Double Trouble by Emma Nisbet (grnfield)

An evil death-fic plot bunny bit me two and a half hours into a three hour car journey. I finally arrived at my destination, in floods of tears and struggling to see where I was driving. Let that be your official tissue warning! This bunny was NOT nice!

Usual disclaimer - I own nothing and nobody that you recognise!

Extra disclaimer - as discussed above, this is a death-fic. It is heart-wrenching and traumatic to read in places but I have done my best to put this evil plot bunny to rest in as respectful a way as possible.

Please read and review but do not simply flame me for it being a death-fic. I have labelled it as such from the outset so that people can avoid it if they so wish.

~#~

Summary: No matter how good your equipment nor how strong your team, you cannot cheat death.

~#~ (Chapter 1)

International Rescue had been called out on what, by the distress call, had sounded like a relatively simple fire combined with a chemical spill on a large industrial park. One building was reported to be alight but due to a large amount of hazardous chemicals being involved it required the assistance of International Rescue to safely tackle the blaze.

Scott was dispatched first and flew over the site of the fire to reconnoitre. He checked his scanners as he looked down on the fire and immediately radioed for Thunderbird 2 to 'step on it'. A second building was fully ablaze and a third was showing signs that there was a fire starting up somewhere inside it.

By the time Virgil and Thunderbird 2 arrived, Scott had set up mobile control and had tasked the multiple units from the local fire brigade to continuously damp down the fifth and sixth building, on the far side of the four which were by now burning fiercely. Virgil quickly unloaded the Firefly while Gordon and Alan took the Mole in order to dig a deep trench across the back of the original building to stop the spread of toxic liquid that was seeping from several large tanks stored there.

~#~

They had begun, very successfully, to tunnel through the concrete behind the building when Unit 3 exploded in a particularly spectacular fashion. The Mole was sheltered from the blast, partly by Unit 1 but mainly by the fact that it was partially submerged under the ground when the building blew.

"Phew," Gordon commented. "That was a big one. Is everyone alright out there? Virgil? Scott?"

"I'm alright," Scott's gruff reply came through almost immediately. "You OK over there Virg? That canister looked like it was coming straight for you."

Virgil coughed lightly. "It was," he replied honestly. "It got me too. I didn't get the scoop down fast enough and there's one hell of a crack in the windscreen that Brains isn't going to be best pleased about. Sensor's say there's no fumes coming through though so I'd say we're still good to go."

Scott nodded. "We'll get Brains on it just as soon as we get home," he said. "As long as you're sure there are no fumes?"

"No fumes, Scott. Mobile Control would be screaming at you if there was," Virgil pointed out calmly. "We need to get this damn fire under control ASAP. Have you any clue what's fuelling it…or from where? Can we cut it off at the source?"

Scott shook his head. "No," he admitted. "There shouldn't be any accelerant in any of the buildings. The paint canisters in Unit 3 are flammable and pressurised, hence the torpedo effect that we saw just now. There are some stripping agents as well but there's nothing in there that would explain the aggressiveness of the fire. It started in Unit 1, where Gordon and Alan are working and spread rapidly through units two, three and four. The park doesn't have a gas supply so it's not being caused by a leak…something's feeding it though, I just don't know what, where or why."

Virgil growled low in his throat. "Doesn't that sound a mighty bit fishy?" he asked. "Buildings don't just burn like this for no reason, Scott. Someone or something is, or was, helping it along."

Scott nodded. "I think so too but that's not our problem. We need to stop talking about it and get it out. Quickly. Units five and six are stacked full of furniture. If they catch the pair of them are going to go up like tinder boxes and there's housing just behind them. Alan, Gordon, get going with that trench. If we manage to contain the fire then it'll eventually burn itself out. That sludge, however, is a different matter entirely. If it gets into the brook then it'll pollute the river and we'll have a major ecological disaster on our hands. Virg, the fire in Unit 3 seems to have died down for the moment so you need to concentrate your efforts on Unit 4 in order to protect units five and six. You can either take it down or put it out; it's up to you which. Let me know what you decide when you get over there. OK?"

"OK, Scott. Heading to Unit 4 now." Scott heard the Firefly's engines kick up a gear and the squat, yellow machine trundled away.

~#~

Things seemed to be going smoothly for the next twenty minutes or so. Gordon and Alan cut a massive trench around the back of Unit 1 and then, very delicately, cut a channel up to the building. The Mole had been set on its 'soft ground' setting so it had lined the trench with sealant as it cut through the earth and very soon the toxic sludge was pooling in the bottom of its newly formed reservoir.

Virgil was making little progress on the fire raging inside Unit 4. Scott had one eye on the Mole's sensors and one eye on the little yellow Firefly as it sat valiantly squirting green goo in through a hole that Virgil had bored into the side of the building.

