Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“What’s YOUR favourite colour, Miss?”
An eager hand shot towards the ceiling only slightly slower, she noted wryly, than the question that had already burst out into the unusually studious atmosphere of Class 3B.

“Blue”, she answered without thinking.

“Why?”

“Oh! Ah, well…”

Suddenly every English word slipped from her brain and she froze.

“Blue is… it’s…”

She was taking too long… she was taking TOO long. They were all looking at her expectantly now.

It’s a simple question, Estera, they are waiting… come on just make something up for goodness sake.

“Well… the sky is blue. And the sea. And some really pretty flowers… lots of good things are blue.”

The questioner nodded, seemingly approving of this statement, and returned to the bright red pencil crayon rockets encircling his short poem about his favourite colour.

She quietly let out the breath she’d been holding and slowly tapped the desk with each finger in turn, willing her heart rate to return to something respectable. She mentally slapped herself for being so short-sighted - it was entirely predictable that one of the children would ask her the same question she had asked them that morning and she should have prepared an answer. A little white lie answer she could calmly give to a class of 7 year olds.

The truth, of course being that yellow had been her favourite colour her whole life. Until that life had ended in the market square of the small town of her birth.

Then there had been blue.
Intense, fiery, determined BLUE.

And everything she had now - her breath, her dignity, her freedom - she owed to blue.

A deep breath. Not now. Don’t think now.

She busied herself with marking maths sheets, taking her time over it to ensure nobody would question why she wasn’t writing and illustrating her own ode to her favourite colour. She already knew none of the school crayons was the right shade.

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The sensation of something crawling across her cheek woke her, hands flying to her face before she was conscious enough to realise it was just her own tears again. All was dark.

The dream wobbled at the edges but didn’t fade, the images and emotions still raw. She threw off the covers and felt her way to the kitchen to make coffee. Strong to overwhelm her senses and almost hot enough to hurt. Something else to focus on until she summoned up the strength to shut it out.

It was frustrating. For all the work she’d put into practising the exercises to prevent the flashbacks, hours upon hours of therapy… of breathing, grounding, counting, tapping… none of it could stop her reliving it while unconscious. It seemed that every night she was back there, desperately trying to persuade her class to leave her because they were in so much danger. She couldn’t let the brutes take one of them, no matter the consequences to herself. It wasn’t even a choice.

She’d closed her eyes, hoping against hope the end would be quick, knowing for sure it would be anything but.

There’d been a thud and a yelp and the hands that had seized her so roughly were gone. Her eyes had flown open in disbelief.

A fraction of a second of shocked silence, where she had looked up into those vivid blue eyes burning with fury.

Then all hell broke loose.

She’d backed away slowly and then run as far as the passageway past the school before a cry of pain made her turn back. Three of the six soldiers were on the ground and looked unlikely to get up again, but two had her mysterious saviour pinned by the arms and another stood in front of him spinning a wicked-looking blade in his hand.

She’d scrabbled on the ground and picked up a fragment of broken slate which she’d thrown desperately, hoping to cause a distraction, give him a chance to break free.

His head had snapped up and she’d met his gaze, the fury replaced by desperation.

“RUN” he’d screamed. Her legs had obeyed without waiting for the consent of her heart and mind.

And she had run.
And she had lived.
And she’d lived with the guilt every day since.

She didn’t see what happened to him, but she’d imagined it so many times. His face haunted her. Sometimes it was the steely, determined hero who strode into her life, eyes flashing. Other times the terrified boy spitting blood and pleading with her to survive.

She was determined to honour the chance he’d given her by really living. Doing some good wherever she could. She’d escaped to England and very quickly started teaching again - she could make a difference there - and the innocence of those children, untouched by horror, was soothing. She’d considered qualifying as a doctor like her sister, but couldn’t afford the fees or the years, so she trained as a volunteer first responder and taught first aid at evening classes. She cooked and delivered meals for the elderly. She filled every minute with helpful friendly acts to keep her too busy and exhausted to think too much. She’d even run a marathon to fundraise for rebuilding projects in her birthplace… desperate to do something… even though she could never bring herself to return personally.

Not that there was anything for her to return to. Her sister and teenage nieces had escaped to Italy many months before she herself had finally fled their homeland. It was understandable, the young girls needed… to not be there. Her parents had successfully laid low and avoided the attention of the militia, only for the malaria to take them both a month before the end of the war.

Estera drained her coffee and stood up to flick the lights on. She shivered as the sweat soaked pjs quietly siphoned away her body heat. A shower to warm up and look alive.

It was School Trip day today - she needed to bring her A-Game.

Chapter Text

It had truly been the most uneventful school trip she’d ever supervised.

The hour-long coach journey had provoked no vomiting (a first!), everyone had remembered (and eaten!) their own lunch, there had been no injuries (given the path from the visitor centre down to the caves had been very slippery indeed this was borderline miraculous!) and minimal complaining about the need to wear the safety hats (particularly after little Alex had piped up “even the Thunderbird pilots wear helmets you know”).

Even the squabbling had been fairly low level, bar some recurring hostility over dinosaur preferences.

They’d been split into three groups of 10 children, a teaching assistant, a parent and a guide with each of the other groups. Due to last minute illness, she covered the final 10 solo, aside from their very knowledgable tour-guide, but the children really had been on excellent form and she’d actually begun to relax and enjoy the day.

Quietly inserting herself between two girls who were about to come to blows about the relative merits of the triceratops and velociraptor she did some top notch ‘distract and divert’ and the pair sped off to find the answer to her question among the didactic panels of the Stone Age display.

School trips were alright really.

The guide left them to explore the final cave while she popped back up the tunnel to radio through to the next group. Estera leaned back against the wall and smiled. Then sneezed violently. Must be all the dust.

Wait, dust?

She looked behind her and sure enough a fine sheet of dust was flowing down the surface of the wall. She put her hand into it and pressed her fingertips into the cold stone. It was vibrating. That… was probably not a good sign.

In a calm, cheerful voice that she was sure couldn’t have originated from her panic-constricted throat, she called the children to the centre of the room with the idea that they could head for the passageway together. The sudden shifting of shadows together with the faint rumbling, rushing noise at the limit of her hearing made her feel slightly vertiginous. “Quickly please” a little more urgent now. Everyone froze as a creaking sound accompanied the next wild swooping of lights and she realised the false ceiling suspended above the front half of the cave to disguise the gear for atmospheric lighting and projections was swinging too and fro. Not that way then. She dragged the nearest three children to the wall furthest from the door. “Back here everybody! Now!” All but one rushed towards her, the one standing mesmerised by the swaying lights above.

“ALEX!!” 

He turned, wide-eyed, and ran… and tripped and fell forwards and as she reached out to him the creak became a screech, the lights went out and the subsequent crash made her ears ring.

The rumble became a roar and everything was dark and dust.

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Spitting out grit, Estera scrabbled for her phone and flicked the torch on, dazzling herself. She tried to force her eyes to adjust more quickly as her head spun and called out softly, trying to calm the terrified children she could hear beginning to cry.

“Be brave, my little ones, we’ll be ok. Can you call your numbers as we practised?”

“One” a nervous voice piped up behind her. That was Bee.

“Two”

“Three”

“F-F…. Fourrrrr”

She found and grabbed Sam’s hand and squeezed it as he sobbed “Well done honey. Ok, who was Five?”

“Me, Five” A cough. “I don’t like it, the air tastes wrong”.

“I think it’s just dust, Xanthe, but it’s not very nice is it. Why don’t we all try a clever trick - try pulling your sleeve down past your hand then put it over your mouth like a mask… like that mysterious super spy in last week’s story…?”

There was shuffling and wriggling as the children transformed themselves into super spies. Estera wasn’t sure how long it would work for but anything that reduced the amount of particles getting into their little lungs had to be worth a try. At least it was just dust… she remembered the panic at the start of the war when the rumours of weaponised chemical agents were rife and all the children would turn up to class with handmade attempts at masks she knew would be utterly ineffective if the day ever came. It made the parents feel better to try though and she would never argue with that… it was better than giving up. Anything was better than giving up.

“Super Spy Six reporting for duty, Miss!”

Oh yes, roll call. Gosh her head was spinning.

“Well done, Rozi, err, keep going”

Numbers seven through nine came in quick succession and then there was a pause. Viscous dread pounded through her veins as she moved the light around the confined space.

“Alex?”

A little sniff and a whispered “Ten”allayed her fears somewhat until it was followed by “…‘m stuck!” and a terrified sob.

She shuffled towards the voice, using her phone torch to avoid crawling over anybody. A low battery alert popped up on screen. Damn it. She shone the already fading light around the space they had remaining.

“Can anyone see my rucksack?” She’d left it propped up against one of the walls but had entirely lost her bearings and could only hope it had been a wall on the side of the cave that wasn’t currently buried in tonnes of rock.

“It’s here Miss!”

Thank goodness. “In the pocket at the front are everyone’s torches, could you hand them out for me, Rozi?”

Some scrabbling noises and a few “no THAT was mine”s later and the cave was flooded with light. A quick visual check of the rapidly blinking, dusty children obediently trying to breathe through their school jumpers was somehow simultaneously heart-warming and crushing.

She turned back to Alex, lying in the corner of their much reduced space, where the false ceiling had partly fallen over his right leg. She crouched and touched his hands and wet panicky eyes looked up at her.

“Does it hurt, Alex?”

A sniff. “Mmm… little bit”

“Can you wiggle your toes?”

Fierce concentration on his face, the young boy confirmed that he could and she breathed a sigh of relief. It could be a lot worse.

“Ok, someone will come and rescue us soon and they will be able to get you out. Until then…” she raised her voice and her eyebrows “What does everyone think about breaking into my emergency jelly snake stash?”

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Time was passing, but Estera had no idea how much of it. Her phone battery had expired, predictably. Some of the kids had watches but she didn’t want to draw attention to how long it had been by asking. They seemed content for now, albeit the best dinosaur debate had restarted and was causing periodic outbreaks of conflict. She’d triggered widespread derision for her answer of ichthyosaur (“plesiosaurs aren’t actually dinosaurs, Miss, just aquatic reptiles!!”) which had at least united them for a time.

She wondered whether to suggest they turn some of the torches off to save the batteries but the kids were enjoying themselves drawing cave paintings of definitely-non-aquatic-reptiles with the packet of chalks she’d found in a forgotten pocket of her rucksack. The jelly snakes were long gone but at least the dust had settled.

After a minor incident where Xanthe had tried to assist with Alex’s pins and needles by vigorously karate chopping his calf, she and Jeff had laid themselves down on the floor either side of him and together they were blending their favourites into the Ultimate Dinosaur.

They were calm right now and that was good. She wondered how much air was down here and her throat constricted a little, trying to breathe as little as possible as if that would somehow leave more for the children.

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She supposed it must be getting late now, past the kids’ bedtimes. They were rather quiet, sat around in little groups, some talking a little, some just hugging each other. Sam had curled up on her feet like a large, bony cat and she kept having to nudge him to stop him falling asleep.

She had tried to keep them chatting but was finding it harder to focus. She supposed the air was becoming bad… the symptoms of hypoxia were part of her first aid training but she was struggling to recall much of it at the moment and began to morbidly hope it would at least be a peaceful passing for them all. She selfishly hoped she’d be first. She didn’t think she could bear to see anyone else die, there had been too many… her mind drifted back to picture the morning her neighbours were dragged into the street… the headteacher marched from the school… her last hug with her brother as he was called up to fight… the boy with the blue eyes.

She mentally slapped the thoughts away, she had to be strong for the little ones.

“What was that, Miss?”

A few of them startled suddenly, and she strained her ears, gradually becoming aware of banging and scratching noises which progressively came closer. Her heart beat faster as she dared to hope.

After a few minutes she was sure she could hear muffled voices behind the wall… and began to catch odd seemingly unconnected words… “props”… “oxygen”… “pod”… “wider than me” and “fine”.

Some more scraping and a shower of small pieces of rock were pushed into the cave from a rabbit-sized hole which had appeared at shoulder height, shortly followed by a small gas canister in a blue gloved hand and a friendly voice:

“International Rescue here, we’re going to get you out of there.”

The children suddenly perked up and cheered.

The owner of the hand chuckled. “Good to hear you guys too. Can somebody take this and turn the dial anti-clockwise - it’ll increase the oxygen levels down here for you.”

Estera did so with shaking hands and took her first deep breath in a long while as the gas hissed into the space.

“Hey, Mr International Rescue, what’s your favourite dinosaur?”

Another hand poked out of the hole

“That…” a grunt, followed by the appearance of two blue-suited arms “is a very important question.”

A lower, more urgent voice interrupted and the first voice muttered something in return before more shuffling and wriggling of the arms.

“My… favourite dinosaur…”

Estera pulled the children away from the wall as more debris fell from the hole.

“… is the Nanotyrannus. Because they were really, REALLY fast.”

A small explosion of sand and pebbles preceded a blue-helmeted head and shoulders emerging into the cave, an arm immediately moving to shield its owner from the glare of the 11 torches currently glinting off the visor.

“It’s Scott, by the way.”

Chapter Text

The little life signs, initially green and wriggly had grown still and shifted to amber. He knew what that meant and there was no way he was wasting a second in getting the oxygen through to them. It was the right thing to do. And he *was* still the Commander, even if his presence on rescues was still probationary according to IR’s Medic and Chief Fusspot, Virgil.

Ok, sure, his stamina wasn’t yet back to what it was and, yes, his muscle tone required some work. He subtly stretched out a slightly twingey trapezius. Ok… quite a bit of work. But he could climb through a hole and assess the situation perfectly well, thank you. More’s the point, he could do so much quicker than his broader-shouldered brother could have.

So, he did. It was the right thing.

And also, Commander.

It really wasn’t fair that Virgil had to be proven right *quite* so quickly about the structural integrity of their hastily-dug tunnel.

As in, literally the-moment-after-he’d-slithered-his-way-out-of-it quickly. Slightly embarrassing, but he’d styled it out and the kids were definitely pleased he was there. As was the teacher who had obviously been having a nightmare of a few hours and probably needed some adult back-up.

And they could all breathe now which was the important thing.

His tapped his comm unit and sent a concerned-brotherly enquiry as to Virgil’s health.

“I told you that would happen you absolute…

He coughed loudly and started talking over his brother “We’re all ok in here, Virgil, including all of the many children that are here… listening and uh, being impressionable.”

The line went quiet. Possibly mutinously quiet.

“Get a stable exit route in place. I’ll close comms for now. Ping me if you have any updates.”

He didn’t need to see his brother’s face to know the eyebrows were likely to be in full apocalyptic mode. He considered contacting John to warn him to watch out for gravitational anomalies in the area.

Who was he kidding, John was probably Concerned already what with Oh-So-Fragile-big-brother-who-must-be-watched-at-all-times now being stuck the wrong side of a cave in. He’d be leaping into the elevator any minute…

Ahh, he was being unfair - both of them had been an incredible support the last couple of months and he was more grateful than he could express. But he was also so… SO tired of feeling caged by their caution, of his wings being clipped. Light duties, indeed. Well his heart felt lighter now, and he was more than ready to move on from being an invalid and be Scott again.

If he was honest, the next however-long of being in the company of people who solely viewed him as protector rather than protectee was going to be a blessed relief. Speaking of which, less thinking more rescuing, Tracy!

“Is anyone hurt?”

There was a chorus of “Noooooo” and then:

“Alex’s leg is stuck, Mr Scott!” a small red-headed child grabbed him by the arm and pulled “It’s not hurty but you hafta rescue him because the floor is hard and he’s annoyed and he really really really needs a wee”.

“Reuben, Alex might not want you to give ALL those details you know” the teacher chided in a slightly embarrassed tone.

“It’s true though Miss!” groaned the small child lying on his face in the corner, presumably stuck-Alex.

“And that’s a very serious matter” Scott knelt down next to the lad and patted his shoulder “We’ll sort that out in a minute but first I’m going to have a look at what’s pinning you, is it ok if I touch your leg?” Having received a vigorous nod of consent, he prodded cautiously at the debris around the trapped foot and then worked his fingertips in between the fallen slab and Alex’s ankle and smiled to himself. An easy fix for once! Having worked the Velcro fastenings of the shoe loose he sat back on his haunches.

“Alex, I think you can finish this rescue off all by yourself.”

There were literal gasps from a rapt audience and he grinned. Little kids were easily impressed and, to be frank, that was exactly what he needed right now. And if he was hamming it up just a little… well, none of his brothers were here to see…

He leant down and whispered an instruction and watched the kid’s eyes widen as he pointed his toes and slipped his foot out of his shoe and through the gap in the rubble.

Scott helped him to stand, whereupon he threw his hands in the air and did an exuberant victory dance.

Then looked down at his feet and burst into tears.

Okay, did not expect that one.

The teacher who had materialised, ninja-like, at the child’s side patted Alex’s shoulder and looked up at Scott apologetically whispering “Brand new shoes, quite a big deal at their age, don’t worry he’ll be ok”. She turned back and made an array of comforting noises as the little boy cradled his remaining red rocket patterned trainer and sobbed his heart out.

Well, that wouldn’t do.

He nudged his comm and quietly requested an update.

“…Yes I’m Fine, John.”

It turned out Virgil had gone back to Two to configure a pod, the rock being too unstable to make a safe passage through from the service tunnel they’d started out in.

“Just as well I got in with the O2 while I could then huh, John? Who knew? Oh… hi, Virgil. Yes, yes you knew. I’m fine. Yes, actually fine.”

They had to come in at a different angle. How long? Maybe half an hour? He squinted at the display on the oxygen tank, trying not to draw attention to it. Should be ok.

“F.A.B. See you when you get here.”

Back to the more immediate problem. He took out a small pocket knife and an unused grapple pack and started chiselling away at the fallen slab.

Fortunately it was some kind of cement composite rather than natural stone so it crumbled away fairly easily. Another stroke of luck! Looked like today was his day. As he worked he found his mind drifting back to how excited Alan had been the first time he’d got light up shoes. Come to think of it those had probably had rockets on them too. A sudden sense of loss sidled by and nudged him. Time was beginning to race by. He tapped the knife slightly harder than he intended and a larger chunk came away. Bingo.

He approached a sniffly Alex and his teacher with his latest rescuee hidden behind his back. Squatting to approximately 7 year old height and resolutely ignoring the creaks in his knee and ankle joints, he slapped the bottom of the shoe to activate the flashy lights and presented it with a flourish. And a “TaDah!”

And maybe a touch of jazz hands. Because today felt like a jazz hands day.

The resulting hug nearly knocked him over.

A muffled voice emerged from his armpit “Where’s the toilet?”

Oh yeah, That Situation.

Fortunately this was not his first school-kids-in-a-cave/mine/collapsed-building rodeo. The small cubes of highly absorbent powder designed to neutralise small chemical spills had an unintentional but actually way more frequently employed secondary use. A couple of those crumbled in a corner and a swiftly organised human privacy wall later, Alex and several of his classmates were looking a lot more comfortable.

As he stood in the one spot tall enough for him to straighten out his back and tried to explain hygroscopy to a couple of rapt Science Fans who introduced themselves as Xanthe and Rozi, Scott noticed Reuben and Alex walking around him, carefully appraising his suit. The pair huddled in the corner for an intense discussion followed by rock paper scissors which Reuben apparently lost because he shuffled over and looked up at him, wringing his hands while clearly pregnant with a question of great importance.

Scott crouched down to his eye level and waited.

The little boy blushed and looked at the ground and mumbled “Me and Alex were wondering how… how you and the other International Rescuers um… how you…” he trailed off and gestured vaguely at Scott and then the corner and back at Scott again. OH. Scott’s eyes widened and he let out a short burst of laughter.

“Sorry, that’s top secret information. If I tell you, they’ll fire me.”

Nodding seriously, Reuben returned to his conspirator and the speculation clearly continued in hushed tones.

His knees began to object vigorously to the prolonged crouch, so Scott sat himself down and stretched out his legs, focussing on not letting out the kind of old man groan Gordon would mock him relentlessly for. The teacher, cross-legged beside him, tilted her head and raised a skeptical eyebrow he found himself unable to resist and so he leaned over and whispered conspiratorially:

“Borderline pathological level of bladder control” and gave her a mock salute.

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Estera snorted in a most unladylike fashion and covered her face with her hands in an attempt to stifle the giggles, her shoulders shaking as some of the tension of the last few hours escaped.

He chuckled, clearly pleased to have amused her. He stretched and sagged against the side of the cave in a way that hinted at more fatigue than his demeanour would suggest.

“Long day?”

“Something like that.”

She leant back against the wall and pulled her knees up to her chest. Was that more vibration she could feel through her shoulders? Hopefully just the rescuers doing their thing. Trying to shut out the sensation that the walls were getting closer she relaxed her shoulders and took a deep breath. It was shakier than she’d intended and she found herself irritated by the fact that she could tell the man sat next to her had picked up on that.

They sat and watched the kids argue passionately on either side of a welly boots vs trainers debate. It didn’t look like she’d need to intervene yet, thankfully. She did a quick tally of the ratio of wellies to trainers in the room and tapped the result as a rhythm on her knees. A slight tilt of his head revealed he’d noticed that too.

Not taking his eyes off the impending civil war he murmured:

“You doing ok?”

“Yeah. I’ll admit it’s been a bit of a trying day and I’m… not great with confined spaces at the best of times.”

The confession tumbled out of her mouth before she was consciously aware she’d even thought it. Appalled, she tried to claw the words back again - you don’t just admit things like that to complete strangers!

“I mean, not that it’s very confined down here, we were lucky with how things fell and there’s actually quite a lot of space given the circumstances and nobody was hurt which is brilliant and you guys will get us out and…”

Brilliant, now she was rambling. Too many “ands” Miss Hermaszewska, need to think of some more interesting connectives. Fortunately she was prevented from any more demonstrations of her linguistic inadequacy by the more verbally competent Jeff who yelled over

“Miss, what’s your favourite type of shoe?”

At least she could answer this one without any too much controversy.

“My running shoes from a special shop in London. I love them because they are decorated with stars, have bright blue laces and are so comfortable they feel like clouds. I’m also quite convinced they make me run faster.”

Identify, describe, impact, interesting fact. A classroom-quality answer. The questions didn’t *always* take her by surprise.

“Sounds like I need some of those” Rescue Man lifted a leg and let it drop again “these have many qualities but cloud-like is not one of them.”

“Not wellies then, Miss?”

“Not wellies, no. You can’t run in wellies but they are good for muddy walks with Bez.”

“Awwww I love Bez!”

“He’s the hugest cutest floofiesf!”

“I love Bez the most!”

“No I DO!”

She chuckled and went to explain “Bez is my…”

He wasn’t listening but was frowning at the ceiling intently with his hand raised to the radio unit near his shoulder. “Virgil… what’s your status?” She could only hear static in response. He stood.

The vibrations had definitely became more noticeable. She got to her feet and did a quick assessment of where each of the children was and felt her heart leap into her throat as an entire section of the cave wall opposite shifted downwards by half a metre.

Astra and Bee lay on their bellies just in front, fully engaged in a thumb war.

There wasn’t time to get them off the floor and out of the way! Acting on instinct, she threw herself over them and pulled their heads in under her body, bracing herself for the bone-breaking impact of cold unforgiving stone on her back.

It didn’t come.

There was an impact but it wasn’t a rock. It was warm and wrapped tightly around her as the wall disintegrated above her and debris rained down.

Panic seared through her veins and the whistling in her ears drowned out every thought but

NO.

Chapter Text

Thankfully the collapse was a short lived and highly localised one. Although the shockwave of each chunk of rock slamming into his back and helmet shuddered through his ribs and down his spine, it didn’t hurt too badly so it was unlikely much damage had been done. The suit had done its job - Brains really was a genius.

What was much more worrying was the way the teacher had gone entirely limp and collapsed on top of the two children she was shielding. Had a stray bit of debris hit her? Her helmet had slipped to one side but he was sure he’d covered her head… the movement of rock seemed to be slowing but it was too soon to move yet. Transferring his weight to one arm he flipped open the visor on his helmet and dragged his glove off with his teeth. He felt for a pulse while still sheltering her and the kids as best he could from the last few stray pebbles. There it was… and she seemed to be breathing slowly.

Ok. Right, ok.

He patted the shoulders of the two figures huddled beneath their teacher and called out some generically reassuring phrases to the other kids, told them to keep calm and still… then suppressed a grunt of pain as one last heavy shard came away and caught his neck and shoulder at an acute angle, tearing through the fabric of his suit. No longer able to support himself with the one arm, he braced with the other and bit back a bitter curse at the thought of how his brothers were going to react to this. Couldn’t he have at least got through one rescue without an injury to distract them with? Just one? His helmet lights flickered and went out.

A metallic pop then the fizz of static told him his comm connection was also probably a goner. It was beginning to feel distinctly less like a jazz hands kind of day.

He waited a couple more seconds to ensure nothing else would fall then with a slight grimace pushed himself up and gently rolled the teacher away from the shocked kids and into the recovery position. Her vitals were fine and from his brief torchlit inspection he couldn’t see or feel any head injury… maybe with the shock of everything she’d just fainted? Her forehead was furrowed which was… unusual. He shook her shoulder a little, she tensed her jaw but otherwise no response. Something told him to leave her be for a while.

He helped the kids up and checked them over. The rest of the class, seemingly frozen in shock up to now, suddenly rushed forwards towards their unconscious teacher. The flow of calming words continued without any conscious thought or effort as he persuaded her charges to back away a little and give her some room. She’d wake up soon. Her brain was just making her have a little rest after being so brave. She was ok, he promised. The sticky feeling progressing down his back was a reminder that he needed to keep the kids in front of him, no need to freak them out any more. He shifted so that his back was towards the wall and smiled round at them all. In a ploy to distract, he started asking them their names and favourite dinosaurs given that was clearly a topic of interest.

The two children the teacher had been sheltering were shaky but unharmed. One had snuck closer again and was gently stroking her hair. Well he’d turn a blind eye to that. The rest of the class… less so.

“Astraaaaa! Mr Scott said you have to keep away from Miss H so she can wake up slowly! It’s not fair!” Jeff’s fury at the injustice was potent.

“But I want to help!” Glistening eyes appealed to him in the dim light.

Scott cast his mind back to wrangling Gordon and Alan at this age. He just needed to get them working together somehow… he hoped he wouldn’t live to regret his next suggestion.

“Sometimes singing to somebody in a deep sleep can help. Do you guys know any songs she might like?”

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The voices of young children singing faded into her field of hearing, distant and strange in timbre as if she was underwater. She tensed, remembering the taunts and harsh laughter that had immediately preceded the darkness. Had they gone? She held her breath. It…seemed so? There was singing and they’d never have allowed that. The mocking, hateful voices had been replaced by a more melodious one and she became aware of a gentle hand patting the side of her jaw. Opening her eyes she saw Blue frowning down at her.

No! No it wasn’t safe for him here!

She gasped and scrabbled backwards whereupon she was surrounded by little arms and worried voices and she wasn’t There at all but with the kids and they were all… where…?

She blinked dazedly for a moment then it finally came flooding back and she tried and failed to find her voice to reassure them all.

At least six of them began talking at a mile a minute and any contribution from her turned out to be unnecessary, so she released a breath slowly and allowed the wave of chatter to wash away the sense of horror and revulsion prickling at her skin. Why had she passed out? The flashback had been hazy, but the eyes had been so vivid. She stole a glance at the man using his foot to shift the larger pieces of rubble to the side of the cave.

Of course it hadn’t been Him. It was just the International Rescue guy. Who probably now thought she was pretty pathetic not to mention rude.

“And you dived over to save them just like a superhero, Miss! And then Mr Scott superheroed right on top of you AND Astra AND Bee but he didn’t fly you away or anything and the wall fell all over you and it was really really scary and Rozi screamed right in my ear but you weren’t dead and Mr Scott told us we shouldn’t all sit around and poke you so we sat over here, except Astra didn’t which really annoyed Jeff and then we sang to you did you like that?”

Xanthe paused for breath and Estera took the opportunity to stem the tide of information by thanking them all for the update and asking if everyone was ok. Again. As if the question made any difference. None of them were ok. How was any of this ok? She shoved down the bubble of despair that was lurking in her windpipe.

One of the torches flickered out.

The rescuer looked up and suggested they should turn off half the torches for now. There was the traditional excited squealing as the cave got darker but there was still enough light to see each other by.

Now what?

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If he was honest, the look of absolute terror on her face had thrown him a little. He couldn’t quite rationalise it with the circumstances and it had felt quite… personal somehow, as if she wasn’t just scared but specifically scared of… him? That didn’t make any sense though. All the same he figured it wouldn’t do any harm to give her some space.

So he tidied away the fragments of rock because, well, the kids needed as much safe open floor space as possible. And he needed to do… something. He glanced over at the small oxygen tank and tried to calculate how much time had passed since his last contact with John and Virgil. They’d said half an hour. Must be coming up on that now. He hoped fervently that nothing had gone wrong, that whatever had caused the earth slip here in the cave hadn’t endangered his little brother too.

