Fate

They had caught the sepsis early thanks to Virgil’s keen eye and medical knowledge but it didn’t mean Scott had avoided all issues associated with it. It was like he was suffering with the worst case of flu he’d ever had. He was bone-tired, everything ached and he couldn’t stop having bouts of shivering.

Scott didn’t think he’d ever slept so much…

Eventually the worse of the flu-like symptoms wore off but the exhaustion remained. As did the inability to concentrate. By day four Scott realised that his brothers were deploying Alan ruthlessly to keep him occupied and he didn’t have the energy to be mad at them.

Sally smiled as she slipped into the room. Gordon, Alan and John were at the hotel enforcing some sleep-time on Virgil. Kayo was curled up in the chair beside Scott and both were fast asleep. They woke up as the door clicked closed and Sally waited for them to wake up a little more.

‘Gra’ma?’ ‘Hey Scotty. I have news.’ ‘Good news?’ ‘Yes. Today is your last day of antibiotics. If your progress continues you’ll be released into my care and allowed home tomorrow.’ ‘That’s great news!’

The news buoyed everyone up and by the next morning John had packed up the extra computer equipment while Gordon and Alan had cleared out the hotel and Virgil and their Grandma liaised with the doctor on further potential issues and treatments for them.

EOS had remote-piloted Thunderbird Two down onto the landing pad and they were all waiting as Kayo and Scott appeared. No one mentioned the fact that Scott still wasn’t moving under his own steam – the gunshot would have prevented him from walking out from the hospital anyway even without the added exhaustion from the sepsis. And Scott was grateful that no one had said anything.

He did ignore Alan and Gordon passing John some notes, and the grin on the ginger’s face that said everything.

The journey home was slow by everyone’s standards but Virgil wasn’t going to take any risks with blood clots now that Scott was coming home. No one mentioned it, not even Scott, but he did give Virgil’s arm a squeeze as they unloaded once home.

Scott looked around the infirmary. Yeah, he hated it here but there had been a moment, back when the sepsis had its claws deep into him, that he honestly thought he wouldn’t be back here.

He was home.

Usually a person would be encouraged to walk after a treated gunshot wound within the first couple of days but the sepsis had prevented the planned physio. But now there was nothing to hold Scott back other than the exhaustion he was still prone to.

He’d hoped that Virgil and Grandma would let him spend his first night home in his own room but Grandma had been gently adamant that they had tests to run, as they had promised, and by the time they’d finished he was practically asleep anyway.

So that first night they all slept in the infirmary.

It was the smell of pancakes that eventually roused the rest of the inhabitants. Kayo had been busy with MAX in the kitchen and between them brought down pancakes for everyone.

Even Scott had a plate, although his small pancake at first made him sigh when he saw the piles his brothers had. Yet even that small amount was too much for him to eat.

Still, the conversation was upbeat and food was eaten and plates taken away. And then Gordon, with a light slap to Scott’s shoulder, hopped onto the bed beside him.

‘You ready, bro?’ ‘Ready?’ ‘Yeah. Time for some action!’

Scott groaned and there was laughter. One by one his brothers disappeared to their various chosen tasks until it was just Scott and Gordon and Kayo. Scott looked at her and raised an eyebrow in question. She flashed him a grin. It was not a friendly one.

‘Once Gordon’s finished with you you’re all mine, Flyboy.’

She flexed her fingers at him and Scott let out a short bark of a laugh. If Gordon was going to be his demonic trainer then Kayo was going to be his angelic massage therapist. Between the two of them he was in good hands.

Of course the pair didn’t work alone. Between them all Scott was put on a strict regime of rest, exercise, food and drink. John and Virgil divided TI work between them, the GDF covered all but the most severe of rescues and everyone rallied for the rest.

Progress was slow going. Scott tired easily, he couldn’t hold on to the simplest of directions and as days turned to weeks and then to months his mood plummeted.

It wasn’t unexpected. They had been warned that depression and associated issues were common with sepsis and they were prepared for the possibility. But they had been there before, with both Scott and Gordon, and they banded together tighter, stronger.

One day at a time. One day at a time. One goddamn day at a time…

And then one day…Scott had completed his morning workout and was lounging on one of the poolside chairs, eyes closed and listening to Alan and Gordon messing around, when a shadow fell across him. He cracked open an eye.

John and Virgil were standing there, identical grins on their face. Scott had no idea why they were grinning like that but he found himself grinning back.

‘What’s up?’ ‘We have good news.’ ‘I kinda guessed. Are you going to tell me?’

Virgil and John exchanged glances and impossibly their grins got bigger.

‘You last set of bloods came back and you are back up to base level.’ ‘Really?’

Scott couldn’t help but sit up suddenly, eagerness clear across his face.

‘Really. And Gordon reports that you aced the last set of physio. Carry on like this and you’ll be back in the air in no time.’

Noticing that the pool had fallen quiet Scott glanced between John and Virgil to see both younger brothers leaning on the side of the pool. Their grins were equally as large.

‘It will be good to see you back in the air, Scott.’ ‘It will be good to be back.’ ‘This calls for a celebration!’ ‘Barbeque!’ ‘You hear the Squid! Fire up the grill, oh Great Grill Master!’

Laughter filled the air and everyone – except for Scott – busied themselves getting the beach ready for the party. By the time Penny, Parker and Sherbert arrived the first round of steaks were ready.

Six weeks later Scott sat in the cockpit of One for the first time in almost a year. As he flew, looped and barrel-rolled there wasn’t a dry eye in the villa.

Now – now he was home.