"How are you doing, Virg?" he asked quietly. "…because from here, it doesn't look like you're making much of an impact on that fire."

"That's because I'm not." Virgil's frustration at the situation carried clearly in his voice. "I think we're going to have to go for plan B. Can you get someone to take the Mole down under the corner farthest from me and we'll see if we can get the whole building to fold in on itself. I don't think it'll take very much, the basic structure has been pretty much destroyed by the heat already."

"Will do," Scott replied. "Gordon, Alan, you'll like this one. Virgil wants you to help him knock down a building….and you won't get in trouble for it this time."

Gordon's chuckle rang clearly through Mobile Control's speakers. "Cool," he cried. "Which one are we taking down…and how?"

"Four," Virgil replied with a snigger. "I want you to undermine the foundations in the far corner. I'll push from this side and I reckon we can fold it in on itself and smother the fire in the process."

"Oookay," Alan leaned forwards so he could reach the microphone from his spot in the driving seat of the Mole. "You can count on us. We'll be under there in five."

Virgil rolled his eyes, even though he knew no-one could see him. "You know you've probably got the pair of them all overexcited now, don't you Scott?"

Scott snorted. "I know," he replied. "…but if it helps get the job done quicker…"

"…then we'll all get home in time for tea." Virgil finished the saying which Penelope had used for as long as the boys could remember. "I sure could do with a cup of Penny's tea. I'm baking in here."

Scott chuckled. "Shouldn't be long now, Virg. If your collapsing plan works then Unit 4 will be sorted in a matter of minutes. Three's giving me cause for concern though. The fire's really taking hold again so once Four's sorted I think you might need to repeat the procedure on Three. Unit 1's just smouldering now and Two's pretty much out. Just Three and Four to deal with then we'll get you your tea. Deal?"

Virgil grinned. "Deal…and I'm going to hold you to that too. Listen, Scott, I'm going to reposition so I'm at a better angle for when the terrible two arrive. I'd rather they didn't end up bringing the whole lot down on my head."

Scott shook his head. "Don't even joke about it. Go, do your repositioning. You know where I am if you need me."

~#~

Less than a minute later, Alan radioed through that he and Gordon were in place, underneath the ground and level with the foundations of the building. Scott asked them to hold still while he watched Virgil carry out a very protracted three point turn in the Firefly and then trundle slowly out of view between Units 3 and 4.

Scott looked down and frowned at the readouts on the renewed fire in Unit 3. He barely had time to register what he was looking at before the building erupted again. Scott threw himself to the floor behind Mobile Control, covered his head with his arms and a split second later a ball of flame rolled across the site. Rubble, bricks, metal beams and paint canisters followed almost immediately and then, very suddenly, there was silence.

Scott picked himself up and gingerly poked his head over the charred and blackened top of Mobile Control. Where, just a few moments before, there had been a large industrial unit, now there was a smouldering pile of devastation. The explosion had propelled the walls of Unit 3 outwards and its roof had fallen in on the interior. The fiery blast had effectively used up most of the remaining fuel in the building and as Scott looked around he could see remnants of the unit scattered around the site.

Scott's heart clenched when he noticed the still and dirty form of the Firefly resting at an angle against the side of Unit 4. The little yellow machine was littered with debris from the explosion and Scott could see that several metal supporting beams from Unit 3 scattered around it. He leaned across and pressed a button on Mobile Control. "Virg," he said quietly. "It looks like the Firefly took a bit of a battering in that last explosion. Are you OK in there?" He released the button so that Virgil could answer and then frowned when no reply was forthcoming. "Virg? Speak to me, Buddy. Are you alright?"

He let go of the button again and this time was rewarded by a soft hiss which meant that Virgil had pressed his transmit button inside the Firefly.

There was a long pause before a brokenly whispered "Sc…Sc-ott…y" came through the speakers and the hissing clicked off again.

The voice was barely identifiable as Virgil's and Scott's heart sank. "Stay there," he said quietly. "I'm coming to you. Alan, Gordon, I hope you're hearing this. Virg's hurt. Unit 3 blew again and the Firefly took a hit with Virgil inside it. Get that building down in whatever way possible but take extra care near the north-east corner. Get it down and then come and find us."

Scott didn't wait for a reply but took off running towards the Firefly with his watch held up in front of him. "How are you doing, Virg?" he asked. "I'm on my way. The kids are going to take the building down while I see about patching you up. OK?"

There was a pause and then the hissing began again. "N-n-no patching up, ne-ne-necessary. T-t-too la-ate...Hurry, Sc-Sc...aah. No…not-not yet."

Scott flew across the ground towards his fallen brother. As he approached the stricken Firefly he realised that one of the metal roof supports from Unit 3, which he had originally thought were covering the little yellow machine, had actually penetrated the windscreen of the vehicle. The remaining glass had shattered but the tough laminated coating had held it together in an almost opaque pattern of cracks and splinters.