He took it back. Being out of contact with his brothers was hell. He’d take another month of smothering over this silence. Maybe two.

Maybe he had to admit that he hadn’t been ready. Something had set him on edge and he didn’t think it was the cave in, or the declining oxygen situation. There was something else wrong. What was he missing? Maybe if he was fit, he’d know but today… he cursed his fuzzy brain. The atmospheric sensor in his suit told him it was on the edge of too warm down here now but he was shivery and there were shadows at the very limits of his vision that didn’t line up with the positions of the torches…

He shifted his aching shoulder awkwardly. Ow. Oh! Blood loss! Oh! Maybe it was that. Hopefully it was just something as simple and easily fixed and could-happen-to-anyone as bleeding a little excessively and going wobbly at the edges. Somewhat relieved, and with not insignificant effort he returned his attention to the kids who had begun another passionate debate about something or other. At least they were no longer singing THAT song…

In an effort to get out of doing the actions, he’d had to pretend not to know Baby Shark… Ha! As if he’d had a chance to escape that one with a toddler Gordon in the house…

“TWO IS THE STRONGEST!”

“THREE CAN GO TO THE MOON!”

Hello? Scott perked up. This sounded more like his area.

“THREE IS RED WHICH IS THE BESTEST COLOUR! I’M RIGHT!”

“TWO PUTS OUT FIRES!”

He couldn’t help a quiet chuckle when one of them, he thought it might be Rozi, declared that Thunderbird 3’s pilot was the cutest and that she was going to marry him. Best start running, Allie.

“TWO CAN GO UNDERGROUND!”

Huh?

Outraged squawking resulted which the teacher shushed with a single raised hand. The conversation proceeded at a slightly lower volume.

“Two can’t go underground. You need a mole pod for that”

“Well you can’t have a mole pod without Two. OR Thunderbird Four. Or anything useful. Two carries all the things.”

“THUNDERBIRD TWO HAS POCKETS!” Astra stood and punched the air.

“So does my mum’s handbag, that doesn’t make it COOL.”

Scott barked out a laugh “I’ll tell him you said that.”

Eleven pairs of eyes snapped towards him.

“Which is your favourite Thunderbird, Mr Scott?”

Truthfully? Right now he’d quite like to get an eye-full of green cahelium, but this was a matter of principle.

“One, of course.”

There was a pause while the children considered. Reuben even put his fist to his jaw and gazed upwards in silent contemplation.

“One can go twenty times the speed of sound.” Piped up Sam.

Scott cringed “Uhhhh, well… nineteen times.”

“Why not twenty?”

“It’s just the way she is. After that it gets a bit… explodey.” Scott was sure Brains would back him up on that technical term…

Another pause.

“Well that’s still pretty fast.”

“Yeah but One is tiny and can’t carry a whole lake of water!”

They all turned to their teacher.

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Estera had thus far masterfully avoided coming down on either side of the argument, convinced that the devoted fans on the opposing side would never forgive her. She was saved from further dodging by a popping noise and a loud hiss:

“Thunderbird Two to Thunderbird One, I am on approach to your location, eta 15 minutes. Do you read?”

The blue-eyed operative - somehow she couldn’t make his name stick in her mind - half raised his right arm then switched to the left, tapped the logo on his uniform and answered, a hint of formality layered over his lighthearted, friendly way of speaking.

“F.A.B. Thunderbird Two, great to hear your voice. Had a minor additional fall down here earlier but we’re all ok.”

There was a little ‘something’ in his voice that the man on the other end clearly noticed too.

“All of you?”

“Absolutely fine, Virgil”

She frowned and cleared her throat.

“Your colleague is favouring his left arm, suspect some damage to his right shoulder or ribs on that side when the debris fell on him”

A deep sigh over the comm.

“Thanks, don’t let him make it worse.”

Mr Friendly-Voice spluttered.

“Et tu, Brute?”

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Chapter Text

“Et tu, Brute?!”

“Then fall, Caesar” Estera muttered as a reflex. It always drove her crazy when the line was unfinished.

“Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!”

Her head snapped up in surprise to see him grinning. Well! She hadn’t expected him to actually know it. Laughing, she gestured behind him.

“If I promise not to stab you, can I have a quick look? I am a qualified first aider, maybe I can help?”

He backed into the wall.

“Honestly, it’s fine, just a little scratch and a bruise I can get it sorted when we are out.”

“It would be a good opportunity to demonstrate some of the lessons the children have learned in class? And it would keep their minds off other things.”

Right on cue, Sam appeared at her side with an eager expression and the smaller, more portable first aid kit she’d stowed in her rucksack just in case. If only she’d brought the large one.

“Oh wow that’s a big kit… you like to be prepared huh?”

She snorted derisively and beckoned him forward. There was a pause. She raised an eyebrow and waited.

His shoulders sagged and he walked towards her with a wry smile and a whispered “I am never going to live this down.”

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Having checked there were definitely no hitherto hidden exits he could take advantage of, he reluctantly sat down where she indicated and allowed her to step behind him, hoping it she wouldn’t pass out again. The rock had clearly nicked a couple of enthusiastic vessels because the sticky sensation had crept all the way down to the small of his back and it probably looked way more dramatic than it was. He plastered on a reassuring smile for the kids but none were looking at him because they were all crowded around a large bottle of hand sanitiser. Wait, what? Little Alex had a gleam in his eye as he scrubbed up to the elbows like a surgeon preparing for a transplant.

The smile became a little fixed. He wasn’t sure he had consented to a team approach.

The teacher was explaining something and had their rapt attention. He let himself be carried along by her voice too, it had a musical quality to it that was soothing. Lucky that, for someone who worked with little kids. He drifted a little then jumped as her face appeared over his left shoulder and he suddenly realised she’d been talking directly to him.

“Can I cut your suit? It’s got a little mangled.”

“No.”

“Oh. It’s already quite damaged I’m afraid…”

He shook himself.

“Sorry, I mean you won’t be able to… Here, use this.” He palmed the micro laser cutter from his baldric. “Um… maybe don’t give that to the kids.”

He winced as he felt the air on his back. Fortunately it was only the one pair of hands that proceeded to clean the wound, the small ones had paired off and were enthusiastically swabbing each other instead. Her hands were cooler than Virgil’s, but had a similar level of confidence… He forced himself to relax.

Suddenly, the eager mini-medics all crowded round, watching intently. Then retreated like a wave and started covering each other in steri strips.

“Right, should we use warm or cold for bruising, everyone?”

“COOOOOOLD” came the unanimous reply.

She reappeared over his shoulder, accompanied by the cracking of instant cold packs. “I’m going pop a couple of these over your ribs then tape your suit up to hold them in place. I think it would be best to put your arm in a sling to reduce the chance of you pulling the shoulder wound open again.”

For the sake of being a good example to the children he agreed. That was the only reason. Nothing to do with the power of the teacher voice. He sighed… “Yes, Miss”.

A little hand slipped into his and he looked down at Alex who was looking back at him earnestly.

“It’s ok for rescuers to need rescuing sometimes isn’t it, Mr Scott?”

He was saved from finding an appropriate response by his brother breaking through the wall.

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There had been a LOT of hugging and relieved tears. The rescuer who introduced himself as Virgil had finally gathered the parents to give them some quick advice on symptoms of dust inhalation and when they should seek assistance. Meanwhile the blue-eyed one, Scott that was it, was left-handedly signing the kids’ tattered worksheets and distributing tiny die-cast thunderbird models to many squeals of delight. She chuckled to herself as Alex excitedly snatched a model of the red rocket ship before reconsidering and replacing it with the silver and blue one, gazing adoringly at his new favourite-person-in-the-whole-world.

With any luck, much of the trauma of the situation the children had experienced would be overshadowed by the wonder of meeting their heroes. As she watched the injured man pulling funny faces and offering high fives she realised that was entirely deliberate on their part.

She really should find out more about them. The kids, apparently, had encyclopaedic knowledge and it would be best if she could keep up with what was going to be the primary topic of conversation for the foreseeable. They might not forgive her ignorance as quickly as with the plesiosaurs.

It wasn’t that she had deliberately ignored the Thunderbirds’ existence, hard to do that when they were all over the press (and she had to keep confiscating the trading cards until the end of the school day). Scott certainly seemed a bit familiar so she must have seen a press conference or something at some stage. But, well, she’d generally tried to shield herself a little from constant news of disaster and destruction that she could do little to fix. She threw herself into small scale things. She tried not to get overwhelmed by a world determined to drown her in that same sense of helplessness she’d battled against as her country collapsed around her, as she’d stared into the horrified eyes of a soul who knew he was about to die...

Ahhhh, she shook herself, that was the third time today he’d slipped through her defences. She really had to practice her exercises more. Screwing up her face then relaxing it into a pleasant smile she began to approach the group of parents who were beginning to disperse after their medical debriefing.

And got hijacked by two EMTs keen to ask her about her fainting fit in the cave. One of the children must have tattled on her.

She smiled politely, assured them confidently that she had no head injury but suffered from mild claustrophobia and that plus the shock of everything was probably all it was. Feeling it would be hypocritical to refuse, she allowed them to check her vitals and make some notes while she finally looked up and took in the bizarre scene around her. Her eyes drifted past the gleaming silver rocket towards the huge green cargo ship she’d heard so much about. Plenty of room for pockets indeed… she stifled a laugh and her gaze settled on the two international rescue operatives sat on the side of the ramp leading into the ship. The second man had seemed nice, if somewhat harried and oddly concerned about his colleague.

Beyond the temporary floodlights the sun was beginning to set, the sky was clear and the early stars were visible. She was struck by how close she had come to not seeing them again and felt a wave of gratitude for the second chance.

Third, actually.

She looked up the stars and wished she could have thanked the person who’d given her the second.

And then gasped, she had nearly done it again! They were about to leave and she hadn’t actually managed to find the time to express her thanks. She extricated herself from the attentions of the EMTs and hurried over to the two men in blue, running through a few potential phrases in her mind. They’d probably heard it all before.

“Excuse me, I’m sorry to bother you again”

Scott half looked up from where he was perched on a boulder and smiled distractedly while his colleague fussed over him with a medi-scanner. Without his helmet on he looked older than she was expecting, maybe early 40s, a hint of grey shot through the chestnut at his temples and the shadows under his eyes and cheekbones made her wonder just how many “long days” the guy had experienced recently. There was a deep sense of tiredness about him.

“I didn’t want to let you go without properly thanking you for all your help down there” she unthinkingly stuck out her right hand, realising too slowly that he wasn’t going to be able to take it.

Before she could withdraw it he’d reached out with his left hand, twisted his wrist to grasp her right and shook it awkwardly.

“Well thank you for patching me up, you left this little guy with not a lot to do.”

There was a huff behind him prompting another grin which this time reached his eyes as he looked up at her. Blue… vivid, unmistakable blue, sparkled with amusement and a spike of adrenaline hit her like a train.

It was him.

He was still holding her hand but hers was numb and she couldn’t feel it. The ground she was standing on tilted suddenly and she tried to hold on tighter to steady herself but her muscles wouldn’t respond

And she was going to fall.

And she heard him scream.

But he was still smiling and hadn’t noticed the world was collapsing. His eyes held a question.

“Thank you for rescuing me” her voice cracked

“Again.”

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“Virgil, please, it’s alright. Look it’s just a bit of bruising and a few cuts which you’ll note are already expertly dressed.”

His brother scowled at the scanner which, for once, was backing up Scott’s assertion that he was fine.

Virgil’s litany of grumbling was interrupted by the reappearance of the teacher.

She was younger than he’d thought, probably early 30s, and he was amused to see that amongst the dusty strands of dark brown hair that had fallen from the practical knot at the back of her neck was a lock of bright blue. A little rebellious streak perhaps?

He gave her a tiny wink along with the backwards handshake and wondered how hard Virgil would kick him if he asked for her number.

The blood drained from her face as their eyes met. Huh, not the usual reaction to his attempts to flirt, he noted wryly, maybe he was losing his touch.

Wait, what did she mean “Again”? He frowned in confusion. When had they…?

The sense of unease rushed back into his bones and brought all of its howling friends.

The smell of rust, the taste of blood, a decade of phantoms.

Without conscious thought he was on his feet and had dragged his arm from the sling to grab her by the shoulders as he studied her face… it couldn’t be…

She visibly flinched but lifted her chin to hold his gaze.

Realising his mistake he hurriedly released her and tried to find words, any words… but none would come. His lips moved soundlessly as he stared. It couldn’t be, could it?

“Miss Hermaszewska, mummy says have you got my inhaler?”

She blinked and turned to follow the child who tugged at her sleeve.

Virgil had him by the good arm and was leading him back towards the ships, his concerned voice rumbling questions Scott couldn’t focus on right now. He tried to follow her and his brother’s grip tightened, restraining him. Fury and panic raged through his veins. He snarled and shook the unrelenting hands off violently, spinning to face the aggressor before the shocked face of his brother snapped him back to the present and his heart plummeted.

He ran for his ship and One was in the air before the seat had fully retracted.

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Estera watched him leave. He seemed weary. She stood a moment. She couldn't believe she had such an.... intimate... conversation with someone who was a complete stranger. And yet he had also been her companion all these years. Conversation had not been easy, no, not easy, not with the things they had to discuss but it had felt more comfortable than she would have imagined possible given the circumstances.  She even felt a little lighter, he was alive and that mattered. Changed things.

Even just how he UNDERSTOOD about what had happened to her, she'd been more open about things than she'd been for a long time. And she knew he'd felt it too. She knew the stories of the dogs and had seen them in action. She shuddered and pulled her coat tighter. He clearly had had more first hand experience than her.

She hoped it wasn't her presence that had triggered the flashback he'd had and yet she knew her recent nightmares were definitely linked to seeing him. But that he was alive, maybe that would eventually change those dark dreams. She hoped it would.
Tilting her head to the side as he disappeared round the corner she, idly wondered what he would make of her Bez? Perhaps all dogs were a trigger? That would be sad. She blew out a small laugh imagining her beautiful boy meeting the commander of International Rescue! Not likely to be a problem. Multimillionaires, wait, she corrected herself, billionaires, did not hang out with impoverished school teachers. Still, she had his number which he didn't have to give her. Maybe she would stay in touch with him. The shared history and mutual understanding was not something to be ignored.

Memories swirled around her. She needed to move. She'd go home and get Bez and they'd tackle the cliff path; incredible views to soothe and steep terrain that would remove all capacity for thought from her whirling mind. If she added in the route across the beach maybe there was a chance she'd sleep tonight.

She turned the corner opposite to the one Scott Tracy had taken, apologising to the older gentle man with the small pug who she almost collided with. She would walk home rather than get the bus. Glad to have a plan she set off, rolling her eyes at the ridiculous vanity plates on the pink Rolls Royce she passed. Some people really didn't want to blend in.

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He didn't remember walking back to the car or much of the drive to the landing strip. The moment he had been catapulted back to the dark had been disconcerting. He had hoped that sleeping dogs would lie. He grimaced in dark amusement at the pun then scrubbed at his face, was he going to react like that to every pooch? Images of him cowering away from Sherbet had him blowing out a carefully measured breath. Was it her being near him brought the past too close to the surface for him to control or a legacy from his illness?

He'd have to work on that. Yet he hadn't been embarrassed as he might have expected. She had not reacted beyond just gently grounding him and waiting while he came back from the darkness. No fuss. No demands of explanation, her eyes had suggested she knew exactly where he'd gone. And that poem; those words had first captured his imagination when he'd read them the first time in Mrs Williams' Literature class back a million lifetimes before. It had been the perfect thing to ground him, ironic really the sky was his life line.

Despite the darkness, overall he felt a thrill of delight. She Was Alive and living in England and fate had helped them find each other and they had met and she UNDERSTOOD about so much implicitly; so much he hadn't had to articulate. His hands curled into fists, he hated that she knew, that like him she must have had hidden scars. He remembered how she'd reacted in the cave in.

Another slowly measured breath.

However also like him, she seemed to have made a good life for herself, seemed happy if...well, he did notice she mentioned a dog but no one else. He'd maybe keep an eye on her, support networks were important.

The irony of that thought was not lost. He was going to be in some serious trouble. His personal comm was on Tracy Island. If he'd been recognised or worse he'd have had no way to call for help. He did recognise the magnitude of his actions but in his defense he hadn't been thinking straight. That he knew was a very lame excuse which in hindsight possibly made it even worse. He could already hear Virgil on that point.

If one of his brothers had pulled the stunt he just had... He shuddered. He hadn't been thinking and he regretted that he'd have caused them to worry. There was going to be all sorts of fireworks.

He sighed and sank heavily in the pilot's seat, the adrenaline that had been keeping him going since the cave in, since he'd realised who she could be, it was ebbing fast now and a bone deep weariness had settled over him. If the shouting started now maybe they'd all have calmed down by the time he reached the island. Or at least he was out of physical reach of Virgil for the opening salvo.

"Eos, you there?"

"What do you need, Scott Tracy?"

"Could you log the route and ETA for the island, please?"

"Already calculated and inputted."

"Thanks."

He began the pre flight checks.

"Could you contact Tracy Island with the same information." Ok, so maybe he wasn't as brave as he pretended. He'd send a sacrificial lamb ahead. He could feel the swirling in his head as the memories vied for attention. He focused on the tasks at hand taking to the run way and easing the small jet into the sky. As natural as breathing. The thrill of being in the air momentarily removing the darkness pulling at the edges.

"The high untrespassed sanctity of space," he breathed in and out slowly, drinking in the blue horizon then closing his eyes a moment. He jumped slightly when Eos spoke.

"Your ETA had been relayed to the island. Your brothers are, eager, to hear from you. I can open a channel for you now."

"How bad is it?"

"They appeared relieved when I informed them of your imminent return. John says he and I must have a long talk upon our return. I believe that is not a good sign?"

Scott sighed, "Probably not."

"I am available to talk now but John preferred I give you my complete attention for the flight home. I do believe he forgets I am capable of performing many tasks simultaneously."

"Multitasking," Scott absent mindedly provided as he made some minor adjustments to their course.

"They are concerned for your well being."

"I know."

"Did you find the answer you were hoping for? Is she the girl in question?"

He found himself smiling, "Yes! Yes she is. She's alive and well and.." he took a deep measured breath.

"And... Now you have your answer are you better? You do not seem better."

"I...." He and John really needed to work on her directness. "I don't know....I feel...I don't know, Eos." That was something he'd need to think about. More careful breathing and he recited the opening of the poem under his breath."We've stalled long enough, you better open a channel to the island."

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Virgil and John had in fact been eerily calm and upbeat. Scott didn't know if that made him feel better or worse. They had clearly decided that Scott was too fragile to handle the dressing down he knew he deserved. He should probably be annoyed - he hated being handled in any way but the weariness made it hard to care. The voices and shapes at the edge of his mind were getting harder to ignore.

He owed them an explanation he supposed as he brought the little craft down expertly on the little strip of jungle runway beside the jet's hanger. He didn't know if he could explain it for himself. He wasn't ready to discuss how they'd met, why he'd sought her out. There was a tiny part of him afraid of how they would react to the fact he chose capture over a chance to return to them. It didn't feel like such a waste now he knew she was alive, but would they understand? He wasn't ready to have that conversation with anyone.

He taxied into the hangers. He could see Virgil and John waiting anxiously for him. A surge of love washed over him. He was so lucky to have them. He was also, to quote Alan, so dead. How did he explain? He'd watched her die in his mind so many times and finding out she was alive made him not really think his actions through.

He'd thought she was dead.

He'd believed she was dead.

He almost felt he'd seen her die.

They'd told him.

Them.

He'd believed them.

Fool.

That sudden realisation was too much for his fragile self control. He felt his chest tighten. He greeted John and Virgil- both wound as tightly as he felt. He was grateful they didn't push the subject though he felt their eyes on him concerned and assessing.

Somehow he followed them into the villa- their presence all that kept him from fracturing completely. He apologised and hugged Virgil and apologised again. All the while a voice in his head was screaming- He'd believed their lies. He ignored more concerned looks that were thrown his way, the poem again recited as breath.

He got himself to the dining table. There was food on the plate he ate a little without tasting. Alan was talking and he listened... that was a lie the words were meaningless but his youngest brother's voice was a gentle music that washed over him. He knew he was not reacting to things as he should but there were sounds and voices clamouring in his head for attention and it was taking all his focus and energy to just stop them taking over everything, transporting him back There. The girl was alive. Estera. She was called Estera and she was alive. He'd spoken to her; so why was he still seeing her death as he'd imagined it from the descriptions the liars had given him.

Too late he realised he had missed something important. Alan and Gordon were watching him from across the table, Gordon standing behind Alan's chair his hand on his younger brother's shoulder. Virgil was kneeling beside Scott's chair talking to him in a gentle voice. When had that happened?

He forced himself to look at Virgil who was smiling encouragingly though Scott could see the deep concern in his eyes. He needed to pull himself together. He focused on Virgil's lips making himself hear the words above the roaring of the noise, the barking.

"Scotty, Scott. Can you hear me? You are on the island. You're safe."

He nodded and was rewarded with the relief that washed across virgil's face. "Sorry." He rubbed his face, "Sorry, Vee."

"No problem, Scotty. It's ok."

He realised then John was standing deliberately in his line of sight on the other side. The Terrible Two had disappeared. He blinked, when had that... This was not good.  His agitation at the realisation of losing time must have shown because John moved now, same gentle tone same expression. Oh how Scott hated that. Focus. Don't do this to them.

But he couldn't stop it, not at this moment, as the past rushed back. He stood abruptly knocking his chair over as the girl stood frozen, the whispered "Run!" was out of his mouth before he could stop it, both his brothers reacting in startled confusion, present and the past collided in a mix, "I'm going for a run!" He blurted grasping at something, anything approaching normal and he needed to move. Nice save the tiny voice in his mind that seemed to have caught reality supplied as he fled the room, the desperate cries of his name ignored as he fled locking his door behind him.

He changed into running gear and then paced. He looked at his Comm, his brothers were trying to contact him. The urge to toss it away was strong, aware that even now its readings were broadcasting his unsteady pulse to them.

He knew Virgil was outside the door, he'd stopped knocking and pleading for him to open up. He hated that but he needed a moment, couldn't trust himself, sharing with them was still so new. He would when he was ready. They would protect him until his mind could be convinced of what he knew in his heart, he was needed; he was loved; he was safe.

He must have lost more time, he became aware of music playing, the same recordings of Virgil's playing that always helped ground him. Eos. "Thanks," he spoke aloud.

"You are welcome, Scott Tracy. John is concerned, please open the door." Eos was stressed. Excellent. He could add freaking out Artificial intelligences to his Resume.

"Tell them I am ok. I just need...I just need a minute."

He sat on the edge of the bed, and lifted the water he kept there, pouring a glass. He sipped it slowly. It was cool and heavy in his hand.

She was alive. He heard the voices telling him how she'd died, that it was his fault for interfering. They told it so often, so vividly he felt he had witnessed it. Had seen her lifeless body in his nightmares; told her to run over and over in his dreams.

But she had escaped them! He'd believed their lies.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

He let out a cry of rage and the glass hit the mirror with a spectacular crash which pulled him fully back to reality in time to hear Virgil's shoulder hit the door.

Chapter Text

One of the best things about Bez was his relentless enthusiasm about something as simple as her unlocking the front door. She smiled as he treated her to an impromptu drool bath and gradually nudged him down the hallway so she could put down her bags.

“You’ll never guess who I met today, Niebieski… the Commander of International Rescue! … Yes, he did seem nice… No, he didn’t have any treats…Yes it’s possible to be nice and not have treats, you daft creature… You don’t believe me do you?”

Extracting herself she reached up and extracted one of his favourite chews from the top cupboard.

“Give me a minute to get changed, Bez, then we’ll go for a run, ok?”

Receiving only chomping noises by way of reply, she left him to it and went to sort herself out. Grabbing her phone to check the time, it unlocked on the new contact screen and she smiled. He’d given her his personal number, just in case, but had been endearingly awkward as he’d asked her to save it under a pseudonym. Something to do with his brother John, someone called Kyra and security protocols, he was sorry it was such a weird thing to ask. She didn’t mind, she knew exactly what to name to save the number under.

She tapped the word ‘Blue’ and sent a quick message as he’d asked, given he’d not had his own with him.

“Was good to meet you today. Here is my number. I hope you’re doing ok? Estera”

Right. Job done. Next on the list: exercise.

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The wind was bitter as the sun slipped below the horizon and stained the clouds behind which it had been skulking most of the afternoon.

The plus side was it meant nobody else was out this far. They’d have the less well known Jacob’s Ladder beach to themselves while the rest of the dog walkers did a quick circuit of the main seafront. Bez, well insulated from the frigid air, lolloped excitedly down the steep path ahead and she ambled behind, limbs trembling slightly in the aftermath of their clifftop run. The exertion had helped focus her mind, as it always did, while she was actually running. But as soon as she allowed her heart rate to slow, the swirling thoughts returned.

The tide was right out, and it seemed every sea bird in the Westcountry had gathered to scour the shoreline for treats, their figures dark against the reddening sky and their fading shadows reaching many times their height across the sand towards her.

As expected, there were no other dogs on the beach - she unclipped the leash and let Bez hare towards the ocean, driving the gulls into the air in a squawking cloud, the combined sound of their wings like a drum roll in the distance. Usually his unbridled joy would be catching, but today she felt kind of detached, as if she was watching him frolic in a poor quality recording on a broken screen.

The shadows lengthened further.

Suddenly unable to contain all of the Everything building up inside, she let out a yelp and ran across the top of the beach towards the sunset. For a given value of running anyway. The pebbles sucked her legs downwards with every step, her feet slipping and twisting on the uneven surface. The wind whipped across the bay and blasted into her face, hair streaming and coat billowing behind her like a sail. Despite forcing her last scraps of pent up energy into her muscles she made barely any progress and eventually stumbled forwards, landing with a crunch amongst the stones.

She pushed herself on to her knees and paused, dizzy but aware of Bez sprinting back towards her, droplets of seawater flying from his fur.

Then he was there, shoving his soaking wet face into hers, blending the salt of the sea with the salt of her shame.

She’d left him.

The initial delight that he’d survived, that he hadn’t been stabbed to death in the square as she’d imagined was overshadowed by what she now knew his attempt to rescue her had cost him. The stories of the nearby camp were rife in the town. The open secret of the mass grave to the east of it. The horrors inside. Some said it was simple torture. Others had heard from someone who knew someone who had heard tell of twisted medical experiments. People said that when the wind was right, you could hear the desperate screams on the road, over a mile away. Nobody knew the truth of it because nobody came out.

People didn’t survive the camp.

And then there were the dogs. The constant barking as they patrolled the town, barely under the control of the thugs who held the leash. There were dogs at the camp too, she knew that. She recalled watching, helpless, from her window as her neighbour was dragged from his house by the snarling beasts. If he’d even made it to the camp alive, it wouldn’t have been long for him.

People didn’t survive the camp.

Somehow Scott had. She couldn’t quite believe it. It clearly hadn’t left him unscathed though. She covered her face and tried to picture the twinkle in his eyes as he had teased her about the toy in her pocket. The eyes of somebody who was alive and knew laughter. But she couldn’t find them. Instead she saw his wide, frightened eyes watching unknown horrors unfold behind her, in a reality only he could see.

She clenched her fists and yelled her apology to the sky, before pulling her knees to her head and wrapping her arms around her legs as she sobbed. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Bez, damp yet radiating warmth, lay against her back and waited.

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Chapter Text

Too slow to prevent Scott from bolting and locking his door; Virgil paced the corridor while John had slid to sit facing it, fingers flying over a data pad.

"What now?"

"I don't know... We wait I guess..." John looked up at the agitated medic.

"He's clearly having flashbacks and losing time. That's not good, John."

"I know, Vee. I know. He talked to us before. We have to trust he will this time."

Virgil painted a graphic verbal picture of what he felt about that; he and Gordon spent too much time together John's mind concluded.

"We have to get in there."

"How?"

"Let Eos pop the locks"

"And then what? As long as he's not a danger to himself or others it would be a violation."

Virgil slumped down the wall beside John. "I hate this."

John put his arm around his brother's shoulders. "I do too."

"And you still haven't found the connection?"

John sighed. Whoever this girl was, she'd trigger their brother badly. "I mean she lived in Bereznik, beside where he was kept. Records are sketchy but I have her applying for refugee status around a week after he is supposed to have been shot down. There is no obvious intersect that I can find yet."

"Maybe she worked...There.'

"She's recorded as a school teacher. So I don't think so. Plus she leaves almost as he arrives.... It doesn't add up to this," he gestured the locked bedroom door, "I'll keep digging."

"There is still one place you haven't looked." The exact location was not spoken but John knew he meant The File.

"He said he'd tell us when he felt he could. We need to give him time. Once we've opened that can of worms..."

"I know. I know." Virgil pinched the bridge of his nose, "I just want to do something. Anything!"

