"I'm fine." Gordon watched, wishing he had popcorn to go with the entertainment but he and Alan had ran out the morning before. No matter - the absolute glee he felt more than covered it.

The Smother Twins were in their element, prodding and nattering about an irate John, while talking over his head. They were absolutely not listening to any of his increasingly frustrated statements and Gordon knew that nothing anyone could say would divert them from their mission.

That mission? To send John into a frenzy. At least, it seemed that way to Gordon.

He glanced at his watch. Still three more hours. John had to break by then. Gordon had a week's worth of chores riding on it. Glancing at the flaming blue-green eyes on John's face - Virgil forced on John's hated glasses, another source of disagreement between them - Gordon was certain he'd win.

It looked like Alan was realizing that too, because the naive boy hesitatingly tried interrupting Scott as the oldest placed - slapped - the back of his palm on John's forehead, ignoring the hiss of anger from the middle child. "Scott, I think…" Gordon sat back, letting his youngest brother try to salvage the situation. Not even worried about the obvious cheating, for, as he had originally thought, there was no deterring his oldest brothers.

Not for lack of trying, though.

"Virgil!" John snapped finally, as the team medic prodded his arm. "It's been nearly a week -"

"Five days," Gordon supplied helpfully. He grinned at the dirty look he received.

"Nearly a week, and it's healing fine. You've looked at it. Brains' looked at it. Even Scott's had his turn! If the blockhead can see that it's healing, you can too. Just leave me be!" He added as Scott still hovered at his head. "Fever's two days gone. No concussion. Done now?"

"No."

"Scott!" John nearly growled, trying to rise, only to be stopped by two pairs of hands on his shoulders. At his wince, Gordon supposed the hands weren't really needed. His bruised ribs would be giving him enough trouble. He briefly entertained the notion of telling Virgil of his newly discovered fact, but John - omniscient being that he was, even off Five - read his thoughts and sent another glare his way. Gordon merely smirked back.

John's own fault for destroying Four.

And for getting himself hurt. Gordon never managed to get so banged up in Four.

Well, maybe on the rare occasion. Once in a blue moon.

Hey, he was the impulsive one - acting without thinking and all that. Located just below Scott on the reckless chart. And he was perfectly happy in his safe, second place spot. He wasn't crazy enough to try and take on Scott's lead.

He briefly wondered how Alan was fourth on the list. Even in orbit, John managed to get himself into trouble. Only difference was that usually he didn't have to deal with the direct repercussions. Sneaky bastard always got away.

Not today, Gordon thought gleefully. Today, Johnny boy was getting his due. And no one was going to stop it. Grandma, Kayo, and Brains had all ignored John's pleas and had already left the lounge quickly. Gordon was sure he saw barely suppressed laughter on the first's face.

Watching him snap and snarl at their oldest brothers, Gordon leaned back on his seat. He caught Alan's eye and his younger brother's hologram turned to him. Giving him his biggest smirk, Gordon inclined his head in the direction of the closet door just off the lounge. Alan clearly read his intentions, and signed off quickly, scowling heavily, just moments before a shoe went flying.

Ah, and there was explosion.

Both Scott and Virgil beat hasty exits after the shoe throwing incident. Leaving John and Gordon talking in the lounge, they headed towards Dad's old office. Scott practically threw himself at the chair behind the desk while Virgil walked over to turn on a screen.

Seeing his older brother's exhaustion, Virgil shook his head. "He's not wrong, you know. He's almost healed. His arm will take a while longer, but his fever's gone and there's no infection." Scott merely waved away his statements.

"If we don't keep him down, he'll go and break his other arm."

Virgil chuckled. "Point. Gordon'll keep an eye on him."

"Gordon?" Scott finally raised his head to shoot Virgil an incredulous look. "You sure the two of them aren't plotting with Alan?"

"Nope," Virgil responded cheerfully. Not that he was going to tell him what Virgil had come up with, with the duo. The bookends of the Tracy brothers were in for a surprise. How Scott always forgot how much trouble Virgil, John, and Gordon got into together, Virgil had no idea, but he always paid for the lack of foresight.

But the news on the Holoscreen quickly washed away all thoughts of pranks from his mind.

ANOTHER FAILURE: THE CARELESSNESS OF IR

"Why don't you turn that off?" Scott growled, but his eyes remained glued on the screen. Virgil shook his head, turning back to the news without a word.

"... two of my colleagues." Virgil could see a decent amount of regret on the manager's face, but any sympathy for the man disappeared with his next words. "The International Rescue officer was negligent. There's no doubt in my mind about that. He could have saved them, but he thought first of getting himself out after they were hit. They may be called Rescue, but they failed to rescue them."

"You've heard it…" The reporter continued on, but Virgil finally gave into his irritation and muted them.

"Negligent." Scott's voice was full of derision, and Virgil couldn't find it within him to chide him. There was no defense he could offer. "Only one who was negligent was that man himself."

"It'll blow over," Virgil tried. "Two people died. It's a tragedy and they are allowed their anger."

"Almost a week, Virg. It's all the same narrative, over and over again."

"Two people, Scott."

"I know." His voice was quieter now, most of the anger faded from his voice. "God, I know. John's been having nightmares, you know." No, Virgil hadn't known that, and he fought the instinctual urge to go check on him. "But we can't save everyone. We all know that."

"Doesn't make it easier."

"No, it really doesn't."

"Are you going to tell John about this?"

Scott shook his head. "It'll be worse, you know it."

Now that, Virgil did know. It wasn't a new position for IR. They were rare situations, thank God, but not new. Once with Alan, and once with Virgil himself. Insufficient information, new developments. Small mistakes and lives lost.

There had been blame to go around. Arguments and nightmares. Alan stopped eating. Virgil wouldn't leave the gym. Both times had been dark for the Tracy clan, with a few news outlets claiming the organization was slacking. Telling John would make it worse, he knew. It had pushed Alan over the edge, and he didn't doubt it would have a similar effect on John. Virgil himself had refused to go near the internet, afraid of the justified condemnation he'd find.

This was better quietly dealt with, between the two oldest.

Or really, Lady Penelope. The two of them would take care of their own, and leave their reputation to her to iron out.

Scott seemed to read Virgil's question before he even thought of asking. "She hasn't sent anything new. Just well wishes for John." His face seemed to fall even more. "I think this is worrying her too."

It was worrying everyone, but telling Scott that wouldn't help. "Lady Penelope? Nah, she probably has a ten step plan already in action, full of puppies and tea and biscuits." Vigil ignored the dread in his stomach, forcing a grin on his face. "Don't be a worry-wart. Everything'll be fine."