"Virg," he hissed into his watch. "I'm here now. You still with me?"

There was a gentle, wet-sounding cough followed by a wheeze. "S-still here, Sc…ah…otty. No-not much lo…o…onger. W-wait-ing f-for you."

Scott clambered up the side of the Firefly, wrenched open the hatch and threw himself inside. He launched himself down the inside of the vehicle and in through the door of the cabin where he skidded to a halt. "Shit," he whispered. "Virg?"

Virgil opened his eyes long enough for Scott to see the pain in them and then closed them again. "No…time," he whispered. "No p-p-patching u…u...Sss-cott…"

Scott perched on the edge of the chair as close to Virgil as he could get. He lifted Virgil's hands into his own and took a moment to survey the damage to his beloved brother. The metal beam that he had seen sticking through the windscreen had burst into the Firefly and embedded itself in the right hand side of Virgil's torso. It had pulverised several of his ribs and damaged many of his vital organs as it tore through him, only finally stopping when it hit the reinforced metal frame of the seat which Virgil was now pinned to.

Virgil flexed one of his hands and Scott looked up to find his brother looking at him. "Not…not going to-to-to get my t-ea," Virgil stuttered with the barest of smiles. "S-s-sorry, Sco...ah…sh-shit."

Tears ran down Scott's face as he bundled Virgil's hands together and hugged them against his chest with his left arm. He reached up and ran his right hand through Virgil's thick, brown hair. "Don't," he said softly. "Just don't. You have nothing to apologise for, you hear me? Nothing."

There was a loud crash from just outside and the Firefly shook slightly. Virgil let out a howl and then fell silent. Scott could see him gasping valiantly for air which his one fully-functional lung was struggling to provide. "I guess the building's down," he whispered. "Do you want to have a go at talking to the kids?"

Virgil's bottom lip wobbled and he shook his head as pain-filled tears fell from his eyes. "N-n-no. W-w-want D-Dad…John…you. Aah, Scott. D-D-Dad. Quick."

Scott nodded his head and pressed several buttons on Virgil's watch. Jeff and John immediately appeared on the tiny split-screen and by the look Jeff's face, and the fact that John was making no effort to stop the tears sliding down his cheeks, it was obvious that they had both been listening in on the two brothers' quiet conversation using the Firefly's internal monitoring systems. Scott held Virgil's arm steady so that he could see his father and brother without having to move or support himself.

"Virgil," Jeff started softly only to be cut off by Virgil shaking his head.

"N-n-nooo," he slurred. "Ne-need to say goo-goodb-b-bye. D-dif-fi-fi-cult...br-br-eathe. Lo-love you a-aaall. Loo-look after the-the k-k-kids. D-don't f…or…get. Look-k aaaafter the k-kids." Virgil gurgled wetly and struggled to suck in another gasp of air. A trickle of blood ran out of the corner of his mouth and slid down his neck as he looked Scott straight in the eye. "D-do-do…donnnn't you d-d-do a-any…anyth-th-thing stuuupid, 'cot. P'mise me? No-no-no…aah…not be…stupid."

Scott sniffed and tried to smile as he stroked the side of Virgil's face with the pad of his thumb. "Nothing stupid," he whispered. "I promise."

Virgil's head flopped weakly forwards as he tried to nod his approval. Scott tucked Virgil's hands against his neck and gently rested his brother's head back against the headrest behind him. He then moved his hands into Virgil's hair and gently carded his fingers through the soft strands until he realised that the focus was gradually fading from his brother's eyes.

Virgil let out a couple of shaky gasps and flexed one of his hands to alert Scott that he was struggling. Scott shuffled forwards and positioned himself directly into Virgil's line of sight. Virgil blinked several times and attempted to nod again. Scott pressed his lips together to suppress the sob which was trying to escape and then leant forwards and placed a long, sad kiss on Virgil's forehead. "Go peacefully," he whispered. "…and say hello to Mom for me. I'll see you again when it's my time to go. You hear me, Virg? I'll see you again."

Virgil let out a shudder and then choked slightly and gasped. "M-M-Mom. Sco-Scot-t-t-t. MmmMom." He gave a soft sigh and Scott let out a keening wail as his brother's now lifeless body relaxed completely. He sat completely still for a moment and then pulled Virgil's head and shoulders against his chest and rocked him as much as the impaling metal rod would allow. "He's gone," he cried. "John, Dad, he's gone. What are we going to do? Oh God, someone needs to tell the kids."

"Scott." Jeff's voice was muffled from where Virgil's limp arm had slipped down between his body and Scott's chest. "Scott, son, activate your watch so I can see you."

Despite the fact that no one could see him, Scott shook his head. He clung to Virgil and let out a hoarse animalistic cry before dissolving completely into a bout of harsh, gut-wrenching sobs.