The sudden crash of breaking glass ripped them both from their spots on the floor.
Xxxxxx

Scott had not really been surprised when Gordon had been waiting for him at the head of his favourite running trail. He hadn't meant to break the mirror, or the glass. He'd stood with a calmness he didn't feel as his brothers barrelled into the room. He had held his hands out, had apologised for accidentally losing his temper and walked away.

They hadn't tried to engage him in conversation as they shadowed him out of the villa beyond Virgil asking for confirmation that he wasn't hurt. He wasn't. He was.. He didn't know what he was but he wasn't hurt.

Gordon performing exaggerated stretches explained why he wasn't prevented from his intended course of action. He knew he was exhausted; knew this wasn't his best idea but he was in a roll in the bad idea stakes so why not! If he was to have a babysitter so be it. He needed to move but the intensity of these feelings made him glad of the company and Gordon wouldn't push him to talk. He needed to try and work out what exactly he was feeling before he spoke to his brothers.

The shadows had receded for a moment as he stepped into the evening light. The sounds of gulls circling and Alan shouting at his video game. Home.

"Let's do this Old Man!" Gordon was all bravado. He raised an eyebrow.

Glad of a focus he rose to the bait, "Oh please. You know what happens to fish out of water."

He was rewarded with a genuine laugh. And the atmosphere around him loosened a little. Good. Keep it together, don't spook the brothers. Well, not any more than he already had.

Scott smiled at Gordon and set off at a punishing pace he couldn't hope to keep up for any distance. At least being slightly below his usual fitness meant he would feel the burn he sought quicker. Hard to think about other things when your muscles were screaming in your ear. The ghosts would hopefully have difficulty keeping up.

Gordon kept up a stream of talk, drawing Scott's attention to different things on the trail as they ran. Scott knew what he was doing and was grateful. The part of his brain that was aware of his brother noted with some satisfaction that the Olympian was also feeling the burn, he kept his stream of chatter going but was breathing more heavily.

Gordon watched his oldest brother carefully, he was clearly moving on fumes. He occasionally answered when Gordon asked directly for a response but most of the time he was lost to his own world. Gordon kept going with his monologue though hoping it was helping.

As arranged with Virgil he attempted to gently box Scott in so he took the path back to the villa but Scott was clearly paying more attention than Gordon believed. He simply sidestepped his younger brother, taking the path that led down to the beach instead.

"Come on Scooter, one lap is enough."

Scott didn't answer but his eyes met Gordon's, a good thing Gordon felt, though the haunted look that did not lift with the half smile Scott sent his way, was not. Scott deliberately passed the turn and continued away from the villa. Gordon stopped in the path a moment, hands on his hips breathing deeply, marveling that Scott was still upright.

Scott heard him activate his Comm and report a second lap. Virgil would be worried but he wasn't ready to articulate his thoughts to his brothers and he knew he needed to, that it might help but at the moment he needed the jarring ache and burn of his run more.

His torturers had lied to him. He had believed them; had seen the girl die so vividly. But she hadn't. Of all the things they had done to him this should be the least surely, and yet he was so angry at himself for believing them.

He was pulled back into the past and didn't realise he had fallen forward until a sharp pain in his hand hauled him back from the unforgiving cold, the smell of blood and the taunting voices. He made a fist; the sting helped.

The island.

He could hear the sea. He could also hear language would make a sailor blush, as the aquanaut caught up with him, clearly already on comms to the villa and not impressed.

Gordon. The pain in his hand helped as he took deep breaths.

"Scott?" His brother stopped short of him. "You with me Scooter?"

"Yep" Scott rolled himself over and reached out with his uninjured hand to Gordon who hesitated a moment before helping him sit up. Squatting quietly in front of his eldest brother he watched his face intently,

"You know where you are?"

The shadows were still there distorting things slightly but he had control back again. He gave Gordon a look, "Course I do, John."

A half laugh. Some of the worry left Gordon's face. "Tick one for passing the smart ass test." His tone grew serious again, "Are you hurt?"

"Just my pride."

"Good. Well Virgil is on his way and he's gonna kick both our asses if that's a lie."

Scott dropped his head to his knees. Just great. He recited one of Newton's laws and the opening of the poem again which made him think of Estera alive and smiling at him earlier.

"Beach help?" Gordon was watching him with understanding.

"Yea."

Gordon helped him up and keeping his hand on his shoulder, he steered them the short distance to the beach. Scott's legs were more wobbly than he felt ready to admit. Gordon allowed Scott to lead them a little way from the path and sat in the soft sand beside him their sides touching. He waited.

The waves were lapping steadily and the sun was approaching the horizon. A single gull cried then dove into the water. Scott tracked it.

"What's going on, Scooter?"

Scott blew out a deep breath, tightening his fist so the bite of pain and the warm touch of his brother's shoulder against his side held him there. The gull re-emerge a flash of silver in its beak.

"Finding it hard to keep where I am straight tonight."

"Ok. What do you need?"

"This. This is good."

"Do you know why?"

"Yea. Think so... I mean, yea." He took a couple of deep breaths, Gordon watched the horizon giving him space. "I saw someone... Today... It's just brought up some stuff."

"The girl?"

Scott turned to look at him at that, receiving a half smile and a little shrug, "You have a," he made a vague motion with his hand, "moment, on a mission. Come home and then leave without telling anyone, going dark after having Eos hack war records." He took a deep breath, bringing a hand up to run through his hair, an anxious motion he did when stressed, a tell of the true emotions below the joking tone. "Did you honestly think John wouldn't have ripped the world apart to find out what you were doing?"

He should have expected no less. What would he have done in their shoes? Everything. "I'm making a mess of this." He didn't clarify what this was but Gordon didn't seem to need him to.

"It's ok. We know you're trying and we've got you while you figure it out. Just maybe don't cut Comms, Virgil's hair is gonna start falling out."

Scott huffed a laugh. Gordon grinned back at him waggling his eyebrows. "Seriously though, she must be some girl."

Anything Scott could think to say was cut short by the sound of running feet, so he simply cuffed Gordon on the back of the head, enjoying his exaggerated yelp. Virgil and John appeared, slowing to gauge what was happening if they could stretch without stepping Scott. Gordon waved them over.

Virgil came to a stop in front of Scott, blocking his view of the sea. Concern radiated off him, "What happened? Gordon says you fell?"

Scott dug deep and patiently allowed the obligatory scanner to be passed over him. He owed Virgil this much. No, he hadn't passed out. Yes he was fine. No he hadn't hit his head. Yes he was sure. He tripped. His hand?

Scott looked blankly at Virgil who very gently lifted his left hand up to look at it. Now Scott thought about it, it felt sticky. Oh. That.

"Open it up, Scotty." Gentle fingers rubbed his own until he unclenched his fist. He hadn't been aware of the sharp stone he'd been clutching. Blood oozed thickly from a number of tiny cuts. He let the stone drop. Virgil was watching him with a look Scott couldn't quite place. He took his eyes off Scott's face and examined the hand carefully. "This doesn't look bad. I'll get it cleaned up but I don't think you need stitches or anything." He dug in the first aid kit he'd brought slung over his shoulder.

John caught Virgil's eyes and motioned with his head; Virgil seemed to understand his meaning and angled himself so Scott could once again see the ocean. The astronaut then came and sat on the other side of Scott, another shoulder touching his, more support. Scott lent slightly into him, hissing when Virgil poured a liberal amount of antiseptic over the open cuts.

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologising for things not your fault." Virgil squeezed the hand he held while the other two leaned against him. Scott closed his eyes again. He felt safe, safe enough to think about the day's events. She was alive. He hadn't failed. He let that truth wash over him.
Xxxxxxx

Chapter Text

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Virgil paused at the terrace door and watched as Scott positioned himself on a lounger by the pool. The return walk from the beach had been slow, Scott's attempts to work himself into near exhaustion having proved fairly successful. At least he seemed to be back from wherever he had kept going since his return. More present.

Gordon was sitting beside him talking about something, Scott was smiling a strange haunted half smile but he was engaging and Virgil would take that for the win.

John came and stood beside him. "Alan's on a call with some of his friends, they will be shooting zombies for a while. We had a chat about Scott, he understands as much as anyone can, he's very mature about it actually," John sighed, "Worried, but one of his friends has a dad who was a veteran so they've exchanged notes."

Virgil rubbed a hand over his face. They stood in silence for a beat.

"Max has that all cleared up. You'd never know anything had happened." He rubbed a hand across his face, he would not forget the fear felt in that moment quite so quickly.

"Penny has done a bit of digging on the ground. The girl seems to be exactly as she seems. She passed all the security checks but Penny's had no more joy than us on working out specifics. No ulterior motives so that's something."

Virgil didn't comment. Maybe Scott would explain, maybe they'd never fully understand. He was going to have to try and be ok with that

He walked out to his brothers, exchanging a look with Gordon who gave the tiniest nod. Scott wasn't really paying attention to them, fingers restlessly poking at the bandage Virgil had wrapped round the cut palm. Virgil had used more gauze than strictly necessary for that exact reason.

"Ok, bro. I'm gonna go and leave you to it."

Any doubt that Scott could hear them was dispelled as his hand shot out to catch Gordon's wrist as he went to leave, "Thanks, Squid."

Gordon threw a mock salute and disappeared through the door, clapping John's shoulder as he passed and John turned to follow him, the two crossing the lounge towards the kitchen, Gordon's arm slung across John's shoulders.

"You drew the short straw?" Scott's voice was weary.

"You know me, never lucky."

Scott smiled at him, it not quite reaching his eyes

"We good out here or do you want to go in?"

"Good here, Vee. Want to see the sky."

"Ok then." Virgil pulled the lounger next to Scott until they were closer and settled down beside him brother. Then he waited.

"I can hear you thinking."

Virgil just turned to meet his eye, lifting one eyebrow.

Scott took a deep breath, lifting his face to the sky which was gradually darkening overhead.

"I know I've messed up, Vee. I just... I'm sorry...I can't... I'm sorry."

He turned himself so he was sitting on the edge of the lounger facing his brother. Virgil turned to mirror him. Not speaking but moving so their legs were touching. Still he waited. Scott dropped his head, concentrating on the fingers still worrying at the bandage.

"I shouldn't have left and I shouldn't have cut comms...I just...I had to know... and I, I didn't think... It was selfish of me... But I couldn't... I'm sorry..." He looked up at this seeking Virgil's face though not quite meeting his eye. Virgil still waited, his own hands moving now to cover and still the agitated movement of Scott's.

Again the eyes skittered away from Virgil's face. "You know I'd never..." he trailed off hands seeking to move despite Virgil's gentle containment.

"I know that, Scotty. We know that. But," he blew out a deep breath, "do you know how scary it is when you stop responding?" Scott's eyes flew back to Virgil's face, reading the truth of that statement there. "And we understand sometimes you need space and don't want to talk and that's ok. But the idea that you might ACCIDENTALLY hurt yourself because you are having a flashback? That's terrifying."

He stopped, letting the full impact of his eyes sink in, aware that he had Scott's full attention at this moment.

"After the cave in? You didn't know me for a moment, Scott. You weren't there. And then you took off in One before I knew what was happening! We didn't know what to think!"

He didn't mention the fear Scott hadn't recovered enough to recognise his brother's ship nor did he discuss the glass shards that had covered the bedroom floor. If he'd been less aware after each incident? Virgil shuddered visibly.

Scott stood at this point shaking off Virgil's touch. He needed to move. He paced away from Virgil who followed slightly behind, afraid he'd pushed too far.

Suddenly Scott turned to face him, "I'll do better."

Virgil reached out to him, "We'll do better. We're all in this with you, Scotty."

Scott's face crumpled in grief, "'m sorry. 'm so sorry. 'm sorry." The rest of the rush of words was cut off as Virgil closed the distance between them pulling his brother into a crushing hug as his own fear spilt down his face.

How long they stood like that Scott mumbling apologies into his shirt while he whispered countering reassurances Virgil wasn't sure. When he felt Scott's legs start to buckle he manoeuvred them towards their loungers again. Not breaking contact, he lowered them to sit, arranging them gently so that he still held Scott in an embrace.

Scott was drifting and Virgil decided he would be content to sit like this until morning if it gave his brother some peace and rest. He kept his fingers gently carding through the hair at the back of Scott's neck while his mind flew to solutions ideas of new tech and failsafes; surely with this many geniuses at his disposal they could think of something. He was just constructing a theoretical panic button of some description to feed off a biometric reading when Scott spoke.

"I didn't recognise her at first." Virgil stilled holding his breath in case he broke Scott's resolve to speak by reacting. "It was the way she stood. So weird. I..."

Scott pulled back from Virgil straightening to hold himself upright instead of leaning on his brother. His hands found each other  and began the nervous rubbing and pulling again. Virgil stayed still- keeping contact between their bodies but not reaching to touch Scott, although he ached to pull him into another hug.

"I might have been wrong... That's why...I didn't want to tell you, in case you thought..." A deep breath. "I'm sorry, Virgil. I...I just needed to know." He paused turning to look at Virgil for the first time since he'd started to speak. "I thought she was dead." His voice was so soft Virgil had to strain to hear it clearly.

The engineer's breath caught in his throat. The agony on his brother's face. Scott's hands fisted tight and the small part of Virgil's mind not attempting to imagine how painful this was for his brother to recount made a note to check the wounds on his palms and rewrap them when he could. He reached out to touch Scott but the other man shrank back. Virgil's heart shattered even more.

"I was told... They...I believed them, Vee. That she'd.. That... That it was my fault... That she was dead because of me."

He trailed off, the silence leaving Virgil's mind free to conjure the horror of this for himself.

He swallowed deeply and went on, "I can see her body, but it's not real." He brought his fists to cover his eyes and lent forward. Despair radiating off him.

Now Virgil did reach for Scott, anchoring him to the lounger in case he fled, to the present, and to him. "Scotty." He spoke so gently. His words were pure instinct, "But she's not?" A question almost testing to see if Scott had forgotten that fact in his muddled thoughts.

His brother's sudden smile was almost jarring compared to the despair of moments before. "No. She's not. They.. she wasn't hurt."

Virgil smiled gently back, "I'm really glad."

Scott nodded, then seemed to disappear for a moment. Virgil watched keeping his breathing steady and measured, "Scooter?"

The haunted expression was back, "I..I believed them. I believed what they said... It.." his face was hidden by his hands again and Virgil took his arm and gently pulled them down, Scott turned to meet his eyes for a brief moment before his gaze ricocheted off to the distance again. But that second was enough to show Virgil blue eyes so pain filled he wanted to burn the country responsible out of all existence. "How could I have been so ... So stupid? It... Mattered..." He dropped his head again.

Virgil took another deep breath determined but struggling to hide his anger in case Scott misinterpreted it in his fragile state. Taking a deep breath and praying for the right words he spoke gently but in a tone that had Scott's wavering eyes finally fixed on his.

"I need you to listen to me Scott. I can't begin to understand what this all means to you, but this girl being alive...That sounds like a good thing." He started to rub circles on Scott's back as he sagged at this. "As for believing them?" He spat the last word with the contempt it deserved, "They were cruel and evil and you were hurt and trapped. I don't think you can blame yourself for not questioning what they told you." The simple cruelty of this and the damage it had so clearly done hurt Virgil deeply; he dug deep forcing himself not to react. Scott didn't need his anger now.

Scott's expression was still haunted but something else flickered there, a desire to believe what Virgil was saying. "I can see her... Her body... Like I was there," his voice still barely above a whisper. Virgil forced himself to stay relaxed, he'd destroy a punch bag in the gym later.

"Can you picture her as she was this afternoon?"

A slight  frown met this question and Scott concentrated hard. "Yea."

"Good. Can you hold on to that image, instead?"

Scott looked away again, back down at his hands where he had a section of the wrapping worked free and was now unravelling it at the seams. "I just... feels weak...What other lies did I believe, Vee?"

Virgil stayed silent. Continuing to stroke circles on Scott's half turned back. When he spoke it was with more conviction than before, "I don't know, Scott. I really don't. But I know important lies they will have told you and you didn't believe and I will be forever grateful for that."

Scott's head turned sharply to him. Eyes one again locking with Virgil's, confusion evident, "What?"

"That you were alone. That help wasn't coming. That you would die there." His voice broke slightly, "That you weren't strong enough to survive.".

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Scott pulled his baseball bat down lower on his head and adjusted his aviators as he pushed the door to the plush office building open and stepped out into the crisp spring air. It wasn't that he was embarrassed about where he'd just been, it was more that he always felt worn out and a little vulnerable after he'd had a session with Patricia, especially given the events of the last couple of days. He did not need some paparazzi getting a lucky shot.

He moved swiftly across the little courtyard and into the park beyond, glad of the quiet around him.

After his unscheduled trip and subsequent... Issues, he'd had a couple of really honest talks with, well all of his brothers. As after his illness, he tried to be more open; he wasn't great at it, but he was trying. There was still a lot he couldn't share but then he didn't have to give details to explain certain feelings he had when he was triggered.

He'd not explained about Estera except what he'd already shared with Virgil. He didn't really know her but had believed she was dead and seeing her had triggered some things.  He couldn't share more and they didn't ask him to. They had however insisted he go immediately back for a face to face with the renowned therapist and so here he was in the UK for the second time in a week.

A quiet talk with Alan in particular had been eye opening. Of course the micro genius of the house had not missed what was happening, he'd been pleased to finally be allowed to give Scott a list of suggested strategies he'd researched to help. Scott felt both proud and devastated at the same time. His baby brother shouldn't have to be researching strategies for hacking PTSD.

He felt good though. Well, at least this time he wasn't recovering from a serious illness, ok Virgil might point out he wasn't fully recovered yet, however, he felt well this time. As he'd discussed with Patricia, Estera being alive was a positive thing. Now the past seemed back where it should be and would hopefully stay for the foreseeable, he wasn't naive he knew this was only one of his many issues and things could trigger him again. He gave the golden retriever walking happily with his elderly master a wide berth, but despite that he found himself feeling positive today.

Pausing for a moment he, pulled out his Comm and typed a reply to the message he'd received a couple of days earlier.

'Hi Estera, sorry I didn't get back to you immediately. I wasn't well, but I'm doing better now. I'm glad we met. Maybe we could catch up again sometime in the future. Look after yourself, S

He finished and looked up smiling as Virgil descended upon him with a couple of coffee cups. Falling into step beside him, Virgil handed over one of the cups and draped his arm across his older brother's shoulders. "All good?"

Scott smiled at his brother's deliberately casual tone.  "Relax, Vee. I'm fine!"

Virgil barked a laugh giving Scott a look as he steered them towards a little wooded area.

Scott rolled his eyes. "Ok. I'm tired, it's... exhausting talking about" he waved his hand vaguely, "but, yea," he shrugged. "I think I'm making more sense of recent events. It'll take time, but yea, I'm feeling ok."

Virgil's smile was wider, his concern lifting some. They walked on a little further in companionable silence. Virgil stopped at a fork in the path pausing to look at Scott, "You want to head back and rest or press on?"

Scott considered. He had had enough of thinking about things over the last few days. Time enough to think about it all later, "I'm good to press on I think. Where are they?"

They reached the edge of the trees and a wide green expense opened up. As if on cue Alan came sprinting into sight, laughing loudly with Gordon in hot pursuit. Clearly engaged in a disagreement about the ownership of the red bobble hat being held aloft. Both older brothers smiled and waved as the Terrible Two careered past with cries of, "Hey Scooter!"

Scott spotted John, wool coat fastened tightly in protest at the not tropical island weather, sitting on a bench reading a paperback. He looked up and motioned for them to join him.

A squawk from behind them indicated that Gordon had indeed caught up with Alan and the two were now rolling around on the slightly damp grass. The three older brothers sat and regarded them dispassionately.

"Should we go before one of them catches pneumonia?" Virgil inquired casually.

"Nah," John turned to his book. "Let them kill each other. Think of the savings on food."

Alan had now scrambled upright still in possession of his hat but now missing a trainer. "Gordon has booked us tickets to the theatre for this evening," John said causing Virgil to groan.

"I am not watching an all nude performance of anything ever again." He closed his eyes shuddering theatrically at the memory.

Scott grinned. Sandwiched between his two best friends, he let the conversation wash over him. Relaxing.

"In his defence I don't think he realised the entire thing would be performed naked," John was prepared to give their brother the benefit of the doubt.

"Oh I think he did."

In the distance the terrible two had tired of wrestling and wandered towards the small lake and its ducks. No doubt Gordon would fall in as almost all past experience suggested. Scott let himself relax and enjoy the chaos of his brothers just being together.

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Strong arms held him in their painful grip. The girl stood, the danger swirled around them. The pain still felt real, the darkness was coming to claim him, it was inevitable but this time as he watched the girl lifted her chin in defiance and smiled at him; her entire face was transformed into something beautiful, then she turned on her heels and ran.

He woke gasping and covered in sweat; but she was alive.

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Chapter Text

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Estera

Was good to meet you today. Here is my number. I hope you’re doing ok? Estera

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Scott

Hi Estera, sorry I didn’t get back to you immediately. I wasn’t well, but I’m doing better now. I’m glad we met. Maybe we could catch up again sometime in the future. Look after yourself, S

Estera

Hi Scott, thanks for your message, I was glad to hear from you, but sad to hear you’ve been unwell. I’m sorry if I have made things more difficult for you. It would be nice to keep in touch if it was helpful to you. Estera

Scott

Please don’t be sorry, Estera. It’s not your fault at all.

Are you doing ok?

Estera

Yes I’m fine thank you

Scott

Ok. Well, if you ever need anything or you want to talk, I’m here. S

Estera

That’s kind, thank you Scott

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“Your anger is distracting you, Estera.”

She lay panting on her back where she’d fallen, and pressed her knuckles into the coolness of the mat desperately trying to keep her mind in the present. She was at the leisure centre, the distant ceiling had huge silver ventilation tubes snaking across it. The rhythmic squeak-wheeze of the trampolines at the other end of the hall contrasted the irregular thump of shoulder and slap of hand on tatami mats close by. She could smell sweat and chalk. She could taste… blood. Aaah no, she’d bitten the inside of her cheek again and now that was going to irritate her for days.

Her teacher dropped to one knee and offered a hand. Estera pretended she hadn’t noticed and pushed herself to her feet unaided. She didn’t need anyone being kind to her right now. It might unlock a floodgate she’d be unable to force closed again.

“You ok?”

“Yes. Again.”

“I think perhaps it’s best if we call it a day there”

“Again. Please, I want to master this.”

The teacher cocked an eyebrow, but nodded. Estera bowed and made herself ready. Physically ready anyway. Hopefully muscle memory would compensate for today’s lack of mental discipline

She lasted longer this time, but the inevitable bone rattling thud as she hit the floor came all too soon. She forced herself upright and back into the ready position but a third voice intervened.

“Enough.”

She turned and bowed alongside her teacher as the master approached, disappointment making her shoulders heavy as she stood up straight. The coral-belted septuagenarian didn’t visit often, but on previous occasions the little girl in Estera had been thrilled to receive a nod of approval from the awe inspiring woman. Today she’d just let herself down. Not good enough.

“You need to sleep and recover your wits.”

Estera barely managed to contain the burst of bitter laughter. Chance would be a fine thing. She knew she was running on fumes and fury and the fumes were dissipating fast.

Dropping her eyes to avoid having to see the evident concern, she bowed to the master and then her teacher and tried to keep her head held high as she walked away, knowing full well the other students had stopped to watch her leave. She threw her coat over her gi and strode confidently through reception to the front entrance trying to ignore the bleeding man pleading with her from the periphery of her vision. She pulled up her hood so he couldn’t see her.

But she could still hear him. And found she could no longer disobey.

And so she ran.

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Scott

Hi, just wondered how you were getting on? How are Alex and co? S

Estera

Hi Scott, the kids are doing really well. They were delighted with the cards, that was a lovely touch. A couple struggled a little with nightmares to start with but seem to be getting better. Most bounced back unscathed. Thank you for asking. Estera

Scott

Very glad to hear that. Kids can be surprisingly resilient!

How about you?

Estera

Oh yes, I’m fine!

Scott

You know that’s usually my line?

Estera

I remember!

Scott

Ha. Yeah, not my finest moment.

Are you sure? Have you got people around if you need to talk about anything?

Estera

Yes, don’t worry :)

Scott

Ok. Take care, yeah?

Estera

I will! You too.

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Estera pressed send and reached out to steady herself as her head spun. She missed, grasped thin air and staggered sideways into the shelves of stationery, cringing as a monsoon of crayons, pencil sharpeners and boxes of junk modelling materials clattered to the floor. Well wasn’t that just what she deserved for hiding in a cupboard and sneaking a look at her messages during the school day? Why had she done that? So unprofessional.

The buzz of chatter outside stopped abruptly and Astra poked a curious head round the cupboard door

“Are you ok, Miss?

“Oh yes, of course - I just knocked a box with my elbow and that knocked into another box which knocked another one… and whoops! Never mind I’ll clear it up.”

“Can we help?”

“Thank you that’s a good idea. Little disasters are often easier to fix if you have help aren’t they?”

“Teamwork makes the dream work Miss!”

Estera nudged the door fully open and pushed the piles of craft devastation out into the classroom and several children leapt into action to return everything to its correct box. She leant heavily on the door frame and looked up to see the narrowed eyes of her classroom assistant. He was apparently not fooled and raised an eyebrow before inclining his head towards the classroom door. She smiled gratefully and accepted the offer of an opportunity to take a brief break, making it to the corridor before the tears fell.

Dizzy again, she slumped against the wall just as the headteacher walked around the corner.

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Scott

Hey, you doing ok? S

Estera

Hi Scott, yes all good here. How are you getting on?

Scott

I’m good, thanks. Pretty late night for you?

Estera

Oh! Yes I guess it is. I couldn’t sleep so watched a film but I’d better get myself to bed - busy day tomorrow!

Scott

Ok sleep well, take care

Estera

And you.

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Sitting rigidly on the park bench outside the GP surgery, Estera frowned at the contents of the paper bag she had clutched in her hand. Sleeping pills and a generic SSRI to take while she crept up the waiting list for some kind of talking therapy. Signed off for 3 weeks. Fine. Predictable.

Fine.

Not as if she hadn’t known what the outcome would be. But her boss had been very firm about her booking the appointment. She’d hoped to fob off the friendly but ever so young-looking doctor with it just being nightmares about the cave in but of course her medical records were right there and Dr Honestly-How-Was-She-Old-Enough-To-Have-a-Degree skipped straight to the point and made a referral for suspected PTSD recurrence. It was likely to be 12 weeks wait to see anyone though. So in the meantime Estera’s job was to not die from sleep deprivation.

Or guilt.

She sighed, not sure she could she even bring herself to take these. She knew the human body needed to sleep but the terror of being trapped in a drugged stupor where the nightmares could torment her without even the safety net of startling herself awake… her hand shook. Then her pocket buzzed.

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Scott

I finally ordered some running shoes from that shop you recommended and you aren’t wrong - it IS like running on a cloud! 🥰 S

Estera

Hi Scott, glad to hear it! Mine have lasted ages as well. Good value.

Scott

I’ll probably destroy them in weeks. I have… form.

Estera

Ha, I can imagine.

Scott

How are you doing Estera? Isn’t it school time for you? Hope I’m not distracting you from my little buddies?

Estera

Ah no, I have the day off today.

Scott

Oh?

Estera

I’d better get on with doing something constructive with it. Bez probably has some ideas! Nice to hear from you, enjoy the shoes!

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Scott

Hey, how’s tricks? S

Estera

Hi, I saw you on the news - it’s brilliant what TI is doing for those schools! Estera

Scott

Hey :) Ah, can’t take much credit, this is Alan and John’s pet project.

Estera

Well you explained it very well on camera.

Scott

I’m glad you think so, I thought I was unbearably awkward!!

Estera

It didn’t show.

Scott

Thanks.

How are things with you?

Estera

Good!

Keeping busy!

How about you?

Scott

Much better thanks to you.

I mean ‘much better, thank you!’

Sorry, autocorrect thinks it’s clever.

Still get some off-days, you know how it is, but I’m back in the air and doing my job again which is good.

Estera

That’s really good to hear, I’m glad for you. And for all the people needing rescuing too!

Scott

Speaking of which… I have to go. Look after yourself, alright?

Estera

Will do.

Be careful!

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Later that evening Scott nursed a long-cold cup of coffee while flicking back and forth through the last month of messages with Estera. There hadn’t been many, just little exchanges every so often when he tried to check in on her. Something felt… off. She was dodging the question every time. Her over-cheery assurances felt uncomfortably familiar.

What if she wasn’t fine?

Patricia had warned him he needed to be careful not to let himself feel responsible for Estera’s welfare, that his lingering sense of failure from before would mean it was easy to overcompensate now, a decade later.

