Just Another Day

Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be. Just borrowing.

Universe: Movies, mainly cause I've forgotten most of the puppets and can't find my videos.

Summary: The boys of IR discover the hard way that it's not just saving the world that they have to worry about.

Rating: PG

Authors Note: My mind being strange. I got a notion and since this is the freshest thing in my mind just now, this is what I'll write it on.

I am British, so all spelling will be from an English dictionary.

Just Another Day

It was just another day, just like yesterday, just like the day before.

No rescue call, no international disaster, no problem with Mother Nature. Everything was so normal. At least it had started that way.

John was down from Thunderbird 5, it was Gordon's week up there and Scott had invited John to a party with some of their mutual friends from when they were at school. Happy to get some down time, and knowing he could use some party time, John accepted the invitation happily. Mistake number one.

That was the most honest mistake a guy could make. Jeff didn't usually like his boys out drinking. Scott and John had been of legal age for a while, John being 22 and Scott 24 now. But neither were regular drinkers, their friends on the other hand were. So while out John and Scott unconsciously kept up with their friends on the drinking. Mistake number two.

Mistake number three hadn't actually been their fault. It had nothing to do with John or Scott, neither were part of the encounter, neither had been near the scene. But they had faced the consequences none the less.

Tommy Drake, Scott's best friend throughout High School had managed to get into a fight, getting a black eye and kicked out of the club with his friends. Neither Tracy's were bothered too much. It was probably time for them to get back to the hotel anyway. But as it was Tommy needed to get to the hospital. A cab would've proved the best idea. Probably the safest as well. But Mark decided to drive. Mistake number four.

And that was probably the worst of all mistakes. Due to mistake number two, mistake number four wasn't picked up on until it was too late. Until headlights had blinded and tires had squealed. Until the red car and sped into the on coming green one and skidded off the road. Until John was thrown through the windscreen and Scott was crushed by the other vehicle, pinning him in the car.

Now, on this normal day, two of the Tracy's were close to death. For it being just another day and four mistakes that could've easily been avoided, Alan had never been so scared in his life. He'd never seen his dad lose control. Never seen his brother cry. Never felt that helpless.

Even when they went off on missions, leaving him to watch it all on the screen, he'd felt an air of involvement. Scott would occasionally ask him questions, Virgil would occasionally banter with him, Gordon would tell jokes and act the fool. His father would sometimes ask him to watch over the command and control centre with Brains, being the radio transmitter on the ground, relaying information from John to the 'birds.

But now he was helpless. He didn't know what was happening with his brothers. Didn't know what they were doing. Didn't know how serious the damage. Didn't know if they would come out of it alive.

Brains had gone up to get Gordon from Thunderbird 5. Penelope was bringing him to the hospital in New York. Jeff was pacing, Virgil was crying silently into his hands and Alan felt numb all over. They had been waiting for nearly four hours. John and Scott had been in surgery for five. They had been the only ones severely injured. They had been the only two wearing seatbelts.

There was the noise of a door opening and all three males looked up, hoping it was a nurse. Instead it was Mrs Jones – Mark's mother. Mark, who was driving, had escaped with a few cuts and whiplash, he faced a £1,000 fine and three years suspended licence. If either John or Scott died, he also faced manslaughter charges.

Mrs Jones, a kindly older woman, looked at Jeff with sorrow. She turned to her son, muttering something harshly before he turned away and sat on the bench in the waiting room. Approaching Jeff Tracy and his two sons, her look softened.

"Mr Tracy, I know that nothing I say will help, but I'm so terribly sorry." She said, her hands clasped in front of her. "I hope their alright." Jeff's jaw clenched slightly, and Alan was worried his father may say something he'd later regret.

"Thank you." Was all he said, in a dull, monotone voice. Mrs Jones spared one last sorrowful glance at the man before turning towards her own son and taking him home.

It took another hour for Penny, Parker and Gordon to arrive. "Dad!" Gordon had rushed over, firing question after question at his father about his two older brothers. Jeff had no answer for any of his questions and eventually Gordon gave up, sitting beside Alan and Virgil and waiting.

-

Alan's POV

Waiting sucked. Like really sucked. It was just me, Virgil, Gordon and Parker now. Dad and Lady Penelope had gone to try and find out something from a doctor. We just wanted to know if they would be okay. We just wanted to know what was happening.

Why wouldn't anyone tell us?

"Scott just wanted to have some time to relax." Gordon said quietly. It was true. There had been a lot of work recently, earthquakes and hurricanes, fires and lost ships in storms. It had been hell. Scott, being the pilot of the reconnaissance craft, was always first on the accident zone. He was the one who had to assess everything and relay the information to dad. I guess sometimes the stress takes a lot out of him; he just wanted some down time.

"I almost went with them." Virgil said. "Scott asked if I wanted to come too, dad had been willing to let me go as long as they kept an eye on me." He looked up, unshed tears in his eyes. I'm pretty sure he can't cry anymore. I'm pretty sure he doesn't think he can cry anymore. "You think if I went this wouldn't have happened?" Virgil sounded so lost and scared it shocked me. He was never like this. Virgil was always like Scott, they never showed how they felt. Gordon was about to answer Virgil but he didn't get a chance. "If I had been there they probably wouldn't have drunk as much, they wouldn't have got in the car, they wouldn't be here now!"

"Pardon my interruption, Master Tracy, but perhaps if you had been with them, there would be three Tracy's in this hospital for treatment." Parker said gently. I knew he was trying to help, I knew he had a point. But it was hard not to think of all the what ifs.

"Virg, no one could have predicted this. We don't even know why Scott and John got in the car when the driver had been drinking. And I don't think they even realised it. This is no ones fault but the driver." Gordon said, leaning his head on Virgil's shoulder. "I'm glad you weren't there. There are too many what ifs and we don't know if it would be a good what if." He spoke slowly and quietly.

Virgil wrapped his arm around Gordon and they just sat there. Not saying another word. I felt kinda left out then. They were so much closer. Virgil and Gordon, Scott and John. Where did I fit in here? Sure, I got along with them, sure I could talk to them. But I could never really talk talk. It was never like we could discuss things seriously.

Scott teased me constantly. I didn't know John at all nearly! Virgil still thinks I'm a kid and Gordon just thinks I'm a joke! To dad things will always be too dangerous. Even after everything that's happened, they still think I'm incompetent.

The clip clop of heals on the linoleum floor alerted us to dad and Lady Penelope's return. Dad looked worse than when he left, face grim and pale. Lady P didn't look too much better. Gordon and Virgil both stood up, Parker having already climbed to his feet.

"Dad, what's wrong? Did you see someone? Are they gonna be alright?" Gordon fired off again, his hand gripping on Virgil's arm.

"Boys," dad started, looking to the floor and speaking in his Jeff Tracy, head of IR, voice. That's the one he's using when he's barking out orders, or when he's telling me I'm a screw up – not in so many words but I'm pretty sure that's what he means. "I've got some bad news."

I swear my heart stopped.

-

AN: Next part posted when I get reviews. At the max this'll be three parts long. Please review, and be nice. This is my first ever fic.