pain that only intubation brought, and, being that his last memory was of being strangled, he could understand why that was necessary.

He watched Alan sleep, curled up against John's side while his brother was tapping away on the pad supported on his knees with one hand while the other arm stopped the youngest from falling off. Gordon was on another seat, leaning against Grandma as the two slept also. Kayo wasn't around, but Scott knew that she would be busy sorting out security and whatever else would be needed.

Virgil, seated by the bed, was awake and was watching Scott drinking in the sight of his family. But when he saw Scott swallow and grimace he made himself known, moving forward with some ice chips. Virgil smiled as Scott's eyes softened as the ice soothed his throat.

Scott watched his brother closely. While Virgil was smiling and watching him, Scott could clearly see something was haunting the medic. There was something not right in his eyes and in the way his hand slightly shook as he handed over more ice chips. With a glance at the rest of the family Virgil, with the minutest shake of his head, told Scott that now was not the time but they would need to talk at some time, Scott would see to that.

But not right now.

Hating the weakness that was the injury and the events of the past week catching up on him, not to mention the sedative, Scott was determined to stay awake long enough to talk with all his brothers, but as usual his body conspired against him and before he knew it he was drifting off. Not without a fight though.

He lost the battle.

Virgil and John watched Scott succumb to sleep with small smiles and not some little relief. Seeing their brother awake even for a short time helped soothe some of the worries away. Having a coherent plan for moving forward was even better.

Typically, the second their Grandma walked in the room carrying coffee and hot chocolate and pastries for them all now that they were awake Scott began to stir. The first thing he asked for was coffee, and when denied he asked for a pastry, throwing an impressive pout when he was once again denied.

Finding out that a) he was grounded for at least six months and b) he needed to stick to a strict diet (that included no caffeine or pastries) left Scott feeling fed up and annoyed, and he let his bitterness show.

'I'm going to sic the lawyers on that woman. She's not going to know what hit her!'

The sudden silence was tangible and Scott realised he'd missed something while he was out of it. He watched as Grandma, using the excuse that she wanted to check out his paperwork, shooed the rest of his brothers out, leaving Scott alone with Virgil.

Virgil, who couldn't look at him.

Virgil, who was haunted by something.

Scott shifted in the bed and sighed, carefully throwing the sheet off and swinging his legs around. As expected, Virgil rushed to stop him, giving Scott the opportunity to grab his arm and he held on tight once the medic had firmly 'put him back to bed', forcing Virgil to perch beside him but facing him.

'What happened?'

He spoke softly but there was a thread of steel in the words that he knew Virgil would not be able to ignore.

'She was killing you, Scott. And I…I…'

His face flaming, Virgil tried to turn away from his brother, but a gentle hand on his cheek arrested his movement. Scott's thumb wiped a tear away that Virgil hadn't even realised he'd shed. Scott didn't need to hear what had happened. He knew. Just like he knew that his brother would never forgive himself.

'Thank you.'

Virgil blinked, not expecting that answer. Scott pulled his brother closer and they touched foreheads, both of them with eyes closed. For a moment there was nothing but their breathing – Scott's steady and calming, Virgil's a little ragged – before Scott spoke again.

'Thank you. That woman was a threat not just to our family and myself, but to every single person like us who has the ability to transform. And the knowledge she had…I shudder to think what could happen if that got into the wrong hands. So I thank you for keeping us safe, the world safe. For rescuing me.'

A sob tore from his brother's throat and Scott pulled him into as tight a hug as he could manage, holding him tightly while Virgil fell apart and put himself back together again. Scott knew it wouldn't be the only conversation that he would need to have with the gentle man. He'd rope Gordon in to help – they were both military and knew what it was to take a life.

By the time Grandma returned with the rest of their family the two men were fast asleep, curled up together on the bed. There may have been a picture taken for blackmail purposes that John immediately got EOS to wipe.

When Scott woke up the next morning everyone else was ready and waiting to go home. That pleased him no end, but he still needed to see the neurologist before his final discharge. The room was vibrating with the excitement of being homeward bound. Penny and Parker joined them after breakfast and Scott was pleased to see them. There was much he wanted to catch up with Penny, Kayo and John once they got home.

While they were waiting Penny gave John a nod and he switched on the screen. The room quietened as the news played. Colonel Casey was addressing a crowd of reporters.

'I can announce today that thanks to the tireless efforts of the GDF and some civilian investigators we have smashed an international smuggling ring. This ring was smuggling wild and endangered animals but more importantly the hidden human slavery ring that operated within it. Several members of the World Council and others have been arrested in a series of synchronised raids across the globe. I cannot give you more any more information at the moment but a further press release will be scheduled at an appropriate time in the investigation. No questions. Thank you.'

And with that she turned smartly around and left the area.

There was silence in the room for a moment before Scott found his voice. This helped greatly to both provide a reason why things had happened the way they had and to give some form of resolution.

There was just one more thing Scott wanted to do, but that would wait for a couple of weeks until he was fully better and allowed to travel.

The neurologist came almost immediately after the newscast and gave Scott the all-clear to be flown home. He still wouldn't be allowed to fly himself for the requisite six months, but today he could cope with that.

Scott looked at his family and finally relaxed fully.

'Guys, let's go home.'