But… how could he not? He pondered her apparent faint in the cave, the more he thought about it the more convinced he was that she too experienced the kind of flashbacks she’d so calmly helped him through. He knew he’d never have made it through without the support of his family, even when he’d spent all his energy trying to push them away and deal with things alone, they’d always caught him as he fell. Scott suspected she was pretty much alone. What if she didn’t have anyone to catch her?

But why would she talk to him? He was little more than a stranger to her even if he felt as if she’d been alongside him for years. Even though he’d felt as if she was the first person ever to really understand there was no guarantee she thought the same. Perhaps he’d been too pushy with all the messages? Was he somehow smother-henning someone from the opposite side of the planet? He paced anxiously.

A reminder popped up in his TI email account. Oh joy, two days of meetings in London next week. He stifled a groan then paused. Maybe he could make the trip more worthwhile? Asking wouldn’t hurt. And if she wasn’t keen then at least he’d know he’d tried his best and could leave it at that.

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Scott

Hey, I’m up your way for a meeting next week. Maybe we could catch up? S

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Chapter Text

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Scott

Hey, I’m up your way for a meeting next week. Maybe we could catch up? S

Estera

Oh I’m sorry, I’m taking the sleeper train to see my sister and her family.

Scott

Treviso, right? Hope you have a wonderful time!

Estera

Well remembered! I’m sorry to miss you, really bad timing.

I’m sorry!

Scott

Stop apologising! Have a Tiramisu for me 😋

Estera

Will do!

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Scott double-checked the date then closed the app and leaned on the balcony, watching the gulls land on Mateo to roost. His forehead creased with worry.

“EOS, could you look up the term dates for Estera’s school for me?”

“The current term ends in 4 weeks. Would you like the dates of the holidays and teacher training days for the next 6 years?”

“No, that’ll do. Thanks EOS.”

“I have also established that Estera Hermaszewska is marked as on sick leave and a substitute teacher has been engaged for 3 weeks starting two days ago.”

“EOS! No! You can’t just… I shouldn’t know that!”

“I thought you would want to know because you are displaying concern for her well-being. The school does not have particularly robust security on its staff records. There is a wealth of information here.”

“Stop. EOS. Please stop looking.”

“I have closed the connection. I am sorry, Scott Tracy, I did not intend to cause you distress. John will be displeased.”

Scott paused. There was a lot to unpack there, but he’d return to it later.

“I should have been more clear, it’s my fault. In future, when I ask you to find something out please would you limit your search to publicly available information unless I specifically ask otherwise?”

“Certainly. May I ask why you wish to restrict your knowledge about your friend’s welfare?”

Scott twitched slightly. “I don’t want to, exactly, but… has John discussed the concept of privacy with you?”

“He has explained we need to protect certain types of data. But I was only telling you and you are her friend.”

“Not really EOS, we barely know each other.” Another pause as he pondered how to explain. “But even if we were very good friends… part of human relationships is finding out about each other FROM each other. I should only know what she wants to tell me. To do otherwise is an invasion of privacy and would just make things… strange.”

“John knows a great deal of information about Estera Hermaszewska and they are not friends.”

Scott sighed. “John is a special case.”

“He has also informed Virgil Tracy, Tanusha Kyrano and Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward.”

“He has, has he?”

“Yes. Perhaps this is a fact he did not intend me to share with you at this time.”

“I suspect so EOS. But thank you for telling me.”

Scott headed indoors, suddenly deeply weary. Sleep was unlikely until he’d figured this one out though, so he turned his back on his own bedroom and made his way to his brother’s studio.

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His big brother had several distinct ways of knocking on his door. All were the same rhythm - Tap-te-TAP-tap - but the volume and speed would give Virgil advanced notice of what kind of mood he was in and a split second to prepare. Right now Scott was… unsure, worried about something. He made sure to add as much warmth and encouragement to his “come in Scotty” as he could.

“You always know it’s me.”

“Yep, it’s all the spy cameras I have set up… I’m kidding, Scott.” The brotherly eyebrows relaxed back into merely confused mode. “What’s up?”

“Can’t I just want to hang out?”

Virgil raised an eyebrow. Scott sighed.

“I have a bit of a…. Quandary.”

He watched his brother’s face as he explained. When he wasn’t deliberately shutting himself down, or focusing on his board meeting poker face, Scott was an open book. To Virgil at least. His expression and the intonation of his voice could provide more detail than the words did.

“It sounds like you made it clear to EOS, it shouldn’t happen again?”

“But that’s not the point. I know now. She’s sick, Virg, and I’m sure it’s something to do with… well… the same as I was. Because of meeting me. What if I made her dig all that stuff up but she doesn’t have a… a you to keep her sane while she figures it out?”

Scott paced, gesticulating wildly, and Virgil caught his arm as he passed, pulling him in for a hug. His brother was trembling with pent up energy.

“Well first off, well done for not leaping in a plane and rushing to try to fix her.”

His brother let out an explosive laugh. “You know me so well.” A pause, then more quietly “I really want to. But I know that would be weird and counter-productive. I just feel so…” he sagged “Responsible. I can’t just ignore this. I can’t just abandon her!”

“I don’t think you have to.” He pulled back a little to look up into his brother’s face. “Scott, when you were struggling but not ready to talk to us, what helped?”

“Hugs.”

Virgil squeezed him a little tighter. “What else?”

Scott broke away to recommence the pacing, palming the miniature rubix cube Virgil kept handy for him on a shelf and rattling through the algorithm to solve it. Reaching the far end of the room he spun on his heel and met Virgil’s eye.

“Two things I think. Distraction. Things to help me stay grounded. And then… knowing you were there if and when I did want to talk… but you weren’t going to force me.”

Virgil nodded.

“Can you do the same for her?”

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Scott

Why are elevator jokes so good?

Estera

Hi! Err, are they?

Scott

Because they work on so many levels!

Estera

...

That was awful.

Seriously, I hear better from the 6 year olds.

Scott

Aww, that was one of my best.

Estera

That does not bode well.

Scott

I am deeply wounded. 😭

Estera

Oops 🤣

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Scott shed his overcoat and face planted on to the hotel bed, well aware of the expression the overwrought Italian designer of his suit would sport if he could see such abuse. Wrinkles be damned. The way that board meeting had gone it was a miracle he’d not wrecked this latest one with blood stains. Again.

His comm pinged with a picture message. Unusual… he swiped it open.

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Estera

Here is your Tiramisu. I’m afraid I ate it. I would apologise but you told me to stop doing that. Bad luck! Estera

Scott

Excellent work! 😋

Ah, now I’m hungry and have no dessert 😭

Estera

Oops 😂

Scott

You’re on the espressos?!

Estera

You can’t drink cappuccino after 11am here. They’ll arrest you.

Scott

Good intel, I’ll bear that in mind next time I visit.

Estera

Have you been to Italy a lot?

Scott

Outside of rescues? No, actually! There’s no TI branch there and I guess we don’t get a lot of time to travel for pleasure.

Estera

Oh you should, it’s an incredible country.

Scott

Where would you recommend I start?

Estera

I’ll make you a list.

Scott

I look forward to it.

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Scott smiled to himself. Then changed into his civvies, adding a baseball cap and his signature aviators and ventured outside.

Surely somewhere in London sold tiramisu…

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Estera

On the train back. Finished my book already but still 9 hours to go!

Scott

Thunderbird One would do it in 3 minutes…

Estera

You just did the maths didn’t you?

Scott

Yep.

Estera

I’m guessing no restaurant carriage though? Whereas I am now going to go sit and enjoy the view with a coffee and some kind of delicious pastry.

Scott

… TB One does lack pastries.

Estera

I bet your brother has plenty of room for pastries in Two… 😈

Scott

Be right back.

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Estera

Scott, did Thunderbird One just fly over my train?

Scott

… maybe 😁

Estera

?????

Scott

Alan needed to get some more flight hours…

And I wanted pastries.

So we are in Paris getting takeaway.

Estera

The fuel for those things is cheap right?

Scott

Sure.

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Estera

Back at school today - the kids say hi :) I don’t know why they think I have some kind of hotline to the head of International Rescue but they won’t be dissuaded.

Scott

Hi right back atcha kids 👋

Estera

Atcha? What kind of a word is that?

Scott

An… American… one?

Estera

I don’t think it’s valid here.

Scott

Let me try again.

Good afternoon, esteemed juvenile citizens. I extend my compliments for your respective health and happiness.

Estera

You are no longer allowed to talk to the children 😏

Scott

Aw shucks 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

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“Hey Johnny what’s up?”

“Don’t call me Johnny.”

“Sure.” Virgil squinted as he rubbed out a middle C on the score he was drafting and replaced it with the Ab. Ah, perfect. He smiled to himself, he was nearly there with this one.

“Scott sent bagels to the girl.”

“He… bagels?”

“Yes. Bagels.”

Virgil frowned and scrubbed out 4 bars of the bass line. Too derivative.

“Bagels, Virgil.”

“You can’t have every bagel on the planet John, got to let us earthbound types have a few of them.”

“What? That’s not… Virgil! Pay attention this is important!”

Virgil sighed and closed the manuscript. “What are you concerned about John?”

“It’s HER. He’s… getting too… involved. What if…? Look what happened before.”

If he couldn’t already tell from the furrowed brow, John’s uncharacteristic incoherence would speak volumes about how worried he was. And Virgil sympathised, he really did. Worried-about-Scott was a fairly constant state of mind for him too. But this time… he just didn’t see it.

“John, he’s… happy. He’s on form, he’s fit, he’s enjoying himself - that rescue yesterday? He was on fire, honestly. I thought Allie might ask for his autograph at some point. He’s relaxed. He’s laughing again. I think he might actually be sleeping occasionally.” Virgil paused for a moment and experienced a rush of thankfulness as he processed exactly how relieved he was by how things had changed in recent weeks.

“EXACTLY Virgil. We’ve only just got him back! What if she… triggers something? Or… or breaks his heart? What if next time we don’t get him back?”

“I don’t think she’s any more likely to break his heart than anyone else. Remember the Ruby Summers debacle?”

John cringed. That had been a difficult month for anyone within a 2 mile radius of their eldest brother.

“If he’s interested in her romantically he’s moving unusually slowly for him. You know what he’s like. It’s entirely possible he’s just trying to be supportive - they clearly have something in common. He told me she understands things he can’t explain. Don’t you think it’s good for him to have a friend who does?”

“But…”

“Either something will come of it or it won’t, John. And if he gets hurt we’ll be here. Like we would for any of us.”

Holographic shoulders slumped.

“He won’t thank you for interfering, John.”

“I’m not going to!”

“Good.”

His brother’s image winked out while still muttering and Virgil turned back to his manuscript. He chuckled to himself

“Bagels eh? That’s a new one, Scotty.”

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Estera

Can I ask you something?

Scott

Of course!

Fire away

Estera

How do you know my address?

Scott?

Ok, I was hoping that wouldn’t be a complicated question.

Please answer the question.

You can’t, can you?

You see I’m ex-directory, always have been. I opted out.

To stop creepy people looking me up, actually.

My name and address isn’t anywhere public.

Have you had me followed?

Is it the young guy with the ridiculous beard and the labradoodle Bez has befriended on the beach?

It is isn’t it?

I knew there was something odd about him. He was too friendly.

I can’t believe this.

Please stop. I don’t know what kind of person you think I am, but I am not that kind of person.

Ok? I’m not interested in… whatever it is you want.

Please leave me alone.

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8 hours of mudslide hell and Scott was ready to drop. Debrief was postponed until they’d all got some sleep and he hastened to the privacy of his room, opening up the messages app on his comm as he did so. A notification popped up - 15 unread messages.

A little warm glow nestled at the base of his rib cage and he smiled, deciding to go and sit on the balcony under the stars to read them. Maybe with a small measure of whisky. As he poured it he remembered she’d been about to ask him something.

He sat back and toasted the moon then opened the chat as he took a sip.

His blood ran cold.

He put the glass down with a shaking hand and sank his teeth into his fist, desperately trying not to panic. He needed to react calmly and slowly and not like the psychopath she clearly thought he was.

He scanned the messages again and they were even worse on second reading.

Slow be damned. He’d already apparently ignored her for hours. He fired back a message.

Scott

Estera I promise this isn’t what you think it is.

I understand why you think it is but it isn’t.

Please let me explain.

He downed the whisky and started pacing the balcony.

Scott

I haven’t had you followed.

I don’t ‘want anything’ from you.

Please believe me.

The messages remained unread.

“EOS!!”

“Hello Scott”

“EOS which directory did you use to look up Estera’s address?”

“I didn’t use a directory, Scott. I already knew the address.”

Scott closed his eyes. The school staff records. Of course she didn’t need to look it up.

He hadn’t considered EOS would even need to do anything… EOS-ey. It hadn’t occurred to him Estera wouldn’t be in the public directory, most people were these days. Those who weren’t… there was usually a reason.

And now he’d scared her. Which was categorically the last thing on the planet he wanted to do.

He checked again and the messages were still unread. He resisted the urge to throw his comm into the pool and walked quietly back into his room to place it on the bedside table. And then very calmly sat on the side of the bed, picked up the fluffiest cushion in his arsenal and screamed a string of curses into it.

“Scott you are distressed? I am sorry I didn’t mean to upset you. What did I do wrong? Can I fix it please?”

She actually sounded upset. He’d somehow managed to upset the emotionless AI. At what point had John programmed ‘shaky tearful voice’ into his robot friend?

He placed the cushion carefully on his knees, pressed his lips together and shook his head. He opened the message app again. Still nothing.

“No, EOS, you can’t fix it. Please leave me alone now. I need to think.”

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Alan slid across the kitchen floor in his socked feet, cracking the seal on the instant noodles and popping the microwave door in one slick movement. Nice. He put them inside and set the timer before stretching with a loud yawn and a satisfied grin. It wasn’t gourmet but fast food was food and it was fast. 13 seconds later he leapt backwards in surprise as with a loud POOF the packet exploded into flames.

Huh. Maybe the microwaveable noodles weren’t microwaveable after all. He must have messed up and put the wrong kind in. Oops.

Ok, fine. He grabbed one of the slower, ‘just add boiling water’ type instead and flicked the switch on the kettle. The fuse blew immediately. He pouted. Why wouldn’t the universe let him have noodles tonight?

The cleaning bot whirred into life and threw itself down the stairs with a clatter.

Then all the lightbulbs went out one by one.

He stood in the dark, trying not to freak out when he heard a faint, almost childish sob from the lounge and did his best not to whimper as he backed into the corner.

He opened his comm and whispered in a definitely calm and not at all terrified way:

“John… John…? I think we got a haunting situation going on. Please help.”

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John answered his little brother’s call whilst dodging flying bagels and consequently he didn’t entirely understand Alan’s whispered SOS the first time.

Taking cover in the shower cubicle, he asked him to repeat it. The shower switched on at full power and minimum temperature.

“EOS! Please! Can we talk about this?”

There was silence and the lights flickered.

“Alan, I think I know what’s happened. There’s no ghost, I promise. I’ll call you back ok?”

There was a whimper from the other end of the line and an eerily similar one from out in the gravity ring. He poked his head around the door and hoped that this time around he wasn’t about to be crushed to death.

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Scott typed and deleted messages over and over.

What was the point if she wasn’t picking them up?

Why didn’t she have her phone? Had something happened?

She’d been ill… what if it had been more serious than she thought? What if… what if she needed help and nobody was there?

He itched to jump into One and to just go and CHECK. But that would obviously be a terrible idea in the current circumstances.

He glared at his comm, willing the ticks to turn green. And then startled as they did.

Nothing happened for what felt like hours but might have been only moments. Then

✨E s t e r a✨ is typing…

He waited, hardly daring to breathe.

Estera

I’m listening.

Right. You’ve got one shot at this, Tracy.

Scott

Ok… first I’m so sorry for going quiet, we had a long rescue and there just wasn’t chance to check messages. I wasn’t deliberately ignoring you. I hadn’t actually read your question as it popped up just before we launched, if I had I would have answered it as it’s a good question.

Estera

Ok.

Scott

I messed up. A call came in yesterday as I was putting the order through and I had to launch One to rescue some climbers but I didn’t know how long it would take.

I just wanted to make sure you had something you could eat when you woke up. That’s all it was. I was worried I’d miss the delivery slot if I waited so

We have this new PA who is…

She’s great but she takes things very literally and I did not explain adequately. It was my fault.

I asked her to look up your address and add it to the order. She has access to non-public information for some of the stuff we have to do with work and I didn’t think to tell her to restrict her search when it was a personal matter.

I’m sorry, it was a breach of your privacy and I will have words with her on the topic.

I don’t know your address.

And I won’t ever know it unless you tell it to me.

Estera

I see.

Scott

And if anything else I’ve said or done has made you uncomfortable, I apologise.

Honestly I have no ulterior motive here.

I’d like to be friends if you wanted that and I’m here for you if you ever need anything but otherwise…

I just want you to be ok. But I understand if it’s too much.

I know I can be too much

I can back off.

I’m rambling and will shut up now. 😏

Estera

Ok. Thank you for explaining.

I’m going to need to think for a while.

Scott

Sure, whatever you need. No rush from me.

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John’s hologram popped up looking concerned. Scott sighed and bit back an impatient comment.

“I’m fine, John.”

“EOS…”

“Is tattling on me again I assume?”

“No… she’s having some kind of breakdown about upsetting you.”

“Oh. Perfect.”

“What’s up?”

“Personal thing. It’s ok. Don’t worry about it.”

John looked like he was going to argue.

“Please? Just… let me deal with my own stuff ok? I will ask if I need anything. What’s up with EOS? Tell her it’s ok - the misunderstanding was my fault not hers.”

John looked over his shoulder and dropped his voice such that Scott had to stop pacing to hear properly.

“She had a small… tantrum, in the kitchen. I believe Alan is hiding in the cupboard under the sink, could you go and rescue him?”

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He’d like to say he hadn’t been checking for new messages on a 3 minutely basis but it wouldn’t be strictly accurate.

He’d achieved a lot in between the compulsive refreshing though. First he got his big brother face on and coaxed Alan out of the cupboard. Following a brief conversation with John about toning down the “Do Not Upset Scott” aspect of her programming, he reassured EOS she was still his favourite niece and set about replacing the fuse in the kettle. He powered through the GDF paperwork then made precisely 74 chocolate chip pancakes because pancakes were definitely an acceptable substitute for sleep.

3 hours and 26 minutes later there was a soft ping from his comm.

Estera

Hello Scott

A soft voice in the back of his mind that sounded a lot like Virgil murmured “wait…” so he bit his lip and sat on his hands. The “is typing” symbol pulsed at him maddeningly.

Estera

I don’t know what you meant by having “words” but please don’t sack your PA or anything.

Scott

Hi Estera

Oh, no, I wouldn’t do that. It’s a training issue and thus my responsibility to sort out.

Estera

Ok.

Another pause.

Estera

I’m sorry I overreacted.

Scott

I don’t know that you did - it was a reasonable reaction to what you thought had happened.

Estera

Hmm.

Scott

And I’m sorry you were left thinking it so long. I should have said I had to go.

Estera

I should have guessed really. With your job being what it is.

Scott

Maybe. But you were also understandably freaked out so…

Estera

You’re quite an intimidating family you know.

Scott

We are?

Estera

Err yes?!!!!

The thought of being on the wrong side of you guys is… worrying.

When I thought… well. I didn’t know how I could escape. I was scared.

Scott

I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say really except we aren’t exactly the vengeful type.

But I don’t want you to think you have to be on any side of us… or of me.

If you want I can just say it was good to meet you, I’m glad that we both survived and wish you well.

Estera

Hmm would be kind of sad though.

Scott

Why is that?

Estera

I guess I’d miss the awful jokes…

Scott

Well fortunately I have an almost infinite supply of them.

Estera

I suspect I will live to regret saying that

Scott

Ha! 🤣

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Estera

Why could nobody see the seagull?

Because it was in da skies!

Scott

I hereby award you Level 1 Dad Jokes.

Estera

Is there a badge?

Scott

I’ll look into it.

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Scott grinned to himself and opened up a comm channel.

“EOS?”

“Yes Scott?”

“You’ll like this one…”

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Chapter Text

It had been a week. Not a bad week but long, busy and exhausting. Friday evening had felt like it would never come. But it did in all its glorious promise of a lie in and not much to do. Bliss.

On her evening walk with Bez she had decided to treat herself to a rare take away pizza to enjoy on the sofa.

Showering quickly she pulled on her comfiest PJ’s and pulled her hair into a messy bun. She had a pile of exercise books to mark but they could wait till later.

The pizza was delivered and Bez joined her on the sofa and she treated him to a slice of pepperoni off the top of the steaming cheese.

Yum.

Settling back against the cushions she flicked on the TV. Glancing at her phone she had two new messages- Fiona at the salon wanting to know if she could move her appointment to later in the week; that would be fine; a work group chat trying to organise a night out for one of the classroom assistants who was leaving, she made her suggestions for the present and made sure she muted the chat. There was nothing else and she realised she was a little disappointed that there were no new messages from her contact, Blue.

Her last message, just a silly ‘it’s Friday’ gif, had been sent but was still unread. Not unusual. Oh well.

She was still trying to narrow down where exactly in the world he was based. To be fair she hadn’t asked and she imagined he would tell her, at least roughly if she did. She was content to leave that mystery for later.

The more insight she gained into his world the more she realised how many plates he had in the air. International Rescue was possibly one of the most straightforward parts of his life. The juggernaut that was TI seemed to consume a lot of his waking hours, she frequently found they had little exchanges when he was distracting himself from paperwork- he was as bad as some of her pupils sometimes. She smiled slightly remembering his mock outrage the time she’d pointed that out.

She realised that she rather enjoyed their little exchanges. Rarely long and mostly about day to day nonsense, with a probably unhealthy number of dad jokes being exchanged. She was learning little bits about his family, his brothers and little snippets of their lives and Scott’s pride in all of them. Their messages broke the monotony and he understood things, things unspoken and occasionally alluded to. She was glad the earlier misunderstandings had left no lingering awkwardness. She was... embarrassed her lack of trust in men and paranoia almost destroyed what was such a lovely new friendship.

He thought he might be in London in the next couple of weeks and there was a good chance they’d be able to have a coffee and a walk or something. That would be nice, she found the fact he was alive... she considered the rather complex emotions surrounding their finding each other...helpful, her brain finally supplied.

It had taken her a while but her referral to speak to someone had finally reached the top of the queue and she was seeing a counselor, a lovely competent woman who was helping her recognise her guilt in what happened to Scott Tracy was misplaced. It was not easy and she still had the nightmare, especially if she was stressed but...things were improving.

She knew he’d had some issues after they first met and occasionally they had frank exchanges, usually when one or other of them couldn’t sleep and the other was an understanding distraction. That felt good, that they could talk; finally something useful to come from her past.

She took a quick picture of Bez with the pizza box which might make him smile, she’d send it to him if he got in touch later, proof she knew how to live the high life. Settling back contently against the soft cushions with Bez as a seriously weighted blanket, she settled down to watch a movie.

Flicking through the stations she paused on a news channel and watched as an aging rock star accepted some kind of award before the news reader came in to recap the top news stories. Her finger stopped as she went to change the channel because there on the screen was footage of International Rescue and Estera froze, half eaten pizza forgotten as she watched Scott Tracy plummet from the sky.

Her heart leapt to her throat. That did not look good. She turned up the volume but the newscaster had nothing useful to say. The camera was too far away for the images to be clear and the view was partially obscured by the other buildings. The figure could be seen plummeting to the ground between the two skyscrapers.

He disappeared from view just before he would have impacted the ground. The brother in the yellow sash, Gordon her brain helpfully supplied thanks to her pupil’s current obsession, could be seen running towards his fallen brother, clearly desperate to reach him. The person filming was interrupted by a hand, obviously being moved back by police and the footage clearly jumped several minutes to show a wider angle as Thunderbird craft in attendance at the building site rose into the air and jetted off at top speed.

She flicked across the networks- all were showing the same dramatic footage on a loop. The figure plunged from sight on every channel.

Estera felt sick.

One channel had a grainy photograph of a stretcher being loaded into the large green ship the brothers in the yellow and green flanking a still form, only a mop of chestnut hair visible. The news programme helpfully zoomed in on this detail.

It was him.

It was him lying so still after that terrible, terrible fall. What if he...

She bit down on her fist as the image of him being held by the thugs intent on beating him to death in her place filled her mind. Bez moved to stand in front of her, licking her hand bringing her back from her thoughts. She breathed deeply in and out.

The crafts had not been seen at any of the major hospitals, that was a good thing. The pundits speculated that IR must have a medical facility at their base of operations as they only used the hospital facilities when one of their number was gravely injured. Estera did not find that comforting.

She kept flicking one newsfeed and then another. Each one showing the fall, some in slow motion.

No, no, no, no!

She was pacing now.

Muting the TV, she turned on her tablet and searched for information. The fan sites were all catastrophising. International Rescue had not issued a statement which most self appointed experts felt was a positive sign or, Estera dragged a hand through her hair in despair, a negative one depending on which blog you looked at.

There had to be some way she could find out if he was ok!

She sent a message to his number – it hung undelivered in the chat. Ok. So that meant what? His phone wasn’t on. That didn’t necessarily mean anything, yet in that moment it seemed to suggest everything.

Bez whimpered at her obvious distress and she fell to her knees burying her face and hands in his long soft fur. This was ridiculous. She had barely even begun to get to know the man.

Yet...

He was a friend. She couldn’t sit here and not know if he was fighting for his life somewhere. Not again.

She had one potential option. The idea came to her, ridiculous but... In the background the TV showed the still of the stretcher- they had enhanced it and she could make out a hand hanging limply off the side. She shut the TV off and threw the remote control at the wall. Bez turned his large head and nudged her, whimpering at her obvious distress.

“I know, Bez.” She held him tight for another moment. “Ok. Pup. This is so silly, but I can’t...I have to know.”

She lifted her phone, the message was still undelivered. Ok then.

Ok.

She took a deep breath, her hands were trembling. Her pupils were very clued in on the way to connect to International Rescue after the cave in. So much so sure felt the need to impress on excitable minds that like calling the fire bridge, this process was for serious emergencies like being stuck in a cave in. She was ignoring her own rules on that and being ludicrous, but...she took a deep breath and spoke, “Calling International Rescue. I.. That is..I need to speak to International Rescue.”

Chapter Text

John leant against the wall of the infirmary and watched as Grandma and Virgil fussed over his oldest and youngest brothers. They would both be fine but it had been a more dramatic rescue than he would have liked.

He rubbed a hand over his face- yelling at his unconscious brother to fire his jet pack as he fell 20 storeys from the deathtrap of a partially constructed skyscraper had not been good for his nerves. That Scott had managed to recover enough to fire the pack at the last moment, saving his life was testament to both Scott’s skill and Brain’s engineering. If Scott hadn’t woken in time... John shuddered slightly, blaming his recent reentry on the chill he felt at that thought. He’d been on time to save himself from catastrophic injury but not soon enough to prevent a painful slam into the ground. As it was his brother had earned himself a night in the infirmary as the bruises bloomed all over his body and Grandma kept watch for concussion. Miraculously that seemed the extent of his injuries.

Alan had a confirmed minor concussion and a sprained wrist and as many bruises as his hero- if Scott hadn’t grabbed him when he did... John sighed.

Virgil glanced at him from where he was adjusting the drip in Alan’s arm. “You ok?”

“I’m fine.” John moved from his position, into the space at Alan’s bedside Virgil vacated. He sat on the recliner and gave his baby brother an encouraging smile. “You’re ok, Allie. It’s ok to sleep now.”

Alan, at this moment looking every inch the boy he still was, smiled back groggily. “’m fine.”

John ran a hand through the blond hair. “I know, Allie.” He took the slightly restless hand and gave it a squeeze. The Tracy stubbornness was as strong with this brother as his hero in the next bed. John looked across to the sleeping Scott, the bruising on his face from where the helmet hit would leave him with an impressive shiner.

The only positive thing was that Alan’s presence in the infirmary made Scott less of a flight risk. That and the fact Grandma had negotiated with her eldest grandson and he’d agreed to accept a shot of the ‘better stuff’ as Virgil had phrased it, which meant that even with his wacky metabolism it was unlikely he’d be stirring for several hours, at which point he be released to his own room to rest. Even with that, Virgil and John would keep watch over both until then. Alan would need to be woken and checked periodically and you could never be completely sure with Scott. He was always triggered by time in the infirmary and the drugs could mess with him physically and mentally in unexpected ways but, John was pleased to note, he’d been calm and coherent when he came to and had agreed to the medication without much argument. Still it didn’t hurt to have someone on hand should he wake disorientated. That Grandma had agreed to allow her grandsons to keep watch in her place for a while showed that she was content with their conditions. She kissed all four boys on the forehead, gave final instructions to Virgil to get her immediately if anything changed and left them to it.

Alan finally drifted off and John settled his brother’s hand on the sheets before him sitting back in the chair and regarding Virgil standing over the other bed afixing a monitor to the sleeping commander’s finger.

John raised an eyebrow and Virgil merely shrugged, “You saw that fall. I just...” He shrugged again.

