With thanks to Sineater, MariaShadow and Waterfowl.

'Absolutely not!'

Jeff sat back and contemplated his eldest son. Scott was dressed in his USAF uniform for the very last time. They had just returned from the medal ceremony that had awarded his boy a Purple Heart, POW medal and a Bronze Sar.

He could not have been prouder.

But it changed nothing about what was going to happen next.

'Son, please. Sit down and let's discuss this like civilised people.'

'Civilised people? Civilised people!''

Knowing he'd used the wrong words Jeff sighed, trying to control his temper. This wasn't something he wanted to do to his son, but if he was to get International Rescue off the ground this was going to be necessary. He knew Scott would push back – it wasn't something Jeff had ever thought he would do – but they needed those materials. He watched Scott pace the floor.

'Civilised people do not arrange to marry their oldest sons off to virtual strangers.'

'Scott, please. If we are going to get International Rescue off the ground we are going to need those resources.'

'Oh. So this isn't just a marriage of convenience then, you're pimping me out in exchange…'

'ENOUGH. You don't have to like it but if you want this rescue organisation to go ahead then you WILL do this. I – I promise that your brothers will never have this…issue.'

Scott snarled at him, threw his father a sloppy, sarcastic salute and stormed out of the office.'

Jeff let him go. His son had a lot to mull over.

He pulled the contract out and studied it again, looking for another way.

But there wasn't one.

He threw the contract across the desk and floor and buried his head in his hands.

Scott stormed into his room and paced in rage for several minutes before pulling himself together. He gritted his teeth and changed out of his uniform, carefully putting it away before deciding to shower. He cranked the heat up as high as he could tolerate and just stood there, allowing the heat to relax him.

To marry? For…for metal? For materials to build himself the fastest ship in the world?

He wrapped a thick towel around himself and sat on his bed, taking the picture off his nightstand and holding it in one hand while he traced his Mom's face tenderly with the other.

It was a family picture. Gordon and Virgil were in front, John behind Gordon and himself behind Virgil. Mom stood behind John, one hand on John's shoulder and one resting on her very pregnant belly, and Dad was behind him, both hands on Scott's shoulders.

Scott smiled softly. His parents were so in love, even after five kids. His mom's eyes were not on the camera like the boys were. They were staring at his Dad and his Dad was staring back. They were smiling at each other and the love shone clearly through.

Was it so wrong for him to want the same kind of marriage?

Sighing, he put the picture down and got dressed. Something comfortable – some scruffy jeans and an old t-shirt – and went to leave. But he paused at the door, his hand on the handle.

Who was he kidding?

Himself.

He had never planned to marry. Didn't want to put someone through what his Dad and his brothers had gone through when their Mom died.

However…

This wasn't about him.

This was about Mom.

About her legacy.

Could he in all honesty ask his brothers to give up their lives if he wasn't willing to give up his?

There was a gentle rapping at the door and Scott rolled his eyes. Only one brother knocked like that, and he opened the door, making said brother jump.

'Come in, John.'

Scott had to suppress a smirk as John strode into the room. Anger was emanating off the man like it was a physical thing and before Scott could even shut the door John was pacing the room.

'I take it you know, then,' Scott said dryly.

'What the f*** is Dad thinking?'

'Not sure, Jay. What do you know?'

'Enough to know that I cannot stand to look at him right now.'

'John – '

'NO, Scott! He's always put you and your happiness last, always demanded from you everything. You've already given up everything for him, and now he just wants more. You can't let him do this!'

'John…'

'Oh my god, you're actually contemplating this? Scott – no!'

'John – if I can get a word in…'

'No, Scott. NONONONO! You cannot be serious! After you gave up your – was forced to give up – your childhood for us because Dad couldn't be bothered to be the parent…'

'John! Stop, please! You know it wasn't like that.'

'Really, Scott? Because all I remember is watching you run yourself into the ground while we got to have a life. You gave up every single thing you loved for us. Just because Dad wasn't there. Don't – don't let him take your future as well. Please!'

By this time John had tired of pacing and had sat down beside Scott, and as he made his last impassioned plea collapsed against his brother the last of the anger drained away. Scott put his arm around John and gave him a brief squeeze before letting his arm just gently rest across John's shoulders.

'Thank you. It means a lot – more than I could ever say – that you think so much of me. I have to tell you that without your help I could never have done what I did. And I don't regret it. Not a moment of it.'

He gently bonked his head against John's, pleased as John softly smiled at the gesture. They stayed like that for a moment before Scott pulled away slightly with a sigh.

'But John – this isn't about me.'

'Bull.'

'John!'

'I mean it.'

'You know to build the ships we need the Cahelium?'

'Yeah, Brains is my friend, we talk a lot. I already know that we need it.'

'And where are we going to get the amount of Cahelium needed to build five ships and have spares?'

John opened his mouth to retort but closed it with a snap and a frown.

'And how abundant is the metal ore?'

John's frown deepened.

'Is this what it's all about? Cahelium?'

'Without the Cahelium can we build the ships? Can we get International Rescue off the ground without it?'

'No…' John whispered, looking horrified. 'No! I – I didn't realise this was the reason!'

'You thought Dad was just pimping me out for nothing?'

Scott was amused that John had known their Dad's…proposal but not the reason behind it. Another glance at his brother's shocked face quelled that amusement.

'It's fine, John. You were born for space, John, and I will not be the reason you are grounded for the rest of your life. It is a simple decision: Marry and have International Rescue or don't.'

'It's not a simple decision Scott! You're throwing your life away on one of Dad's schemes! I don't want you to do that for me! I'm pretty sure our brothers will be as horrified as I am.'

Scott sprang from the bed and began to pace. John watched him, knowing that this was Scott's way of trying to put his thoughts into words. So John kept quiet and waited. Eventually Scott spun to face John, leaning back against the wardrobe.

'This isn't about Dad, not really. I – It's not really about you or Virgil or Gordon or Sprout.'

'Then who is this about, Scott?'

'Mom. This is about Mom and the promise Dad made that if he could prevent another family going through what we did then he would stop at nothing, no expense would be spared, to bring that to a reality.'

'But – '

'It's just the one thing needed to fulfil that promise.'

'Dad's promise! Not yours!'

This time it was John who was springing off the bed, striding over to his brother and grasping him firmly on the upper arms. He shook him a little in his desperation to get through to him.

'Mom wouldn't want you to do this, Scott! She'd be horrified! And our brothers will be too. Dad will be lucky if any of us talk to him after this, even when you refuse.'

As if suddenly realising what he was doing John released Scott and stepped back. Then he looked at Scott's face and all the anger drained.

'You're not going to refuse, are you?'

'No.'

'Why? Why, Scott, why?'

'I'm doing this for Mom and Mom's legacy. Not for Dad.'

John's mouth opened and closed again. He sighed, stepped forward and rested his head on Scott's shoulder. He relaxed only slightly as Scott's arms encircled him. His words were muffled by the t-shirt.

'Please don't do this Scott.'

'I'm sorry, John. I have to.'

Sighing, John pulled back only enough to look at Scott's face.

'I hope she's worth you. Who is it?'

He didn't miss the brief grimace that shot across Scott's face.