John held his hands up. He had seen the fall, probably would again that night. “I swear between these two I’m going to be bald.”

Virgil scrubbed a hand over his face. John didn’t comment as the medic reached Scott’s wrist, fingers gently seeking his pulse despite the monitors reassurance. “If it wasn’t for his freak reflexes, “

Whatever John had been going to reply was cut off by his Comm, “Eos.” He motioned to Virgil who joined him as he stood and moved away from the beds so as not to disturb their occupants.

The AI had been monitoring the media Circus. The footage of Scott’s fall had been live streamed and as such there was little they could do to put that genie back in the bottle. Eos had removed all but one photograph of the incident. There was only so much that could be done without raising real questions about how it was done. So far there had been no reports of Alan’s injury and they were keen to keep it that way. “Go ahead, Eos.”

“There is a call for you.”

John frowned, “What? We’re not responding to calls, you know that, Eos. IR won’t be launching again today, pass it on to the necessary local agencies.”

“It’s not that kind of situation, John. I do believe you will want to take this call.”

Virgil raised his eyebrows at John who gave an exasperated sigh at his daughter’s increasing joy at being cryptic. Virgil however was curious, “Patch it through Eos.” That earned him a glare from John. However he accepted the inevitable.

“You’re through to International Rescue, please state the nature of your emergency.”

“I... Well. I mean. It’s not an emergency....I mean, well ok.” It was a woman’s voice. She sounded, John was used to reading these calls, upset? There was a thud and a muffled curse?

John and Virgil exchanged a look.

“Miss, please state the nature of your emergency.” What on earth was Eos thinking. “Are you in danger?”

“What? No. I mean.... I...Scott. I’m calling to ask about Scott. If he’s ok. I mean the fall. That fall looked really really bad and I just...I mean...” The words came out in a rush and then just stopped.

“I’m sorry who is this?”

“Estera. I’m Estera.” Virgil’s eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline as he mouthed, “It’s her!” To an equally surprised John.

I’m sorry I should have said. I... We’re, we’re friends. Kind of. I just, that fall. And his comm is off and I just...” There was a deep breath before the speaker rushed on. “I just need to know if he’s ok. And I thought, well, I hoped maybe you could tell me. Please.” There was a desperate note in her voice that seemed genuine.

“Estera? Yes, Scott has mentioned he’d kept in touch with you.” John spoke slowly his hands moving across the tablet in front of him. Eos already had the caller ID traced and confirmed. This was indeed Estera Hermaszewska. John took a moment to consider. The fact that Scott had shared nothing of their history, beyond that they met ‘There’ made John uneasy. He was monitoring the situation, from a distance, discreetly keeping a watch over the frequency of their interactions, obviously not the content, even he wasn’t that ruthless. He was however, monitoring to see if he noticed changes in Scott’s behaviour that could be linked to their conversations. He was skirting the edges of Scott’s privacy, but then he had a different view on such matters when it came to his brother’s safety.

In honesty, Virgil seemed right, Scott was doing much better than he had been. There were still moments, obviously but, for the most part John’s darker fears about the growing relationship had not proved accurate. He did dislike it when Virgil was right, but was hopeful he would continue to be. John also had compassion for the young woman who had this dark experience in common with his brother.

At the same time there was a certain set of protocols to be navigated, “I’m sorry but we can’t give out personal information on our operatives.”

A pause. A shaky breath, “No. Of course. Sorry. It’s just,” her voice became determined, “I don’t need details just that he is not dead, not in danger.” There seemed to be an implicit ‘again’ in her words that spoke of their brother’s unknown history with this woman. Then a slightly more desperate, “Please.”

Virgil motioned to him and they had a silent conversation. Did they give her any information? Virgil tipped his head. Agreed then.

“I can confirm Scott isn’t in any danger.’

“He’s not?” A gasp of air. The voice was suddenly warm with relief, “Oh that’s good. That’s good. Thank you!.... I’m glad.” There was the sound of movement as if she was pulling herself up to stand. “I thought....” There was a pause then she went on, “I mean how is that possible. Actually scratch that, sorry... I didn’t mean to ask.” Virgil made encouraging keep talking signals with his hands, John ignored him. But then decided to take pity, there was something a little bit endearing about her, “He’s extremely thick headed,” John felt some of her relief rubbing off on him, it had been quite a spectacular fall.

This caused a sudden laugh on the other end of the Comms.

John smiled. His tone was warmer when he spoke. “He managed to save himself in the last moment; he is bashed up but nothing serious. Our medic is confident he’ll be back to normal in a few days.”

“Oh good. I know he hates...” She seemed to select her words carefully, “being injured. I imagine you have your work cut out making him take care of himself.”

It was John’s turn to laugh slightly, “Yes”

Virgil’s eyebrows would need to be coaxed off the roof at this rate.

A relieved breath over the comm.

“Thank you for telling me, I mean... I’m sorry I probably shouldn’t have called I just...”

“That’s ok. Miss...”

“Estera, Estera’s fine.” She cut him off before he could finish.

“Are YOU alright, Estera? Are you on your own or with someone” Her desperation turned relief spoke of more than was being said, once an emergency responder always an emergency responder.

“I’m fine. It was a bit... But yes.” Then a sudden and unexpected change in her voice, “Zostaw!”

“Przepraszam, czy możesz to powtórzyć?” Virgil didn’t even think John noticed he’d switched languages, he was annoying like that.

“Przepraszam, sorry. Yes. I almost lost my dinner. Bez, he’s... Oh I’m rambling now... This is embarrassing. And you’re... I’m guessing you are John, Scott said you did the language thing.” A huff of air, “I must seem like an idiot.”

Yet another surprise, this call was full of them, John glanced at his brother asleep in the bed who was clearly genuinely talking to this girl much more than they knew, “No, you’re ok. I am indeed, John. I’m guessing Bez is your dog.”

“Yes,” she was amused again, “Great Pyrennes who takes advantage of my distraction and would make a lovely hearth rug.” The last was spoken pointedly, clearly aimed at the gentleman being discussed.
Virgil was grinning now and John rolled his eyes at him then turned away so he wasn’t distracted.

“A pyrennes? That’s a big dog!” He glanced back at Virgil who in turn glanced at sleeping beauty. Scott had not been doing great with dogs again recently.

“He’s just a big hairy pain in the bum,” it was clear from her tone he was a beloved pain. “I’m sorry, I talk too much when I’m nervous or, relieved I guess and I’ve already taken up your time, oh! I’m blocking your emergency line, I really am sorry. But thank you. Thank you for speaking to me, John.”

The use of his name was still a little unsettling but John couldn’t help quite enjoying this random conversation, time to end it though, “You are welcome and I’m sorry you had a scare. We all did to be honest. I’ll let Scott know you were in contact.”

“No! I mean, there’s no need to do that,” John’s eyebrows joined Virgil’s on the ceiling at this, “I mean I was just... and I saw the thing... and what with ..I just...” John’s brain supplied the hand gestures that accompanied the scattered speech, “There’s no need to bother him because I was being silly. I’m sure he’ll get in touch at some point. Thank you again.”

And she was gone.

The two brothers looked at each other in silence for a moment.

“So that’s Estera.”

“So it would seem,” John moved back to his oldest brother’s bedside. Scott’s face looked young and relaxed despite the dark bruising crawling up and across his forehead from his right cheek bone. Virgil joined him as they both contemplated the sleeping man.

“Interesting.”

“Should we be worried?” It was Virgil’s turn to be the unsure one.

John considered this. It was a reversal of an earlier conversation. The initial fallout from Scott and this girl finding each other again had been, well difficult. Alan still looked suspiciously at the microwave after the ‘misunderstanding’ as he and Scott referred to it in front of Eos. However there did seem to have been an improvement after this. John’s observations showed Scott was more relaxed, more open in a way he’d struggled with in the past. This call had been unexpected, or possibly not?

“I don’t know? He seems, ok?”

“Yea, I think so too. Though that was interesting...” Virgil tailed off, a small smile on his face. They both regard the figure in the bed again. The oblivious commander slept on.

By the time Estera woke the next morning, International Rescue had issued a statement thanking everyone for their concern but assuring them that their operative was resting comfortably with only minor injuries. They did not confirm that it was Scott in the footage. Speculation remained sure it was.

There was a follow up news item that incriminating information had been received by the authorities and the construction company responsible for the incident in question was being investigated. The internet was going mad with speculation but Estera stopped reading after the first site.

She already knew he was ok.

That’s all she needed to know. Her message of concern was still undelivered. She considered deleting it but decided just to leave it. Wouldn’t hurt him to know people were concerned about him. She was begining to realise that being friends with Scott Tracy was possibly going to involve worrying about him. The knowledge that he was currently safe with his family was enough for her to feel calm about the situation for now.

She and Bez had a very pleasant day. The inevitable housework, laundry and marking were completed along with a long walk in the crisp clear air. She had dinner with her elderly neighbours and went to bed early with a good book.

She was woken some time later by her phone ringing. Fumbling for the annoying device she knocked her glass off the nightstand. Her brain was foggy with sleep as she looked at the caller ID, an international number she didn’t recognise. Her sister? If it was someone trying to sell her something she was going to be annoyed.

“Allo,” her voice was croaky with sleep.

“Estera?”

“Who is this?” She struggled upright to rest against her headboard, Bez grumbling at the disruption hopped off the bed and went to lie across the door, an unyielding draft excluder.

A muffled curse, “I forgot the times. I’m sorry!”

“What?” Her tone was not fully friendly as she strove to wake up. She was not a morning person.

“It’s Scott, I’m sorry. I guess I’m still a little... Unfocused with the pain meds my gr.... My doctor has me on. I forgot we’re ahead of you!”

“Scott!” Suddenly Estera was awake. “I...” She said self consciously smoothed her hair then realised he couldn’t see her, “Wow, I mean, you’re not dead.”

The words hung in front of her in the air for a moment pregnant with extra meaning in the silence. She cringed at her morning bluntness but a bark of laughter brought an answering grin to her face.

“Nope, not this time.” Another sightly awkward pause. “I’m sorry if this isn’t a good time I can call back later!”

This time she laughed, “What else would I be doing,” she glanced at the clock, “at 4.30 on a Sunday morning?”

“Ouch, I’m sorry! I’ll go!”

“No. No, really it is fine. I’m really glad to hear from you.”

“You are?”

“Well there are videos of you plunging 16 stories to your alleged end.”

“Yea, not ideal. And it was 20 for the record.”

“Show off! Not sure that’s a detail you should be correcting at this time!”

He was amused, “True, true. You sound like Virgil!” A sharp hiss of breath. “Maybe best I don’t laugh!”

Her voice grew softer tone serious, “Are you really ok?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“Scott, you fell TWENTY stories. I’m fairly sure you are not fine.”

“Now you really sound like Virgil.” There was another pause and she got the sense he was deciding what to say. She waited. “I’m a bit banged up. But just bruises, so I’m stiff and sore but I’ll be fine in no time. I’ve a pretty impressive black eye.”

“Oooh. I’m sure the fan sites will love that. The sexy hero look.”

“Please tell me you don’t look at those!” He sounded genuinely embarrassed which was strangely endearing.

“Only the REALLY good ones.” She laughed at his obvious discomfort. “I mean if I’d have had time I would have gone to the vigil at TI in London.”

“Ugh. Don’t! That’s why we had to put the statement out!” He sounded annoyed and she felt maybe she shouldn’t have pushed it. This was the first time they’d actually spoken and not just texted and she didn’t want to make it weird. But then he continued, “You would have gone? If you’d have had the time?” He was teasing but, maybe there was something else there as well.

“Fishing much there, Mr Anti-gravity? I mean, Of course we would have gone, but Bez needed his nails clipped and my freezer needed defrosting. You know, important things.”

Another laugh. The flash of annoyance was gone and things felt, well easy. She pulled the covers up higher settling down against the pillows.

“So, why exactly are you calling me? Not that it isn’t a very pleasant surprise, or it would have been at a more humane hour. Or are you just high on painkillers?”

A pause, “I wanted to check you were ok.”

“That I was ok? I’m not the one who did a reverse Superman off a half built skyscraper.” There was another huff of laughter but she realised something else as well. She knew what was coming next, “It came to my attention that maybe you’d been worried? And I’m really sorry if you were.”

“Oh.” They’d told him. She didn’t know how she felt about that. “I had hoped that wouldn’t come up. I had asked John not to tell you.”

“He didn’t, or rather he did but only after a...” Here he seemed to hesitate, “a friend” there was a strange almost question in his tone as if he wasn’t sure that’s what he meant, “a friend let it slip and then John filled in the details.”

“Ah.”

“He suggested I checked in,” and then clearly not wanting it to seem he’d been told to call her he sped on, “Obviously I was going to anyway especially when I saw you had sent a message but I’ve been a little fuzzy and they’d confiscated my comm until just now. But John thought,” here he seemed a little unsure, “You were... upset.”

Her cheeks began to burn in embarrassment, “I am sorry. I kinda over reacted but, in my defense it was a very compelling video.”

“No I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It’s an occupational hazard but I hate that it hurts other people and I’m sorry you weren’t contacted by someone to let you know what was happening.”

“Don’t be silly! I’m not at all important.”

“You are my friend and I always take care of my friends.” There was a sincerity in his tone that stopped her from protesting this statement. “Look, I am going to send you a number,” he sounded a little awkward, “If... Well if something happens again, or even if you just need to send me a message when I’m not available you can send a message or call and Eo...” He broke off and tried again, “My...” A pause, “Sorry, I hate pain meds... My assistant...Dawn, will make sure you get what you need.” There was a strange inflection on the words which Estera wondered about.

“You don’t need to do that.”

“Well if it stops you calling international emergency lines then...”

She pulled the duvet over her head, “Oh I’m so embarrassed”

There was a smile in his voice as if he knew from her muffled voice what she was doing, “Please don’t be. I imagine I’d have done similar if the roles had been reversed.”

“You’re annoyingly charming, you know that.”

“You think I’m charming?”

“I feel my emphasis was more on the annoying, but whatever.”

“You are grumpy in the mornings.”

“You’re the one who clearly doesn’t understand time zones... Which actually leads me to ask, where exactly are you?”

Whatever he was going to say was cut short by Scott breaking off to speak to someone who had clearly come into the room, his tone was gentle, “Does Vee know you’re up, Sprout?”

She couldn’t hear the response but Scott spoke again muffled this time, then he came back on the line, “I’m sorry but I’m going to have to go here. I’m in London again soon, I’ll get in touch, maybe we could have another coffee?”

“Yea, let me know and I’ll see what I’m doing.”

She hung up the phone tapping it to her chin thoughtfully. He was alive and he considered her a friend. She smiled. A good start to the day.

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“It’s not your job to keep me safe.”

The sudden rush of fury was almost intoxicating.

How dare she? He got this enough from his brothers. He’d thought she had understood but she couldn’t possibly understand. Not if she didn’t get it. If she didn’t see why he had to keep them safe. All of them. Her too. That if he couldn’t do that he wasn’t… he didn’t… How dare she! His gut twisted. They’d had such a good day and she had to go and…

An outburst of sharp, hurt-fuelled words rushed like magma towards the surface but was held at bay by his sudden need to focus on navigating a roundabout without getting them both killed. He slammed on the brakes less elegantly than he’d intended. Bloody weird British way of doing a junction.

He gave way to the van trundling towards them from the right and caught the eye of the driver who gave him A Look, probably related to his sudden stop a couple of feet past the give way line. But he was arrested by the memory of being on the receiving end of similar eyebrow artillery in a sumptuously decorated clinic in West London. It was in fact exactly The Look Patricia had given him the time he’d first told her Estera was alive. When he’d been… not quite… well… and had incoherently rambled about how good it he was that he had a second chance, that he could ensure he would get it right this time and she wouldn’t be in danger.

“Will that always be your raison d’être, Tracy?”

Well of course not. He had many raisons actually and not all of them were about looking after people. Just… maybe most.

She’d warned him about this, in her subtle way. And he thought he had been so careful, so Healthy about it all this time. Yet he’d reverted to type so quickly. Poor Estera had just joined the long roster of people he desperately needed to protect. To ‘smother’. Damn it.

He glanced over and saw she was biting her lip and worrying at the lid of the coffee cup again. The anger dissipated as quickly as it had arisen. He sighed heavily and the tension slumped from his shoulders. He didn’t want her to believe she couldn’t be honest about what she thought and if he was defensive and snappy… He took a breath and tried to be less… Scott Tracy… about it.

“You might not be wrong there” he cleared his throat a couple of times, without much success as there still seemed to be a blockage there. “It’s a… a thing. I’m guess I’m, err, working on it?”

“You don’t need to apologise. I’d just quite like to not see you nearly die quite so frequently.”

“I’ll see if I can arrange that.”

She smiled faintly then returned to looking troubled. “I’m sorry, I overstepped.”

“You didn’t. I’d rather know what you’re thinking.”

She huffed slightly.

“Honestly.”

The sat nav piped up that their destination was on the right and he pulled up outside what he guessed must be her apartment block.

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Without the faint hum of the engine and the road noise the car suddenly seemed very quiet and Estera kicked herself for making things awkward. She didn’t want to leave things on a sour note and so she cast about for something to fix it before she said goodbye. He looked over at her and the flash of blue was a sudden reminder.

“Before you go, I actually have something for you. I know I missed your birthday…” he looked up in surprise “but it took a little while to… organise… and so I was planning to show you when we next met. But then of course today was a surprise so I didn’t have it with me.”

“Oh! You didn’t need to…”

“But I wanted to. It’s just upstairs.”

He seemed to hesitate.

“Bez is with my neighbours. I thought I’d be back much later what with the bus times and he’d have been lonely so, he’s, um not there.” She looked down at her hands “Or… or you can wait here and I’ll bring it down? That’s probably better. Save yourself the stairs, the lift’s broken again and it’s… I mean there’s nothing much to see, it’s a tiny apartment and probably a complete mess now I think of it. It’s not what you’d… There’s barely a bathtub let alone a pool…”

She was rambling again and had somehow failed to notice he had left the car until the passenger door opened and he was reaching down a chivalrous hand while doffing an imaginary cap with the other.

“I’m sure I can handle some stairs.”

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“Ok, that WAS quite a lot of stairs”

They both paused at the top to catch their breath and laughed as she mock-glared at the cordoned off elevator door.

“It keeps me fit at least.”

She fished a bunch of keys from her pocket and waved happily at the elderly face which appeared at the window of the next apartment along. A series of hand gestures seemed to suggest she’d be round later. Ah, must be the dog-sitting neighbours. The gentleman shifted his gaze to Scott and narrowed his eyes. Scott countered with a friendly smile and a little salute which was met with a raised eyebrow and open scepticism. The face disappeared. O…Kay then…

“You get on well with your neighbours?”

“They’re a godsend. Such warm, lovely people. They rather adopted me when I arrived and they are absolutely wonderful with Bez.”

He was saved from the need to reply by her turning the lock and shoulder barging the door open.

“It gets a bit swollen in the damp weather. Should really get it seen to at some point.”

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Estera did a quick scan of the living room, immensely grateful that she’d cleared up last night’s dinner things and put away the laundry that had been drying on the radiators.

Everything suddenly felt very… small.

“So… I guess you know where I live now.”

He smiled wryly. “I can try to forget how we got here if you like?”

She looked around and cringed as an image of her apartment on that ridiculous day briefly intruded and overlaid the present… all her moveable furniture and pretty much everything else she owned piled up against the inside of the front door, Bez frantically begging for a walk while she’d huddled in the corner of her bedroom wearing all of her clothes at once, desperately trying and failing to banish the chill from her bones. The poor creature had ended up peeing on the kitchen floor and he’d looked so forlorn about it. And the messages… she shivered. Not her finest hour.

“I really am sorry about all that.”

“Don’t worry, all forgotten”

“Is it? I haven’t. I wasn’t…”

“It’s fine, honestly.”

“No, it’s not. Please… let me say this?”

He inclined his head and she took a deep breath and did her best to look him in the eye, the intensity in the blue so familiar yet so incredibly unsettling.

“I wasn’t fair. Or kind. And you had been nothing but both. I have no excuse. I just… it was as though my logical mind shut down and all I could think was I was a fool for believing you’d ever just be… nice.”She couldn’t hold his gaze any longer and dropped her eyes to where he was rolling the car fob over his knuckles. “To me. After… after what I did to you. And so I extrapolated too quickly and panicked and… and it got way out of hand. I’m sorry.”

The fob stopped moving.

“You didn’t do anything to me.”

“I… yeah, ok. Of course. Um, do you want a coffee?”

She dropped her bag on the counter and busied herself picking the best mugs and the good coffee from the cupboard.

“Estera? Please look at me.”

She stared at the kettle on the worktop to his right, unable to lift her eyes any further.

He crouched down and put his face in her eye-line. Blue shone earnestly up at her and blurred almost immediately. She blinked, cross with herself.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

She bit her lip hard as her tear ducts betrayed her and she closed her eyes as if that could stop the hollow-sounding splatter onto the packet of coffee beans she was clutching. He took it from her and she clenched her shaking fists.

“Do you want a hug?”

She shook her head vigorously. And then paused, took a shuddering breath and nodded, eyes still screwed shut.

She couldn’t control the flinch as his arms surrounded her gently and he rested his head lightly on top of her own. Unable to contain all of the Everything any longer she buried her face in his shirt and sobbed.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

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Chapter Text

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Scott sat on the edge of his bed. It hadn’t been a nightmare per se, certainly not by his standards. He was however awake and his heart was still pounding at the remembered panic that had pulled him from sleep, again.

“And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod /The high untrespassed sanctity of space,” he muttered the words of the poem aloud as had become a habit of late, grounding himself in the present.
He was perfectly fine.

He glanced at the clock. Not ridiculously early for a run plus he could get a head start on things. He pulled on his running gear and headed for his favourite trail.

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He wasn't all that surprised when a figure fell into step with him as he finished his first lap. He acknowledged Gordon's presence with a slight wave of his hand. The two ran in companionable silence for a while, though Scott could feel Gordon's appraising gaze on him when he thought he wouldn’t be noticed.

“I can hear you thinking, it's unnerving; you’re clearly out of practice.”

“Rude.”

Through unspoken agreement they stopped at the highest point of the trail where the views of tropical island and glittering ocean in the early morning sunlight were good for a person's soul.

“So... three early mornings with double laps this week. You OK, bro?”

Of course Gordon had noticed. Their entire morning routine together was set up so that each would notice if something was going on with the other, an unspoken failsafe. Scott couldn't be annoyed that it worked. It was supposed to.
He just didn't like it when it worked against him.

Not against.

He took a breath and looked out over the ocean. This is what he was supposed to be working on.

“Yea. I'm fine... seriously” he added as Gordon scoffed at the familiar phrase. “I guess things are just playing on my mind... they aren't even nightmares, not really...I mean not compared to some of them...”

“I'm going to skip over the part where you have enough nightmares to compare scare levels, because, concerning!” Gordon put his hand in Scott's shoulder using him as support while he stretched his hamstrings. “You’re going on adventures tomorrow?”

“If you mean the shareholders meeting then yes," Scott was deliberately obtuse. He put his arm across Gordon's shoulder and continued his own stretches, the pair falling into a practiced routine.

Gordon rolled his eyes, “I think it's cool that you are getting back in the doggy saddle.”

It was Scott's turn to roll his eyes. “It’s no big deal. I'm going to meet Estera for coffee again and she has a dog so we're going to take him for a walk. “

“Which part isn't a big deal? The dog or the girl? Ouch!” Scott flicked his brother’s ear, releasing his hold on Gordon's shoulder as he overbalanced.

“You’re as bad as the other two. It's not like that... it's... two friends with a shared experience and she wants to help me with...” he stopped talking at Gordon's grin.

“Brat.” He huffed grumpily.

Gordon grinned, then watching carefully asked again, “So dogs then.”

Scott sighed rubbing the back of his head. “It’s stupid. “

“It’s not stupid.” Gordon's voice had an edge to it that made Scott look up surprised. “if I said that about something like this you'd be the first to go off at me so don't do that. Why is it a genuine issue when it's one of us but something stupid to be ashamed of when it's you?”

Scott met his eyes, the angry sincerity making him look away again. “I’m sorry, Gordon, I just...”

Gordon squeezed his shoulder, “I know. I get it. Doesn't mean you're right. But, well...” and now Gordon looked a bit uncomfortable, “You once sat beside me poolside for over 4 hours until I could make myself get in the water... I need to know that you know I’d do the same for you... and,” he locked eyes with Scott, “I'm proud of you, like for... you know...facing things and for going to Patricia and all the things you've done since... well.” Now he was speaking really fast “you always tell us when you're proud of us and, well that cuts both ways so... Yea. That.” Then he tried on his heel, “Last one to the villa has to wake Virgil, old man!”

He was gone leaving a trail of dust in his wake as Scott processed the last garbled part of their conversation, a strange warm feeling in his stomach. Then he realised how far ahead Gordon would be and set off at a sprint after him.

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It was not really a huge surprise to see Gordon waiting for him in the hangers that evening.

“I moved my meeting with the Olympic committee. Thought I'd grab a lift.”

“I don't need a baby sitter.”

“I need a lift to a legitimate meeting, ask John. And just to clarify, are you calling yourself a baby?”

Scott just grunted and started the preflight checks.

“Oh, inflight movie, ‘Cujo’ anyone?

Despite himself Scott laughed as they taxied into the small runway. “Why are you here, you annoyance?”

“Well Scott, I think Mom was just a sucker for Dad's baby blu...!” He squawked as Scott pulled the button on his seat that flung it and him right back.

“You are insufferable! Oh just remembered, I'm not sure I put the passenger parachutes back when I checked them earlier. Shame if something happened and we had to bail!”

Gordon hastily returned his seat to its correct position, huge grin still in his face. Scott rolled his eyes.

“You’re clear for take off, Tracy Two though maybe don't jettison the fish until you're at altitude.”

“I'll bear that in mind, John.” And he opened the throttle and took off into the clear blue sky.

Chapter Text

Just over 12 hours later, Scott rolled his shoulders and rested one arm casually along the back of the park bench, nonchalantly tossing the package of ostrich jerky into the air. Calmly awaiting his… fate. No, friend. New Friend.

He hadn’t killed Gordon. His brother was very skilful at being just annoying enough to keep Scott distracted but not so annoying physical harm resulted. He wondered how much John and Virgil had a hand in his presence on this trip. Both had been, he considered the right word, vigilant, recently. Honestly though, the aquanaut’s company had been welcome. Scott always enjoyed the rare opportunity of one on one time with a brother. Gordon's chatter last night and this morning had kept him from over thinking, until now that was. Now he was definitely over thinking.

He pulled at the new scarf tied loosely round his neck. At least he had opportunity to show he appreciated the gift. It could also be used at a pinch to create a tourniquet he thought darkly. Gordon had offered to come and wait with him, he'd been tempted to accept the offer but this really was NOT that big a deal. Not a big deal at all.

He breathed deeply.

A Lycra-clad posse jogged past and he briefly wondered whether he would get away with disappearing into the midst of them and getting the heck out of here.

One of the best reasons to practice running fast was to give yourself an edge over any vast, slavering hellhounds you might come across. Scott had had a lot of practice at running and should therefore be very good at it.

He wasn’t running though. He was waiting here, the very picture of cool. Because he somehow had to win the approval of one particular specimen and they were renowned for being able to smell fear.

He was SURE he could hear howling.

He was NOT sure whether he’d rather that was his subconscious out to torment him again or that there was a beast nearby… right now… capable of emitting such a noise.

A shooting pain in his calf warned him he’d wrapped his leg too tightly around the foot of the seat, the metal edge digging into his skin and compromising blood flow. While he welcomed the way the pain grounded him, he forced himself to unwind. Functioning legs were useful for fleeing probable maiming after all.

He sucked a slow breath through his teeth. Come on, Tracy, get a grip. This beast was important to her and it was supposed to be helping him. He didn't feel especially helped at that moment.

He ran through what he knew about Great Pyrennes. Which was a strangely detailed and specific amount now. Eos believed in thorough research and had taken the mission very seriously. There had been one minor setback, with unnecessarily worried John scrambling over cautious Virgil to intervene when the briefing on Pyrenees dealings with coyotes had left him breathing heavily, backed into the corner, momentarily unsure where he was. Her briefings had not been as detailed or included sounds effects after that. John taking a more active role in the process from then on.

His phone pinged with a message that his fate would be decided in a moment and sure enough there was Estera walking along on the path towards him with one of the largest dogs Scott had ever seen. He tightened his grip on the treats and took a couple of deep breaths. This was a big white dog, not the black beasts of his nightmares. Not even slightly the same.

Still.

He wasn't naive, petting the big dog wasn't going to suddenly overwrite his... issues. But if he could get back to where he could tolerate most dogs without feeling panic, maybe even enjoy them again? “Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth/And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;” He could do this.

As they'd discussed, as she and the white mountain walked past he simply fell in step beside them. Estera had predicted the great white dog barely took him under his notice and Scott was relieved to see she was right, the large head turned and observed him dispassionately with soulful dark eyes before returning to the more interesting sights and smells of the familiar path.

“This is Bez. We’ll keep the more formal introductions for when we get to the beach.”

“Hi, Bez.”

The big eyes regarded him again briefly.

“Sorry but you're just not that interesting, Commander.” Her tone was amused. She could feel the tension rolling off the man at her side and continued a steady stream of chat about Bez and what he enjoyed until she could feel him beginning to relax a little. “You flew over this morning?”

“Last night. Gordon ended up coming too. He's meeting with the Olympic committee this morning to discuss a mentorship programme he is involved with.”

Estera smiled at the obvious pride in his voice. She asked a couple more questions and listened with interest as Scott explained his brother’s meeting. “He pretends to be the clown, but he's one of the most observant, compassionate people I know.”

They kept walking with Estera gently keeping her companion focused on topics other than the big dog at their side. She loved hearing him talk about his brothers, his obvious love and pride was compelling, especially to someone like herself, so often alone. She watched him as he talked, surprised to find that she could read his expression despite the mask of unconcerned ease he wore so well, the little tells of stress she now found obvious, the little muscles in his jaw relaxing as they went along.

It was a crisp clear morning and she was pleased he would see the cliff path and beach when it would be looking its best. It would be windy though. She loved it when it was windy. A companionable silence fell between them as they walked.

“There.” She spoke, “I told you he wasn't too bad,”

“No. He's, I means he's good.”

“Oh, I wasn’t talking to you.”

Scott's sudden laugh made her grin. And the big dog raised his head to look at him. She pulled lightly on the lead pulling his attention to herself and whispering a few words of Polish to him. His tongue lolled contentedly out the side of his mouth. Scott took a breath and deliberately looked away from the large teeth this revealed.

Estera had careful led them down a series of lesser used trails, and they had not encountered many other dog walkers.

There had been one hairy moment when a poorly controlled ball of fluff had yapped and pulled at its lead, convinced it could win in a scrap with Bez. She was proud of her boy for not taking it under his notice, the careful training they'd done together since he was a puppy showed and meant that while she could feel Scott tensing beside he, she knew Bez wouldn't react, it was over in a second.

“You OK?”

“Yea. It’s fine.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “It is. Honest.” She looked at him appraisingly but let it go, bumping her shoulder against his on the narrow path. He was tense again and clearly lost in his own thoughts.

“That dog could have killed Bez you know.”

That got his full attention back on her eyebrows raised in surprise.

There you are, she thought to herself. “Yea. He could choke on the fur.”

Scott groaned, “You’re worse than Gordon.”

“I shall take that as a compliment. Full disclosure, this boy has a big voice and he likes to use it, just, be warned.”

“I shall brace myself,” Scott smiled at her. Eos had already prepared him for that one, he rolled his eyes at the memory, but had accepted her coddling.

They walked a little further until she paused at the safety rail at the top of the cliff path, leaning on it to drink in the view. Scott joined her and had to wonder that less than a day earlier he’d been on a similar cliff top only on a tropical island. The wind was strong here and he found himself bracing against it. This landscape unfamiliar was more angry, the cliffs higher and sea much darker and churning than on the island, even though it was a calm day. It was as breath taking only in a different way. Gulls hung in the air, riding the updrafts, their cries swallowed by the wind.

He looked at Estera, her eyes were fixed on the horizon, the wind whipping at them both had pulled the blue steak of hair loose from her pony tail and it caught across her cheek, rosy from the fresh air. Her eyes were shining as she turned to say something to him, and he leant towards her to hear but whatever it was lost forever as the hairy beast put his front paws on the rail beside them and barked a loud booming bark of excitement.

Standing on his hind feet his head was level with Scott's own. Scott took an involuntary step back, startled. Oh John would definitely have noticed that heart rate spike. He covered his comm with his hand as if that would soothe the signal beaming to space. Estera quickly chastised the dog making him return all his paws to the ground.

“I’m sorry! Are you alright?”

“Yes. Really. Its fine, he just surprised me and, he is not small!” He was pleased to realise it WAS fine. The big bark was not the vicious, snarling bloodcurdling sound of the black dogs that haunted his dreams. It had surprised him but he hadn't had a flashback or anything concerning like that. He was FAIRLY certain his brothers would take issue with his current success criteria, but they didn't need to know. “Really. Its ok.”

Again the appraising look, brown eyes narrowed slightly but she seemed to accept the truth of his words because her smile returned, bigger than before. “Good. Come on then!”

The steep path to the small shingle beach was quickly descended. Estera led the way to the middle of the space, Bez dancing beside her in delight while Scott trailed slightly behind, watching in interest the way the massive creature interacted with his owner. “This is my favourite part of the walk. It's hard to be sad or stressed when someone else is so completely happy!” she undid the lead but the large dog sat on at her feet, vibrating with excitement while he awaited his command to go.

“He's going to go have a sprint around then he'll likely come back to check you out so be ready.” She gave the command and he was off! Prancing like a pony clearly delighted with himself and his freedom he bounced and bounded and Scott found himself grinning at Estera who was almost as delighted as the beast.

As predicted the dog did a wide loop of the empty beach at top speed, before crashing down to the shore and wading into the surf before heading back towards them full tilt, skidding to a stop inches from Estera with another booming bark. Laughing she hooked a hand into his collar and signaled for Scott to come closer. He took a deep breath, clenched his fists and went to stand beside her. Large dark eyes regarded him and the nose sniffed in his general direction.

“Niebieski Hermaszewski, please meet Commander Scott Tracy of International Rescue.” The dog tilted his head to one side as if he understood every word being said, regarding Scott with more interest than before. “Commander Tracy, this is Niebieski Hermaszewski.”

Scott found himself doing a formal little nod of his head, tone sincere as if meeting a new shareholder at Tracy Industries, “Niebieski.”

He held his hand out as Estera indicated trying to hide the slight shake in it as Bez reached out snuffling the edge with his large black nose. The huge creature sneezed once and then, pulling free of Estera, proceeded to shake himself vigorously. Estera, clearly aware of the danger was quicker to skip back out of the way while the deluge of salt water, sand and, was that? Yep, drool, arched lazily through the air coating Scott liberally. His shock quickly turned to relief with slightly hysterical laughter bubbling up in his throat.

Estera double over laughing, “Your face!”

“A little warning would’ve been nice!”

“Thought you had to stay on your toes in your line of work.”

She continued to laugh as he dusted himself down, “Oh the fan sites would kill for a photo of you covered in dog drool!”

“You are not even slightly funny, TEZ!” He countered.

“How dare you?” She pinged a small stone his direction.

Thankfully Bez began to bark again before the silliness escalated . The dog jumped in front of Estera excitedly and Scott watched a little warily, “Ok, ok. Hold on! Now would be the time to deploy some of those ridiculously expensive dog treats you have there.”

Scott looked down having forgotten the package in his hand. He hastily undid the packaging and cautiously the one towards the beast. They certainly were a hit and the big dog sat impatiently but still while he waited for Scott to toss him another one.

They passed the next half hour happily on the shore, throwing stones into the surf for Bez to chase and laughing at his antics. Scott found himself actuality beginning to enjoy himself.

“So why a Pyrenees, I mean they aren't exactly apartment dogs?”

“Call it sentimentality on my part. My grandparents always had two or three on their farm in the mountains and I have very happy memories of times spent there as a child. They truly are the greatest creatures.” They had both flopped down using their coats as a make shift blanket on the shingle. Arms braced behind him, Scott watched the big dog lying at the edge of the surf chewing contentedly on a piece of drift wood.

“I guess they have just always made me feel safe. Bez makes me feel safe.” Before Scott could question when she didn't feel safe, as if sensing they were talking about him the great dog brought his drift wood up the beach and dropped it just out of Scott’s reach, barking loudly.

“Oh look at that. He's decided you can throw better than me. I'm offended, Niebieski.” Big soulful eyes looked at her then he continued barking at Scott. “Ok, ok!” Scott scrambled to get the wood, standing and not flinching, well maybe just a little bit as the dog reared up excitedly, matching his height, not something many creatures could boast.

Estera issued a sharp command and the dog crouched, in appearance sitting but actually coiled like a spring ready to leap. Scott pulled the stick back and threw it as hard as he could, unable to stop the smirk of satisfaction when it flew across the shingle and into the surf. The great white dog surged after it.

“Show off,” Estera accused.

“Giving the people what they want.” Bez was back moments later to repeat the same process, dropping the stick just short of where Scott was and demanding it be thrown again.

“Is there a reason he didn't bring it right back to me?”

“A personality quirk? Think of it in one of two ways. Either he's not really that bright and it's just how he plays fetch, or, he's messing with you simply because he can.”

Scott narrowed his eyes at her and then the creature barking in front of him, a sneaky suspicion that it was indeed the latter.

“What about you? Have you always had an... issue with dogs?”

“No! It's a... gift from...” he waved his hand dismissively and was silent. She waited.

“My grandpa had dogs on the ranch. John, Virgil and I used to play with them when we were there. I guess. I kinda forgot that I liked dogs? That sounds really weird. I guess, before we meet again, I had a... well, a setback and all my triggers seemed to get heightened again, I hadn't really thought about the dog thing... it hadn't been a real issue in a long time... and then suddenly it was worse than it had been...I don't even really remember why except when I dream, and I don't really remember when I wake “ It was true he knew when he'd dreamt about them; the dreams left him nauseous and with a sense of unease but the actual content alluded him except for the briefest of flashes.

Patricia had had some opinions on that truth when he'd finally shared it. He could see her eye roll. He realised he'd stopped talking, Estera was watching him face neutral.

He sighed. “I just need to get back to where I was.. when it wasn't that big of a thing.. I mean I'm trying to be almost a normal functioning member of society.”

He tried to keep his tone light but some of his self deprecation bled into his voice. He raised his eyes to her face, uncertain of what he would see there. He didn't expect understanding, he wasn't sure he understood it himself. But she wasn't looking at him like he was nuts, instead a playful smile quirked her lips.

“I'm sorry but almost is perhaps pushing it.” Her smile faded and she knocked their shoulders together. “I'm glad I can help you remember the good things. For what its worth, I think it's really brave of you to take steps. It's not easy.” Scott paused, momentarily surprised, that was twice in 24 hours, Gordon had said something similar. He was embarrassed and rubbed the back of his neck. The following silence threatened to become awkward so Estera pushed on, “Where was the farm?”

He cleared his throat unsure what to say. But there was just genuine interest in her face when he finally raised his eyes to look at her again. And like that Scott found himself regaling her with tales of their adventures on the ranch with the their family and the dogs and other assorted livestock- alpacas anyone?

She watched him as he grew more relaxed and animated. It felt good to know she was helping him. What she now recognised as the mask of Scott Tracy was completely gone and he was unguarded, animated and bright with happy memories.

Suddenly a noise from his fancy watch interrupted. He looked embarrassed, “Sorry, I have to take this.”

He stood and walked a short distance up the beach. She watched him, standing herself and gathering their coats, giving them a shake.

He was walking back towards her now, something different in his stance and she got a feeling she was seeing the Commander now.

“FAB, John. I'll be ready. “ she had just enough time to see the small blue Hologram floating above his wrist as it disappeared. “I'm sorry but I have to go, there's been a mud slide. Virgil is collecting Gordon as we speak. He'll be here for me in ten.”

“From London?” Estera cursed herself for asking stupid questions, her class could tell you the top speed of each of the Thunderbirds.

“Yea, she's no One but Two isn't a compete sloth.” His grin told her that this was a frequent topic of conversation amongst the brothers.

“Where do you have to go to be collected?”

“It’s OK. This beach is big enough and out of the way enough. He'll just grab me from here.”

“Wow. OK.”

“I'm sorry we have to cut this short, will you be OK getting back?”

That made her smile ruefully, one eyebrow raised, “I run this beach at last twice a week, I think I'll be fine.”

He grinned sheepishly putting on a thick southern accent, “My mom raised me right, miss. I'm supposed to walk you back to the homestead.”

She rolled her eyes. “I absolve you of the cardinal sin of not seeing me to the back porch.”

She called Bez, clipping his lead back in place. Scott reached out tentatively and ruffled the large dogs ears and was rewarded with another shower of sand and seawater.

“He likes you.”

“I can tell,” Scott’s tone made her smile. Then on impulse she put her arms around him giving him a quick hug that served to surprise her as much as it did him.

“Be careful, will you? No attempts to fly on international TV this time.”

He smirked that really annoying smirk she was beginning to realise was a trademark. “Sure thing, ma’am”

Minutes later the huge green craft came into view and within moments there was just herself an Bez on the beach.

“Well that is one way to make an exit,” the large sandy head tilted considering her words. Then he barked once and indicated that it he would not refuse one of the fancy treats that had been left behind.

“You are embarrassingly easily bought, do you know that?” Bez indicted that he didn't really care as long as the treats kept coming, “Come on, Niebieski. Let's go home.”

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It was a couple of days later an absolutely delighted Gordon slid into the lounge from the supply run. Scott and John turned to look at him, Scott behind the desk and John a ghostly blue hologram in the centre of the room.

“Posts here!” He yelled happily.

“Anything for me?” John asked mildly interested.

“Yes. But that’s boring. Scott has post though!”

Not unusual, their private PO box often had important items for Scott to vet or sign or pay. Gordon's glee however suggested it not something normal.

He dropped a jiffy bag on the desk in front of his eldest brother and stood back to watch his brother open it.

Scott picked it up puzzled. “What is it?”

“Well duh, you have to open it!

“Are you sure it’s for me?”

“Umm yes. It’s addressed to the Supreme Commander of International Rescue.”

Scott huffed a laugh but still looked puzzled.

“Had it been checked? Fan mail isn’t supposed to get to that address!” John was cautious.

Gordon rolled his eyes. “Of course it has. Just open it bro!”

Scott turned the parcel, intrigued then paused, “Is this a prank?”

“Dude, where is the love! And you are not my Supreme Commander”

Scott laughed at that. Then looked at the parcel again confused. Then he pulled at the top to open the parcel. A pile of white fuzz fell onto the desk. “What on earth?” He picked it up and then started to laugh, a Great Pyrennes plushie in his hands

The note simply read, ‘Possibly more your speed.’

This made Scott laugh harder. The sound brought Virgil from the kitchen.

“Eos did you give Estera our PO box address?”

“She sent a polite email requesting how best to contact you through Tracy Industries. I suggested your private PO box as the optimum contact point.”

John looked pointedly at Eos’ lights, “Eos in future please inform me when you do any PA work.”

“Yes, John. But I felt since the security checks are completed and Estera Hermaszewska has not been deemed a threat then it would not pose a problem.”

Virgil and John both glanced at Scott at this piece of information. He met their gazes raising a brow. “I wasn’t aware I'd ordered any checks on Estera?”

Virgil and John looked at each other nervously bracing for a potential explosion.

“I assume she's not part of an international terrorist cell,Eos?”

“Not that i have yet discovered, Scott.”

“Right then. We can probably chat about this later.” Virgil went to speak but Scott held his hand up, “I get it Virgil, not delighted but I get it. Now, I need to go and deal with the fact I'm being trolled by a school teacher. Eos, what time is it in the UK and what's your worst joke at the moment?”

Still laughing, Scott lifted the little stuffed dog and strode from the room to find some privacy to thank her.

The eyebrows of all three brothers watched him go.

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Chapter Text

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Scott

…

The three “your contact is typing” dots bounced for a while then stopped. Then bounced again. Then stopped. Estera put the phone down and continued to make breakfast but within moments picked it up again, intrigued. What was he taking so long to write?

Scott

…

Scott

…

Estera

How’s your day?

Scott

…

Scott

Did you know stress balls are not actually indestructible???

Estera

Um, yeah - I’m a primary school teacher. That’s basically day 1 of training.

Scott

Huh.

Estera

I sense there is a story behind this… sharing is caring you know?

Scott

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INDESTRUCTIBLE!

Estera

O….K…. Imagine me saying generic reassuring things and patting you on the shoulder.

Scott

My shoulder is covered in stress ball goop. But thank you, that weirdly helps.

Estera

🤭 oh dear… that stuff is a beast to wash out

Scott

Well there’s another Italian tailor I have to avoid for the rest of my life…

Estera

Not again!

Scott

I have glitter in my hair 😭

Estera

I’m sure it looks beautiful. I’ll ask one of your brothers to send me a photo.

Scott

I’m not getting out the shower until it’s gone.

Estera

You will literally starve to death.

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Estera

So today I had to confiscate an action figure which had Alan’s head, John’s torso and your limbs. Should I be concerned about these children?

Scott

That’s… horrifying. I’m never coming back to the UK. 😲

Estera

They all say hi by the way.

Scott

I’m too scared to say hi back to them now 😬

Estera

On the topic of the action figures…

Scott

Yes?

Estera

I have to know - what WAS wrong with Gordon’s novelty action figure of you? You never told me…

Scott

You don’t want to know.

Estera

Oh I really really do.

Scott

…

Estera

Oh go on, I’ll only be imagining worse.

Scott

…

Scott

The figure was making pancakes while wearing a frilly blue “Kiss The Chef” apron.

Estera

That doesn’t seem so bad?

Scott

Only the apron.

Estera

Oh my… 🤣

Scott

Speak of this to no-one.

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Scott

Hey Estera, got any plans this evening?

Estera

Aside from vegging out with Bez and watching Celebrity Alligator Wrestling?

Scott

I mean I wouldn’t want to tear you away from that…

Estera

I could be persuaded… :)

Scott

Well, we happen to be in Europe right now (John had a thing) and Penny is visiting some Earl near Exeter and suggested we pop by and go out for a drink.

Scott

John’s not Earthside very often so she takes whatever chances she can get to catch up with him (they are old college friends, did I ever mention that?)

Scott

ANYWAY as it’s not far from you I wondered whether you might like to join us?

Estera

Oh wow thank you that’s very kind of you to think of me! It would be lovely to meet John and Lady Penelope if you’re sure I wouldn’t be intruding?

Scott

Of course not!

Scott

Virgil is with us too and says you have to come because he’s already bored with mine and John’s company.

Scott

Ok, I must now tell you that he did not in fact use those exact words.

Scott

Or to say that.

Scott

Apparently I am maddening.

Scott

Hi Estera, it’s Virgil. Please ignore what my idiot brother is saying. It would be lovely to see you if you’d like to come but please don’t feel any pressure.

Scott

Girjebvaxbnnnnn&&&&&&&

Scott

It’s Scott again, I’ve retrieved my comm. Sorry about my annoying TINY LITTLE BABY sibling who snatches things that aren’t his.

Estera

😂 I think I’m sold. I can get to Exeter in an hour? Where and when should I meet you?

Scott

John says the place is near the Cathedral - send a message when you get there and I’ll come and find you?

Estera

Fab! Ok I shall do that.

Scott

Ha!

Estera

What?

Scott

F-A-B is kind of a thing for us.

Estera

Oh! Oh I should have known that!

Estera

Reuben and Alex refuse to use any other affirmative words.

Estera

Why though?

Scott

Long story, tell you later maybe.

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Estera rounded the corner of the cathedral and yelped as a strong gust nearly ripped her arm off in its determination to steal her umbrella. She wrestled it back and ducked into the shelter of the huge doorway only to conclude she should have let the wind take it as it was no longer any use to anyone other than as an art piece. “Mangled: A study in nylon and flimsy aluminium”perhaps. She tucked it under her arm and pulled out her phone:

Estera

Hi! I’m on The Green :) Don’t worry about coming out in all this, just let me know where you are and I’ll find you.

Scott

On my way! 😁

Estera

Scott! It’s chucking it down! Just give me directions or somewhere to aim for.

Scott

I like the rain!

Estera

You’re a nutter.

Scott

A what?

Estera

… err British for ‘totally normal and rational’.

Scott

OK I will take your word for that and begin using ‘nutter’ regularly in a professional context.

Estera

Um… sure. I see no issues arising there.

Scott

😝 alright then

Scott

I think I see you!

She looked up and laughed as she spotted a lanky figure silhouetted against a streetlamp waving enthusiastically from across the green. She raised her arm in greeting, pulled her hood tighter around her face and then jogged towards him. She started out dodging the huge puddles with strictly limited success then gave up in favour of a direct route, swerving off course just the once to dump the useless brolly in a waste bin.

As soggy as she felt she was by the time their paths met, she wasn’t a patch on the drowned-but-grinning rat bouncing gently on his toes before her, hair plastered to his forehead and shirt clinging to him in a way she was relieved Barbara the receptionist couldn’t see.

Wait, shirt?

“Scott! I KNOW you own a coat.”

He waved a hand dismissively. “It always takes so long to dry the thing out. Cotton is fast.”

“Aren’t you freezing?”

“Nope!” He grinned and produced an umbrella with a flourish, pressing a button to automatically extend and open it and then raising it over her head in one smooth motion. The little squeak he emitted as he did so was anything but smooth however.

“Did I just hear an excited giggle from Mr Commander Tracy?”

“Also nope. Definitely not. Unrelatedly aren’t these just-press-the-button-and-SWOOSH-it’s-an-umbrella umbrellas just the best kind of umbrellas?”

Estera raised an eyebrow and wondered with amusement how many drinks he’d managed to put away already. “Certainly beats mine which I just ditched back there…” she looked at him smiling down at her from very much outside the umbrella’s zone of protection, water streaming down his face “although, given you have such a swanky brolly why did you not actually use it?”

“I told you, I like the rain.”

Estera raised an eyebrow. “Well, you’d do well living here then, we get a lot of it.” Shuddering slightly she shook water out of her sleeve. “Shall we get where we’re going before we grow gills?”

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“He’s going to get absolutely soaked isn’t he?”

Virgil watched his elder brother stroll casually towards the doorway and then launch himself out into the rain like an excited puppy. He couldn’t help smiling fondly.

“You know what he’s like about rain, John. Anyway the wet shirt look isn’t going to do him any harm is it…?”

“VIRGIL! Honestly you’re impossible.” John’s facepalm was a masterpiece.

“Well, before he brings this young lady back, somebody had best update me on what, exactly, we believe her status is.”

“Virgil is convinced they are an item. Scott denies it.”

“I didn’t say that. I just think she’s good for him. He is happy. I like that. So I’m inclined to like her. And if we’re about to meet our future sister-in-law that’s fine by me.”

Penelope chuckled, Virgil the hopeless romantic was certainly living up to expectation. John was frowning slightly however and that intrigued her.

“What do you think, John darling?”

“I’m interested in what has him so… interested. They seem to spend a lot of time talking, yet all I can see they have in common is shared trauma and an unhealthy approach to adrenaline.”

“That is more than many people have when beginning a friendship, John. That doesn’t mean it is all there will ever be. Look at you and I, all we had in common was the inability to escape the weight of our surnames and yet we’ve had some superb times.”

John smiled and raised his lemonade in a silent toast.

“Well, I’m excited” Virgil commented. “Let’s not scare her by being too… you know.” he gestured vaguely.

“Excellent social etiquette tip, there, thank you Virgil.” his brother muttered.

Penelope smiled into her cocktail. This was going to be an interesting evening.

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“You ok?”

Estera had slowed almost imperceptibly as they approached the door to the boutique pub Penny had selected and Scott paused as they reached the shelter of the porch, his hand resting on the heavy oak door.

“Yes! Uh, a little nervous I guess? Last time I spoke to John I was… rather embarrassing.”

“Aww, no you weren’t. You were just worried about me and that’ll go in your favour I promise. It’s pretty much a family pastime from what I can make out…” he pulled an exaggerated grimace and got a little smile in response.

“I can imagine.” She appeared to be steeling herself.

“They don’t bite, I promise. But…” he touched her shoulder lightly and ducked down a little to look her in the eye “if you’d rather not… we could go somewhere else and I can catch up with them later?”

“Oh goodness no. I’m looking forward to it. Honestly, I am! Let’s go inside, it’s freezing out here.”

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“Hey look, John, Estera found a drowned puppy!”

“Goodness, doesn’t it look tragic?”

Penelope leaned backwards away from Scott as he responded to his brothers’ banter by shaking himself like a dog and showering the table with droplets from his hair before wringing his sleeve out down the back of Virgil’s collar who himself yelped like Sherbet in a snowdrift.

“Right for that you’re buying the next round big brother.”

“And this is novel, how?”

His friend hung back a little, watching the interaction with a mixture of amusement and mild confusion. Penelope gestured to Estera to take a seat beside her and cut across the brotherly jibing:

“Might it be an appropriate moment to introduce us Scott?”

The supposedly eldest and most mature of the pack looked up from where he’d flung his arms around John’s neck in what was clearly a weaponised soggy hug and smiled impishly before moving over and crouching down next to Estera’s chair.

“Estera, this is Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward - she is as lovely as she is fabulous and I’m sure you’ll get along.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that for a moment. And please call me Penny!”

Estera smiled and offered a hand which Penny grasped with both of hers and gave her a conspiratorial wink.

Scott cleared his throat importantly “Next, I am delighted to present for your approval Annoying-Little-Brother-One who also goes by don’t-call-me-Johnny”

“Ha. Ha. Scooter. It’s a pleasure to meet you in person, Estera, although why you are wasting your time in the company of this absolute fool I cannot fathom.”

“And last but very much not least, either in importance or sheer bulk, here is Annoying-Little-Brother-Two who we refer to as short-stuff, the-tank, care-bear or, occasionally, Virgil”

Virgil leaned across the table to shake her hand. “You do realise what an insufferable creature our eldest brother is don’t you?”

“Oh yes, spotted that one straight away.”

Scott clutched his chest and gasped “I am hurt! A plague o’ both houses! I am sped!” before collapsing on to his back with melodramatic flailing and a range of choking noises before lying still with his tongue lolling and eyes rolled back.

Penelope giggled delicately while Estera tutted and rolled her eyes.

“You still have a couple of paragraphs of monologue before you’re allowed to expire, Mercutio. C+ must try harder.”

Scott pouted while John held up his hand for a high five.

Penelope caught Virgil’s eye and he grinned.

“Death doesn’t get you out of your round big bro. Get your soggy butt off the floor and over to the bar while we fill Estera in on some key anecdotes.”

Scott’s expression of dread wasn’t melodrama at all.

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Chapter Text

Scott was dispatched to the bar a quick smile and wink of reassurance to Estera. Who found herself alone with three curious but friendly gazes upon her. She lifted her chin slightly and smiled, she would not allow her slight nerves to show. She wasn't shy, in fact BEFORE she'd loved meet ups like this, she was however very out of practice. As if sensing this, they made it easy from the start.

“Did you get here easily enough?” Penny asked.

“Oh yes, the bus dropped me at the cathedral.”

“Good. It’s too cold to be out in this,” John sounded unhappy.

Virgil snorted, “You think it's too cold to be outside in the tropics, Johnny!” Virgil tugged playfully at the scarf Estera noticed the red head was wearing. He had a thick looking sweater on as well while his brothers were both just in shirt sleeves.

“Don't call me that,” John batted at Virgil’s hand and clearly followed that with something under the table as Virgil gave a surprised little sideways jump and dropped both his hands to his side to protect himself.

Penny rolled her eyes, “Scott says you teach primary school?”

Estera pulled her eyes from the brief scuffle occurring opposite her at the table and nodded, “Yes, seven and eight year olds.”

“Oh then you'll be in your element this evening,” Penny's tone would have made 3B sit up straighter and indeed the boys opposite stopped what they were doing.

Estera tried and failed to hide a smile.

“Hey,” Virgil's mock offence made the smile even bigger and Estera found herself looking into twinkling brown eyes. They were the wrong colour but strangely familiar even if of the five brothers, she would have said Virgil was the least like the others. Genetics were strange like that.

At that point Scott returned with their drinks and the conversation fell into an easy rhythm. She asked John about his event in Europe which was fascinating and she had the pleasure of seeing the obviously quieter of the brothers speak about his favourite subject. Thankfully she had always had an interest in Astronomy and didn’t embarrass herself. Scott grinned at her delighted when she asked a question that his brother clearly found interesting.

She was able to share some of 3Bs thoughts on space travel; they had recently had a visit to the local planetarium, which they had enjoyed but declared much less exciting than the caves. That drew rueful smiles from the gathered adults.

Some of her class showed real interest in space exploration although Reuben and Alex were more interested in time travel. John grinned at this and began a lively debate around the table on the probability; from Scott's good natured eye roll and the extreme physics quoted this was not the first time this topic had been discussed by the brothers. There were strong opinions. At least 3B had prepared Estera a little for the discussion.

“Your fault for setting him off,” Scott bent his head slightly and whispered to her, she grinned back at him. His eyes were bright with fond amusement, “Watch this...” he straightened up, “I mean, surely all we need is a DeLorian and a flat stretch of road.”

The results were instantaneous, “You did not just cite Back to the Future in a serious discussion of time travel!” Scott relaxed and having lit the touch paper, simply sat back. He nudged Estera with his elbow who stifled a giggle. John warmed to his theme, irate.

Estera sat forward trying to keep her expression neutral, “Surely studying the flux capacitor might give useful insights? Or do you prefer the method used in Endgame? Tony stark might have been onto something.”

John paused to gage her seriousness as Scott and Virgil doubled over with laughter, Virgil lent across Scott to give her a high five. Penny put her head on John's shoulder rubbing his arm soothingly, “There, there dear.” Which just made the laughter louder, Estera slumped sideways against Scott as she gasped for breath. It had been a long time since she'd let her guard down like this in company and it felt good.

“Sorry, sorry!” she choked out and John have her a good natured grin back. “I could use your expertise though, thanks to Reuben and Alex I ended up in a discussion with 3B about the Bootstrap Paradox. I think all our brains got a little damaged by that one.”

That led to another stream of debate, Estera holding her own And enjoying herself. At various points more drinks were ordered though Estera noticed the men switched to soft drinks after their initial bottle of beer each. A waitress arrived and, Scott ordered an alarming number of sides for the table to share. Seeing her face, Penny lent in, “The Tracy boys and food, quite terrifying to behold!”

As the chat continued She relaxed further, Scott's arm across the back of his chair gave her extra confidence. He was all relaxed long limbs, an arm on her chair, an arm around the back of Virgil's and she was fairly certain he was could and did kick John under the table without any effort. It was interesting to see him completely relaxed with his family. She also realised this was a rare treat for them all and being invited was important somehow.

They were, of course, curious about her but she never felt she was being interrogated and the topics were safe.

Yes, she loved teaching despite its challenges. Yes she has a black belt. Virgil somehow managed to discover she played the cello, Scott having no memory of this information before, and she and Virgil spent a happy five minutes discussing the finer points of Elgar while Scott sat back in his chair content to listen.

When conversation dropped into a comfortable lull. Estera pulled a small plastic object from her pocket. “I brought you a present, Virgil.” Scott snorted into his drink at Virgil's confused expression.

He took the small item and peered at it more closely.

“Wait is this my head?”

Estera nodded grinning.

“The kids are obsessed with those International Rescue figures,” Scott explained to Penny as John took the head from Virgil and turned it over between his fingers. “Estera frequently has to perform surgery on our broken bodies. And more worryingly often has random body parts in her pockets.”

“Where is the rest of me?” Virgil’s curiosity needed answers.

“Interred in the sandpit I believe with full honours as I wouldn't allow wood or matches for a pyre.”

“You’re no fun,” Scott earned himself a thump on the arm which he rubbed with exaggerated care.

“Can I ask how I met my demise?” brown eyes twinkled.

“I fear you went up against Godzilla. Putting your head in his jaws was not the best tactic.”

The brothers grimaced.

“Did Scott ever tell you about the figure Gordon had produced of him?” John asked looking pointedly at the man in question.

“Yes, he did.”

A raised eyebrow, “He did?”

“Yes, and I believe you all featured in that scenario.”

Scott shot him a triumphant look, “Nice try little brother.”

John winked at Virgil. “But did he show you the photos?” Virgil helpfully asked.

Two cries of “No” one delighted one horrified combined to draw the attention of the server who came to check all was well. Penny gently reassured her they were fine, “But perhaps you would be a dear and fetch a shot of whiskey for my friend here; he's had some bad news.”

The server disappeared to do her bidding. Scott glowered at Penny then returned his attention to Virgil who was reaching for his comm.

Estera was just quick enough to lift her glass and Scott's before he made a desperate dive at Virgil. “Don't you dare!” There was a mad wrestling of arms and potentially legs as Scott sought to prevent the inevitable.

“My, my. Boys!” Penny coughed, every bit the school ma’am. “Don’t fret Virgil dear. I have them here.” And she pulled a beautiful little compact from her bag.

Scott froze and sat back resigned, “Penny, you traitor” His tone was wounded. Penny reached across Estera and patted his knee.

“There was a very obvious outcome to this darling. I have merely expedited the process before furniture is damaged.”

“That was Alan.”

“Regardless, there is precedence.”

“Oh I want to know THAT story,” Estera loved the look of embarrassed chagrin on Virgil and Scott's faces. “That must be a good story.”

“Oh it is. But photos first!”

“Yes please!”

Scott dropped his head to the table while the others roared in delight.

Estera ended up clinging to Penny as she shook with laughter, “Sco, Scott?”

“Yes?” He answered warily.

“How did.... how did...I mean, did you have to... did Gordon have a picture? So many questions!”

The laughter was loud.

“You’re all hilarious.” Scott growled and Estera bumped her shoulder against his and he gave her what she hoped was an affectionate eye roll. She gave his arm a squeeze and pulled away from him again. Virgil was reguarding them with an expression she couldn't read, assessing maybe, probably ensuring they hadn't gone too far teasing Scott in front of a friend they'd only just met. He struck her as the type of person who would be sensitive to things like that. He caught her eye and smiled his warmly.

The photographs had been hilarious. Scott's humiliation however was quickly set aside.

Conversation moved on. A jug of water was requested for the table and Estera watched in surprise as John took the ice cubes out of Penny's glass and gave her his lemon. Penny saw Estera watching this and smiled, “We’ve been friends a long time.”

“But you've never dated despite what the papers say?” Estera realised how blunt that was and covered her mouth with her hand, “I'm sorry, forgive me that was rude.”

Penny laughed lightly, “Not at all, I find directness refreshing after all the double talk and insincerity of some of my circles. No. We never have, though I'm sure John is terribly in love with me.”

John who had only caught the tail end of the exchange lifted an eyebrow, “Desperately,” he deadpanned but filed it with an indulgent smile.

“Penny isn't interested in John,” Scott suddenly chipped in from Estera’s other side, the intonation on the name told Estera that he knew who she was interested in. The exaggerated intonation continued, “Penny has other fish to fry.”

That earned him an icy glare from Penny but instead of terrifying him as Estera felt it should he simply laughed harder. Virgil grinned from ear to ear and even John hid a smirk.

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Penny stated primly but Estera noticed the tips of her ears had coloured very prettily. There really was nothing Lady Creighton-ward didn't do prettily, Estera was staring to realise.

She looked questioningly at Scott who sure Penny wasn't looking simply mouthed, “Gordon.” Oh! The Olympic swimming brother.

Penny lifted her bag, “I'm sure there are more pictures in here” she said to no one in particular.

“OK, ok, truce, Pen.” Scott held up his hands on mock surrender. “You fight dirty.”

“I fight to win, you should know that by now, Scott.”

Chapter Text

Conversation moved on again and Estera found herself telling a funny story of her childhood. Scott leaning in enjoying how she held his brothers attention , her face animated. “Even now I have to make sure I have checked over the table before I can eat Kotet Schabowy!”

The table erupted in laughter and suddenly Estera realised that she hadn't spoken about her family like this in such a long time. An embarrassing lump formed in the back of her throat and her eyes were suddenly pricking, looking down at her hands she dug her nails into her palm and she prayed they wouldn't notice.

Then Scott's leg was pressing tightly against hers and the arm across the back of the chair all evening moved gently to rest across her shoulders pulling her lightly towards him. Listening for humiliating concern and fuss she was relieved to realise the conversation appeared to have moved on seamlessly without her. Only Scott had stopped to make sure she was ok. Some unspoken communication between the others had occurred and she found herself with space to regain her composure.

It only took her a moment thankfully and she raised her eyes again glancing to the side where, as she knew it would, a concerned blue gaze met hers. The ‘are you ok?’ communicated without words. She gave a crooked smile, ‘yes’ in return. Scott nodded slightly holding her gaze a second longer and then he turned and effortlessly chipped into a discussion going on between Virgil and John giving her more space, but while his arm returned to the back of the chair his leg stayed pressed against hers.

“It’s good to talk about the people we miss,” Penny spoke softly just for Estera, though Estera was sure Scott was listening despite appearances to the contrary.

Estera nodded, “I'm embarrassed but it has been a long time since I simply spoke about them like that. It was... good.” She gave a little shrug.

Penny's smile was warm and understanding and eased the embarrassed knot that was threatening to form in Estera’s stomach. “We all of us here know what that feels like.” And she squeezed Estera’s arm gently. She waited a moment before asking, “Your sister lives in Italy?”

“Yes, she moved there with her husband and two girls." She didn't stipulate when or why and Penny didn't ask.

“Do you see much of them?”

“When I can. We call at least once a week and I get over there when I can afford to. One my neices got engaged a couple of months ago! That makes me feel old. They visit when their schedule allows. My sister is a cardiac surgeon and my younger neice is following in her footsteps.”

“Oh like Grandma!” Virgil joined in.

Estera laughed. “Just like your Grandma! I think my sister had to study her techniques at university and met her once when she was doing a guest slot at the teaching hospital where she was a student. My sister says she is a rock star!”

John, Scott and Virgil were all listening intently now grinning to hear their grandmother described in such glowing terms. “That’s sound like Grandma,” Virgil laughed.

“When I told her I'd been Rescued by International Rescue, that was her first response- do you know who their grandmother is?”

The boys and Penny laughed at that. “She wouldn't be so convinced of Grandma’s rock star qualities if she had to eat her cooking!” John grinned wickedly and the other two boys laughed.

“If invited to dine at the Tracy house it is best to ascertain who has been responsible for preparing the meal. If its Grandma it is expedient to have other plans.”
Penny whispered conspiratorially.

“That is great life advice, E. Take it,” Scott pretended to grimace.

“Scott said you volunteer at St. John's Ambulance, I'm hosting a little lunch for them in London in a couple of weeks time; the boys are not invited for obvious reasons.”

“Hey, we’re all offended,” Virgil stated with no sincerity at all.

“Yes well you are always on your worst behaviour at a charity lunch for some reason.”

“In the hope that we won't be forced to go to another charity lunch, so that's a strategy that's paying off,” Scott smiled in the face of the disproving glare. “We come when you need us, Pen and well you know it.”

“It’s true darling. They really are quite at my disposal.”

John gave a snort and got a feminine elbow in the ribs.

“Where was I? Oh yes. They are not invited but you very much are. There will be some frightfully boring people there but also some fabulous characters who I think you'll find interesting. Please come as my guest."

“Oh I'm not sure...”

“Nonsense. It will be fun and if not I’ll buy you a ridiculously over priced dinner in a restaurant if your choice as compensation and tell you at least three more shocking tales of the Tracys.”

There were three more “Heys!”

“I wouldn't know what to we...”

“Oh that's easily solved. If you are free, and I do hope you are...”

“She really does,” John added helpfully clearly amused.

Penny ignored him, “ I'll send Parker to pick you up!”

“I, its very kind of you...”

“Give it up, Estera. You have no chance.” John gave her a salute. Penny elbowed him again though this time he was ready and got out of the way.

“Pen,” Scott started to Estera's defence.

Penny waved him off.

“Um I guess...?”

John laughed.

“Excellent darling. John I'm sure I could add one more to the guest list if you wish, “ she gave him a sweet smile and he mimed zipping his lips.

Scott shrugged but didn't look too concerned. Estera didn't really know what she'd signed up for but she could survive a lunch. Couldn't she?

“Oh you'll get to meet Bertie! You'll love him. He's a darling. Then maybe sometime he can meet your best boy!”

“Sherbert already knows Scott,” Virgil whispered so only John could hear, earning him an eye roll and cuff round the head. Scott looked at them curiously making Virgil grin and John just roll his eyes again.

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Not long after the bill was settled, “You’re our guest, and anyway, John lost the bet.” And then they were walking towards the door. Penny's driver had not arrived so they lingered. Estera had been adamant that she would simply get the last bus home. Scott could walk her to the stop if he wished but she had a black belt and he’d probably only get in her way if someone did mug them. This amused John very much. Penny smiled at the exchange as well. She wanted to talk to Estera alone anyway. She needed to explain something.

She nodded to Scott who relaxed slightly, he did not want Estera going home alone but realised Penny would fix that if possible. Penny winked at him, it worked well because Scott didn't question it as she drew Estera away slightly. Two birds with one stone.

“Estera, darling it has been such fun to meet you. Its always good to talk to new people and new friends are a rare treat “

Estera blushed slightly, “It’s been a lovely evening, thank you for including me in your plans.”

Penny laughed at this, “Scott would have never forgiven us if we hadn’t.” They looked across to where the three men were standing, Scott watching their conversation with curiosity while only half listening to what John was saying. “He doesn’t trust me not to tell you something else embarrassing.”

It was Estera’s turn to laugh, “Oh I hope you do.”

Penny linked their arms together and pulled her to a window seat a little further away, Scott’s curious gaze followed.

“It’s always good to have an ally when handling the Tracy boys and I feel I have found a new one tonight.” Estera felt a warm feeling in her stomach and felt embarrassed with herself for being so easily flattered. “I do hope we can be friends. Which is why I am going to tell you something because I believe honesty is the best policy. I know you are observant and you are going to spot something the moment my lift arrives.”

Estera was suddenly wary. Is this where she was told she was not the right type of person or warned against getting too close. That hasn’t been the vibe she’d got all night and she felt suddenly on guard. What did Penny mean?

Penny sensed the shift. “Oh no dear, its me who needs to hope you are generous and understanding to me.” She sighed and looked at the boys who were laughing at something but she was also aware Scott wouldn’t allow her to monopolise his new friend too long. Band aid off time.

“I need you to understand how terribly protective the boys are of each other. The first day you met Scott for a coffee I was there when you arrived.”

Estera did not expect that, “He didn’t say anything!”

“He doesn’t know.

“So you were watching us? Spying on him? Or on me? I don't understand!” Her voice was low but the change in tone must have carried because Scott glanced over again as did John who put a hand on his brother’s shoulder drawing him back into conversation. Penny had told John what she was discussing with Estera and neither wanted Scott to overhear. The world wouldn't end but why upset him unnecessarily?

“Spying is an unfortunate word and not on you, darling. But yes, I suppose I was a spying on Scott a little.”

Estera felt herself growing defensive. Penny went on, “The day you met, Scott was behaving... out of character. He had been rather poorly just a short time before and had experienced some... unpleasantness...with old memories.” Here she paused and both women looked at the young man who was still talking with his brothers. Sensing their eyes on him, Scott looked up his expression curious. Estera forced herself to smile at him though her heart was twisting slightly at the description of what he'd been going through when they'd met.

“He was still recovering when your appearance seemed to trigger a slight setback.”

Estera closed her eyes and breathed out slowly, when she opened them Penny was regarding her with concern. Estera smiled sadly, “ Yes, that was rather... unexpected for me too.”

Penny placed a hand gently in her arm. “My last intention is to cause you distress.”

“No..no, I mean I just... please continue. I’m trying to understand why you are telling me this.” Thankfully Scott was momentarily distracted by one of the staff asking him something.

“His brothers were concerned when he left home without explaining his plans, very unlike him... and well, given the nature of his recent... experiences, I was dispatched to locate him and ensure his welfare. I watched until you arrived and then withdrew. I did NOT listen to any conversions nor did I watch your interaction. I merely ensued Scott was safe and stayed nearby until he returned to the air field.”

Estera looked at her, her mind racing. She remembered Scott's reaction to the dogs at the cafe. How he'd seemed haunted. Penny’s face was open and earnestly watching her. “I...I don’t know what to think or say... that’s.. again, why are you telling me this.”

Penny laughed mirthlessly, “Because I want you to trust me. Because I don’t like being less than honest with my friends and because my bright pink Rolls Royce is quite distinctive and you are not a fool.”

“Oh!” understanding our at least some dawned. Estera raised an eyebrow, "I remember the bright pink Royals Royce." She paused Penny giving her space to think. "Hardly inconspicuous for following someone!"

“No,” Penny laughed lightly but Estera could see the watchfulness underneath. “I was more concerned with monitoring Scott than with not being seen. And you see, he didn’t spot me that day which was not reassuring. Whilst occasional adorably ignorant to some things, situational awareness is not something or fearless Commander often lacks.”

Estera recognised the truth in her words. The man she was getting to know was always a couple of steps ahead of those around him. She imagined he could tell her how many other people were in the pub with them right now. He wouldn't have missed the bright pink car with one of his closest friends in it.

The Scott she had first met, however had been... different, lacking the spark she now thought of as him, thinner in a way that spoke of less than perfect health and much more guarded. The dogs had caught him off guard, knocking him spiralling back in time. Now he was stronger, the darkness still existed, of course things like that don't disappear but he was not trapped under its shadow.

“So you see, I don’t want you worrying and adding things up wrong. I also know trust is earned and don’t want anything to make you feel that we are not worthy of that gift.” Her face was a perfect mask of calm but Estera could see the small signs of tension around her eyes.

“Scott doesn’t know?”

“No. If he considered it carefully then he would probably not be surprised. If one of his brothers had been in similar circumstances I imagine he would have taken more extreme measures than a simple eyes on from me.”

Based of what she knew about Scott Estera had to acknowledge the truth in that. He’d do anything for his family and, as she was slowly realising his friends.

Knowing how she would feel in Estera's shoes Penny went on, "Scott knows nothing about this and in fact I am telling you before it is mentioned to Scott so that you realise he had nothing to do with it. So if you are angry with anyone, or feel anyone is unworthy of your friendship it is me and not Scott."

Estera sat quietly for a moment.

“You promise you won’t follow me like that again.”

Penny’s smile this time was genuine, “Oh, you’re a friend of the Tracy family now. I promise to either enquire of your well being directly; or to make sure you don’t see me.”

“Wait, that’s not the same thing!”

“I didn’t say it was, darling!”

This is the type of scenario that should have Estera running from the building. She had lived in a world where spying on neighbours was actively encouraged. And yet, the truth of the story matched what she had experienced of Scott’s mental state that day and the family’s deep care for each other was evident- especially now she’d seen them together this evening. She found she believed Penny.

The idea that Penny considered her worth concern for her wellbeing actually gave Estera the strange warm feeling again. It had been a long time since someone had offered her friendship like this and Estera found herself prepared to accept the honesty and trust that appeared to be hers to accept. Obviously, she didn’t live in the same world as the Tracys and a beautiful titled socialite but, as she had found herself doing since this had first started, she would take a leap.

“I’m not sure how I feel about this but ok. I believe you and thank you for telling me, I guess? I'm not sure how I feel about knowing this when Scott doesn't..."

Penny’s smile made her face even more beautiful something Estera wouldn’t have believed possible. "And that's a worthy response. John will chat to Scott if that's OK with you as this is between the brothers."

Estera nodded. That made sense. She nodded to Penny.

Penny linked her arm through Estera’s again and led her back to the patiently, or not quite in the case of Scott, waiting Tracys.

“Excellent, I knew you’d be a good sport. Now. Parker and I shall drive you home,” she held her hand up, “No ifs or buts, its positively ghastly out there and you’ll catch your death.”

Scott helped her into her coat and Estera was delighted he had the scarf she given him draped around his own neck. He grinned at her and lifted his eyebrows at where John was helping Penny with her own coat.

“Thank you, John dear.” She hooked her hand into the crook of John’s offered arm. Scott made an exaggerated offering of his own to Estera complete with pretend cap doffing. She batted him away, instead taking Virgil’s offered arm on the other side who flashed his brother a triumphant smile and escorted Estera laughing out of the pub into the chilly wet night

Chapter Text

Scott rubbed his shoulder absent mindedly. He felt Virgil's eyes on him across the lounge but ignored him in favour of stretching both arms and swivelling the chair away from the desk to look out the window behind. The sun was setting and the sky was awash with colour. Tipping the chair back slightly he sat for a moment taking stock.

Three rescues in the last 48 hours and a major change in the structure of one of TI's main subsidiaries had him drowning in paperwork. His sleep pattern was…problematic again for reasons he wasn't considering at this moment and he should probably take a break but busy was good.

He reasoned that if he completed another few reports he would be almost caught up and could stop. He could go for a run; have a beer; maybe call Estera if the time worked. He'd not spoken to her properly since the night they'd all been out; the worried phone call following John's revelation the next day didn't really count.

She’d been surprisingly OK about that. Seeing it as not really about her but the relationship between the brothers. His heart had clenched slightly for her, reading the wistfulness in her tone as she told him he was lucky to have people who cared about him. He knew she was right, but John would have been worried if he hadn't pointed out a few things, at volume. He did concede that he would have done far more had the roles been reversed… he was not proud of the stress he caused his brothers. John had acted in what he felt was Scott's best interest.

Scott rubbed his hand across his face.

Speaking of John, he was down from Five for the night, Alan requiring his presence to assist with some science project he was working on. Scott always liked it when they were all together on the island.

He thought back to the night in the pub, it felt a lot longer ago than it really was. Estera had fitted in really well with everyone. He knew John had already sent her a couple of programmes she could use with the module on space she was teaching 3B. She had been delighted and John was interested to know how they would go.

That meant a lot. He sighed.

New friends were not a luxury life often afforded them. He was already wondering when they might be able to hang out again all together.

He wasn't sure if he was pleased or terrified that she and Penny had hit it off. He wasn't surprised, only yes, ok, terrified won.

That charity lunch was soon, he made a mental note to check the calendar. Penny would look after her alright, not that she needed it he reminded himself, but still. He liked the idea that there were other people watching her back now too. She deserved it.

Virgil. Scott smiled to himself. Virgil had given her his wholehearted and enthusiastic endorsement, not that Virgil was hard to win over. Once he'd discovered she played the cello and enjoyed music Scott was surprised he hadn't proposed. He snorted a little at that thought knowing well that was not the idea his little brother had.

“You OK there?” A mug of coffee appeared in his vision. Virgil's grinning face behind it.

“Oh thanks, Just thinking is all,” his grin remained as he accepted the mug.

“Had to happen sometime I suppose!” the engineer's grin matched his own. Scott kicked him lightly on the leg. “Ouch, sorry,” his eyebrow raised slightly in amusement, “Anything or anyone in particular?”

That earned Virgil an eye roll. “Stop before you hurt yourself, Vee.”

Virgil held his hands up in much surrender. “Okay! John and I are going to find Gordon. He's still down at the beach. You almost finished?”

“Nope, but I'll stop after I've another couple of these done.” He rolled his shoulders giving the top of his left arm a quick massage.

Virgil nodded, motioned the shoulder with his head, his eyes losing a little of their mirth, “Should I be worried?”

It took Scott a moment to catch his meaning. “No. Nothing. Its fine.” he grinned up at the person who knew him best, “Go drag the fish from the water before he grows gills, though I suspect that ship has sailed. I'll be about another hour give or take, then I'll join you. Some of that weird beer Johnny likes on the terrace maybe?”

“Sounds good.” Virgil patted him on the back and disappeared out the open doors to the terrace. Scott saluted the waiting John with his coffee cup as the two headed off together.

Right. Mission accepted. Scott refocused. Next report. The rescue from the day before yesterday.

His focus held well for another hour and a bit, his brothers had returned and disappeared into the villa a while earlier, Scott would go find them after this report. Or maybe just one more…

“Scott?”

“Umm?” He didn't look up from the report in front of him, signing it off with a flourish. Gordon's more colourful language and descriptions of the idiots involved had been removed. He knew his younger brother did it to make him smile as he read the reports but one of these days he was going to hit send without having caught them all and he was going to owe Aunt Val an explanation!

“Did you need anything, Eos?”

“I merely have a question. A yes or no answer is sufficient.”

He lifted his mug and looked up and smiled at the Hologram floating above the desk. “Oh if it's that easy fire away.” He took a big sip of coffee.

“Do you wish to have sexual relations with Estera Hermaszewska?”

Scott choked, coughing violently causing the rest of his coffee to spill down his front leading to a yell as the hot liquid soaked through.

“Eos, what?” he choked out as his lungs fought to expel the coffee.

Alan came in from the terrace concerned for his brother; he froze like a deer in the headlights as Eos repeated her question,

“I simply asked if you wished to have sexual relations with Estera Hermaszewska.”

There was a startled sound from Alan who spun on his heel and fled the way he'd come.

“Eos!”

“Do you require assistance?”

“No!” Scott had straightened up and was now dabbing inefficiently at his shirt with his hand.

He flopped down on the chair. He was too sober for this at the end of a long day.

“Firstly, you don't ask people questions like that?”

“Why?”

Oh good grief. “Well that leads into secondly, that's a pretty personal thing to ask someone and frankly none of your or anyone else’s business”

“Oh, you are angry with me?”

Scott sighed. Ugh it was like having a small child in the house again all be it one with instant access to all human information, a curiosity that never abated and who was capable of killing them all as they slept. So similar to toddler Gordon.

“No...” another sigh. “It’s fine, Eos. Some warning next time, or at the very least make sure I've put down all hot drinks.”

“I apologise. It just seemed the most efficient way to gather the data.”

“Ok. I guess I'm going to ask. What data?”

“On human relationships. I have researched acquaintances, friends, romantic partnerships, booty calls, Friends with benefits and...”

“OK.. stop. I really don't want to know.”

“But You asked...”

“I know. Forget I did. Why aren't you asking John about this?”

“Because his relationship with Captain O’Bannon is harder to define as it is clearly more than friends with benefits in nature, they do not merely engage in intimate relations when together but they also do not match the traditional romantic partnership pattern of ‘dating’ due to their working conditions so I felt that your..”

“Stop, please do not discuss my brother’s sex life with me ever again.” Though that was an interesting little nugget would be weaponised at some point against ‘Mr Nothing To Tell.’

The lights changed colour perplexed. “I am simply stating facts as I see them. As John and Virgil are happy to discuss your sex life, I did not believe you would not wish to discuss theirs.”

“I really, really need a drink.”

He waved a hand and Eos continued, “John and Virgil are in a disagreement about if you are hoping to embark on a relationship of a sexual nature. Gordon only contributed in passing he feels you could do with some but I have discounted that data as I was unclear what would quantify as some.” Her lights brightened eagerly, “unless you are able to quantify that for me?”

The slightly strangled sound Scott made suggested he was unable to do this. Eos pressed on. John sometimes reacted like this to her questions so she was not greatly alarmed.

“Anyway I felt the supposition could be rectified most efficiently by simply asking. So yes or no?”

“Yes or no what?”

“Do you wish to have s....”

“Stop! Nope.” He closed his eyes and pressed his closed fist to his forehead. “LOT to unpack.”

Eos waited patiently. She took 32.3 seconds of the 56 second silence and used it to watch an episode of the 20th century situation comedy ‘Friends’ while she waited; she needed to ask Scott about some of the humour and how reliable it was as a resource on friendship. She sensed now not to be the time.

“OK Eos. Questions about that sort of thing are best asked to John in the future. You're not in trouble, it's just you can't go round asking people who they want to sleep with.”

“My understanding is that little sleep is actually..”

“Talk to John. I handled Gordon and Alan on this one so he can help you figure it out. But for the record, no. I do not wish to have an intimate relationship with Estera. If I did that would be between her and I. We don't think of each other that way. That's no one's business though. Reference John and Lady Penelope if you need guidance on platonic adult friendships.”

“Thank you. This also means John wins the bet. He will be pleased.”

There was a lot growl from the chair.

“Where are my brothers now?”

“They are both in Virgil's studio I believe.”

“Good. Good. Be sure and tell them you asked me that question and that I'm looking for them.”

“Of course, Scott.” Scott stood and stretched, “Scott? That is not the direction of Virgil’s studio. Are you in fact not going to discuss this matter with them now.”

“Nope, I'm taking a couple of beers down to my private terrace; but do me a favour and don't tell them that. Tell them I'm looking for them.”

“I don't understand.”

“Think of it as a prank, Eos. Let ‘em stew.”

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“John!”

“Yes, Eos.”

“I spoke to Scott and he maintains he does not want an intimate relationship with Estera Hermaszewska.”

“He.. wait... he what?” Virgil looked at John alarmed.

“Eos did you...,” John paled, “Did you ASK him?”

“You and Virgil Tracy were speculating on this issue so I sought clarification. It seemed the most simple course of action.”

“You…OK.”

John pinched the bridge of his nose and Virgil shifted uneasily from foot to foot.

“Um what did he say?” Virgil asked the question.

“He wished to know why I had enquired.”

“And you said?”

“I told him your intimate relationship with Captain Ridley O'Bannon did not allow me enough scope to fully study human interactions of this nature but Scott did not wish to discuss your conjugal visits.”

John made the same strangled sound as Scott had earlier, Eos decided to devote some time to analysing which interactions provoked this reaction.

“Oh, I do, Eos. I want to discuss John's conjugal visits!”

If looks could kill Virgil would have died instantly, luckily he had brotherly immunity. John’s blush was deep and Virgil laughed harder.

“I also told Scott of your discussion about his own intimate relationships or the lack there of.”

Virgil stopped laughing.

“And he said?”

“He requested I locate you both. He said to tell you he is on his way to your location now....”

Chapter Text

John looked at Virgil.

Virgil looked at John.

There was a split second pause then virgil moved. Like a coiled spring he vaulted over the back of the battered old leather couch that lived in his studio. As he leaped he grabbed the ratty multicoloured cushion that was leaning dejectedly against the arm rest. It was a garish mismatch of crocheted scraps that Gordon had cobbled together early in his yarncraft phase. He had decided that it was so ugly that Virgil could keep it in his studio without fear of spoiling it. It had been languishing there ever since, gaining the occasional paint splatter, waiting for its moment to shine. It soared through the air, spinning slightly until it smacked into Johns stomach with surprising force.

“Ooof”

John, who had been twisting on fluffy sock clad feet ready to make good his own escape, was knocked off balance and had to grab wildly at the couch to save himself from crashing to the floorboards. He glared a Virgil, who was already part way to the door.

“Every man for himself!” Virgil called back as he ran out the door, grabbing the door frame to help with the cornering. John could hear his brothers feet thundering down the hallway, well that would keep Scott busy. Work smarter not harder.

Righting himself, John calmly looked around then after some careful consideration, climbed out of the window. A little free climbing and John had tucked himself safely away on a secluded half roof with enough dappled shade to make for the perfect spot for a nap.

Far below, Alan watched in amusement as John scaled the outside of the main villa. He leaned over and prodded Gordon, who was laid out on the sun lounger next to him.

“What do you think thats all about?” he pointed towards the house with his sunglasses.

Gordon nudge his own sunnies down his nose to look where Alan was pointing.

“No idea, do you think its got anything to do with that?” and gestured towards the open glass doors of the lounge where Virgil could just be seen sprinting across at full speed.

“Could be, could be.” Alan nodded sagely.

“Wanna go see?”

“Sure, why not” Alan unfolded himself from the lounger and the pair of them jogged off in the direction Virgil had disappeared.

Grandma had no idea what had got into the boys, but as she sat enjoying the late afternoon sun, she couldn't help but feel like she was trapped in a scooby doo cartoon, as running feet and slapping doors echoed around the house. Even Max seemed to have got swept up in it, beeping away merrily. She was sure she could hear Scott cackling away from one of the open upper floor windows, and truly that was enough for her to overlook the potential damage to the door frames. She took a sip of her drink, and then her eye was caught by the sight of John shimmying down the outside of the building. Yep, that was where she drew the line.

“JOHN! Get your feet off those glass doors!” she had to stifle a laugh when his descent became far less coordinated and terminated with John landing in a bush.

Chapter Text

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Estera

Hey, how are things? Fancy a chat?

Scott

Always. Give me 2 mins to escape.

Scott carefully extracted his legs from under a pile of snoozing younger brothers and shuffled his way off the couch, staggering slightly as the blood rushed back into his tingling feet.

Chapter Text

Bez stood guard at the front door, clearly determined to give the earliest possible warning of their visitor’s approach. It had been five minutes since Estera had heard the unmistakeable sound of VTOL engines through the open window which told her he’d decided to leave the jet somewhere nearby, maybe at the fancy golf club where such things didn’t stand out as so unusual. That was 15 mins walk away on normal-human-length legs, so she could probably expect him fairly imminently.

She gave up on the article she was staring at in a futile attempt to stop herself thinking too much and dumped the tablet on the coffee table with a little more force than intended before getting up to pace around the room. Maybe moving would help? Bez glanced over before returning his serious gaze to the door handle.

The intensity of his expression was offset rather by the little blue polka dot bow tie she had attached to his collar to mark the occasion. It had been 5 years to the day since she collected a tiny ball of puppy floof from the breeder and finally made her apartment feel like a home. Because on that particular day it had been exactly 5 years since she’d seen the last place that felt that way.

And thus today, dziesięć. Ten.

Ten years since she’d opened the back door in the morning to stand barefoot in the grass. Ten years since she’d taken a deep, rejuvenating breath of the air rolling off the Tatra mountains.

Ten years since she’d sat on the back porch with a cup of coffee, stealing a few moments to listen to the excitable call of the woodlark, one of the few privileges the militia hadn’t managed to take from them. The yellow-painted structure had been plagued by woodworm even then… it was probably long gone now. In fact, she didn’t even know if the house was still there. That felt wrong. Even if she knew she could never go back to it… surely she should know? But who could she call to ask? Nobody was there anymore…

Ten years since she’d held a meaningful conversation in her native tongue. Bez didn’t count.

Ten years since she‘d started to feel the constant need to justify her presence by being useful, by being an asset to her adopted country. Ten years since she felt like she truly belonged anywhere.

Ten years since she’d hugged her parents and promised to live.

She sighed and walked over to their photo on the wall for the third time that morning and pressed her palm against it. Then rested her forehead on the back of her hand. It felt as though she was fighting through the fuzzy layer that time was beginning to paint over her mental image of them, trying to fix the happy memories somewhere safe. Somewhere accessible. The memories before that day. Before the war and all the horrors that had brought.

Ten years too since she’d found and lost a hero within minutes and gained an imaginary soulmate.

Ten years since she should have died. Maybe in some ways the old her had. Ten years since her life had changed forever anyway.

Her gaze shifted to the new photo, framed in blue, that she had recently added to her gallery. Yes, and in the last few months… everything had suddenly changed again. But this time in an indisputably good way. Because the imaginary hero had somehow shed the imaginary bit and become her friend. The two of them grinned manically out of the hasty selfie - hair dishevelled, flushed with adrenaline and drenched in seawater but vividly, irrepressibly alive.

She couldn’t help smiling back. He was hero to lots of people, but friend was infinitely better.

Bez, who had quietly padded over to sit close beside her whined quietly and rested his big head on her hip.

“Quite right, Niebieski, enough introspection.”

He huffed a non-committal response before an ear twitched and he flung himself towards the door, his claws skittering on the tiles, and resumed his supervision of the door handle.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Elevator was out again, Scott noticed. He rolled his eyes and then took the stairs at a run… just because. He found himself counting them in groups of ten. Ten ten ten ten ten ten ten… and… hmph, two more. If she’d only lived on the 5th floor that would have been far more satisfying. He took a moment to calculate how much height each individual stair would need to have added to fix this… would that make the rise too steep? Maybe if they could reduce each by 20% and add four more to each flight?

Huh, he was clearly more on edge than he realised if he was compulsively doing math. He recalled frantically focusing on trying to disprove Goldbach’s Conjecture while refusing to visibly react to the agony of…

No. Stop it. He was here so that he didn’t need to lose himself in thinking about it. So that neither of them did.

He looked over at her door. He was technically a few minutes early, did that matter? He decided not and braced himself to withstand 60 kilos of furry, drooling enthusiasm. Bez, the big, fluffy, friendly dog who was most definitely not a half-starved killer. He was a different creature in every way and Scott was definitely getting better at forgetting the nightmare dogs. Much better actually.

It was all good. Even the bark he was about to hear was different - deep and booming and safe. Not snarling and howling. All good.

Scott raised a hand to knock but froze as an unexpected noise reached him… the scratching of claws on stone. They prowled relentlessly outside, waiting… Daring him to even try… He gasped out loud as his lower back slammed painfully into the bannister at the top of the stairs and he grabbed it tight, trying to ground himself. His vision blurred.

A voice drifted through the fog, the same sibilant quality of speech that haunted his nightmares and he was nearly overwhelmed by nausea before he heard a joyful laugh and knew… with a rush he knew… that it wasn’t there it was… here. It was her language, her’s and the dog’s, not… not theirs.

He gripped the bannister hard as the door opened and his friend looked up at him, the smile sliding off her face and her hand slipping from the dog’s collar as it surged towards him and… and skidded to a halt a metre away, ears raised, head tilted.

“Niebieski, Noga!

Scott? What’s wrong?”

The dog returned to heel immediately and sat down, looking up at him with that same questioning head tilt. Scott blinked the sweat from his stinging eyes, cursed himself for overreacting and was about to apologise when he realised Estera had gone… what? He shook his head in frustration and was about to call after her. Except she was already back and lugging a huge beanbag which she placed just to his left away from the top of the stairs. He rubbed his eyes with the back of a hand, it was passing he didn’t need to sit down. He was about to thank her for the thought but reassure her it was unnecessary when his knees decided for him and he sank into the thing, vaguely noticing the loud scrunching noise of the filling reshaping around him. He leant forward to rest his forearms on his bent knees… scrunch again. The noise drowned out the whistling and the barking and he wriggled a little to make it happen a third time. Then all was quiet.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be daft, Scott.”

“It’s so stupid.”

“No it’s not.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Just breathe for a minute, Blue.”

He did that. Precisely 60 seconds passed. 13 breaths, a couple more than would be usual. His comm pulsed quietly and he triple-tapped it to answer the enquiry in the affirmative. His head was much clearer now. He tried to relax his shoulders and looked around. Bez was nowhere to be seen. Estera was crouched next to him though, humming quietly. She smiled reassuringly as he looked at her and made to stand.

“I’ll just drop him round to George and Edith’s then we can go inside.”

“No! Don’t. Please.”

“It’s really not a problem at all.”

“No, it wasn’t his fault. I… something just took me by surprise. It’s not a problem.” Scott took a shaky breath and sat up straight. “I don’t want it to be a problem. I want to say hello.”

She frowned at him.

“I really do. Please bring him back.” Scott put as much confidence into the request as he could muster with the result it sounded more like a command than a request.

“Do Mnie!” She called quietly. He knew that one - Come! He focussed on practising the pronunciation in his head.

Bez poked his head out of the front door, his mouth full of some huge green cuddly toy. As Scott repeated the command the dog walked slowly forwards and placed the toy in front of him before lying quietly down next to his mistress.

Scott reached out cautiously and patted Bez on the head and murmured his thanks for the gift of… err… whatever the giant green drool-soaked plushie monster Bez had deposited at his feet was meant to be. Some kind of chunky lizard? A turtle with a zip on its belly? The dog looked at the toy and then back at Scott. Waiting for something?

Ah. He needed to physically accept the gift. Ugh… but he could literally see dog-spit-bubbles gleaming on the fuzzy surface. Shudder. Come on Tracy, you’ve dealt with grosser things in Gordon’s bedroom…

Acting with the kind of caution he’d exercise towards potentially explosive toxic waste, Scott picked the item up with a thumb and forefinger, and dangled it as far from his body as possible to inspect. It spun slowly in the air to reveal a very familiar yellow, red and white pattern on the top side and his jaw dropped in delighted surprise.

The shape, he could now see, was almost recognisable but it had been significantly squashed and white stuffing was poking out from several holes. Other sections had evidently been firmly re-stitched together which only emphasised how the rest of the original seams were on the point of bursting. The tail was hanging on by mere threads. Bez sat up tall on his hind legs and looked immensely proud of himself.

“Oh Bez… whatever would Virgil say?”

Now the adrenaline was dissipating Scott felt the overwhelming urge to giggle.

He cleared his throat to repress it and then bit his lip, not wanting to offend the giant animal by laughing in his face. His body shook a little as he shuffled forward and reverently placed the mutilated toy back down in front of its owner but he kept his cool. Said owner eyed him and then promptly picked up the toy and put it more decisively on top of Scott’s shoes.

“Goodness you are highly honoured Scott, he won’t let me near Thunderbird Chew! I’ve had to sneak her away while he sleeps to carry out routine maintenance in the dead of night and… err, Scott? Are you ok?”

Scott knew he was a lost cause even as he crammed a hand into his mouth to suppress the laughter. Bez looked at him with evident concern but it was Estera’s smug expression tipped him over the edge and he threw his head back and cackled.

Thunderbird Chew! He absolutely had to tell Virgil…

Chapter Text

Despite the early hour, the streets were busy with folk on whatever missions drew them out into the late spring sunshine. Most of these appeared to involve heading downhill, towards the seafront, but at a frustratingly ambling pace.

Bez carved a path through the crowd and Estera weaved her way behind while Scott, unused to feeling like the bulky member of a duo, tried to follow in her wake before the gaps closed after her. He found himself continually apologising to the various beach-equipment-laden people he bumped with a shoulder or an elbow.

Of course if he considered them a trio, he’d arguably have to concede the majority of the bulk was with the four legged one… even without the floof, the Pyr was a wall of muscle that even Virgil might think twice about opposing.

Despite that, and despite the extreme drool and (he suppressed the urge to shiver at the thought) the perfectly-normal-amount-of-teeth-for-his-species… Scott was beginning to genuinely warm to the creature. Not least because in the half hour following Scott’s embarrassing wobble and their ‘moment’ of understanding over his drool-soaked peace offering, Bez had barely left Scott’s side.

Though he would deny it vehemently to most anyone who asked, it was kind of comforting being shadowed by a giant teddy bear. Solid, mostly immovable, but enthusiastically (overwhelmingly) affectionate. As long as you didn’t try to make him do anything he hadn’t already decided to, Bez was pretty much benign. Kind of a cross between Virgil before 9am and Gordon on a sugar high, he mused, only rather hairier and maybe marginally less coherent…

Yeah it was going pretty well. The faint scratching at the edge of his consciousness was ignorable. Hopefully if he could handle a dog this size, then others would become ok too and he would get back to a place where they didn’t even have to be a consideration. He just needed to get enough of a grip on himself not to completely fall apart when he was taken by surprise…

He felt a hot little prickle of shame flow through his face as he recalled Edith’s concerned face at the window. It had barely registered at the time but she must have heard Estera call out to him. If only he’d managed to get inside before… ugh. Strangely he couldn’t find he was so bothered by Estera seeing that kind of weakness in him… perhaps because she had before. But other people… he couldn’t afford for other people to know. It wasn’t… just… no. He needed to be stronger than that.

He was sure he hadn’t made a sound but Estera suddenly gave him a look over her shoulder, a mildly raised eyebrow and then a slight frown as if she could hear the direction his thoughts were taking and disapproved.

He gave her his best reassuring smile.

She smiled faintly back, clearly unconvinced, but was forced to return her attention to not falling over a large pushchair that stuck out across their path.

Maybe she was right. Maybe he was being too hard on himself… after all it was always going to be a tricky day. Perhaps the trickiest in a string of hard days in the hardest season - the time of year when he was less able to ignore the quiet truth that despite being rescued there was a little part of him that had always remained lost.

But the rest of him was alive and so was she. And the air was warm and the sky was blue. He took a deep appreciative breath then mumbled another apology as he twisted sideways to edge past a person hefting two enormous drinks coolers and a large rucksack.

Anyway, he refocused his wandering mind, it was good to have Bez there, because any passers by who might have any attention to spare them were looking at the enormous white dog-mountain and not the awkwardly tall man with the face people often seemed to find oh-so-familiar. As ever, he was hiding behind his beloved aviators and a nondescript baseball cap but for once he felt perhaps he didn’t need to. That felt good too.

He chuckled as Estera put on a sudden spurt of speed, dragged forwards by her beloved hellhound then startled as they unexpectedly veered to the right down a side street. Scott, unable to change direction in time was carried along by the crowd for a few moments before he was able to battle his way back up the narrow sidewalk, apologising still more as he pushed against the flow.

He found his friend crouched in front of a tiny child who was sobbing out a garbled explanation of why she’d let go of her brother’s hand and how badly she wanted her mama and daddy. Bez had curled himself around her back and she seemed entirely unworried by this despite the dog being taller than she was. In fact Scott could see a small hand clinging tightly to the longer fur by the his neck.

Scott dropped to his knees next to Estera “Hey there, we’ll find them for you. What’s your name?”

The little girl peered up at him and wailed:

“T-T-Twaceee. I’s Twacy an’ ‘m lost!”

Huh. What were the chances of that?

He looked at Estera and she nodded agreement. Leaving them there, the little girl having buried her face back in Bez’s furry shoulder while Estera chatted soothingly. The cars were moving fairly slowly and he rated his chances of being seen reasonably highly, what with the height and all. He hopped off the kerb and jogged down the road, calling out to people as he passed:

“Excuse me, has anyone lost a Tracy?”

“We have a little girl called Tracy back there, does anyone know…?

“I need to find Tracy’s parents?”

“Sorry, I’m looking for Tracy’s Mom and Dad?”

“Tracy’s Mommy and Daddy? No?”

“Tracy? I have a lost Tracy?”

Some sympathetic looks but not a glimmer of recognition. This wasn’t working. And he was getting too far away. He stopped and waited for a cyclist to swerve around him then yelled at the top of his voice:

“I NEED TRACY’S PARENTS!”

Scott paused, suddenly overcome by a hollow feeling in his gut and a bitter taste on his tongue.

He huffed a small laugh to himself. Didn’t he just?

He rounded a corner and came upon a kerfuffle up ahead as people tried to bypass a blockage on the sidewalk. In moments the blockage resolved itself into a wild eyed and clearly panicking couple dragging an overladen trolley and a slightly older child in a large sunhat who was dragging his feet with an air of mutiny. He didn’t really need further confirmation but the man’s gasp of “Did you say Tracy? Thank God!”provided it anyway.

Excited giggles greeted them as they rounded the corner and then at a high pitched cry of “Skacz! Łapa!” Bez leaped into the air then landed on all fours and shook himself vigorously.

“Well done! He likes you!” Estera patted her on the back and little Tracy clapped in delight. The smaller of Scott’s companions pushed past and ran over to join them.

“Bez! Miss H!”

“Oh hello, Jeff!” She looked up and smiled warmly. “Is this your little sister?”

“Your kids are Jeff and Tracy?!” Scott’s reaction slipped out before he could stop himself.

Belatedly recognising the young lad from the rescue and worried he might recognise him in turn, Scott tugged at the peak of his cap and slouched a little. Fortunately Jeff was entirely absorbed by ruffling Bez’s ears.

The father laughed and tilted his head with a fond smile towards his partner who was fussing over their toddler. Tracy seemed disinclined to be parted from her new bestest fwend and the pouting bottom lip trembled as Estera called him to heel.

“The missus is a bit of a fan.”

Scott summoned the pleasant, professional smile he used time and again when forced to pretend to strangers that he was entirely comfortable with the topic of conversation.

“He was a great man.”

“He’s not dead.” The woman cut in forcefully without looking up.

Scott blinked.

“I’m sorry?”

“Don’t say ‘was’. He’s definitely still alive. That leaked explosion footage was a deep fake. The GDF were trying to silence him before he exposed widespread corruption in the World Government and so he had to go undercover to escape. It’s pretty common knowledge, is all over the internet.”

Well. That… that was a new one. Scott made a mental note to have a little chat to John about what filters were being applied to his weekly media summaries.

How on earth to respond though? Should he correct her? Agree? Laugh? They should have a Line for things like this. He should definitely say SOMETHING but all words escaped him and the best he could do was force a generic interested noise around the lump in his throat. The dog brushed against the back of his legs and pushed a damp nose into his limp hand.

“Now love, not everybody is as committed to the conspiracy websites as you are.”

“They aren’t conspiracy sites!”

Estera coughed and interrupted to apologise but said they had an urgent appointment. When had her hand tucked around his arm? He wasn’t sure but was grateful it was there - at least now despite the sudden light headedness he might not float away. He echoed her hurried goodbyes and they returned, side by side this time, to the busy main street.

Chapter Text

The mid-May sun radiated its cheerful warmth at the trio as they contained their journey towards the shore. Estera was oblivious, noticing only the bite of salt in the light breeze that could make your eyes water if you weren’t careful.

She led them away from the main road and its friendly ice cream coloured houses and took a winding route through a series of more generic residential streets. Less direct but space to breathe. Space to run… she’d have suggested it by now but Scott was moving unusually slowly, seemingly lost in thought and it seemed best not to interrupt for the moment.

How had everything gone so wrong, so quickly?

She’d intended a fun, stress free day - a lighthearted day to distract the both of them from darker memories and yet in the short time since he’d arrived she’d somehow led him from one disaster to another.

The prickle of cold sweat at her hairline intensified as her mind replayed the image of him leaning back so heavily over the bannister and focussed in on the magnitude of the drop behind him should it have broken or he’d overbalanced… it sent another little shockwave of horror roiling through her gut. Did she even get that right? In the moment she’d felt she’d known exactly what he needed… but… what if? What if she shouldn’t have left him. No, she shouldn’t have. Even for a second. What if? Should she have grabbed him? Pulled him away from there? No… no, shocking him would probably have made it worse. He was far stronger than she was.

She’d been foolish to let Bez go ahead though. Foolish to think that after one brief meeting she’d magically fixed that issue for him. She knew full well that wasn’t how it went and should have been far more careful.

It had taken several long moments for him to recognise her. His pupils so dilated his eyes were more black holes than blue pools. Not like the very first moment she’d looked into them, when the blue burned so brightly, more like the second when his face was strained with terror and he’d screamed at her to…

No. She had to stop this train of thought before it made her even more useless to him than she’d been already.

At least she’d got him out of range before the little voice of her pupil piped a cheery “byeee Mr Scott”. Hopefully it was unlikely they’d run after him even if the connection was belatedly made, but it was another reason to steer clear of the main road.

She hadn’t known what the younger sister’s name was. Would never have guessed his mother was one of those fans. Though the knowledge did throw a couple of the stranger remarks little Jeff had come out with into a new light.

Scott didn’t seem to be struggling with a flashback or anything now, thankfully, just walking quietly, a slight frown on his face, his gazed fixed a little above the rooftops. The only clue he was even aware of her presence was the way her elbow, looped through his own was clamped lightly but firmly to his side. Bez trotted at his other side, glancing up at his new two-legged friend almost as often as his mistress was.

“I’m so sorry, Scott.”

He seemed to shake himself. “Don’t be silly, not your fault.”

“I didn’t know…”

“Even if you had, Estera, we couldn’t have done anything different. Tracy needed help, so we helped. And it’s ok! Really. It is.”

He looked down at her and… well she wanted to believe him but… a little groan escaped her and she found herself gripping his arm slightly tighter. He patted her hand.

“It was just a little… strange! I’m glad she didn’t realise that I… well. It would have been a shame to disappoint her, you know?”

“I hardly think you’d prove a disappointment.”

Yes, there it was - the slight twitch of his jaw that somehow she knew was coming as soon as the words left her mouth. Estera felt rather the same way she did when she saw one of the children berated by a stressed-out parent for breaking or losing something again…

“I meant she’d want to know if she was right about… about Dad, wouldn’t she? I mean it’s kinda amusing to imagine him going all vigilante… but if he is… well he’s taking his sweet time about bringing the World Government down and getting home.”

“Mmm… maybe they are more robust than people think.”

He snorted derisively. Interesting, maybe she’d probe that one some other time.

“Well if he does manage it and then makes a grand reappearance, I’ll give him a hug first, then congratulate him…” the corner of his mouth quirked and his eyes glinted a little “… and then I’d kick his ass for leaving me with all the paperwork.”

She burst out laughing, partly out of surprise, partly relief. He grinned and gave her arm a squeeze. They followed a path through the last row of houses and emerged into an open field, to be greeted at last by the vast sweep of the sea in front of them. Scott took a deep breath:

“Thanks for the rescue though, you think you’ve heard them all, think you’ve got all the lines ready but…” he waved a hand in lieu of finishing the sentence.

“She was really quite keen wasn’t she? I mean do you think her husband deliberately…” Estera caught herself just in time. The distinct downside of how easy Scott was to talk to was that she sometimes really REALLY needed to stop talking.

“Deliberately what?”

“Nothing. Inappropriate thought.”

He smirked “Well now I really want to know!”

“No! Not…” Estera blushed and whacked him on the arm “… not like that!”

“Then…?”

Their pace had increased without her realising and she was needing to take three steps for every two of his. She huffed, realising that if she held out he’d be assuming even worse. “I just meant… well…” she dropped her voice in case anyone was listening out of a window “did you notice the husband’s hair? Just like… your Dad always wore his in the old documentaries.”

He looked at her for a moment before letting out a single explosive “Ha!” and shaking his head.

“The sweep and flick! I’d forgotten that. He used to say it was the most dashing style you could maintain in a space suit… kind of controlled helmet hair I guess. He wore it a lot simpler, more formal once Mom… once he started all the TI stuff, you know?”

She rather thought she did know but before she could think of how to respond he continued:

“I reckon it must be deliberate, he seemed like a smart man and whatever works… Anyway, before I think any more about people finding my dad sexy…” he pulled a revolted face “How did it go?”

“What?”

“The lunch! How did it go?”

Scott Tracy could change topic as fast as his beloved rocket could U-turn. Estera felt slightly as though she had whiplash but hastily endeavoured to catch up. She’d spent most of the previous day looking forward to sharing the details with him but given everything so far this morning they had all slithered out of her mind.

“Oh! Of course. Ok, I think?”

“Only think?”

“Well, if I don’t think about any of the awkward things I said or the names I immediately forgot after Lady Penelope introduced people… I’m usually good with names but apparently as soon as you add titles as well it seems I get scrambled. I mean I didn’t even know there WAS an Earl of Devonshire? He was alright, if a little old fashioned but some of them were so strange and rude. Others were pleasant though. I hope I didn’t show Penelope up too badly, she was very kind to invite me. And I enjoyed it! I did. Except the more I think about it in retrospect then more I am sure they all knew I didn’t belong there… and… ah, I probably got carried away going on and on when I should have just smiled and nodded, you know?”

She tailed off and cleared her throat, embarrassed at the sudden flood of badly ordered thoughts. She tried to summarise but it came out like a generic answer to an interview question:

“It was a good learning experience.”

Scott was smiling in an irritatingly knowing fashion as he slipped his arm out of hers and started fiddling with his wrist comm. Bez, apparently content that he was no longer required to prop anyone up, bounded away in hot pursuit of something small and fluffy.

“What are you looking so smug about?”

“I had a message from Penny last night.”

The sun was suddenly far too hot. “Oh. Oh no. What did I do? I upset people by ranting about controversial things didn’t I? Ah. Aaaah I knew it! I really SHOULD have smiled and nodded and just been normal I’ve always been awful at that. I just… I sometimes forget to slow down and how I’m supposed to act! I’m so sorry Scott, I messed it up! Don’t look like that! It’s not funny!”

“Shall I read it to you?”

“I don’t know that you should.”

“I do.” He cleared his throat importantly and tapped his comm before reading aloud as they walked.

“Scott darling I’m afraid you will have to spend less time with your new friend…”

Estera suddenly felt incredibly nauseous and slowed her pace. She couldn’t work out why he found this so amusing. She knew he valued Lady Penelope’s opinion and, well, in honesty Estera had begun to do so too. It was disappointing to think she had managed to lose favour so quickly.

Scott paused and waited for her to catch up. “There’s more!”

“You will have to spend less time with your new friend because I would very much like to claim a little more of hers myself. Lady Smythe-Gibbons was entirely charmed by the manner in which she set Sir Fancypants in his place on the new immigration bill. As you know, the two of them have never seen eye to eye and once she saw how put out he was about it I believe I can now count on the good Lady as an ally in that particular campaign. I do hope Estera enjoyed herself and wasn’t too put out by my commandeering her Saturday afternoon.”

“Oh.” Estera took a moment to process. “I’m fairly sure it wasn’t Smythe-Gibbons…”

“I may have taken poetic licence with some of the names she mentions here.”

“I really should remember the names…”

“You’re missing the point a little here, E. You did good! Y’are officially PCW-approved!”

Ordinarily she’d have been delighted to point out how his accent slipped when he was excited, but the satisfaction of it was tainted by the thought that this seemed to have been some kind of test and she’d only passed it on a fluke.

“Well it’s a relief but it’s also entirely by chance! I could have as easily upset the wrong dignitary and ruined all Lady Penelope’s plans.”

Scott shook his head vigorously.

“Naw, I’ve found that one of Penny’s greatest tricks is unleashing the right person on the right person at the right time.”

“How do you mean?”

“If you upset Lord Fluffington-McDoodieface it’s because she intended you to do so. She wouldn’t have let you loose anywhere you could have done any real damage. Well, any damage she doesn’t want to occur anyway.”

Once again Estera found herself not knowing quite how to feel about Lady Penelope.

“But… what if I’d…”

“The best thing is to go with it and enjoy the ride. At least you got an interesting political debate and a decent lunch. Usually I just end up distracting some oblivious executive’s wife with mindless chitchat while she extracts information from the husband and I starve to death on tiny food.”

“Don’t you feel a bit… used?”

“Nah. She does so much for us and for International Rescue. If my buying a drink for a pretty girl or… well… if I’m being entirely honest it’s more usually a septuagenerian millionaire with a terrifying glint in her eye…” Scott clutched a fist to his chest, all virtuous melodrama. “If that helps her uncover a nefarious plot or raise a ton of cash for charity, I’ll do it. Occasionally.” He chuckled and then added with a grin “When I can’t find an excuse to be elsewhere.”

“A terrifying glint, huh?” Estera couldn’t quite hide the smirk.

Scott turned to her with wide, mock horrified eyes.

“So terrifying. Honestly. Occasionally if they are standing between me and the door, leaping out the window seems the safest option. But I stand my ground for the greater good.”

“You are sooo brave.”

“I really am.”

She shoved him lightly into the hedge.

“Tell me though, which is the more terrifying - the predatory pensioners or the tiny food?”

“I think we both know the answer to that.”

“Well luckily my plans for later involve very decent portion sizes. But first, you have to earn it.”

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